Dog Care 101

As we near the end of “Be Kind to Animals Month,” we at BestBullySticks thought we should set aside some time for a very special group of dogs — seniors. For aging canines, there are special considerations that need to be kept in mind. Keeping a keen eye on behavior and general health in addition to some fine tuning in diet is all that’s needed to maintain healthy living into the senior years. Old age comes at different times for different breeds, though. That’s why we've put together a guide to not only identify aging, but also how to properly care for your dog as a senior.

Expectations

Knowing what to look out for is half the battle. If you’re able to spot signs of health complications early, there’s a good chance the damage can be minimized. Here are some common health issues to watch out for:

Graying: Of course, there’s nothing dangerous about going gray, but it is a good indicator of middle-age and early seniority. It should be noted, some dogs go gray early despite still being quite young.

Vision & Hearing: Inevitably, vision and hearing deteriorate with old age. For vision, some signs to watch out for are increased clumsiness and cloudy eyes. Cloudy eyes, which are often harmless and a normal process of aging, are the product of lenticular sclerosis. This is sometimes confused with cataracts — a clouding of the lens inside the eye — which is very detrimental to sight. If a clouding of the eyes occurs, make sure you promptly pay a visit to the vet. Read more

As concerned pet owners ourselves, the BestBullySticks team believes pet safety is paramount. Identification can go a long way ensuring your furry friend’s safety — tags alone aren’t enough, though! Microchipping is a foolproof way to avoid the heartache of losing your loved ones and providing them with an easy way to get home if they run off.

Unlike a collar and tags, microchips can’t be removed and they can’t fall off. According to the American Humane Association (AHA), pets who become lost rarely find their way home:

• 1 in 3 pets will become lost at some point during their life

• Over 10 million dogs and cats are lost or stolen every year in the U.S.

How Does Microchipping Work?

The electronic components of these electronic ID tags are packed into a biocompatible glass tube only a bit larger than a grain of rice (11mm). Non-allergenic, this glass casing contains the microchip, capacitor and antenna coil which together form a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. Read more

Many pet owners gravitate towards name-brand flea and tick treatments and we don’t blame them! While effective and endorsed by many veterinarians, there are comparable alternatives without the nasty chemicals commonly found in these spot-treatments. BestBullySticks encourages owners to go the holistic route and use all-natural flea and tick prevention products to deter fleas and ticks this coming season.

Dangers of Chemical-Based Treatments

Spot treatment “medications” contain a wide variety of pesticides — including but not limited to pyriproxyfen, methoprene, permethrin, fipronil and imidacloprid — and are directly linked to serious health effects in laboratory tests. In 2008 there were over 44,000 reported cases of adverse reactions to these types of treatments.

Since these are pesticides, their distribution and use is controlled by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In a study conducted by the EPA, it was determined current guidelines and regulations used to determine toxicity for these medications were inadequate. Besides the toxic “active” ingredients listed, manufacturers are not required to disclose “inactive” ingredients leaving us in the dark about what we’re actually giving to our pets.

Because of the adverse reactions and questionable content of these treatments, BestBullySticks chooses to endorse holistic pet-care products. There are many ways pet owners can achieve the same results without having to turn to harsh unhealthy treatments. Let’s take a quick peek at these common pests and how we can prevent them! Read more

Spring is now in full swing and BestBullySticks wants to make sure you and your dog get the most from the sunny months ahead. For this week’s installment of our Dog 101 series, we’re discussing Springtime Dog Grooming Tips because a well groomed dog doesn't just turn heads, it helps keep them healthy too!

Reasons to Groom

Grooming is an activity pets regularly conduct by themselves. They still need your help, though! There are a few reasons why grooming should be high on your list of dog-related priorities this spring. Regular grooming habits will not only decrease your pets chance of developing epidermal and oral health problems, it’s also a great way to create a strong bond, monitor your dog’s health and even help to prevent disease.

Lyme Disease

The first step to protecting your pet from Lyme disease is making sure they’re on the correct preventative medications. BestBullySticks suggests all-natural flea and tick medications as an alternative to the toxic ingredients found in many common medications. Spot treatments are filled with chemicals and have been proven to pose a threat to both pets and owners.

Caused by a bacteria from the genus Borrelia, the chance of contracting Lyme disease is much higher between May and August — the height of tick season. Here are a few early warning symptoms: Read more

Emergencies do happen. And sometimes, finding your way to the doctor can be difficult. Becoming familiar with Basic First Aid procedures is a great way to minimize harm and bring stability to emergency situations. The first week of May is National Pet Week, and we at BestBullySticks wanted to get a head start helping raise awareness for animal first aid.

Even if you’re certified to administer first aid on people, don’t go trying to play veterinarian! Advanced veterinary first aid should only be administered by certified individuals or a veterinarian. The American Red Cross is a great resource for education on the subject and even offers courses in Pet First Aid. Let’s look at some basic steps to you can take to ensure both you and your pet prepared for anything.

Identification

While safety starts with proper identification, a collar and tags are only the beginning. Microchipping is now widely available and no longer prohibitively expensive. Pets sometimes get lost. And while collars can come off — or even worse be taken off — microchipping provides a surefire backup plan that will last a lifetime. Costing only $45 on average, microchipping is the first step to safety with your pet.

First Aid Supplies

Keep a list of phone numbers on hand including your veterinarian's number, and others like the Animal Poison Control Center: 888-4ANI-HELP (888-426-4435) and a local emergency veterinary clinic. In the case something happens to you, keep a friend’s number handy who is capable of caring for your pet in your absence. It’s also a good idea to maintain a history of your pet’s medications and vaccinations for reference. The American Veterinary Medical Association has compiled a comprehensive list of pet first aid supplies that should be in your emergency kit. Read more