Dog Care 101

Although emergencies and accidents are unforeseen, one should  always be prepared for worst case scenario. That is why all pet owners should know canine first aid and have a pet first aid kit within paws reach. Preparedness, knowing what to do in an emergency, and acting swiftly could mean the difference between life or death and your pet sustaining additional injuries. Being prepared gives your pet a fighting chance of survival and most often a quicker recovery.

Making a basic DIY Pet First Aid Kit or purchasing a pre-made kit at your local pet store is a must. Pet First Aid Kit is great to have on hand for everyday use or in the event of a natural disaster resulting in minor or major injuries.  It is recommended that you have one for your home and your car for easy accessibility. If you prefer making your own first aid kit here are a list of essentials that should be include. Make sure your first aid preparedness disaster kit is well stocked and medical materials are stored in a durable, water proof container.

• Sterile gauze pads (3" x 3" and 2" X 2") and gauze bandage rolls (1" and 2")
• First-aid adhesive tape, 1" roll
• Masking tape
• Cotton swabs (Q-tips®)
• Tweezers
• Scissors
• Forceps
• Plastic freezer/sandwich bags
• Small bottle of 3% hydrogen peroxide
• Styptic pencil or cornstarch (stems blood flow from minor cuts)
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Antibacterial ointment
• Antiseptic cleansing wipes
• Kaopectate® or Pepto-Bismol®
• Flash light
• Stethoscope
• Saline Solution (clean out wounds and flush the eyes)
• Muzzle (to help restrain your animal if it becomes aggressive due to shock and pain)
• A current pet first-aid book
• Eyewash
• Eyedropper (dispensing liquid medication or for cleaning superficial wounds)
• Mineral oil (a lubricant and laxative when given by mouth)
• Ipecac syrup ( to induce vomiting in the event your pet is poisoned, consult your veterinarian before inducing vomiting)
• Digital or rectal thermometer in a plastic case
• Leather work gloves (to protect you from being bitten)
• Latex gloves
• Leash
• Thin rope
• Splint materials (tongue depressor, 12-inch wooden ruler or thick magazine)
• Activated charcoal (good for poisoning or diarrhea and controls flatulence resulting from any stomach or intestinal upset)
• Blankets
• Phone numbers (your pet's regular veterinarian and of a nearby emergency veterinary hospital)
• Instant cold pack
• Rags/rubber tubing for tourniquet
• Emergency Heat Blanket (used if an animal’s temperature is decreasing due to shock or exposure. Always take the pet’s temperature first before using)
• Thermometer & Vaseline

Are you frustrated with yours dogs itchy skin? Is allergy season wreaking havoc on your best canine buddy? Itchiness, skin inflammation, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing or sneezing may be the tell-tale signs that allergies are to blame. If you prefer to go the all natural route here are some all natural herbal remedies for dog allergies. Just what Mother Nature ordered!

1. Aloe. When used externally aloe vera has a soothing effect on a dog's irritated skin and acts as an anti-inflammatory and wound healer. Apply a light covering of aloe gel to your dog's skin once or twice daily. Allow the gel to dry and stay on the dog's skin. Applying aloe all over your dog's skin can be done by making a rinse and applying it to your dog's skin.

2. Oats. Bathing a dog regularly with shampoo containing oats helps alleviate skin symptoms associated with allergies. Additionally, dog owners can boil about 1 lb. pound of oat straw in 2 quarts of water for about 30 minutes, strain the mixture, let it cool, pour the strained liquid over the dog's coat and skin, then give the dog a final rinse with fresh water.

Dogs can break out in hives as an allergic reaction to insect stings, chemicals and poisonous plants. One idea is to make a paste by cooking oats in water, then applying it liberally to the affected areas to alleviate the discomfort.

3. Burdock root can be used to treat internal allergic reactions in dogs. This herb acts as a blood cleanser and antioxidant that rids the dog's body of the toxin causing the allergic reaction. Add dried or fresh burdock root to the dog's food. Alternatively, burdock root in tincture form can be combined with glycerin and given to the dog by mouth.

4. Dandelion. A dog's liver is its main toxin-cleansing organ. Dandelion serves as a liver stimulant to assist the dog's body in ridding itself of whatever is causing the allergic reaction. Dandelion also acts as a diuretic, which also helps the dog rid itself of waste and toxins. There are two ways to administer dandelion to help alleviate allergies in a dog. One way is to dry the greens and sprinkle one teaspoon of dried herb per 20 lbs. of body weight on the dog's food daily. Alternatively, the same amount of dried greens of the dandelion can be boiled in unsalted meat or vegetable broth, allowed to cool, then administered by letting the dog drink the broth.

NOTE: Make sure the plants you use have not been exposed to herbicide.

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Give the gift of a good chew. Delicious & all natural, the way nature intended!

Please make sure to check out our growing selection of dog treats & chews, and of course our bully sticks. Try our odorless bully stick chews !

Take The Guessing Out Of Gift Giving With A Best Bully Stick Gift Certificate!

But what do you do for the pampered pup or feline that has everything? Hmmm..For the pet that has everything give a Best Bully’s Gift Certificate and take the guessing out of gift giving! This is a great way for you to give that furry special someone in your life or loving pet owner a special gift by allowing them to select the exact products their furry companion are looking for.

A picture is worth a thousand words, or shall we say free bully sticks!

Our photo gallery is growing constantly, please submit a photo of your dog enjoying any of our products to enter our twice monthly contest! Each month we will have a drawing on those customers who submitted pictures to the gallery and a winner will be chosen and posted on the site. The winner will win more bully sticks!

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Is your dog itching for some relief? Well we have just the thing, a nice, soothing and comfy oatmeal bath. Oatmeal nourishes, moisturizes and soothes the skin. An oatmeal bath leaves an invisible protective oatmeal coating on the skin, protecting it from further itching. Hey this is even great for us humans! Just cue the soothing music and light the aromatherapy candles and you have yourself a spa day. Here's the simple instructions on making an oatmeal bath for your dog.

1. Blend one cup of plain uncooked oatmeal in a blender until it is a fine powder. Powdering the oatmeal makes the oatmeal dissolve in the water easily. Any type of oatmeal is suitable, as long as it is plain oatmeal. Do not use oatmeal that contains flavorings or sugar.

2. Fill up a bathtub with lukewarm water to a level that will reach the middle of your dog's chest. Test the temperature of the water on the inside of your wrist. The water should feel comfortably warm. If the water feels cold or hot, adjust the temperature accordingly.

3. Add the cup of powdered oatmeal to the bath water. Use your hand to swish the oatmeal powder around in the water to dissolve the powder. Make sure to mix the oatmeal powder thoroughly so that it does not clump at the bottom of the bathtub. The bath water will turn a milky white color as the oatmeal dissolves.

4. Recheck the temperature of the bath water with the inside of your wrist to make sure that it is still at a comfortable temperature for your dog and adjust it if necessary.

5. Place your dog in the bath water to soak. With your hands, gently scoop some of the oatmeal bath water onto to your dog's back. Continue to do this every few minutes. Allow your dog to soak in the oatmeal bath for 10 to 15 minutes. Talk to your dog, scoop water on its back and pet it while it soaks.

6. Remove your dog from the oatmeal bath without rinsing the mixture off and gently pat it dry with a clean towel. The oatmeal mixture will leave an invisible protective and nourishing coating on your dog's skin that will help stop further itching.

You can give your dog an oatmeal bath once a day for up to three days. And once a month thereafter. More frequent baths can irritate your dog's skin.

Spring is in the air, and so is seasonal allergies. Pollen, dust mites and other allergens can drive you and your dog mad. So, what are the signs your dog may have allergies? Good question! If your dog is sneezing, itching, chewing his or her fur, incessantly biting & licking paws, has skin or ear inflammation or experiencing hair loss the culprit may be allergies. But have no fear there is relief, here are a few ways to treat and sooth your dog's allergy symptoms.

1. Cool off, with a cool bath. One way to relieve the itch is to soak your furry friend in a cool bath. Fill the tub with cool (not cold) water and let your dog soak for at least fifteen minutes daily. To make bath time even more soothing, add a handful of oatmeal to the bath water. But first, run the oatmeal through your blender or food processor to grind it into a fine powder that will form a protective film on your dog's irritated skin.

2. Antihistamine's are your friend! Try giving your dog an over-the-counter antihistamine like Benadryl. Allergies in dogs trigger the production of histamines, the cause of the irritation and itching. One 25mg tablet is enough for a fifty-pound dog so split the pill accordingly if your dog weighs less. In addition, keep some yogurt or unsweetened pumpkin puree on hand to give your dog if he develops diarrhea from the anti-histamine. As always consult your vet for proper dosage and advice on the subject.

3. Fish Oil to the rescue! Add fatty acid supplements , like salmon oil to your dog's diet works wonders. Salmon Oil provides the nutrients for healthy dog skin and fur, add some daily into their food dish.

4. Stay indoors. If your dog is having a really bad allergic reaction to pollen it is probably best that your dog stays in doors. Although you may have to deal with a whiny dog, it is better then having to deal with a sick pup.

5. Clean Sweep. Keep the house spotlessly clean if dust mites are the catalyst for your dog's allergies. Wash her bedding once a week and vacuum daily, emptying the vacuum bag immediately. Make a very weak tea solution and keep it in a plastic spray bottle to lightly mist the air indoors, killing numerous dust mites.

6. Paw Soak. If your dog is biting, chewing or licking his paws then a soothing & healing paw soak in Epsom salt might do the trick.

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How Can You Give Back To Barkworthy Rescues and Shelters Across the Globe? Click to Give a $1 at Checkout!

Well, we we tell you how you can help Best Bully Sticks support them. With your help we can save lives one $1 at a time and no animal needs to suffer.

Participate in our Best Bully Sticks $1 Donation Program by shopping on www.bestbullysticks.com and clicking to donate a $1 at checkout. For every $1 you donate at checkout we will donate a $1 with a 100% of the proceeds going to rescues and shelters in need across the country. The money raised will help with out reach, basic animal necessities and rescue programs. Donations raised monthly by you will be given to 3 lucky rescues during our ongoing monthly Best Bully Sticks Rescue Shelter Giveaway.

NEW! PRICE-MATCH GUARANTEE!

We are so confident that we offer the best prices at www.bestbullysticks.com that we now match ANY online vendor price on any item we sell!

If you find anything on www.bestbullysticks.com for less on another website (excluding Amazon and Ebay), let us know and we’ll credit the difference to you. It must be the same item. For bulk items, we’ll try our best to match the price. Email us at bbinfo@bestbullysticks.com with any questions or to take advantage of this great new service.

Is your dog barking for his or her time in the spotlight?

If you would like your dog spotlighted or want to recommend a dog breed you love for our next Best Bully Sticks Spotlight on a Breed entry please send us an email or tweet @bestbullysticks. Don’t forget to send over a photogenic pic of your dog as well.

Give the gift of a good chew. Delicious & all natural, the way nature intended!

Please make sure to check out our growing selection of dog treats & chews, and of course our bully sticks. Try our odor free bully sticks!

Take The Guessing Out Of Gift Giving With A Best Bully Stick Gift Certificate!

But what do you do for the pampered pup or feline that has everything? Hmmm..For the pet that has everything give a Best Bully’s Gift Certificate and take the guessing out of gift giving! This is a great way for you to give that furry special someone in your life or loving pet owner a special gift by allowing them to select the exact products their furry companion are looking for.

A picture is worth a thousand words, or shall we say free bully sticks!

Our photo gallery is growing constantly, please submit a photo of your dog enjoying any of our products to enter our twice monthly contest! Each month we will have a drawing on those customers who submitted pictures to the gallery and a winner will be chosen and posted on the site. The winner will win more bully sticks!

Bark the Word! Join the Best Bully Sticks Free Affiliate Program & Earn 6% Commission or 6% Product Discount

So you have a new addition to your family, a dog. Well, now its time for the most important task as a new pet owner. What task? Well,  choosing the right name of course. With so many names to choose from the skies the limit. Selecting your dogs name should be fun, not daunting and frustrating.  Here are a few tips on picking the perfect pet name that suits your new dog and cuddly family member.

1. Must Love the Name. Pick a name that you and your dog can live with for a long time. If you are adopting a dog (especially an older pup) from a shelter then it may already come with a name. You can either opt to leave the name (if it ain't broken don't fix it), shorten to nickname or change it entirely to give your dog a new leash on life. These are all great options, whatever you decide, you and your dog must first and foremost love the name. If after a few days your dog is forgetful and does not respond to the new name then you may need to break out the dog name book and start at ground zero.

2. Keep the name short. It is important that your dog is able to learn and remember his or her name. Keep the name to one or two syllables and have it end with a strong consonant so your dog can familiarize his or herself with the name. In doing so, it will be much easier for you to train your dog to come and obey on command. Make sure it is one that will be easy to pronounce and roll off your tongue. Be sure the name is distinct from any command words you'll be teaching your dog (i.e "Noah" is to close to the command "No"). Also, you do not want to confuse your new dog with multiple variations of its name

3. Upbeat Tone. Tone is everything, keep your voice upbeat. One of the most important things in training is to have him, or her, come when called. Make name association fun and enjoyable by associating it with something positive, a walk, delicious treat, or a playful game of fetch. Choosing the right name is the foundation for training your dog. Before you can even begin to teach your dog other basic commands, name recognition should be top priority.

Now the only thing left for us to do is  to wish you good luck. Happy name hunting!

Best Bully Sticks News!

Become a Facebook Fan, “Like” our page & Help us reach 5,000 fans.

How Can You Give Back To Barkworthy Rescues and Shelters Across the Globe? Click to Give a $1 at Checkout!

Well, we we tell you how you can help Best Bully Sticks support them. With your help we can save lives one $1 at a time and no animal needs to suffer.

Participate in our Best Bully Sticks $1 Donation Program by shopping on www.bestbullysticks.com and clicking to donate a $1 at checkout. For every $1 you donate at checkout we will donate a $1 with a 100% of the proceeds going to rescues and shelters in need across the country. The money raised will help with out reach, basic animal necessities and rescue programs. Donations raised monthly by you will be given to 3 lucky rescues during our ongoing monthly Best Bully Sticks Rescue Shelter Giveaway.

NEW! PRICE-MATCH GUARANTEE!

We are so confident that we offer the best prices at www.bestbullysticks.com that we now match ANY online vendor price on any item we sell!

If you find anything on www.bestbullysticks.com for less on another website (excluding Amazon and Ebay), let us know and we’ll credit the difference to you. It must be the same item. For bulk items, we’ll try our best to match the price. Email us at bbinfo@bestbullysticks.com with any questions or to take advantage of this great new service.

Is your dog barking for his or her time in the spotlight?

If you would like your dog spotlighted or want to recommend a dog breed you love for our next Best Bully Sticks Spotlight on a Breed entry please send us an email or tweet @bestbullysticks. Don’t forget to send over a photogenic pic of your dog as well.

Give the gift of a good chew. Delicious & all natural, the way nature intended!

Please make sure to check out our growing selection of dog treats & chews, and of course our bully sticks. Try our odor free bully sticks!

Take The Guessing Out Of Gift Giving With A Best Bully Stick Gift Certificate!

But what do you do for the pampered pup or feline that has everything? Hmmm..For the pet that has everything give a Best Bully’s Gift Certificate and take the guessing out of gift giving! This is a great way for you to give that furry special someone in your life or loving pet owner a special gift by allowing them to select the exact products their furry companion are looking for.

A picture is worth a thousand words, or shall we say free bully sticks!

Our photo gallery is growing constantly, please submit a photo of your dog enjoying any of our products to enter our twice monthly contest! Each month we will have a drawing on those customers who submitted pictures to the gallery and a winner will be chosen and posted on the site. The winner will win more bully sticks!

Bark the Word! Join the Best Bully Sticks Free Affiliate Program & Earn 6% Commission or 6% Product Discount