Dog Health

April is ASPCA Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month and the team here at BestBullySticks thought we should not only highlight the importance of this holiday, but also share a few ways you can lend a hand.

Acts of animal cruelty often go unnoticed by observers and owners alike. President of the American Animal Hospital Association (AHAA) DVM Gregg Takashima notes that in his twenty-five years as a veterinarian, most abuse cases he’s seen are the result of owners who have inadvertently neglected their pets simply because they don’t know any better.

Education and Activism

While animal cruelty strikes in variety of ways, they can all prevented through education. The first step to education is setting a good example as a pet owner. As a model caretaker, your actions will influence others. Community role models for pet care not only help curb instances of abuse among current owners, but future ones as well. Teaching children about responsible pet ownership at an early age will make them lifelong advocates in the fight against animal abuse.

Grassroots forms of activism like community education is of tremendous help to the cause. Consider looking into local volunteer opportunities as well. From raising awareness to caring for the abused, these opportunities are    widely available across the country. Contact your local SPCA to find about volunteering in your community. 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

Many large breed owners have one common problem — their pet’s chews just don’t last long enough. This is of course an issue for not just your pooch, who’s now bored and hungry for more, but also
your wallet. Don’t sweat it! We at BestBullySticks.com have a great solution that is not only nutritious and delicious, but also environmentally sound.

Big Treats for Big Dogs

Our Giant Elk Antler is the ultimate solution for aggressive chewers and big dogs alike. We’re not kidding, either. These things are HUGE! Measuring at 10-12 inches long by 1.5-3 inches wide, you’ll be amazed at how long these treats last. Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten about the little ones! They come in smaller sizes, too.

BestBullySticks offers a wide variety of long-lasting elk antler dog chews to fit every dog’s size and chewing appetite.

Sustainability

So, how do we sustainably and responsibly get a hold of these chews? Well, the answer is simple. Naturally shed every winter, these elk antlers litter the Rocky mountains and are collected right here in the USA. Not only are these single-ingredient, all-natural treats sustainably harvested, no animals are harmed in the process!

Benefits

Did we mention they’re completely odorless and leave no residue? With no smells or nasty by-products, these treats won’t stain or stink up your carpets and furniture. Let’s not forget about how healthy they are! Full of naturally occurring nutrients like calcium, potassium, magnesium, and glucosamine, our elk antlers help to support healthy bones making them particularly well suited for older dogs.

 We’re are proud to offer our great customers all-natural and sustainable options for their pets. BestBullysticks.com has an entire line of Elk Antlers to choose from, so no matter your dog’s size, we’ve got something for you!

The next time you take a stroll down the pet aisle at your local grocery store to pick up dog food take a closer look at your store's offerings. Far too many brands, even the big names touting naturality, are only selling to you and not your dog's dietary needs. Loaded with grain-based fillers, these products are simply ill-suited for your dog. Don't worry, BestBullySticks has you covered!

From a biological standpoint, all dogs are scavenging carnivores. There's no refuting it! From the smallest Yorkie to the biggest Great Dane, your
loved ones need a diet high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Luckily, our friends over at Orijen have come up with a fantastic dry dog food formulated with only the freshest all-natural regional ingredients. Read more

Whether it's shoes, crayons or trash, we've all seen our pets eat some pretty strange things. But why do they do it? Although pets can't tell us why they engage in certain behaviors, experts have studied some of the common behaviors in pets like eating poop and grass and drinking toilet water and feel as though they have a not-so-strange answer for why pets act the way they do. If your dog is engaging in one of these behaviors, find out why here.

Cat Nip for Canines

Dogs react to anise seed the same way that cats react to catnip! Anise seed comes from a flowering anise plant. The seed's licorice-like taste is common in Mediterranean cooking (maybethat's why dogs love em!). According to WebMD, the seed hasmedical benefitstoo. It is believed to aid digestion,treat coughs,menstrualcramps and helps alleviate the symptoms of Scabies and Psoriasis. Strangely enough the plant is also used as aninsecticide against species of termites and cockroaches. Do not confuse this seed toStar anise. Unlike anise seed, Star anisecomes from the star-shaped flower of a small evergreen and is aningredient in Chinese 5-spice powder. Make your poochhomemade anise seed dog treatsor secure seeds into their favorite toy!

Poop

Eating feces is a common dog behavior, Theresa A.Fuess, Ph.D. of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, explains that feces eating, also known as coprophagia , is not done because of a dietary or enzyme deficiency, but that it is more commonly a behavioral habit picked up when dogs are just puppies.

Dr. Jo AnnEurell, a veterinarian and animal behavior specialist retired from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, states that dogs are scavengers, and that this behavior is common. She also notes that mother dogs often eat their puppies' feces in an effort to clean their den and keep the smell of the puppies away. This behavior can be picked up by puppies, although most shake it off when they are weaned. If a dog has this habit, be sure to regularly clean up feces in the yard and to keep litter boxes out of reach, asEurellexplains that fixing this problem is more of a prevention than a cure. Read more