Dog Care 101 Tip #210: Pet First Aid Awareness

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

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BBS Product Spotlight: Giant Elk Antlers

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!

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BBS Breed Spotlight: Catahoula Leopard Dog

Truly one of the first “American” breeds, the Catahoula Leopard Dog is the combined result of New and Old World dog breeding. The rise of the Catahoula Leopard Dog not only marked an important point in history, it presently represents the state of Louisiana for it’s historical importance to the region. Find out more about the Catahoula Leopard Dog below on this week’s BestBullySticks Breed Spotlight.

The Catahoula Leopard Dog — or more commonly the Catahoula Cur — got it’s unique name from Catahoula Lake in North Central Louisiana. Choctaw Indian in origin, Catahoula means “sacred lake.” Recognized by the American Kennel Club as a herding dog, this breed holds a special place in American culture as it’s rise coincides with some of the earliest cultural exchanges between American Indians and European settlers in the 1500’s.

The earliest known records documenting the origins of the Catahoula Cur date back to 1539. Hernando de Soto, a Spanish conquistador, was the first to describe the Catahoula Cur’s New World ancestors. This ancient breed accompanied early North American settlers from Asia and evolved into the American Indian Dog. This native breed was only half of the Catahoula Cur equation, though. Hernando de Soto’s expeditionary crew had crossed the Atlantic with dogs of their own. Similar in description to Bloodhounds, Mastiffs and Greyhounds, these European breeds were crossbred with the indigenous American Indian Dog giving rise to the Catahoula Cur.

De Soto’s hand in shaping the history of the Catahoula Cur would also be seen in the years to come. The journey inland into unknown territory, which cut through the south, demanded emergency food reserves. De Soto’s solution was to bring Caribbean pigs along for the ride. However, when de Soto’s expedition broke down in northern Louisiana near present day Catahoula, the pigs became too large of a burden on the group and many were released into the wild.

When settlers were moving into the American heartland two hundred years later they encountered the wild pigs let loose by de Soto’s group generations earlier. These “pineywood rooters” proved a nuisance for settlers. Relatively common in the region already, the Catahoula Cur— or Catahoula Hog Dog as it was soon to be known— was used to dispatch the invasive wild pigs. A superb hunting dog able to scale trees, the Catahoula Cur even came to win the favor of former president and renowned huntsman Theodore Roosevelt.

The Catahoula Cur also excelled at herding. The Catahoula Cur herds through constant antagonization and intimidation as opposed to the normal boundary patrol methods seen in most herding breeds. This is the result of their assertive nature and shouldn’t be confused with aggression. Even-tempered and intelligent, the Catahoula Cur is firmly dedicated in it’s protection of the pack making them an extremely loyal and family-oriented breed. However as with other herding breeds, there may be difficulties with smaller children.

While loyal and intelligent, this breed is fiercely independent and wastes no time attempting to establish dominance. Many owners have stated their Catahoulas believe they own them. As a result, this breed requires a firm and confident owner, able to lead by example and with respect. Treats certainly don’t hurt either! BestBullySticks offers many all-natural dog treats such as Bravo! All-Beef Hot Dog Training Treats to help build good habits.

With a medium to large build, Catahoula Curs often grow to 20–26 inches (51–61 cm) and weigh between 55–80 lbs (16–37 kg). A physically active breed, they require at least one hour of exercise daily. However, they are not a high energy breed like Weimaraners or Border Collies. Even still, boredom and a lack of exercise will almost certainly contribute to an increase in destructive and obnoxious behavior. Toys like the ChompChamps Duke Rope are perfect for keeping dogs of all types entertained!

The Catahoula’s coat varies greatly with yellow, brindle, black merle, red merle and red the most common. However, the most striking feature of the Catahoula Cur are their eyes. Akin to cracked glass or brightly colored marbles, it is the Catahoula’s intense gaze that sets this breed apart. Heterochromia (different colored eyes) is also a common among Catahoula Curs. This, in combination with their extremely varied coats, makes the breed’s appearance extremely diverse.

Deafness is recognized as one of the breed’s largest shortcomings. A predominantly white coated Catahoula has an 80% chance of being born with bilateral deafness or unilateral hearing. Thankfully there are organizations dedicated to the rescue of deaf dogs helping to prevent unnecessary euthanization.

All things considered, the Catahoula Cur is a great dog for experienced owners. Their gorgeous coats and penetrating eyes give them a unique appearance unlike any other breed. The Catahoula Cur is without a doubt a breed like no other.

Are you a Catahoula Cur owner yourself? Share your experience with this fascinating breed on Facebook and Twitter. Also, be sure to follow BestBullySticks to receive the latest news on products and specials!

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Celebrate National Pet ID Week! Dog Tags ON SALE!

It's National Pet ID Week! Make sure your dog's tags are up to date to keep Fido safe and secure! We're offering all of our customizable pet id tags for half off! Now only $3.99, check out our full line of pet tags at BestBullySticks.com.

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Weekly Drool Recipe: Broccoli Carrot Chicken Dog Treats

We love bringing you things that are 100% great for your dog. That’s why we offer all-natural bully sticks, dog treats and more. It’s the same reason we at BestBullySticks share great all-natural dog treat recipes with you on our blog! And we’ve got another for you! This yummy, easy and healthy dog treat recipe from Doggy Dessert Chef combines nutritious veggies and tasty chicken to make your dog’s mouth water and tail wag. Read on for the full Broccoli Carrot Chicken Dog Treat Recipe!

These broccoli, carrot chicken treats can be made months ahead of time so you’ll always have the makings of tasty treats on hand.

Ingredients


• 1 Chicken breast, cooked and chopped

• 1 cup finely grated Carrots

• 1/2 cup chopped Broccoli

• 1 teaspoon Lemon juice

• 3 tablespoons Butter, softened

• 1 Egg

• 2 cups Oat Flour Read more

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