Tag: Dog Allergies

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

With spring here and loads of outdoor excitement ahead, we at BestBullySticks want to make sure you and your pet enjoy the sunny days ahead to the fullest. While there are some outdoor activities that can pose health risks to your pooch, rest assured— we’re here to make sure you can nip them in the bud! Here are three hazards to watch out for this season:

Lyme Disease

The first step to protecting your dog from Lyme disease is to ensure they’re on the appropriate preventative medications. We strongly suggest an all-natural flea and tick alternative to the toxic ingredients found in many medications. Common spot treatments are chock full of chemicals and have been reported to pose a threat to both pets and their human owners.

Caused by bacteria from the genus Borrelia, Lyme disease is primarily transmitted by deer ticks during the height of tick season (May through August). Borrelia-carrying ticks generally need to be attached for 18 hours to transmit infection. Should you suspect your loved one may have come down with Lyme disease take them to the vet immediately— here are a few early warning symptoms to look out for:

• Lameness accompanied by joint inflammation and stiff walking

• Fever, difficulty breathing and lack of appetite

• Swelling of the lymph nodes close to the tick bite

BestBullySticks.com has a whole host of all-natural flea and tick control products available through our online store. Don’t give Lyme disease the chance to affect your dog’s health this coming season. Read more

Last week Best Bully Sticks covered how allergies affect our pooch pals and how a reaction will most likely look. (To find out more, read "Recognize Your Dog’s Allergic Reactions”) This week’s tip focuses in on how to treat your dog’s allergic reactions as they pertain to skin symptoms.

Allergy Testing
The first step may be figuring out exactly what is causing an allergic reaction. This usually entails a trip to the vet's office and a blood or skin test to determine the offending allergen. The next step, of course, will be limiting exposure to that allergen.

Preventative Measures
After you know how to recognize the reaction and exactly what it is, there are some avoidance measures you can take to help cut down on your pet’s reactions. For instance, keeping your dog out of the room for several hours while vacuuming and changing furnace filters will aid against house dust allergens. When treating a dog with sensitivity to pollen, keep them out of fields, keep your grass cut short, rinse your dog's feet after being outside and keep your dog inside when high pollen counts have been forecast. Read more

Best Bully Sticks hates to admit it, but it’s that time of year again. The itchy, watery eyes and scratchy throat are just a few symptoms that humans go through when the world gets a thin yellow dusting of pollen each spring. Sometimes, allergy season can wreak as much havoc on our dogs as it does us. But it’s not always about pollen. There are a lot of materials and foods that your prized pooch could be sensitive to and it's important to recognize an allergic reaction. Let’s review some allergens that could affect your dog. 

A few different sources of allergens can be:

-Tree

-Grass

-Weed pollen

-House dust or dust mite

-Flea bites  Read more