Tag: Dog Care Tips

Last week Best Bully Sticks talked about reconciling the relationship between your dog and your garden. If you love both, but your dog seems not care for your garden patch or flower beds, read Gardening With Your Dog Pt. 1 from last Monday. After you’ve worked hard to create a beautiful and blooming garden and instill respect in your dog for that same garden, don’t let it go to waste by putting your dog in harms way. 

An overly curious dog or an accident in with garden equipment can be hazardous! Here are some quick tips on keeping your pup safe in the garden. And remember; if you’re not a green thumb, still pay attention to these tricks and tips. You never know when Fido will be around a friend’s garden or what he could possibly pick up in the outdoors.

Poisonous Plants
Obviously, plant choice is a big decision in your garden, however some plants are very toxic to your dog.  Sago Palm and other types of palm in the Cycad family as well as mushrooms can cause liver failure in dogs. Rhododendron, Azaleas, Foxglove, Lily of the Valley, Oleander and Rosebay all affected the heart. The ASPCA has a full list of names and photos of plants to avoid.

Chemical Fertilizer & Insecticides
Chemically laden fertilizers and pesticides are usually an easy and quick fix to feed, weed and kill bugs, but a there is no easy and quick fix for a dog who has serious intestinal or digestive issues or worse. All gardens need to be fed and treated, but whether a dog accidentally or intentionally gets into garden chemicals, it’s never a pretty picture.  The first step in avoiding this common mishap is simply reading the manufacturer’s instructions. These will let you know how long the chemicals are in the environment. It could be only a few days or even weeks, but either way your dog could be affected. Making these fertilizers and insecticides inaccessible to your dog is a good measure to take. If you do use these chemicals, leave your dog inside when applying them to your garden.

Compost
Compost is a wonderful, natural alternative to using chemical fertilizers. Composting natural kitchen waste (egg shells, coffee, fruit and veggie scraps) is a great way to give your garden vital nutrients while also creating less waste. However, make sure your dog doesn’t take your compost bin for a “second-helping” bin. Make sure your compost is where your dog cannot get to it, simply for the reason that certain people foods aren’t good for Fido. Read more

Break out the sprinklers, the grill and the checkered tablecloths! Best Bully Sticks wants to say, “HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!” Families around the nation gather to remember those service men and women who gave their lives to maintain our national freedoms as well as enjoy the company of those who are closest to us. That tight-knit group includes your dog, too! While you enjoy your Memorial Day, as well as a good burger, don’t forget to let Fido join the fun! BBS will be taking you through some past editions of the Healthy Dog Blog’s safety tips to keep your favorite pup safe while enjoying your Memorial Day festivities!

1. Don’t Share Food! There are lots of human foods that aren’t good for you dog, and while you may want to treat your pup, that treat may not be good to him. Make sure you keep all food and alcoholic beverages out of Fido’s reach.

2. Keep Fresh Water Available! Fresh water is essential to keeping your dog’s internal temperature down on a potentially hot Memorial Day. No matter where you are having your Memorial Day fun, make sure fresh water is available for your dog. Best Bully Sticks makes this easy with the Drinkwell Original Pet Fountain, or if you’re on the go, the Handi-Drink Portable Bottle/Bowl is a great travel-friendly alternative.

3. Memorial Day Travel with Fido! If you have Memorial Day plans down the street, across town or half a country away and decide to take your dog, make sure you’re keeping your pup safe in the car. But most importantly, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR DOG IN THE CAR!  BBS wants to offer some great tips for keeping your dog safe on the road. Read our Road Trip Dog Care Safety post to learn more! Read more

When the air turns warm, we humans shed our winter coats and don filp-flops, tank tops and shorts with the intention being comfortable outdoors. However, humans aren’t the only ones shedding winter coats. Our pups are getting rid of that winter fur too and want to be outside as much as we do!

Best Bully Sticks knows that warm weather and thick fur don’t mix and so it’s up to you, the loving owner, to help your pup shed their winter coat. Many owners groom their pups themselves, but not all owners have the know-how, tools, experience or even physical ability to groom their dogs properly. That’s where a groomer comes in. But how do you know how to pick a good and trustworthy groomer? Best Bully Sticks will help the tips and tricks of choosing a good groomer!

Grooming can consist of brushing, combing, bathing, clipping nails, cutting out matted hair, cleaning ears and medicated baths or treatments. So, don’t just think of grooming as a hair cut. It can meet a lot of different needs.

Finding a groomer should start with asking your trusted friends, your vet, boarding kennel, dog trainer or local animal shelter who they might recommend. All of these people might have a good “go-to” groomer they trust. Checking the Yellow Pages for “Pet Groomer” or the National Dog Groomers Association of America’s website is a good option, too. Calling the Better Business Bureau for any registered complaints is also a safe step to take. Read more

Best Bully Sticks knows that you love spoiling your dog, but you might want to reconsider feeding Fido those table scraps during dinner. It seems that pet obesity is a growing problem in the U.S., a fact made clear by a recent article published by WebMD, which listed obesity among the top five issues facing pets. There are a number of reasons why owners may unintentionally allow their dog to plump up; dogs may not get daily exercise, they could overeat, or they could be eating food unsuitable for a healthy animal diet.

Pet obesity can cause complicated medical problems if left untreated. It’s proven to be a contributing factor to heart disease, diabetes, respiratory problems and bone and joint issues. An overweight dog is not a happy, healthy pet no matter how many treats you give him.

Unfortunately, many people remain ignorant about what their dogs can and cannot eat on a regular basis. This may simply be because dog obesity isn’t a widely covered issue and owners may not think twice about proper dietary and exercise for their four-legged friends. Let’s take some time to recognizing canine obesity and addressing basic preventative methods so you can enjoy your dog’s company for a long time.

How can you tell if your pet is overweight?
Too many owners confuse a fat dog for a healthy one. As stated before, pet obesity is serious business, so if you have any suspicion that your dog is overweight, check for these few key signs. Read more

Last week we started a dog safety series, which started with creating a first aid kit for your dog.  We also covered what to do to be prepared for any household or natural disasters. Best Bully Sticks knows that you can never be too prepared when it comes to you or your dog's safety. That's why this week we continue our safety series with treating burns that your dog might receive and how to treat them.

Burns & How to Treat Them
There are three different types of burns: thermal, electrical and chemical. Because of a domesticated dog's typical environment, household accidents are the most common cause of burns. For instance, if your dog is curious, electrical cords could become chew toys. Household cleaners could cause chemical burns and irritate your dogs skin or eyes.  Let's go over the different types of burns and what to do if they occur.

Different Burn Types & Stages of Burns
Thermal burns are heat-related burns and include open flames, hot air dryers, heat lamps, boiling liquids, semi-hot liquids or even sunburn. A chemical burn is any burn that comes from a chemical and there are two different types; acids and alkali's.  Electrical burns occur after a dog has come in contact with electricity, like as stated before, chewing on electrical cords.

Just as in humans, these burns can reach different stages of severity and are categorized as 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree burns.  A 1st degree burn is called a superficial partial thickness wound and only involves the top layer of skin.  Minor pain and redness are the symptoms but they usually heal quickly. Sunburn is a classic example of a first degree burn.  A second degree burn is called a deep partial thickness wound and involves the deeper layers of skin. These burns produce blisters on the skins surface.  Second degree burns are more painful, take longer to heal and introduce a risk of infection.  These burns require veterinary attention.Third degree burns involve complete destruction of all skin layers. Charring is easily seen and no sensation is left in the area of the burn. With third degree burns, a dog is highly prone to infection. This kind of burn is very serious and life-threatening and require immediate and extensive veterinary care.

What Burns Look Like & How To Treat Them
Thermal Burns
The most common thermal burn is sunburn and usually happen when a pet's coat is trimmed too short and leaves skin exposed.  Prevention is better than treatment, so if there is any non-pigmented (white) skin showing on your dog when they are outside for long periods of time, apply sunscreen that contain PABA and avoid those using zinc. Try to prevent your pet from licking off the sunscreen.

Other thermal burns will usually be contact burns and are usually 2nd or 3rd degree burns. The treatment for these contact thermal burns are as follows:

• Extinguish all flames. If electricity is involved, make sure the power is turned off.
• Avoid being bitten. You may have to muzzle your pet.
• Apply cool water compresses with a clean (sterile) cloth. This may prevent the burn from penetrating deeper into the tissues. Change the compress frequently, and keep the site cool and wet. If the burn involves only one part of the body, you can submerge the area in cool water.
• Do not break any blisters that may have formed.
• Do not apply any ointments or butter-like substances.
• Do not apply ice to the burn.
• Carefully transport the animal to your veterinarian!

Chemical Burns
Burns caused by chemicals may be hard to see because your dog's coat may hide the burn.  A strange odor usually a sign that a chemical burn has occurred and again are usually 2nd or 3rd degree burns.

• Avoid being bitten. You may have to muzzle your pet.
• Make sure the area is well ventilated.
• If the burn is from a dry chemical, brush away as much of the substance as possible. Be sure to protect the mouth, nose and eyes of you and the pet.
• If you KNOW the chemical was an acid, wash away with a solution of baking soda dissolved in water.
• If you KNOW the chemical was alkalis, wash away with a solution of vinegar and water.
• If you don't know, wash the contaminated area with large amounts of warm (not Hot!) flowing water. Protect yourself with appropriate safety equipment.
• If the chemical has gotten into the pet's eyes, flush with clean water or sterile saline for 15-20 minutes.
• Do not apply any ointments or butter-like substances.
• Do not apply ice to the burn.
• Carefully transport the animal to your veterinarian! If possible, bring the chemical's container with you.

Smoke inhalation is another type of chemical substance that can be toxic to dogs.  If your pet is around fire, or fumes from burring materials such as plastics, rubber or other synthetic materials it can be very harmful to your pets respiratory system. Carbon monoxide is another dangerous chemical you dog could inhale. If your dog encounters any of these, go to the veterinarian immediately.

Electrical Burns
Electrical burns are most often found near the mouth from chewing on electrical cords.  The dog's mouth will have burns at the corners or on the tip of the tongue. However, the burns aren't usually as serious as the shock they receive from the electricity.  Serious shocks can cause a dog to go into cardiac arrest.  If a dog doesn't go to the vet immediately, brain damage or death can occur. Do not attempt to treat the dog at home in any way. Take your dog to the vet immediately.

As always, prevention is key. Keep your chemicals and electrical cords out of the way of your pets. Also, be conscious of what to do if any of these should happen. In most of these situations, home remedies aren't recommended.  Go to the vet as soon as possible and call ahead and let them know you're on your way so they can be prepared as well.