Tag: dog safety

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

Now that it’s warming up, Best Bully Sticks knows you’ll be flocking to the water. Any body of water will be teaming with folks looking to cool down. And why not take Fido along too? A lot of dogs enjoy the cool water too but owners need to be aware of potential hazards of the water. Best Bully Sticks gets you and your dog ready for fun in the surf with these handy water safety tips!

Hang Out With Your Dog
Don’t leave your dog unsupervised. You brought your dog to the pool, lake or “swimmin’ hole” to hang out with you, right? Make sure you keep an eye on your dog. Not all dogs are good swimmers.

Buy & USE A Dog Life Jacket
Your dog might be an excellent swimmer, but he will eventually get tired, or be distraced or get a cramp. Buy and use a dog life jacket so your dog is always protected. Rip currents or undercurrents can also be a problem in larger bodies of water. You’ll always be happy you bought and put your dog in a life jacket.

Fun In The Sun & Surf
Best Bully Sticks offers a lot of great dog toys to bring out to the water. Floatable, durable and loads of fun, your dog will thank you for a great water toy! Check out BBS’s entire line of Balls for Dogs that will be great for the water. The West Paw Huck or Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Medium Orbee are both great choices!

Provide Shade & Comfort
Sun and therefore heat is more intense around bodies of water because of the sun’s reflection and humidity. Make sure you dog has a place to escape to, such as a towel on the beach (hot sand can blister paws), or shade to get out of the sun.

Water, Water Everywhere, But Not A Drop To Drink
Make sure you have fresh, clean water for your dog to drink. Chlorinated pools or lake water can both cause serious health issues for your dog. Chlorine is poisonous to dogs and natural water can contain parasites. Keep a gallon of water and a pop-up bowl for your pup when he’s romping outdoors!

BBS has a great portable water solution. Check out the Handi-Drink Portable Bottle/Bowl for your next trip out to the water!

More Water After The Water
After you and your pup with your fun in the sun and surf, rinsing your dog with clean water is important. This will ensure that your dog won’t keep any unwanted chlorine, salt or water parasites. Make sure to take off and let your dog’s collar dry as not to cause any hot spots.

Do your dogs like to romp in the water? Tell us your favorite water story in the comments section!

The last part in our safety series are two things BBS never hopes you have to do, but once again, we want all of you to be ready for any potential doggie emergency. CPR, or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, and the Heimlich maneuver are two live saving techniques that could potentially save your dog.  

We could have easily written a very lengthy article about how to complete both of these procedures, but we decided to show off the great potential of the internet and show two instructional videos. These videos are very informative and concise and you’ll have a good understanding of how these should be done by the end of each. 

CPR 

Heimlich Maneuver 

We hope this series has in the least prodded you to begin thinking about first aid for your beloved furry family member, and at most, truly prepared you for any potential emergencies. 

This week in our 101 Dog Tips Dog Safety series, Best Bully Sticks focuses on treating bites on your dog and any reaction they might have. Dogs are naturally curious creatures, so bites may be unavoidable. Bites and stings come from other insects and animals such as flies, spiders, ticks and snakes. Most of these critters can find a way into your house as well, and as unpleasant as that thought is, if you’re dog is bitten you’ll want to know what actions to take to treat your pup.

Insect Bites

Insect bites can range from flies, to spiders, to ticks.

Flies don’t cause much of a problem, but can leave you dog with red sores or scabs. Most commonly, dogs who live near farms or livestock have more of a problem with deer flies or horse flies, which are more painful.  Flies also tend to bite on dog’s ears. To treat a dog with small fly bites, usually a bit of antibiotic cream will help. If the dog’s ears have been bitten, use warm water and antiseptic soap to clean the bites and then use antibiotic ointment afterward to treat the wounds.  Prevention of these bites can include applying a topical insecticide to the dog’s ears, spraying the dog’s outside living quarters with a non-toxic bug repellant and keeping food waste and garbage cleaned up as not to attract bugs.

Spider bites are more severe and usually the culprits are black widow and brown recluse spiders.  Both of these spiders are venomous, but the severity of these bites depends on the location of the bite as well as the species and its size.  Here are signs to identify which type of spider bite and the symptoms.

A black widow spider bite causes immediate tenderness to the location of the bite and numbness and abdominal swelling and sensitivity. Seizures are possible as well as respiratory problems. If you notice any of these and you see a bite, it’s best to call ahead to your vet and then go there as well. Read more

Often times kids do not sense danger, so it is up to parents to ensure their safety. It is very important to supervise child dog interaction and teach your children how to safely approach and play with dogs. By following these safety tips you can avoid unnecessary injuries, growls & prevent dog bites, making sure the experience is a positive and pleasant for all involved.

1. Although sweet intentions, teach kids to NEVER approach or attempt to pet an unfamiliar or stray dog. Since not all dogs may be comfortable with strangers and may mistake their intentions as a threat. That includes a dog that is on the other side of a fence. Many kids are often excited to see a new dog and simply run up to the dog assuming the dog will be friendly, this can result in negative consequences.

2. Children should properly approach & meet dogs in a calm fashion, asking the dog owners permission first before petting the dog.  Instruct your child to hold her hand out to the dog before attempting to the dog. Your child should allow the dog to sniff her hand first,  so the dog understands your child is not a threat. It is crucial that you model how to approach a dog. Show your toddler how to approach quietly and calmly from the side. Demonstrate how to walk without quick or sudden movements, such as lunging or running.

4. Kids should be respectful, gentle and kind towards animals. Never allow children to tease and tug on a dog ears, fur or tail. This type of pestering behavior can cause a dog to bite or get angry. Instead the child should gently stroke the dog's fur in direction the hair grows.

5. NEVER leave your child unattended with a dog, specifically unfamiliar dogs. Supervision is key! As a parent it is up to you to monitor dog & child interaction in order to keep everyone safe.

6. Teach your children never to run up to a dog who is eating, chewing on a bone or toy. Some dogs are food aggressive or bone or toy possessive. Also let them know they should never try to take those items away from a dog.

7.Teach your children to never put their face up to the dog's face. The dog could perceive that behavior as a challenge. Also, make sure the child knows to keep their face away from the dog's paws. The dog can hurt a child by scratching them.

8. Make sure children know when it is appropriate to run and scream when a dog is present. High energy child's play, running or screaming can get dog over excited and may cause dog to chase, jump or even bite.

9. Do not allow children to eat or keep food around an unfamiliar dog, some dogs may not know that snatching food is not good doggy etiquette. Dogs do not understand their own strength and may topple over your little kid for a tiny morsel.

10. Warn your child that he shouldn't approach any dog that is exhibiting signs of aggression, such as growling, showing teeth or barking ferociously.

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