Tag: treats

Listen up! Thorough and regular ear cleaning and maintenance can help your dog avoid ear problems and infections. Also it will help you familiarize yourself with your dogs ears so you can recognize abnormalities. But many dogs they dread getting their ears cleaned making it difficult for you. Here are a few tips to make the ear cleaning experience a positive one for you both!

1. Trim or gently pluck hair inside dogs ears. Some dog breeds have a great deal of hair inside their ears. Begin by plucking or trimming the hair inside the dog's ears to improve air flow and visibility while cleaning the dog's ears. It is generally not painful to pluck a dog's ear hair, but pluck small bunches of hair at a time to avoid discomfort.

2. Apply ear cleaning solution to a cotton ball or Q-tip. To make the actual ear cleaning process quicker, begin by moistening several cotton balls/cotton pads and several Q-tips.

3. Wipe away ear wax and build up. Using the damp cotton pad or cotton ball, gently wipe away the dog's ear build-up and ear wax. This will remove large portions of the ear gunk.

4. Clean the nooks and crannies of your dog ear gently with a Q-tip. To get in all those little nooks and crannies of the dog's ear, use the damp Q-tips to clean away any remaining visible ear wax and ear build-up. Only clean the parts of the ear that are visible -  DO NOT stick the Q-tip down the dogs ear canal, which can be damaging to your dogs ear and hearing.

5. Give the dog a biscuit! Reward your dog with a treat for good behavior during and at the end of the ear cleaning process. Positive reinforcement with treats and kind, encouraging voice will make for a positive experience for your pup.

6. REPEAT ear cleaning once a week. Regular ear cleanings are vital to prevent ear infections in dogs. This also enables pet owners to spot an infection and act quickly if the dog does develop an ear infection.

**If your dog has floppy ears then you will need to clean them more often due to poor air circulation, which can serve as the breeding grounds for ear infections.

***Ease your dog into ear cleaning by gently massaging their ears and rewarding with treat. Then once they are use to their ears being touch attempt an ear cleaning

What are signs your dog needs a to see a vet? If your dog is scratching ears constantly, ears are smelly & odorous, red or inflamed,  or if your dog is constantly shaking his head seek vet assistance to rule our existing ear infection or other ear problem.

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Drum-roll please! We have 2 winners in our favorite Best Bully Sticks Rescue Shelter $1000 Giveaway!

Congrats winners! Both of your rescues will be mailed a $500 check each. Here is a little information about our bark-worthy & inspiring rescue winners. Please support their cause!

1.  The Puppy Rescue Mission

The primary mission of The Puppy Rescue Mission, Inc. (TPRM), is to fund-raise and assist in pet rescue, foster and re-homing when needed, in particular pets of soldiers, especially those deployed in war zones. They assist with requests, logistics, administration and fund-raising for the adopted stray dogs of war rescued by and bonded with soldiers. This may include vet care, supplies, transport and related issues. They work with or through other organizations that help our soldiers bring their companion animals home from war.

The Puppy Rescue Mission is the brainchild of Anna Cannan, president and founding member of PRM. Anna’s idea for PRM began when her fiancé, Chris, was deployed to and stationed in Afghanistan. There Chris and other soldiers befriended several heroic dogs, Rufus, Target and Sasha, who weeks previously had thwarted a suicide bomber, caring for them and for Target’s litter of puppies, who were only 4-5 weeks old.

An unbreakable bond formed between the soldiers and the dogs, as the dogs provided a sense of normalcy for the soldiers at Chris’s post that rarely exists in a country like Afghanistan. According to Anna, she didn’t hear from Chris very often but when she did, she could literally "hear the smile on Chris’s face as his voice would light up when he would talk about all the dogs at the post." Realizing his time at the post would eventually come to an end, Chris spoke with Anna about the idea of bringing some of the dogs back to the States. To help raise funds to bring these dogs home, Anna started The Puppy Rescue Mission, through a Facebook page.

Since that time, TPRM has assisted in the rescue of a number of pups and dogs and a few kitties. And Anna continues to receive new requests almost daily.

2. Lab Rescue of the LRCP

Lab Rescue of the LRCP (Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac) is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization with a two-fold mission:

1. They rescue, foster and place homeless, abused, and/or abandoned Labrador Retrievers (and Golden Retriever-Labrador Retriever mixes)
2. They provide a referral service for owners seeking to place their Labradors in new homes.

They are similar to other rescue groups and shelters but they specialize in Labradors.  The labs they receive first are evaluated for temperament and then placed with foster families where they are loved, exercised and further evaluated as they await adoption. All of their dogs are brought up to date on their shots are given a heartworm test and, if possible, are spayed or neutered. They place over 850 Labradors each year. Check out their Facebook page!

Thank you to all the other wonderful rescues for entering and the many fans and dog lovers that voted.

If you favorite dog rescue didn’t win…have no fear we have a giveaway every month! Stay tuned to our facebook page for the next one. http://www.facebook.com/BestBully

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Natural herbs that aid in the health of humans also benefit man's best friend. Many herbs serve as effective and potent medicinal remedies for common canine ailments. Here are a list of herbs that all dog owners should add to their medicine cabinets or first aid kits. You can purchase these herbs at your local all natural food or pet store.

1. Neem- natures all natural mosquito and flea bug repellent. It also heals burns and soothes dry, irritated skin.

2. Yarrow- helps stop bleeding.

3. Arnica- heals bruises and  muscle injuries, eases pain and promotes healing.

4. Valerian- natures sedative and sleep inducer, helps ease anxiety and provide stress free slumber.

5. Olive Leaf Extract- natural antibotic that helps with diarrhea and stomach issues.

6. Milk Thistle- effective antioxidant, boost and protects the liver, prevents and reverses cloudy eyes (nuclear sclerosis) in dogs.

7. Hawthorn- used to treat cardiac insufficiency, strengthens the heart muscle and improves circulation, defends against congestive heart failure in senior dogs, and tones the tickers of younger dogs who've survived heartworm disease.

8. Boswellia- great for senior dogs, reduces inflammation and improves mobility in arthritic canines.

9. Eyebright- used to treat eye infections.

10. Burdock- known for its  blood-purifying, hair-regrowing, and preventive cancer-fighting powers.

**Make sure to check with your vet about dosage and to make sure these herbs do not conflict with any of your dogs current medication.

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Lots of fun in the summer sun makes for hot and hungry dogs with pleading eyes. We have the summer snack your dog has been begging for and craving. From our kitchen to yours, here is a yummy Jerky Turkey recipe that is sure to be a pup-pleaser. What we love about this recipe is that it is a gentle-on-the-tummy treat, grain-free and low in fat. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 pound raw ground turkey (or chicken)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh herbs such as thyme or parsley (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 200°. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and purée the mixture.

2. Line a jelly roll pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper (it makes clean-up easier) and pour the mixture into it. Spread evenly.

3. Bake two hours with the oven door slightly ajar to allow the moisture to escape.

4. Remove from oven and, using a pizza cutter or knife, cut into small, individual-sized portions.

5. Place pieces back in the oven, flipped over, and bake an additional one to two hours, or until the treats are dry and leathery.

6. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

***  If your dog is on a special diet always check with your vet about which foods are appropriate & safe.

Courtesy of The Organic Dog Biscuit Cookbook

Stay tuned for delicious dog recipes every Wednesday in our Weekly Drool Recipes blog series. Check out our other drool-worthy recipes! Also, remember food is meant to be shared! So be a pal and submit your favorite dog recipes to be featured in this delicious blog series by emailing us at bestbullysticks@gmail.com.

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Dogs are not immune to getting sunburn, in fact can just as easily become a burnt hot dog. Just like humans dogs are at high risk of suffering from skin damage and skin cancer caused by over exposure to the sun's UV rays. To much sun can leave a dog sunburned and miserable. So before your dog hits the beach, nap in their sunny spot, frolic along hiking trails and enjoy the great outdoors it is important to know the facts about sunburn. Most importantly don't forget to lather Fido with doggy sunscreen. Here are few things all pet owners must know about recognizing, preventing and treating sunburn.

Which dogs are susceptible to sunburn?

• Any dog that consistently spends time in the sun during the hottest parts of the day;
• Dogs that have white or light colored hair;
• Dogs that have very short hair, or no hair at all; and
• Dogs that have suffered a loss of fur through allergies, hot spots or medical treatment.

What are the signs of sunburn?

• Red skin; and/or
• Hair loss; and/or
• Sores;

What areas of the body are prone to sunburn?

Those parts where there is little hair covering and/or where the skin pigmentation is low; specifically:

• Nose;
• Ends of the ears;
• Around the mouth;
• Eyelids
• Your dog's underside - belly, groin and inside the legs; these areas are particularly at risk where your dog is on a reflective surface, such as walking on a concrete path.

What's the best way to prevent dog sunburn?

• Keep your dog inside in a cool room, or if he's outside, in adequate shelter during the hottest parts of the day;
• Use a sunscreen on those parts of his body susceptible to sunburn. Use a pet sunscreen because those produced for human use contain ingredients that are toxic to your dog. Remember to regularly reapply the sunscreen as it will wear, or be licked, off relatively quickly;
• You can buy bodysuits for your dog that protect them from UV rays - if your dog is continually out in the sun, this may be the best option, and your vet should be able to provide you with more information on these products; and
• If you regularly have your dog clipped in the summer, think about leaving his coat a bit longer so the hair offers some protection. Talk to your dog's groomer about clipping your dog - some dog breed's hair is designed to insulate the dog from the sun's heat and if you clip it off, you may be doing more harm than good to your dog.

How do you soothe a sunburned dog?

• Use aloe vera, nature's ointment. The juice from the aloe vera plant will help reduce infection and scarring and speed the healing process. If you have a plant available, break off the tip of a leaf and squeeze out some gel. Apply it directly to the affected area. If a fresh plant is unavailable, a cream with aloe vera works well.

• Speed healing with vitamin E. Puncture a Vitamin E capsule and squeeze out the oil, applying to the affected area to reduce scarring and speed healing.

• Replace lost moisture on the skin. Applying a moisturizer can restore the moisture balance to the skin. Those products which contain coconut or jojoba oil are best. Apply three times per day.

• Use witch hazel, it has a cooling property as it evaporates from the skin but doesn't sting. Apply with a cotton ball three to four times per day.

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BestBullySticks.com Rescue Shelter $1000 Giveaway Final Voting Round!