All posts by peter

Going Green: Skin Care for Dogs

Jana Ballinger over at care2.com lists recipes for a variety of healthy, holistic dog shampoos tacking a variety of skin conditions for your pup from dry skin to flea and tick repellents.  Here’s the concoction for itchy skin and dogs with allergies.  See the full cookbook here.

Skin Soothing Shampoo for Dogs with Itchy Skin and Allergies

  • 2 drops Geranium
  • 6 drops Rosewood
  • 6 drops Lavender
  • 1 drop Roman Chamomile
  • 2 drops Carrot Seed
  • 1 tablespoon of finely ground oatmeal can be blended in to provide further relief.

 

8 Days Trapped in Rubble, Dog Survives

A Springer Spaniel named Lucy was thought lost after an explosion at her owner’s snowboarding and dog sledding business left behind nothing but a pile of rubble.  

The AP reports her owner, left critically wounded in a Denver hospital was happy when friends brought Lulu for a visit.  She was found laying in a crawl space beneath 15 feet of the demolished building.  Veterinarian Christine Murphy suspects the pup survived by drinking melting snow.  Full story here.

Quick Relief Tips for Pet Allergies

Lots of people have pet allergies. Several strategies can help to reduce the incidence of allergic reactions due to pet dander. Simply follow as many of these as you can as often as you can for the best results. After all, if you can’t breathe, who is going to take care of your pets?

  • Vacuum carpets and furniture on a daily basis.
  • Vacuum curtains on a regular basis.
  • Dust with a cloth that picks up the dust and doesn’t just move it around.
  • Avoid upholstered furniture, curtains, and carpeting. Opt for furniture with leather, vinyl, or wood. Install hardwood flooring and blinds.
  • Brush your pets on a regular basis, preferably outside the living area.
  • Wipe down all surfaces on a weekly basis.
  • Consult your veterinarian about sprays that minimize dander. Purchase ones that he recommends.
  • Limit the areas of the home that your pet has access to on a daily basis. Electronic collars can assist with that.
  • Get an animal that is known for causing fewer allergic reactions in people.
  • Purchase an air purification system that targets animal dander.

 If you want to have pets in your home, but you are allergic to their dander, follow the strategies listed for some relief to the potential reactions that you might experience. Plus, visit your doctor and get his advice on the advisability of owning a pet that can cause allergic reactions in you.

 

Eco-Friendly Dog Activities

There are a lot of great “green” activities you can do with your dog. Hiking is one example, as long as you follow the tenets of “leave no trace”. In other words, don’t leave doggy-doo, litter, or trampled and broken plants.

Here are some other suggestions for keeping your dog green:

  1. Research your dog’s leash options. Retractable leashes are great for travel since you can keep your dog close to you, or let them run. Further, some leash designers offer eco-friendly options such as recycled vintage leashes.
  2. Wherever you go, bring something to collect doggy-doo. Bags that conveniently clip onto retractable leashes are one option. Further to that, there are now “compostable” bags that have much less environmental impact than regular plastic bags.
  3. Investigate local guides that may reveal cool places to take your dog.

Scottish Crackdown on Bad Dog Owners

In an article from The Herald, a Scottish plan to crack down on irresponsible dog owners who let their pets run dangerously rampant has met with positive response. Alex Neil, an SNP backbencher received about 100 responses to his proposed Control of Dogs Bill, which calls for a new approach. Under the new proposal dog owners could be liable to pay up to £5,000 (about $9,723 US dollars) for injury or damage, with the most severe penalties for more serious cases being unlimited fines and up to two years in jail.

The proposed law is meant to operate as a preventive, enabling control orders to be issued to owners of dangerous animals. The orders could require muzzling, re-homing the dog, or owners being required to attend dog-training courses.

Mr. Neil’s approach is to shift focus from the dogs to the owners, as he feels the owners should be held responsible for their dogs. Current legislation focuses more on specific breeds and he said this has not made the public safer.

“There is a minority of dog owners out there who are simply not responsible with their dogs, and we need ways to act against them,” said Mr. Neil.

Man’s Best Friend Shows Off

Stylin\' Doggy Duds at Just Dogs! Fashion Show
Canine fashion show promotes awareness of organizations

By Tara Bozick – Victoria Advocate

At the Just Dogs! fashion show at the Victoria Mall on Saturday, fifteen dogs modeled outfits to promote awareness for organizations that help dogs. Lexie and Koda, known as a teddy bear breed, showed off their bridesmaid and best man ensembles to the audience while children reached up to pet their heads.

Lexie and Koda’s owner Tina Montgomery brought four dogs to the fashion show, dressing them up as bride and groom, in swimsuits and as rockers.

Owner of Just Dogs!, Will Cleveland ordered wedding gowns and tuxedos for the second annual show. He hopes the hundreds who gathered to see the cute puppies noticed the organizations that encourage spaying and neutering.

“We’ve got too many dogs that don’t have a home now,” Cleveland said.

Dog Wash for Surgery

Carol Kopszywa, owner of Nikki, a four-month-old Siberian Husky is not going to let her pup be put to sleep or lose the chance for a full life with a truly caring owner. At about 9 weeks of age, Nikki was diagnosed with a congenital disorder that will require a $4,000 operation without which her life expectancy is only about 6 to 12 months.

Carol Kopszywa, a resident of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, wondered if people would care enough to help Nikki have a chance to live a full life. We are thrilled to report people do. The owners of Bayview Pet Medical Center held a dog-wash fundraiser for Nikki on Saturday and raised nearly $500.

Nikki’s condition causes her blood to bypass the liver where toxins are normally filtered out. The result is her blood fills with toxins that cause further liver damage and neurologic injury. She will be taken to the LSU School of Veterinarian Medicine in Baton Rouge for surgery.

Donations to help with Nikki’s medical costs can be sent to the Bayview Pet Medical and Dental Center at 1319 Bienville Blvd, Ocean Springs, MS 39564. Phone (228) 872-4424‎.

Bottled Water for the Dogs

Flavored Water for Fido!
You can’t just reach into the fridge at 7-11 and grab a regular ‘ol bottled water anymore. There seem to be more flavors of water these days than kinds of pop. Jumping on the latest trend is a new brand from Colt Beverages, Inc. called Fortifido, variety of bottled, flavored goodness for you dog.

The bottle water for Fido comes in four flavors, each full of vitamins and minerals to supplement your dog’s food nutritional plan.

The four Fantastic Fortifido Flavors are:

  • HEALTHY BONES: (Peanut Butter Flavored) Formulated with Calcium added to help maintain healthy bones in adult dogs.
  • FRESH BREATH: (Spearmint Flavored) With Spearmint added for fresh breath for all stages of life.
  • HEALTHY JOINTS: (Lemongrass Flavored) Formulated with Nutrients added to to help maintain healthy joints in adult dogs.
  • HEALTHY SKIN: (Parsley Flavored) Formulated with Zinc added to help maintain healthy skin for all stages of life.

Fortifido will be available at retailers soon.