How to Stop a Dogs Paw From Bleeding

If you see blood dripping or even pouring from your dog’s paw, don’t panic. A large amount of blood is not always indicative of a deep wound. Even a thorn can draw a large amount of blood if your dog steps on it with enough force. The first thing you need to do is to stop the bleeding, which can sometimes take a few seconds or a few minutes, depending on the severity of the injury.

Instructions

1. • Remove any objects that have caused the wound, such as thorns or sticks. You can usually grasp the object with your fingers, but for smaller objects you may need to use tweezers.

   • Trim the hair from the site of the wound. If your dog is short-haired, you may not have to do trim any hair.

   • Press and hold a sterile gauze bandage to the wound. Apply enough pressure to stop the bleeding, but not so much that it causes pain to the dog. If the bleeding does not stop within 10 minutes, call your vet.

   • Clean the wound with a product that contains isotonic saline or chlorhexidine diacetate, such as Nolvasan.

   • Wash the wound with water. Use an outside hose, if possible, to wash all of the dirt out of the wound.

   • Apply a healing ointment.

   • Place two to three gauze pads on the wound. Insert one cotton ball between each toe. Apply medical tape around the gauze pad. Tape the bottom of the foot so the entire foot and toes are covered and the gauze is secured. Apply the tape loosely. The cotton balls and gauze will stay in place as long as the tape covers the top and bottom of the toes.

   • Replace the gauze pads once a day until the wound heals.

How to Protect a Dog’s Skin in Winter

With the cold weather and cranked-up heat — comes the dry and itchy skin — and with the dry and itchy skin — comes the moisturizers. But while you’re protecting your own skin, you might want to think about Fido’s too. Dogs experience the same winter skin woes as us humans, but unfortunately, you can’t use Nivea or Jergens on them. Here are some other ways to protect your pooch from that pesky winter skin.

Instructions

1. • Brush your dog frequently to get rid of dead skin cells. Brushing stimulates circulation and the production of oil, which in turn provides moisture. This applies to both long and shorthaired dogs.

   • Use a moisturizing shampoo with an ingredient such as lanolin, that is specifically formulated for dogs. People shampoos can upset a dog’s pH balance (which is different from ours), and thus be harsh on their skin.

   • Shampoo your dog less frequently during the cold months. Too much bathing can strip the coat of its natural oils. Every few months is normally a good schedule, unless you have a dog that spends more time outdoors.

   • Feed your dog a quality brand of food (or homemade diet) with Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols are a source of Vitamin E) for a healthy skin and coat.

   • Add fish oil (Omega-3) to your dog’s diet. Fish oil is used to treat canine skin allergies and relieve itching, and may also treat a variety of conditions including high cholesterol, arthritis and kidney disease. You can purchase liquid fish oil or break open a fish oil capsule and add it to your dog’s food. Flaxseed oil is also a good source of Omega-3 for the coat and immune system, but make sure it’s organic for full benefits.

   • Use a room humidifier to moisten the air if your home is too dry from running the heat.

Six Household Products That are Not Dog Safe

Some Toxic Ingredients and Their Effects on People and Pets:

Ammonia – Used in many de-greasers for ovens, glass and stainless steel, ammonia has a very high VOC, burns mucous membranes and contributes to asthma. If it is mixed with bleach, it creates a poisonous gas which can be deadly to small pets.

Chlorine – Used in disinfectants, toilet bowl cleaners and automatic dish detergent to name a few, chlorine is also used to bleach coffee filters. It can cause everything from dizziness to vomiting to laryngeal edema. Avoid this ingredient and be careful about letting your pet swim in the pool.

Glycol Ethers – Glycol ethers are found in many cleaning products that are not pet safe including glass cleaners, carpet cleaners and spot removers. It has been linked to anemia, lung damage and kidney damage in people and pets.

Formaldehyde – The thought of a funeral home comes to mind when formaldehyde is mentioned and everyone can recognize the strong, nauseating smell. But it’s also used in products such as soaps and even some pet shampoos. It can contribute to asthma and is carcinogenic.

Some Cleaning Products That are Not Dog Safe

There are many, many cleaning products that are not safe for dogs on the market. Here are a few popular cleaners that contain some of the ingredients mentioned above as well as others:

Floor Cleaners – These include Pine Sol and Mr. Clean. Even if you manage to get all of the residue off the floor, the vapors linger and are dangerous to your pet. Try a non-toxic, pet safe cleaner instead.

Bathroom Cleaners – These include Clorox Bathroom Cleaner and Scrubbing Bubbles. Try a product such as Ecover Bathroom Cleaner instead. Never use a continuous toilet bowl cleaner such as Clorox Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner. It is very dangerous and the temptation to drink out of the toilet is a quirk in many of our pups.

All Purpose Cleaners – For use in the kitchen and around the house, the most common toxic all-purpose cleaners that scream “Danger!” are Mr. Clean Multi-Purpose Spray and Formula 409.

Drain Openers – You may think that since this product is poured down the drain, it can’t be harmful to your pet. But the toxic drain openers give off dangerous fumes long after you’ve emptied them. For a non-toxic, pet safe option, try a product such as Earth Friendly Enzymes Drain Opener.

Glass Cleaner – It may seem that toxic glass cleaners are simpler products and are, therefore, safe but they are not. Instead of something like Windex, try a product such as Nature Clean Window and Glass Cleaner.

Laundry Detergent – It’s easy to assume that choosing a laundry detergent isn’t that important because the rinse cycle rinses it away. But there is residue left behind on clothes and pet blankets that can be harmful to your pet, especially those that chew on their bedding. Avoid detergents with toxic ingredients such as Tide and Cheer and try something like Down East’s Liquid Laundry Detergent.

Instead of using toxic cleaning products around the house, try one of the non-toxic and pet safe lines of cleaners. If you do decide to keep toxic cleaners, make absolutely sure they are put away. Put child safety locks on cabinet doors and put cleaners up as high as possible. Never use them when your pet is in the same room and air out the house after cleaning with them. Never leave any residue behind. But the warning signs are clear and you and your dog will be healthier and safer if you use cleaning products that are pet safe.

How to Get a Dog or Cat to Drink Water

You would think drinking water would just come naturally for living beings–but not necessarily. Certain humans have to be coaxed into partaking of the H2O (some would almost rather have root canal than drink eight glasses a day)–and certain dogs and cats are the same way. But being that it is sort of essential to life–here are some ways to get your pooch or kitty to drink their water

Instructions

1. • If you feel your pet isn’t drinking enough water, add warm water to your pet’s dry or canned dog food (or home diet), enough to where it’s soupy. You can also add chicken or vegetable broth to the food.

   • Some cats and dogs prefer flowing water to water that just sits stagnant in a bowl. In this case you can try letting your cat drink out of a running faucet, your dog drink from a garden hose or as you pour it out of the bottle. But of course, these methods may not always be feasible (if you don’t want to leave the faucet running constantly, you don’t have a garden hose or can’t be around pouring 24/7). In this case you may consider investing in a pet drinking fountain

• Add a couple of ice cubes to your pet’s bowl. Dogs and cats often prefer colder water, which is why they may head for the toilet bowl. Some cats and dogs also like to chase after ice cubes and end up drinking water in the process.

• Using an elevated bowl may encourage your dog to drink more water and is also more comfortable for senior dogs and dogs with arthritis or muscle/joint problems. Changing up the material, shape or size of a bowl may encourage a cat to drink more water.

• Sometimes after heavy activity, a pet may just forget to drink water. You might “refresh” their memory by holding the water bowl up to them and swishing a couple of your fingers in it to pique their interest.

• Maybe your pet simply doesn’t like the taste of tap water (it can be pretty unpleasant depending on where you live). How about filtered water? If you already drink it yourself, it would be nothing to pour some extra for your pet. And if you don’t drink filtered, it’s a relatively inexpensive investment (under $30 for a Brita or like brand and three filters–then you would just need to replace the filter every so often). Not to mention that filtered water is healthier.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/how_4595450_dog-cat-drink-water.html#ixzz2ba12xpmG

Tick and flea remedy for dogs, spray for humans, all natural.

It’s summer! Time for camping, hiking and getting outside to play. Don’t let those pesky annoying ticks stop you. Here’s how with a simple homemade solution!

Repellent for your pets:

For pets, add 1 cup of water to a spray bottle, followed by 2 cups of distilled white vinegar. Ticks hate the smell and taste of vinegar, and will be easily be repelled by this ingredient alone. Then, add two spoonfuls of vegetable or almond oil, which both contain sulfur (another natural tick repellent).

To make a repellent that will also deter fleas, mix in a few spoonfuls of lemon juice, citrus oil, or peppermint oil, any of which will repel ticks and fleas while also creating a nicely scented repellent. Spray onto the pet’s dry coat, staying away from sensitive areas including eyes, nose, mouth, and genitals. When outdoors for an extended period, spray this solution on two to three times per day.

For you and your family:

In a spray bottle, mix 2 cups of distilled white vinegar and 1 cup of water. To make a scented solution so you do not smell like bitter vinegar all day, add 20 drops of your favorite essential oil.

Eucalyptus oil is a calm, soothing scent that also works as a tick repellent, while peppermint and citrus oils give off a strong crisp scent that also repel ticks.

After mixing the solution, spray onto clothing, skin, and hair before going outdoors. Reapply every four hours to keep ticks at bay, and examine your skin and hair when back inside to make sure no ticks are on the body.

Is bottled water or tap water better for your dog?

It depends on the quality of your tap water. In some areas the tap water tastes so bad people prefer to give their dogs filtered water. If you wouldn’t drink the water yourself, consider filtering your pet’s water as well.

When traveling, sudden changes in water can cause diarrhea in pets. Using bottled water standardizes what they are drinking so you can avoid this complication.
Here is more advice:

• Bottled water is accually cleaner, but with the price of it, tap water is fine. As long as it’s clean.

• actually tap water is more healthy and actually cleaner so give your dog tap water because bottled can hurt your dogs digestive system.

• Bottled water is better; tap water contains chemicals and rust in it that can be harmful to any animal.

• If you have clean or filtered tap water, use tap water. If you go somewhere with your dog, you may want to bring some water from home or use bottled water that is similar to your water. either is probably fine as long as it’s clean.

• Considering that most dogs eagerly drink from ponds, puddles, and toilets with the seat left up (and usually with absolutely no ill effects) why worry?

• why would you care if it was that big of deal then i would go with the bottled water because its fresh cleaned tap water so really it doesnt matter</nowiki>

• If the tap water isn’t brown and it’s clean, use that!

Answer

A good rule of thumb is that if is safe for you it is safe for them.

HAPPY EASTER

Here is a question I get asked a lot over the Easter holiday’s, so I found this web site, http://animal.discovery.com/pets/question348.htm

Is Chocolate Poisonous to Dogs?

You may have heard people say that chocolate will kill dogs? Does that make sense? If I can eatchocolate, why can’t my dog?

Dogs and people are different in lots of ways. For example, dogs can run around in the snow all day in their bare feet and it doesn’t cause them any problems. People can run around barefooted in the snow for 30 seconds or so before it hurts. There are lots of differences like that between dogs and people.

It turns out that, for dogs, a chemical in chocolate called theobromine is the source of the problem. Theobromine is similar to caffeine. According to this page, theobromine is toxic to a dog when it ingests between 100 and 150 milligrams per kilogram of body weight.

Different types of chocolate contain different amounts of theobromine: It would take 20 ounces of milk chocolate to kill a 20-pound dog, but only 2 ounces of baker’s chocolate or 6 ounces of semisweet chocolate. It is not that hard for a dog to get into something like an Easter basket full of chocolate eggs and bunnies and gobble up a pound or two of chocolate. If the dog is small, that could be deadly.

It turns out that chocolate poisoning is actually not as unusual as it sounds. For a human being, caffeine is toxic at levels of 150 milligrams per kilogram of body weight (see this page). That’s the same as for dogs! Humans generally weigh a lot more than dogs, but small children can get into trouble with caffeine or chocolate if they consume too much of it. Infants are especially vulnerable because they don’t eliminate caffeine from the bloodstream nearly as quickly as adults.

 

PROBLEM?……… SOLUTION!!

So…… if you have a back yard or a dog run or kennel and it is as muddy and soupy as mine was from your dogs running around in the mild weather and tearing up your yard, here is a quick solution and cost effective. I had a huge dilemma I have several dogs of my own plus dogs in for boarding and boot camp and my yard was a huge mud puddle and water everywhere, there were a few issues with this besides the obvious of all the muddy feet in the house, there was so much water and the ground could not and would not soak up any more leaving huge puddles. The puddles were then mixing with all the poop and pee thus could cause a health issue like Giardia.

How do dogs get Giardia ?

Giardia is transmitted from host to host by ingesting cysts in contaminated feed or drinking water. Cysts may also be found in streams or other water sources. The trophozoite stage may also be infective to dogs. This stage does not survive for very long after being voided in the feces.

Giardia can be found in all types of contaminated water, like puddles that mix with feces, and most dogs including my own will drink from puddle, therefore it is very important to make sure the area where your dog lives and plays is clean. Well as you can imagine somedays this is very hard to do when the weather does not co operate! Well my yard was a mess and I had to do something, so I researched many different things to resolve my issues like what if I covered my yard in wood chips? Although a good idea, you can trade one issue in for another such as mold, mildew and not to mention wood ticks.

Pee gravel, very expensive and some dogs swallow small pebbles not to mention not all that comfy on their feet.

I researched STRAW the same straw farmer use to line barns and fields for cow’s and horses. Success! It is very cost effective, no fleas or ticks, bio degradable and easy to do just a few hours of your time I did my yard in under three hours. It smells good, looks good and solved a big issue.