Have a safe Halloween with your doggies!

Halloween is round the corner and it’s again time for the ghouls and goblins to resurface and send shivers down our spine. But on this day of horror, several dog deaths are reported each year. So, the world’s largest and most trusted dog training company, Bark Busters, has taken up the initiative to offer dog owners tips on how to keep their buddies safe on Halloween.

What are the ways in which you can keep your doggies safe?

1. Don’t allow your doggy to stray outside.

2. Keep him in a separate room away from the main door. In case he is timid he might be terrified at the spooky sights and tend to flee. Or, if your doggy happens to be aggressive and restless, he might also end up doing the same.

3. If your dog looks perplexed by Halloween activities, behave with him as normally as possible. By behaving with him over cautiously you might send across a wrong signal that there is indeed something abnormal on this particular day.

4. Get your buddy accustomed to the Halloween costumes by start putting them on 2-3 days prior to the D-day. Otherwise, he may start regarding his owners as strangers. Never put on a mask while your pooch is around.

5. Some people are into the habit of dressing up their doggies in colorful costumes. Although some of them are amenable to the idea, most of them aren’t. So, slip him into a costume a few days in advance and check out his behavioral patterns. Otherwise, a bandana around his neck would do just fine.

6. Keep chocolates out of your dog’s reach because most of them contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener which is harmful to dogs. This leads to vomiting and diarrhea, and sometimes even death.

7. Keep candles out of your dog’s reach.

8. If you take your buddy with you to parties always hold his leash tightly. Never allow any stranger in disguise to approach him without your consent. No matter how well known a person is to you, but if he leaps in front of you in disguise, the dog might start believing that he would inflict harm to you. In this way you end up instilling in him a fear of strangers.

Remember to take these simple precautions before you totally immerse yourself in the Halloween activities.

Wonder doggies!

Look how these pooches are having the time of their lives at the Hundeshow. I want to doff my hat to both the doggies and their master for giving us such a lovely treat to watch.

Check out this awesome video!

Foods to avoid…

We are generally buoyed by emotion to feed our pets human foods without realizing how much harm it can inflict on them. Some of these food items can even take their lives.

Below is a food items table along with their potential harmful effects:

Name of food	Harmful effects on dog health
Grapes and Raisins	Damage kidneys
Garlic, onion, chives	Damage red blood cells
Sugarless chewing gum flavored with xylitol	Results in lowering of blood sugar levels with an overproduction of insulin in the body
Raw yeast and bread dough	Cause swelling in the abdomen, respiratory distress and compression of the veins. When yeast breaks down sugar in the dough there is a release of ethanol which is equivalent to the alcohol found in vodka
Chocolate	Methylxanthines present in chocolates can cause toxicity
Macademia nuts	Impair neuro-muscular system  resulting in movement difficulties

However, human medicines which do not find a mention in the list have been found to cause maximum damage. So, as a responsible owner you should not only keep them away from your pet’s reach, but also refrain from administering them to your buddy without consulting a vet.

Blastomycosis-fungal infection in dogs

Off late I spent some time getting to know about different forms of dog diseases and oddly enough I came across thousands which remain unheard. One of the glaring diseases which have all along been a cause of concern for most pet owners is Blastomycosis. It is nothing but a fungal infection caused by the organism Blastomyces dermatitidis.

Some of the prominent characteristic symptoms include mild flu accompanied by occasional chills and headache or sometimes little pain in chest.
The fungus broods over soil and as the dog sniffs, it may end up inhaling the same. Once inhaled, they multiply and disseminate into blood and eventually into other vital organs like skin, bone, brain and genitourinary tract. In order to diagnose whether your dog has been infected with the infection, tissue biopsy of the skin is required to be done. Sometimes veterinarians recommend urine antigen testing which is rather more sensitive in detecting existence of organisms. Lung biopsy stands out to be yet another option incase blood and sputum cultures fails to detect the fungus.

The best treatment available for curing Blastomycosis is Itraconazole. Sometimes doctors prescribe Amphotericin B for those who are critically ill. But it is not recommended for those in benign stage as its components are considerably more toxic.

Why adopt an older pet?

Many of us believe that by adopting a senior dog we bestow a favor on them. It’s more like involving ourselves in a social cause. But in reality the advantages of adopting a senior pet far outweigh its disadvantages.

Unlike pups or other younger dogs, they are much more socialized and can easily adapt themselves to changing circumstances. Moreover they can easily absorb tantrums thrown by a child without becoming aggressive. Older dogs are much more faithful compared to their younger counterparts. With a senior dog you can also communicate with élan.

However, being older in age they have to be looked after properly. This entails regular visits to the veterinarian and buying special foods for them. When you adopt a senior pet there is one thing for sure. You can’t keep him for long and the pain of parting leaves an irreparable dent in our hearts. So, when we adopt an older dog we should try to provide him with all the comforts and luxuries of life and treat him with kindness and compassion.

Nipping a ‘nail clipping’ phobia in dogs

I read a very interesting article by Andrea Mckeeby, a noted pet expert on how to trim your dog’s nails the easy and perfect way. So, I thought of sharing these helpful tips with my readers.

Maintaining a healthy regimen for your pal not only entails keeping his body parts clean, but also taking good care of his nails. In some dogs nails wear off naturally, but in others they have to be trimmed. Sometimes the nails also develop sharp edges which if not nipped may cause injury to both the dogs and their owners. But this task generally seems to be a long and arduous one because most dogs are not amenable to the idea of cutting their nails. What normally happens is that in the commotion to cut their nails too short, we end up inflicting pain on them which puts them off completely.

So, here’s a list of things we should keep in mind while trimming their nails:

1. Be careful about the flesh- While trimming the nails we should be careful not to encroach into the ‘quick’ or the pink fleshy part. We should only cut off the dead cuticle. But normally the ‘quick’ is not easily distinguishable from the dead part. Dogs which have light nails provide an easy view of the flesh beneath, but with the darker nails it’s indeed a challenging task. So it’s always advisable to trim a small portion of the nail from time to time.
   
   
2. Keep your doggy’s first aid kit handy- No matter how careful you are mistakes can happen. So, its necessary that we keep tissues and blood clotting powder like Kwik Stop Styptic handy.
   
   
3. Don’t persuade the staff at the vet clinic- Some people take their buddies to a clinic to get their nails trimmed. The staff at the clinic being well trained clip off only the dead parts. But we sometimes persuade them into cutting their nails too short so that they don’t grow back quickly. This process can be excruciatingly painful for the dogs. They cannot communicate verbally but from next time onwards you will find him petrified even at the sight of nail clippers.
   
   
4. Take him outside- In case your dog has developed nail trimming phobia, you have to help him tide over this by not cutting his nails initially. Instead make him walk on the road outside so that his nails wear off naturally. Remember to check the claws for splits, brakes etc.

You have to actually instill in him a love for the nail clippers. But how will you go about the process.


Here are a few suggestions:

1. Always associate the clipper with something exciting- Try to build an atmosphere of excitement and then rush to the place where you keep the clippers. This will at least make your buddy believe that it’s not frightening.
   
   
2. Allure him by offering tasty treats- Next what you can do is pick up the clippers and immediately treat him to something very delicious. After he has lapped it up in great delight put the clippers back where he can’t locate them.
   
   
3. Repeat the act several times- Every time you pick up the clippers follow it up with something exciting. You have to repeat the activity for quite a few times of the day during the first 2 weeks till he is convinced that the clippers are indeed associated with something fabulous. However, there shouldn’t be any fixed time for this. Choose any time that you feel would be suitable for your buddy.

Now, our next task at hand is to make him comfortable when you touch his feet.


What are the quick guidelines to follow?

1. Make him sit in a comfortable position- Allow him to be comfortable and then touch his feet gently. Talk to him softly, pat him on the back and stroke him gently.
   
   
2. Slowly touch his paws first- Touch his first paw gently and then follow it with a treat like you did in the first step. Repeat the act several times. Also reiterate the same activity with the second paw.
   
   
3. Touch his toes- Now touch one toe at a time and follow it with tasty treats. In case your dog expresses his dissent don’t give him the treat anymore. Try touching his toes but reduce the time span. You can also give him treats while touching his feet but withdraw them immediately as soon as he gets used to your touch.

We have finally arrived at the last but the most challenging juncture.


So, how will you go about this lengthy process?

1. Pick up the clippers first- Touch his toes gently, then pick up the clippers and place them on the table or floor. Follow it with a treat. Repeat the same act in both the toes.
   
   
2. Take the clippers in hand- Touch the toes with one hand and hold the clippers in another. Follow this with a treat. Don’t bring the clippers near your doggy. Repeat the act several times till he allows you to touch his toes without any condition.
   
   
3. Bring the clippers close to your pet- Try bringing the clippers near your dog but don’t touch his nails with it. Keep the clippers on the floor and give him tasty treats. Keep doing it till the clippers stop bothering him any more. Then touch his toes softly with the clippers. But make sure not to cut his nails. Follow the same rule of giving him yummy treats. Reiterate the activity until he is no longer frightened by the touch. Now touch each one of the nails with the clippers followed by a treat. After you have repeated this act many times see if he has been able to conquer his fears.
   
   
4. Place the clippers on one of the nails– This is perhaps the greatest challenge. Hold one of the nails and place the clippers on it. His immediate reaction would be to withdraw his paws. Don’t try to hold back his leg forcibly. Instead be very gentle and polite with him. However, this time don’t offer him treats. Keep doing it till he allows you to do this uninhibitedly.
   
   
5. Trim one nail- Now cut one nail very carefully and give him an impression of how brave he is. During the course of the day bring the clipper close to his nails and even position it on them but never try to cut another nail on the same day.
   
   
6. Try cutting a second one the next day- If you find him comfortable try cutting a second nail the next day. Spend at least a week trying to trim only one or two nails. Then proceed with the remaining ones over the next couple of weeks.

Our aim here is help our buddies overcome fear by making the ‘nail-clipping’ process painless.

How to treat heartworm diseases?

One of the most deadly diseases effecting dogs is heartworm. A heartworm is a parasite which intrudes into the body of a dog though wounds created by mosquitoes. If a mosquito which is a carrier of heartworm larvae at its infective state bites your pet, chances are that the parasite would get transmitted to your dog's body. The larvae enter though the bitten wound and moves throughout the body. A heartworm parasite generally brood upon heart, lungs and nearby blood vessels and if not treated at its early stages the parasite can grow 12 inches long and can stand out to be detrimental. Apart from dogs, cats too are affected by the deadly parasites.

Heartworm diseases are difficult to detect. The dogs hardly exhibit any symptom except only in later stages when it is characterized by tiredness, reduced appetite and subsequent weight loss. Some complain about difficulty in breathing accompanied with cough. Ultimately it leads to failure of heart, lungs, liver and kidney and subsequent death of the pet.

Heartworm in dogs can be fatal if not treated promptly by a Veterinarian. The drugs available to treat the condition are generally expensive with toxic effects. Only a certified veterinarian is authorized to inject it after obtaining the client's consent. Even more the veterinarian must himself register with the manufacturer and report about any side effect that might have occurred while the drug was used.

Pet insurance cover-safeguarding your pet’s life...

We often find it hard to admit the atrocities life offers. We find it hard to imagine that our life could be susceptible to risks; let alone our pets. But the fact remains that running away from risk does not make it disappear. Risk prelude is every sphere of life and the best way to combat risk is to rise above it. We cannot eliminate risk altogether; but can definitely equip ourselves with a proper insurance cover to prevent against its pitfalls.

Why should we buy pet insurance?

• Pets like humans could get exposed to hazards. While buying insurance does not protect your pet from getting affected by medical ailments, it does provide you a financial platform that is demanded for its treatments.
  
  
• A pet insurance policy covers even more stringent situations. If your pet goes missing chances are that he has been stolen. A pet insurance policy would bestow you with enough funds that would bear expenses towards advertising and declaring rewards.
  
  
• The person responsible for the well being of the pet is you. Who would take care of your pet is something goes wrong with you? Things could get rather complicated if you are a singleton and are the sole guardian of your pet. Once your pet is insured, the policy would cover any cost incurred for hiring kennel services.

Being the parent of our pets its our responsibility to take care of each of their needs and meet them up to the best possible way. If you agree to this, there shouldn't be a second thought about buying insurance cover for your beloved. After all, nothing as evident as risk; and nothing is more precious to life.

Choose the right dog collar...

No matter how big your dog is you can comfortably take him out for a walk only if you have a leash fastened to his collar. But do we ever spare a thought on what kind of collars suit our buddies the best. Although breed is perhaps the most important determinant here, the amount of distance that he walks also plays a crucial role.

If we are taking them for a jaunt to a nearby park, simple collars with D-ring attachments are the best options. These leashes are best suited especially for well-behaved dogs who don’t need much supervision. But in case we have gigantic dogs like a Great Dane, Scottish terrier or Rottwellier, we would need wide collars to protect their short necks. It’s all the more important because this would constantly make them aware of its presence. Thin collars on the other hand are extremely bad since they exert pressure around the necks and cause injury. The risk increases manifold in case of bigger dogs.

However, if you have hyperactive dogs like a dalmation, border collie, cocker spaniel, or smaller breeds like chihuahua, maltese and Yorkshire terrier, harnesses are the most preferred choices. These dogs are so energetic and full of life that tackling them requires a huge amount of patience. When we take them out for walks they normally try to break free from the shackles. Their disobedience infuriates us and we are compelled to pull at their chain hard. This might end up causing severe damage to them. But a harness keeps your doggy absolutely safe.

But before deciding on your pick you must surely consult the vet.

Dog swallows 1,000 chunks of magnet...

We come across stories about humans gobbling down weird stuff. But can you imagine a pooch doing similar things? Yes, however unbelievable that might sound, Polly, a blue wheeler who is partially blind and arthiritic swallowed 1,000 magnets weighing 1 kilogram forcing him to go under the knife. Although it’s true that she made his owner lose sleep over this antic, Polly had devoured a computer mouse, gardening gloves, a large rubber band, several rolls of fax paper and handfuls of gravel in the past 3 years, testified his owner Cathy James. She also admitted having spent 7,000 Australian dollars for her treatment so far.

Cathy has recounted her recent story to Herald Sun. She was away at her farm feeding horses when Polly devoured magnets strewn in her office room. She actually runs a home-based printing business and one of her responsibilities involves sticking square magnets on the back of cards. When Cathy came back she was horrified to see Polly feasting on those chunks gleefully. She put her hand down into Polly’s throat and recovered a single piece of magnet. Polly seemed fine that day. But the following day she started throwing up chunks of magnet and also looked quite ill. This frightened Cathy who thought there might be several pieces lodged inside. Soon she rushed Polly to Sunbury Animal Hospital where Dr Glen Hastie conducted X-rays of her stomach. The doctor too was astounded to see multiple chunks of magnet clogging her stomach. He immediately decided to operate her.

Although the operation has been successful and Cathy is doing fine a terrible fear lunges at Cathy’s heart. It’s the fear of losing Polly forever.

Picture Courtesy- Herald Sun