Improve the Comfort of Your Senior Dogs

Above photo courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/KTWWraps 

As your dog grows old there are a lot of ways you can help them with movement, good health, good cognitive function and keep them in comfort. 

When your dog hits the senior years will depend upon the breed. For example, a tiny Chihuahua usually hits senior years later whereas a Great Dane will become a senior earlier in their life. On the average, most dogs are considered senior dogs between the ages of 7 and 9. Some senior dogs even get grey hairs like humans, and a lot of senior dogs still enjoy the same kind of activities they enjoyed in their youth.

It is sad sometimes to see your once jumping around, tail wagging puppy not be able to jump in the car anymore with joy to go on a road trip with you. The senior dogs might develop kidney problems and start urinating in your house. Their vision and hearing goes just like some of us humans and just like us as well some of them develop daily pain.

Dogs in their senior years may need some adjustments to help them stay relaxed, comfortable and without pain.

Good nutrition is one way to help your senior dog in the later years of life. There are special diets for senior dogs, however, many senior dogs still do very well on the same diet you fed them in years before now. Every dog is different. Your primary concern should be in preventing obesity. Obesity is a number one killer of dogs at any age. Excess weight can lead to arthritis related mobility issues, so it is best to keep them lean on the thinner side. Sometimes even senior dogs will over eat if you allow them. Feed them only what they need to stay lean. 

Senior dogs may also have less appetite or less interest in food. Their calorie needs change or decrease as they are not jumping around, running and playing as vigorously as they one time did. It is a normal process. They might eat a little bit one day and their full serving the next day.

If you have a senior dog that loses interest in their food introduce some extra tasty foods, appetite increasing medication or a prescription diet. There may be underlying causes to your dog's loss of appetite such as cancers or organ failure. Acknowledge that there may come a time when your dog just does not want to eat or drink as they know their life is coming to an end. If you see this happening talk with your vet about how to proceed.

If your dog develops age related conditions such as arthritis, managing their daily pain improves their quality of daily life. They might not complain very loudly with arthritis pain like they would yelp from a broken leg, yet, as their owner you can usually spot the differences in how they walk around. Do they walk slower than usual? Do they seem to walk kind of stiff legged? These may be symptoms they are in arthritic pain that you need to discuss with your vet for possible pain relief treatments.

While their same daily walks might not be feasible in older age, it is still extremely important to try and engage the senior dog in some kind of regular appropriate exercise, something more gentle than a hike or a high-impact dog sport. Walking might still be feasible and the best for the senior dog, perhaps shorter walks, and avoiding the long runs or walks.

Many dog experts recommend doing daily strengthening exercises increasing the difficulty level gradually. Give tasty treats at end of sessions. Teach them to walk over poles on the ground or put their front two paws up on a slightly elevated surface. Just as gentle movements help humans with arthritic pain so do gentle movements help the senior dogs you love and live with.

These are just a few simply suggestions you can follow to try and improve the comfort of your senior dog. Of course provide them with cozy places in your home to rest as well.

How to Prepare for Leaving Your Dog While on Business or Vacation

Above photo courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/KTWWraps 

When you leave town who is going to take care of your dog if you cannot take him along with you? Will you leave him in a kennel or will you privately board? How about having a sitter in your home? There are more options today than yesterday. As Covid restrictions continue to lift people get moving all over the place.

What can a good kennel provide for your dog? Sometimes simply more structure is what your dog needs while you are away; a good kennel can provide this structure. There will be plenty of potty breaks per day and team of workers taking care of the dogs. Kennels are quite the social space for Fido as well as opposed to staying home alone with a sitter. Your dog will have the opportunity to make new friends and play with other pups and dogs all of which will help distract them from you being gone and hopefully easing the separation anxiety all dog owners worry about.

What kind of kennel is best for your dog? This depends upon your dogs specific needs. Are your dogs on medications or have serious health problems? If this is the case you will need to decide upon a boarding kennel at a veterinary clinic where expert care can be quickly obtained.

If you know your dog probably will not enjoy going away to like a "summer camp" atmosphere, then they may fair best at home with a sitter. Today is the day of many choices for dog owners when it comes to babysitting your dog. Do you homework about who you invite into your home as a dog sitter. Be sure to get plenty of references. Ideal of course for a sitter is someone you know and trust very well. Often pet sitters charge less than boarding kennels and they can give your dog one-on-one attention.

If you will be away for a very long period of time it is probably best to avoid leaving your dog home alone and having sitters and walkers drop in. Since dogs are such social animals who bond very closely with their family even lots of visits per day from a sitter or walker cannot be enough to keep the tear drops away; the dog may get lonely, anxious and destructive.

As you research your options you probably will find many experts agree when it comes to finding the perfect boarding solution the key is PREPARATION.

If your go the kennel route talk to your vet and your social network for recommendations and as mentioned before get plenty of references. It is most likely similar to getting a babysitter for your child. You will need to interview in advance prospects if you decide on a sitter or walker. Visit the facilities you find adequate in plenty of time ahead of time of your trip. Pay attention to the dogs already boarding. Are they clean? Are they happy? Are they socializing? Do they look comfortable.

If you have time board your dog at your chosen spot one night to see how things go.

If you decide to go with a private sitter or walker, preparation before the actual event is still the main key. If you don't already have a network of dog walkers and sitters there are plenty of apps and services that connect you to experienced dog walkers and sitters in your area. It is essential you trust them and equally important does your dog trust them and does your dog bond easily to them. 

Once you decide, "happy traveling."

First Puppy Litter? What to Expect?

Above photo courtesy of KTW Wraps and Knotless Hair Wraps

If this is your first puppy litter, you are most likely very excited and wondering just what to expect. It actually is a fairly quick process, however, with the first few litters the time can go by ever so slowly. 

Dog go into heat about every 6 months. This time frame can vary from breed to breed, but in general, it is about every 6 months. Their heat cycle last approximately 18 to 21 days. What can you expect to happen?

The first signs of the cycle occurs when your female begins to attract the male. There may be swelling of the vulva and some bloody discharge. Again, it will depend upon the breed as to how much bloody discharge occurs. Some dogs require extra help during this time to keep themselves clean, while others have little to no discharge.

The second stage occurs when the bitch is ready to accept the male. This time period can last anywhere between 3 and 17 days. It is a time in which the bloody discharge usually lightens and the vulva will be soft and enlarged. 

The next stage is when the bitch no longer accepts the male. This stage typically occurs around day 14. In this final stage the bitch's vulva returns to normal size and discharge is completely gone.

There are four ways you can find out for sure if your bitch is pregnant. They are:

1. Hormone tests
2. Palpation
3. X-ray
4. Ultrasound

The normal gestation period in dogs is approximately 63 days from conception.

Successfully Preparing New Puppies for New Homes

Above photo courtesy of KTW Wraps and Knotless Hair Wraps

As the breeder you should handle puppies often to get them comfortable to human touch. Getting them started on grooming is another excellent way of preparing new puppies for their new homes. In this article you will find a few tips for puppy new home preparation.

Start with nail care. Nail care is usually a huge challenge for many new puppy owners. You might even gift your new owners with a pair of nail trimming scissors. Most puppies receive their first nail trim from their breeder as early as just a few days old to prevent sharp nails from scratching mom's belly as they nurse. As a new puppy owner remember to check your puppies nail growth weekly and give them a trim. You will need to have on hand some nail blood clotting powder just in case you cut too close and a little blood appears, sometimes this blood can seem like a lot and is scary to new owners. Quickly apply some pressure with your clotting powder and all should return to normal. Try not to cut too close to the quick of the nail to avoid this problem. Usually you can see solid white material to cut and stop cutting when you see "pink" area of the nails as this is the part that will bleed.

For new owners always keep grooming sessions short so you don't overwhelm your new puppy. Teach new puppies to look forward to grooming sessions by providing them treats directly after a successful short grooming session. As time goes on you can make these sessions longer to suit your grooming needs. At first, just use a few brush strokes, then quickly hand them a nutritious treat. Life's Abundance treats are an excellent choice for this training. Try them all and see which ones your new puppy prefers. You can depend upon Life's Abundance products to add high quality nutritional treats to supplement puppy's diet.

Check puppy's ears and keep them clean. If there are hairs growing inside the ears, keep these hairs plucked out with normal tweezers and some ear powder. Just sprinkle the ear powder inside the ear; this will make holding onto the hairs easier.

Take time for your puppy to play around in the bath tub water and on grooming tables. Provide them with favorite toys and end sessions with a favorite treat.

Now is the best time to start puppies wearing collars and leashes. Just apply the collar and leash and let them drag it around under your supervisor. Once they get use to having the gear on, pick up the leash and encourage them to follow you. Use your treats as rewards at end of sessions. Soon you will have taught your new puppy to walk on a leash and you will enjoy many hours together on nature walks.

If you follow these suggestions you will start out on a good note with  your new puppy and will start to bond with them in a very special way.