Camp Fire Tips for Safely Camping with Your Dog

Above photo courtesy of KTW Wraps and Knotless Hair Wraps

Do you like to camp? Your dog may enjoy camping right along with you. In this article read how to camp out safely with your dog by your side.

Healthy dogs can sit near a campfire. Practice a few precautions and all should go well. 

Place your dog a safe distance from the fire while it is burning. Sit Fido "upwind" so flames and ashes cannot reach him. Provide fresh water at all times and be sure he cannot access the fire pit. 

Watch Fido for sign of agitation that may indicate he is not tolerating the camp fire well. If Fido does not enjoy being near the fire don't force him. Many dogs like to sit farther away or to relax inside; dogs can be cautious of open fires.

Puppies, senior dogs and dogs with short muzzles may be more easily irritated by fire and smoke and are best kept inside or far away from the fire.

Watch for signs of smoke inhalation from the campfire. If the smoke irritates you it is most likely irritating Fido as well.

Time to call the veterinarian for possible smoke inhalation is when you notice Fido is:

• wheezing or has loud breathing
• dog becomes weak or experiences disorientation
• dog starts to cough
• dog has trouble breathing
• reduced appetite
• reduced thirst
• red eyes
• excessive tearing or blinking
• pawing at eyes

First Rule of Breeding

Above photo courtesy of KTW Wraps

Animal nutritionists agree that your dog's body condition before mating has an impact on the reproductive cycling success. 

A thin female may not cycle normally. An overly thin female may have limited ability to conceive as without proper nutrition the uterus and ovaries are less active. The nutrient of fat is required to form healthy eggs and later baby puppies. If the eggs are not healthy the puppies may be of low quality and will even be less likely to develop into puppies.

An obese female further complicates conceiving and carrying a pregnancy to term. Obese females have more pelvic fat which prevents puppies from easily passing out of the pelvis. Obesity can also decrease conception rates.

The first rule of successful breeding is a high quality diet given in the right amounts. Feeding should be adjusted based on maintaining ideal body condition for the pregnant female. Ideal body condition during pregnancy is having appropriate muscle and fat balance. You should be able to feel her ribs, shoulder blades and hips.

From 0 to 21 days of pregnancy feed a normal amount of her regular complete and balanced adult dog food. From day 22 to 42 gradually increase the amount based upon the female's demand for more food. From day 43 to 64 day feed one and a half times more food than before pregnancy in small feedings throughout the day. During the final two weeks of pregnancy your female will usually demand more food and you should feed her in several meals a day as she desires to eat.

Therefore the first rule of breeding is feeding your female a high quality dog food in the amounts laid out in this article.

Dogs Love the Taste of Pumpkin: Pumpkin Treat Recipe

Above photo courtesy of Zyana Shih Tzu

Fall is setting in. I love the Fall season. The fall season reminds us of all things "pumpkin." Did you know most dogs also love the taste of pumpkin. Pumpkin for dogs also offer health benefits. Try these treats when your dog is constipated; they should help relieve the constipation.

When you offer your dog the special taste of pumpkin be sure you give only canned pureed pumpkin and not the pie mix that has added sugar and spices. You don't want to feed treats that will add calories and weight to your dog.  Always give treats in moderation.

Try some frozen Pumpkin Dog Treats. I bet your dog will absolute love these.

1 cup plain yogurt

1 cup pumpkin puree

Instructions: Mix pumpkin and yogurt together in a bowl (easy peasy). Divide the mixture evenly into ice trays or molds. Freeze for 24 hours. You can either leave these treats in the ice tray or molds or you can put them into a freezer bag for storage.

Cleaning Tear Stains and Some Possible Reasons Stain Occurs

Above photo courtesy of Extreme Chinese Crested

White coated breeds like the Bichon especially at some point in their life may develop tear stains underneath their eyes. Other colors of dogs can also develop stains. Muzzles and between the toes can be a place where stain accumulates. Why does this happen and how do you clean them?

Causes might be:

• health problems
• shape of the eye
• blocked tear ducts
• teething
• ear infection
• allergies of any kind 

If your dog just suddenly develops stains after being free of them you might first consult your vet or a veterinary ophthalmologist to see if there are underlying health issues as the cause. After finding out your dog is healthy, in this article explore a few tips and suggestions to hopefully restore and maintain a beautiful white or light colored face. Not only white coated breeds develop tear stains; other colors do as well; it is just more noticeable on the white coated dogs.

The problem might be the food you are feeding. Check the ingredients of food you are feeding. If it contains corn, wheat and meals used as fillers in dog food, you may have found the cause of tear stains on your dog. Switch to a higher quality brand of food and see if this improves the condition. You need to feed a high quality dog food anyway to avoid other health issues.

If after switching foods you still notice tear stains examine the water your dog drinks. Is the water full of excess minerals? If so, this can cause tear stains. Try using purified, distilled or reverse-osmosis water. 

I recommend using glass water bottles. As your dog dips into a water bowl, this can cause stains around the mouth.

Daily eye and mouth cleaning goes a long way in keeping stains away. Flush the eyes daily with a canine eye wash. You can also get eye wash wipes made especially for dogs to rub underneath and around the eye. 

Try a do it yourself solution for cleaning such as one tablespoon boric acid powder boiled in one cup of distilled water. Make a fresh batch weekly and keep this in the refrigerator. 

Try using 3% hydrogen peroxide on a paper towel to wash the muzzle hair and around the toes; don't use this around the eyes, and be careful to not get into the mouth.

My favorite product is Eye Envy. It is a little expensive, but works very well. Use the solution to clean each day and use the powder afterward to catch whatever falls after cleaning. 

Keep the hair around areas that stain trimmed.

Some Dog Safe Cold Summer Treats for Your Dog to Enjoy

Above photo courtesy of Cathy Tucker from KTW Wraps and Knotless Hair Wraps

Dogs love sharing your cold treats in summer time weather. It is always tempting to give your dog the last bite of anything you are eating. They are certainly standing in excitement waiting for that one last bite of whatever you are eating, however, what you eat is not necessarily healthy for your dog to eat. Ice cream especially is a cold treat that actually can be hard for dogs to digest because of the milk and cream ingredients. Ice cream might even give your dog the runs as well as can put unnecessary pounds on the dog.

This does not mean you have to leave your dog out of a cold sweet treat in summer months. There are other treats you can feed.

You can turn any dog safe liquid treat into a frozen treat. Just pour the dog safe liquid into ice cube trays and freeze, then give your dog a cube or two whenever you want. Consider something like a no salt added beef or chicken broth treat for freezing.

You can also fill dog hollow rubber toys with the liquid, block the openings before pouring in the liquid with a hard treat such as a dog cookie to use like a cork or plug up the holes with peanut butter. Stand the toy upright in freezer until the liquid is ice.

Instead of ice cream treats try blending frozen fruit with plain unsweetened yogurt. Watermelon is safe for dogs as an ice cold treat. See if your dog likes cantaloupe chunks as these are another good safe choice for cold treats in summer months. Feed these sweet treats in moderation. Always remove the rind.

You can cut the fruit into bite size chunks removing seeds as you go. Place the fruit in freezer for at least four hours until frozen. Try spreading the chunks out on a cookie sheet or in a freezer bag to prevent them from freezing into one single clump. Once you have frozen fruit, put it all in a food processor blender. Add 1/4 cup of plain, unsweetened yogurt for every 2 cups of fruit. Blend mixture until smooth adding fruit and yogurt until you have the thickness you desire. To feed, place in a bowl or stuff into hollow rubber toys and serve immediately.

Things to do on the Beach with Your Dog

 

Above photo courtesy of Las Vegas Tiny Chihuahuas

Going to the beach with your dog can be a fun and mentally stimulating experience for you both. However, be aware some dogs can't swim. Here are some activities you can do safely with your dog.

Of course you can go for a walk exploring the shore while allowing your dog sniff seaweed, chase seagulls and watch scuttling crabs.

Play a game of fetch using a ball or flying disc. Be sure to choose a quiet spot so you don't disturb other people and pets on the beach.

Play some fetch in the water (if your dog can swim and enjoys being in the water). It is a good idea to choose a bright colored floating toy so you dog can easily spot it on top of the waves. Also, be sure to play fetch in "shallow water." You don't want to send your dog too far out from the shoreline.

Splash around through the waves. Be careful to not let your dog get too tired with this game and stay close to the shore. Never leave the dog's side.

Take a swim. Let your dog go at its own pace and provide constant supervision. Fit them with a life jacket and watch out for dog getting too tired while swimming.

Some dogs who are confident and good swimmers may enjoy to surf or boogie board. This kind of balance practice is also great for other dog sports like agility or going in a canoe or kayak.

Playing in the sand is always a good option for a day on the beach. Most dogs love to dig and will enjoy digging deep into the sand. Try building some sandcastles and allowing your dog to tear them down.

In calm waters put a dog jacket on him and go for a canoe or kayak ride together.

Your dog will more than likely love going to the beach. Remember:

• to always supervise your dog and never leave them alone which is important for their safety
• don't let your dog disturb wildlife
• keep the dog away from vegetation to avoid damage
• never allow your dog to become a nuisance to other people or pets while on the beach

Take along some some nutritious dog treats and drinking water.

Should You Home Groom or Professionally Groom Your Dogs?

Above photo courtesy of Cathy Tucker from KTW Wraps and Knotless Hair Wraps

Many dog owners choose to groom their dogs at home for the simple reason that is less expensive and also for the unique bonding time you create during the grooming process. However, there are many positive points to consider about at least every now and then getting a professional groom. If you have the time, stay and watch your dog be groomed. If you choose a real professional groomer, you will notice how much your dog actually enjoys the "beauty treatment" in his dog salon. 

Here are some of things a professional dog groomer does during sessions:

• typically the dog is thoroughly brushed, bathed and dried
• groomers trim or clip dog hair with sanitized brushes and clipper blades
• they brush or comb out all mats before the bath making it easier to lather up the dog with a nice smelling shampoo specifically for your dog's type of hair (if you have found a true professional dog groomer)
• they clean the dogs ears and check for signs of ear infections
• they trim most dogs over or around the eyes, at the tips of the ears and bottoms of feet, which are all places a dog owner often finds difficult to reach
• they can also brush your dog's teeth if requested
• professional groomers have all the right tools to make your dog look its best; I have often been totally taken back and amazed when my dogs come out of professional grooming sessions
• many groomers know how to groom for breed show cuts, which is important if you show your dog or dogs; this requires precise grooming skills as different dog coats require different brushes and other tools
• a good groomer removes all dead hair leaving less dead hairs to fall on your carpets and floors
• a good professional groomer knows how to handle old, anxious or aggressive dogs gently and with confidence; you will be surprised
• professional grooming really helps out when you have back pain or other health problems which prevent you from having to lift and handle your dog appropriately for grooming sessions

There are also health benefits for your dog including:

• regular baths wash out all the dirt which helps to prevent skin irritations; on the other hand if you bath too frequently you can stir up skin problems as well; finding the happy medium of how often to bath your particular breed is key to helping eliminate skin problems
• using the correct brushes and other tools for coat type removes damaged and dead hair and allows new growth of healthy hair
• careful professional brushing distributes natural oils to help keep the coat shiny and well lubricated

Of course you can learn which are the right tools to use for home dog grooming while you watch your professional groomer and perform at home with similar results, however, a regular visit to a professional groomer is still a great way to keep your dog looking gorgeous as well as to learn yourself how to groom your dog. You will be stunned to see how beautiful he or she looks when they are all done. Your dog should enjoy his or her day at his dog beauty salon. It is just an extra kind of a treat for you and the dog to get a professional groom at least every now and then. Show them off after they get all prettied up!