Holiday Centerpiece and Dog Tip

1) Child’s Christmas Arts and Craft Dinner Centerpiece.
What you need: Styrofoam three inches tall in any shape you desire, circle, square, oval or rectangle. You the parent can cut the Styrofoam with a shape knife to the shape desired. Red, green, gold, or silver paint. Paint brush. Pretty leaves. The day you plan to use centerpiece cut flowers, twigs with leaves or berries and/or ivy vines. Place stems in water.

What to do: Paint Styrofoam. Let dry. Then just before dinner, or a half an hour before, stick fresh flowers, and twigs in Styrofoam in a pretty fashion. If you see Styrofoam base peeking through you can cover it with leaves or ivy vines. Put centerpiece on dinner table.

2) Tip for dog owners- do not give turkey bones or chicken bones to your dog. They can get caught in their throat and they can choke on them. I don't recommend lamb bones either. A nice old man kept giving them to my dog and she would get sick. I had to politely tell him what was happening. Ask your butcher or veterinarian what bones they recommend for dogs.

Last Dog Days of Summer Dog Tip

Do you hate it when your kids yell at the dog when you're on the phone or eating dinner? Well here's good news, dogs can learn sign language for commands. Get a book on it or make up your own sign language. My dog knows the hand stop sign for stop. Palm down for sit. Palm upwards to get up. Two palms way down for lie down. One finger over the mouth for Shh! And other non-verbal commands. I’ve been told dogs can learn sign language easier than verbal commands.

Dog Tip for Summer

In the summer when your dog sheds more brush them every week to cut down on the dog hairs in your home. Vacuum/sweep house weekly. There are some digestible products I've read about that say when given to your dog it cuts down on shedding. One you put in their water. Ask your vet about such products.

Dog Days of Summer: Doggy Tip

Make sure your dog has plenty of clean water. Give them new water everyday. Recheck water bowl on hot days to make sure your dog still has water. Do not leave their water in a metal bowl in the hot sun. The metal can get really hot and it could burn them when they go for a drink. Use a ceramic one. My thoughts: If humans nowadays are not suppose to drink water out of plastic bottles that have been in the sun too long or in the hot car, then a dog should not drink out of plastic containers which are placed in the heat/sun day after day.

Dog Days of Summer- Dog Tip

Can you lift your dog by yourself and carry them to your car? What if you had to do this in an emergency? If you can't do this all alone, talk to your veterinarian about what to do in case this occurs. Ask if they have a pet ambulance or special van, or use a pet ambulance service. If not ask for a recommendation of a Vet in case of such an emergency. Some taxis will allow dogs in their car, call ahead now to find one. Be prepared. It's nice to have a neighbor that would help you out in such an emergency, but if they aren't home have a backup plan.

Get Rid of Fleas in Your Home and on Your Dog

Tips to Naturally Get Rid of Fleas in Your Home and on Your Dog

I was told this first tip by an owner of an only natural pet store.
Recommended before going on a trip so you won't come back to a flea infested home.

1) Wash your dog with a natural flea soap. Leave soap on dog for ten to fifteen minutes. This will help suffocate fleas. When time is up, water down dog's coat well to drown fleas. (You can also wash your dog with regular liquid soap.)

2) After drying your dog thoroughly wash their collar with soap and water. When worn, the collar gets warm which helps eggs hatch under it.

3) Now take dog outside. Sprinkle baking soda on ALL carpets where dog has access (unless you or a family member has allergies then ask your doctor about doing this). Keep children out of these areas. Do not be stingy with the baking soda. Sweep baking soda into carpet with a broom. Leave on for six hours. If you do this in the summer and your kids are home take them on an outing. While you're out the fleas will suffocate from the baking soda. Vacuum up carpet after the allotted time. In the summer months I do this routine once a month. I find it does keep down on fleas. If you do not want to use baking soda, vacuum frequently all areas where the dog walks and sleeps. To limit fleas in carpet keep dog on wooden or tile floors.

4) Frequently wash dog bedding, soft dog toys, area rugs, and human bedding if dog sleeps on beds.
Wash dog every two weeks unless dog has dry skin problems.

A veterinarian once told me if fleas do not have any live humans or animals to feed on they will die after seven days. Here is a tip from this same veterinarian: For houses with central heat- In the beginning of summer turn your heat way up. Leave home (no adults, kids or animals in hot house.) This will get flea eggs hatching. Come home in evening, turn off heat and vacuum up fleas and their eggs. (NEVER leave home with a space heater on!)

Last note: From the natural pet store I have gotten both Brewers Yeast, and Brewers Yeast plus Garlic to give to my dogs to rid fleas the natural way. Both only worked so so, and one of my dog's tummy did not like the yeast. Though a chlorinated pool is not very natural, my Labrador did have less fleas it seemed by playing in the pool. Also note, if you give your dog the type of flea medicine where you dab it on their back and your dog swims A LOT, my Veterinarian says it will wash off after so much swim time. So keep that in mind.

Family Dog Tip- Rattlesnakes and your Dog

I talked to a veterinarian recently about rattlesnakes. He said the bigger the snake the worse the bite is, depending on the last time the snake has bit. If the snake has just used its venom on a meal than it will have less venom right after this. He said a big dog in good health can take a bite better than a tiny dog or an older dog. He also said the worst time to get a rattlesnake bite is right after hibernation when these snakes have lots of venom stored up. He does not take his dog hiking in the woods until mid season because of this.

How to Successfully take out a Tick

Tried and true tip- I'm writing this to help others who have had the unfortunate problem of getting a tick out their beloved dog's skin. (My friend used this same trick on her son with the same success.) I got this tip from a friend. It worked for me, but I take no responsibility for the outcome if you do it. To find out what my veterinarian recommends keep reading the whole article.

As my friend told me I got a cotton ball and soaked it in nail polish remover. I put the ball on the tick for two minutes. The tick did not like the smell of the nail polish remover so it started backing up. That’s when I took a clean pair of tweezers and counter clock wise turned and pulled the tick out at the base of the skin. I got the whole head of the tick and its body out. I then flushed the tick down the toilet. If you are worried the tick might not have really gotten flushed then first put the tick in a plastic container of ½ water and ½ rubbing alcohol to kill it. Then flush it. Dab bitten area with rubbing alcohol or antibacterial ointment.

My veterinarian recommends using a Q-tip with rubbing alcohol on a tick instead of nail polish remover. However, the first time I tried this the Q-tip did not have enough rubbing alcohol on it to cut off the tick’s air supply on its body (ticks breathe through their body). So I got a cotton ball, put rubbing alcohol on it and placed it on the tick to suffocate it. I kept it on for 5 minutes. The tick started coming out somewhat. I pinched the skin near it with my forefinger and thumb, then with a tweezers I pulled tick out successfully. However, when my dog got another tick I only kept the rubbing alcohol on for one minute before pulling. This time the head was left in. I called my Vet. He said to dab area where tick head was with rubbing alcohol for three days to make sure it did not get infected. He said the head should gradually come out and my dog should be okay, but that I should watch area for infection. End result: My dog did not get an infection and the tick head did come out in about two weeks.

My Vet Does Not recommend using a burnt match on a tick to get it out. You do not want to accidentally burn your dog (or your child). For puppies it is best to take tick out when they are sleepy and not moving around. Have someone hold wiggly puppy while you take tick out. If in doubt about how to take tick out, or if you are scared you might do it wrong, let a veterinarian (or docter) take it out. Where I live my Vet said there is not any outbreaks of Lyme disease, Rocky mountain fever, or other tick carrying diseases. But you should call your Vet in your area to see if there is a problem with these diseases. If so, your Vet will probably recommend that your dog gets a blood test if a tick bites them. If your child gets a tick call their docter to see if they should have a blood test!

Winter Dog Tip

If you live in Alaska, Canada, or Russia (yes, I do have an Russian audience) or anywhere else where it's seriously cold: When you take your dog out in icy snow watch for signs of them quickly hopping from paw to paw. The freezing snow might be giving them a paw burn from the snow. A woman from Alaska told me the bottom of her dog's paw got a burn this way.

Last Dog Tip

Here is the last Dog's Day of Summer Dog Tip- Make sure your dog has plenty of clean water. Give them new water everyday. Recheck water bowl on hot days to make sure your dog still has water. Do not leave their water in a metal bowl in the hot sun. The metal can get really hot and it could burn your dog when they go for a drink. Use a ceramic bowl. My thoughts: If humans nowadays are not suppose to drink water out of plastic bottles that have been in the sun too long, or in the hot car, then a dog should not drink out of plastic water containers which are placed in the sun.

Dog Tip

Be careful about letting your dog sniff where people park their cars. Cars can leak oils and fluids, and you don't want your dog licking it. I have been told by a Veterinarian that dogs like the taste of transmission fluid (which is I believe green) which can be deadly to them. Seek Vet help immediately if you think your dog has licked up oil or transmission fluid. Note: At least in my city I was informed that you are NOT to call 911 about a pet. Have your Vet's phone number handy in your personal phone book. Many regular Vets are not open 24 hours. So ask your Vet for a recommendation, before your dog is sick, for an emergency Vet care facility in case their office is not open.

Doggy Tip- Dog Days of Summer

Do not take your dog on hikes on hot summer days in the middle of the day, especially old dogs and dogs with long coats. I had a Veterinarian tell me that every summer he sees dogs come in for heat stroke. Their owners take their dogs up hills, on trails with no shade, when it's over ninety degrees out. This is usually mid day when it's hottest out. Would you like to walk in a fur coat in the blazing heat? If you hike with your dog make sure you have water for him. Look for a collapsible dog bowl at your local pet store. Seriously folks take what I wrote today to heart. My little niece in July told me her friend's parents took their two dogs out for a hike in hot weather during the day. Both got heat stroke. One died, the other survived. Don't let this happen to your dog!

Doggy Tip- Dog Days of Summer

Dog Tip- If you travel in the car with your dog make sure on hot days the metal from the seat belt does NOT touch them. Hot metal burns. When it's really hot out try to park your car in the shade. And carry a thick white towel (white reflects) in your car. Place it over the metal part of the seat belt so it will not get as hot.

If you put your dog in the back of a pick-up truck make sure he is safely and securely tied in the back so he can't jump or fall out of the truck. He could be tossed out when you make a sudden stop or take fast turns. So be careful! And don't drive on the Freeway! Make sure metal flooring is not hot on his paws. You can carpet floor with cheap carpet. Or lay a blanket on it.
Personally, I don't recommend putting your dog in the back of an open truck because if the rope is too long it can strangle them if they jump out or fall out with the rope tied around their neck. And there is a chance that going over a bump your dog could have problems with the rope and hurt himself. If you are worried about dog hairs or your dog being muddy and that's why you put them in the back, try putting old towels down in the front and let them lie on it.

Summer Dog Tip

When it's hot out, put your hand on the asphalt, pavement, or dirt to see if it's hot to the touch (quickly brushing finger tips on the ground isn't enough). If the ground is very hot, then wait to take your pet out when it's cooler. Walking on hot ground can burn the pads of their paws. If you're already on a walk and your dog is hopping from paw to paw, then the ground could be getting too hot. Find green grass for your dog to walk on and take him out early from then on.

On a hot day if you leave your dog in a tennis court with black asphalt the ground can get extremely hot. Your dog could burn the bottom of their paws walking on it. And if they don't have adequate shade they could get heat stroke.

Doggy Tip

Dog Tip- On hot days do NOT park your car and leave your dog in it. Even for a short period. Do NOT think, well, it's okay I've cracked open the windows some. It gets hot inside a car fast! Some cities give tickets to people who leave dogs in cars. So before leaving your dog in the car to quickly just get milk, even in winter, check to make sure what your city's laws are.

Doggy Tip

Dog Tip- Some people with long haired dogs routinely every summer get their dog's hair cut at the groomers. The cut looks like a crew cut. But be careful about doing this. Your dog's skin which hasn't seen the sun can get burned. So be careful about how long they lie in the sun and when walking them. And yes dogs with no fur can get sun burned. A vet informed me of this.

Doggy Tip- 1st Dog Days of Summer

First installment of Dog Days Of Summer. Tips for Dog Owner's and thier families.

Are you tired of paying for doggy poop bags for when you go on a walk with your dog? If yes, then here are ways to save. 1) If you get a newspaper delivered to your home, save the wrapping it comes in and use it instead. Tie to leash handle. (I put two on my dog's leash in case she has to do her business twice.) 2) Bread bags can be used the same way. Bonus is they aren't as clear. Plus, being extra long it makes for easy pick up. (3) Use plastic grocery bags. And since they are white people are less able to see inside. With any of these plastic bags make sure they don't have rips or holes in them or you'll be sorry later.

Need a place to put all your plastic bags until you need them? If you get milk in half gallon plastic containers save one. Wash it out really well and cut a big hole in its side. Put your plastic bags in this hole for easy access. Place masking tape around holes edges so you and your children don't cut yourselves when you put your hand inside.