Showing posts with label dogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dogs. Show all posts
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Summer dog tip
I met a vet who told me to pass on the news that on hot summer days do not take your dog on hikes in the middle of the day. He has seen dogs come in for heat stroke this way. He said in summer, at his practice, more dogs die of heat stroke than from rattle snake bites. Take your dog for a walk in the cool morning or in the evening when the sun is down. Someone, not a vet, told me if your dog's tonuge is getting purple than they are getting overheated. I personally don't know if this is true or not.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Tips for your Family's Dog
Dog Tips Dog Owners Should Definitely Know About!
I have a dog which I dearly adore. Here are seven dog tips I believe other dog owners should know about. I plan to add to this list with my Dog Days of Summer (Bio-monthly family dog tips for the summer. It will start at the end of May.). Note: I am not a veterinarian, just a regular dog owner.
1) Do not let puppies or adult dogs chew on newspaper. The ink could make them sick. Also, get rid of any deadly mushrooms in your yard. And keep your puppy away from deadly plants. Puppies like to chew. This includes cords. Keep plugged in electrical cords away from them.
2) Do not let your puppy or dog chew on things that could become sharp going down their throat (splinters of wood or hard plastic). It could cut into the lining of their throat or stomach.
3) Do not feed your dog chocolate, onions, or raisins. These foods can be deadly to a dog (a Vet told me this). During the holidays make sure these foods are put up away from your dog.
4) Be careful about letting your dog sniff driveways or parking spots. Cars can leak oils and fluids and you do NOT want your dog licking it. I have been told by a veterinarian dogs like the taste of transmission fluid which can be deadly to them. Seek Vet help immediately if you think your dog has licked up oil or transmission fluid.
5) If you live, or hike with your dog, where rattlesnakes live I recommend you ask your veterinarian about getting your dog a rattlesnake shot. If your dog is sick or old your Vet might not recommend it. My Vet told me the best time to get this shot is in early Spring, the beginning of rattlesnake season. He said the first six months of the vaccine is the most potent, but you should confirm this with your own Vet. My own dog has gotten the shot. The first time she got it she had to have a series of two, three weeks apart. After that it is an annual shot. But my Vet told me the shot ONLY buys time if a dog is bit. You must get your dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible for more medicine/additional medical help. Do not be cheap and call around for the lowest priced Vet after your dog has been bit. One Vet told me about a man who did this and his dog died because he waited too long to get medical help. You can also get a trainer to teach your dog to stay away from rattlesnakes. This should be in addition to the rattlesnake shot or if your dog can not have it. I write this because I knew a dog owner who got their dog rattlesnake trained but it did not help them in the end. Unfortunately their dog went to sniff the bushes one day and a snake bit them on the nose. The dog sadly died.
6) Keep old towels. Keep a couple in the trunk of your car if you take your dog to the creek or beach. Additionally, you can put them in the backseat or on the floor for your pet to lie on. This helps with sheddings and for sandy and muddy dogs.
7) Have too many towels, or getting new ones? Then ask your local shelter if they need towels for their dogs. Some shelters do not have enough money in their budget for towels to be inside the cold metal cages for dogs to lie on. I give towels to a pet store who takes them to such shelters.
I have a dog which I dearly adore. Here are seven dog tips I believe other dog owners should know about. I plan to add to this list with my Dog Days of Summer (Bio-monthly family dog tips for the summer. It will start at the end of May.). Note: I am not a veterinarian, just a regular dog owner.
1) Do not let puppies or adult dogs chew on newspaper. The ink could make them sick. Also, get rid of any deadly mushrooms in your yard. And keep your puppy away from deadly plants. Puppies like to chew. This includes cords. Keep plugged in electrical cords away from them.
2) Do not let your puppy or dog chew on things that could become sharp going down their throat (splinters of wood or hard plastic). It could cut into the lining of their throat or stomach.
3) Do not feed your dog chocolate, onions, or raisins. These foods can be deadly to a dog (a Vet told me this). During the holidays make sure these foods are put up away from your dog.
4) Be careful about letting your dog sniff driveways or parking spots. Cars can leak oils and fluids and you do NOT want your dog licking it. I have been told by a veterinarian dogs like the taste of transmission fluid which can be deadly to them. Seek Vet help immediately if you think your dog has licked up oil or transmission fluid.
5) If you live, or hike with your dog, where rattlesnakes live I recommend you ask your veterinarian about getting your dog a rattlesnake shot. If your dog is sick or old your Vet might not recommend it. My Vet told me the best time to get this shot is in early Spring, the beginning of rattlesnake season. He said the first six months of the vaccine is the most potent, but you should confirm this with your own Vet. My own dog has gotten the shot. The first time she got it she had to have a series of two, three weeks apart. After that it is an annual shot. But my Vet told me the shot ONLY buys time if a dog is bit. You must get your dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible for more medicine/additional medical help. Do not be cheap and call around for the lowest priced Vet after your dog has been bit. One Vet told me about a man who did this and his dog died because he waited too long to get medical help. You can also get a trainer to teach your dog to stay away from rattlesnakes. This should be in addition to the rattlesnake shot or if your dog can not have it. I write this because I knew a dog owner who got their dog rattlesnake trained but it did not help them in the end. Unfortunately their dog went to sniff the bushes one day and a snake bit them on the nose. The dog sadly died.
6) Keep old towels. Keep a couple in the trunk of your car if you take your dog to the creek or beach. Additionally, you can put them in the backseat or on the floor for your pet to lie on. This helps with sheddings and for sandy and muddy dogs.
7) Have too many towels, or getting new ones? Then ask your local shelter if they need towels for their dogs. Some shelters do not have enough money in their budget for towels to be inside the cold metal cages for dogs to lie on. I give towels to a pet store who takes them to such shelters.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Article: How to Deal with a Death of a Pet with Children
How to Deal with a Death of a Pet with Children
The death of a pet can be very sad. It's made more difficult with young children because they have a hard time understanding death. Explaining it can be tough. If you tell your five-year-old their cat has passed on they might be clueless as to what "passed on" means. "Lucky, passed on where, Mom? Did she go across the street?" Even if you use the word death, young children have a hard time grasping how long death is. If you explain to your child that death means a long period of time you still might get, "Does that mean Spot will come back in three weeks?" Three weeks is a long time to a five-year-old. At age six I still couldn't understand how long summer was. My older brother showed me a calendar and flipped up three pages saying that's how long it was. That helped. Some. At least I knew it was for a long time. You actually have to tell your child their beloved pet will not be coming back. You can't pussy foot around death. Death is final. You do not want your child to think an animal is coming back if it's not. Please do not tell your child that Pickles went to live on a big farm in Idaho if Pickles died. This is a lie and serves no purpose. And your lie can be exposed. However, if your family's belief system is that there is an afterlife you can tell your child you believe Fluffy is in Heaven. This is a belief. It differs from "Pickles went to live in Idaho." This statement is a lie because you're purposely being deceptive. It's a deliberate falsehood. You know Pickles did not go there.
Children grieve in different ways. One of your children might sob, another could pester you with questions, and your last child might get real quiet and refuse to talk. Each child has their own personality. And because of that each had a different relationship with the deceased pet. Moreover, one child could have been closer to the family pet than another. Did the pet sleep in bed with them? It won't anymore. And that's sad. Be kind. Don't brush away your child's feeling and tell them to buck up. If you offer to take them for ice cream to cheer them up, do NOT renege on it if they say no. They might be feeling so heartsick they can't eat right now. Take your child in a week.
The death of a family dog can be very upsetting to a child. Especially if it was an indoor dog. House dogs interact with the family more. Therefore, children will get more attached to them. So be there for your child. Have a shoulder for them to cry on. Let them know it is okay to grieve. Even if you as a parent weren't particularly close to the family pet be empathetic. Give extra hugs. Ask your child if they would like to create a photo album of Shaggy. Write near each picture the occasion, what's happening, and with whom. On the last page you can attach a note with something like, "We love you Shaggy! Thanks for being our dog and loving us. You were much appreciated." Or "Shaggy, you'll be missed. You'll be in our hearts always." Or your child can write a personal letter to their dog and sign their name. They can put the letter in a picture pocket of the album to be shared years later. Remember dogs give unconditional love. They love you whether you're rich, poor, short, tall, dress well, or are unkempt. There is maybe one string attached to their love, which is "be kind to me." Unlike humans they don't have worldly "expectations" of how you should be. They love you just as you are. And older children know this. Their dog loved them just as they were. If your child had a particular hard day and was naughty, and you punished them, Shaggy was still a ready friend. He was ready to give a consoling lick on the face. On the worst of days a child really needs a cuddle. Shaggy was there to be hugged close and to listen to grievances against you. He didn't judge. He just loved.
Some children like to have a small memorial service for their pet. I've been to many pet services in backyards. Fish. Hamster. Rat. Turtle. Lizard. Depending on where you live, bigger pets, such as dogs or cats, have to be buried in a pet cemetery or be taken to a place to be cremated. You should check. You can still have a small memorial service. The memorial can be just sharing good memories. "Remember how Rover would lay down low and sneak over to the counter and steal pizza?" Then it was a pain, now it's a funny memory. Maybe one child will draw a picture of good times with Rover. Another child might read a poem they wrote. A memorial service provides closure. Which is important. That's why saying your pet went to live in Idaho when he didn't is wrong. There is no closure.
The death of a pet can be very sad. It's made more difficult with young children because they have a hard time understanding death. Explaining it can be tough. If you tell your five-year-old their cat has passed on they might be clueless as to what "passed on" means. "Lucky, passed on where, Mom? Did she go across the street?" Even if you use the word death, young children have a hard time grasping how long death is. If you explain to your child that death means a long period of time you still might get, "Does that mean Spot will come back in three weeks?" Three weeks is a long time to a five-year-old. At age six I still couldn't understand how long summer was. My older brother showed me a calendar and flipped up three pages saying that's how long it was. That helped. Some. At least I knew it was for a long time. You actually have to tell your child their beloved pet will not be coming back. You can't pussy foot around death. Death is final. You do not want your child to think an animal is coming back if it's not. Please do not tell your child that Pickles went to live on a big farm in Idaho if Pickles died. This is a lie and serves no purpose. And your lie can be exposed. However, if your family's belief system is that there is an afterlife you can tell your child you believe Fluffy is in Heaven. This is a belief. It differs from "Pickles went to live in Idaho." This statement is a lie because you're purposely being deceptive. It's a deliberate falsehood. You know Pickles did not go there.
Children grieve in different ways. One of your children might sob, another could pester you with questions, and your last child might get real quiet and refuse to talk. Each child has their own personality. And because of that each had a different relationship with the deceased pet. Moreover, one child could have been closer to the family pet than another. Did the pet sleep in bed with them? It won't anymore. And that's sad. Be kind. Don't brush away your child's feeling and tell them to buck up. If you offer to take them for ice cream to cheer them up, do NOT renege on it if they say no. They might be feeling so heartsick they can't eat right now. Take your child in a week.
The death of a family dog can be very upsetting to a child. Especially if it was an indoor dog. House dogs interact with the family more. Therefore, children will get more attached to them. So be there for your child. Have a shoulder for them to cry on. Let them know it is okay to grieve. Even if you as a parent weren't particularly close to the family pet be empathetic. Give extra hugs. Ask your child if they would like to create a photo album of Shaggy. Write near each picture the occasion, what's happening, and with whom. On the last page you can attach a note with something like, "We love you Shaggy! Thanks for being our dog and loving us. You were much appreciated." Or "Shaggy, you'll be missed. You'll be in our hearts always." Or your child can write a personal letter to their dog and sign their name. They can put the letter in a picture pocket of the album to be shared years later. Remember dogs give unconditional love. They love you whether you're rich, poor, short, tall, dress well, or are unkempt. There is maybe one string attached to their love, which is "be kind to me." Unlike humans they don't have worldly "expectations" of how you should be. They love you just as you are. And older children know this. Their dog loved them just as they were. If your child had a particular hard day and was naughty, and you punished them, Shaggy was still a ready friend. He was ready to give a consoling lick on the face. On the worst of days a child really needs a cuddle. Shaggy was there to be hugged close and to listen to grievances against you. He didn't judge. He just loved.
Some children like to have a small memorial service for their pet. I've been to many pet services in backyards. Fish. Hamster. Rat. Turtle. Lizard. Depending on where you live, bigger pets, such as dogs or cats, have to be buried in a pet cemetery or be taken to a place to be cremated. You should check. You can still have a small memorial service. The memorial can be just sharing good memories. "Remember how Rover would lay down low and sneak over to the counter and steal pizza?" Then it was a pain, now it's a funny memory. Maybe one child will draw a picture of good times with Rover. Another child might read a poem they wrote. A memorial service provides closure. Which is important. That's why saying your pet went to live in Idaho when he didn't is wrong. There is no closure.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Doggy Tip
It's hot out during the day right now. Make sure your dog has plenty of water. Do not leave their water in a metal bowl in the hot sun. The metal can get really hot. Put water in a ceramic bowl and place in the shade. Beware of plastic bowls for puppies. They could chew them.
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