Chars Dogs and Dog Info

It is winter time in most part of the United States and cold weather, snow and ice can be dangerous for our furry friends. Dogs are just like humans in the fact that if they are out in the cold weather for too long, they can get hypothermia. This condition can happen when a dog is left out in the cold and also gets wet. Different breeds and sizes have different tolerances to the cold weather. Larger dogs can be out in the cold longer than the little dogs. Dogs can get hypothermia in 40 degree weather if they are wet. When the temperature reaches single digits or below, dogs need to be kept inside most of the time. 

Another thing to think about is the salt that is on the streets and sidewalks. This salt can damage paws and if ingested, can cause stomach upset. Dogs can also get pieces of ice in their feet which can cause cuts. 
Also be careful about leaving antifreeze puddles around. Antifreeze is toxic to dogs if ingested and can cause severe health complications and even death. Since antifreeze is sweet smelling, dogs are attracted to it. 

Just try to be a little more careful when the cold weather is upon us. 

There are numerous common household products that we think are harmless that can be deadly to our furry kids. In 2008, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center in Urbana, IL, handled more than 140,000 cases of pets being exposed to toxic household items, including beauty and cleaning supplies, insecticides and prescription medications. 

Here are some of the most common items that poisoned our pets in 2008.

1. The number one dishonor goes to human medications that made up for about 50,000 calls to the Animal Poison Control Center’s hotline in 2008. Pet are known to grab pill containers from nightstands or kitchen counters or just find a pill on the floor that they just eat like candy. You need to keep all your medications, both prescription and over the counter meds, put behind closed cabinet doors so that they can’t get to them. This means even Tylenol or Advil as well as decongestants and anti depressants. All of these can be lethal to pets. 

2. Nearly 39,000 cases of pets exposed to rodent bait and insecticides were reported in 2008. Be certain to place all toxic rodent baits way out of reach of nosey dogs who might think they smell good and eat it. Furthermore, make sure all types of insecticides are kept behind closed cabinet doors that dogs cannot get into. 

3. There were more than 13,500 calls of pets eating human food that was dangerous to pets. These items include raisins, avocado and citrus. Believe it or not, chocolate ingestion counted for more than half of those calls. Keep the chocolate products away from your pets!

4. Common household plants are pretty and keep your air clean, but if your furry friends decide to nibble on the stalks and stems of these plants, it could cause severe gastrointestinal troubles. There were more than 6,300 calls made about a pet chomping on plants. 

These are only the top poisonous items that the poison control center received calls on. It is best to keep anything that might be toxic or poisonous stored away from your pet at all times. 

What would you do if some sort of medical emergency happened to your dog, he needs expensive medical treatment, and you are not able to pay for it? This can happen to all of us at one time or another. 

Here are some suggestions for you.

• More than likely, your vet or vet clinic will allow you the time to make phone calls to friends and family to try to obtain some funds. They will also let you run to the local ATM to retrieve the needed resources.

• Perhaps you have a credit card you could use or possibly your vet will take a post dated check that will give you some time to obtain the cash needed. 

• There is a credit card called Care Credit that I have used in the past. This card is specifically used for veterinarian and other health care needs. They assist you in applying for a line of credit on an emergency basis. They also have very good interest rates compared to other credit cards. 

• You could look into pet insurance BEFORE something unexpected happens. If you apply for pet insurance when your dog is young, the rates are really reasonable. There are a number of companies that offer this coverage so it might be something to look into.

I’ve had few times this has happened to me and it can really stress you out. Not only are you worried sick about your furry friend, but then you have to figure out how to pay for it. Not a good thing to have to overcome.

When you take your dog for a ride in your vehicle to the vet’s office or groomer, does he get sick? You know, the nastiness: vomiting and diarrhea. 

Luckily, all my five dogs can handle travel in my car relatively well. Shiloh absolutely LOVES going for a ride in the car. In fact, she wants to go all the time! Rocky acts a bit on the nervous side though. When I take him to the groomer with his brother about once a month, he is all over me while I am driving. I try to drive and he is trying to get in my lap, trying to make me hold him and trembling all the way. Thank goodness it is only about a six minute drive to the groomers. 

Many years ago, I had another dog who could not ride in the car. We would get about two blocks from home and up it all came. It didn’t matter if he had nothing to eat or drink for hours or not. I tried short rides to try to ease him in.. nope, didn’t work. Needless to say, we didn’t go for any rides in the car unless it was an absolute necessity.  

In talking to my local veterinarian, among dog emergencies that she sees, the top preventable injury is torn nails. 

Torn nails in a dog is very common. If a dog’s nails get too long, they are uneven, sharp and can effortlessly get caught on things around the house such as carpet, bedding and blankets. Some other common things nails can get caught on are knitted things, especially crocheted items, and throw rugs. A dog’s nail can technically get caught on almost anything. 

A dog’s nail, when it is too long, can get caught and torn from its connection. What happens is that it bleeds, and bleeds, a lot. To make it even worse is that it is painful for your dog and he doesn’t want you to touch it or even look at it. As your dogs wanders through your house, the toe keeps on bleeding.  

When it will not stop bleeding, if you are like me, you would end up at your vet’s office, more than likely after hours, because this is always when these things happen. The treatment is pretty simple. The torn nail is removed, the toe area is softly cleaned and a dressing it put on the toe to help reduce further bleeding and make the dog feel better for awhile. Eventually, the nail will come back and everything will be just fine. 

The injury is very preventable because all you have to do is keep your dog’s nails trimmed properly. This can be done by either a nail clipper or trimmer. If you keep your dog’s nails trimmed correctly, your dog will be much happier and you can save money on those vet bills. 

As a parent of five furry kids (dogs), I have learned that there are some mistakes that some dog owners make that they shouldn’t. If you own a dog make sure you are being a responsible dog parent. Here are six mistakes that I found out about that every dog owner should be aware of.  

1. Owners that do not have annual exams done on their dogs. These are very important and possibly could locate health troubles before they are too far along to be able to treat them. 

2. Do not let your dog run loose. Many dogs that do this can get into garbage and eat trash that may have terrible things in it, get hit by a vehicle or even get into a fight with another animal. If your dog is on a leash or in a fenced yard, they will be much safer. 

3. Some people do not observe their dog daily. Health problems can occur at any time, and if you not watching out for changes in your dogs eating, drinking, attitude and potty habits, you may not know until it is too late that your dog is ill. 

4. Buying cheap dog food and treats. Dogs need a high quality balanced, nutritional diet that is created for their age and size. If a dog eats unhealthy, it will be unhealthy. 

5. Some do not have a current microchip or identification tag for their dog. This is the absolute best way that a dog will be returned to you if it is lost. 

6. Some dog owners do not realize that there are many items around the home that can be a danger to dogs or even kill them if they get into it. You need to dog proof your home and be certain your dog cannot get into dangerous items like anti-freeze, rat poison, the trash, human or other medications. 

If you have a furry kid like I do, you need to take responsibility for them since they cannot do it for themselves. 

Family, friends and feasts-the major ingredients for holiday enjoyment can, in reality, result in distress for pets. Not only can too many table scraps make furry tummies a-rumble, but a lot of animals get anxious at the variation in household routine. Says the ASPCA’s Dr. Steven Hansen, Senior Vice President, Animal Health Services, which includes the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center in Urbana, IL, “As you begin to prepare for a festive season, remember to be wary of activities that can be potentially dangerous to pets.”

The subsequent safety tips will be of assistance to guarantee a safe and fulfilling Thanksgiving for you and your pets:

Let’s talk about turkey: Giving your pets a small bite of turkey is acceptable, just be certain that it’s boneless and completely cooked. Raw or undercooked turkey may be full of salmonella bacteria, and dogs can choke on bones, which splinter effortlessly.

A banquet fit for a Kong: even as the humans are chewing down, give your dog their own miniature indulgence. Stuff their standard dinner-with a small number of added bits of turkey, dribbles of gravy or vegetables like sweet potato and green beans-within a Kong toy. They’ll be gleefully busy trying to get their meal out, and way too busy to come begging for table scraps.

Sage information: This spicy herb makes stuffing taste scrumptious, but sage additionally contains essential oils and resins that can initiate pets to be ill with stomach upset and likely depression of the central nervous system.

If you believe your pet has ingested an unsafe substance, on Thanksgiving or at any time, please phone your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Reverse sneezing, also recognized as the “mechanosensitive aspiration reflex”, is a familiar phenomenon in dogs. In a normal sneeze, your dog pushes air out through the nose; but, in a reverse sneeze, air is pulled swiftly in through the nose producing a noisy aspiratory attempt. 

Through a reverse sneeze, your dog will make quick inspirations, stand at a standstill with his elbows spread apart, stretch out his head, and his eyes may protrude. He’ll make a loud snorting noise, which may make you assume he has something trapped in his throat. Numerous dog owners assume their pet is suffocating during a reverse sneeze episode. Each reverse sneezing occurrence normally lasts for less than a minute up to two minutes.

The precise cause for these reverse sneezing episodes is unidentified, but may be associated to allergies, nasal irritants, or nasal inflammation. Any age, breed or sex can be affected. 

It is not a dangerous situation and there are no ill effects. Reverse sneezing attacks are usually quite short and not life threatening.The dog will act just like normal in between incidents.

An episode can be stopped if the dog is stimulated to swallow by either massaging the throat or for a short time pinching off the nasal openings. On occasion opening the dog’s mouth and gently pulling on the dogs tongue or giving the dog a little to eat and drink can also end the reverse sneezing episode.

Dogs need unique consideration through the winter months, and the American Humane Association urges pet owners to undertake precautions.

Dogs may have fur, but that doesn’t indicate they can withstand severe temperatures. Pets ought to be kept inside if feasible. 

If dogs are left outdoors, they ought to have a draft-free shelter big enough to get up and circle around in, yet small enough to maintain body heat. American Humane suggests a layer of straw or other bedding material to help insulate pets against the wintry weather. 

Typically, outside animals necessitate more calories in the winter, so it’s best to feed them accordingly when the temperature drops. Discuss with your veterinarian for recommendations on an appropriate diet.

Numerous dogs like to go outdoors to have fun in the snow, but lots of people use strong salt and chemicals on their sidewalks to combat the ice. Wash paws after each excursion to inhibit pads from becoming dry and irritated. Signs of ingestion involve extreme drooling, vomiting, and depression. 

Medications utilized to take care of the sniffles in humans are capable of being dangerous to pets. Keep prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs away from a pet’s access. Do not medicate animals yourself except under the guidance of a veterinarian.

1. Supply only natural water. - Tap water can include chemicals such as lead, arsenic, and nitrates.

2. If your pet already has cancer, stay away from all vaccinations. - Vaccinations are capable of stressing your pet’s immune system.

3. Stay away from interior pollution. - Keep your pet away from cigarette smoke.

4. Keep your dog’s weight under control. - Overweight dogs are prone not only to cancer, but heart ailments, joint troubles, diabetes, breathing difficulties, and more.

5. Apply natural flea products to your dog. - Did you realize that flea collars, sprays, and shampoos are full of poisons? As an alternative to chemical insecticides, apply natural and less-lethal methods of flea control such as natural flea shampoos, vacuuming often, and combing your pet with a flea comb.

6. Do not permit your dog to travel in the back of a pickup truck. - Along with the hazard of being thrown out of the truck, your pet will be susceptible to inhaling toxic vehicle fumes and pollution.

7. Keep your dog away from pesticides and herbicides on lawns and plants. - An article by the National Cancer Institute established that dogs whose owners used weed-killing products containing 2,4-D (2,4-Dichlorophenoxyzcetic Acid) had two times the degree of lymphoma as dogs whose owners did not use it.

8. Keep your pet stress-free. - Stress is emotional imbalance caused by anger, frustration, or nervousness.

9. Exercise your dog on a frequent basis. Investigation shows that canine vigor not only strengthens resistance to chronic disease such as cancer, but is additionally crucial for optimal healthiness and well-being.