Is your dog overweight?

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Recent surveys indicate that about 50% of America’s dog population is overweight.  Recent surveys also suggest that way less than 50% of Americans think that their pets are overweight.  There are several tell tale signs that your pup may be a little pudgy.  One way is to stand your dog up and view over the top of him or her.  There should be an inward curve just behind the rib cage.  If there is a straight line from head to tail, then you may need to put your pooch on a diet.  Also, if you view your pet from the side, there should be an upward curve right behind the rib cage.  If there is no curve or there is sagginess in the belly, your dog is more than likely in need of losing a few pounds.  When you run your fingers over the dog’s rib cage, you should be able to feel each individual rib. If you feel sheets of fat and your hand doesn’t easily slide across the rib cage, there is too much fat!  I have found that most people think that you should not be able to see ribs on their dog, but that is actually not the case.  One of the perks of having a pet sitter is your dog will be walked regularly and that keeps them healthy and exercised.

Doge Glow

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So, I was browsing online for dog products and came across a product called Doge Glow that seemed pretty cool.  The product comes in collars, harnesses, and leashes and feature LED lights that can be set on a steady or flashing mode.  These lights are very useful for safety reasons and the lights can be seen from 1000 feet away.  During the day, the gear can be turned off and the patterns still look fashionable without being lit up.  The products are weather resistant, so are perfect for people that get outside in rain or shine.  They run on batteries, so there are no cords or tangle to deal with.  I think this would be a great product for us at Gwinnett Pet Watchers to use at night or in the wee hours of the morning when we are doing our dog walks.  You wouldn’t be able to miss us!

Pet First Aid and CPR Workshop

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First Aid & CPR Events

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Knowing the skills of Pet First Aid can mean the difference between life and death, temporary and permanent disability, and expensive and not-so-expensive vet bills. This workshop class is a 4 hour class taught by lecture, demonstration, and hands on skills learning that will give students the knowledge and skills to handle emergencies such as:

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  • CPR
  • Rescue Breathing
  • Bleeding Protocols
  • Poisoning
  • Choking
  • Heat and Cold Injuries
  • Poisoning
  • Insect Bites and Stings
  • Seizures
  • Restraint and Muzzling

 

Participants will receive a certificate of completion as well as a Pet First Aid & CPR workbook to take home.

Presented by a Certified PetTech Atlanta Master Instructor, Jennifer Perry.

***No dogs are allowed to attend at this seminar – we will be providing mannequins to work with.

Holiday Pet Safety

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With Memorial Day and the Fourth of July right around the corner, I wanted to suggest some safety tips for keeping pets safe.  A lot of pets are scared of loud noises such as fireworks, and some are even petrified and can really hurt themselves if we don’t protect them.  One suggestion I have is to desensitize your pets.  You can do this by playing a cd with loud noises and sounds or even actual fireworks through out the weeks leading up to the holiday and most pets will get used to these noises and not be affected during the holiday.  I had to desensitize my dogs when I was pregnant because they had never been around children.  There is a wonderful cd out called “Preparing Fido” and I have also recommended it to several Gwinnett Pet Watchers clients who are bringing a new bundle in to their family.  These cds can also work for pets that are scared of thunder storms as well.  Another suggestion I have is to keep your pets in a safe, indoor place during the holidays.  Pets that are outdoors can really hurt themselves by trying to “get away” from the noises and can also end up very far from home.  It is very important to keep them contained in a safe place where they cannot get hurt.  Lastly, I would suggest if at all possible to be with your pet during these times.  Your pet needs you to comfort him and if you are there, their anxiety level is usually a lot more under control.  The next best thing to you, would be us!  You can also hire a pet sitter to stay with your pet so you can have some holiday fun!

Spring is here! Time for flea and tick prevention

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Now that spring has arrived, it is time to break out the flea and tick prevention before infestations in your pet occur.  Personally, I do not like to over medicate my animals, so during winter months when fleas are less prevalent, I hold off on using prevention.  Now that the weather is getting warmer, these pesty bugs will be back uninvited.  Using flea and tick prevention will keep your pet healthy and they will not pick up tape worms or get flea bites, which leads to miserable itching.  Ticks can also can cause some nasty and even fatal diseases, so a combination  prevention is very important.  They also have medicines that repel mosquitoes.  If you live in wooded areas or near water, this could be beneficial to have for your pet.  The best medications are found at your vet’s office.  I tend to stay away from the brands that are sold at retailers such as Wal-Mart or grocery chains.  Some of these medicines have been documented to be harmful to pets and I would not recommend them or use them on my personal pets.

Does your dog scarf down his food?

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Sometimes dogs so things very fast…puppies grow up fast, dogs run fast, play fast, and wag their tails fast.  Some dogs even eat fast, which is not something that we, as pet owners, want them to do.  The risk of eating too fast is that they can suffer from bloat.  Bloat is when speedy eating and gulping cause excessive amounts of air, food, and liquid to fill the stomach and it blows up like a balloon.  The result is a trip to the vet and about 25-40% of dogs do not survive.  Luckily, pet owners have an easy solution for their pets ravenous eating.  It’s called the slow feeder dog bowl.  There are many different brands, but they all do the trick.  We, at Gwinnett Pet Watchers, have many clients that use these bowls for their dogs and they work great and save lives.  Do not take any chances if your dog is a rapid eater.  Go get yourself (and your pet) the slow feeder dog bowl!

The hottest new trend in dog training…there’s an app for that!

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Still having trouble getting your dog to sit, stay, or down? Well, the answer is in your pocket. Just take out your phone and download an app that will walk you through the training process. 2014 will be the year when pet training apps blow up. They’ll have an answer for all of those unexpected issues, like say when you’re at the dog park and your dog just won’t stop humping the other dogs, or won’t come back to you because he doesn’t want to leave yet. I expect they will also feature emergency information such as how to administer first aid or where to find the closest 24 hour veterinarian. Some of the apps that I have looked at for our canine friends are Dog Park by Dogster.com, Pet MD Dog’s First Aid, Puppy House Training, The Dog Whistler App, Clicker Training, and The Dog Translator.  Some of these apps are really neat and I highly recommend them!  I have tried some of these apps with my clients at Gwinnett Pet Watchers and have really enjoyed them.

Rabbit Hunting

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I just took care of some beagles last week that are used for rabbit hunting.  When Robin, Kim, and I were at the meet and greet, we were all very curious as to what rabbit hunting actually is defined as.  We asked many questions, and I did my own research when I had a chance at home.  It is more of a sport than actual hunting and killing rabbits.  It gives the dogs a chance to do what they are bred to do and get lots of exercise, making them a much calmer and well balanced pet.  The owner likes to run his beagles in field trials and runs the rabbits, but very rarely shoots them.  I think all of us at Gwinnett Pet Watchers were happy to hear that!  We are all animal lovers.  Beagle field trials are a performance event through the American Kennel Club.  There are many different categories in these trials.  It is always very interesting to learn about something that a dog breed was actually meant to do and what they were bred for.

What Are We Feeding Our Pets?

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Do You Realize What Harmful Ingredients Are In A Popular Dog Food Brand? 

 

I used to feed my dogs Iams food. Thirty years ago when I first started training dogs, Iams and Eukanuba were considered  very good dog food .  Did you know that Iams and Eukanuba yep, Proctor and gamble. Back then I was training dogs for an organization called  Bad Dogs Inc. The owner Bob Moorefield, was a big believer in good nutrition.  Bob also  feeding a good food meant cleaning up less waste.

Over the years the formula for both Iams and Eukenuba has changed. I know that I don’t know everything there is to know about dog food but I do know enough that I no longer put  Iams no longer  on my list of good dog foods.

Both Iams and Eukanuba contain Ethoxyquin. Ethoxyquin is a fat preservative used in some dog foods that is controversial. Some of these fears are linked with the product also being used as a pesticide and in making rubber. Most experts agree that when use properly the  additive is not toxic. For this reason after repeated investigations the United States FDA has ruled the additive may be safely used in animal feeds when used according to regulations.

 

Read more about Ethoxyguin later …

 

Do you brush your dog’s teeth?

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Dental health is very important to your dog’s health.  Get yourself a toothbrush made especially for canines; you can even get a full kit that includes the toothbrush and toothpaste.   It is important to get toothpaste made especially for canines or make a paste out of baking soda and water. Never use fluoride with dogs under six months of age—it can interfere with their enamel formation. And please do not use human toothpaste, which can irritate a dog’s stomach. Special mouthwash for dogs is also available—ask your vet.  After you have the correct supplies, taking these steps will make brushing a lot easier for the both of you:

  • First get your dog used to the idea of having her teeth brushed. Massage her lips with your finger in a circular motion for 30 to 60 seconds once or twice a day for a few weeks. Then move on to her teeth and gums.
  • When your pooch seems comfortable being touched this way, put a little bit of dog-formulated toothpaste or a paste of baking soda and water on her lips to get her used to the taste.
  • Next, introduce a toothbrush designed especially for dogs—it should be smaller than a human toothbrush and have softer bristles. Toothbrushes that you can wear over your finger (or a clean piece of gauze) are also available and allow you to give a nice massage to your dog’s gums.
  • Finally, apply the toothpaste to her teeth for a gentle brushing.
  • A veterinary exam beforehand may be helpful to find out if your dog’s gums are inflamed. If your dog has mild gingivitis, brushing too hard can hurt her gums.
  • Try to brush two to three times per week.

Following these simple steps can prevent gum disease and tartar on your dog’s teeth and we, at Gwinnett Pet Watchers, recommend it for all of our canine friends!