photo: redeye^

Each of our dogs received one dosage of heartworm when they were puppies.  They haven’t been treated with heartworm medication since.  I spend a lot of time on websites dedicated to dogs and this time of year we see a lot of ads for flea and tick treatment (I choose non-toxic brands) and heartworm medication.

The other night we were outside with the dogs, doing our evening walk on the property, and my boyfriend says “there are too many mosquitoes out there,” and heads inside.  I look down at Rodrigo and he has 5 on his coat – I wave them away, take them  inside and spray them with the Bright Eyes Pet Wellness, which repels fleas, ticks and mosquitoes.

That’s when it hits me…

• Heartworm is a danger for our dogs!
• What the hell is my problem?
• Why hasn’t my veterinarian brought it up?

It was late, the vet’s office was closed, so I went to my trusted friend, Google – this time I stayed away from the forums.

What is heartworm?

I was going to copy and paste from another site, but I hated the explanation.  I need simple and clear when it comes to the health of our dogs.  A heartworm is a parasite, a wormy-parasite that lives in the heart and pulmonary arteries of an infected dog.  They get it from a mosquito bite, the larvae travels through the blood stream to the heart.  It can be fatal, but a dog can live from 5 to 7 years after being infected.

How worried should dog parents be about heartworm?

It seems to depend on where you live.  I spoke with a few local veterinarians (I live in Washington state) and the only cases of heart worm that they’ve seen were in dogs that either moved from another state or traveled into another state.  They say that the reason our dogs are safer (not safe, just safer) is for many reasons (all suppositions)…

• Our climate and cold winters that kill off the mosquitoes
• Our proximity to the Sound and Pacific Ocean
• The mosquitoes that cause heartworm haven’t migrated here yet - “yet” is the key here

“The disease has been seen in every state except Alaska, but is most common in or on the East Coast, southern United States and Mississippi River Valley.” ~ ASPCA

Check out THIS informative article over on Dr. Becker’s site.

What dog parents can do to prevent or treat heartworm?

If you live in a high risk area or are just concerned, don’t order and administer heartworm medication to your dog.  Doing this can cause a severe, negative reaction.  Instead, call your vet and schedule a test.  If your dog is heartworm free, you can then discuss prevention.  If your dog has heartworm, then you discuss treatment.

If you plan to move or make a trip with your dog to the East Coast, southern United States or Mississippi River Valley – talk to your veterinarian about treatment before you go.

Symptoms of heartworm…

“Labored breathing, coughing, vomiting, weight loss and listlessness, and fatigue after only moderate exercise. However, some dogs exhibit no symptoms at all until late stages of infection.” ~ ASPCA

Heartworm Medication Recall

With the recent news of heartworm medication recalls, it’s tough to know what to do.  ProHeart 6 was recalled in 2004 and when I started blogging, I read a heart breaking story of a dog who died after a dosage (and there’s also a comment of another dog parent’s experience – so sad).  And most recently Iverhart Max was recalled, which makes me wonder if there’s a holistic solution for dog families.

I found this article by Dr. Becker where she shares my discomfort with chemical flea/tick/mosquito repellents.  Like with Canine Parvovirus, there are tons of claims of a cure by many people and I have a feeling that many of them are frauds.  So I think it’s important to at least speak with a veterinarian about prevention and treatment, because we’re always coming up with something new and what may not work for one dog may work great for another.

Have you tried any alternative routes to prevent and/or treat heartworm?

The post What is Heartworm and How Worried Should Dog Parents Be? appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

One night I was cuddling with Rodrigo, doing the combo “I love you, puppy” – At Home Exam – rub and I noticed that his tummy was really dark.  It almost seemed black.  I rolled him over more, reassuring him what a sweet baby he was while ignoring his confusion, and got a good look.  Yep, his tummy was definitely darker; a lot darker.  What would cause my dog’s stomach to turn black?

I parted his hair in various places and saw healthy, pink skin.  I then checked Sydney’s tummy (darker, but not as dark as Rodrigo) and Blue’s tummy, a bit darker – but by now, I’m wondering if I’m just seeing things.  What would cause my dog’s stomach to turn black?

Deep breaths

Then I went to the dog nutrition guide aka Google and looked “my dog’s tummy is turning black.”  My dogs are dying.

Deep breaths.

I did what our veterinarian taught me; I listed all the facts.

• The dogs weren’t itching or licking excessively
• The dogs’ diet hasn’t changed
• The dogs weren’t sluggish or listless – they had 3 crazy play sessions that afternoon with us
• The dogs behavior and body (besides the tummy) was otherwise unchanged
• Since two dogs had darker tummies, I was leaning towards age (Rodrigo and Sydney are siblings)

Google is helpful and harmful and whenever I start doing Google research, I try and keep a clear head until I speak with the veterinarian, because, like I found with WebMD, everyone is dying of cancer.

Side story – my doctor has given me strict instructions to no longer visit WebMD, because for a couple of years I was going to the doctor 3x a year (instead of my usual 1x), because I diagnosed myself on WebMD.  She assured me that I wasn’t that bad, because she had another patient that called weekly.

Back to the dogs…

When it comes to researching health issues online, I implore you NOT to click on sites that say “forum.”  Each one I’ve been too in my year plus of pet blogging has given me tons of dog parent contributions that are the worst case scenario and they freak me out.  Instead, I look for actual dog health sites to learn more.  My favorite is eHow.com.

Things that can cause a dog’s tummy to turn black…

Fleas:  You’ll see flea dirt (remains of flea feces and dried blood) on their tummy.  For their entire tummy to be black, you have an infestation that is crazy.

Canine Black Crusty Skin: A disorder that result in darkening of the skin and hair loss caused by abnormally low levels of growth hormones.  This has to be diagnosed by a veterinarian who will run tests and recommend treatment.

Canine Black Skin Disease: Caused by a hormone imbalance, genetics and allergies.  This has to be diagnosed by a veterinarian who will run tests and recommend treatment.

Why Rodrigo and Sydney’s tummies turned black…

Age.  I called the vet the next day, let them know that nothing else has changed (diet and behavior) and by then I had noticed that the skin wasn’t completely black; it actually was just darker – it seemed black, because I was looking at their tummy in the shade of a lifted leg.  There were also big splotches of pink still.

The veterinarian assured me that this is just normal for some dogs; their exposed skin gets darker as they get older (Rodrigo and Sydney just turned 3 years old).  Now that I had calmed down, I did recall that it has been gradually getting darker.

The dogs will live!

What have you researched online about your dog’s health that freaked you the hell out?

The post Google isn’t a Vet | What Would Cause My Dog’s Stomach to Turn Black appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

Being the dog mom to a sweet princess (Sydney aka Princess Pretty Paws) it’s important for me to know about the health issues that she may encounter as she gets older.  I’m excited to introduce Cheryl Major to you, who is familiar with incontinence in female dogs and shares great information…

As anyone who has visited Healthy Dogs World  knows, I recently lost my 17 ½ year old shelter dog, Chloe.  Although she was amazingly healthy up until about the last week of her life, she was pretty much a million years old for a dog, and had a number of health challenges we met and dealt with as time went by.

During one of our last visits at my vet, I told him again she was my baby, and with his wry sense of humor, he said…”Cheryl, she really is more like your grandmother at this point”.  Setting age aside, she was my baby, and we combined traditional vet care with alternative methods and treatments to help her enjoy a long and very healthy life.

Finding an Integrative Vet –

I had switched Chloe to an Integrative Vet when she was about 13 because she had experienced an undiscoverable problem that began suddenly on a Saturday morning (at 5:30 am!).  She woke up in extreme pain, and couldn’t stand or shake without flopping over.

We wisked her off to our closest veterinary ER at the time, and after extensive tests and a bill of $1,300, they had no idea what was the problem.  The worst part of it was Chloe was still in excruciating pain.  We kept her on the pain meds they had given us, and on Monday, I took her to a vet I had taken my other dogs to see years ago when he was a travelling veterinary chiropractor.  He now had his own integrative veterinary practice.

Two chiropractic adjustments of Chloe’s pelvis, and she was on the mend. Who knows how that happened, but I was a convert and switched her that week to the integrative vet.

Incontinence in Older Female Dogs – a journey of discovery –

But I ramble…all this is to get to the point of handling incontinence in aging female dogs.  Once this became an issue, we tried Proin which is the first go-to medication.  Although it is effective in tightening up that little pee-pee, one of the side effects is that it makes some dogs hyperactive.  It happened rather gradually; she was on a very small dose, and we didn’t realize what was going on.  I thought maybe she was just getting older.  Doggie “sundowners” syndrome maybe?  Finally, Chloe would spend most of the evening panting and barking at us non-stop.  Smart dog…took her humans a while to connect the dots…

Moving on, we were now faced with the decision to put Chloe on DES.  DES helps control leaking, but it does have the potential to be the catalyst for a dog to develop mammary tumors.  We considered our options and Chloe’s.  The biggest concern we had was that Chloe was constantly trying to keep herself clean and not happy about it.  We could deal with the cleaning and washing of bedding, etc., but she looked so unhappy.  It’s hard to tell a dog you understand, and it’s not her fault (although we told her and reassured her repeatedly).

At the time we were faced with the DES decision, Chloe was approaching 16 years old.  The expected time for the DES to affect any tumor growth (we were told) would be approximately 5 years.  We weighed our options and because Chloe would then be approaching 21 years old at that point, we chose to try the DES.  It worked; she was happier, and we continued down that road.

About a year later when Chloe was almost 17, the DES was no longer working.  We introduced a small amount of the Proin, but it drove her nuts again, so that was not an option.

I’m always getting emails and information about dogs and animal care.  One evening I got an email that talked about a homeopathic product called “Leaks No More” by a company named Homeo Pet.

I emailed my vet and ran the ingredients by him.  He thought they sounded good, so I gave it a try.  It was the best thing I could have done.  Supplementing the DES with the “Leaks No More” kept Chloe comfortable and dry for the rest of her life.  The product is in liquid form, so we dripped the dose of drops on a small piece of bread which absorbed it.  Chloe loved bread…down the hatch…easy to give.  She didn’t mind the taste, and as I said, the results were amazing!  It’s made in the U.S.A., and once the symptoms (leaking) improve, you can find a lesser maintenance dose that will do the trick!

My vet has since recommended other clients try using it for their dogs.  Give it a try; I think you’ll be really pleased with the results.

Cheryl Major is a life-long dog lover!  She has been a volunteer at The Buddy Dog Humane Society in Sudbury, MA since 1999 and has been on their Board of Trustees since 2008. She was a regular guest on New England Cable News’ popular “Adopt A Pet Segment” for over ten years.  Cheryl has been active in the Coalition to Protect and Rescue Pets which is a non-funded, all volunteer organization that was instrumental in the passage of important state animal protection legislation:  A bill banning the renting of pets in both the city of Boston and the state of Massachusetts, and Logan’s Law which banned the devocalization of dogs and cats in the state of Massachusetts.  Cheryl’s blog Healthy Dogs World is a labor of love and an ever evolving journey and learning adventure.

The post When Accidents Happen | Working Through Incontinence in Female Dogs appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

photo: In Paris Texas

To learn more about Bark for Life / Relay for Life – Click Here

Why Join A Walkathon? 

Look around.  I bet that you have something you feel strongly about.  If you are reading this blog, I imagine you have furbabies and that you probably feel strongly about: rescues, a particular breed, the humane society, perhaps even a service animal organization.  Well, guess what?  They need money and they probably have an annual fundraising walkathon that helps them bring in the operating cash that they need to stay alive.

Importance Of Joining a Walkathon

I don’t know if walkathons were ever child’s play, but I do know that today, they are major fundraising events that may be the cornerstone of the group’s entire year’s budget. Southeastern Guide Dog’s 2013 Walkathons (there were three held in March) brought in over $500,000!

Before you poo-poo the idea as too much work, no fun.  Why should I do that all by myself?  Let me let you in on a little secret: You don’t have to do it by yourself!  That’s the key. Here are some tips to make participating in a walkathon with your furbaby fun and exciting.

Ways to make the Walkathon more fun

BEFORE THE WALKATHON

Get a Group Together:  It’s more fun if you do it with friends!  Plus, if your furbabies like each other, so much the better!

Set Fundraising Goals: If the organization doesn’t ask you to set a goal for yourself or your team, make sure you set one for your team.  Then, as you reach certain milestones, celebrate and give yourselves some some small rewards: coffee out as a group, dinner together at someone’s house, etc. How about the really important goal of everyone getting a Kong?

Team T-shirts: This is a must have!  Nothing says we have conquered this fundraising goal like a team t-shirt.

Destination: Make a plan on where and when you will meet that morning of the walkathon.  Make sure everyone has each other’s cell phone numbers.  Walkathons are chaotic and nothing is more annoying than being there at the start and not knowing where your group is.

Pick an Alpha Dog: Pick a group leader who will handle all your registration.  It would be nice to have a second in command to go with that person to collect all the swag as well (t-shirts, water bottles, etc.).  Make sure you bring a big backpack to carry it in or have the alpha dog come early and then run the swag to someone’s car so you don’t have to carry it around all day!

ON THE DAY OF THE WALKATHON

Breakfast and Pit Stops: Make sure that you and your furbaby have had plenty to eat and drink and had an opportunity to potty.  I would suggest the group find a breakfast place that lets you eat outside with your furbabies so you can start the fun at breakfast!  But, that might not be possible depending on the time of year, location or temperament of your pups.

Water and Water: Bring water for you and for your furbaby.  Make sure you have a collapsible bowl or some other device for them to drink out of.  If you are at a dog friendly walkathon, they will probably have water in strategic places, but why take the chance if they don’t?

Pay Attention: What is the weather like?  

Hot?  Watch for signs that you pup may need to rest or may need to be pulled out of the walkathon altogether.  Last year, our guide dog pup Jam would get overexcited and his little engine would rev up.  So about 1/4 of the way into the walkathon, he threw up.  Game over for us.  We sat down on the grass and and waved to everyone as they walked by.  People we knew would stop and say hello and chat a bit and then walk off.  After about 45 minutes of resting we crossed over to the finish line and “finshed” the walkathon.  That’s what Jam could do at that time.  Know your dog’s limits and be prepared to stop.

Cold? Maybe your pup needs a sweater? Or perhaps he has tender feet and needs those special booties.  Only you know what your baby needs.  If it is too cold your teacup chihuahua, perhaps the best call is for him to stay home.

Bottom Line: Keep an eye on the weather in case you need to do something special for your pup.

Pay Attention: Where’s Your Dog?  

Keep Your Dog within a Two Foot Radius:  You hear it all the time, the danger is not going to come from you or your friends.  It is going to come from a stranger and their misbehaving dog.  If you make sure that your baby is within the zone, you can scoop them up or snatch them out of harm very quickly.  You will also be able to quickly see if something is coming up on them.  It may mean the occasional trip up, but better that than a bite or worse from some aggressive passing dog.

Make Plans to Meet for Lunch After:  If you weren’t able to meet for breakfast, perhaps, meeting for lunch will work out better.  At our Southeastern walkathon there is always a big group that meets for lunch later. It has grown to about 35 strong now!

Take Lots of Photos:  Capture the memories!  This walkathon should be a fun event.  You’ve done something worthwhile.  You and your friends have raised money for a great organization and now you are out exercising with your furbabies for a cause you believe in.  And you all have matching t-shirts.

Did I mention how fabulous you look?  Well done!

~ Cheryl Mclean, The McLean Puppy Chronicles

The post Shake Up Your Dog Walks with a Walkathon #BarkForLife appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

The other day Rodrigo, Sydney and Blue were playing.  The littermates love to gang up on Blue, herding him into a corner as they growl and Blue snaps back.  They’re hilarious.  Some days, Blue gets so excited that a puff of smoke comes out of his butt and smells like heaven to dogs.  I sat smiling as our dogs were playing and then I headed to grab the NOse Offense (my go to product for all things Smell Dogs) when the playing changed to 3 dogs sniffing the carpet wildly.

Blue’s anal glands expressed.

One of the lovely chores that belongs to me is the expression of anal glands, when they aren’t cooperating.  It’s not really a big deal and not something that you want to do often or without a tissue, but I’m getting ahead of myself here.

What are Anal Glands?

“The anal glands or anal sacs are small glands found near the anus in many mammals, including dogs and cats. They are not found in humans.” ~ Google

Anal Glands discharge a small amount of fluid when pressed during a potty break (pee or poo) and each dog apparently has a unique smell (it all smells the same to me).  The joy of anal glands is that they can also be released when a dog is startled (thank you Johan for sneaking up on Blue) or excited (like when they’re playing or meeting another dog).

Why Would I Express my Dog’s Anal Glands?

If the glands aren’t expressing naturally (releasing the fluid that’s building up), then they will become impacted, which can lead to an infection or rupture, and a trip to the emergency vet.

When our dogs are scooting across the carpet, some dog owners are tempted to grab a camera – YouTube, I got one for you!  Instead, this is a sign that either your dog’s butt itches or he may be trying to relieve impacted anal glands.

In my experience, I notice that the anal glands aren’t expressing normally and regularly when the smell sticks around for a day or so.  I reach for a tissue to help our dog out (see video below).

You can search YouTube and find several videos that show you how to express anal glands. The videos with the black dogs are useless, because I can’t see what they’re doing. And a few videos show white anal glad discharge; our dog’s discharge is brown.

Expressing Anal Glands, Step by Step

It’s really easy and the most important things to remember is to be calm, be quick, and be gentle. This isn’t a walk at the park for your dog either.

1. Locate your dog’s anal glands. Picture a clock (not digital) – the anal glands are located at 5 and 7 o’clock on either side of your dog’s anus.
2. I recommend wearing gloves until you get a hang of it, because the fluid is pungent and it lingers on the skin. Apply gentle, yet firm pressure to the anal glands using a tissue over the anus. You do NOT want this on you.
3. You’ll see fluid released from the anal opening. And you’re done. Don’t do it a second time, even if nothing comes out.

I wipe our dogs with Pawtizer Pet Wipes and give them tons of love.

A Couple of FYIs about Expressing Anal Glands

1. You don’t want to start doing this regularly, because then it’ll become a regular task as the dog’s body stops naturally expressing the anal glands. Some dogs, however, do need help and this is something that you should discuss with your veterinarian.
2. If you don’t want to do it, then you can take your dog to the vet. Some groomers provide this service too. Again, before you have your groomer express your dog’s anal glands, double check with your veterinarian. Also, having a professional express your dog’s anal glands will prevent injury. YouTube is a great resource, but our vet is a better one.

Maintain Healthy Anal Glands by…

1. Watching your dog’s diet. No more table scraps. Feed your dog quality dog food.
2. Check with your veterinarian about supplements that support anal gland health.

Now it’s you’re turn! What chore do you have that no one else at home will touch?

The post Dear Boyfriend, You Should Know How to Express Anal Glands appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

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When we were doing our homework about adopting a dog my entire focus was on long walks, dog parks, and puppy kisses.  Although I knew adopting a dog was a lot of responsibility, I was entirely focused on the fun stuff and not a lot on dog care.  I still am most of the time.  The other day, I read an article that listed 50 things the author wish he knew when he was younger.  That article inspired this one of 50 things I wish I knew about dog care when we adopted dogs.

Dogs and Their Personality

• It takes a while for two people to come up with a dog name they’re happy with; it took us a couple of hours to name Blue (his name was Edgar Frog) and two days to name Sydney (I wanted to name her Princess or Ava).
• Yawning doesn’t always mean “I’m sleepy.”  Dogs have so many ways of telling us how they feel and what they’re thinking.  We just have to pay attention.
• Dogs will steal your heart in seconds.  I fell in love with Riley on the way home from picking her up.  We were fostering her, but I couldn’t let her go.  I love watching videos of her playing with Rodrigo and Sydney even though I cry every time.
• Dogs bark.  Sometimes for a very good reason.  Sometimes just for fun.  And it’s loud.
• Dogs don’t know what coyotes or skunks are; so it’s up to use to keep them safe.
• Dogs hate baths and think they smell just perfectly; it’s the humans who think they stink.
• No matter how big a dog is, they can always be a lap dog.
• Dogs read our energy; if we’re stressed, they’re stressed.  If we’re comfy and happy, so are they.  If you make “night night time” fun, they’ll be excited.  And sometimes they’ll put themselves to bed.
• Dogs will cringe away from you as if you abuse them in front of strangers.  Blue!  The UPS guy thinks I beat you now!  Stop barking at him.  I’m just trying to leash up your harness.
• You will laugh every single day.
• Crunches, sit ups, lunges, and jumping jacks look like a fun game to dogs.  Work out when they’re outside.  You can also do lunges and squats while walking the dogs.  When they stop to smell something; knocked out a set of 15.
• Taking pictures with dogs is like trying to collect raindrops in your hands.
• Not all dogs like other dogs.
• Every package that comes into the house is something for them; carry it high.
• Dogs are smarter than you think; one of your dogs will know how to open doors.
• Get used to poo and muddy paw prints and don’t become too attached to those shoes.

Dog Training

• Confidence and consistency is key.  If you freak out, you’re just giving your dog the cue that he or she needs to step up, because the human is out of control; plus it’s scary.
• Even our dog trainer’s dog sometimes doesn’t come when he’s call, so it’s pointless to get frustrated when our dogs misbehave.  I choose to go with the 90%/10% rule – if our dogs are well behaved 90% of the time, then I’m winning!
• Dogs don’t understand English, they understand some words and they mostly read our body language and energy.  Check all of the negative emotions at the door and bask in the love of all things canine when you get home.
• Cesar Milan is evil.  It doesn’t matter what he’s done for dog rescue or rehabilitating un-adoptable dogs, he’s evil and if you plan to say anything positive about him, prepare for the attack.  I have been attacked many times for saying something positive about Cesar Milan.
• People will judge you harshly for the smallest mistake or for simply doing something that they wouldn’t do.  For some, crate training is imperative, while others think it’s abusive.
• Some dogs aren’t able to greet one another on a leash; it can be stressful and a play session can quickly morph into a fight.

Dog Health

• I will call the vet at least once a month or two.  Something is always going on and we’ve learned that if the dogs aren’t displaying a drastic change in personality or crying out in pain, we need to give it a day so that we know what we’re calling the vet about.  Having three dogs gives us 3x the opportunity for an injury or allergy.
• Everything is dangerous – their food, their environment, the dog park, other dogs.  After reading some blogs and following Dr. Becker, sometimes I wonder if I should put my babies in a bubble.  Dog parents have to educate themselves about dog care.
• There are old school veterinarians and new age veterinarians and vets who have a foot in both worlds.  If your vet makes you feel like an idiot for asking a question or doing your own homework, run and find a new vet!
• You can use social media to connect with holistic veterinarians across the country who will make dog parenting a lot easier and open your eyes to new dog care methods.
• Pet insurance isn’t cheap and researching for the best pet insurance carrier pretty much sucks.  Oh and they don’t offer discounts; if you come across one that does; run.
• Dogs get car sick; pumpkin and frozen yogurt (for dogs) is great for car sickness.
• Hiding pills in peanut butter doesn’t work forever; shake it up and use marshmallows or turkey hot dogs.
• Just like with humans, stress exhausts dogs.  Prepare for thunderstorms and fireworks with long walks and play sessions before the noise starts.
• You’ll need a first aid kit for the house and each car.

Dog Food

• There is a dog food recall every single month and even the premium brands can experience a dog food recall.  The FDA may not act fast enough so (once again) dog parents need to be educated.  And don’t toss the packaging; you’ll need to be able to match up the UPC code should a recall be announced.
• Premium kibble isn’t enough.  Grain free isn’t enough.   Even a raw food diet may not be enough.  There are so many options and everyone is only too happy to tell you what’s best.
• Cooking for your dogs is fun, but time consuming.  You will not keep it up even though you have the best of intentions.  And buying the food in bulk at Costco doesn’t save any money.
• Dogs can be allergic to chicken; but that doesn’t mean they’re allergic to turkey – go figure.
• Many pet food companies will talk to you about nutrition and their food; especially if you’re a blogger with a big mouth who can help them promote their product.

Dog People

• Unsolicited advice will fly at you regularly.  Everyone means well.  They’re advising you based on their experience with dogs and other dog parents.  There will be days when you want to scream, but pause, count to ten, take a deep breath, smile and say thank you.  By the way, if you do this in front of someone, they’ll notice.
• If someone touches your dog (or acts like they plan to), flip the hell out; show people how you and your dogs expect to be treated.
• If someone makes a false claim about your dog (they’re aggressive, violent, have caused injury), flip the hell out, but politely.  There’s nothing more satisfying than throwing logic back into the face of a liar.  Especially when they threaten to call the police and you can point to your boyfriend and say “he can take your report, the’s a deputy.”  Booo-yow!
• Not everyone is a dog lover.
• Not everyone wants to look at new pictures of the puppies or hear new, cute stories about their antics. Shocking, I know.
• Not everyone thinks walking dogs off leash is a great idea and loads of fun.
• Not everyone thinks it’s adorable with your dogs bark and lunge at them.  They’re on the leash.

Dog Rescue

• Dog breeders are greedy, selfish, evil animal abusers.  If you even hint that there is such a thing as a “reputable breeder” then prepared to be called several not so nice names from people who have only interacted with people who run puppy mills.  I’ve been personally attacked for believing reputable breeders exist.
• Dog rescue workers are a very passionate group of people, it’s fantastic to support dog rescue, but set boundaries on what you’ll take into your experience.  If you can’t handle the pictures, don’t allow someone to make you feel like you’re not really as supporter.
• You can set up a recurring donation to your favorite dog rescue group.

Dogs and Finances

• Two dogs are way more than twice the work and twice the expense; three dogs are expensive.
• If you’re dog parents, then recognize that raising dogs is a partnership and you’re not alone.  Talk about finances, training, chores, nutrition, and health regularly.  Make sure everyone is on the same page.
• Sick time doesn’t cover when you stay home with a sick dog.
• Vacation plans include the dogs; either you take them with or you hire a pet sitter.

Now it’s your turn – what are a few things you wish you would have known before you adopted a dog (or two, or three).

The post 50 Things I Wish I Knew About Dog Care When We Adopted Our Dogs appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

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When it comes to ear infections in dogs, I have no idea what to look for beyond the following…

• Scratching and rubbing of the ears
• Shaking their heads
• Having a consistent head tilt not brought about by me saying “want a cookie?”

I took Rodrigo and Sydney in (separately) for a possible ear infection, because he was exhibiting all of these traits and our veterinarian commended me on bringing him in early. The doctor smelled his ears and I’m not sure what they smelled like, but I kind of wish I had taken a whiff.  From what I’ve read, it’s an abnormal odor and there is some redness and swelling that dog parents can look for; I’ve made a habit of smelling our dogs’ ears so that at least I know what they smell like regularly.  Done laughing yet?

Blue has yet to have his first infection.

Based on what I know, ear infections are common to dogs with floppy ears.  It’s trapping all the yuckiness in there, not letting the ears breath.  Okay, Ladies, you’ll understand this example – it’s like when we wear non cotton panties or take too many bubble baths.  Got it?

The ear infection that I hear most about from fellow dog parents are caused by bacteria and yeast.  Dogs also get ear mites, but our dogs were spared that lovely treat, so I’m going to focus on the yeast infection here.

Cleaning Your Dogs Ears

If you suspect that your dog has an ear infection, call your vet.  You’re going to have to have this treated by a professional, because if you try and treat it at home and it gets worse, then you could end up with a chronic problem that might not go away.

We use an ear cleaner by Life’s Abundance (although we don’t buy their food, we do love their grooming products), but your veterinarian may want to give you a gentler cleanser, because your dog’s ear will be sensitive and painful.

When I was researching how to clean a dog’s ear, I found out that I was doing it wrong…

The Wrong Way to Clean Your Dog’s Ears:

• Put the cleanser on a tissue and wipe out the ear canal (this is what I did)

Other Things Not to Do:

• Don’t use a Q-Tip.  They’ve been saying that humans shouldn’t use them, you definitely don’t want to use them on your dog, because they’ll just push the ear-good down further or you can injure the eardrum.
• Don’t use rubbing alcohol or any other solution that my irritate the skin.  This seems like a no duh, especially if your dog’s ears are already red and sore, but I’m the dog mom who put Vaseline on my furbaby’s vajayjay.

Right Way to Clean Your Dog’s Ears:

• Fill the ear canal with the cleaning solution, place a cotton ball over the opening of the ear canal, then gently massage the ear at the base; the cotton ball is supposed to absorb the excess liquid and captures any ear-gook that comes out.
• You do this until the cotton ball is clean (no more ear-gook) or until your dog gets fed up and walks away.
• Allow the ear to dry (about 10 minutes)
• Then administer any medication you veterinarian prescribed (skip this step if you’re just cleaning your dog’s ears and not treating an infection)

Why Did Your Dog Get an Ear Infection

Probably from those ruffians at the dog park; or more likely it came from moisture being trapped in their ear (bathing, swimming) – so definitely clean your dog’s ears after a trip to the beach, a bath or a grooming appointment.  If you and your dog are regular beach dwellers, then you may have to get into a strict ear cleaning routine.  There’s a dog owner who goes to my vet who has a weekly system that they created (with our vet’s help), because their dog loves to swim in a pond.

Other dog owners aren’t as lucky and a cause can’t easily be identified.  It could be food or environmental allergies.  Jen who writes My Brown Newfies has been working with her dog, Leroy, on an underlying cause to his allergies by changes to diet.  Some dog parents have experienced an amazing turnaround in their dog’s ear issues after switching to a raw food diet.

• Pondering the Raw Diet Deal | An Open Discussion
• An Update on Leroy’s Ear Infection
• The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

There’s no easy answer or solution.  I’m not 100% on the raw food bandwagon, but I can tell you that we’ve learned so much just by understanding hot and cold foods.  Rodrigo was getting a crazy rash on his back and instead of taking him back to the vet for more antibiotics (what are they doing to his liver and kidneys?) I started looking at his foods.  We removed lamb from his diet and the rash cleared up.

I would love to hear about your experience with ear infections in dogs?  What did you do to help them clear up?  Did you have to make a change to your dog’s diet?

The post Ear Infections in Dogs and How to Property Clean a Dog’s Ears appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

I’m a dog mom.

We have three dogs, all rescues, at home.  I get a kick out of the fact that we’re an interracial couple and we have three black and white dogs.  That wasn’t the plan, but I’m happy with how it worked out.

My first year Dog Parenting Mistakes

Our first year of having dogs was amazing.  It was my idea to adopt two puppies from the same litter, it was Johan’s big heart that helped him go along with a terrible idea.  Because we’re both stubborn and curious, we did a lot of research and were 90% prepared, which made that first year a lot easier.  But I still made mistakes…

• I got impatient when they wouldn’t listen.
• I didn’t do enough research on dog food.
• I almost fed them grapes and I let Rodrigo lick a little champagne on New Years.
• I allowed myself to be intimidated by our veterinarian.
• I didn’t clip their nails often enough.

What I learned during my second year of Dog Parenting

• Blogging gives you courage, a community, and a ton of information.
• Every dog parent makes mistakes.
• Losing a dog is the most painful experience in my life to date.
• We had room and time for a third dog.
• The dog park isn’t a great place for our pack.
• And dog parents have a right to an opinion.

What gives me the right to write about raising dogs?

Well, I’ll tell you.  Host Gator, WordPress, and being a dog mom to four dogs.  There are three dogs sleeping all around me as I type and one sweet puppy who isn’t far from my thoughts every day.  I didn’t start Keep the Tail Wagging to tell people how they should raise their dogs; I started it, because I wanted to be part of a community of dog lovers who shared their successes and failures in dog parenting.  And that’s what I found.

I love blogging, I love dogs, I love photography and I love that I’m part of a community where I can have an opinion.  Where I can say that I like Cesar Milan even though I don’t follow his training methods.   I love that the idea of me celebrating our dogs birthdays is normal.  And I love that when I’m worried about one of our dogs – my readers and this amazing dog community doesn’t go to that dark place and terrify me – instead, they’re warm, supportive, and great friends.

I have no idea what I’m doing most days, but I know I’m not doing it alone.

Dog lovers rock!  And I want to say thank you so very much for allowing me to be a part of this community.  And if you’re visiting for the first time – welcome!

So what are your thoughts – this is your chance to say anything you want (as long as it’s not cruel or inhumane) about dog parenting without judgment.  Let’s do this!

Need some inspiration?  What are your thoughts on dog parks?  TV dog trainers?  Dog breeding?  The raw food diet for dogs?  Or annual vaccinations?  The links you see – are my thoughts. LOL

The post All Dog Parents Have a Right to An Opinion, What’s Yours? #UBP13 appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

This is a sponsored post…

I’m going to let you get a peek at the craziness that’s me.  When it comes to our dogs, nothing is good enough.  I never saw the movie Hotel for Dogs; but the title made an impression.  That’s where I want to take our dogs when we go on vacation – a dog hotel and spa is perfect for my angels.

I don’t know much about kennels, but I have visited a few in our area when I finally accepted that a staycation wasn’t relaxing or romantic.  Want to know what our vacation looks like?  Yard work, housework and home projects.  Hit me, Baby, one more time!  No!  I want a beach and my Kindle Fire, Johan wants a golf course.  We’re thinking Hawaii, but at this point, we’ll settle on Arizona or even Eastern Washington.  But what about the dogs?

I checked out a few kennels in our area and despite the assurances that they were safe, the dogs were well cared for, and a dog parent’s must have/must do list was strictly followed – I couldn’t get past the cages.  The idea of our three dogs stuck in a place with strange dogs, strange people, strange smells – okay, here’s my crazy – I felt like I was taking them to the shelter.

Logically, I know that there are great kennels out there but the word “kennel” is a dirty word to me thanks to horror stories that seem to go viral and inspire my imagination, bringing to thought a nightmare our dogs will endure while we’re away having a great time.  What I want is a place that gives our dogs a vacation too and Furlocity is going to help.

We just started up the chatter about vacations again and soon I was introduced to Furlocity – it’s kismet!  Furlocity is a new website that will connect dog parents to high end, reputable dog hotels and spas.   I was so excited that before the launch of the site, I was trolling the internet for dog hotels and found…

• The dogs get a room; not a cage, not a kennel, but a room.
• Our dogs get to live together in their room, with their bedding, toys and food, and with their own yard.
• Our dogs will get lots of individual, special attention from people who adore dogs and will be on hand 24 hours a day to see to their needs.
• Our dogs will be cared for just like if they were at home.

I know that this isn’t the same as being at home with us, but it’s so much better than the alternative.

The only problem is that I couldn’t find one locally.  Dammit!  That’s why I’m so excited about Furlocity, because not only will they help us find an amazing place for our dogs, but we’ll also be able to…

• Read reviews from other dog parents
• Check out the facility, read the details, schedule a visit
• See real time availability information so that I can book a stay right through Furlocity

Basically, Furlocity is now part of our travel planning.  I visit Priceline and Orbitz for the humans and then Furlocity for the canines.  I’m not quite ready to be separated from our dogs yet, so we have a pet sitter as a back-up plan.  But we will be going on vacation in 2014.  This year = home projects – sexy!  Next year = Hawaii – sexier!

Sign Up Today to Give Insights and Feedback!

Be one of the first to sign up with the Furlocity!  Your input will be valuable as you provide them with insights and feedback on what they can do to make the Furlocity experience better for dog parents.  I’m excited about the site, because I want to see how easy it is, what local businesses I can find, and to know if it’ll make vacation planning easier.

FURLOCITY BETA SITE SIGN UP

LIKE FURLOCITY ON FACEBOOK      |      FOLLOW FURLOCITY ON TWITTER

Have you taken your dogs to a dog hotel and spa?  Please share your experience and the location’s name.

This is a paid sponsored post; I was compensated by Furlocity to help them spread the word about their amazing site.  I’m still crossing my fingers that a local group of savvy, rich dog owners will build a hotel for dogs that our dogs can enjoy.  The thoughts and opinions shared are my own and genuine.

“Furlocity, a website that lets pet parents book a stay with a pet care facility is announcing their launch today! Get registered and be one of the first to book a stay for your pet! As an early adopter you will have the opportunity to provide Furlocity with valuable feedback on how to make booking your pet’s next stay as easy as it is booking your vacation!”

The post Kennel is a New Dirty Word, Introducing Furlocity and Dog Hotels and Spas appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

photo: Andrew Morrell Photography

We have a consistent routine for the dogs.  Routine is boring, but I’ve learned to appreciate my boyfriend for making me stick to a routine with our dogs (shhh, don’t’ tell him).  The benefit of keeping our pups on a routine is that when something goes wrong, we know right away.

I can tell you exactly what each of our dogs does each morning when I wake them up.  If that routine changes, then I know something’s up and I pay attention.

Dr. Becker provides clear steps on giving your dog an at home self-exam:

• First check the nose for debris and take note of whether it is wet or dry. Your pet’s nose will not always be wet, it will typically vary from moist to dry throughout the day, depending on your pet’s body temperature, activity level and hydration.
• Then, take a look to see whether there is abnormal eye discharge. Again, you will likely know what is normal for your pet. For instance if your cat or dog never gets eye discharge and suddenly has it, it’s a sign that there could be a problem.
• Next check whether your pet’s pupils are symmetrical and look at the whites of their eyes. Red sclera (the part of the eye that is normally white) could mean inflammation of the eyes.
• If your pet is not accustomed to having its mouth examined, slowly acclimate your pet to facial massages so that you can eventually check their mouth, gums and teeth. When you can, check inside their mouth for lesions, swelling, and bad breath. Their gums should be pink, their teeth free of tartar and plaque, their tongue clear and the roof of their mouth clean and free from debris.
• Next, check the jaw line to see if it feels normal. Check the ears for debris, odor and cleanliness. Brush back the hair and look at the skin and coat. Check for excessive flakiness, lumps and bumps on the sides of the spinal cord, and evaluate muscle tone and weight. If you feel your pet is carrying extra weight I recommend addressing it by increasing activity and feeding a species-appropriate diet (a meat-based, carb-free living food diet).
• Look at their claws and the pads of their feet, there should be no debris between their toes. Check for heat and swelling over your pet’s body, and test the range of motion of the joints; do the joints move freely, without resistance or difficulty?
• Gently Palpate their belly to look for lumps and notice if your pet seems to experience discomfort. This is a good time to also gently check both mammary chains (do this for male dogs, too). Even if you don’t know the names of all the parts you are touching, if you examine your pet regularly you will begin to know what is normal for your companion. When there are changes you will notice them quite quickly because you are familiar with the terrain of his or her body. Also examine your pet’s bottom for cleanliness.

If you notice an unusual lump, bump, wart or so on during your home exam and you don’t think it warrants immediate attention, it’s a good idea to start a body chart for your pet.

Simply draw a simple diagram of your pet’s body and note whatever you’ve found in the appropriate place on the picture. Be sure to include exactly where it was found, when you found it, how big it is and whether you’ve noticed it getting worse.

If you notice a lump that has gotten worse a day or two later, that warrants a trip to your vet.

Remember, in order for you to know what’s abnormal about your pet you first need to know what’s normal. Performing regular at-home exams is a simple and very effective way for you to keep a close eye on your pet’s health.

Now it’s your turn; have you given your dog an at home self-exam?

The post Know Your Dog | Learn How to Give Your Dog an At Home Self-Exam appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.