Dog Lover Safety Tip: The Danger of “Tennis Balls”

Every year thousands of dogs around the world die from playing with tennis balls.  If you have a large dog with a sizable jaw, then a tennis ball is not a safe for them to play with.  There are at two very common ways that a tennis ball can kill your dog.  The first and most common way is when a tennis ball becomes logged in a dog’s throat and blocks his or her airway causing suffocation.  The second way is when a dog swallows a tennis ball and a blockage and/or obstruction is created in the dog’s intestines.  Tennis balls are probably one of the top five most dangerous toys for large dogs to play with.  Google “tennis ball and dog” and you will see thousands of articles pop up about this very common and serious problem.  Keep in mind that these individual deaths are just the ones that have actually been reported and written about.  I personally know two families who lost their beloved Labrador Retrievers due to a simple game of fetch with a tennis ball.  In fact, Oprah Winfrey’s Golden Retriever died the very same way.  Oprah televised the incident and warned other dog owners not to use tennis balls or plastic balls of a similar size to play fetch with their dog.  Unfortunately, I still see far too many people give their large breed dogs tennis balls.

A good alternative to a tennis ball is a toy known as a “Kong” or other similar toys that are made from galvanized rubber.  These types of toys are too large to be swallowed and cannot get stuck in your dog’s throat.  The original “Kong” comes in several sizes and has a large hole in the center so your dog can still breath while carrying the toy in it’s mouth.   The company also makes a number of other “Kong” products that are safe and fairly difficult to destroy.   When you are buying your dog a toy, always think about their safety first.

Visit us at:  http://www.domesticateddogwalkers.com

For information about our services please call or email:

Will Matthews @ (339) 222-1451

Email:   will@domesticateddogwalkers.com

Dog Lover Tips: Beware Hunting Season Has Begun!

Dog lovers beware, December is deer hunting season throughout New England. In Weston, Massachusetts it is Bow season until December 21st.  Hunters sometimes stray from designated hunting areas and people walking their dogs often stumble into designated hunting areas.  Always wear bright orange or other bright colors such as yellow.  Especially during rifle season, which follows after bow season.  Rifle season is the most dangerous time to be out walking off the beaten path.  Hunters may shoot at game over 150 yards away.  That game could be you or your dog!  Take this warning seriously. Be cautious and stay on designated trails.  Do not wear browns, tans, or blacks. You may laugh at this warning, but people and/or their pets get accidentally shot all the time.  In 2011, there were five accidental shootings relative to deer hunting in Massachusetts on opening day alone.

Visit us at:  www.domesticateddogwalkers.com

For information about our services please call or email:

·      Will Matthews @ (339) 222-1451

·      Email:   will@domesticateddogwalkers.com

 

 

Dog Lover Winter Tips!

One of the most overlooked parts of winter dog care is your dog’s paws. The padding on a dog’s paws can get very damaged and this is especially so during the winter months. Proper paw care can help avoid bacterial and fungal infections. Short haired dogs usually need doggie booties and even some long haired breeds could benefit from them. Purchasing a set of properly fitting booties that offer protection against the cold pavement and that are water resistant are crucial to protecting your dog’s paws during the winter months. I highly recommend brands such as Muttluks or Ruffwear for doggy booties. If your dog has long and/or thick fur, then they may not need booties to protect them from freezing temperatures. However, road salt takes a toll on our dogs’ paws. A great product that offers some protection is Musher’s Secret Pet Paw Protector Wax. Musher’s wax allows your dog’s paws to breath while helping to protect them from moisture and road salt. Even if your dog wears booties or you use a wax for protection, you should always properly clean and dry your dog’s paws when they come in from a walk. Now if you really want to pamper your pet, you may want to use a paw conditioner to help soothe and heal your pet’s pads. A conditioner that works really well and that may be used all year round is Tender Paw for Dogs.

For more information about our services, please call:

Will Matthews @ 339-222-1451

will@domesticateddogwalkers.com

http://www.domesticateddogwalkers.com

Dog Lover Tips – Doggy Dental Hygiene

• 
• Your dog should have regular dental exams and cleanings by your Vet.
• If you have a puppy, include brushing in his/her training. However, dogs in their teens and even some senior dogs may be agreeable to having their teeth brushed.
• Brush slowly and gently.  Each day start by putting a little toothpaste on their toothbrush and let your dog lick it off.  Then try touching the toothbrush to your dog’s teeth.  Brush for a few seconds.  Take a few weeks to introduce your dog to this new habit.  When your dog is ready for a real brushing, lift their lips to expose the teeth and gums and brush from the gum line to the tip of the tooth.  Try to avoid opening your dog’s mouth because it can make them nervous and resistant.  Dental problems are often found in the back, upper and lower teeth so be sure to brush the outside of the big teeth in the back of your dog’s mouth.
• It is important to use toothpaste that is made for dogs. Toothpastes made for humans contain various fluorides and detergents that are meant to be spit out as we brush.  Since your dog will swallow the toothpaste, they make special pet toothpaste to allow for this. Pet toothpaste comes in a variety of flavors, including chicken, beef, peanut and vanilla-mint.
• Buy a toothbrush that is meant for dogs.  The heads are smaller and the bristles are usually much softer than the kind sold for humans.  A finger brush that slips over your finger like a thimble may also be used.
• Dental ropes and various chew toys are great to help your dog’s teeth stay clean.
• Finally, before and after brushing, praise, pet and play with your dog. Always use positive reinforcement.

• Visit us at:  http://www.domesticateddogwalkers.com

• For information about our services please call or email:
• Will @ (339) 222-1451
• Email:   will@domesticateddogwalkers.com

Dog Lover Tip of the Day – Tail Wagging

A dog’s tail serves 2 chief purposes. One reason is to spread their scent and the other of course is to display emotion. We all know that the big back and forth tail wag with a little butt wiggle means “I am Happy”. However, another type of wag may mean something else entirely. Over the years I have had many dog owners tell me “look my dog is wagging his tail he will be fine”, to meet and play with my dog. What the owners fail to realize is depending on the style of wagging their dog may be agitated or worse. If you see a dog with its tail rigid and held high waging side to side in “short arcs” the dog may be about to attack. This type of wag is sometimes referred to as the “flag tail”. This wag may not be accompanied by growling or barking or any other outward appearance of aggression. Frequently when a dog displays this wag they will be standing rigid and motionless with their head held high gazing straight ahead. If you see this wag in conjunction with the after mentioned body language caution should be exercised.

Visit us at: http://www.domesticateddogwalkers.com

For information about our services please call:

Will @ (339) 222-1451

Email: will@domesticateddogwalkers.com

Dog Lover Tip of the Day: First Aid – Checking You Dog’s Gums

If your dog is acting strange, you should check it’s gums.  We all know the basic symptoms to check for such as checking a dog’s nose to see if it is dry or looking to make sure their stool and urine are normal.  Checking your dog’s gums can help you assess the situation.   Look at the color of your dog’s gums to determine if your dog’s oxygen and blood flow is normal.   To check, simply lift back your dogs lower or upper lip and observe the color of its gums or inner lip.  If your dog’s gums are blue, pale yellow, cherry red, white, brick red or brown, this would point to an emergency  and you should contact your Vet immediately.

While you are examining your dog’s gums, you can also check your dog’s capillary refill time.  This quick little test can help you check to see if your dog’s blood circulation is normal.  Lifting back your dogs gums again press lightly on their gums or inner lip.  Watch the color as it turns white and then pink again.  The pink color should come back after 1 to 2 seconds.  If the color returns in less than 1 second or more than 3 second,  call your Vet immediately because this could be an emergency!

If your dog happens to have black pigmented gums you may have to use the eyelid method.  Simply place your thumb on the skin just under the lower eyelid and gently pull down to observe the inner eyelid membrane color.  It should be pink, which means the tissues are receiving oxygen.

Please note that even if your dog has no visual symptoms, but is just not acting normal you should make an appointment with your Vet for a checkup.   For more information about Domesticated Dog Walkers LLC, please contact:

Will Matthews @ 339-222-1451

will@domesticateddogwalkers.com

http://www.domesticateddogwalkers.com

Dog Lover Tips of the Day! Halloween and Your Dog

Halloween & Your Dog

It is not just the candy that you have to worry about when it comes to your pets.

Here are some simple suggestions:

1. Walk your dog before the trick-or-treaters start to visit because the children wearing costumes may easily frighten dogs.
2. Keep your dog in a safe place so that they cannot run out the front door.  The continuous opening and closing of the front door can be an opportunity for your pet to take off.
3. If you have a puppy, keep decorations out of their reach.  If you have a lit pumpkin, ensure that it is in a secure location and that your dog cannot jump up and knock it over.
4. Make sure that if you purchase a costume for your pet, it does not have any dangling pieces or buttons as they can be choking hazard.  While costumes may fun for you, they should not impair your pets’ movement, hearing, breathing or ability to eat and drink.
5. Halloween can be a night of mischief.  So it is probably not a good idea to let your pet out in the back yard unattended.  Even if you have an invisible fence, your pet may be frightened and could run through it. 
6. Lastly, it’s not a great idea to bring your dog trick-or-treating.  Even a well-trained dog may become difficult to handle if he or she is frightened.  It is much safer to leave the pups at home on Halloween.

Visit us at:  http://www.domesticateddogwalkers.com

For information about our services please call Will @ (339) 222-2305

Email:   will@domesticateddogwalkers.com

 

Dog Lover Tip of the Day! – The Dangers of Halloween Candy

Halloween Candy & Dogs

We all love Halloween candy, but be careful not to leave it in reach of your furry friends.   The sweet smell will tempt any pup when left alone with a bowl full of candy.  While not all candy is poisonous to dogs, even the “good stuff” usually consists of mostly sugar, which can cause pancreatitis in dogs.

Chocolate is in a significant amount of Halloween candy and it is dangerously poisonous to dogs even in small amounts.  Please do NOT give your dog any chocolate.  Raisins are also toxic to dogs and can cause kidney failure.  Be careful of trail mixes because a number of them contain raisins.

Watch out for wrappers!  They often end up left behind in the bowl and still smell delicious to our dogs.  While they may be just empty wrappers, these cellophanes and foils can be as dangerous as the candy.  Foil and cellophane can cause life-threatening bowel obstructions, which may require surgery.

Tip of the Day – The importance of high value treats!

Always expect the unexpected no matter how well trained your dog is or you think he or she is.  Carry high value treats or a favorite toy that will get your dog to return to you in an emergency.  Our client had a very scary experience this morning while walking their 17 month Black Mouth Cur.  The pup slipped her collar and ran in front of two cars.  Thankfully a neighbor was able to grab this excited pup and bring her to safety!  Even the best collars and harnesses can sometimes fail our furry friends.

New England Pet Expo

Headed to the New England Pet Expo today for a day of fun!  It is in Wilmington, MA at the Shriner’s Auditorium from 10AM to 6 PM!  You can bring your pups on a leash.  Check it out!