Puppy
Posted By admin on November 7, 2010
We get used to so many potential dangers in our environment that it’s easy to forget that they could very well be detrimental to our little puppy’s health. Things that we take for granted and deem as “normal” around our home can be nasty accidents just waiting to happen.
Consider this: what types of cleaning products do you use? Have you ever used a cleaning product that made you cough or was so strong you couldn’t stand to be nearby until it dried or dissipated? Resolve carpet cleaner in an aerosol can always makes me cough and even gives me a headache. Oven Cleaners do the same thing.
Consider that same cleaning product from your puppy’s perspective. If it makes you cough or if it’s odor is so strong you want to leave the area, consider how it must smell to a little puppy or feel inside of his lungs. Without a doubt his experience is much worse than your experience…and perhaps more harmful as well.
Here’s an example from my own experience: burning incense. I used to happily burn one or two sticks of incense a day, and never gave it a second thought because I enjoyed the sweet smells. Then I brought home a kitten who had some sort of upper-respiratory problems like asthma. It took me a few days to realize that my habit of burning incense was exacerbating this cat’s problems – and indeed, sending smoke into the living quarters with incense is not something you should do even around healthy pets
Even though my example was about a kitten, the same things hold true for your little pup.
Consider a puppy for a moment. One thing they really like to do is sniff around. If you put powdered carpet cleaners or even baking soda on the floor to freshen the scent in the room, your puppy is going to inhale that fine powder. Even if the powder itself isn’t toxic to the pup, inhaling any sort of fine particles is not healthy for anyone.
Another example: if you smoke, you’ll now want to be sure you never smoke near your pup. Your best bet is to smoke outdoors. Keep in mind what is irritating to the human lungs is even more irritating to a small pup’s systems. Also, keep all cigarette butts and ashes away from your pup since these are toxic items. Your pup could very easily get nicotine poisoning after chewing on a few cigarette butts.
Now let’s take a look at what common household items you should take into consideration before you bring that little puppy home…
Puppy Proofing to Keep Your Pup Safe
The world is a new and wonderful place to the puppy, and he wants to explore every inch of it with his mouth. With a few nips he’ll quickly discover if an object is edible, chewable, or if it’s a potential toy. The problem is that he’s not as discriminating as you are. If it’s chewable, he’ll chew it – even if it is your new pair of shoes or a dangerous electrical cord.
That means it’s your job to ensure your pup is safe by removing the dangers and the temptations. Don’t leave your pup unattended any place where 100% of the dangers haven’t been removed.
So what sort of dangers should you be on the lookout for? Anything and everything is a potential danger. In fact, you can begin your puppy proofing by getting on your hands and knees (or preferably on your stomach) to get a feel for how the young puppy views the world.
What sorts of things do you see from that viewpoint? Perhaps you see electrical cords exposed and within easy reach of your pup’s sharp teeth. Maybe you’ll take note that a vase sitting on a low coffee table can be easily knocked down and land on your pup’s head. Peek around the furniture and you might find plenty of places for a curious puppy to get stuck – including underneath chairs and couches.
Here are some ways to puppy proof your home:
Use duct tape to tape electrical cords to base boards, and/or cover them so they’re out of sight and inaccessible. This includes telephone cords and computer cords. You may also consider a natural repellant such as bitter-apple spray to keep your puppy from putting his mouth on these dangerous cords. Please note: some dogs don’t mind the taste of bitter-apple spray so it’s not an effective deterrent for all dogs.
Be aware of coffee tables and other piece of furniture that can be bumped or jumped on, causing vases, books, photo frame and other items to fall on your puppy.
Certain types of plants can be toxic to your pet, causing anything from stomach upset to fatal symptoms. You need to keep these plants away from your puppy, as well as the dead leaves (so in other words – even plants that are hanging from the ceiling still pose a hazard if the pup eats the dead leaves that have fallen to the floor). Some of the most common toxic house plants include but are not limited to: amaryllis, crown of thorns, mistle toe, peace lilly, dried eucalyptus, philodendron, hydrangea, rhododendron, and others.
Also be sure to keep pesticides and plant foods away from your pet. If you currently use chemical pesticides, consider switching to natural pesticides.
Keep your puppy out of harm’s way by keeping him away from other sorts of pesticides (like ant poison, roach killers, etc) and rodent poisons. Be sure that things like fly poisons and fly strips are well out of reach of your pup.
Medications and pill bottles should be kept in places your puppy can’t reach them. A child-proof cap is definitely not puppy proof, as his sharp little teeth will be into that bottle in no time.
Keep household cleaners and similar away from low cupboards where a curious puppy may learn to open the door. If you can’t move these items, then invest in cupboard door locks that a puppy can’t break into.
Look for places in your home where your puppy may lose his footing, fall, or otherwise hurt himself. For example, throw rugs on slippery tile floors to give your puppy a better footing. Be wary of stairways as it’s easy for an eager pup to fall down them. Secure windows and screens so that a pup who jumps or leans against them doesn’t go tumbling outside.
Your young puppy shouldn’t be jumping from high places as it places too much strain on his growing body plus he can easily injure himself. If you allow him up on a bed or other furniture, don’t let him jump down – instead, lift him down or create stairs. But be sure to watch him, since he only needs a couple seconds to leap from a high place and injure himself. If you can’t control how he gets off the furniture, don’t let him on until he’s older.
The day you get your pup and every day thereafter scour the floor for little items that your puppy might pick up on and swallow: pieces of string, coins, paperclips, pins and needles, dental floss, rubber bands, jewelry, children’s toys and clothes, nails and screws, thread, game station items like Playstation controls and cords, bits of food, napkins and tissues, rags and sponges, remote controls, batteries, etc.
Crawl around on your hands and knees to see what sort of big stationary objects may pose risks. For example, look for low cupboards with knobs/handles that can be chewed off and swallowed, wheels on the bottom of the couch that may have come off the last time you moved the couch, etc.
Keep trash bins away from your pup as it’s too easy for him to get a cooked bone out that could easily splinter, or cut his tongue licking an empty can, etc. Bathroom trash bins are no exception, as pups will pull unsavory items out of them and eat those items or drag them around the house.
Keep your toilet lid down, especially if you use those automatic blue cleaners that freshen the toilet each time it’s flushed.
Keep anti-freeze locked away from your pup, and immediately wipe up any that you spill. Not only is it extremely toxic to your puppy, it’s sweet taste and smell are also extremely inviting to her.
Take a good look at your decorative items like throw rugs and afghans. In particular, be alert to the fact that those items with long fringe can become choking hazards.
Keep candles, Glade plug-ins, potpourri, incense sticks, and similar items away from your puppy. Be aware that the flame from a lit candle may attract your pup. Even if the candle is out of reach, an excited puppy could knock the candle over by jumping up or bumping against the piece of furniture the candle is sitting on.
Don’t forget to keep your puppy’s own treats in a safe place. He may over-eat and get a stomachache, or he may even choke if it’s a type of chew toy that’s best used under supervision.
Look for things like loose tiles on your floor, places where your carpet is loose and coming up, loose wallpaper, peeling paint, etc.
The above is not a complete list. As mentioned before, most anything can be a hazard to your young pup. As such, it’s a good idea to completely keep your pups out of areas where there are just too many dangers, like your garage or near pools.
When you leave your home with your pup, you can’t control the environment as well – so what you’ll need to do is control your pup by keeping her on a leash at your side at all times. If your puppy is young and her immune system isn’t fully developed yet, it’s wise to keep other dogs out of your home, and keep your pup away from other dogs. This includes trips to the vet. That means keep your puppy’s paws off the floor at the vet. Ask if the staff has wiped down the scale before you place your pup on it. And while it’s standard practice to disinfect the examine tables, it doesn’t hurt to double check if it’s been done.
Stuff Happens!
Basic First Aid and Home Remedies for Injured Dogs
Despite your best intentions, no matter how well you puppy proof your home, and no matter how well you watch your pup, injuries can still happen. Sometimes it takes just a moment when your back is turned. Sometimes you miss something like the glint of a piece of broken glass on a walk. Maybe someone else forgot to pick up a hazard object and you didn’t know it was there until it was too late
At the moment they happen you don’t have much time to rummage around looking for first aid tips. Usually you want to provide the necessary first aid and then get your pup to the vet as soon as possible. Let me repeat that in different terms so it’s clear: as the name implies, this is merely FIRST aid. If you’re not a veterinarian don’t attempt to diagnose or treat your dog beyond first aid, as you can injure him more if you do so.
The other thing you’ll want to do is put together or buy a pre-made first aid kit for your dog. Ideally you should have two – one for home, and one for your car when you’re traveling. Be sure that you have one with you wherever you go with your dog, whether it’s a day at the beach, a weekend hiking trip, or a visit to grandma’s house. Also be sure that everyone in your house knows where the kit is, and they know how to use the supplies in the kit.
If you build your own first aid kits, shop around and see what sort of supplies the pre-made kits contain. Some of them are really bare-bones – basically bandages and not much else. Skip those as they won’t be very useful if something serious happens. On the other hand, some first aid kits contain supplies that the average person wouldn’t even know how to use, or wouldn’t be comfortable using (like sutures and a medical needle and thread). Of course it’s best to be conservative and have too many supplies in the kit (even if you don’t know how to use them) rather than too few supplies.
The next time you go to your vet’s office, bring your kit and discuss with your vet what else to put in it. In particular, you’ll want to ask your vet what sort of medicines to put in the kit, along with proper dosages. For example, some human medicines are commonly used on dogs (such as Pepto Bismol for stomach upset and Benadryl for allergic reactions), but your holistic vet may have more natural alternatives.
Here are a few things you should put into your dog’s first aid kit:
Important phone numbers including your vet’s number and poison control numbers. If you are traveling, you may want to include numbers of local vets in the area.
If you are including any medicines, tape a sheet on the inside of the kit that includes dosages for your dog. You may also want to include general dosages (e.g., ML per pounds of body weight) just in case your first aid kit is used to help someone else’s dog.
Blunt tip scissors (works to trip the fur away from an injury), Scissors to cut bandages, Sterile gauze pads, Sterile cotton or cotton balls, A roll of gauze bandage for wrapping, Adhesive tape to secure bandages, Sterile saline solution (for contacts) to flush out eyes or wounds, A wound antibiotic like betadine – do not use in eyes, and do not use for puncture wounds, A rubber bulb ear syringe for flushing eyes or wounds (these look like turkey basters), A rectal thermometer and lubricant for the thermometer (note: dogs normal temperatures range from 100.5 to 102.5 Fahrenheit ). Keep in mind that some thermometers get ruined by heat, so certain types will not do well in your car in the summer., Tweezers, Cold and hot compresses
Alcohol (can be used to clean small wounds, but it will sting…can also be used to sterilize your tweezers, scissors and other instruments that will come in contact with the dog).
Hydrogen peroxide can be used to clean a wound. Also talk to your vet about using it to induce vomiting
Some “Kwik Stop” powder or similar to stop bleeding from a nail injury
A muzzle (if your dog is hurt – no matter how sweet she is – she may attempt to bite whoever tries to handle her)
A note in your kit stating the date when you last replaced items that expire, like hydrogen peroxide and medicines
Now that you have your dog’s kit ready, let’s look at what you can do to aid your dog in some of the more common first aid emergencies. Remember, your first step in most emergencies is to muzzle your dog so that you can work quickly and safely (e.g., especially in the cases of open wounds, broken bones, or anything else that causes your dog to be in pain).
Bleeding and Open Wounds
Your first step is to stop the bleeding. Use a towel, piece of clothing, or whatever is handy to apply direct pressure for five minutes at a time. Do NOT make a tourniquet, as this can cause tissue damage.
If the bleeding doesn’t stop, continue the five minute intervals as you rush to the vet.
If you’ve stopped the bleeding, then cut the hair around the wound so that the wound area is cleaner. Next you’ll have to flush out the wound. Search engine marketing A sterile saline solution or hydrogen peroxide is best, seo company but clean water will work if nothing sterile is available. You’ll need to flush liberally.
Next step is to scrub the wound with soap Google places. While again things like dish soap or regular soap will work if nothing else is available, a “green soap” or iodine based scrub like betadine works best. Use sterile gauze if available as certain types of cloth can leave lint in the wound seo services.
Once cleaned web design yon can bandage lightly and rush to the vet.
Be sure to note the time that the wound occurred. This will help your vet in determining if the wound should be treated as an open wound, or if it should be closed (sutured or glued) shut. The older a wound is (e.g., seo malaysia a few hours old versus 30 minutes old), the online marketing harder it is for a vet to close without the risk of serious infection. Also because the torn skin is starting to heal itself nearly instantly, within hours it makes it more difficult to get the ends to grow back together when ppc management stitched.
Please, unless you are a professional, penang property don’t attempt to close a wound yourself. Unless you are working in a sterile environment as is found in the vet’s office, you can almost guarantee that you will close dirt and bacteria into the wound, which will lead to infection.
Bite Wounds
For bite wounds you use the same clipping and cleaning procedure as described above. However, bite wounds can be more problematic than open wounds, property malaysia simply because the risk of infection is higher. Whoever bit your dog contaminated the wound instantly with a mouth and tooth full of dirt and bacteria. The other problem is that since the actual surface of the wound is small, it can close and heal itself quickly – but unfortunately, penang apartment that doesn’t allow the wound to drain and it seals in the dirt, which can very quickly lead to infection
Broken Bones / Fractures
If the break has broken the skin, your first step is to clean the wound as you would a regular open wound.
Your knee-jerk reaction is probably to splint the fracture. However, there is some knowledge required to do this properly. First, you need to use enough padding and fit the splint just right so as not to cut circulation or create sores. Second, online stock trading you need to immobilize the joints both above and below the wounds.
If you’ve never done this and if you’re rushing to the vet (which you should be), online options trading it may be best to forget splinting and just get your dog to the vet. Improper splinting can throw your dog off balance and cause further injury to her.
Talk to your vet about proper splinting procedures so that if you are ever put in this sort of situation you know how to do it
Burns
Minor burns can be treated with a ice water or ice compresses for approximately 20 minutes. Then cleanse the area with an iodine based wash online trading system.
Seek immediate assistance from your vet for major burns. It’s also wise to have your vet examine even minor burns to be sure they require no further treatment.
Choking
First check into your dog’s mouth and down her throat to see if there’s anything visibly obstructing her airway. If so, fapturbo review remove immediately with your finger.
If your dog isn’t breathing you may attempt the Heimlich Maneuver by holding your pet against you and pushing in and up to help dislodge the unseen object forex robot review.
If you are not successful with removing the object, get your dog to the vet immediately.
Note: next time you drop by your vet’s office, have them show you in person how to perform the Heimlich Maneuver on your pet. At the same time have your vet show you how to perform CPR on your dog. It’s basically the same idea as CPR for humans (except you’ll be holding your dog’s mouth closed and blowing into his nose). However, how to trade forex successfully your vet can show you in person how much pressure to apply – it’s much easier to learn this in person versus in a book.
Heat Exhaustion / Heatstroke
Certain breeds of dogs are more prone to heat exhaustion than others, especially those with shortened muzzles (e.g., like the pug, bulldogs, etc). In addition, certain activities are very dangerous for all dogs, forex megadroid review such as heavy exercise on a hot day, or leaving your dog in the car (even if it’s not hot and you leave the car in the shade, the temperature inside can shoot up in minutes).
Heatstroke can cause heart failure, google adwords brain damage and can be fatal very fast.
If your dog is overheated, offer her plenty of water and give her a cool bath affiliate marketing tips. Get her to a vet as soon as possibl
Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar)
Sometimes puppies do not eat properly or enough times per day and experience low blood sugar. Very small breeds (toys and tiny toys in particular) are especially prone to getting hypoglycemia. Indeed, burn body fat some toy breeders suggest supplementing your tiny toy breed puppy’s meals with a little honey.
If your dog seems weak or confused, honey, Karo syrup, or even sugar water can help perk him back up. However, this only works at the first signs of low blood sugar. If the dog collapses or shows other severe symptoms, feng shui products you need to get him to the vet promptly. Do not administer anything if he’s unconscious
Hypothermia and/or Frostbite
Ideally you should wrap your dog in a warm blanket (preferably also wrapped with warm water bottles) and rushed to the vet.
The dog can be put in a warm bath to help return him to his normal temperature, mec-kuda.org but only attempt this if you have warm dryers so he won’t get chilled after the bath. Heating blankets, heating pads and other warming devices may be used, but take care that they are wrapped properly so as not to burn the dog.
If only a small area is affected by frostbite you can: submerge it in water, warm it with warm, use moist towels, use properly covered heating pads (again, so as not to burn your dog) and / cjilonline.com or use similar warming devices on the affected are
Poisoning
Regardless of the substance, call your vet and/or get your dog to the vet’s office immediately. Be sure that you have information about the substance on hand socalbooks.com (preferably take the container with you) so that your vet knows what ingredients your dog ingested.
Some people suggest using 3% hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting, yassertalk.com approximately a tablespoon per 10 pounds of body weight. Check with your vet on this suggestion, and ask for dosing.
This however only applies to non-caustic substances. If your dog ingested something along the lines of kerosene or similar cleaners, administer three teaspoons lemon juice or vinegar in equal parts water. Then get your dog to the vet nfelt.com.
If you suspect your dog zelo.us has ingested acid, give one teaspoon Milk of Magnesia per five pounds of body weight and rush her to the vet
Seizures
If your dog starts having a seizure, at-stevia-recipes-book.com just clear the area of furniture and other obstacles to make sure she’s safe. Dim the lights if possible. Sometimes gently stroking and talking to your pet can make the seizure end sooner.
Take your dog to the vet immediately after the seizure for assessment
Sprayed by Skunk
Usually when your dog gets sprayed by a skunk it’s a stinky nuisance rather than an emergency. However, johnibanez.net a direct hit to the eyes can cause extreme discomfort for your dog as well as temporary blindness. As such, if your dog takes a hit to the eyes you’ll want to flush his eyes with something like sterile saline solution. If there isn’t any on hand, even water will do
Now that the emergency is over, what about the stink? Mix a quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, a ¼ cup of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of liquid soap together to create a shampoo that helps break down and wash away the skunk oil. Note: do not mix this together ahead of time, greatesticebreakerever.com as the container can burst.
The amount in the recipe above is enough for a small dog, plantweanies.com so you may have to stock up on several bottles of hydrogen peroxide if you have a large dog. In addition, you may want to bathe the dog more than once.
Be very careful not to get the mixture in the dog’s eyes.
Stings
Don’t attempt to remove the stinger with tweezers, as this can cause the stinger to release more poison into your dog. Instead, gently scrape the skin with a dull knife. Then you can apply calamine, blackcupcafe.com a cold compress, or even Milk of Magnesia to the affected area to help with itching, swelling and irritation.
However, the most important thing you need to do is watch your dog for a while after the initial sting. Some dogs will have an allergic reaction…and if it happens, histriotheater.com it usually begins happening within minutes.
Some people suggest 1mg to 2mg Benadryl per pound of bodyweight to help with mild allergic reactions. However, this of course is a chemical and not a natural substance – but if it’s an emergency and that’s all you have on hand, timanconsulting.com it could slow down a reaction until you can get to the vet’s office. Talk to your homeopathic vet about alternatives so you can have them on hand in case your dog ever gets stung.
If your dog is having a big allergic reaction, washingtonae.com rush him to the vet. Sometimes allergic reactions to stings can results in the airway swelling shut so that the dog cannot breathe.
How to Deal with Fleas, Allergies, and Other Common Complaints
So far we’ve mainly discussed prevention measures penang property, from a good diet that helps ward off illness, to how to puppy proof your home, to whether you should vaccinate. But just like any other living creature, pulau langkawi even the most well cared for dogs do get sick or get parasites from time to time.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again just because it’s worth repeating: the best thing you can do for your pet is make sure she’s eating the very best diet she can eat. Pulau langkawi hotels If you cannot or will not serve a BARF (biologically appropriate raw food) diet or similar, then get your dog the best diet that you can. That means no preservatives, no grains as the first ingredients (you want meat), and no by products. Banner printing malaysia There are places that serve pre-prepared natural foods that you take out of your freezer and thaw, or add water to hydrate.
A solid diet will go a long way in keeping your dog healthy. Chances are, pulau pinang if he does get sick he will likely recover faster if he’s eating a nutritionally balanced diet.
The reason I’m telling you all of this again is to penang map save myself a bit of time as we start discussing a few common dog ailments. Otherwise penang restaurants I would start out each section telling you why a good diet is so important in helping your pal fight off her illness. Now I don’t have to.
Let’s jump right into some common ailments…
Allergies
Years ago – before I knew about natural pet remedies and holistic vets – I took one of my dogs to my conventional vet because of allergy problems. The vet administered a steroid shot. Yes hotels in malaysia, the allergy symptoms went away nearly instantly. But that steroid shot may have done more harm than johor property good.
That night she broke housetraining. Johor properties Later on I found out that steroids often increase urination. That was the least of my worries, however. Some experts believe that steroids can be linked to everything from diabetes to Addison’s malaysia holidays disease.
Thankfully my dog never got any of those illnesses. We were lucky …that time.
Now I know that an ounce of prevention is indeed worth a pound of cure. Malaysia airlines booking Before your dog even starts getting swollen places on her body, starts scratching a lot, licks her paws excessively, or any other allergy-related symptom, there’s a lot you can do to keep it from ever happening penang attractions
First (no surprises here), feed your dog a good natural diet. Travel agency in kuala lumpur Some dogs just can’t handle the preservatives and other additives that are put into commercial dog food. Many dogs are allergic to the corn and grains that are often the first ingredient in dog food malaysia currency.
Even if your pet isn’t specifically allergic to the ingredients in commercial pet food, if the food isn’t high quality than you’re most likely compromising your dog’s immunity. Travel hotels kuala lumpur Low quality food, plus unnecessary vaccinations, plus chemical treatments for worms and other parasites can all create a load on the dog’s immune system that adds to allergy problems.
Some experts suggest that it’s helpful to supplement your dog’s food with glyconutrients / travel agency in malaysia saccharides. These are essenticarbohydrates that are thought to aid in a wide variety or ailments such as increase wound healing, lower cholesterol, decrease allergies and other autoimmune symptoms, selangor properties etc. In essence, glyconutrients are thought to strengthen your dog’s overall systems, which in turn strengthen specific systems such as the immune response.
Another supplement that’s thought to alleviate itching are fatty (essential) oils like fish oils.
Talk to your holistic vet about whether supplementation would be useful for your dog.
The next step is to look around the selangor property environment to reduce or eliminate the cause of your dog’s allergies. These could be specific materials (like wool), chemicals or pesticides indoors or out, some sort of plants, etc. Keep a notebook detailing your dog’s symptoms – when they occur, part time job in malaysia what are the symptoms, what your dog ate or where he went. With luck, a pattern will emerge where you’ll start to get an idea of what your dog may be allergic to.
Fleas
This is an appropriate time to talk about fleas penang property, since many dogs are allergic to flea bites.
Here are a couple important points to remember as you begin waging your battle against fleas:
1. Fleas are most attracted to sick and weak animals. Penang apartment Puppies with immature immunity systems are most susceptible, as are any dogs that aren’t in optimal health. Again, a sound diet can go a long ways in helping your pet deal with flea problems penang food.
2. The fleas you see on your dog are just a small percentage of the actual flea population. Yes 4g Fleas live in the environment and typically just jump on the host when they need a meal.
What this means is that when you wage war against the fleas, IOI properties you’ll need a two-pronged attack – first on your dog, and second on the environment. Let’s talk about your dog first…
All sorts of chemicals exist on the market to treat fleas, Sime Darby Property from powders to sprays to collars to dips to pills to spot-on treatments. However, these are pesticides that can be harmful to your dog.
If you don’t believe that these are harmful to your dog, Think property just read the label on a flea dip. Typically the warnings include the usual “keep away from children” label. However, you’ll also see warnings on flea dips calling them corrosive, warnings of irreversible eye damage, property Malaysia warnings that the person should wear eye goggles, long sleeves, and gloves (being careful not to get any on your skin, and wash immediately if you do so), warnings that dips should be used in well-ventilated areas, warnings that improper dilution of the product can cause serious injury to your dog and more iproperty malaysia.
Does this sound like something safe to put on your dog to help control fleas? I didn’t think so either
Your best bet is to tackle the problem in a natural, non-toxic way. The first thing you need is a flea comb and a little time. Take time daily to use the flea comb on your dog. Forex malaysia Depending on how big your dog is or how infested she is, this may take some time every day – but it’s much better than risking her health (and yours) with pesticides.
If your dog seems to be fairly infested, you can start by shampooing your dog. You don’t necessarily need to use a shampoo designed for flea control, as most of the fleas will simply get smothered or drown during a regular bath. However, to ensure that the bath is as effective as possible, you can use a neem oil shampoo. Be sure to leave the lather on your dog for a few minutes. Then rinse thoroughly, as soap residue is a common cause of scratching and irritation in dogs.
You can help repel fleas from your dog using various natural oils like neem oil, citronella, eucalyptus, tea tree oils and similar.
To kill fleas that are already on the dog, you can try a natural treatment like diatomaceous earth products. These products kill the flea by dehydrating it. As such, fleas never become immune to this treatment as they do with many pesticides. And also, it’s safe for your pet.
The second prong of your attack must center on the environment. Remember, most of the fleas are in the environment and not on your dog. Thus if you treat your dog and not the environment you’ll see the problem slowly getting worse over time as new fleas keep hatching in your carpet and elsewhere.
Your first step is to start vacuuming your home thoroughly every day. Fleas are attracted to dark places, so be sure to get into the couch cushions, under furniture, and in other dark nooks and crannies (especially those closest to your dog’s favorite playing and resting spots). After you vacuum change the vacuum bag and throw it away, as it’s easy for fleas to climb out of your vacuum and back into the carpet and flooring.
You may also use diatomaceous earth powders on your floor, or you may consider boric acid which is also a dehydrating product (but it’s stronger and so you should be careful). If you decide to use these products, sprinkle them onto your carpet and then work them deep into the fibers using a broom.
If you can keep pets out of the area for a while (e.g., if you are going on a trip with them), leave the powders and wait to vacuum until you return. However, if pets will be in the area, vacuum the excess – and watch your pet carefully. These dehydrating powders can irritate the nasal passages and lungs of a dog (especially if they spend a lot of time sniffing around).
And finally, don’t forget about your pet’s bedding! Your best bet is to wash it in warm or hot water at least weekly.
Ear Infections
The symptoms of ear infections are easy to spot – a foul odor coming from the ear, a dog that shakes her head or scratches her ear a lot, a dark discharge coming from the ear, and more.
If your dog already has these symptoms, get her to the vet immediately to prevent damage to the ear drum. Don’t attempt to treat this at home since you probably don’t know what caused the infection (a yeast infection? A foreign particle in the ear? Something else?). Your vet can determine the cause and treat accordingly.
Some dogs are prone to getting yeast infections in the ear (especially dogs with ears that hang down), and these infections often can be prevented. Naturally, a healthy diet is your first step. But beyond that, here are some other things you can do:
1. Clip the hair inside the ears to provide better air flow. Yeast infections thrive in warm moist places like the ear – clipping the hair inside the ear will help the ear dry out.
2. Be careful during baths not to get water in your dog’s ear – and don’t purposely put water in a dog’s ear to “clean” it, because that’s the worst thing you can do. If the inside ear gets wet, dry it and use one of the cleaning solutions listed below.
3. Clean your dog’s ears regularly (weekly) with a cleaning solution approved by your vet (e.g., talk to your vet before using these solutions). One solution is to use equal parts white vinegar and rubbing alcohol. Another solution is to dilute vinegar (3/4 cup white vinegar to ¼ cup water).
I always like to warm the solution by placing the bottle in some warm water (I figure it feels better to have body temperature solution in your ears as opposed to shocking cold water). Be sure the solution is warm, not hot.
If you’ve never cleaned your dog’s ears before it may help to have an assistant to distract the dog, play with him, perhaps feed him treats…and to hold him! If he’s never had his ears clean his first inclination may be to run away.
Lift up your dog’s ears and pour the solution in until your dog’s ear canal is full. Then gently massage right below the ear canal to work in the solution for a few seconds – you should hear a “squishing” sound as you do so. Then let your dog shake the excess solution out (this will take no prodding on your part, trust me). Finally, wipe inside the ear with a paper towel or clean cloth to remove any excess “junk” that came loose during the cleaning. Repeat with the other ear.
Don’t forget to praise your dog lavishly! If you have a puppy, get started doing this right away so he gets used to it. Act like it’s no big deal, make it fun, and praise lavishly if he doesn’t put up a fuss. Chances are, soon enough you won’t need an assistant and the whole procedure will only take a few minutes.
Constipation
Just like humans, dogs sometimes suffer through a bout of constipation. If no other symptoms accompany the constipation and if it only lasts a day or two, then generally you can treat it at home. But as always – if your intuition is telling you something is wrong, always call your vet. Better safe than sorry!
One common treatment is to give your dog a bit of canned pumpkin in his meals. If that doesn’t work, you can try psyllium. Psyllium is one of the main ingredients in Metamucil and similar products.
If the constipation is severe you can administer a bit of mineral oil. Ask your vet for dosing (generally one tablespoon per ten pounds body weight). However, you want to use this remedy sparingly as mineral oil interferes with the absorption of essential nutrients.
Mange Treatment
I’ve never tried this one myself, so I can’t attest to its usefulness. However, some people suggest mixing a quarter cup of olive oil with two tablespoons garlic powder and two tablespoons Goldenseal. Then gently massage this mixture into the affected area.