Don’t dogs eat the funniest things? This week a woman from North Carolina found fragments of her $400 savings in her dog’s excrements (read the story from the Metro here). Imagine having your savings swallowed up by your pet? Not a good time to suffer from any sort of financial loss. Another dog from Bath ate a stash of Cannibis plants held as drugs evidence at a police station.
Besides making me spend lots, Milo hasn’t eaten any money, but he has had his fair share of sock remains and, brace yourself, plastic bags during his puppyhood. I think he actually threw up an entire sandwich bag when he was a few months old. If that wasn’t enough Guy’s chocolate Labrador, Cookie (pictured above), used to chew car bumpers when she was a pup.
So what are the most mouth watering things dogs shouldn’t eat but they do? We’ve munched our way through the web and found some canine crunching favourites that you can try and avoid any costly and heartbreaking visits to Mr Vet.
Bones - Although larger breeds can hack a bit of bone action now and again, chicken bones can be particularly dangerous for any dog. Take care of smaller breeds like chihuahuas and dachshunds that can get sharp bone splinters stuck in their stomachs or intestines. The best rule? No bones at all.
Stones and Sticks – Whether it’s one or more, stones can really clog up in an intestine. The good news is that, like bones and balls, these are easily spotted on x-rays and can be removed with a small operation. Sticks on the other hand are one of the most obvious outdoor snacks. They splinter, poke and tear up a gut at times so be careful next time you play fetch with one!
Grass - Some dogs enjoy a light grazing now and again to clean themselves out but if your dog eats grass on a regular basis, this could suggest dietary imbalance and a craving for greens. You may want to consider giving your dog some veg if they appear to want “something green.” Cooking the vegetables first may make them more digestible, resulting in less vomiting. Read more about why dogs eat grass here.
Foodie scraps – Did you know that most human foods like chocolate, onions and even berries can be highly toxic for your pooch and cause upset sensitive stomachs or diarrhoea. So next time you look under the table at those huge pleading eyes think again! Many dogs have sensitive stomachs and suffer from diarrhoea. To help prevent these problems and treat common problems such as indigestion, vomiting and runny stools try introducing a daily probiotic like Bionic Biotic to your dogs diet. This natural supplement includes minerals such as copper, iron, magnesium and methionine which all help aid better digestion and immune system.
Faeces - There are several theories for this mysterious and not so cute doggie habit, one is attention seeking and the other is simply that well, let’s face it dogs eat about everything don’t they? If you want to stop your dog eating his excrement read more here. That solves the cause of bad breath then!
Dog toys - A sad fact of life but more often than not, our pooches can end up ingesting parts of their favourite toys. This is unfortunate because these are made for dogs to enjoy. Watch out for cheap rope toys where strings easily loosen up and can be swallowed or the plastic squeaker mechanisms inside soft dog toys.
Underwear and socks – I have distinct memories of chasing Milo around the bedroom trying to retrieve a pair of my undies from him. He also has a habit of sitting near the washing machine in case a sock accidentally pops out. So next time you throw those panties on the bedroom floor make sure you aim for the laundry basket first.
LEAVE IT! - Now that you know what’s bad for your mutt, if he accidentally gets hold of a sock, stick or chicken leg you can master the ‘leave it command and catch him in time . Check out loveyourdog.com here.
Take care... dogs and especially puppies will chew on almost anything remotely interesting.
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Pug spiders, superman jack russells, darth vadar chihuahuas, greyhounds in tatus...welcome to the world of doggy Halloween!
Its all a bit of harmless fun but if you do decide to include your mutt in a bit of dressing up this Halloween take note of his/her level of comfort.
Remember that Halloween is great fun for us and our children but it could become quite distressing for our precious pooches so it’s important to put yourself in the frame of mind of a dog and look after your pets on the 31st. Here are some tricks to take some pup precautions for Halloween. Here are some pup precautions to get you through Halloween.
1. Know what your dog is comfortable in when it comes to costumes, sweaters or any type of outfit. If they look stressed or scared, take it off. If your pet doesn't mind a costume, make sure it doesn't impede its walking or eyesight.
2. If you decide to light a pumpkin or some candles to decorate the house make sure your dog doesn’t accidentally knock them over or cause any harm to him/herself. Puppies and young dogs are very curious and may not be able to sense danger yet.
3. Don’t let anyone feed your dog chocolates or sweets, these human treats are like poison to pets. Instead buy some Halloween dog treats before the big night. If you suspect that your dog has eaten human treats contact your Vet immediately particularly if you see symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive thirst, excitability or drooling.
4. Keep animals safely separate from peak trick or treating hours as this may cause them stress. Kids love playing pranks and tricks on one another and you may scare your dog if you get caught up in one of these out on the street. Try and take your dog on his evening walk as early as possible!
5. Take care that your pet doesn’t scamper out into the street when you open the door to trick or treaters. It’s a good time to check and update your pet id tag.
6. Some dogs can become quite territorial especially when they are met with strangers coming in and out of the house. This protective instinct can cause ‘fear aggression’. Make sure that you warn visitors not to approach your dog if you are unsure how he/she will react especially if you have adopted your dog and are unaware of its past.
Finally just for the fun of it we have picked up some funny clips over the web...Have a happy Halloween!
Dont dress the dog dress the car!
Enter this month’s pooch and mutt prize draw to win a spooktastic treat!
There are several boarding options available for dog owners, but remember that selecting the right place for your four legged friend is paramount to his wellbeing. It will not only mean returning home to a happier pet but will also help prevent any nasty behaviour creeping up later on in life.
It’s also important to bear in mind that like us humans, dogs can experience depression and separation anxiety when their owners leave them behind. This is particularly true for dogs that become attached to their owners. Dogs that thrive on being in packs, like dachshunds, tend to whine for company if left alone.
Amongst other physical problems moving a dog to a different home is often the cause of dog diarrhoea.
So if fido doesn’t have a pet passport then there are a number of responsible boarding options which will give you peace of mind whilst you sip your cocktails in the sun.
Here is a quick guide with a few places you can leave your dog if he can’t travel with you this summer.
The ideal scenario for any pet owner is to leave your dog at home and hire a reliable pet sitter. Although this may be the priciest option it is the most comfortable as your dog won’t need to adapt to any strange surroundings or new companions.
There are several ways to find a professional pet sitter, the best option is to ask a friend to recommend one otherwise you can search on the Internet (always check that the person is registered and insured to take care of your dog in their or your home). If in doubt use a bespoke pet sitting agency such as Animal Aunts.
If you feel that your dog’s requirements are less needy then you can opt for traditional kennel boarding. If you are new to leaving your dog in a kennel then go and check out the property before you book it and ask if you can trial it by leaving your dog overnight to see how he adapts.
These days most kennels have some excellent facilities including webcams which allow you to see how your dog is getting on whilst you are away!
There are plenty of quality boarding kennels which will board your dog at a reasonable fee whilst still providing all the care needed.
If you have a young dog or you want to improve your dog’s behaviour whilst you are away then look into selecting a kennel which provides on site training. This is wonderful for anyone how feels particularly worried about their pet’s behaviour in their absence.
The Royvon Dog Training School, for example, is perfect if you think your mutt could do with whipping those paws into shape whilst you are away. They offer on site behaviourists and trainers to guide your dog on a daily basis and even give you a recommended activity schedule according to breed and ability standards.
Pampered pets
However, if you want to spoil your pooch with a pampered retreat you can select one of the UK’s deluxe dog hotels. You may have to travel that extra mile however if you are keen to avoid boarding kennels altogether it pays to invest a little more time in finding that perfect canine holiday package.
A fabulous option is The Paw Seasons, a family run retreat which caters specifically for dogs and welcomes them into the home as their own pets. The Canine Country Club is another great option. The hotel offers 15 doggy suites equipped with single beds, furniture and under floor heating they even go as far as hanging pictures and ticking clocks in their suites to make your mutt feel right at home.
Don’t forget that your best friend deserves to be treated with the best care wherever you go this summer! Wherever you decide to leave your pooch this summer consider all your options carefully before you make your final decision.
However if you don’t want to leave your dog behind this summer you can opt to holiday in the UK and take your pooch with you. There are a number of dog friendly holiday options scattered around the UK and Ireland. Milo and I will be looking at some options for you next week.
