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When it comes to protecting your dog against fleas as well as ticks you’re most likely familiar with prominent topicals, collars, as well as even new monthly oral flea treatments. As your trusted pet pharmacy we’re pleased to introduce Bravecto, the latest in flea as well as tick control for dogs. One chew controls fleas as well as ticks for 3 times as long as traditional doses, lasting 12 weeks when compared to the typical 4 week effectiveness of most topicals as well as oral flea treatments.
How else does Bravecto stack up against the competition?
There’s no requirement to separate pets after providing your dog Bravecto
Bravecto starts to work within 2 hours to kill fleas as well as treat as well as control ticks
It’s efficient against 4 tick types (black-legged tick, American dog tick, brown dog tick, as well as lone star tick)
Interested in changing your dog’s flea prevention? Ask your veterinarian exactly how Bravecto can assist keep your dog risk-free from fleas as well as ticks with the easy-to-give Bravecto chew.
If you have any type of concerns about this product or any type of others brought by 1-800-PetMeds, leave us a comment below or feel free to message us on Twitter or Facebook.
exactly how lots of miles are you up to?
Apryl from women like sports composed about her plan to do the long beach Marathon this year. part of her plan includes completing 100 miles in a month with her pet dog Gus.
Pickles as well as her owner are well on their method to passing last month’s miles.
Ace as well as I set out for a timed 6-mile run this morning, however that soon turned into a 2.85-mile walk/run. I am delighted I at least got out the door this morning. even Ace seemed sluggish, barely pacing at my side for the very first mile. He might’ve been rigid from an hour of agility yesterday with our buddies Patti as well as Jake. Not injured or anything, just tired.
I understand that in buy to do a successful run with my pet dog I requirement to get it over with very first thing in the morning. I did refrain from doing that today. I took my time getting out of bed as well as then I stuffed myself with pancakes instead of my normal fruit smoothie. Let’s just state the believed of those pancakes a mile into our run was not pleasant.
The 6-mile run will have to wait on tomorrow.
We likewise went for a short .3-mile walk yesterday afternoon for a overall of 12.13 miles for the month.
April miles: 12.13
You sigh, as it gets dark,
from that area on your bed.
Pretending to sleep,
but I state your name
and that tail wags.
We like our long walks. You play.
You push past the others to catch your ball.
You climb the rocks at the beach.
Muscles strong. Senses alert.
You introduce yourself to the sea.
You likewise limp home, sometimes.
On hikes, you accident up mountains.
You grab branches in your mouth.
You do not lose track of me.
But I see you steady yourself
before jumping into the car.
My graying, aging dog.
Not old. Not young.
We jog. You set the speed (always have).
But now I’m the one slowing for you.
That’s OK. You did the exact same for me.
You’re such a great dog, Ace.
We don’t play much fetch. It makes you sore.
We race. You let me win.
We joke around a lot, don’t we? great deals of tricks.
We go camping. We sing duets.
We go to coffee shops. You lie at my feet.
Big, brown eyes watching.
Every day, five or six times, I kiss that low area between your eyes.
Rub your soft ears.
See the gray fur on your legs, your feet, tip of that tail.
To my aging dog.
Not old. Not young.
You’re such a great boy.
You look up at me. Those brown eyes staring.
You have huge plans.
“What should we do today?”
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pet dog parks can be stages for good and bad scenes.
Baxter and I recently had an experience that could have been bad, but ended up being good.
There were two lessons:
1. let dogs be dogs.
2. know your pet dog and step in when needed.
I will explain.
When Baxter and I arrived at the park, two puppies were there playing and wrestling. A new pet dog was huge excitement for two already ecstatic puppies.
They bounced around Baxter, mouthing at his face and jumping on him. Bax tolerated them for a time and then tried to step on. The puppies weren’t having it. They had a new toy. Eventually, Mr. B lost patience. There was a lip curl, a growl, then a snarl.
No one freaked out. Not the dogs, not the puppies’ owners, not me.
We knew Baxter wasn’t attacking the puppies. He was saying, “Hey kid, you’re being rude. Back off.”
The puppies’ owners knew their puppies were being obnoxious. They knew their puppies needed to be corrected, and dogs can show that lesson to each other better than humans. let dogs be dogs.
However, one of the puppies just did not get the message.
He kept hassling Baxter, and Baxter was getting a lot more and a lot more annoyed. I believe that my job is to always put my pet dog first and help him if he’s in an uneasy situation. We had let dogs be dogs, but now it was time for the humans to interrupt.
I put B up on a picnic table and blocked the puppy from climbing up after him. The owners distracted their puppies and moved to another area of the park.
Bax and I headed in the opposite direction. Our two groups were each able to make our circuits of the park and keep out of each other’s way.
Eventually we did meet up again, and the puppies’ exuberance and Baxter’s patience were still at opposite ends of the spectrum. The one puppy did do a submissive down—for about a second. but I could see Baxter’s patience was at an end.
We left the park—Baxter’s happiness at leaving was obvious—and went for a walk along a local creek instead. We even met two other dogs that were a bit a lot more affordable energy, so Bax got some socializing, which he loves and is why we go to the pet dog park.
Even though we ended up leaving the park, the occurrence was a good experience because all of the owners had the same perspective on the situation.
Instead of yelling at me and accusing Baxter of attacking the puppies, the owners saw what he was doing and why. When the dogs didn’t work things out themselves, we each stepped in and removed our dogs from the situation. To me, that is how educated responsible pet dog owners must act.
Lessons learned at the pet dog park
1. let dogs be dogs. In my experience in a lot of situations dogs can sort things out between themselves. A snarl is not the same as an attack.
2. Be real about your dog’s attitude. Are you the owner of an exuberant puppy? Not all dogs (or people) will be enthused about being jumped and chewed. If, like me, you have an older pet dog who prefers a quiet walk to an energetic game of tag, don’t force your pet dog to do something he’s not interested in.
3. Be prepared to step in. The first step is to let dogs be dogs. but if they can’t work it out, it’s up to me to do what’s best for my dog. If the puppies’ owners hadn’t taken their dogs away from Baxter, I could have politely suggested that we each go in opposite directions to give the dogs a break from each other.
4. remove your pet dog from the situation if necessary. often the best thing to do is walk away. As much as Baxter loves to socialize, the pet dog park was just not the place to be on that particular day.
Do the rest of you have any examples of when you’ve “let dogs be dogs” or when you’ve chosen to step in?
Let us know in the comments!
Julia Thomson is a regular writer for That Mutt. visit her blog home on 129 Acres.
Related post: must kids be allowed in pet dog parks?
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Last week, Erich as well as I made a decision that it was lastly time to get Leo neutered. We always understood we wished to get him neutered, however we were iffy on the timing of it. Of all the articles I read, half of them stated we must wait up until he’s 18-24 months old as well as the other half stated we must do it before he turned 1 year old. all of them stated the timing was crucial to stop any type of illness or cancer later on in life. We likewise asked our vet when we very first brought Leo to him. He told us the very best time to get him fixed was when he started lifting his leg.
We took our vet’s advice, kept a close eye on Leo’s habits as well as made a decision it was time to routine his neuter. Leo got fixed this week as well as is doing well! He is taking some pain medication as well as is unhappily walking around in his “cone of shame”.
The evening after Leo’s surgery, I felt so poor for him. He was still extremely drowsy from the anesthesia as well as was having a rough time with the cone. The next day, he was a whole new pup! He ate his entire breakfast as well as was bouncing around the place. It’s been tough trying to keep him from jumping. I’m anxious he’s going to open his incision.
I was not sure whether to leave him at house to heal or if it was much better to bring him to work so I might keep an eye on him. The vet technician stated it would be fine to bring him to work, as well as I’m pleased I did. considering that I’ve been able to keep an eye on him, I was able to notice his cone wasn’t huge sufficient as well as he might reach his incision. I swiftly grabbed a bigger cone to stop that from happening. Phew!
Luckily, he only has to wear his cone for the next 4-6 days, as well as he’ll be completely healed in the next 9 days or so as well as we can go back to our evening walks.
In this article, four canine owners share their tips for helping with a dog’s worry of fireworks or thunder.
What do you do if nothing seems to work?
I asked four canine owners how they manage their dogs’ extreme fears because in some cases you just can’t make their fears go away.
I hope this post is helpful to others who have incredibly fearful dogs. Please share this post if it will help a canine you know.
*Get this post emailed to you as a pdf. read it later. Click Here.
This post may include affiliate links. That Mutt may earn money from the companies discussed in this post.
How to manage your dog’s extreme worry of fireworks and thunder?
Example #1: Tonya Wilhelm and her dog’s worry of thunder
Tonya Wilhelm said her canine Theo was the “most extreme” case of thunder phobia she has seen.
If she happened to be home with Theo during a thunderstorm, she said his eyes would become dilated and he’d pant, pace, dig, try to knock things over and would not work out down.
“If I was gone, he ate the carpet, walls, knocked over everything in sight, urinated and defecated,” she said.
Wilhelm could not find anything to fix her dog’s behavior.
She tried working on a desensitization training program and tried giving him medications. She also moved in with her mother so Theo would be alone less often.
During thunderstorms, Wilhelm would:
put Theo in a tight-fitting T-shirt
put gun earmuffs over his ears
turned on the TV
set up a box fan
snuggled up best on top of him!
If Theo had to be left alone, she put him in his crate with a piece of Plexiglas attached to the inside of the crate’s door. This kept him from damaging his nails when clawing at the door.
Today, Wilhelm is a professional canine trainer with global canine Trainer and she has found a couple of ideas that help some of her clients’ dogs with thunderstorm phobias.
She suggests the following:
A Thundershirt
Dog appeasing pheromones
A natural calming product called storm Stress
Natural product called Rescue Remedy
The music “Through A Dog’s Ear,” developed to help dogs relax
Ear muffs specifically for dogs – “Mutt Muffs”
A white noise machine
Wilhelm said it’s essential to give your dog any medication or calming aids before your canine is feeling stressed. This gives the medication sufficient time to enter the dog’s body.
See our post: Medications for dogs during fireworks.
Finally, she also uses “food therapy” by starting her clients’ dogs on a “cooling diet that is high in blood tonics.” This often includes rabbit, sardines, oysters, parsley, carrots and spinach, she said.
*Get this post emailed to you as a pdf. read it later. Click Here.
Example #2: Elaina Cowdell and her dog’s worry of fireworks
Elaina Cowdell’s canine Lilly is frightened of thunder, fireworks and gunshots.
Lilly will try to get away from what’s scaring her and will destroy blinds or go through screens in the process.
“I tried everything under the sun,” Cowdell said. “Thunder coats, calming sprays and collars, calming and desensitizing CDs, I purchased and tried it all.”
What finally helped was to find a vet prepared to work with Cowdell on finding the best medication to manage Lilly’s anxiety.
Cowdell also found a trainer who specializes in fearful dogs and uses desensitization training.
“For example, when a thunderstorm is happening, I will get high-value treats and throw them in the air and tell her to ‘find it’ each time thunder happens,” she said.
“This does two things. It helps her to start thinking that thunder implies yummy treats and it’s a good thing, and it helps distract her by finding all of the treats.”
See our post: What to do if your canine is frightened of thunderstorms
When Cowdell can’t be home with Lilly and there’s potential for thunderstorms or fireworks, she said she leaves her canine at a daycare.
If she’s home with Lilly and it gets really bad, Cowdell will give Lilly a vet-approved extra dose of medication to help calm her while she holds her.
“We go downstairs, turn the radio or TV up loud and I do everything I can to reduce the sound and make her feel safe.”
Example #3: Sandy Cumberland and her canine Pequena’s worry of fireworks
Sandy Cumberland said her canine Pequena is a rescue canine from a village in Mexico.
“I believe that the locals may have taken pot shots at her and the other feral dogs to keep them from garbage and from the fish as the fisherman hauled their nets onto the beach,” she said.
“A single percussive sound – a car backfiring, even the sound of a stapler – will put her into a nervous state. You can imagine what fireworks do to her!”
During fireworks, Cumberland said her canine runs to the closet and buries herself as deeply as she can.
“Her whole body shakes. She pants furiously, with the whites of her eyes showing all around.”
In attempts to help Pequena, Cumberland said she has tried various natural remedies for her dog.
“None had any impact at all.”
Her vet suggested a prescription tranquilizer but because Pequena is sensitive to medications Cumberland didn’t want to go that route.
So, if she knows there will be fireworks, Cumberland stays home with Pequena or arranges for someone to be there.
“I sit near the closet and speak with her in a soothing voice. If I can reach her, I will keep my hand on her, stroking her as I speak,” she said.
“I don’t attempt to hold her, even though as a human our temptation is to cuddle someone who is afraid, as being confined will just increase the anxiety.”
When the noise is over, she makes sure to give her canine water and then Pequena sleeps for a long time but never has any long-term effects.
“Like humans who suffer from anxiety, between episodes her life is very normal.”
For a much more comprehensive guide on general canine anxiety, see my post: how to help my anxious dog
Example #4: Kirsten Stuart and her canine Abbie
Kirsten Stuart has an 8-year-old boxer/pitbull mix named Abbie who has always had a worry of thunder and fireworks.
“She seems to hear the most distant sound of thunder even before I do,” Stuart said. “She gets this look of sheer terror on her face and crawls on my lap.”
She said Abbie shakes and pants, and fireworks are even scarier for her.
“With the sound of each firework, she flinches and the worry in her eyes is just sad, all you see is sheer terror.”
Stuart said she has tried everything from oils and natural herbs to a Thundershirt to taking Abbie to the basement to play.
“I have resigned to the fact that she is and will be deathly scared of fireworks, and as her canine mother I need to find the best and safest service to try to calm her.”
In this case, Stuart has found that medication is the only service to keep Abbie calm.
“The dosage has been thoroughly chose upon by our vet and she gets just enough to calm her through fireworks displays,” Stuart said.
“Now that I have found a service for both thunderstorms and fireworks, it is much calmer at the house during these events.”
Her guidance to other canine owners it to remember every canine is different.
“Find what works for them and is comfortable for the both of you.”
*Get this post emailed to you as a pdf. read it later. Click Here.
What ideas to the rest of you have?
Let me know in the comments!
Our favorite products to help a Dog’s worry of Fireworks:
Thundershirt: The Thundershirt is worth a try in addition to other training methods and potentially anti-anxiety medication.
Dog Appeasing Pheromones:Adaptil releases particular pheromones that naturally appease and calm dogs. available as a diffuser you plug in to the wall, a collar or a spray.
A white noise machine:An actual white noise device works so well to block out the noise. You could also try a loud fan and keep music or the TV playing.
See our related messages to help a dog’s worry of fireworks:
Does the Thundershirt work?
Thundershirt reviews
Benadryl for dogs during fireworks
Helping a canine that’s frightened of fireworks
What if you bought your dog a new toy or collar as well as assisted feed orphans at the exact same time?
WO style offers products for pets as well as people to assist fund nutritional aid for widows as well as orphans in Ethiopia. (The WO in its name means widows as well as orphans.)
For each dog collar or dog toy purchased, WO style provides two homecooked meals for widows as well as orphans in Ethiopia.
This publish is sponsored by WO Design.
WO Design review—dog collar as well as disc toy
My thoughts on WO Design:
My dog Baxter got to try out a WO style collar as well as the WO style disc toy.
The WO|Collar is a brilliantly coloured, adjustable, material dog collar with a plastic buckle. It is available in sizes small, medium as well as large. The collar is brilliantly coloured, in blue, green, cranberry, black as well as yellow—the colours of the Ethiopian flag. It is made by pride Bites.
I like the bright colours on this collar. The very first day Baxter was using it, we went hiking at a regional park as well as a lady remarked right away on his gorgeous collar.
The WO|Disc is a throw as well as tug toy. It is soft, versatile as well as light rubber—and totally recyclable. It is 8 inches in diameter as well as is available in four colours: blue, green, cranberry or yellow.
The disc is a fun variation on our usual sticks as well as rope. It doesn’t sail rather as far as a Frisbee, however it’s light as well as simple to throw.
I like that the soft rubber is gentle for Baxter’s mouth.
We didn’t put it to the test with a energetic game of tug, however WO promises that it’s durable as well as “designed for active dogs.”
What is the expense of WO|Collar as well as WO|Disc?
The WO|Collar costs $19.99, as well as the WO|Disc is $16.
For each product purchased, WO style provides at least two homecooked meals for widows as well as orphans in Ethiopia.
What’s unique about WO Design?
The charitable element of WO’s business is a unique function of their company.
The company’s commitment to the cause of women as well as orphans in Ethiopia is obvious with their website as well as their packaging—and even the colours of the WO|Collar.
Pros of WO Design:
Buying from WO style means you’re part of assisting women as well as orphans in Ethiopia!
The WO|Collar is colourful as well as stylish.
The collar can quickly be changed to in shape your dog’s neck.
The spoke style of the WO|Disc makes it simple for you to throw as well as for your dog to carry. It’s likewise simple to grab.
The bright colours of the WO|Disc mean it’s simple to area if it gets left on the lawn—or tossed to the middle of the lake (it floats).
Cons:
The collar is fabric, which means it may take in odors as well as dirt more easily.
When laying flat on the ground, the WO|Disc was a bit difficult for Baxter to pick up—similar to a Frisbee.
Would I suggest WO style to others?
I like the company’s mission, as well as I am happy to suggest WO Design! Their objective is commendable, as well as buying their products is a great method to support this cause. The WO|Collar would be a in shape if you’re looking for a colourful, stylish collar.
For dogs that enjoy Frisbees, the WO|Disc might be a great alternate toy to try.
Would you like a new collar or toy for your dog?
Let us know if you have any type of concerns about the products. We’ll get them responded to for you!
Is your dog DERPY?
If your dog’s anything like mine, sometimes you look at him and go, “Wow, that is one derpy lookin’ dog!”
To celebrate the “DERPY” (or silly, awkward, goofy) dogs we know and love, we’ve partnered up with Mighty Paw to make 2,500 “Derp On Board” window stickers. and we want to send you one for FREE.
The stickers are 5″ by 5″ vinyl and can be placed on your car, window or anywhere else. (They peel off easily.)
To get your free sticker, just fill out your address with the form below, and we’ll drop one in the mail for you. We’ll also send you an exclusive offer from Mighty Paw.
[yikes-mailchimp form=”5″]
(If you have trouble with the link, you can also just email me at Lindsay@ThatMutt.com.)
Would you like one of these free Derp On Board stickers?
Just use the form above to fill out your address or click here.
I can’t say enough good things about the electric fence or invisible fence for dogs.
An electric fence is simply an underground wire that circles the area where your dog is allowed. The dogs wear dog shock collars that beep once they are a few feet from the boundaries. The beep reminds the dogs to turn around and stay within the boundaries, or they will receive a vibration from the collar. While the dog learns where the boundaries are, you can mark the area with small flags.
Even though I recommend electric fences, there are some negative sides to think about, so check back soon for those.
10 reasons why electronic fences are terrific for dogs
1. All dogs can learn to use an electric fence.Nearly all dogs can learn to use an electric fence. It doesn’t matter what size or breed your dog is. The only dogs I wouldn’t train to use an electric fence are deaf dogs, blind dogs, extremely fearful dogs or puppies. just wait until your puppy is at least six months old before training him to use an electric fence.
2. training a dog to use an electric fence is easy. My mutt learned to use the electric fence and be trusted loose in my parents’ yard after one day. Ace has never ran through the boundaries, and he got two vibrations the first day. That’s all it took. We go to my parents’ house for a day every month or so, and he remembers how to use it every time with no reminders. It’s best to train your dog slowly, step by step. even then, most dogs will learn within a few days or a week. Without an electric fence, it would’ve taken me months or years to train my dog to stay in a yard unsupervised.
3. An electric fence gives your dog a lot more freedom and exercise.With an electric fence, Ace is free to run in the yard without being tied. It allows him to get more exercise, and I don’t have to be watching him constantly.
4. A dog can’t jump over or dig under an electronic fence.A physical fence is a problem for many dog owners. My golden retriever knew how to climb fences and slip under them. Plus, there was always the possibility that the gate could come open. There’s always a chance the dog will get out of a fenced yard. None of these are issues with an electric fence.
5. You do not have to worry about your dog running away.I know Ace will not cross the boundaries of the electric fence for anything. I would bet on it. My mutt is obsessed with a tennis ball, and he will not even cross the line for a ball. It’s really rare for any dog to cross his electric fence boundaries once he has learned where they are.
6. You can change the settings to increase or decrease the vibrations. A yorkie is going to need less of a vibration than a Saint Bernard. You are able to control the settings and adjust them to what’s best for your dog.
7. You don’t have to have a physical fence.If you don’t like the look of a fence in your yard, then the electric fence is perfect for you because nothing is visible. An electric fence works well in a large yard of a few acres or more. An actual fence is a hassle, unattractive, expensive and can block your view.
8. You can adjust the electric fence to fit any shape. You can use an electric fence to fit any shape or size, as long as the two ends meet to create an enclosure. For example, my parents had a wooden-fenced backyard, but their electric fence went around the backyard and into the front yard. This gave us the option of allowing our dogs in the front yard without putting a fence in that area.
9. An electric fence is a good way to keep dogs out of gardens.You can get pretty creative with the electric fence. put the boundaries a few feet back from your flower garden and your dog will have to stay out of your flowers. You can also use it to block other areas of your yard such as a pond, beach, driveway or volleyball court.
10. An electric fence costs less than a real fence.It depends on the company you go with, but an electric fence will probably cost less than any other fence. For a few hundred dollars, you will receive the wire, collars, installation and some basic instruction. Some companies give you the option of installing the electric fence yourself.
Do you use an electric fence? What do you like about it?