A DogGeek.com exclusive by Teresa Barker
Keeping your dog’s ears free from moisture and bacteria is an important step in your regular grooming schedule. During hot summer months, and swimming season, you might be checking and cleaning your dog’s ears weekly or even daily. Think of your dog’s ears as a hot and moist petri dish for bacteria to flourish and grow. Think that’s gross? Try taking a whiff of the waxy brown stuff that you clean out. Yuck!
Here’s a few tips to keeping your dog’s ears clean.
- Check Them Daily
This is the most important aspect of keeping your dog’s ears clean and healthy. It doesn’t take long (a few days) for a little moisture to grow into a full blown problem. Your dog might scratch at his ears, causing infection and another problem to add to the list.
- Keep Them Dry
Moisture is usually the culprit. Simply swabbing inside of your dog’s ears with a cotton ball daily can help absorb anything moisture that crept in. It will also indicate if there is a need to clean deeper.
- Trim Hair Growing into the Ear.
Especially important for harrier breeds, poodles and terriers. Hair can trap moisture and result in helping the petri dish environment flourish.
- Use a Soft Cloth Wrapped Over Your Index Finger as a Swabber
Gently wipe inside of your dog’s ears. Diluted tea tree oil applied to the cloth is a wonderful antibacterial that will help prevent future build up.
Shaking of the head and scratching of the ears is NOT normal for dogs. If you see your dog exhibiting this kind of behavior, inspect thoroughly, as ear infections are extremely uncomfortable and can eventually lead to deafness. Also, remember, the more often you clean and check your dog’s ears, the less gross the job is!
April 2, 2019 | DogGeek
Everyone wants the best for their dog’s health. Keep these 16 foods away from them to help keep them safe.
- Alcohol – Dog’s bodies are not made to break down alcohol like a human’s body. Although you’re getting those sad puppy eyes from your dog, they don’t need a drink of beer!
- Chocolate – Chocolate can caue seziures, comas and even death. The darker the chocolate, the more concentrated it is and the more dangerous it becomes. An ounce of chocolate can poison a 30 lb dog. And we all know that chocolate is a go-to food for football ;-)
- Caffeine – Caffeine contains a substance called methylxanthines that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, panding, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity and death. So keep the Red Bull’s out of reach!
- Onions – They destroy a dog’s red blood cells and can cause anemia, weakness and breathing difficulty.
- Garlic – Large amounts can cause the same issues as onions. This means garlic pizza too!
- Bread Dough/Raw Yeast – When ingested, the unbaked bread dough expands and can cause bloat. It can also cause alcohol poisoning and gas.
- Guacamole, Avocados and Pitted Fruits (ie Peache, Pears, etc…) – The pits are toxic to dogs. They can cause difficulty breathing, fluid accumulation in the chest, abdomen, heart or pancreatitis.
- Macadamia Nuts – Can cause weakness, muscle and nervous-system issues and paralysis.
- Walnuts – Especially English Walnuts, can cause gastric intestinal upset and can cause obstruction in your dog’s body.
- Nuts – While most nuts are not poisonous to dogs, they can cause a very upset stomach as their bodies can not easily digest them.
Keep your dog healthy and call the emergency vet if needed.
January 28, 2019 | DogGeek
All pets can get hypothermia in cold weather but short haired, young/old, skinny and diabetic dogs are more susceptible. Look for the following signs if you think your dog might be suffering.
- Sluggishness
- Shallow, slow breathing
- Unresponsiveness
- Excessive whining & shivering
- Anxiousness
- Dilated blood vessels
- Low body temperature
- Drop in pulse
- Drop in blood pressure
- Unconsciousness
- Death occurs eventually
If your dog shows any of these signs get them to the veterinarian right away.
January 15, 2019 | DogGeek
Christmas is behind us, the world didn’t end, now it’s time to party like it’s 1999… or 2016. Whether your partying out in New York City watching the ball drop, at a club, throwing a party or just sitting on the couch watching the ball drop, we hope you have a safe an happy New Year. Follow these tips to make sure your best friend has a safe and happy New Year also.
- Don’t leave your pet outside on New Year’s Eve. Fireworks and other loud noises will be happening. Don’t let them get scared and take a chance of them jumping the fence, digging out or hurting themselves.
- Make sure they are wearing their bling! Keep the collars on and make sure their tags are up-to-date and readable in case the Fido runs and does get away. If you have people over, you never know who may accidentally let them out.
- Just because you like to drink does not mean your dog should! Alcohol is bad for dogs, their bodies aren’t made to break it down. Keep the New Year’s Eve cocktails away. Besides, we know you don’t like sharing them.
- Keep a safe space available. If your dog like’s their crate, make sure it is accessible. Everyone should always have a safe place.
- Leave a noise on. If you’re going out, leave a radio or TV on as a distraction. Who knows, your dog may learn some new tricks watching it while you are gone.
- Watch the decorations. Christmas decorations may still be up or who know… you may already have the Groundhog Day decorations out, they come out so early these days. Make sure none of your guests knock them over into your pet’s reach.
Remember to have a Happy New Year and be safe!
December 26, 2017 | DogGeek
A DogGeek.com exclusive by Teresa Barker
Every house has more than a few common items that should be avoided by its canine inhabitants to keep them safe. Some are obvious items, like cleaning supplies, but some aren’t. Here’s a handy room-by-room list of things to keep away from your dog.
Kitchen:
- Coffee grounds
- Chocolate
- Grapes
- Onion
- Chicken bones
- Rhubarb
Bathroom:
- All human medications are extremely toxic to dogs
- Bar soap (“natural” soaps are often appealing because of their food-like smell)
- Shampoo (again, many smell appetizing, which is probably why you bought it!)
- Creams, lotions, ointments
- Flavored (and unflavored) dental floss
- Toothpaste
Bedroom:
- Children’s toys with small parts
- Play Dough
- Some crayons, pens, etc.
- Sleep aides
- Beauty products kept at bedside
Living Room:
- Household plants including: Azalea, Devil’s Ivy, many types of ferns, Philodendron, Dracaena, Aloe Vera
- Seasonal plants including: many types of lily, poinsettia, Christmas rose, mistletoe
- Remote controls and gaming devices
- Electrical chords
Outdoors:
- Lawn maintenance chemicals
- Insecticides
- Many fertilizers and plant foods
- Antifreeze (which has a sweet taste to animals)
When in doubt, or if your dog has ingested something questionable, call the ASPCA poison control hotline at (888) 426-4435, which is open 24-hours a day, seven days a week, or call your vet immediately.
Keeping these common household items away from your dog could save their life, and can be as easy as “child-proofing” your home. A good rule of thumb is if it’s toxic to kids, it’s probably toxic to dogs. Then add on the lesser-known items to the list, and make sure that they are kept way out of reach from your curious or scent-driven pooch!
November 25, 2016 | DogGeek
Working out requires a lot of mental motivation and incentive, however, the process of exercising can be less strenuous with a good friend. Utilize the pal that’s always around as your new exercise buddy: your beloved dog. Your furry best friend will help motivate you to be active and will benefit from the workout just as much as you. Here are some activities that you and your dog can do for a fun fitness experience.
Running
Take your dog for a run outdoors. Choose a fun environment that both of you will enjoy, like the beach or a large park with an extensive trail. Train him to stay at your heel and keep the same pace as the two of you run. This will keep him from running right in front of you and will also keep him safe at any intersection crossings. If you’re in an area that has more traffic, utilize a running leash. There are hands-free leashes that you can comfortably wrap around your waist.
Doga
Doga is a dog-yoga exercise that engages both the owner and the pet. The activity can bond you and your dog, as it provides a relaxing environment where the two of you are focused on one another. It is a gentle practice that includes lots of massaging, light stretches and relaxing. Doga can be practiced with any sized dog, as the poses can all be modified. There is minimal dog training for this exercise, though make sure they do receive a positive reward, like a small treat, after their doga session.
Paddleboarding
Enjoy the ocean breeze on a stand-up paddle board with your pup. A stand-up paddle board will usually fit both dog and human, as it’s 10 to 12 feet long, closely resembling a longboard surfboard. Your dog can sit at the front of the board or move around while you propel forward. The exercise provides a great workout for your upper body. It enhances your ability to balance and also gets you out into the fresh air. Any dog can enjoy the sport, regardless of size or breed. For enhanced safety, purchase a doggy life jacket for your furry friend and one for yourself, you’ll also want to wear sports sunglasses to help block any glare.
Hiking
Embark into the great outdoors for a hiking excursion with your pooch. Outdoor exercise will stimulate both the body and mind of you and your dog, as natural terrain will test your physical limits and also provide a captivating workout environment. For long trips, have your dog carry their own dog backpack. Have them first wear the pack around the house or on walks in the neighborhood to get used to it. For the first hike, make sure the backpack is light. You can eventually increase the load, which can safely weigh up to one-third of your dog’s weight.
April 30, 2016 | DogGeek
