,

Scared Dog Alert! Minimize Dog’s Fear of Fireworks

Many dogs are afraid of booming flashing light in the sky and pet parents forget about how this can remove dog safety from the situation. Dogs are as sensitive as a recently dumped fourteen year old boy. Dogs feel, hear, and smell everything exponentially better than humans. If a surprise firework makes you jump, imagine what it does to a poor dog’s heart. It’s not a shock that dogs are afraid of fireworks, but there are ways to ease the phobia out of the pet so you can both enjoy Fourth of July and dog safety this year.

 

It all boils down to desensitizing or preventing exposure to your dog. Between the amplified loud sounds and the gun powder, it’s generally not good for dog safety if you bring your dog to a fireworks show. If you’re planning to surround yourself with fireworks and festivities this weekend and your dog will be nearby, consider the following dog safety tips:

 

Plan Ahead for Dog Safety

Prepare your plan for activities ahead of time and when they will happen. This way you can better prepare your dog by moving him away from the loud noise. Before you shoot off fireworks, you should know how your dog responds to them and to others. If your dog becomes very nervous, it will be better to get her away from people to prevent accidental biting or nervous responses. Never force a dog to be in a situation they don’t want to be. This can be dangerous for you and your pet.

 

Build a Hideaway

dog safetyBuild your dog a safe space in your home or wherever you are. Prior to festivities, make sure your dog knows that space is theirs. If you’re at home, note where your dog tends to run to when you have guests or when she is stressed:

 

  • Look for the area that makes your dog the happiest. Is it behind the sofa? Next to the radiator? Choose the place your dog is most comfortable being.
  • Pad the area with comfortable and safe bedding. Add extra padding to reduce vibrations from the fireworks.
  • Keep the room darker.
  • Place your pets favorite toys nearby.

 

Remain Calm

It is important to maintain a calm behavior around the dog to not strengthen the dog’s phobia on Fourth of July or other firework holidays. However, you don’t want to baby your dog. Don’t react to fireworks yourself either. Fireworks can make you as jumpy as you dog is. Resist the temptation to jump out of your skin or tense up for dog safety. Dogs can read your body language and would understand if there is a reason to be scared.
Again, you should never force your dog to be in a situation that is uncomfortable and unnecessary. A scared dog might become an aggressive dog and put human and dog safety at risk. We hope this helps you and your family have a great Fourth of July! Happy Independence Day!

/by

50 Shades of Dog Poop

Every pet owner has horror stories to tell about their dog food affected their pet’s health and their poop. Whether it was the time their dog pooped out a slimy wall splatter or a color that you never thought you would see, dog poop is something that pet owners see multiple times on a daily basis. What you may not know is the color of your dog’s stool says a lot about their health and how their dog food and diet play into their overall health. At the end of the day, color and consistency of dog poop can say a lot about how your pet is feeling.

 

The Consistency 

pooper 2The first thing you notice is the color. However, when you go to pick up the poop, especially if you are using pet bags rather than a scooper, is the consistency of the stool. The ideal consistency is moist and soft, yet firm stools. When the stool is watery, it can be a sign of an upset stomach due to dog food or GI tract issue. While this does not mean you need to rush to the vet, simply wait and see if this continues.

On the other hand, if your dog has hard, dry poop then you could be dealing with constipation. Often this has nothing to do with dog food and is the result of dehydration, though there could be other factors at play here. Take the time to use natural constipation remedies and if this does not cure the issue, or if your dog seems to be in pain or losing weight, take them to the vet

yoshi pooping

The Colors of the Rainbow

The color of your dogs poop can mean a number of things. For instance, many people do not know that food dyes can show up in your dog’s poop. This means if your dog eats blue iced sugar cookies, then do not be surprised when their poop shows up blue. While some color variation is normal, especially if you are using a rotational diet or if you’re trying a new dog food, if you notice a dramatic color change then there are a few things to keep in mind.

 

  • Orange, Yellow or Pale Colored-This is generally an issue with the liver. It could be the sign of a sign of liver or biliary disease or it could simply mean that your dog’s poop moved too fast through the GI tract to pick up the bile which changes the color to the normal brown you recognize.
  • Yellow Mucus – When the stool is loose, full of mucus and is yellow in color, it is typically the result of a food intolerance. This is especially important to pay attention to if you are feeding your pet a new dog food.
  • Grey and Greasy – This can be a sign of EPI, which is commonly referred to as maldigestion. Essentially this means the pancreas is not functioning properly. It is a common issue for German Shepherds and Collies. The good news is that this is a very treatable condition, but it is serious so take your dog to the vet right away.
  • Green– This could be a sign that your dog has been eating an excessive amount of grass. It can also indicate a parasite, ingestion of rat bait or other issues. Watch the poop to see if this continues to know whether a trip to the vet is needed.
  • Red– This is ofpooperten a sign of blood in the stools. You want to look and see if it is the result of a cut on the anus or not. If not, then you need to take your pet to the vet.
  • Black and tarry– It can be the result of bleeding in the upper GI tract. With this, your vet will often do blood work, a stool sample and ultrasound to determine the cause of the issue.
  • Polka Dot– If you notice white dots or what looks like rice in your dog’s poop then this can be the result of worms. There are deworming solutions you can purchase to take care of the worms.

 

/by