How to Check Your Dog For Ticks

How to Protect your Dog from Ticks

Pet Health Tips on Ticks

Why the fuss?

A common myth about ticks was that the insect was not harmful. This is not true. It was thought that tick bitings of humans and our dogs was just an annoyance, but recent studies prove otherwise. Ticks–including deer ticks–are most active March through November. But ticks can survive cold winter frosts and can still bite, even in the snow.

The most prevalent ticks for pet health safety are the deer ticks, or Lone Star ticks. Deer ticks are the only ticks that can carry and transfer Lyme Disease. Other species carry other disease causing bacteria like Babesia protozoa, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia. These can be a problem for humans and dogs alike.

Deer ticks are about the size of a sesame seed.

Symptoms

Lyme disease is the most common disease stemming from tick transmitted disease in the world. Only 5-10% of infected dogs show signs of the disease, so it is important to check your dog periodically for bites.

Long haired breeds like Shetland Sheepdog, Golden Retrievers, and Bernese Mountain Dogs are more susceptible to ticks because their long hair provides more hiding space.

The most common symptom of a dog developing Lyme Disease is recurring lameness of the legs. Dogs will will lift their paw, or hobble around without putting weight on one leg.

Joint inflammation is what causes this lameness. Symptoms begin to develop a week after the bite occurs. Sometimes symptoms will recede, but then reoccur a few days, or weeks later in the same or different legs. This is called “Shifting Leg Lameness.”

Kidney problems are another development of Lyme Disease. One of more joints may appear swollen, warm, or painful if kidneys are affected. If a dog is affected by Lyme Disease it can lead to a glomerulonephritis– a dysfunction of the kidneys glomeruli (blood filter).

If kidney failure sets in, signs are vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, weight loss, increased urination and thirst, and abnormal fluid buildup.

Symptoms of Tick Causing Poor Pet Health:

  • Stiffness
  • Arched Back
  • Difficult Breathing
  • Fever
  • Loss of Appetite
  • Depression
  • Superficial Lymph nodes around the area of the bite.
  • Heart Abnormalities
  • Nervous System Complications

Check Your Dog’s Coat and Skin

Ticks do not jump or fly. They latch on from the ground and climb upwards. Usually, ticks are drawn to moist and dark areas of the body. Dogs that spend a lot of time outside, or within states that have large deer populations, are more susceptible to picking up a deer tick.

It’s always good to periodically check your dog at least once a week if you you live around deers, or your dog is outside a lot.  If you see your dog exhibiting any symptoms you need to check for ticks. Frequently checking prevents Lyme Disease development, but can also save you money from veterinarian consultation fees.

Pet Health Steps to Check Dog’s Coat

  1. Look for irritated or red areas on the skin that is inflamed.
  2. Use fingers like a comb to run your hands through your dog’s coat checking for lumps or bumps that protrude upwards.
  3. Use a flashlight to check your dog’s ears thoroughly. Check the flaps of their ear, and peer down the ear canal.
  4. Use a fine toothed comb to brush down their coat. If you hit a bump or snag do not force the comb through it. This can cause your dog pain. Instead identify the cause of the bump, and make note of it’s position.
  5. If you observe your dog with common symptoms or see any bites on their skin, please take your dog to veterinarian for professional pet health diagnosis.

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U.S. Soldier Adopts Dog from Iraq

Pet News: No Soldier Left Behind

This is a beautiful story in pet news. A video of a feature done by CBS SF Bay Area–the Bay Area, the  local San Francisco local news station–found an amazing story about a very lucky doggie, and a very loving soldier. The story is about Army Specialist Ken Wyrsch who was stationed in Iraq fighting alongside a Kurdish military outfit.

Wyrsch and his fellow soldiers found a stray dog, they affectionately named Ollie. Ollie is a German Shepherd and was most likely used as target practice by terrorists, or at least that was what Wyrsch best guest was. The US soldiers adopted Ollie and he stayed at their military base.

“He was a morale booster,” said Wyrsch. “He was there we when we left on missions, and there when we got back.”

When it came time for the soldiers to leave the base, Wyrsch was worried that they were going to have to leave Ollie to fend for himself. He couldn’t let that happen. Wyrsch contacted SPCA International and the agency was able to send Ollie all the way across the world. Wyrsch picked his old buddy up from the cargo depot and now Ollie has a new home in California.

The pet news video ends with Ollie climbing up to Wyrsch chest to give him a huge hug of thank you.

“How you doin?” Wyrsch asks Ollie as he licks his face. “Yeah good to see you.” The soldier and newly adopted dog look like a match made in heaven.

We at Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique loved the ending to this story, and we hope you enjoy watching the video!

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Police Body Cam Captures Dog Rescue

Police Body Cam Captures Dog Rescue

An astounding video of pet news was filmed in Cleveland and shows a video of a dog being rescued from the city’s sewer system. The entire video was filmed off an officer’s body cam which gives the video an engaging perspective. Viewers can watch the whole video from the officer’s perspective.

Edna Sutton was walking her dog Daphne when the poor dog fell down a sewage drain. Daphne is a senior dog and is blind in both eyes. Sutton called 911. She heard splashing at first, but then started to panic after she only heard silence coming from the sewer drain.

The dispatcher told her no one could come out to help, but 5th district police officers were able to arrive to help. The officer pried opened a nearby manhole where they were able to locate the dog. The 5th district officers phoned detective Sean Smith–a local sheriff that’s a dog lover. Detective Smith is the founder of Badges for Bullies, a non-profit pit bull rescue that makes pet news for the amazing charitable work they do.

The detective arrived at the scene to help. An officer crawled down the manhole and was thankfully able to rescue Daphne. The dog was a little scared, and a lot more dirty. This lucky little doggie is a hero in pet news, and we’re glad she made it out OK. Daphne and her owner have been a team for twenty years, and Sutton would have been horrified if anything happened to her dog.

The video was uploaded by PoliceActivity and is titled, Bodycam Shows Cops Rescuing Dog from Sewer Drain.

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Pomeranian Loves Getting His Haircut

Dog Grooming People Love Pups Like This

In the dog grooming industry, you get to see a lot of cute faces every day. It makes it a joy to come to work. All day long you’re surrounded by dogs that come in dirty and leave clean. Not only do they get bathed, but they leave with an awesome new hairdo. It’s really rewarding work. But what makes it even better, is seeing the smiles being returned by the dogs we work on. This video shows just that. The all too familiar face of a doggie smiling back at you while you give him his haircut. Pure joy!

The video was uploaded by YouTube user Spyder Black and is titled Pomeranian’s cutest reaction while grooming his hair. The title is fitting, we know! Dog grooming is an art and takes a lot of practice and patience. Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique pride ourselves on the best dog grooming service possible. We treat dogs like the family (sometimes maybe a little better than the family haha) and love it when we have a house full of loving doggies.

For more information on where you can take your furr-baby for some dog grooming click here.

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Puppies Try Things for the First Time

Pet News Puppies Try New Things

We have found a groundbreaking video in cutesy pet news. Read below to dive into the lovable world of puppies.

Watching a puppy figure out the world around them is one of the cuttest and most heartwarming things known to man. If you like watching these kind of videos, you’re not alone. The internet is overflowing with adorable videos  like these for you to browse through. Don’t feel guilty about it. Studies have shown that watching videos like these online actually helps lower cortisol–the stress hormone. This video is one of the cutest we’ve ever found. Footage of all different kinds of breeds of puppies go through the confusions of life for the first time.

The video is titled, Puppies Learning Things For The First Time, and was uploaded by the YouTube channel BuzzFeedBlue.

The video begins with three adorable little French Bulldogs finding out, that behind the back door there exists a whole new world called ‘outside.’ The puppies stumble over the sliding glass door frame, and are hesitant at first. They’re still trying to get their bearings. Soon they’re over the door frame and running in the grass for their first time ever. When the French Bulldogs learn how great the grass is in the backyard, this is nothing short of breaking pet news.

Our favorite moment in the video is when a little Golden Retriever puppy plops into the water for his first time. His parents are with him and he watches as they swim happily in the water. You literally see the little guy muster the strength to slide head over heals into the swimming pool. You can bet he ran to tell his brothers and sisters the glorious pet news that wet stuff isn’t so bad.

We’re proud of all these little guys at Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique and we hope you enjoyed the video!

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Sweater Weather Makes Dog Snore

Sweater Weather Makes Dog Snore

Finally it’s that time of year again! The days a shorter, pumpkin spiced lattes are being served, and we can break out those awesome Fall sweaters again. The cold air makes everyone a little more lazy, even our dogs. This video shows the laziest dog settling into the cold air in this YouTuber bmusilTV’s video, little doggie Rocket.

Rocket is snoozing away with his brown sweater which is keeping him warm. His snoring is anything but subtle. You can tell the little guy is dreaming about chasing cars, as he twitches in his sleep. Rocket’s snoring sounds like Grandpa’s snoring during the lull is the Macy’s Day parade. Deafening, with a couple of intervals of sniffling.

This doggie’s snore fest is captured in this hilarious video as he rocks the cutest pet supplies sweater that looks more like a cardigan on this distinguished pup. You can tell this dog is getting closer to his golden years, because he’s sleeping with his eyes open. Another quirky characteristic of Grandpa that Rocket has in common. Quriky, and sometimes even a little creepy. But hey, we think he’s a super cute old man.

When the cold weather turns to snow, Splash and Dash recommends getting your dog a cool sweater so they can look stylish and stay warm this Fall. Enjoy the video!

 

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Pet Store Antics of YouTube Celebrity Siberian Huskies

Pet Store Antics: Three Huskies Go on an Adventure 

One of the best things about visiting everyone’s  favorite pet store, Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique, is taking your dogs with you. That way, they can pick out their favorite toys and treats. It’s like taking your kids to the toy store, but dogs usually behave better. Usually. This video shows Husky owners taking their three Huskies through a pet store in Gaylord Michigan. The video was uploaded by the YouTube channel Gone to the Snow Dogs.

This channel features Huskies Oakley, Shelby, and Memphis–all sisters–and what the dogs are up to daily. Gone to the Snow Dogs uploads videos of the doggies playing in the snow, or eating homemade watermelon treats. They’re cute little home videos of the dogs. This video titled appropriately, HUSKY GOES SHOPPING | Pet Store Trip for the Dogs–shows a little glimpse of the hilarious and sometimes ridiculous ordeal of taking your dogs to the pet store.

The three Huskies go through the usual excitement. The pet owners find a rastafarian cap with fake dreads as a cute Halloween costume for their dog Oakley. The owners take their dogs on a full tour of the pet store, where their dog Memphis finds a kinship with the bird department. The dog stares and sniffs at the bird cages utterly mystified.

The dogs are well behaved and pick out some of Splash and Dash’s favorite treats, Wild Blue, then call it a day. Enjoy the video! It’s a dog person charmer.

 

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Meet Zeus Officially the Biggest Dog in the World

There are a lot of contenders for the biggest dog in the world, but Zeus the Great Dane holds the record. At the time Zeus achieved the record, he was 44 inches tall, making him tower over kitchen tables. For perspective Zeus was about ⅔ as tall as your average NFL quarterback, making him come up to their chests on all fours. Zeus could have easily stood over Tom Brady if he was on his hind legs.

Zeus weighed 155 lbs. But his owners in Michigan loved letting him sit in their laps. Zeus was so big, his owners simply tuned on the kitchen sink when he was thirsty. He was tall enough to easily drink from the faucet like a water fountain!

With having a huge dog big enough to set world records, comes paying a little extra. Zeus’s owners stated that the dog could eat through 30 lb dog bags every two weeks. The family also had to buy a van and remove the seats to transport the big guy. Zeus was way too big to fit in a sedan by any means. We  were wondering what it was like for Zeus’s dog grooming. How long did it take to wash that big guy? His owners would joke that he is half horse.

Zeus tragically passed away at the age of five. But his owner say “We’ll really miss him.” The huge dog is remembered fondly, and passed from old age. The large breed Great Danes have an average lifespan of six to eight years. We in the dog grooming industry know that larger breeds tend to have short lifespans, but we we think Zeus was incredible.

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Tiny Terrier Ready to Set World Record Smallest Dog

At Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique we’re a fan of every dog, big and small. But this little Tiny Terrier really caught our eye. Her name is Meysi and she is possibly the smallest dog in the world. She wears just a little less than a hamster, and is just about as tall as a can of soda.

Meysi might also be in for another world record. She could be crowned as the world’s quickest dog grooming job. With a dog that tiny, it wouldn’t take long at all to give her a bath and cool new haircut. When Meysi was born she was almost thrown in the bin. Her owner mistook her for a piece of placenta, but then realized that she was actually a little puppie. Thank goodness for that!

At the time the video was posted, Meysi weighed around 4 ounces. She was seven centimeters tall and 12 centimetres long. Easily small enough to sit in the palm of your hand. Meysi’s owners from Poland want to have world record examiners come out to see if Meysi is truly the smallest dog in the world.

The current official smallest dog in the world is a tiny Chihuahua in Puerto Rico named Milly. Milly is 9.65 centimetres tall making her about as tall as a high heel shoe. Milly was born December 1 2011, but from the looks of things Milly may be about to be dethroned.

This is a super cute video of Meysi jumping around and was uploaded by YouTube channel Barcroft TV. We loved every second of it, and we hope you do too. Stay tuned for more!

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How to Read Dog Food Label

Pet Care Advice on Interpreting Nutritional Facts on Your Dog’s Food Label

 

An important part of pet care is making healthy choices for your dog. Just like human food, there are healthy and unhealthy options. Making smart choices in the food you buy for your dog helps them live longer, maintain healthy weight, and even improves coat health.

Reading a dog food label correctly is important to determine the quality of the food. This helps pet owners compare brands. Then find the best nutritional and economic decision to make when choosing their dog’s diet.

An analysis of of the protein, fat, fiber, moisture, and other nutrients on a pet food label helps pet owners make informed decisions on what to feed their pets. A rotational diet is another option for your dog’s pet care.

All dog foods is regulated by the American Association for Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Human grade pet food is also reviewed by the FDA. Both organizations cooperate for quality assurance.

The AAFCO Guidelines

The AAFCO upholds standards of all animal feed for production, labeling, and sale.

The organization’s guidelines enforce all pet foods to be labeled and print nutritional facts. The label, or nutritional facts, include a guaranteed analysis and ingredient list. The guaranteed analysis is the weighted concentration of crude protein and fat, and the minimum amount of fiber and moisture.

The ingredient list details every ingredient used. Also included is a feeding guideline to inform on portion sizes varying by your dog’s breed, size, and age. Labels usually include an AAFCO statement explaining that the brand is complete and balanced.

Pet owners need to understand what makes up a complete and balanced meal for their dog’s pet care. Complete and balanced means that a dog will get all the essential nutrients. Avoiding pet foods with fillers, processed foods, and indigestible carbohydrates is important.

Comparing Brands and Converting to Dry Matter

When shopping around for pet foods, you might want to convert all foods to a dry matter conversion. This will help you figure out the protein per pound ratio more accurately. It will also help you figure out price points.

Dogs are ancestrally predisposed to be carnivores. Meaning that you will want to find dog foods with the most protein per pound. Dogs do need a certain amount of carbohydrates in their diet for fiber. To distinguish a protein per pound ratio, pet owners need to convert canned and wet foods to model dry food.

This is easy. Below is a hypothetical breakdown comparing canned food versus dry food.

Canned Food Conversion

1 can = 80% moisture = 20% dry food matter

Protein = 5%

Divide the protein concentration percentage by the dry food matter percentage. You will want to do this since water inclusion distorts how much protein is included per pound.

5% protein level / 20% dry food matter/ = 25% protein concentration per can.

Next you will want to find out how many cans equal a pound. For the sake of easy math we will say one can equals one pound.

VS.

Dry Food Conversion

1 Serving = 10% moisture = 90% dry food matter

Protein = 20%

Again, divide the dry food matter percentage by the protein concentration percentage.

20% protein level / 90% dry food matter = ~22% protein concentration per serving.

One serving will be equivalent of a pound in this example to again, make the math easier.

In this hypothetical scenario the canned food has more protein per pound than the dry food. This gives you an idea of how to compare different options of dog food.  The conversion of all food to dry food matter helps create a standard of comparison.

If you are using a rotational diet you will only need to this with wet and dry foods. Raw or fresh ingredients do not need to be scrutinized since nutrition is not added or processed.

Guaranteed Analysis

You can find the percentage of protein levels in the guaranteed analysis part of the food label. The guaranteed analysis shows the minimum levels of crude protein and fat. Fat content is important for dogs and a recommended level is around 10-15%. Fat is important for cell function and energy.

Also listed in the guaranteed analysis is the maximum levels of fiber and water. Fiber content should be around 4-5% based on your dog’s age, breed, and size. Most dog foods include some percentage of moisture. Some owners find that dogs are more prone to eat wet foods over dry foods. Broths are also available to help get your dog more willing to the kibbles or dry foods if your dog is picky.

Ingredient List

The ingredient list shows everything included in the manufacturing of the dog food. The first five items on the list make up the majority of the formula. If a protein like chicken, beef, or fish is not listed as the first major ingredient, you may want to choose another food. The further down the ingredient is listed, the lesser the concentration.

Protein and fat are listed as crude sources instead of digestible sources. Digestibility of fats and protein vary depending on their sources. Examine the ingredient lists closely to determine how digestible each food element is. Many food labels have long lists of added nutrition like B vitamins or varying amino acids.

Generally pet owners want these nutrients to be in their dog’s diet naturally. This is why Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique recommends a rotational diet for pet care. Pet owners can find an economic choice of wet or dry foods. Then substitute added nutrients with raw and fresh options. This keeps your pet’s ingestion diverse and healthy.

Feeding Instructions

The feeding instructions chart should be taken as a loose guideline for how much to feed your dog. Pet owners should consult with a veterinarian if their dog is having abnormal bowel movements, is overweight, or underweight.

A dog’s daily consumption depends on activity, metabolism, environmental temperature, breed, and age. Use the feeding instructions as a starting point. Adjust as needed. Getting some dogs to eat can be a challenge. While other dogs will eat everything in site. Your dog’s eating behavior should also be a factor in portioning.

Some owners decide to keep their dog’s bowl filled so a dog can eat at their leisure. Other owners have an enforced feeding time. Choices like these often depend on the temperament of your dog, and the style of feeding structure you think is best.

Be mindful of your dog’s weight and know what a healthy body mass index for your dog is.

Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique Recommendations for Dog Food

The following list are brand recommendations from Splash and Dash based on wellness, balance, and affordability. We feed our dogs these brands, so you know we guarantee them for you and your pooch’s pet care.

  • Whole Earth Farms
  • Taste of the Wild
  • Wellness
  • Innova
  • Royal Canin
  • Canidae
  • Evo
  • California Natural

 

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