outdoors – Pet Butler

Doggie Date Ideas – Fun Activities for You and Your Pet

Dog Activities

Pet-friendly establishments and facilities are on the rise, from new restaurants that have their own pup menus to indoor dog parks nestled in high-rise condo towers, right alongside putting greens and pickleball courts! These days, you’ll find four-legged friends walking beside their human counterparts just about everywhere!

Things to Consider Before Your Doggie Date

Before you begin exploring new venues with your dog, there are considerations to keep in mind.

Make sure your pet is current on vaccinations, has a negative fecal test for intestinal parasites, and is on flea/tick/heartworm preventative.
Your pet must be registered with the appropriate jurisdiction. City tags and rabies tags should be visible or at least readily accessible.
Clear identification on a name tag or collar with a phone number and a first and last name is essential; a microchip provides permanent identification should your pet bolt or a name tag becomes lost.
Out at night? Reflective collars, leashes and light-up accessories will keep you and your pet out of harm’s way.
Consider your pet’s temperament. Not all dogs are truly “dog-friendly” and would not be at their best in crowded environments where nose-to-nose contact with other dogs is likely.
Bring treats to reward your dog for good behavior and to distract them if necessary.
Don’t assume clean water will be on-site; carry a collapsible bowl, leash, and a jug of water for your pet.

Outdoor Activities with Your Pup

Water Play -If it’s a warm day, what better place to stay cool than a dog beach or pool. Saltwater can be toxic for dogs if consumed in large quantities and not all fresh water sources are safe for swimming. Check your park district or county websites for safe swimming notifications and bring along a safety vest.

Hit the Trails – While the weather is temperate, going on a leashed hike or run can also provide mental and physical stimulation for your pet. Watch the thermometer and stay in the shade when possible. AllTrails lists pet-friendly spots along with park maps, water stations, photos, and difficulty ratings.

Rain or Snow – When inclement weather threatens, no need to worry! For dogs who love the rain, light rain showers can provide the perfect conditions for you and your pet to have dog park to yourself for some off-leash shenanigans and ball tossing. Some breeds, such as the Akita, Husky, and German Shepard love the cold. Snowy days don’t deter many pets from outdoor fun. Keep paws protected with Velcro booties and avoid salted roads.

Indoor Activities with Your Pup

Refreshments and Relaxation – If you’d rather take the fun indoors, try searching for a pet-friendly brew pub or indoor dog park. Venues feature a full bar, air conditioning, and paw-ty packages with refreshments for adult owners are a growing trend.

Work the Mind and Body – Classes such as agility and obedience provide stimulation and promote bonding with your pet. Or get inventive and set up an obstacle course in your own home. PVC pipe, wood, play tunnels and even a foam roller can be used to create an endless variety of play structures and hurdles.

Get Artsy – If your creative juices are flowing, you can get out the non-toxic paints, clay and brushes for some pet-friendly art projects. Put your dog in a sit-stay or distract them with a peanut butter filled chew toy. You can paint your pet or get them in on the action by pressing clean, trimmed paws into the paint and stamping them on the canvas.

Treats for You and Your Pup – The kitchen is another space where you and your dog can spend quality, creative time mixing up tasty treats. Recipes are available for everything from frozen pup cups to and healthy snacks, suitable for human and pet consumption!

Never too busy washing their hair or committed to a work project, pick your pup to share your next date night!

At Pet Butler, we want you and your pet to live your best and healthiest lives, which is why we offer pet waste removal and other services year-round. We offer weekly, bi-weekly, monthly and one-time clean-up services to work with your schedule and needs.

Fourth of July Pet Safety Tips

Pet Safety

With all the excitement and preparation that occurs as we celebrate our nation’s independence on the Fourth of July, our dogs are often not a part of the planning. While we’re busy enjoying food, drinks, summertime sun and fireworks, our unattended pets may be hiding under the bed or in the bathtub and could be more fearful than festive. What is it about Independence Day and other holidays that frighten our pets?

Loud Noises and Pets

By the time their hearing develops at 21 days old, puppies can hear 4 times the distance as humans and perceive a broader range of high-pitched frequencies from 67-45,000 Hz, compared to a human range of 64-23,000 Hz. Imagine the high-pitched squeal of a firework launching into the air followed by a blast 4 times as powerful as the sound we hear. Now imagine you have no idea what caused that noise. Painful? Scary? You bet!

To help ease your pup as much as possible and keep them safe during Independence Day festivities, here are some tips:

Pet Safety Tips for Independence Day

Leave Your Pet at Home

Resist the urge to bring your pet with you to the party. Take a cue from your dog if they like to hide when they hear loud noises or experience unfamiliar things. An enclosed interior place can provide a quiet escape for your pet. If they take comfort in their crate, you can use a heavy quilt to throw over the top for an added sound barrier.

Anxiety-Reducing Items for Pets

Thundershirts securely swaddle your dog, providing a calming sensation and some relief for about 50% of pets. Even playing classical music in the background can help alleviate stress and drown out other noises.

Anti-anxiety supplements such as valerian root, Bach Flower essence (Rescue Remedy), Adaptil pheromones, melatonin or the L-theanine found in the chewable Composure are all aids. For especially anxious dogs, salivating, pawing the ground, whining or destroying bedding and walls, taking prescription medication available through your veterinarian may be advisable.

Be sure to get your vet’s recommendation before pursuing supplements or medication for your pup. If you do choose to supplement or medicate, it’s best to do a test run a few weeks prior to the Fourth of July so that you can witness the medication’s effect on your dog and whether it works.

Keep Toxic Foods Away

With an abundance of grilling food and drinks readily accessible to humans at the party, dogs may take advantage and snatch a few bites for themselves. Chocolate, garlic, onions, grapes or raisins and high fatty foods should be kept away from your pets. Pancreatitis, intestinal blockages and diarrhea are common ailments treated at emergency clinics around the holidays.

Micro-chipping and Updated ID Tags

Because we are often distracted, our pets can take a backseat to party preparations, guests and the celebration. It’s common for dogs to try to sneak past an open door during a party. This can lead to them wandering past your property line and potentially getting hurt.

At a minimum, make sure your pet has a microchip and current ID tags in case they breach security. If your dog has a habit of slipping past you, make sure that doors and gates are always securely closed.

Beware of Hot Temperatures

Temperatures are often quite high during the month of July. Because your dog can only release heat via panting and the few glands on their footpads, they are prone to heatstroke. Help your pet stay cool by keeping them in an air-conditioned space with water and shade.

Check your Yard for Firework Debris

After the Fourth of July celebrations, explore the remains of your backyard party and search the space before you let your dog out. You may be surprised to find a still-warm grill, a cell phone, corn cob, fizzled sparklers and other debris littering the ground. All these things can be hazardous to your pet.

Keep these Fourth of July pet safety tips in mind, and have a happy and safe Independence Day!

For all your future celebration needs, we’re here to help! We’ll scoop your pet’s poop on a weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or one-time basis to ensure your yard is poop-free and ready for guests.

What To Do If Your Dog Gets Sprayed by a Skunk

Pet Health

What’s black and white and strikes fear into the hearts’ of dog owners? Skunks! If your dog spends time outdoors there is a good chance it will get sprayed by a skunk, or come close to one at least once during their lifetime. Keep on reading to learn why skunks spray and what you can do if your dog gets sprayed by a skunk!

Skunk Odor and Getting Rid of It

If you have taken steps to avoid getting skunked but still end up in the unenviable position of cleaning up the aftermath, there are a few things to know about bathing your dog after getting sprayed by a skunk. Skunk secretions are made up of oils that become fouler smelling when your dog is wet. It’s not just your imagination; it’s actually the chemical compounds that make up the oils converting into more noxious products.

The thiols and thioacetates readily bind with skin proteins and can cause tearing, temporary blindness, nausea and vomiting if swallowed or sprayed into your pet’s eyes. Call your veterinarian if your dog is especially distressed or in pain as they can permanently damage their delicate corneas if not properly treated. Rinsing eyes with copious amounts of cool water may be enough to prevent serious injury.

Understanding the make-up of skunk spray has helped develop effective remedies. Oils on the fur and skin can only be broken down and washed away using a detergent and the chemicals must be converted into less stinky compounds. Tomato juice and vinegar, sadly, are not helpful.

Over-the-counter products such as Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Remover and Thornell’s Skunk-Off shampoo are wonderful to keep on your shelf if you have an inquisitive hound. Unfortunately, many skunk encounters happen during early morning or late evening excursions when pet stores are likely closed.

Why do Skunks Spray?

Their tell-tale smell is emitted from scent glands under the tail and secreted when they are startled or defending themselves. Though getting “skunked” can happen to you or your dog in the blink of an eye, skunks often hiss, stamp their feet, or growl as a warning before spraying their scent. Some experts believe they are able to hit a target within 15 feet!

Not only is the odor pungent and long-lasting, but skunks can carry diseases such as rabies and leptospirosis. It’s important to discourage their presence around your family and pets by eliminating any food sources, blocking access to underground hideaways, and ironically, using sweet-smelling citrus peels, ammonia soaked rags, or predator urine (or commercially available equivalent) as a deterrent. Skunks usually emit their scent directly in the face or your curious or protective dog.

Skunks tend become relatively inactive during the coldest months, preferring to commune underground to keep warm. In February and March, skunks typically mate, and spend more time looking for food such as berries, grubs, grains, seeds, and other insects at dusk, dawn and during the nighttime.

They aren’t opposed to snacking on garbage, compost heaps, or other food sources humans may have intended to feed birds or other wildlife. Skunks make their den and rear their young in burrows underground but are opportunistic and will happily reside underneath a front stoop or window well if left undisturbed.

Deskunking Your Dog

Here’s a DIY dog shampoo if your dog gets sprayed by a skunk. Head to your medicine cabinet or the local convenience store for:

1 quart of 3 % hydrogen peroxide.
1 tsp of dishwashing detergent and
¼ cup of baking soda.

Mix the ingredients in a bowl and use rubber gloves to saturate and scrub your pet’s fur. Don’t leave this solution on your dog for too long, as the peroxide may discolor fur. Though much of the scent may be concentrated near your pet’s head, avoid the delicate eye area. Rinse thoroughly, and then wash your dog again, but with their regular pet shampoo.

Keep an eye on your furry friends as their outdoors this season!

Ways to Protect Your Dogs Paws from Hot Pavement

Pet Safety

Photo Credit: Dogtime and Hobart and Channel Highway Animal Hospitals

While we bask in the sun’s warm rays, knowing that summertime weather may only last until September and not return until May, our pets don’t typically seek the heat. Not only do their all-season coats and limited ability to regulate body temperature by panting and sweating keep them toasty, but unprotected body parts like ear tips, noses, upturned bellies, and especially tender paws take the brunt of the sun’s damage. And while humans think to bundle themselves and their pets up against the cold winter temperatures, we often forget to protect dogs in the summer.

How to Protect Dogs Paws

One of the best ways to protect your pet in the summer is to avoid the sun during the peak temperatures of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. If you’re going to play ball, frisbee, or even swim, try to do it during the cooler mornings and evenings when the heat is less intense. Even if you are enjoying your stroll at dusk and not in the sun’s direct light, don’t forget about the asphalt, which may retain most of the day’s heat and damage dogs paws.

If the outside temperature is a comfortable 77 degrees, driveways and roads can still reach 125 degrees Fahrenheit. At 87 degrees air temperature, a blazing 143 degree can be reached on the asphalt’s surface.

Beware the Hot Pavement

Keep in mind an egg can fry at 131 degrees in just 5 minutes! A good rule of thumb to follow is the 7-second rule: if you can press the back of your hand against the ground for 7 seconds, it’s safe for your dog to walk upon. Artificial turf, running tracks, sand, and even brick and concrete may be dangerous to your dogs paws during the hot summer months.

We recommend walking your dog early in the morning or late in the evening when temperatures and grounds are cooler.

Besides staying on natural grass, what else can you do to protect your dog’s paws? Invest in some fitted dog booties to help provide a barrier from hot surfaces, especially when pets have to go outside to potty. Many times, these same booties can be used in the winter to eliminate the risk of irritation from salt and ice. It can be a trial and error process to find the set your dog likes best.

Dog Paw Balms

Some are made of a stretchy latex material like PAWZ, and others of fabric with velcro straps and even reflective material. Have your dog practice wearing their gear inside and with plenty of treats. It can take some time to get used to wearing shoes when you’ve always been footloose and fancy-free!

Another option to provide a temporary barrier between the sensitive paw pads and the elements is a paw balm or wax. Paw waxes are especially effective in the winter months but can be used on dry, cracked pads ravaged by the rough pavement. Some dogs don’t know when to call it quits; my golden retriever will fetch a ball to the detriment of her own feet. I apply a paw balm both before and after vigorous outside play, especially if we are on a rough surface.

Musher’s Secret is an especially popular non-toxic wax. Other DIY dog paw balm recipes can be found online and often involve a combination of beeswax, shea butter or coconut oil. Above all else, perform a visual inspection of your dog’s feet and pads after any outside activity when temperatures may be either very warm or very cold.

Sunburn looks like erosion or ulceration of the skin and must be treated by your vet immediately. Foreign bodies like burs or pests like fleas and ticks may be detected before they cause further damage. Keep furry toes neatly trimmed and nails clipped weekly to avoid splitting or cracking and accumulation of dirt and debris. Keep enjoying the dog days of summer!

How to Prevent Travel Anxiety and Motion Sickness in Dogs

Dog Behavior

For many of us, not only do we treat our pets LIKE family, they ARE family; I’ll admit, sometimes the dogs are my favorite family members. They don’t whine, kick the seats, fight with their siblings, or complain of boredom. Especially on road trips. My human children can’t possibly imagine how we survived long car rides without iPads, smart phones, and videos.

While dogs can be the ideal travel companion, there is the occasional pooch that suffers from travel anxiety or motion sickness. Is it possible to manage dog car sickness and nervousness so that you and your furry friend can best enjoy the open road? Yes!

Dog Car Sickness and Travel Anxiety

Dogs can become excitable or nervous when they are in unfamiliar situations or when they associate an activity with a negative outcome. Did your dog’s previous car ride end in a trip to the vet for vaccinations or surgery?

Was their last car ride three years ago and they are no longer accustomed to the sound of the engine, the roar of passing trucks, or the confinement that road travel brings? Are they secured in a crate or harness with a familiar toy or blanket or are they bounced around in a hot vehicle during stop and go traffic?

Take Shorter Trips

If possible, introduce a puppy or even adult dog to short, frequent road trips that end at a dog park or give them treats during and after the ride. When a car ride equates to a favorite activity or snack, dogs are eager to hop in a vehicle. Mix up the duration of car rides and give them a little fresh air. Stop sporadically to exercise your pet and provide stimulation, playtime, and a drink.

What if you knew that EVERY time you got into your car you were going to be trapped inside for 9 hours with few breaks to eliminate or eat? I’d start to think my vehicle might be more like a prison cell on wheels. Happy to buckle up? No thank you! I might drool and pace at the sound of car keys jangling or hit the brakes hard if someone tried to plop me in a car seat.

Calming Dog Medications and Supplements

In addition to desensitization, travel anxiety in dogs can be alleviated with over-the counter supplements and/or prescription medications from your veterinarian. It’s best to manage the situation before it gets out of hand; the more a behavior becomes practiced by an animal, the harder it is to unlearn. This is especially important with large dogs who can be more difficult to contain and restrain in a car.

As a housecall vet, we see many patients at home because they simply refuse to get in the car. Whether it was a prior negative experience or just lack of exposure to car rides, it can be impossible to convince a 150-pound Mastiff to buckle up. What would happen to your pet if you had to transport them in an emergency?

Products containing L-theanine, Chamomile, L-tryptophan, and Vitamin B1 such as Composure Pro by Vetriscience may be all that is needed to take the edge off an anxious dog. Combining the tasty treat with an Adaptil dog collar, which releases a natural dog calming pheromone imperceptible to humans, can work wonders.

Other dog owners have found success using a Bach flower drop called Rescue Remedy. Ask your veterinarian if you think your dog might be more comfortable using one of these supplements or if a prescription medication such as Trazodone or Alprazolam might be necessary to ensure a successful trip.

Benadryl (diphenhydramine) can be tried to help ease the tension of car travel, but I find while it may cause sleepiness, it doesn’t help truly anxious dogs. In some cases, when dogs lose their coordination and stumble about due to sedation, they become more anxious.

Motion Sickness

I always recommend trying the medication you are planning to use in advance. You don’t want to find out 2 hours into a 10-hour trip that your dog may have needed a higher dose and is panting, shaking, and crying or that they have an adverse reaction to a new product.

Some dogs become anxious in the car because they have previously experienced motion sickness. Motion sickness can be alleviated by avoiding a large meal before travel and making sure dogs are secure in a crate. Other pets fare better given a medication like Cerenia tablets or Meclizine a few hours before a trip. A safe alternative to prescription medications may be a sprinkle of ginger powder on a bit of wet food to manage nausea. As always, check with your veterinarian. Safe travels!

Avoid These Toxic Plants to Dogs In Your Garden

Pet Safety

It’s officially spring season! Our pets, like us, have spent many days cooped up and are naturally eager to get outdoors and explore. Soon, green buds will emerge on the trees and daffodils and tulips will be among the first flowers to announce the arrival of the new season. The first pots of annuals and perennials will become available for planting at local garden centers.

If your curious pets roam the yard while you tend to the landscape, keep a close eye on them as some of the more beautiful foliage and bulbs can pose health hazards if consumed. While many household and outdoor plants are considered non-toxic, keep in mind that any plant can cause gastrointestinal signs such as stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea but not life-threatening illness.

Which garden plants are poisonous to dogs?

Although most spring blooming bulbs are planted in the fall, it is not unusual for your terrier or retriever to decide that now is an ideal time to dig them up and have a snack. Tulips, daffodils, and crocuses belong to different plant genus’s, but their toxins are most significantly concentrated in the root or bulb portion of the plant.

Crocus and tulip bulb ingestion may cause mild gastrointestinal signs, while daffodils, jonquils, iris rhizomes and paperwhite bulbs may cause GI and oral ulceration and more severe problems including breathing depression.

Daylilies and lily-of-the-valley also grow from underground tubers called rhizomes and contain toxins that can affect the heart, leading to arrythmias, seizures, coma and even death.

Hydrangeas are one of the earliest, and in my opinion, most beautiful blooming shrubs. Their flowers can be white, or pink, or deep blue depending on the species and the pH of the soil in which they grow. They also contain cyanide in low amounts. A large breed, mature dog would need to ingest a large quantity to become ill, whereas a smaller puppy (and they NEVER chew) might exhibit symptoms such as vomiting, heavy breathing, lethargy, stomachache and coma.

Rhododendrons and azaleas are related plants and popular spring-blooming garden shrubs. Because some species retain their leaves year-round (evergreen) and have bright pink, purple, red or white flowers, they are common in local gardens.

But beware, the nectar extracted from the flower used to be called “mad honey”; the grayatoxin, which is most concentrated in the flower but is found in all parts of the plant, causes vomiting, confusion, and cardiac problems. In small breeds, it doesn’t take much to cause severe clinical signs.

Other common garden plants that are highly poisonous include foxglove, oleander, and nightshade. Asparagus fern, sago palm, and ficus are often planted in pots seasonally or enjoyed indoors year-round. Especially dangerous is the sago palm seed or nut which can cause liver failure and death though the first signs of toxicity may be drooling and vomiting within 15 minutes of ingestion.

Weeds are everywhere and unavoidable. While most dogs will chew on a blade of grass before eating plants like buttercup, morning glory, water hemlock, milkweed, skunk cabbage or cowbane, if you see your dog eating something unfamiliar outdoors it’s best to try to identify the species.

While not especially toxic, foxtail can be particularly harmful to dogs. The plant itself looks like a grass, but the seeds have sharp barbs and have been known to be inhaled or imbedded in the skin. The seeds can lead to infection and abscess formation anywhere in the body as their sharp tips cut through tissue.

Which plants are safe for dogs?

Indoor plants that not only brighten a space but can help purify the air and provide oxygen include true ferns, air plants, the succulent hens and chicks, parlor palms, and orchids. In the edible garden, basil, cilantro, and rosemary are great options to cultivate.

Spiderwort, sunflowers, marigolds, barley grass and roses (minus the thorns!) are perfectly happy to co-exist in a pet-safe space.

Value your plants and your pets? Want to avoid a call to the ASPCA’s Poison Control Center (888-426-4435/$65 a call)? Install some dog friendly species in a separate area suitable for sensory exploration and fence in your prized specimens.

Place pots out of reach of pets and teach your dog the cue “leave-it”. Most dogs will learn that chasing squirrels is more fun anyway!

Mushroom Dog Poisoning: Toxic Mushrooms to Avoid

Pet Safety

As we know, summer and fall bring a unique set of seasonal scares for pet owning families. In addition to an increase in parasite exposure such as fleas and ticks, wild animal encounters, and dog park injuries, exposure to certain environmental toxins also peaks.

Toxic mushrooms are one such hazard and they multiply in the warm, wet weather season. Although they don’t do much to harm your lawn, be alert for signs of poisonous mushrooms and toxic plant growth as symptoms of toxicity can mimic other types of poisons and diagnosis can be challenging!

Watch Out For Toxic Mushrooms

There are four classes of poisonous mushrooms; the classes are based on the type and severity of symptoms they cause.

Additionally, mushrooms can be classified into groups, separated by the type of toxin they contain. Poisonous varieties include:

False Morels
Hallucinogenic Mushrooms
Toadstool Mushrooms
Liver Toxic Mushrooms and those that cause gastrointestinal signs or are muscarinic containing species.

Identification of the type your dog has consumed can be difficult once they pass your pet’s lips; treat any mushroom ingestion as a poisonous species and call your veterinarian immediately.

Another after-hours alternative is to call the National Animal Poison Control Center hotline at (888) 426-4435. They are open 24/7 and 365 days a year and charge a nominal fee to advise you on how to manage your pet’s ingestion.

If a sample of the mushroom is available, consider contacting the North American Mycological Association to aid in identification.

Hepatoxic Mushrooms

The deadliest class of mushrooms are those that cause liver failure (hepatotoxic) with signs precipitating in 6-12 hours. At this point, inducing vomiting with hydrogen peroxide or slowing toxin absorption with activated charcoal given orally is fruitless.

Once an animal has started to show signs of poisoning, it is no longer safe or advisable to try to expel the offending agent. With names like “death cap” and “death angel”, liver cell death and eventual mortality can occur within a day or two, after being preempted by gastrointestinal upset.

These mushrooms are found throughout North America including the Pacific Northwest, parts of California and the northeastern part of the United States.

Neurotoxic Mushrooms

These affect the nervous system due to the compounds they contain and include psilocybin (“magic”), hydrazine and isoxazole mushrooms.

Magic or psychedelic mushrooms are often found indoors as part of a pet owner’s “pharmacy”. Others grow throughout the United States, but favor the West and Northeast. Symptoms of ingestion are typically seen within 30-90 minutes, but effects can last hours longer.

Varying from initial gastrointestinal upset to weakness, stupor, tremors, disorientation, vocalization and seizures, these mushrooms are typically less toxic but severity of illness depends on the amount ingested and the dog’s size and health status.

Gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting and diarrhea are seen early on after the ingestion of most mushrooms (15 minutes to less than 6 hours).

Muscarinic containing mushrooms not only cause mild to severe vomiting and diarrhea, but ingestion can lead to dehydration, excessive salivation, tearing, urination, slow heart rate and difficulty breathing depending on the type and amount consumed.

Nephrotoxic Mushrooms

Our last class of mushrooms, the nephrotoxic (kidney) varieties, are thankfully rare with poisoning reported in Europe. Signs of toxicity are delayed by up to 8 days as the kidney cells are destroyed.

Symptoms of poisoning are typical of a dog in kidney failure and include vomiting, increased thirst, and urination; dogs can succumb if not treated aggressively with fluid therapy and hospitalization.

If caught within the first hours of ingestion, decontamination by inducing vomiting and delaying intestinal absorption, managing symptoms, and blood and urine sample monitoring are often successful at managing mushroom poisoning in dogs.

As always, be on the lookout in your yard for anything unusual underfoot!

Sources
Health Poison Control
Psilocybin Mushroom

Dog Days of Summer: Keeping Your Dog Cool in the Summer Heat

Pet Safety

Hot town, summer in the city. We’ve rolled right into high-degree days, bypassing the comfortable temperatures of spring. If the outdoor temperature is miserable for us, it’s even more unbearable for our pets. Dogs “sweat” very inefficiently through the few sweat glands in their footpads and 80% of body temperature is reduced by panting. When high hot temperatures are combined with high humidity, lack of ventilation, shade, or access to water, dogs are especially prone to overheating. Here a few ways to determine signs of heatstroke and ways to keeping your dog cool in the summer.

Tips to Keep Your Dog Cool in the Summer

If you are planning on traveling with your dog or spending some time outdoors with your dog, here are some helpful tips to keep your dog cool in the summer heat.

Shade. Find a grassy area under a tree or spot of cool concrete for your dog to cool down. Not only is the air temperature more comfortable, but light-coated dogs or those with exposed skin are less likely to get a sunburn. Cooling pads, such as The Green Pet Shop Self-Cooling Pet Pad contain a gel that absorbs body heat and stays cool when pressure is applied.

Water. Keep plenty of clean, cold water available to keep your dog cool in the summer. Staying hydrated and cool from the inside out is extremely important on hot summer days. There are many collapsible bowls on the market that are portable and can be used when playing outside. Inexpensive plastic pools can be filled in the yard, so your dog can immerse himself and keep body temperature regulated. Swimming in a pool or clean lake is a great way to for us and dogs to cool off in the summer heat.

Limit exercise. Walk in the early morning or evening and avoid hot asphalt. If possible, limit walks to grassy areas and remember to bring water. Dog booties can be worn if asphalt is unavoidable.

Ventilation. A fan provides a limited amount of relief from hot weather and airflow is important. A doghouse can act like a hot car, and enclosed spaces (without A/C) should be avoided. Remember, a dog must pant to cool off and evaporative cooling is difficult above 90 degrees; even less when there is high humidity and poor circulation. Try blowing a fan over ice cubes to beat the heat.

Keep the coat. Because dogs don’t have sweat glands in their skin like humans, shaving their coats doesn’t provide relief. In fact, the first downy layer of a dog’s coat acts like insulation, keeping them cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. In addition, shaving a dog exposes their skin to the sun which can lead to burns and melanoma.

Get in the kitchen. Mix up a batch of homemade dog treats to cool them off in the hot weather days. See a Peanut Butter Popsicle recipe below!

Dog Overheated? Signs of Heatstroke

Signs of heatstroke can be observed when a dog’s body temperature rises to 104 degrees and above. Inside a car on an 85-degree day, even with the windows cracked, temperatures reach 120 degrees in 20 minutes! Don’t leave your dog unattended in a vehicle as there is no way to keep a dog cool in the car and no air is really passing through. Signs of heatstroke can include: heavy panting, glazed eyes, a fast heartbeat, difficulty breathing, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, excessive salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, seizure, and finally, unconsciousness.

Especially susceptible are the old and very young puppies, obese pets, dogs breeds with short muzzles (Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terrier and other brachycephalic breeds) and Arctic breeds like the Siberian Husky. A handy reference chart was developed by veterinarians at Tufts University that gives an idea what outdoor temperatures might be considered safe for your dog based on their body weight and physical condition. Take your pet’s individual physiology into consideration when deciding what is safe; staying inside is sometimes best for pets!

Homemade Frozen Dog Treats For Summer

DIY Peanut Butter Popsicles For Dogs

Ingredients

1 cup peanut butter, preferably unsalted and unsweetened (Check your peanut butter’s label to make sure it doesn’t contain any kind of xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.)
Half a ripe banana, mashed
Water as needed

Directions

In a small mixing bowl, combine peanut butter with a little water or half a mashed banana. (The water and banana aren’t essential, but they help with freezing consistency.)

Line a cookie sheet with wax paper, or use Kong-style rubber toys that have a cavity you can fill.

Spoon the mixture onto the tray just like you would cookie dough, or stuff it into the toys. Freeze the tray or toys for several hours or overnight. If you need to reuse the tray right away, pop out the cubes and store them in a bag or container in the freezer.

Enjoy on those days when nothing else will do!

Poisonous Plants to Dogs – Avoid Toxic Flowers in the Garden

Pet Safety

With spring weather finally cooperating and hitting warmer temperatures throughout the United States, it’s time to get annual plants in the ground. Like most of you, part of the season I enjoy most is throwing the ball to my dogs in the yard and watching them get taunted by the squirrels. We are fortunate to have areas dedicated to annual flowers, perennial shrubs, and an edible garden. Unfortunately, some of the plants I enjoy watching bloom can be toxic to dogs and it pays to consider which flowers and plants you have in the garden this spring season.

Treatment if Toxic Plants Are Ingested

Below follows a list of the most common dangerous plants and flowers that dogs shouldn’t eat and what signs and symptoms may be present if consumed. We will cover a dog first aid kit in a future article, but it always makes sense to have a bottle of dawn dish soap, Hydrogen Peroxide, as well as a bottle of saline to rinse the eyes and the mouth if an irritant is introduced. After administering hydrogen peroxide, vomiting typically ensues within 10 minutes. This may mitigate some of the more harmful effects of the poisonous plant. That being said, always consult your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at their 24-hour emergency number, (888) 426-4435. Sometimes the damage of an irritating substance coming up can do as much or more damage than the item going down.

Currently, a $65 charge per case is applied to a credit card, but their expert advice may just save your dog’s life. It should also be noted that consuming any vegetation can cause gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting and diarrhea and may be dose related. This seems counter-productive as many dogs will eat grass to soothe an upset tummy but tell that to your pup! Some of the spring flowers you should avoid planting can cause almost immediate effects. Others take hours for their toxic chemicals to produce symptoms.

Plants & Flowers Poisonous to Dogs

Edible Garden

Onion or Allium family: This includes garlic bulbs, chives, leeks, and flowering alliums. They contain a chemical called N-propyl disulfide which is concentrated in the plant bulbs.
Clinical Signs: Vomiting, breakdown of red blood cells, blood in the urine, weakness, high heart rate, panting

Citrus Fruits like Lime: Contain Essential oils and psoralens
Clinical Signs: Vomiting, diarrhea, depression; potential dermatitis or skin irritation. Fruit is edible, skins and plant material can cause problems

Tomato Plant (leaves, unripe fruit) and Nightshade: Contains Solanine
Clinical Signs: Hypersalivation, inappetence, severe gastrointestinal upset, depression/drowsiness

Macadamia Nuts: toxin unknown
Clinical signs: depression, weakness (especially of rear limbs), vomiting, tremors.

Marjoram, Thyme, and Mint: Contains Essential oils
Clinical Signs: depression, weakness (especially of rear limbs), vomiting, tremors.

Apples, plums, cherry trees: Stems, leaves, seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting
Clinical signs: brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, shock.

Non-Edible Garden

Foxglove or digitalis: Among the most toxic of plants in the flower garden containing Cardiac glycosides
Clinical Signs: Heart arrhythmias, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, cardiac failure, death.

Daisies and anything in the chrysanthemum family: Contain Sesquiterpene, lactones, pyrethrins and other potential irritants
Clinical Signs: Vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, incoordination, dermatitis

Ivy, any variety: Contain Triterpenoid saponins (hederagenin)
Clinical Signs: Vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, diarrhea. The leaves are more toxic than berries

Geraniums: Geraniol, linalool are the toxins present
Clinical Signs: Vomiting, anorexia, depression, dermatitis

Hellebore or Christmas Rose: Bufadienolides, glycosides, veratrin and prtoanemonin are some of the toxins
Clinical Signs: Drooling, abdominal pain and diarrhea, and depression

Hostas: Part of the Lily family. Saponins cause symptoms.
Clinical Signs: Vomiting, diarrhea, depression.

Lily of the Valley: Cardenolides (convallarin, and others)
Clinical Signs: Vomiting, irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, disorientation, coma, seizures

Coleus: Essential Oils
Clinical Signs: Vomiting, diarrhea, depression, anorexia, occasionally bloody diarrhea, or vomiting

Irises: Pentacylic terpenoids (zeorin, missourin and missouriensin) are highly concentrated in the rhizomes.
Clinical Signs: Salivation, vomiting, drooling, lethargy, diarrhea.

Rhododendrons: Ingestion of a few leaves can cause serious problems due to Grayantoxin.
Clinical Signs: Vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, weakness, coma, hypotension, nervous system depression, cardiovascular collapse, and death.

Burning bush: Contain alkaloids
Clinical Signs: Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, weakness. Heart rhythm abnormalities with large doses.

Black Walnut found most often in mulch:
Clinical Signs: moldy nuts/hulls can cause tremors and seizures, ingestion of shavings can cause incoordination

Yew: Contains Taxine A and B, and volatile oils
Clinical Signs: Tremors, difficulty breathing, vomiting, seizures (dogs), sudden death from heart failure.

Yarrow: Achilleine and alkaloids.
Clinical Signs: Increased urination, vomiting, diarrhea, dermatitis.

Tulips and daffodils: While we are seeing the beautiful spring flowers, their planting season is actually in the fall. The bulbs deep in the ground contain the most harmful part of the plant. So, while the flower itself is not dangerous, use caution when planting throughout the year.
Clinical Signs: vomiting, depression, diarrhea, and hypersalivation; large amounts cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors, and cardiac arrhythmias.

Don’t let the laundry list of scary flora deter you from enjoying the garden with your dog. The following is a list of vet-approved plants. See you outside!

Alyssum, Squash, Impatiens, Baby’s Breath, Basil, Blue Eyed Daisy, Chickens and Hens, Cinquefoil, Cilantro, Snapdragons, Coreopsis, Cornflower, Day Lilies (toxic to cats), Ferns, Marigolds, Asters, Red Maple, and Zinnias.

Allergy Season: Symptoms and Treatment for Allergies in Dogs!

Pet Health

Just as airborne allergies are common in people, manifesting as itchy eyes, sneezing, and congestion, allergies are also common in dogs (and cats!). As the weather warms up and our furry friends spend more time in the spring sunshine, their exposure to outdoor allergens increases. Some inhalant allergies are prevalent year-round, such as those activated by house dust mites or food storage mites, but many airborne allergies are seen during particular times of the year. Atopy, another name for airborne allergies, is typically triggered by grasses, pollen, weeds, trees, dander, mold spores, insect proteins, and even fabric. Dogs living in different parts of the country may experience allergy symptoms during different months, all depending on the weather and what is blooming!

Signs & Symptoms of Allergies in Dogs

Pets with atopy usually experience a seasonal spring or fall itchiness that begins in the first or second year of life; often the duration of the itchy period becomes longer and longer. Other dogs start the itch-scratch cycle like clockwork on the same day every year and symptoms predictably last just a few weeks. Itch and skin redness, bacterial infection, scabbing, hair loss, licking or swelling is associated with certain parts of the body in atopic dogs. Hair loss around the eyes and mouth, in the dog’s “armpits” or axillary and inguinal regions, the lower abdomen, around the rear end, and feet are the first clues your dog may have airborne allergies. Ear infections are common secondary problems; the heat from inflamed skin make the dark canal a perfect environment for bacteria or yeast to overgrow.

I get countless calls where an owner has self-diagnosed ear mites because of a black, smelly ear discharge that causes intense itching. Yeast overgrowth, caused by underlying allergies, is a more common culprit. Without treating both the infection and the allergy, ear disease is likely to become chronic. While some dogs also experience red, itchy eyes and have more mucous production, we rarely see the nasal and sinus congestion that people suffer, though a few pets do develop an allergy-triggered bronchitis or a throat-clearing rumble.

What causes allergies in dogs and why do some react while others don’t?

An allergy is a state of over-reactivity or hypersensitivity of the immune system to a substance called an allergen. Chronic exposure to the offending protein allergen, sensitizes or prepares the immune system to react, in this case over-react, on subsequent exposures. Normally the immune response protects the dog against infection and disease by making protective antibodies, but with allergies, the immune response can be harmful to the body accumulating in a cascade of events leading to histamine release and itch. It is thought that there is a genetic component in dogs with atopy. Terriers, such as the West Highland White Terrier, Retrievers, Pugs, and Bulldogs are over-represented.

Treatment For Dogs With Allergies

As any veterinarian will tell you, atopy is a disease that we manage, not cure. As the immune system is the “problem”, most treatments are aimed at decreasing the body’s over-reaction and modifying the dog’s environment to reduce exposure to the offending allergen(s). As such, it is important to identify which proteins triggers your pet’s itch. The gold standard in allergy testing remains intradermal skin testing. This test is performed by a veterinary dermatologist and involves injecting small amounts of different allergens under your pet’s skin to evaluate the immune system response. Some veterinarians offer blood testing, which identifies allergens via antibody levels.

Once the allergens are identified, we attempt to limit environmental exposure as much as possible. HEPA filters, vacuuming, washing bedding, cutting back weeds and limiting time outdoors during allergy season can help. Frequent bathing and wiping your dog’s fur and feet with a medicated shampoo or wipe can minimize absorption of allergens, promote a healthy skin barrier, and soothe the itch. Fatty acids in liquid or capsule form act as anti-inflammatories and can reduce signs of dog allergies. Too much can be a bad thing and can cause problems with blood clotting and wound healing; a dose between 20-55mg combined EPA and DHA per pound of body weight is safe for dogs and cats.

Dog Allergy Medicine

Anti-histamines such as Benadryl and Atarax are effective for dog allergy medicine – only about 25% of our patients. Newer dog allergy medications such as Apoquel tablets and injectable Cytopoint have been life-savers for many dogs and their frustrated owners. Apoquel works by affecting messengers of the itch, called cytokines, and can stop symptoms in 4 hours. It is a daily pill and good for short-term itch flares-ups. Apoquel causes minimal interference with healthy immune system function and is preferred over corticosteroids or cyclosporine, the administration which can lead to endocrine disorders, immune-suppression, and increased urination. Cytopoint is a convenient injection that acts as an antibody to block the itch signal; it also begins working within hours and lasts 4-5 weeks.

Ultimately, to affect long term change, the goal is to desensitize the dog to the same allergens they currently react to. Dog Allergy “shots” or oral drops are formulated with increasing amounts of allergen and administered regularly to permit the immune system to recognize the allergen without going into a tailspin. About 2/3 of dogs get relief from desensitization therapy, but it is a financial and time commitment to follow-through with treatment on the part of the owner.

With so many options available to manage your dog’s environmental allergies, there is no excuse not to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather. Just remember to wipe down dirty paws and claws before coming back inside!

Sources:

PetMD The Dangers of Too Much

The Asac Battle of the Dermatology Titans