Combat the Harmful Effects of Sun and Heat on Your Pets - Is Your Dog at Risk?

I think everyone has had really bad sunburn at some time in their life. I'm sure you can remember the pain. I bet you also took precautions after that time to help reduce the risk of sunburn again. Why then would we not take those same precautions with our dog?

It's so great when the summer weather arrives. We tend to spend much more time outdoors than we do the rest of the year (depending on where you live), and of course our best furry friends will be at our side. It is your responsibility as a pet owner to make sure you protect your pet as you would a member of your family. But don't use human products on dogs; some ingredients are toxic to dogs. For instance zinc (used in many human products) is toxic to dogs and causes GI problems and anemia.

Dogs suffer from the same things as us; sunburns, skin irritations, skin cancers, heat stroke and dehydration as well as sore & burnt feet and especially noses. Some easy sun care tips can help you keep even the most active dog healthier when exposed to the sun.

Dogs with thin hair coats, light-colored noses, and white fur are most at risk from sun exposure. Dogs with areas of white fur or areas where the coat is thinner are also at risk. All dogs are at risk in areas of the body with less fur, such as the groin and belly. If your pooch is like Henri and likes to lie in the sun on his back, you should give him a slather of sunscreen specially made for dogs. Not only will his belly be safer from the sun but you pooch will be loving you for the scrub!

A dog's nose is highly sensitive and can become very painful when their tissues are dry, chapped or cracked. A natural nose balm for dogs has nourishing, healing and moisturizing ingredients. The soothing balm can be applied to a dog's nose as a preventative measure for dryness or cracking or it can be used to treat painful cracking and dryness that has already occurred. It's like chapstik for dogs!

Another method of sun protection is covering them up or keeping them in the shade. An idea for camping or the beach is a little pup tent that will fit in a small space amongst in the millions of things you've already packed, will set up in minutes, and will provide much needed shade where nature didn't provide. Light, wet towels are great to drape on them when they're still and when you're on the go a light beach or sun suit will block those nasty UV rays.

When we get overheated running around in hot weather, we often put a wet towel around our necks. And when our dogs get hot, we often do the same for them hoping it will help them in the high heat. Better to dampen their paws. It's the paws that help a dog release heat, so dip those pads in cool (but not cold) water for a quick pick up. You can even rub the paws with an alcohol wipe in a pinch, and the wipes are easy to carry on walks and hikes in your pocket.

The sun is not only harmful to their skin but also can cause damage to their eyes. A dog hat protects your dog's sensitive areas of the face from sun's damage. Or for the more adventurous, dress your pup in Doggles. These cool looking sunglasses have a deep lens cup, flexible frame, and wider nose bridge and comfy head strap. They have 100% UV protection, are shatterproof and anti-fog. Recommended by vets.

Let's not forget about their feet! How many times have you hopped across a barking hot parking lot with no shoes on, making weird noises and waving your arms in the air? Think how your little buddy's feet must feel (and he has twice as many). If your dog swims a lot or has wet feet for a good period of time, it softens up his paws and makes hot pavement dangerous. Small dogs should be carried over hot pavement and for larger dogs there are beach booties, some are disposable. Walking long distances on pavement or sand is not good for dogs in the summer; try to stay on the grass as much as possible. If their paws do get burnt you can apply a paw balm which will reduce the chances of burns and injuries from heat, cold or rocky terrain.

And often with the strong sun comes the high heat. Way too many pets die each year from ignorant owners leaving their pet confined in cars and other places when the heat is dangerously high. Pets at risk for heat stroke include those with a dense hair coat such as the golden Retrievers, Border Collies, and Chows, etc. or ANY pet in direct sunlight for longer than 30 minutes when the temperature is greater than 90F. Make sure you always have water and bowl on hand and try to stay out of the sun between the hours of 10:00 and 2:00. Limit the amount of time you spend in direct sun to 15 to 30 minutes for those dogs easiest to burn. Longer with fur protected dogs, but then watch for heat stroke. Direct sunlight includes lounging on the inside of the porch glass door!

The rule of thumb - when it gets above 85 degrees, you should be cautious when exercising your dog outdoors. For most dogs, moderate activity for 30 minutes is good. But when the temps exceed 95 degrees, it's probably best for both of you to leave out the outdoor exercises until it cools down. Try to go for walks or jogs either early in the day or evening, or try to stay on shaded trails.
When your dog start's to have fast or labored breathing, starts to refuse walking, or acts unhappy, your dog may be overheating. When this happens you should stop, rest, give your dog water and find a cooler place. Mostly just do for them what you would do for yourself.

Have a safe and fun summer!

For all the summer supplies listed in this article, visit http://Henrithehound.com, an awesome Online Pet Shop for more cool & unusual gifts for cool & unusual pets.

Simple Ideas and Precautions to Take When Camping With Your Dog

I have so many great memories of camping with my parents as a child and have been blessed to have carried on our summer traditions with my own daughter and husband. A big part of our outdoor experiences has been our various dogs (sometimes even a cat or two)! Our dogs bring us such great joy and companionship, and camping with our pets should be no exception. With a few simple ideas and precautions you can ensure that this summer's woodsy adventures are worry and injury free. Before we even get to the camping spot here are a few things we should look into:

• Ensure to have your pet's ID tags secure and updated.
• A visit to the vet for flea and tick shots is in order.
• It's a good idea to set up your tent in the backyard a week ahead and have a practice camp with your pet so he feels safe in a new environment and also ramp up your physical activity in preparation for extended hikes, swimming and playing.
• Make sure pets are allowed by the campground and ask where the closest vet is.

Even though you're living out in the wilderness you still want to have some comforts of home and so does your dog. It's important that they have some of their favorite things, whether it's a blanket, a toy or food dishes. At most campsites you will have neighbors and you must take in their comfort level as well. If your dog is yappy, aggressive or socially awkward, he might not go over too well with your new neighbors. Take this into consideration and provide a secure tether for your dog and a muzzle if necessary. 

Dogs have a tendency to wrap themselves around any tree, table, car or piece of firewood,a good idea is providing a large secure playpen, and a playpen can be moved around to keep them out of the sun. Just like us, dogs should have their bed elevated and should not sleep directly on the ground all night.

They also need to be protected from the sun and heat. Just as you wouldn't leave your dog in the car for hours on a hot day, don't leave him locked in a tent, the outcomes are the same. A little pup tent or a child's blow up pool are good ways to help keep both pets and kids cool. Also, ensure you have a safe place for your pet in case of loud noises or other things that may scare them such as thunder or fireworks. Definitely use their crate if they already have one or often they feel safe in the car as long as it's not too hot. Now that you've set up camp, broke out the lawn chairs and stacked the firewood, you're ready to relax! Not so fast - now you have to keep your eyes open and be watchful of what your pet's getting up to.

You have to watch them as you would a small child. Here are a few hazards to watch out for:

• FOOD - We tend to be more relaxed and eat more junk food camping than we would at home. We leave food lying about, accessible to dogs & kids (the difference between these two is that dogs are much faster and sneakier). Dogs have sensitive digestive tracks and get sick much easier from fatty foods that are foreign to them.
  
• GARBAGE - It goes without saying, keep it away from them. I have known dogs who have eaten whole cobs of corn, which got stuck in their digestive track and had to be surgically removed. We had a Beagle/Chihuahua mix that ate anything. Once we poured bacon grease in the bushes which was wrong, and of course he licked up the grease and ended up getting all sorts of stones and twigs in his belly. That was an expensive vet bill and put an end to any fun on that trip.
  
• FIRE - Don't throw food in the fire. Often it may not burn up entirely which is a dog attraction, but there may still be glowing embers in the fire and burn their noses, mouth or feet.
  
• TERRAIN - Pick up as much sharp and harmful sticks and stones at your site and be careful of burning embers. If you wouldn`t walk on it, do you think your dog wants to? Dog booties are a good idea if you are experiencing rough terrain.

 OK, you're all set up at camp and now it's time to check out Mother Nature. What dangers might lurk in the woods you ask?


INSECTS & TICKS - Short coated dogs are just as prone to mosquito bites as we are and should have their own insect repellent. Ticks are more common in the spring but are still a threat to your dog's health. A tick vaccine or collar will help but you need to do manual checks and follow these simple rules:

1. Check your pet daily (wearing latex gloves) for lumps under fur, in particular around the ears, legs & belly.
   
   
2.  With a pair of sharp pointed tweezers (or a tick remover if you have one), grasp the tick head firmly at point of attachment.
   
   
3. With firm traction and going slow and steady, pull tick straight out - DON'T squeeze the tick body as it will squirt out more of the toxin.
    
4. Clean skin in mild soap and water and save the tick in alcohol, recording date and area in case of illness

• POISON IVY - Although dogs are not much affected by poison ivy, the oil that the plant secretes gets and stays on your dog's fur and transfers to everything he touches or touches him (like you!) Wash him off repeatedly with mild soap or shampoo wearing rubber gloves.
  
• WILD ANIMALS - Suffice it to say, stay away from them and keep your pet under control. If he is sprayed by a skunk, head to the lake for repeated washings with mild soap or de-skunk shampoo if you have it. Porcupine quills are best left to a vet to remove.
  
• WATER ACCIDENTS - If you're out on any type of boat or floatation devise, and away from the shore you should have a PFD (life jacket) for your pet, especially if your pet is out of shape or not used to swimming.
  
• FISHING ACCIDENTS - Dogs are just naturally inquisitive and there's a good chance that if they see a fish flopping around on the deck or a hook with a squiggly worm on it, they are going to investigate. It is certainly not uncommon for dogs to step on a stray hook or swallow fishing line with a hook on it. If this happens it's best to get him to a vet ASAP. Never try to pull the line out of his mouth as this may cause greater damage.

Your best bet is to always have a first aid kit available for yourself and your pet. There are special first aid kits made especially for pets and at the very least have rubbing alcohol, tweezers, scissors and those stretchy roll up bandages which are great for wrapping around fur. In summary, don't let this advise scare you away from camping with your pet. If anything, it should help make your outdoor experience even better. I have had so much fun over the years camping with my family and would never dream of leaving Henri and Bear behind, they are part of the family too! Have your hot dogs and S'mores, relax in the shade by the lake or tell stories by the fire - just remember to treat your pets as if they were your small children and you'll have the best camping experience ever! (Can't do anything about the rain though!)

Happy camping!

For all the camping supplies listed in this article, visit http://Henrithehound.com, an awesome Online Pet Shop for more cool & unusual gifts for cool & unusual pets.

The Debate Over Dogs and Emotions

Do dogs really sense our feelings? Researchers now accept that dogs, and other animals, do experience primary emotions such as anxiety, fear, and anger, they still do not accept that they are capable of higher emotions such as jealousy, sympathy or empathy.

Be that as it may, I prefer to give animals the benefit of the doubt. I assume that higher animals, like dogs, are sensitive creatures with feelings and emotions.

Does your dog displays any of these emotions

• For some dogs, hugging, kissing and outward affection between their humans is just not acceptable. They will often intervene by jumping on your lap or somehow splitting you apart. This sure looks like jealousy to me. However, they rarely seem to show this same type of behavior with parents and babies. In fact with small children they often become like a surrogate parent and protect the youngins.

• Aggressive dogs are often more aggressive when they sense that someone is afraid of them. Is it because they can see fear in their eyes or that their posture is cowering. They say the same thing about horses, which is probably why I stay away from horses.

• Almost every dog owner has experienced the difference in their dog when someone is sad, hurt or sick. You could argue that the dog observes your posture and appearance as submissive and, almost instinctively, approaches to find out and respond to the situation. Some say, when the dog sees you in a submissive posture, it feels it has to grovel to remain below you in rank, but I don’t believe it..

• Dogs, like children who reside in a happy, relaxed residence, tend to be more relaxed themselves. The dog, sensing their level of relaxation, figures out that nothing bad is going to happen and relaxes himself. This could be the reason that potentially aggressive dogs such as Pit Bulls often are aggressive when living with high anxiety owners, while others of the same breed are the biggest of babies. What about when you have a fight with your spouse or someone else close to you. They will often skulk away and hide in an out of the way place. It could be argued that they just don’t want to listen to you, but they seem to sense this even if the argument is done quietly.

• And the big one – guilt. After your dogs have had a jolly old time ripping apart your new boots and digging in the couch, they often seem to show a true sense of guilt. Some say they are only reacting to your anger or disappointment and is just associating this anger with actions in the past where he may have been punished. That may be true but I know dogs (such as Henri) that have never been punished and who still act in this way. I think they are reacting because they know they have been bad and have upset you, not because they think if they act guilty they won’t be punished.

• I know when I, or someone else in the family goes out and leaves the dogs alone, a lot of crying and whining goes on. Whether this is because they just don’t want to be left behind or that they are truly sad, crying seems like an honest emotion to me.

Just because there’s no scientific proof of emotions in animals, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Let’s not forget that we once believed the earth was flat!

From an evolutionary point of view, it would be very strange if dogs didn’t have the ability to sense emotions. Dogs obviously have to understand behavior of themselves and others or they wouldn’t have a clue as to what to do when he encounters new situations.

As far as I can see, our pets seem to respond to our emotions and react accordingly and I think that those who say otherwise can’t have a good relationship with their pets.

Please be sure to visit Henrithehound my awesome online pet shop, the next time you want to make your pet happy! (Because happy is the best emotion!)