News from Dog Beach Dog Wash

Dog Beach Dog Wash News

Because your dogs deserve the best

September 2012

Upcoming Events

Sat., September 8, 2012, 9 to 11 a.m. -- Dog Beach Cleanup, with Friends of Dog Beach, at the pawprint entry to Dog Beach. Bags & gloves, plus toys & treats will be provided for you and your friendly dogs

Sun., Sept. 9, 2012, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. -- 7th Annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon, presented by the Helen Woodward Animal Center, at Del Mar Dog Beach.

http://surfdog.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1016899

www.cleanupday.org

Sat., Sept. 15, 2012, 9 a.m.-12 noon -- 28th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day, sponsored by I Love A Clean San Diego, at 80 sites countywide including Dog Beach. Sign up online at

http://cleanupday.org/

Woofstock Escondido

Sat., Sept. 29, 2012, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. -- Grand Woofstock Escondido, a fun, family-friendly outing for dog lovers and other pet-buddies, to support the Escondido Humane Society, and other North County dog rescue groups, on Grand Ave. in downtown Escondido between Maple & Kalmia streets

http://www.escondidoevents.net/upcoming-events.html

Sat., Sept. 29, 2012, 2-5 p.m. -- Pugtoberfest 2012, pug socialization with beer, food, boutique, & psychic reader, to benefit Pug Rescue of San Diego County, cliffside at 1111 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., between Osprey and Froude streets, in Ocean Beach 92107. Tickets are $12 for children 15 & under, and $22 for adults

http://www.pugsandiego.com/index.php

Holistic Animal Fair

Sat., Oct. 6, 2012, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., 5th Annual Holistic Animal Fair, Adopt-A-Thon & Blessing, with workshops for all your pets' needs, adoptions with expert advice on the care & feeding of your new best friends, non-denominational blessing with certificate to celebrate the joy pets bring to your life. A "Pawloween Costume Contest" at 12 noon with prizes, with $5 donation, to benefit the Kindred Spirit Animal Ministry. At San Diego's Balboa Park, 6th & Laurel, next to the Laurel Street Dog Park

http://www.blessouranimals.org/

Del Mar Pet Expo 2012 Sat. & Sun., Oct. 13 & 14, 2012, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. -- San Diego Pet Expo, at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in north San Diego County, to benefit local shelters and animal care groups.

The Expo features entertainment, contests, vendors and pet adoptions. Admission is $6, with children 5 & under Free.

http://www.sandiegopetexpo.net/

Spooky Carnival Float

Sun., Oct. 28, 2012, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. -- 7th Annual "Howl-O-Ween" OB Canine Carnival, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Ocean Beach, with costume contest and parade, vendors, food and games.

Registration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ($7 for single dog, $10 for groups of dogs, & $10 for floats). Parade from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m., with Prizes at 3 p.m.

http://www.oceanbeachkiwanis.org/index.php

Greetings!

Hot Spots: The Scourge of Summer

Hot Spots on dogs (also referred to as summer sores, moist eczema or pyotraumatic dermatitis) most often occur in warm summer months. They can appear very quickly from your dog's chewing, licking or scratching an irritation anywhere on its body. They show up as red inflamed, oozing, infected skin lesions, and may itch or cause pain. Hair loss is common, and long hair can mat around the lesion hiding the size and degree of the problem.

dog scratching

Hot spots can be caused by many different irritants, such as flea or other insect stings or bites, allergies, burrs, scrapes, or even stress-related psychological problems. Once the skin is irritated, the chewing or scratching further abrades the skin, and a bacterial infection takes hold.

How to Treat a Hot Spot

1. Remove the hair. The first step is to clip or shave the hair on and around the affected area. This helps the hot spot dry out and lets you see the area to be treated.

Hot Spot on Golden Retriever

2. Clean and Disinfect. Using cool water and a mild cleanser, gently wipe away any dirt or debris on or around the wound. Disinfect with an antibiotic solution or spray, such as povidone-iodine (Betadine® Antiseptic) available from most pharmacies. Dilute this with water until it is the color of ice tea, and apply with a clean cloth or gauze. Don't use a stinging astringent like alcohol or vinegar on an open or raw wound as this would be very painful to your pet.

Repeat the disinfecting procedure as often as needed to keep the area clean, dry and free of pus, no less than three times a day for the first few days.

Additional remedies to help alleviate the discomfort for your dog include:
     * Tea bag compress (black, green or chamomile tea)
     * Hydrocortisone cream or spray to stop the itching
     * Antiseptic or Antibiotic first aid spray or lotion
     * Domeboro® Solution (aluminum acetate) from your pharmacy to help dry the skin out, used as a compress or spray
     * Aloe Vera gel or spray to help heal the wound
     * Antihistamine tablet (Benedryl®) to relieve allergy symptoms

3. Prevent further harm. If your dog won't stop licking or chewing the spot, use an Elizabethan collar (plastic cone), or a wrap or T-shirt to protect the area from further abuse

After a few days, the lesion should be dry and look like it is healing. Keeping it clean and dry is all that is needed. The hair will begin to grow back within two weeks.

If the lesion is not healing, or looks worse after a few days, contact your veterinarian. He or she will likely prescribe oral antibiotics, topical medication or medicated shampoo. If left untreated, minor hot spots can lead to fever, severe bacterial and fungal infections, and a weakened immune system.

4. Identify the underlying cause. Determine how often your dog gets hot spots, and where on the body they occur -- then talk to your vet about possible causes such as allergies to food or the environment, underlying pain in a joint or nerve, or boredom or separation anxiety.

Previous Newsletters, available on our website --
www.dogwash.com -- cover Allergies (April 2012), Separation Anxiety (May 2012), and Healthy Foods (March 2011). But the most common culprit for summer hot spots is flea bites.

Make sure your pet is protected with vet-prescribed medicine such as Comfortis®, or spot-ons such as Advantage II® or Frontline Plus®. Make sure your house if free of fleas as well, with sprays or foggers, or with borate powder such as Fleabusters®.

Volunteers Needed Sept. 15th, 9 am - 12 Noon

California Coastal Cleanup Day

Please join I Love A Clean San Diego on this date to help clean our beaches, our inland waterways and our canyons, and protect our environment for future generations.

We will be hosting the cleanup at Ocean Beach-Dog Beach, but there are more than 85 sites throughout the county that also need your help.

Sign up today at http://www.cleanupday.org/
and lend your hands.

Happy Labor Day

Jane & Mindy (with Chipper, Juno & Zydeco)

"You can say any fool thing to a dog, and the dog will give you this look that says, `My God, you're RIGHT! I NEVER would've thought of that!' "

--Dave Barry

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