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Pooch Pictures!
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Zeus and Zoey
No, these aren't Siamese Dogs! (pardon the pun!) This is Frank's dog Zeus and Zoey Thomas. After a tough day of playing,
an afternoon nap
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Greetings!
I am so excited to introduce my revised eZine! Every month I will share helpful pet information from local veterinarians, tips and tricks from professional Dog Trainers, and our featured "Pooch Pictures" where we share some of our favorite pet photos. We are also in the process of designing a new website which will include more resources, links, and best of all, Eco Friendly Pet Products and Awesome Gift Ideas. We'll have more information on that in the weeks to come. Stay Tuned!! Please check out our article in the March issue of "Sierra Style" magazine. Pretty exciting stuff! If you are planning your family vacation be sure to schedule your pets vacation at Waggy's!For those of you that have already voted for me in the KCRA A-List Contest, I thank you very much. If you haven't voted and would like to, please click here to vote for Waggy's. When I was reading the reviews you gave me, I got a little choked up. I really do this for the love of your dogs and all dogs, and it's good to know that it shows. It also helps to have the most awesome pet sitters working for me! I appreciate everything they do and know they are true animal lovers! Enough of the gushing! Thanks for reading, Chris Wagner |
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The Vet's Corner
Is the Rattlesnake Vaccine for you?
Does your furry little friend live, work, or play where rattlesnakes do? If the answer is yes, you might want to consider the rattlesnake vaccine. The initial vaccine consists of two booster shots spaced a month apart at the beginning of rattlesnake season with subsequent boosters (the number depending on the size of your pet) every year. Side effects are most often non-existent.
What To Do if Your Vaccinated Dog is Bitten
A snakebite is always an emergency. Whether your pet is or is not, vaccinated, a dog still must go to a veterinarian for emergency treatment after a snake bite.
Perform the following emergency measures:
· Identify the type of snake, if possible, but do not risk being bitten.
· Keep your pet as quiet as possible with soothing talk and petting. Excitement and exertion speed the distribution of poison. Carry the animal to a place of safety, if possible.
· If the bite is on a leg, immobilize the leg and carry the pet to your vehicle. Apply a tourniquet above the wound, between the wound and the body. It should be loose enough to allow your finger to slide beneath it. It should not remain in place more than 2 hours.
· Immediately take the animal to the nearest veterinarian.
After treatment, notify the veterinarian if any of the following occur:
· Your pet is reluctant to eat or acts depressed.
· Your pet's bite wound becomes swollen, red or hot, or oozes pus or fluid.
· Your pet develops any new symptoms.
Remember to stay aware on outings with your dog, especially if walking or hiking in areas of brush. Using a walking stick to rustle shrubs can alert snakes and other animals to your presence and give them time to slither or scamper off in another direction, allowing you and your dog to remain safe.
This Pet Health Tip was presented by Blue Ravine Animal Hospital www.blueravineanimalhospital.com
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Dog Trainer Spotlight
Kris Morin
Personal Dog Trainer
Dog Behavior Consultant
www.FabDogz.com
Doggie Dog Park Dilemma Question:
My dog is obsessive about playing fetch with me at the dog park. She growls and nips at other dogs who try to steal the ball from her. What do I do?
Kris' Response:
This is a common dog park issue. Many dogs socialize well until a toy comes out! There are three problems:
1. The owners of the other dogs need to tell their dog "Leave It"...we wouldn't let our children run up to another child in the park and snatch their toy and take off.
2. Your lack of verbal control over your dog once another dog has come in close or has taken the toy. Somehow your pooch has gotten toy obsessive and you need to address this first in your own home and yard before you go to the dog park. Are you letting her have continued access to the tennis ball &/or Frisbee? Do they only come out when you say it's time? Do you work on having those items out and telling her, "Leave It"? Do you include obedience into the fetch game, make her do Down before you throw the ball, sometimes put her on Down-Stay before you throw the ball and then release her to fetch it? She needs to hear you say, "Leave It" and understand that she must...and after that at sharp NO when she gets this wrong. Work on these things at home on a long line so you can correct the unwanted behavior. Make sure that you have this down to verbal control before you add the distractions of other dogs. Bring a friends dog over and make the dogs take turns fetching in your own backyard. Use leashes to block the behavior, or a long drag line if necessary.
3. Your dog enters a working state of mind and wants to fetch and not socialize. Many dogs that like to fetch want to play a very focused game of fetch and would rather do that than socialize with the other dogs. In this case you are either bringing her to the dog park for the sake of the fences (which she shouldn't need, especially if she is a focused fetcher), or you are bringing her there for your own social needs and she could really care less. I would still expect my own dog to have manners while fetching and not use their teeth to correct other dogs over the toy. Pick times to let her have some one on one focus fetch and set up scenarios where she has to take her turn and respect your verbal command of when to Leave it! I also like to cue my dogs with the sweet reminder of, Be Nice!
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