Posts Tagged ‘Dog Products’
Tiny Dog Carriers Are The It Thing
Remember a few years ago when Paris Hilton started carrying her Chihuahua Tinker Bell with her every where? Suddenly, small dogs were the “it” accessory (as awful as it is to refer to an animal as an accessory). The truth is, small breeds of dogs have long been popular among us “regular” folk for centuries. As any small pet owner will tell you, small dogs need scaled down versions of most dog products.
For instance, a regular sized food dish or water dish may be too deep for a small dog to handle. Dog carriers and crates also need to be sized down. For my tiny Yorkshire terrier I bough x small dog crates; a soft one for travel and a metal crate for home. The collar my terrier wears is also an extra small because a regular sized collar would slip right off her neck. When it comes to caring for your pets, size matters.
Importance of Dog Agility and Exercise
During the spring and summer months we all seem to change gears and begin an exercise regime that is more intense than during the winter months. The weather is nice…you can get more people to join you…well how about your furry friend? Exercise for your dog is important too. During the winter they usually don’t get the exercise they need because of the snow, sleet and cold. Kick it up a notch for them as well.
Provide them with some agility training to work on muscle strength and to keep their minds busy. A busy mind and body will keep them calm in the house. Work out with them by running from exercise to exercise. You both will be tired at the end of the day knowing that you have both done something good.
Pet Friends
Do you have that someone special that you need to buy a present for this Christmas? I know I do. As time goes buy I never fail to remember the precious friends of mine. You know the ones. They love you unconditionally, they forgive you when you get mad, or get them a different kind of food, forget to bring their snack. In the past my horse family members have received new halters, leads and blankets. My dog family members have received new coats, collars, and toys.
No matter what color I give them they don’t seem to mind. There is no such thing as re-gifting. They are appreciative of all that is done for them. Can you believe that they even liked the polka dot horse halter and matching lead as well as the purple heart covered dog collar and leash? Well, I have to admit that the color choice was more for my pleasure. 
Dog and Horse Halloween Costumes
I had the pleasure of being sent the pictures of some dog and horses in costume this year. What a wonderful sight to see. I also saw so many taking their dogs out for halloween in costume.
I hope all your pets enjoyed the holiday as well. Remember no chocolate allowed! I stood outside this year and made sure to have buscuits available for the puppies and candy for the children. Everyone laughed when I brought a biscuit out of my pocket after giving the children their treat. Smiles all around.
Jack actually won First Place for his costume. You go Jack!!
![Jack_pet_costume_contest_30Oct10[1]](http://www.pawsnhoovescafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Jack_pet_costume_contest_30Oct101-150x150.jpg "Jack_pet_costume_contest_30Oct10[1]")
She Loves Her Dog Coat
Now that I live in an area that can get very cold during the winter I find myself looking for a really good dog coat to fit Baby. Don’t let the name fool you, Baby is a 13 year old 90lb lapdog. She is also the type of “puppy “ that doesn’t like to get wet. Hmm… how many others like her are out there? I am guessing a lot. Dog coats vary in cost and style, so you’ll have to find your dogs.
Anyway, she is in love with her dog coat that is light and waterproof. She also has it in a few different colors so she can look good in any type of weather. No she is not spoiled…but do you know of another dog that totally avoids puddles, jumping them when necessary?
My New Found Dog Toy
I know everyone that owns a dog has heard about the Kong toys. For as many dogs that I have owned in the past I never purchased one for them. I now have learned my lesson.
Baby has had a habit of eating dog chewies so fast that she winds up gagging on them. Have you had theat problem?? I decided to find something that would slow her down and not bloat her stomach. My discovery? Kong Wobbler toy.
I have to say it has been absolutely fantastic not to have to think about performing a heimlich maneuver on Baby. Not that I would be prepared to do so. This Kong toy is the best thing I have ever found. Next to giving her medicine with peanut butter.
This Kong dispenses treats and sits upright until pushed with a dog’s paw or nose, then it wobbles, spins and rolls. The unpredictable movement keeps the toy challenging and entertaining for both me and Baby.
Try it and let me know what you think.
Cool Dogs
We are in the season to make sure that we keep our dogs cool. I have found this Freezable and Reusable teether dog toy! They are called Chilly Bones and they contain a non-toxic 
absorbing sponge that can be frozen over and over. Don’t let the term “teether” fool you. Your adult dog will love the chilly cold sensation any time of the year and they are perfect for teething puppies too!
Special Dog Harness Part 2
As stated in part 1 the specialized dog harness, Bottom’s Up, is a special leash that helps your pet walk when they are having some problems with their joints or have a neurological problem. The Bottom’s Up leash help to support the rear end of your dog by looping straps around their hinds legs so that you can help hold up the rear end. The leash supports your pet but does not hinder their ability to relieve themselves.
I previously stated some medical reasons that you may need this leash. I wanted to continue on with one last one that is extremely important to me.
Degenerative Myelopathy
Degenerative myelopathy is a progressive disease of the spinal cord in older dogs. The disease has an insidious onset typically between 8 and 14 years of age. It begins with a loss of coordination (ataxia) in the hind limbs. The affected dog will wobble when walking, knuckle over or drag the feet. This can first occur in one hind limb and then affect the other. As the disease progresses, the limbs become weak and the dog begins to buckle and has difficulty standing. The weakness gets progressively worse until the dog is unable to walk. The clinical course can range from 6 months to 1 year before dogs become paraplegic. If signs progress for a longer period of time, urinary and fecal incontinence may occur and eventually weakness will develop in the front limbs. Another key feature of DM is that it is not a painful disease. It is also usually the last diagnosis after all other tests have been performed.
There is no cure for DM at this time and it is so heartbreaking to see you four-legged family member go through this. But they are not in pain so that can be some consolation.
DM is the reason I began the hunt for specialty items such as the rear harness and dog carts (wheel chairs). I have been through DM with my lovable dog Charlie who developed DM when he was 8 yrs old and progressed over the following year to where he needed assistance walking to go outside. This disease however did not deter him from wanting to chase squirrels! I couldn’t run that fast. Watching him made my heart melt and want to do something to help him. So like I stated, I purchased the rear harness and helped him get where he wanted to go. It was the best purchase I have ever made as it also relieved the pressure on my shoulders and back from trying to hold him up from behind and more convenient than using a towel which didn’t sit in the right places for him to relieve himself.
So if you are ever in doubt check out the rear harnesses to assist your pet through some hard times.
Special Dog Harness Part 1
While nothing will ever replace a dog leash, the dog harness the need has become more prominent in ou
r society to leash our pets. The laws and regulations regarding our pets have been put into place that you need to have a leash to walk your dog. When you have a pet with special needs sometimes the regular leash will not do.
There are a number of different product names and types to choose from depending on what your specific needs are.
Sling type dog harnesses are being used to help animals when they’re having problems walking. The Bottom’s Up Leash, actually supports the rear end of your dog and is one of many types of assisting harnesses for lifting or holding the rear end of your pet up. You can use this to assist your pet getting up the stairs, getting into the car or simply walking around.
Some of the conditions that may warrant a specialized harness
Canine arthritis
Osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease (DJD), is a progressive, debilitating disorder characterized by a loss of cartilage and the death of cartilage-producing cells. DJD can occur in any joint, but is most often found in the hip. It can lead to permanent loss of function.
In most cases, DJD occurs secondarily to trauma, nutritional disorders or infections. It is prevalent in middle-aged to geriatric dogs. DJD may also occur in young dogs who suffer from canine hip dysplasia, a common developmental disorder of the hip joint found primarily in the larger breeds and breed mixes.
My dog, Baby, is 13 yrs old and is closely getting to the time where she will need a harness as she is getting slower walking up stairs. So I definitely know where to turn from experience.
I wanted to make this a shorter post so I will talk about other conditions that would warrant you to use a Bottoms Up Harness in future posts.
Dog Licking
When I first saw my dog licking the chair she was laying in or the floor or her bed I thought she was going crazy. The I thought maybe she had some kind of compulsive disorder. I figured I had an OCD dog. But the more I read about it the I realized that she wasn’t the only one doing this.
It seems there may be a few different reasons for why this happens
1. Comfort
2. Marking their area with their own saliva (I am happy it is nothing else)
3. Food crumbs
4. Boredom
5. Tactile experience
Regardless of the reason it was very annoying to my husband when he went to sit in the chair and it was all wet.
What I started to do was creating a play time specifically for her. I would sit on the floor with her favorite dog toys. It seems to lessen the the amount of time licking. Plus I have introduced dog toys that have a texture to them and it definately seems to have lessened her urge.
Have you ever had this problem?