Dog Guidance Blog

If a dog gets stung by bees, wasps and hornets, or bites from mosquitoes or other insects, these can not only be irritating and itchy, but painful as well. Although most stings or bites are not considered dangerous, you should keep an eye on it and if it doesn’t seem to get better in a reasonable time frame, or starts getting worse, please consult your Veterinarian as soon as possible.

When Jericho got stung on his lip area, I started him on Benadryl for the swelling. I called my Veterinarian for the dosage. During the night the swelling doubled in size and I was really beginning to worried, but kept up on the Benadryl. By morning the swelling was down quite a bit; but because there was a hole in the middle of the swollen area about the size of a pin head, I took him to the Veterinarian and was given antibiotics in case the stinger was still deep inside to stop any infection that could set in.

Upon talking to my Veterinarian and doing further research, I came upon other suggestions to help relieve the dogs pain and irritation from insect bites or stings.

1. Benadryl – As mentioned above use Benadryl for swelling and itching from the bee strings, etc.

2. Baking Soda – I should have remembered this one, because when I got stung, I made a “paste” using baking soda and a little water, and applied it on the swollen area. It helped soothe the pain and discomfort from the itching.

3. Ammonia – I was told that dabbing the ammonia on the affected area, using a tissue or cotton ball, would help relieve the pain.

4. Milk of magnesia – Try applying a thin coat to the affected area several times a day. This medication contains magnesium hydroxide, which will ease the irritation and itch.

5. Meat tenderizer – meat tenderizer has enzymes that aid in breaking down the poison in insect stings. It also reduces the irritation. Just make a paste using a little water and apply immediately to the sting, and keep re-applying as needed.

6. A leaf from the Aloe Vera plant – This is good for minor skin irritation. Just break off a leaf and apply a thin coat of its gel to the affected area. This soothes the discomfort and relieves the irritation
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7. Apply a cold compress– If your dog will hold still long enough, try applying a cold compress. This helps with the swelling and eases pain. Try holding it on the affected area as long as you can.

8. Hydrocortisone cream – Hydrocortisone cream is recommended for bites, stings, and hot spots. Hydrocortisone Cream with Aloe is even better because Aloe soothes the pain.

9. Find the culprit – If stung by a bee, try to find where the stinger went in and remove it with tweezers. Getting the stinger out will prevent any added venom to enter the wound.

If the swelling does not go down within a reasonable time frame, call your Veterinarian and set up an appointment right away.

When you’re a dog owner, especially one of a small or toy dog, you may come to a point where you realize something: Your dog may be that much cuter is had some clothes on. Well, hold on there for a second, because there are many opinions about getting clothes for your dog; and with good reason.

Below, I’m going to cover a couple of common issues that dog owners face they decide to get some doggie clothes for their canine. These questions are ones that many people have asked, along with an answer that is backed up with proof, or a commonly held idea.

1) Are dogs clothes ok for Looks?

This is the biggest question that gets asked, and with good reason. Many people will tell you that they will never place an outfit on their dog, and then again, others say that their dog is just like a human, and has the right to wear clothing just like we do.

In the end, it is perfectly OK for dogs to wear clothing, under one stipulation: the clothes are comfortable on the dog. If the clothes stop the dog from walking correctly, restrict air flow to the lungs or just rub too much, then you should definitely reconsider.

But if you can find soft, not so restrictive outfits, then go for it.

2) What about for Protection?

Others simply buy things like little rain coats, or shoes for their dogs, just to protect them from the elements, which is actually a very smart idea. You want the best for your dog, and what’s so wrong with a nice winter coat?

This is perfectly understandable, as some dogs have thin skin (or coats) or have super sensitive paws.

3) What about Costumes?

Even some people who are against regular dog clothing, will buy costumes for their dogs. So is is ok? Again, it just depends on if the costume is the right size (no too big or small, as every dog is a different shape) and if it is not too much weight so that it doesn’t wear your little dog out.

Really, in the end its a matter of choice and preference. If you want your dog to match you, and it doesn’t take the clothes off, then go for it. But don’t try to force your dog if it doesn’t have the same ideas about wearing clothes!

Pet doors are good to own because they allow for your dog or cat admission to the outside world. Here they have the power to search for new treasures and work off that extra energy without getting in your way.

Anyone who resides in a home with sliding glass doors think that they cannot install a pet door – but they are wrong. It is right that the majority of pet doors might be established into houses that use wooden doors. These kinds of doors are put in by cutting a perfect shaped hole in the door where it is able to set in the right way.

This may be extremely time consuming and rather challenging if you are trying to do it all by yourself. If you do not cut the hole to perfection you will have too little or too much space. Too much space means that your pet will not have a secure opening and it will bring in hot and cold air. This will increase your energy bill.

Putting In a sliding glass pet door is in reality easier then most people recognize. There are lots of different kinds that you can pick out. Each one has their own special characteristics that you may or may not need. Think carefully and then pick out the door that is better for your house.

Setting Up one of the doors into your home is as easy as 1-2-3. If you purchased one that has the ability to be removed then you only need to install it easily into the door frame. Ensure that the locking mechanism is in place and the you have adjusted it to the correct height. After you have fastened it, close the sliding door and lock it.

If you have bought a sliding glass pet door that has to be screwed in then you are not planning on taking it with you if you ever move. These must to be established into the door frame and set to the proper height. The screws will serve to secure it into place.

Bladder infection is one of the most common problems in pets such as dogs and cats. This kind of infection may bring along with it a number of symptoms which may or may not be readily visible to the attention of the pet owner. As a result, most pets suffer from the infection long enough before they are given proper treatment.

Infections in the dog’s bladder may show symptoms such as painful urination, bloody urine, foul-smelling urine, straining to urinate, producing or not producing any amount of urine. A dog with bladder infections may also tend to lick its genitals frequently to ease the pain that it is feeling on that area. Unless the owner is observant of the changes in the dog’s urinating habits, he may not be able to tell the problem immediately. Thus, when he notices any of the signs, the infection has usually spread to the other parts of the dog’s urinary system and has caused more complications.

Canine bladder infection, though, may not be life-threatening to the dog unless the infection has already caused other health complications. Therefore, the owner does not have to worry much about it. Typically, vets would prescribe antibiotics for treatment of the infection in dogs. Apart from this medication, the condition can be treated in a number of ways. It can even be treated at home provided that you are certain that the dog’s urinary problem is really caused by bladder infection.

If you are sure that the problem with your dog is indeed bladder infection, you may administer treatment to your dog yourself. However, if you are not certain of what has caused the problem in the dog, do not give it any form of treatment without first consulting the veterinarian. Wrong treatment may only aggravate the problem in the dog.

How can you know if the problem with your dog is indeed bladder infection? This is quite simple. You may simply look for signs and symptoms that are associated with bladder infection. These symptoms have been mentioned on the second paragraph of this article.

Some of the home treatments that you can try giving your dog are cranberry juice, lime juice and other citrus juices. You can also put a little amount of apple cider vinegar in your dog’s diet. These natural treatments have properties that can help promote the right level of acidity in the dog’s urine. Dog urine with just the right level of acidity can help prevent and eliminate the formation of bacterial infections in the dog’s urinary tract.

Another treatment which you can use to treat canine bladder infection is the homeopathic remedies. Homeopathic remedies are effective in treating and preventing bladder infections in your dog. The ingredients of homeopathic remedies can help the dog maintain a healthy flow of urine, healthy urinary tract and bladder, and can strengthen the dog’s immune system.

Canine bladder infection is treatable and can be prevented. If you want your dog to be free from infections, take the necessary steps to prevent bacteria from accumulating in the dog’s urinary system. A happy dog equals a happy owner.

If you’re like me, you don’t want your dog jumping up on people. No matter if he’s small or large, getting your dog to stop jumping is essential for preventing dog behavior problems in the future. Here are some dog obedience tips that will help to stop dog jumping.

How To Block A Jumping Dog

This is a quick way to teach your pet to stop jumping on you. This is really only a stop-gap measure, as you need to figure out why he’s jumping, and deal with that issue to solve the problem for good.

As your canine starts to jump up, turn sideways. You can lean in his direction and block him with your hip. Or step in front of him to block him from jumping. Once all his feet are on the floor, tell him to “sit” and then praise him.

If he manages to jump on you before you can block him, don’t yell “no” or jump away. He thinks you’re playing with him, and this only serves to reinforce the behavior. Turn on your heel and walk away. Give him no attention whatsoever until all four feet are on the floor. Only then will you tell him to “sit” and then reward him.

Why Dogs Jump

Many people make the mistake of thinking their dog jumps on them because he’s happy to see them. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Dogs jump for three reasons: they’re overexcited, they’re challenging your dominance as pack leader, or you’ve accidentally encouraged them to do so.

By far the most common reason for many dog behavior problems, including jumping, is a bored dog. Canines are social animals who need lots of interaction with their pack. They also need lots of exercise to burn off excess energy. If your pet is left alone all day with nothing to do, your return at night is the high point of his day, and he releases his energy by getting overexcited. If you make a big fuss when you come home, you’re encouraging him to get overexcited, and rewarding him for the jumping behavior.

You can prevent this by taking him for a long walk in the morning, and again in the evening. Take him to the dog park if you have one nearby so he can run and play with other canines. It’s also important to keep it low-key when you leave and come home. Ignore him for fifteen minutes when you come home. If he jumps on you, turn around and walk away.

A dog jumping up on people may be a dominance issue. In the wild, a subordinate member of the pack would never jump on the alpha dog. This is seen as challenging the leader, and the leader won’t tolerate it. No matter if your pet is small or large, you shouldn’t tolerate it either.

A good dog training course is worth its weight in gold when trying to teach your pup good habits. You’ll be able to train your dog quickly and easily with a course that offers a free consultation with an experienced dog trainer.

Don’t put up with dog behavior problems like a dog jumping up on people any longer. Take steps now to stop dog jumping so that your pet will be a happy, obedient addition to your family.

When my husband was diagnosed with MS some 13 years ago, it was a shock, from which in some ways, we are still to recover. The problems that sprang immediately to mind were how his mobility would be affected, could we cope financially and would it affect our animals.

Having owned German Shepherd Dogs for the majority of our married life, we were used to the strenuous exercise and mental stimulation that this particular breed required. Zak (our GSD at that time), was a mere youngster and was already enjoying the prolonged walks and regular training that Doug provided. We were sailing into the unknown and as anyone who suffers from MS will testify, it is a relapsing remitting condition. This makes the symptoms variable and unpredictable, and you are forced to face the uncertainty of when new relapses will occur.

In the years that followed I noticed a big difference in my husband. In some respects his life with Zak became almost regimented. A strong bond between dog and owner had already been forged, but Doug had become to rely on the regularity of their walks and even lengthened their duration! Zak’s devotion was uncompromising and it was almost as though Zak’s presence increased Doug’s determination to remain well and throughout their years together our dog remained a real focus for him to retain his mobility. Despite setbacks, Zak’s walks took priority and remained so until we eventually lost him some 15 months ago to cancer.

Our grieving for Zak had pushed us both to our emotional edge, but I will always be mindful of the wonderful gift that our dog had given Doug and the determination to continue as normal a life as MS would allow.
We now have our fourth German Shepherd whom we have named Luika. Ironically he also has health problems, being diagnosed with cow hocks at an early age. This condition actually limits the amount of exercise that he can enjoy, which in some sense is a little comfort. I have now taken over the training, but Doug continues his walking duties, with all the enthusiasm and gusto he shared with Zak. Luika is but a year old, yet already I am beginning to see those early signs of blind devotion.