Trick-or-Treating and Pets: Keep Them and Everyone Safe and Happy on Halloween

Candy

Dogs should never eat chocolate. The theobromine,the ingredient  in the cacao bean used to make chocolate, is toxic to dogs. Anything high in sugar is also be a hazard. If you want to give your dog something special on Halloween, make sure it is not candies. 

Safe Costumes

Sure, Fido may look cute as a hot dog or an angel, but beware: some costumes can be dangerous. Be sure to keep any string or ribbon away from your dog's throat or mouth, and make sure he has room and a full range of motion in the costume before you go out.

Away from the Door

For pet parents who stay home and hand out candy, one important thing to keep in mind is how your pet will react to having people ringing the doorbell or knocking every couple minutes. This can cause them extreme anxiety and even aggression. Keep your pets away from the door when handing out candy.

Keep them Close & Be Aware

Many families take their dogs out on Halloween. There is nothing inherently wrong or dangerous about this practice, but just to be safe, keep them on a leash and/or keep them close to you. There can be a lot of confusion with all the people out and about, so just be aware of your surroundings. 

Something else to keep in mind:
Don’t forget that Halloween and mischief are often linked. Why take a chance on your pet being a target, becoming injured, or worse? Keep an eye out: on the community, on yourself, and on your pet.

Have a good, happy, and safe Halloween.

Pumpkin All Around: Benefits for Pets

Combating dehydration: Pumpkin flesh is around 90% water, so a little pumpkin topping on a meal can combat dehydration resulting from moisture-deficient processed dry dog and cat foods. An additional benefit is improved digestion from increasing the gastric "juices" essential to proper gastrointestinal health.

2.  Helping with Constipation: Fiber from pumpkin works in pets the same way it does in humans and can actually treat some gastrointestinal issues. A tablespoon or two of pumpkin can resolve symptoms in a few days if the gut is just a bit "out of order." Some cats may experience decreased colon activity as they age, resulting in constipation. The added fiber from pumpkin increases the bulk of the stool and the colon muscles react by moving things along.

3.  Reducing Hairballs: By increasing the volume of waste in the intestine, pumpkin can help your cat digest and eliminate fur swallowed during grooming. This can reduce or even prevent the formation of "hairballs" that are eventually regurgitated.

4. Resolving Diarrhea: Yes, it works both ways! Pumpkin can soothe constipation but diarrhea can also be remedied with the addition of pumpkin to a dog or cat's diet. It is particularly effective if the upset is the result of colitis caused by a rapid food change or the ingestion of a new food. All it takes is a teaspoon for small dog or cat and a tablespoon or two for a medium or large dog of canned pumpkin in the animal's food.

5.  Boosting Weight Loss: With 3 grams of fiber per cup, pumpkin can augment weight loss in dogs and cats. The fiber fills the tummy so your pet feels "fuller" sooner, meaning Pookie eats fewer calories overall.

6.  Supplementing Nutrition: One of the biggest benefits of pumpkin to pets and humans is its wealth of nutrition. Pumpkins contain carbohydrates, potassium, vitamin C, Vitamin A (from beta-carotene), iron, folate, magnesium, zinc, selenium, niacin, vitamin E, manganese, copper, and protein. You do not want to overload your pet's system with these nutrients and trace minerals, however. This is not a case of a little bit being good and a lot being better.

7. Adding Antioxidants: Pumpkin contains antioxidants which help moisturize skin, helping your pet maintain a healthy and shiny coat.

8. Providing Essential Fatty Acids: In addition to antioxidants, pumpkin seeds contain essential fatty acids with similar benefits. Pets may consume the seeds raw (if they are fresh) or enjoy the roasted version which store better. Lightly coat the seeds with cooking oil and roast in a 375-degree oven for 5 to 10 minutes for a daily treat your pet will love. Only offer a few seeds at a time to your pet (the fiber can cause a softening of the stool). Store the seeds in an airtight container or freeze them. Don't forget to roast some extras for yourself! If your pet is small you can grind up the seeds to ensure they are easier to digest and don't get caught in the intestine.

9. Controlling Parasites: Pumpkin seeds contain cucurbitacin, a possible anthelmintic that eliminates tape and roundworms. Additionally the seeds may inhibit the formation of kidney and bladder stones, and some studies have shown anti-inflammatory properties. The seeds may be ground up and added to food, but again, be conservative.

http://www.petplace.com/article/dogs/news-videos-fun/fun-stuff/9-benefits-of-pumpkin-for-pets---pumpkin-for-dogs-and-cats

Canine Careers

Search & Rescue Dog:

Pair an amazing sense of smell and direction with amazing bravery and you’ve got yourself a search and rescue dog. These heroes go into serious disaster situation to retrieve lost humans. Imagine, these dogs risk their lives going into avalanches and other natural disasters saving humans.

Cadaver Dog:

These canines have been trained to alert their handlers at the scent of a decomposing body.  These dogs are used together with Search and Rescue canines during disaster situations to locate all the victims.   

Service or Guide Dog:

The first school for guide dogs was established in Germany after World War I in order to assist soldiers that had been blinded or injured during the war. These dogs act as the pilots of their handler’s lives. Common breeds include Labradors, Golden Retrievers, & German Sheperds. There are approximately 8,000-20,000 active service pups working each day.

War Dog:

Dogs have been used in combat since ancient times. Today’s war dogs have a 98% success rate in bomb detection making them incredible assets in providing safety to their battalions. Military dogs have also been said to reduce PTSD symptoms if they are able to return home with their partners – there are now tons of war dog adoption programs.

Therapy Dog

A therapy dog’s sole purpose is to make people feel better. You’ll see them walking the halls of hospitals, retirement homes, classrooms, hospices, nursing homes, and disaster relief areas. Therapy dogs make people feel comfortable with physical contact they may not be used and as a result make their treatment easier.  It’s a special pup chosen for this job; they need to be extra gentle and calm.

Herding Dog:

You know that one dog at the park, constantly trying to round up the rest of the dogs by barking and running in circles? Don’t hold it against, him it’s in his DNA… and he thinks your dog is sheep, or a cow. Herding dogs maintain control over livestock, rounding them up when it’s time to get back to farm. Talk about having influence, these dogs can gather up to hundreds of livestock at a time.

Tracking/Hunting Dog:

Hounds, terriers, and dachshunds are the most popular types of hunting and tracking dogs. These dogs are trained to be the eye, ears, and retrievers for their human counterparts. These dogs are not only impressive because of their ability to track, but also they don’t chew their prey to pieces.

Sled Dog:

Imagine a pack of of dogs having the strength, discipline, and organization to effectively pull a sled full of goods, and humans through the coldest winds and harshest snows. Sled dogs have unmatchable resilience and many people in the most northern corners of the world rely on them solely for transportation and deliveries of crucial goods.

https://www.smartrecruiters.com/blog/top-10-jobs-for-dogs/

http://www.dogguide.net/20-jobs-dog-have-done.php

https://www.mainstreet.com/slideshow/who-s-good-boy-10-jobs-dogs

Puppy Milestones

NEWBORN
Puppies are born both blind and deaf.

DAY 7
Puppies begin to crawl and scoot across the floor.

DAY 14
His ears and eyes open and he can see and hear. His eyes are blue.

DAY 17
He, shaky and wobbly, begins to try to walk.

DAY 21
Now, he has the hang of walking.
He will play, mainly with his brothers and sisters..

DAY 28
His teething is over; all deciduous teeth have erupted
His eyes start to change color

4 TO 5 WEEKS
Potty training should not be attempted until this time

5 TO 7 WEEKS
He begins to form relationships with humans
Your puppy now recognizes his name
He starts chasing objects, even his own tail

DAY 45
All of his 28 deciduous teeth are fully grown

8 TO 11 WEEKS
He enters the Fear Imprint period: trauma during this stage influence a dog's whole life

14 WEEKS
His adolescence begins.

2 TO 5 MONTHS
His permanent teeth have erupted
He will respond to the "come" command

12 MONTHS
If your dog is a large breed, he is now considered mature

18 MONTHS
If your dog is a small breed, he is now considered mature

http://www.hartz.com/Dogs/Hartz_Puppy/milestones_in_a_puppys_development.aspx

http://www.petplace.com/article/dogs/keeping-your-dog-healthy/puppy-care/developmental-milestones-in-the-puppy

http://blog.petsolutions.com/dog/development-milestones-of-your-puppy/

Fourteen Trivia Tidbits

After a hiatus, we are back and better than ever. So to celebrate our return, here are fourteen interesting facts about dogs.

It is much easier for dogs to learn spoken commands if they are given in conjunction with hand signals or gestures.

Dogs like sweets a lot more than cats do. While cats have around only 473 taste buds, dogs have about 1,700 taste buds. Humans have approximately 9,000.

Dogs are about as smart as a two- or three-year-old child. This means they can understand about 150-200 words, including signals and hand movements with the same meaning as words.

Pekingese is referred to as a “sleeve” because it was bred to fit into a Chinese empress’ sleeves, which was how it was often carried around.

Puppies are sometimes rejected by their mother if they are born by cesarean and cleaned up before being given back to her.^c

The phrase “raining cats and dogs” originated in seventeenth-century England. During heavy rainstorms, many homeless animals would drown and float down the streets, giving the appearance that it had actually rained cats and dogs.

The most popular male dog names are Max and Jake. The most popular female dog names are Maggie and Molly.

Scholars have argued over the metaphysical interpretation of Dorothy’s pooch, Toto, in the Wizard of Oz. One theory postulates that Toto represents Anubis, the dog-headed Egyptian god of death, because Toto consistently keeps Dorothy from safely returning home.^d

The ancient religion Zoroastrianism includes in its religious text titled the Zend Avesta a section devoted to the care and breeding of dogs

At the end of WWI, the German government trained the first guide dogs for war-blinded soldiers.

The names of 77 ancient Egyptian dogs have been recorded. The names refer to color and character, such as Blackie, Ebony, Good Herdsman, Reliable, and Brave One.

Some dogs can smell dead bodies under water, where termites are hiding, and natural gas buried under 40 feet of dirt. They can even detect cancer that is too small to be detected by a doctor and can find lung cancer by sniffing a person’s breath.

The most intelligent dogs are reportedly the Border Collie and the Poodle, while the least intelligent dogs are the Afghan Hound and the Basenji

In 2003, Dr. Roger Mugford invented the “wagometer,” a device that claims to interpret a dog’s exact mood by measuring the wag of its tail.