Does your old buddy scratch himself constantly, are losing hair, and having raw skin patches all over? No matter how many antibiotics or injections you try, the annoying itch might not go away. The good news is that common ailments like this don’t necessarily merit an expensive trip to the vet.
There is, however, a more practical solution: apple vider vinegar. This home cure can solve a lot of dog ailments. All you have to do is to spray it directly by either spraying or sponging it on the problematic spots. Do this twice a day, and in three days, you’ll notice the fur of your fur friend grow back.
In fact, even if your dog don’t have dermatitis, you can still mix apple cider vinegar in the bath water of your dog to neutralize the odor. It will also let your dog’s fur grow into a natural and thick sheen, and prevent them from hotspots. Add around a quarter of a cup of apple cider vinegar for every gallon of water—this should keep out the fleas and even avoid ear mites.
There are other home remedies that will surely be handy when your vet’s not around:
Fantastic home remedies for common dog ailments
For an upset stomach, try cooked white rice. Cook the rice according to package directions and feed this to your dog for a couple of days instead of their normal food. On the second day you can add ground chicken or turkey to the rice. I know some folks only feed raw meat to their dogs, so your choice to cook or not cook the chicken or turkey, it’s the white rice that will settle their stomachs and cleanse their system of whatever was causing it to be upset.
Add garlic to your dog’s daily food and it will prevent internal parasites. Garlic will also rid your dog of existing internal parasites. A few shavings of fresh garlic or about 1/4 teaspoon processed garlic mixed with their food daily. The garlic will also help keep the ticks off of your dogs. Ticks don’t like the flavor of garlic so they won’t attach themselves to your dogs.
If your dog has a gas problem, yogurt with Probiotics mixed with their food daily will solve it. About 4 teaspoons a day will do the trick. (More Here)
There you go. With apple cider vinegar, rice, garlic, and yogurt, you should be able to keep your old friend in top shape…and keep the vet away!
10 Common Dog Ailments and Treatments In The Field
You can’t be too careful when you take your old buddy on a walk or on a hike in the woods. You should be fully equipped—not just with a first-aid kid, but also with knowledge on how to administer quick treatments for the most common dog ailments. That being said, here are the ten most common dog injuries, and the corresponding treatments for them.
1. Porcupine Quills
Do not move the quill around as you attempt to remove it. Instead, you can use a pair of pliers or your fingers, and place them as close to the dog’s skin as possible before finally removing it. If it is placed around your dog’s mouth, make sure your dog is braced. Often, the dog will bite even because of the pain caused by the quill. After removing the quills, clean the area with alcohol. If the discomfort persists, you can prescribe alcohol or iodine.
2. Foreign Objects Stuck in the Foot
If there’s a thorn or glass stuck in the foot, remove it fast and firmly. Afterward, apply antiseptic and antibiotic on the foot. If necessary, you will need to wrap a bandage around.
3. Broken Nail
If your dog bleeds because of a broken nail, you might need to use a pair of pliers to pull of the hanging nail. Be careful not to tug on the soft quick on the inside of the nail. And them, apply a styptic pencil to stop the bleeding.
4. Waterborne Illness
If the water your dog drinks off from contains viruses, your dog might suffer from diarrhea. It’s essential for you to hydrate your dog. You should also come prepared with an electrolyte solution that will be mixed with the dog’s water. Feed white rice to the dog if you have some with you.
Another waterborne disease is skin rash, caused by blue-green algae. This is toxic to your dog’s internal organs—bring him to a vet at once.
5. Foreign Objects Stuck in the Eyes or Ears
You can tell if this is the case when your dog keeps on blinking or rubbing either the eyes or the ears. If it’s not deep in the ears or eyes, you can remove it with tweezers and forceps carefully. You can also flush the eyes using a saline solution. Just don’t burrow deep and remove it manually if you can’t find it. Your best bet in this case is to bring the dog to a vet.
The next three ones are more serious injuries, and will require you to be extra careful.
10 Common Dog Ailments and Treatments In The Field
BARBED WIRE OR OTHER SERIOUS CUT
Attempt to control bleeding with pressure, clean the wound with antiseptic and antibiotic ointment, and wrap the wound with an ace bandage or by gluing or stapling it shut. If your dog is in danger of excessive blood loss, tie a tourniquet an inch above the wound with a ripped off section of a t-shirt, an ace bandage or whatever else you have on hand. Insert a small stick, pen or other straight, narrow object in the fabric loop and twist tight. Wrap the stick to the leg with tape or an ace bandage. Loosen the tourniquet every 15 minutes for one to two minutes to allow blood circulation to the limb, and get your dog to a vet as soon as possible.
PENETRATING INJURY
Do remove an object you are certain is close to the surface by pulling it out the way it went it. But don’t ever pull out a stick that’s protruding from deep inside your dog’s chest, abdomen or anywhere else—removal can cause more damage than entry. If a stick is buried in your dog, hold the stick firmly, saw it off so that it doesn’t cause more damage, keep your dog as quiet and caln as possible and get to a vet.
FALLING TRAUMA (BREAKS, SPRAINS)
Bind sprains with an ace bandage in the figure-eight pattern described above with an ace bandage, but not so tight that your dog’s paw gets cold or swollen. Stabilize obvious fractures with a splint or stick, and get your dog to a vet while keeping it as quiet and caln as possible. Broken limbs swell. Sprains don’t, and they’re generally not tender to the touch. (Read More)
9. Heat Exhaustion
As you wound your way through the woods, your dog might feel overworked. Just like what you’d do to an exhausted human, take a rest, find shade, and let your old buddy take a bit off an energy bar.
10. Allergic Reactions
If your dog experiences an allergic reaction through rashes, swelling, or hot spots, wash the area concerned immediately. Apply steroid cream or calamine lotion on the area.
Your dog may be of age, but that shouldn’t stop you and your buddy from having fun. If your dog is up to it, and you have the time, go for a walk, take them to a field. As long as you know what to do in case they get ill, there shouldn’t be a problem.
As you grieve the loss of your good old dog, the choice of pet cremation may sound appealing to you for a number of reasons. If you’ve set your mind on this, the last thing you have to worry about is pet cremation costs. Pet burial is often expensive and requires compliance with several local government laws. Pet cremation, on the other hand, will serve the same purpose as a pet burial but won’t require you to spend as much.
The typical costs of a pet burial depend on the size of the pet. For small puppies, the price range is $55 to $100. Dogs that are up to 50 pounds, the costs range between $100 and $150. Dogs that are between 50 and 120 pounds will cost $150 to $350, with the price going up as the size of the dog’s body goes up.
This fee already involves a range of services, from having your pet picked up to delivering it to the facility. There might also be some additional costs depending on the additional services performed.
Pet Cremation Costs? Don’t worry about it
What should be included:
Pet cremation services often have someone on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
After you call, the company often will pick up the pet from the home or veterinary clinic and deliver it to the facility. A staff member then tags the pet with an identification number, and cremates the animal in a special furnace that reduces the body to sand-like particles.
The facility places the ashes either in a sealed bag or a tin or cardboard box, then either holds them for pick-up or delivers them to the owner.
Some pet cemeteries that also do cremation offer free pet bereavement support groups.
Additional costs:
Some crematories charge an added fee of about $45 to pick-up the body after hours and on weekends.
Some crematories allow the pet owner to view the cremation, sometimes for an added fee of about $25 or more.
Urns to hold the ashes typically cost $50 to $150 for a classic bronze, brass or enamel vase, depending on size, but can run as high as $1,000 for a large wax-cast urn in an elaborate shape. Experts recommend choosing urn size based on the pet’s pre-cremation body weight, with one cubic inch of space per pound. AngelAshes.com offers urns, as does PerfectMemorials.com.
An engraved nameplate for the urn can cost about $10 to $25. (Read More Here)
There are crematories that will give you a discount of more than 50%, should you opt for a communal cremation. Before availing the service, you might want to ask a facility if they do mass cremations, how they dispose of the ashes, and whether you’ll get the ashes back.
You can also ask for a tour of the facility. There’s nothing wrong with this at all—after all, you just want the best for your beloved pet.
Dealing with the loss of your fur friend can put a temporary stop in your life. What do you do next? How do you move forward? Most importantly, how do you remember the good times you’ve shared with your old friend? In these trying times, the one thing you have to remember is to be positive. Focus on the positive. Think of the positive. And create something positive out of this entire ordeal. There are many dog memorial ideas that can help you produce just that.
1. Make a tribute
One way of the memorializing your pet’s beautiful life is by creating a tribute. It can be anything: a photo album, a craft, or a written account. For a photo tribute, you can choose the most beautiful photo of your fur baby—and have it elegantly bound in a stunning frame. If you can’t possibly pick just one, why don’t you create an entire album, showing your dog immersed in different activities or in different points in time?
You might also want to make a new craft out of it—like needlepoint kits that look like your pet or a cross-stitch project. Why don’t you visit Etsy, for some ideas of the best crafts that can commemorate your pet.
As for a written tribute, you can translate your thoughts into writing. You can write a poem, a touching letter, or even a collection of short stories about how your dog changed you and your family’s lives. You will find the release relieving, not to mention heart-endearing.
2. Create something new
There are many portrait artists who can paint a stunning caricature of your dog and bring your beloved pet to life, even just for a brief moment whenever you glance at the picture. You can find these artists in your yellow pages. If you’re interested in creating a portrait for your pet, better find a good quality image now.
Another novel idea is to plan a tree in your fur friend’s name. Companies likeTreegivers can plant a tree of your choice in the name of your special friend. You can plant the tree in your backyard or you can even ask the city parks department to have it planted in the city park.
For some people shopping works its wonders. You can go therapy shopping for a memorial item that will always remind you of your special friend.
3. Contribute and do your part.
One great way of commemorating your special pet’s life is by paying it forward: contribute to an animal welfare organization, one with a cause that you believe in. Some NGOs will make a special remembrance—perhaps etch your pet’s name on a brass plate or on a stone, which will then form part of the facility.
You can also contribute to the research organization that’s currently working on a cure for whatever caused your pet’s death. This will prevent pet owners from having to see their pets die from a similar cause.
This is by no means an exhaustive list. Here are some other ways for you to commemorate your dearly beloved pet.
Dog Memorial Ideas that Can Help You Move On
Put your pet’s picture in a photo-display box (one that has a place in the top for a photo). Put some of the pet’s treasures inside the box, such as a collar or a lock of hair.
Place a memorial stone or marker in your garden, even if you have not buried your pet at home.
Keep a journal to help you through the grieving process. Record your pet’s life story in that journal.
Build your own website in tribute to your pet.
Put a special statue (not necessarily a funeral marker) in a garden spot that your pet loved. E.g., a statue of a pet, or of an angel, or St. Francis.
Here’s one from a reader: Create a stepping stone for your garden in memory of your pet, or to mark its grave or the burial place of its ashes. There are many kits available that enable you to make your own stone and personalize it. The reader noted, “For example, my cat loved to eat fish and I found glass fish with which to make a mosaic.”
Here’s a reader’s account of her Dog Party: Diary of the Best Last Day. It’s a wonderful, moving example of how to plan a “parting day” and create a farewell event for one’s pet and family. (Read More Here)
When it all comes down to it, what matters the most is that you let go, without forgetting; that you move forward, without leaving everything behind; and that you continue to love your other pets despite having your heart broken.
Diagnosing dog hearing loss: simple but effective techniques
Common among older dogs who are advancing in age is hearing loss. It’s not always easy to tell if your dog is suffering from dog hearing loss, but the folks at Petside Advisory Board have some simple tips that might help you figure out.
Experts agree that making a loud noise is the easiest way to tell if a dog has hearing loss. The range of noises you can make varies—from whistling and clapping your hands to even banging a pot together or a nonbreakable bowl. These are sounds that are bound to elicit some kind of reaction from a dog, and if yours doesn’t respond, it might be time to take your old buddy to the vet.
Another smart yet simple technique is to crinkle the bag that has your buddy’s favorite food. Your dog probably has default reaction whenever greeted with his or her favorite treat. If you crinkle the bag of treats and don’t get any reaction, then it might be a red signal for hearing loss.
Of course, you can never know for sure if your dog has hearing loss until you visit the vet. For that matter, Nancy Taylor, the CEO of Bideawee has an insightful remark on how to determine hearing loss for your beloved pet.
Diagnosing dog hearing loss: simple but effective techniques
“Deafness can be congenital or acquired. Dogs with white pigmentation, such as the Dalmatian are predisposed to congenital deafness. Breeders will sometimes have puppies tested, using a hearing test called BAER (Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response). Because we can’t ask the pet if they can hear certain frequencies, this test is the only definitive way to detect hearing loss in animals as it measures electrical activity across the pathways in the brain and inner ear that conduct sound. Typically this test is performed by a veterinary neurologist, usually at a teaching hospital.
Short of BAER, you can reason that an animal is hearing impaired by certain behaviors or lack thereof. Typically, animals respond to noise stimuli, like the sound of your voice, the squeak of a toy, the car door slamming or the front door opening and the sound of the food bag. If you notice that these sounds don’t elicit a response from your pet, especially when he/she is not looking at you, it may indicate that there is hearing loss. You can investigate further by trying some in-home investigation. While your pet is not looking at you, you can whistle, ring the doorbell, clap your hands or use a squeaky toy and assess the response. Your veterinarian can also assist you.” (Read More Here)
If you’ve determined for sure that your dog has hearing loss, you don’t have to despair over it. This is a normal part of the aging process. Your dog needs you more now than ever—and the first way for you to show your support is by being strong for you both.
Whoever said that old dogs don’t know how to have fun was badly mistaken. Just because your old buddy isn’t as fast, as excitable, and as wide-eyed as before doesn’t mean your loving canine isn’t up for a round or two of games. There are many ways for you to have fun playing with a senior dog, and here are a few ideas to get you started!
1. Find it Game
You and your dog know this game all too well. Essentially, it involves your dog looking for a piece of treat that you tossed to the ground. For starters, have your dog sniff on the treat, then drop it in front of them. Continue the entire process, except that for every succeeding turn, you should throw the treat farther and farther. Dogs never—I repeat, never—seem to tire of these hunting games and you can even feed them entire meals just by playing this game!
2. Hide and Seek
This is a cop-out of the Find It game, except that your dog will look for an entire person. Once they find the person, they’ll get a huge treat. Now, what old dog would bark ‘no’ to that?
3. The Muffin Tin Game
Quite a unique game specially made for older dogs, the Muffin Tin game will require a 6- or 12-muffin tin. Place a treat on each tin, then put a tennis ball over half of them. Your dog will then get familiarized to the scent and figure out that underneath the tennis balls are exciting treats awaiting them.
4. Go Wild And Freezy
Feeling a little hippie and dance-y? You might be surprised that old dogs still have the groove in them, if you play this game with them.
Fun ideas for playing with a senior dog
A famous game is “Go Wild and Freeze,” first developed by the trainer September Morn. You can find September’s e-mail address at the bottom of this page. There are many ways to play “Go Wild and Freeze” – here’s one. Start by dancing around and acting excited till your dog gets going, too. After a minute or so, you all of a sudden stop moving. Ask your dog to sit, or down, or do another behavior she knows well. The moment she does it, start dancing around again; when your dog joins in, stop, ask for that sit or down again, and reward her by re-starting the party.
Mix things up by varying what behaviors you ask for and how long you wait before re-starting the game. If your dog is super-excitable and likely to mouth you or ricochet off you, start with a pale-vanilla version of “going wild” — your dog’s introduction to this game can be “Take a Single Step and Freeze.” You can also retreat behind a baby gate if need be.
“Go Wild and Freeze” is not only fun, it helps teach your dog self-control as she learns to respond to your cues even when excited. End the game clearly, for example by saying “All done!” and sitting down with a book. If you say the same phrase every time, your dog will learn that it signifies the end of play for now. Ignore any attempts to reel you back in — otherwise, she’ll learn that pestering works. (Read More Here)
The best part about these fun games is that they also train your senior dogs in the long run. This should dispel any notion that training dogs require force and heavy hands. You can teach your dog to sit and run, to spin on cue, and close the door among several simple commands—all while you and your buddy spend time together!
It’s hard to pick up the pieces after you just received news of your beloved pet’s death. Through this time, you will have to make some decisions that will ultimately reflect on your dog’s time on earth. For one, you will need to decide where to keep your dog. You will also have to think about how to remember your pet by. Pet burial is one option, while cremating a pet is also a choice of many pet owners. Either way, what’s important is how you honor your dog’s memory.
The first and most urgent concern is where to store your pet’s body. Although you should ideally direct your pet’s body to funeral services, sometimes you may have to store the body. This is okay, as long as you keep the body well-cooled for up to 24 hours.
Cooling the body is important to prevent decomposition. That’s why you shouldn’t wrap the body with a warm blanket around it. This will draw the heat out of the body and speed up the process of decay.
One way is to store the body in the refrigerator. You can also place the body on a cool concrete or cement floor to draw out the heat and keep the body cool. If none of these are possible, you may put the body in the coldest part of the room, wrap it in a plastic bag and fill it with ice.
If you’ve finally settled on pet cremation and live in New York, you’ll find that there are many ways for you to reach pet cremation services.
Guide to Cremating a Pet
It is very common for pet owners to have their deceased pets cremated, and there are many places in the city that will handle this for you. You first need to decide if you wish to keep your pet’s ashes as a remembrance. If so, you will want to arrange an individual (or private) cremation, meaning that your pet is cremated alone. This ensures that the remains returned to you are purely those of your pet. Businesses that offer individual cremation will have an assortment of urns and keepsake options for you to choose from and usually offer home pickup/delivery of remains as part of their service packages. One such business is Brooklyn-based Companion Cremation Services; this company also provides services to Long Island residents.
The Animal Medical Center is open 24 hours and will accept your animal for communal cremation at any time, day or night, for a $50 fee. Other cremation services are available, but must be arranged directly with the third-party cremation service provider.
If you’ve decided to bury your dog, you can do so in your backyard. However, if it is not wide enough, there are a number of cemeteries around New York, like Pet Haven, Hartsdale Pet Cemetery, and ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital.
Indeed, this will be a tough time for you. But know that whatever happens, the memory of your beloved pet lives on and you have several shoulders to lean on.
Why would you want to adopt an older dog? There are lots of reasons! Most of the time, older dogs are not in shelters due to behavior problems, but because of family issues like divorce or moving etc. Keep an open mind when going to look at dogs to adopt and consider an older dog because with them, what you see is what you get. By this we mean that you will have a better indication of the kind of temperament they have, as well as know their size and grooming requirements.
Older dogs are easy to train, if they aren’t trained already. They have the patience that a puppy lacks in training sessions and have been around people more. They also tend to be super loving! They understand a bit better in regard to what is going on and are usually really grateful to be part of a family again. Older dogs also don’t require the same watchful eye that puppies do. So you can relax a bit more and simply work on everyone getting to know each other.
It is also highly likely that older dogs up for adoption are already house trained, so you might not have to go through that trouble. Also think about the fact that the commitment of an older dog would be for a shorter time. Obviously, a puppy could live anywhere from 8 to 20 years. With an older dog, some of that time has already elapsed, so depending on your situation, that might be something else to think about.
Senior dogs can be more at ease and more relaxed in general as well. They can sleep a lot and require less in the way of constant attention or exercise. Again, depending on your lifestyle and family situation, this could really be a great way to add the love of a dog into your family without taxing everyone involved more than necessary. Pets of any kind are work, but it just might be a little bit less with a more mature dog. Think about selecting an older dog when adopting. You will be saving their life and perhaps your own in the process! They are ready and willing to love you with all their hearts.
What do you do when your beloved bur baby can no longer walk comfortably? You still want to take your walks like you used to; see your friends and run your errands, but you don’t want to leave him behind. When that happens, you think outside the box and do whatever you can to keep your old friend with you as much as possible. That is the kind of love that this video speaks to.
This man loves his dog and wants to keep him near him as he goes about town. Wrapped lovingly in a blanket, this sweet dog calmly accepts attention and some wonderful petting from passersby. He knows his owner will pull him along in his bin when it’s time to go!
What do you do when your beloved fur baby can no longer walk comfortably? You do what every you have to do. And you do it happily and with all the love in your heart!
Pet Insurance could make any illness a bit easier on you.
As your dog ages, he becomes more vulnerable to arthritis, cancer and diseases of the liver, heart or kidney. This means that it is also likely the most expensive time in your dog’s life as well. These reasons make pet insurance a smart decision and can really help you when you need it most. Treatment costs to help your dog can get pretty expensive. If your sweet baby needs a ramp or support harness in addition to medication for arthritis, it can cost you up to $500. What if your dog needs radiation therapy for cancer? Did you know that can be up to about $5,000?
A recent survey by the American Kennel Club stated that, on average, dog owners have been spending around $1,500 per year to maintain their older dog’s health. That survey also showed that one in three dogs also needs some type of emergency treatment during their lifetime as well. Pet insurance sure would come in handy then! So why don’t more owners have some kind of pet insurance coverage? It is likely due to a lack of information to help answer the questions that many owners have. Most owners will want to start by researching the kinds of insurance that are available first.
How Pet Insurance Can Help
“I’m worried it won’t cover all my dog’s health costs.” Different plans offer different kinds of coverage, and many plans cover quite a bit, especially if your dog is under a certain age. It’s almost impossible, however, to find a plan that covers everything. Still, almost everything is better than nothing, right?
“It’s too expensive.” Depends on what you mean by “expensive.” Spending $1,500 for an MRI to see if your dog tore his ligament while catching a frisbee, and then another couple thousand for surgery to repair the damage–that seems expensive. Spending around $30 a month for a premium? Not so much. (Read more here)
Putting off this off isn’t going to help, either. It can be a little bit intimidating, but getting through the research once is more than worth it. Ask your vet or other dog owners you trust if they recommend a specific insurance. Once you have a place to start looking, it won’t be that bad!
Keep in mind that not all coverage includes a cancer diagnosis…and you also need to know that preexisting conditions won’t be covered either. If your dog is still in relatively good health, then now really is the best time to get this coverage in place.
Training an older dog with a leash can be tough, especially for senior dogs that won’t follow you. The resistance of older dogs with a leash comes in different ways. Often they will pull away or tug at you. Other times, your dog might gnaw at your clothes, circle around, or grab your pocket. Which of these methods have been used by your dog against you?
Whatever it may be, this video has one advice: stand still. It might take as long as eleven minutes, and your dog will try different methods. But if you stand still, your dog will eventually follow you. At this point, you can complement them by giving a treat or telling them “Good Boy!” Keep on doing this, and eventually your dog will be fully trained with a leash.
The first step is for the senior dog to get used to the leash
How do you train a senior dog with the leash? You might feel frustrated or embarrassed because of your inability to leash train your dog, but with perseverance, your dog will soon come around. Senior dogs who tug or pull their leash may be difficult to train. But after four to five weeks of steady training, they should be able to get rid of this habit. At most, training an older dog with the leash takes six weeks.
The first step is for the senior dog to get used to the leash, which means having to wear it often. You can also make your dog wear a leash while eating or doing fun activities—this way, your beloved pet will associate it with fun things.
On the second or third day of doing this, you can start by walking your dog in familiar places. One great place to start is your home: around five to ten minutes should be enough.
The third and fourth steps are the most crucial, and you will have to be careful:
Leash Training Your Senior Dog
Step 3
When you are confident enough after leash training within the house, you may take your dog outdoors. You need to allow you dog to drag the leash around. You should occasionally pick up the leash and follow him. Make sure you offer him a dog treat while walking with the leash in your hand.
Step 4
Now, comes the important part of leash training an older dog. This is where you teach him you are the master and he has to follow you. You need to hold the leash in your right hand and then coax the dog to walk on your left side. This can be done by holding the leash in your right hand and a treat in your left hand. Continue to walk and say, ‘Let’s go’ or ‘Come on’ to make him understand that it is time to walk. When he follows your orders correctly, praise him a lot. (Read More Here)
Lastly, if you have difficulty with your dog that keeps tugging and pulling, the trick is to take a counter-wise turn, and then start walking in the opposite direction while holding the leash. You can also stop firmly, hold onto the leash, and be firm. Both will establish your authority and will get an otherwise stubborn dog to follow you. Keep doing this, and you’ll soon realize that your senior dog is already perfectly leash-trained!
