20 Halloween Tips for Dog Owners

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

courtesy S. Gilbert

During our #Coupaween Twitter Party, I shared a good many Halloween safety tips, alongside Arden Moore's expert tips. I've combined some of our tips to make this a quicker read that is even more helpful.

If you missed the party, or simply found it tough to keep up, I hope the following tips will get put to good use on Halloween evening or if you have a themed party. Feel free to leave your additional thoughts in comments below.

1. Avoid K9 bolters by keeping dogs on leashes or in a closed room when you green trick-or-treaters.
2. Make sure your pet sports a reflective collar for visibility with ID tags, name, your cell phone number and microchip.
3. When opting for costume wear, check for fit and comfort. Do a dress rehearsal a few days early to allow time for modifications.
4. Have important numbers available: vet, ER vet, ASPCA poison control hotline.
5. Making your pet's costume yourself? Avoid buttons or small items that can be swallowed.
6. Consider pet's visibility when selecting costumes. Dogs may be more easily frightened when they cannot see well.
7. When checking for fit, also look at body language. Nothing too tight?
8. Simple, yet stylish goes a long way. Velcro bow ties or pleated tuxedos on male dogs is very dapper.
9. When taking Fido out to trick-or-treat, choose light-colored costumes for best visibility by others.
10. Black costumes are very hard to see in the dark AND difficult to recognize when worn on a black dog. Choose contrasting color to your dog's fur.
11. Dogs will often hang their head when extremely unhappy with costume. Consider removing headpiece or footwear.
12. Be sure costumes are made of breathable fabric and are fire retardant.
13. Help your dog become more comfortable with costume by daily practice with treats and praise. Go slow!
14. Reduce stress by treating your dog to a brisk walk before sundown on Halloween eve.
15. Associate costume with pleasurable activity by letting Fido wear it while eating.
16. Dogs who won't wear costumes will often tolerate a bandana, reflective collar or collar light.
17. ONLY take well-socialized dogs on house to house trick-or-treating.
18. Candy and wrappers all out of reach!
19. Candles are dangerous. Choose battery-operated versions for safety.
20. Simplify costumes by using only the key components. Example: Wizard of Oz's Dorothy's red slippers can be easily made to slip over dog's paws without being slippers. Think out of the box!

Happy Halloween,

Tips for Tent Camping with Your Dog

by guest writer Kelley Denz of Critter Minute

© copyright on file

Retrievers Love a Good Romp

 in Nearly Any Water Available

I love going camping, and every year I try to go camping at least once. I always take my dogs, Sadie and Rusty with me. They love all the new smells, sights, and sounds. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you go camping with your dog.

Make sure your dog’s vaccinations are up to date with a phone call to your vet. Take a first aid kit for you and your dog. Make sure to include sun-block.

You may want to apply flea and tick preventive on your dog. Fleas and ticks can be anywhere, but are more prevalent in the woods. Using a preventative product could help to keep you from bringing fleas back to your home and yard.

Be sure to have an updated ID tag and/or microchip on your dog, just in case your dog gets lost. If you're staying at one campsite for any number of days stop by your local Wal-mart/Petsmart and create a dog tag with the name, location of your campsite and a phone number where you can be reached. Bring an extra leash in case something happens to your regular leash.

Make sure your destination allows dogs; most campgrounds are dog friendly but some national parks like Yosemite allow dogs only in certain campsites. Verify the trails around your chosen campsite allow dogs. You can go to www.GoPetFriendly.com to find an extensive list of pet friendly campsites. www.hikewithyourdog.com offers a listing of trails in the United States and Canada that welcome dogs.

When picking out your campsite try to get one that offers your dog some shade. Camping near a stream or lake is also a good idea. It will provide your dog with an easy source of water.

Pack enough dog food and water for your pooch. I always bring collapsible bowls for their food and water. I prefer the convenience of collapsible bowls because they are lightweight, and you can easily pack them in a backpack if you decide to go hiking. After feeding, empty your dog’s food dish of any leftover food. You do not want to attract any unwanted insects or wildlife.

Bring your dog’s brush with you to remove stickers, fox tails and other things caught in their fur. I have found using a small black men’s comb will remove most stickers from dog hair fairly easily.

I prefer to sleep with my dogs while camping. This way I am alerted by Sadie and Rusty if anything enters the camp area. They also help to keep me warm during the night. However, if you prefer, there are tents made for dogs, and you could bring along Fido's dog bed.  Keep in mind if you leave your dog outside all night he/she could get sprayed by a skunk or be vulnerable to dangerous wild animals such as bears.

Make sure you are aware of other animals that may be in the area. Many people take their dogs camping with them, so other dogs in the area are likely. There could be people on horseback, squirrels, rabbits, coyotes, the list is endless. Be prepared to have some adventures. Enjoy!

Kelley Denz is the author of Critter Minute, a website and blog about natural dog products and fun, helpful tips for dog lovers. Like her post? Leave a comment at the link below to show your appreciation.

Related Reading:

Camping with Your Dogs: Part I

Camping with Your Dogs: Part II

Camping with Your Dogs: Part III--Strategies for Happy Dogs and Happy Families at the Campground

Camping with Your Dogs: Part IV—Success is in the Details

Kurgo Winners Grab First Aid on the Go

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Take Care While Hiking

Thanks to all of you who showed your interest in and support for making sure your pets are well cared for when they need first aid while out and about with you. Many of you indicated a need to add a first aid kit to your car as well as to have one for outings like Fall hikes. 

Just today we finally had a slight reduction in the usual Florida heat. It's 81 degrees and glorious. After work we'll be taking an extra long walk just to celebrate this spectacular weather. Hallelujah!

I'm excited to announce the winners of our 5 Kurgo first aid kits that strap onto your belt or backpack for easy, hands-free carrying while you're out walking or hiking. Congratulations to Megan S., Abby C., Bryn N., Brynn D., and Joann S. It's wonderful to see familiar names that have stuck around, and also grand to hear new names that have just joined out readership. Welcome aboard!

I'll be in touch with our winners via my AllThingsDogBlog@gmail.com email account.

courtesy Kurgo.com

Watch your inboxes and your spam files to assure you don't miss your email. I'll need your correct full name and a shipping address. Feel free to email me directly if you prefer not to wait. 

For those of you who are not on the winners' list this time, I encourage you to soak up the review and the information at the giveaway post. Perhaps then you'll want to order yourself one on the Kurgo website to make sure you're prepared. Thanks again for joining us.

Happy tails,

A Kurgo First Aid Kit was provided to us for review and trial. The comments above are completely my own observations. I was not paid to provide this review or the giveaway.

Win a Kurgo First Aid Kit for Your Dog

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Kurgo's 1st Aid Kit Tags Along on My Belt

Enjoying nature with your dog can be a wonderful way to see things that you may never have noticed--viewing them through the eyes of your dog as he sniffs the bushes, rocks and trees along the path. The problem is that some of those curious sniffs can end badly. Snake bites, sharp rocks and sticks, bug bites and other surprises can await when you venture into the woods. That's why you must always go prepared to deal with the most urgent of matters.

The Kurgo first aid kit straps onto your belt or backpack quite easily, and honestly, I hardly knew it was there when this photo was snapped by a friend. Despite the 50 pieces of first aid necessities inside, it weighs almost nothing. You can read more about this at my first aid kit review.

Now it's time to get on with the fun. I'm going to be giving away 5 of these handy pet first aid kits, to assure that at least a few of you will be prepared to head off with proper supplies.

If you're more of a sure-thing sort, you can purchase a kit at the Kurgo website, where they also sell refills when you use up supplies.

Keep One In Your Car Too!

As you use the Rafflecopter entry form, keep in mind that giveaways are supposed to be fun. Enter using only those methods you find enjoyable, and pace yourself. Finally, be aware that the entry form is a bit persnickety sometimes. If it's hiding in the woods and out of sight, simply click on the post title to get it to reappear in the meadow to play. 

Entries will be open through midnight on Thursday, October 16. I'll announce the winners on Friday, October 17. Good luck!

A Kurgo First Aid Kit was provided to us for review and trial. The comments above are completely my own observations. I was not paid to provide this review or the giveaway that will follow.

Dog First Aid on the Go

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Mom! Low Hanging Branches Ahead

While hiking on our Blue Ridge Parkway adventure, we had a couple of close calls with injuries and wounds. It was a great time to have the Kurgo First Aid Kit along. We didn't have any catastrophic injuries, but a tick and a smashed digit meant we got to make use of the ice pack and the tweezers, two very important items that are each included in the kit. We were glad that the kit was small and equipped with Velcro straps to attach to a belt (or backpack) for quick access. Otherwise, I may have left it behind. Great move, Kurgo!

When hiking on gravel that seemed rough for Oliver's dainty white paw pads, I picked him up until we passed these areas. I wasn't looking to make use of wound cleaner or anticeptic ointment. Thankfully Oliver is only a 10-pounder. Tanner, who had a 2-week sleepover with his girl at grad school, wouldn't have gotten that same treatment. Maybe booties could have been an option, but otherwise, he would have found it easier to off-trail his walk to get around painful gravel. He's lucky to be the big guy with tougher skin on his paw pads. Either way, we were prepared to treat any cuts, scrapes or insect bites and keep them clean until we could get any additional medical treatment needed. That's what a first aid kit is for--diminishing the need for more serious care.

courtesy Kurgo

The Kurgo first aid kit includes loads of first responder supplies to help clean up wounds, keep them covered, 
and check for problems. You'll even find scissors in this handy pack, so you can cut the bandages or trim away fur that could potentially cause infection in a cut. And the folks at Kurgo have truly thought of everything; you can buy a first aid kit refill here. 

While you're at it, think about picking up an extra to leave in your car for those times when you're on four wheels. This nifty fold up kit fits snugly into your glove compartment for on-the-go pet first aid. What's more, if you're like us and have plunged into traveling with your pets via RV or travel trailer, you'll most certainly want to equip yourselves for any injury that could happen while you're camping or off the beaten path. 

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Watch Out for Allergies Too

I would recommend you ask your vet for a list of proactive or preventive meds that you should add to the first aid kit, just in case. We added Benedryl to use if we encountered any bug bites and ended up using it when we encountered Goldenrod--a common allergen--in bloom. It's quite beautiful but also elicits a horrible response in those who are allergic to it. 

What's more, fields of flowers such as Goldenrod attract bees, another way in which you and Fido could get bitten and require both Benedryl and the first aid kit for treatment. That said, enjoy this Goldenrod in the photo and steer clear of the real stuff. It's safer!

Another important inclusion for the safety of you and others while treating your injured or sick dog is a muzzle or similar creation. Using rolled gauze, you can wrap your dogs snout shut if he is extremely fearful and lashing out. This will assure that his caregivers are safe from bites that are fear-based, occuring while your dog is frightened and in pain. Taking this step also makes the treatment easier since you're not fighting to keep from being bitten by your dog when he's terrified from the experience. You can now focus on other matters. Keep your voice as calm as possible and speak reassuringly without coddling your dog.

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Taking a Short Break on the Hike

If your dog is seriously injured, an emergency blanket is also included to help keep him warm while you transport him to get help. Impressive? You bet!

Let me tell you a little-known but very important tip: The Blue Ridge Parkway, along with many other remote natural areas, has no cell service. So, when Fido gets hurt, guess who gets to play nurse and doctor? You! So, be prepared to be a first responder, while moving quickly to get to the nearest veterinarian's office, if needed. #ProactivePetParent

As usual with my product reviews, I'll be opening a giveaway for Kurgo's First Aid Kit soon. Watch for this event if you'd like to enter to get prepared for your potential job as a first responder. If not, feel free to visit the website listed above to order a kit right now.

Want to know more? You can hob knob with the social media folks at Kurgo via these sites to learn everything you ever wanted to know about Kurgo: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KurgoProducts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kurgo

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/KurgoProducts

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kurgoproducts/

Kurgo's Blog: http://www.kurgoblog.com/

Safe Travels,

A Kurgo First Aid Kit was provided to us for review and trial. The comments above are completely my own observations. I was not paid to provide this review or the giveaway that will follow.

Ask the Veterinatian About Coprophagia

by Julie Buzby, DVM 

courtesy Dayland via Flickr.com
Looking Guilty

Dear Dr. Buzby,

How do we get our pups to stop eating their own, or other dogs, poop?

Thanks, Lori,

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello Lori,

You recently queried on AllThingsDogBlog about how to stop coprophagia in dogs.  Great question, but I recommend not reading my answer while eating a meal.  Coprophagia literally means “to eat feces”.  This activity, like dogs rolling on a dead carcass, is something we humans cannot appreciate.  Yet it is a very rewarding behavior for our canine companions.

For-Bid™ is probably the product most commonly recommended by veterinarians for this issue.  It’s been around for years, and is fed to dogs for 5-6 consecutive days, then as needed.  For-Bid™ is basically wheat gluten and monosodium glutamate (MSG).  MSG is the active ingredient because it is broken down in digestion to make the stool taste yucky.  Reviews are mixed on how well the product works, but I’m leary about prescribing wheat gluten and/or sodium glutamate to my patients. 

Several over-the-counter products are also available, some with more “gentle” ingredients (such as digestive enzymes and probiotics), but they also garner mixed reviews for efficacy. Then there’s the list of home remedies, such as feeding meat tenderizer or pineapple, used for their enzymatic properties in digestion. 

I need to point out that in a multidog household, if you are giving an oral product to address this problem, the product needs to be given to all dogs, not just the dog who ingests feces, so that all the accessible excrement is altered.

Unfortunately, in my experience, there is no magic bullet for coprophagia (though sometimes one of the above products or tactics will work for an individual).

The most reliable way to address this behavior requires diligent, hygienic management of the dog’s environment and access to stool.  This means:

•   strict supervision when the dog is outdoors

•   immediate picking up of the feces to remove the temptation

•   teaching the “leave it” command

•   as a last resort, using a basket muzzle to prevent ingestion

It is important to note that this behavior is not only a problem from the standpoint of the “gross factor”, but is also a possible route of transmission of internal parasites and bacteria.

Please talk to your veterinarian about your concerns.  Though coprophagia is usually just a behavioral habit, it can be associated with a dietary problem or even an underlying medical issue.

Dr. Julie Buzby is a homeschooling mom of seven, American Veterinary Chiropractic Association and International Veterinary Acupuncture Society certified holistic veterinarian, and passionate advocate for canine mobility.In her free time she serves on the Advisory Board for The Grey Muzzle Organization. She can be found at Twitter @DrBuzby and on Facebook.com/ToeGrips. You'll also find more of Dr. Julie's posts at our Ask the Vet Archives page.

Here are a few of her articles that may be of interest:

• Our Vet's Best Advice on Nutrition
• Skin Rashes
• Ask the Vet: Fido's Dental Care
• Ask the Vet About Giardia
• Doggie Nailcare and Posture

Dr. Julie's opinion or advice does not replace an actual exam with a veterinarian.

PurOtic Winners Get Clean Ears

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
All Done, Tanner. Wasn't that Easy?!!!

My heart is all aflurry right now for my readers' dogs. There are clearly a lot of you with ear issues, based on the emails, comments and Tweets during our giveaway of PurOtic Ear Cleaner and Dryer. Thanks for your participation and for adding your thoughts to the conversation.

With so many stories out there about ear troubles, it feels good to have played a small part in easing the challenges of cleaning Fido's ears. Thank you to PurOtic for creating this silicone applicator that is oh-so-soft going into the ear canal. This creation truly eases the anxiety of most any dog that was previously frightened by the hard object inserted into his ear. No wonder, right?!!!

Our winners will be thrilled to receive a full size bottle of each product--the ear cleaner and ear dryer. These will be shipped to them via the PurOtic warehouse. Please join me in congratulating S. Dela Cruz, K. Volz, and M. Wright. I'll be in touch via AllThingsDogBlog@gmail.com. Please watch your inbox and your Spam file for my message within 24 hours after the announcement. Congrats to you all!

For those of you who enjoyed the review but didn't win, please visit PurOtic solutions  for the best service. We recommend that you select the Extra Strength Ear Cleaner for your dog. According to the company's representative, the regular ear cleaner is better suited to cats, so please watch this detail carefully as you place your order. Best wishes to you and your dog for healthier ears, and remember--always end a healthcare or grooming session with some affection and a treat. 

Happy tails,

This giveaway and the associated review of Innovet's PurOtic has been written completely from my own experience. I was not compensated to share my thoughts or to offer the giveaway of their products.