If your family faced an emergency, are you prepared? Have you made an evacuation plan in case of tornado, fire, hurricane, or any other natural disaster. What if there was an emergency evacuation of your area because of a chemical spill, are you ready? Most people in this day and time have thought of these things and prepared accordingly. But have you thought about what would happen to your four legged family member? Being prepared for your dog's safety is just as important.
How do you prepare to evacuate with a dog? Basically the same way you would for yourself. Think about what your dog needs every day. What about what he uses on a weekly basis. Does your dog take any type of medication? This is a list of a few things to thing about:
1. Food: You will need to pack at least a week's worth of food (2 weeks would be even better). Don't forget to pack some bowls as well. If you use canned food (or even if you don't, you may have to use in an emergency) remember to pack a can opener. Also any type of doggy treats that you use for your dog. This will help your dog feel a little more settled.
2. Medication: You will need to pack any prescription medication, if it needs to be refrigerated don't forget to have an insulated bag to put ice in to keep it cold. Also think about any thing else your dog takes such as: heart worm medication, flea and tick controls, and ear medication. You will want to make sure to keep your pet healthy in an emergency situation.
3. Restraints: You will need to make sure you have a walking leash and a short leash (in case you are stranded in a crowd). If it is a possibility that you will be driving during an evacuation you will also need a harness to attach to the seat belt. Even if you don't use one regularly, you may want to have a muzzle handy as well. You may have the most well behaved dog on the planet, but when everyone is running around, or in a crowd, you dog can very well misbehave from the excitement.
4. Bedding: Make sure you have a dog bed, blankets, and possibly a crate as a secure place to sleep. You will want your furry companion to be as comfortable as possible.
5. Familiar item: Just as you would when preparing for children, make sure you have some familiar toys for your pooch to play with. Not only will it possibly keep him occupied but may make him feel more secure away from home. A good tip is when you buy your dog a toy, buy an extra one for your emergency kit. Also in case you have to leave your dog in a shelter, an article of your clothing that you have worn may help your dog feel less insecure.
6. Important papers: Current shot records as well as registration papers should be sealed in a waterproof plastic bag. You may also want to include a recent photograph, in case you get separated from your dog.
7. Hotel listings: You may want to include in your kit a listing of dog friendly hotels with phone numbers. You may want to break this down into a 10 miles away, 20 miles away, 50 miles away, 100 miles away, etc. type list. In an emergency situation, you don't want to be wondering which one to choose.
8. Basic care items: Don't forget that your dog will need basic care just like yourself. Make sure to pack shampoo and brushes.
9. First aid kit: When packing your first aid kit don't forget about your dog. Pack anything you may need to care for your dog if he is injured. Also you may want to talk to your vet about anything extra you will need to take care of your pet, such as what to use if your dog has an allergic reaction to something.
With some planning and forethought you can prepare for an emergency evacuation with your pet in mind. Your dog's safety will depend on you, so plan well.
Friday 20 July 2007
YOUR PUPPY'S HEALTH - 7 AREAS TO KEEP YOUR WATCHFUL EYES ON TO DETECT ILLNESS
In caring for your puppy, one of the most important things you can do is keep a watchful eye on him. If you set up a monitoring routine early on, you will know what your puppy looks like when healthy and can catch illnesses much quicker. Monitoring your puppy does not have to take a lot of time, you can just add a few minutes to his normal grooming session. What are some of the things you should be watching for?
1. Body and Coat - You should run your hands over you puppy's body to check for an tumors or lumps. This can easily be done after the grooming session. You should check your puppy's body for fleas and ticks, when caught early it is much easier to eliminate them. You should keep an eye on your puppy's coat. It should look healthy, be silky and shiny. If it is looking a little dull and a good cleaning and brushing does not bring back its healthy look, you may want to check with your vet.
2. Mouth - There should not be any sores on your puppy's lips or inside his mouth. Check the teeth for any tarter build up. Look at your puppy's gums, they should be pink, without any redness or swelling at the gum lines. Make sure there are not any type of growth or lumps on your puppy's lips or inside his mouth.
3. Nose - Your puppy's nose should be wet. If it is dry then this could be a sign of an illness. There should also not be any discharge coming from your puppy's nose. There should not be any sores in or around the nose, either.
4. Eyes - A little discharge in the corner of a puppy's eyes is nothing to be alarmed about, but a very heavy discharge can be an indication of an eye infection. A puppy's eyes should be clear, no red or yellow coloration to the whites. There should also not be any heavy discharge, discoloration, cloudiness, or tearing in your puppy's eyes, if you notice any of these, consult your vet immediately.
5. Legs - You should inspect your puppy's legs for any swollen joints. Also you should check your puppy's feet periodically for objects caught in the puppy's hair, you should also trim any excess hair. If your puppy does not walk on hard rough surfaces to wear down his toenails, you will need to make sure the are clipped, this is not an indication of illness, just good grooming.
6. Anus - You should check your puppy's rear end for several problems. There should be no swelling in this area, you may notice your puppy scooting his bottom against the ground to relieve swollen glands. You should also check this area for any parasites that may be excreted out (for example, tapeworms, will break into little pieces when they have gone through the elimination process, these little pieces will look like rice) If you notice any of these you need to consult your vet as soon as possible.
7. Ears - You need to check your puppy's ears frequently, at least once a week. You may need to check more often for puppies with long hair or long swinging ears, especially if your puppy has both (i.e. cocker spaniels) You are looking for any discharge or odor. You will need to see your vet for medication if your puppy has any of the following symptoms: a foul odor, if inside the ear is inflamed, red, or hot to the touch, or if your puppy seems sensitive to you touching his ears.
By keeping an eye on these areas, you can be your puppy's best weapon against illness. If you incorporate these checks into your puppy's normal grooming routine, it will be easy to spot if something is wrong.
1. Body and Coat - You should run your hands over you puppy's body to check for an tumors or lumps. This can easily be done after the grooming session. You should check your puppy's body for fleas and ticks, when caught early it is much easier to eliminate them. You should keep an eye on your puppy's coat. It should look healthy, be silky and shiny. If it is looking a little dull and a good cleaning and brushing does not bring back its healthy look, you may want to check with your vet.
2. Mouth - There should not be any sores on your puppy's lips or inside his mouth. Check the teeth for any tarter build up. Look at your puppy's gums, they should be pink, without any redness or swelling at the gum lines. Make sure there are not any type of growth or lumps on your puppy's lips or inside his mouth.
3. Nose - Your puppy's nose should be wet. If it is dry then this could be a sign of an illness. There should also not be any discharge coming from your puppy's nose. There should not be any sores in or around the nose, either.
4. Eyes - A little discharge in the corner of a puppy's eyes is nothing to be alarmed about, but a very heavy discharge can be an indication of an eye infection. A puppy's eyes should be clear, no red or yellow coloration to the whites. There should also not be any heavy discharge, discoloration, cloudiness, or tearing in your puppy's eyes, if you notice any of these, consult your vet immediately.
5. Legs - You should inspect your puppy's legs for any swollen joints. Also you should check your puppy's feet periodically for objects caught in the puppy's hair, you should also trim any excess hair. If your puppy does not walk on hard rough surfaces to wear down his toenails, you will need to make sure the are clipped, this is not an indication of illness, just good grooming.
6. Anus - You should check your puppy's rear end for several problems. There should be no swelling in this area, you may notice your puppy scooting his bottom against the ground to relieve swollen glands. You should also check this area for any parasites that may be excreted out (for example, tapeworms, will break into little pieces when they have gone through the elimination process, these little pieces will look like rice) If you notice any of these you need to consult your vet as soon as possible.
7. Ears - You need to check your puppy's ears frequently, at least once a week. You may need to check more often for puppies with long hair or long swinging ears, especially if your puppy has both (i.e. cocker spaniels) You are looking for any discharge or odor. You will need to see your vet for medication if your puppy has any of the following symptoms: a foul odor, if inside the ear is inflamed, red, or hot to the touch, or if your puppy seems sensitive to you touching his ears.
By keeping an eye on these areas, you can be your puppy's best weapon against illness. If you incorporate these checks into your puppy's normal grooming routine, it will be easy to spot if something is wrong.
YOUR PUPPY'S SUPPLIES - WHAT TO HAVE ON HAND FOR YOUR NEW PUPPY
Bringing a new puppy home can be very exciting, but in the excitement don't forget the basic needs of your puppy. The way to make sure this does not happen is to have your puppy's supplies on hand before the big day. What are some of the things your puppy will need from the very beginning?
The very basic of supplies that you will need is food. This should be obvious, but you would be surprised at how often this is overlooked. You will need to check with the breeder to find out what food your puppy is already eating. You will need a supply of this type of food. If you are planning to change to a different brand, you will need to gradually change it over the course of about seven to ten days. Just add a little of the new brand to the old brand, adding a little more each day, until your puppy is eating just the new brand.
Of course, to go along with the food, you will need food and water bowls. These need to be made from easy to clean material. They also need to be heavy enough they will not be easily tipped over. Since some breeds chew more than others, you may want to avoid plastic altogether, as these can splinter and cause problems. A set of stainless steal bowls will take care of this problem and they are easy to clean.
After food, one of the most important items you will purchase for your new puppy is his crate. These can be found in many different styles and sizes. If you are bringing home a large breed dog, you will either want to buy a crate that is adjustable or buy several crates in different sizes to accommodate your growing puppy. This crate will become your puppy's special place. This is where he will sleep, stay, and get away from all the household hubbub. This can also be his "safe" place, especially if you have children. This will become your puppy's own little "den". When you purchase your puppy's crate, you should be sure that it is the right size. Your puppy should be able to stand comfortably, turn around, and lie without being cramped. It should not be so large though that your puppy has enough room to relieve himself at one end while having room to sleep at the other, you do not want your puppy to get in the habit of relieving himself in his crate.
When your puppy is ready to be taken outside, you will need to have him in a collar and on a leash. Your puppy's first collar and leash should be made of lightweight nylon or leather. If you start your puppy from the very beginning wearing a collar and leash, it will be less of a challenge when you start training. You will need to make sure the collar fits properly. The way to do this is to add two inches to the puppy's neck size. As your puppy grows you will need to check the collar to make sure it is not to tight. To go along with your puppy's new collar, you will also need to have an identification tag attached. This tag should have your name, address, and telephone number (make sure you include area code). If your puppy was to stray, it could make the difference in you getting him back or not.
Another item to have on hand to use from the very beginning is your grooming tools. Establishing your puppy's grooming routine from the very beginning will eliminate a lot of struggle later on. Your puppy will start to look forward to this time as time spent one on one with you, so make it a special time. The brushes and combs and other grooming supplies will depend on the breed you choose. Check with the breeder to determine which grooming supplies you will need.
Another thing you will need to establish from the very start of your puppy being a part of your family is what he is allowed to play with. Having toys already on hand will help establish his boundaries for what to play with. If you find your puppy playing with something unacceptable, you can very easily distract him with the proper toy, if you already have the toy on hand. Some good toys to consider are any large rawhide piece (chips, logs, or bone shaped), large nylon chews, and hard rubber balls. You want to find something that is made for puppies and cannot be torn apart, swallowed or splinters easily. You will want to avoid any toys that will fit completely into your puppies mouth, this can pose a serious choking hazard. Also, do not use toys that are meant to encourage tugging, these can unintentionally reinforce aggressive behavior. One last note on toys, do not let your new puppy chew on any old shoes or clothing. Puppies do not know the difference between the old things you gave them and any thing they find laying around, to them it is all fair game. Not only the damage that could be done to your pocessions, but this could also cause some serious safety issues for your puppy. Little pieces could be torn off and swallowed, possibly causing obstructions in the digestive tract.
Having a little forethought and doing a little planning before your new family member comes home will make the transition a lot smoother. It is much easier to have what you need on hand before you even need it. There won't be any mad dashes to the store because you were not prepared.
The very basic of supplies that you will need is food. This should be obvious, but you would be surprised at how often this is overlooked. You will need to check with the breeder to find out what food your puppy is already eating. You will need a supply of this type of food. If you are planning to change to a different brand, you will need to gradually change it over the course of about seven to ten days. Just add a little of the new brand to the old brand, adding a little more each day, until your puppy is eating just the new brand.
Of course, to go along with the food, you will need food and water bowls. These need to be made from easy to clean material. They also need to be heavy enough they will not be easily tipped over. Since some breeds chew more than others, you may want to avoid plastic altogether, as these can splinter and cause problems. A set of stainless steal bowls will take care of this problem and they are easy to clean.
After food, one of the most important items you will purchase for your new puppy is his crate. These can be found in many different styles and sizes. If you are bringing home a large breed dog, you will either want to buy a crate that is adjustable or buy several crates in different sizes to accommodate your growing puppy. This crate will become your puppy's special place. This is where he will sleep, stay, and get away from all the household hubbub. This can also be his "safe" place, especially if you have children. This will become your puppy's own little "den". When you purchase your puppy's crate, you should be sure that it is the right size. Your puppy should be able to stand comfortably, turn around, and lie without being cramped. It should not be so large though that your puppy has enough room to relieve himself at one end while having room to sleep at the other, you do not want your puppy to get in the habit of relieving himself in his crate.
When your puppy is ready to be taken outside, you will need to have him in a collar and on a leash. Your puppy's first collar and leash should be made of lightweight nylon or leather. If you start your puppy from the very beginning wearing a collar and leash, it will be less of a challenge when you start training. You will need to make sure the collar fits properly. The way to do this is to add two inches to the puppy's neck size. As your puppy grows you will need to check the collar to make sure it is not to tight. To go along with your puppy's new collar, you will also need to have an identification tag attached. This tag should have your name, address, and telephone number (make sure you include area code). If your puppy was to stray, it could make the difference in you getting him back or not.
Another item to have on hand to use from the very beginning is your grooming tools. Establishing your puppy's grooming routine from the very beginning will eliminate a lot of struggle later on. Your puppy will start to look forward to this time as time spent one on one with you, so make it a special time. The brushes and combs and other grooming supplies will depend on the breed you choose. Check with the breeder to determine which grooming supplies you will need.
Another thing you will need to establish from the very start of your puppy being a part of your family is what he is allowed to play with. Having toys already on hand will help establish his boundaries for what to play with. If you find your puppy playing with something unacceptable, you can very easily distract him with the proper toy, if you already have the toy on hand. Some good toys to consider are any large rawhide piece (chips, logs, or bone shaped), large nylon chews, and hard rubber balls. You want to find something that is made for puppies and cannot be torn apart, swallowed or splinters easily. You will want to avoid any toys that will fit completely into your puppies mouth, this can pose a serious choking hazard. Also, do not use toys that are meant to encourage tugging, these can unintentionally reinforce aggressive behavior. One last note on toys, do not let your new puppy chew on any old shoes or clothing. Puppies do not know the difference between the old things you gave them and any thing they find laying around, to them it is all fair game. Not only the damage that could be done to your pocessions, but this could also cause some serious safety issues for your puppy. Little pieces could be torn off and swallowed, possibly causing obstructions in the digestive tract.
Having a little forethought and doing a little planning before your new family member comes home will make the transition a lot smoother. It is much easier to have what you need on hand before you even need it. There won't be any mad dashes to the store because you were not prepared.
YOUR PUPPY'S FEEDING ROUTINE
A lot of times when we get a new puppy, we research to find the best food, toys, and supplies for him. But, do we really think about setting up our new family member's feeding routine? This is an important component to your puppy's development in his first year. When planning your new puppy's feeding routine you will need to ask yourself: Where? When? and How much? These are the important building blocks to a good routine.
Where? This is important to your puppy's eating comfort and your clean ups. Place the food bowls away from where everyone is. You don't want your puppy's eating area to be in a high traffic area. Place the bowls where it is easy for your puppy to get to. An ideal situation would be to have a special area just for puppy. Have his crate and eating area in this special area. It should be in an area that is out of the way, but is easily accessible to the main living areas where everyone is. The most important thing is that once you have established the puppy's eating area is not to move it, unless absolutely necessary.
When? From about six to eight weeks until about six months you should have scheduled feeding times three times a day. A young puppy will eat all he is going to eat within twenty minutes. It is a good idea to remove the food bowl after this time. Doing this along with a balanced diet will be important steps when you are house breaking your puppy. Once your puppy is about six months old to maturity, you can reduce the scheduled feedings to twice a day.
How Much? This will be dependent on the breed of dog you have. One of the most common mistakes with larger breed puppies is to overfeed them. You will need to learn how to read the nutrition label on dog food. This will give very good guidelines on different sized dog breeds and how much to feed them. You can also check with your vet, he will be able to give some very breed specific guidelines.
One final thought on your feeding routine. Don't change your puppy's food. If you change your puppy's food all of a sudden it could cause your puppy to have a very upset digestive system. Any time you do need to change your puppy's food, do so gradually over a seven to ten day period. Just add a little of the new food to the existing food, adding more each day, until the puppy is eating only the new kind.
Taking the time to set up your puppy's feeding routine will have great rewards now and in the future. Just remember to plan ahead to make your puppy's feeding routine
Where? This is important to your puppy's eating comfort and your clean ups. Place the food bowls away from where everyone is. You don't want your puppy's eating area to be in a high traffic area. Place the bowls where it is easy for your puppy to get to. An ideal situation would be to have a special area just for puppy. Have his crate and eating area in this special area. It should be in an area that is out of the way, but is easily accessible to the main living areas where everyone is. The most important thing is that once you have established the puppy's eating area is not to move it, unless absolutely necessary.
When? From about six to eight weeks until about six months you should have scheduled feeding times three times a day. A young puppy will eat all he is going to eat within twenty minutes. It is a good idea to remove the food bowl after this time. Doing this along with a balanced diet will be important steps when you are house breaking your puppy. Once your puppy is about six months old to maturity, you can reduce the scheduled feedings to twice a day.
How Much? This will be dependent on the breed of dog you have. One of the most common mistakes with larger breed puppies is to overfeed them. You will need to learn how to read the nutrition label on dog food. This will give very good guidelines on different sized dog breeds and how much to feed them. You can also check with your vet, he will be able to give some very breed specific guidelines.
One final thought on your feeding routine. Don't change your puppy's food. If you change your puppy's food all of a sudden it could cause your puppy to have a very upset digestive system. Any time you do need to change your puppy's food, do so gradually over a seven to ten day period. Just add a little of the new food to the existing food, adding more each day, until the puppy is eating only the new kind.
Taking the time to set up your puppy's feeding routine will have great rewards now and in the future. Just remember to plan ahead to make your puppy's feeding routine
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