Pet Health

Written by: Gina Brugna, Owner of The Peaks Pet Nanny Team Heading out of town and decided to hire a dog sitter for your furkid ? There are a few very important things your sitter is going to need from you before you hit the road. While most sitters will provide their own list, you can use this checklist as a template. After all, it’s never too early to start preparing!  In this article, we’ve covered all the essentials to make your sitter’s job easier and give you peace of mind.  House Keys and Alarm Codes Before you go away on your trip, you’ll need to make sure your sitter has access to the house. Leave clear instructions on how to use the house alarm (have the code written down somewhere) and what to do if they accidentally set it off. They’ll also need a key to your place. Pro tip: Let your sitter know which of your neighbors or family members has a spare key and how to get in contact with them in case of an emergency. By making sure you’ve got the basics covered, you can rel

  If your dog’s been diagnosed with IVDD (Intervertebral disc disease), it can be tricky and sometimes frustrating to find the right the steps to treat the condition. That’s because there are 2 forms of this neurological condition and 5 stages of IVDD. When you add up all the possible combinations, the treatment process can quickly get complicated. To help you make sense of your pup’s condition, we’re going to breakdown the “language” of IVDD. Then at your next veterinary appointment you’ll have a better understanding of your dog’s individual condition, now and in the future. What is IVDD?   An estimated 2 percent of dogs will be affected by the back pain, hind end weakness and paralysis of IVDD. Dogs generally display their first symptoms after a spinal injury called a ruptured, herniated or slipped disc. But, actually the disease process of IVDD began much earlier. Let me begin with an explanation of the spinal column. The spine is made up of small bones called vertebrae tha

This week President Trump made an appearance in the White House Rose Garden with Conan, the Belgian Malinois who participated in the special forces raid in Syria that resulted in the death of Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.  Conan was “slightly wounded” when Baghdadi killed himself with an explosive in his Syrian compound. Reports are that demand for this rare, excellent working dog breed are soaring due to the hero’s notoriety … no doubt by many who do not understand the demands of these smart-as-a-whip working dogs, and the extraordinary training and active lifestyle that best serves them. For those of you tempted by the allure of purchasing the equivalent of a canine Navy SEAL—resist and adopt a mutt from your local shelter. You both will be better served. Tags:  work of dogs news blog from The Bark https://ift.tt/2OUa2lN

On a cold night in Ontario, Canada, cars drove down the road as usual. Unfortunately, many of them did not notice the dog laying on the side of the road. A sweet stray dog named Serenity was curled up on the snowy roadside on a cold night. Luckily, someone finally noticed her and decided to call for help. However, when they approached Serenity, they realized that she was not alone. This stray dog was curled up around 5 tiny kittens! As soon as this Good Samaritan noticed the dog and kittens shivering on the side of the road, they called Pet and Wildlife Rescue . Serenity appeared to be curled around these tiny black kittens in an attempt to keep them warm. It is unclear how long she had been with the kittens or what happened to their cat mother, but Pet and Wildlife Rescue rushed to the scene right away. Image: @pawr.org/Facebook A Motherly Instinct Serenity could’ve easily found a warmer and more comfortable place for herself on that cold night, but she wasn’t thinking about he

Tips to prevent over excited dog greetings. Dear Bark: Thanksgiving’s coming and I’m looking forward to hosting the dinner this year. However, I’m a little concerned about the greeting behavior of my high-spirited pups, who tend to bark, jump, lick and generally carry on when someone new comes through the door. Most of my friends and family are dog-friendly and don’t mind the fuss, but a few just don’t like dogs all that much, which I completely understand. In the past, I've tried redirection, keeping the dogs confined in another room (this works for the greeting issue, but not the barking), and having a dedicated dog person monitor the dogs. Do you have any other tips? —Stressed Dad Tags:  advice training blog from The Bark https://ift.tt/34p8Opj

Amur Maple The botanical name of Amur Maple is Acer ginnala. This small tree grows up to 20 feet and has deciduous leaves . These trees are extremely popular due to the amazing color of their leaves in the fall. In autumn, they turn brilliant red before falling off. In addition to its immense beauty, Amur Maple is also safe for your pets, including dogs.    Bamboo Palm Although this dog-friendly plant is a shrub, it does require sufficient space in your backyard. According to the ASPCA , this flowering plant is not toxic for dogs. It could be a little surprising for you that bamboo palm is actually NOT a bamboo.   The scientific name of the bamboo palm is Dypsis lutescens and it requires fairly warm temperatures to thrive. Having said that, you can grow these plants indoors in colder regions. Coral Bells This perennial plant is native to North America and was traditionally used for medicinal purposes. Its botanical name is Heuchera sanguinea but it is commonly known as Heucher

Mint water is an excellent drink to keep your dogs hydrated during the hot months of summer. It is really easy to prepare as all you need for this drink is water and some sprigs of mint. The human recipe of mint water has some lime/lemon in it to enhance its flavor. For dogs, we don’t use any citrus fruits because they can cause an upset stomach. Ingredients: 1 small cucumber (or half of a medium cucumber), scrubbed and sliced 2 sprigs fresh mint, washed and bruised 10-12 cups cool filtered water Instructions : Place sliced cucumber and mint sprigs in a large pitcher. Pour water into the pitcher. Cover and refrigerate for anywhere between 1 and 8 hours (the longer you infuse the water, the stronger the flavor will become). Strain the water to remove mint sprigs. Notes: When making infused water, I prefer to use well-washed, organic ingredients, so as to avoid any potential pesticides infusing into my water. In order to prepare Cucumber Mint Infused Water instantly, p

Bad breath is a common issue with dogs that can become a barrier between you and your pet. The accumulation of plague is the underlying cause of this problem. There are a variety of reasons that could lead to bad breath such as infrequent brushing and insufficient water intake. Similarly, some of the foods that your dog eats might also contribute to this unwanted cause. Given the refreshing smell of mint, it is an ideal ingredient to tackle bad breath. This is the reason why dog breath mints are extremely popular among dog parents. The following are some of the best mint recipes that you can make for your pet.   DIY Dog Breath Mints In this recipe, mint is combined with some other ingredients to ensure a healthy meal. Ranging from minerals to vitamins and from antioxidants to fiber, these breath mints have a lot of essential nutrients. Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats, 1/2 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped 1/2 cup fresh mint, finely chopped 1 large egg (see tip be

When used in moderation, dogs CAN eat mint leaves. On the other hand, excessive consumption of mint leaves can lead to gastrointestinal issues. Similarly, it is important to verify the species of mint that your dog is eating. Peppermint is probably the most commonly used type of mint and it is absolutely non-toxic for dogs. According to the ASPCA, most species of mint are non-toxic to dogs except one . Commonly known as English pennyroyal, this plant contains a chemical called Pulegone, which is poisonous for dogs. Pulegone is also dangerous for humans because it is classified as carcinogenic. If your dog has ingested Mentha pulegium, you will observe different signs of an upset stomach like vomiting and diarrhea. Other symptoms of poisoning include breathing difficulties, a bloody nose, lethargy, and coughing up blood. In this case, you should immediately contact your vet. Is Mint Safe for Dogs? Yes, mint is safe for dogs but in limited quantity. Excessive intake of mint can c

Bad breath can lead to embarrassing situations and breath mints are used to prevent this from happening. The problem of bad breath is extremely common among dogs but can they have breath mints? The answer to this question is a YES only if the mints have been made specifically for dogs. You can find a lot of dog breath mints in the market. Generally, artificial forms of mint use Xylitol (an artificial sweetener) that is toxic for dogs. Due to this reason, it is highly recommended to avoid all kinds of mint products that may contain this ingredient. Basically, it causes a sudden release of insulin in the body that leads to hypoglycemia. According to VCA Hospitals , even the smallest quantities of Xylitol can cause seizures, liver failure, or even death. Help! My Dog Ate a Mint If your dog has eaten a mint leaf, there is absolutely nothing to worry about. On the other hand, if he/she has ingested a breath mint with Xylitol in it, you need to move quickly. Despite the fact that xyl

If you are looking for a one-word answer to this question, it will have to be YES. However, there are some precautions that you must keep in mind. For instance, an overdose of carbohydrates can make your dog bulky. Similarly, fried rice lack a lot of essential nutrients and feeding them alone can be troublesome. A lot of important body functions can be disturbed by this imbalance which will ultimately lead to severe health implications. The biggest con of feeding your dog too much fried rice is a fatal disease called pancreatitis. Therefore, moderation is critical for the health of your dog. Can Dogs Eat Chicken Fried Rice? Chicken fried rice are perfectly safe for dogs unless your canine companion has a rice allergy. When you are preparing chicken fried rice for your dog, you need to keep in mind the ingredients that are harmful to dogs. For example, onion and garlic cannot be used in a dog’s food. Likewise, salt and spices cannot be added to this recipe. The combination of co

Rice are often fed to dogs when they are suffering from an upset stomach. That is not the only benefit of rice as they are quite healthy for your pets. Owing to this fact, you CAN add this ingredient in their regular diet . Having said that, you must combine rice with chicken and vegetables to ensure a complete meal for your pup. Health Benefits of Rice Rice are an excellent source of energy because they provide an abundant supply of carbohydrates. Similarly, they offer a sufficient quantity of calcium, iron, vitamin D, and riboflavin. Rice have an ample amount of starch which assists the growth of useful bacteria in the digestive tract. This is useful for promoting normal bowel movements. Rice are free from any harmful fats and cholesterol which helps normal functioning of the brain. Small quantities of sodium make rice an ideal choice for countering high blood pressure. The diuretic properties of rice’s husk are also beneficial for this purpose. You can also use rice to tre