A Holistic Flea/Tick/Mite Treatment And What Mange Is.

Are you having trouble with fleas, ticks or mites? This time of year the fleas are out in full force, and so are the ticks. You can see these two, but the mites you would need a microscope for. Usually you will find them in the ears. But mites also can be seen in skin scrapings done by your vet. Mites are the cause of Sarcoptic and Demodectic mange. Also, this year has been one of the worst for ticks that I have seen in a long time. I found a holistic remedy for these 3 pesky parasites. It is cinnamon. Yes, cinnamon.

Cinnamon has sulphur in it. Ticks, fleas and mites hate sulphur. By putting a teaspoon of cinnamon on your dog's food once a day, you can supplement your flea/tick program without harming your dog.

Also, if you have a dog with itchy skin and nothing seems to work, try putting one capsule of fish oil on your dogs food every 3-4 days. You can find these capsules at Rite-Aid, GNC or any health food store. The oil will give your dog the added oil they need to alleviate the dry skin. Mix it up well in their food, though, as it smells like fish. Most dogs don't like fish.

Just a little information on the mites. The mite that causes Scabies is microscopic and this can be spread rapidly between dogs and on to humans. It is characterized by intense itching and hair loss, especially around the areas of the ears, elbows, legs and face. The second type, the Demodex canis, is also microscopic and lives in the hair follicles. It causes thick, red skin and hair loss. Eventually, it can cause the formation of pustules in the infected hair follicles.

This first signs of Demodectic mange in young puppies are small patches of hair loss around the eyes, forehead, muzzle, and forepaws. Dogs with this type of mange should not be used for breeding, as it is hereditary. Skin scrapings done by a vet can determine the type of mange, or what is causing the skin problems your dog may be experiencing.

Tips To Protect Your Pets On The Fourth Of July.

Chance and my son, Keith, whom is a volunteer fireman with the Ohio River Road Volunteer Fire Department, want everyone to stay safe and be careful when putting off fireworks.


1. I know many people like to take their pets on outings, but resist the urge to take your pet to fireworks displays.
2. Never, never leave your pet in the car. With only hot air to breathe inside a car, your pet can suffer serious health effects—even death—in a few short minutes. Partially opened windows do not provide sufficient air, but they do provide an opportunity for your pet to be stolen.
3. Keep your pets indoors at home in a sheltered, quiet area. Some animals can become destructive when frightened, so be sure that you've removed any items that your pet could destroy or that would be harmful to your pet if chewed. It has been proven that leaving a television or radio playing at normal volume will keep your pet company while you're attending Fourth of July picnics, parades, and other celebrations.
4. If you know that your pet is seriously distressed by loud noises like thunder, consult with your veterinarian before July 4Th for ways to help alleviate the fear and anxiety he or she will experience during fireworks displays.
5. Never leave pets outside unattended, even in a fenced yard or on a chain. In their fear, pets who normally wouldn't leave the yard may escape and become lost, or become entangled in their chain, risking injury or death. People that chain dogs, really don't care about them anyway.
6. Make sure your pets are wearing identification tags so that if they do become lost, they can be returned promptly. Animals found running at-large should be taken to the local animal shelter, where they will have the best chance of being reunited with their owners. Micro-chipping your pet is a great way to ensure that you will be reunited, if your pet should become lost.

source for some of these tips came from the HSUS website.

Do You Have A Chewer In Your Midst?

"I'm just a lazy boy...no chewing for me anymore! "

Back in March of '05, I talked my husband into letting me get Chance, my yellow Lab. I already had Kallee, my Aussie Shepherd/Smooth Collie mix, whom had been at my side for 14 yrs. And when I say, "at my side," that is a literal statement. She went to work with me everyday and when home, she was constantly by my side. Chance was about 4 mo. old and a bundle of energy. If you looked out in the yard, he would be hanging onto Kallee's ear as she cruised around. When she got tired of him hanging onto her ear, she would shoo him away with a grump and growl (as I liked to put it). When she passed away on May 15 of that year, Chance was sitting by her head. She had passed away very peacefully in her sleep. He (Chance) had tried to wake her up by doing what he had done for those 2 months he was with her, chewing on her ear.

Little did I know that the chewing was not over. For one solid year, he chewed everything he could get his little teeth on. We had wood lattice work around our porch, he totally destroyed that. Then on to the tire cover on my spare tire. He chewed the bottom completely off it. Then he moved on to the mud flaps on my car. I have 2 Japanese Dwarf Maple trees that he chewed down to stumps. (luckily, they came back). Do you see a pattern emerging. My personal opinion is he was missing Kallee.

Why do dogs practice this behavior? Dogs are very oral. They don't have hands, so they use their mouths to investigate things. They chew for many reasons, really: entertainment, boredom, teeth cleaning and to strengthen their jaw muscles. Labs are notorious chewers the first year of their lives, too. And, they chew on their owners things, such as socks or shirts, because the odor reminds them of their owners.

You have to be very aware if you have a chewer. Swallowing objects is very dangerous. It can cause the blood supply to be cut off from the intestines if the object doesn't move on through them. This in turn means sometimes risky and very invasive and expensive surgery. Here are a few tips: 1. Know your pet. Pay attention to what your pet is particularly interested in chewing. 2. Keep a clean environment. This is self-explanatory. 3. Supervise. Keep a check on the toys to make sure they have not deteriorated, and supervise your puppy when he/she is playing with toys. 4. Train. Dogs sometimes chew due to boredom or anxiety. Certain commands are very useful, such as "drop it," or "leave it."

Here are the signs that might indicate your dog has something lodged in their stomach: diarrhea, drooling, lethargy, persistent vomiting or dry heaving, refusal to eat and restlessness. If your pet is exhibiting any of these behaviors, call your vet immediately.

What It Takes To Properly Own And Care For A Dog.

source: www.puppymill.com

UNLESS YOU CAN ANSWER "YES" TO THE ENTIRE LIST BELOW, DON'T GET A DOG BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT OWNING ONE TAKES:


1. I will have my dog spayed or neutered.
2. I will spend a minimum of 1 hr. a day exercising my dog.
3. I will spend 30 minutes daily training my dog in basic commands, socialization around people and other dogs and manners around people.
4. I will 30 minutes playing with him.
5. I will brush him daily and brush his teeth at least several times a week.
6. I will remember to give my dog heartworm medicine monthly and protect him against fleas, ticks and mosquitoes with one of the vet-recommended products for spring, summer and fall.
7. I will take him to the vet yearly for shots and more often if he shows any health problems.
8. I will keep my dog safe, healthy, well-groomed and happy.
9. I will keep my dog for life.

1. I DO have the time to feed, train, love and exercise my dog.
2. I DO have the money for annual vet checks and any other medical problems that might occur; food; toys; grooming; and all other pet supplies
3. I DO NOT have -- nor does anyone in my household -- any allergies to dogs.
4. I DO NOT have any restrictions on dog size where I live.
5. I DO have the money to fence in my yard.
6. I DO have a family member, friend or trusted pet sitter to give proper care to my dog if/when I go on vacation.
7. I DO have someone to take my dog out and feed him should I temporarily need to work longer hours that keep me away from home.
8. I DO NOT have any physical disabilities or limitations that will impede my ability to take good care of a dog for its entire life.
9. I DO NOT plan to use ANY excuse for getting rid of my dog: moving, allergies, having a baby, changing jobs, extended work hours, no time, dog is too big or has "behavioral problems," other pets or family members don't get along with it, etc.

Insure that your dog lives on and is well cared for after your death.

Hot Weather Update.

Chance likes to be inside in the a/c. So spoiled!

This is just a reminder that the heat is topping out in the 90's. If you have any animal outside, make sure they have shelter and plenty of fresh water. And, if you must take your dog with you, and you don't have a/c or it is broken, take a bowl with ice cubes in it. Any bowl with a tight lid will work. The ice will melt and your dog can have a good, cold drink if you have to be in the car for an extended time. If you are traveling with your dog, and have no a/c, take frequent stops and let them get into the shade. Remember, water, water, water. The bigger the bowl, the more ice, meaning more cold, fresh water.

Fish Hook Removal Tip.

Do you fish? If so, do you take your 4-legged best friend with you? If you do, would you have any idea how to remove a fish hook should your dog get one stuck in a paw or a lip? Here is the proper way to remove a fish hook.

Push the hook through the skin until the barb emerges and clip it off with pliers or a wire cutter. If the hook is small, you can attempt to remove it at home, if it is not lodged in an area that is not extremely sensitive, such as the skin of the leg or the body. Removal becomes very difficult if the hook is in an area of the face or feet, unless the dog is sedated by a vet.

Be careful if you use a treble hook. Dogs can get into these just as easy. If your dog gets into one of these hooks, cover the hook with a towel so your dog won't get more barbs in him/her. Dogs also will swallow a baited hook. If this happens, DO NOT pull the hook back out the mouth. It will get hooked on the esophagus or the stomach and will increase the difficulty to the vet that will do the surgery, as this is the only way to get a swallowed hook out. Cut the line as short as possible and immediately get to a vet.

Hot Weather Tips.

Chance says, "swimming is the way to cool off."

With the hot weather here, heatstroke is a common occurrence. Animals can get heatstroke by being confined in a car with the windows up, kenneling them in poorly ventilated areas, or exercising them in the hot, humid weather. The signs are rapid, shallow breathing, rapid heart beat, very high body temperature, over 104 degrees, and then collapse.

It is vital that a dog suffering this be cooled down as quickly as possible, and treated by a vet immediately. To cool a dog down you can spray them down with cool water, ice packs at the groin and around the neck and head, and wrapping cold, wet towels around the dog. Again, it is vital that you get your dog to a vet after instituting first aid. This is because there are many complications that come with an elevated temperature. Stop the cooling process when the temperature gets down to 103 degrees.

Remember, to prevent this from happening, just use common sense. Never, never leave any animal in a car with the windows up. You should really never leave them in a car, even with the windows cracked. A car temperature can soar in a matter of minutes. If you have to leave your dog in the car, keep the car running with the air conditioner on. If your dog is outside, make sure that it has adequate shade to get under, and plenty of fresh, cool water.