Discover the Antimicrobial Power of Copper for Protecting Dogs against Yeast and Skin Infections

Guest Post by: Kunal Patel 

copper dog bed
Image Source: copperclothing.com

Dogs are prone to skin allergies and yeast infections, particularly when they get older or fall sick. If the health of their skin is compromised, it’s easier for yeast and bacteria to grow on it, causing itchiness and bad odours. When your pet scratches these itchy spots, they get hot, inflamed or swollen due to increased blood flow, making the problem even worse.

Skin problems are particularly common among many popular breeds and knowing about these can help you prevent or manage them before they become serious.

Which Breeds Are at Risk of Skin and Yeast Infections?

While any dog may have skin problems or yeast infections, these 10 breeds are generally at higher risk:

  1. Spaniels – Their long, floppy ears and heavy jowls put spaniels at risk of numerous skin problems. They are especially prone to infections in the folds of their lower lip and their ears, which provide the ideal environment for the growth of bacteria and yeast.
  2. Cocker Spaniels – Cocker Spaniels are prone to eye problems and ear infections as well as a higher risk of seborrhea. This genetic condition leads to the chronic growth of a waxy substance on the ears, and may also cause greasy, scaly or smelly skin.
  3. Boxers – These compact, muscular and athletic dogs often face a wide range of serious health concerns, including cancer, hip dysplasia, arthritis, knee and heart-related problems, thyroid issues etc. They’re also susceptible to skin allergies and infections.
  4. Standard Poodles – Poodles are prone to developing granulomatous sebaceous adenitis, an inherited skin condition that affects the oil glands. In addition to making them more prone to secondary skin infections, this condition can also cause hair loss.
  5. Chinese Shar-Peis – With short-haired dogs like Shar-Peis and bulldogs, skin irritation is a common problem. Folds in their skin cause short hairs on one side to poke against the other side when the dog moves, causing irritation and making allergies or skin infections worse. Young English bulldogs are also prone to skin tumours called histiocytomas.
  6. American Bulldogs – Along with irritation caused by skin folds and short hair, this breed tends to have food and environmental allergies that affect the health of their skin. They may also inherit canine ichthyosiform dermatoses, a condition that causes skin along the armpits, groin and belly to become red and scaly.
  7. Basset Hounds – Large sad eyes and droopy ears make these dogs look adorable, and they love sniffing everything they can reach. Coupled with their short legs and droopy skin, this raises the risk of picking up infection-causing bacteria, viruses and parasites, or even inhaling them.
  8. Doberman Pinschers – These dogs often have low thyroid function or hyperthyroidism, which affects their skin health. Hyperthyroidism can lead to alopecia or hair loss, especially along the flanks, while low thyroid function may cause a dry or flaky coat. Both issues can lead to secondary skin infections as well.
  9. Labrador Retrievers – Labradors are generally robust and healthy as long as they get a good diet and plenty of exercise. However, they can face allergies due to dietary, genetic and environmental factors, causing skin problems such as itchiness, hot spots, etc.
  10. Pit Bull Terriers – A weak immune system makes pit bulls more prone to infections, as well as issues caused by tiny demodex mites that reside in hair follicles. In dogs with low immunity, demodectic outbreaks can cause secondary skin infections or itchiness.

In addition to the breeds listed above, dogs with hormonal imbalances, excessive earwax, weak immunity and food, environmental or genetic allergies also face a higher risk of skin and yeast infections. Certain medications such as antibiotics, or warm and humid living environments can also pose a threat.

How Does Copper Help with Treating Skin Problems?

Copper is not only an essential mineral found in all mammals, but its additional health benefits for your canine companion include:

  • Incredible antimicrobial powers, which kill a huge variety of bacteria, fungi and viruses through contact. Historically, copper has also been used to fight fleas, mites and other parasites that affect household pets.
  • Eliminating bad odours from your pet’s fur, skin and bedding. These unwanted odours are usually caused by sweat, bacteria and fungi, and copper effectively fights this nasty mixture in a safe and chemical-free manner.
  • Boosting blood flow, circulation and regulation of body temperature. Copper helps keep your dog warm and comfortable, and can even provide relief from arthritis, joint pain and other mobility issues in older canines.

Owning a dog is a huge responsibility, since they need as much love, care and attention as a young child. Copper pet beds are a great way to help your furry friends stay healthier and happier, so switch to them today!

Author Bio:

Kunal is a young and passionate entrepreneur, fascinated by the workings of the human body and natural solutions for common health problems. He’s single-minded in his aim to make Copper Clothing a brand that’s recognised across the globe, by partnering with global brands to make these high-tech materials easily accessible for everyone.

5 Things You Should Know Before Adopting Your First Dog

Guest Post by: Julie Adams – Editor In Chief, Modern Living 101

image source: pexels.com

The prospect of adopting your first dog is incredibly exciting. Regardless of if you’re considering taking home an older dog, or a puppy, you’re in for an adventure. If you treat a dog well, they will be with you through thick and thin no matter what. With a new dog, there is a lot to be excited about! But there’s also a lot you need to know sooner rather than later.

First off, thank you for doing research before simply diving into dog ownership. Many people skip this part and end up becoming overwhelmed, irresponsible pet parents.

Owning a dog is a long-term commitment that comes with more responsibility than most people realize. This little animal now depends on you to be the sole provider of care, nutrition,  entertainment, and love for the rest of its life. Although there’s a lot of work that goes into your potential new role as a pet parent, the advantages will far outweigh any possible drawbacks.

Here are a few basics you need to know about dog ownership.

1. Look at food costs, and how much you’ll need to feed your dog

Not all dog food is created equal, and not all dogs are grazers. In fact, many of them are gluttons. They will eat everything you give them. Many people make the easy mistake of not paying attention to how much you’re feeding your dog or just eyeballing what you feel looks right. This can lead to overfeeding or underfeeding your dog.

To guarantee that you’re feeding your pet the proper quantity each day, do a little bit of research online. You can look at things like the type of food you’re giving your dog, how old they are, how much they currently weigh, and what a healthy weight range should be. This way, you’ll be able to accurately gauge where your dog falls in terms of weight standards and feed accordingly.

2. Be ready to potty train ASAP

Although it might be tempting to get a bit lax in your potty training schedule as your new pet dog gets familiarized with your house, it is necessary that you put together a potty training regime and stick to it– particularly in the developmental phases of your dog’s relationship with you and your home.

If you have not potty trained a pet previously, you’ll want to do some research into this as well. There are plenty of techniques for making the process easier. You can also learn what warning signs to look for to indicate your dog may have to go outside. If you tackle this challenge sooner rather than later, you’ll save yourself on cleaning and headaches in the future.

3. If you’re not prepared to clean, don’t adopt a heavy shedding breed

Unless you have a hairless dog, you can expect to have a new chore on your hands, regular vacuuming sessions to help control pet hair. With some breeds, you may even need to buy a certain vacuum that doesn’t clog or get tangled as easily with large amounts of thick fur/hair. If you let your pet go on the couch, make sure you have a vacuum with upholstery attachments to help keep your couches clean.

It is also a good idea to start your dog on a regular grooming schedule to stay ahead. If you have a heavy shedder on your hands, daily brushing can help cut down on the amount of fur that ends up around your home.

Most dogs need to be bathed at a minimum, once every three months. However, many pet owners choose to wash their dogs as often as every other week, as long as a gentle shampoo is used.

4. See if your friends will help you socialize your dog

Socializing your dog early on will pay off significantly in the long run. By introducing your dog to new individuals and animals now, you substantially increase their ability to have healthy interactions with other people and dogs later.

Many pet owners choose to jump right into socializing their dog right away. However, professionals suggest developing a socializing strategy to make the procedure safer and more effective.

Dogs that are not properly socialized can be defensive and aggressive. A properly socialized dog is a happy dog.

5. Recognize there are leash laws

There are few things more enjoyable than watching your dog run around having a great time. Although it’s okay to let your pet run around a leashless dog park or in your back yard, complying with the leash laws where they are in place is very important when it comes to keeping you, your dog, and others safe.

It is a good rule of thumb to keep your dog on a leash by default unless you know the area allows dogs to run free. Even if you have a well-trained angel of a dog, you never know when they might see a squirrel and go sprinting across the street. Some things are out of your control, and keeping your dog on a leash can help prevent a slew of issues.

Now that you’ve got the basic guidelines down, you’re ready to start the search for your perfect new canine companion. Remember, adopting a dog is not a short-term endeavor. A good pet owner (under most circumstances) should be ready to commit to a dog for the rest of it’s life.

Surprise My Pet Box Review

Surprise My Pet Box

Surprise My Pet Box

Surprise My Pet is a new gift box service for dogs, other pets coming soon!  They launched their new website Mid February.

Each month your pup can receive 2-3 or 4-7 treats/toys and other fun/essential items in the mail!

 My Special Coupon:

My DogBlog readers are offered a special coupon that you can use to get a discount on your first box!

Coupon Code:

*BestDogBlog*    to get $5 off (Expires on 4/4).

They Say:

None of the treats/chews are made in China and are inspected to assure they are healthy and safe for your pets. Each box that is shipped helps support animals that are in need. After they get some support from customers they plan to use a lot of that money to educate folks about properly owning a pet and giving them all the free support they need along with connecting homeless pets with owners

Their Website:

They do have a beautiful website: surprisemypet.com

The description of the website reads “SurpriseMyPet is a monthly subscription that sends out goodies to your pup! Surprise your dog with gifts here: www.SurpriseMyPet.com”  The website is very user friendly, it even has a link for an online chat.  You can learn how it wokrs, send a gift, look at the frequently asked questions, select your dog size to get started and see the pricing.  They show you customer feed back and show you some of the charities they work with, giving back to pet charities.

Our Box Arrives:

We received a box of three items for our review.

Surprise My Pet Box

The packaging is a beautiful box. I must say we were surprised, but I wondered if they forgot to add all the products. Such a big box for just three items. Then I realized it was supposed to be just three things.

We received the following items:

  • Vermont Fleece Ball
    An extra durable fluffy ball from Ethical Dog. Super great for hours of fun and chewing pleasure!
    Cost $5.50
    This was Blue Belle’s favorite thing in the box. She pulled it out of the box first thing. She loves squeaky toys. The squeaker is still working after several weeks of use.
  • Cadet Premium Chicken Tenders
    A Delicious, 100% real chicken treat from Cadet. The treats pack deliciously high protein content that your pup won’t want to stop eating.
    Cost $10.50
    They do look delicious, but our family doesn’t use jerky treats because of our concern of many that have been recalled. This product from Cadet does say it is made in the USA. I did some research on the manufacture’s website and found this press release – Memo –  IMS Responds to Customers Concerns Regarding Jerky Treats from China
  • Smokehouse Dog Treats
    Yum! A crunchy treat from Smoke House. This Prime Slice is 100% natural and it’s slowly roasted for 53 hours to get amazing color and flavor!
    Cost $6.50
    The ingredients indicate Beef Ligament. Package says Made in USA.

The Cost:

Pricing - Surprise My Pet

Pricing – Surprise My Pet

Month to Month: 4 – 7 items $32.95/Mo + 7.95 S/H
Month to Month: 2 – 3 items $13.95 +6.95 S/H

3 Month: 4-7 items $26.66 +7.95 S/H
3 Month: 2 – 3 items $12.56/Mo +6.95 S/H

Annual: 4 – 7 items $27.02/Mo +7.95 S/H
Annual: 2 -3 items $11.44/Mo +7.95 S/H

My DogBlog readers are offered a special coupon that you can use to get a discount on your first box!

Coupon Code:

*BestDogBlog*    to get $5 off (Expires on 4/4).

Joke: A Computer Guy Meets a Shepherd

The Shepherd and the Nerd

A shepherd was herding his flocks in a remote pasture when suddenly a brand new Jeep Cherokee advanced out of a dust cloud towards him. The driver, a young man in a Brioni suit, Gucci shoes, Ray Ban sunglasses and a YSL tie leaned out of the window and asked the shepherd: “If I tell you exactly how many sheep you have in your flock, will you give me one?”

The shepherd looks at the yuppie, then at his peacefully grazing flock and calmly answers, “Sure!”

The yuppie parks the car, whips out his notebook, connects it to a cell-phone, surfs to a NASA page on the Internet where he calls up a GPS satellite navigation system, scans the area, opens up a database and 60 Excel spreadsheets with complex formulas. Finally he prints out a 150 page report on his hi-tech miniaturized printer, turns round to the shepherd and says: “You have exactly 1586 sheep!”

“That is correct, take one of the sheep.” says the shepherd. He watches the young man select a sheep and bundle it in his Cherokee.

Then he says: ” If I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me my sheep back?”

“Okay, why not” answers the young man.

“You are a consultant.” says the shepherd.

“That is correct” says the yuppie, “How did you guess that?”

“Easy” answers the shepherd. “You turn up here although nobody called you. You want to be paid for the answer to a question I already knew. And you don’t know bleep about my business because you took my dog.”

Welcome to our DogBlog!

Featured

Welcome to our DogBlog: A

Our dog blog dogs

Murry and Julie Walton with Maggie and Blue Belle.

Dog’s Eye View, written by Boise, Idaho website designer, Julie Walton; her hubby, Murry; and their best friend and dog blogger, Maggie. (Note – sorry to report Maggie died October, 2012.  We are happy to introduce you to to the newest member of our family, an adopted rescue Aussie/Heeler named Blue Belle.)  She is the Rescue Dog that rescued us.

Our goal in creating this blog is to inform and educate our friends about dogs and the resources we have here in the beautiful Northwest, and to include some good clean fun!

If you have a suggestion, or idea, please feel free to comment or send an email. See the Comment Bubble at the top of each post. Thanks for your interest.

“The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.” ~Author Unknown