DogBlog: A Dog's Eye View

Can I Give My Dog Raisins? How About Grapes? Learn About Lesser-Known Dog Health Hazards In Your Home!

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:52:48 +0000

Guest Writer: Alicia
http://bisketbaskets.com
http://blog.bisketbaskets.com
Follow her at Twitter.com/BisketBaskets

BisketBaskets.com is here to share their insight and expertise on lesser-known household products and foods that can harm your canine best friend. Bisket Baskets was the first company to design and sell Pet Gift Baskets, ensuring their baskets have only pet-approved treats in them! Their Gourmet Gift Baskets are quite delightful for the humans, too!

We’ve all heard that we should keep our pups away from chocolate and poinsettia plants, but did you know that ferns, garlic, and even raisins can be harmful for your pooch? There’s a whole slew of common home products that can harm your pet, and some of them you wouldn’t even think of! All of us here at BisketBaskets.com have grown up with dogs and of course have dogs in our adult lives, so we know firsthand how important it is to keep your dog healthy and happy. After all, they’re a part of our family, and such loyal companions!

Common household items like mothballs and cleaners are pretty obvious hazards, but you may not realize giving your dog acetaminophen and ibuprofen products can also hurt your pet. They do make dog-friendly versions, so stick with those! It’s important to also keep your dog away from reed diffuser oil (the smell can be tempting!), fly fishing bait, and your vitamins.

Most plants are also a “no”, so keep them on shelving your dog can’t reach, or be sure you have a watchful eye over him or her if you have plants lower to the ground. If you notice your dog has been chomping on plants, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center for help, at 1-888-426-4435.

We were quite surprised to see that dogs should avoid garlic and raisins – as well as grapes, onions, avocados, and even macadamia nuts! Of course, it’s always best to feed your dog healthy dog foods and treats specifically designed for our canine friends, helping to keep your dog healthy and in shape. All chocolate should be definitely avoided, as well.

Be careful with objects left lying around the house, such as spare coins, hair pins, and paper clips. Your dog may want to play with these “toys”, and end up with getting one stuck in her or her throat! Do your best to use common sense and judgment in determining what can be left around the house, and what should be tucked safely away.

Does that seem like quite a big “don’t” list? Just like humans, dogs have special dietary needs – you wouldn’t feel too swell after eating a ton of fatty foods, would you? Table food might seem like a tasty treat for your pooch, but stick to dog food and healthy dog teats – after all, it’s made for dogs!

Do you know of any other common household items that are an absolute “no” for dogs? Share your insight with us!

FIDO Friendly Magazine’s Tongue Contest Entrants

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:27:45 +0000

Have you seen the cuties in Fido Friendly’s latest video? Maggie submitted her pic. She’s found at 6:29 on the video.

Consumer Updates No Bones About It: Bones are Unsafe for Your Dog

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:35:08 +0000

Consumer Updates No Bones About It: Bones are Unsafe for Your Dog.

US FDA Consumer Update: Animal and Veterinary posted April 20, 2010 gives 10 reasons why it’s a bad idea to give your dog a bone:

Broken teeth. This may call for expensive veterinary dentistry.

Mouth or tongue injuries. These can be very bloody and messy and may require a trip to see your veterinarian.

Bone gets looped around your dog’s lower jaw. This can be frightening or painful for your dog and potentially costly to you, as it usually means a trip to see your veterinarian.

Bone gets stuck in esophagus, the tube that food travels through to reach the stomach. Your dog may gag, trying to bring the bone back up, and will need to see your veterinarian.

Bone gets stuck in windpipe. This may happen if your dog accidentally inhales a small enough piece of bone. This is an emergency because your dog will have trouble breathing. Get your pet to your veterinarian immediately!

Bone gets stuck in stomach. It went down just fine, but the bone may be too big to pass out of the stomach and into the intestines. Depending on the bone’s size, your dog may need surgery or upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, a procedure in which your veterinarian uses a long tube with a built-in camera and grabbing tools to try to remove the stuck bone from the stomach.

Bone gets stuck in intestines and causes a blockage. It may be time for surgery.

Constipation due to bone fragments. Your dog may have a hard time passing the bone fragments because they’re very sharp and they scrape the inside of the large intestine or rectum as they move along. This causes severe pain and may require a visit to your veterinarian.

Severe bleeding from the rectum. This is very messy and can be dangerous. It’s time for a trip to see your veterinarian.

Peritonitis. This nasty, difficult-to-treat bacterial infection of the abdomen is caused when bone fragments poke holes in your dog’s stomach or intestines. Your dog needs an emergency visit to your veterinarian because peritonitis can kill your dog.

Impressive Border Collie Working Dog Video

admin — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:24:08 +0000

While browsing around the internet for Dog related things I came across this awesome video about Border Collies. Since we have a border collie mix, Maggie, all things border collie are of interest to us. Of course it was a must see video. I’m sure Maggie would have loved to work along with these dogs herding sheep.

You can find his video “Border Collie Sheepdogs – Off Duty!” by clicking through my Amazon link below.

Blog the Change for Animals

admin — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:47:13 +0000

THIS WEEK! July 15: BLOG THE CHANGE FOR ANIMALS – Get the badge & spread the word!

Here’s our dog adoption story featured in the BestDogBlog.com. We really missed having a dog after our beloved 14 year old Australian Shepherd/Blue Heeler, Scout, died. We seriously questioned the wisdom of searching for another family pet. It was so difficult to grieve the loss of such a good companion and member of our family. But we soon realized that our house was not a home without a dog. READ ON . . .

Don’t Push Your Dog in the Heat

admin — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 23:31:29 +0000

Lately we have been getting out early in the morning to go for a walk with our dog, Maggie. It is cooler and the path we take is mostly in the shade during that time of the day.

This news item warns pet owners not to push their animals in the heat of the summer, or they will be at risk for heat stroke. “We need to think about them. Give them water and shade, remove muzzles. NEVER keep a dog locked up in a hot car!”

While all animals are susceptible to the heat, puppies, older dogs, dogs with compressed faces, and dark colored dogs are most vulnerable to heat stroke.

The Healing Power of a Dog and the Ocean

admin — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 22:16:40 +0000

Surf Dog Ricochet, the SURFice dog surfs with Ian McFarland, a 6 year old boy who suffered a brain injury in a horrific car accident that claimed the lives of his parents. Ian used to surf with his dad, but became somewhat fearful of surfing after the accident. This video shows the healing power of the ocean, and the healing power of a dog. Ian’s fears were replaced with excitement when he learned he’d be surfing with Ricochet. http://www.surfdogricochet.com

Adopt a Pet Stamps to the Rescue

admin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 04:35:44 +0000

Adopt a Shelter Pet Commemorative Stamps

Joining The Humane Society of the United States’ Wayne Pacelle and representatives from the United States Postal Service, American Humane Association, and Petfinder.com on stage at Hollywood’s Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for a press conference, Ellen DeGeneres unveiled the new 44 cent stamps featuring the adorable faces of five dogs and five cats, all of whom had been adopted from animal shelters and rescue groups.

Mr. Pacelle made the following observation: About 8 million dogs and cats are funneled through shelters every year. They come to shelters for a variety of purposes, they have been found on the streets, or people relinquish them to shelters. There is this stigma that is attached to animals at shelters – that there is something wrong with them, that they are defective, or have some behavioral problem, or some physical problem. Those of us who have adopted animals from shelters know that is false. Contrasting with dogs who are sold from puppy mills, shelter dogs are properly socialized with tremendous attention from shelter workers. The animals at shelters are actually the best socialized animals. They get excellent veterinary care.

The dogs and cats know what is going on. They know that someone has come to rescue them. They are enormously grateful to their new owners for the rest of their lives. What he sees as one of the most tragic things is that only 20% of dogs in people’s homes come from shelters. Four out of five dogs are coming from other sources. If just a small percentage of people who are getting dogs, this year or next year, got them from shelters rather than from a puppy mill or pet store, then we would solve this problem.

Maggie (the rescue shelter dog), Julie and Murry of the DogBlog: A Dog’s Eye View and the BestDogBlog.com agree whole heartedly. We encourage you to buy some Adopt a Shelter Pet Commemorative Stamps and remember there is a dog or cat waiting for your love at a rescue shelter. Please remember them when you need a friend.

Get your stamps here.

Carrie Underwood became a fan – helped a dog

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 14:35:42 +0000

Nice public service announcement. Pedigree has teamed up with dog lover and adoption advocate Carrie Underwood to get people involved in helping homeless dogs. For every person that fans the Pedigree Adoption Drive on Facebook, they donate a bowl of food to feed dogs in shelters and breed rescues. Become a fan, help a dog at www.facebook.com/pedigree

Related Post: Pedigree Adoption Drive Commercial.

Great Shelter Dog Commercial by Pedigree

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 14:03:07 +0000

Maggie Understands Pedigree Commercial

We love this adoption drive. Have you seen this ad from Pedigree?

I was watching the Today Show and this commercial came on. Very effective ad from Pedigree about shelter dogs that “aren’t broken – they’ve simply experienced more life . . . Do not pity a shelter dog – ADOPT ONE”. Well said. Now that’s what I call a Dog’s Eye View. Maggie was rescued from a shelter, she knows what they are talking about. Well done Pedigree.