Dog Defense: Protecting Your Pooch From Harmful Chemicals

Contribution from freelance writer Sally Writes

An interesting study, conducted in 2012 found that household cleaners increase cancer risk in dogs. Even the cleaners that aren’t detrimental to your health can be hazardous for your dog, and it’s this blind spot that we often run afoul of as human beings.

Protect your dog from harm

Photo by Alexandru Rotariu on Unsplash

So what can you do? What chemicals are in, and what are out, to make sure your house is kept dog-friendly but clean? There are various natural dog-friendly household cleaners, of course, but if you have a supply of store-bought chemicals, here’s what you should know.

Chemicals Your Pet Loves

Whilst many chemicals can harm humans, a greater amount of household chemicals can also harm dogs. And the kicker is that your pet may actively seek them out! As you may well know, dogs – and animals in general – love certain smells and objects that are attractive, but not very good for them. Our noses are trained through learning to avoid such things, but animals obviously don’t have that knowledge. Take antifreeze, for example; the main ingredient is ethylene glycerol, which can damage your dog’s kidneys. However, your dog may be drawn to it, as antifreeze has a sweet smell.

When you’ve got a sweet smelling chemical, or one you’re unsure about in the house, just make sure your dogs can’t reach it. Continue reading

3 Vinegar-Based, Pet-Friendly Garden Maintenance Alternatives

Contribution from freelance writer Sally Writes

Fountain

Photo by John Wilson on Unsplash

It’s important to have an outdoor space that everyone can enjoy, from you right down to Fido. Everyone loves to relax or play in a well-maintained yard or garden. However, there are many products that are regularly used for routine lawn and garden maintenance that are toxic to pets. 55, 516 pets are affected by toxic substances each year; the most common sources of poisoning are cosmetic and cleaning products. To prevent accidents and make sure that everyone enjoys the outdoors safely this fall, here are some cleaning alternatives that are healthy and safe for the environment and your pet.

Fountains

Many people choose to spruce up their garden with a feature piece such as a fountain. It’s a great, easy way to add value and charm to an outdoor space. To keep up the value and allure, regular maintenance is a must. Many sources recommend cleaning fountains with a mild soap or dish detergent. While this may yield cleanliness as a result, it can be potentially harmful to the water table and your dog, if ingested. A better, more eco and pet safe method for cleaning your outdoor fountain, is to use one cup of white vinegar per one gallon distilled water. The vinegar will help break down mineral and algae deposits, while distilled water will help prevent minerals from building up in the first place. Additionally, your dog won’t come to any harm if he decided that the water looks drinkably good.

Birdbaths   

Continue reading

Can You Help This Dog See Again?

Please Help Boston Terrier Get Cataract SurgeryDog needs cataract surgery

When any of our dogs have had health problems, we of course want to do whatever we can to give them the very best medical care. Can you imagine how you would feel if you learned your dog was going blind? Sadly, Our friends Brett and Hillary are dealing with this heartbreaking ordeal in their family. We have known Hillary since she was a young girl and were thrilled to see her get married to her loving husband and bring into their family two cute little Boston Terrier Dogs, Gin and Tonic. We recently heard that 3 year old Gin needs cataract surgery. Poor little Gin wants to play with her brother, Tonic, like she used to before her eyes developed severe cataracts.

We are reaching out to our readers to ask for your help. Hillary and Brett have set up a GoFundMe page to help with the expense of the cataract surgery. Please consider a small donation. I know every little bit will help.

Julie, Murry, and Blue Belle – DogBlog – A Dog’s Eye View

Can You Join Our Family and Help Gin See Again?

GoFundMe Page:  https://www.gofundme.com/helpginseeagain

Please pass it on to your followers. Gin and Tonic will love you for your compassion.  Blue Belle thinks it will be cool too!

Boston Terriers Gin and Tonic

Greenies Dental Dog Treats – Review

February is #NationalPetOralHealthCareMonth. We all know how important it is to help our fur buddies keep their teeth in good health, in fact, it should be a year-long activity.

Blue Belle is ready to review Greenies.

Blue Belle is ready to review Greenies.

Today Blue Belle is testing Greenies. This is not our first test. She absolutely loves them. Our dentist has told us Blue Belle’s teeth are in good shape. I can’t say if this is because of the Greenies, especially since she tends to gobble them up so quickly. She does seem to have good breath.

If you would like to purchase some Greenies for your best bud, we received our sample from Chewy.com. Blue Belle and our family are dog bloggers. #ChewyInfluencer!

Product Description

Complete oral care is important for your dog’s total body health and can add years to their lifespan. Greenies Freshmint Canine Dental Chews are proven to clean dogs’ teeth by fighting both plaque and tartar buildup, freshening breath, and maintaining healthier teeth and gums. These low-fat dental chews contain dried spearmint for a natural mint flavor, and are perfect for daily treating.

Key Benefits

  • They’re the #1 vet-recommended dental chew
  • Provides a total oral-health solution
  • Safe and easy to digest
  • Highly palatable and have an irresistible taste
  • Regular chew for dogs 25-50 pounds
  • Made in the USA

Ingredients

Wheat flour, wheat protein isolate, glycerin, gelatin, oat fiber, water, lecithin, natural poultry flavor, minerals (dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, magnesium amino acid chelate, zinc amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, potassium iodide), choline chloride, dried apple pomace, fruit juice color, vitamins ( dl-alpha tocopherol acetate [source of vitamin E], vitamin B12 supplement, d-calcium pantothenate [vitamin B5], niacin supplement, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement [vitamin B2], vitamin D3 supplement, biotin, pyridoxine hydrochloride [vitamin B6], thiamine mononitrate [vitamin B1], folic acid), turmeric color

Is your Paint Pet Safe?

Guest Blogger:  Aedan Kiernan

As pet owners we are all very careful about the food and toys we give to our pets, and what we do around them, which could be detrimental to their health. We are all aware of the dangers of things like chocolate, not many pet owners are aware of health implications that domestic decorating products like paints can have on our furry friends.

The Danger of Paints

Paint might not seem like the most dangerous household substances, but some domestic paints can have serious implications on the health and wellbeing of our pets. These paints are so harmful due to the harsh chemicals that they contain, which includes solvents, heavy metals and VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds). These chemicals release gases which can cause serious harm to our pets when they are inhaled. Although these gases are most potent while paints are drying, fumes can still be released long after the paint has dried. While the full extent of the damage caused by these chemicals is unknown, symptoms include dizziness, irritation to skin, eyes and air ways and in extreme cases full bodily hair loss.

Paints are not the only decorating product which can cause harm to our pets. Some other hazardous products include varnishes, paint removers and white spirits. The dangers are not just limited to inhalation of these gases and pets can suffer from the same symptoms if they ingest paints or other decorating products. Continue reading

Collar Safety Awareness Week

Dog’s Speak Up for Collar Safety

By: Blue Belle Walton, Canine Contributor
DogBlog: A Dog’s Eye View

Dog Collar Safety

Hi there dog lovers, Blue Belle here, canine dog blog contributor, grateful rescued dog, and tail wagging happy member of a furever family.

My family wanted me to talk to you about a very serious issue. Today my mom gave me a new collar. She said that this could actually save my life. What is so special about my new collar? It has a feature that makes it come apart if I get my collar caught, so I don’t get strangled. My new collar is a PetSafe® KeepSafe® Break-Away Collar.  Isn’t it pretty.  I really like it.  My mom listened to a video interview from the women who created it.  She invented this collar after she lost her dog Chinook, to a collar strangulation accident.  How terrible!  You can see the video below.

Information about the PetSafe® KeepSafe® Break-Away Collar

The collar features a patented break-away safety buckle that releases when pressure is applied or it gets caught on something, allowing it to fall off harmlessly and reduce the risk of strangulation or injury to the pet. The KeepSafe collar also has a metal D-ring on each side of the breakaway buckle, which can be used to attach ID tags and can also be clipped together with a leash so pet parents can safely walk their dogs using the collar.

We didn’t even know that this was a risk, but my mom heard about the Educational Campaign to Protect Pets from Collar Strangulation Accidents . They call it Collar Safety Awareness Week. We think everyone should help get out the word. Mom said it is urgent to make everyone aware of this safety issue. So listen up, people. Please pass this along. I know your dog will thank you.

Collar Related Injuries

  • Over 19 million dogs wear collars everyday
  • More than 26,000 collar related injuries happen each year
  • 71 incidents per day
  • More than 50% of pet professionals have experienced a collar related incident in pets

Common Causes of Dog Collar Incidents

  • Play Biting
  • Deck Slats
  • Fences
  • Crates
  • Heating/Cooling Vents
  • Shrubs/Bushes

The first annual Collar Safety Awareness Week, October 18-24, 2015, is being launched to educate the public about the risks of strangulation and dangers of traditional collars as part of National Animal Safety and Protection Month.

PetSafe® Interviews Tenney Mudge, Inventor of KeepSafe Collar

PetSafe® Collar Safety Awareness

Blue Belle’s Message to All Dogs and Their Family’s PROTECT YOUR PET WITH A SAFE COLLAR.

Petsafe Collar Safety Awareness Week Infographic

Petsafe Collar Safety Awareness Week Infographic