It wasn’t easy being a dog on the run. But one day, when life was oh so rough, somebody came to my rescue. I must have been quite a sight and in some human’s estimation a bit too much to handle.
Thankfully, people who truly cared didn’t give up on me. In fact, I was taken to live with guys who actually dwell behind bars. Yes, they call these men prisoners, or inmates. They live in the “big house”. They gave me the attention I needed, taught me some dog gone manners. And before I knew it, they considered me rehabilitated
One day the men who live behind the great big high razor topped fence told me it was time for me to go. A nice family came and picked me up. They knew all about dogs and forever homes and knew I had some ruff stuff baggage to deal with.
My new friends had this look in their eyes like they needed me, so I decided to “rescue” them. I got to ride in their car and went to live in their house. It was a new experience being a member of a real family, and I had so many things to learn. But now I am happy to report that this inmate trained pup is doing great. Thanks to the prisoners who trained me, and the rescue shelter that saved me (Second Chance Animal Shelter), I am experiencing a happy and healthy life – Yes It’s a Dog’s Life – and it’s GREAT!. We are excited to see our Rescue Animal story featured in FidoandWino.com as R.O.A.R. Squad members from the State of Idaho.
The R.O.A.R. Squad (Rescue Owners are Rockin) is the ingenious idea of a lady named Shauna who lives in a great smelling country, our neighbor to the north, Canada. She has a couple lovable canines in her family, and has first hand experience in compassion for pets that have found themselves as outcasts in society, “throw aways”. Shauna had this terrific idea to encourage humans to help us non-humans (some people call us pets) by inviting a rescue animal into your family and giving it a forever home. She created an awesome blog that features Rescue Owners and their rescued animals from every province in Canada and every state in the USA. We think that is DROOLIN COOL!
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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
