As my late dog Nikki started to age, it really made me appreciate the time I had with her and just how much I loved her.  There’s something about a senior dog that just makes my heart grow 3 sizes larger just like the Grinch.  They seem to occupy a special place in my heart like no other.

After his heart grew

From the arthritic limp to the sad eyes that are turning white due to cataracts, they bring out the best in me.  Though they may be slower and can’t hear very well, my memories float back to just how feisty she was, or the times I came through the door and she jumped up and down like I was the most awesome person in the world.

Or  the time we took her to the snow and the ice was sticking to her legs, but she just kept running and having a great time.  And all those times when she looked at me with so much love and devotion that I swear I could see into her soul.

It’s these kinds of memories that make me want to give back as much as she gave me.  If I wasn’t boarding dogs, I’d love to foster senior dogs and care for them until they go over the Rainbow Bridge (Get your tissues handy.) It would take a lot of strength to see them pass, and I applaud those wonderful people that care for senior dogs every day.  They are the best of us.

Next time you find yourself wanting to add a new dog to your family, please consider a senior dog.  Click on Senior Dog Rescues to find information and a rescue group near you.

Since they tend to have more medical problems, you can avoid unnecessary Veterinarian bills by feeding them holistic pet food as nutrition is the key to keeping them healthy and happy for years to come.  

My dog Nikki in her last years

Of course you have to be prepared for what medically comes with an older dog such as:

Arthritis

Cataracts or losing their site

Loss of hearing

Graying and coat may become dull

Muscle mass loss

Slowing down,

and other medical conditions.

However, the good far outweigh the bad.  You just needs a little more patience and a whole lot of love.

Please view this video from the Petfinder Foundation to see all the wonderful qualities senior dogs have and they are just waiting for you to take them into your heart!

You’d never know it judging by Northern California’s weather lately, but Summer is coming and it’s time to revisit how the hot weather can impact our pets.

If you’ve had dogs all your life, you may know some of these hot weather tips, but if you’re a new dog owner, I hope they help you to keep your pets safe this summer.

Here’s a video of my dog boarders having fun in the pool!

Pool Play

Here at Waggy’s Pet Sitting, the first of our dog boarders have christened the pool and are enjoying playing in the water. Before I started boarding dogs, we had taken the fence down and were enjoying how our yard looked without the obstruction of the black mesh fence.

It didn’t take long for us to put it back up after we started taking in dog boarders. It was so stressful thinking that one would fall in, panic and not remember where the stairs are and drown. I’ve even had very agile dogs fall due to running around the yard and getting too close to the edge.

So, being worry free had to win out over the beauty of the yard. Remember to always supervise pets while they’re in the pool.

Never leave your dog in the car!

Whenever I can, I bring my dog boarders with me when I do errands. That all stops once the weather starts to get warm. The temperature in the car can rise to over 100 degrees in a matter of minutes and can be fatal.

Get out the sunscreen and insect repellent.

The sun does not discriminate between humans or animals. They can burn and get skin cancer just like we do. Make sure to get their noses including inside their nostrils, exposed lips, tips of the ears if they have ears that stand up. Your light colored dogs are even more susceptible to burns. Be careful not to get the sunscreen in their eyes. I’ve done that to myself and it burns and stings. If your in a high insect area, purchase insect repellent made for animals.

Make sure they have plenty of water.

Leave an extra bowl or water chiller outside with fresh cool water for all your pets. If your outside water bowl is left out too long, bacteria can form and possibly make your dog sick, not to mention all the bugs that float in, but don’t get out. When walking your dog, have a water device so you can give your dog frequent water breaks.

You may have to change your exercise and walking routine.

Where I live in Northern California, it get over 100 degrees on many of our Summer days. Therefore, I have to adjust the walking schedule of my dogs. If we haven’t walked by at most 8am, it will be too hot and we’ll have to wait until the sun goes down. Always bring water with you on the walk or jog and give to your dog if you see that he’s panting excessively. Always check for signs of heat stroke.

I lived in Arizona for a couple of years and not only did you have to walk them at the crack of dawn or night, but their paws can burn on the concrete or street. If your dog will wear them, dog booties will keep their paws from burning.

Play indoors more.

I often throw a ball down my hallway for the dogs. You can even run them up and down the stairs, or play with their favorite dog toy with them. I’m used to dogs playing in my house and I realize this may not be the case for everyone.

Water play

Keep them cool even if they don’t have a pool to swim in. One of my sitters gets a couple of plastic play pools and the dogs have a great time. Sometimes I cool them down with the hose, but not for too long. I don’t want to waste precious water.

Keep uneaten food up.

We get a ton of flies in the Summer. Uneaten food especially wet food, can get inundated with flies and/or ants. If your dog or cat likes to nibble, take the food off the floor and put it in the refrigerator. You can offer it to him in a little while. However, if they don’t eat their breakfast, it’s best to throw it away and start with a fresh bowl for dinner due to bacteria getting into the food.

Go to a Pet First Aid Class.

Pet first aid classes are a must for any pet owner and/or pet sitter. They teach you the basics of pet first aid including knowing the signs of Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion. The American Red Cross has classes and leaves you with a full color Pet First Aid reference book. You can read my prior post on Heat Stroke here.

Keep your pets coat trimmed down.

More frequent trips to the pet groomer may be in order especially for long, thick coats. Be sure to check with your groomer if this is right for your pet. Grooming certain kinds of dogs may not be the best option as their coat may help keep them cool in hot weather. Shave down to about an inch long for extra protection from the sun.

Watch human outdoor play.

Hot weather brings out the gardener and BBQ king in all of us. Be aware of the lawn fertilizers, pesticides and sprays that your using. Use pet friendly options whenever possible. My dog used to stand by my husband waiting for scraps or juice to drop from the BBQ! When having friends over for Summer fun, please ask that they don’t give your pets table scraps as some may be toxic or just plain bad for them.

Watch out for snakes.

I recently wrote a post on Venomous Snakes and how to prevent you and your pets from getting bitten.

Visit your Veterinarian

Visit your vet and stock up on flea, tick and heart worm meds. Make sure your pet is tested for heart worms in you aren’t on a year round routine.

Do you have hot weather tips that I didn’t mention? I’d love to hear them.

Where I live in Northern California, Spring and Summer is synonymous with baby rattlesnakes.  We have many nature trails to walk our dogs in my town and I’ve seen snakes sunning themselves on the trails many times.  Let me tell you, they put the fear of God in you!

Copperhead Snake

This information was obtained in my Dog First Aid booklet from the American Red Cross.  All responsible dog and cat owners should take a class at least every other year.  If you don’t have a Red Cross Chapter near you, you can take classes from independent sources like PetTech.net.  Pet First Aid kits should also be a must in your home.  PetFinder.com has a list to make your own or you can purchase one from Amazon.com are good sources for kits.

Venomous Snakes in the United States – Pit Vipers

Rattlesnakes: Rattlesnakes come in 16 distinct varieties, but they are most identified with a jointed rattle on the tail and a triangular head.  They usually get up to 3-4 feet in length, sometimes longer.  Most are found in the Southwestern US, but some variety can be found in every contiguous state.

Rattlesnake

Copperheads: Copperheads do not have a rattle and are about 4 feet long in adulthood.  They are most characterized by their deep coppery orange color on their heads.  Also known as a Highland Moccasin and found mainly in the Eastern US.

Cottonmouths: Cottonmouths or Water Moccasins are about 4 feet in length with a dark body and the inside of their mouth is bright white.  They are found by rivers, wetlands and lakes usually in South Carolina.

Coral Snakes: Coral Snakes are known for their colorful banding of red, yellow and black and can be found in the Southern and Eastern US.  They grow up to 3 feet in length.  Remember, “if red touches yellow, you’re a dead fellow”  meaning if the red and yellow bands touch on the Coral Snake it’s the real deal and is venomous.

Coral Snake

What to do to avoid a snake bite

Keep your dog on a leash when walking outside or away from your home.

Don’t let them wander off into high brush and grass.

If you’re in a high risk area, bring a walking stick with you to stir up the brush and let the snakes know your coming and wear high boots.

If appropriate, enroll your dog in a Rattlesnake Avoidance Classes that can be taught from local dog trainers.

If you see a snake on your walk, just turn around and go the other way.  That happened to me and I didn’t care how far out of the way it took me.  It scared the life out of me to be honest!

Keep them away from streams and riverbeds.  Snakes like to hide in the tall grasses along the water.

Know where your nearest emergency Vet clinic is in your area.

Get a Snake Vaccine from your local vet if necessary.

Cottonmouth Snake

Signs and Symptoms – according to The American Red Cross

Bleeding puncture wound

Blood does not clot

Breathing stops

Bruising or sloughing of the skin over the bitten area

Fang marks may or may not be visible, due to the dogs hair

Neurological signs such as twitching and drooling

Pain

Reddening

Signs of Shock

Swelling of the bitten area.  This can be severe and progress for more than a day.

What to do if your dog is bitten

If you can, try to identify the snake type, but be aware that the venom can still be lethal for up to 1 1/2 hours even if the snake has been decapitated.

Perform pet CPR and check the dogs vital signs.  You will learn this in your First Aid for Dogs class.

Keep the dog calm and carry them, if possible, home and to your car.  The toxins spread faster throughout their body when they are moving.

DO NOT try to suck the venom out of the wound.  DO NOT use ice on the area and DO NOT us a tourniquet.

Take your dog immediately to the Vet or Emergency Vet Clinic as time is of the essence.

Chris L Wagner

From One Pet Lover to Another

Waggy’s Eco Pet Products

Spring is here and the flowers are blooming and the plants are coming to life.  Are you enjoying it or are your eyes watering and you’re sneezing?  Yes, allergy season is upon us.  Luckily, I only get mild symptoms, but for some, it’s a miserable time.

How about your pets – do they get allergies?  Of course they do.  Grasses, insects, molds and weeds to name a few can lead your pet to scratch, bite and sometimes cause open sores on their bodies.

When my  late dog Nikki was little, she used to scratch all the time and get hot spots.  I was a new dog owner and would literally follow her around to see where she was scratching and spray some medicine on it.  It got to the point that she would stop scratching when she saw me coming or would go out of site to scratch!  I was very annoying .  Around 4 years of age, she grew out of it and didn’t have any more problems with the hot spots.

My little Nikki in her later years

The most common types of allergies in dogs are Food, Contact, Inhalant , Bacterial, and Flea Allergies.

Food Allergy

Pet food has come a long way to removing ingredients that pets can be allergic to such as corn, wheat and grains.  It is believed that if they are introduced to these too early of an age they may always be allergic to it.  Mold is sometime inherited with grains because they are stored for long periods of time in grain silos.  The symptoms from food allergies usually manifest themselves as digestive problems or skin problems.

To treat food allergies, you have to start by eliminating the food they’re eating and give them a chicken and rice diets (or whatever your vet recommends).  Vets can also prescribe hypoallergenic packaged dog food.  Slowly, one by one start adding in other foods.  Starting your pet out in life with  a nutrient rich, holistic pet food may be your best defense to food allergies.

Contact Allergy

Contact Allergies are the least common type of allergies.  This is usually caused by a chemical such as  flea products, disinfectants and even types of bedding such as beds filled with cedar.  To treat  a contact allergy is to remove the substance that’s causing it.  However, if it’s not readily apparent what the substance is, you might have to do some detective work.

Flea - A face only a mother could love

Inhalant Allergy

Inhalant Allergies are triggered by the things we get allergies from, pollen from trees, grasses and weeds, mold, mildew and dust mites.  Instead of getting a runny nose and sneezing, dogs manifest their symptoms through their skin.  This can cause itching, scratching, shaking their heads or rubbing their ears or muzzle and licking.  Depending on what they are allergic to, symptoms could last for a few weeks for seasonal allergies or longer.

To find out what is causing the allergy, your pet can go through testing by injecting possible allergens, or do a blood test and send it to a lab so they determine what your pet is allergic to.

Treatments for Inhalant allergies  are:

Anti-Inflammatory therapy using steroids/cortisone.  This will block the allergic reaction in most cases.

Flea Free Shampoo

Shampoo Therapy: Shampooing frequently with a hypo allergic or natural dog shampoo made for this reason can help considerably.  Antigens can be absorbed through the skin and it is thought that frequent shampooing can lessen the absorption and also quickly relieve the itching by removing surface antigens.

Hypo sensitization is basically allergy shots.  By giving your pet small amounts of the antigen, it’s hoped that weekly shots can retrain the body’s immune system to become desensitized and lessening the effects of the allergy substance.

Flea Allergy

By far flea allergies are the most common type.  To most dogs fleas are just a pain in the rump, but for some, it can cause intense itching and cause them to scratch until they have an open sore.  This in turn can cause other secondary infections.  If your dog in severely allergic by the fleas saliva, it’s best to remove all fleas.  Easier said than done.  There are several spot on medications you can purchase such as Frontline, however spot on flea medication has come under some scrutiny in the past months.  There are natural flea shampoos,  and Diatomaceous Earth.   In some cases steroids can be prescribed.

Bacterial Allergy

Staph bacteria is common in dogs.  For some it’s not a problem, but if their immune system is comprised, it can become a severe problem and invade the deeper layers of the skin.  This infection is called pyoderma.  The symptoms are hair loss, raised circular lesions, flaky skin.  This staph infection can occur as a secondary infection from the scratching and itching from other allergic reactions.

The treatment is usually antibiotics, topical and oral medications.  Providing a natural, holistic pet food can bolster the immune system so that a staph infection can’t escalate.

Chris L Wagner

From One Pet Lover to Another

Waggy’s Eco Pet Products

Waggy’s Pet Sitting Service

Waggy’s Holistic Pet Food