Halloween Safety Tips for Your Dog

Halloween is just around the corner. It is the second biggest holiday in the US next to Christmas. It is a fun time for all ages - and for PETs.

At Cause to Paws we are having our 9th Annual Howl-O-Ween Pawty on Sunday, Oct 27th from 5 - 7 PM.

Every year it seems to get bigger and bigger - more pets, more people and more fun. If you haven't joined us before you should really try and make it this year. We have prizes in various categories - Best Homemade Costume, , Group/Duo, Overall Favorite and Best Performance or Trick. We have treats for you (Cupcakes from Party Favors) - and the pets - including my (in)famous carrot and peanut butter Pupcakes.  This year I think I will bake it into a cake  There is Dunking for Discounts and Bobbing for Hot Dogs - or the other way around - seems to change every year. We  use Rubber Duckies or Apples for the Discount Bobbing

We plan to have a ball this Howl-O-Ween - However there are a few things to keep in mind  - to make sure you keep you and your pets safe during Halloween.
Here are some tips I have gathered from a variety of others
thanks to RC Pets & the ASPCA:

• Chocolate in all forms can be toxic to dogs and cats Keep candies and chocolate out of reach from your pet. Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also cause problems. If you do suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
• Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and decorative corn are considered to be relatively nontoxic, but they can produce stomach upset in pets who nibble on them
• Pet costumes should not impede their movement, breathing, nor hearing and pets must be supervised to ensure that no part of the costume is accidental ingested.  For pets who prefer their “birthday suits,” however, wearing a costume may cause undue stress - just because you think it's cute it might not work for your dog. Use your best judgment.
• When greeting trick-or-treaters at the door, take extra care that your pet doesn't dart outside.
•  All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room away from the front door during peak trick-or-treating hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets.
• If going trick-or-treating, make sure your pet is fitted properly for a collar and is leashed.  Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification
• Don't forget to clip on a Safety Light (we have these in the store) and/or pair your pet with a High Visibility Vest for added safety

Having Trouble Training your New Puppy?, Your New Rescue? or Just a Dog that needs a Refresher? -  To  Let You know when they have to Go!

 

Why Not Give Poochie Bells a Chance!

RING RING - GOTTA GO!

 

 

Teach your dog to communicate with you. Poochie Bells can be a helpful tool. They are a dog training bell system on a ribbon that you hang by your door. Teach them to ring them and you're (and your dog) are good to GO!

 

PoochieBells have handy guide on their site but I will share their info with you here on my blog page.

 

1. First you need to INTRODUCE your dog to the bells

 

Hang PoochieBells inside the house on a doorknob or hook next to the door your dog exits to go out and leave it there so it is accessible at all times for your dog to ring

 

 

2. ASSOCIATE going out with the Bells - But be CLEAR

Every time you let your dog out to potty, bring the dog to the bells to sniff, ring them, and state a command such as “Outside, ring your bells!”, praise the dog, then take him/her out to potty. We do not recommend playing with or giving the dog a treat at that time. You want him/her to associate ringing the bells with potty time only.

3. PRAISE and REPEAT & Be Consistent

 

Throughout the training, continue your command, be consistent and praise your dog for their attention and wanted behavior. Consistency is key.

 

Repeat this training method until your dog begins to ring the bells on their own. - AND they Will!  Make sure to praise your dog on their newly learned behavior to reinforce the action.

 

I have sold a lot of them through the years and the feedback has been great but as mentioned above, consistency and praise are essential and you have to associate the bells with going out to do their business - not play or treat time.  The bells come on ribbons - you can choose a color to match your décor.  If you have a house with a front and back door we often suggest you get two to make it easier for your dog and you.

 

They also make great gifts for new dog owners - doesn't matter if they are a puppy, a new rescue or an older adopted dog.

 

 

 



 

It's Hot Out There! Protect Your Pet.

It's Heating Up - Be sure you know how to protect your dog during the summer months.

 

Summer is here and that means more outdoor activities--but heat - especially during the middle of the day can be detrimental to your pet. Dogs can get hot very quickly, faster then their human counterparts. Being outdoors with your dog can be a fun time to share with your family dog; but remember to protect him from the summer heat. If you aren't careful, your dog could suffer from heat exhaustion.

 



THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

Never -  Ever leave your dog in the car. Leave your dog at home if you have other errands your are running that don't allow dogs. More dogs die of heat exhaustion in parked cars than in any other situation. The car gets too hot - there is nothing that is "just a short time" that is acceptable during this time of year.

Exercise in the cooler parts of the day. Schedule your walks wisely. If you are running with your dog - do it in the cooler times of the morning or evening. Avoid hot pavement. your dog's paw pads can burn. Plus they release heat through their paws - try walking on the cooler grass if possible.

Just like you - there are 3 things your need to do - Hydrate -Hydrate-Hydrate your dog. There are all types of dog related containers that carry or dispense water. We sell a variety of portable bowls, bottles and roller ball caps that fit on standard water bottles, that you can use.

Does a wet bandanna feel good on your neck?  Well, it will feel good on your dog's , too!   We also sell versions that have a gel in the bandanna - soak it in cool water, the gel expands and helps to cool your pet as the water evaporates.

If your dog has a heavy coat, remember to brush them to help remove their undercoat and their "Winter" wear. But remember - don't shave your dog. Your dog can get a sunburn, too. Protect their noses, put sunscreen on them. We sell a type of tick repellant that also has a sunscreen in it as an added precaution - especially for white hair and thin hair dogs who may be loosing their fur and exposing their sensitive skin.

 

Tell tale signs of heat exhaustion - Watch out for excessive drooling, this can be a sign of heat issues as well as heavy panting, red gums, lethargy, extreme thirst and rapid heartbeat.

 

Keep your dog in a safe, cool environment. Provide the dog with plenty of water. Make sure there is always a fresh, cool water supply available for your pet in the house. Even consider getting a wading pool or a basin of water to dunk them in - use cool not cold water which can constrict their blood vessels too much.

 

Be Smart, Be Safe and have a great Summer with your pets!

 

 

 

Health Scare for Kanji - ALL THINGS FOR A REASON

Last December I was at the store with Kanji and I noticed that he started to develop a swelling in his groin - he has a tendency towards Paraphimosis - ( the inability to retract an extruded penis back into the preputial sheath, which is the skin that covers it) - His "lipstick" had been sticking out for over a day, so at first I thought the swelling might be a result of this condition (how to treat this condition will be a topic of another blog!). But the swelling occurred so rapidly it was scary and my mind went to the show Pit Bulls and Paroles ( a great show on TLC that shows Pits as the wonderful dogs that can be if treated right). One of their dogs, Chong, developed a rapid swelling in his groin and was subsequently diagnosed with cancer. I then assumed this was what was happening to Kanji.

 I rushed him to Angell Memorial - an awesome Veterinary hospital near by, since it was a Sunday afternoon and my regular vet was closed. The Doctor examined Kanji and was definitely concerned about the swelling. She attempted to withdraw some fluid from it with great difficulty, since it was thick and "waxy". She sent it to be examined, which showed inflammatory cells and bacteria - basically an infection. She said I could go home with antibiotics and treat it with hot compresses. Still concerned she strongly suggested I actually come back in the morning to have the area excised and drained/cleaned out, since it appeared to be quite aggressive. I agreed to return in the morning - still very nervous about the whole situation.

Dropped him off in the morning  and waited nervously to hear what was going on - then the call came - she said since Kanji was a "senior" dog they needed to take a chest x-ray to ensure that his lungs were clear since they would be sedating him to do the surgery. The problem was the x-ray showed a mass in his chest. They wanted to do an abdominal ultrasound and sample the mass, which I agreed to do. the results were not good - a confirmation of cancer.

They said I could pick him up and suggested I make an appointment with the oncologist. They never did the surgery for the infection and I left with antibiotics and told to do the hot compresses. They could not tell me if the groin issue was a result of the cancer or not. Needless to say I was devastated.
Took a few days to see the Oncologist and in the meantime the groin situation seemed to be resolving.

The meeting with the Doctor was not a pleasant one. She could not tell if the mass was In or On the lungs and suggested we do a Catscan - (Angell had recently gotten a new 3D Catscan machine) . She went through the litany of all the possible cancers it might or might not be - potential treatments and outcomes based on the type of cancer -  none of which sounded good of course and I was overwhelmed. I had brought a friend with me to be another set of eyes and ears since I knew I would be too emotionally involved in the situation to actually be hearing clearly. Seems that Primary Lung Cancer would be the best diagnosis - but very rare in dogs, but highly treatable with surgery. So we began to pray for Lung Cancer - can you imagine that. Wore my underwear inside out hoping to reverse our luck. Went looking for Sage to burn, to ward off bad luck and evil and tried to keep positive - the whole time assuming the worse. And of course I hugged Kanji every chance I could get.

 I agreed to the test and scheduled it as quickly as I could. It was getting close to Christmas/New Years and I wanted to get it done - I needed to know even though I didn't want to. They told me that they would have preliminary results after a few hours from which they may be able to make a diagnosis and if not it would take another 24 for them to do the 3D Modeling. Well the phone call came early AND the news was what we were hoping for PRIMARY LUNG CANCER with no other cancer seen in his body. Even the oncologist was surprised. We scheduled surgery as soon as we could after the first of the year. They removed about 1/8th of his lung through his rib cage, removed a node for additional testing and closed him up with 14 staples. Spent 3 days in the hospital and  took him home for 14 days of bed rest and painkillers. He looked pitiful and a little like Frankendog - a patchwork of shaved areas, raw skin and staples - quite the sight - but the pathology came back and said the margins were good and the node was clear and that he was good to go with no further treatment. Because it was found early (by accident) and he was not symptomatic that his recovery would be uneventful and the surgery considered a success. He is doing great!

When I saw the emergency room doctor I hugged her and thanked her for convincing me the infection was serious enough to take a further look - although we never did that surgery and we treated him simply with drugs and compresses, because of her I found something we were not looking for - if I hadn't done that we would have lost Kanji in 6 month according to the oncologist - by the time you have symptoms it's too late.

I can not say enough good things about Angell (although I can complain about the cost - Kanji is worth every penny!) He's happy and so am I to share the rest of his life with me. Also I want to thank Tia and Pit Bulls and Paroles for bringing my attention to possible causes of his swelling - was not the case for Kanji - BUT ALL THINGS FOR A REASON!

Is it Spring Yet?

You may not believe it but it is Spring - although rumor has it there is more snow in our future but at least we know it won't last. It's been quite some time since I have written a new blog post so I am taking this opportunity - Spring - a new beginning - to start writing again.

I don't know about you but it has been a one tough Winter - not just the weather - but business in general (and health issues - not me but Kanji.)

First Business:

Weather effects business - I don't know about you but I sure don't want to go out when the weather is obnoxious - and neither do the dogs. Kanji loves the Snow but rain is a sure no go. Too much snow is also an issue - I don't want to walk farther then I have too - and Kanji get's a little freaked out when the snow get's over his head - and he can actually smell the chemicals and the salt and won't walk if he senses them - I go out  only for necessities - Kanji has necessities too - so he needs to walk .  - Enter PAWZ boots - These have been a life saver for the dogs - little rubber booties - that stay on! Kanji knows when he has his special booties on he can walk anywhere! I have been in business for 8 Winters and for the last 6 this is the only boot I will sell. They workkkkk - they protect the pads of the pups from chemicals, salt, ice, sand........ AND you may not know this but they are good All Year Round - Including Spring.

Consider the following:

• Sand irritation

• Dog Run bacteria

• Allergies

• Lawn chemicals

• Pesticides

• Hot pavement

• Protection from foxtails and burrs

• Post-grooming soil

• Wound protection

• Swimming pools

 and Traction Control - Pawz protects from all of these issues.

 

Wear them, Rinse them off, let them Dry and Sprinkle with Baby Powder or Corn Starch (to avoid sticking) and they will last quite awhile - they may be called semi disposable but you can reuse them again and again. So if you bought them this Winter consider continuing to use them. If you didn't - consider using them now. We carry them all year round.

 

They were originally  made in the Far East but they have moved their manufacturing back to the USA.

 

Back to Business - Things have been slow this Winter - Yes it's the weather but what else? Economy? Competition?, Internet Sales, ...... All of the above.  But I have great loyal customers that help to keep this Mom and Pup store a float. But I can (and need) new customers - so if you can help by referring us to your friends and family - Kanji and Decia would appreciate that. Shopping Local helps maintain your community - Shop the Sticker and support locally owned Independent stores - Maintain the character of your neighborhood.

 

 

 Shop Brookline Local First

Don't Forget About our Monthly Yappy Hour(s) - The 4th Thursday of the Month - starting at 6 PM Treats for Pet's and Their People and lot's of other surprises. Check out previous Yappy Hours Pix