Tips for Boating With Your Dog

There’s nothing more fun than bringing a four-legged friend along on boating trips. Most dogs love the water almost as much as they love being with their people, but before heading out into water, consider a few of these simple tips for bringing a dog on a boat and keeping a canine companion safe and happy aboard the boat.

Purchase a doggie life jacket
Even if your dog isn’t a natural swimmer, a life jacket will provide peace of mind for everyone. Canine life jackets are made of high-floatation neoprene or nylon, and they feature reflective trim, rescue handles and leash rings. If your local pet supply store doesn’t carry pet life jackets, check out West Marine, Outward Hound, Overton’s, L.L. Bean or SwimOutlet.

Get your dog acquainted with the boat before going out
Before you take your dog out for the first time, let them check out the boat while it’s not underway. If they seem comfortable, you may want to start up the motor to get them accustomed to the sound of it.

Put together a pet first-aid kit
Keep a first aid kit on board in case your dog steps on a sharp shell or decides to take on a marine animal. In addition to the basic supplies like gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, adhesive tape, scissors and tweezers, consider items such as hydrogen peroxide, extra towels, ear cleaning solution, styptic powder, a flashlight and needle-nose pliers.

Bring along fresh water
Bring along a water dish and extra drinking water so that your dog always has fresh water to drink. Even if you’re boating on fresh water, it’s never a good idea to let your pet drink from the lake.

Don’t forget the sunscreen
Yes, even pets need sun protection. Dogs with short hair or light skin, such as white boxers, are especially susceptible to sunburn. Sunscreen with SPF-15 is a good choice for most dogs. Be sure to reapply often.

Potty time
Whether you’re on land or in the middle of the lake, when a dog’s “gotta go”, a dog’s “gonna go”. An ideal situation would be to train your dog to go on puppy training pads in a certain spot on the boat, but we all know that’s not always going to go exactly as planned. Be sure to take lots of pet waste bags along with you on your boating adventures. Paper towels and odor neutralizer are also good items to have on board. Take along some odor neutralizing trash bags, the kind you use in your kitchen trash can, to dispose of everything until you’re near a proper trash receptacle.

“The most important thing to remember is to make sure your pet has access to plenty of cool fresh water, wet towels and shade to prevent heat stroke or heat exhaustion from occurring,” said Dr. Ira Zaslow, a board-certified specialist in veterinary emergency and critical care and founder of Lauderdale Veterinary Specialists, a specialty and emergency hospital for pets in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “If you notice abnormal behavior, excessive panting, drooling, reddened gums or increased body temperature, your dog could be overheated. You should try to cool the dog down with cool fresh water and get them to the nearest veterinarian as soon as possible.”

Courtesy of Boatsetter

10 Strangest Items Swallowed By Dogs

My mother’s Schnauzer mix, Sha Sha, eats just about anything. I didn’t quite believe just how often she would quickly snap up everything in her sight until a few weeks ago when she swallowed a quarter and a nickel in the blink of an eye. The vet advised my mother to watch her for the next few days as the coins would likely pass. It’s a very common issue among dog owners and it doesn’t only happen with puppies. The majority of dogs do grow out of the need to eat inedible objects. It can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what a puppy would eat so it’s best to be vigilant about where you dog is allowed to freely roam. Many dogs and puppies have been known to swallow seemingly unsuitable items, which you might not find in any way enticing or preferable, but they do. Check out this list of the strangest things swallowed by dogs as witnessed by the ASPCA :

10 Cold Weather Tips for Your Pets

The frigid temperatures around the country are not just inconvenient; they can be incredibly dangerous for our pets. It's important that pets are kept warm and protected from harsh temperatures. Experts say frostbite can set in in less than 15 minutes, and animals are not exempt from this despite their furry coats. While frostbite is bad enough, hypothermia is the most dangerous hazard when the weather gets this cold. Signs of hypothermia include “violent shivering followed by listlessness, a rectal temperature below 95°F (35°C), weak pulse, lethargy, and coma.” It can become fatal very fast. It goes without saying that every dog and cat needs to be indoors during cold temperatures like these. I would argue, however, that dogs and cats need to be indoors during any cold temperatures. If you are cold, they are cold, simple as that. Outdoors is no place for pets.

10 Most Common Medical Conditions That Send Dogs to the Vet

No one likes going to the vet, especially our dogs. Like many others, my dogs can sense when they are going way before we get there. They get nervous and hyper. Some dogs whimper endlessly at the vet’s office while countless others have fear-induced accidents right in the office. While regular check-ups and vaccinations are a necessary evil, we can try our best to keep our pups in optimal health thus avoiding another dreaded trip. Veterinary Pet Insurance compiled a list of the 10 most common medical conditions that send dogs to the vet. Some are unavoidable while others may be caught early on. Dr. Carol McConnell, DVM points out that many of the conditions that most regularly require vet visits “can be stopped early or successfully managed in partnership with a veterinarian. To prevent some of the discomfort that so many pets experience from common diseases, the place to start would be by checking them regularly for developing problems.” Check out the full list here at Babb

Some Puppy To Love

Search This Blog