Best Christmas Gifts For Dogs 2017

December 4, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Christmas Gifts Your Dog Will Love

Christmas Gifts For Dogs — otsphoto/Adobe Stock

It’s almost Christmas time, which means it’s time to choose a gift for your furry family member. With so many new dog products created each year, here are my favorite 2017 Christmas dog gifts. As a professional dog trainer, I’m extremely picky about dog products, so you can rest assured I’ve tested these Christmas gifts for dogs thoroughly with my own and my clients’ dogs.

A quick tip: It’s best to place your dog’s toy, treat and chew gifts on the fireplace mantel. This prevents your dog from unwrapping his gifts before Christmas. 🙂

Comfy New Harness

Everyone needs a new spiffy outfit to start off 2018. Choose a fashionable, yet comfortable, harness for your dog to wear while trotting around town. Comfortable dog harnesses should offer full range of motion for front leg movement, and they should never chafe your dog’s skin.

My favorite harness is RuffWear’s Front Range harness. It comes in beautiful colors for every dog. This harness is easy to put on and take off your dog as well as offers lots of padding and front and back leash clip options.

Snuffle Mat

Mental enrichment is so important for dogs; that’s why I like the snuffle mat. Dogs love to forage for food, and a snuffle mat fulfills your dog’s foraging behavior. Snuffle mats contain long fleece strands tied to a rubber mat. They look like super long shag carpeting.

Sprinkle your dog’s daily kibble meal or treats into the fleece strands, and your dog will forage for an hour. Snuffle mats can be purchased online or easily created at home. Check out this DIY snuffle mat video. Oh, these mats are super easy to clean too—just toss into the washer and air dry.

Get Fit Gifts

Most dogs are stuck in the house all day, so splurge on a fun activity for your dog.

FitPaws offers balance boards, inflatable peanuts and cavaletti sets to keep your dog’s mind and body fit. Purchase online or create a DIY version, and then practice in your living room.
If your dog needs to lose a bit of weight, sign him up for hydrotherapy, which incorporates swimming in a heated pool or underwater treadmill. Hydrotherapy is not only reserved for injured dogs. It’s great for dogs that need to lose some weight too. Contact a certified pet physical therapist in your area for details.
Enroll in a fun class! Nose work is so much fun for dogs, and it’s a super easy activity for pet owners too. You’ll be shocked how good your dog’s nose really is. 🙂

Good Tried-and-True Dog Favorites

Of course, there are several tried-and-true gifts every dog will love. You can’t go wrong with any of these inexpensive Christmas gifts for dogs. 🙂

Kong Squeaky Tennis Balls are always a favorite. Balls are offered in two different sizes and come in three per package.
Stinky treats, such as bully stick chews or fish skin treats, will make any dog lose his mind.
Kong toys and Wobblers are always a hit with dogs. Just stuff stinky and yummy dog treats inside them, and your dog will stay busy for awhile.

Dog Eye Discharge: When Is It An Issue?

November 29, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Are Your Dog’s Eye Boogers Normal?

Just like humans, dogs have eye discharge for various reasons. While some dog eye discharge is normal, some eye boogers may be a sign of a health issue. If, at anytime, you have a concern about your dog’s eye discharge, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian immediately.

White or Clear Eye Discharge

Most dogs wake up with a bit of eye discharge, which can easily be cleaned away with a damp cloth or a gentle finger wipe. Often, this type of dog eye discharge is clear with a whitish tint and usually runny. Eye discharge, that has been allowed to dry throughout the day, will feel a bit dry. This is normal eye discharge.

Excess Eye Discharge

When dog eye discharge becomes excessive, it pools around a dog’s eye. Excess eye discharge can discolor a dog’s coat, especially lighter colored dogs. Eye discharge, just like saliva, can leave a rusty color on a dog’s coat. When dogs have excess eye discharge, they should see a veterinarian. There are numerous reasons for excess eye discharge, such as allergies, and it’s important to find the root cause to address it.

Thick Discharge With Color

When eye discharge becomes thick and develops a color (e.g. yellow, dark brown or green), it’s time to schedule a veterinary appointment. Thick discharge could indicate an eye infection, eye disease, inflammation of the eyelid (conjunctivitis), corneal abrasions and many other major eye issues. Don’t dismiss thick eye discharge as normal. Your dog could lose his eye(s).

Can Depend on Breed

Dog eye discharge can depend on a dog’s breed. Coated breeds (i.e. dogs with longer hair) can collect eye boogers around their eyes. If this happens, ask your groomer to trim any excess hair lingering around your dog’s eyes.

Some dog breeds that are prone to allergies can produce excess eye discharge too. Many purebred dogs develop congenital eye issues where their eyelids roll inward, causing their eyelashes to rub against their eyes. This is a very painful condition and it will never correct itself, so it’s important for a veterinarian to complete surgery if needed.

When in doubt, have your vet check it out.

Keep Canine Obesity At Bay With This Low Calorie Kong Filler

November 27, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Yummy Low Calorie Kong Filler

Best Low Calorie Dog Food — Stacy/Adobe Stock

Dogs love food just as much as humans. Sometimes, all of us love food a bit too much and extra pounds find their way onto our bodies. With canine obesity becoming a major epidemic, it’s time to cut back on a chunky dog’s calorie intake.

Diets don’t mean starvation; it just means making lower calorie choices. Remember, dogs must have daily mental stimulation, and providing low calorie Kong fillers are an excellent way to keep your dog’s mind busy while watching his waistline.

Choose a Vegetable

Vegetables make great low calorie dog food that is also healthy for dogs. Dog-friendly vegetables include: cooked or canned green beans, peas, carrots, kale, collard greens, and broccoli. Once you’ve chosen a vegetable, make sure to cook it thoroughly, so your dog can digest it. Vegetables have a thick cellulose layer, making it impossible for dogs to digest raw.

Something Sweet or Savory

Adding something sweet or savory to vegetables makes them taste much better. Since you’re watching your dog’s waistline, only a dollop is needed. Choose from raw honey, squeeze cheese or molasses, and make sure your dog absolutely loves it. In the Kong, layer vegetables and a 1/2 teaspoon of squeeze cheese until the Kong is filled.

If your dog only eats the squeeze cheese (it happens), then mix the cheese and vegetables together before filling up the Kong. If your dog is still skeptical about vegetables, try mixing tiny bits of lean chicken or turkey breast into the veggie mix. One sure-fire way to entice a dog to eat his vegetables is to hide a raw chicken heart at the very bottom of the Kong. 🙂

Freeze

Freezing a food stuffed toy makes it last much longer, and that’s important for a dog watching his waistline. If your dog is unsure about a frozen Kong, then firmly pack in the vegetable mixture to keep your dog busy.

WATCH: Yummy Low Calorie Kong Filling Recipe

How To Keep A Dog Still During Exams

November 22, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Tip for Keeping a Dog Still During Exams

Keep A Dog Still — eldadcarin/Adobe Stock

Dogs wiggle and wag; it’s part of being a dog. Those wiggles can make veterinary examinations challenging though, especially during eye exams, ear checks and temperature checks. Next time you bring your dog to the vet, try this easy trick to keep your dog still and happily busy while your veterinarian does her magic.

Food Stuffed Kong & Tire Toy

It sounds like a crazy combination, but it works wonders. 🙂 Simply place the food filled Kong inside the tire toy and voila! The tire toy will hold the Kong in place, and at the right angle, so your dog can happily lick away while your vet examines him. Plus, your veterinarian or vet tech can move the toy around the exam table as needed.

Filling Kongs

Stuff a large Kong toy with delicious food, such as cream cheese, squeeze cheese, peanut butter, canned dog food, honey or anything else your dog absolutely adores. It’s important to completely fill up the Kong toy with food to make it last during the vet exam.

The night before your dog’s vet visit, fill 1-2 Kongs and refrigerate. Before your dog’s visit, place both food filled toys inside a plastic zip bag, grab the tire toy and a few yummy treats to reward good behavior (not the scale).

Kong Tire Toy

The Kong Company sells a tire toy that works perfectly as a Kong holder. Simply place a large food stuffed Kong inside the tire toy, and offer it to your dog. For smaller dogs, medium Kongs work well too, but they’re held at a lower angle. If the tire toy moves a bit, while your dog is licking it, place it on a towel or rubber mat.

Why Use Food During Vet Visits?

Let’s face it, no one enjoys bringing their dog to the veterinary clinic. Dogs stress out, so pet owners learn to dread vet visits too. When pairing good things with something scary, dogs learn that good things happen around scary things. Think about it this way: If $100 bills rained from the sky during blood draws, we would all line up to give blood. Once your dog learns that fun things happen during veterinary visits, he’ll be excited to walk through the door and veterinary visits become stress-free.

WATCH: Tip For Keeping A Dog Still During Exams

How To Stop Bleeding After Trimming Your Dog’s Nails Too Short

November 21, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Using Styptic Powder to Stop Dog Nail Bleeding

Sometimes, pet owners trim their dog’s nails a little too short, causing their dog’s nail to bleed. If your dog’s nail starts bleeding during a trim, don’t panic and grab the styptic powder to stop dog nail bleeding quickly. Here’s the easiest way to apply styptic powder to your dog’s nail.

Why Dog Nails Bleed When Trimmed Too Short

Dogs have a quick running along the center of each nail. The quick is basically the nail’s blood supply. When dogs’ nails grow longer, their blood supply grows too. When trimming dog nails, it’s very easy to nick or cut into the quick, which causes bleeding. Nicking a dog’s nail quick is very painful for your dog. If this happens often, your dog will eventually learn to dislike nail trims. When trimming dog nails, less is more.

What is Styptic Powder for Dogs?

Before trimming a dog’s nails, pet owners must always have styptic powder on hand. Styptic powder has anti-coagulant properties, which stops dog nail bleeding quickly. Since styptic powder can sting a bit during the application process, some styptic powder dog blends contain topical anesthetic to ease the sting. Most styptic powders also contain antiseptic properties to prevent infection.

For dogs, styptic powder is only used when a nail is trimmed too short. It should never be used on wounds, cuts or gashes. Additionally, it’s inhumane to purposefully trim a dog’s nail too short; it’s that painful.

How to Apply Styptic Powder

If you accidentally trim your dog’s nail too short, reach for the styptic powder immediately. Wet your fingertip with water, and then dip your wet fingertip into the styptic powder. Ensure your fingertip is thoroughly coated, and then place your styptic powder coated fingertip against the bleeding nail tip. Apply a bit of pressure by holding your finger in place for at least 10 seconds. If your dog moves around, provide a plate smeared with peanut butter or a food stuffed toy for your dog to enjoy while you apply pressure.

Sometimes, “quicked” nails are challenging and will continue to bleed. Continue to apply styptic powder until there’s no blood left on your fingertip. Then, give your dog something quiet to do, such as lick a food stuffed toy in her crate. After 10-20 minutes, bring your dog outdoors to ensure her nail has stopped bleeding. It’s best to keep your dog off white furniture and carpeting for a few hours.

WATCH: How To Apply Styptic Powder To A Dog’s Nail

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