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

Who Should Walk Through The Door First?

November 20, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Walking Through Doors With Your Dog

Who Should Walk Through Door First — K. Thalhofer/Adobe Stock

As pet owners, it’s our job to keep our beloved dogs safe. One situation that can cause stress in dogs is walking through doors, especially if something scary is on the other side. Opening doors to strangers walking by or to a vet clinic can be scary. Before walking through a door, follow these steps to keep your dog safe and stress-free.

You Should Walk Through the Door First

When something distracting or scary lurks on the other side of a door, it’s vital for you to walk through the door first. This provides plenty of time for you to assess the situation before bringing your dog along with you. When dogs walk through doorways first, especially in apartment complexes, they can easily become startled when encountering strangers, other dogs or children.

Open, Look & Listen

When bringing your dog out for a walk, grab yummy treats and leash your dog before opening the door. Then, crack open the door and peek outside for any close distractions that can scare your dog. If the coast is clear, open the door a bit wider and poke your head out for any distractions approaching or leaving the area. If it’s safe, open the door, so your dog can step out and toss a few treats on the ground. This gives your dog something fun to do while you scan the area for further distractions down the road.

If a distraction approaches that scares your dog, take a step back indoors. Close the door and give your dog several yummy treats. Pairing something good, such as treats, with a scary situation positively changes your dog’s behavior. Plus, it gets your dog back indoors quickly. Wait until the coast is clear again, then head out for a nice walk.

When walking into a veterinarian’s office, look through the glass door or poke your head through the doorway to ensure no dogs are standing nearby. If a dog or person is standing nearby, ask if they could move back, so your dog can enter. Once the doorway is clear, walk quickly to the exam room.

Dispelling Dominance

Walking through doors before your dog has nothing to do with dominance. This is a myth. Of course, dogs should learn polite manners around doorways to prevent them from running out of open doors, but again this has nothing to do with dominance. When someone mentions dominance between dogs and humans, understand they still believe in a myth that was dispelled more than a decade ago.

When pet owners walk through doors first, they’re making sure their dogs are safe.

4 Ways To Prepare Your Dog For Holiday Parties

November 17, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Preparing Your Dog for Holiday Parties and Guests

Prepare Your Dog For Holiday Parties — JackF/Adobe Stock

Holiday season is in full swing, and everyone’s preparing their homes for festive gatherings. This week, I’ve been overwhelmed with private dog training lessons focused on teaching Fido polite manners during holiday parties. Before I share my recommended holiday safety tips for pets, it’s important that pet owners understand and set fair expectations for themselves and their dogs.

Having Fido lie leisurely under the dining table is a pipe dream. Yes, everyone wants this picturesque holiday moment, but it’s stressful and unrealistic for pet owners and their dogs. Additionally, holiday parties are noisy and confusing to dogs. And it only takes a second for your dog to run out the door while guests come in and out. Lastly, holiday guests can easily step on or unintentionally feed your dog dangerous foods.

By taking the time to prepare your dog for holiday parties, you can keep your dog safe and relaxed throughout the festivities.

1. Take Your Dog on a Long Walk

About an hour or so before your party guests arrive, take your dog out for a long walk. Ensure your dog has plenty of sniffing opportunities because sniffing is just as exhausting as walking. If the weather is terrible, play Nose Work, tug or fetch with your dog instead.

2. Prepare Pumpkin Stuffed Toys Beforehand

Giving your dog a yummy food stuffed toy will keep your dog’s brain busy during holiday parties. The night before your holiday party, prepare yummy food stuffed toys and freeze them overnight. In keeping with your holiday party theme, stuff bits of lean turkey (white meat with skin removed) and pumpkin into a food stuffed toy and store in your freezer.

If your dog is watching his waistline, mix pumpkin and blackstrap molasses together and stuff inside a toy. Pumpkin is a low calorie option and molasses provides a healthy, yet sweet taste that will keep your dog busy for hours.

3. Keep Your Dog Happily Contained

Place your dog’s crate in your bedroom and place cozy bedding inside. About 30 mins before your guests arrive, crate your dog and leave him with a food stuffed toy and a few treats. Close his crate door and turn on soft music. When leaving your bedroom, firmly close the door behind you. Post a note on the door saying, “Please don’t open.” This will ensure lost guests understand this door doesn’t lead to the bathroom.

4. Meeting Guests

Of course, you should introduce your dog to guests as long as your dog and guests are comfortable meeting each other. Once everyone has sat down with a beverage, bring your dog out on leash to greet everyone. Keep a stash of yummy dog training treats in your bedroom, and grab them as you’re walking your dog out to greet everyone. This is the perfect time to reward your dog for polite choices around guests and show off your dog’s skills. After 10 minutes, grab another frozen food stuffed toy and crate your dog in your bedroom again. Your dog will be exhausted after meeting guests.

Happy Holidays!