10 Tips for Dog Swimming Events

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10 Tips for Dog Swimming EventsThe dog days of summer have never been more fun! It’s that time of year when community pools start holding their end-of-season dog swimming events. These doggie swims are getting more popular and one of our local pools even turned their annual event into a festival with free goodie bags, vendors, contests and an adoptable dog parade. Plus, they donate a portion of their admission fees to support local rescue groups. It doesn’t get any better than that!

Even if you’re lucky enough to have your own pool, these events are a great opportunity to mingle with other canine-loving people while your dog socializes and plays with new pool pals. It’s amusing to watch so many dogs splash and romp around together, so get your pup ready to have some fun in the sun with these tips!

10 Tips for Dog Swimming Events

1. Check the rules.
Call or check your pool’s website for any rules you need to observe. Most require your dog to be licensed and current on their vaccinations. Some pools may require a vaccination record.
2. Remember the sunscreen.
If you’re at the pool during those hours of the day when the sun is intense, protect your pup with sunscreen. Choose a sunscreen made for dogs or babies and one that doesn’t contain zinc oxide. Dogs with pink noses and skin, shaved dogs and dogs with light-colored coats especially need protection from the sun.
3. Be a kind swim instructor.
Visit pools that allow you to at least wade in the water with your dog. If your dog’s new to swimming, don’t throw them into the pool and expect their instincts to kick in. Instead, lead them in from the shallow end or steps and allow them time to adjust to the water. Support your dog under their belly while they gain confidence with their doggie paddling skills. Some dogs prefer to just walk and splash around in the shallow end and that’s fine too.
Teaching a Dog to Swim
4. Show your dog how to get out of the pool.
Lead your dog to the shallow end or steps several times so they know how to get out of the pool. Dogs may panic if they’re tired and want to get out, but forget where the steps are or they may injure themselves while trying to climb a vertical pool wall.
5. Consider buying a life jacket.
Dog Wearing Life JacketSome dogs are better swimmers than others and even those webbed-toed canines might enjoy wearing a life jacket once in a while. Dogs with short legs or short noses tend to have trouble swimming and will appreciate the extra buoyancy from a life jacket.
6. Be watchful.
Swimming is a strenuous activity and it’s especially important to be watchful of older and obese dogs to make sure they don’t overdo it and become exhausted. If you notice your dog is mostly vertical in the water with their rear end downward (instead of their body being horizontal with all four legs paddling), they’re probably having some trouble swimming or they’re getting tired.
7. Check those paws.
The rough concrete around pools can take a toll on your dog’s paw pads after a while. Check them occasionally for cuts or abrasions. I’ve also heard of dogs getting their toenails caught in the small drainage holes running along the top edge of some pools.
8. Got toys?
Dog Swimming With Tennis BallTennis balls are a favorite toy at doggie pool parties, so be prepared to share. I usually observe a few people trying to chase down another person’s dog who swiped their pup’s toy. It happens, so it’s best to leave your dog’s favorite toys at home and don’t sweat it if a toy gets lost.
9. Take fresh drinking water.
Most pools will provide drinking water for dogs, but I always take a few bottles of fresh water and a collapsible bowl, just in case. Haley’s kind of a water snob and she doesn’t care for sharing community water bowls. I don’t want her to drink chlorinated pool water if she gets really thirsty.
10. Rinse and dry your pup.
Bathe or rinse your dog with clean water to remove any chorine or pool chemicals and be sure to dry their ears well to avoid ear infections.
Drying Off a Dog
Don’t let these last few days of summer slip by without making plans to hang out beside the pool with your best friend! Contact your local swimming pools today and find out if they’re planning a dog swimming event soon.

Have you ever attended an event like this with your dog? Did they enjoy it? 10 Tips for Dog Swimming Events

Get Inspired With Prisma!

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Get Inspired With Prisma

Have you tried Prisma yet? My daughter-in-law, Colleen, showed me the app a few weeks ago and I’ve fallen in love with all of the amazingly creative effects this free app can generate from the pictures on my phone. I have to warn you though, it’s addictive!

I’m just starting to experiment with using real paint and brushes on canvas, but Haley’s been creating nose art on our windows for nearly ten years. Together, we’ve come up with our five favorite effects you’ll find in Prisma.

Click the tabs above each image to view each effect’s before and after images.

Femme

Dog Without Prisma Femme Effect
Dog With Prisma Femme Effect

Transverse Line

Dog Without Prisma Transverse Line Effect
Dog With Prisma Transverse Line Effect

Tokyo

Dog Without Prisma Tokyo Effect
Dog With Prisma Tokyo Effect

Candy

Dog Without Prisma Candy Effect
Dog With Prisma Candy Effect

Mosaic

Dog Without Prisma Mosaic Effect
Dog With Prisma Mosaic Effect

Who’s this, you ask? Meet Murphy! He’s my sister’s soft-coated wheaten terrier and the newest member of our family’s canine crew.?

Composition

Buzz from K9s Over CoffeeThis is one of my favorite blogger pups, Buzz from K9s Over Coffee. Thanks Barbara for sharing this creative split image. I love it! ?

Ok, now it’s your turn! It’s fun and it’s free, so get the right side of your brain working on your Picasso pup or pet. Download the app, create your favorite Prisma dog art, then upload your image in the comment section below. Tell us which effect you used and we’ll display your masterpiece here on the page. Get Inspired With Prisma

Treating Ear Infections in Dogs

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Treating Ear Infections in Dogs

Photo by Matt Salas / CC BY 2.0

Ear infections are one of the most common problems vets see in their offices. Yep, we’ve been down that road several times with Haley. It begins with the ear scratching, then the frequent flapping noise when she shakes her head, and of course, there’s the yucky smell emanating from her ears. So many dogs suffer with these symptoms, but what causes ear infections in dogs?

What Causes Ear Infections?

Most infections are caused by an overgrowth of bacteria or yeast inside the ear canal. Dogs with floppy ears or excess hair in their ears are especially prone to infections because their ears tend to be dark and moist with very little air flow. Ear mites or foreign objects (like foxtails or grass seeds) inside the ear can also cause an infection. Dogs with allergies or hypothyroidism often have chronic ear infections.

Symptoms Your Dog May Have an Ear Infection

Your pup will usually let you know if there’s an issue with their ears. They’ll frequently scratch their ears and you may notice an unusual odor or their ears might feel warm to the touch. Head shaking or a tilted head are other signs that you should take a closer look. Healthy ears look fairly clean inside, but a yellow, brown or bloody discharge or redness and swelling inside the ears or on the ear flaps signal a problem. Dogs with an advanced infection may have crusts or scabs inside their ears from scratching and the outer ear might be thickened or have a leathery appearance. They may even walk in circles, have balance issues or experience some hearing loss.

Treating Ear Infections in Dogs

There’s no shortage of over-the-counter products and natural remedies for treating ear infections in dogs, but you should always begin with a visit to your vet. It’s important to start with an accurate diagnosis of the cause of the infection before attempting to treat it. Your vet will use an otoscope to examine the ear and then perform a swab test to determine whether the underlying problem is related to bacteria, yeast, parasites or another issue. Medication and treatment options can then target the specific cause of infection. It’s also important to note that chronic ear infections are often a symptom of a larger or systemic issue, such as allergies or hypothyroidism, which may require a change in your dog’s diet or environment.

What Works for Haley’s Chronic Ear Infections

Haley suffered with ear infections for many years until we figured out a few things. After our first vet misdiagnosed her infections as ear mites a few times, we sought out a new vet who determined she actually had a yeast infection. That explained the brown, waxy debris I was cleaning out of her ears and why I never saw the telltale signs of ear mites, which resemble coffee grounds. Regularly cleaning her ears using cotton balls and a 50/50 solution of water and vinegar along with eliminating grains and excess sugar from her diet keeps her ears pretty healthy. On the few occasions when she’s required treatment from our vet, we’ve had great luck with BNT Otic. BNT is a thick, waxy medication that contains an antibiotic (enrofloxacin), an antifungal (ketoconazole), and an anti-inflammatory (triamcinolone). It’s infused into the ear and continuously treats the infection for two weeks.

Since an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, here are some tips that might prevent a painful infection and save you some time and money at the vet’s office.

Tips for Preventing Ear Infections

  • Do a quick check of your dog’s ears each week to look for signs of infection. You can often prevent a full-blown infection if you catch it early.
  • Unless your vet recommends regular flushing of your dog’s ears, leave them alone if they look clean and healthy.
  • Place a cotton ball in each of your dog’s ears before giving them a bath to avoid getting excess water in their ear canals.
  • Dry your pup’s ears thoroughly after baths or swimming. If your dog swims often, ask your vet to recommend a drying agent solution to use after swimming.
  • If your dog has excess hair in their ears, have a groomer show you how to remove or trim the excess hair for better air circulation.
  • If your dog’s ears are dirty, use a cotton ball moistened with an ear cleaning solution, such as Epi-Otic to gently wipe away dirt or wax from the outer ear. Even though a dog’s L-shaped ear canal makes it unlikely that you’ll damage an ear drum while using cotton swabs, they should be avoided because they tend to push debris further down inside the ear.
  • If your dog suffers from chronic ear infections, talk to your vet or a holistic vet about environmental and dietary changes that might be beneficial. I don’t know of any studies on this, but many dog owners claim to have eliminated allergy and ear infection issues after switching their dogs to a raw diet.
Dog With Hairy Ears

Photo by Bill Harrison / CC BY 2.0

Ear infections are one of the most common aliments treated by vets and recurring infections can be frustrating for dogs and owners alike. It’s normal for dogs to occasionally scratch their ears, but if you’re noticing frequent scratching or any of the other symptoms mentioned earlier, it’s best to make an appointment with your vet. Infections can be painful and if left untreated, they can cause permanent damage or hearing loss.

If you have any experience with this, I’d love to hear your best treatments or strategies for dealing with ear infections in dogs. Treating Ear Infections in Dogs

How to Clone Your Dog

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How to Clone Your DogThere’s no dog quite like your dog, right? That’s how I feel too. Haley is a very special dog. She’s one of a kind and I would definitely call her my heart dog. It’s hard to imagine not having her in our lives, but as her face gets a little more gray each day and she grows into her senior status, we’ve had a few hypothetical conversations about cloning her. If we wanted to go through with it, it’s not complicated on our end. Here’s how to clone your dog.

How to Clone Your Dog

Step 1 – Collect a tissue sample from your dog. This can be performed by your vet while your dog is alive or up to five days after death, as long as your dog has been properly prepared and refrigerated.
Step 2 – Send the tissue sample to Sooam Biotech Research Foundation or ViaGen along with your payment of $100,000 ($50,000 if using ViaGen).
Step 3 – Collect your cloned puppy when it’s ready to come home.

The cost of cloning pretty much takes the decision out of our hands. That’s a lot of money! But the truth is, I’m not sure I would go through with it, even if it cost much less. But before I get into that, here’s a brief explanation of what happens during the cloning process.

The Cloning Process

A cell from your dog’s tissue sample is altered by removing the nucleus which contains your dog’s DNA or genetic information. Meanwhile, an egg is harvested from a donor female at the cloning facility. Next, the nucleus from the donor female’s cell is removed from the egg and replaced with your dog’s nucleus. The egg is then given an electrical shock to stimulate cell division. After a few days, an embryo has developed and the egg is implanted into a surrogate female dog where it’s carried to full term and delivered.

Now that you know how to clone your dog, the difficult question is: Would you clone your dog? Here are a few things you might not know about cloning your pet.

3 Facts You Might Not Know About Cloning

  • A cloned dog is not going to be exactly like the original.
    Although the two dogs will be genetic copies (like human twins), they may not look exactly alike. Also, the environment in which the new puppy will be raised will be different, creating a dog with its own distinct personality. Since you may not receive your puppy for a few months after it’s born, some personality traits will already be developed.
  • There are no health guarantees with cloned dogs.
    It’s still too early to tell if cloned pets have an increased risk of health issues or early death and you shouldn’t expect a cloned pet to be healthier than the original. It’s likely that any genetic health issues the original pet had may also be present in the clone. However, being aware of genetic health risks may give you the opportunity for prevention or early treatment, possibly resulting in a healthier pup.
  • If you’re undecided about cloning, you can still preserve your dog’s tissue and decide later.
    ViaGen offers a tissue banking service for pet owners that might want to clone their pet in the future. They recommend you collect the tissue sample while your dog is still alive to ensure the best quality cells.
Cloned Dogs

CUTE CLONES by Steve Jurvetson / CC BY 2.0

My Thoughts on Cloning Haley

The cost of cloning Haley makes it prohibitive, but what if it cost $10,000 or just $1,000? Would I be tempted to clone her? I love her boxer/lab mix and cloning her would save me the hassle of trying to track down a puppy of the same breed mix and color. But what about all the unwanted dogs in need of good homes? Does it make sense to pay money (a LOT of money) for a puppy just because it looks like Haley?

In a certain way, cloning her would ensure a part of her would live on. But would I feel disappointed if the clone didn’t live up to my expectations of the relationship I have with Haley? On the other hand, it might give me the chance to do better the second time around. Maybe I could avoid some of the mistakes I made with Haley and try to prevent the health issues she’s had.

There’s one thing I’m sure of, I couldn’t clone Haley while she’s still alive. I can’t imagine giving a new puppy all the love and attention it needs while my senior girl looks on. She’s a little jealous as it is and it would break my heart to think I was neglecting her while training her replacement.

City DogI can understand why cloning might make sense for working dogs with exceptional genetics, but there’s only one Haley. She’s an original that can’t be duplicated or replaced like a piece of furniture. I would rather have the beautiful memories of her and our relationship than to replace her with a copy that I might always compare her to. Yes, she is my heart dog and I wish she could live forever, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have meaningful relationships with many different dogs. They are all unique and special. That’s why we love them so much!

What are your thoughts on cloning? Share them in the comment section below!

How to Clone Your Dog

3 Quick & Easy Frozen Dog Treats

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3 Quick & Easy Frozen Dog TreatsWe’re heading into the hottest time of the year here in Ohio and there’s no better way to beat the heat than with a frosty, summertime treat! Here are three tasty recipes for quick and easy frozen dog treats that’ll keep your pup cool all summer long.

1. Watermelon Blueberry Cubes (for Fruit Lovers)

Watermelon Blueberry Dog Treats

Watermelon Blueberry Cubes

Ingredients
1/4 seedless watermelon
1 small package fresh or frozen blueberries
1 can coconut milk
1 tbsp honey (optional)

Directions
Watermelon Blueberry Dog Treats1. Puree chunks of watermelon in a blender or food processor.
2. Blend in coconut milk and honey.
3. Fill an ice cube tray with the mixture.
4. Drop a few blueberries into each cube and freeze.

Tip: Try adding banana or strawberry slices for more variety.

2. Peanut Butter & Banana Pupsicles (for Peanut Butter Lovers)

Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Treats

Peanut Butter & Banana Pupsicles

Ingredients
1 cup plain or vanilla low-fat Greek yogurt*
2 tbsp peanut butter*
1 banana
Edible bones or bully sticks.
*Make sure the yogurt and peanut butter don’t contain xylitol.

Directions
Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Treats1. Blend yogurt, peanut butter and banana in a food processor or blender until smooth.
2. Spoon mixture into paper cups.
3. Add an edible bone or bully stick and freeze.
3. Peel away paper cup and serve.

Tip: For a special surprise, substitute a rubber or Nylabone-type chew toy in place of the edible stick!

3. Chicken & Sweet Potato Pupsicles (for Meat Lovers)

These are three layer pupsicles with sweet potato on the top and bottom and yummy chicken chunks and broth in the middle.

Chicken & Sweet Potato Pupsicles

Ingredients
1 small can drained sweet potatoes (about 15 oz)
1 small can white meat chicken (about 4 oz)
6 oz low-sodium chicken broth (without onion or garlic)
Carrot sticks

Directions
Chicken and Sweet Potato Dog Treats1. Puree the sweet potatoes in a food processor or blender.
2. Fill paper cups 1/3 full with sweet potato, then insert a carrot stick in each cup and freeze. I used a small piece of foil to help keep the carrots in place.
3. Add a layer of chicken, then cover with chicken broth until cup is 2/3 full and freeze.
4. Add the final layer of sweet potato and freeze.

Tip: To easily fill small cups, put the pureed mixture into a ziplock bag, cut off one corner from the bottom of the bag, then squeeze the mixture into the cups.

The Results!

3 Quick & Easy Frozen Dog TreatsAll three recipes were a hit with Haley, but the clear winner was the peanut butter and banana treat. She loved the flavor and the fact that her favorite edible bone was buried inside all that yumminess put it over the top!

Bonus! A Frozen Treat for Raw Meat Eaters

If you feed your dog a raw diet, Rodney Habib from Dogs Naturally Magazine has you covered with this healthy, frozen treat.

Frosty treats are the perfect way to keep your dog refreshed when the summertime temperatures soar. Plus, they keep your pup occupied for a while so you can put your feet up, relax, and soak up some sunshine yourself. The fun thing about making your own treats is, you can get creative and experiment with different ingredients. Next on my list is pumpkin with apple slices. Just be sure not to include any foods that can be harmful to your dog, especially anything containing xylitol which is showing up in more and more foods these days. Here’s a fun quiz from DogVacay to test your knowledge of dog-safe foods. Also, it’s a good idea to let the treats defrost a little before serving so they’re easier to eat.

If your panting pup is ready for a cool down, whip up some of your own frozen dog treats and tell us your dog’s favorite taste combinations.

3 Quick & Easy Frozen Dog Treats