Since our animals cannot speak to us in words, this is part two of our series on items you need to check each month to keep your pet healthy.
These steps will help you to know when your ailing dog needs to be taken to the vet and when you can take care of him at home.
This week we are focusing on fleas.
A flea problem can be an indicator of your pet’s health. Start by looking for fleas, and flea dirt. To check for fleas, look thru the coat. If nothing is visible then look for flea dirt. To do this, brush your dog’s coat over a white piece of paper or light-colored towel. If you see any little black specks, moisten them with a drop of water or smear them with a damp cotton ball. They’ll turn red if they’re flea dirt. If you find signs of any of these problems, its time to take action:
If you notice constant scratching, biting, or sores, it could be due to an allergy to fleas.
When it comes to flea problems, like anything you have choices. In today’s world you probably have more choices than you would like to think about.
All the information is at your fingertips.
Be aware that the flea products that are being given to your pet can be toxic to them. Do your homework. Get on the internet and research the pharmaceutical flea options. Read the Pro’s and Con’s before you apply this medication to your dog.
Do not just accept anything recommended, always know and understand what you are applying, injecting or ingesting.
Your other option is to get on the computer, type in “natural flea remedies for dogs“, and a lot of options will appear. There are many natural remedies for flea control too.
When treating an animal for fleas, you must also treat the whole environment to actually stop the recurrence. If you don’t do this, you will not have long term success.
You have many choices to attack this problem:
The old “bug bomb” to set off in the house
The chemicals to treat the yard, concrete and patio areas
Hire a bug man to come in and spray
If you choose to try some natural remedies, here are some simple solutions:
Vacuum at least twice a week (get rid of the bag they live there too).
Wash all mats, rugs and toys in hot water, anything that can be washed and that is fabric.
Buy some diatomaceous earth and boric acid mix it and sprinkle it throughout the house.
Buy Nematode (for all the yards) you can get this from your nursery.
Use only natural ingredients in your flea shampoos.
Do not use flea collars.
Be cautious with chemical flea products, they are toxic.
Get a flea comb and a bowl of hot water and dish soap.
This should lead to a happy, healthy and flea-free pet! Stay tuned for more tips on evaluating your dog’s health next week!
This information has been provided by Susan Hartlzer of AlphaDogPR. They are based in Los Angeles and a chosen resource for editors, producers, writers and reporters. Alpha Dog PR is dedicated to providing the media with the most up-to-the-minute information about the rapidly growing pet industry. For more information, please visit www.alphadogpr.com or call (818) 998-6299.
Name: Tianna
Pets species and breed: German Shepherd Pharaoh Cattle Dog Mix
Pets age and weight: 40lbs 4 and 1/2 years old
Pets health status: Never any issues so far
Are they spayed or neutered? Yes
Brand of food: Honest Kitchen
Animal owned for: 3 and 1/2 ears
Question:
“My dog, Inuki, has always eaten many foods without any issues or allergies. We have been searching for the “perfect” healthy premium dog food. He has been on Flint River Ranch, Nutro, Innova, Dogswell, and raw diet (we stopped that) then home cooked with veggies, meat, grains, and multi vitamins, then the Honest Kitchen because it was too much to cook myself. I actually will go back to home cooking if I have the right recipes, but I had a very hard time understanding how much to feed and of what. I read dr strombecks Home Cooked Diets For Cats and Dogs. Now, for the last month my dog and 2 cats have been on the Honest Kitchen’’s Prowl and Force. My cats love their Prowl and do great on it, but my dog, while he likes the food, his pooping has increased big time. He used to have maybe one to 2 poops a day and they were small and firm, now he poops 3 to 4 times and the poop is large and soft, but not runny. I just really would like to find a food that he can stick with that will keep him very healthy for years and years to come.”
Answer:
“Tianna,
Thanks for writing in. Sounds like you have been dabbling in the (sometimes) frustrating world of dog nutrition for quite some time! I think the first thing you need to decide on is whether you want to cook for your dog or if you are looking for a commercially available diet.
If you are selecting a commercially available diet, select one that is “natural” or “organic”. By definition and AAFCO regulation, a “natural” pet food may have ingredients from ONLY plant, animal or mined sources. These foods cannot be highly processed or contain chemically synthetic ingredients, such as artificial flavors, preservatives or colorings.
Look for foods that do not contain inferior by-products or meals. Meat meals are made through a process of rendering. Any product that has been rendered is considered unfit for human consumption…so in my mind, that means unfit for our beloved pets as well. Look for RECOGNIZABLE ingredients on the label. You should be able to identify meats, grains, vegetables and not just chemical additives.
If you are choosing to home-cook, you absolutely need to work with a veterinary nutritionist to get recipes that are balanced for your dog and his daily requirements. There are many websites you can use, including www.petdiets.com and www.balanceit.com. I would recommend that you request a consultation specific to Inuki so he isn’t lacking anything.”
