May 19, 2008
Spring has sprung and now we are sinking in mud.
Well I guess we can’t have everything now can we? I know it’s disheartening to have your dog all spruced up, only to let him out to go potty and he comes back in covered in mud knee deep. Remember, this too shall pass. Soon it will be the dog days of summer and we’ll all be complaining about the heat.
What I’m about to say, you should already be aware of, but it bears repeating just in case. Though there is no flea season really, because fleas may not be outside your house in the winter, but trust me, if you aren’t protecting your pet, they are living on the inside. You should be very diligent about using your flea and tick protection every month. Ask your vet or groomer for their recommendations of products. There are new products coming out all the time, some are better than others are, and some seem to work more effectively on some pets than others. For example, Frontline Plus works great on my poodle, but has little effect on my cat. My cat seems to do fine with Advantage however. Why? I have no idea. I’m going to chalk it up to body chemistry. Just like people, some drugs work better on us than others. Some drugs have side effects on some pets, while other pets do just fine on them. The main thing you should do is find the best products for your pet, and if you have a houseful of pets as I do, you may need different products for different animals.
Lyme disease is a concern in our area. Ticks carry Lyme disease. I know several of my clients have gone through treating their dogs for Lyme disease. There are vaccines you should ask your vet about if you feel your pet may be at risk. Face it, it’s mushroom season and ticks are abundant!
Heartworm is another medicine you should give year round. It’s much easier to remember to do it if you plan to give it monthly. Years ago, I had a Dalmatian that I stopped his heartworm medicine in October or November, and by April, he tested positive for heartworm and it cost several hundred dollars to treat it, only to have him pass away the next summer, due to the strain on his heart from the heat. An ounce of prevention could have stopped his premature death.
Fleas carry tapeworms and you should have your vet perform a fecal test on your pet annually to make sure you don’t have hidden parasites eating away at your pet. Your pet can get hookworm and whipworm just by walking on the grass, the eggs are in manure that may have broken down, but later on, your dog may lick his feet and ingest the eggs. Then your pet ends up with worms, and has relatively few signs until the infestation is very bad.
Dogs are like children, you have to take care of them with regular checkups from your vet. Elderly pets are even more susceptible to problems. The thing I hate to see most is an elderly pet that is neglected because she’s old and hard to deal with or they don’t want to put her through anything. These pets often need more care than the younger pets. They have a hard time grooming themselves, and maybe they’ve gotten touchy or grouchy when you attempt to brush them. Letting them go isn’t helping the situation. Many elderly pets have arthritis, but there are medications you can give your pet for pain. Dogs are stoic about pain. They often don’t show their discomfort or make it obvious because in the animal world, pain equals weakness and weakness makes you vulnerable to attack.
Since it’s springtime, and the weather hopefully will soon be sunny and warm instead of just rainy, now is a fine time to make use of those resolutions you made in January and get out and walk the dog! Both of you need the exercise, so get out of the recliner and get walking! It’s time to work off that winter weight and get back into shape. Then your doctor and your pet’s doctor can stop nagging you about that weight gain. Think of the gasoline you’ll save by walking instead of driving. Nobody is happy with the gas prices, so it’s time to stop whining about it, (easier said than done, I do my share of whining) and make your short trips into walking ones with your best 4-legged friend. Thank goodness, pets don’t complain as we do! Somebody has to be upbeat and happy! Let’s take a cue from our pets and just enjoy the sunshine and the company. It’s time to live simply; wouldn’t it be nice to live as carefree as your pet?
May 5, 2008 Time's Are Changing for All of Us
May 5, 2008
Time’s Are Changing for All of Us
I don’t know about you, but I’ve had it with the gas prices and even though I work at home and don’t have to commute to work, I still can’t afford to buy gas! Buying a more fuel-efficient vehicle may save me on gasoline, but I’d lose whatever savings on a car payment and extra insurance and plates. This crisis has us all in a lose/lose situation. I want all my clients to know… I FEEL YOUR PAIN!
Luckily, I’m just a groomer that works from home. I’m wondering how the mobile groomers are making it with the $4.00 + per gallon gasoline prices or diesel, even worse!
Sadly, because of our economy, this means prices on EVERYTHING have to go up, which of course, affects how we all maintain our standard of living. I didn’t want to be another nail in the coffin, but I had to raise my prices to keep up. It had been 4 years since I had a price increase and as expected, some of my clients aren’t taking the news well.
I did come up with a few options though to help those who in the financial crunch so the pets they love won’t suffer too much. Stretching out the length between appointments can help those on a monthly or 6 week schedule. Moving them to every 8 weeks instead, I am happy to do.
For those with larger dogs that can’t or don’t want to get them done at home, I am now offering self-service, which is great because they can get their dog done for less than half the normal price, but they provide the labor. I provide everything else. Go ahead, clog my drain, and make a big mess! I’ll clean it up. This isn’t an option for dogs in need of haircuts, but for dogs that need a bath and brush out, this is a great deal! Using a self-serve option means your dog, and the aroma in your home won’t have to suffer because of the extra burden on your budget.
Finding a groomer closer to where you live is also an option. I know several groomers and I will be happy to refer you to one closer to you. My feelings won’t be hurt. I completely understand!
My parents were in their 60’s when they adopted me. They had raised their four children during the depression. I have heard all the stories of living on beans and rice and trying to find work just so they could eat. All of those stories seemed so unreal to me until recently. Now that I’m a parent, I can see the great depression coming at us again. Our economy affects everybody and every business. People were struggling before gasoline went so high, now they are losing their homes, unable to afford their medications and I’m waiting on the soup line to start forming soon.
I know that people who dearly love their pets will struggle and continue to provide for them, but I also know others who will be dumping their pets off in the country. Animal shelters are turning away owner surrenders due to lack of space, and wanting people to face their own responsibility. I can certainly see the point, but I also know that there are so many people out there that are barely getting by, it will soon get to the point of being unable to provide food and shelter for themselves, let alone their pets. The future to me looks scary for those animals and people.
I wonder if my future grandchildren will look upon the stories I tell them of our “great recession” as just stories, with no real idea of what I could be complaining about. I would imagine that by the time I have grandkids, and can pass along my wisdom and stories of the depressing economical era that I raised kids in; gasoline would be WAY more than $4.00 per gallon. They will probably wonder why I ever complained at all.
I guess the point I’m trying to make is that we are all in the same boat together. (Even though right now, that boat seems to be the Titanic) no matter who you are or how much money you make, this economy is hitting us all hard.
I’m hoping soon things will turn around for the better and we can get back on our feet again. Until then, try to keep your chin up and do the best you can. I’m here for a shoulder if you need one, and I’ll try to keep from gasping and muttering expletives at the gas pump. Just remember that no matter what happens in your life, or how rich or poor you are, your dog loves you regardless. Give your pooch a hug! After all, petting your dog or cat has been shown to lower blood pressure. Maybe we should pack our pets in the car when we fill up the car next time so we don’t have a stroke at the pump.
Time’s Are Changing for All of Us
I don’t know about you, but I’ve had it with the gas prices and even though I work at home and don’t have to commute to work, I still can’t afford to buy gas! Buying a more fuel-efficient vehicle may save me on gasoline, but I’d lose whatever savings on a car payment and extra insurance and plates. This crisis has us all in a lose/lose situation. I want all my clients to know… I FEEL YOUR PAIN!
Luckily, I’m just a groomer that works from home. I’m wondering how the mobile groomers are making it with the $4.00 + per gallon gasoline prices or diesel, even worse!
Sadly, because of our economy, this means prices on EVERYTHING have to go up, which of course, affects how we all maintain our standard of living. I didn’t want to be another nail in the coffin, but I had to raise my prices to keep up. It had been 4 years since I had a price increase and as expected, some of my clients aren’t taking the news well.
I did come up with a few options though to help those who in the financial crunch so the pets they love won’t suffer too much. Stretching out the length between appointments can help those on a monthly or 6 week schedule. Moving them to every 8 weeks instead, I am happy to do.
For those with larger dogs that can’t or don’t want to get them done at home, I am now offering self-service, which is great because they can get their dog done for less than half the normal price, but they provide the labor. I provide everything else. Go ahead, clog my drain, and make a big mess! I’ll clean it up. This isn’t an option for dogs in need of haircuts, but for dogs that need a bath and brush out, this is a great deal! Using a self-serve option means your dog, and the aroma in your home won’t have to suffer because of the extra burden on your budget.
Finding a groomer closer to where you live is also an option. I know several groomers and I will be happy to refer you to one closer to you. My feelings won’t be hurt. I completely understand!
My parents were in their 60’s when they adopted me. They had raised their four children during the depression. I have heard all the stories of living on beans and rice and trying to find work just so they could eat. All of those stories seemed so unreal to me until recently. Now that I’m a parent, I can see the great depression coming at us again. Our economy affects everybody and every business. People were struggling before gasoline went so high, now they are losing their homes, unable to afford their medications and I’m waiting on the soup line to start forming soon.
I know that people who dearly love their pets will struggle and continue to provide for them, but I also know others who will be dumping their pets off in the country. Animal shelters are turning away owner surrenders due to lack of space, and wanting people to face their own responsibility. I can certainly see the point, but I also know that there are so many people out there that are barely getting by, it will soon get to the point of being unable to provide food and shelter for themselves, let alone their pets. The future to me looks scary for those animals and people.
I wonder if my future grandchildren will look upon the stories I tell them of our “great recession” as just stories, with no real idea of what I could be complaining about. I would imagine that by the time I have grandkids, and can pass along my wisdom and stories of the depressing economical era that I raised kids in; gasoline would be WAY more than $4.00 per gallon. They will probably wonder why I ever complained at all.
I guess the point I’m trying to make is that we are all in the same boat together. (Even though right now, that boat seems to be the Titanic) no matter who you are or how much money you make, this economy is hitting us all hard.
I’m hoping soon things will turn around for the better and we can get back on our feet again. Until then, try to keep your chin up and do the best you can. I’m here for a shoulder if you need one, and I’ll try to keep from gasping and muttering expletives at the gas pump. Just remember that no matter what happens in your life, or how rich or poor you are, your dog loves you regardless. Give your pooch a hug! After all, petting your dog or cat has been shown to lower blood pressure. Maybe we should pack our pets in the car when we fill up the car next time so we don’t have a stroke at the pump.
April 21, 2008 Groomer Has It!
April 21, 2008
Groomer Has It!
Just when you thought there could not be any other reality type show made, Animal Planet has come up with a new one about dog groomers, “Groomer Has It!” The first thought when I heard about this is, “Great! Now people will finally know what it’s like to be a groomer and will appreciate us more.” Then, after chatting online with other groomers and seeing the previews of the show, we started to get a little worried. Umm, this isn’t what it’s really like, at least not from what we’ve seen so far. Now in grooming competitions, I’ve seen the model dog competitions where groomers use yarn dogs (stuffed animals) and I know that it takes 2 to 3 hours just to brush out the yarn to get it ready to cut! On the show, they gave them 3 hours total to brush, cut and dye it, which was tough. Not to mention using your good shears on the yarn dogs will ruin them. (I have talked to groomers who have competed in this competition.) The next preview on TV was showing them shearing sheep. Now, I will say I have done that….once. Not EVEN close to grooming dogs! Therefore, I am still waiting for the “reality” of this program to show the world what groomers do.
I have also seen a little preview of the groomers working on some snapping, biting dogs…that’s a little closer to reality! I hope they show some real life grooming of what most groomers get each day, but then again that would change the world of entertainment and then it would turn into an “Animal Cops” episode instead, of neglected, matted dogs.
The cool thing about this show is I remember the casting company emailing grooming groups and offering auditions. I can’t say I personally know any of the groomers on this show, but I do know of an alternate that did not make it on this time, but hopefully next time, his grooming will blow them all away!
I was particularly impressed with the groomer who works for the rich and famous of New York and charges $100 to groom a yorkie. Why can’t I get that much? Too bad celebrities don’t live around here. I know Oprah’s groomer, and I know what he gets to groom her cockers (now only one) weekly. Let’s just say I could live on doing one of her dogs a day. I wonder what she gives him for Christmas?
The grand prize of this grooming competition is a mobile grooming van with all the extras, which on top of everything else would be a sweet deal. Although with the gas prices now, I’m not so sure the groomer would come out ahead. This brings me to my next point, the cost of doing business.
On the bottom of an invoice from a repairman was this paragraph that read:
“When that professional service technician knocks on your door, many costs have been incurred just to get him there, ready to do the job.Then it lists: insurance, specialized training, periodic courses and training, truck maintenance, test equipment, taxes- Soc. Sec.- Emp. Comp., advertising, trucks, tools, warehouse shop and office rent quality control, stock of replacement parts, utilities, service management administration,office equipment, computerization, business expense - lawyers etc., employee benefits, office help, and finally stationary, office supply and postage.” It finishes with, “Don't judge service charges solely by the time the technician spends in your home or business”.
Of course, I had to relate this to pet grooming so I came up with my own thoughts:
“When you take your pet to a pet groomer, and are shocked by the price of just washing a dog, think of this...
Many costs have been incurred to open up shop and help your groomer be the caliber groomer she is.
Liability insurance, specialized training, ongoing education and training, travel to get to the ongoing education, equipment costs, maintenance costs, tools, shampoos, conditioners, hair care products, ear cleaning products, bows, bandannas, assortment of brushes, combs, shedding equipment, stripping knives, ergonomic equipment to help preserve the back of your groomer so they can have a long career, taxes, advertising, space rental or home mortgage if your groomer works out of their home, office supplies and computers and equipment to keep your groomer informed and on top of her game, internet fees, telephone expenses, utilities, postage, uniforms, cages and kenneling costs, cleaning supplies, disinfecting supplies, numerous blades for each clipper, expensive scissors, books, videos, and vitamins for the stamina it takes to get through each day grooming several dogs. Groomers have the knowledge of dog body language to work with difficult animals, and the “know how” do the job right and safely, and a willingness to handle the person on the end of each leash with a smile daily.
Don't judge charges solely by the time the groomer spends on your dog. “
Now THAT’S reality!
Groomer Has It!
Just when you thought there could not be any other reality type show made, Animal Planet has come up with a new one about dog groomers, “Groomer Has It!” The first thought when I heard about this is, “Great! Now people will finally know what it’s like to be a groomer and will appreciate us more.” Then, after chatting online with other groomers and seeing the previews of the show, we started to get a little worried. Umm, this isn’t what it’s really like, at least not from what we’ve seen so far. Now in grooming competitions, I’ve seen the model dog competitions where groomers use yarn dogs (stuffed animals) and I know that it takes 2 to 3 hours just to brush out the yarn to get it ready to cut! On the show, they gave them 3 hours total to brush, cut and dye it, which was tough. Not to mention using your good shears on the yarn dogs will ruin them. (I have talked to groomers who have competed in this competition.) The next preview on TV was showing them shearing sheep. Now, I will say I have done that….once. Not EVEN close to grooming dogs! Therefore, I am still waiting for the “reality” of this program to show the world what groomers do.
I have also seen a little preview of the groomers working on some snapping, biting dogs…that’s a little closer to reality! I hope they show some real life grooming of what most groomers get each day, but then again that would change the world of entertainment and then it would turn into an “Animal Cops” episode instead, of neglected, matted dogs.
The cool thing about this show is I remember the casting company emailing grooming groups and offering auditions. I can’t say I personally know any of the groomers on this show, but I do know of an alternate that did not make it on this time, but hopefully next time, his grooming will blow them all away!
I was particularly impressed with the groomer who works for the rich and famous of New York and charges $100 to groom a yorkie. Why can’t I get that much? Too bad celebrities don’t live around here. I know Oprah’s groomer, and I know what he gets to groom her cockers (now only one) weekly. Let’s just say I could live on doing one of her dogs a day. I wonder what she gives him for Christmas?
The grand prize of this grooming competition is a mobile grooming van with all the extras, which on top of everything else would be a sweet deal. Although with the gas prices now, I’m not so sure the groomer would come out ahead. This brings me to my next point, the cost of doing business.
On the bottom of an invoice from a repairman was this paragraph that read:
“When that professional service technician knocks on your door, many costs have been incurred just to get him there, ready to do the job.Then it lists: insurance, specialized training, periodic courses and training, truck maintenance, test equipment, taxes- Soc. Sec.- Emp. Comp., advertising, trucks, tools, warehouse shop and office rent quality control, stock of replacement parts, utilities, service management administration,office equipment, computerization, business expense - lawyers etc., employee benefits, office help, and finally stationary, office supply and postage.” It finishes with, “Don't judge service charges solely by the time the technician spends in your home or business”.
Of course, I had to relate this to pet grooming so I came up with my own thoughts:
“When you take your pet to a pet groomer, and are shocked by the price of just washing a dog, think of this...
Many costs have been incurred to open up shop and help your groomer be the caliber groomer she is.
Liability insurance, specialized training, ongoing education and training, travel to get to the ongoing education, equipment costs, maintenance costs, tools, shampoos, conditioners, hair care products, ear cleaning products, bows, bandannas, assortment of brushes, combs, shedding equipment, stripping knives, ergonomic equipment to help preserve the back of your groomer so they can have a long career, taxes, advertising, space rental or home mortgage if your groomer works out of their home, office supplies and computers and equipment to keep your groomer informed and on top of her game, internet fees, telephone expenses, utilities, postage, uniforms, cages and kenneling costs, cleaning supplies, disinfecting supplies, numerous blades for each clipper, expensive scissors, books, videos, and vitamins for the stamina it takes to get through each day grooming several dogs. Groomers have the knowledge of dog body language to work with difficult animals, and the “know how” do the job right and safely, and a willingness to handle the person on the end of each leash with a smile daily.
Don't judge charges solely by the time the groomer spends on your dog. “
Now THAT’S reality!
April 7, 2008 Saving Moses
April 7, 2008
Saving Moses
Over the years of my life, and especially after I began my career working with dogs I learned how to read them and work with them. I offer in home training to people who are having difficulties with their dog’s behavior. Rescues often give people my phone number so they have someone to call and help them before they give up on their dog. If you look at any shelter in the world, most of the dogs are between 8 and 18 months old, and are relinquished due to behavioral issues. The dogs weren’t bad dogs, but their owners didn’t understand how to train them and deal with issues correctly. Many dogs are put to sleep daily over behavior issues that they deem unacceptable. Many well meaning pet professionals such at veterinarians that don’t see the whole picture, just what little they see in their office will recommend having the dog put to sleep for aggressive behavior. This is the story of Moses, a 170 lb. St. Bernard that isn’t yet 2 years old but had developed some seriously aggressive behavior.
Moses’ owner called me one day to ask me for help with him. She was referred to me by a rescue. She told me that he barked and lunged at people and scared them to death. He had chased even members of her family inside her house and scared them. He hadn’t made any bites yet, but her granddaughter had a scratch that could’ve been from a tooth or maybe a nail. Her vet had advised her to have him put down after he handed her a muzzle to put on him, and it took 5 people to hold him to give him vaccinations and they had to knock him out for grooming. When anyone came near the house he went berserk jumping and barking at them. Even though he was tied up, nobody got out of their cars for fear the cable would break. I can’t say I blame them.
It seems his aggressive behavior happened suddenly. He was fine and friendly up until they went on vacation and left him at home in the kennel. They had family coming over to feed and water him. When they returned from vacation, he was a different dog. Strangers were a serious threat to him and with his huge size, his owner who is 4’11” tall was not able to control him. She loved him tremendously and even sent him to Kentucky to live with her daughter who worked with a trainer there to get him under control. However, Moses’ mom wasn’t there. She went down for a day to work with the trainer but the trainer was sick. They only training Moses’ mom got was what her daughter told her. When Moses was back at home, the same aggressive behavior began again.
I have to tell you, I work very well with dominant dogs, with pushy dogs, with mildly aggressive dogs, but with 170 lb. aggressive dogs when I’m about the same size as his owner, that had me seriously worried. I’ve been attending clicker training classes with Amanda at Country Critter Care that she recently started for my own dog out of curiosity on how to clicker train. I didn’t understand clicker training and I wanted to learn it in person, and not from a book. It always helps me to have someone show me how instead of tell me how to do things, which is how I train dogs and owners. I don’t tell them how to do it, I do it with them, I show them what to do, give them confidence and watch them as they do it and point out what they are unconsciously doing wrong so they can learn. Well, I was telling Amanda about Moses to get her thoughts on it. She advised me not to go alone and to take someone experienced with me. “That would be who?” I asked. I work alone mostly. So I sweet talked Amanda into coming with me to Moses’ house to evaluate him.
We arrived at his house and he was in his kennel. I told his owner to stay in the house until I came for her. I didn’t want him to pick up on her nervousness about his behavior. Dogs don’t understand why you are nervous but they feel your anxiety and they see a stranger so therefore the stranger must be why mommy is nervous. Eat the stranger. Amanda and I approached Moses at his kennel and immediately noticed that the barking, snarling behavior was done with a low tail and he was backing up towards the wall. He wasn’t mean, he was scared to death. In animals, it’s fight or flight. In my last column, Ebony the standard poodle puppy went into flight mode when confronted with a human. Moses couldn’t run away. So he tried to scare us off by lunging, barking, snarling, and looking vicious. Hey, it worked with everyone else! But we just stayed there. We praised him for the nano-second he was quiet between barks. We started tossing treats to him, that helped out some but he wasn’t interested in our treats. That’s when I brought out the big guns, hotdog therapy!
We tossed little bits of hotdog through his kennel fence and that immediately got his attention! He was soon taking hot dog morsels out of my hand and in just a few minutes he figured out that Amanda and I weren’t scary strangers, we were “the hotdog ladies”.
Amanda and Moses and his owner went into their garage and began some clicker training for good behavior while I left the driveway and came back to create a sense of “stranger approaching” to test him out. When I pulled up, he jumped up on the garage door barking ferociously and looked out of the windows and saw me. Hey it’s the hotdog lady! Hi! His barking stopped and he listened to his owner and went to his blanket to sit and get treats. I tested him over and over by knocking on doors, hearing him bark, then the owner made him go to his blanket, she opened the door and instead of worrying about him killing the visitor, she now gained confidence knowing that he could indeed be controlled and he was totally redeemable! I looked at Moses and told him “Moses, my friend, we just saved your life.” To which Moses responded with a nuzzle to “the hotdog lady”.
Moses is a big, happy, slobbering lug of a dog that wasn’t “vicious”, he was misunderstood. He has lots of work ahead of him, and luckily for him he has an owner that is willing to do the homework she needs to do to learn how to handle him correctly. Amanda and I decided we make a great team and she is willing to do more rehabilitation work with me in the future with dogs that need our help. This was a win/win situation for us all, especially for Moses.
Saving Moses
Over the years of my life, and especially after I began my career working with dogs I learned how to read them and work with them. I offer in home training to people who are having difficulties with their dog’s behavior. Rescues often give people my phone number so they have someone to call and help them before they give up on their dog. If you look at any shelter in the world, most of the dogs are between 8 and 18 months old, and are relinquished due to behavioral issues. The dogs weren’t bad dogs, but their owners didn’t understand how to train them and deal with issues correctly. Many dogs are put to sleep daily over behavior issues that they deem unacceptable. Many well meaning pet professionals such at veterinarians that don’t see the whole picture, just what little they see in their office will recommend having the dog put to sleep for aggressive behavior. This is the story of Moses, a 170 lb. St. Bernard that isn’t yet 2 years old but had developed some seriously aggressive behavior.
Moses’ owner called me one day to ask me for help with him. She was referred to me by a rescue. She told me that he barked and lunged at people and scared them to death. He had chased even members of her family inside her house and scared them. He hadn’t made any bites yet, but her granddaughter had a scratch that could’ve been from a tooth or maybe a nail. Her vet had advised her to have him put down after he handed her a muzzle to put on him, and it took 5 people to hold him to give him vaccinations and they had to knock him out for grooming. When anyone came near the house he went berserk jumping and barking at them. Even though he was tied up, nobody got out of their cars for fear the cable would break. I can’t say I blame them.
It seems his aggressive behavior happened suddenly. He was fine and friendly up until they went on vacation and left him at home in the kennel. They had family coming over to feed and water him. When they returned from vacation, he was a different dog. Strangers were a serious threat to him and with his huge size, his owner who is 4’11” tall was not able to control him. She loved him tremendously and even sent him to Kentucky to live with her daughter who worked with a trainer there to get him under control. However, Moses’ mom wasn’t there. She went down for a day to work with the trainer but the trainer was sick. They only training Moses’ mom got was what her daughter told her. When Moses was back at home, the same aggressive behavior began again.
I have to tell you, I work very well with dominant dogs, with pushy dogs, with mildly aggressive dogs, but with 170 lb. aggressive dogs when I’m about the same size as his owner, that had me seriously worried. I’ve been attending clicker training classes with Amanda at Country Critter Care that she recently started for my own dog out of curiosity on how to clicker train. I didn’t understand clicker training and I wanted to learn it in person, and not from a book. It always helps me to have someone show me how instead of tell me how to do things, which is how I train dogs and owners. I don’t tell them how to do it, I do it with them, I show them what to do, give them confidence and watch them as they do it and point out what they are unconsciously doing wrong so they can learn. Well, I was telling Amanda about Moses to get her thoughts on it. She advised me not to go alone and to take someone experienced with me. “That would be who?” I asked. I work alone mostly. So I sweet talked Amanda into coming with me to Moses’ house to evaluate him.
We arrived at his house and he was in his kennel. I told his owner to stay in the house until I came for her. I didn’t want him to pick up on her nervousness about his behavior. Dogs don’t understand why you are nervous but they feel your anxiety and they see a stranger so therefore the stranger must be why mommy is nervous. Eat the stranger. Amanda and I approached Moses at his kennel and immediately noticed that the barking, snarling behavior was done with a low tail and he was backing up towards the wall. He wasn’t mean, he was scared to death. In animals, it’s fight or flight. In my last column, Ebony the standard poodle puppy went into flight mode when confronted with a human. Moses couldn’t run away. So he tried to scare us off by lunging, barking, snarling, and looking vicious. Hey, it worked with everyone else! But we just stayed there. We praised him for the nano-second he was quiet between barks. We started tossing treats to him, that helped out some but he wasn’t interested in our treats. That’s when I brought out the big guns, hotdog therapy!
We tossed little bits of hotdog through his kennel fence and that immediately got his attention! He was soon taking hot dog morsels out of my hand and in just a few minutes he figured out that Amanda and I weren’t scary strangers, we were “the hotdog ladies”.
Amanda and Moses and his owner went into their garage and began some clicker training for good behavior while I left the driveway and came back to create a sense of “stranger approaching” to test him out. When I pulled up, he jumped up on the garage door barking ferociously and looked out of the windows and saw me. Hey it’s the hotdog lady! Hi! His barking stopped and he listened to his owner and went to his blanket to sit and get treats. I tested him over and over by knocking on doors, hearing him bark, then the owner made him go to his blanket, she opened the door and instead of worrying about him killing the visitor, she now gained confidence knowing that he could indeed be controlled and he was totally redeemable! I looked at Moses and told him “Moses, my friend, we just saved your life.” To which Moses responded with a nuzzle to “the hotdog lady”.
Moses is a big, happy, slobbering lug of a dog that wasn’t “vicious”, he was misunderstood. He has lots of work ahead of him, and luckily for him he has an owner that is willing to do the homework she needs to do to learn how to handle him correctly. Amanda and I decided we make a great team and she is willing to do more rehabilitation work with me in the future with dogs that need our help. This was a win/win situation for us all, especially for Moses.
March 24, 2008 The Ups and Downs of Rescuers
March 24, 2008
The Ups and Downs of Rescuers
Some days I wish I knew nothing about animals and nobody knew what kinds of animals I have. The reason being, once word gets out that you love animals, or have a certain breed, it opens you up to other well meaning folks who rescue and love pets and know how easy it is to get you to say “Yes, I’ll do it” when you know deep down you will get hurt in the end.
Last Saturday Casey Werts from Casey’s Canine Cuts called and told me about some dogs needing someone to place them into good homes. One of the dogs was a standard poodle. I knew of some clients who were looking for a Standard Poodle and I was sure I could find her a loving home. How could I say no? So, we packed up our kids and hopped into her van for a ride down to Terre Haute to meet the rescuer.
The lady that rescued these dogs got them from a puppy mill, where it’s located, I have no idea. She told us that there were over 300 dogs on the property and the person that ran the puppy mill was 80 years old and had some deep connections with animal control and law enforcement. Many animal rights groups and others have tried to shut her down for the past 30 years, it hasn’t happened yet. Worse yet, she told the rescuer that she intended to go to a dog show and buy more dogs. Apparently she lets some of her “stock” go to this rescuer who finds them homes, or passes them along to other rescues. I can’t see how this is helping control this woman’s dog population other than helping the few she lets go get homes.
In Arizona recently there were almost 800 dogs and 86 birds that were rescued from a puppy mill. How is this legal? How is this allowed to get this out of control?
The most disturbing thing I’ve noticed about puppy mill dogs is the lack of human contact and socialization. These dogs are scared to death. They exist in cages only to breed over and over again. The dog I took was a 7 month old Standard Poodle female. This dog has the sweetest personality and is content to lie on my couch for hours. The problem is she’s a 7 month old puppy. That’s not normal puppy behavior. This dog should be bouncing all over the house destroying things. When I let her out to the potty area, she didn’t want to come back inside, and when I went to get her, she darted back into the house past me. If I cornered her, I could catch her easily and she didn’t respond by snapping or snarling, or even submissive peeing. She simply came along. She never had a leash or collar on by her reaction to them, and it took a little coaxing to get her to walk with me and not pull back and be afraid. She allowed me and my kids to hold her, pet her and she even licked the kids a couple of times. She seemed like she was comfortable in her new surroundings.
I found some time between grooming dogs to run her to the vet for a heartworm check and some vaccines, as I wasn’t sure she ever had any in her previous environment. She jumped right into my van like she was eager to go for a ride, and when we got out she took a few steps following me when all of a sudden she stopped and balked, and managed to pull out of her collar and was loose!
She took off like a rocket and even though I had other people try to help me catch her, it was futile. She ran across the cornfield by Country Critter Care with no intentions of stopping. She ran up and down the fence rows, and when anyone got near her, she bolted. We tried getting kids to go after her since she seemed closer to them, but it didn’t work. Animal control would dart her with a tranquilizer if they could get close enough but it was useless. This dog wouldn’t come within 30 acres of a human. One kind man had his dog “Buddy” go after her in the field, but when Buddy got close, he started to follow her farther away instead of leading her closer. We tried baiting a live trap, leaving a kennel full of food but no dice. This went on for over 24 hours. Needless to say, I didn’t get much sleep. I worried and prayed for her safety all night and was back out the next morning to see she was indeed alive, but just as reluctant to come to me or anyone else. Sheila from Fountain county animal welfare was out there too, watching with binoculars. I went back home and received a phone call from Denise Routzhan offering her husband and his 4 wheeler to go help. I called Troy and off we went in hot pursuit of this wayward pup. When we arrived, Brad Summers, Attica’s animal control was there with his dart gun along with Sheila and her binoculars but the dog was nowhere to be found. Troy and I mounted his 4 wheeler and took off through the fields combing the fence rows and looking over hundreds of acres of empty field for about an hour but no luck. We headed back towards the road when all of a sudden I saw her head pop up from the middle of the field. She had found a tiny space to lie in and was sleeping when the ATV woke her up. Brad hopped on with Troy and they ended up chasing her back and forth across the field having trouble keeping up with her! Every time she would stop, they would stop so Brad could dart her, and she’d take off again. She wasn’t wearing out. Finally, I heard a cheer from Brad and figured he had managed to dart her. Yet, she kept on running back and forth, adrenaline charging those spindly legs and still running like a racehorse! Then after several minutes, she began to slow down, and eventually stop and Brad was able to pick her up and carry her back to me. Sheila drove us to the vet where I had her checked out and also finished what I had came there to do, which was heartworm check and vaccines. To my horror, her heartworm test was positive. She was only 7 months old! This complicated the situation. If I were to find her a home, she would have to be treated for heartworm first. What rescue would take on a heartworm positive dog, knowing it was positive and expecting to have to spend a lot of money? Carolina Poodle Rescue would. I was put in contact with them and spoke with the lady in charge of it who assured me that they would indeed love to take this wayward baby I named “Ebony” and they would vet her and make sure she had only the finest of homes. They would rehabilitate her and teach her that humans aren’t all bad and scary, and they will arrange transport to get her to South Carolina ASAP. The lady I spoke with from the rescue said, “Aww, you love her don’t you! I can hear it in your voice”. I told her that yes, I do love her and I know how hard it’s going to be to give her up. But I was at my limit as far as pets go, and although I love this dog dearly, I can’t afford to keep her in the manner she deserves, at least not for long, and I don’t have time to rehabilitate her. I will place her in this rescue, knowing she will be in good hands with a group that is large enough to take care of the enormous vet bills they incur on many of the animals they bring in. She will be rehabilitated, spayed and treated for her heartworm disease and eventually placed into a loving home. In the end, our hearts get broken, but her life is saved. I guess that’s why we rescue. We can’t save them all, but one at a time, we can make a difference.
My eternal thanks to Troy Routzhan, Brad Summers, Sheila and all the staff at Country Critter Care for their help as well as thanks to the neighbors out there who kept the vet notified of sightings, and who did their best to help out. Thanks to Casey Werts for allowing me to be part of this little girl’s life even if just for a little while.
The Ups and Downs of Rescuers
Some days I wish I knew nothing about animals and nobody knew what kinds of animals I have. The reason being, once word gets out that you love animals, or have a certain breed, it opens you up to other well meaning folks who rescue and love pets and know how easy it is to get you to say “Yes, I’ll do it” when you know deep down you will get hurt in the end.
Last Saturday Casey Werts from Casey’s Canine Cuts called and told me about some dogs needing someone to place them into good homes. One of the dogs was a standard poodle. I knew of some clients who were looking for a Standard Poodle and I was sure I could find her a loving home. How could I say no? So, we packed up our kids and hopped into her van for a ride down to Terre Haute to meet the rescuer.
The lady that rescued these dogs got them from a puppy mill, where it’s located, I have no idea. She told us that there were over 300 dogs on the property and the person that ran the puppy mill was 80 years old and had some deep connections with animal control and law enforcement. Many animal rights groups and others have tried to shut her down for the past 30 years, it hasn’t happened yet. Worse yet, she told the rescuer that she intended to go to a dog show and buy more dogs. Apparently she lets some of her “stock” go to this rescuer who finds them homes, or passes them along to other rescues. I can’t see how this is helping control this woman’s dog population other than helping the few she lets go get homes.
In Arizona recently there were almost 800 dogs and 86 birds that were rescued from a puppy mill. How is this legal? How is this allowed to get this out of control?
The most disturbing thing I’ve noticed about puppy mill dogs is the lack of human contact and socialization. These dogs are scared to death. They exist in cages only to breed over and over again. The dog I took was a 7 month old Standard Poodle female. This dog has the sweetest personality and is content to lie on my couch for hours. The problem is she’s a 7 month old puppy. That’s not normal puppy behavior. This dog should be bouncing all over the house destroying things. When I let her out to the potty area, she didn’t want to come back inside, and when I went to get her, she darted back into the house past me. If I cornered her, I could catch her easily and she didn’t respond by snapping or snarling, or even submissive peeing. She simply came along. She never had a leash or collar on by her reaction to them, and it took a little coaxing to get her to walk with me and not pull back and be afraid. She allowed me and my kids to hold her, pet her and she even licked the kids a couple of times. She seemed like she was comfortable in her new surroundings.
I found some time between grooming dogs to run her to the vet for a heartworm check and some vaccines, as I wasn’t sure she ever had any in her previous environment. She jumped right into my van like she was eager to go for a ride, and when we got out she took a few steps following me when all of a sudden she stopped and balked, and managed to pull out of her collar and was loose!
She took off like a rocket and even though I had other people try to help me catch her, it was futile. She ran across the cornfield by Country Critter Care with no intentions of stopping. She ran up and down the fence rows, and when anyone got near her, she bolted. We tried getting kids to go after her since she seemed closer to them, but it didn’t work. Animal control would dart her with a tranquilizer if they could get close enough but it was useless. This dog wouldn’t come within 30 acres of a human. One kind man had his dog “Buddy” go after her in the field, but when Buddy got close, he started to follow her farther away instead of leading her closer. We tried baiting a live trap, leaving a kennel full of food but no dice. This went on for over 24 hours. Needless to say, I didn’t get much sleep. I worried and prayed for her safety all night and was back out the next morning to see she was indeed alive, but just as reluctant to come to me or anyone else. Sheila from Fountain county animal welfare was out there too, watching with binoculars. I went back home and received a phone call from Denise Routzhan offering her husband and his 4 wheeler to go help. I called Troy and off we went in hot pursuit of this wayward pup. When we arrived, Brad Summers, Attica’s animal control was there with his dart gun along with Sheila and her binoculars but the dog was nowhere to be found. Troy and I mounted his 4 wheeler and took off through the fields combing the fence rows and looking over hundreds of acres of empty field for about an hour but no luck. We headed back towards the road when all of a sudden I saw her head pop up from the middle of the field. She had found a tiny space to lie in and was sleeping when the ATV woke her up. Brad hopped on with Troy and they ended up chasing her back and forth across the field having trouble keeping up with her! Every time she would stop, they would stop so Brad could dart her, and she’d take off again. She wasn’t wearing out. Finally, I heard a cheer from Brad and figured he had managed to dart her. Yet, she kept on running back and forth, adrenaline charging those spindly legs and still running like a racehorse! Then after several minutes, she began to slow down, and eventually stop and Brad was able to pick her up and carry her back to me. Sheila drove us to the vet where I had her checked out and also finished what I had came there to do, which was heartworm check and vaccines. To my horror, her heartworm test was positive. She was only 7 months old! This complicated the situation. If I were to find her a home, she would have to be treated for heartworm first. What rescue would take on a heartworm positive dog, knowing it was positive and expecting to have to spend a lot of money? Carolina Poodle Rescue would. I was put in contact with them and spoke with the lady in charge of it who assured me that they would indeed love to take this wayward baby I named “Ebony” and they would vet her and make sure she had only the finest of homes. They would rehabilitate her and teach her that humans aren’t all bad and scary, and they will arrange transport to get her to South Carolina ASAP. The lady I spoke with from the rescue said, “Aww, you love her don’t you! I can hear it in your voice”. I told her that yes, I do love her and I know how hard it’s going to be to give her up. But I was at my limit as far as pets go, and although I love this dog dearly, I can’t afford to keep her in the manner she deserves, at least not for long, and I don’t have time to rehabilitate her. I will place her in this rescue, knowing she will be in good hands with a group that is large enough to take care of the enormous vet bills they incur on many of the animals they bring in. She will be rehabilitated, spayed and treated for her heartworm disease and eventually placed into a loving home. In the end, our hearts get broken, but her life is saved. I guess that’s why we rescue. We can’t save them all, but one at a time, we can make a difference.
My eternal thanks to Troy Routzhan, Brad Summers, Sheila and all the staff at Country Critter Care for their help as well as thanks to the neighbors out there who kept the vet notified of sightings, and who did their best to help out. Thanks to Casey Werts for allowing me to be part of this little girl’s life even if just for a little while.
March 10, 2008 Kids Are Just Too Funny
March 10, 2008
Kids Are Just Too Funny
Last week the little girl down the street came over to "help" me because she was bored at home. She's 9. While she was chatting to me, she mentioned that her Grandma doesn't want her to become a dog groomer, but she likes working with dogs. I told her, “Well you could always become a veterinarian.”
“I can’t!” she replied with some shock in her voice.
“Why not?” I asked her.
"Because I eat meat” she replied sheepishly.
After I stopped laughing, I said, veterinarian, not vegetarian!
Did I mention she's blond?
You know, it makes a mother proud to hear her children say they are going to grow up to be just like her. My boys have always been exposed to animals of all sorts, and they have always been very gentle and compassionate kids when it comes to critters. My youngest tells me he’s going to grow up to be a dog groomer, and he’s also going to work at McDonalds, and be a firefighter like his dad and build cars too. Clearly, this is going to be one very busy man when he grows up.
My oldest son has actually had a crash course in grooming one day when I realized I had accidentally overbooked myself and I needed someone to help me bathe dogs FAST! Much to my surprise, he did a very good job! He liked it so much, he is ready to do it again for me. I promised him that if there was time this summer, I’d take him up on it. He does have that entrepreneurial spirit I admire. My youngest son has that spirit too. So much so that on heavy trash day when people were “shopping” in our trash, he was busy running them down and saying “Hey! You have to pay for that!”
I suppose selling trash is a good way to create income when you are 7.
He’s such a salesman when he’s in my boutique and clients are checking out, he’s busy pulling stuff off the shelves and informing them that their dog needs this or that, and he’s always ready to hand them a business card of mine too.
I had a client bring along her adorable little boy who was 6 when she came to have her kitty groomed. The little boy also had brought along his toy stuffed dog to play with while he waited. He talked to the kitty, and petted him and told him you’ll be alright, sympathized with his kitty when he meowed. He was sure to mention that he "helped" me groom his kitty and was expecting something for his hard work. I gave him some kitty toys for his kitty and him to play with and I put a bow on his toy doggie before he left and that made his day.
A few years ago, another mother had brought her dog in to be groomed and her child came with her and fell in love with my collie Brittany. Brittany was the ultimate kid dog. She loved kids! She would take any form of torture from children because she felt it was her job to watch over them. She truly was "Lassie". It was so cute because that little boy lay down on the floor and put his head on Brittany, his pillow. I swear she had a smile on her face. I wished I had my camera handy for that. She was in heaven!
When my youngest was an infant, I put a blanket on the floor and the baby on it and Brittany stood over him, protecting him from anyone who came near. There she stood proudly over my baby, in all her beautiful Collie glory, with long flowing hair. She was his protector and guardian and there she stood, with her head held high when the baby reached up and grabbed a handful of her hair on her belly and pulled. I could see her wince, but she continued to stand there and take it, because that was her job. She wouldn't dream of biting. Obviously, I couldn’t allow her to be hurt, so she got a haircut for her own protection.
Kids and dogs go together like peanut butter & jelly. It’s hard to imagine one without the other. There is nothing cuter than to hear a toddler say his dog’s name, “Pwincess”, “Mowwy”, or “Wex”. I love to see the look in their eyes when their dog licks their face. I’m sure that dogs love kids because they are such great sources of food too. Hey, someone’s got to clean the floor, and those hands! I fondly remember when my kids were toddlers and would carry around dry cereal, one for me, one for the dog. Let’s not forget ice cream cones, most kids eagerly share their cones with the family dog. While that vision grosses me out, kids are so pure and loving that they don’t seem to mind a little dog slobber, provided that “Wex” doesn’t eat it all.
So next time you’re in need of some spirit lifting, ask a child about his dog and see where the conversation takes you. I guarantee it will put a smile on your face.
Kids Are Just Too Funny
Last week the little girl down the street came over to "help" me because she was bored at home. She's 9. While she was chatting to me, she mentioned that her Grandma doesn't want her to become a dog groomer, but she likes working with dogs. I told her, “Well you could always become a veterinarian.”
“I can’t!” she replied with some shock in her voice.
“Why not?” I asked her.
"Because I eat meat” she replied sheepishly.
After I stopped laughing, I said, veterinarian, not vegetarian!
Did I mention she's blond?
You know, it makes a mother proud to hear her children say they are going to grow up to be just like her. My boys have always been exposed to animals of all sorts, and they have always been very gentle and compassionate kids when it comes to critters. My youngest tells me he’s going to grow up to be a dog groomer, and he’s also going to work at McDonalds, and be a firefighter like his dad and build cars too. Clearly, this is going to be one very busy man when he grows up.
My oldest son has actually had a crash course in grooming one day when I realized I had accidentally overbooked myself and I needed someone to help me bathe dogs FAST! Much to my surprise, he did a very good job! He liked it so much, he is ready to do it again for me. I promised him that if there was time this summer, I’d take him up on it. He does have that entrepreneurial spirit I admire. My youngest son has that spirit too. So much so that on heavy trash day when people were “shopping” in our trash, he was busy running them down and saying “Hey! You have to pay for that!”
I suppose selling trash is a good way to create income when you are 7.
He’s such a salesman when he’s in my boutique and clients are checking out, he’s busy pulling stuff off the shelves and informing them that their dog needs this or that, and he’s always ready to hand them a business card of mine too.
I had a client bring along her adorable little boy who was 6 when she came to have her kitty groomed. The little boy also had brought along his toy stuffed dog to play with while he waited. He talked to the kitty, and petted him and told him you’ll be alright, sympathized with his kitty when he meowed. He was sure to mention that he "helped" me groom his kitty and was expecting something for his hard work. I gave him some kitty toys for his kitty and him to play with and I put a bow on his toy doggie before he left and that made his day.
A few years ago, another mother had brought her dog in to be groomed and her child came with her and fell in love with my collie Brittany. Brittany was the ultimate kid dog. She loved kids! She would take any form of torture from children because she felt it was her job to watch over them. She truly was "Lassie". It was so cute because that little boy lay down on the floor and put his head on Brittany, his pillow. I swear she had a smile on her face. I wished I had my camera handy for that. She was in heaven!
When my youngest was an infant, I put a blanket on the floor and the baby on it and Brittany stood over him, protecting him from anyone who came near. There she stood proudly over my baby, in all her beautiful Collie glory, with long flowing hair. She was his protector and guardian and there she stood, with her head held high when the baby reached up and grabbed a handful of her hair on her belly and pulled. I could see her wince, but she continued to stand there and take it, because that was her job. She wouldn't dream of biting. Obviously, I couldn’t allow her to be hurt, so she got a haircut for her own protection.
Kids and dogs go together like peanut butter & jelly. It’s hard to imagine one without the other. There is nothing cuter than to hear a toddler say his dog’s name, “Pwincess”, “Mowwy”, or “Wex”. I love to see the look in their eyes when their dog licks their face. I’m sure that dogs love kids because they are such great sources of food too. Hey, someone’s got to clean the floor, and those hands! I fondly remember when my kids were toddlers and would carry around dry cereal, one for me, one for the dog. Let’s not forget ice cream cones, most kids eagerly share their cones with the family dog. While that vision grosses me out, kids are so pure and loving that they don’t seem to mind a little dog slobber, provided that “Wex” doesn’t eat it all.
So next time you’re in need of some spirit lifting, ask a child about his dog and see where the conversation takes you. I guarantee it will put a smile on your face.
February 25, 2008 Winter Salt Hazards
February 25, 2008
Winter Salt Hazards
I belong to an internet group of groomers who often consult each other when we find a client or our own dog with an issue that just doesn’t seem to be resolved any other way. I’ve come to know, meet and trust many of these fine people and their advice to me and others has proven itself more times than I can count. These people are genuinely helpful and concerned whenever someone presents them with a problem.
One groomer, Linda in Dodgeville, Wisconsin emailed the group when she had a client that had some terrible symptoms that vets just couldn’t figure out. The dog had stopped eating and drinking, became very lethargic and had sores in his mouth, not like canker sores, but all over the mouth and throat. Their vet ran tests on the dog’s blood and urine which didn’t show anything abnormal, and IV’s were given and the dog appeared to be getting much better. The dog went back home and as soon as the dog went out walking, the symptoms began again.
Another groomer mentioned that it could be poisoning from road and sidewalk salt. When the dog licks his paws, he ingests some salt and that can cause such symptoms. Well, it was winter and worth a shot to check into it. Linda passed along this advice to her client and the dog is now wearing boots outside and has not had a recurrence! Linda learned that her road salt also has chlorine in it to treat the roads and animals do lick their feet to get the ice and I’m sure the salt tastes good to them. Ingesting the salt and chemicals were what caused her clients dogs’ symptoms and she learned that other dogs had similar symptoms but not as severe, no sores but some weight loss. After protecting the dog’s feet from the salt and insuring the dog didn’t ingest anything from the road or sidewalk, those dogs gained back the weight they lost and became more energetic. Kidney failure and dehydration can occur from ingesting road salt and chemicals.
There are pet safe sidewalk salts you can buy but they are also expensive and not readily available in Attica. I have another simple and easy solution to prevent poisoning from salt by using something we can all get, baby wipes. Baby wipes are not just for babies and diaper duty. In fact, I’ve found so many uses for them on pets! When your pet comes in from outside use a baby wipe to remove the salt chemicals and clean off the mud! Be sure to wipe all his paws and between his toes and pads.
Baby wipes can also be used to clean out your pets ears, you can add some ear cleaning solution to them or just pour it into your dog’s ears and wipe out the ear with the baby wipe. You can use baby wipes to clean out the corners of your dog’s eyes when they accumulate goo. Also a few swipes on your pet’s hair will leave your dog smelling a little less “doggy” in between baths. Baby wipes are wonderful for cleaning under your dog’s tail too, yes I know, nobody wants to think about that but it has to be done from time to time, nobody wants “cling-ons” under the tail! Keep some baby wipes in your car too, so when you take your dog to the car to go visit someone, you can wipe off her paws in the car to prevent salt poisoning. Keep a few in a plastic zipping sandwich bag in your purse, because you just never know when you may need one.
If your dog really likes to lick things off the floor, be sure to keep your floors free from the salt you track in. That can be another source of the salt poisoning even if your dog never walks on it. Give your shoes a quick rinse to get if off from between the treads before your dog does. You just never know where we are going to run into a hazard for our pets.
Sometimes we find the simplest things can be the cause of major health issues in our pets. If you are experiencing symptoms similar to those mentioned above, keep a close eye on your dog and see if ingesting road salt could be the problem. If not for Linda’s asking about her client’s dog and passing along this information, the dog may not be here. Now he is still able to go for his walks and sports a pair of boots to protect his feet.
Winter Salt Hazards
I belong to an internet group of groomers who often consult each other when we find a client or our own dog with an issue that just doesn’t seem to be resolved any other way. I’ve come to know, meet and trust many of these fine people and their advice to me and others has proven itself more times than I can count. These people are genuinely helpful and concerned whenever someone presents them with a problem.
One groomer, Linda in Dodgeville, Wisconsin emailed the group when she had a client that had some terrible symptoms that vets just couldn’t figure out. The dog had stopped eating and drinking, became very lethargic and had sores in his mouth, not like canker sores, but all over the mouth and throat. Their vet ran tests on the dog’s blood and urine which didn’t show anything abnormal, and IV’s were given and the dog appeared to be getting much better. The dog went back home and as soon as the dog went out walking, the symptoms began again.
Another groomer mentioned that it could be poisoning from road and sidewalk salt. When the dog licks his paws, he ingests some salt and that can cause such symptoms. Well, it was winter and worth a shot to check into it. Linda passed along this advice to her client and the dog is now wearing boots outside and has not had a recurrence! Linda learned that her road salt also has chlorine in it to treat the roads and animals do lick their feet to get the ice and I’m sure the salt tastes good to them. Ingesting the salt and chemicals were what caused her clients dogs’ symptoms and she learned that other dogs had similar symptoms but not as severe, no sores but some weight loss. After protecting the dog’s feet from the salt and insuring the dog didn’t ingest anything from the road or sidewalk, those dogs gained back the weight they lost and became more energetic. Kidney failure and dehydration can occur from ingesting road salt and chemicals.
There are pet safe sidewalk salts you can buy but they are also expensive and not readily available in Attica. I have another simple and easy solution to prevent poisoning from salt by using something we can all get, baby wipes. Baby wipes are not just for babies and diaper duty. In fact, I’ve found so many uses for them on pets! When your pet comes in from outside use a baby wipe to remove the salt chemicals and clean off the mud! Be sure to wipe all his paws and between his toes and pads.
Baby wipes can also be used to clean out your pets ears, you can add some ear cleaning solution to them or just pour it into your dog’s ears and wipe out the ear with the baby wipe. You can use baby wipes to clean out the corners of your dog’s eyes when they accumulate goo. Also a few swipes on your pet’s hair will leave your dog smelling a little less “doggy” in between baths. Baby wipes are wonderful for cleaning under your dog’s tail too, yes I know, nobody wants to think about that but it has to be done from time to time, nobody wants “cling-ons” under the tail! Keep some baby wipes in your car too, so when you take your dog to the car to go visit someone, you can wipe off her paws in the car to prevent salt poisoning. Keep a few in a plastic zipping sandwich bag in your purse, because you just never know when you may need one.
If your dog really likes to lick things off the floor, be sure to keep your floors free from the salt you track in. That can be another source of the salt poisoning even if your dog never walks on it. Give your shoes a quick rinse to get if off from between the treads before your dog does. You just never know where we are going to run into a hazard for our pets.
Sometimes we find the simplest things can be the cause of major health issues in our pets. If you are experiencing symptoms similar to those mentioned above, keep a close eye on your dog and see if ingesting road salt could be the problem. If not for Linda’s asking about her client’s dog and passing along this information, the dog may not be here. Now he is still able to go for his walks and sports a pair of boots to protect his feet.
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