Dog Safety at Home

Keep a Dog First Aid Kit on Hand

Dog First Aid Kit

Knowing basic first aid can save the life of your dog. Helping your dog in case of injury or illness, until you can get to a veterinarian's office, requires that you have a doggie first aid kit on hand. You can purchase a pre-assembled dog first aid kit, or make one yourself.

All of the following first aid supplies should fit neatly into a rugged container with a tight lid. This will help to keep everything clean and sterile no matter how long it is sitting on the shelf or in the car. If you do not have a separate kit for your car, be sure to take your home kit when you travel with your pooch.

TIP: It is a good idea to write the name, address and phone number of your vet and the local emergency animal hospital right on the lid of your kit. That way if you are in a panic, you will have those numbers handy and don't have to think about where to find them!

Here are some recommended items for your dog first aid kit:

• Bandages such as gauze pads, cotton gauze, ace bandages, and adhesive tape. Nonstick Telfa pads are a good choice if your dog has an open would because they are sterile and come in convenient individually wrapped packages. Don't forget the adhesive tape. Pets will often try to remove bandages or gauze pads, so you will want to secure the bandages in place with tape. In a pinch, masking tape will work, too. Dog first aid kit article continued here...
http://tinyurl.com/bowowkit

Puppy Proofing Your Home

There's no question that parents child-proof their house. Should you puppy proof as well? Yes, you should. Puppies can get into all sorts of trouble even if you're just around the corner in the next room. If you aren't crating your puppy or dog when you leave, make sure the area where they're confined has fresh water. Don't put water in a crate. It can easily spill and make a sloppy mess. Get down to puppy level to see what might be tempting. Look for dangling electrical cords which may be an attractive plaything for a puppy. Dogs have been known to chew cords severely burning their mouths if not worse.

Dangling blind cords can be wrapped around necks and lead to choking. The dog can chew the cord and have it get caught in their throat. Puppy proof article continued...

Introducing a New Puppy to Your Old Dog

Tips for Bringing Home a New Puppy

You've decided you'd like to get a puppy but you already have a dog. Here are a few tips on introducing the two.

In the few weeks before you bring your new puppy home establish a place that's just for your current canine companion where he has his bed and a few favorite toys. He'll need a place off limits from puppy frolicking where he can get some peace and quiet. Don't do this the day you bring the little guy home or your current dog may think he's being replaced.

Keep the puppy in a separate room from your dog with the door closed. Both can sniff under the door to get used to each other's scent. After a few days, use a pet gate instead of closing the door. Article continued...

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Dog Safety Articles:

Dog First Aid Kits
Pet Gates Protect
Dog Safety in an Emergency
Puppy Proof Your Home
Introducing a New Puppy
Tips for Bathing Dogs
Choose the Right Dog Fence
Dog Safety in Hot Weather
Dog Safety While Traveling
Dog Obesity
Grapes are Hazardous
Dog Arthritis
Help Your Dog Lose Weight
Caring for a Senior Dog

Freestanding Pet Gates Protect Your Pet and Your Home

Pet Gates Keep Dogs Safe at Home

Pet gates are a simple yet effective solution for restricting your dog's access to specific rooms or areas of your home. A freestanding pet gate can be placed at the top or the bottom of a stairway, across a kitchen doorway, and can block entrance to any room. There are a number of reasons to get a pet gate. Some of the most important include:

Protect your pet from potentially harmful areas. Even when supervised, it's not a good idea to allow dogs in areas of your home where dangerous chemicals, lots of breakable glassware, craft items, or easily chewable objects are kept.

Keep your dog from jumping on furniture. A freestanding pet gate is tall enough to stop them from leaping over and are made to withstand pressure if the dog pushes against it.

Protect toddlers. A tiny child can be knocked over by a pet who is just being friendly. And sometimes, even an innocent tug on the pet's fur can cause the pet to turn and snip at the baby.

Training. The gate is a physical barrier that Fido realizes limits his territorial boundaries and, therefore, acts as an effective method for "training" your dog. After a time, your dog will realize he cannot go beyond the gate and will stop even wanting to.

There are two common types of freestanding pet gate: a T-bar gate a Zigzag gate, which can be narrow or wide. Both configuration come in various colors, finishes, and materials to match any decor. Freestanding pet gate article continued here...
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Dog Safety in an Emergency

Dog safety is #1

Emergencies can happen anywhere at any time, especially if you reside in an area prone to natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, or wildfires. If, for example, you live in a flood zone, your family probably already has a good emergency plan in place, so be sure your beloved furry friends are included in that plan in case you must evacuate in a hurry. Talk about "what if" scenarios with everyone in your household—adults and kids alike—before an emergency strikes. Below are a few simple things to consider so you'll be prepared to take care of your dog in an emergency:

Know your pets hiding places in and out of the house. If you're facing a major storm, Fido may already be hiding from the noise of gale force winds, rain, or hail. To avoid playing hide-n-seek with your pets, you might consider putting them in one room of your home at the first warning of an impending emergency.
Check with the nearby shelters, veterinary hospitals, and hotels in advance so you'll know if they would take your pets in an emergency.
Develop a pet care buddy system. Arrange for friends or extended family to take your pets if you must evacuate to a local shelter that does not allow pets.
Keep an emergency dog supply kit on hand. Your emergency kit should include a week's worth of food and water, as well as any medication your dog needs. Don't forget a photo of your pet, too, in case you're separated. A photo can help rescue workers identify your dog and get him reunited with you faster. A familiar blanket or bed and toys can provide comfort to your pet if you go to a shelter or other location that is strange to your dog. Your emergency kit should also include a dog first aid kit. http://tinyurl.com/bowowkit

Tips for Giving Your Dog a Bath

Dog Bath Safety Tips

Most dogs seem to love water, especially larger breeds. Get them by a river or lake and you'll have a hard time keeping them OUT of it. But sometimes getting a bath at home is another story. You'll want to bathe your dog every four weeks or so, and for some dogs who like to play in the mud and spend lots of time in the great outdoors, perhaps even more often.

Bathtubs for humans are not the most convenient set ups for dog baths. Dogs don’t like to slip so make sure that there is a rubber mat or non slip stickers on the bottom of the tub. Place towels on the floor next to the tub so you have something soft to kneel on. If the tub has a hand held shower attachment that reaches the dog, bath time will be easier. If not, you can buy a shower attachment and use that. The least effective method is using a small bucket that you fill with water and then pour on the dog. Tips for bathing your dog continued here...