Remember Your Dogs

It is not only turkey hunting season but it is time to be getting the gardens ready, planting summer food plots, mowing grass and catching up on all those outdoor chores.

Well, don’t forget your four-legged hunting buddies or your K9 sidekicks.

I just want to remind everyone that spring and summer are a good time to take extra care of your friends.

Be sure to double check you vaccinations, this time of year a lot of places in the Country offer vaccination clinics at reduced prices for needed inoculations. If they do not, maybe you or your hunting club could organize one by contacting a local veterinarian and setting a time and place where he or she would be able to be in a central location and give these at a discounted price. In today’s economy many people forgo the needs of their pets and hunting dogs for things needed by the two-legged members of their families. If at all possible that is not always a good idea. If just general shots are ignored you could be asking for large vet bills down the road.

Now, there are some things you can do to help your dog if it develops some general ailments that can also save you for money.

1. Allergies: Everyone suffers from these you and your dog alike. Many of the over-the-counter medications you use will also help your dog. First “Benadryl” will work on many of the same allergies in the same way as it does for humans. If your dog has a skin reaction or if it happens to have pollen problems which are causing watery eyes and sneezing this will work. Do not overdue it and keep the dosages small. You can also use topical ointments such as hydrocortisone on skin (it will not hurt them if they lick it off). Remember never to give any medication that contains any type of pain killers because not all over the counter pain killers can be given to your dog.

2. For minor scraps or cuts any store brand triple-antibiotic ointment will treat your K9 as well as you. Be sure to clean the cut or scrap thoroughly, and yes you can clean it out with hydrogen peroxide but be sure to completely wash it off. If your dog ingests peroxide it will make them “lose their lunch”.

3. Speaking of “lose your lunch” if you know that your dog has eaten something they should not have one tablespoon of peroxide will cause your dog to empty it’s stomach of the problem within 5 to 10 minutes of your orally giving it to your dog. Remember, be outside and stand clear…..

4. If your friend has eaten something that has upset its stomach or caused intestinal distress you can give it Pepto-Bismol or Imodium. A couple of doses will usually do the trick. Also, in the summer your pet will usually drink double the water as they normally drink and this can also cause some intestinal distress. If you feed your dog a tablespoon of 100% pure pumpkin in every meal you will naturally straighten that problem within a couple of days.

Summer also brings many of our dogs to a higher activity level and this can cause sore muscles, a soak in warm epson salts will help relieve this. But, the best thing to remember is, work you dogs back into activity slowly just you would for yourself.

Keep in mind your four-legged friends this year and if you have any questions please feel free to email me at BeaglePup@TalkHunting.com

Happy Summer ALL….