Dog Grooming

I have a dog. Then what?

Having a dog, means responsibility on your part. One thing you need to know when having a companion like dog is how to groom them. Now here's a quick tip on dog grooming.

• Research your dog's breed or coat type. Finding your dog's breed and coat type will help you determine what tools to use during your grooming session. 
• Make grooming session pleasant and short. Provide your dog with plenty of treats or do anything that can make your dog relax and calm during the session.
• If you want your dog to enjoy grooming, it is best to start train them during puppyhood.
If your dog is afraid of being groomed and will bite or struggle, you may want to consider hiring a local dog trainer to teach you how to make grooming an enjoyable experience for your dog through a systematic desensitization protocol.
• Avoid frequent bathing of your dog. There are other types of dogs that need not to be bathed more than once every 4-6 weeks.
• Brush your dog's teeth everyday. There are toothbrushes available for dogs. 
• Trim dog's nails weekly. If you don't know how, leave it to the pro's. 
• Visit a veterinarian if you see any signs of an unhealthy coat or skin problems - bald spots, scaly patches, excessive dryness or oiliness, open sores of any kind, hot spots, etc. These coat problems can be symptoms of underlying problems ranging from dietary deficiencies to allergies, extreme stress, or hypothyroidism.

Win P10,000 in Dogs of Deal Dozen Photo Contest!

Get a chance to win P10,000 by sharing your funniest, cutest, or even craziest photo of your dog through the Dogs of Deal Dozen application.

To join, simply follow the steps below and you’re good to go:

1. Be a registered user of http://www.dealdozen.com/

2. Like our Deal Dozen Facebook fan page

3. Read through photo submission rules

4. Upload your dog’s photo using the Contest Application at https://apps.facebook.com/dogsofdealdozen/

Most importantly, don’t forget to tell your friends to VOTE for your dog to help your pet bring home the coveted TOP DOG award!

Entries can be submitted from Oct. 24, 2011 until Nov. 30, 2011. 

The photo entry with the most number of votes at the end of the voting period will be crowned as Deal Dozen's Top Dog!

Moving On

So its been quite here for awhile. Let's just say I was mourning for my Oreo. I never thought this would happen. I built this blog for him, for us. All I post here is related to the knowledge I acquire from raising a dog like Oreo and from both our experience. I feel sad about what happen, we all are. But the thing is,  we need to move on. I guess I have to start here. 

What happen was painful for us. But we come to accept it. May be there's far more good reason why that happen. Days after Oreo died, I send a message to the person who gave Oreo to me, Tolets. Fortunately, right now, Oreo's mom is pregnant again with another puppies. He told me he will give me another pup when it give birth this October. 

I know no other puppy can replace Oreo. But I'm willing to start over again. This time, I'll make sure I do my best to keep it alive and happy! :)

I will still be updating this blog. This will keep me reminded that once in my life, I had a wonderful dog that leave a deep mark in our hearts. 

Oreo

Oreo

Born : September 5, 2010

Died: September 12, 2011

I'm sad to say that my beloved Oreo just died yesterday. 

May you Rest in Peace Baby... We will surely miss you! 

Foods That Dogs Need to Avoid

You may not know this, but some foods that are good for you might be dangerous to your dog. Chocolate is just one among others. Do you know why? Read through to understand how this food affects your precious dog. 

1. Chocolate can stimulate the nervous system and the heart. Make your dog vomit, increase in thirst, tremors, seizures, restless, increased or irregular heartbeat, increase in body temperature and agitation. 

2. Macadamia Nuts can cause muscle  and Nervous system problems to your dog. Possible effects would be vomiting, weakness, tremors, lethargy and increase body temperature.

3. Avocado contains persin which damages the heart muscle. It can result to vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy.

4. Raw Yeast and Bread Dough forms gas in digestive tract; fermentation of yeast causes alcohol poisoning. Possible effects might be vomiting, diarrhea, disorientation, lethargy, distention of abdomen, difficulty breathing, lack of coordination, tremors, coma and seizures.

5. Xylitol which commonly seen on sugarless gum can cause increased insulin secretion, resulting in lower blood sugar levels. This is very poisonous to dogs. Possible effects of xylitol to dogs are diarrhea, vomiting. lethargy, seizures, jaundice and  lack of coordination, 

6. Alcoholic drinks can depress the nervous system. Possible effects are vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, disorientation, lack of coordination, tremors, coma, difficulty breathing and seizures.

7. Onions and Garlic can damage red blood cells which cause anemia. Most probably the effects would be vomiting, weakness, anemia and red-colored urine.

8. Grapes and Raisins can damage the kidney. Increased thirst, lethargy, vomiting and increase in urination are  just among other possible effects on your dog. 

These are the foods that your dog should never eat. You now understand how these food can affect them. So better keep these away from them. :) 

Cesar Millan... Your Dog's Bestfriend

Have a bad temper dog? Do you want to have a dog trainer but don't know where to look for? Why don't you just watch Dog Whisperer on National Geographic Channel! 

All your questions about your dog's behavior and attitude, Cesar can answer it. And if your wondering how you can train your dog to behave, just watch the show.

I've learned a lot from this show. I hope you do too. :D 

Dog Health: Ear Infection

Recently, I've noticed a lot of wounds in Oreo's ear. At times it would disappear and after awhile, it comes back again. I observe it for a month or so and realize that it was some kind of allergy that cause it. So I stop giving him something that would trigger his allergies and start treating his wounds. Anyways, I thought I might share a little information I've learned about this one.

 Dogs can commonly acquire ear infections or wounds. There are a lot of different causes, and the treatment varies from dog to dog. If you can identify what causes your dog's ear wound, then it will be a lot easier for you to treat him.

Signs that your dog might have ear infection: 

• constant scratching and rubbing of the ear
• foul odor coming from the ear
• changes in behavior: tirediness, lack of appetite, and irritability
• redness of  the inner ear

Causes:

• Allergy-- Your dog may have food allergies you didn't know. Observe what he eats, by then you'll know what food he'll get allergies from. 
• Parasite-- Check your dog's ear for ear mites or any parasite. Usually dog can acquire them especially if their ears are big and touches the floor. 
• Trauma-- There are certain accidents that can cause trauma. It might also be caused by fighting with cats that left wounds untreated. 

Treatment: 

• If your dog's ear infection is caused by a food allergy, then restrain him from eating that kind of food. 
• If its parasite, clean your dog's ear and apply medication. Apply medication that your veterinarian prescribed you. There are also shampoos available in the market that you can use. REMEMBER: Always consult your vet before giving or applying any medication to your dog. 
• If your dogs have ear wounds that left untreated, treat it regularly. You can apply betadine. Its fine to use this medication on your dog. 

Hope this gives you an idea how to deal with that ear infection or wound on your dog. Oreo has been doing great and I started restraining him from eating food that can trigger his allergies. His wounds have been healing , and I'm happy it did.