PUG CARE TIPS AND INFOParents To Be And Past Litters Photo Page
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Winter Pug Care Tips As the holidays near and our homes fill with hope and excitement, it is important to remember that many potential hazards face our furry friends. Some of the hazards are more dangerous than others and some more obvious than others. A curious pug can find the electric cords to be fascinating toys. The problem that can occur is when the Christmas lights are on and those sharp teeth pierce into the wires. Electrocution may only cause minor burns to the tissues (usually of the mouth). However, it may cause more serious conditions in the lungs (fluid accumulation) or abnormal rhythms in the heart. A few ways to help prevent electric shock from occurring are to remove all tags from cords, try to prevent dangling of cords and if necessary be sure that pets are well supervised while the lights are on. The holidays usually see the arrival of foreign body (FB) ingestion. Unfortunately the throat, stomach and intestines do not always react favorably to these objects. Tinsel is among the culprits of which to be mindful. This along with other types of stringy toys, ribbons and decorations can cause "string gut". This can cause vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy. If these are seen and your dog is suspected of ingesting such an object, a visit to your veterinarian is strongly advised. Unfortunately with string-type FBs, a part of the string will lodge in one spot. The rest of the string moves through the intestines and can act like a saw and actually cut through the wall. The best method of prevention is to keep all potentially hazardous objects out of reach. This includes tinsel, ribbons, small toys, candy wrappers etc. If your pet should pass a string - please remember that pulling at the offending object as is moves out of your pet can cause much damage. Just cut it carefully and monitor closely. Unfortunately, not all pets are so lucky and require intensive medical and sometimes surgical intervention. You may want to put the tree in a baby playpen or place one of those expandable baby fences around the tree just to be on the safe side. Then there is the holiday food itself. Oh how tempting it all is candy, turkey, bones, and fat! It is best to stick with your pug’s usual diet to prevent the upset that comes from dietary change. All bones can potentially cause inflammation in the stomach and intestines and may splinter and cause perforation. A high fat intake may wreak havoc on the pancreas - the organ that is responsible for the production of digestive enzymes. Pancreatic inflammation (pancreatitis) can cause severe illness in animals. Last but not least heavenly chocolate that surrounds us during the holidays, often mistaken by dogs for a good treat. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine. Different types of chocolate contain different amounts each - theobromine is the predominant toxic component with caffeine usually in much lower concentration. The concentration of theobromine is present in increasing concentration in chocolate as follows: white, milk, dark (sweet), semi-sweet chips, baker's (unsweetened), cocoa beans, cocoa powder. If your pet ingests chocolate - contact your veterinarian. Chocolate can not only cause GI upset but has more serious effects on the nervous system (can lead to tremors or seizures) and may cause an increase in heart rate. A calculation of the thoebromine ingested will be made based on the product and amount eaten. This will help to determine is a visit to clinic is needed. If dangerous levels have been eaten, vomiting may be induced and activated charcoal may be given to bind the toxin. Intravenous fluids may also be necessary to increase urination to prevent the reabsorption of caffeine from the bladder. Holiday plants can also be a risk factor - while poinsettia has long been thought of as poisonous - its main effect is mechanical irritation of the stomach leading to vomiting. Less innocent is mistletoe; holly and ivy should be kept out of reach. Also, aspirin or other preservative in Christmas tree water can be fatal to pet's who drink it. Be careful about where you place candles, they can easily be knocked over by your pug and either burn your dog or start a fire. Pug's may love playing in the snow, it can be very easy for them to lose their footing and suffer a strained muscle, cruciate ligament rupture, or to fracture a limb. Be careful too with rock salt and other products to melt ice as these chemicals can cause skin irritation to the paw pads, as well as intestinal problems from your pet licking its paws. It’s a good idea to wipe your pet’s paw pads after a walk outside this time of year. Antifreeze smells good to your pet and it can taste good too. Beware - even as little as 1 teaspoon can be deadly! However, symptoms of antifreeze poisoning may not appear immediately and when they do, it may be too late for life-saving treatment. So it is wise to be very careful with the storage and usage of this product. If you suspect that your pet has had any access to antifreeze, call your veterinarian immediately. There is a test that your veterinarian can run to verify if your pet did drink any antifreeze and then try to flush out his system, if needed. Dogs who like to "graze" will sometimes eat wild mushrooms along with lawn grasses, leading to mushroom poisoning. Dogs can sometimes become ill by just licking a poisonous mushroom. Also, some dogs, like some people, are allergic to even edible, normally safe mushrooms. If your dog has eaten poisonous mushrooms and you catch him in the act... If your dog has eaten poisonous mushrooms, but there is short delay in realizing what has happened... If your dog has eaten poisonous mushrooms, and symptoms have already begun.... Protect Your Pets... It can be very difficult to tell the difference between poisonous and edible mushrooms, and even harder to describe them over the telephone. Intestinal Parasites Roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, coccidia and giardia are common intestinal parasites. At least once a year, you should have a fecal sample microscopically evaluated for these parasites. Early treatment can reduce the chance of serious illness. Currently, there are monthly medications available that help prevent some of these parasites from developing. Even if your dog is on medication to prevent parasites, annual fecal evaluation is still recommended. Find more informatino on parasites at http://www.petsandparasites.org/index.html |
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MAKE FLEAS FLEA Many over the counter (OTC) or non-prescription flea control products as well as prescription flea control products are very toxic, especially the ones only approved for use in dogs. Many people mistakenly buy these for their pet (it's not always their fault, the companies that make them want you to buy it, they don't really care about the dangers involved) so it pays to be extra careful when buying flea control products. With today's increasingly toxic environment, our pets are coming down with serious and inexplicable health problems. A Pesticide collar is nothing but a poison necklace around your pet’s head. It emits a constant toxic cloud that your pet inhales, and so do you, every time you hug your pet. Just imagine what effect those insecticide flea and tick shampoos powders, sprays and dips can have on your pet. If fleas begin to bother my dogs occasionally during the summer time or they begin to bite or scratch, I use Ark Naturals Neem "protect" shampoo and Neem spray. That formula seems to repel fleas and possibly even destroy newly hatched fleas. In addition, it helps heal their skin irritation, eruptions and hotspots. The seeds, bark and leaves of the neem plant contain compounds with proven antiseptic, antiviral, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer and antifungal uses. Neem is one of the most powerful blood-purifiers and detoxifiers in usage. For thousands of years, the Indian people have appreciated the medicinal and insect-repellent properties of neem leaves and seeds. Neem extracts have been studied extensively by the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, and have been developed into natural commercial pesticides, which are safe for use on food crops. Treating your dogs with neem products is not only a lot healthier for your dog but also a lot cheaper for you! Many of the once a month flea control products will set you back thirty to forty bucks or more a month. A bottle of neem shampoo and neem spray together will only cost you about fifteen dollars at your local pet supply store and can be used on any size dog or puppy as well as cats and other pets and last you well over a month! Have you ever wondered why some dogs and cats have severe flea problems, while others are hardly bothered by the little pests? Fleas can be viewed as an indicator of an animal's general health. Parasites in general, and fleas in particular, are most attracted to the weak, unhealthy, or very young animal whose immune systems are not functioning well. The long-term solution to a flea problem is to reduce your pet's susceptibility to fleas by improving his/her health. Recognizing nutritional deficiencies will save you a great deal of frustration and allow you to make the necessary adjustments in your dog’s diet. |
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Pet Travel Tips A dog is part family, part best friend, and part loyal companion. When traveling, leaving your dog behind can be particularly difficult especially for trips that require a longer term stay of a week, a month or even longer. Luckily, it is becoming more and more convenient to take your dog along on the road since many hotels are now accommodating guests and their pets. It is particularly important that safety precautions are carefully followed when traveling with your dog. A sturdy harness, leash, and crate are recommended to protect your pet in unfamiliar surroundings. It is also a good idea to bring their food and water bowls, toys, grooming aids, and all medications they require. When traveling with your pet, you should remember that you have a responsibility to be courteous and mindful of other guests in the hotel. This means using a leash whenever you are in public areas of the hotel, walking your dog in the specific areas the hotel has designated, and properly disposing of waste. Remember that most hotels that welcome pets do require a non-fundable fee. There are usually weight limits as well. Up to 80 lbs. is the typical size allowed in most hotels. Make sure you inquire when making reservations. At check-in, carefully inspect your room to make sure there is no preexisting damage or stains. Traveling with your dog can be a great experience. With advance planning, you can find the pet-friendly hotel that meets both of your needs. For information on airlines travel regulations visit these links http://www.petswelcome.com/milkbone/frameairtrav.html or www.sherpapet.com and click the links section or http://abcnews.go.com/Business/AmazingAnimals/story?id=7795390&page=1
Does Your Pug get Car Sick? There are usually two reasons for carsickness in dogs. Motion sickness can affect balance and car-related anxiety caused by some fearful aspect of traveling in the car. Regardless of the reason for your pug’s puking problems, the main remedy to address the issue is the same, a good desensitization program. Before we start with the desensitization program, there are a few other steps to take since you don’t know whether the pup suffers from motion sickness or car-related anxiety. One reason for motion sickness in young pups is the lack of early handling by humans. Try cuddling her upside down in your lap, picking her up in the air or rolling her around on the ground like a log. These small motions a few times a day will mimic what she is exposed to in the car. Avoid travel in the farthest backseat where there is the most motion. Also, in the backseat pups can only see out the side windows where a whizzing blur of objects creates a fuzzy visual that causes or compounds motion sickness. By moving her closer to the front, say in the middle seat and having her look forward towards the windshield she will see less movement. Another option is to place her in a Kennel or crate, which has solid sides to limit her visibility. If you don’t use a crate, remember to use a seat belt like harness on her while in the middle seat to keep her safe in case of an accident. As for car-related anxiety, the pup may have associated car travel with bad things happening to her. As a very young pup she might have been taken away from her mother and thrown into a car to go to the vet to get shots, which wasn’t pleasant. At such a young age a few bad trips can ruin a dog’s appeal to a car ride. Going for a Ride Start with putting the pup in the car with you for a few minutes a day. Don’t turn on the car or drive anywhere, just sit quietly giving praise and gently petting. Another good idea is not to feed the pup up to six hours before any planned travel or even sitting in the car. Feed her after the session or travel back in the house. Don’t use treats to reward her in the car. This will only stimulate an already off-balance digestive system. After a few days sitting in the car, try starting the car and letting it run for a few minutes with her in it. Bring a toy and play with her in the front seat. Make it a happy time. Then shut off the car and exit. Do this for a few days until she shows great enthusiasm for going to the car. The trick here is to progress slowly after she shows no sign of sickness. The next step is to drive up and down the driveway once then stop and exit. Do this for a few days and then maybe try up and down the street. You get the picture. Increase the amount of travel each time she reaches a plateau of not getting sick. If she gets sick then move the process backwards until she is not sick again. By taking one step back to move two steps forward you will progress. Top 10 Pet Safe Vehicles Check out Dog Seat Belts at http://www.barkbuckleup.com/Products.asp |
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Housebreaking Pugs should not be expected to be house trained before the age of four to six months. This does not mean that every Pug will not be housetrained by 12 weeks, however it is unlikely. They are a toy breed and cannot hold their bladder for longer than one and a half hour (as puppies) and should not be expected to even in a crate. Many owners have come home after three hours to a soiled crate with your pug lying in his own urine because they thought he would not soil his little area, however, your pug could not help it. If you are going to be gone for longer than 2 hours, invest in a toddler gate and pull it across your kitchen and place some newspaper down or puppy pads. If you are gone all day and you will not be able to take your pug outside you will need to paper train him. Paper training is wonderful for severe cold weather when it is difficult to get outside. If your pug has an accident on the carpet, make a mixture of white vinegar and dilute it with water and absorb the urine. You can also buy an odor neutralizer at pet stores. This eradicates any odors left. If your pug is piddling often and is housebroken and has tons of outside opportunities, please take her/him to the vet to rule out a bladder infection. How Often? At 3 months of age your pug will need to go out about 6 times daily. At 6 months of age your pug will require 4 times daily. 12 months and up will need to go out about 3 times a day. Bowels: This varies with the Pugs quality of food and how much you feed him. Puppies: 3-5 times daily Adults: 1-2 times daily Remember to have a pooper-scooper on hand to clean up all messes, especially while walking. Some Cities have very large fines if an owner does not clean up their pet’s messes. Check the stools regularly to make sure they are firm and parasite free. You can see tapeworms and roundworms in the stools. If your pug's stool is hard and crumbly, you may want to add extra oil to the diet such as a tad of Flax seed oil or Salmon oil. If the stool is loose, make sure you are not giving a milky diet. You can administer about a teaspoon of Kaopectate according to your pug’s size (call your vet for verification) or you can ask your vet for a bottle of K-sol. Either one is effective. Pugs are very sensitive and should not be sharply scolded. Never hit them with any object or magazine or newspaper or your hands. Housebreaking will require patience and consistency on your part. It will do no good for you to hit Your pug or rub her flat little nose in her mess and if she doesn’t mess in front of you then you certainly can not expect her to understand your anger if you come home to a mess of "chocolates" or piddle. If your pug squats directly in front of you, pick her up and firmly say "NO, NO, Outside" and take her outside. Does your pug have the runs? It’s common for stress of a new home to bring on diarrhea. I personally favor the vet’s anti-diarrhea antidotes because the exact measurements (according to weight) will be administered. (Never let diarrhea in a puppy go untreated. Diarrhea can quickly lead to dehydration & death in a small puppy). I will often add yogurt to their meal. This helps to ward off diarrhea and to firm stools. You can also add boiled white rice to your pug’s food.
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