We need to alert all our puppy raisers to a risk posed to dogs by garden mulch made of cocoa bean shells.  The bean shells are a by-product of chocolate production, and like chocolate, contain theobromine, a component that is toxic to dogs.  If ingested, the mulch can cause the same symptoms as overdosing on chocolate.  These include vomiting and diarrhea, rapid heart rate, shaking, hyperactivity, seizures, and death.  Because many dogs find the mulch to have a pleasant taste, we recommend that it not be used in areas accessible to the dogs.

 

A good website to check for more information is www.aspca.org. Click on “Programs” then “Animal Poison Control.”

 

Summer … ah, those relaxing days of sitting in the sunshine by the pool and drinking a cool drink, taking long lazy walks with your puppy in the cool woods, going to picnics by the lake or beach, playing baseball in the backyard, and catching lightning bugs in the evening!  We all look forward to summer, but with the change in schedules we need to take extra care of puppies.

 

You may be cool in the swimming pool, but if your puppy is tied outside so he can watch, it could be dangerous for him.  It can withstand a body temperature of 107-108 degrees F for only a short time.  If you leave your pup outdoors, he will suffer the effects of too much heat more than you will.  Your dog is much better in the cool of the house.  But if you do have to have your pup with you for even a little while, take along a spray bottle of water to cool him down and provide him with plenty of fresh water and shade for a heat-of-the-day retreat.

 

Dogs lack the ability to perspire, so they run the risk of hyperventilation from exertion.  Don’t overdo strenuous activity when it’s hot, and don’t feed them before exercise.  If your dog tends to eat less, don’t be concerned.  His body is sensitively tuned to the weather conditions.

 

On an 85 degree day the temperature inside your car with the windows slightly opened will reach 102 in 10 minutes, 120 in 30 minutes! 

Those nasty little buggers called fleas and ticks are out in full force.  Check your puppy daily for both.  The very best defense against fleas and ticks is Frontline/Top Spot, a product we supply with your puppy.  If used correctly, your dog won’t suffer from scratching and fur loss. 

 

Puppies are natural swimmers and we know that many of you allow your pup to take a swim in the pool or ocean once in awhile.  While we don’t recommend them swimming, if you do allow your dog to swim, make sure you hose him down afterward to rinse away salt, chlorine and bacteria.  Make sure your puppy is dry so he doesn’t develop hot spots, and apply an ear cleaning and drying agent after every swim.  Swimming in creeks can expose your dog to a disease called giardia. 

 

With just a few precautions you can turn those dog days of summer into doggone good ones for you and your puppy.

 

In cities across the country, the idea of “dog parks,” where pet dogs can all play together, has become increasingly popular.  The proliferation of these public parks has produced benefits and pitfalls. 

 

On the surface they seem innocent enough, however, not all dogs are as nice and as playful as yours, and some parks have been the scenes of significant fights.  If a pup gets in a fight it can result in it growing into a defensively aggressive dog.  A blind person working with that dog in the future, when confronted by an aggressive neighborhood dog could turn into a terrifying and dangerous situation.  Being involved in a fight or attack could also cause a puppy to fear other dogs and hamper its chances of ever becoming a guide.

 

There are very impressionable learning times in a pup’s life that cause strong future behaviors, and we can never be sure when these sensitive learning times are occurring.  Because of this and the increased opportunities for disease transmission, we ask that you please not allow your pup in public dog parks.