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Showing posts with label pet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pet. Show all posts

How to Clip, Cut & Trim Your Dogs Toe Nails

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Does your dog need a paw-dicure? Well, right about now your hard wood floors are probably shouting "YES!" Just like humans, dogs need to have their nails clipped on a regular basis (once to twice month) to prevent ingrown, split nails & breakage. Not to mention it makes the nail clipping process much easier for both parties (you & your dog). Dogs are active creatures and if nails are left untended can make it difficult for your dog to walk and be mobile.

Every month you should check to see if your dog nails are getting to long. A good time to check it is during your dogs grooming & spa day session. A general rule of thumb is that your dogs toe nails should never touch the ground, if they do then they need clipped. If you are uncomfortable and your dog is hesitant about the nail clipping process you can let your vet or groomer do it for you. Hey, remember these are the good guys and have your dogs best interest at heart. Besides, if you need someone to demonstrate the "how to's" they are great people to call on.

For all you DIYer’s here are some easy & simple instructions on how to clip your dog’s nail without the blood, sweat & tears.

1. Get the right tools! No you can't use your hedge clippers for the job. Be sure to use nail clippers designed for a dog. Human nail clippers are designed to clip flat nails. A dog's rounded nails require circular clippers that clip straight through the nail.

2. Proper Exam-First things first is to examine your dogs nail to determine if and where it should be clipped. Inspecting your dog’s nail will allow you to see if there are any cracked nails that need special attention or TLC.

So what is the quick? The quick is the end portion of the vein, and should not be cut. Cut the nail that grows past the quick. If the dog's nail is white or light-to-medium brown, the quick will be easy to spot. If the nails are black, you will likely not be able to see the quick; make smaller cuts and advance carefully to avoid cutting through the quick. The diagram will help you better understand your dogs paw anatomy, knowing this will make the clipping process easier.

3. Get comfortable-Before clipping, position yourself with your dog in front of you. If possible, have a second person take this position, which can allow you to have full use of both your hands. If a second person is not available, use your body weight to maintain control of your dog.

4. Have a firm grip-Grasp your dog's paw firmly. Maintaining complete control over your dog's paw prevents jerking movements that can cause the clippers to slip and cause injury to your dog.

5. Clip away Slowly- Place one nail through the center portion of the clippers. The side of the clippers with screws and a movable arm should face your dog. Clip each nail at a 45 degree angle, leaving about 2 mm of the nail past the quick.

Remember to trim the dewclaw nail, on the inside of the leg. Since it doesn't touch the ground, it wears down less rapidly than the others.

6. Ready, Set, Squeeze! Squeeze the movable arm of the clippers to clip the nail. If the nail is black, repeat the process, if needed.

It is important that to ease your dog into his first nail-clipping session. Clip a few nails at a time, praise your dog with treats & words and take rest breaks. If you cut the quick, don't panic. After wiping the blood away, apply a small pinch of styptic powder (an anti-clotting agent) to the area and apply pressure for 60 seconds. If you don't have any you can use corn starch, baby powder or cotton balls as a substitute to stop the bleeding.

You see, now that was painless!! In the end keeping your cool is key to making sure your dog remains calm in any situation, even a much anticipated and needed paw-dicure :)



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Guest Blog Post by Ask Spike Online: Summer Vacation With Your Pet

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Today's guest dog blogger & fellow four legged Twitter tweet all-star is Spike from the famous Ask Spike Online. He has written a bark-tastic article on vacationing with your pet!. We hope you enjoy!

Now that summer has officially begun, the desire to make a break from the office to spend a few days, or even a few weeks, away is in full effect. The kids are out of school and they have been going stir crazy in the house for the last couple weeks.

When you plan your trip, make sure that you also take the right amount of time to decide what to do with your pets. There are multiple options if you do not wish to take your pet along. I do not know why you would exclude such a fun family member from the vacation, but you can seek out a boarding facility, hire a pet sitter or walker, or ask a trusted friend to keep an eye on your pet. For those of us that like to travel, you can certainly take us with you.

Whether you choose a beach, camping, or another tourist attracting destination, make sure your trip is pet-friendly all the way. Not all airlines allow pets to travel, so make sure you find one that does, and make sure they can fly in the cabin with you for their safety. Did you know there is an airline that provides air travel for pets only, called Pet Airways? I have not had the pleasure of flying with them, so I cannot weigh in on their service. There are also many hotels and nearly all campgrounds that allow pets, as do many timeshares and beach rental properties, and you can find many of them at websites like Pets Welcome.

If you are not flying to your destination, and you are making it a road trip, you may want to check out these tips for traveling by car with your pet from my friends over at Theravida Pets. When traveling by car, make sure you schedule plenty of stops for your paw-pal, so they can take some potty breaks. Keep in mind that their usual food and water bowls will be awkward to utilize on the trip and at your destination, so you may want to purchase some collapsible travel bowls to use for your road trip. If you have done a good job training your pup for potty time, you will not have to worry about him or her refusing to “get busy” in a new place. If this is a problem for your pup, I have some suggestions for you to try.

Upon arriving at your destination, let your dog investigate the area fully. There will be many new smells for him to discover, and his bathroom will not be as clearly marked as yours. As a courtesy to others, make sure you bring your biodegradable pickup bags with you, because you do not want to be “THAT family” that did not pick up after your pup at the hotel, on the beach, or along the hiking trail.

Regardless of the area leash laws, I HIGHLY recommend that you keep your dog on a leash, or otherwise confined, AT ALL TIMES during your vacation. Not only is it unsafe for your dog to wander in an unfamiliar area, he may have difficulty getting back to you when his jaunt is complete. Not only will his familiarity be diminished in a strange area, but he can easily be picked up as a stray by animal control or even “be found” by a stranger. Also, dogs do not understand time, so the itinerary you planned so meticulously before you left can be rendered useless by a missing pup.

Obviously, there are some trips that are not very pet-friendly, so you should forgo including your pet on those trips, but there are many activities and fun memories to be had by taking your pet with you on vacation. Sometimes, we all need a little reminder and some tips about keeping our paw-pals safe.

Have a great time on vacation, and share it with the ones you love!

You can follow our twoofin pup pal all star & guest dog blogger on Twitter at twitter.com/askspikeonline or read more wonderful articles at http://askspikeonline.com.

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Don't forget to pack your dogs suitcase with the basic neccessaties . Shop www.pawlux.com for eco-friendly, all natural & safe travel supplies from toys to treats galore & more!

Top 10 Reasons Your Dog Is Your Best Exercise Buddy

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We all love to have an excercise buddy to keep us motivated but sometimes the best workout body is our four legged best friend. Trupanion has created a list of the Top 10 Reasons Your Dog Is Your Best Exercise Buddy and we wanted to share it with you. Not only is it witty & humorous but truly speaks to the loving & loyal characters of the dogs in our lives. Trupanion also has a wonderful blog with great information.

1. He will never bail on you. Dogs are always eager to accompany you with your workout and won’t complain that they had to get up early this morning or are having a bad day.

2. A dog is never late for a workout. You don’t have to wait for your dog to get ready because he is ready to go out and get moving whenever you are.

3. Your dog won’t judge you. Dogs don’t care if you run too slow or too fast or if you’re sweaty and stinky after exercising. They are always glad just to be hanging out with you.

4. Dogs are easy going. Your dog won’t complain when it gets tired and it won’t try to out-compete you. He will jog along at your side until you’re done.

5. Dogs are great motivators. They’re always bouncy, eager, and optimistic about working out which is great encouragement to get you more enthusiastic about exercising. Plus you’re much more likely to stick with an exercise plan if you have a buddy.

6. Dogs don’t gossip. They won’t distract you from exercising by chatting about the latest gossip and who said what.

7. You don’t have to buy running shoes for your dog. They don’t require fancy workout gear and top-of-the-line sneakers; dogs are always appropriately attired for any exercise.

8. Exercise is great for both of you. Dogs need physical as well as mental stimulation and exercise keeps both you and your dog healthier and happier.

9. At the end of your workout when you’re cooling down, you know your dog will be right by your side panting with a smile on its face.

10. It can be fun for you and it's definitely fun for your dog. You'll feel better knowing you provided some good entertainment for your canine pal.

Click below to read full article & more great blog post by trupanion

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