Cocoa Bean Mulch Warning

As fall approaches, you may be thinking about mulch for your flowers and shrubs. Here's a heads up about cocoa bean mulch.

Made from spent cocoa beans used in chocolate production, cocoa bean mulch is organic, deters slugs and snails, and gives a garden an appealing chocolate smell. However, it also attracts dogs, who can easily be poisoned by eating the mulch.

Cocoa beans contain the stimulants caffeine and theobromine. Dogs are highly sensitive to these chemicals, called methylxanthines. In dogs, low doses of methylxanthine can cause mild gastrointestinal upset (vomiting, diarrhea, and/or abdominal pain); higher doses can cause rapid heart rate, muscle tremors, seizures, and death.

Eaten by a 50-pound dog, about 2 ounces of cocoa bean mulch may cause gastrointestinal upset; about 4.5 ounces, increased heart rate; about 5.3 ounces, seizures; and over 9 ounces, death. (In contrast, a 50-pound dog can eat up to about 7.5 ounces of milk chocolate without gastrointestinal upset and up to about a pound of milk chocolate without increased heart rate.)

If you suspect that your dog has eaten cocoa bean mulch, immediately contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-426-4435). Treatment will depend on how much cocoa bean mulch your dog has eaten, when the mulch was eaten, and whether your dog is sick. Recommended care may include placing your dog under veterinary observation, inducing vomiting, and/or controlling a rapid heart beat or seizures.

source: ASPCA

Healthy Dog Treats

2 cups whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup sunflower kernels, finely chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup molasses
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients, adding more milk if needed to make dough firm. Roll out onto a floured surface to a 1/2-inch thickness. Use any shape cookie cutter to cut out biscuits, but bone shapes are fun!

Bake on ungreased baking sheet at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until lightly toasted. To make biscuits harder, leave in oven with the heat turned off for an hour or more.

Found at: Free Pet Projects

Puppy Size

Here's a cute little story. I don't know how true it is, but I liked the idea behind it, so here it is:



"Danielle keeps repeating it over and over again. We've been back to this animal shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now since we started all of this," the mother told the volunteer.

"What is it she keeps asking for?" the volunteer asked.

"Puppy size!" replied the mother.



"Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that's what she's looking for."

"I know...we have seen most of them," the mom said in frustration...

Just then Danielle came walking into the office

"Well, did you find one?" asked her mom. "No, not this time," Danielle said with sadness in her voice. "Can we come back on the weekend?"



The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed

"You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there's always a supply," the volunteer said.

Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed to the door. "Don't worry, I'll find one this weekend," she said.

Over the next few days both mom and dad had long conversations with her. They both felt she was being too particular. "It's this weekend or we're not looking any more," Dad finally said in frustration.



"We don't want to hear anything more about puppy size either," Mom added.

Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday morning. By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for the section that housed the smaller dogs.

Tired of the routine, mom sat in the small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages. There was an observation window so you could see the animals during times when visitors weren't permitted.



Danielle walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one.

One by one she said, "Sorry, you're not the one."

It was the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect pup. The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer.

"Mom, that's it! I found the right puppy! He's the one! I know it!" she screamed with joy. "It's the puppy size!"



"But it's the same size as all the other puppies you held over the last few weeks," Mom said.

"No not size... the sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed," she said. "Don't you remember? When I asked you one day what love is, you told me love depends on the
sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger the sighs!"

The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn't know whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did a little of both.

"Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms," she said

Then holding the puppy up close to her face she said, "Mom, he loves me. I heard the sighs of his heart!"



Close your eyes for a moment and think about the love that makes you sigh. I not only find it in the arms of my loved ones, but in the caress of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight and the gentle brush of cool air on a hot day.

Take the time to stop and listen; you will be surprised at what you hear. "Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

Wow! Look at those dogs go!

One of our clients sent us these pictures of her dogs doing agility. Looks like they are having a lot of fun, doesn't it? Don't they look great?

Tips on Training

All dogs (unless physically handicapped) see and hear and have feelings, so your first concern should be from your pup’s point of view. One very good way to consider him is to form one especially important habit right now. If you smoke, never do it while training or playing with your Buddy. A hot ash, accidentally dropped in his eye could cause irreparable damage.

Your body can be a towering mass for your pup to fear, or, as we hope, it can be his security and something to love. In training, try to visualize everything from his point of view. Therefore, instead of bending over so that you still tower over him, it’s much better to squat down and let him see you at the same level he is.

Be careful, too, about how you use your eyes. As crazy as it may seem to you, they can be very upsetting to your pup. Never stare at your Buddy; look over his head or to one side of him. Don’t forget that your intentions are transmitted to your pup in many ways, sometimes even in ways that we cannot fathom or explain to our own satisfaction. The bond that develops between the two of you is a great fulfillment and should not be dealt with lightly.

A list of ‘Do’s’ for training:

• Teach only what you understand.
• Follow any correction with praise and work.
• Work with your pup as a team.
• Wear quiet, comfortable shoes when training.
• Wear clothing that does not interfere with your pup.
• Stop your training before losing your temper.
• Be consistent with your training, at home or in class.

A list of ‘Don’ts’ for training:

• Correct by slapping with a lead.
• Correct if you are not positive your pup fully understands.
• Be a show-off with your training.
• Over train.

You know your dog—work WITH him. Don’t confuse him with sudden drastic changes. Avoid resentment as well. Practice—take nothing for granted.

-excerpts from
The Pearsall Guide to Successful Dog Training
by Margaret E. Pearsall

A Tired Old Dog

Someone sent me this via email, and I thought it was cute, so I'm sharing it here:



An old, tired-looking dog wandered into the yard. I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home. He followed me into the house, down the hall, and fell asleep in a corner. An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out.

The next day he was back, resumed his position in the hall, and slept for an hour. This continued for several weeks. Curious, I pinned a note to his collar: "Every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap."

The next day he arrived with a different note pinned to his collar: "He lives in a home with ten children -- he's trying to catch up on his sleep. Can I come with him tomorrow?"

Proper Grooming is Important

Proper grooming is an important part of pet care. It not only makes your pet look better, but contributes to his or her physiological and psychological health.

Coat
Brush your dog thoroughly every day. This helps keep his or her hair in good condition by removing dirt, spreading the natural oils throughout the coat, preventing tangles from forming and keeping the skin clean and free from irritation.

It is best to start brushing your dog at an early age, but do not despair if he or she is an older animal. It is possible to train one to enjoy grooming. Proceed slowly, and be sure to use treats and plenty of praise to make the experience fun!

Nails
If you can hear your dog clicking over your floors, the toenails are too long. Nails that are too long can cause serious problems for your dog. Long nails are uncomfortable, can cause damage to muscles and tendons, can cause serious injury if the nails catch on something and tear off.

Have your dog's nails trimmed about once per month. If you do it yourself, you'll need a clipper designed specifically for the size of dog you have. Either a scissor- or guillotine-style clipper can be used. We like this Extra Heavy Duty Nail Clipper. You should also purchase a small bottle of blood-clotting powder, such as Kwik Stop. For more instructions, see our post on "How to Cut Your Pet's Nails."

If trimming your dog's toenails isn't something you feel comfortable with, we're always happy to cut them for you, the cost is $10. (If you're having your pet groomed, toenail trims are included and there is no extra charge.)

Ears
Ear care is an important part of grooming. Ear infections can not only be painful, but lead to permanent hearing loss. The signs of a problem with a dog's ears include redness, constant scratching, head shaking and odor. Always check the ears before and after swimming making certain they are dried out after getting out of the water. For more instructions, see our post on "How to Clean Your Pet's Ears."

Teeth
Dogs can get cavities and develop periodontal disease, so their teeth should be cleaned at least twice per week. Rub teeth with gauze or cheese cloth soaked in a baking soda solution. Specially formulated toothpaste and cleaners are available for dogs too. Along with regular cleaning you can help maintain healthy teeth by providing chew toys and using hard dog foods.

When brushing your dog's teeth, it is best to use a small toothbrush that has soft bristles. If your dog will allow it, we'll be happy to brush their teeth as part of the grooming process. The charge for teeth brushing is $10.00. Cleanings performed by a veterinarian may also be required, particularly as your dog ages.

Bathing
Bathe your dog once every two months or as often as needed. Be sure to brush him or her before each bath in order to get all of the tangles out of his or her coat. If you skip that step, and bathe your pet without brushing first, tangles will turn into mats. Matted hair is much more difficult to brush out, and may require shaving.

How to Clean Your Pet's Ears

Check your dog's ears weekly. The skin inside and on the flaps should be pale pink. If there is a foul odor and/or any red, brown or black skin, have a veterinarian examine your pet's ears.

Moisten a cotton ball with warm water, a little mineral oil, or ear cleansing solution and use it to clean the outer ear, removing any build up of dirt or ear wax.

Take an appropriate ear cleansing solution and pour it into the vertical canal of the ear. Hold your dogs ear up and curve your hand around the base of the ear (the more open part). Squirt the cleaner into the ear, don't let your dog shake his/her head.

If your dog is upset by having something poured into the ear, you may saturate a cotton ball or piece of gauze with the solution instead, and put the soaked cotton ball or gauze into the ear, being careful not to push it in too far.

Gently squeeze and massage the dog's ear, you will hear the fluid move in there, that's OK. You want to make sure you massage it into the canal because the wax within the canal can be very hard to get out, so rub it in good!!!

Massage the vertical canal (see illustration above) by applying gentle pressure with your fingers to the side of your dog's head just to the front of and below the external opening of the ear canal. This is the same part of the head that would be, on a human, just in front of the ear and below the cheek bone - if you find this place on your own head and press gently, you'll feel your ear canal being compressed. This is what you want to achieve with your dog.

If the cleaner you are using requires a swabbing, do so now. If not, you are done.

If there is a lot of hair blocking the ear canal, it's time for your dog to visit the groomer. Excess hair in the ear canal can trap dirt and provide fertile ground for bacterial infection,

To remove the hair yourself, use an ear powder, and then pull out any hair blocking the ear canal with either your thumb and index fingers or a pair of tweezers. Be careful to only pull the hair IN the ear canal and not around the sides of the ear itself. When pulling the hair be sure to use quick movements. Use an ear cleaning solution after removing the excess hair.

How to Cut Your Pet's Nails

Click on the image to view full size.

• Use toenail clippers that are made specifically for toenail trimming. We like this Extra Heavy Duty Nail Clipper


• Cut nails perpendicularly to the long axis of the nail, and about one-quarter inch away from the quick, which is the part of the nail that contains nerves and blood vessels.


• If you cannot see the quick clearly, stop cutting just behind the point at which the nail begins to curve downward.


• If you cut into the quick and the nail bleeds, do not panic. Draw the nail across a bar of softened soap to control the bleeding.


• You can also use a styptic (clotting) powder or stick that will clot the blood quickly. (Kwik Stop is a brand commonly available at your local pet supply retailer.) Put some of the powder on a moist cotton swab and press it firmly against the nail for several seconds.


• Do not forget to trim the dewclaw, which is located on the inside of each front leg just above the paw. (Some dogs do not have dewclaws.)


• If the dew claw nail (on the inside of the leg above the foot) has become embedded in the flesh of the leg, cut the nail at the proper place and extract the embedded tip. Treat the small wound with an antibacterial dressing. (You can also have your veterinarian or groomer do this.)


• If a toenail is broken and hangs by a small piece of tissue, pull the broken piece off with a hard twisting motion. If it bleeds, use the Kwik Stop or soap method mentioned above. If it doesn't come off easily, have your veterinarian do this.

Homemade Dog Biscuits

First make a batch of special dog treat Mix:

• 2 cups whole-wheat flour
• 1 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1/2 cup nonfat dry milk powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 package (3 ounces) beef jerky dog treats, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Instructions:
In a large bowl, combine flours, cornmeal, dry milk, and garlic powder. Stir in beef pieces and cheese. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator. Use in the following recipe:

Doggie Bone Biscuits

• 2-1/2 cups Special Dog Treat Mix
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons beef or chicken broth
• 1 egg

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a large bowl, combine mix, oil, broth, and egg; stir until blended. On a lightly floured surface, pat dough to 3/8-inch thickness. Use a1-7/8 x 3-5/8-inch bone-shaped cookie cutter to cut out treats. Transfer to an ungreased baking sheet. Bake 20 to 22 minutes or until firm and bottoms are lightly browned. Transfer treats to a wire rack to cool. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator.

Yield: about 1 dozen dog treats
Found at: Free Pet Projects