If you have a dog that has sensitive skin, often itchy, maybe a little smelly (we call it Frito dogs smell) Your dog may have allergies. (disclaimer of I am NOT a veterinarian and definitely ask yours before giving any type of allergy pill/shot/lotion.....) I can't diagnose YOUR dog, but I CAN tell you about my two lovely westies...and their terrible skin. Skittle's is 16, we adopted her as a juvenile, (guessing between 3-6 years old) and she came with TERRIBLE skin. black patches, super itchy, smellz to high heaven, and ear infections to go with it. I worked at a vets office then and took her in to see our beloved Dr. Roberston, (Skittles LOVED her vet, we sadly moved across the country and shes gonna hate me when I take her to a new one) Dr. R fixed Skittles right up with this amazing little shot called Cytopoint. (She ran skin scrapping's, and had other medicines for the ear infections but for the skin issue Cytopoint was a miracle!) They medical mumbo jumbo for Cytopoint is: "Cytopoint provides quick, long-lasting itch relief in canines. It starts working within twenty-four hours after administration and continues to maintain its effectiveness for four to eight weeks afterward. All within a single dose! It does this by specifically targeting and neutralizing canine IL-31, an important cytokine which sends the itch signal to your dog's brain. If your dog has been suffering from itchy skin and, as a result, has caused skin damage due to excessive scratching, this is a useful product to have. The long-lasting itch relief gives the damaged skin a chance to heal. It is also a generally safe product to use, as it does not cause any liver or kidney damage to dogs who take it. In fact, it is safe to use with most dogs, regardless of age. Side Effects: One study showed vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy in a small percentage of treated dogs. A larger study showed side effects not significantly above that seen with a placebo injection, further safety studies are ongoing. CYTOPOINT is safe to use in dogs of any age. It can also be used in dogs on many other commonly used medications, or dogs with other diseases. In fact, a clinical study showed dogs receiving CYTOPOINT had no more side effects than dogs receiving placebo (injections without medication). It is not a drug, and therefore is broken down and recycled by the body naturally. Cytopoint® remains in circulation for several weeks. Safe to give dogs of all ages. This is not a steroid or immunosuppressant. Cytopoint is safe to use with most common medications, though be sure to consult your veterinarian before administering!" So, YES you need a prescription for Cytopoint. YES, most veterinarian offices have it and can administer it for you, you can also get a prescription for it written and buy it online and have it shipped to your house if you are shot giving savvy like I am and save a little $, (not a lot honestly because you have to pay certain shipping and handling fees to get it to you asap as it needs to stay cold, and then you have to be the "Bad person" and stab your dog with a needle.) Skittles has an a ray of allergies, environmental mostly and I've noticed when she eats chicken or foods with a lot of grains her skin gets worse, but this shot every 6 weeks or so is amazing. Sometimes I can stretch it and skip like 3 months before she needs another one, depends on the time of year and the season. We tried Apoquil and it did nothing for her, so if you are having issues and your pet is uncomfortable and/or miserable ask your Vet about Cytopoint! If you start it message me or comment below with how its helped!!
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Staying cool is essential during the heat of summer. Here’s a few tips to keep your pup safe, while still having fun. Summer is here, and you and your dog want to go outside and play. But it’s so hot. Intense heat can lead to breathing problems – especially in flat-faced dogs – and heatstroke can happen in the blink of an eye. Luckily, there are many creative ways to help Fido stay cool all summer long. 1. Hydration It’s important that both you and your dog stay hydrated, especially during the summer heat. Drink plenty of fluids and provide your dog with ample cool water. To encourage your dog to drink during outings and to boost his system, place one cup of bone broth in his water bowl or travel bottle. To help keep his water cool, you can freeze the bone broth and add it as frozen cubes! 2. Shade Keep in mind that direct sun can quickly cause heat exhaustion and heatstroke. When taking your dog for a walk, seek shady parks. If your dog has a fenced-in yard, encourage him to play under the shelter of trees, or invest in an awning to shade his favorite play area. 3. Doggie pool A fun way to keep your dog cool is to provide him with his own doggie pool. And you can enjoy the fun, too! Put on your bathing suit and get in to entice your pup to play. Squirt guns and other pool toys are a fun way to get the whole family involved. Wagner LOVES his pool! Penny loves to race through it at top speed, but is not much of a swimmer, and Skittles....well she "supervises" A word of caution. Do not allow your dog to drink or gulp too much water as this can lead to water intoxication, (which can be life threatening) and they can also barf it up once back in the house...lovely. 4. Sand box Dogs love to dig – and it helps keep them cool by exposing cooler ground! Encourage your four-legged friend to dig a hole and lie down. If he seems uninterested in the activity, try hiding stuffed chew toys and other favorite goodies in a sandbox so he has some hidden treasures to uncover. If you have a large yard, combine the pool and sandbox idea to create your very own beach! And then you can call me to schedule your next grooming appointment as the sand and water can also cause Fluffy to look scruffy. 5. Frozen treats Summer is a great time for frozen dog treats. Grab your dog’s favorite cooling foods such as pears, cucumbers, strawberries, blueberries, melons or oranges. Peel, dice and puree, and toss into the blender with a mint leaf for added coolness. Add the mixture to ice cube trays or your dog’s favorite hollow toy, and freeze. In 24 hours, your dog will have a frozen treat to delight his taste buds. PLEASE make sure if you are going to ad fruit that you ask your vet or google to make sure the foods/fruits added are safe for your pet! (Grapes are highly poisonous to dogs!!) 6. Stay indoors There will be times when you and your dog should stay indoors. This is a great time to play some indoor games, teach your dog some tricks, or head to your favorite dog-friendly store! If your dog has a lot of energy, take him for short swims, and walk him after dark to avoid the sun’s hot rays. Always keep your companion animals indoors during spells of high heat or humidity. If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your dog! Also, if you are j=headed out on a W-A-L-K (or jog or run for that matter) place the BACK of your hand on the sidewalk, if YOU can't keep it there for 5 seconds, the ground is TO HOT for your dogs pads and can cause serious injuries and burning! Summer is an exciting time – but safety should always come first. These tips will help you and your dog beat the heat while having a blast! With the recent pandemic, our pets have thrived with all of us being at home. As the fall starts to roll in and some school districts opening with precautions and counties moving into phases of being fully open and us parents headed back to work, our pets may start wondering...Where's my persons??? Separation Anxiety is a real thing with our pets. They are a pack minded animal and are most comfortable around us, their pack. So as we head back to work, school and travel we need to keep their needs in mind as well. It's super easy to get upset if your pet is jumping on you all the time, or constantly underfoot, barking at any little thing and the little accidents or boredom issue that arise. What we as pet parents need to understand is there is normally a reason for them. If your pet is constantly underfoot, they are feeling excluded and are trying to reassure themselves that you are near, and they are safe. Most destructive behavior happens from boredom or acting out like little kids! They've been so used to having all of us all the time that even a few hours away now is going to be very hard for some of our pets. We need to remember the love and companionship that we love so much from them, they NEED from us! WE are their Alphas! WE are their pack, we belong to them as much as they belong to us. Make sure you set your pet up for success before heading out on your day. Dogs who suffer from severe cases of nervousness need to be worked into the upcoming transition in shorter periods of time away from you. These separations should not produce any anxiety, so be sure you start with a reasonable time limit. To start, try performing an out of sight stay.
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BethanyI've been a groomer for almost 20 years. After working for big corporations and veterinary hospitals I have found the peace of working for myself and at home. Here are some of the things that happen, and tips on how to care for your pet. Archives
October 2020
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