Summer is here
Be aware of Mosquitoes that can cause heartworm...Talk to your Vet. Keep plenty of fresh cool water and shade on hand. Keep dogs indoors when it is really dangerous. NEVER leave a dog in a car in this heat under any circumstances.
* Be aware of dangers in your mulch!
True information about cocoa mulch can be found here - _
http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoa.htm
This site
gives the following information:
"Cocoa Mulch", which is sold by Home Depot,
Foreman's Garden Supply and
other Garden supply stores, contains a lethal ingredient called "Theobromine". It is lethal to dogs and cats. It smells
like chocolate and it really attracts dogs. They can ingest it and die. Several deaths have already occurred. Just a word of caution - check what you are using in your gardens and be aware of what your gardeners are using in your gardens.
*Special Warning About Xylitol in Sugar Free Products!!!
Most people are not aware of the danger of Xylitol. Xylitol is a substance present in many sugarless products like chewing gum and some human toothpastes. It is not harmful to humans because it is not digested by our bodies. But it is harmful or fatal to dogs if enough of it is eaten. Dogs do digest it and it cause the body to produce insulin, which then lowers the dogs blood sugar to lethal levels. It can cause permanent liver damage and death.
Read labels and make sure that any products that have Xylitol cannot be reached by your dog. If your dog does eat some of this product contact animal poison control and your vet immediately. To read this article you need the latest version of Adobe Acrobat. If you don't have that you can download it free at Adobe Acrobat Reader Also you can go right to the aspca.org site under dog care and poisons to read about it. Here is the direct link to the article about it.
As this will the first puppy for some of you, or some people just haven't had time to keep up with the new or best products for feeding and training a new puppy we are happy to offer advice. Also on our links page please take the time to look up some of these products and do your own research.
Click here for the latest on poisoning dangers:
~NUTRITION~
This page is intended to start you thinking about good dog nutrition and
hopefully lead you on to do your own research into it. The choices are yours and
I cannot write all there is to know about nutrition on this one page. These are just basic
guidelines and not meant to be your only source of information. This page is a
reference to remind you to use your common sense and not just listen to the dog
food commercials. Some commercial dog foods are very good. If you have the time
and interest...read on to see how to best care for your 4 legged friend. Some
foods are better than others.
Just as we do, dogs need a variety of fresh foods to keep them healthy. Contrary to what you may have been taught, variety is the spice of life for dogs just as for humans. In the wild, dogs are mainly carnivores and scavengers. They obtain fruits and vegetable material by eating the predigested contents of their prey's stomach. They almost never have the same diet from one day to another...much like you and I. Dogs have been known to graze on any dead or easily killed animal, berries, green grasses and roots also. Now that they are under our care they depend on us to provide what they need.
Human grade turkey, duck, rabbit, fish, lamb, pork, beef, chicken, venison, organ meats (liver, kidney, connective tissue) and eggs are great sources of protein for them. Meat should be braised or parboiled lightly if you are not feeding raw. Do NOT overcook good meat. Buy it on sale and freeze it but buy from a reputable source.
Add fresh, VERY finely ground, washed, uncooked vegetables like peas, spinach, carrots, kale, lettuce, cranberries, yams, apples, berries and small amts of broccoli. Use a food processor or a blender with a small amt of pure water). Digestive enzymes, bone meal, trace vitamins, minerals and probiotics can be found in a product like NUPRO (see links page) Probiotics are normal intestinal bacteria found in yogurt (If you use yogurt I recommend Stoneyfield organic plain whole yogurt....easy to find in the supermarket by the quart and has all needed probiotics active)
** Cooked grains found in most dry dog food should NOT be the MAIN ingredient in their food. A small amt of barley, millet, brown rice or oatmeal added to freshly prepared food is ok for underweight or high metabolism dogs. Corn is not a great ingredient for dog food.
NO CHOCOLATE, It can be fatal for them. No onions. Garlic is not usually recommended in large amts either.
NO Grapes and NO Raisins and NO Avocado's They have also been known to cause problems in some breeds.
If you feed fresh food yourself vary the exact ingredients often. Be sure you know how much to feed and what proportions of meats, veggies and fruits. There are many good books about how to do this. You can find a list of books on Dr. Monique Maniet's Holistic page in our links section. It is a myth that dogs need to be fed the same diet every day. Variety will keep him from missing important nutrients or overdosing on others. Add NUPRO or digestive enzymes like Florazyme Pet's Friend Florazyme E.F.A..
If you need to feed dry or canned commercial dog foods consider Natures Logic . Their canned and dry food have human grade meat, fruits, vegetables and probiotics added. They have several different formulas and forms of feeding to vary the diet. Natures Variety Instinct is another good dog food. As a good rule of thumb, if you can buy a commercial dog food in your supermarket it is not a great a food for your dog. If you have no choice at least add some of the fresh ingredients listed in this section if you can.
Try to AVOID BHT and BHA at all costs. READ the labels. Foods should be free of artificial preservatives and colors, even vegetable colors. Try to stay as natural as you can. If you juice fruits and veggies for your own health the juice and even the pulp can be beneficial additives.
When you can add things like vegetables (steamed or grated raw), raw meat or fish, yogurt, soft boiled or raw egg and salmon oil. Keep his weight down and don't let him get overweight. Play with him, brush his teeth and give him exercise every day.
Try to think like a dog..."be" your dog. Watch his natural response to certain foods and watch his coat , teeth and general health in response to what you feed him. Be as natural as you can. Some dog food companies will try to get you to believe anything that will sell their product. DO NOT be fooled by TV commercials...READ the label and question the ingredients. I will be happy to give you my source for veterinary research if you wish, and she can give you the many sources of research available to both the holistic and the conventional veterinarians.
This does not all have to be that hard to do. If you work and have kids etc ..pick the best grade dry and canned food you can afford for the staple diet . When you can, add in fresh meats and veggies and supplements as suggested above. You can do some of this ahead and freeze it...thaw and feed. Add supplements if you need them. On the days you have time include the dogs when you cook fresh food for your family. Add Salmon oil if their coat is dry. If your dog has special problems digesting talk to a holistic vet if you can afford it. If not consult your vet and feel free to write me so that I can help with suggestions.
~Training~
More and more trainers are getting away from the choke chain and into positive reinforcement. "Clicker Training" is big right now and we have seen it work wonders. The "Gentle Leader" is not a choke chain , but a humane and well thought out system of gentle restraint that makes sense to the dog and includes rewards for good behavior instead of punishing bad behavior. (see our links page).
Especially with these smaller dogs it's important to win their love and trust without hurting them. You, in turn will get a lifelong companion who's value cannot be measured. Please take your time and be prepared to train your puppy BEFORE you get him. He will arrive crate trained...but he is very young and he will make some mistakes.
Many people love these little guys and like to sleep with their dogs. That's
great! You can discard the crate and your "baby" can sleep with you
etc. Whatever you decide is ok, but please think it over before he gets to you
and be consistent and patient.
He doesn't speak English. He will need some
time to adjust to your house and family and to be house
trained to fit your needs. You can start
him on paper or start right outside, but know how you want to train him ahead of
time and remember, mistakes will happen. He needs time to understand the new
rules in your house. So be gentle and patient.
Consult a trainer or read up on it before you get him....you will both be happier for it. :) Don't forget to seatbelt your puppy securely in your car. Even better is to train him to ride seat belted in a well secured padded crate. Imagine you surviving a crash with your seat belt and air bag only to have your best friend thrown through a window or killed by flying glass etc. Please give this some thought.
~VACCINES~
This is a matter of great debate right
now. In the current veterinary research it looks like we may be harming their
immune systems by vaccinating too much. I will not try to speak for your
veterinarian or your own judgment but please look into it.
I
work very closely with my vet and I make
sure your puppy has all his "puppy shots" before he gets to you.
After a puppy loses his mother's natural immunity he does need some vaccinations. But the research strongly suggests that vaccinating more than every 3 to 5 years after that may be causing some of the cancers we see. Try finding a vet who will draw blood levels (titers) instead of just vaccinating. Also try to find one who understands giving dose appropriate shots instead of one size fits all. These little dogs are 5 pounds and under. In most cases you will find that drawing yearly blood work will show that he has many times the amt of vaccine that he needs still in his system. You can save him from having extra vaccines this way. Of course you need to be aware of your area and what is likely to be a problem for your dog. If you have a good reason for certain vaccines, then that is something to discuss with your vet.
It also makes a difference if he is kenneled instead of staying home, or an indoor or outdoor dog. All I ask is that you look into the debate, discuss it with your vet, and do what you think is right. My puppies have to be vaccinated before I can ship them as I never know what they will run in to. After that it is up to you, your vet, and your research into the subject. Again, don't just stop vaccinating or just blindly vaccinate. Talk to your vet and research it yourself well.
Try these websites for one for further info on vaccines:
~To Neuter or not to Neuter ~??
These small dogs are hard to breed
without complications and it should not be done unless you are a trained
professional breeder. Some of these small dogs die trying to give birth unless
they are bred and cared for by people who really know what they are doing. Even
then the cost and mortality rate can be high for the very small ones especially.
The research on this is very clear. Unless you breed a dog they are many times
more likely to die of cancer if they are not neutered.
Please spay or neuter your pet before they mature or reach their first heat. Neutering them at a young age is still the best way to make sure your baby is happy, relaxed, and doesn't fall prey to certain cancerous tumors later in life. The longer you wait after their first 6 to 7 months the more their chance of cancer later rises. Be responsible.... Please neuter your pet! :)
~Teeth Brushing~
One of the most important things you can do for your pet is to give them good oral hygiene. The days when we thought that a dog didn't need his teeth brushed are gone. Dogs have been domesticated and bred to be dependent on us. They need some help cleaning the tarter from their teeth before it turns into a teeth cleaning under anesthesia or major dental surgery.
Get instructions from your veterinarian about how to brush your best friends teeth every day and the best dog tooth paste to use. I recommend C.E.T. toothpaste that is usually available from your Vet. C.E.T. uses enzymes to break down the tarter and food particles. They also have a rinse and chews that have enzymes in them to supplement the tooth brushing. A link to a site that sells their product is on our link page. But because it is so important I will put it here too. Where to buy CET products
There is also another product I highly recommend, Oxyfresh, which when put in his drinking water will help prevent plaque and tarter from forming. Oxyfresh For Pets
There are natural toothpaste's that are also good, (for these I recommend that you ask a holistic Veterinarian) but steer away from pet store brands and over the counter tooth pastes that contain sugar to make it taste good but do not include the enzymes to break down the sugar.
Do not just rely on your vet to glance in his mouth once a year. Make sure he gets a thorough dental exam once a year. This is very important for this breed. Often slight dental problems are missed. This is especially true of these tiny tots. Their mouths are very small and it is hard to see their teeth if they squirm around. So get used to examining and brushing your baby's teeth yourself. You will be the most likely one to find a problem before it gets big.
Your dog should NEVER have bad breath that lingers on. If he has bad breath there is a reason for it. Take him to the vet immediately and to a dental specialist if you need to. If periodontal disease is present they may lose teeth and the jaw bone will start to recede. Poison from the disease may enter his bloodstream eventually and may result in a drastically reduced life span.
So once again:
1) Brush their teeth after dinner every day. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and small enough to fit the dog. The one most often sold for small dogs sometimes is too big to fit in a very tiny dog's mouth. For the very tiny dogs you may find what you need from dental brushes now sold for people to get between their teeth. Another brush that might work is a tooth brush made for human infants. These are extremely small and sometimes are perfect for these little guys.
2) If possible use the C.E.T. paste , rinse and chews.
3) Use Oxyfresh at the rate of one teaspoon per quart of fresh water. Use this for their drinking water or spray solution directly on teeth.
4) Check his mouth regularly for bad breath, bleeding gums or loose and stained teeth.
5) Try to feed fresh home cooked meals complete with raw fruits and veggies.
6) Have a veterinarian check his teeth when you first bring him home. The tiny tots often have too many teeth and require that extra teeth be pulled to avoid food trapping and facilitate good oral hygiene. A good time to pull the extra baby teeth is when you get him or her neutered or spayed since they have to be under anesthesia anyway.
7) Have a yearly health exam. Ask your vet to pay particular attention to his gums and teeth. These little tiny tots are very hard to check so please pick a vet who is comfortable doing thorough oral checks on these tiny mouths.
*Special Section for poison proofing your home: (Taken from aspca.org site)
Foods to Avoid Feeding
Your Pet
- Alcoholic beverages
- Avocado
- Chocolate (all forms)
- Coffee (all forms)
- Fatty foods
- Macadamia nuts
- Moldy or spoiled foods
- Onions, onion powder
- Raisins and grapes
- Salt
- Yeast dough
- Garlic
- Products sweetened with xylitol
Warm Weather Hazards
- Animal toxins—toads, insects, spiders, snakes and scorpions
- Blue-green algae in ponds
- Citronella candles
- Cocoa mulch
- Compost piles Fertilizers
- Flea products
- Outdoor plants and plant bulbs
- Swimming-pool treatment supplies
- Fly baits containing methomyl
- Slug and snail baits containing metaldehyde
Medication
Common examples of human medications that can be potentially lethal to pets,
even in small doses, include:
- Pain killers
- Cold medicines
- Anti-cancer drugs
- Antidepressants
- Vitamins
- Diet Pills
Cold Weather Hazards
- Antifreeze
- Liquid potpourri
- Ice melting products
- Rat and mouse bait
Common Household Hazards
- Fabric softener sheets
- Mothballs
- Post-1982 pennies (due to high concentration of zinc)
Holiday Hazards
- Christmas tree water (may contain fertilizers and bacteria, which, if
ingested, can upset the stomach.
- Electrical cords
- Ribbons or tinsel (can become lodged in the intestines and cause intestinal
obstruction—most often occurs with kittens!)
- Batteries
- Glass ornaments
Non-toxic Substances for Dogs and Cats
The following substances are considered to be non-toxic, although they may cause
mild gastrointestinal upset in some animals:
- Water-based paints
- Toilet bowl water
- Silica gel
- Poinsettia
- Cat litter
- Glue traps
- Glow jewelry
If You Think Your Animal Is Poisoned…
In spite of your best efforts, your animal may accidentally become poisoned.
Being prepared can save your pet’s life.
Know your vet's procedures for emergency situations, especially ones that occur
after business hours. Keep phone numbers for your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal
Poison Control Center, and a local emergency veterinary service in a convenient
location.
Keep a pet poison safety kit on hand for emergencies.
Your kit should contain:
- A fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide 3% (USP)
- Can of your pet’s favorite wet food
- Turkey baster, bulb syringe or large medical syringe
- Saline eye solution to flush out eye contaminants
- Artificial tear gel to lubricate eyes after flushing
- Mild grease-cutting dishwashing liquid for the animal after skin
contamination.
- Rubber gloves
- Forceps to remove stingers
- Muzzle (Remember, an excited animal may harm you.)
- Pet carrier
Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour emergency hotline at (888)
426-4435.
A consultation fee may apply. When you call the center, please be ready to
provide:
* Your name, address and telephone number
* If you know what substance your pet has ingested, have the product
container/packaging available for reference. You’ll also need to provide
information, if you know it, about the amount ingested and the time since
exposure.
* Your pet’s species, breed, age, sex and weight
* All symptoms your pet is experiencing
*Be sure and check our links page for many good links for all your small friend's needs. When I first started with the Tiny Tots it was almost impossible to find collars, leashes, sweaters and coats that really fit and were well made. Training aides and good nutrition sites were hard to find too. I tried to put the best sites together for you so you won't have to search as hard as I did!
Updated June 8th, 2008