This section will have information and/or stories on a variety of health issues that can effect your puppy or adult dog. Our hope is that this will provide you with information you can use to determine when you need to get your pet to a vet ASAP.

Bloat - Signs and Survival

Costs of Owning A Dog

Holiday Tips

Poisonous Plants & Dangerous Foods

Summer-time Fun

Travel Tips for your Pet

Tick Removal:

Removing a tick from your dog's body is probably one of the least things you'll want to do. But you do need to get this pest off your pet. The easiest way I have found is to use a cotton swab, wet it with rubbing alcohol, then hold it over the tick's body for about a minute. Then slowly test to see if the tick just slides off. If you need to use any pressure pulling the tick off, hold the swab over it a little longer as the rubbing alcohol will make the tick "back out" and release it's hold. This method should get the entire tick if you hold the soaked swab long enough around the tick's body.

Using a cotton swab also prevents your fingers from touching the tick body. Once removed, flush down the toilet.

Deskunking recipe:

Bathe pet with mixture of:

1 qt. of 3% hydrogen peroxide (from drug store)

1/4 C baking soda

1 tsp. liquid soap

Follow bath with tap water rinse.

---

Choosing a Breeder (click here for more tips)

Finding a good reputable breeder is challenging and may take some time. The best source would be to contact an obedience club -- there are many clubs that have obedience classes at local parks. Or, if you admire a friend's dog, ask them for information on how they found the breeder of their dog. Don't' be surprised if a good breeder asks you alot of questions -- they want to make sure they place puppies in loving responsible homes. Also another source may be certain breed rescue groups. Some rescue groups work closely with breeders to help someone find the right fit. Also breed rescue groups are a great resource to finding that special pet. "Second hand" dogs make some of the best friends and companions you can ever hope for.

Please do not purchase a puppy as a "gift" for someone else; instead offer a gift certificate and help them find the right dog. There is a wonderful book called "Choosing the Right Dog for You" and it's available at most book stores and at Amazon.com. This book describes almost every AKC breed and some rare breeds where you will find out about temperament, life longevity, grooming requirements, training requirements, personality traits, and some genetic health problems to watch out for. This is a worthwhile investment if you don't know what kind of dog you (and your family) will be happy with.

Please, please do not get a puppy for Christmas! As a former volunteer, I was always guaranteed a puppy to foster by New Year's Eve -- when the puppy got to be too much work after the holidays. Puppies/dogs have feelings and are easily stressed during holidays. No reputable breeder will sell puppies during the holidays except to those that were specifically waiting for a particular litter.

If you have your heart set on a new puppy, I'd like to recommend this reading list:

• Choosing the Right Dog for You
• Beyond Basic Dog Training, by Diane Bauman
• Mother Knows Best: The Natural Way to Train your Dog by Carol Lea Benjamin
• The Art of Raising a Puppy, by the Monks of New Skete
• How to be Your Dog's Best Friend, by the Monks of New Skete
• Second-Hand Dog, by Carol Lea Benjamin
• The New Knowledge of Dog Behavior, by Clarence Pfaffenberger
• How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With, by Clarice Rutherford and David H. Neil
• Every Dog's Survival Guide to Living with a Neurotic Owner, by Steve Duno (this is an excellent book, a fast read because of it's humor, and covers just about every delimna in dog behaviors -- gives you a nice flavor of what can happen to your sweet pooch.

These are just a few of the better books available. Please check your library for more resources.