NATIONAL BLACK DOG DAY

National Black Dog Day 2016 

When going to adopt your new family member at a shelter, you're usually so excited, you don't have much time to put thought into exactly what your going to get. Statistics will show there is a lower chance of finding forever homes for darker colored dogs rather than white or tan colored dogs. Animal shelters have named this 'Black Dog Syndrome'. National Black Dog Day is a perfect National Day to celebrate these dogs and hold events to help find them their perfect forever homes.

Through research, the reasoning behind this may be a matter of size, unclear facial features, dimly lit kennels, and negative portrayals in books, movies or media. Another theory is that it comes down to facial expressions. People attach to dogs when they can read their facial expressions and on darker dogs those are harder to make out. Either way, their hearts are all the same size. If you are looking to adopt a new pet to add to your family, we highly suggest looking into the Wayne County Dog Shelter.

For more information please go to their website at:

http://www.waynedogshelter.org/

SUPER FOODS & TREATS FOR PETS

SUPER FOODS & TREATS FOR PETS

Do you ever wonder if the ingredients in your furry family member's food is actually good for them? According to Dr. Marty Becker, for calorie control, he recommends broccoli, pumpkin, spinach and blueberries as super food ingredients. If you find your pet putting on some extra pounds, you do not have to stop with treats completely. Instead, give blueberries or apple slices as a healthy alternative snack or treat that pack a lot less in calories.

 These 'Superfoods' have many beneficial facts to dogs. Apples are very rich in Vitamin A,C and fiber. Red apples also help to clean the residue and keep your dog's teeth strong. Carrots are a very good alternative as a snack or a chew for your dog. They are good for the skin, eyesight and cleaning of the teeth and gums. Green beans are one of the best things you can give your dog. They make for a wonderful low calorie snack. They are a fantastic source of natural plant fiber and high in vitamin A, C, and K. 

Don't forget... PUMPKIN!

With the fall season near, what better superfood to give your dog than their very own pumpkin! It is nutritious to give your dog real pumpkin as it is a low calorie food, rich in vitamin A, C, betacarotene, fiber, potassium, zinc, calcium and magnesium. Give your pet about one cup of cooked pumpkin, and they will have a very filling snack that contains 3 grams of fiber.

Canine Upper Respiratory Complex

What is Canine Upper Respiratory Complex?

Well, just like human colds, our canines can also get viruses with the most known being canine upper respiratory complex (canine cough). Canine cough itself can have multiple causes. Dogs "catch" canine cough when they inhale bacteria or virus particles into their respiratory tract. This tract is normally lined with a coating of mucus that traps infectious particles, but there are a number of factors that can weaken this protection and make dogs prone to kennel cough infection, which results in inflammation of the larynx (voice box) and trachea (windpipe).

Causes:

Canine cough can spread through aerosols in the air, directly from dog to dog, or through germs on contaminated objects.

Symptoms:

The classic symptom of kennel cough is a persistent, forceful cough. It often sounds like a goose honk. This cough is different from a cough-like sound made by some dogs, especially little ones, which is called a reverse sneeze. Other symptoms would include gagging, coughing up white foamy phlegm, fever and nasal discharge.

Prevent:

The best way to prevent canine cough is for your dog to not have exposure to other dogs. This may not be ideal to most people, as their dogs love to go to dog parks, the pet store and to see their friends at doggy daycare. In these cases, vaccinations are available for several of the agents known to be involved including parainfluenza and Bordetella.

SHAVING YOUR DOUBLE COATED DOG

There are two different coat types in dogs; single coated and double coated. A single coat means that there is only a top (or over) coat that grows all over the body with no difference undercoat. Examples of a single coat dog are Shih Tzus, Poodles, and Bichons. Double coated dogs, such as Pomeranians, Shetlands, and Samoyeds have both a top (or over) coat made of tougher (under) coat that is thick and soft.

As Summer is in full swing, we understand as good pet owners you want to make sure your pet is as comfortable in the heat and sun as possible. Most think this is achieved by shaving their dogs fur to the skin to help keep them cool. While you or I would hate to sport a fur coat in 100- degree weather, your pets' fur coats are actually providing them with heat relief.

Dogs' coats have several layers that are essential to your dog's comfort in the heat. By shaving your dog, you are stripping them of their natural cooling system and that can lead to discomfort and overheating. Leaving their coat will also help protect their skin from sunburn and getting skin cancer.

The question still remains then, why not shave them and keep them out of the sun? For one, they may not actually be cool even if they are out of the sun, the topcoat can help to keep the heat off the skin itself and unlike people, dogs do not sweat through their skin. Dogs sweat by panting and, in all but northern breeds, through the pads of the feet.

Another reason to not shave your furry friend is when the hair does begin to grow back, it tends to do strange things. For some, it may mean having patches that don't grow at all, or that don't grow both types of coat layers (top and under). Older dogs often have issues with proper regrowth and then for others (which happens most often) the undercoat grows in faster than the topcoat .

If shaving your pet is something you are considering, please contact your vet or groomer to discuss your options and to see if your dog is a good candidate for shaving.

10 CALMING TIPS FOR DOGS DURING FIREWORKS

The 4th of July is sneaking up on us, and as excited as we are for cook outs with friends and family, parades and of course the fireworks, our canine family members are not! Here are 10 tips to provide a safe and calming atmosphere for your canine household.

1. Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise earlier in the day
2. Keep your dogs inside during the firework show, preferably with human companionship
3. Provide a safe place inside for your dogs to retreat such as a crate or bathtub
4. Keep the windows and curtains closed, removing visual stimulation can help calm dogs
5. Make sure your canine friend has his/her tags with a fitted collar, just in case of an escape
6. Leave your dog something fun to do - like a frozen treat or peanut butter kong
7. Sound therapy: Playing calm music well before the fireworks start(a few days), the dog will associate the music with a calm and content manner, so when played during the fireworks, he/she will continue to stay calm and content.
8. Sound therapy combined with Desensitization : The Canine Noise Phobia series (CNP) consists of four CD's that innovate desensitization training and combines three distinctive elements for the treatment and prevention of sound-sensitivities and noise-phobias
9. Tactile: There are two canine wraps on the market that reportedly help sound phobic dogs. The original Anxiety Wrap and the Thundershirt
10. Scent: Canine Calm or Lavender scents are an all natural way to help dogs relax and cope more effectively with loud noises. 

EXHAUSTION IN CANINES

We understand your goal of wanting your dog tired after a day of play with their buddies, but its also important that exhaustion is not the only measure of success when you bring your dog for a play session. Our approach in daycare when having off-leash play is to balance physical exercise, mental activities, and rest periods. Physical exercise is the most obvious benefit of off-leash play and it's what most pet parents think about. But for your dog's health, we also consider it important to provide mental stimulation.

Research studies show that dogs need 12-18 hours of sleep per day. Dogs that require larger amounts of sleep include:

• Puppies
• Senior dogs
• Large breed dogs
• Dogs in active households 
• Dogs that attend daycare multiple days per week
• Dogs participating in sports such as agility, fly ball, or rally-o

OBESITY IN DOGS

Obesity in our canine family members is the number one health threat pets face, and the most important pet health decision owners make each day is what and how much they feed. Statistics show 54% of dogs were overweight or obese in 2015.

Between Orrville Walks Program and The Orrville Pet Spa and Resorts K9 Fit Club, there are plenty of opportunities for you and your pup to start getting back into shape and feeling healthier and happier and live longer lives together.