The Best Way To De-Skunk Your Dog

Help! My Dog Got Sprayed By A Skunk!

Spring is just around the corner. After the winter we had, this is a welcome event.  More sunlight means lots more time spent outside with our dogs. Unfortunately, other creatures also enjoy the warmer weather - including skunks.  As a result, a lot more dogs end up getting sprayed. 

One of my clients, Luigi (pictured here), decided to get a head start and did not wait for the better weather. He got sprayed in two separate incidents last week, losing a claw in one of the battles.

Needless to say, he stank. His odor filled the car, and his usual seat-mate Lola refused to go near him.  The rain we got on Thursday only made the problem worse.

So how do you get that skunk smell to go away?

I'm sure most people have heard of using tomato juice baths to get rid of the smell. Unfortunately, they simply do not work.  In our experience, neither do the expensive products made specifically to clean your dog after its encounter.

The most effective treatment we have found was first written up in 1993 by Paul Krebaum. 

The Recipe

1 Quart 3% Hydrogen Peroxide

1/4 Cup Baking Soda

1 to 2 Tsp Liquid Soap (Dawn)

Do not wet your dog. Resist the urge to grab him and shove him in the shower - it will only weaken the solution you are going to use on him.

Using a plastic spatula or wooden spoon, mix together 3% Hydrogen Peroxide (DO NOT USE ANY OTHER STRENGTH), baking soda, and liquid soap in a plastic bucket. For very large dogs, just double the recipe.

Apply the mixture to your dog as soon as you mix it - the solution will get weaker over time. Work the mixture deep into the fur and leave it on for about 5 minutes. 

Keep the solution out of your dog's eyes – it will sting.

Rinse your pet thoroughly with warm water.

Some heavily “skunked” areas may need 2 or 3 washes.

Pour any left over mixture down the drain with running water. 

Warning!

Do Not Store Or Bottle This Mixture - It Can Explode!

This is hands down the best method for getting the skunk smell out of your dog. 

Feel free to share your skunk stories and de-skunking remedies.

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Handle Stress Like A Dog.

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Pearl Helps Out

Pearl Helping With Emails

Pearl takes some time out of her busy schedule to help me write a few emails. Thanks Pearl.

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I Had To Post It.

I remember my grandmother and my mother singing this to me.

The Old Version

And The New One

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Food Stamps For Pets

Food Stamps, Now for Pets

 BY JENNIFER VIEGAS

A new program called “Pet Food Stamps” aims to provide free monthly home delivery of pet food and other necessary pet supplies to owners receiving food stamps or who are below the poverty line.

The program’s founder and executive director Marc Okon says that more than 45,000 pets were signed into the donation-based program in just the past two weeks.

“We’re not looking for government funding at this point,” Okon told ABCNews.com. “Should the government be willing to provide assistance further down the line, we will look into it.”

He explained that once a pet owner’s need and income are verified, the families will receive pet food each month from pet food retailer Pet Food Direct for a 6-month period.

The name Pet Food Stamps is particularly catchy, but other organizations provide similar services, and have been doing so for quite some time. One example is the Washington Animal Rescue League.

“One of our missions is to provide income-qualified families with discounted pet care, vaccinations, vaccine clinics, neutered clinics and vet care,” League spokesman Matt Williams told ABC. “We have a new medical center on site … We also have a food bank run entirely on donations.”

Pet Food Stamps isn’t focusing on a city or state. Its goal is to help any approved person who is a U.S. citizen. Response to the program has crashed its web site. The group’s Facebook page acknowledges the problem and says the group it trying to fix it.

As a statement on both the FB page and the website mentions,

“The Pet Food Stamps program has been created to fill the void in the United States Food Stamp program which excludes the purchase of pet food and pet supplies. In these rough economic times, many pet owners are forced to abandon their beloved pet to the ASPCA, North Shore Animal League or other animal shelters due to the inability to pay for their basic food supply and care. There are over 50 million Americans who currently receive Food Stamps, many with dogs or cats, who simply cannot afford to feed their animals, and these cherished companions are dropped off at animal shelters where they will most likely be put to sleep.” It continues, “The Pet Food Stamps program, due to the generosity of contributors and patrons, are able to eliminate that heart-wrenching decision by making sure these pet owners are given free monthly home delivery of all necessary food supplies to maintain the health and vitality of their pets.”

Here are a few more details, according to the program’s site:

- Provided a pet owner is approved and accepted into the program, it’s 100 percent free.

- Available pet food is listed at http://www.petfooddirect.com.

- Each pet owner is assessed individually, so he or she might be able to get products for more than one pet.

- The program is receiving thousands of applications per day, so it takes several weeks to receive a response.

- The food is mostly geared for dogs and cats, but provisions are also available for certain other small animals and reptiles.

Image: Don Mason/Corbis

http://news.discovery.com/

Human Animal Bond Research Initiative.

Human Animal Bond Research Initiative

 (HABRI) Identifies Seven Areas of Strong 

Scientific Research Backing Health 

Benefits of Pets

-Most Comprehensive Areas of Research on the Human-Animal Bond Include; Childhood Allergies and Asthma Immunity, Alzheimer’s, Autism, Cardiovascular Health, Depression, Cancer and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bob Vetere, president of the Human Animal Bond Research Initiative Foundation (HABRI), is pleased to announce that over the past year, its online hub, HABRI Central, has collected extensive research and evidence available online for peer review in seven key areas including allergy and asthma immunity among children, Alzheimer’s, autism, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). After more than a year of organizing existing research and data, HABRI Central has identified these seven areas of strong scientific research solidifying the positive impacts animals have on human health.

“We look forward to continuing the momentum and our commitment to supporting research in multiple fields to help solidify that pets provide people with dozens of health benefits and much more than just love and companionship.”

“Research exploring the human-animal bond is still a relatively new area of study and we are pleased with the compilation and strong amount of research that has been conducted on these health issues thus far,” said Vetere. “We look forward to continuing the momentum and our commitment to supporting research in multiple fields to help solidify that pets provide people with dozens of health benefits and much more than just love and companionship.”

Among key findings in these seven fields, new research has shown that contact with companion animals can have physical benefits to those with PTSD including the release of oxytocin and endorphins in the brain; pets can have a protective effect for young children from allergies later in life; and patients recovering from heart surgery have a better rate of survival if they own a pet.

Housing research on these health issues and more, HABRI Central serves as an online comprehensive bibliography and repository of scholarly material and a platform for peer-reviewed content for those involved in human-animal bond studies. Managed by Purdue University, this centralized research and resources are available at www.habricentral.org.

The Human Animal Bond Research Initiative Foundation (HABRI) is a national, non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting the positive role animals play in the health and well being of people, families and communities. HABRI, in partnership with Purdue University, has also created a comprehensive online research center, HABRI Central. HABRI Central serves as a comprehensive bibliography and repository of scholarly material, an online publishing platform for peer-reviewed content, and a virtual collaborative community for those involved in human-animal studies. Dr. Alan Beck, Director of Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine's Center for the Human-Animal Bond and Charles Watkinson, Director of Purdue University Press, oversees the development of the project. An editorial board of internationally acclaimed experts in the field guides content development to ensure that it remains relevant to the human-animal studies community.

For more information on HABRI, visit www.habri.org or for media inquiries or executive interview opportunities, contact Brooke Gersich at brooke@theimpetusagency.com or 775.322.4022.

Founded by The American Pet Product Association (APPA), Petco Animal Supplies Inc., and Zoetis (formerly the animal health business of Pfizer), HABRI is a broad coalition of companies, organizations, entities and individuals whose mission is to achieve formal, widespread scientific recognition that validates and supports the positive roles of pets and animals in the integrated health of families and communities, leading to informed decisions in human health.

1155 Fifteenth Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005 (202) 580-6280 www.habri.org

Contacts

The Impetus Agency
Brooke Gersich, 775-322-4022
Brooke@theimpetusagency.com

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Do You Celebrate Your Dog's Birthday?

Do You Celebrate Your Dog's Birthday? 

The other day, I suddenly realized that I had missed my dog's birthday, and I got this sudden pang of guilt. I don't know why, as I have never celebrated any of my dogs' birthdays. 

It's not that I do this intentionally, I just don't remember. I am not very sentimental about anything like that. In fact, just as an example, I've been with my partner for almost 14 years (I just asked him how long, so that's why I know), and I don't think we have ever remembered our anniversary.

So why do I feel guilty all of a sudden?

Is it because I'm getting soppy in my old age?

Anyway, I just thought I would ask everyone: do you celebrate your dog's birthdays?  Why or why not?  And if you do, how do you go about it? 

  

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Epic Storm To Hit New England

Historical Storm Just About To Hit

I hope everyone and their animals stay safe.

As I still have to work, I will be tweeting during the storm.

 I will try and get some good pictures.

Follow @MarksDogBlog

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For Dogs That Chase Balls

The Pooch Super Bouncer Ball

Product Review

Let me start by saying that this is not a paid review. The balls you see in the photo were purchased by me.

As we all know, lots of dogs like to chase and catch balls. Of the 30 or so dogs that go to my playgroup daily, about 50% of them love to play fetch. That's a lot of ball throwing. 

In the past, we would buy buckets of tennis balls for the dogs to enjoy, but we noticed that a few of the dogs would destroy them in about 2 minutes flat. My staff and I would have to keep a close eye on these dogs and be constantly on the lookout for pieces of torn-up tennis balls.

This all came to a head one day when one of our clients called to tell us that her dog had pooped out half a tennis ball the night before, and asked if we could watch her a little more closely. Rather than take a chance on anything like this (or worse) happening again, we decided that it would be in our best interest to stop using tennis balls at the park.

The dogs did not like this turn of events, so the search was on for something better. When we found the Pet Buddies Pooch Super Bouncer Ball, we knew we had a winner. 

This ball is solid - almost indestructible -and lasts for months of playing in all types of weather. Even our most aggressive chewers find it difficult to put a dent in it. The "super bouncer" part of its name isn't just hype - the ball bounces amazingly well, even on the uneven gravel surface of our park.

If your dog isn't a natural at fetching, the Pooch Ball is also a great way to help them learn. You can stuff it with treats, making retrieving the ball even more rewarding.

I highly recommend.

You can see the Pet Buddies products Here.

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How Often Do Adult Dogs Need To Go Potty?

How Often Do Adult Dogs Need To Go Potty?

A few of my clients tell me that their dog only goes out to potty twice a day - early morning and late evening. This always prompts me to ask them if their dog would potty more if taken out more often. Every one of them says yes.

When their dog stays with me at my house, it gets taken out 5 to 6 times a day. They pee almost every time and poop more often than the twice a day they are allowed at their home.

So I am always asking myself, "how often do dogs really need to go out?"

After many years of dog care and dealing with every breed and type, I've discovered that the question should really be, "how often does this dog need to go out?"

Like us, all dogs are different. Some pee more than others, some poop more than others, and just because they can hold it does not mean they should.

Holding pee for an extended period of time can lead to all sorts of problems: urinary tract infections, kidney stones, bladder infections, interstitial cystitis, and even kidney failure. 

Holding poop in for an extended period of time can cause dogs to become constipated. If the constipation is not dealt with, the dog could end up with an impacted colon - a much more serious problem.

If you can get your dog out for a potty break more often, then go for it. Who knows, it might help you, too - more sunlight on your skin and through your eyes might make you feel better.

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