6 Must-Haves for the Dog Parent

We started this blog 4-years ago and since then I have been posting quite a bit on Canine health. It's a lot of information! This week, I decided I would consolidate some of the information into 6 "must-haves" for every dog parent. These are things that you should have in your pantry that can help not only your dog, but you as well. It's a win-win situation when two-legged family members and four-legged can share the same health benefits of a product! I have numbered them, but the list is not in numerical importance. Plus, I will have each item connected to a link. This link will give you more information on that specific item if you would like to learn more. Some of these items have a whole plethora of health benefits!

Here they are:

1. Organic Raw Honey can help with wound recovery, digestions, immune support, allergies and skin issues. Plus it tastes really good and has an abundance of vitamins, minerals, is anti-microbial, anti-fungal.... you get the point.
2. Aloe Vera: I don't have a link to this product, but I should! When I talk about Aloe Vera, I'm not talking about the bright green (or blue) stuff that comes from Walgreens. I'm talking about the plant. The stuff that is 100% pure. You can use the inner gel of this plant to help relieve skin irritations or cuts. A tiny bit of Aloe Juice can also help relieve constipation when ingested.
3. Lavender Essential Oil: Before applying essential oils, they should always be diluted accordingly... and even more diluted for canines. Essential oils should also be canine safe and therapeutic grade. Some oils that can be used on humans cannot be used on dogs. Lavender oil is generally regarded as one of the super safe oils and can be diffused or applied topically to calm a nervous dog. To apply topically, dilute accordingly and massage behind the dog's neck and ears. You can concoct your own linen spray to spray down your dog's bedding (or bandana). Last, use lavender oil as a flea repellent by mixing vinegar, water and a couple drops of lavender. Spray on your dog before going outside.
4. Stinging Nettle: Unless you are crazy like me and grow your own stinging nettles, it's best to just buy the tea at your local natural grocer. Or buy online. Harvesting stinging nettles can be quite tricky. BUT, stinging nettles is considered one of the "super foods" that is jam packed full of nutrients and has a natural anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory. Used as a rinse, it can help with itchy, dry skin and bug bites.
5. Coconut Oil is again, one of those use for anything and everything products. It can help with digestion, oral health, balance insulin, immune support, promote a healthy skin and coat... the list goes on and on. 
6. Apple Cider Vinegar can be used for cooling hot spots and rashes, it repels fleas and ticks, promotes a healthy circulation, can be used as a natural ear cleaner, supports a healthy urinary tract and digestion. 

Always remember to do your research on the proper way to use these products and don't over do it! A little goes a long way in canine (and human) health. Moderation is key. Having these products on hand and promoting a healthy diet with exercise is a great way to minimize the trips to the vet and keep your furry friend healthy and happy. 

Kennel Cough

It seems that an outbreak of Kennel Cough has hit the Bozeman, MT area and has dog owners (and daycares) in quite the panic. Kennel cough is often called "Bordetalla" after the bacteria Bordetalla bronciseptica, which dogs can get vaccinated. BUT Kennel Cough, aka infectious tracheobronchitis, is actually a term for an infection in the trachea and bronchial tubes that can be caused by bacteria or virus. This infection is highly contagious and has an incubation period of about 5-10 days after exposure. It usually diminishes after the first 5 days, but can linger for up to 10-20 days. Infected dogs can remain contagious for up to 14 weeks even after symptoms disappear. The classic symptom of Kennel Cough is a forceful, persistent cough. Infected dogs may also exhibit sneezing, runny nose and eye discharge.

Luckily, here at Bark City, we have not had any cases of Kennel Cough in our daycare. We would like to keep it that way! In order to try our very best, we have taken the following measures:

1) Our facility is set up with 3 different air circulation systems (one for the standard side, one for the enrichment program, and one for the training room). We will not be letting dogs from the two different programs mix (standard will just stay with standard, enrichment will stay on that side and the training room we will be using as a quarantine room for possible coughing. Since this is an air born virus hopefully this will help eliminate the possibility of it spreading.
2) If your dog coughs even just once, your dog will be pulled out and put in the training room. You will be called and asked to please pick up your dog. Boarders, if no one is available to pick up your dog, they will stay in that room (and of course given potty breaks) for at least 24hrs. If they cough more than once they will need to see a vet and will need to stay in quarantine for the remainder of their stay.
3) We do spray down and disinfect all of our yards twice a day and disinfect all indoor space daily.
4) We will be offering complementary coconut oil or goats milk to all boarders if the owners wish. These two things  help support the immune system. We also sell these products and are adding a Bone Broth mix onto our shelves if you would like to purchase and take home with you. 😊
5) We are diffusing a mixture of Canine safe essential oils that are known to help support the respiratory tract.
6) Employees will be disinfecting hands and feet if dealing with a coughing dog before handling another dog.

What you can do:
1) If your dog coughs (even just once) please keep it away from all dogs for at least 24hrs to make sure it doesn't turn into something more.
2) If your dogs develops a cough call your vet asap and follow their instructions.
3) Stay away from all dog parks and dog populated areas that you are not sure if there has been a coughing dog there or not.
4) Call and report any coughing to us or the facility your dog stayed at so they can watch the other dogs in their care.
5) Let us know if your dog stayed at another facility so we know if it has been exposed to the virus or not.
 
Please remember, boarding and daycare facilities are not the only place that your dog can get a virus (neighbor dogs, friends dogs, dog walking on the street, dog parks, pet sitters, hiking trails ect). If your dog gets sick, keep them away from all dogs for at least 10 days after the last symptom showed and contact your vet to get the official "OK" before socializing your dog with other canines. For more information, you can follow the below links:

• Kennel Cough or Tracheobronchitis in Dogs, VCA, https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/kennel-cough-or-tracheobronchitis-in-dogs
• Kennel Cough in Dogs: Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention, The Whole Dog Journal, https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/news/Kennel-Cough-Treatment-and-Prevention-21591-1.html 

Stinging Nettle for Canines

I am really excited for this upcoming spring because I will be growing a weed in my garden! Not just any weed, but Stinging Nettles to be exact. I have been doing some extensive research on this plant and I think it will be beneficial not only to my dog, but also to my family and myself. Stinging nettle is famous in the herbal world as a natural anti-histamine as well as an anti-inflammatory. This means, it can not only help the seasonal allergies that run rampant in my family (two-legged and four-legged members), but it will also help my arthritis. But, that is not all.... Stinging Nettle is also considered to be one of those "super foods". It contains:

That is a lot of stuff.

For harvesting Stinging Nettle, it is recommended that you wear gloves, long pants and cut them with scissors, because of the stinging part (which is on the underside of the leaves). BUT, some people purposely sting themselves to help with joint pain. There are two phases of harvesting that should be noted:

Eating Fresh Nettle: You must harvest when the plants are still young. If you wait until they have matured and flowered, it's too late for fresh eating --> Mature plants contain cystoliths that can irritate the kidneys. To get rid of the "sting" in order to eat them fresh, you must steam, saute, freeze, can (like spinach) or boil them. You can use the left-over water from boiling and steaming as a tea to drink or as a rinse for your dog's fur. This rinse is very beneficial for alleviating itchy skin caused by rashes, flea bites, ect...

OK, I have a bunch of mature, flowery Nettles. Now what do I do? You can dry them! The process of drying the plant destroys the cystoliths. Now it will not wreak havoc on your kidneys. Gather up your nettles and dry them by tying a string around the bottom of a bunch and hang them upside down to dry. Once dry, you can use the dried leaves as tea by seeping 1 TBSP/ cup of boiled water. Again, this can be drank or used as a skin rinse. You can also add 1/2 tsp per lb of dog weight to your furry friend's food.

A word of caution: Stinging Nettles is haemostatic. This means it stops bleeding. If your dog (or human) has blood thinning or thickening problems, it's best to talk to your veterinarian (or doctor) before eating Stinging Nettles. In addition, do not feed your dog (or human) stinging nettles if suffering from a bacterial infection, being treated for diabetes, high-blood pressure or on NSAIDS.

For more information on Stinging Nettles, please visit these websites:

• Benefits of Nettle for Dogs, Natural Dog Health Remedies: http://www.natural-dog-health-remedies.com/benefits-of-nettle.html
• Stinging Nettle, Wild Foods and Medicines: http://wildfoodsandmedicines.com/nettle-restorative-food-purifying-medicine-guardian/ 
• Stinging Nettle, Art of Awareness: http://www.artofawareness.ca/journal/2016/5/14/stinging-nettle
• DIY Natural, Herbal Treatments for Dogs with Environmental Allergies - Honey, Mullien, Nettle, Rooibos, Ottawa Calley Dog Whisperer: http://ottawavalleydogwhisperer.blogspot.com/2013/04/diy-natural-herbal-treatments-for-dogs.htm
   
   

Essential Oil Safety For Pets

The other day, my neighbor came over with a catalog and a basket of essential oils. The aroma in my house soon turned into a wondrous rainbow of smells and it honestly helped the cold congestion everyone in my house had been feeling for the last week.

While the aromas lingered in my household, it got me thinking about essential oils for pets. EO's have been around for a long time and lately their popularity is becoming mainstream. We all want something a little more natural.... a simpler way of doing things in our life. And let's face it, we all wonder sometimes if we really need all those tests our vet is pinning onto our bill (I still don't have the answer to that.) We love our pets. They are part of our family and we want the very best for them... Which is a happy, HEALTHY life. But are EO's safe for pets?

I immediately started researching the topic and was surprised by results. For dogs and horses, there is a wide array of articles on how to use essential oils for treatment of ailment after ailment. But for cats, the research was very limited and caught me by surprise. Cats have a very unique physiology and essential oils may not be a good idea. Cats lack a proper detoxification process called hepatic glucuronidation. In layman's terms, it means they cannot fully metabolize the essential oil. The EO's slowly build up in their system causing toxicity problems. Liver damage is a slow process, it often takes a while for something to be noticed. If you would like the full scientific explanation, feel free to read this article by The Lavender Cat. The article also gives you some helpful hints if you use essential oils on yourself and have kitty family members. (example: A cat's liver takes approx. 48 hours to detox. If you diffuse essential oils in your house, try to only do it once every 48 hours and have an "escape" route for your cat... aka another room.) There are some essential oils that are deemed "low risk" for cats and some are "high risk". My advice would be to research any essential oil that you are going to diffuse into your house and weigh the cost/risk.

Ok... now for dogs. Dogs have had a lot more success with essential oils. But before you rub your dog down in lavender oil, there are some things you should know first:

• Always use therapeutic grade essential oils. These will be more pricey, but are purer. There will be no "additives" that may make your pup sick. Price usually indicates quality!
• Your essential oil should not be oily or leave a greasy residue. 
• Packing should include the common name and Latin binomial, country of origin, method of distillation, lot #, amount of oil in the bottle, company info and how the plant was grown. 
• RESEARCH and make sure you check credentials! Basically, does this person know what he/she is talking about? Some essential oils should never be used on dogs, some are controversial and some are commonly used. Do your research!
• When you first try an essential oil on your dog, let them smell it first with the cap still on the bottle (unopened). If your dog gets all excited and happy, try a little bit and watch for any adverse reactions. If your dog is acting like the smell is the most putrid thing in the world, it may not be a good idea to diffuse it around them.
• Always dilute the oils before using topically or before inhalation. (see below for a handy dilution image) Remember, a dog's nose is WAY more sensitive than a human's!
• Do not use EO's on large breed dogs under 8 weeks or small breeds under 10 weeks.
• Gradually introduce oils. One at a time! If you give your dog five oils at once and they develop an allergic reaction, you won't know which one it was.
• Most issues that dogs have can be addressed with inhalation of a diluted essential oil. Putting it on them topically should be used sparingly. 
• Only use essential oil as needed. Essential oils should not be used as a "preventative". 
• Do NOT add essential oils to food or water. 

The handy dilution image:

It should be noted that a "Carrier Oil" is a basic oil like Olive oil, Coconut oil, Almond oil, ect...

 And here is another image that shows you what Essential oils are deemed safe to use. I got this image from one of my favorite essential oil safety sites: http://www.usingeossafely.com I highly recommend this site if you are in to essential oils for your dog or yourself!

 And last but not least, I will provide you with some useful links:

• This is a free online course on how to use essential oils for your pet: http://www.essentialanimals.com/courses/introduction-essential-oils-horses-dogs-online-course/
• Cats and Essential Oil Safety, Robert Tisserand, http://roberttisserand.com/2011/06/cats-essential-oil-safety/
• Is it Safe to Use Essential Oils with Dogs?, Lea Harris, http://www.usingeossafely.com/is-it-safe-to-use-essential-oils-with-dogs/
• Essential Oil Safety and Cats, Sue Martin, http://www.thelavendercat.com/images/PDF-TheLavenderCat_temp_use.pdf