There are a number of toys on the market for your dog and puppy and most of them are safe. For those of you that like Frisbees I recommend getting a soft sided one instead of the hard plastic which can be hard on your dog’s mouth and teeth. Chew toys like the Kong are great for chewing if you have an aggressive chewer or just need to keep you dog our puppy focused on something. Try filling the Kong with peanut butter and kibble then freezing it. This will make the treat last longer. Another option is soaking kibble in chicken broth, then freezing.
Soft squeaker toys or stuffed toys should only be used under supervision so that the stuffing is not eaten or the squeaker is not removed and possibly eaten. Make sure any balls are appropriate for your dog’s size. A large dog can easily choke on a small ball. Any toy that shows any wear or tear should be discarded. Dogs can get blockages from toy parts which can make them sick or require surgery.
Did you know Sticks and Stones can endanger your dogs health?
I was talking to my cousin this weekend and she told me about a friend’s puppy who had become critically ill after chewing on a stick. The owners have had dogs in the past and as part of their dogs care have always checked the yard to make sure there was nothing to endanger their dog. Even with diligent owners the pup found a stick to chew on and ended up with emergency surgery to remove part of the stick he was trying to pass. The Veterinarian told them if they waited any longer the pup would have died. Sticks and Stones are not toys for your dog, they can be very dangerous causing blockages or even death. Stones can break teeth, wear them down and if swallowed cause obstructions. It’s hard to keep sticks and stones completely away from your dog but one should never encourage your dog to chase or play with them. One of the saddest stories I’ve heard was one the Em told me about a friend’s dog, who picked up a stick to carry before the owner could react the dog tripped and was fatally stabbed by the stick. Accident’s do happen but being aware of what your dog is playing with and the potential dangers will help to keep you dog safe.
Well, that depends on the clinic and the individual. I spoke with two vet clinics yesterday and one of them was a wonderful experience and the other was not so fantastic. Thurber, my parent’s Scottie who’s visiting for the week, needed a couple more of the over the counter pills that he takes to help his stomach handle the pill he takes for his prostate cancer. So I called a Vet office where I live to see if I could buy a couple of pills from them and the woman acted like I had 3 heads. Keep in mind that I understand that this was an unusual request so I was *super* deferential with her and told her that I could have Thurber’s vet fax the information to her clinic. She said that since it was over the counter medication that I should just go to Wal Mart and that she would not sell it to me without a written prescription from my vet who is 2.5 hours away from me…..that a fax would not be good enough.I’ve had to call this clinic before about their clients who were boarding with me and it’s always been the same drill. So I’ve come to the conclusion that the front desk people are not paid well and that they are over worked. (If you’re wondering why I called them it’s because they are really close to where I live). I’ve actually talked with them about 6 times and only had one good experience and that was with a friend of the client who’s dog I was calling about. Anyway, people seem to like them but their ‘gate keepers’ make me nervous.
Experiences number 2 and 3 were great! When I called Thurber’s vet, the VCA, Shaker Road Animal Hospital in MA, I talked with Micky and Lynn and they were both patient and caring about both Thurber’s condition and about the state of the vet care and Kennel’s in western Mass.. They weren’t paid to be gracious and they showed genuine concern for Thurber that they couldn’t have fabricated. I could tell that both were relaxed and that their work situation was stable and supportive.
It’s all about the tone of voice. It’s my belief that if you work with animals you should respect the needs and concerns of other animal people *Just Because*. I think it’s too bad that clinic A clearly doesn’t take care of it’s staff because they are the calling card for the clinic. If someone doesn’t have 4 seconds to answer a question and shows no interest in the needs of the person on the other end of the phone there is a problem. On the other side, I love it when people who work in the animal care industry love pets and their people.
Shaker Road was referred to my family by family friends who’ve used them for over 20 years. Their son did some work as a vet tech and he spoke highly of them as well. Since their family is totally made up of Doggers and they are as crazy as my family I trusted them to an extent but all experiences that I’ve had with them have been stellar,,,
So I’m happy! And I promise you that everyone who knows me is reading this and breathing a sigh of relief while laughing at me.
