Heartworms and the Dangers to your Dog

Every dog owner should know about the dangers of heartworms.

Dogs are mostly at risk, but cats can get them too.

Heartworms can kill! The map above shows the average number of cases of heartworm infection reported in clinics across America.

Do you know what heartworms are transmitted through– my least favorite thing about the summer time – MOSQUITOS!

They bite one dog that has heartworms and ingest larva. These larva transform inside the mosquito and can then be transmitted to another dog.

(Fortunately, dogs cannot pass these worms to one another without the aid of this worthless insect.)

Once these baby heartworms, “microfilaria,” are injected into a new doggy host, they take 6 months to become adults. The adult worms live in the dogs heart and lungs causing inflammation of the blood vessels and blocking blood flow  and leading to clots in the lungs and eventually to heart failure. Liver and kidney failure can result as well.

These worms have infected millions of dogs.

As a “parent” you’ll want to be  proactive and give your dog a heartworm preventive. Keep your four-legged friend healthy, any they’ll live healthy and heartworm free.

God Bless, Lauren & the PDH crew

Fleas on Dogs Causing Anemia

Fleas in Your House: It’s okay to be a serial killer

Fleas in Your House: It’s ok to be a serial killer.

Ok, so fleas on your dog means you most likely have fleas in your home. How exciting!

This is definitely a nightmare!

The best places to find the fleas in your house is where your dogs and cats hang out most – bedding, furniture, carpets and the places they eat.

Treat these areas with something that kills fleas.

Let’s see; you can use flea powders/sprays. I would rather use something more natural. Something with peppermint would be safe for dogs and kids. (Be careful with cats.)

Also, something really amazing: You can just sprinkle some plain old salt or baking soda (or both). They will make a razor blade jungle for the fleas to walk through. Kill them all!

Make sure to leave the sprinkles down for at least 24 hours, then vacuum up the corpses.

Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum!

Vacuuming removes lots of flea larvae and eggs from the carpet. It also removes their food source. Make sure to clean the filter often. The filter can get infested too. Why not put some salt or baking soda in there, as well? Die, fleas!

Vacuum, again. I’m serious!

Ok, I know you have a lot of vacuuming to do, but you have to save some time to wash the bedding.

Wash it more often than you normally would. Make sure to use high heat. Remember, you are on a mission to kill.

If you are in over your head with fleas, you may want to call the exterminator to get it under control. After that, you can maintain it.

Either way, fleas are going to DIE!

We’ll talk about your yard next time.

Good riddance to fleas and God bless you, Lauren and the PDH crew

Flea Fact: Fleas have Olympic-style jumping skills. They are able to jump more than 150 times their body length.

 

 

 

Helping out in times of trouble

We hope you’re staying warm and safe. God bless, Lauren & the Pawsh Dog House crew 🙂

Call your location or book online using the links here.

Dangers of Pet Fur Matting

Now more than ever we need our animal friends, to comfort us and keep us company. Pawsh Dog House is open, safely, because grooming is never just a cosmetic benefit; it has health benefits such as the removal of matting from dog and cat fur. Don’t let the cool weather fool you! As soon as weather starts to get cool, people think that their dogs need to keep all their fur. They decide to either keep the fur in a longer style, or not get the dog groomed at all. If your dog spends most of its time indoors, you can keep them in their normal grooming style. If your dog is going to be spending extended periods outdoors, try a doggy sweater.  The picture shows matting, that we often see at Pawsh Dog House. Pet parents don’t realize how quickly serious matting can occur. Without regular brushing, tangles turn into heavy matting. Matts can pull the skin tightly, causing poor circulation. This leads to serious discomfort, skin problems, and even hematoma. De-matting a dog can be dangerous if not done by a trained groomer. Brush burn, razor burn, knicks and cuts can be the result of poor grooming. For your pet’s ultimate health and comfort, we recommend regular grooming.  Pawsh Dog House offers weekly baths at 50% off. We can keep your pup brushed out so you don’t have to worry.

Pawsh Dog House Won Best of The Best Pet Groomers in Houston!

Pawsh Dog House sends a big “thank you” to all of our customers, staff and furry friends for voting us #1 Best of the Best pet groomers in all of Houston, Texas. What an honor! We are thrilled to be recognized and to continue to serve you all with the utmost care and professionalism.

Natural Relief for Canine Cough

Canine cough (also known as canine infectious tracheobronchitis) is a highly contagious respiratory disease. While it is often called “kennel cough,” we don’t use that phrase because dogs can catch it anywhere. There is a wide variety of viruses and bacteria which can cause respiratory diseases in dogs. The most common organisms associated with canine cough are the bacteria Bordetella bronchiseptica, and two viruses called Parainfluenza virus and Adenovirus. Therefore the Bordetella vaccine only protects against one bacterial component of this multi-factorial disease.

How canine cough manifests: The disease is airborne and may be transmitted through direct contact or being in environments with infected dogs that cough or sneeze. The canine cough has cold-like symptoms and has no cure, but the cough typically goes away even without any  treatment in 10 to 21 days. The disease may manifest through sneezing and frequent dry coughing. It may be more severe in puppies, while some dogs may not show any symptoms. Puppies and immunocompromised dogs may have a more difficult time fighting the infection.

What to do about canine cough

1. Recognize the symptoms. 2. Consult your vet. 3. Isolate your dog from other pets.

Remedying the Cough Naturally

1. Use a humidifier. Canine cough is a very dry cough. Therefore, keep the air in the room, or the area your dog is staying in, moist. Use a humidifier or a vaporizer to keep the air moist. ^[3]Make sure to keep your dog away from smoke, and other irritating and noxious fumes.^[4]
2. Have your dog breathe in steam. Steam is also an effective way to remedy your dog’s cough. Steam will open up your dog’s bronchial tubes and break up phlegm.^[5]With the door closed, turn on your shower as hot as it can go, and let the room steam up for 15 to 20 minutes. Bring your dog into the bathroom, and sit with it for 15 to 25 minutes to let your dog breathe in the steam.
3. Give your dog honey. Honey will help soothe your dog’s dry throat. It also has anti-bacterial properties. Give your dog a teaspoon or two of honey per day until its symptoms improve.^[6]
4. Offer your dog coconut oil. Coconut oil is thought to have beneficial properties that may help combat your dog’s kennel cough. Pour two teaspoons of coconut oil over your dog’s food daily, or let your dog lick it from a spoon. Remember, coconut oil is high in calories, so feeding too much is not recommended. Likewise, dogs who need a low fat diet for weight loss or other health-related reasons should not be given coconut oil.
5. Feed your dog chicken stock. Chicken stock is great way to soothe your dog’s throat while ensuring it gets important vitamins, minerals, and proteins. Before feeding your dog, mix your dog’s kibble or drinking water with the chicken stock. This is a particularly helpful method if your dog’s appetite decreases because of the cough.

Boosting Your Dog’s Immune System

1. Make sure your dog rests. While your dog is recovering, make sure it gets adequate rest. Try not to exercise or play with your dog too much. Also, try to provide a stress-free environment. Too much activity and stress can weaken your dog’s immune system and prevent it from recovering.^[8] Keep your dog calm and relaxed by being calm and relaxed yourself. Limit activity and loud noises in the house. Also, limit other activities that can cause stress, like trimming your dog’s nails or giving it a bath. Because a leash can irritate your dog’s throat and make a cough worse, use a leash attached to a harness if you must walk your dog.^[9]This cough is usually better with a week or two of rest.^[10]
2. Buy probiotics. Probiotics are a great way to boost your dog’s immune system. Keeping your dog’s immune system up is critical when treating canine cough. You can buy probiotics specifically made for your dog from your local pet supply store. Probiotics come in several different forms, such as powders, capsules, chews, and dog food. Sprinkle a recommended dosage of probiotics on your dog’s food before they eat. If your dog is on an antibiotic prescribed by the vet, make sure to wait at least two hours before administering the probiotic. If not, the two will cancel each other out.^[12]
3. Supplement your dog’s diet with vitamins. Another great way to boost your dog’s immune system is to supplement its diet with vitamins. Particularly, vitamin C is a great immune booster. Make sure to buy vitamins that are made specifically for dogs. You can buy them from your local pet supply store. Dog vitamins usually come in the form of soft, chewable tablets. You can either place a tablet in your dog’s food bowl with its meal, or give your dog a tablet after it is finished eating. The recommended dosage depends on your dog’s weight. Check the back of the bottle to see how much your dog needs.

6 Tips for the Best Boarding Experience

We love boarding your pets whenever you have to go out of town or just need a break! While most dogs and cats are good candidates for a successful overnight stay, following these tips makes for the best boarding experience possible.

1. Keep up with Vaccines. Did you know that vaccines are most effective when they have had time to work in the body? Try to get your pets vaccinated at least two weeks before you board, for maximum protection. Pawsh Dog House requires the Distemper/Parvo vaccine once a year. The Rabies vaccine is required every one to three years (depending on the manufacturer’s specificiations), while the Bordetella vaccine is needed every six months to one year, depending on your veterinarian’s recommendations.
2. Start with regular daycare. Dogs are creatures of habit. They are made comfortable by their normal routine. Stress and discomfort are almost guaranteed when this routine is disturbed. Example: if you drop off your 5 year old dog to spend a few nights in a strange place, when he/she has never experienced that before. Remedy: take your pup to doggy daycare. We recommend starting when your pup is young, but older dogs can benefit from this as well. Instilling this habit into your pet’s normal routine will ensure their comfort when they have to stay overnight. Even daycare once a month would be a good start. We have a Tuesday special that includes a half day of daycare and a wash-n-go bath. Your fur baby can start getting comfy with us and also go home fresh/clean for just $20. Can’t beat that!
3. Prepare food. Make sure to bring your dog’s own food. Our boarding facility serves a superior quality food just in case you forget yours; however, a sudden change in diet may cause upset tummies, leaving pets with unnecessary stress.
4. Update flea/tick prevention. Going anywhere that multiple pets congregate makes for a greater risk for unwanted “hitchhikers.” Trifexis and other pill forms of flea/tick prevention are the most effective. Give your pet their monthly prevention before boarding. Pawsh Dog House requires all pets to be on prevention. When a pet comes in with fleas, they are put directly in the tub for a flea bath, no exceptions.
5. Bring familiar items. A toy, a blanket, and maybe one of your old shirts will likely make your pet feel more comfortable and secure, because these items are familiar and smell like home.
6. Consider a Healthy Stay pack. Our Vitality pack includes a multitude of supplements to ensure ultimate health and comfort during your pet’s stay: The superfood seasoning is a delicious topper that not only entices your pet to eat his/her food but is also packed with vitamins. Salmon oil helps to soothe skin and other ailments.  Allergy remedy helps stop unwanted itching. Joint support helps loosen up/prevent achy joints.  Probiotics soothe stressed tummies and aid digestion. Finally, Chillax calms any anxiety caused by the change in your pet’s normal routine.

We hope these tips make both you and your pet more comfortable with boarding.

If you are ready to make a pet boarding or grooming appointment, contact us at Pawsh Dog House and we will make sure you and your dog have a great experience!

How to Make Grooming Stress-Free For Your Dog

Getting your dog groomed is an important part of their well-being, but it can often be a stressful experience for them. We know you want your dog to be as happy as possible, so there are several things you can do at home to help make this scary experience a little easier. Follow these guidelines and going to the groomer can become a breeze – or even fun!

Start Early

Start the grooming process when your dog is still a puppy, if possible. This will get them used to it at an early age. Puppies are more adaptable, so it won’t be such a big change. It is also a good idea to keep them going to the groomer on a regular basis. Stick to the same routine and make sure to give them lots of love afterward to make it a normal and fun part of their life.

Brush/Wash Regularly

Taking good care of your dog’s coat will make the grooming process much smoother and easier for everyone. Brushing them at least a couple of times a week will help prevent any matting of their fur which is difficult to get out and can cause pain. Bathing them regularly is also a great way to keep their coat clean and easy to groom. Of course, regular bathing varies depending on the type of dog you have and their fur, so do some research first on how often your dog should be bathed.

Practice At Home

There are lots of scary things going on at the groomers – noisy trimmers, other dogs barking, strangers touching their paws and face, etc. It might help to get your dog used to some of these things at home first. You can massage their paws and in between their fingers regularly so they are used to the sensation. Try using a vibrating toothbrush or other buzzing objects around them, and softly rub their chin and near their eyes. Always be gentle and give lots of treats and praise!

Smooth Drop-Off

We know that you are worried about leaving your pet, but it is very important that you stay calm while dropping them off. Dogs are very good at picking up on our emotions, and if you act stressed out, they will too. A quick kiss and a “see you soon!” will make the drop-off much smoother. You can also let your groomer know a little about your dog’s likes, dislikes, or personality – anything that will help them keep your dog calm and happy. You may even want to bring them to the groomer for a meet and greet visit first so they can get to know the groomer as well.

Hopefully, with these tips, your grooming experience will become worry-free for you and your fur baby.

If you are ready to make a grooming appointment, contact us at Pawsh Dog House and we will make sure you and your dog have a great experience!