Labrador Retriever Dogs Blog

Summer is here and your dog or pet is going to be a lot more active then they were over the winter. You are going to have trips to the beach, hiking and trail travelling and even just visits to friends and family outings. One thing you should keep in mind is your dog or pets safety. Why not pack a first aid kit for your furry friend, especially if you are going off of the beaten path.

The first thing you should is do is pick up a first aid book so you understand exactly what you are going to do with your first aid kit. Having a kit and not understanding what do to with the contents is like not having one at all. A great read is the The Orvis Field Guide to First Aid for Sporting Dogs  This is a great guide to everything you need to know about first aid and your sporting dog or pet.

As far as first aid kits go, you have a couple of choices. You can purchase a commercial pet first aid kit or you can build one yourself. If building one yourself here is a list of items that you should include:

Have fun and a great safe summer and enjoy the nice weather with your dog or pet.

A reader wrote in yesterday with a question about the health risks involved in exposing their labrador retriever to second hand smoke.  Exposure to second hand smoke is as deadly a health risk to our pets as it is to ourselves or our children.

Studies show that second hand smoke doubles lymphoma risk in cats and increases the risk of cancer in dogs. The type of cancer most found is respiratory cancer. Studies have also shown that dogs with longer nose systems that a labrador retriever or german shepherd are more apt to develop problems over a pug for example.

Not only do your pets inhale the dangerous smoke they ingest the particles with their tounge when they groom themselves because the particles are trapped in their fur.

The bottom line, don't expose your pets to second hand smoke.

Further Reading: Lung Association Quebec, Smoke Free Society

From time to time the topic pops up about whether or not feeding your dog carrots is good or not. My dog loves carrots and we use them for training purposes as well as rewards for good behaviour. You are actually do your dog a favour by adding vegetables into their diet. Dogs are omnivores, they can and should eat fruits and veggies. Of course like everything else in moderation and by mixing it up a little. Carrots are good for their teeth but at the same time contain sugar so please feed in moderation.

If you are wondering what fruit and vegetables to avoid please have a look at this thread Dangerous Foods and Plants to Dogs.

What is the most important thing that you want to keep in mind when shopping items for your pets? Of course it is the safety and well being of your pet. This means that when you are buying pet products you want to be sure that they are wholesome and contain nothing but all natural ingredients. It doesn’t matter if you are buying pet shampoos, dog spa products or any kind of pet supplies, you want the best and you want them all natural.

I see a lot of dogs that have major problems with their coats as a result of allergies. They have allergic reactions to the food and the products they use because these products do not contain all natural ingredients. It is very important when choosing a dog shampoo to read the ingredients carefully. You want to look for some things as Yogurtene, Honey and Aloe Vera extracts. These natural ingredients will work to bring out the best shine in your dogs coat and leave them smelling fresh and looking refreshed. Yogurtene conditions and strengthens the coat, honey helps to maintain moisture in skin and hair and aloe vera helps soften the coat and soothe the skin.

 If you are buying other pet or dog products the same hold true. Don’t just buy anything, look for items that contain natural ingredients. It doesn’t matter if you are buying something for dog gas, your dogs’ breath or their digestive system. Just like you were going to the health store for yourself look for such things as Fennel Extract, Dill Extract, Parsley Extract, Ginger Extract, Grapefruit Seed Extract and Peppermint and Spearmint Essential Oils. Your dog or pet will be glad you did and so will you.