Friday, July 29, 2011

Summer Heat Dangers for Dogs



Coco and River near Coco's private "beach"


We all know how dangerous excessive heat can be for all of us, especially for dogs who are dependent on us for their safety.

Coco has her own sandbox and swimming pool under a big shade tree and I refresh the water several times a day. This, in addition to daily trips to the river, however, still weren’t enough….

Coco developed sores on the tops of her ears. Right in the crease where the ears are attached to her head bone, there were perfectly round, quarter-sized raw circles. At first I thought she’d just rubbed her head on something. I washed the raw skin and put antibiotic cream on the sores. But after a few days without any improvement, I realized it was more than that.

I took her to the doctor.
“Those are hot spots,” he said.
“What?”

The doctor then explained that the raw circles on Coco’s head were particularly vulnerable to the sun and were therefore “weaker”. This made them attractive to flies that were actually eating away her fur and skin!

The doctor gave me a fly-repellant ointment to keep on her ears and an antibiotic pill to fend off infection. Coco didn’t seem to be in pain, but general discomfort from the incessant heat.

Healing is slow because the heat is still relentless, but at least she is getting better. Every morning when I let her out of her crate, I am happy to see the sores are no longer red, are getting smaller, and are developing a healthy scab.

Moral of the story: in this unreasonable heat, keep your dogs in the shade; keep them hydrated; and keep the flies away!

Further Reading:


Hot Spot Remedies


Summer Heat and Heath Hazards for Pets



Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Great Pictures of Dogs in Action!


This wonderful photographer, Carli Davidson, out of Portland, Oregon takes pictures of pets. She has this awesome series called "SHAKE" and let me tell you, it is well worth your time to check it out!

SHAKE is exactly what you'd think it is - shots of dogs in the throes of shaking!

Here's one of her photos - but be sure to check out the whole series!

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Help Us Name Our New Business!

My friend and I are about to launch a new business – a fashion clothing and accessories line of products for dogs and their humans, but we need help naming the business!

We’ll be selling one-of-a-kind, custom-designed fancy frocks and whimsical accessories. We are aiming at a high-end market – people who love to pamper their pups and love to show them off.

To help you choose a name that best fits what we are all about and the kinds of products we have, I’m giving you a sneak preview of just a few items from some of our categories in the pictures below. Following that is a list of the names we have so far and the number of votes each has received as of the date of this post. Please choose your favorite name or feel free to add one of your own!








Name Choices we have so far:

Bitches –N- Beaux
Posh Paws
Paws Apparel
Dog Tags
The Canine Line
Bohemian Bitches
Dress the Dog
The Bark Boutique
Doggie Designs
FiFi’s Fashions