Our dog, Daisy, knows the way to the cabin.  It takes four hours and includes crossing the ocean, but once we pull off the 19A highway and hit the gravel road, her ears perk up; her stubby little tail points north; and she starts scratching at the window.  Once the engine is turned off, she makes a mad scramble over the kids, desperate to be the first one out.  Opening the door, I stand back, making way for the hurtling flying ball. 

Daisy loves the freedom that comes with cabin living.  Her 50 foot yard is suddenly expanded to 800 acres, and includes: A lake, a forest, and unexpected treats from neighbors. But if your pet, like Daisy, is allowed to run lose at the cottage; you need to protect them from the elements.  Dr. Clark from the Granville Island Veterinary Hospital recommends the following:

• Rabies – make sure your cat and dog have their rabies shots.  Vaccination is done every three years.

•  Fleas and other things that tick:  Parasite protection is also important, especially if you have children.  If your dog is pooping where the children are playing, internal parasites, like round worm eggs, can cause blindness.  Dr. Clark prefers to use a topical parasiticide like Revolution.  It not only eliminates fleas, but also works on internal parasites like: hook worms, whip worms, and round worms. You should also check your pet frequently for ticks.

• Water –dogged:  Some dogs love the water; others avoid it.  Dogs that spend a lot of time in the water are more susceptible to ear infections, particularly if they have floppy ears.  Dr. Clark suggests using a drying and cleansing agent for the ears like Epi-otic.  But how do you know if your dog has an ear infection?  Your dog will scratch the infected ear a lot.

• Skunks:  there is nothing worse than a dog who’s been sprayed by a skunk.  It’s times like these you wished you had fish.  Dr. Clark recommends this simple remedy should you find yourself faced with a stinky pooch.

De-Skunking Recipe:

1. 1 quart (600 mls) 3% hydrogen peroxide

2. ¼ cup baking soda

3. 1 tbsp scented pet shampoo or any other non-medicated shampoo

Mix the ingrediants together and shampoo the dog, being careful to not get it in their eyes.

Here’s to happy healthy pets this summer.

Cheers,

Julie

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 27th, 2007 at 10:45 am and is filed under Fix It. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.