No bones about it, dogs love to chew. But why do they chew? Can I give my dog anything to chew on? Why does he chew himself? What can I give my dog to chew on that is safe? I’m here to answer all of these questions.
So why does your dog chew? The simple answer is it’s instinctual. Dogs chew for a variety of reasons, sometimes to relieve stress, sometimes because something on their body itches or hurts, sometimes because they are bored and it’s just plain fun for them. The act of chewing releases endorphins, they get that happy feeling when they are chewing on something. Chewing is also good for oral health, maintaining strong jaws and good for mental stimulation. Destructive chewing is something that’s best avoided, however. If your dog is chewing on inappropriate things, it’s time to do some investigating and also some training. If you don’t teach your dog what is appropriate to chew on and what is not, they will find anything to satisfy that craving --and you may not like the result. Train early on what is appropriate to chew on; toys, bones, etc. If you find the chewing is due to separation anxiety, it’s time to find ways to relieve that anxiousness. Crate training is one of the best ways to keep separation anxiety at bay. Contrary to what some believe, crate training is not punishment. Think of it more as your dog's safe space; their room. This is where they can go when they need to be at peace, when they need some quiet and alone time. If your dog is anxious when left home alone, putting them in their crate with a safe chew toy is one of the best things you can do. Pheromone diffusers or sprays can help alleviate anxiety. Adaptil is a great brand. If your dog is chewing on themselves, this is also destructive chewing. This can be due to a number of things. First thing to do, is make a vet appointment to rule out any pain or skin itchiness issues. If your dog comes home with a clean bill of health, it’s time to look deeper. Are they anxious? See the suggestions above or seek the advice of a behaviorist. Are they bored? They probably need more mental stimulation like play time, daily walks (find a professional dog walker in your area here), food puzzles, chew toys/bones, trick training (the list of tricks is endless depending on how talented your pup is). In terms of chew bones, there is one I recommend and that is a raw bone. These come in a variety of different types, marrow bones, knuckle bones and femurs. I recommend getting beef or lamb as they are large animals and it’s less likely your dog will swallow the bone, potentially causing a choking hazard. NEVER leave your dog unattended with a bone, while the risk is less with larger bones, it is never zero. And NEVER EVER feed cooked bones to your dog! If they accidentally ingest a cooked bone, go to the vet immediately!! Click here for more in depth info on raw bones. Do not feed rawhide either, that is made mostly of toxic chemicals in a factory. For chew toys, there are a plethora of items on the market. I love the ones that you can put food in or smear peanut butter (xylitol and sugar free of course) in the center, like a Kong. Just be sure to get toys that are size appropriate for your dog. A toy that is too small can cause a choking hazard and a toy that is too large will be frustrating for your dog. Avoid toys where your dog can chew off smaller pieces and potentially swallow them, this also is a choking or intestinal blockage hazard. Because I am an advocate for pet wellness, I have to state the obvious. Below is copy and pasted from the
0 Comments
If you follow my pet sitting business (Jenn’s Pet TLC, LLC) on Facebook, you may have seen the post on the article from USA Today about the potential dangers of the ever popular Seresto flea collars for dogs and cats. Sadly, these collars have been linked to nearly 1,700 pet deaths, according to the article. While the EPA has issued no warning, it is our duty as pet parents to be our pets best advocate. It’s important to remember when using a flea collar, like Seresto, your pet is being exposed to small doses of pesticides, 24/7, for as long as the pet wears the collar.
Cats are especially sensitive to flea preventatives with many causing seizures and even death. For cats, we recommend using Cheristin. Our cats tolerate it very well as opposed to Advantage or other strong chemical brands. For dogs, it’s best to talk with your vet as different brands are better for different sizes and ages of dogs. Equally as important is not to solely go on the cost of the flea/pest preventative for your pet. A cheaper flea preventative could make your pet very sick as the ingredients won’t be as high in quality. According to MedVet.com “Common signs of toxicity from flea products containing organophosphates are diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, small pupils, muscle tremor, weakness or falling over, and drooling. Organophosphate toxicity can be rapidly fatal, depending on the ingredients and dose the pet is exposed to.” The more natural route is diatomaceous earth (food grade only!!). There are many pet safe DE products on the market, but how it works is the DE acts like tiny shards of glass with razor sharp edges, when the fleas come in contact with it, it creates tiny scrapes on their body that cause them to dry out and die. Unless the product specifically says so, only spread out your home, not on your pet. Vacuum up the DE after a few days. For more tips, click here. To sum up, flea and tick preventatives should not be taken lightly. These are pesticides that we are putting on our pets and we need to ensure the product is safe and will not make them sick. |
AuthorMy name is Jenn Hodge, CPPS. I've been a professional pet sitter since 2009 and I have a passion for helping your pets live their best life! I have 2 adorable and sassy cats, 1 horse and a fish tank with guppies and an aquatic frog. My husband, Ryan Hodge, CPPS and author, also works in my pet business. Archives
October 2024
Categories |
Proudly powered by Weebly