Did you know

"The Top 20 things you should look for before buying a purebred"  Here are some tips on what to look for as well as some questions to ask.

Always physically check the dog:

1. Check the inside of the ears

(You're checking for mites-black pencil dot specs that move, a yeasty odor and/or any bruises/cuts)

2. Check the skin and fur

(Are there any fleas, ticks, ringworms or bruises/cuts?

3. Check inside the mouth for discoloration, bleeding and/or a foul smell

(You’re smelling for an infection)

4. Last the nose and eyes

(Is the nose dry or excreting any fluid? Are the eyes crusty or have excess eye goop? Do they look clouded?)

　

Ask questions:

5. Is the puppy current on vaccinations?

6. Are there any health issues, hereditary or not?

7. Was the puppy a result of in-breeding?

8. Were there any complications during pregnancy or during birth?

9. Did the Veterinarian give the puppy a clean bill of health?

10. Did the puppy test positive for anything?

(Parvo or Worms)

11. Is the puppy a purebred, are the parents registered, and is the puppy registered?

　

Ask for proof

12. Do you have documentation from the Veterinarian showing proof of vaccinations and a clean bill of health?

(This would show if the puppy tested positive for anything)

13. Any other veterinarian documentation

(Such as if the puppy was born at the hospital, it would prove their was no complications)

14. If purebred, ask to see the parent’s paperwork and his paperwork

15. Finally ask if you have permission to verify all health related questions with the veterinarian

(Be sure they call the veterinarian first and give permission for you to get the info.)

　

Be cautious

16. Make sure you look up the Veterinarians phone number and not to assume the phone number they gave you is true. There are people who forge veterinary paperwork and have a friend or family member on the other side of the phone number they gave you.

17. If they do not have any paperwork on them, take the steps to contact their veterinarian with their permission.

18.If they claim that the puppy is a purebred but have no paperwork for them or the parents and they are charging you money for the puppy, in my opinion don't get the puppy. There is no proof the puppy is purebred without the proper paperwork. People pay breeders for purebreds because they are proven to be a purebred. Without the paperwork on the parents or the puppy, it's just another puppy.

19. Watch for evasiveness, a peddler not answering questions usually means they are hiding something or lying about something.

20. If they refuse permission for you to get the info from the veterinarian, they are probably lying about the puppy's health

　


As a final note, information is they key. The more you have the more you know so you don't end up paying big time in the end.

Thank you for seizing this opportunity to learn and assist in the prevention of animal cruelty. Many pets everyday are subdued to neglect and abuse. This has been a growing concern for quite some time and is not an issue to be taken lightly. Our pets cannot speak for themselves through words as we can. So we must speak for them. Whether you have a Rex, Daisy, Mr. Whiskers or even a Mr. Cheeks these pets have made their way into our hearts and into our families. They are no longer just our simple companion, our guard dog, or even our mice traps. We buy them so much necessities now or days; clothes, expensive food, the newest toys, jewel encrusted collars, carrying bags, strollers, birthday gifts and even go about and make them apart of our holiday celebrations.

However many pets do not have this good fortune. Many pets are forced to remain outside with no shelter during a thunderstorm. Soaking wet by the next day to come and forced to remain until the sun warms and dries them. Dogs and puppies alike smacked for having a mere accident on the floor and thrown for jumping on the couch. When all they wanted was a little attention. Many dogs are subjected to harsh and abusive conditions everyday and all they want is a family to love them and show them how much they mean to you. Instead they find themselves in a home with someone who has an anger problem or someone who just doesn't care for them or cannot afford them.

Do your part as an animal lover and watch out for these guys. Turn in their unloving and undeserving owners. This week is dedicated to those pets. The pets that cannot speak for themselves and inform the proper people that their parents are abusing them, neglecting them and not showing them the love they deserve. After all they never asked to be placed in that home, they were forced to.

Socialization: "The process of interacting your dog with other dogs to ensure there is no dog aggression."

A day at the dog park can be a blast, especially when there are no issues or fights. Every day thousands of owners bring their dogs to the dog park and most of the time all the dogs there get along great. Once in a while, you'll get a dog that is great but than dog aggression hits. No one knows why he or she snapped, they just knew that they were playing, running and having fun but it does happen.

In my experience dog aggression comes from a lack of socialization and the owners reactions to their dog, you must watch how you react to other people, other dogs and how you react when your dog is playing. Now even under the right circumstances a dog who is well socialized must still be kept under close supervision, after all we are a well socialized group but we can get nasty too if someone decides to fight us. It's the same with dogs, they may be well socialized but whose to say the other dog is. If a dog fight does occur remain calm and take care of the situation because when your calm your dog has a better chance of becoming calm.

In order to socialize your dog there are a few things you must know. Start off early, 16 weeks is the youngest I'd recommend due to vaccines. 16 weeks is when you get your first rabies shot, and as some of us do not know the United States has the most cases of the rabies virus. England is not affected by the rabies virus at all (The More You Know) ;) . Also be sure to get a bordetella vaccine if you’re going to socialize, only because you never know if another dog has kennel cough. If you socialize earlier, ensure the other dogs are current on their vaccines. Socialize with dogs of all breeds, sizes and ages. This gets the dog used to being around dogs of sizes much smaller and larger than itself. Make sure the other dogs are well socialized if you’re socializing your young puppy. You want to keep your young companion safe after all. Socialize often, a couple times a week and for an hour or two each time. If you want to socialize more do so, but be cautious not to tire out your baby. Socialize in different settings such as pet stores, dog parks, the beach, a friend’s house and anywhere else dogs may gather in your area. Last but not least be sure to reward for good behavior, discipline bad behavior and always ALWAYS keep your dog/puppy under close supervision.

Thank you to all my followers and customers. Shop Ingenuity is no longer in business because we have changed our name to Puppy Vista. At this time the web address is www.shopingenuity.com but in a few days it will become www.puppyvista.com

So now you know how to properly restrain your dog, take a pulse, monitor the heart, examine the gums and monitor breathing. In this segment you will learn how to give CPR, clean a wound and apply a bandage.

Giving CPR:
Step 1 - Clear the airway. Lay the dog on its side, check the mouth and nose for any debris. Remove any debris and pull the tongue forward.

Step 2 - Close the muzzle with your hand, and keep it there. Place your mouth over the nose and blow until you see the chest expand.

Step 3 - Remove your mouth from the nose and allow the lungs to deflate.

Step 4 - Repeat 20x per minute, checking the pulse every 1o seconds to ensure the heart is still beating.

If the heart stops beating, than it is time for the next procedure.

Small Dogs:

Step 1 - Leave dog on its side with its head lower than its body.

Step 2 - Grasp chest with your thumb and fingers just behind the elbows. Leave your free hand along it's back for support.

Step 3 - Compress the chest walls, squeezing up towards the neck vigorously.

Step 4 - Repeat 30x in 15 seconds

Step 5 - Than do mouth to mouth (well mouth to nose) for 10 seconds

Step 6 - Check for a pulse, Repeat until you get a pulse

Step 7 - Go to the Vet

Large Dogs:

Step 1 - Leave dog on its side with its head lower than its body.

Step 2 - Place the heel of one hand on the chest behind the elbow, and the heel of the other hand on top of your 1st hand.

Step 3 - Compress the chest walls, pushing up towards the neck vigorously.

Step 4 - Repeat 25x in 15 seconds

Step 5 - Than do mouth to mouth (well mouth to nose) for 10 seconds

Step 6 - Check for a pulse, Repeat until you get a pulse

Step 7 - Go to the Vet

Cleaning a wound:
If there is bleeding, apply a compress and hold for stop bleeding. Pour Hydrogen Peroxide if available, salt water or clean water over wound to clean. Use tweezers to remove any foreign objects from it. If hair is in the wound, use a pair of scissors with lubrication to cut hairs away. Ensure the hair is still damp when cutting it. When the wound is cleaned dab dry with clean material.

Applying a bandage:
After the wound has been cleaned and is dry apply an adhesive pad over the wound so it's covering it completely. Use gauze to wrap the pad and finally adhesive tape to secure it.

A word of the wise, it's a good idea to have a dog first aid kit available.


Always be sure to talk to your veterinarian regarding any questions you may have.

Please remember I am not a veterinarian and you should always speak to your local vet before performing any of the advice given here.

Royal Dog Houses

Shop Ingenuity Sweepstakes

You are walking your dog and all of a sudden he gets loose. He runs across the street and gets hit by a car. What is the first thing you do? You probably freak out, like most people would. Everyone knows that however in dire situations to remain calm. How you react to a crisis can often mean the difference between life and death. In this segment of  you will learn how to properly restrain your dog, take a pulse, monitor the heart, examine the gums and monitor breathing. All which may sound difficult but is actually fairly simple.

Restraint: Restraint of a large dog: Wrap your arm as far as possible around the dog’s neck therefore leaving your free hand to examine the dog. 
Restraint of a small dog: Firmly yet gently grip the dogs muzzle. With your free arm, use your elbow to apply pressure to the dog’s body.
Always be sure to be gentle yet firm. I mean after all you don't wont to injure the dog anymore than it already is.
Now it's time to muzzle your K-9

Materials: A Strong but gentle material such as an ace bandage or a scarf.

Directions: Make a loop, size it right to fit over the dogs muzzle.

Place over the dogs muzzle so the tie in on top and tighten. (Do NOT tie into a knot!!!)

With the two strings left wrap them back underneath the muzzle, so the strings now hang down.

Last but not least, wrap them around to the back of the neck just behind the ears and tie into a bow.

Now you have a working muzzle.
Taking a pulse:

To take a pulse, take your four fingers and place them on the inside of the back leg where a groove lies. Apply a little bit of pressure; too much pressure will give no results. Count the beats for 15 seconds and multiply by 4 to get your bpm. (Beats per minute)
Monitor the heart:
Monitor the heart for a large dog: Take your four fingers and place them into the pit of the front leg, move your fingers around until you can feel a beat. Count for 15 seconds and multiply by 4.

Monitor the heart for a small dog: Gently squeeze the chest behind the dog’s elbows to find the heart rate. Count for 15, multiply by 4.
Examine the gums:
To examine the gums is really easy. Just lift the upper lip and check the gums. The gums should be pink and when pressure is applied, they should turn white until release and should go back to pink immediately. However if the gums are white or pale this could indicate shock. When pressure is released does not turn pink again than shock could be impending. Many dogs have black in their gums, for this you just find a pink area to examine.
Monitor the breathing:
To monitor breathing place your hand on the dogs chest and count for 15 seconds how many times the dog breathes in or out, but never both. Multiply by four and you have your answer. Large and older dogs have a lower breath rate than a younger or small dog.



Be sure to talk to your veterinarian as normal rates differ from breed to breed as well.

If you notice any irregularities or issues in breathing, gums, pulse or heart rate see your veterinarian.

Please remember that I am not a veterinarian and you should always talk to your local vet before performing any of the advice given here.

Everywhere you go you hear the words "Breed Restrictions" and I just have to wonder what it all means. Where these legislators and government officials came to the conclusion that a specific breed is dangerous or even a nuisance. The answers I sought out shocked me. I've been in the veterinary field for quite some time and all the time I have never came across a "dangerous" or "nuisance" dog that was defined as the "bad" dog they are claimed to be. In fact they were outstanding patients. Now wouldn't this dangerous breed actually be dangerous in a hospital setting? I mean after all if the dog is coming in for anything from a nail trim to a blood test the dog would have to be restrained. A dangerous dog in my book would be more aggressive in these circumstances. Now don't get me wrong, I've had my share of aggression in the veterinary field, however I never looked at aggression to be classified by breed. I look at different circumstances to determine the aggression. Such as, have the owners trained him/her correctly or at all, was the dog socialized with other dogs and people besides the ones where he/she lives and was the dog abused or neglected in any way? And I look to the circumstance. Is the dog in pain or even suffering from age-related ailments? Hey, when I'm in pain watch out cause I'll snap too!

So, is one breed more dangerous than the other? Are some breeds hard wired to attack dogs and maim children? In the course of researching this article, my opinion is that much of this fire concerning the "bad breeds" is fanned by those who don't know the breed. The dog owners, the neighbors, the Johnson’s with their 4 kids living down the street and yes even Mrs. Peterson the widow on the corner who makes those rock hard fruit cakes on the holidays and give them out. In one circumstance a middle-aged woman who lived a couple houses down from a young male was attacked by a "Pit Bull". This incident went to court and due to a few more similar cases this breed was thereby restricted and classified "dangerous". Now in Ohio a Pit Bull is classified not as a specific breed but as any dog of the bull terrier type. They also say that any dog that looks like a "Pit" will be classified as a Pit unless the owner has STRONG evidence supporting otherwise.

Breeds earn their negative reputations from newsworthy attacks, media coverage and exaggerated stories spread word-of-mouth. Pit Bull types are crowding our animal shelters because their reputation as the uncontrollable and unpredictable attack dogs make it difficult, if not impossible for them to find a home. That is all because of "Breed Restrictions" and because of the reputation everyone is giving them. It's not the breed that needs to be punished with tainting it's name or restricting these possible family members filled with love from finding a home.

We as a society are constantly placing a label on everyone and everything. We do it to our neighbors and colleagues. Whether by race, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion.... whatever. Everything has a place and everything in its place, right? It saddens me that we do this to dogs as well.

My final thought: blame the owner not the breed!

Most owners know the responsibilities of owning a pet; they even know what hygienic care is required. Right? Actually you'd be surprised on how many people don't know everything you should do to keep your pet in good hygienic condition. Every year 10's of thousands of dogs, cats and other animals are brought into a veterinary hospital because their owners were unaware of the basic care needs of their pets. In this article I will not only tell you what those basic care needs are but what can happen if you don't do them.

As everyone basically knows, your dog must be given baths. Now depending on your dog’s length of hair and how active your dog is will determine how often you give them a bath. Obviously if your dog has long hair and/or it outside quite often and gets dirty quick you will bathe more often. Also pay attention to what dog shampoo you use; there are different shampoos for different types, color and length of hair. There are also different shampoos for if your dog has dandruff, fleas, dry skin and more. So do your research and see what shampoo and/or conditioner will be beneficial for your dog. Neglecting to wash your pets can often lead to skin issues as well as odor problems.

Brushing your dog is very important as well. How often you brush also depends on length of fur and how often your dog sheds. Now there are many different kinds of brushes, combs and rakes. Each one is used for a different reason. Failing to brush as often as needed will cause well dog fur all over your home and even worse can cause knots and fur to stick together causing dreads that may form all the way down to the skin. Bugs can easily make their way into these dreads, even laying eggs in them. Since you may even wash your dog it is nearly impossible to get these dreads dry and can easily cause infections and more.