Ask Muddy
The Dog Who Knows What's Best For Him
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More Useful Stuff
This page contains general information, a few products, book recommendations, and other links that we hope you'll find useful.
FLEA AND TICK PREVENTATIVE. If you're like me, you don't particularly like dousing your dog in insecticides once a month to keep fleas and ticks away. Some dogs have had severe skin reactions to vet-approved products - even so-called "natural" repellents may not disclose certain ingredients, such as preservatives, which can be harmful.The NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) has some interesting information on the dangers of certain flea and tick repellents on their "Poisons on Pets" page. In the past, when traveling to heavily tick-infested areas, I used Frontline or Avantix (which is said to repel ticks as well as killing those that do become embedded); but frankly, I haven't found either product works very well: my dogs still come home with ticks on them. So we are now using all-natural products. The suggestions below are not just for fleas and ticks, but also help repel mosquitos, which is important if you choose not to use (or to minimize) chemical heartworm medicines.
Here are two solutions we like:
TICK REMOVAL. If you do find a tick on your dog (or yourself!), please don't use any of the old wives' remedies like covering it in petroleum jelly or nail polish, or touching it with a hot match. These solutions can cause the tick to regurgitate more toxins into its host. Instead, using a good pair of tweezers, grasp the tick's head (not the body) as close to the skin as you can; pull gently, without twisting, and just hold on until the tick lets go. Once it's out, put it in a jar of alcohol to kill it. Disinfect the wound; you may also wish to apply some antibiotic ointment. It may take a few days for the bite to heal. In the following weeks, consult your vet immediately if your dog shows any unusual symptoms which might indicate tick-borne disease. The four most common tick-borne diseases in the US are Lyme, Erlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Basesiosis. We won't attempt to provide in-depth information on symptoms and treatment, but it's easy to find with a quick web search.
Here's a little toy which works brilliantly to remove ticks. It's called the tick key, and it's much easier than fiddling about with tweezers. You just put it against the skin with the tick inside the teardrop-shaped hole, slide the key so the tick goes into the narrow corner, and off it comes. I've had ample opportunity to practice on Tarka. That boy loves running around in dense undergrowth and long grass and I am constantly pulling ticks off him. It works on humans and other pets too, of course! One word of caution: the tick key is not effective with very tiny ticks, known as seed ticks. For those, tweezers are best.
Here are two solutions we like:
- Maria Kirylo, who runs Playing Again Sams (Wisconsin Samoyed Rescue), makes a product containing the following essential oils: Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Rosemary, Citronella, Pine, Sage, Cedarwood, Orange and Tea Tree Oil, which you add to a mister of water and apply often. You can buy it on PAS's website - go to the PAS Products page.
- We also make our own repellent from a recipe provided by Dr Julie Mayer, our holistic vet.
In an 8 oz spray bottle, combine:
10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops citronella essential oil
3 oz lemon juice
3 oz distilled water
Shake well and spray often. Be careful to avoid eyes and nose.
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Note: I've also been adding a few drops of Palo Santo essential oil to the above mixtures. There is anecdotal evidence suggesting that Palo Santo actually kills ticks, and I've found that if you apply a drop to a live tick, it does seem to kill them immediately.
You can also spray your dog's collar and/or harness, or spray a bandana and tie it around your dog's neck, for additional protection.
For some additional natural pest repellent solutions, check out these links on Dogs Naturally Magazines' blog:
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/flea-tick-powder/
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/natural-mosquito-repellents/
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/natural-solutions-tick-season/
If you are using natural remedies, it's a good idea to apply often and use more than one product. I also feed my dogs garlic which is said to help repel pests.
We also used a new product this year: the Flea and Tick Tag. It's said to work with the dog's own energy to repel pests. I put the tags on the boys just a few days before we went on our annual trip to southern Missouri, where the ticks are very bad. Nothing seemed to keep the ticks away there, and we, as well as our friends who use chemical products like Frontline, were also finding ticks on the dogs two weeks later (so again, there's not much point in using toxic insecticides if they don't even work). However, to be fair to the Flea and Tick Tag, the instructions do say it may take two to three weeks to become effective, and I only put it on a week before we went to Missouri. Once we got home from that trip, neither Willie nor Tarka had a single tick all summer long, despite many hours spent in the woods where we usually pick up ticks; so I am beginning to think the product is quite effective and I will be interested to see how the tags work next year in Missouri. It's expensive but it lasts three years.
You can also spray your dog's collar and/or harness, or spray a bandana and tie it around your dog's neck, for additional protection.
For some additional natural pest repellent solutions, check out these links on Dogs Naturally Magazines' blog:
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/flea-tick-powder/
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/natural-mosquito-repellents/
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/natural-solutions-tick-season/
If you are using natural remedies, it's a good idea to apply often and use more than one product. I also feed my dogs garlic which is said to help repel pests.
We also used a new product this year: the Flea and Tick Tag. It's said to work with the dog's own energy to repel pests. I put the tags on the boys just a few days before we went on our annual trip to southern Missouri, where the ticks are very bad. Nothing seemed to keep the ticks away there, and we, as well as our friends who use chemical products like Frontline, were also finding ticks on the dogs two weeks later (so again, there's not much point in using toxic insecticides if they don't even work). However, to be fair to the Flea and Tick Tag, the instructions do say it may take two to three weeks to become effective, and I only put it on a week before we went to Missouri. Once we got home from that trip, neither Willie nor Tarka had a single tick all summer long, despite many hours spent in the woods where we usually pick up ticks; so I am beginning to think the product is quite effective and I will be interested to see how the tags work next year in Missouri. It's expensive but it lasts three years.
TICK REMOVAL. If you do find a tick on your dog (or yourself!), please don't use any of the old wives' remedies like covering it in petroleum jelly or nail polish, or touching it with a hot match. These solutions can cause the tick to regurgitate more toxins into its host. Instead, using a good pair of tweezers, grasp the tick's head (not the body) as close to the skin as you can; pull gently, without twisting, and just hold on until the tick lets go. Once it's out, put it in a jar of alcohol to kill it. Disinfect the wound; you may also wish to apply some antibiotic ointment. It may take a few days for the bite to heal. In the following weeks, consult your vet immediately if your dog shows any unusual symptoms which might indicate tick-borne disease. The four most common tick-borne diseases in the US are Lyme, Erlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Basesiosis. We won't attempt to provide in-depth information on symptoms and treatment, but it's easy to find with a quick web search.
Here's a little toy which works brilliantly to remove ticks. It's called the tick key, and it's much easier than fiddling about with tweezers. You just put it against the skin with the tick inside the teardrop-shaped hole, slide the key so the tick goes into the narrow corner, and off it comes. I've had ample opportunity to practice on Tarka. That boy loves running around in dense undergrowth and long grass and I am constantly pulling ticks off him. It works on humans and other pets too, of course! One word of caution: the tick key is not effective with very tiny ticks, known as seed ticks. For those, tweezers are best.
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DOG-TOXIC. While we're on the subject of toxic substances, please make sure you know which foods, plants and household products are poisonous to your dog. Most of us know not to let them have chocolate, raisins, or onions, but the list of dangerous foods, medicines, plants and common household products is much longer than that. For example, baby food often contains onion powder and can be harmful. There are lots of web pages providing this information, but this ASPCA site contains a lot of good advice about bad stuff, including what to do if your dog does accidentally ingest some of it. It's a good idea to keep emergency numbers like your local after-hours vet, as well as the ASPCA Poison Control Center (888-426-4435), the Animal Poison Control Hotline (888-232-8870), or Pet Poison Hotline (800-213-6680), somewhere close at hand. Please be aware that all of these hotlines charge a fee.
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HOW MUCH CHOCOLATE? If you suspect your dog has eaten some chocolate, this interactive chart by National Geographic can help you determine whether the type and amount consumed was enough to be dangerous.
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GOING BALD? We mean your dog, not you! Occasionally dogs have medical issues that cause hair loss, or something like a thinning tail can develop with age. This recipe to "Grow Hair on a Doorknob" is a classic. We've never used it (Muddy's tail became quite thin but he was on so many supplements I didn't want to add new ones) but we are told it works brilliantly:
Have peanut butter at room temperature. Mix all ingredients together This will be very thick and sticky. Stores indefinitely in refrigerator. Make into balls according to size of the dog.
Small dogs 1-3 teaspoons daily, large dogs 1-2 tablespoons daily. Small and large are not defined in any of the recipes, so use your judgement, keeping in mind this is probably quite a fattening concoction!
Ingredients: if it were my dog, I would use natural peanut butter, not the processed sweetened kind, and an unheated, raw honey. Mirra Coat and Lixotinic are available at several places online. Here are links to both products on Amazon. A Gallon seems to be the smallest size available for Lixotinic, but the Mirra Coat link is to the 1 lb size. Thanks to this famous recipe, these products are bought together so often that, if you add one to your shopping cart, the system will offer you both for a special combined price.
BEST FRIENDS. In this case, we're not talking about your dogs, but Best Friends Animal Society, in Kanab, Utah. If you've watched the Dogtown series on National Geographic channel, you know who they are. Best Friends is a wonderful animal sanctuary that takes in not only dogs, but cats, pot bellied pigs, horses, rabbits and birds. Quoting from their website:
"The Best Friends Animal Sanctuary at Angel Canyon, at the heart of the Golden Circle of national parks in southern Utah, is home on any given day to about 2,000 dogs, cats, and other animals, who come from shelters and rescue groups around the country for special care they can only receive at Best Friends.
Most of the animals who find their way to Best Friends have special physical or behavioral needs, and our expert staff of veterinarians, trainers and caregivers offer them all the help they require. Most of them are ready to go to good new homes after just a few weeks of special care. A few, who are too old or too sick, or who have suffered extra trauma, find a home and haven at the sanctuary, and are given loving care for the rest of their lives."
Best Friends considers themselves a sanctuary of last resort, so they work with shelters and rescue groups across the country to take only the neediest cases. If you ever want a rewarding vacation helping animals, we strongly recommend a few days volunteering at Best Friends. It's an impressive place, set in a beautiful landscape, and it's a joy to witness, firsthand, the excellent work they do rehabilitating animals. You can even take a dog, cat or pig on a sleepover! It's part of Best Friends' process to get pets ready for adoption as it helps the animals learn about being in a home.
You don't have to go to Utah to help Best Friends. They rely on donations to fund their operations, and there are lots of ways to help - including sponsoring individual animals. And you don't have to be in Utah to volunteer for Best Friends. Here in Chicago, I volunteer as a writer for their International Network, as well as doing some work with their Community Animal Assistance program. So we encourage you to spend some time exploring their website, and learn how you can help this worthy organization. Joining the Network and some of their "Go Local" groups is a great way to start.
OTHER BOOKS WE RECOMMEND. Click on any of the images below to buy these books from Amazon.
1 lb. peanut butter
1 lb. honey
1 lb. Mirra Coat
1 pt. Lixotinic
Have peanut butter at room temperature. Mix all ingredients together This will be very thick and sticky. Stores indefinitely in refrigerator. Make into balls according to size of the dog.
Small dogs 1-3 teaspoons daily, large dogs 1-2 tablespoons daily. Small and large are not defined in any of the recipes, so use your judgement, keeping in mind this is probably quite a fattening concoction!
Ingredients: if it were my dog, I would use natural peanut butter, not the processed sweetened kind, and an unheated, raw honey. Mirra Coat and Lixotinic are available at several places online. Here are links to both products on Amazon. A Gallon seems to be the smallest size available for Lixotinic, but the Mirra Coat link is to the 1 lb size. Thanks to this famous recipe, these products are bought together so often that, if you add one to your shopping cart, the system will offer you both for a special combined price.
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GRASS PROBLEMS? Willie, who used to mark every upright surface he passed, completely stopped that behavior after he was neutered at a rather late age. He stopped humping other dogs too! Now he stands still and pees in one spot, right after he leaves the house. And of course it's never the same "one spot", so now our lawn (most of which I've replaced with perennials anyway) has lots of bare spots. We grow everything organically so we are delighted to find Close to Nature Dog Spot Eliminator, which is a completely organic, all-natural, product containing Calcium, Magnesium, Zulfur, Zeolite, Vegetable Protein and Organic Matter. It works by adding micronutrients to the soil to counteract the ammonia in dogs' urine. You can treat existing spots, or pre-treat the entire lawn. It's also said to work on grass that's been burned by salt in winter. We're about to try it for the first time and we'll report back in a few weeks.
Meanwhile, if you'd like to buy DOG SPOT ELIMINATOR, please CLICK HERE.
SKUNK SMELL REMOVER. Everybody hopes not to have to deal with this one, but if your dog does tangle with a skunk, here's the classic recipe:
Mix the ingredients in a large bowl or bucket to allow room for bubbling (the effect of the baking soda). May be diluted slightly with water for larger dogs. Wash the dog with it while it is still foaming. Don't wet the dog with water first - put the solution straight onto the dog's coat. Rinse thoroughly. Repeat as many times as necessary.
Make sure you use a fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide, as it loses its effectiveness over time. The concoction may also be used to de-skunk clothes, humans and cats.
Caution: don't store this mixture in an airtight container: it will blow up.
GRASS PROBLEMS? Willie, who used to mark every upright surface he passed, completely stopped that behavior after he was neutered at a rather late age. He stopped humping other dogs too! Now he stands still and pees in one spot, right after he leaves the house. And of course it's never the same "one spot", so now our lawn (most of which I've replaced with perennials anyway) has lots of bare spots. We grow everything organically so we are delighted to find Close to Nature Dog Spot Eliminator, which is a completely organic, all-natural, product containing Calcium, Magnesium, Zulfur, Zeolite, Vegetable Protein and Organic Matter. It works by adding micronutrients to the soil to counteract the ammonia in dogs' urine. You can treat existing spots, or pre-treat the entire lawn. It's also said to work on grass that's been burned by salt in winter. We're about to try it for the first time and we'll report back in a few weeks. Meanwhile, if you'd like to buy DOG SPOT ELIMINATOR, please CLICK HERE.
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STAIN REMOVAL. Even the best behaved dogs can have accidents, whether they pee, poop or vomit, and Fizzion is a wonderful solution to stain removal on carpets and most hard surfaces too. We love the fact that the company is "green": the non-toxic, environmentally friendly product is extremely light to ship because it comes as an empty spray bottle with two Fizzion tablets, and you just add water. Fizzion promotes the use of a reusable spray bottle to prevent landfill
waste. It's easy to use and, unlike enzymatic cleaners, the effect is immediate. You just add one Fizzion tablet to 16 oz. of warm tap water, spray on the stain or dirty surface until wet, blot gently with a clean towel, and the stain and odor disappear. You may need to vaccuum once the carpet is dry. The non-toxic formula is safe for pets to sniff or lick; it removes the odor which prevents pets from returning to the same spot to relieve themselves. The formula lasts over one year at 100% potency after activation. Willie and Tarka have both felt the need to pee in the house recently (and rascally Tarka chose a handmade Moroccan rug for his "accident"); we treated the spots with Fizzion and there is no sign of a stain, even on a light aqua colored carpet. Fizzion can also be used on most protein-based stains including red wine and chocolate.
STAIN REMOVAL. Even the best behaved dogs can have accidents, whether they pee, poop or vomit, and Fizzion is a wonderful solution to stain removal on carpets and most hard surfaces too. We love the fact that the company is "green": the non-toxic, environmentally friendly product is extremely light to ship because it comes as an empty spray bottle with two Fizzion tablets, and you just add water. Fizzion promotes the use of a reusable spray bottle to prevent landfill
waste. It's easy to use and, unlike enzymatic cleaners, the effect is immediate. You just add one Fizzion tablet to 16 oz. of warm tap water, spray on the stain or dirty surface until wet, blot gently with a clean towel, and the stain and odor disappear. You may need to vaccuum once the carpet is dry. The non-toxic formula is safe for pets to sniff or lick; it removes the odor which prevents pets from returning to the same spot to relieve themselves. The formula lasts over one year at 100% potency after activation. Willie and Tarka have both felt the need to pee in the house recently (and rascally Tarka chose a handmade Moroccan rug for his "accident"); we treated the spots with Fizzion and there is no sign of a stain, even on a light aqua colored carpet. Fizzion can also be used on most protein-based stains including red wine and chocolate. * * *
SKUNK SMELL REMOVER. Everybody hopes not to have to deal with this one, but if your dog does tangle with a skunk, here's the classic recipe:
1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxideYou may want to wear some rubber or latex gloves. Before you start, it's a good idea to check your dog for any injuries from its adventure; if you find any cuts or scratches or eye damage/irritation, contact your vet before proceeding with the de-skunking process.
1/4 cup baking soda
2 tbsp hand-dishwashing soap
Mix the ingredients in a large bowl or bucket to allow room for bubbling (the effect of the baking soda). May be diluted slightly with water for larger dogs. Wash the dog with it while it is still foaming. Don't wet the dog with water first - put the solution straight onto the dog's coat. Rinse thoroughly. Repeat as many times as necessary.
Make sure you use a fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide, as it loses its effectiveness over time. The concoction may also be used to de-skunk clothes, humans and cats.
Caution: don't store this mixture in an airtight container: it will blow up.
* * *
DOGS...NATURALLY MAGAZINE. We were thrilled when we discovered this excellent magazine focusing on natural health for dogs, as well as great training advice and articles. While many of us may not be comfortable with 100% natural health care, this is a great resource for dog owners interested using natural/alternative treatments and minimizing traditional drugs, flea/tick/heartworm preventatives, and vaccinations. The articles are written by DVMs and others with highly credible qualifications. It's a magazine that challenges some of the things we take for granted about traditional veterinary care for dogs, and definitely worth reading to balance the information you use to make decisions about your dog's care.
Note: we would recommend this magazine anyway, but in the interest of full disclosure, we are now associated with the publication.
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Note: we would recommend this magazine anyway, but in the interest of full disclosure, we are now associated with the publication.
HOMEOPATHIC REFERENCES. If you start using homeopathic remedies, at some point you will want to buy a good Materia Medica (Kent's seems to be most often recommended). But there are two other good books that are easier to refer to, especially for acute situations where you need to select a remedy quickly.
One is Dr Christopher Day's THE HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT OF SMALL ANIMALS
The other is Dr George Macleod's DOGS - HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES.
THE NATURE OF ANIMAL HEALING: Holistic vet Dr Martin Goldstein's guide to holistic care for dogs and cats. It's well organized and thorough, and is a good source of information.
One is Dr Christopher Day's THE HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT OF SMALL ANIMALS
The other is Dr George Macleod's DOGS - HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES.
THE NATURE OF ANIMAL HEALING: Holistic vet Dr Martin Goldstein's guide to holistic care for dogs and cats. It's well organized and thorough, and is a good source of information.
BEST FRIENDS. In this case, we're not talking about your dogs, but Best Friends Animal Society, in Kanab, Utah. If you've watched the Dogtown series on National Geographic channel, you know who they are. Best Friends is a wonderful animal sanctuary that takes in not only dogs, but cats, pot bellied pigs, horses, rabbits and birds. Quoting from their website:
"The Best Friends Animal Sanctuary at Angel Canyon, at the heart of the Golden Circle of national parks in southern Utah, is home on any given day to about 2,000 dogs, cats, and other animals, who come from shelters and rescue groups around the country for special care they can only receive at Best Friends.
Most of the animals who find their way to Best Friends have special physical or behavioral needs, and our expert staff of veterinarians, trainers and caregivers offer them all the help they require. Most of them are ready to go to good new homes after just a few weeks of special care. A few, who are too old or too sick, or who have suffered extra trauma, find a home and haven at the sanctuary, and are given loving care for the rest of their lives."
Best Friends considers themselves a sanctuary of last resort, so they work with shelters and rescue groups across the country to take only the neediest cases. If you ever want a rewarding vacation helping animals, we strongly recommend a few days volunteering at Best Friends. It's an impressive place, set in a beautiful landscape, and it's a joy to witness, firsthand, the excellent work they do rehabilitating animals. You can even take a dog, cat or pig on a sleepover! It's part of Best Friends' process to get pets ready for adoption as it helps the animals learn about being in a home.
You don't have to go to Utah to help Best Friends. They rely on donations to fund their operations, and there are lots of ways to help - including sponsoring individual animals. And you don't have to be in Utah to volunteer for Best Friends. Here in Chicago, I volunteer as a writer for their International Network, as well as doing some work with their Community Animal Assistance program. So we encourage you to spend some time exploring their website, and learn how you can help this worthy organization. Joining the Network and some of their "Go Local" groups is a great way to start.
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DOGWALKING AND PETSITTING SERVICES. If you're in Chicago, we love Danny's Dogwalkers. Danny's walked Muddy for years, they cared for him in their family home when I traveled, and now, Willie and Tarka also stay at Danny's if I am out of town. Danny's is their home from home. It's wonderful to leave them in a home environment where they have free run of the house and yard, other canine companions, and don't have to be crated or caged.
OTHER BOOKS WE RECOMMEND. Click on any of the images below to buy these books from Amazon.
Turid Rugaas. A Norwegian dog trainer, Turid Rugaas has an extraordinary understanding of dog behavior and communication. Her books, which are short and simple, offer far more information than their titles imply. For example, while reading her book on Barking (in an attempt to reduce Willie's ear-splitting "excitement barking"), I gained a lot of knowledge that helped me deal with Tarka's fear issues.
Patricia B McConnell. A fascinating dog behaviorist whose books will really help you understand your dog; you'll learn how to help your dog understand you too! Some of these are full-length books, and others are just booklets, but, like Turid Rugaas's, they convey a wealth of information in just a few pages.
Nicole Wilde. A well-know trainer specializing in behavior issues, and winner of the prestigious Ian Dunbar Member of the Year Award in 2006, Nicole Wilde has written an excellent positive and gentle training guide for fearful dogs.
Pat Miller. This book contains excellent positive dog training advice.
Pat Miller. This book contains excellent positive dog training advice.
Stanley Coren. Read this book and gain a wealth of information on dog body language and communication. You know what a wagging tail means (.....or do you?), but how about ear, eye and mouth signals?
Red Dog, by Louis de Bernieres. Out of print but available used and worth tracking down, this is a delightful true story about Red Dog, an Australian, free-spirited, traveling dog who chose where he wanted to live, with whom, and when.
