Heartworm treatment for dogs

So, I’m sitting out on my back deck with the laptop (yea! wireless!), and Vance is laying in the grass. Though it’s early in the season yet, we’re in the south, so mosquitoes are already a fact of outdoors life. I’ve killed six already and we’ve only been out here for a half hour or so.

The reason I bring all of this up is that Vance has had a few mosquitoes on him, too, and it reminded me that I wanted to talk about heartworm protection. If your dog isn’t currently on a monthly heartworm prevention pill, he should be–you don’t want to mess with these creepy crawlies.

Vance used to be on a heartworm prevention and also on a flea medicine, but the flea medicine was applied to his skin and caused a really bad allergic reaction. So, he now takes Sentinel instead which is a little more expensive than one or the other (heartworm prevention or flea protection), but less than the two of them together and it does both. I really like only having to give him the one monthly pill, and I love that he no longer gets a serious rash at the base of his tail (I think he likes that, too).

Lest I sound too much like an infomercial for Sentinel, it has one serious drawback–it doesn’t protect against ticks, so I have to perform a weekly check. Since he used to get the occasional tick on the previous stuff (Frontline), and I’m brushing him every few days anyway, this isn’t a serious hardship, it’s just a minor annoyance. And, truthfully, I’m not sure I don’t prefer fewer chemicals coursing through his system anyway.

If the smell of Frontline bothers you, or applying it topically is irritating your dog’s skin, I highly recommend checking with your vet to see if Sentinel might be as good for your dog as it’s been for Vance.

And, this is a really good time to say: It’s the first of the month. Heartworm day. (I’m totally stealing that from the Jet Dry commercials, but around here we do indeed give Vance his heartworm prevention pill on the first of the month, so it’s perfect.

What do you give your dog to protect against heartworm and fleas? I’d love to know what works for you! And, don’t forget you have until the 6th of June to enter for a chance to win an Omega Paws Tricky Treat Ball. With so many ways to rack up points, I hope you’ll enter more than once (remember, your first entry is a comment, then your other entries are to spread the word about the contest via Twitter and your blog, and to subscribe to this blog by RSS or email).

How to get your dog to love being groomed

We have a Labrador, so his grooming needs aren’t extensive. But, he hates baths which makes bath time messier and more of a challenge than it needs to be. So, I was really happy to find these tips by Kelly about how to groom your dog without so much hassle. Enjoy! And if you have tips for dog grooming at home, please share.

Dog Grooming – How to Get Your Dog to Totally Love Baths, Clippings, & Brushings
By Kelly Marshall

Whether your dog has a short coat (Boxer, Basset Hound, Labrador Retriever), long coat (Lhasa Apso, German Long-haired Pointer, Samoyed) or one that falls somewhere in between, he’ll need to be groomed regularly.

All dogs need to get used to being groomed, and starting as early in its life as possible. Good pet grooming habits will prevent future grooming problems from happening later on in their adult lives.

One Size Does Not Fit All When It Comes To Dogs

There are a variety of coats require different grooming steps, but basic grooming care such as bathing, brushing, ear and teeth cleaning, and nail trimming is needed for all pets. If you own a long-haired dog, grooming will have to be practiced more often and may be a little more challenging. So, it is imperative to introduce your dog to grooming early on in her life. Life will be more pleasant for both you and your dog if she learns to enjoy this experience while he’s still young.

Good Grooming Habits: Groom Your Dog Everyday

To ensure that your dog creates a positive experience with grooming, you must introduce her to the process slowly and often. Get your dog familiar with each piece of equipment by introducing it to her one at a time. Show your dog the brush, let her sniff it for a few seconds and then give her a small treat.

The next step is to gently touch her with the brush and the treat. Once your dog has fully accepted the object, gently brush one stroke and follow with a treat. Do this process about three more times until your dog realizes that being brushed is a great feeling. Break down this method into small steps as this will give your dog the chance to create a positive experience within each step of the way.

Take your dog to the grooming station and let her get to know the area before you begin the grooming process. A few days prior giving your dog a bath, put her in the bathtub while it’s dry and let her play with a toy and throw in a favorite treat. Repeat this technique the next day, adding some water and a sponge. See, it’s not as difficult as you probable thought it would be.

Warning: Don’t allow your dog to simply jump into a tub filled with water out of the blue, allow your dog get used to the water before filling the tub. Dogs are just like children, they have to be handled with care as well. So, before your dog gets in, you may want to dip your elbow into the tub to make sure that it isn’t to cold or hot.

Lastly, repeat this same procedure goes for the nail clipper, toothbrush, and other grooming tools. Take your time when introducing them to your dog and she will enjoy grooming for the rest of your pet’s life.

Kelly Marshall is from Oh My Dog Supplies – the place to go for dog steps in all shapes and sizes.