Sunscreen 101: Does my dog need to be protected?

Summer is officially here!  The temperatures are rising and before you hit the lake you may want to pick up some sunscreen for you pup too. Sounds odd, right? Well it is true...

Dogs need protection from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays just as people do. Like humans, overexposure to UV rays can give your dog a nasty case of sunburn, peeling of skin and, painful inflammation. All resulting in an increase of skin cancer.

Don’t let their fur fool you!
Because dogs have fur, people often assume that they are not in any danger of getting sunburned. While fur does provide some degree of protection, too much of a dog’s body is still exposed such as the bridge of the nose, ears, skin surrounding the lips and areas lacking pigmentation are more vulnerable. In addition, if you shave your dog, s/he has suffered hair loss due to illness, or your K9 has received medical treatment, the exposed skin is at risk of sun damage. But even where the skin is covered with fur, there is a need for protection. Sunlight can easily penetrate dog fur, especially if it is light colored, of short length, or naturally fine in texture.

The Options for Protection
The simplest choice of protection is to use the same sunscreen on your pet as you use for yourself. The problem with doing so is that pet skin is not the same as human skin and may have a different degree of UV sensitivity. In addition, certain ingredients in human sunscreens (such as PABA) can be irritating or toxic to animals.

Check your local pet store for options, but here are a few brands that rated the highest on customer reviews:

Doggles Pet Sunscreen

Quic Screen

Performance Dog Sun Block

*Prices range from $8-$26.

Fleas, ticks and bugs, OH MY!

Spring is here and summer is around the corner and you know what that means, it's time to protect your K9 from flea and tick infestation.

Now, the dirty talk... flea's cause a lot of irritation to your dog because they latch onto your dog's skin and feed off your canine’s blood. Flea saliva can cause your pet to become allergic to the bite. This will cause far worse scratching than than the normal itch. It gets even worse - they have the potential to spread tapeworms inside your pet. If your dog ingests the flea then then is the potential that tapeworms could grow creating an even worse infection. All it takes is a small group of these vampires to cause problems.

Where Do They Come From?

Anywhere! Every time you take your dog for a stroll, throw the ball in the back yard or head on a hike, he is potentially a victim to these parasites. The flea may not be there when you go out the door, but after that trip in the bush your K9 took to fetch the ball, the flea has just hitched a ride! Fleas only bite to suck blood that will nourish it’s eggs. Then it will hop off most likely in your home, especially the carpet.

So, what's the solution?

1. If you start to see your dog scratching more than usual after an outing, check for fleas. Fleas can sometimes look like little moving black dots. Brush your dog often and move that fur around to check for parasites. Check his back, the ears, along his neck, torso and tail. If you find fleas then bathe your dog and get flea repellent to protect your home.

2. The good news is that there is a product that helps in removing these harmful elements from your pet’s skin called, Frontline Plus. Many users and consumers are satisfied with the effects this product. When applying the product in the skin of your pet, the active ingredient of it will immediately function and distributed to protect your pet. Although this can be a spendy product, its worth it to protect not only your pup, but you!

This product and other great environmentally safe products can be found at www.911savebeans.com. The have FREE shipping too!

Q: My dog has terrible breath. Is there anything I can do?

A: Dental disease is the mot common cause of "dog breath." Bits of food and bacteria form soft deposits called plaque on the teeth, which eventually hardens into tartar. Tarter irritates the gums and gives bacteria access to the tooth roots, which leads to infection, pain and tooth loss, as well a bad breath. The bacteria can even wind up in the bloodstream and infect a dog's heart valves or kidneys.

To assess the general condition of your dog's teeth check along the base of the upper canines (fangs) and the first large teeth in the back. Do you see yellowish, brownish, or garish gunk on the teeth? That's tartar. Does the gum line look red rather than pink? That's gingivitis. Are there sores or crusts on his or her lips? All of these are signs of dental disease. They symptoms of dental disease aren't restricted to the mouth. Infection from an abscessed upper canine tooth may break through the dogs nasal passages and produce a yellowish or white discharge from the nose.

If your dog has tartar on their teeth or signs of an infection, make an appointment with your vet. Once tartar has hardened it's almost impossible to remove at home. A dental cleaning under anesthesia is required. Vets clean a dog's teeth using the same types of instruments your dental hygienist uses on your teeth. The vet also checks for gum recession, infections, loose teeth, and growths in the dog's mouth. Loose teeth are often removed, but a veterinary dental specialist sometimes can do a root canal instead to save a tooth.

Once your dog's teeth have been professionally cleaned, you should start brushing them every day. I know, seems impossible, but it could help keep your K9 pain free and healthy!

Happy brushing!

Pet Insurance:: Should I have coverage?

On average pet coverage can cost $2,000 to $6,000 over the life of a pet, and the chances are slim you'll ever need to throw out that much for treatment.  But, if you're the type that will do anything  to save your pet, including spending thousands of dollars on medical care, pet insurance might be a preferable alternative so you don't go into debt. What's changed in recent years is the state of veterinary science, as well as the economics of running a veterinary practice. Vets today can offer treatments that were unheard of just a few years ago -- and at prices that could make you howl. Consider:

• Treatments once reserved for humans, from radiation therapy to kidney transplants, are now available for pets. That means once-fatal conditions are now treatable at costs ranging from $1,000 to more than $5,000.
• Vets have access to increasingly sophisticated and costly diagnostic tools, such as MRIs. Such screenings not only boost the cost of exams but often detect problems that once would have gone unnoticed and untreated.
• These expensive tools and procedures have helped create health care inflation in the pet doctor world.

Of the estimated $45.4 billion Americans spent on their pets in 2011, $12.2 billion -- 27% of the total cost -- was expected to be devoted to veterinary care, according to the American Pet Products Association. That would be a 10% increase from 2010.

But pet owners with insurance are still a small minority. The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that in 2010, 72 million dogs and nearly 82 million cats were kept as pets in the U.S. Yet there were only 850,000 pet insurance policies in effect that year, according to the National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues. Insurers have teamed with the American Kennel Club and Petco Animal Supplies to offer the insurance.

The policies typically have deductibles, co-pays and caps that limit how much will be paid out annually. Pet insurance is far from a cure-all, though:

• Pre-existing problems and hereditary conditions, such as hip dysplasia in retrievers and German shepherds, are normally excluded, although one insurer, Embrace Pet Insurance, covers hereditary and chronic conditions.
• The older your animal, the more you'll have to shell out in premiums. Some insurers don't cover pets older than 9; others levy stiff surcharges.

A look at the most expensive common pet medical conditions
Dogs*	Cats*
Condition	Average fee	Condition	Average fee
1. Intervertebral disk disease	$2,844	1. Foreign body ingestion (small intestine)	$1,629
2. Lung cancer	$2,032	2. Urinary tract reconstruction	$1,399
3. Gastric torsion (bloat)	$1,955	3. Foreign body ingestion (stomach)	$1,391
4. Foreign body ingestion (small intestine)	$1,629	4. Rectal cancer	$1,011
5. Cruciate rupture	$1,517	5. Bladder stones	$989
6. Foreign body ingestion (stomach)	$1,398	6. Intestinal cancer	$942
7. Cataract (senior)	$1,244	7. Hyperthyroidism (radiation)	$920
8. Bone cancer	$1,059	8. Fibrosarcoma (skin cancer)	$780
9. Pin in broken limb	$1,000	9. Acute renal failure	$565
10. Brain cancer	$916	10. Mast cell tumors	$497
* Treatment costs vary on a case-by-case basis. Dollar amounts reflect average initial claim fees submitted to Veterinary Pet Insurance and are not intended to suggest typical reimbursements, reflect average national veterinary fees or account for continuing fees associated with a particular condition. Source: VPI via Bankrate.com.

Is going the distance for Fluffy worth it?!

Because insurance is best used as protection against catastrophic expenses -- not those you could easily pay out of pocket -- the question becomes: How deep in the hole would you go for your pet? And then could you afford to pay those costs yourself?

Most common surgically removed items
1. Socks
2. Underwear
3. Pantyhose
4. Rocks
5. Balls
6. Chew toys
7. Corncobs
8. Bones
9. Hair ties / ribbons
10. Sticks
Source: Veterinary Pet Insurance

Pet insurance is a nonstarter for many pet owners, simply because they take a pragmatic approach to their animals. If the cost of treatment got too high, they would choose to have the animal put to death. Although, many who think they'd draw the line at a certain dollar amount find their convictions wavering when the time actually comes, said Veterinary Pet Insurance's chief executive, Dennis Drent. The kids are crying, the vet says a treatment would be successful, and some parents break down and spend the money.

f you don't have sufficient savings to cover the treatments, you might consider pet insurance. Do your homework before you buy:

• Shop around. Policies and premiums can vary widely. Take note of not just the monthly or annual cost but the differences in deductibles, co-pays and caps, which may limit payouts by incident, year or the animal's lifetime. Ask whether the insurer offers discounts for insuring multiple pets or whether your employer offers pet insurance as a voluntary benefit. The companies to check include PetCare Pet Insurance, 1-866-275-7387; Petshealth Care Plan, 1-800-807-6724; Veterinary Pet Insurance, 1-888-899-4874; and Embrace Pet Insurance, 1-800-511-9172.
• Check with your state. Like human health insurers, pet insurers should be registered with your state regulators.
• Scrutinize policies and understand their exclusions. The conditions most likely to afflict your pet are often the ones most likely to be excluded from a policy.
• Beef up your savings. A Consumer Reports analysis found that pet owners with insurance may actually spend more over time on their animals than those without.

Whether you opt for pet insurance or not, you can help control how much your animal costs you. Here are some other ways you can trim vet bills:

• Use low-cost clinics for shots. Your vet may host one or two such clinics each year, or you can call your local Humane Society chapter, animal control department or veterinary hospital for leads.
• Get second opinions. You'll have time, with most conditions, to consult another vet before committing to expensive treatments or drugs. You also can consult The Merck Veterinary Manual online for a rundown on your pet's condition and recommended treatments.
• Ask for samples. Your vet may have free starter packets of many popular medications. It doesn't hurt to ask.
• Shop around for meds. You can call around to other vets, check out pet catalogs or search the Internet.DiscountPetMedicines.com has links to sites that offer lower-priced medications.
• Don't cheap out on pet food. An investment in better-quality food can pay off in fewer health problems, particularly with cats, which can be more susceptible to urinary tract infections if fed inexpensive cat food. Check with your vet.
• Keep their weight down. Just as with people, obesity in animals can trigger health problems.
• Keep your pet indoors or on a leash. Free-running animals have more accidents, contract more illnesses and take a bigger toll on the environment than pets that are kept under control. (In other words, Fluffy will live a longer, healthier life indoors, and the songbirds of the neighborhood will thank you.)
• Research before you buy. Next time you're in the market for a pet, remember that dogs tend to wind up in the vet's office twice as often as cats, making a feline the better choice for someone on a budget. Also, research the hereditary and chronic problems of each dog and cat breed you're considering, so you can have some idea of the potential vet expenses you might face.

Good luck! 

A Glance at 2011::Best Pet Products

If you're like me, you are always on the lookout for the best pet products for your pet. Good products can be expensive, but well worth it for our four-legged friends. Every year 100 top vets from various cities Nationwide come together and nominate their favorite new pet products. So, without further ado, below are the Top 8 Pet Products for 2011. Enjoy!

1. The myChase-It Toy for Dogs - www.mychaseit.com
The myChase-It is an interactive toy for dogs. It utilizes a flexible rod, ergonomic handle and bungee squirrel with squeakers inside for indoor and outdoor play, exercise and training with your four-legged friend. Cost: $24.95-$29.95

2. The Lickety Stik Treat for Dogs - www.petsafe.net
The Lickerty Stik is a lickable pet treat for dogs. They are specially designed roller-ball dispenses all natural liquid treats for dogs to enjoy without the sticky mess. The tidy roller-ball is designed makes it great for rewarding your dogs while on-the-go. Cost: $8.99

3. The Hear Doggy Ultrasonic Plush Toys for Dogs - www.quakerpetgroup.com
The Hear Doggy is the only ultrasonic toy that your dog can hear, but you can't. Each toy is tuned to the ultrasonic frequency of your dogs hearing range which makes it out of the human hearing range, but your pup is sure to go wild for this toy! Cost: $12.99

4. The Catit Design Fresh and Clear Drinking Fountain - www.hagen.com
This product provides a continuous supply of fresh and clean drinking water for your pet. Its large surface areas adds oxygen to the water for a fresher taste. It's also replaceable purifying filter collects food, hair and debris to help reduce bad taste, odor and impurities that is present in tap water. Cost: $50.00

5. The Hidden Hollow Fantasy Forest for Cats - www.athiddenhollow.com
The Fantasy Forest is the ultimate extravagance for spoiled cats. Each life-like, lixure tree is handcrafter in the USA with a 100 % wood frame created to blend in with your decor. The personality customized trees are great for cats to climb, hide, lounge, play and sleep on. Cost: $399-$1,629.

6. The Tagg Pet Tracker - www.tagg.com
The Tagg pet tracking system uses advanced GPS tracking technology to allow you to see where your dog is and receive a notification if he or she wanders off. The lightweight tracker attaches to your dog's existing collar and is designed to be worn at all times, even while swimming. The starter kit is $99.95 and comes with everything you need. The starter kit also includes one month of free service. After 30 days, you will be charged $7.95 per month. You can cancel at any time.

7. The Vivid Illuminated Pet Collar - www.companyofanimals.com
Vivid is an illuminating safety collar designed to keep your dog safe and visible at night. The super bright white LEDs have four light settings and the collar's padded, water-resistant design means it can be worn all the time. Cost: $15.99

8. The Aikiou Stimulo Cat Feeding Station - www.aikiou.com
The Stimulo bowl was developed to allow cats to use their natural hunting and foraging skills indoors when eating. Food is hidden inside the bowl's many tubes, which cats can access by using their paws and exercising problem-solving instincts. Cost: $24.95

Have any of these products? Plan to purchase one? Share on our wall so others can hear!

Divine Dog Treats wishes you a Happy New Year! Thank you for your support in 2011, we look forward to providing many more wonderful treats for your K9 in 2012!

Pets in Bed:: Not a Huge Risk

With winter here, nothing sounds better than beating the cold by snuggling with our furry pets in our warm beds. As a dog owner, I’m not alone; recent surveys reveal that a majority of pet owners admit that their dogs and cats sleep with them in their beds. 

But a recent study reported in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases and conducted by Bruno B. Chomel, DVM, PhD, of the University of California, Davis, and Ben Sun, DVM, of the California Department of Health suggested that sleeping with pets can put folks at risk for a myriad of diseases, including bubonic plague and MRSA, a drug resistant staph infection.

Now that my husband and I have been sleeping with Dexter in bed for some time now, this study or the risk of disease still didn’t make me kick the dog out of bed.

“I believe 99 percent of people who sleep with their pets would not kick their pets out based on the news of this study,” said Dr. Mike Cavanaugh, DVM and executive director of the American Animal Hospital Association in Lakewood, Colorado. “The human-animal bond is very strong and I wouldn’t expect that they would change their routine based on the results of one research paper.”

Just how great is the risk? Will you become infected by your pet sleeping in bed with you?

Most likely not, say the experts. To be precise, the risk of your pet transmitting a disease to you is low if he is properly cared for and if the person’s immune system is not compromised. 

Dr. Randall Bock, an M.D. in Revere, Massachusetts with 25 years of practice under his belt, said that his family’s dogs slept with his sons during their childhood for at least 10 years. Now, he said, they have a Corgi that doesn’t care to sleep in bed with him.

Bock said that his family never contracted any illness from the dogs, nor has he ever seen a patient that did. “I think that everyone slept better, including the dogs,” said Bock. 

The two most important things to consider, said Dr. Saundra E. Willis, DVM, DACVIM, and small animal internist in Phoenix Central Laboratory, is to make sure your immune system isn’t compromised and to make sure your pet is receiving regular exams by a vet.

“Special precautions should be made when pet owners are immunocompromised or there are very young children in the family, particularly when a pet has been diagnosed with a condition that may be zoonotic,” said Willis. “Regular fecal examinations and deworming are important.”

Additionally, common sense should rule when weighing the risk and reward of sleeping with your pets. Willis said pets should never be allowed to lick an open wound on their owners. (YUCK!) “Pets should not lick owners excessively anyway. Creams, particularly those containing estrogens, can be mildly irritating to outright dangerous to pets,” said Willis.

“Take care of the litter pan properly and clean up the yard and wash your hands,” he says. “Let common sense prevail and I don’t see a problem with letting your pets in the bed.”

Holidays + Guests

Christmas is almost here and we all know what that means... having guests over. As much as your dog is cute, obedient and funny, not all your guests will appreciate your dog's attention. If you are having guests not very fond of dogs over, you must prepare yourself and your dog. Nothing is worse than forcing your guests to meet your canine companion, no matter how lovable you think your dog can be. It is a fact of life that not all people in this world are dog lovers and it is a fact off life that forcing them to change their mind can only make things worse. Although some guests to your home will say they don't mind your dog jumping up at them or licking them, that is often not true. When you arrive at someone's home, you like to be greeted warmly -- but not so warmly you are knocked over backwards from an onslaught of bouncing, happy, slobbering dog. That is why it is important to teach your dog to greet guests politely. A dog can still be happy to meet a potential new friend without being overbearing and annoying.
The following are some tips to help make their visit a pleasant one.

• Crate Your Dog

If your guests fear your dog the best and most polite thing to do is to crate the dog. Minutes prior to their arrival therefore place your dog in a crate and keep him in a room far from your guests. Tell your guests they can relax because your dog is safely crated in another room. Keep the crate in a room you are sure your guests will not get close to away from the kitchen, living room and bath room. Fill up a Kong and place it in the crate to help your dog kill time.

• Place a Baby Gate

If you have a dog that is trust worthy, you can put up a baby gate so your dog can be kept away from your guests. This way your dog can have some room to move about if you are concerned about keeping your dog crated for long. Make sure your guest knows where the barrier is placed so they know to avoid that area.

• Keep Your Dog in the Yard

If you have a yard away from your entrance, you can keep your dog in the yard (given it isn't too cold). Make sure all your doors are closed up to prevent unwanted surprises. Leave toys around to make sure your dog has something to play with while your guests are over. Let your guests know your dog is safely in the yard.

• Leash your Dog

Some guests are not really afraid of seeing dogs but are afraid of interacting with them. If your guest is interesting in seeing your dog but does not want to be sniffed, jumped up at or licked, keep your dog leashed if he is well behaved and you are 100% sure he will not pull to go say hi.. A good tool to have good control is a head halter or a sensible harness. Once your guests get to admire your dog put your dog away and take care of your guests.

Having a well behaved dog can work wonders in helping people overcome their fear of dogs. Often, what people fear the most is a dog's exuberance, the whole jumping around, licking hands and sniffing routine may be just too much for some people, especially those who have never lived with dogs before. Those who have been bit by a dog, on the other hand, may have a much harder time to adjust and trust dogs again.