Monthly Archives: July 2023

Dog Scams

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Daily, we are bombarded with scams. Texts, phone calls, Facebook friend requests you never know what to trust. Is that person claiming to be a relative really need to be bailed out of jail? Do I really have a long lost Uncle leaving me $10,000 in his will?

With the increased interest in getting a puppy due to the pandemic, the number of puppy and dog scams has exploded. Fake puppy sellers are showing up on social media.

This story from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, appeared in the Marshall Ad-Visor.

Fake breeders are advertizing pure breed puppies for sale, they often will use photos from legitimate breeders.

The American Kennel Club has a page to help you determine the legitimacy of a breeder. 

When looking for a puppy or new dog there are a few things to consider:

  1. Do you know the person or organization that you are getting your puppy/dog from?
  2. Did you get a referral from someone you know and trust?
  3. Did you find the breeder on the AKC website or the Breed Clubs website? (every official breed will have a breed club that you can find on the AKC site). This is the link for the Golden Retriever Club of America website. (As an example)
  4. Did you get to visit the puppy/dog before purchase?
  5. Could you do a Facetime or Zoom call with the seller and see the puppy/dog before purchase?

If you answered NO to all 5 questions it is a very good chance that this is a scam. There are lots of dogs available from legitimate sources, don't fall for a pretty face on a photo or video!

World Chocolate Day

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July 7, 2023

Today, is World Chocolate Day. And I thought every day was chocolate day? But, remember chocolate is very bad for our dogs and should NEVER be given to them. It is easy to think it is ok for us to eat it must be ok for our dogs too. But that is not the case. From WebMD,

Most people know that chocolate is bad for dogs. The problem with chocolate is theobromine. It's in all kinds of chocolate, even white chocolate. The most dangerous types are dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate. Chocolate can cause a dog to vomit and have diarrhea. It can also cause heart problems, tremors, seizures, and death. Chocolate is not the only human food that should never be given to your dog. This list to the right is from the Humane Society of the United States.

 

Unsafe Food for Dogs!

  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Apple seeds
  • Apricot pits
  • Avocados
  • Cherry pits
  • Candy (particularly chocolate—which is toxic to dogs, cats, and ferrets—and any candy containing the toxic sweetener Xylitol)
  • Chives
  • Coffee (grounds, beans, and chocolate-covered espresso beans)
  • Garlic
  • Grapes
  • Gum (can cause blockages and sugar-free gums may contain the toxic sweetener Xylitol)
  • Hops (used in home beer brewing)
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Moldy foods
  • Mushroom plants
  • Mustard seeds
  • Onions, onion powder and onion flakes
  • Peach pits
  • Potato leaves and stems (green parts)
  • Raisins
  • Rhubarb leaves
  • Salt
  • Tea (because it contains caffeine)
  • Tomato leaves and stems (green parts)
  • Walnuts
  • Xylitol (artificial sweetener that is toxic to pets)
  • Yeast dough

Favorite Chocolate

Now if you are going to be safe and want to indulge in some chocolate for yourself, I would recommend Seattle Chocolate Company, available at The Green Scene of Marshall.

Fireworks Season

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Independence Day is upon us. Time to celebrate the founding of our Nation. We all love the 4th of July, but our dogs do not. The tradition of fireworks and the 4th of July is pure hell for many of the 4-legged members of our family. While there is little that can be done once your dog is trembling under the bed and there are no 100% cures, there are some things to remember.

  1. Never correct your dog for being scared. They are doing nothing wrong and “punishing” will only make it worse.
    Do not reinforce the anxiety.
  2. Giving affection while your dog is in panic mode will only tell that this is the state of mind that you want them in. Remember dogs do not understand, “it’s OK”.
  3. Remain calm and don’t react to the fireworks, your dog looks to you for directions on how to react to things that are happening.
  4. When you start to hear the fireworks and your dog is not reacting too much, it is a good time to play his/her favorite game. A good game of fetch, hide-and-seek, or tug can distract your dog and even teach them that fireworks, or thunder for that matter, means time to play.
  5. As a last resort, and you know that your dog is so traumatized by the fireworks, talk to you Vet. As medication may help get your dog through the tough times.