Pupsicles: Cool Dog Treat Recipes

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When the warm weather is here it is a challenge to find fun activities for you and your dogs while staying cool. So what can you do to help cool your pup down and keep him entertained? Make him a Pupsicle of course!

What is a Pupsicle?

A Pupsicle is a popsicle made specifically for your dog. It has a dog friendly ingredients, and you can make it at home. There is no need to spend a bunch of money, just use items you already have at home and have fun experimenting!

1. Pick Out Your Container

Your container can be anything that fits in your freezer. You can use a cup, a bowl, or popsicle mold. It will be easier to take your Pupsicle out if the inside of the container is smooth. Ideally this will be multiple small containers so you can make a bunch of Pupsicles all at one time!

2. Add Your Base

This is the liquid part of the Pupsicle and medium that you will be freezing all the other bits in. This can be any dog friendly liquid.

Some liquids you can use as a base:

  • Water
  • Dog safe chicken or beef stock
  • Milk (some dogs are sensitive to milk so be careful)

Fill your container 2/3 of the way with base.

3. Add Your Bits

Your “bits” are the pieces of food you add to the Pupsicle. Bits can be anything your dog likes to eat, just make sure it is dog friendly food. The best bits are ones that will not break apart in water.

Some examples of bits:

  • Fruit: blueberries, apples,watermelon and other dog safe fruit
  • Vegetables: broccoli,carrots,peas and other dog safe veggies
  • Meat: (all meat should be pre-cooked) chicken chunks, hot dog pieces, pieces of wet dog food
  • Treats: use treats that are soft, so that they do not get soggy while they freeze

4. Pick Your Stick

The stick is the part of the pupsicle that sticks out of the container. You can use the stick to pull the frozen pupsicle out of the container. The stick should be rigid and fairly sturdy.

Some examples of a stick:

  • Long, chewable dog toy
  • Dog bone
  • Carrot, or other long veggie or fruit

Place your stick into the middle of your pupsicle.

5. Freeze and Remove

Put the container into the freezer. I know that this will be hard for you and your dog, but wait a few hours until the Pupsicle is frozen solid. To remove the Pupsicle from the container, grasp the stick and lightly pull while running the outside of the container under warm water.

6. Give Your Pup a Cool Treat and Enjoy!

While the Pupsicle melts, it’s going to make a big mess. Give the Pupsicle to your dog outside, or somewhere you don’t mind getting very wet. Always supervise your dog when you give him something new to try.

Pupsicles are a great way to cool your dog down and provide some fun for him! Have you made a Pupsicle for your dog? Show us pictures on social media and share the recipes with a friend!

 

 

Tips to Break Up a Dog Fight

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Recently, one of the scariest things that can happen to a dog owner happened to me: my dog got into a fight. This fight was quickly broken up, but I realized that few people know the safe way to break up a dog fight.

 

So what do you do to safely break up a fight between dogs?

Well first take a deep breath. Your nervousness will be sensed by the dogs and may rile them up more.

Also, do not try and grab your dog by the collar, he may turn around and bite you. Even the sweetest dog will bite their owner if they are in the middle of a fight.

There are a few methods you can use to break up a fight between dogs quickly and with the minimal amount of risk for yourself.

 

Distract the dogs from each other 

This method relies on distracting your dog from the fight so that you can safely separate the dogs. You can do this with a loud noise, water, or something physical.

1. Noise

You can clap your hands or bang pots to startle the dogs, they usually will look up and freeze. Take this time separate the dogs. If you are concerned about fights happening while out on walks, carry a whistle.

2.Water

Most of use do not keep filled up water guns around, however wetting your dog is a great option to distract him from a fight. If you are seriously concerned about your dogs fighting in the house, keep a water gun around in case a dog fight breaks out. You can also use a hose or glass of water, if you have that available.

3. Physical 

While the dogs are fighting do not try and grab or touch them with your hands, this really increases your risk of being bitten or hurt.  The physical distraction method typically involves covering the dog’s head. The goal of this is that the dog becomes disoriented and stops fighting. This can really be anything, a blanket, shirt or other fabric, but most people use a towel. Just be sure to move quickly before the dogs can reorient themselves.

 

What to do after the fight has stopped 

If the fight happens in your home

-Separate the dogs as much as possible and give them time to cool down.

-Check the dogs for wounds or injuries, and perform first aid or call the vet as needed.

-Think about why the fight began,was it over food, a toy or something else. Take steps to prevent the dogs from fighting over this in the future.

-After a fight between two dogs who live together, supervise interactions between the dogs until you can learn how to prevent them from fighting in the future.

The majority of fights between dogs who live with each other tend to be related to resource (food,toys or other things) guarding. An experienced dog trainer will be able to help you and your dogs with this issue and prevent future fights.

 

If the fight happens on a walk or in a park 

-Put as much distance between your dog and the other dog as possible.

-Check the dogs for wounds or injuries, and perform first aid or call the vet as needed.

-Get contact information from the other dog’s owner and check that the other dog is current on shots.

 

Breaking up a dog fight can be very scary as a dog owner, however if done safely and quickly both you and your dog will remain safe.

 

Keeping Your Dog Fit

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Even more so than human beings, dogs require regular exercise to remain healthy, happy and out of mischief. Not only does a playful romp tire him out – making him less inclined to destructive behavior – but it also increases his serotonin production, a neurotransmitter that helps prevent depression and anxiety, as well as control appetite. When beginning a new exercise routine with your pooch, take it slow and take frequent breaks to allow him to drink fresh water (it’s a good idea to encourage him to drink water prior to an activity to maintain hydration).

How how can you make sure your are keeping your dog fit? Here are some tips from your Fort Collins pet sitter:

Go for walks 

Begin with short walks, then increase the duration as your dog seems more comfortable

Take your dog on a hike 

Most trails in Larimer county allow dogs on the trails ( a few don’t so be sure to look up the trail you are headed to), take your dog with you. Start with a short flat hike, then you can increase length and incline as your dog gets more in shape.

Play fetch

This one seems pretty intuitive but all that toy chasing burns a lot of calories. Try a few different toys to see which one your dog likes to fetch best, then get out and play. Start with a ten minute session then increase the time by five minutes each time you play or until your pup gets too tired. And don’t worry if your dog does not bring the toy back as long as he chases it, he is burning calories.

Almost every activity that gets your dog up and moving is good exercise for him. Be sure to try a few different activities and find one that both you and your dog enjoy.

 

Colorado Heartworm Cases on the Rise

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Local veterinarians in Colorado have begun routinely testing their pet patients for heartworms, due to an increase of the parasites found in our beloved pets.

Although still relatively uncommon in our state, over 75 percent of vets in Colorado have seen cases of heartworm disease in the pets they treat. The escalation has been linked to adopted “imports” of dogs and cats originating from the Caribbean and U.S. states with a high mosquito population.  For example, in the Bahamas, nearly 90 percent of the street dogs are infected.  When an infected animal is rescued and relocated, the disease can be introduced to the local mosquito population, boosting the odds of then-infected mosquitos biting a local animal and injecting the infected blood. From there, heartworms – which can reach up to one foot in length – can develop and, left untreated, will continue to grow within the animal’s heart and lungs, resulting in a fatal infestation.

A simple test can detect the presence of heartworms, which can be treated with a series of injections that kill the worms in dogs; unfortunately, there is no treatment for infected cats. However, since cats aren’t typical hosts for the parasites, most of the worms in a cat won’t survive to adulthood. Be that as it may, the key for keeping your pets healthy is prevention.

Have your pet tested annually, ideally during the spring season, and speak with your vet about which heartworm preventative is best for your cuddly companion.  The preventatives also combat roundworms and hookworms.

The Dangers of Xylitol in Peanut Butter

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The Dangers of Xylitol in Peanut Butter Header

The Dangers of Xylitol in Peanut Butter

Recently, there has been a post going around Facebook telling dog parents not to give their dogs peanut butter. If you look further into why peanut butter can be deadly to your pup, you will find xylitol to blame.

So what the heck is it? Xylitol is a food additive that is used to replace sugar in many foods. It is found in hundreds of food and health products, such as gum, human toothpaste, vitamins, and now peanut butter. While xylitol is perfectly safe for humans it is extremely toxic to dogs. Potentially more toxic than chocolate.

When minimal amounts of xylitol is used are used  (like doggie mouth wash) it is perfectly safe for your dog. However, the concentrations of the sweetener in most human food is very dangerous to your dog and can cause poisoning.

Dog being fed peanut butter

What are the symptoms of xylitol poisoning in dogs?

  • Vomiting
  • Weakness
  • Incoordination or difficulty walking or standing (walking like drunk)
  • Depression or lethargy
  • Tremors
  • Seizures
  • Coma

Left untreated poisoning can lead to liver damage. These symptoms typically show up 10-60 minutes after eating it.

What should you do?

1. Always read the labels of any product you giver your pooch and look for potentially poisonous things. Only some brands of peanut butter have this type of deadly sweetener in them.
2. Do not leave gum or toothpaste where your dog can get to them.
3. If your dog does eat xylitol, call your vet right away.

With veterinary care arriving quickly, your dog will hopefully be able to have a full recovery.

What peanut butter is safe?

Many brands don’t contain xylitol but if you want to be extra cautious you should purchase a dog-safe peanut butter. Here are a few brands on the market that all fit different pet owners needs.

Pawnut Butter

Green Coast Pet Pawnut Butter @ $9.99

Super Snouts Nutty Dog CBD Spread @ $29.99

Natural Peanut Butter For Dogs | Woof Butter – woofbutter.com

woof butter Natural Peanut Butter @ £3.99

What about birch sugar?

Did you know another name for xylitol in peanut butter is birch sugar? With more companies being aware of consumers hesitancy towards purchasing products containing xylitol they have come up with other ways to label xylitol-containing products.

Birch Sugar is another name for Xylitol

Once you’ve checked your peanut butter labels, why not try our Peanut Butter Molasses Dog Treats. Did we miss something? Let us know in the comments or @WetNosesPetSitting.

The Danger of Tobacco Smoke

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We all know secondhand smoke is a health threat to humans, but did you know it can affect your pet as well? Studies have concluded that exposure to tobacco smoke can cause lung and nasal cancer, as well as allergies, in dogs; oral cancer and malignant lymphoma in cats; lung cancer, eye and skin diseases in birds; and respiratory issues for all.

 

Are you familiar with the newly termed “third hand” smoke? It is the residue that remains on skin, fur, furniture, clothing and other objects, even after the smoke has cleared the air. This can be just as dangerous to both you and your four-legged friend, especially your furry feline. Cats are known to groom themselves regularly. As they lick their fur, they ingest the toxins tobacco smoke leaves behind, which can damage the tissues within the mouth and lead to oral cancer.

Research shows dogs living with pet parents who smoke are more likely to suffer from respiratory diseases and lung cancer than dogs who live in a smoke-free home. The risk of nasal passage cancer increases 250% in long-nosed dog breeds with exposure to high levels of tobacco smoke, as the numerous poisons within the smoke build up in the nasal passages. However, the poisons are more likely to make their way to the lungs of short-nosed breeds.

 

Symptoms of cancer in animals include weight loss, difficulty eating and/or breathing, drooling, vomiting, nasal discharge, coughing, bleeding and sneezing. If your pet displays any of these symptoms, please seek advice from your vet.

 

Many smokers, upon realizing the negative affects their habit can have on their beloved pet, become more motivated to quit smoking. Others make a concerted effort to smoke away from their pet, usually outdoors. In a study published by Tobacco Control, researchers found 28.4% of smokers said learning the impact of second and third hand smoke on their pets motivated them to drop the habit.

 

It is no secret that smoking cigarettes is dangerous to a person’s health. Now we know it can also be detrimental to our beloved pets.

Will We Care for Your Sick Pet?

What is Tularemia?

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This has been a hot topic in northern Colorado lately, but what risk does it pose to your pet? Tularemia, also known as rabbit fever, is caused by a bacteria which can be transmitted to many animals including dogs, cats, and humans.

How is Tularemia transmitted to pets?

  • By eating an infected animal
  • Tick and deer fly bites
  • Drinking contaminated water

So what are the signs of Tularemia in dogs and cats?

  • Fever
  • Loss of appetite
  • Listlessness
  • Swelling of lymph nodes
  • Ulcers in the mouth
  • Abscesses

If your pet is acting abnormal, take him or her to the vet for further testing.

What is the risk to your pets?

Overall, the condition is fairly rare. Public health officials routinely test wildlife found dead for the disease. If you notice a large amount of dead rabbits or other animals in your area, you can contact the Larimer County Health Department at (970) 498-6775.

How can you prevent your pets from getting it?

  • Use flea and tick repellant
  • Keep pets away from dead wildlife
  • Do not let pets drink from puddles, streams and ponds

More information can be found at http://www.larimer.org/health/tularemia.asp#pets

 

The Dangers of a Hot Car

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Most pet parents know the dangers of leaving our pups in the car during a warm day, but unfortunately many don’t realize how quickly a hot car becomes lethal. We tell ourselves that it will only be five minutes, or that the window is cracked open, but this is not enough to keep your dog safe.

After just ten minutes on an 80 degree day, the car is already 99 degrees! Imagine being in a 90 degree car with a fur coat on and that’s what it is like in your hot car for your dog. Dogs can easily get heat stroke, which can result in lots of time at the vet and possibly death.

So what can you do to avoid a situation too hot to handle?

1. Take your dog into stores with you.

Many stores that do not sell food, like Home Depot and Apple, will allow leashed and well behaved dogs in the store. Make sure that your dog is on a secure leash, does not bother other people and is not a distraction.

2. Eat outside

If you are going out to eat, sit with your dog on the patio and ask to be seated in the shade.

Learn about dog friendly restaurants in Fort Collins.

3. Hire a dog walker!

Leave your dog at home and have a dog walker stop by to play with your pup! You can go on your errands without worrying about your dog, planning your stops or clocking your time. Your dog gets a dedicated friend to come by and spend time with her! Learn more about how dog walks work.

 

Learn About Dog Walks

How to Safely Go On a Dog Walk After Dark

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I know, that evening walk around the block is a lot harder and somewhat scarier this time of year. It becomes very dark so early in the evening and with the snow, ice, wind, and those scary noises that turn out to be the bunny under the bush, it is easy to just say “we’ll go tomorrow, Fido”. Here are some suggestions that will help give you the confidence to go ahead and take your dog in the dark for a nice evening stroll.

Wear Reflective Gear

Both you and your dog should wear something reflective. Remember that reflective means it requires an outside light source to work. Items like reflective collars, leashes, and vests work best when used on the sidewalk or wherever headlights will illuminate you and are not much help if you are walking on a nature trail. Be sure that the leash you choose has the reflective material on both sides to be very visible.

LED Wear

There are some very cool, small dog-safe LED lights on the market now. These work in different ways (some push on while some twist) but they all easily attach to the dogs collar and hang near the ID tags. Some of the above mentioned gear also have LED lights embedded within them. The LED lights are very bright and can be some from a long distance in complete darkness.

Cold Weather Gear

Even the toughest dogs who love this type of weather can still feel the effects of the cold, snow and ice. Be sure to protect your dog’s feet with pad cream (be careful though as this might make slippery conditions a little trickier), or with the many different varieties of snow booties available today. These come in a range of sizes, styles, and prices but if you go out hiking often in this weather, you may want to invest in some. Fido may walk a little funny at first but will get used to them very fast.   A jacket of some type is also recommended for our dogs that have little hair or are very sensitive to the cold. Beagles, Boxers and other short haired dogs will thank you for the extra layer. These also are available in a ton of different styles and prices but if you shop around you will find the right one in no time.

Your Clothing

Now, we have Fido all decked out and ready to go but don’t forget yourself! Always wear reflective or LED as well and avoid dark clothing. You have to be as visible as your dog. Also, we’ve all heard about dressing in layers. Try to wear a few lighter layers with material that will wick away the moisture if you get wet (or work up a sweat) closest to your skin. Don’t forget your warm hat and gloves and always wear warm socks with your safest walking shoes. Remember that nobody will care what you look like and this is not style competition.

Other Gear

Always bring a flashlight. A small but bright flashlight can be helpful for finding those nighttime deposits that Fido leaves on the neighbor’s lawn and can also assist in visibility with other nighttime strollers. You might try a headlamp if you need your hands free.

Nighttime Distractions

You know they are out there. Those nocturnal animals that the darkness brings out create a whole new set of distractions. In the day time you are ready for the squirrel, rabbit or cat that might cross your path but at night you also get raccoons, fox and skunks. This is also where that flashlight can be helpful. Please have good control of your dog as well. A little sniffing and investigating can turn into a fight with something wild and possibly rabid so it is best to have already taught your dog what “leave it” and “let’s go” mean as well as have good leash manners.

Route Safety

Please be careful when considering and choosing your path for your nighttime walks. There are routes that are just more tricky in the dark than others. Stay away from those desolate roads, dark paths, very busy city streets or those parts of the city that just are not as safe at night for you or Fido. It is recommended that you stay in a familiar area or where other nighttime dog walkers are out and about.

Don’t worry. With the right gear and some planning, you can be sure that both you and your dog enjoy your walk and are back in the warmth and security of home with no problems. It can be a quiet and bonding time for you and your dog and you might come home with a great story to tell about that attack rabbit!

 

Choosing a Path for your Dog Walk

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Guest writer Alexis, a Wet Noses Pet Sitting Dog Walker

As a dog walker I always wonder what path should I take on a walk. There are essentially two type of paths to walk on, hard surfaces like roads and sidewalks, then there are nature paths that may be made of grass and dirt. Each of these types of paths have their own positives and negatives. For both paths it is extremely important to have the correct harness and leash for your dog walk. Below are some tips I found helpful while taking dogs out for walks on both types of surfaces.

Notes for Walking on a Street

Try to avoid walking your dog at night, but if you must wear reflectors on both you and your dog.

  • Convenience – Many people like the convenience of walking their dog out the front door and on to the street. It takes less time then driving to a dog walking trail.
  • Nail file – Some of you might not know this, but walking your dog on a hard surfaces works as a natural nail file. As they walk their nails scrap against the ground slowly filing them down.
  • Cars – You must always be mindful of your surroundings and most importantly cars on the road. It can be dangerous walking in the street while cars are zipping by. So and avoid listening to music or talking on your phone.
  • Heat – When summer rolls around hard surfaces can become extremely hot and hazardous for your dogs paws. I suggest walking your dog earlier in the morning when it is the coolest. Test the surface by placing the back of your hand on the ground and holding it for 11 seconds. If its too hot for you then it is probably to hot for your dog.

Notes for Taking Nature Trail Path

Always be sure to take a marked trail that allows dogs, which you can check very easily online.

  • Shade – While not all trails are the same, most of them have more shade then walking on the street. This can help during those hot Summer months.
  • Paws – Walking on grass or dirt is softer compared to walking on the roads or sidewalks. This can give relief to a dogs paws and make your walk much better. Still be aware of twigs and debris along the way.
  • Wildlife – When walking your dog on a trail, be aware that wildlife can jump out at any time and frighten or excite your dog. It is important to always keep a tight grip on the leash when walking on a trail.
  • Bugs – Trail are nice because they involve nature, but that also means dealing with bugs. If your dog yelps on a walk then investigate the area they immediately look to afterwards. If bitten be sure to clean the wound and   watch it for any rash or swelling. If necessary you should take them to the vet, for safe measure.

No matter where you go for your dog walk, there is no doubt they will appreciate the time our of the house in the fresh air!

Need Help Walking Your Dog?

If you do not have enough time to walk your dog, or are wondering if your dog needs more walks, take a look at our 8 Times When You Need a Dog Walker. Our dog walkers are experts at picking the path your dog will love! Contact Us if you would like to get your dog out more more walks right away!