Special to the Star-Herald
Taking on the responsibility of an animal is a huge commitment and can be an expensive one. The lifespan of a cat or dog is usually in its teens and a horse can be much longer. All baby animals are cute, but always remember that they will grow up and that they need to be taught right from wrong. There are many adult animals out there looking for good homes and maybe an older animal would fit into your lifestyle better than a puppy or kitten. Older dogs are usually spayed or neutered, have had some training, have some manners and are usually past their puppy chewing stages. Older cats are usually litter box trained and can easily adjust into a routine. Educate yourself and choose your next “friend for life” wisely. If you are lucky, you will have your pet a very long time; with proper care and attention, your lives will be filled with many happy years together.
One thing that is a “given” in pet ownership is shedding. We have talked about it before, but I am getting calls and comments about how bad shedding has been this summer. I would suggest calling a groomer for the best information on how to stop shedding, but this is more information that might help.
Most dogs have two coats and when your dog sheds, it is usually getting rid of the undercoat. Light impacts shedding most. Indoor dogs in artificial light shed year-round, while outdoor pets shed mainly in the spring and summer.
Here are some grooming tips that may help you in your fight against shedding. A bath with warm water and a shampoo made especially for dogs helps loosen dead hair for easier brushing. Ask your veterinarian to recommend an appropriate brush for the most shedding control for your breed. A short-haired Boxer may need a rubber-toothed brush, but a Golden Retriever is better groomed with a slicker brush and a thorough combing.
Don’t forget to reward your dog for being calm and polite when being brushed. A little praise goes a long way and helps your dog look forward to their grooming sessions.
I am getting calls about skunks and how to get the smell out of dogs. Skunks seem to be everywhere this year; my own dogs have been sprayed twice so far, including once under the porch of my house. The recipe is a simple one, but do not store it, this will explode. The recipe is: 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda and 3 tbs. of dish soap. Wet your dog down and then apply the “recipe.” Work it in, let stand and rinse. I usually follow with a bath with regular dog shampoo. No getting around it, skunk smell is tough to get rid of, mostly due to the parts of the body being sprayed — mouth, face, chest. I wash the face and neck area with a cloth soaked in the “recipe” and carefully rinse. Do not get it in the dog’s eyes.
While we are discussing grooming, lets talk a little about nail trimming. If you get a puppy, handle its feet a lot; get it used to having its nails trimmed while it is small and manageable. I see so many 50 pound-plus dogs who will not tolerate their nails being cut, so the owners let them just grow, or dogs who have to be wrestled or restrained for the safety of the person trimming.
If you cannot trim your own dog’s nails, seek professional help from a groomer or your veterinarian. Again, proper planning leads to a tolerant dog, so start when they are young and handle their feet and reward them for being good while you are doing so, then move on to trimming. You can even take an emery board and gently file the sharp ends off. Any type of handling will do. Even if you never do the nails yourself, you are preparing your dog and possibly saving anyone who is trimming from possibly being bitten.
If you are looking for a friend for life, please visit the Central Aroostook Humane Society. We are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, or give us a call at 764-3441 or visit us online at www.centralaroostookhumanesociety.org.
Please have your pets spayed or neutered.
