Practical Dog Tips
This page is dedicated to tips that one can use to make chores easier or to amerliorate a current condition. In regards to health tips, it is always good to ok it with your vet and see if you may give the tip a try. If you have a tip and it has worked for you and would like to submit it, then send me an email and see if it appears on here.
Health
1. Dried buttermilk sprinkled over the dogs food can help minimze watery eyes. This can also be used to help diarrhea and loose stools. (DF Nov. 08)
2. Ear infections can be treated using white vinegar and water in a 9-1 solution. Apply mixture on a cotton ball and carefully clean out your dog's ears. (DF July 08)
Property
3. Minimize lawn burns and damage from traffic by watering less but more deeply. This encourages some grasses to root 2-3 feet deeper which allows them to stand up to traffic better than regular grass rooted at 6 inches. Ad an extra 1/4 of an inch when mowing, this also gives grass the ability to stand up to foot traffic. Rinse out with water the area where your dog urinated, this leeches out the salts and may completely eliminate or at least mitigate lawn burns. Lastly, reseed areas where grass is wearing down regularly. (DF May 08)
4. Get rid of doggy ordor in your car by putting cotton balls doused with an essential fragrance oil and wedging it in between the slots of the vents in the car. The air passes through the cotton which helps makes the car smell better.(DF Mar 08)
Accidents
5. To remove the smell of skunk from a dog use 2 pints of hydrogen peroxide (3%), liquid soap, baking soda, and a gallon of water. Mix the peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda, and 1-2 tbs of dish soap in a bucket. Use quickly to rinse off the dog, and don't pre-mix these ingredients as they are only useful when recently mixed together. Keep away from dog's eyes, mouth, and nose. (DF Oct. 08)
6. Sometimes dogs that are in the process of potty training pee inside because we might miss cleaning up certain spots where there has been an accident. Get rid of urine spots by first locating them using a black light (use while it's dark), then marking where thry are with masking tape. Turn the lights on and treat areas with a mixture of 1/2 cup of white vinegar diluted with water (9-1 ratio) in a spray bottle. Spray and allow to sit before rubbing the affected area. Next mix 1 cup of baking soda with 2 drops of bergamot essential oil and sprinkle mixture over area and expect it to bubble. When it is dry, vaccuume thoroughly. Try this first on an inconspicous spot on the carpet just in case.(DF Oct. 08)
Grooming
7. Groom your dog outside. The fur that flies off is used by birds to build nests and also keeps your home clean. (DF Dec 08)
8. If the hair on your dog's pads gets in the way of Dremel-style tools put your dog's leg through a pantyhose and then push the nails through the fabric. this should keep back unwanted fur fro being caught in the nail grinder. (DF Aug 08)
9. Something that may calm your dog down while you clip his/her nails is to cut them while they are still in the bathtub. Not only is there the benefit from the nails being softer, but also some dogs seem to be less fussy about cutting their nails when done right after the bath and while they are in the tub. (Groomer: Julie)
Nutrition
(None yet)
-Steven L.
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