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First Aid: How to bandage a dog’s ear wound

The most common injuries that happen to our dogs involve the head area. And it is the ears that are most frequently torn in dogfights. The ears also tend to bleed profusely. So if your dog comes back injured with an ear wound, then take the following three simple steps to bandaging the area:

1. First make sure that your dog is calm from whatever fight he got into. Then clean the wound with warm water and a light disinfectant. Be sure not to get any hair or other small particles inside the wounded area.

2. Next, wrap the ear with a bandage. You should have plenty of bandage material from your emergency first aid kit but a cloth or shirt will do just fine. Wind the bandage around the head to keep it secure and to prevent the ear from bleeding when the dog shakes his head.

3. Continue with bandaging his ear by wrapping it around his head over and over until it is secure. Avoid putting any unnecessary pressure on the windpipe. If need be, you want to use what is called an “Elizabethan Collar”. Now get your dog to the vet immediately for further medical attention.

Finding the Best Location to Clean Your Dog

Finding a good place to groom your dog can make all the difference in establishing the habit. A suitable location for grooming should be convenient and enjoyable in order to be conducive to the regular practice of grooming your dog. Consider the following factors when determining the best place to do your dog grooming:

1. How much clean-up will your dog require? The mess your grooming sessions will make can determine the best location to groom. For instance, long-haired dogs whose coat stays in the comb are easy to groom indoors, but brushing your short-coated dog may release tiny hairs into the air, so you may have to find an outdoor location.

2. A harsh climate makes outdoor grooming difficult during much of the year while a temperate climate is more conducive to outdoor grooming.

3. A spare room or basement might be a great grooming studio as long as it is bright, comfortable, and spacious.

4. The ideal grooming location should have enough space to move around in, and is easy to clean.

Finding A Pet Sitter: 12 Tips To Finding A Quality Dog Sitter

The following are tips on finding a reliable dog-sitter:

1. Begin the process of finding a pet-sitter well in advance of your trip. Pet-sitters, like boarding kennels, are booked early, especially over the holidays or during prime vacation time.

2. Ask your veterinarian or pet-owning friends for a referral. Finding a sitter who is trustworthy and has a good reputation is important for your peace of mind.

3. Check the Yellow Pages of your telephone directory under “Pet sitters.” Call several and set up appointments to interview them. As an alternative, call the locator lines of the two major professional pet-sitting organizations for a list of member pet-sitters in your area.

4. When you call a pet-sitter, ask if he or she is bonded and insured and can supply you with references. Ask how long he or she has been in business and what experience with animals the person has beyond pet-sitting.

5. Set up a meeting with the pet-sitter so that you and your pet can meet him or her. The sitter should be interested in your animal and attempt to establish a rapport during the first meeting. Getting to know the pet sometimes takes a while if the pet is shy, but the sitter should make the effort.

6. Expect the sitter to ask you questions about your dog’s care, including feeding, walking, cleaning up, disposing of doggie wastes, recycling pet food cans, and games your dog likes to play.

7. When you decide on a sitter, expect to sign a contract covering the dates of core, cost, and liabilities. Some sitters, like housekeepers, require payment up front, so don’t be put off by a sitter asking for payment in advance.

8. Be sure to let the sitter know of any illnesses or idiosyncrasies that your dog has so that the sitter is not surprised if he behaves in a particular way.

9. If your dog eats little while you are gone, let the sitter know and offer suggestions of what to do if he decides to go on a hunger strike.

10. Provide the sitter with important information such as the phone number of where you will be, anyone locally to notify in an emergency, and the name and number of your veterinarian.

11. Inform your veterinarian that you will be away. Have your veterinarian keep a letter on file from you that says you are going away and names the pet-sitter and service as your dog’s temporary guardian. If there is a problem, the sitter will have the authority to bring him in and you will be responsible for any fees.

12. The sitter should give you a business card to take with you so that you can call the sitter if you need to for any reason. If your return is going to be delayed, contact the sitter to take care of your dog for the additional time.