Fleas are tiny but can be seen with the human eye, they are dark brown and measure approximate 1mm.  A flea can leave for 7-14 days on your pet and feed of their blood.  Adult fleas will also lay eggs deep in the coat of your dog causing your dog to scratch.  Every time your pet moves or shakes flea eggs can be dislodged and fall into carpets, bedding etc. which means you will have to treat your home as well.

The signs to look out for are abnormal scratching, biting or licking, red spots or patches on the skin, pale gums, small reddish or brown specs on your dog’s skin and even hair loss.

The best way to deal with fleas is to prevent them so your dog does not suffer unnecessarily.

Our Award winning Dynamite insect, flea and tick repellant is economical and universal.  Supplied as a concentrate, simply dilute at a rate of 1ml to 100ml ratio.  Use as a final rinse when washing your dog for long term protection or as a grooming spray for short term protection. 

Dynamite is extremely economical one 250ml bottle makes up to 25 litres and is also recommended for human protection especially against midges.

I’m sure most responsible dog owners are very aware of hidden dangers lurking in the home, by which I mean things in our households which could be harmful to our pets if ingested.

In particular I want everyone to be aware that things we might be tempted to offer as treats...I want to help us to stop inadvertently damaging our dogs with kindness.  

If in doubt I strongly recommend that you save the following website www.petpoisonhelpline.com

Number one on my list is overfeeding. Dogs need different amounts and types of food depending on their age and activity levels. Dogs do not know how to control their eating. If it’s there they will eat it. If it’s not taken away they may learn to leave it and then come back later and eat it. As a rule of thumb you should feed and remove.Or just use a cold press food like HealthyDog where recommended amounts are half those of a traditional extruded food

It follows from One above that most treats in so much as they increase amounts eaten should be discouraged.  I however enjoy giving my dogs treats so moderation and only occasional treats are the rule.

So treats to avoid include the following (and yes, I encourage feedback and additions to this list, you will help all our readers)

Most lists start contain Macadamia Nuts. I start with these as I did not know what they are. They are in many biscuits and snacks. So either read the label or just don’t give pastry things to the dog.

Chocolate should NEVER be given. I still remember the sage when my Jack Russell discovered an Easter Egg. I am eternally grateful to the vet for coming out late on a Sunday evening to save her life.  So please make sure all chocolate is in a secure place and children/non dog owning guests understand that they must not give this to their pet. Remember dark chocolate and cooking chocolate are the most lethal.

Grapes/raisins are a threat to kidney function and should be avoided.

Onions, leeks, chives and garlic Members of  the Allium family and poisonous to dogs. Garlic is considered to be about 5-times as potent as onion and leeks. Certain breeds and species are more sensitive, including cats and Japanese breeds of dogs (e.g., Akita, Shiba Inu). Toxic doses of garlic can cause damage to the red blood cells (making them more likely to rupture) leading to anemia.. While tiny amounts of these foods in some pets, especially dogs, may be safe, large amounts can be very toxic.

Chicken bones can splinter and do all sorts of harm. Cooked bones of any kind may be brittle and hazardous.

Rawhide dog chews  can host bacteria like Salmonella, which isn’t good. Monitor the storage, handout, use, and life of chews.

Plants. The Kennel Club publishes a list of dangerous plants.  Some you might be surprised to see are

• Aloe vera
• Daffodil  and tulip bulbs
• Hyacinth
• Laburnum
• Lupins
• Rhubarb leaves
• Rhododendron
• Sweet pea
• Day lilies
• Asparagus fern
• Azalea
• Cyclamen
• Hydrangea
• Aconitum
• Delphiniums
• Wisteria
• Yew

As ever, if you have found this useful, please share. Also please like our page so that we can make sure you receive other blogs we produce. With thanks form the team at www.doghealth.co.uk. And please add your comment especially where this will help other dog owners and reflects your own experiences.

As animal owners an issue for us is excessive flies which where we live become pandemic as the weather heats up, and kennels and stables in particular will attract hordes of flies.. The solution I like so much that I now sell it through our website, www.doghealth.co.uk, is the Red Top Fly Trap.

This is made in South Africa and is a disposable bag to which you add a packet of bait and 1 litre of water. It works for 12 weeks - sometimes even longer - and catches up to 20,000 flies. IMPORTANT - Place it about 10m (30ft) away from the area that you want to protect!

The bait is non chemical and non toxic, which is as well as there are occasions when you dog might get hold of it. Not pleasant, but at least not poisonous.

The Redtop should be Hung about 6ft above the ground in direct sunlight. The pheromone in the trap is triggered by UV light – it is especially appealing to female flies.

RRP for the reed top is around £10, we do multiple sets ( you will want more than one as they are so very effective) which will bring the cost right down