Monday, April 23, 2012

Hungry Puppy

Dogs have been known to eat pretty much whatever they come across. You wont believe what these xrays show!!!

1. Rubber Ducky


2. Whole fish, with the hook still in him!!
3. A fork!

4. A toy dog!

5. An engagement ring!
6. A cell phone!!

 7. A 12 in serrated knife!


Fun Facts about Fido

1. Dogs have no sweat glands except on the bottom of their paws.


2. Dogs nose prints are similar to human fingerprints. They are all unique and can be used to identify individual dogs

3. The longest tongue on a dog is held by Puggy, a Pekingese and is measured at 4.5 inches.





4. The worlds tallest female dog is Nova, a great dane who measures 5 ft and 11 inches tall. 


5. The worlds biggest dog ever recorded is Giant George, also a dane. He is 7 feet long and weighs 245 pounds!





6. The fastest dog on a skateboard is Tillman, an English bulldog.



7. The worlds most expensive dog is "Big Splash" a red Tibetan mastiff who was purchased by someone in China for about 1.5 million dollars!







Adoption Statistics

As an independent rescue group we obviously support adoption completely. If you are on the fence about adoption, or know someone thinking about adopting, maybe these facts will help you decide.


Anywhere from 8-12 million dogs a year in the USA alone enter animal shelters. About 60 % of dogs that come into the shelter system are euthanized.

If you are worried about adopting because you are unsure of what breeds, know that 25% of animals in shelters are purebred.

 About 60% of American families own a pet, and there are about 60 million dogs with (hopefully) loving homes. Join them!

Adopt a pet for fun, silly times:





And to make a previously homeless dog look like this:


Natural Remedies for Common Problems

There are quite a few simple, natural remedies for some common doggie problems.

1. Nausea/ diarrhea- Dogs who switch environments, switch food, go through stress, or eat something funny can get an upset tummy and diarrhea. A really simple solution for this is to give your dog some canned, pureed pumpkin. Make sure it is not the pumpkin pie mix that includes spices and sugar. You can give them a tablespoon with their food to keep them regular, or give them straight pumpkin to calm already upset stomachs. We occasionally mix the pumpkin with some white rice as a bland base.

2. Gas- Gas can be a stinky obnoxious problem. We have found two remedies- Yogurt is a good natural choice. The yogurt that you choose should have live active bacteria and little to no sugar or artificial sweetener. The second is a product called Dog Smog which contains digestive enzymes.

3. Achy joints- Problems with a dog joints can't be fixed through natural supplements, but natural supplements can provide relief from various diseases such as arthritis and hip dysplasia. There is an amazing supplement called Missing Link that we here at Mixed Mutts swear by. Other than Missing Link, we recommend giving your dog supplements such as chondroitin, glucosamine and shark cartilage.

4. Dull, lifeless coat- If your dogs coat is lacking in luster then we again highly recommend the Missing Link supplement. Other than that we recommend salmon oil, and not over bathing your baby.

5. Fleas- One of the best options natural options for fleas is first bathing in a shampoo that contains citrus, citronella, pine cedar, rosemary, or any other combination of herbal remedies. Leave the shampoo on for about 15 minutes. Wash all of your pets bedding and your bedding. As far as keeping them off, we have only found very good results with flea medicines such as Frontline and Advantix. These provide added benefits of repelling ticks as well.

6. Hot Spots- Hot spots are raw wounds that develop on your dogs skin as a result of allergies, excessive licking or chewing, irritation from bug bites etc. They are painful and irritating to your animal, and are usually slow in healing because your dog will continue to lick the spot in an attempt at relief. The main way to heal the hot spots is to prevent your animal from licking. There is a product you can purchase called Bitter Apple that has a foul taste to it to deter licking. Before this, make sure to clean the hot spot well, and you can apply some petroleum jelly for protection and relief.


Please remember that your veterinarian is always your best source of advice. The above treatments are things that we have found that worked for our particular cases, but every dog is different. If you are at all concerned, go to your veterinarian first!!

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Dangerous Food for Dogs

Most people know of chocolate as being bad for dogs, but that is one of many foods you should keep away from your pets. We have compiled a list for you.

1. Chocolate- Chocolate can cause panting, vomiting, diarrhea, heart palpitations, tremors and death. This includes all types of chocolate (white, dark, unsweetened).

2. Coffee/ caffeine- Large amounts of caffeine is fatal for dogs. If you think your dogs has gotten into your coffee stash and is exhibiting the following behaviors, seek help right away. Symptoms are rapid breathing, heart palpitations, bleeding, muscle tremors. Watch out for ground coffee, tea bags, energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster, and sodas.

3. Onions and Garlic- Onions and garlic need to be avoided at all costs. They can lead to weakness, vomiting, jaundice, and anemia. Keep in mind that this means throwing your dogs scraps of anything cooked with onions, onion powder, garlic, and garlic powder. (Onion powder is in a lot of baby food so watch out!)

4. Grapes and Raisins- While raisins are the perfect size as a training treat, its important to steer clear. Even a small amount of either of these can make your dogs sick. Vomiting, and lethargy are the first signs, and kidney failure is the primary concern.

5. Macadamia Nuts- NO amount of macadamia nuts is okay. Even a very small amount of these can make your dog extremely ill. As few as SIX macadamia nuts can lead to weakness, paralysis, vomiting, muscle tremors, and a rapid heart rate.

6. Human medicine- Unless specifically instructed otherwise (some doctors recommend benadryl for allergies etc), stay away. You have no idea what your medicine will do to your dog.

7. Alcohol- This may seem like a no brainer, but make sure to have your alcohol securely locked up and cups attended. A small amount of alcohol can lead to central nervous system depression, coma, vomiting and death.

8. Avocado- Make sure to not give your dog large quantities of avocado as new evidence shows large amounts may be toxic.



If you find that your dog has eaten the above foods, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888) 426- 4435 or take them to an emergency veterinary clinic.

Tips for your new SHY dog

Recently Mixed Mutts picked up over 30 dogs that were left behind by a hoarder who's home was foreclosed on. All of these dogs had been severely neglected and lacked any kind of socialization with people.

Because of this, these dogs have a fear and distrust of people. We have managed to place quite a few of these dogs with great families, but it is hard getting these dogs acquainted with their new life filled with love and attention. Mixed Mutts works with great trainers and canine professionals, and we have a few tips to help.

1. TIME and PATIENCE- These dogs have been through a DRAMATIC change in their life over the past couple months. The most important thing that these animals will need is time to adjust to their new life. While it can be frustrating to feel as if you are not making progress with your new addition, every second that they are with you matters. Continue to be patient, consistent, and kind to your new family member.

2. TREATS- One thing we have seen from some of the dogs new families is the use of treats. Treats are a great tool for training, rewarding, and gifts. We fully support giving treats to bond with your new dog. The problem here is that we have seen some people throwing their treats on the ground to try and get their new dog to like them. This will not help to bond you and your new dog because now they know they don't have to come to you for yummy treats. Instead, hold a treat in your hand and offer it to your new dog. They may not come at first, so hold the treat at your side while focusing your attention elsewhere. Most times the dog will slowly come closer, and allow them to take the treat from your hand without sudden movements. Soon they will come when you hold a treat out to them, and bonding will grow stronger.

3. TRAINING- Obedience training is a great idea for many reasons. One, it helps you be calmer because you will have a dog who knows how to listen to you, and two, going through training with your dogs allows many opportunities for bonding. Mixed Mutts works closely with trainer Cheryl who can come do one on one with you and identify various problems and offer solutions. Her contact information is (626) 428-1572, and if you have adopted from Mixed Mutts, the first session is greatly discounted.

4. PRAISE- Every time you see your new dog exhibit brave, independent, or otherwise desirable behavior, show them with praise whether with treats or attention. Be careful of rewarding them with treats when they exhibit fear or fear based responses. Remember to never punish fear or fear based response (urinating on floor because of fear etc).

5. SPACE- Allow your dog to have their "doggy space" in your home. Many people find it helpful to leave a covered crate in the living area with the door always open and a comfy bed inside. This allows your dog to retreat somewhere where he feels safe when he feels overwhelmed. It may seem like they spend all their time there at first and you may be tempted to take that spot away in an attempt to force him into socializing, but just remember step number 1.

6. TIME AND PATIENCE- We know it's step one, but we really can not stress this enough.


For any specific questions feel free to comment here or send us an email at mixedmutts@gmail.com. Or contact trainer Cheryl (626) 428-1572.

Welcome

Welcome to Mixed Mutts blog! We will post helpful information on raising your new adopted dog, great news stories we have come across, and adorable images. We love all things canine here!

We leave you with our adorable dog Spawn who is up for adoption.