Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks

by Lindsay Herrick-Somerset

As the weather warms up, that means more time outside with your dog. But, with the warm season, also means the return of something else: ticks.

Ticks are found specifically in longer grassy areas and in bushes. Even though many people think of them as insects, they are actually arachnids which are similar to spiders and mites. Ticks are parasites that feed off of the blood the host they attach themselves to. Those hosts can be can a human or an animal.

The biggest problem with ticks is that they are carriers of disease, specifically Lyme disease. Lyme disease can be very serious if not treated, with symptoms including a fever, loss of appetite, pain, lethargy, swollen lymph nodes, swollen joints and shifting lameness from one leg to another. If not treated, it can cause serious damage to your dog's heart, nervous system and kidneys.

If you suspect that your pet has Lyme disease, take them to their vet as soon as possible. Your vet will want to do a blood panel to be sure and then start your dog on antibiotics right away as Lyme disease is a bacterial illness.

This is why it's extremely important to do a tick check any time your dog has been outside, specifically if they have been in long grassy areas (such as the river valley) or in bushes. The most common places where ticks like to grab on to and most pet owners miss are your dog’s ears, between their toes and arm pits.

What do you do if you find a tick on your dog? The safest way to remove a tick is by using a tick remover tool . Do not touch the tick with your bare hands as bacteria could be transmitted to you. Wear gloves or use a paper towel if you don't have gloves. Grab the tick as close to the skin surface as possible so this reduces the chances of the head detaching. Twist and pull the tick out with steady and even pressure. It may take a minute or two, so be patient. Once the tick has been removed, find a container and take it your vet so they can send it off to a lab to be inspected. Write down the time and place where the bite occurred.

Once the tick has been safely removed, it's very important to disinfect the bite area and your hands as soon as possible.

So, what can you do to prevent your dog from getting ticks? Talk to your vet about what they recommend as there are many different options out there. There are monthly topical treatments that can be applied to your dog that are effective at keeping both ticks and fleas at bay. If your dog attends daycare, most daycare require proof that your dog is having it applied. But be cautious about using any random tick treatment you find at a store as they are not all created equal and/or can be hazardous to your dog.

Also, make sure you check yourself over if you have been out with your pet in high risk areas for ticks. You don't want to take your chances.

Liv – Foster Family Updates

February 6, 2015 by Spencer Mortenson ·

Rabbit Hill Pet Valu

Hi there, my name is Liv. I am a very beautiful one year old female cat. I came into Zoe’s with three 2 day old kittens. My kittens have all been adopted and it is just me looking for my forever home. I am extremely affectionate, in fact I purr non stop quite often. I love people and I love the attention I get at Rabbit Hill Pet valu. I am fine with Sawyer so I should be fine with other cats. I am good with dogs once I get to know them, a cat savvy dog would be great. I am a very affectionate cat so I should be fine with kids. I would love to find my forever home, and I know if you met me you would fall head over heels in love! I know I am not a little kitten but I am only a year old and the perfect mix of cuddly and play without the serious non stop kitten antics. Come down to Rabbit Hill Pet Valu to meet me – and if you’re interested in adding me to your family please fill out an adoption application on the Zoe’s website. I can’t wait to find my furever home! Lots of love, Liv.

Filed Under: Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks ·

Molly – Foster Family Updates

February 5, 2015 by Spencer Mortenson ·

Hi everyone, Molly here! I thought I’d tell everyone a bit about myself and how I’m doing in my foster home! I’m a 1.5 year old Saint Bernard/Akita cross, and I’m 85 pounds. Don’t let my size fool you, I’m really a sweet dog! I love attention… from giving kisses, to being pet, and even cuddling with my foster parents. I’m also very playful with the other dogs in the house, and get along fine with little dogs too. My favourite toys include stuffed animals, and anything that squeaks! I LOVE going to the dog park and meeting other dogs, I’m so friendly and get along with every dog I’ve met so far! I’m also really enjoying swimming. I haven’t been around younger kids yet, but I’m great around babies! I have medium energy and love walks, but I don’t quite understand what that leash is all about yet! My foster mom says we’re working on it. I don’t like to be left alone so I would love my forever family to be with another doggy friend or even a home where someone will be home more often. If you’re interested in meeting me and maybe even adding me to your family, fill out an adoption application on the Zoe’s website! I can’t wait to find my furever home! Much love, Molly.

Filed Under: Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks ·

Simon – Foster Family Updates

February 4, 2015 by Spencer Mortenson ·

Hi there, my name’s Simon! I’m one of the newest kitties that was brought into Zoe’s with my brother Sheeran. I’m a very handsome male black kitten, around 6 months old. I’m great with kids and I love to be around other kitties, but I haven’t been around dogs yet. I’m doing great in my foster home, I really love to curl up in the crook of my foster mom’s neck. She always tells me I could be a therapy cat. I do still have a lot of my kitten energy, I LOVE to play! But don’t worry, I’m very gentle. I would love a home with a playmate or two to keep me busy. If you’re interested in meeting me and possibly adding me to your family, please fill out an adoption application on the website. I can’t wait to find my furever home! Love, Simon.

Filed Under: Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks ·

Blissful Buns Leggings Fundraiser for February

February 4, 2015 by Spencer Mortenson ·

Do you love leggings?

Well you’re in luck, Blissful Buns Leggings Beaumont has partnered with Zoe’s for a fundraiser for the entire month of February.

$5 per every pair of leggings sold this month from BB Leggings Beaumont will be donated to Zoe’s and go towards helping our animals in need!

You can find them on Facebook under the name Blissful Buns Leggings Beaumont.

Filed Under: Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks ·

Adopt A Pup with Avon by Michelle

February 4, 2015 by Spencer Mortenson ·

Michelle Webb is a volunteer with Zoe’s and she’s been with us since Day 1. Michelle is an Avon rep and will be running a fundraiser for us for these adorable stuffed pups!

Money raised will go towards helping pay our recent vet bills as we’ve had a lot of intakes (including 3 dogs from the Milk River situation) as well as special therapy for Jack Frost, our adorable beagle. Kelcie the stuffed pup sings the song Kiss Me and his dog tag can be personalized to say anything you’d like. He costs $24.99 (plus tax) and $5 per adopted stuffed puppy will be donated towards Zoe’s.

Order deadline is this Sunday, February 8th at 7pm. They can be ordered through Michelle’s Avon page on Facebook, or email your order in to [email protected]. Thank you for so much support, our animals really appreciate your help in giving them a second chance at life!

Filed Under: Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks ·

Tricks for Training: an Amateur's Guide to Schooling Your New Dog

January 26, 2015 by Spencer Mortenson ·

by Amanda Kelley*

If you’re like me, sifting through dog training advice is a frustrating experience peppered with guilt. There are so many different methods, and opinions tend to be polarized and emotionally charged. Am I a bad person if I don’t crate train? Are clickers the only way to go? Am I being too strict, or too lenient?

I’m not a seasoned dog trainer, so fortunately for you, I won’t be hitting you with a training program and series of cutesy acronyms. But I do study animal behaviour, and having run the dog training gauntlet with an unsocialized dog and a critical eye, I believe I can share a few good kernels of advice.

When I got my first dog, Hannah, I took a training course where we were not allowed to use treats for motivation, the rationale being that our dogs would treat us like candy dispensers rather than authority figures if food was involved. Hannah and I struggled through the course. Watching the other dogs, I noticed that those who were learning faster were initiating eye contact and behaving as if praise itself was a treat. Hannah, having recently been a stray, showed little response to praise. She didn’t yet know what a smile was, or why it was important. The experience was frustrating, and did nothing for our relationship. Afterwards, I switched to treat-based training. Food is a universal signifier of Good Things, and in our case, it helped Hannah learn my facial and body expressions (obedient Hannah = happy face Amanda = cookies for Hannah). Since then, I have gotten another dog, for whom praise and toys are a much stronger driver than food.

So what can we learn from this experience?

Adoptable Christy May (left) has only recently begun her life as as indoor dog, but she’s willing to try new things!

Experiment.
You don’t have to jump on board with any particular training method. This isn’t like joining a secret society or getting a tattoo: you have the freedom to try different techniques, weigh them, and toss ‘em out if they don’t work. And if they don’t work out, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the trainer is a hack. Dogs, like people, have different personalities and different ways of learning, so a single approach is unlikely to work for every animal.

Observe.
How do you know when it’s working? Or (more likely!) when to give up? Your dog can tell you that, but you’ll probably have to do a little trial and error. For example, a sensitive dog may not respond well to methods on the stricter end of the spectrum. (If it cowers or trembles, you need to tone it down.) However, the same technique that frightens one dog may just bounce off an unruly, confident one. Luckily, dogs have been bred to be good at communicating with us, and with some practice, you can start up a dialogue. Say what you will about Cesar, but in this humble writer’s opinion, a few episodes of Dog Whisperer will help get you in the right frame of mind to think critically about your dog’s body language. And once you can decipher what they’re trying to tell you, and their motivations, you’re well on your way.

Grampa Jack, one of our adoptables, knows how to relax.

Grampa Jack, who’s available for adoption, knows how to relax.

Relax.
Remaining calm is key. Learning a new language isn’t like flipping a switch: it takes time and patience. Your dog won’t pick up on everything right away, and some things may be completely out of their grasp. It’s fine if your dog isn’t perfectly trained; just remember that if you can’t control your dog’s behaviour, you have to control the environment. Does your dog jump on children? Then they need to be supervised. Are they bad at recall? Then they can’t be off leash in potentially dangerous areas. As your control increases, you start to introduce them to more unpredictable environments.

The take home message: Your internet search is not yet over. Do your own research, and try to get a good idea of your options. It’s not a quick fix, but it is the best option for maintaining your sanity.

Have you found a training method that works for you and your pup? If so, please share in the comments below, along with a description of your pup’s personality!

*Amanda Kelley, MSc., is a blogger, web manager, and photographer for Zoe’s. In her professional life, she is a wildlife biologist who specializes in animal personality.

Filed Under: Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks, Resource · Tagged With: dog training

Donate to Zoe’s…simply by walking!

January 23, 2015 by Spencer Mortenson ·

Stay fit and donate to Zoe’s with ResQwalk – without actually donating! ResQwalk is an app that you can download to your iPhone or Android phone and log your walks. You simply choose Zoe’s Animal Rescue from the list of rescues, open the app when you go for a walk and it will record your distance. At the end of each week, Zoe’s will receive a donation from the central fund proportional to the total number of miles walked by Zoe’s Animal Rescue walkers within the qualifying pool of rescue centers. Encourage your friends or families to sign up for this and all their walks will count too!

More information on how it works is available here – http://youtu.be/8MBS2GNMt2s

Download the app here – http://www.resqwalk.com

Filed Under: Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks ·

Lost Pet Resources Edmonton

January 20, 2015 by Spencer Mortenson ·

The following resources are available for owners who have lost their pets in the Edmonton area. Please note that by listing these links, Zoe’s Animal Rescue Society is not endorsing any of the organizations involved but feels they could be useful resources in helping reunite you with your pet.

Edmonton Animal Care & Control Centre (Guide) – a comprehensive guide to help find a lost pet in the Edmonton area including tips on tips on keeping your pet safe.
http://www.edmonton.ca/residential_neighbourhoods/pets_wildlife/reporting-recovering-lost-pets.aspx
Tel: 311

Edmonton Animal Care & Control Centre (Database) – a public database of dogs and cats found in Edmonton and surrounding areas currently being held for safe-keeping at the Animal Care & Control Centre.
http://edmontonacccpets.shelterbuddy.com/search/searchResults.asp?tpage=1&searchType=2
Tel: 311

Edmonton Humane Society – a charity committed to helping homeless and abused companion animals which includes a lost animal section.
http://www.edmontonhumanesociety.com/content/lost-animals-care
Tel: 780-471-1774

Edmonton Veterinarian’s Emergency Clinic – deal with immediate emergency care for injured animals.
http://edmontonvetemergency.com/index.cfm
Tel: North Edmonton – 780-758-4620
Tel: Downtown – 780-433-9505

Guardian Veterinarian Centre – organization providing emergency pet care in Edmonton.
http://www.guardianvetcentre.com
Tel: 780-436-5880

PetLynx – an online lost pet database resource.
http://www.petlynx.net/PetLynx/lostnfound/index.do

Alberta Lost Pet Locator – Facebook resources for lost cats and dogs in Alberta.
http://www.albertalostpetlocator.com
https://www.facebook.com/LostCatsAlbertaLostPetLocator
https://www.facebook.com/AlbertaLostPetLocatorMyLuvMyLifeMyHeartbeats

Pet Search Party – a web based pet locator resource similar to PetLynx.
http://www.petsearchparty.com/content/edmonton

Kijiji Lost and Found Pets – classified lost and found pet listings for Edmonton and surrounding areas.
http://www.kijiji.ca/b-lost-and-found-pets/edmonton/c791l1700203

Filed Under: Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks, Resource ·

Books for Barks Event

December 12, 2014 by Iris Rohr ·

Love animals? Love reading? Then you’re going to love our upcoming event, Books for Barks!

Please donate your gently used books of any genre for the Zoe’s Book Sale, coming up on January 17th. 100% of the proceeds from our book sale go towards food, toys, and medical costs to help animals in need.

Don’t have any books to donate? Then come on out and buy some!

We’ll be at Seeds & Sprouts Early Learning & Childcare Centre, located at 6203 29 Avenue, Beaumont on Saturday, January 17th, from 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. My perfect Saturday includes buying a new book, curling up on a comfy chair, and supporting an organization that is passionate about animals. If that sounds like an awesome Saturday to you, then you should join us!

Filed Under: Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks ·

Zoe’s Christmas Auction

December 11, 2014 by Spencer Mortenson ·

Looking for that special gift for a loved one or a funky stocking filler? Check out the goodies available in Zoe’s Animal Rescue Christmas Auction. The auction closes at 9pm on Sunday December 14 so be quick!

http://www.32auctions.com/zoeschristmasauction

Filed Under: Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks ·