Mack and Mercie Tail of Two Dogs

Welcome to the world of Mack and Mercie and Happy National Pet Day!Give your pet an extra hug today!

Are Fleas Flipping You Out?

“Rebecca, I need your help getting rid of fleas!”

I hear that comment a lot from my customers.  My response to them is always “Tell me where the problem is…in your home, in your yard or on your pets?”

Usually they say everywhere and the fleas are beginning to get on them.  When the fleas move from the pets to the humans, the infestation is getting out of hand.  Taking back control from the fleas is a three-fold process.  You have to treat your home, your yard and your pets to make your efforts worth your while.

Other pets or even squirrels can bring fleas into your yard.  Even if you have a fence, other animals come up to it with your pet on the other side, and fleas can jump onto them.

When you walk through your yard, fleas can get on you and you can bring them into the house even if you don’t allow your pet inside.

Total control is a 3-step process:

(1) Outside:  A good insect granule such as Bug Blaster is what I suggest for outside.  It will last 3 times longer than any sprays that you can use which lose their effectiveness after 30 days due to the UV light of the sun.

When you broadcast the granules in your yard, do so before a rain or set a sprinkler for a little while as water activates the chemical in the product.  Once it dries, it is safe for humans and pets.

(2) Inside: An adulticide such as Martin’s Viper or Bifen I/T (be sure and rotate the chemical you use so the fleas don’t become immune)  mixed with a larvicide for an indoor spray is preferable.

You need a product that will kill the adults but another one to take care of the eggs & larvae which will continue to develop into adults anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks depending on the environment.

If you don’t stop the cycle with the insect growth regulator (IGR, larvicide), you will continue to have adult fleas!  It is a good idea to rotate your adulticide product so that the fleas do not become immune to that chemical.

Cypermethrin, Bifenthrin, Beta-Cyfluthrin are all great products to use in conjunction with the IGR.  A one gallon mixture will treat 1,000 square feet. I don’t have a “bug company” come into my house to treat for insects.  I do this myself, quarterly, and these products will take care of other insects in addition to your flea trouble.

Spray your floors, pet’s bedding, around baseboards, under sinks, behind washer/dryer and refrigerator, back in closets, around doors & windows.

If for some reason you are not able to mix up and spray these products, there are really great flea/insect bombs that contain both adulticide & IGR ingredients.

(3) Pets: Your pet needs a good spot on product that is applied monthly to kill the fleas that get on them. And there are some oral flea medications on the market today.

The key for the topical products is to make sure they, too, contain an adulticide along with an IGR. You want to make sure you select the right product based on the weight of your pet.   

I know for many you prefer organic/non-chemical approach to pest control with your pets. There are essential oils, diatemecous earth and even planting geraniums around your yard to repel fleas.  

Whichever method you choose, be wise in the application and use on your fur babies. Knowledge is key!

Thank you for listening, thank you for loving dogs enough to give them a home and if you have a favorite charity for animals, remember they can always use donations. If nobody else tells you today, I care about you and you are important in your world.  Take care!

For inspiration and videos go to:  https://www.facebook.com/RollingTStoresArkansas

Welcome to the World of Mack and Mercie

Do you feel a little challenged when it comes to the thought of training a new pup?

How about choosing one of the more intelligent breeds of dog to help ease your anxiety?

#1- Golden Retriever- they are a beautiful breed with a fantastic temperament. If you have kids, these dogs love to swim and fetch for hours on end.  They are outgoing, trustworthy and they want to please their human family. They have a joyous and playful attitude that they keep even into adulthood. I had a lab/retriever mix, Chase, and he was playful until his 14th year when he came down with lymphoma cancer.

#2 Border Collie-I have never owned a border collie but I have had friends who actually raised them. You need to be a family that is more active for this dog because they are very energetic but they do love to cuddle down at the end of the day. As the AKC site states: The intelligence, athleticism and train-ability of Borders have a perfect outlet in agility training. Having a job to perform, like agility, is key to their happiness. Happy with friends, they are more reserved around strangers.

#3 Shetland Sheepdog-A Sheltie. Let me tell you about my lovely Sheltie, Smokey. He was truly the smartest dog, well he and Chase the lab/retriever mix were close, and was super easy to train. He was a great dog to have with my babies. They could pull his fur, he would yelp, and then turn and lick their hands. He was gentle and kind. My Smokey was not hyper and loved to be close to us. He was a great watchdog and sensitive to your commands. You never had to be unkind to Smokey, he was always conscious of what you needed him to do.  You do have to groom this dog as they have beautiful thick fur.

#4 Papillon-That word means butterfly in French. Even though this is a tiny dog, you can always spot them by their erect, wing shaped ears giving them their name.  They love either warm or cold climates, urban or country settings and they love to join in with their human families fun. A smart little dog that can be trained to do all kinds of tricks.

#5 Corgi- Let's round out my list with another small but agile and intelligent dog. They are sweet and affectionate. I mean who doesn't want a loving dog that is smart as well and is never needy!  This dog is better suited for a more active person. It's funny they have a "big dog" bark to go along with their acute senses which fits perfectly as they are vigilant watchdogs.

When you are ready to get another dog and you are dreading the all to common training that is to come, look at getting a breed where training comes easy to them and in turn becomes easy for you.  

Thank you for listening, thank you for loving dogs enough to give them a home and if you have a favorite charity for animals, remember they can always use donations. If nobody else tells you today, I care about you and you are important in your world.  Take care!

For inspiration and videos go to:  https://www.facebook.com/RollingTStoresArkansas

Welcome to the World of Mack and Mercie

If you've had dogs, you've seen the dreaded shaking of their head and scratching at their ears.

When I had my brick and mortar store, Rolling T Stores, I sold drops for your dog's ears. However, I encouraged the pet owner to know what was going on in their dog's ears because my products were for different problems.

There are 3 different kind of ear infections which affect different areas of the dog's ear. 

One affects the layer of cells lining the outer or external portion of the ear canal.

The other two refer to infections of the middle and inner ear canal which they can get when the infection starts on the outside and it spreads inward.

#2 and #3 called Otitis media and Interna are the most serious. Important reasons to prevent them and get early treatment.

Plus, knowledge is key here to getting the right treatment for your dog.

These are the visible signs your dog might have an ear infection:

* Head Shaking

* Odors

* Scaly Skin

* Whining and pawing at the problem ear

* Dark, Smelly Discharge

* Redness and Swelling

* Itchiness

Our last little fur baby, Meisha, who was a 10 lb. Shih Tzu, had so many allergies. Her ear infections were yeast/fungus which we had to give her a pill every other day. Plus, with Shih Tzu's, since they don't shed, and for dogs that don't, they need their ear hairs pulled out which is not painful to the dog, unless they have an ear infection!

Other common causes are:

*bacteria

*moisture which is the perfect camping site for bacteria and yeast

*viruses

*mites (more common in puppies than in adults)

*drug reactions

*allergies

*thyroid disorders

*autoimmune disease

*endocrine disorders

*wax buildup

*foreign bodies

*injury

*meningitis or encephalitis

Now can you see why it's important to know what is going on in your dog's ear? Keep up with how your dog is reacting and for how long to be able to give your vet as much information as possible. 

You can help prevent ear infections by following some basic practices.

Make sure you dry your dog's ears if they have gone swimming or after bath time.

You can also do some ear cleaning periodically by filling the canal with a cleaning solution, a homemade one is 1 part white vinegar to 1 part water. Then massage the vertical ear canal from the outside. You will want to wipe it out with an absorbent gauze and not paper towels or cotton because they can leave fibers behind.

A healthy dog is a happy dog and you will be a happy dog owner!

Thank you for listening, thank you for loving dogs enough to give them a home and if you have a favorite charity for animals, remember they can always use donations. If nobody else tells you today, I care about you and you are important in your world.  Take care!

For inspiration and videos go to:  https://www.facebook.com/RollingTStoresArkansas

I'm going to share with you 5  breeds of dogs that are considered a clean breed plus some interesting facts to make you want to get one next time around!

1. Bedlington Terrier: they are a breed that doesn't shed and so are considered clean and they are very trainable. I love the size which is around 17-23 pounds. This might be my next dog to try! Whoops, just found out that it's single-layer coat should be clipped regularly. Keep this in mind if you don't want to go to that trouble or you don't have a great groomer. 

2 Chow Chow: I'm going to say this first, at certain times of year, they do shed, which would not be a "clean" dog in my book. But generally, they housebreak easily (who wouldn't love that every time you get a puppy!) they have very little doggy odor and generally like to keep their areas clean. And for those of you looking for a smaller breed for apartment living, the chow chow requires only moderate exercise. Pair that with easy housebreaking and there isn't a lot of going up and down the stairs to take your dog outside.

3. The Japanese Chin: Interesting to note that this dog was bred in Ancient China unlike the name suggests. This breed of dog likes to groom themselves much like a cat, even to licking their paws to clean them. They are quiet but agil and playful when they want to be much like cats.

4. American Hairless Terrier: These are just cutie pies. They have no hair but pinkish skin that needs to be protected from the sun much like humans. They are an active breed that loves to play.

5. Greyhounds: These round out the list as they are perfect for people with allergies. They have a very docile nature and love to lie around inside with their human family. They do like to run when they go outside and do need that exercise.  This is a breed you could become a rescue parent for because when greyhounds lose their profitablity, due to injury or age, they are of little use to the racing industry. Thousands of greyhounds are killed each year in the United States. The “fortunate” ones are killed humanely. Losing dogs may be shot, abandoned, or even sold for medical experimentation. You can check online for Greyhound Rescue Organizations to get involved if this is a breed you would love to have.

Thank you for listening, thank you for loving dogs enough to give them a home and if you have a favorite charity for animals, remember they can always use donations. If nobody else tells you today, I care about you and you are important in your world.  Take care!

For inspiration and videos go to:  https://www.facebook.com/RollingTStoresArkansas

You think that hey, grapes are fruit so they must be okay for dogs to eat. But NO, not even raisins which are simply dried grapes.

There is a toxicity in them which can lead to sudden kidney failure.

Even with recent research, the exact agent in grapes that causes the toxicity is still unknown. 

Some dogs tolerate small doses of the fruit w/o consequence while others dogs may develop poisoning after just a few. There is no way to know which dogs are more sensitive so why take the chance? Knowledge is key to having and keeping your dogs healthy.

The AKC website has posted signs and symptoms that may occur after a toxic ingestion and they may not show up until 24 hours after your dog has eaten the grape or raisin:

*Loss of appetite

*Lethargy, weakness, unusual stillness

*Vomiting and/or diarrhea, often within a few hours

*Abdominal pain (tender when touched)

*Dehydration (signs include panting; dry nose and mouth; pale gums). A quick way to test for dehydration is to gently pull up on the skin at the back of your dog’s neck. It should spring back immediately.

*Increased thirst and/or urine production or diminished amount of urine or complete cessation altogether

*Kidney failure (which can be fatal)

If you believe your dog has eaten grapes or raisins, take them to your vet as soon as possible. Grapes can sit in your dog's stomach for hours after it is eaten so your vet will probably give your dog a shot to make them vomit or given activated charcoal which will absorb the toxin and is most effective when given within an hour of exposure. 

To add to your knowledge base of Other common foods that are toxic to dogs include: Onions, garlic, alcohol, chocolate, cocoa, macadamia nuts, fattening foods, and foods containing the sweetener xylitol.

Thank you for listening, thank you for loving dogs enough to give them a home and if you have a favorite charity for animals, remember they can always use donations. If nobody else tells you today, I care about you and you are important in your world.  Take care!

For inspiration and videos go to:  https://www.facebook.com/RollingTStoresArkansas

For a successful transition to owning a new dog, remember these 4 steps:

1.   What type of dog are you thinking about getting?

2.   Do you or someone in your family have allergies?

3.  Do you live in an apartment or smaller space and need a smaller dog?

4.  Be prepared BEFORE you bring that pup home!

For inspiration and videos go to:  https://www.facebook.com/RollingTStoresArkansas

This is a non-profit organization that has 2 main goals: 

1. Rescue dogs from shelters and train them to become service dogs

2. Rescue Veterans who are suffering daily from some type of PTSD and pair them with a Service dog

There are an estimated 20 verterans who served post 9/11 that die daily by suicide. 

There are roughly 20% of post 9/11 veterans suffering from PTSD -- that's over 700,000 veterans

There are around 700,000 dogs euthanized in shelters every year. Many of these are wonderful dogs who can be trained as service dogs for veterans in need.

Each month several veterans arrive at one of 2 K9's for Warriors campuses in Florida for a 3 week in-house training program. They are provided a trained service canine, housing, all meals, equipment, veterinary care and 120 hours of training in a family type atmosphere that provides essential peer-to-peer support. The 3 weeks is to teach the veteran how to use his/her new service dog, and to facilitate that bonding that is so important to be a successful team.

At the end of the 3 week period there is a graduation for the Veteran and their dog before they head back to their own homes and their new life with renewed hope.

Since 2018, there is now scientific data proving K9's service dogs work. They partnered with Purdue University and I've included a link to that blog post. https://www.k9sforwarriors.org/blog/purdue-university-k9s-warriors-research-partnership

K9's for Warriors website: https://www.k9sforwarriors.org/

For inspiration and videos go to:  https://www.facebook.com/RollingTStoresArkansas

  Why It's Hard To Do:

1. It's Cold. If you have a dog that you bath outside, the weather is just awful for doing that. 

2. You Don't have a set up for bathing or you have a "hard to handle dog". 

Make It Simple:

1. Checkout a Dog Groomer and splurge for a couple visits.  

2. Leave in Liquid Shampoo-spray it on your dog, rub it in and towel dry. Easy peasy  

3. DIY-Just do it yourself with some tips I'll share to make it bearable for you and them!

Don't Judge But I Prefer Organic Shampoos for Using on Dogs.

Here is the link to a website that lists 20 chemicals you DO NOT WANT in Dog Shampoos.

https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/20-ingredients-dont-want-dogs-shampoo/

Knowledge is key to taking care of our pups in the best way possible.

 For inspiration and videos go to:  https://www.facebook.com/RollingTStoresArkansas 

2 Tips you will find beneficial in taking photos are Patience and Spontaneity with your Dog's Personality in Mind.

I had a pet collage made of my little Meisha, our 13 1/2 yr old, 10 lb. Shih Tzu who we put to sleep last July 2018. She was the last of 24 pets. 

Do you document the different stages of your dog's life?

1. Patience: Thе lіnе bеtwееn fun аnd fruѕtrаtіоn іѕ rаzоr thіn whеn уоu’rе trуіng tо gеt thе реrfесt рhоtо оf your dоg.

2. Always kеер your pet's реrѕоnаlіtу іn mіnd.

Sоmеtіmеѕ thе bеѕt shots оn mу camera are thе оnеѕ I lеаѕt еxресtеd to turn оut. Even after all thеѕе years, mу dоgs didn’t соореrаtе 100% еvеrу tіmе – аnd thаt’ѕ оkау.

If you want to know where I got my collage made, here is the link:  https://storefront.mackandmercie.com/store-front 

For inspirational and videos go to:  https://www.facebook.com/RollingTStoresArkansas