Moab Happenings August 2011

www.moabhappenings.comMy Dog Got Skunked... and other Pest ProblemsWe get asked the same two questions consistentlyduring the summer months at the Moab BARKery. Thefirst question is, what do you do when your dog has beenskunked at 2 am and the store is closed? The secondquestion is, are there natural products that control fleas,ticks and mosquitoes? We thought we would share the bestanswers we have found to help you deal with the pest thatyour dog tries to mess with as well as the ones that try tomess with them.If you’ve ever had a dog that decided to pick a fightwith a skunk you know that the outcome can be ratherunpleasant for your dog, your home, you and really anythingthat they touch. So what do you do when your dog has beenskunked at 2 am and the store is closed? Here is a simplerecipe of common household items you can mix together toget rid of Fido’s new fragrance (hint: it works on cats too!)Skunk Rinse RecipeMix this formula fresh (it can’t be stored)· 1 quart hydrogen peroxide (the 3% hydrogenperoxide variety)· ¼ cup baking soda· 2 teaspoons Dawn dishwashing liquid*If you have a large breed dog, you may need todouble, triple or even quadruple the mixture. Wear glovesto keep the skunk smell off you.Don’t wet down your pet. Apply the mixture to yourpet’s dry coat from the collar back toward the tail. Don’tpour it near the eyes because the hydrogen peroxidesolution can burn them. Use a sponge to apply the solutionto your pet’s chin, cheeks, forehead and ears, being verycareful not to go near the eyes.Lather the mixture into your pet’s coat and skin. Rubthe solution around for about five minutes or until theskunk smell starts to dissipate.When you rinse the head area, tilt your pet’s chin upwardso the solution does not run down into the eyes; insteadallow the water to run back off his neck. Do a completerinse once the smell starts to decrease, then repeat the entireprocess again if necessary. Youmay need to repeat the lather andrinse process up to three times ifthey took a direct hit. Make sureto completely rinse thesolution off yourpet. Your finalrinse should bevery thorough toensure there is noirritation.If you don’t want all the hassle of mixing up a batch foryourself the Moab BARKery carries Skunk off (premixedand ready to use) for convenience. It pays to keep it onhand for dogs and cats that just want to “play” with theirstinky skunk friends.Many people don’t want to risk endangering theenvironment, their pet or themselves by using chemicalmeans for pest control. Some people have sensitivities toPET HAPPENINGScertain chemicals; others just don’t want to do it so theyseek out natural preventions and remedies. So, are therenatural products that control fleas, ticks and mosquitoes?There are many products on the market for pest control onyour pets, some are natural and some are chemical based.Chemical based products that are “spot” treatmentsare actually considered to be carcinogenic by the EPA, andthere are many reported cases of serious side effects andeven death so make sure to follow the instructions (readthem twice!) and use the smallest dose possible to ensureyour pet suffers little to no side effects. If you have a littledog or a dog that is unlikely to be exposed to these pestsconsider natural treatments only. The smaller the animalthe more likely you are to overdose them! We subscribe toa great newsletter (and recommend you do too) written byDr. Becker at Mercola Pet. We also frequently share herarticles on our Moab BARKery Facebookpage so you can find the subscriptionlink there too. Here is some invaluableinformation about pest control shewrote about recently:To truly keep your dog or cat safefrom fleas, ticks, mosquitoes andother annoying critters, a repellent– we recommend Protect by PetNaturals of Vermont – is onlyone part of a total program ofprotection. There are severalother things we recommendyou adopt as part of successfulpest control …· Feed your pet a balanced, species-appropriate diet— Parasites are drawn to the weakest hosts they can find.Feeding high quality food to dogs and cats improves theirhealth and strengthens their immune system.· Give frequent baths — Bathing your pet with anatural, non-toxic pet shampoo will not only help keeppests away, it will also make it convenient for you to checkyour pet from head to tail.· Grooming and brushing — regular brushing orcombing (with a flea comb if fleas are the problem) willhelp you find pests on your pet’s fur and skin. Plus, itmakes their coat look fantastic and it can provide a greatbonding experience.· Tidy up your indoor environment — there aremany ways pests can find their way into your home. Theyfly in, crawl in or ride in on pets and people. Keeping yourfloors, drapes and furniture clean and vacuumed will helpprevent fleas and ticks from anchoring themselves in cracksand crevices. Keep your pet’s bedding as clean as possible.· Examine your outdoor environment — since tick,flea, and mosquito infestations start outdoors, take the timeto inspect the area around your house and take action whereyou can. For example, ticks and fleas thrive in bushes andundergrowth. Keep your grass cut and leaves raked to limitthe places around your home where pests can hide andbreed. Mosquitoes prefer standing water so by eliminatingit, keeping your rain gutters clean and keeping your petsindoors during the early morning and early evening hoursyou will prevent any contact with them.· Visit your vet regularly — your holistic vet canbe a great partner in keeping your dog or cat in optimumhealth, which will reduce the likelihood your pet will be anattractive host for pests.Moab Happenings • August 2011 • 19B Now Offering Private Dog Hikes4890 Sunny Acres Lane, Moab 435-259-4841Humane Society of Moab ValleyCat Adoption Days-Saturday August 6th and 20th at the MoabBarkery 10am - 12pmDog Adoption Days-Saturday August 13th and 27th in front ofCity Market 10am - 12pmAUGUST:•Join Us For The Dawg Days Of SummerBBQ & Silient Auction August 7th, 4pm- 8pm. Enjoy live music and a fantasticBBQ catered by Moab Brewery! Tickets areavailable now, Call Today 435-259-4862•Beat the Heat River Trip - Aug 27th, 12pm- 4:30pm $50 per person, 5yrs and older. Allproceeds to benefit the Humane Society ofMoab Valley. Space is limited, call Today!Special Thanks To Utah Families Foundation for honoringHSMV on August 16th with a special grant for our Happy TailsHaven Project which works hand in hand with Seekhaven. Thisis the first time UFF has awarded a grant to a pet rescue andwe are deeply honored! If you would like more information onour programs, please go to our website, www.moabpets.org.For all other information please check ourwebsite www.moabpets.org or call ouroffice 435-259-4862. This page sponsored by:Self-Service Dog Washstarts @ $10High Quality Pet Foods, Treats,Outdoor Gear, Gifts and morewww.moabbarkery.com