Our local weather is unseasonably hot for this time of year, mid ninety’s with heat index over 100 degrees . The local radio station has been broadcasting heat warnings for us along with helpful hints for taking care of our pets.  When inside air conditioning isn’t an option for our pets, please provide shade and fresh water, at least two times daily. Talking to one of our animal control officers, pet owners must be listening to the radio. Folks a re putting up kennel covers, not just the manufactured ones, but using any material to provide some shade, including cardboard, bed sheets , wooden fence boards, cut off tree branches to car hoods and providing water using buckets to hard plastic child’s wading pools.

What will you do to protect your pet from skin cancer in preparation for the long, hot summer ahead?  Sun protection is just as important for pets as it is for humans. Veterinarians agree that you do not need to smear sunscreen all over your dog, just protect certain key spots.

Hairless breeds or a dog that has been shaven runs a greater risk of being burned and ultimately developing sun-induced tumors. However, even hairy dogs who like to doze in the sunshine while lying on their backs risk burning and tumors to those exposed spots between the hind legs, and on most breeds, it is unprotected by hair.

Be sure to provide ample shade for pets, especially between 10 am and 2 pm, and don’t let hardcore sunbathing pets over bake themselves out there. Without proper shade or sun protection, heat-seeking, summer-loving pets could surely have fry themselves to a crisp!

Beware: Many popular brands of sunscreen contain harmful chemicals
it is important to use a product made with natural ingredients. There are plenty of creams or balms for pets out there or use any natural sunscreen for kids with an SPF of 15 or higher.

A dog’s nose and snout are prone to sun-induced tumors; pale-nosed dogs and those with pink or pink-spotted snouts, there is a balm to prevent and soothe doggie sunburn. If your dog does sustain sunburn, give him or her soothing, healing bath in cool water.

Better yet Prevention, Prevention, Prevention!

Bake Your Dog

Yes, many folks want to replace their form-fitted dog kennel tarp that tore up this past winter but the dealer who sold them their root kit does not sell replacements, so the search begins.

This may seem to be a good idea for the wintertime, may help keep some cold air out, or help a little to keep the rain out, and a few fall leaves from coming into the kennel, but kennel covers with the ends enclosed are made for people, not for pets. Heat can sicken or even kill a dog, whereas a few leaves or a little rain that gets in from the end will not endanger your dog at all.

Think about it; if you block all ways the hot air can escape from your attic, the hot air will radiate downward, making it rather toasty for those below. That is why there are vents on the ends or on the ridge of the roof of your home.  Airflow is vital; a parachute-type kennel cover will not only tend to fly away but will hold heat and radiate down to your dog.  Your pet cannot escape because he is confined to the space in the kennel.   So, give your pet a brake this summer. Do not Bake Your Dog.  Open up the ends of your kennel cover for the summer and let the airflow through.

Some of our customers who have turned their kennels into storage space buy a larger tarp and make a custom fitted cover with either tarp grabbers or ball bungees to keep things dry.

Kennel Coop

Instant Chicken Coop

I get more and more customers, who are using a dog kennel to contain their pets; who ask if we have a cover for cats, chickens, ducks, or for their other pets.  Their main concern is keeping chickens in and dogs and hawks, which are the main daytime dangers, out.  Other predators such as raccoons, coyotes, opossums, weasels, owls, mink, and such are mainly out at night when the flocks are closed up safe and sound.
Any good quality dog pen chain-link or welded wire type is heavy enough to keep predators out.  The great thing about using a dog pen is: it is portable.  Unless you use netting on top you will still need to watch for hawks.  Use one our black mesh tarps http://tinyurl.com/45849jr straight across to keep climbing or flying critters out.  Then install an A-frame and put on a silver tarp http://tinyurl.com/4ulerue to help keep it dry and shady.  A steel A- frame with a tarp is easy to set up and take down and keeps the pen from getting so muddy when it rains while protecting the chickens, etc. from the rain.

Ticked Off

Spring-like rains are a blessing opposed to ice, sleet and snow of Old Man Winter.  I am thinking morel mushroom hunting is just around the corner. My faithful companion Isabelle, (Border collie) has gone with me in the past years and even when we don’t come home with mushrooms we seem to always come home with TICKS.  So, here is the old way to remove them and I’ve since learned a better new way for both me and Isabelle.

People who have been in tick-prone areas have taken steps to remove ticks by day’s end by placing their clothing straight into the washer to wash away any ticks that haven’t had time to become attached. If they find an attached tick, they also would: (Old Way)

* Use fine forceps or tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and use steady pressure to pull the tick slowly and straight up, away from the skin.  Be patient and do not twist or jerk.

* Save the tick in a closed container with alcohol. Label the container with the date.

* For 10 to 13 days, watch for such symptoms as headache, skin rash and/or fever. If these conditions appear, see a doctor immediately and take the tick with you.

I found this on the web some time ago by someone named Lebowski and finely had an opportunity to try it myself.

(New Way)

Rub the tick in a circular motion and pretend you’re trying to make the tick dizzy. Stick with one direction, clockwise or counter clockwise. It usually takes less than a minute, so if it’s not working, make sure the body of the tick is moving around. Remember you can’t get dizzy unless you’re actually moving in a circle, quickly.  They sure don’t like something about the movement and they crawl out on their own. Tick Off and squished!

Which Outdoor Dog Kennel Should I Get For My Dog?

I get this question quite frequently.  We manufacture, sell and install only Dog Kennel Covers.  We see many different brands and sizes of outdoor Dog Kennels (mostly when they are fairly new) and there is quite a variation in quality and of course, price.  Generally, the higher the price the quality also increases.  In addition, the bigger the dog the more surface area you want for your dog so he has ample living space.

Next, should I purchase a chain link or welded wire dog kennel?   Store bought chain link panels or a do-it-yourself wrap around chain link dog kennels are the least expensive and will do a great job for a smaller or less energetic dog.  It has been our experience these type of chain link dog kennels don’t stand up to for a larger active dog jumping up on the kennel.  If you want a heavier chain link kennel for these type of dogs, it is better to ask your local fence company to build you a heavier chain link dog kennel  or purchase one from any one of several companies on line; just be sure to get a  heavier gage pipe and chain link fabric.

Weld wire dog kennels are available and mostly are heavier dog kennels, but again you get what you pay for.  Some lighter weight Imitations are out there now.  Sometimes it’s better to spend a little more up front than to need to replace the kennel in a year or two.

Plan your space out before buying a dog kennel.  Where is the dog kennel going to go?  Do I want to be able to move the dog kennel easily?  Is my dog going to spend short periods of time in the kennel or is it his permanent home?  What am I willing to spend?  Once you have answered these questions, you will have a clearer idea of the size, length and width of the kennel.

The most common dog kennel size, 10’x10’, is large enough to include a dog house with watering and feeding stations.  Smaller kennels are mostly for kenneling your dog for short periods of time.