giant breed

3 Reasons to Use a Pet Ramp for Your Giant Breed Dog

October 13, 2016 21 Comments

We all know pet ramps are great for senior dogs but have you ever thought about utilizing a ramp for a young, healthy dog? For the longest time, I didn’t. Atka jumps in and out of the car easily and Mauja puts her front paws up and waits for a little boost. Easy enough.

After a bit of thought and research, I realized there were several reasons to get a pet ramp while the fluffies were still young and healthy. I knew that the best time to teach them how to use the ramp would be when they weren’t having any mobility issues. What better time than now?

Many of us think that since our giant breed dogs are completely healthy, we don't need to worry about their joints until they get older. We have three reasons why you should consider using a pet ramp for your giant breed dog as well as some information about the Solvit Deluxe Tri-Scope Pet Ramp.

Jumping causes unnecessary stress on your dog’s joints

While jumping in and out of your car may not seem like a big deal, the reality is that each jump causes unnecessary stress on your dog’s joints. This can lead to hip and joint problems early in your dog’s life.

We may not be able to prevent all health issues from occurring in our giant breed dogs, but we can take steps to lessen the chance of any future ailments.

You won’t always be able to assist your dog into the car

I never thought of this reason until I had jaw surgery. After my surgery, I was unable to lift anything over ten pounds for about two months. Mauja expects her rear end to be hoisted into the car, and she certainly weighs quite a bit more than 10 pounds!

This meant that if Nick wasn’t home, I couldn’t take the dogs anywhere with me which was quite a bummer for all of us.

Injuries happen

We all anticipate that as our dogs age there is a high possibility they will develop hip and joint issues that will inhibit their mobility. However, we don’t always prepare for the freak accident that occurs from a too rough play session or simply landing the wrong way on a walk.

An injured dog will require assistance in several ways. Not only will getting in and out of the car be difficult, but things such as getting in and out of a bed or up the front porch stairs can easily be too much. If your dog already knows how to use a ramp, recovery will be much easier.

Solvit Deluxe Tri-Scope Pet Ramp

When given the opportunity to try the Solvit Deluxe Tri-Scope Pet Ramp, I obviously couldn’t say no! We tried a ramp with Mauja a few years ago (our neighbor had an old one she was giving away) and I was not thrilled. Not only was it flimsy, but it was insanely heavy as well! After becoming completely frustrated, I gave up and donated the ramp.

Since the ramp we tried was a cheap, no-name brand, I hoped that our experience would be different with a product from an established company like Solvit. When the package arrived on our front porch, I bent down and braced myself to lift the heavy box.

Except it wasn’t heavy, so I shot straight up in the air (which wasn’t “what was supposed to happen” according to the dogs so they barked – I need to add that to my list of reasons they’re barking!). I couldn’t wait to open the box and try it out.

What I Like About the Solvit Deluxe Tri-Scope Pet Ramp

It’s really light at only 14 pounds. I didn’t struggle with it like other ramps I’ve tried.
It can support over 300 pounds, yet it’s strong and compact.
It has rubber feet to ensure the ramp stays stable (especially important for giant breed dogs – simple movements can easily knock ramps off balance).
It has a high-traction walking surface to prevent slipping even with wet paws.

What I Don’t Like About the Solvit Deluxe Tri-Scope Pet Ramp

It’s not very wide. With the big paws and wide bodies Great Pyrenees have, Mauja and Atka didn’t have much room.

Even though I felt the width was a tad small, I would still highly recommend the Solvit Deluxe Tri-Scope Pet Ramp.

Remember, it’s extremely important to train your dog to use the ramp with plenty of positive reinforcement – many dogs won’t willingly climb the ramp the first time they see it. Solvit includes tips on how to acclimate your dog to the ramp in the package.

Do you have a pet ramp for your dog? How do you think it has benefitted you both?

DIsclaimer: I received the product mentioned above in exchange for my honest review. Don’t worry – an advertiser will never influence the content of this blog and It’s Dog or Nothing only shares products we love and believe in.

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Giant Breed-Friendly Hotel Chains

July 21, 2016 21 Comments

Giant Breed-Friendly Hotel Chains

Traveling with dogs is difficult, but traveling with multiple giant breeds can be quite the frustrating endeavor. Either the hotel only allows one dog, small dogs, or charges a ridiculous pet fee – I’ve seen hotels where the charge was $20 per pet per night.

That adds up quick.

Being a military family and also one who likes to take their dogs everywhere, we’ve done our fair share of traveling with dogs. We always make sure we find a giant breed friendly hotel without a pet fee and have had great success with a few hotel chains. Here are a few of our go-to hotels:

*Pet policies can change at any time and vary throughout the same hotel chain. Always be sure to call and double check the pet policy where you plan to stay.

La Quinta

Hands down, this is our number one choice. When we know where we plan to stop for the night, we will do a quick search for a La Quinta. If there isn’t one where we planned to stop, we will often change our plans to find one. With over 900 hotels in North America, there’s always one around the corner.

Not only does La Quinta allow multiple giant breed dogs, but their rooms are great. Every room we’ve stayed in has had a fridge and a microwave – if you have food sensitivities you know how important this is! Add on a free continental breakfast and I have a happy husband (and puppies because he always gets them some bacon!).

Kimpton Hotels

After Nick and I got married, we decided to do a mini honeymoon. We had traveled across the country with Mauja and Atka so they could be in our wedding, so naturally, we took them with us!

I can’t even begin to tell you how much attention those two drew as we walked through New York City.

During our time in NYC, we stayed in a Kimpton Hotel. I had never been to one, but I was blown away by their pet policy. Kimpton states, “If your pet fits through the door, we’ll welcome them in”; and they do more than just welcome them in. From providing bedding and bowls to having a Director of Pet Relations, they have your furry friend covered. Kimpton even allows pets at their nightly wine reception. Need I say more?

Motel 6

If you’re looking for an affordable place to catch a few hours of sleep, Motel 6 is for you. Motel 6 has no limit on pet size or number and doesn’t charge a pet fee. It’s definitely a very basic hotel chain, but it has everything you need and you can’t beat the price!

What are your favorite pet-friendly hotel chains?

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Zilch, Zero, None: A Mat-Free Pyrenees

April 30, 2016 10 Comments

Zilch, Zero, None: A Mat-Free Pyrenees

Today is the last day of the A to Z Challenge. Can you believe it? I’m sure you all are sick of hearing from me 6 days a week. I’d certainly be sick of me 😉

We have one last super quick post to wrap up the challenge. Mostly, we wanted to offer a giveaway for another favorite grooming product: The Stuff.

Dogs with long coats, especially long double coats, are highly susceptible to mats. Regardless of how much brushing you do, they’re bound to happen. Mauja and Atka tend to get them behind their ears every now and then. Cutting out a mat isn’t recommended – I’ve seen far too many injuries from people trying to remove mats. Thankfully, there’s a better way.

The Stuff

Yes, this stuff is really called “The Stuff”. The Stuff is a leave-in conditioner and detangler to remove and prevent tangles. Not only does it condition the coat, but it is also formulated with silicone to repel dirt and dust. The Stuff is a non-toxic, hypoallergenic formula to prevent any possible reactions.

I absolutely love The Stuff.

I use it on wet and dry fur to keep their coats soft and shiny. If they do develop a mat, I simply spray it with The Stuff and then use the Safari De-Matting Comb to finish the job.

Easy peasy!

Okay, I’m not going to ramble on about this product and how much we love it. It’s the end of a long, taxing challenge so I’m just going to jump straight to the good stuff – the giveaway!

Would you like to try The Stuff on your dog? Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win!

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Wobbler Syndrome in Dogs

April 27, 2016 2 Comments

Wobbler Syndrome in Dogs

In continuation with our A to Z Challenge theme of giant breed health issues and needs, we’re talking about Wobbler Syndrome. This is an issue I see far too frequently in giant breeds, specifically Great Danes.

More formally known as cervical spondylomyelopathy (CSM), Wobbler Syndrome is a disease of the cervical spine that is commonly seen in large and giant breed dogs. Taking place at the neck, the disease is characterized by the compression of the spinal cord and/or nerve roots. This compression leads to poor neurological signs and neck pain.

Wobbler Syndrome can affect dogs in several different ways and some breeds are more disposed to a certain cause. Doberman Pinschers are more likely to suffer from slipping intervertebral disks while giant breeds under three years of age are likely to experience vertebral malformation. This malformation can compress the spinal cord from the top and bottom, top and sides, or simply from the sides. Regardless of the type of compression, dynamic spinal cord compression (compression changes with different cervical spine positions) is always present.

Symptoms

Wobbly gait (hence the name “Wobbler Syndrome”)
Neck pain and/or stiffness
Overall weakness, specifically in the front limbs
Partial or complete paralysis
Muscle loss
Worn toenails from uneven walking
Difficulty in standing

Causes

Particularly in giant breeds, fast-growth is a suspected cause of Wobbler Syndrome. This can occur due to excess calories and an inadequate calcium to phosphorus ratio in their food as they grow. Giant breed puppies should always be on a calorie-controlled diet with appropriate vitamins and minerals to foster slow, steady growth.

Diagnosis

A blood chemical profile, complete blood count, urinalysis, and electrolyte panel will be conducted to rule our any other diseases and a thorough medical history will be conducted by your veterinarian.

In order to diagnose Wobble Syndrome, visualization, X-rays, myelographs, CT scans, and MRIs will allow your vet to get a good view of the spine and vertebrae. These tests will help to rule out any other diagnoses such as neoplasia and inflammatory spinal cord diseases.

Treatment

Treatment will depend on the severity and location of the spinal compression. Severe cases will be treated with surgery which will require at least two to three months of restricted activity to allow the bone to heal. Post-operative dogs will require physical therapy to avoid muscle loss and bone fusion and to encourage a speedy recovery. While surgery has an 80% chance of improvement, there is a small risk of significant complications which are associated with any cervical surgical procedure.

For dogs that do not go through surgery, soft bedding is essential to keep them comfortable and help prevent bed sores. Some will require bladder catheterization so the dog does not have to rise to do his business outside. It will be important to keep your dog as comfortable as possible.

To prevent further injury, dogs wearing neck collars should be switched to body harnesses. Neck collars have the potential to harm the already compromised spinal structure. Your vet may also recommend a diet change to cut down on excess protein, calcium, and calories.

Have you ever had a dog with Wobbler Syndrome? How was the treatment process for your dog?

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Tartar-Free Teeth [GIVEAWAY!]

April 23, 2016 19 Comments

Tartar-Free Teeth

Much like tartar on human teeth, tartar on your dog’s teeth can lead to serious health problems. However, most of us visit the dentist twice per year to keep our teeth in top shape. Our dogs don’t have the same luxury, so it’s up to us to keep their teeth and gums in top shape.

What’s Wrong With Tartar?

When looking at tartar, it’s important to remember that the tartar didn’t magically appear. Within just hours after your dog eats, plaque begins to form on his teeth. As the plaque combines with the salts in your dog’s saliva, it builds up, hardens, and turns to tartar. This tartar can host several kinds of dental problems, including gingivitis, periodontal disease, and lost teeth. Not to mention the bad breath that accompanies a tartar-filled mouth!

The damage caused by tartar goes beyond the teeth. As it builds on the gum line, it slowly pushes the gums away from the teeth, exposing the roots. These roots are not protected by enamel, which leaves them vulnerable to sensitivities and pain.

What are the Signs?

It’s important to frequently check your dog’s teeth for signs of tartar. Some typical signs include:

Bad breath
Hard, brown substance lining the gums
Red, swollen gums
Bleeding gums
Pain when touching/brushing teeth

What Can I Do About Tartar?

Prevention is the most important key when dealing with tartar, but there are things you can do to minimize/remove existing tartar.

Brush your dog’s teeth daily. If you’re not currently brushing your dog’s teeth, there’s no better time to start than now! Be prepared to take it slow with your dog. If he’s new to teeth brushing, there’s a good chance he won’t like it or his gums might bleed. Keep brushing sessions short and slowly build from there.
Give your dog hard chews. Chewing on dental treats or toys can help to scrape any existing plaque deposits of your dog’s teeth. Other popular options for removing plaque and tartar are raw bones and our personal favorite, bully sticks.
Try a professional cleaning. If home treatments aren’t working for your dog, he might require a visit to the vet for a professional cleaning. Ask your vet to check your dog’s teeth at each annual check-up so make sure you are on track!

Best Bully Sticks

My favorite chew to give Mauja and Atka is bully sticks. This hard chew scrapes their teeth clean and is 100% digestible. Once you get over the grossness of what a bully stick actually is, you’ll realize they’re really a great chew 😉

Along with frequent brushing (although I’ll admit we need to improve upon that), Mauja and Atka get a bully stick each evening. Occasionally, we’ll run out of bully sticks and I will forget for a month or two to replenish our stock. I definitely notice a difference in their teeth when they don’t get their evening bully sticks.

Currently, we do most of our bully stick/chew purchasing through Best Bully Sticks. So far, I have not found a company with a better price for the quality offered. The bully sticks are always dense so they last longer than ones you find at your local pet store. I also put them in the freezer to make them last just a bit longer.

Best Bully Sticks was awesome enough to offer a bully stick giveaway! Enter using the widget below to win a pack of 5 12″ standard, odor-free bully sticks.

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Shedding – 8 Ways to Manage the Madness [GIVEAWAY!]

April 22, 2016 20 Comments

Shedding – 8 Ways to Manage the Madness

Fur, fur, everywhere. If you have a dog, shedding is a given. If you have a long-haired, double-coated dog, shedding is a part of life. It’s on your clothes, in your food, and you even find it in your office. If you don’t find a way to handle it and laugh about it, you’ll quickly go mad. Here are our top 8 tips for not drowning in a sea of fluff.

Brush Your Dog

This one is a given, but don’t underestimate the power of brushing! I can definitely notice when I go too long between brushing sessions for Mauja and Atka. Not only does their fur feel clumpy, but the corners of my rooms collect fur bunnies much more quickly. If your dog has fur like a Great Pyrenees, I recommend brushing at least 2-3 times per week.

Feed a High-Quality Food

A healthy coat is less likely to shed all over the place. Make sure your dog’s diet consists of high-quality protein and is free from corn, wheat, soy, by-products, and anything artificial.

Essential Fatty Acids

Most high-quality foods have essential fatty acids included in the formula, but we always supplement with extra. In my opinion, the amount added to the food isn’t enough to control the dry skin issues we have and to help nourish a healthy coat. One of our favorites is the Salmon Oil from Only Natural Pet.

Control Itching

Have you ever watched your dog scratching away while the cloud of fur surrounds his body? Definitely reminiscent of Pig-Pen! Once you determine the cause of the itching, you’ll be able to devise a solution to minimize or eliminate it.

Become Best Friends With Your Vacuum

Mauja and Atka spend a lot of time in the living room so I vacuum that every single day. Our carpet is beige so the fur blends in a bit, but after a day or two, you can definitely notice fur clumps forming. Also, you might as well invest in a quality vacuum. I resisted it for a long time (who wants to spend that much on a vacuum?), but after killing three in less than a year, we finally took the plunge. I wish we would have done it sooner!

Use a Forced Air Dryer

If you’ve never tried one, you’re seriously missing out. I always wondered how the groomer was able to get so much dead fluff out, so I finally asked her. The secret was the use of a forced air dryer. While Mauja and Atka only get professionally groomed a few times a year, there is a DIY grooming place less than 10 minutes from us. For $15, we can use all of their equipment, which includes my favorite part, the forced air dryer. Nick’s favorite part is the fact that we don’t have to clean up the mess 😉

Invest in a Quality Brush

Our personal favorite is the Oster Grooming Rake – it does an amazing job of getting out the dead undercoat. The most important thing when looking for a quality brush is to ensure that it gets out the undercoat. So many “undercoat rakes” only brush the surface, so they never get through the outer coat.

Try a Supplement

A few months ago, we were given the opportunity to try Shed No More® from PL360. Shed No More is formulated with vitamins, minerals, and essential oils to support a healthy skin and coat. It comes in flavored, chewable tablets which made it super easy to give to the pups.

The directions state that it takes approximately 4-6 weeks to begin seeing results in your dog. After about 3 weeks, I definitely noticed an extra shine to Mauja and Atka’s coats. While I can’t say definitively that they were shedding less (although I do feel like I was vacuuming less), their coats looked much healthier than they had previously.

Want to try Shed No More for your dog? Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win!

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Osteosarcoma in Dogs

April 18, 2016 1 Comment

Osteosarcoma in Dogs

Osteosarcoma, or bone cancer, refers to the most common bone tumor in dogs. While it can affect any dog, it is most commonly found in large/giant breeds. Osteosarcoma is one of the greatest fears for many giant breed owners as it strikes far too frequently. It’s definitely something I worry about all too often.

Generally occurring in middle-aged to older dogs (median age is 7 years), osteosarcoma is responsible for up to 85% of all skeletal malignancies.

Osteosarcoma does have options for treatment, however, it is an extremely aggressive form of cancer. It tends to spread very rapidly leading to a poor prognosis.