DinoVite Info

A seminar on first aid and home remedies for pets, will be held Aug. 15 at 7:30 p.m., presented by Dr. Michael Ramieri. Cost is $10 per person. Proceeds benefit DOGS of Vernon.

Previous events this season have been highly successful. The summer began with a Doggy BBQ, held July 7 at the Granite Cafe. Dogs were invited to bring their masters to enjoy a bbq lunch at the patio tables. Three weeks later, about 175 dogs attended a Dog Wash and Nail Clipping at the Vernon Fire House on Route 515, and were pampered with a pedicure and a bath.

Join the DOGS of Vernon on Aug. 26 at 9 a.m. for a dog walk at the Maple Grange Path. For more information visit www.dogsofvernon.com or call (201) 230-3973.

Another entry into the GPS dog tracking market has appeared The Hear Now. What makes The Hear Nows products unique is the inclusion of a two-way radio, so you can speak to your wandering pet! LED lights in the collar, visible for a reported two miles, are another helpful aid in pet recovery.

The first generation of The Hear Now products is slated to be available in the U.S. and Canada in October of 2007, and will be sold through retail pet supply stores. They will have a two-mile range but will not have GPS tracking capabilities. That will come with the second generation, set for release in late 2007 / early 2008. A third generation device will add geofencing capabilities.

No dog should be given unsupervised access to a backyard pool or a neighborhood pond or creek. Swimming pools are best fenced off for safety. And if that’s not possible, they should be equipped with alarms that sound when the surface of the water is broken by a child or pet falling in. Escape tools like the Skamper-Ramp (www.skamper-ramp.com; 1-877-766-5738) are a good idea, but it’s better to prevent pets from getting in unsupervised in the first place. Prevention also includes teaching your pet what to do when he’s in the pool. Dogs don’t get the idea that the steps are on one side only, and they may tire and drown trying to crawl out the side. If your pet likes to swim, work with him in the pool to help him learn where the steps are so he can get out easily.

If you are beginning to feel like an endangered species surrounded by the chewed up remnants of your previous existence, fear not. First of all you are not alone. There are dog owners like you suffering the same fate and having the same problems getting their otherwise delightful pet to cease and desist from devouring hearth and home. Not only that, but people, experienced dog owner type people, have spent a great deal of time and energy on solving the problem.

Your first step in the direction of rehabilitation is the same as it is with any such process. You need to establish the exact nature of the problem. If your pet is a newly acquired puppy then rampant chewing goes with the territory. It is a natural response to teething. If your pet is past puppy-hood and showing no sign of quitting or, if your mature pet inexplicably begins chewing away at stuff, this is a sign of a more serious problem that needs attention.

A basic, in-home first-aid kit could prove invaluable as you and your dog go through life together. You could have your dog from puppyhood to old age and never encounter an emergency situation or you could face numerous emergencies throughout your dog’s life. You don’t know if or when emergency will strike, but being prepared for any disaster puts you ahead of the game.

Following are all the items you need in a basic, in-home first-aid kit. Though you may not need all the items listed here at any one time in your dog’s life, it’s a good idea to at least own them and know where you keep them.

* First-aid book

* Adhesive tape or self-sticking Vet Wrap

* Cotton balls

* Square gauze pads, 3 x 3 inches

* Instant hot/cold packs

* Cotton-tipped applicators (like Q-tips)

* Antibacterial ointment (like Neosporin or Bacitracin)

* Bitter Apple cream and/or spray

* Hydrogen peroxide

* Clotisol (clotting cream)

* Activated charcoal (in case of poisoning)

* Tweezers and small, sharp scissors

* Thermometer (Note: A dog’s normal temperature is 101 degrees F. You can buy ear thermometers for pets at most major pet-supply stores.)

* Aloe-vera gel (to sooth scrapes and cuts)

* Canine antidiarrhea medication (such as Metronidazole, an antibiotic available from your veterinarian) (Note: Human over-the-counter antidiarrhea medications often don’t work at all with dogs.)

* Rubber gloves

* Muzzle (Note: Many injured dogs bite first and ask questions later.)

* Something you can use for a stretcher, such as a board, blanket, or floor mat