Is Your Aromatherapy Affecting Your Dog

Is your love affair with essential oils taking a toll on your dog? It’s easy to get carried away on the essential oil bandwagon, but this natural treatment option can have serious side effects. Learn the risks of using essential oils around your dog, keeping an eye out for skin issues, allergies, and other health risks your essential oil use could pose to your pooch.

Natural Does Not Always Mean Safe

Highly aromatic essential oils are made from various plant parts, distilled down into potent volatile organic compounds for therapeutic use. They are relied on by many for perceived health benefits from stress relief to immune support. Some also use them on pets to address health issues or as natural flea and tick prevention.

Though natural, essential oils are a highly concentrated form of plant substances. For example, consider the powerful effects of the leaves of cannabis, tobacco, and willow bark (aspirin). Bear in mind, no extensive scientific studies have been conducted on essential oil use for treating common ailments in humans and pets. Be mindful not to overlook the possible health risks of these oils.

Essential Oils Pose a Serious Risk to Pets if Used Improperly

The powerful compounds in essential oils can also take a toll on your dog, causing:

●     Behavioral changes
As potent as essential oils smell to you, they can be even more overwhelming for your pet. Just a few drops can have a powerful effect, causing changes in behavior, stress, respiratory issues, and adverse central nervous system effects.

●     Skin irritation
Essential oils can be irritating to your dog’s skin. Never apply essential oils directly on your pup. Look for specially formulated, dog-safe products.

●     Gastrointestinal upset
Chemicals in essential oils are absorbed rapidly both orally and through the skin. If your pooch licks them off, he can get quite sick. Puppies, elderly dogs, and pets with liver disease often suffer the most when exposed to these chemicals.

●     Poisoning
Hopefully, you know chocolate, grapes, and other foods that are harmless to humans can be toxic to your pup, even in small quantities. Essential oils are no different. In high concentrations, even inhaled or diffused oils can be toxic to your pet.

What Essential Oils are Toxic to Dogs?

●     Citrus (lemon, orange, grapefruit, etc.)

●     Peppermint and wintergreen

●     Cinnamon

●     Pine

●     Tea tree

●     Ylang ylang

●     Sweet birch

●     Pennyroyal

Always store essential oils in a place where pets can’t reach them. If you’re afraid your canine companion has ingested essential oils or is showing signs of toxicity, contact your vet or poison control immediately.

Using Essential Oils Safely Around Your Pet

Rest assured, if you aren’t ready to give up your love affair with essential oils, it is possible to use them safely. Talk to your vet about the best way to use essential oils around your dog, and how to properly dilute them to help your canine companion.

Help your dog de-stress safely. Schedule a safe and relaxing massage at DoGone Fun today.

This article was previously published at: https://www.dogonefunchicago.com/owning-a-dog/is-your-aromatherapy-affecting-your-dog/

Winter Antifreeze Dangers For Dogs

Are you overlooking poisons that could be deadly to your dog in the winter months? Winter is in full swing, and antifreeze, a common chemical used during this time, could pose a serious threat to your canine companion. Its sweet taste, unfortunately, is appealing to pets, and ingesting even a small amount of it could quickly lead to kidney failure and death.

Why is Antifreeze Poisonous to Pets?

Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol, which is toxic to dogs and cats. Ingesting it can cause severe kidney and nervous system damage. Symptoms of antifreeze exposure include:

●     Vomiting

●     Increased thirst and urination

●     Confusion

●     Lethargy

●     Depression

●     Mouth sores

●     Bad breath

Avoid Doggy Antifreeze Dangers: Know Your Sources

Your pooch may come across antifreeze from:

●     Car cooling systems
Your dog may be exposed to antifreeze from leaking car radiators.

●     “Winterized” home plumbing
If antifreeze is not flushed from your home’s plumbing system or properly stored, your pup could gain access.

●     Decorative snow globes
Snow globes contain a small amount of antifreeze. Unfortunately it is enough to cause poisoning if globes break, and poison is ingested.

What to Do If Your Pup is Exposed to Antifreeze

Symptoms of antifreeze poisoning can start to show in as little as 30 minutes, up to 12 hours after exposure. If you have any concerns about potential ingestion, don’t wait for symptoms to appear. Go to a vet immediately. They have special medicines to counteract antifreeze poisoning and prevent toxin absorption. Early treatment increases your pup’s chance of survival.

Grooming Reduces Winter Chemical Exposure

Antifreeze isn’t the only dangerous winter chemical. Chemicals used to remove ice from sidewalks and windshields can also be toxic. Protect your pet, wiping his paws after each outdoor outing to prevent the licking of toxins from feet and fur.

Ensure a healthy, happy hound year-round. Schedule winter bathing and grooming services with DoGone Fun today.

This article was previously published at: https://www.dogonefunchicago.com/owning-a-dog/winter-antifreeze-dangers/

Do Dogs Need More Sleep than I Do?

Does my dog need more sleep than I do? It may seem like your pooch naps quite a lot. How much sleep do they need, and are they getting more shut-eye than you? Read on to discover these little-known facts about your doggy’s dozing habits, including the amount of sleep your pup needs, stages of sleep, sleep positions, and how your dog squeezes his many naps into the day.

How Much Sleep Does a Dog Need?

Your dog spends about 12-14 hours each day sleeping, though this will vary by breed, age, activity level, and health.

●     Like human babies, growing, learning puppies sleep much more, up to 2 hours more per day.

●     Large breeds nap more than smaller breeds.

●     Active working breeds, such as Border Collies, sleep less than sedentary breeds like the English bulldog.

●     As your dog ages, he will tire more easily, thereby sleeping more.

The Doggy Sleep Cycle

Like all mammals, dogs go through different sleep stages. Unlike humans, who spend 15-17 hours awake and 7-9 hours sleeping, the sleep-wake cycle of your pooch is shorter: 15 minutes asleep to 5 minutes awake. He can fall quickly into a deep sleep, reaching REM sleep about 10 minutes in, where he may roll his eyes and twitch as he dreams of chasing your neighbor’s cat. He does not sleep as deeply as you, however. With a built-in protection mechanism, your dog wakes more quickly and easily, but this comes at the cost of the need for more frequent naps to achieve a sufficient amount of REM sleep.

Common Sleep Positions

●     Stretched out– when he’s feeling ultra-relaxed.

●     4-paws in the air– when he feels safe and secure.

●     Curled up– when he’s in a defensive/rapid-response mentality, or just trying to keep warm.

Your Dog’s Daily Sleep Schedule

Your dog spends half his day sleeping, a third lying around, and the remainder playing, pottying, and begging for food. He has a flexible schedule, easily shifting his habits to see you off, greet you when you get home, and stare at you through supper.

How Much is Too Much?

Though your dog does sleep a lot, there is such a thing as too much. If your pooch seems excessively lethargic, he could have a health problem. Sleepiness is a common symptom of serious diseases like diabetes, hypothyroidism, Lyme disease, and parvo. Stress from situational and emotional upset can also make your pup increasingly tired.

Helping Your Pup Get a Better Night’s Sleep

You can help your dog get better sleep with plenty of exercise and daytime stimulation, alongside a healthy, nutrient-dense diet, and by providing him a comfortable spot to snooze.

Rover restless? Give him the gift of a better night’s sleep. Schedule a day of doggy daycare fun or a relaxing evening spa visit with DoGone Fun today.

This article was previously published at: https://www.dogonefunchicago.com/owning-a-dog/do-dogs-need-more-sleep-than-i-do/