Happy Father's Day to dog dads

 

Not just for human fathers

Today is Father’s Day, a day for all dads, even those with dogs! I know, it started out being for human dads, but why does it have to be just humans? Dog dads choose to be dads and they do all the stuff, just like dads of human children. It seems that I’m not the only one to think that. Apparently, it’s becoming a big thing. I searched online and found tons of posts about gifts for dog dads, like this one.

Father’s Day celebrates all the things that dads do for their families

Here are a few reasons why dog dads deserve to be part of Father’s Day. If you’re a dog dad, is this you?

• Dog dads take care of their fur kids. They take them on walks, play with them, discipline them when needed, and all kinds of other daily needs.
• Dog dads love their fur kids.
• Men with dogs often share with them; a bed, car rides, maybe food (hopefully dog appropriate).
• Since dogs need food, beds, and other stuff, dog dads make sure they have what they need.

Father’s Day is for dog dads

Dog dads usually choose to be dads. That means that they’re already wanting to be the best parents they can be for their canine kids.

Read this post for more about what it takes to be a dog dad. Do you fit the description?

If you’re a dog dad, I hope you’re doing something fun, relaxing, or both to enjoy this day in your honor. Are you a dog parent? Since dads do all the stuff to take care of their kids, Father’s Day is for all the dads; human or canine.

Tell me about your day and the special stuff you’re doing in the comments below.

Pumpkin for dogs; how can it help?

 

Using pumpkin for dogs

Pumpkin for dogs; do you know about it? We started feeding it to our dogs consistently when one of our dogs was having digestive issues. He was placed on a limited diet with only five items, one of them being pumpkin.

As usual, I started researching online to find out how it could help all of our dogs. It turns out that this simple vegetable that we were used to using for pies had a whole lot more going for it.

Pumpkin is a healthy food

Pumpkin is full of nutrients like Vitamins A, C, and E, betacarotene, iron, and potassium. These are the things that help with eye and brain health as well as strengthen the immune system.

Another reason to consider pumpkin for dogs is its support for the GI system. The soluble fiber adds bulk to the stool to help control diarrhea as well as ease constipation. Pumpkin also supports the healthy bacteria in the gut to improve your dog’s digestive health.

Other reasons to consider pumpkin for dogs

It’s inexpensive and easy to find.

• Pumpkin is usually available in the canned form at the grocery store. You can just open a can and give it to your dog. Be sure to check the label to make sure you aren’t getting any unwanted additions to that pure pumpkin.
• If you’re a gardener, you can successfully grow it. Preparation for feeding it to your dog isn’t too hard although a little time-consuming. And pumpkin is easy to freeze and store to use all year long. This option is the least expensive one.
• If you don’t want to cook or want more convenience, pumpkin is available in dog treats and foods from lots of sources. Very convenient but a little more expensive.

Most dogs love the taste of pumpkin. Our dogs love it straight out of the can. However, if yours don’t, pumpkin is versatile and can be included in the diet in other ways. You can find recipes for dog treats or dinners all over the internet.

This vegetable is a low-fat option to feed your dog. As with any food, too much of a good thing is not a good thing, so don’t go crazy. You’ll want to start with a teaspoon or so and build up to a few tablespoons, depending on the size of your dog and how well they tolerate it. It’s higher in calories than many vegetables, but the trade-off in nutrients and benefits for your dog makes it worth feeding.

Do you feed pumpkin to your dogs?

We feed this stuff to our dogs every day, in moderate amounts. For more about this wonder food, read this post from pets.webmd.com. A healthy diet is important to your dog’s well-being. Read this post for other thoughts about feeding your dogs.

Have you tried giving your dogs pumpkin? Tell me about it in the comments below.

Dog incontinence; a senior dog problem

 

Is your dog incontinent?

Dog incontinence isn’t really an issue at our house right now. However, we’ve certainly dealt with this messy issue from time to time. If you have a dog that cannot control their urine or feces, you’ll want to find out why and get some control of the issue as quickly as possible. Understanding this issue can help you find ways to help your dog and keep your household in order.

According to this post by PetMD, you need to determine whether your dog is actually incontinent or just inappropriately peeing/pooping. If it’s the second reason, your dog is capable of controlling their elimination. They may need training, a change in schedule, or some other strategy to resolve the issue. If they are truly incontinent, they can’t control when they go because of some physical reason.

What causes dog incontinence?

Considering how common this problem is and the likelihood of having another incontinent dog, I started searching the internet to learn more. This post from WebMD was beneficial. It has a list of lots of the common causes and some treatments that might help. The list included bladder infections, nerve or spinal problems, diabetes, or side effects from medicines, for starters.

There are lots of reasons for dog incontinence of urine or sometimes stool as well. Some of the causes can be fixed once you know the reason. The rest of them can be managed. Senior dogs seem to be affected more often than younger dogs because of the problems that come with aging. Dogs of all ages can be incontinent under certain circumstances, however.

What do you do?

The first thing to keep in mind is that you love your dog. It’s easy to get frustrated and possibly take that out on your dog in one way or another. But that’s that last thing to do because it just won’t help.

When you notice a problem, it would be wise to make an appointment with your vet. They’ll help you sort out what is causing the problem and provide some treatment options if they’re available.

Once you’ve addressed any fixable issues, it’s time to take some control of the mess that dog incontinence can cause in your household. If your dog is incontinent, they can’t help it. Punishment isn’t going to help and will only make things worse. You’ll still have a problem, and they’ll feel sad and scared since they won’t understand why they’re in trouble.

What you can do, however, is find products to help contain the mess. You might consider schedule changes, frequent potty breaks, or other approaches that can allow your dog a little dignity while still maintaining your sanity. When we’ve had incontinent dogs in the past, we used waterproof pads and diapers to protect the carpet and furniture. We also took them outside frequently. That way, they could potty there instead of reaching the point of losing control.

It’s not easy to deal with dog incontinence, but it’s worth it.

Dog incontinence happens. It’s not exactly fun, and it can be super messy. But I think of it this way; people have these issues too. If the shoe were on the other foot, my dogs wouldn’t abandon me. They’d be right there to help because they love me. I owe the same to my dogs. Read more about senior dog issues and check out this post about tips for helping your senior dog.

Do you have a dog with incontinence issues? Tell me about it and how you worked with it in the comments below.