K9 Instinct Blog

Animal Shelter Wants You To Raid Them, Instead Of Area 51

8/13/2019

A Facebook group is inspiring people to storm Area 51 and "see them aliens" on the 20th of September. Approximately 1.7 million people have stated that they will be there for the event. However, before you confront the US Air Force’s super-secret military facility, another group on Facebook is hoping you will stop in Oklahoma!

An animal shelter in Oklahoma City is encouraging people to "come storm our shelter" and check out their adorable dogs to help "protect you from the Area 51 aliens." Their adoptable pooches even come wearing clever tin foil hats! They are the perfect companions for the devoted alien hunter!

Recently the OKC Animal Shelter in Oklahoma City made a Facebook post stating, "We have great animals ready to protect you from the Area 51 aliens," adding, "adoption isn’t that far out of this world!"

They are urging people to check out their website, because they have MANY dogs, cats, and a few pocket pets available for adoption. Facebook users thoroughly enjoyed the amazingly creative photos they provided to inspire users to come visit the shelter.

Police Officer Responds to Call, Ends up Adopting Tiny Pup

8/13/2019

Check out the amazing video below!

Puppies are pretty amazing at instantly stealing our hearts, which is exactly what happened to Police Officer Marcus Montgomery when he answered an unrelated call at a local dog shelter. Officer Montgomery arrived at Panhandle Animal Welfare Society to deal with a situation involving an employee, when he laid eyes on the special little pup!

This puppy had been abandoned in a box behind the shelter over night, and Officer Montgomery was smitten the moment he laid eyes on him! He warned the shelter staff not to bring the puppy into the room with him, because he simply could not resist the tiny little dog and wanted to take him home.

Fortunately for the little pup, the staff brought him right in to the room with Marcus and he immediately snuggled up with the Police Officer! In that moment, it was over. Officer Montgomery could not let the little guy go! After finding out exactly what the pup needed, Marcus Montgomery and his girlfriend adopted him into their family.

“I immediately saw the connection, but I was at first apprehensive due to me and my girlfriend’s schedule. I figured it was going to be difficult to give him the proper care he deserves,” Marcus told Inside Edition. Marcus spoke with the staff to see what would go into caring for the dog.

“After speaking with the staff, they educated me on what he would need and that he would actually be OK by himself, as long as it wasn’t for an exorbitant amount of time. So I went home and talked with my girlfriend and she immediately fell in love with him once she held him,” he said.

The new pup, who has been named Kylo, joins the family and their other dog, a pit bull terrier named Vader.

Officer Montgomery closes with, “I hope Kylo’s story teaches people to look into their local animal shelters and give these abandoned dogs a new lease on life,”

Rescue Dog Offers her Blanket to a Stray Dog on a Cold Night

8/12/2019

In one incredible display of compassion and empathy, eight month-old rescue puppy Lana dragged her blanket outside to share with a homeless dog in need.

When a Brazilian woman named Suelen Schaumloeffel bought her rescue dog a thick blanket to keep warm during a chilly winter night, she never expected to see her sweet, cuddly puppy do something so incredible.

Suelen left the thick, warm blanket in Lana's dog house and went to sleep. When she woke up, Suelen's fiancé found something absolutely incredible. There was a homeless dog sleeping right outside their yard... on the blanket!

Lana must have thought the dog was cold and in need of some compassion, because she had dragged her brand new blanket out of her dog house to share a cozy sleeping space with the dog in need. They found Lana and the stray dog curled up on the blanket together, fast asleep, despite a fence dividing them.

“I thought, ‘How beautiful what she did for her friend,'” Suelen told The Dodo. “My best four-legged friend reminded me of something so important: generosity!”

Suelen tried to check the dog for a tag or ID, but he ran away before she could get close enough. Since he seemed to be impossible to catch, Suelen made the effort of putting out water and food for the homeless dog. He accepted it and ate whenever food was made available for him!

The generous puppy Lana still gets excited every time her friend comes around.

“Seeing the friend without a home and cold, Lana did not hesitate to share the blanket. She took it to the fence and offered a piece to her friend,” Suelen wrote on Facebook. “Each on one side of the fence, but both warm. I swear that when I saw this record I was moved. I was so overwhelmed by her generosity!”

Lana's act of generosity is an amazing reminder of the kindness and compassion we can easily offer to those around us. No matter where we came from, or where we are now, it costs us nothing to be kind to each other.

If you enjoyed this message of kindness and compassion, please LIKE and SHARE with your friends and family!

Dachshund Mom has a Photoshoot with her Adorable Babies

8/12/2019

Is there anything cuter than a proud mama and her beautiful little babies? I think not! This adorable, heart warming photoshoot is courtesy of Belinda Sol Photography. Be prepared for the biggest smile, because these lovely little baby sausages are sure to make your day SO much better!

Dachshund Mia has the cutest little babies. So fragile, so innocent, so beautiful: the world definitely needs to see these adorable photos!

© Belinda Sol Photography Texas, USA

Their cute little faces remind us why we love dogs. They are everything that is good in the world, and even the tiniest little puppies can make us fall madly in love in an instant!

© Belinda Sol Photography Texas, USA

Dogs give us so much unconditional love, we owe it to them to provide safe, loving, happy homes for them. That is why it is important to appreciate these small moments with dogs, and remember why they are family to us!

© Belinda Sol Photography Texas, USA

I sincerely hope this adorable photoshoot warmed your heart and brightened your day!

Check out Belinda Sol Photography on Instagram for more amazing photography!

If you enjoyed this adorable photoshoot, please LIKE and SHARE this to help brighten someone else's day!

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) for Dogs

8/12/2019

What is Coenzyme Q10?

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a powerful, highly beneficial antioxidant that both occurs naturally in the body, and can be derived (in small amounts) from the food our dogs eat.

CoQ10 plays an important role in protecting all of the cells within your dog's body. CoQ10 is found most abundantly in the heart and liver, which is where it tends to provide the best benefits.

With age, disease and chronic health conditions the amount of CoQ10 within a dog's body naturally decreases. By supplementing dogs with CoQ10 we can help keep them healthy for longer, while help preventing problems with the heart, brain and mitochondria.

The Benefits of CoQ10 for Dogs

Promotes a healthy heart, and can help treat heart disease. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
Promote healthy skin and coat. (6, 7 ,8)
May help prevent cancer. (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
Promotes healthy brain function, and prevent various brain diseases. (15, 16, 17, 18)

Food Sources of CoQ10

Organ Meats: Liver, heart, kidney.
Fatty Fish: Sardines, mackerel, trout, herring.
Vegetables: Spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage.
Other: Oysters.

CoQ10 is available in low amounts in food, which is why it is recommended that you supplement your dog with it rather than attempt to hit therapeutic levels via their diet. If your dog requires therapeutic levels of CoQ10, food will not suffice.

Coenzyme Q10 for Dogs

Ubiquinol is like a concentrated version of the CoQ10 antioxidant, and it is the best choice for our dogs. The ideal form of supplementation is to add the supplement to some warm water or warm bone broth, and make sure they drink it all. It can also be added to your dog's food.

20 mg per 50 pounds of body weight is an appropriate dosage for dogs.

For more great information on natural dog health care (supported by scientific research), feel free to come join my exclusive closed Facebook group: K9 Instinct: Holistic Dog Health Care. In that group I share all of my new articles and any new research or news in the pet world.

How to Cut your Dog's Black Nails

7/25/2019

The length of your dog's nails directly impacts their posture, movement efficiency and comfort when walking and running. Long nails cause pain when a dog puts weight on all four paws, and so dogs tend to shift their weight back to relieve pressure on the nails. This change in posture can lead to discomfort or even pain in the spine, shoulders, muscles and joints. With very long nails, the change in posture can cause negative orthopedic changes as a dog ages.

The hyponychium (also called the "quick") is the epithelium located beneath the nail plate at the junction between the nail shell edge and thicker structure underneath the nail. The images below feature my dog's unclipped nail, to show you exactly where the quick begins and what section of the nail is safe to cut.

The line where the structure of the underside of the nail changes is your safety line - do not cut past into the lighter colored fleshy underside of your dog's nail.

The first step is to take a look at your dog's nails and locate the edge of the quick where the structure changes into the black, hollow curvature of the nail itself. As illustrated in the photos above, the part you do not want to cut often looks flesh colored or off white.

You want to cut the black hollow shell portion of the nail, before the quick / fleshy underside of the nail. For an efficient clip, you will want to make TWO cuts to the nail. One vertical (red), and the other on a vertical slant (blue). This method of trimming will help the quick recede and allow you to cut your dog's nails shorter the next time.

Do not cut too much off the top on your second (or blue) cut, you just want enough to help encourage the quick to recede.

The ideal length of a dog's nails is short enough not to make noise when they are walking on hard surfaces, but long enough for your dog to utilize when running, climbing or digging.

Nails should be trimmed once a week, or once every two weeks depending on how fast your dog's nails grow.

Nail trimming is especially important for dogs with joint issues, any kind of bone/muscle pain, and senior dogs.

For more great information on natural dog health care (supported by scientific research), feel free to come join my exclusive closed Facebook group: K9 Instinct: Holistic Dog Health Care. In that group I share all of my new articles and any new research or news in the pet world.

Home Treatment for your Dog's Hot Spots

7/22/2019

Hot spots are a very common problem for many dogs, especially in the warmer months of the year. They are uncomfortable and irritating to your dog, and can be difficult to treat if you don't know how to keep your dog from continuously traumatizing it via licking or chewing.

Hot spots are patches of inflammation, infection and irritated skin that can be found anywhere on your dog. They often appear wet and slimy, red, and may or may not have scabs surrounding the area. Hot spots only get worse when left untreated, and can develop into larger patches of infection on your dog's body.

How to Treat your Dog's Hot Spots at Home

The good news is that although they can be slow to heal, it is easy to treat hot spots right at home. It is important to catch them early and help them clear up before they grow into a more serious infection. Hot spots are especially common on dogs that get wet often, or live in a climate with a lot of rain or humidity.

Treating a hot spot at home includes cleaning the area gently but thoroughly, drying it carefully, applying a soothing treatment, and preventing your dog from touching that spot while it heals. The steps you take should be repeated daily. There are several options for all of these steps, so lets go over them!

CLEAN THE AREA
This should be done gently and carefully, because hot spots can be extremely itchy and/or painful for your dog. There are multiple solutions you can use to clean the hot spot. You only need to choose one of the following options!

Give your dog a bath with a gentle dog safe shampoo.
Dab and gently wipe with a 50/50 solution of Hydrogen Peroxide and lukewarm water. (This should only be done once.)
Dab and gently wipe with a solution of animal safe Betadine (antiseptic) and lukewarm water.
Dab and gently wipe with lukewarm water and a bit of dawn dish soap.

After cleaning the hot spot, make sure you use clean lukewarm water to get rid of any residue from the cleaning solution you used. While the solutions are safe, they can further irritate sore skin if left on to dry. A clean and dry hot spot is necessary to move on to the next step!

DRY THE AREA
There are several methods of drying the area you can safely use to prepare the hot spot for treatment.

Use a soft, dry, clean cloth or towel to press and dab the moisture away from the skin.
Use a blow dryer on the low and cool settings, moving it around the area and keeping it farther away from the skin.
Pat it dry, then allow it to completely air dry.

APPLY TREATMENT TO THE HOT SPOT
Once the hot spot has been cleaned and dried, you'll want to apply a soothing treatment to the area to allow it to heal. Once again, you have several options for things you can apply to the area! Simply use a cotton swab, a clean towel or a clean finger to gently dab the solution all over the hot spot.

Organic, extra virgin, unrefined coconut oil.
A thin layer of Polysporin.
Tea bag compresses (black or green tea). Only use when cool or lukewarm.
Pure Aloe Vera gel.
Manuka Honey
Colloidal Silver

KEEP YOUR DOG AWAY FROM IT
The last step is extremely important. You'll need to make absolutely certain that your dog does not lick, chew, scratch or rub the hot spot anymore. All it takes is one minute of your dog interacting with the spot for all of your progress to be undone, and for the hot spot to get worse. Here are some ways you can keep your dog away from the healing hot spot.

Put a cone (also called an Elizabethan collar) on your dog.
Put a t-shirt, sock or piece of clothing on your dog that covers the hot spot completely. Make sure the hot spot can still "breathe", so no tight materials.
Monitor your dog to prevent them from bothering the hot spot when it is not covered or kept out of their reach.
Distract your dog with healthy things to chew on, like raw bones.

It is important to monitor the hot spot daily. If treatment fails, they can get out of control and fester into a more serious infection. If the hot spot gets worse despite your home treatment, you will need to have it seen by your Veterinarian. Any very large hot spots, or if multiple hot spots are present, likely have an underlying cause that needs to be addressed by a veterinarian.

Home treatment can be repeated daily!

For more amazing information on natural dog health care (supported by scientific research), feel free to come join my exclusive closed Facebook group: K9 Instinct: Holistic Dog Health Care. In that group I share all of my new articles and any new research or news in the pet world.

Women Opens Dog Hospice, Absolutely Spoils Terminal and Elderly Dogs

7/20/2019

The heart breaking reality is that for many of the dogs that enter the Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project in the United Kingdom, this will be their very first experience with real love and compassion.

“Each year, approximately 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized (670,000 dogs and 860,000 cats). The number of dogs and cats euthanized in U.S. shelters annually has declined from approximately 2.6 million in 2011. This decline can be partially explained by an increase in the percentage of animals adopted and an increase in the number of stray animals successfully returned to their owners.” – ASPCA

A large number of those dogs are elderly dogs that have been abandoned or surrendered in their final days.

It is an absolutely devastating and unfair reality, one that Nicola Coyle could not accept. That is why she opened the Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project. Her hospice is devoted to those abandoned dogs that have, at most, six months to live. It is in her incredible hospice that these precious animals are spoiled and treated with an incredible amount of compassion and gentleness.

In there final days, these special pups are are celebrated, loved, and given as much affection as they want. They are treated to delicious treats like ice cream cones, steak and fast food. They are given warm, soft beds in a safe home with someone to dote on them.

Source: The Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project

“It can be an utterly heartbreaking job. But I just can’t bear the thought of them spending their final moments without the love they deserve.” Coyle explained.

“We’ll also take them down to the local pub – it’s really dog-friendly, and they’ll get a steak dinner too. Many have not led a very nice life too, used for breeding or guard dogs, so when they’ve become unwell, they’re not useful anymore and left.” Coyle said about making the rest of their lives as amazing as possible.

Source: The Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project

Many of the dogs in her hospice come to her when they are very ill, sometimes with as little as a few months left to live. While some manage to defy the odds under her incredible care, there are some that end up only having a few weeks with her. She aims to make what time they have left as comfortable, fun, and enjoyable as possible!

“The longest I had one is one year, the shortest was two weeks. It’s so rewarding when you can make those times special. I don’t know when their birthdays are, so we throw all of them a birthday party.” Coyle stated.

Source: The Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project

Nicola Coyle explained that she spends approximately $500 on each dog, in an effort to make their final days as amazing as she can.

The majority of her funds come out of her own pocket, but she does host fundraisers when she can.

She also accepts donations via Paypal over at the Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project! She hosts fundraisers on her Facebook page to help support these special dogs in their final days.

“They just want to feel loved and safe. I really believe they should get a nice ending.” - Nicola Coyle

Please LIKE and SHARE this story with your family and friends if you support the amazing work they do for these wonderful dogs.

Natural, Safe, and Effective Flea and Tick Prevention

7/15/2019

If you are reading this article, it is most likely because you are aware of the dangers and risks associated with the use of chemical pesticides on our beloved family pets. When the weather warms up, we find ourselves enjoying the great outdoors with our family - and that includes our dogs! Unfortunately, we are not the only species enjoying the warm weather.

Fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and other potentially dangerous pests are also out in the warm weather, looking for a host. Our dogs are the ideal target for these pests, so it is important that we do whatever we can to keep our dogs safe. Fleas are an annoying nuisance, ticks can carry potentially deadly diseases, and mosquitoes may pass along heart worm.

However, there are safe and effective alternatives to the potentially deadly chemicals (both oral and topical prevention) that can be purchased at your local Animal Hospital.

Instagram: @agirlandherbeast

Why use Natural Prevention?

I am extremely passionate about my dog's health and nutrition, so when I looked into chemical pesticides sold by Veterinarians I could not bring myself to use them. After further research into the use of chemical pesticides on pets, while also exploring natural prevention, I made the decision to only use safer alternatives.

I was shocked to learn that at least 783 animal deaths occurred as a result of using chemical topical and oral pesticides - as were reported by the FDA. Beyond those numbers, thousands of owners are complaining about terrible side effects like seizures and lethargy. It is simply NOT worth the risk! I encourage you to investigate this yourself, so you can form your own educated opinion.

A Safe and Effective Alternative.

There are two products I am using successfully this year. I have been using both products to prevent fleas and ticks, and help deter mosquitoes! We are avid hikers, and this year we have hiked in some highly tick infested areas. I am happy to report that I have not had a SINGLE tick or flea on my dog! You can follow our adventures over on Instagram!

I am very confident in the effectiveness of these two all natural, chemical-free products. I firmly believe that combining both of them helps increase their effectiveness, so I do recommend pairing the two together.

Included with each product, I have provided some supportive biomedical studies and peer-reviewed research on the active ingredients.

kin+kind: FLEA|TICK Spray
This is a great smelling topical spray made with all organic, natural ingredients. It is made with a base of organically grown coconut and olive oils, which are great for the skin and coat. This spray contains neem oil, cedarwood essential oil, peppermint essential oil, and lavender oil. I have had tremendous success with this product, and absolutely no bad side effects!

kin+kind has graciously given me a 10% off discount code "CANINE10" for you to use at check out if you'd like to try this amazing pest deterrent spray for your dog!

Click here to check the kin+kind: Flea|Tick spray out on their website!

Earth MD Flea & Tick Prevention
Earth MD's Flea & Tick product is a powder you can add to your dog's food once a day for a week every 2 months. It contains quassia bark, neem leaf, spirulina and garlic. It is an all natural and safe food additive!

This product came highly recommended to me by several friends who go hiking often, and they too have found a lot of success with it! Quassia bark and Neem leaf have been shown in studies to deter pests!

Click here to visit their website and learn more!

For more amazing information on natural dog health care (supported by scientific research), feel free to come join my exclusive closed Facebook group: K9 Instinct: Holistic Dog Health Care. In that group I share all of my new articles and any new research or news in the pet world.

Healthy Alternatives to Rawhide

7/12/2019

Rawhide Chews are DANGEROUS!

Rawhide chew toys are one of the most popular items for pet parents to buy, and they can be found almost everywhere including grocery stores, pet stores, and even the dollar store. Unfortunately, the majority of dog owners have no idea how DANGEROUS rawhide really is!

Rawhide is typically made from cow hides, which are cleaned with industrial strength cleaners, and coated in deadly preservatives not approved for human consumption. Manufacturers use bleach and formaldehyde to whiten and disinfect the product, before putting it together with glue, artificial flavors and artificial colors.

Rawhides are a byproduct of leather, and the chemicals and additives used in manufacturing these chews are extremely toxic to living creatures. Due to the glue they use to bind the hide and make it last longer, rawhides are infamous for killing dogs via choking or intestinal blockages. Rawhide is indigestible!

There are absolutely NO safe rawhide chews to give to your dogs, but thankfully there are a ton of healthy and safe alternatives! Here are some of the most popular healthy alternative to rawhide chews.

Healthy Alternatives to Rawhide that are SAFE!

Raw meaty bones are nature's toothbrush! The ideal bones for recreational chewing include rib bones, knuckle bones, femur bones, marrow bones, and neck bones. Recreational bones are not meant to be eaten completely, so monitor your dog! You can also give FULLY EDIBLE raw meaty bones like turkey necks, lamb ribs, chicken necks, chicken feet, or turkey wings. These light weight, easily digestible bones are safe to feed in their entirety. Never feed cooked bones!

Bully sticks are 100% pure protein, dehydrated beef pizzle. They are long lasting and easily digestible. They are also high in the important amino acid, taurine! They are very flavorful, which is the reason dogs tend to love them so much.

Beef tendons are a healthy, long lasting chew that are easy to digest and gentle on a dog's stomach. They are high protein and low in fat, and the tough texture is great for scraping your dog's teeth clean.

Dehydrated trachea are a fantastic crunchy, hollow chew rich in glucosamine and chondroitin, which make this chew good for your dog's joint health joint health! The combination of crunchiness and chewiness makes it ideal for cleaning your dog's teeth and providing an interesting texture and chewing experience.

An alternative to meat protein, Sweet Potato chews are a healthy vegetable snack that lasts longer than you would think! The best part is that they are easy and inexpensive to make right at home! Click here to read my blog article on homemade sweet potato chews. They are a great source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals and contain antioxidants!

Himalayan Yak Cheese Chews are a tasty, chewy, long lasting treat full of delicious flavor. You may think they are soft, but these cheese chews are actually very durable and take awhile to consume. This hard cheese snack is a favorite among many dogs, and is fully digestible.

Looking for more great information like this, or to stay current with my new articles and new research in the dog world? Come join my private Facebook group K9 Instinct: Holistic Dog Health Care and set your notifications to "ALL POSTS" so you never miss new information!

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Consult with your veterinarian before applying any of the information contained within this website, its blog, or via consultations. K9 Instinct recommends involving your veterinarian in any plans to utilize the information provided by K9 Instinct, and cannot be held accountable for any damages incurred by the use or misuse of any information provided by K9 Instinct. The guidance of your veterinarian is strongly recommended!