News & Information

7-9-2012



Open Letter to Anyone who will listen:

Prop B…. The AR people really won!  You see the legislature thought that they were helping small business & the dog breeders, but they turned over the rule making to the Missouri Department of Agriculture who made rules so stringent that most people couldn’t afford to abide by them thus cutting the breeders in the state from around 2,000 down to a mere 700.  They are just like you & me.  They were just trying to make ends meet.  For most of them, the dogs ate, had water whenever they wanted it, went to the vet, adjusted to their surroundings and were cared for in places that were clean.  They got their haircuts, their toenails trimmed and a dry clean bed.  And, this was done before the people ate, drank and bought their own groceries, because they knew that the dogs had to come first or there was no income for them.  As with any business, you put every dime you can back into it before you take something out. 

In our United States, there are many children who do not have homes where they are clean, warm in the winter, cool in the summer, get a bath when they are dirty, go to the doctor when they are sick and have a clean dry bed.

The government has crucified dog breeders.  They have hung them out to dry and made their small business a thing of the past.  And you say,  “That’s okay.  We don’t need those people in our society. “  And I say, “Oh yes, you do.  Those are young stay at home mom’s who feel their children are more important than a job outside the house.  They are Grandmother’s and Grandfather’s who have no other means of supplementing their income.  They are people who have for years, for the love of animals put their hearts and souls in to raising quality animals for you.  They are supporters of your church, taxpayers, & government officials.  They send their children to college, they buy cars, food, and clothes, they support veterinaries, feed stores, building suppliers; they put money back into the economy.

Now, that being said, last week I had a couple walk in to my grooming facility and want me to clean up a puppy that they had purchased on the parking lot of a well-known business in my town for $175.  This puppy was covered in fleas, probably wasn’t over 6 weeks old and was terribly dirty.  Now given all that you know that this puppy had not had any vaccinations.  I told them to take it across the street to the vet, get it’s vaccinations and kill the fleas.  The pup’s chance of survival was at 40% on a good day. 

If this had been a licensed breeder, the state would have closed the doors the day they walked in.  Licensed breeders are not allowed to take puppies anywhere to sell them until they are eight weeks old.  A good breeder gives puppy vaccinations, de-worming’s, and has a guarantee if the puppy becomes sick.  In my mind, I cannot figure out why anyone would have purchased this puppy.  Those types of breeders are the dirt of the earth.  They give the good breeders bad names.  And the people who purchase these puppies only exasperate the problem.  They may feel good about “rescuing” the puppy, however they only make the problem worse, because those money grubbing people will go back and raise another litter just like the ones that they sold.  Good breeders have no use for those people.  So, the next time you go looking to save a puppy, just remember why you voted for Prop B.  Do not purchase from these people and the problem will go away.  It’s the old supply & demand thing.  If they supply it and there is no demand they won’t raise it again.  The same goes for people who let their dogs get bred by anything that walks; don’t save those puppies and they will get the parents fixed.  If there is no demand, they’ll find a way to have their dogs spay and neutered.  There are many low cost spay and neuter clinics to help.  Remember, it’s supply & demand.

So that is my feeling for today! 

Keep abreast of the latest in pet care news as well as helpful hints for a happier pet.

Chocolate found harmful to canines

In a recent Veterinary Journal, feeding chocolate to dogs was found to cause toxic shock in 24% of the animals.

Tip of the day: How to brush your pet effectively

Start brushing from the bottom, and work your way up. Comb thoroughly after brushing to detect any matting or tangles you may have missed with your brush.

Who's the Boss?

It is important when you get your first dog to remember that you are the one in command.  Little things like just going through a door first, can give your dog the feeling of who is in command. Sit, stay, down can also be a big help.  Do not allow your dog to do anything when it is a puppy that you don't want it to do as an adult.  Mouthing your hand can lead to nipping.  It's cute when they are puppies, but it isn't so cute when they nip your children or grandchildren.  Do not allow dogs to run and chase your children.  It is fun in the beginning, however breeds that are bred for herding animals can soon start to nip at the heels of children not because they are mean but because that is what they are bred to do.  STOP any unruly problems before they become a huge problem.  Email questions to info@pocomopetranch.com  We'll put them on the site and answer them to the best of our abilities.

My feelings on dog collars.

It is important that you are in command of your dog.  Dogs that are leading you instead of you leading the dog make for a less than delightful walk in the park.  Especially large dogs who tend to lead rather than be led can make for a hazardous situation.  I suggest for my clients, a dog collar called a "Martingale".  It has a nylon front with a chain pull.

This gives the softness of a collar without hurting the dogs neck with a good correction should you need it.  This is not a collar, however to leave on your dog while he runs loose.  It could get caught on a fence or log.  This is a collar for training and walking.  Chain slip collars are okay for training, however you must know how to put them on correctly in order to keep from pinching the dog. 

If you are buying a regular collar be sure to watch as your dog grows and replace the smaller with a larger collar.  I have seen dogs that have sores rubbed where tight collars have been left on too long.  Also, wash those collars when you do the dog bedding.  They can get pretty dirty causing sores to form.

NEVER<NEVER leave a collar on in a pen.  Dogs can hang themselves if left with collars on.

My thoughts for today. 

Shedding

For pets that spend more time inside during the winter, the indoor heat can take its toll on their skin & coat.  It causes moisture loss and dry skin, resulting in uncomfortable itching.  Their winter coat also becomes too much for them, and they'll start shedding to get comfortable again-the reason why many people feel their pet has been shedding all winter.

Coat strippers help remove the dead hair coat without damaging the remaining coat-they're excellent for those double-coated dogs with a winter coat that wants to mat.  Mars Coat Strippers will remove dead hair mats with little pulling of the skin. The result is a fluffed-up coat that keeps them warm outside and breathes on the inside, which lets your pet be more comfortable in all. 

Once the dead hair is removed, bathing helps clean the skin and replace the lost oils and moisture.   Many forget  that some dogs are tichy just from the winter grime of everyday living, so bathing is important for healthy breathing skin. You know your dog's coat: if you feel you have an extra dry coat, use a cream rinse every 2 weeks to rejuvenate the coat.  Cream rinses help the coat repel moisture and ice so they're great for dogs that spend time outside.  They're most helpful when used in the cold of winter and the hot in summer. "From an article by Dr. B of Revival Animal.com"

Here at Pocomo we can strip your dogs coat, bathe and cream rinse him.  Our Ultimate pet washing system will deep clean your dog while our cream rinse will give the coat a soft feeling and our heavy blower will help to blow out unwanted dead hair.  We will use the Mars Coat King to strip that dead undercoat from your dog.  Costs for stripping are a little higher, however for long haired breeds it is a perfect option to clipping the coat completely off for the summer.  The breathing of the skin is important in both summer and winter, as the inner coat will help to insulate your dog from the heat of the sun or the cold of winter.  Keep your dog looking great with a natural coat here at Pocomo!