The impawtence of chewing!

 Helloooo furiends, It's me Luna again. 🐶 New year means new blog posts!

Hope you are all keeping up those wonderful new years resolutions. Mine are simple.. more treatos, more naps and more tennis balls! 

For New years I got a lovely present, a new chewstick. Did you know that besides of annoying the humans with loud smacking noises it also has several other benefits??

• Most impawtently it relieves stress and anxiety. Because I don't like to be left alone at home but sometimes the humans don't have any other choice. In that case once they return home my chewing stick gives me the opportunity to chew the stress off (of course you can also shake it off like Taylor swift used to sing 😁)
• They say it reduces plaque build up, to be quite honest I still have a little plaque build up but ok maybe it would be worse without chewing. 
• Burns excess energy: Well this one is quite impawtent too, as a working doggo I need to have something to do. Cannot sit still all day alrighty!
• It shows we feel good, if we stop chewing maybe their is something wrong with our teefies our general health. 
• Jaw training, because you never know when you need to bite a burglar in his leg 😈

So now you have read the most impawtent benefits it's time to send the hoomans to the petshop! 

In case you are wondering what I am chewing, it's the Kong Chewstix (NO spon!)

Luna chewing her large Kong chewstix

Ps. Thanks for visiting my little dog blog, feel free to follow me on insta or leave your feedback at lunathecretanbordercollie@gmail.com

Luna's favorite type of harness and why you could consider it too..

Woof Woof, welcome to my blog furiends. 2022 started for me with lots of walkies in the park and one impawtent tool for great walkies are comfy harnesses.  Therefore I would like to bark my opinion on dog harnesses. Are you ready?

First and foremost you should know that I had an shoulder injury in my younger years. Luckily  I recovered from it but it made my hooman reconsider recently what she could have done to help the healing process.

And that's where the harness choice pops in, it's such an important piece of equipment we dogs wear every single day (for more then an hour). We run, jump, turn and so much more so it should be comfy right?!

So my mama decided to do some research and after a while she realized that the harness I was wearing was actually restricting my movement. Now what kind of harness is then good?

Picking the right harness has a lot to do with the way your dog is build but overall the "Y or H shaped harnesses"' have shown to be the most comfy and they're also recommended by many Chiropractic professionals.  It makes sure that the forelimb can move freely back and forward and when the dog pulls hard on the leash it doesn't make any damage to the neck or other sensitive parts. Beside of the harness shape it is also very impawtent to have a look at how the harness fits your dog, not every Y or H type of harness is a good one. 

Some tips to check when picking a new harness:

- Is there room enough behind the forelimb and doesn't it sit too tight in the armpit?

-The middle of an Y harness sits on the chest bone, if you put your hand on the front of your dog you will feel a bone sticking out and that's also the point where the middle of your harness should sit.

-The shoulder front should be free, straps should not sit on top of the bone.

-The part between the forelimbs should be soft fabric and not too wide (otherwise it might rub the forelimbs)

-The second strap should be approximately 2-4 fingers behind the forelimb but make sure that the end of the harness doesn't go behind the last rib (it can not hang on the soft abdomen area)

- Are there any metal parts/buckles that hit while running? 

- What kind of material is the harness made from? lightweight fabric with plastic buckles or with metal buckles? In case your dog needs to run long distances (such as in canicross) lightweight options are better. 

If you have checked all the above this and your dog looks comfy you have found your new harness ✅

Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that a harness is not a tool to teach your dog to stop pulling, the only way you can stop this is by training consistent with a professional to guide you. Also keep in mind that using tools such as the front ring of some harnesses might harm your dog because when they pull all the force comes on 1 side/leg.

Luna's current harness:

At the moment we are very happy with the ZeroDC Short harness, this harness is made for daily walks aswell for dogsports like canicross and fits Luna greatly. (Not sponsored) Each dog is different so always measure before purchasing online, we hope you find the pawfect harness too! 

Paw from Luna 🐾

which harness not to buy

ZeroDC Harness "short"
(not sponsored)

Me in my new pawfect harness
(lots of space behind my forelimb)

What to do if your dog gets a seizure/epileptic attack?

Hi furiends it's me Luna again! Today I would like to bark to you about a very impawtent health related topic: Dog seizures. 

2 years ago I had something that looked like a seizure attack myself which scared my humans like crazy! Right after they rushed me to the vet but fortunately they didn't found anything and it only occurred once. An impawtent thing to know is that Border Collies are more prone to seizures then some other dog breeds so here are some tips what to do just in case..

How to react when your dog has a seizure:

• First and foremost STAY CALM it may sound like a silly advice but if it's the first time you see (your) a dog having a seizure it might be very frightening. Some dogs make crazy sounds and movements, others stair in front of them and fall over. Each dog reacts different.
• Remove all objects around your dog and try not to move them, also a dog doesn't swallow it's tongue so it's not necessary to come close to the mouth. Since they can't control themselves there is a high possibility they might accidently bite you. You can sit down next to them and talk with a calm voice to let them know you're closely, touching is only recommended once the dog is fully awake and responding again. 
• Track how many seconds/minutes the attack is going on, if it takes longer then 2-5 minutes or it are multiple small seizures the dog starts going into a dangerous zone and needs to be transported to the emergency vet.
• If possible film during the attack this way the vet later on can evaluate better how serious it is, in our case we didn't do it and it made it very difficult for the vet to diagnose the situation.
• If it happens again in 24 hours it is considered a "cluster" case and you need to return to a vet immediately (even if the dog had a check up after the first attack) 

In any case it is necessary to speak with a professional veterinarian after a seizure. Most important is to keep your dog safe during the attack so it doesn't injure it's head, right after the seizure the dog might feel disorientated for a while. Give the dog some time to rest and have water and food available. 

I hope you will never need this knowledge but it's better to be safe then sorry! Take care furiends. 💓

Paw from me,

Luna 🐾

A throwback picture of Luna last august 😜

Is the AEG LX7-2-CR-A vacuum cleaner worth it?

Hi furiends! It's me Luna again. 🐶 Today my human wants to share some information about MY BIGGEST ENEMY aka the vacuum cleaner 😅. She bought it a couple of months ago when we moved to our new home and my mom is obsessed with that thing but I really hate it.. so I give the word to my mama because I have nothing positive to bark about that thing. 😜

Let's start with some general specifications:

• Model:  AEG LX7-2-CR-A (Animal Edition)
• Type:    Bag less vacuum cleaner (Dustcontainer capacity 1,4L) 
• Price:   (In Greece anno 2021) 140,0 euro
• For which kind of floors?: Hard floors and parquet
• Cord length: 6 meters
• Attachments: Combi nozzle, Turbo nozzle, Crevice tool, upholstery tool, parquet brush, pet kit nozzles
• Has special allergy plus filters
• Weight: 5kg

What are the positives about this vacuum cleaner?

-The machine is relatively lightweight (5kg) and has a big handle on the top with a good grip so easy to carry while cleaning the stairs.

- Dust container instead of bags (more cost efficient)

- I can vacuum the whole house without emptying the dust container in between (and Luna looses lots of hair!)

-2 washable filters (AEG website recommends by heavy use to change them every 2 years)

-lower prize but in it's category decent quality

-The power is really impressive! I mostly use it on the lowest stand (first stripe) and only when I vacuum our big carpet or the car I use it on medium power.

-Energy class A 

Negatives (personal opinion)

-The turbo brush makes a lot of noise and beside of that it doesn't pick up all the dirt, it makes dog hair fly around instead of picking it up. Off all the attachments this is the one I never use again.

-Although the filters are washable it takes 24hours to dry them in the sun. While we have a lot of sunny days here in Crete this is perfectly possible for us but I can imagine if you live in a country with lots of rain this can be a nightmare. The filters absolutely need to be 100% dry otherwise they start smelling bad and molt can build up inside.

-The advertisement of this vacuum suggest it's very quiet but to be honest in comparison to the other vacuum cleaners I have used in my life I would say it just sounds normal, definitely not more quiet so if you buy this model specifically for the silence I would recommend picking another one.

-The cord is just a few meters too short for me to clean our stairs completely so I have to change plug, for the rest of our rooms it's long enough though.  

Let's dive a little deeper in the different type of nozzles and which one I use the most:

First of all we have the parquet brush, I use this one on our upper floor of the house because we have a sensitive marble floor there. The outside of the brush looks like cheap plastic but after using it now for 4 months it holds up pretty good. It definitely protects our floor and goes well in the corners but in comparison to the combi nozzle it's a little bit more stiff (doesn't slide and turn so smoothly)

Secondly the combi nozzle: like the name says it can be used both on hard floors and low-pile carpets. It has rotary knob on top where you can choose between hard floor/carpet/ or combo where it automatically detects what kind of surface your cleaning. I always have it on the combo and I find that it detects quickly when I go from hard floor to carpet. The combi nozzle gets called also "dust magnet" and it certainly lives up to it's name. From all the attachments this one is my absolute favorite to go into corners and pick up even the smallest dog hairs. The only negative I would say is that the wheels are making an annoying noise when you pull it backwards and that they sometimes get stuck also (then you have to pull out all the little dog hairs).

Crevice and upholstery tools: Nice little attachments to go into corners, between car seats, ... The upholstery has soft padding like most standard ones out there in the market. The best thing is that you can attach this 2 on your telescopic tube so you carry them around all the time.

And last but not least: the 2 pet kit nozzles, it may sounds fun that even though we use this vacuum cleaner mostly to tackle dog hair that these are actually the least used. It's not that they don't work but it's just that I have enough on the upholstery one to clean our sofa's etc. and that I'm too lazy to get them from the storage place while the basic ones hang on my telescopic tube 🙈

Brief summary:

This vacuum cleaner is perfect for daily use in households with lots of furry furiends. With easy to empty dustbin and cleanable filters it makes your life less complicated. The wide range of nozzles give you the right attachments for each job while the cord length is good enough for the average size of house. For a reasonable prize of €140 you can't expect a sublime finishing touch in the looks of the device but you get a decent machine that does the job. 

I hope you liked this article furiends! I hope the hooman wrote enough about that annoying vacuum, now for more of my dog adventures check out my Insta or YouTube!  

Sincerely paws,

Luna 🐾

Hepa filter and dust container

Foam filter

Luna sniffing her biggest enemy 😂

Small business review: Wags and Barks

Woof woof, hello dear furiends! Hope your feeling well. 

Finally autumn season arrived which we enjoy very much here after the hot Greek summer. With lower temperatures comes also the chance for my mama to buy me some new fashion stuff. In summertime I don't like to wear very often bandana's or bowties since I spend a lot of time playing in or near water. 😊 

Now in autumn I love to dress up like a little lady, people call me "cute" I don't know what that is.. but at least I get a lot of extra treatos for modelling my new stuff 😋 

My newest fashion items come from "Wags And Barks" a small Greek business runned by 2 ladies, mother&daughter team. They have handmade bow ties and bandanas and soon will also be adding watercolor portraits to their Etsy shop.

My mum found their small business on Instagram and decided to go for 2 bowties.

The little one is called "red stripes bow tie" and we ordered it in size small. It still fits my medium size dog collar though! 

The attachment elastics

The big bow tie is called "falling stars" and is size medium, both bowties have elastics on the back so you can easily slide them over the collar.

I was actually surprised it fitted over my extra wide collar too so easily, for me personally I prefer the elastic attachments instead of velcro straps since velcro gets tangled in my fur. 😱

Falling stars bow tie

Would I order again from "Wags And Barks"?

Yes definitely! The package was shipped 1 day after I placed my order on their Etsy shop. They have worldwide free delivery, the quality of both bowties is great (soft fabric and strong elastic attachment) and most important they sended my mama a follow up mail to ask if everything is ok with the order and if we are happy with it, absolutely great service! 

Beside of that we got a little gift with our order a super cute armband for my mama and chain to hang on my collar with the same butterfly 🦋

Disclaimer: this article is NOT sponsored, mama paid for the bowties herself and makes this review just to support a small business.

Hope you enjoyed this mini shopping haul, if there is a small (Greek) business you think we should absolutely know don't hesitate to send their website or insta account to my email or insta dm's! 😊

Paw from me,

Luna 🐾

Border Collie Rescue SA

 Hi pawfriends it's me Luna again! 🐾 Today I want your pawttention for a very special dog rescue:

Border Collie Rescue SA! Yes you read it correctly, this rescue is specialized in Border Collies! Border Collies have the best working drive, they look cute and perfect for families and they easily melt peoples hearts with all the cool tricks they can do.. but therefore it goes very often wrong. If they are rehomed by normal shelters quiet often they end up in homes with people that are not educated enough how to handle the specific breed which can end up dramatically with a dog that starts herding kids, cats and everything that moves or even worse serious bite incidents.. 

Border Collie Rescue's target is to find the best new home for their rescues and spread awareness at the same time about the wonderful Border Collie as a breed. 

Border Collie Rescue is a registered non-profit organization since 1999 that:

-Provides rehabilitation for abandoned and abused Border Collies

-Provides foster homes for Border Collies in need and takes care of the full costs such as kenneling   fees, sterilization, food, etc..

-Finds forever adoptive homes when the dogs are physically and mentally ready for a new family 

-Provides counseling/referral services to Border Collie owners

- Help Border Collie owners that through no fault of their own, can no longer care for their beloved friend and need to find a new home.

-Raise awareness and educate the public about the very specific needs of the Border Collie breed

- And so much more..

In the years 2019/2020 they had:

• 532 dogs in kennels rehomed
• 7715 kennel days paid
• 238 dogs microchipped
• 91 dogs sterilized and neutered (some dogs arrive into the rescue already fixed)
• 108 dogs received all the necessary veterinary treatment
• last but not least they travelled 18575km!!! to collect dogs in need

Sounds amazing, isn't it? 

All this hard work is done by staff & volunteers that do not receive any remuneration but purely do it for the love they have for the breed. They spend their time for free to ensure the abandoned and abused Border Collies get the care and love they deserve. In my opinion this are real life heroes! 

But here it the thing.. they need our help! 

"Because together we achieve what no one can achieve alone." 

This is their favorite quote and I love it too!

Here are 11 easy ways how we can help: 

1. Adopt a Border Collie (currently this option is only available for people that live in Africa since the procedure and cost to bring a dog to EU, UK or USA are very difficult. 
2. Help cover kenneling costs, you can do this for one month or more. Border Collie Rescue organization will keep you up to date about the dog that's in "your" kennel. 
3. Become a friend of BCR: You will receive a quarterly newsletter. Membership fees are R1000.00 once off or annual R200
4. Sponsor a spray or neuter: this is super important, all dogs get sprayed or neutered before moving to their forever homes.
5. If you are in the South Africa area you can foster an older dog in need. BCR will cover the costs for food and veterinary care.
6. Send pawsome pictures that can be used for the yearly calendar, the funds raised from the calendar sales will be used to cover the shelters costs.
7. Suggest companies that might be interested in sponsoring BCR
8. Leave a legacy to BCR
9. Download the CollieMoji app, 40% of each download goes to BCR. To participate download the app from this link You can also turn your own dog in an emoji! Available for any dog breed, click here for more info. 
10. Shop online at the Border Collie Rescue website, you can find merch and other cute Collie related items. BCR online shop
11. and last but not least: spread the word, so the world knows their wonderful mission!🐾 If you have any fun ideas to set up your own fundraiser campaign don't hesitate to contact Dina-Vera, she is super friendly and will gladly discuss about the possibilities.

Zapper: Scan to donate easy&fast

 

A little bit more details about the costs of the rescue organization:

On average a dog remains 39 days in a rescue before finding a home during this time several things are done such as:

-Deworming (R50 per dog)

- Microchip (R150) 

- Vaccinations (R400)

- Neutering (R800)

- Cost per kennel day R180 in high season and R99 normal rate + food expenses.

- Average costs per homed dog: R4689,00

Because Border Collie Rescue is located in South Africa the amounts are shown in South African Rand. R100 = 5.75 euro = 4.87 Pound sterling. 

Easiest way to donate from overseas is through this link. Giveandgain makes it easier since you can choose your own currency.

This means that if we even donate a "small" amount in euro or pound this can already help many dogs in SA in need. 🐶

SnapScan: Scan to donate easy&fast

 

Impawtent info/contact details:

Address: Border Collie Rescue Non Profit Organization 

Nr. 006 620 P O Box 21161 Roodepoort Helderkruin 1733

Bank details:  Account Name: Border Collie Rescue 

Standard Bank Cresta Account Nr: 226 387 399 IBT: 051001

General info: DV (Dina-Vera) +27 82 772 8525 / Dinaverasch@gmail.com

Adoptions: Julie:  mwmoz@mweb.co.za / +27 11 3952259 or +27 82 887 9668

Website: https://bordercollierescue.co.za/

Page with all details about adoption or volunteering: 
https://bordercollierescue.co.za/volunteer/#adopt

Social media channels: 

Twitter and Instagram : #collierescuesa 

YouTube Channel: Border Collie Rescue South Africa 

Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Border-Collie-Rescue-SA/130068410401353

©️All the pictures in this article belong to the Border Collie Rescue organization, do not use or reproduce this without their permission. 

Destinations in Crete: Rethymno

Woof! Welcome to my blog pawfriends, today I would like to show you around a new destination: Rethymno City. Rethymno lies on the North-western side of Crete between Chania and Heraklion.

Old venetian harbour Rethymno

For us Cretans Rethymno is also know as "the student city". There  is a pawfect university (University of Crete) here which attract students from all over Europe and therefore there is also a lot of vibrant nightlife. Beside of that it is also touristically developed.

Must see inside the city:

The old town is beautifully restored dating from the 16th century. The old harbour is Venetian style and inside town you can find buildings with influence from the byzantines. It also has one of the best preserved castles in Crete: "Fortezza of Rethymno". While walking trough the old town you will see the "Porta Guora"(great gate), the "piazza Rimondi" and the "Loggia Veneziana" etc. It's the perfect place to stroll trough the romantic small alley's.

Beach time in Rethymno:

Because of tourism a big part of the beach is occupied with sunbeds however the beach stretches a long end (12km/7.5miles!) which makes it possible for us dog's to find a calm area to play. My pawrents took me next to the watersport area, most people don't like to hang out there because it's a less organized place, it was perfect though to play with my squeaky toy! In the afternoon after 6pm it's also a little calmer and you can have a nice walk at the boulevard right next to the beach without burning your paw pads. 

Food&drinks:

The most popular street to drink and eat something is definitely the one next to the beach. After my swim my pawrents took me to a local gyros place. I was allowed in the outside area and the waiters where so kind to provide me some cool drinking water💧. Because of the touristic taverns it's always best to kindly ask if dog's are allowed to sit in the outside area.

Overall experience as a dog:

Because Rethymno is a small city the local's also take their dog's out in the town which means that the people are used having dog's around, we met some small dogs at our walk in the old town which greeted me very nicely. Locals take their dog's mostly out at the beach (on leash) and in the municipal garden. Walking in the more touristic places is also no problem as long as you keep the streets clean (don't forget poopbags and a bottle of water to wash away pee).  We went in the afternoon for a walk however if you want to walk in the morning keep in mind that the pavements can heat up very quickly. 

Best places to do your poo🚾 inside the city:

- Municipal Garden (Δημοτικός Κήπος/ Igoumenou Gavriil, Rethymno 741 00)

- The area around the Venetian Fortezza Castle 

- Next to the old Venetian harbour (sandy beach part where swimming is not allowed)

I had a lot of fun and would love to go explore more new area's close to Rethymno city! Thank you for joining me in this mini roadtrip. 

Paw from me 🐶🐾

Sandy beach at the old Venetian harbour

Destinations in Crete: Matala

Selfie spot at the entrance

Hi pawfriends! It's me Luna 🐶 Yesterday I went for a day trip to Matala (located 75km south-west of the main city Heraklion). Here is some more info about Matala:

The beach is in an enclosed bay and is sandy with very small pebbles, organized with sunbeds, toilets, showers and life guards. To be honest not the most pawfect beach for us dog's to go in high season but in low season you can definitely find a quiet spot in the shade under the trees! I was welcome at the outside area's of restaurants and cafe's. The village has a lot of touristic shops where you can buy nice souvenirs or cool bandana's 🐾

Matala is know for it's "caves" also referred to as "hippie caves". In the 60's and 70's hippies would residence in this caves and live the "free" lifestyle. On a certain point the area was so popular that it attracted even big celebrities such as Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin and Joan Baez. 

The caves in the background

The caves are now day's protected by the Archeological service, you can visit them during the daytime. (it's possible you need to pay a small fee, dog's are not allowed inside)

Each year there is also the Matala street painting where artists can give their creativity a place on the streets of Matala. (For more information and registration you can check the Facebook page @streetpaintingteam)

And last but not least the popular Matala Beach Festival, unfortunately due to the corona virus it's unsure if it will take place in 2021. 

This was the information about Matala, if you have any questions don't hestitate to send me a DM on IG or email. 
Woof you all very much, paw from me 🐾

Visiting Crete with your dog

Hi furiends! It's me Luna again. 😊You might have heard the good news, tourism in Greece started again since 15th of may! Therefore I would like to share some of my personal tips and tricks for the most pawsome holiday's on the beautiful island of Crete. 

First and foremost it is impawtent to decide with which form of transport you want to travel. Since Crete is an Island there are only 2 way's to access. First option is by ferry, second one by airplane. 

General rules for entering Greece: Your pet must be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies.  Your pet can travel 21 days after the completion of the vaccination protocol. Another obligatory thing is the EU health certificate. Dog's that come from the United states need to carry a health certificate endorsed by a USDA state veterinarian. 

Tips for the ferry: Dog's are only allowed on the deck, the ferry has basic kennels but most of them are noisy and don't have any bedding or comfort inside. If your pawrents have the possibility I would highly recommend booking a pet cabin. You can sleep then together wif the pawrents and just go upstairs for a short walk if necessary. Another rule that applies on most of the ferry's is that all dog's have to wear a muzzle don't forget to practice wearing on before going on holiday's.

Traveling by airplane: The general rule is that dog's up to 8kg (included container/pet carrier) are allowed inside the cabin while dog's above 8kg can only be transported in the baggage hold compartment. The best way to book your ticket is calling to the airline of preference.

When you are boarding don't forget to double check with the cabin staff/pilot that the baggage compartment has the right temperature for your pet.

Public transportation on the island: Big dog's are not allowed in public transportation. You can take a small dog in a transport bag with you. We always do road trips with rented cars, this gives so much freedom which is needed to see the most beautiful and little dislocated places. 

Accommodation: Last year during our road trips we have stayed  in several small apartments or private houses. I would highly recommend checking the area you want to stay online and call straight to the hotel/apartment. This way you get the best price and you can discuss any special needs or wishes you have. Another convenient way is using a booking platform. When you book from there the hotel/apartment sometimes calls you to confirm that you are coming with a dog.

Once you arrived at the most sniffable island ever you want to know where you can go and what you can do, I will answer this in the following FAQ*.

Are dog's allowed in museum or at archeological places?

Unfortunately no, when visiting a monastery you can only walk in the garden outside. 

Can I take my dog to a restaurant or cafe?

The greek law states that dog's are allowed in every outdoor space, for sanitary reasons most restaurants and cafe's don't accept your dog inside. Luckily on Crete we have the Mediterranean climate which makes it possible to sit outside during most the time of the year. When you arrive at a restaurant or cafe mention you have a dog so they can help you out picking the best table. In most of the places we have been they offered water for Luna but in case they forget it you can always kindly ask for a bottle of water. The tap water can have a little salty taste therefore we always give Luna bottled water. In the local supermarket you can find water from the mountains of Crete! 💧

Are dog's allowed at the beach?

Yes! The greek law say's that dog's are welcome at the beach as long as they are leashed and accompanied by their guide. At organized beaches you can ask the cafe/restaurant owner if you are allowed to have your dog next to you under the umbrella. 

What about swimming in the sea?

You can take your dog for a refreshing swim however keep in mind that if other people don't feel comfortable with the dog swimming next to them they might ask you to remove it. From personal experience we know that most people don't mind as long as your dog stay's leashed and doesn't bark. 

What about the insects in Greece? Are there many mosquitos?

Depending on the region you will visit it may vary but generally we all protect our dog's against insect bites. This has a reason, mosquitoes can transmit heartworm while gnats can transfer leishmaniasis. In case you forgot to buy the necessary products before coming to Greece you can always visit a local vet. Especially in the big cities (Heraklion, Rethymnon,Chania,Agios Nikolaos) all the vets speak good English and will be glad to help you out with buying the right products (spray's/collars/etc.)

This was the short explanation furiends, don't forget to clean up after yourself and drink enough water! If it is the first time traveling you can read my blog about heatstroke's to make sure you stay safe and cool in summer. Now it's time to go eat some treatos! 

Paw Luna 🐾

*If you have any specific questions about travelling in Crete don't hesitate to contact my mumanager by email or send me a DM on IG!

EU rules on travelling with pets

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/carry/animal-plant/index_en.htm

International Air Transport Association (IATA) for more information regarding the requirements of each country:

https://www.iata.org/en/youandiata/travelers/traveling-with-pets/

https://www.iata.org/en/programs/cargo/live-animals/pets/#tab-1

Senior dogs deserve special care

Hi, it's me Luna again! This post has some more information about the elderly canine friends and how to take good care of them. I truly believe dog owners should pay special attention to them, they deserve to have the best senior dog life!

When is a dog considered senior? 

This really depends on each individual. In general giant breeds are considered aging faster then the small ones. Overall speaking small size dogs are considered senior around the age of 9 while medium/large breeds can considered elderly earlier around 7-8 years old. 

Another thing to keep in mind is that emotional maturity doesn't necessarily aligns with physical maturity. For example an 10 month old pup may be socially and sexually active but full maturity isn't achieved until age of 3 to 4 years.

What are the signs of ageing? 

The most physical complaints vets hear are loss of vision, hearing, teeth, immunity, energy and muscle tone. This goes together with gaining weight and arthritis or other joint problems.

Which are the mayor diseases/health concerns?

-cancer

-heart disease

-kidney/urinary tract disease

-liver disease

-diabetes

-joint or bone disease

-senility

-weakness: Difficulty standing up or sitting 

To what can you pay extra attention to improve their lives?

1. Teeth

Generally it is very impawtant to brush all dogs teeth. For elder dogs it is extra important to do more general teeth check ups to prevent dental diseases and decay. If possible the best option is to brush your dogs teeth daily, in case your dog doesn't accept this you can ask your vet to recommend you good 'plaque off products' like treats or chewing bones or powder to add to the food.

2. Keep a daily exercise routine.

You may have to modify the amount or intensity of training routine you have but make sure to keep your dog moving every single day. Not only it is important in order to prevent your dog from becoming obese but also for their mental well being. In case your dog is showing signals of pain visit your vet and discuss alternative training routines. For dogs with arthritis I highly recommend considering hydrotherapy or underwater treadmill therapy. Although this option may be 'more expensive or time consuming' this is the best way to exercise older dogs since buoyancy is used to counteract the painful effects of gravity. Studies have shown that many elderly dogs feel no or less pain while working out in the water. Ofcourse it is necessary to find a professional specialized in rehabilitation/hydrotherapy to guide your dog safely into this new form of exercise.

Exercise not only your dogs body but also their mind! This can be done very effectively with small search games and puzzles. This way you keep your dog senses sharp and you can have a nice time with your furiend. It is recommended to always supervise your dog while playing with puzzles and toys. 

3. Evaluate your dogs diet.

As mentioned before aged dogs are more sensitive for developing obesity, this is caused mainly by the fact that they no longer have the same levels of energy as before and therefore run and play less often. There are several special senior dog diets on the market. The difference is that they are most of the time lower in fat and have fewer calories, sometimes they contain also extra added glucosamine or chondroitin. 

Warning! Always analyze the actual ingredients of your new dog food, it is not the case that when the package states 'senior diet' it is also effectively and suitable for your beloved furiend. In case of doubt give a call to your vet or consult a qualified pet nutritionist.

Beside changes in food you can also consider adding supplements. Such as natural pro- and prebiotics, omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil), glucosamine with Chondroitin sulfate and CBD oil. 

4. Adjust the environment.

Especially if our elderly furry friends are having arthritis it can be beneficial to adjust the environment. Most important is to check your dog's habits. Does he likes to jump on the sofa or in the car and is it going more difficult? In this case you could invest in a dog ramp. Another important factor is the bed, Luna has an orthopedic dog bed and we definitely see difference in her sleep. She looks much more comfortable and can stretch out properly. There is also a clinical study* done by Big Barker (dog beds) proving that the choice of your dog's bed can have a tremendous impact on their quality of life.

5. keep a diary for your dog!

This is not only fun and a lovely memory in the long term but also this way you can monitor changes in appetite, weight, behavior. Is your dog having a hard day observe and write down how your animal generally responds etc. In case you need to visit the vet all this little details can help the doctor have a complete image of the causes of pain or disease, when it started and so much more.

Simply said bark to your pawrents every day to take you for a walk, eat healthy and visit a little more often the vet (looking cute at the veterinary hospital will give you possibilities of getting more treats!)

Paw Luna 🐾

*Link to the complete pilot study regarding the Big Barker beds:

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0218/1356/files/Pilot_Study_to_Evaluate_the_Big_Barker_Therapeutic_Mattress_in_Dogs_with_Osteoarthritis.pdf?v=1597598958

*Short summary:
https://bigbarker.com/pages/upenn