Safety Tips for Dogs in Boats

   It is Spring Break here on the Bayou and the BFTB News Team has taken to the water. Being the responsible pet parent, I felt the need to highlight some important safety rules. They felt the need to add their two cents.

* Always wear a canine approved life jacket.

Bentley: “Don’t assume your dog can instinctively swim. Some of us are not built to be natural water dogs. My big manly Basset chest could cause me to sink.

North Shore Animal League's Tour for Life 2016 ~ NW Louisiana

   What do you get when you combine your local area pet rescues in one location for a super adoption day? If your city is lucky, you have the North Shore Animal League’s Tour for Life event! 

Spring Cleaning with #PetSmartGrooming

This post is sponsored by PetSmart® and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about PetSmart Grooming Salons, but Barking from the Bayou/mkclinton.com only share information we feel is relevant to our readers. PetSmart is not responsible for the content of this article.

   It is time for spring cleaning and that includes our dogs. There is nothing that rejuvenates Pierre more than shaving off his heavy winter coat. We were so happy to see Chris, our PetSmart® Groomer. I think Pierre knew he was about to be a clean and happy White West Highland Terrier again!

   

Happy National Puppy Day

♥ Happy National Puppy Day! ♥

Here is the BFTB NETWoof News team back in the day.

Bentley

Great Pet Parent's Bad Mistakes

   We love our pets as if they were our children. We try hard to keep them safe and healthy. That's what makes us great pet parents. However, there are times when bad things happen in spite of our best efforts. We instantly question our worth as reliable guardians. I was discussing this the other day with my friend, Carol Bryant from Fidose of Reality. We decided to share some of our experiences to make everyone feel a little better about great pet parent’s bad mistakes.

   

Senior Wellness Check-Ups for Dogs

   As much as I hate to admit it, Bentley is considered a senior pet. He turned eight-years-old on his birthday in December. According to AAHA, the best way to make sure he continues to be healthy and happy is to visit our veterinarian at least twice each year. We had an appointment last week and I could not be prouder of the results.

In my opinion, Bentley is in better health than at any other time of this life. There are several reasons for this and I want to share them along with our results.

A Senior Exam

   When you take your senior dog or cat for their semi-annual examination, there are many things your vet should check. If you have noticed any problems or changes, be sure to mention them. Nobody knows or loves your pet as much as you. Since they can’t speak, it is our responsibility to be their voice. A proper exam should go from the tip of their nose to the tip of their tail. Don’t be afraid to speak up if you feel there is an area that needs to be checked. Many vets will recommend annual vaccines. If you do not feel that your pet requires them, don’t be afraid to say something. I don’t like giving Bentley more inoculations than necessary. There are some that I don’t think he needs. My vet was respectful of my feelings. That is very important.

Dog Brush Basics

   One of the most perplexing questions for many dog parents is “How do I know which brush to select for my dog?” There is no shortage of styles at your local pet store. To find out the answer, I enlisted the help of my favorite PetSmart® professional groomer, Chris. He was happy to assist me on today’s post by answering the following questions.

Ask the Expert

Paw Prints on my Heart

Runs Be Done by Dr Harvey's

   No matter how careful that you are with your dog and their digestive system, it is going to happen…DIARRHEA. Loose, liquid or frequent stools are not uncommon in dogs of all ages. There are a multitude of reasons and can be as simple as a change in their diets.

How to Make a Salt Dough Paw Print Keepsake #DIY

    It is true that dogs leave paw prints on our hearts, but it is nice to have an actual replica of their paw print to cherish. A fun way to do that is to make a salt dough paw print keepsake. 

This is a very easy Do-It-Yourself craft.

Here is how to make a salt dough paw print

Foods and Plants That Are Poisonous to Dogs

   March is Prevent Accidental Poisoning month and a great time to make sure your house and yard are safe for your best friends.

Kitchen Catastrophes

   The kitchen is a favorite place for our pets. After all, it is where the food is kept! Make sure not to let your guard down when it comes to the following items:

Chews Rescue ~ Choose Barkworthies

   Barkworthies® believes in making things simple and that is why we love them. They offer over 200 products from antlers to chews and treats, but you will never find anything artificial in any of them. “Naturally Healthy. Naturally Happy.” is more than just their tagline. It is the idea on which the company was founded. When we were contacted about their newest program, ‘Chews Rescue’, we think their tagline should include, “Naturally Awesome.” 

What is Chews Rescue?

Dr. Seuss Day Quotes

I am sharing three of my favorite quotes today. My friend, Jenna from Love is being owned by a Husky recently challenged me to share three quotes. Being a lifelong “quotaholic” it would be impossible to actually choose my three favorite quotes. I chose this day to share my favorite trio from the amazing mind of one of my favorite authors.

 “Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”

Is Liver Good for Dogs?

   Is liver good for dogs? YES! Here at Barking from the Bayou, we are liver lovers. Okay, before you say, “Gross!” let me say that I understand. I believe most people’s reaction to eating liver is a long held prejudice from childhood. Cool kids don’t eat liver, Brussels sprouts or a lot of other healthy foods. I have always been a fan of liver whether it is beef or chicken. My mom makes the best liver and onions as well as fried chicken livers. My own children wouldn’t touch it but fortunately, that is not an issue with my dogs. Bentley and Pierre LOVE liver and I love feeding it to them.

Is Liver Good for Dogs?