HUMAN MEDICINES THAT ARE SAFE TO GIVE YOUR DOG

People  frequently ask me about what human medicines can be safely used on dogs.  I thought it would make a good topic for this month's blog.

What is safe, and what isn't? Good question!

Over the years I have discussed and followed my vet's advice and given my dogs the following human medicines.  Here is a short list of some of the medicines that can be safely given or used on your dog.
   
Aveeno or any other Oatmeal Shampoo. Great to cool down itchy inflamed skin - for especially irritated pets you can do this daily. Then  use it once a week as maintenance.
Antiseptic wipes. Apply directly to affected area. 
Benadryl. Up to 1 mg per pound (half a teaspoon) every 8 hours to treat allergies ie snorting, snuffling, itching, etc. Can also be used as a mild tranquilizer.  This is good stuff to soothe your dog's throat if is coughing and gagging at night.  I also use Tixylix children's cough mixture. If you have neither  of the two cough mixtures mentioned in the store cupboard, then mix a teaspoon of honey with some lazy or fresh lemon and squirt it into the side of the mouth.  (Try and get one of those needle- less syringes from your vet for these sorts of moments).
Cuticura medicated talcum powder.
This works well on red, itchy skin or on any part of the body that is red, irritated or bleeding. Rubbed in gently it really is an "oooh! aaaaah! ummm!" moment for the dog and gives instant relief.  
Vaseline is very  effective for constipation, and easier and often safer to give. The vaseline dose is 1 teaspoon per 10lbs.  (Warm it in the microwave for 20 seconds to make it liquid).      
Preparation H. FOR DOGS ONLY. Apply to an irritated anal area 3 times daily. This works well if your dog has an itchy bottom and does a lot of scooting on the pavement or carpet.
(It also works for humans if you have bags under the eyes. Just thought I would throw in that little snippet of information. Ive used it many times on models and celebs, when I was a make up artist in my previous life!)

 Pets hate medication as much as we do. Here's a cute video of a puppy's reaction to being given something horrible.

                                       www.youtube.com/watch?v=02xpByGj9Yw‎


This and that ..........  MAY DAY! MAY DAY!
Oh! sorry! That was yesterday. This is today. Or maybe it's tomorrow. Maybe you took a turn around the maypole. Maybe you wore a lei all day (that's what they do in Hawaii, where Mayday is called Lei day). May this be a very happy month for all.

                                        PRODUCT SPOT - www.scots-pet.co.uk

1. A pooh bag is a pooh bag, but every so often I get bored with my collection of  boring old black ones, the free supermarket shopping bags punched with holes that seep out if you aren't careful and of course, if you are being really cheap, those thin black ones bought from a market for £1 a thousand that fall apart at the crucial moments of pick up. Yes! you know what I mean? I came across a site on the internet - www.scots-pet.co.uk - that sells pooh bags of every sort. I never knew that there were so many different types. I loved the coloured patterned bags  on rolls and also the biogradable ones like these. They are really good quality at an affordable price.
   
   
   Have a look at the site. You will think of pooh bags in a new light and, like me,  probably become a Pooh bag snob! The site also features some other interesting animal goodies.  Ive bookmarked this one!

                                             Thought for the month!
                "I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult."

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 Important Notice to all users of Parks and Open Spaces. 
Here is an extract from an email sent to me by Carl Drake of the Metropolitan Police based in Regent's Park.

"I have just been informed that approx two weeks ago, a park user found an ice cream cone containing a bright blue, thick, paste-like substance on the lower slopes of Primrose Hill. In this instance it was removed by a Royal Parks contractor. I would like you all to be aware of the incident as there were three dogs killed by consuming poison in Brent at about the same time. In those cases the poison was described as either a blue tablet or a bright blue paste which was smeared on food and left where dogs could eat it.

The story got a bit of press coverage and another group of dogs were believed to have been poisoned on Hampstead Heath shortly after but it appears that this is not the case. Should you see any bright blue paste on anything in Regent's Park or Primrose Hill please call 999 immediately and stay clear of the item. Newspaper reports believe that the poison in Brent was Methomyl which is highly dangerous to humans."
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That's it for this month!
Next month's blog will have some news and piccies about a lovely little house, reasonably priced for sale in a tiny village, Thun, in France. Only 20 minutes from Calais, fifteen minutes to Le Touquet and 6 miles from the sea and beaches. Perfect if you have children and want to give them weekends in a  rural farm setting surrounded by the noise of chickens, geese and other animals.

Dawn ("")