Rebel Blog — heath & wellbeing

Every year dogs die completely preventable deaths from being left in hot cars. While these deaths are not intentional, they are avoidable. 

In a matter of minutes a car with its windows rolled up can become a death sentence. A car acts like a greenhouse and heats up rapidly. Since dogs pant to cool down, with no air circulation they can quickly overheat causing heat stroke, brain damage, and death.  

There are several misconceptions when it comes to leaving pets in the car so we thought we’d share a few, if anything, to help educate and prevent unnecessary death.

Myth #1: It’s only dangerous to leave a pet in the car if it’s hot outside. FALSE. Even when the temperature is 70 degrees out, a parked car can quickly reach unsafe temperatures above 100 within 30 minutes.

Myth #2: Parking in the shade keeps the car cool. FALSE. Because the sun moves continually throughout the day, so does the shade. So parking in the shade can change to parked in the sun within the hour.

Myth #3: Cracking the windows will keep the car cool. FALSE. Multiple studies have proven that cracking a window does not greatly affect the inside temperature, in fact a study by the Louisiana Office of Public Health found that even leaving the windows wide open does very little to affect these temperatures. It does not let in enough air, it does not circulate air, the inside of a car can still reach deadly temperatures even with windows cracked or open.. 

Myth #4: If I run in real quick he’ll be fine. FALSE. Cars can become fatal within minutes. So even just a minute it too long. When it’s hot out it’s best to leave pups at home if you can’t bring them in with you.

Myth #5: It’s safe if I leave the AC on. FALSE. There are many tragic stories of dogs being left in cars with the AC originally on, and due to the hot temperature or other factors the car shut off and with it the AC leaving the dogs to suffocate to death. 

The best rule of thumb is when you’re not in the car, they’re not in the car.

If you see a dog in a car on a hot day, check for immediate signs of distress and call 911.

One of our dogs had a little run in with a Sago Palm last week, but because we saw it happen and knew the immediate danger he was in we took quick action and so far everything seems to be ok. In the after math of our own experience as we were recounting our trip to the Pet ER with our friends and family we quickly realized that many people, and even pet owners, do not know about the deadly Sago Palm. So we thought we should bring it to light and hopefully help save some lives.

The Sago Palm is a pretty plant found in many homes and yards, but it is deadly to pets if ingested (and people too, but most people don't go around gnawing on landscaping).  The Sago contains a toxin called cycasin that results in severe liver damage which is what causes such deadly symptoms so quickly. Any ingestion of the sago palm will result in symptoms ranging from gastrointestinal to neurological until the dog ultimately develops liver failure. All parts of the Sago are poisonous but the seeds are the most deadly because they contain the highest amount of cycasin. Just one seed can cause liver failure within 15 minutes, depending on the size of the dog. Death often occurs if emergency treatment is not given.

Fast Facts

-All parts of the palm are deadly, including the branches, leaves, seeds and trunk.

-If you see your dog eat any part or suspect consumption, go immediately to your nearest vet or Pet ER.

-Symptoms can begin as soon as 15 minutes after consumption so quick action is key.

Symptoms in order or progression

• Vomiting
• Drooling
• Blood in feces
• Bloody diarrhea
• Icterus (yellow coloration of skin and gums)
• Weakness, lethargy
• Lack of appetite
• Increased thirst
• Increased urine
• Ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdomen)
• Bruising
• Bleeding easily (coagulopathy, DIC), abnormal bleeding, internal bleeding, clots in the bloodstream, nose bleeds
• Neurological signs such as depression, circling, paralysis, seizures, coma
• Death

Diagnosis

Fortunately for us we knew what a Sago Palm looks like and saw our dog eat it, but if you don't see your dog ingest it it can be tricky to pinpoint that the cause of their symptoms is Sago poisoning.

Diagnosis is typically based on a knowledge of ingestion of the plant and on blood and urine test results which will reveal liver issues.

Treatment

Due to the high fatality rate of sago palm poisoning, aggressive treatment is extremely necessary for dogs that have ingested any part of this plant. The goal is to get all plant matter and toxins out as fast as possible and prevent them from ever reaching the liver. A veterinarian will typically induce vomiting using hydrogen peroxide or ipecac. They will then administer activated charcoal to help soak up any poison.

If liver damage has already occurred, blood and plasma transfusions, vitamin K injections, gastroprotectants, anti-seizure medications, and fluid therapy may be required. Your veterinarian will also evaluate your dog to determine if anti-nausea medications or pain management drugs should be administered.

After care is very serious as well. Typically your pet will leave with a prescription of Denamarin to help protect and strengthen the liver. Your vet will most likely require careful monitoring of the liver values through blood work over the next few days and possibly weeks following Sago poisoning.

Prevention

If you have pets and have any Sago Palms in your yard or house immediate removal is recommended. It's just not worth the risk.

*Sources: VCA Animal Hospital, PetMD

How to Get Your Dog to Love The Dremel:  A Step By Step Guide

Giveaway closed. Congrats to the winner Marc Howard and his dog Remi.

As we wrap up our Toe Trim Tuesday giveaway (there's still time to enter, giveaway ends tomorrow!), we hope to continue to inspire you all year long to keep up consistent nail care with your dogs. Trimming your dogs nails doesn’t have to be a daunting task, just take it slow and try to think of it as a bonding session with your dog instead of a traumatic event. We have trained several dogs in the manner so we believe in it’s success and want to pass along what has worked for us. We’ve put together a step by step guide for getting your dog used to, and even possibly enjoying, Dremel day.

** Do each step until your dog is very comfortable at each stage. No need to rush, it’s not a race. If you can get your dog super comfortable with the Dremel you will have a lifetime of easy nail care ahead of you. 

Step 1:  Get your dog familiar with the Dremel. We started this when our dogs were puppies, so it’s never too early to start. You can also use this method on older dogs and every age in between. But if you have the benefit of starting early on with a young pup, DO IT! Start now. 

First you’ll want to pull out your Dremel along with treats (peanut butter or high value treats work best) in front of your dog. You can even put peanut butter on the handle of the Dremel and let them lick it off. *Just make sure the Dremel is unplugged or has the battery pack removed when doing this step. You are not even going to turn it on. You just want them to associate the Dremel with good things. You can touch the Dremel to their nails while treating them but just don’t turn it on yet.

Step 2: Now it’s time to turn it on. This step is similar to the first step, except no touching the nails to the Dremel while it’s on. Just treating and lots of praise and letting them hear the Dremel. You can ask them to sit and lay next to you while holding the Dremel that is turned on. 

Step 3: Actual contact. We suggest two people for this step. It just makes it easier and safer. Even now when our dogs are socialized with the Dremel we typically tag team nail day and both assist in the process. We usually do this step outside as the nail dust tends to fly, ew. Lay a blanket or towel down on the lawn and ask your dog to lay on it. You generally want them laid out on their side so they are less likely to try to get up. One persons job is to distract the dog with treats and love and pets. A spoon full of peanut butter works well here as they are so intently focused on licking that they forget whats going on with their feet. Don’t be stingy, you will go through lots of peanut butter at this stage but it will be worth it we promise.

The other person’s job is to Dremel as efficiently as possible. It’s go time! Firmly hold one paw at a time so there is no wiggling and do one nail at a time with the Dremel. If at any time your dog becomes distressed just stop and try again the next day. You don’t want to have any negative association with the Dremel. 
We slowly phased out the usage of treats. Usually petting, rubs and cuddles will do the trick just fine. But of course each dog is different and may always require some extra incentive.

Step 4: You’re done. Repeat once a week and your dogs nails will be in tip top shape.

The key here is to go slowly through all the steps to build a positive connection with what the Dremel represents. When our dogs see the Dremel they literally follow us to the backyard and lay down themselves because they know they’re about to get a massage. 

This method has worked for us and many others so we hope it works for you too. If you have any questions feel free to email us directly, we’d be happy to discuss with you. Happy nail trimming!

Contest closed! Congrats to the winner Marc Howard.

We’re kicking off the new year on the right foot, quite literally. ;) Whether you have one or ten dogs in your pack, remembering weekly nail maintenance can feel overwhelming. So we’re instituting Toe Trim Tuesday as a fun reminder to trim those toesies on a weekly basis. A while back we instituted this Tuesday ritual for our own pack as a way to keep ourselves accountable and make sure everyone’s nails are always at a good length.  Our mission is to inspire a routine in your household so that nail care is never an issue again.

Why trim the nails?

Because the average house dog doesn’t wear down their nails enough naturally, it is important that we do it for them. Long nails can cause many problems for dogs and can be very painful. Untrimmed nails are more likely to get caught and tear. Ouch!! Shorter nails are much more comfortable for your dog.

Nail Care options

Dremel

Pros: In our experience the safest and most effective way to trim a dogs nails is by filing them with a Dremel instead of clipping with clippers. You have more control and there is a much smaller risk of hitting the quick. 

Cons: This process is more time consuming and takes some investment in equipment.

Clippers

Pros: Clippers are quick and efficient and do not cost a lot. 

Cons: You can more easily cut the quick if you are not experienced.

Groomer

Pros: You don’t have to deal with the actual maintenance and groomers are experienced and proficient at nail care. They generally offer both clipper and Dremel options.

Cons: This can get expensive if you are going every week, and then there is the inconvenience of taking your dog to the groomer more often.

Vet

Pros: If your dog is difficult to wrangle some people find a vet the best option for getting the nails down. You can rest assured your dog is in safe, competent hands.

Cons: This option isn’t really feasible on a weekly basis and can be pretty costly, unless you are already at the vet for an appointment.

Toe Trim Tuesday Giveaway 

Because we love the Dremel so much, seriously we have at least four, we’re giving away one brand new Dremel to make your weekly nail care regimen easy peasy. And of course it’ll come with a matching classic Kyon collar and leash.

To enter: 

1. Like Crazy Rebels on Facebook
2. Post a picture of your dog(s) on our Facebook page with a New Years resolution you have for you and your dog(s), (i.e. camp at least twice with my dog, walk my dog once a day, teach my dog to drive, venture to the moon with my dog, etc. you get the idea) and hashtag #toetrimtuesday.

Giveaway ends January 31, 2018. Open worldwide.

Get Involved

• Use the hashtag #toetrimtuesday on Instagram to share your weekly nail care adventures. Show us your dogs nails, we want to see (really, we do)!
• Post any dog nail care pics to our Facebook page or to your Facebook page and be sure to hashtag #toetrimtuesday.
• Share this post on Facebook.