Ten Practical iPhone Apps for Pet Lovers

By Linda Cole

New technology is always fun, especially when it's in a phone. Today's iPhone has apps for pretty much anything a phone user could want. And if you're a pet lover, there are apps especially for you. If you need to find the nearest dog park or just want to catch up on the latest pet news, there's an app for that. The following apps are all compatible with the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.

Pet Acoustics: this app gives you streaming music designed especially for your dog, cat or horse. For pets that are afraid of thunderstorms, firework or other loud noises, this app plays soothing music to help keep them relaxed. Helps relieve stress while you wait at the vet's office as well. Requires iOS 3.1.2 or later. $1.99.

Pet Notebook gives you one place to keep your pet's important information like birth dates, medications, vet number, ID information and microchip number. It can store information for multiple pets. Requires iOS 3.0 or later. $.99.

PetMD Pet Services Finder helps you locate pet friendly hotels, dog parks, emergency clinics, veterinarians and more. Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later. Free.


PetMD Dog First Aid: this app gives you a fast way to find help for common emergencies for your dog. They also have an app for cat first aid. It gives you advice on what to do if your pet needs help and what you should do until you can get your pet to a vet. Requires iOS 2.2.1 or later. $1.99.

Petoxins comes from ASPCA. Pets are always munching on something, it seems. They have no idea if the plant they are chewing on is good for them or not, and most of us aren't familiar with all the plants we find in our yards, on walks or while hiking. Many plants are toxic for pets, and this app helps you know if what your pet just ate is poisonous or not. It shows you pictures and lists symptoms to watch out for, and it has one touch dialing to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. This app includes information for dogs, cats and horses. Just keep in mind that this is only for the most commonly found plants. Requires iOS 3.0 or later. $2.99

PetSnap. Getting that perfect picture of your pet is usually left to chance. The PetSnap app has 32 different sounds you can play that are guaranteed to get and keep your pet's attention. Requires iOS 3.1 or later. $1.99.

Dog Whistler. A dog whistle is a good tool to use to teach your dog to come. Once you adjust the pitch and find the setting that your dog responds to, a whistle is a great training tool because it's more precise than your voice. Dogs can also hear a whistle at a greater distance than your voice, and if he should ever become lost and you've taught your dog to come to a whistle, it gives you a sound they recognize that can help lead them back to you. Requires iOS 3.0 or later. Free.

If the Dog Whistler is an app for you, this article, “Training Dogs to Respond to a Silent Dog Whistle” can help you train your dog to come to the whistle regardless of whether the sound is silent or not.

Pet First Aid is similar to the PetMD Dog First Aid app, but it has emergency information for cats, dogs, puppies and kittens. You can find videos and pictures that help explain how to give your pet first aid and deal with cuts, bruises, shock, choking or bleeding, and it even shows you how to give a pet CPR. This app is a little more than the other ones, but it's well worth the money for all the great emergency information every pet owner needs access to. Requires iOS 3.0 or later. $3.99.

MyPetEd is a universal app that lets you keep important information about your pet in one place, keeps track of appointments and vaccinations, and has a place for your vet's phone numbers. The nice thing about this app is you can also find pet related articles. Requires iOS 4.2 or later. $1.99.

All Pets Radio is a streaming radio station that gives you news, tips and fun facts on a variety of pets. This app will keep you up to date on the latest news about pets. Requires iOS 2.2 or later. Free.

Photo by Sephiroty Fiesta

Read more articles by Linda Cole

What to Do if Your Dog is Bleeding

By Ruthie Bently

If you discover that your dog has an injury, try to stay as calm as you can. By staying calm you can keep your dog calm as well. They can sense your stress, and the most important thing is to keep them calm. The next thing to do is to determine where the blood is coming from. For example, a dog can cut their paw and it may bleed profusely, though it may not be a serious injury. Check them all over from nose to tail to find out where they are bleeding. By finding the source of the bleeding, you can determine how serious the wound is and proceed from there.

The color of the blood can help you determine if it comes from an artery or a vein. Venous blood will be a dark red color and may ooze from a wound, and arterial blood will be bright red because of its oxygen content. If there is a lot of blood and the wound has stopped bleeding and begun to clot, do not attempt to remove the clot, as this can make the wound begin to bleed again. Wrap the wound in a clean towel or several layers of gauze and tape the wound well but not too tightly, as this can cause swelling in the affected area. This is called a pressure bandage.

If the bleeding is severe and you can’t get the wound to stop bleeding or it is bleeding sluggishly, again apply a pressure bandage and get your dog to the vet or emergency clinic as soon as you can. This situation can be life threatening and time is of the essence. Another way to stop the bleeding is to use a tourniquet, but do not use this method unless advised by your veterinarian, because cutting off the blood flow completely can damage tissue in the surrounding area.

If it is a cut on your dog’s foot, it could be from a foreign object they stepped on outside. The capillaries in a dog’s foot are very close to the surface and they can bleed profusely even if the wound is minor. Carefully examine their foot to find the source of the bleeding. If you don’t see a foreign body lodged in their foot and the bleeding is minimal you can clean it with a mixture of 50% hydrogen peroxide and 50% water. If it is the webbed tissue between their pads, it may not stop on its own and may require stitches.

The most important things about a cut on your dog are to get the bleeding stopped and prevent infection. If the cut is a laceration of an inch or more and has any amount of depth to it, it may require stitches. Any cut may become infected, and you should contact your vet about using an antibiotic to keep infection at bay.

My AmStaff, Skye, had an accident that happened when she walked through a broken glass jar one of the cats had knocked off my kitchen shelf. She nicked her right leg, which required two stitches. Her left leg was a more serious injury. She cut the ulnar artery (one of the two in her leg) and cut through two tendons, and the blood was bright red. I don’t tell you this to scare you or gross you out; I just want you to be aware that no matter how careful you are in your own house, accidents can happen when you least expect them, and you need to be prepared.

Because of my quick action, the vet’s prognosis of her regaining the full use of her leg and foot are good. We have a first aid kit for our animals, as every responsible pet owner should. If you want to make one, read Linda Cole’s June article for a list of basic first aid supplies.

Read more articles by Ruthie Bently

Heat Stroke and Your Dog: What are the Signs

By Linda Cole

Heat stroke is a serious medical condition for man and beast. Dogs are just as susceptible to summer heat as we are. Cool spring breezes will usher in summer winds, and we are once again reminded how a hot summer sun affects us and our pets.

A black haired animal has a definite disadvantage under a sweltering summer sun. A darker coat will absorb more of the sun's rays. A white or lighter colored coat will repel those same rays. However, all dogs, regardless of what color their coat, should have a watchful eye kept on them during outside activities and throughout the sizzling days of summer.

Dogs regulate their body temperature by panting. It works by evaporating water in the mouth and on the tongue. Built up heat in their body is transformed into vapor and expelled through their mouth as they pant. The only area of your dog’s body that does sweat is their foot pads and nose.

Just like us, dogs and cats can suffer from heat stroke. Imagine wearing your winter coat in 80 or 90 degree weather. We can cool down with a cold glass of water or by sitting in front of an air conditioner or fan. Tail waggers that are kept outside don't have that luxury.

Dogs react to high humidity in the same way we do. So shade and a water bowl full of cool water may not be enough to keep them from overheating. If your pup spends a lot of time outside, try setting up a kiddie pool out of the sun for them to lounge in – with just enough water to cover the bottom of the pool. Keep the water in the pool clean and fresh. Standing water is a haven for mosquito larva, and you certainly don't want to provide a home for those little blood suckers in your backyard.

Knowing the signs of heat stroke in dogs could save your pet's life. It is a real emergency that is preventable. It's up to you as the care taker of your dog to pay close attention to your buddy during periods of excessive heat, especially if you live in an area of the country that also has high humidity. Don't assume that a full water bowl and a shady tree is enough to protect your dog. Dogs will dehydrate faster in the heat of the day than we will.

If you notice that your dog is wildly panting, has blood red gums, is vomiting, dizzy or staggering, appears to be confused, or has a thick saliva, they are showing signs of heatstroke. If you call them and they appear unable to stand or refuse to move at all, you need to move fast to get them cooled down asap. If they are unconscious, they need to be taken immediately to the vet.

Never use ice on any dog you suspect may be suffering from heat stroke. They need to cool down slowly to avoid constricting the blood vessels which will only make their temperature rise. Get them out of the sun and place cool wet wash rags around their head and on their foot pads. Call your vet for an exam to make sure there has been no internal damage.

The best course of action is to prevent heat stroke before it happens. Each summer, we witness some poor dog locked inside a car in a mall parking lot with a couple of windows cracked for air flow. How would you like to sit in an oven while those who claim they love you are shopping inside an air conditioned store and all you have are a few inches for fresh air to enter your confines? Leave your pooch at home. Even in lower temperatures, a car can heat up quickly for your pet.

Avoid engaging in strenuous outdoor activities during extreme temperatures. Make sure your dog always has plenty of fresh water, both at home and on the go. Know your pet. Some dogs have a harder time with heat than others. Certain breeds with short noses like the bulldog, and dogs who have been in the treat “cookie jar” too many times need to be closely watched for signs of heat stroke.

Common sense along with plenty of fresh water and quality shade can prevent heat stroke from happening. Each summer, hundreds of dogs succumb to overheating but it is so preventable. Keep your furry buddy in mind when you are sweating through the dog days of summer. If that air conditioner or fan feels good on you, just think how good it would feel on your pet.