DO YOU USE PAIN MEDS?

 

Do you have severe pain or use hormone medications that require heavy-duty pain meds or patch slow-release medications? If you do, or anyone you and your dog visits do, use with  extreme caution.  The careful disposal of these products and their packaging is paramount.  Many are narcotic based and even the packaging can be toxic. A patch product can leave a residue in the wrapping that you must take care a dog or small child does not investigate. Dogs love to rummage through the trash and even a small amount of paper packaging from these items can be toxic to them. Be sure the dog does not have access to the wastebasket.

 

“LEAVE IT!” is one of the best commands your dog can learn. A chicken bone on the park path, an aspirin you drop on the bathroom floor, or medication an ill dog must take if ingested by another can be dangerous.

 

Teaching the “Leave It” command is not as difficult as you may think. First put a leash on your dog. Then drop, just out of his reach, a tasty tidbit. Say, ”No, Leave It” loudly and make sure he is far enough away not to actually reach the treat. Then when he looks up at you, give him a treat from your hand and praise him for leaving it say, “Good leave it.“ Continue several times and practice often. Soon you will be able to do this off leash. But then remember this is a dog. They are inquisitive, so practice in different situations. If you only do this in your kitchen they may think that is the only place in which you mean it. You want them to respect your authority and you don’t want to spend your day trying to pry things out of their mouth.

 

 

********

O’Connell was staggering home with a small flask in his

back pocket when he slipped and fell heavily.

Struggling to his feet, he felt something wet

running down his leg.

“Please, God,” he implored,

“let it be blood.”

 

********

Seamus, do you understand French?

I do, if it’s spoken in Irish.