Presley

What a story!

Before we go there, let's look at the result: Little Presley, stray for who knows how long? At least months, maybe longer. Well here he is safe, after getting bathed and groomed!!!:

Ok, now, let's go back to the beginning, April 5th just before midnight: Someone took the photo below of this little stray at a Del Taco out in the high desert town of Victorville, and posted for help on Facebook:

You can see the original Facebook post HERE.

It's a small shopping center surrounded by a busy road but also blocks of empty desert. Sort of the worst of both worlds: lots of traffic where a little dog can get hit by a car, but also open land with wild animals like coyotes and even bobcats. This is where he was, look at the area around (click any picture to enlarge it):

This a larger map, Victorville is on the way to Las Vegas from Los Angeles:

The little guy was hiding behind the Fire Station, where there is a drainage ditch, and he would run over to the Jack in the Box to scrounge for food. Our rescuers spent nearly 24 hours observing and then trapping him, and in that time saw other animal prints that look like both coyotes and possibly a bobcat!

Rescuer Faith Easdale placed a trap near the drainage ditch and was observing at about 2AM when she saw pairs of eyes in the desert dark, probably coyotes, sniffing around! She flashed her light and made noises to scare them off, but this also delayed trapping Presley, though he finally entered the trap around 6AM.

The drain:

 

Trapped!:

Video when finally caught!:

This poor boy had been out here a long time, very dirty but also very matted. Look how bad it was:

But we got him all cleaned up and groomed, feeling so much better!

Little Presley is now with the rescue Friends of Orange County Homeless Pets, FOCHP and will be available for adoption from them soon. They are a great rescue that help us with A LOT of dogs that we save, so please check them out, follow them on Instagram HERE, and support them!

 

 

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The Good about Grass

It’s probably not a problem!

Episode 2: Why does my dog eat grass?

Does your dog eat grass? Here is the good news: It’s probably fine. In our next episode we will discuss when it can be a problem, and plants to avoid. But for now, let’s look at why dogs eat grass. Here are seven of the most common theories, and more than one may be correct!

One: It’s instinct. Wild dogs, including wolves, have been observed eating grass. So, we can probably assume part of the reason is almost certainly instinct.

Two: Your dog is bored! Eating grass can be fun. Dogs interact with the world through their mouth, much like we use our hands. It may be that your dog just finds it a fun thing to do… and maybe isn’t getting enough stimulation. Go walk your dog and play with him!

Three: Upset stomach. There is some evidence that grass may help with an acid in the stomach, and/or help an upset tummy throw-up. A lot of vets like this theory, but there is not 100% consensus.

Four: Maybe your dog is missing a nutrient? Some holistic vets say dogs might be seeking chlorophyl in the grass, but this theory is generally not accepted.

Video of this article:

Five: It might help your dog just feel full. Simple as that.

Six: Your dog could be thirsty! Grass has water in it, and can have dew on it. If your dog eats grass only in the morning or evening, especially on hot days, this might be part of it!

Seven: Some behaviorists say some dogs eat grass to get attention. They eat the grass, you try to stop them, hey, they got attention! Could be, though we are skeptical.

Generally speaking most vets think eating grass is not a problem. But there can be some issues with it, and there are plants to avoid. More on that in our next episode!

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Drinking too fast

It’s probably not a problem!

Episode 1: Drinking water too fast

Does your dog throw up after drinking water? He may be drinking too fast, a common issue with dogs.

Now of course, excessive drinking and throwing the water up after drinking can all indicate more serious issues, but let’s see if we can quickly and easily find a solution!

Your dog may drink too fast for a number of totally normal reasons, but it can cause problems. The most noticeable is that he throws up the water after drinking it, which can be really annoying as well as scary, and it can also cause bloat.

How to stop him from drinking so fast? First try: just put some ice in the bowl!

That’s free and easy! Throw in 3-5 cubes of ice. Your dog will probably lick around the ice, causing him to slow down. The cooler water is no problem either!

Video of this article:

Now that might not always be practical, especially if you are leaving the bowl of water out, so the next step is just to put some objects in the bowl. Easiest is to put a large object in the center of the bowl, like a heavy ball. A rock can work too. You want something big enough that your dog will not choke on it, of course!

If you are ok with spending a little bit of money, you can also buy a water bowl designed to slow down drinking, they work on the same principle. Also, for some dogs an elevated bowl can help.

Finally, and of course, if your dog continues to vomit up water, even after you have slowed his drinking down, it is important to have a veterinary exam.

Example of a "slow drinking" bowl at PetSmart: CLICK HERE

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