Terrier Rubber
Is there any such thing as “dog safe” landscaping?
I have to do a landscaping project for a friend and she has a small dog. I’m not sure what kind but it’s about the size of a terrier.
She (the owner) is a little older so I’m looking for low maintenance options like rubber mulch, maybe some colored rocks, etc.
Any ideas on what NOT to do because of the dog?
I’ve had smaller dogs my entire adult life and never had a problem with my landscaping. Having said that, if the dog is a digger, all bets are off. They do have repellent chemicals but those have to be reapplied every month or so depending on the rain.
If the owner is a little bit older, sound her out about using perennials instead of annuals. They are a little more money than bedding plants, which are annuals, and aren’t very impressive the first year if you buy smaller ones. The color show and size of the plants improves in additional years. The replacement cost will be nothing compared to the total replacement of bedding plants every year. Maintenance is limited to deadheading and cut back at the end of the season. Mulch is a great idea but, personally,I’m not a big fan of rubber mulch. Where I live, it tends to be more expense than hard wood mulch. It’s not a very natural looking. It doesn’t have the water retention qualities of wood which is a benefit to the plants in a dry period. If the dog does a job on hard wood mulch, you would pick up less material if you use wood. Check with the owner. If the dog likes to pick up his leg on shrubs you need to know that because no unsprayed shrub is safe. Good luck!
Dogs Can Have Allergies
Dogs are not likely to be born with allergies. They can develop allergies to food products, usually before they are one year old or after they are five years old. Symptoms of food allergies in dogs are itching, digestive disorders and respiratory distress. Of all the common domestic pet ailments, allergies are the most common.
It often takes some trial and error to find out what substances are causing an allergic reaction. The only way to diagnose a food allergy is to feed your dog a prescription or hydrolyzed protein diet exclusively for 12 weeks. If you do not maintain a consistent diet, the test will not be meaningful. The diet will be free of potential allergy causing ingredients and will ideally have ingredients your dog has never been exposed to. It needs to remain on the diet until the allergic symptoms go away. Then you begin to introduce the foods your pet previously ate to see which are causing the allergic reaction.
Foods are not the only culprits that produce allergic reactions in dogs. Your dog may have problems with certain types of chewable heartworm preventive medicine. Some other common allergens are:
- Tree, grass, weed pollens and mold spores;
- House dust and house mites;
- Fleas and flea control products;
- Cleaning products;
- Rubber and plastic;
- Cigarette smoke; and
- Perfumes.
While any dog can develop allergies at any time during his or her life, allergic reactions seem to be especially common in terriers, setters, retrievers and flat faced breeds such as pugs, bulldogs and Boston terriers.
If you suspect your dog has an allergy, visit your veterinarian. After a complete history and conducting a physical examination, he or she may be able to determine the source of your dog’s allergic reaction. If not, your vet will most likely recommend skin or blood tests to find out what is causing the allergic reaction.
