Bows & Bones Pet Grooming

Many dogs love a good swim or playing fetch in the water. These activities seem pretty harmless to your pup, especially considering how much fun they are having. However, your pup can have too much of a good thing. A lot of pet owners don't realize that it's actually possible for your dog can have too much water. Water intoxication, which results in life threatening hyponatremia (excessively low sodium levels), is a relatively rare but frequently fatal condition in dogs. Dogs who enjoy playing in water for long periods of time are at the highest risk. However, even a lawn sprinkler or hose can pose a hazard for pets that love to snap at or "catch" spraying water. Hyponatremia occurs when more water enters the body than it can process. The presence of so much water dilutes bodily fluids, creating a potentially dangerous shift in electrolyte balance. The excess water depletes sodium levels in extracellular fluid (fluid outside of cells). Sodium maintains blood pressur

After some hot fun in the sun, your dog deserves a treat! Here are some fun DIY summer treats to make your pup!  1) Peanut Butter Frozen Yogurt 1 cup nonfat plain yogurt 1/3 cup of peanut butter 1/2 large banana (mashed) 10 small bone-shaped dog treats (optional) Combine all ingredients. Spoon into ice cube tray or small paper cups. Smooth tops. If desired, push dog treats into yogurt like Popsicle sticks. Freeze for at least two hours. Remove from tray or peel away paper cups. 2) Green Power Smoothie 1 cup of torn kale 1 cup of bagged frozen spinach (fresh is fine, too) 1 frozen banana 1 tablespoon peanut butter 1 1/4 cups water 1-2 tablespoons of honey (optional) Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth, adding a bit more water if necessary. Can be served in liquid form for maximum slurp or frozen into molds, then defrosted as a treat. 3) No Bake Mini Cake Handful of Kibble/Dog Food Small Banana (Smashed) Scoop of Sugar-Free Peanut

Everyone loves to bring their dog out with them, in fact, most people, including us, wish we could take our pups everywhere! Here is a list of some of the dog friendly events coming up in Richmond in 2018. ●  Pups and Pints  – Beginning in April, Pups and Pints takes place at Ellwood Thompson’s the 2nd Thursday of every month from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. This spring, Ellwood Thompson is proud to partner with local breweries to support a different animal-loving, non-profit neighbor each month. $1 from every drink sold goes to the non-profit partner. For more information, click  here . ●  Fido’s After Five  – Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden partners with the Richmond SPCA allowing leashed dogs during “Flower’s After 5”. Known as “Fido’s After Five”, this fun event takes place on the following on the nights: June 14 & 28, July 12 & 26, August 9 & 23, September 13 , 2018. Live music, food and fun! Bring a blanket! In addition to the regular admission fee, a $2.00 suggested “pet

Most dogs love going for walks all year round. With warm weather finally here and summertime approaching, many people like taking their dogs for walks to enjoy the nice weather. As nice as the weather may feel to us, hot pavement will burn a dog's paws. It may be tempting to want to take your dog everywhere you go, but it can cause serious harm to your dog if you aren't careful. Burned paw pads can also lead to infections if not treated properly. Your dog might need antibiotics or pain medication depending on the severity of the burn. Asphalt, cement, and metal can get hot enough to cook an egg, so just imagine what it will do to your dog's paws. If you can't comfortably leave your hand on the pavement for 5 seconds, then the pavement is too hot. Here are some tips for protecting your dog's paws in the summer: Walk your dog early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the temperatures are lower and the pavement has cooled down (test it with your hands firs

Lots of people love to travel with their pets and lots of pets love going for car rides. Although it's great to have your furry friend riding shotgun with you or getting a good breeze out of the car window, there are precautions that should be taken to keep your pet safe in the event of a car accident or to prevent them from distracting you or jumping out of a car window. Unrestrained pets can be seriously injured or killed in  1) Number one rule is a given - Don't leave your car in a car unattended! I wouldn't recommend leaving the keys in the car with the AC running either because then someone can steal your car and your dog! You think "Oh, I'll just be five minutes" but it's not a risk worth taking. It's best to leave your pup at home if the place you are going is not dog friendly. Even if it's overcast, raining, or a cooler day - play it safe and don't risk your dog's life. Water and cracked windows will not prevent your dog from over

Summer can mean lots of fun outside with your dog. As the temperatures rise, your dog will get hot and can overheat. Whether you're taking him for a ride, to the park, or out in the yard to play, here are some tips for keeping your dog cool this Summer. Never leave your dog in the car - This is a given, right? And no, not even for a few minutes. Temperatures can soar inside of a car. On an 85 degree day, the temperature can reach 102 F within 10 minutes. Cracking windows and leaving water for your dog will not keep them from overheating in a parked car. Would you really want to risk your dog's life for just a "quick trip" in the store? Leave your dog at home or wait to go places where he can come with you. Keep your house cool - Close the drapes and crank up the AC on super hot days. You can even use a cooling mat to help your dog cool down inside or out Offer an ice pack or wet towel to lay on, or add ice cubes to the water dish.  Make your dog some homemade f