Black Mouth Cur Maintenance and Health – 2

In part one of our Black Mouth Cur maintenance blogs we looked at some products that we use in order to maintain healthy and happy BMC’s. One of the products we mentioned (Ivermectin) contained similar ingredients to what you would find in “Heartguard” plus pack. These products will also address fleas and ticks; thereby allowing us to eliminate topical drops that are applied to the coat. We do not recommend topical flea and tick medicines combined with heart worm treatment.

Black Mouth Cur Ear Maintenance

If we notice that our BMC is frequently scratching behind the ears it is likely time to take a closer look. If your dogs sleep outside or are often in the dirt, it’s good to do a periodic check. Broken blood vessels or dirt inside the ear are a distinct possibility with your BMC. There may also be dried blood inside the ears which needs to be removed.

Use a q-tip dipped in hydrogen peroxide or Banixx to clean out the ear canals of your Black Mouth Cur. Exercise caution as this may cause pain or discomfort to your dog. The goal is to brake up and remove the dirt or blood without going too far into the ear canal.

If you notice sores or cuts Banixx pet care works great for bacterial and fungal disinfection. Banixx is a very effective product that will also address:

• wounds and itchy skin
• insect bites, spider bites, flea and tick bites
• hot spots
• dog bites
• ringworm

The product is non toxic and safe to use around the eyes. Banixx is made in the USA ; use only as directed. If you take care of this at the same time you worm your dogs they will stay clean longer. Additionally, you can be certain that if you call on your dog he can hear you!

BMC Feet and Paw Care

As your Black Mouth Cur gets older so will the pads on his paws. This can cause the dog to lose the desire to work because of discomfort. Dogs can get cuts and cracks on the pads much like we can get dry feet as we get older. It’s possible to get bacterial intrusion because of all the time they spend on their feet. Walking or running through the woods on hot surfaces like asphalt and concrete. With this constant use comes the possibility of cuts and cracks resulting in bacterial infections.

It’s a good idea to examine your BMC’s paws and pads periodically and take steps to prevent any damage and/or discomfort. Black Mouth Cur maintenance and health is largely about prevention. For cuts and cracks “Happy Jack Kote” is a good product. Some other good products you can use in a pinch are different types of wax and also “Bag Balm.” Happy Jack paw care works fast and provides relief for cuts and sores on our dogs and also anti bacterial.

Nails

Regular nail maintenance for our dogs is also a must. When cutting your dog’s nails its best to turn the paw upside down. This will allow you to see where the tip and meaty part of the nail are located. We only trim the tips and dew claw. There are also some nice products for nail maintenance; if you use a sanding type tool your dog will be weary of this. Touch his feet a few times and make sure he is comfortable. Don’t over cut or over sand; if you have a bad experience the first go, you may have an even harder time next time. Having a good experience will aid in future maintenance.

Wounds

In a pinch or emergency if you have a bad wound and no dressing; use natural honey. Honey has natural healing properties for fast healing of bad cuts and wounds. Honey has anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be used to promote rapid and also improve healing in many cases.

Let’s keep in mind that happy dogs with happy ears and healthy feet make for a good long life! It’s our responsibility to help keep them healthy and preserve the pure historical breed of Black Mouth Curs.