Many people open their hearts and homes to mixed breed dogs every year and they are one of the best types of dogs to have. Mixed breed dogs seem to have a knowledge that they are “special,” that they were picked by your family and most of all they always seem to carry the knowledge that they “owe you” something for picking them. It can, however, be frustrating for some families to know what breed their dog is and while it really is of no consequence it does become an obsession for some mixed breed dog owners.

There are a few websites that can help you determine your dog’s breed via a DNA test, one such website can be found at Vet-DNACenter.com. Using this service you purchase a DNA retrieval kit, using the cheek swab you swipe inside your dogs cheek, retrieving DNA following the enclosed instructions and then you ship off the sample to the laboratory! Results take about two weeks and by using genetic markers the lab can identify 60 different dog breeds and can help solve your mystery breed questions.

If you are not willing nor able to pay the fee for one of these DNA testing kits you can always use your dogs distinguishing features to determine some of his ancestry. Great features that can help you distinguish your dogs make up include (but are not limited to):

Blue tongue – Chow Chow’s are well known for their blue tongues
Tall lanky build with smooth fur – It is possible that your dog is mixed with a Great Dane
Small short haired or wire haired dog – Your dog is more than likely mixed with a terrier
Flat Faces – Indicates a bulldog/pug type of breed
Short squat stature – this also indicates a bulldog
A very large, solid, wedge shaped head - indicative of a pit-bull
Webbed toes – indicative of a water breed such as a Labrador, Chesapeake Bay retriever or an Otter hound
Blue eyes – blue eyes often indicate a malamute/husky or even wolf mix
Pointed muzzle - pointed long muzzles are often found on shepherd mixed
Perked ears – this is indicative of many breeds such as shepherds, dobermans and Pharaoh Hounds just to name a few!
A very large wiry haired dog - Large wiry haired dogs that have the build of a “giant” breed are most often Irish Wolfhounds.
Droopy eyes – droopy eyes are indicative of bloodhounds or basset hounds
Long slender body on a small breed – indicative of a dachshund mix
Hairlessness – (non medical related) there are only a few hairless breeds such as the American Hairless terrier and the Chinese crested.

There are so many distinguishing features in all breeds of dog that they cannot possibly all be named; however, if you look really hard you will be able to pick out the features of at least one dominating breed in all dogs!

O Lord don’t let me once forget

How I love my trusty pet.

Help me learn to disregard

Canine craters in my yard.

Show me how to be a buddy

Even when my sofa’s muddy.

Don’t allow my pooch to munch

Postal carriers for lunch.

Shield my neighor’s cat from view -

Guide my steps around the doo.

Train me not to curse and scowl

When it’s puppy’s night to howl.

Grant I shant awake in fear

With a cold nose in my ear.

Give me patience without end -

Help me be “A Dog’s Best Friend!”

~ Author Unknown ~

Just like children our dogs are prone to getting bumps, bruises, scrapes and cuts but many dog owners are left wondering how to treat these things in their fur kids when they don’t warrant a trip to the vet.

When you find yourself with a dog who has scraped up his paw, cut his lip or developed a sore spot from abrasion you may be left wondering what you can safely treat your dog with to fix this issue. The most effective treatment for this situation is Hydrogen Peroxide. Hydrogen Peroxide is a fast and effective treatment especially for sores or cuts that have developed MINOR infections because it not only disinfects but it also dries out the area to prevent furthering of the infection. Peroxide will not harm your dog if he licks it off; however, keep in mind that peroxide is used to induce vomiting when it is swallowed so prevent your dog from swallowing peroxide unless directed to do so by your poison control center or emergency vet/vet clinic. The great thing about peroxide is that it can be used on lips, this is frequently the case for dogs who have anxiety and try to chew their way out of crates or enclosed spaces and develop sores on their lips. You should also keep in mind, however, that when your dog develops infections in cuts and scrapes especially when they are contracted in locations where there is a high amount of bacteria you will want to check in with your vet to prevent the development of staph or other severe infections.

Neosporin can also come in handy to treat cuts and scrapes; however, you will want to cover the area to prevent your dog from licking the Neosporin off the area or else it will not be very effective.

Keep in mind as with all injuries that if the injury appears deep or extremely infected (or was contracted in an area with a high bacteria count) you will always want to visit your vet to have the cut/scrape checked out. You should also NEVER use any of the above treatments in your dogs eyes/nasal cavities/inside the mouth or any other vulnerable tissue areas just as you never would use these treatments on humans! When in doubt ALWAYS check with your vet!