Tag Archives: water

Preserving Christchurch’s water while walking

Christchurch residents really value their water, which is sourced from aquifers underneath the city.   It was only recently (within the last couple of years) that our water supply had to be chlorinated – an issue that remains contentious.

Izzy water meter

Izzy drinks from the puddle and runoff from a leaking water meter

But, thanks to our earthquakes and general deterioration of the infrastructure, we also have a very leaky water distribution system.

I have lost count of the number of leaking water meters I have found during my walks with Izzy which I have reported to the Christchurch City Council to ensure they are repaired. (You can also report using the Snap Send Solve app) We simply can’t assume that the Council knows about every leak in a timely way.

Another way dog walking benefits our community.

I encourage all my local readers to pay attention to water leaks as they walk around the city; take a photo and report the leak!

Kathleen Crisley, Fear-Free certified professional and specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand

Cleaning your dog’s ears

Bath time in our house is combined with a check of Daisy’s ears and teeth.  It makes sense when she’s already in the tub (and usually, looking pretty miserable)…

Bath time

When I adopted Daisy, she came down with an ear infection with days of arriving (her immune system was depressed – she’d just finished weaning her sole surviving puppy, and she was recovering from a cesarean section).  At that time, I purchased a commercial ear cleaner from the vet.

Since then, however, I’ve refilled the bottle with my own mixture of cider vinegar and water.  It’s easy:  50% vinegar to 50% water.

I never (and I mean never) introduce the liquid into Daisy’s ears.  I apply the solution with a soft wash cloth that is wrapped around my finger to clean around the ear.

This video produced by VetVid is a good explanation of how to clean your dog’s ears.

Do you check your dog’s ears regularly? What ear cleaning solution do you use?