Moon Dog Consulting and Services

09/26/2026

I'm glad the situation ended well.

The action of eating rocks can be caused by many things, and very rarely is it hunger. Sometimes rocks are ingested during scavenging, but these tend to be very small and most pass without issue, but the ingesting of large rocks is a concern.

There are management options if your dog likes to pick up objects and swallow them. This doesn't always have to be rocks, sometimes it's toys, clothing, just inedible objects. One of the best things that you can do if your dog tends to do this get them used to wearing a muzzle.

There are muzzles that are specific to this behavior, so not just any muzzle will do. Like any tool, you can't just slap a muzzle on a dog and expect it to work . There is training that needs to happen.

If you have a dog that does this, reach out and we can help you come up with a management plan that works for your family.

09/25/2026

09/24/2026

Different jobs for conservation dogs.

2014 - This photo is from a job that we did for NDDOT. Not a glamorous job, but we were asked to haze this young bull moose away from the road, particularly a very busy intersection. We needed him to either decide to go north, or cross the road in a different location. Moose are not plentiful in this area, and there were no lights/electricity in this area. The fear was that somebody would hit him in the dark.

This job was only a day long. It was a panicked call to my office first thing in the morning, and took most of the day. Kota was the dog that worked this job.

It popped up on my memories this morning so I thought I would share. I don't often get photos while working, because that's not my focus.

09/23/2026

Taking a few minutes to enjoy the fall sun between tasks.

09/12/2026

We just changed her bandage, her foot is healing well. She doesn't like the bandage.

This is a good use for mismatched children's socks. Keeping them around if you have dogs can help with instances like this where we are trying to keep the bandage on her foot without her ripping it off. These mismatched socks also work under booties if the booties are a tad bit big for your dog or they keep just coming off.

09/09/2026

Dogs communicate with us constantly and their communication has evolved to communicate with humans over the last 20,000 years or so. Most of this conversation is through body language and facial expressions. There are some auditory communications going on such as barking and howling, but in the gran...

09/06/2026

The little brown mushrooms that pop up in yards this time of year are not good for dogs or people. When you're out picking up p**p, if you see them, pick them up as well.

🍄 MUSHROOM SEASON IS HERE, ALASKA! 🍄

Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve been seeing lots of dogs with upset stomachs after getting into mushrooms, along with some more concerning toxicities. Unfortunately, you can’t reliably tell which mushrooms are safe just by looking at them, and some of the most dangerous varieties can cause delayed symptoms.

☠️ Toxic mushrooms can affect different parts of the body, including:

🦠 GI tract — vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, abdominal pain and dehydration
🫀 Liver — potentially severe liver damage or failure, sometimes with delayed signs
🫘 Kidneys — kidney injury or failure, with signs that may not appear immediately
🧠 Brain/nervous system — disorientation, tremors, seizures, abnormal behavior, coma and potentially death

So what should you do? 👇

🍄 Police your yard! Regularly check areas where your pets have access and remove mushrooms when you find them.

🐕 Keep your pets away from mushrooms on walks, hikes and around the yard. “Leave it” can be a lifesaving command!

📸 If your pet eats a mushroom, try to get a good, representative photo of the mushroom before removing it. If possible and safe, save a sample for identification.

📞 Call a pet poison hotline/poison control immediately and get your pet to a veterinarian. Do NOT wait for symptoms to develop.

⏱️ Rapid intervention is vital. Some mushroom toxins can cause serious internal damage before your pet looks obviously sick, and early treatment can make a significant difference.

If you cannot get in to your regular vet call or come on in to Susitna Animal Urgent Care
📅 Monday-Friday 11am-9pm

When it comes to mushrooms, if you’re not 100% sure, assume it’s dangerous and keep your pet away.

Stay safe out there, Alaska! 🍄🐾