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You’ve heard of a “play bow”, yes? That chest-on-the-ground-butt-in-the-air pose that dogs assume when they want to get the party started? Every dog does it (or should I say “every happy, well-adjusted dog does it”), but I recently met the undisputed King of the Play Bow:
Young Cody greeted me with a bark, then a bow.
Bark:
Then bow:
Sometimes he did both at the same time:
He did it over and over until his person clued me in that Cody wanted me to chase him.
Ohhh, I get it now!
Was Cody’s invitation to play a bit bossy? You bet. Did I fall for it?
Um, yes.
Repeatedly.
His intensity was irresistible!
Tomorrow, I’ll be wending my way northward to the Oklahoma Writers Federation 40th Anniversary Conference, May 1-3. I’m the president and have spent the last year sweating blood, planning, and organizing this massive event--40 seminars, 7 editors and 5 agents from NYC, 15 best-selling authors, even JA Jance as keynote speaker.
There are still registration spots left, and I’m expecting close to 400 folks to attend the big party, some as single day-only walk-ins. So my nerves won’t get a rest until next week…and then I plan to sleep a month!
And through all the angst, Seren(dipity) has been my staunchest supporter. When the worry became too much, when gray hairs began popping out all over my brow, and when that nervous tic became noticeable in my right eyelid--Seren purred me calm.
While the d*g snored through my sleepless nights, Seren stayed by my side. She checked every piece of paper that came through the printer, giving it her paw-stamp of approval. She paced with me during my angst-attacks, and snuggled on my lap during important phone calls (this from a cat that avoids lap-sitting on general principle!).
How does your cat help you during times of stress? Seren even plays “clown” for me, and revels in making me chuckle. Do your kitties notice when you’re upset, or depressed, or nervous? What do they do?
I couldn’t have made it through all the trials and tribulations of the past year without Seren’s gentle purr-sonal attention. And I hope she knows how grateful I feel.
Accthooo! Does that sound familiar? There are pros and cons to the beauty of Spring -- or pollinating season as it's known to botanists. Yes, the grass, the trees, the cherry blossoms...you name it...Mother Nature is having a jam down party right now.
If you're dependent on pill-popping like me, Zyrtec is the new Claritin, which was the new Allegra. But if you believe in a more natural approach to fighting allergies, a new study our of Europe suggests you ...get a dog.
Interesting to me, because I was 'diagnosed' as being allergic to dogs yet seem to be able to cohabitate with my very long-haired Sheltie without so much as a sniffle.
So I think I might buy into this theory that by living around something you may be mildly allergic to on a daily basis, you actually build up a sort of immunity for when the big guns come around.
We all know that living in a rural area has it's pros and cons, but for our pets, Footloose Montana is educating pet owners on the perils of traps set for wild animals. Seems the traps can't distinguish between friendly four-footers and foes, so it's up to us humans to figure out how to reduce the risk for our roving dogs or cats.
Kudos out today to the Cat lady of Baghdad. Working as a security consultant by day in Iraq, Louise goes by first name only...but by night she becomes the Lady in Shining armor seeking out, rescuing and shipping off cats caught in the crossfire.
What's going on in your neck of the woods? Send your local news items to stories@petside.com
I’ve been on a diet. Actually, it’s more of a lifestyle change, re-learning how to eat properly, exercise and generally take better care of myself. During this time I often wished there was a complete and balanced “People Chow” to make my life easier!
Sadly, despite having terrific foods ready to drop into the bowl for our pets, surveys indicate that roughly 40 percent of cats, older than five years are overweight. Several factors influence whether pets carry increased poundage. But the same reason that I gained weight holds true for kitties as well: over-eating and under-exercising.
I’m fortunate that Seren remains a svelte seven pounds and has never had a weight problem. Just as some people remain naturally lean while others gain weight if a potato-chip walks by (that’s me!), different cats gain and maintain weight differently. But it doesn’t take much to pudge up a cat--For a ten-pound cat, an extra pound or two is the equivalent of a human gaining 25 pounds.
Obesity, defined as weight that exceeds the ideal by 20 to 25 percent, has serious health risks. Obese pets are more prone to diabetes, cancer, skin diseases, heart problems, and lameness due to arthritis. Overweight cats are also at risk for life threatening “fatty liver disease” (hepatic lipidosis). But a crash diet can be very dangerous, too, so any weight loss program should be approved by your vet. Usually the target is to lose about 1 to 1½ percent of starting weight per week.
If you have a weighty problem with your felines, you must be more diligent about limiting intake. Keep in mind that commercial “lite” pet foods provide 10 percent fewer calories than that same brand’s regular food, and may actually have MORE calories than a competitor’s regular food.
Meal feed with portion control instead of keeping the bowl full. And encourage exercise by making your plump puss work for her food. Set the bowl on top of the cat tree or head of the stairs so she must climb or leap up to get fed. Invest in some treat balls that can hold dry kibble, so she must “hunt” and move the toy to shake out and eat one of her meals each day. Break out the cat toys, fishing pole lures and flashlight beams for chase games and get that tiger-in-your-cat roaring to go!
A 14-year study by Nestle Purina PetCare Company proved that keeping d*gs lean extends their lifespan by 15 percent—nearly two years for the dogs in the study. Lean cats also live longer. (include link to other food/diet articles)
I suspect the same is true for people, even if we don’t benefit from People Chow. And yes, I dropped slightly over 40 pounds this past year, in part due to running to keep up with the Magical-dog and out-think the Serendipity kitty.
This picture was emailed to me several years ago and sadly, it’s no laughing matter. Is your cat a lean, mean purring machine? Or does she pack extra pounds?
Does this pose look familiar?
It sure does to me. My time with little Ellie is still fresh in my mind. The furtive glances. The dashes from the room. You guessed it; I’ve got me another shy client!
My new client Dixie the terrier mix was a bit more outgoing with me than Ellie was at the first lesson (and more hospitable – she didn’t bark at me once!) but she was very similar in that I couldn’t teach her much during our intro session.
Sit? Oh no. That requires close quarters. No thanks. Coming when called? Uh, no?
We worked on a very simple exercise loosely titled, “we’re-going-to-walk-around-the-room-and-toss-treats-to-you- so-you-don’t-run-away-in-fear.” It was successful, as was the great exercise, “Victoria-is-going-to-“accidentally”-drop-her-bag-but-don’t-run-off-because-your-person-is-going-to-feed-you-awesome-treats.” She did a fine job.
As always, baby steps. Dixie is Fred, I’m Ginger. Lead away, Dixie, I’m all yours.
I really love the way nature takes care of nature. How about this...we've all heard about those nasty bed bugs that apparently lurk inside all of our mattresses and come out specifically at dawn to bite us.
They feed off of human blood, and they mate via a process termed "traumatic insemination"...eeyugh!
Not that I vacuum my mattress every night...I just refuse to believe they're in there. Well they are, but guess who's coming to the rescue? Bed bug sniffing dogs.
Yes! To you and I pet lovers they are commonly known as Beagles. Well, technically, Beagles aren't the only nosey dog's capable, but that's what they're using in New York hotels these days. Bed Bug sniffing dogs. Go Uno!
Ironically, in Canada, the courts recently ruled against the use of sniffer dogs in public places. I guess there aren't that many bed bugs romaing on the streets, so no worries there. Imagine, you're standing at the bus stop with your favorite brand of allergy medicines in your jeans pocket and BAM!!.. you're jumped on by a Canadian sniffer dog...
Don't know why, today is all about bugs. This science report on cats identifies a bug they all have that usually lies dormant but is linked to a form of human schizophrenia...
Trial began today for Linda Bruno, 45, accused of maltreatment of the 300 cats found sick, dying or dead in her Pittsburgh home. Despite the accusations, the woman says that all of her cats were healthy...
Send in your local news to stories at petside.com
The gloom and doom of my last Flopsy post was premature: the four bunnies made their peace and managed to snuggle together happily for two more days. Two left together one night, leaving the final two in the nest. Rabbit-rearing success!
I was feeling confident that we were home free, and there was no need for me to stress about potential dog/bunny run ins.
How wrong I was.
One afternoon I happened to glance out the back door as I passed by and noticed Sumner acting very … focused … about something. It was a head cocked, tense body kind of posture that I’ve seen before.
Sumner was on the hunt. For one of my babies.
I had a feeling that he’s stumbled upon one of our little furry friends that had left the nest, so I hurried out to prevent the carnage. I could tell just by the way he was standing that he hadn’t connected with the bunny yet, but I knew he was close to doing so. I was just four steps away from him when I heard a familiar “Yi-yi-yiiiiiiii!” that made me feel faint.
Flopsy!
I grabbed Sum and hustled him inside. When I returned I found the bunny in the same spot sitting very still. I gently picked him up. More “Yi-yi-ing” ensued (his little mouth was open wide as he cried and I spotted his two front teeth!), and I checked for damage. He looked fine until I transferred him from one hand to the other and saw … blood.
Oh, Jesus, Sumner. What did you do?!
I couldn’t find an open wound, but one of his back legs looked a little worse for wear. He was in shock, and I couldn’t send him back out into the world in an altered state, so I put him back in the nest with his two remaining sibs. Injured Bunny changed positions in the nest and surrounding areas several times as the afternoon wore on, so I felt confident that his wonky leg was temporary.
The next day, no bunnies. The three felt confident enough to leave the nest, and happily, haven’t been seen or heard from since. By the two legged and the four legged members of our household.
Happy trails, little friends. We saved your asses, so please leave our garden plot alone!
It seems a bit redundant to write about this topic in a cat-blog, because if you’re reading this--you’re already passionate about and kind to your kitty-critters. But it bears announcing publicly that the month of May has been designated “Be Kind to Animals Month.”
What are some ways that you are kind to animals? If you’re a student and school soon will be out, perhaps (purr-haps?) you have extra time to spend with your kitties or other pets. When the weather turns mild, maybe you can open up the screened-in porch for the sun-worshiping cats to indulge in napping in a puddle of sunshine.
Maybe you donate your time or supplies to the local shelter, or take your cats to visit the nursing home and brighten a resident’s day with some furry love. Please share with us some of the ways you are kind to animals this month--it may inspire others to following your paw-steps!
Wow! I know I vaguely heard something going on about cloning going on some time back, and we recently did an in depth article about it on petside.com, but...did you believe it would go this far? I guess it was selective memory on my part, but I still felt a sense of disbelief when I saw today's headlines.
Seven cloned puppies named Toppy - a clever amalgamation of Tomorrow’s puppy - were born in late 2007 to three surrogate mothers under a state-funded project in Korea. Today, the Korean customs service has unveiled the group of seven cloned Labrador Retrievers that are being trained to sniff out explosives and drugs at ports and airports.
I'm not sure what's next. Back in January, human embryo was cloned in an experiment to advance research aimed at creating replacement tissue that is genetically matched to individual patients.
I mean, I do love my Sheltie, but I think part of the fun for me is that he is NOT exactly the same as my last dog, a shepherd collie mix. To each his own.
As for cat tales this week, the word is if you're thinking about traveling with your pet, don't go to Switzerland. This land of peace, harmony and great milk chocolate, is also the last country in Western Europe in which it is still legal for cats to be hunted for their fur. The fur is used to make coats, jackets and bed blankets, reputed there to be highly effective in combating rheumatism.
Fortunately, cat lovers might consider destination Tokyo where the cafe Neko JaLaLa is a popular hang out for stressed out business people who enjoy a cat break. Neko is the Japanese word for cat, and these felines are considered staff employees who enjoy their job of being stroked, petted and cuddled from the cafe customers. Now that's what I call serenity.
Let us know your local news stories at stories@petside.com
You wake up bright-eyed and waggy-tailed after a fabulous night’s sleep. Your person slips some extra banana in your breakfast. You get a round of tug in before she sits down at the computer. You discover a forgotten bone under the couch and spend some quality time munching. You take an excellent, snore-filled nap. She wakes you up TO GO FOR A WALK! before you even have to ask. While on that walk you discover a squished squirrel in the middle of the street … so that’s what they smell like! You come home from said walk and head out to the blue-sky back yard, where you pause and reflect that …
Life is good.
Spring has come to N. Texas, and Seren(dipity) loves to take in the rose tour. She also enjoys nibbling the petals, so it’s hard for me to bring bouquets indoors.
Most parts of roses are actually edible and safe, of course. Here’s a short tour of my garden . . . about 700 antique roses surround the house, and Seren likes to patrol (on leash) to keep varmints away.
Seren Patrolling the Garden
This past week the Associated Press reported the story of Moon, a Siberian husky, that ran off during a road trip at a rest stop. Her owner Doug Dashiell last saw his pet on April 6 near Railroad Valley, Nevada.
I’m sure he thought he’d never see his beloved d*g again.
A week later Moon wandered up to Alvin Molea’s residence in Ely, Nevada--the same town where Dashiell lives. He took her in, fed her and gave her a place to sleep, and after seeing her collar tag came from the White Pine Veterinary Clinic, he reported her found.
The clinic called Dashiell. He couldn’t believe Moon had walked home. The dog apparently traveled nearly 80 miles across Nevada’s high desert and two mountain ranges over the 7-day period. Other than wearing the “cologne” from a skunk encounter, the two-year-old d*g was none the worse for wear.
Bosco, a gray and white cat, used to show up at the apartment where I lived. He wore a collar with a rabies tag that had the clinic name, so I was able to track down his owner. Turns out, he used to live in that very apartment--but now his owner had moved to another complex two miles down the road. Bosco continued to come visit whenever he managed to hook open the screen door.
Bosco During a Visit
It’s not as surprising that Bosco managed the two-mile trek. But how did Moon do it? And what about the awe-inspiring tales of other pets that find their way home over insurmountable odds?
Psi-training is a term coined to describe the apparent ability of some pets to find their way home over long distances. This ability is celebrated in the story, The Incredible Journey, by Sheila Burnford, of a Siamese cat named Tao who leads furry companions 250 miles across the country to be reunited with their family. That, of course, was fiction.
But a true case, documented by the veterinarian owner, identified the found cat as the missing feline by a bone growth on the fourth vertebrae of his tail (he’d been Xrayed before). This kitty left New York and found his owner, who had moved to California.
Chat Beau’s owners identified him by the scar on one eye and his habit of growling like a dog, after he trailed his family to Texas, 300 miles and four months away from Louisana. Sugar was identified by a deformed left hip joint after arriving in Oklahoma fro California--traveling 1500 miles in fourteen months.
Skeptics will never be convinced, but believers cannot be dissuaded of the many instances in which beloved felines somehow turned up to rejoin families. But don’t leave it to chance…these are called “miracle stories” because they’re so rare. Invest in some reliable pet identification like microchips to safeguard your pets.
We took Buddy the Fetching Fanatic to the dog park early this morning. Buddy’s person would like him to feel more comfortable at the park … the first time she took him he was overwhelmed by the other dogs and chose to ignore them. We can tell that there’s a very playful dog inside his (overweight) body, he just needs to learn how to interact with his canine brothers and sisters.
(He’s not actually blue, I just didn’t have my camera set properly.)
We arrived at the park, and true to form, there wasn’t a single dog in sight. Not a bad thing in this scenario, as it gave Buddy a chance to check out the pee mail and get some fetching in before any other dogs arrived.
This beauty arrived a few minutes later:
We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect “first dog” that morning. Darla ran into the park and stopped a few feet away from Buddy. She stood perfectly still and allowed him to sniff her all over. She was lovely – I think she could tell that Buddy was green. Examination complete, she gave Buddy a little bow and said, “So do you wanna dance now?”
Buddy said, “No, no thanks, I’ll just watch for now.”
He snuck more sniff in every time Darla was otherwise engaged:
This little cutie showed up a short while later:
She fascinated Buddy, and politely tolerated his inquisitive nose. Another great addition!
(He looks like he was coming on pretty strong in that photo – check out how high and stiff his tails is -- but he was actually quite polite.)
Buddy eventually engaged in a tiny bit of play, but it’s clear that he still needs time to learn how to speak dog.
No pressure, Buddy, whenever you’re ready!
Are your kitties shedding? It’s that time of year, and at my house I simply can’t win. We have white carpet--actually, sort of cream color--which matches Seren’s lighter color fur. That’s good, because her shedding blends into the background. And the hair is short. Lord help me, if she instead sported long fur, like a Persian!
Seren Blending in with her Surroundings
Of course, when I wear any clothes darker than cream-of-wheat, I carry samples of my beloved feline wherever I go. I simply pretend that my clothing is supposed to look fuzzy.
The d*g, of course, is mostly black. He leaves grayish areas on the carpet from shed fur, no matter how often he’s groomed. Magic, the German shepherd, must have read the book that says his breed sheds copiously. He doesn’t simply shed, he DUMPS woolly undercoat continuously. Whatever light clothing I wear manages to turn fuzzy whenever in his presence.
I’ve discovered a terrific tool, called the Furminator. It works on both Seren and Magic, and pulls wads of pet-fluff off the beasts. I have to take the d*g outside to comb him out, or else we’d be engulfed in a tidal wave of the black fuzz, as it pulls up to 80% of shed stuff off.
What do you do to keep ahead of the fuzz-bunnies?
You can read more about grooming tips in these articles about “Cat Grooming at Home” and “D*g Grooming at Home.”
Jake is a 4-year old Lab from field lines, meaning the urge to work and hunt has been bred into his ancestors for generations. He was trained using traditional methods, hence the choke chain around his neck.
I’ve made my stance on choke chains clear here on Petside.com, but it seems that I didn’t do the same when I was on the phone with Jake’s person during his inquiry call. I never hide the fact that I’m a positive trainer, but I might forget to mention it now and then during a rushed phone call.
I squirmed quietly when Jake got a few “corrections” (collar chokes) for being surly with me at the front door, knowing that I could sell my positive training message after I’d had a chance to step into their home and shake their hands.
It was rough going at first, but I blame myself not my message. I tend to get overly emotional and talkative when trying to explain why positive training is such a good thing … at times I feel like a Mormon on a recruiting mission. Positive training changed my life, friends, and it can change yours too!
Like any good Missionary, I evangelized. And made crappy analogies. And tried to point out that in traditional training, the punishment rarely fits the crime. (You choked your dog because he didn’t sit fast enough? Really?)
I saw their eyes glaze over a bit.
In the end, the proof is in the positive pudding. We got to work, and wouldn’t you know it, young Jake caught on quickly. We saw the tail wagging, smiley-faced attitude so common in positively trained dogs. And I saw some smiles on the human faces as well. Though they were used to traditional training, seeing Jake’s speedy, happy progress might have made believers out of them after all.
Depending on where you live, Spring means something different to people all over the globe. But no matter what your climate or geographic region, it’s generally agreed on that it’s a season for new birth and fresh air...or, well how fresh exactly is it? Mosquito repellents, BBQ smoke and pollen mixed with pollution, all add to breathing difficulties...even for your pet.
Over at petside.com we’ve got a unique take on Green Week and celebrating Spring with your pet. There are some happy thoughts that come to mind, like bunnies and robin’s eggs…there’s nothing my Sheltie loves more than sniffing around in a field of daffodils. Check out some pet-friendly ideas for enjoying spring with your pet at http://www.petside.com/news/spring-has-sprung-now-go-have-some-fun.html
If you’re considering a romp through a state park or forest, remember the leash is your friend -- check local laws for maximizing safety for you and your pet. I had the chance to test a cool leash from the Planet Dog http://www.planetdogfoundation.org where they go out of their way to manufacture earth-friendly products.
But remember, there are also hidden dangers lurking out there at this time of year. This earth-friendly product from EcoSMART caught my attention. I’m happy to report the child and pet-friendly Flying Insect Killer formula kills and controls flies, gnats, mosquitoes, moths, wasps…all by using natural repellent oils and essences.
While we humans are busy scratching our eyes from allergies, fleas are the main itch contender for your pets, and quite a few manufacturers have introduced non-toxic flea control. You can do your own part for Green Week by introducing your pet to your vacuum cleaner. It contains no chemicals, and works like a charm to fend off those itchy pests. I can’t say my Sheltie, Maxi, loves the experience, but if you suction as close to the skin as possible, it reduces the stress for your animal. Sometimes I think I can see him laughing from the tickles!
Unlike the lice recently running rampant around my daughter’s school, fleas LOVE dirt. So do your pets a favor by using your preferred chemical-free shampoo and give them an extra wash while drowning a few fleas at the same time.
I still can’t say enough about the difference in organic and natural pet foods. If you don’t want to switch from your favorite brand, at least check the labels and look for those with less filler ingredients. Trust me, what goes in does come out, and I’m pleased to report that less poop = more nutrients…it’s a win-win situation!
Everyday Pets also has two fantastic products that are excellent to use during the summer months especially for families who take their dogs’ with them on their family vacations. Relieve De Stress is an all-natural aid used to ease stress and anxiety caused by anything from traveling to thunderstorms to 4th of July fireworks and more. The Ease the Quease formula relieves motion sickness that may be associated with traveling whether it is on a plane, in a car, RV or on a train.
Leaving you with our petside.com checklist of Pet Poisons in your home. I bet you’ll find a few things you can remove for Green Week…and every week.
Our neighbor called us last night with worry in her voice. “I just found a baby bunny under my newspaper at the end of my driveway, and now he’s heading across the street!”
Seems we’re not the only yard facing a bunny invasion. My neighbor was weeding and accidentally upset (actually, destroyed) a bunny nest, sending the kits scattering. Now, a day later, one of the homeless bunnies was still homeless.
“Let’s add him to our nest!” I suggested. “It’s got to be better than facing certain death on our road!”
We collected the poor little guy from the middle of the street, and then on the way back to our yard found another homeless rabbit. This guy was tougher to catch, and when we finally got our hands on him he screamed “Yi! Yi! Yiiiiiiiiii!” His cries sounded so pathetic and terrified that our hearts broke a little.
Would our bunnies reject the new guys? With little ceremony we plopped them in the nest and watched them both nestle in as if they belonged there. Cool!
The big questions: would mom accept the foster-bunnies as well?
The next morning we checked on them and found that mom had indeed been back to the nest, and it looked like all five bunnies were still there. No bloody infanticide – hooray!
I checked on them almost hourly, and as the day progressed I noticed that one of the new addition bunnies had flown the coop, and another one wasn’t looking so hot. His adopted sibling were shunning him (the blood-sibs have red arrows, the step-sib has a blue arrow):
His breathing was shallow, and he wasn’t responsive to my gentle touch:
Soooo, maybe we made a mistake by blending the families. My thinking was that it’s better to perish with your own kind than alone in the middle of the street. Plus we figured that their real mom could find them if she wanted to, as they’re only one yard away (and with the way that screaming carried, a bunny in the next county could probably find him!)
As of my last visit to Bunnyville, two bunnies are sitting side-by-side about 6 inches away from the nest in the grass, and two are still in it. Hmmm. A house divided. Interesting …
Read The Flopsy Chronicles Part I
Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) has designated the last Sunday in April — this year, April 27 — as National Pet Parent's Day. It’s an opportunity to celebrate and honor all those pet caregivers (yes, that’s YOU if you’re reading this). National Pet Parent's Day recognizes and honors those who lovingly consider their pets to be a part of their family.
Do you know somebody who exemplifies the best of being a pet parent? Send them a card that let’s them know how you feel. VPI offers free e-cards just for that purpose through April 27.
Pet Parent E-Card
A recent survey by the American Animal Hospital Association indicates 83 percent of pet owners consider themselves their pet’s mom or dad. And the AVMA says nearly half of pet owners considered their pets family members.
While I do, indeed, consider my pets to be family members, I draw the line at referring to myself as their “mom.” Because when speaking of Magic-the-d*g and referring to him quite technically and correctly as a son-of-a-B, I am NOT talking about myself, thank-you very much!
Although I do own a sparkly pin that I wear proudly on certain occasions.
So, do you consider yourself a “pet parent?” Maybe you buy presents for your special kitty especially on her birthday or “gotcha-day” remembrance. Some folks include their pets in family celebrations, such as weddings, or take them on vacations.
If we had a calendar with every “special” day, week and month noted, there wouldn’t be room to jot information about an upcoming dentist appointment! Truly, there are “national this-and-that’s” for some of the most interesting things.
One you won’t want to miss, though, is the week of April 27-May 3, which has been designated “National Pet Volunteer Week.”
It’s the perfect time to thank the self-sacrificing individuals who volunteer at your area pet shelters and animal welfare organizations. You might also look into becoming a volunteer yourself. Springtime with the kitten boom in high gear demands lots of eager, willing hands to help. The kittens you play with and socialize today have a much greater chance of being adopted into a loving forever home.
Volunteer--save a life! You’ll feel good about it, I promise.
For some volunteering ideas and places that need your help, check out Volunteering for Animals Feeds the Heart
“Grab your camera and come out to the yard. There’s something you have to see.”
The last time my husband told me to come look at something in the yard, this was awaiting me:
A massive, creepy, five-inch Hickory Horned Devil. I kinda have a thing for bugs, and this guy was straight out of science fiction. Awesome! Though we live in a typical suburban neighborhood, we’ve had our share of interesting wildlife in our back yard, from a lovesick fox to prehistoric-looking dragonflies. I never know what he’s going to discover when he’s doing lawn work
“I’m ready. Are we talking creepy or fuzzy?” I asked as I raced out the door.
“Fuzzy. But I’m not sure of what variety. I don’t even know if it’s alive any more. I mowed over it!”
I wasn’t excited to see fuzzy carnage, even if it was a yard-destroying mole. He led me to this patch of grass:
“What is it? Rats? Squirrels?”
He knelt down and gingerly moved the patch of loose fur and grass out of the way and there we saw the creatures’ defining features:
Baby bunnies! Three baby bunnies!
We watched them fuss and squirm and wondered what to do. Were they abandoned? They didn’t look hungry or weak, just chilly. They took turns diving beneath each other in an effort to remain at the bottom of the pile. They were so agile that it looked like they were swimming around the nest.
“Should we bring them inside and feed them? Do these guys need to be saved?”
We did some research and learned that our back yard bunny patch was normal, and the babies were just fine. Turns out we let our grass grow too long, and the Mom rabbit decided that the tall grass would make a perfect home for her babies. (Despite the fact that two canine yard patrollers spend plenty of time out there. How did they miss those little guys for ten days?) Mom rabbits only feed their babies once a day, at night or in the very early morning, and there was nothing we could (or should) do to “assist” her in her duties other than make sure that Zeke and Sum left the nest alone. For the next week. Easier said than done.
Keeping Zeke and Sumner out of the yard when the weather is nice is nearly impossible, so we improvised a solution that works for all parties:
The dog crate stays on top of the nest during the daylight hours and is moved away at nightfall. (The rabbits are too young to do anything but sleep right now.) The guys have shown little interest in the crate, so there’s no fear that they’re going to slip into a primal frenzy and tip it over to get to the bunnies.
We’re having a lot of fun checking up on Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail, and they don’t seem to mind our curiosity. Now that we know they’re 100% ok (we devised a little test to make sure that Mom was coming every night) we don’t touch them. They’re getting cuter every day, if that’s even possible.
Soon they’ll be old enough to hop on down to our garden and eat all of our lettuce, and we’ll end up cursing them just like we do all of the other rabbits in our neighborhood!
Until then, we’re in love.
Zeke has a love-hate relationship with my hairdryer. He wanders into the bathroom whenever I’m drying my hair, eager to get some hot air blown on him. He even moves around to redirect the air to different parts of his body. First the chest … then a little on the shoulders … and don’t forget about the back end, Ma.
“Fire breathing dragon! I want to bite you but I cannot!”
">Post-bath, however, is a different story. He’s so keyed up by the cleansing process that the hairdryer suddenly becomes his enemy.
Then we’ll have moments of calm acceptance where he seems to remember that he likes the feeling of heat on his body.
“Ahh, yes. This is nice.”
Moments later, he’ll revert to kill or be killed mode.
“Be ye not yet vanquished? Prepare to die!”
Of course, the very next time I take it out to do my hair, Zeke is right there beside me, looking cold and pathetic.
Does your dog welcome the hairdryer, or want to kill it like Zeke?
I live in tornado alley, and spring is prime time for hail, torrential rain, and big winds to whip through our area. Of course there are many d*gs that exhibit fearful behavior during storms, and are especially sensitive to thunder. Not as many cats suffer from thunderstorm phobias, and I wonder if it’s in part because they get advance warning.
Cats can detect variation in barometric pressure. Therefore, they can tell ahead of time that a weather change is in the air, and take cover if need be.
More often than not, they don’t do anything. Except watch the dance of the hailstones ga-thumping cars into dimpled wrecks. When I visited a friend’s house and a storm threatened, her husband took steps to protect my car.
How many of you saw the recent Oprah show on puppy mills? It’s getting a lot of mileage in the cat and d*g Internet community, and among animal advocates of every furry purr-suasion.
“Kitten mills” aren’t as common, perhaps because the demand for pedigreed cats isn’t on the same level as that of d*gs.
Universally the pet-loving community condemns puppy mills.
The professional, responsible d*g breeders and fanciers, though, had concerns that their own hobby would be painted with that same horrid brush. When the show aired, many were satisfied and relieved that purebred dog fanciers were presented in a fair light.
Yet, I also have read communications from those who saw the same Oprah show. They are happily convinced that those “awful terrible purebred breeders” got their comeuppance--and indeed, seem intent on dumping puppy mills, backyard breeders, and the responsible professionals into the same bucket. They are using the show to leverage their mandatory spay/neuter initiatives.
It just goes to show you that people will hear and see what they want.
Soon-to-be-jetsetter Cody just finished up with me this morning. He did a great job with his basic indoor manners (although jumping up when he wants something remains a challenge), so during our lessons we focused on reigning in his surly leash behavior. Well, we attempted to focus on that behavior, but the environment conspired against us.
Dealing with “tough guys” is a fairly common training request – I get several calls a week from people who are looking for help to deal with their dogs’ leash walking grumpiness. I enjoy working on these types of cases, but I always warn potential clients that we’re at the mercy of their neighborhood … if there are no dogs out and about during our lesson, all we’ll wind up doing is taking a pleasant, grumble-free stroll. What’s bizarre is that I can go to the most heavily trafficked dog ‘hoods to work on leash issues and we’ll not see a single dog for the entire hour. I show up and suddenly Dog Town, USA turns into Ghost Town.
It’s a curse.
As expected, we rarely saw other dogs during Cody’s lessons. We employed Rex and Maxine initially, just so Cody’s person could get the leash and treat handling mechanics down, and then spent the majority of the lessons chasing down every vaguely canine shape we saw. At one point I mistook a decorative stone lion for a dog. Desperate times …
Thankfully, we ran into a little Westie on several walks and I was pleased to see that the dog-friendly, science-base techniques we used enabled Cody to draft behind her and not flip out. His person told me that in the past, Cody would react even when he saw a dog a few blocks away. That’s progress!
Cody is ready to begin his adventure in England, and I have a feeling that he’s going to greet his new canine neighbors with a smile and not a growl.
There's no better time than Spring to go cruising with your dog or cat around town, pick up an ice-cream, cruise the boulevard, drop clothes off at the dry cleaner, stop for a latte...?
Sounds good, but if you live in the LA area you'd better make sure your pet is snug and secure in his or her's OWN seat and not your lap. Along with putting on your lipstick and talking on cell phones, Assembly Bill 2233 proposed by Assemblyman Bill Maze, R-Visalia prohibits pets on the driver's lap. So strap up, or be prepared to pay up!
Hey, it looks like a squeaky wheel may start to get some oil. I caught this item coming again from the West Coast where some people are actually taking some action about the pets and home foreclosure crisis.
More old news that won't go away...the sad story of a young boy shot in the face by a stray bullet was heightened at the discovery in this home of a number of dogs clearly being prepped for illegal fighting.
And it looks like while Oprah lives and broadcasts her mega-million talk show from Chicago, viewers in that region weren't paying much attention to her recent special on Puppy Mills.
Sadly, a hoard of 49 were rescued with an adoption fate to be determined.
Send us your local news stories at stories@petside.com
The Cherry Blossom swan song has begun. Peak bloom-peeping season ended last week here in DC, and now the sidewalks and yards are carpeted with pink petals. I love to walk through the confetti with my canine clients, but it’s bittersweet. Every petal that falls is a reminder that spring is ending sooner than we’d like, and the heat wave is right around the corner.
I’m not sure that Zeke and Sum share my sentimental attitude about the Cherry Blossoms … they’ve been feeling the effects of the extra pollen, and every time we step outside they serenade me with sneezes. It used to be worse -- back in the day Zeke’s springtime allergies caused him to lick his front paws until they turned an ugly rusty color.
Is your dog a seasonal allergy sufferer? How does it manifest?
This week after sending our hard-earned nickels and dimes to Uncle Sam, and reading about the state of the economy, I worry about the cost of care for our fur-kids. Have y’all been tightening your belt and making do with fewer luxuries? Eating at home instead of going out? Renting a DVD or waiting for HBO release instead of heading to the movies? Letting the lawn get a wee bit more shaggy between mowing to save on the cost of gas? Staying in town instead of traveling on vacation?
What about your pets? I’ve heard from many cat and d*g owners that they’re cutting back on standard care and putting off those yearly check ups, making the monthly flea meds stretch to six weeks, and looking into home-cooking-kibble and do-it-yourself treatments when possible.
Cat owners are the worst culprits, I think, because our kitties are so darn stoic we may not recognize they have a problem until something’s seriously wrong. And that can be dangerous.
There are some ways to cut corners, of course. One way I do this is with what I call “cheap thrills.” Forego the pricey store-bought cat toys and catnip. Grow your own catnip--it’ll be more pungent and effective than the dried stuff that’s been on the shelves over the winter.
A plain empty paper bag also gets Seren’s motor running. Just be sure to cut off any handles or cats can get caught.
Toss a Ping Pong ball into the empty bathtub and watch the kitty bat it round and round. That keeps you from having to fish it out from under the refrigerator time after time.
Does your cat adore feature toys? Or those fabric pom-poms? Go to the craft shop. You’ll find packages of all kinds of features, and bags full of pop-poms for the price you’d pay for one fancy cat-tease at the local pet supply store.
What other types of cost-saving pet tips do you practice?
Is your cat a Garfield-glutton or a finicky-Morris? My cat Seren is still a svelte seven pounds at eleven-years-old, but…she will eat anything! There’s a reason that I’ve invested in covered coffee mugs. Seren likes to dip with her paw, and lick off the coffee (I use quite a bit of creamer). And while I love her to death, I know where her paws have been.
She’ll also try to get her face right into my dinner plate to see what’s good to eat. One time, when I’d fixed a snack of oven-baked egg rolls that I dipped first in hot mustard and then sesame seeds, Seren was determined to get a taste. Never believing she’d actually go through with it after getting a good whiff, I let her examine the mustard. She took a tiny lick. . .
Have you ever seen a cat levitate?! I mean, she went STRAIGHT UP into the air, landed with her fur bristled out all over, and ran. I was laughing so hard, it took a bit to catch her, and rinse out her mouth. Then I returned to my plate to finish my snack.
And within twenty seconds, Seren was at my chair, trying for another taste . . .
Does your cat swipe food? What are his/her favorites? You can also read more about the subject at the article “A Matter of Taste” and “Is it safe to share?”
I’m a dog trainer so it makes sense that “dog stuff” has infiltrated my life. My house isn’t a shrine to dogs (unless you count numerous dog beds, muddy paw prints and fur balls as mini-altars to dogdom), but take a look around and you’ll find a variety of kitschy dog-themed items scattered throughout the place.
Care for a smoke? Allow me to present you with this magnificent boxer ashtray!
Purchased for a song at a rural antique mart, this unique collectible doubles as a spare change and lip-gloss receptacle.
Please pass the salt! Mr. and Mrs. White Sulphur Springs West Virginia would be happy to oblige:
These two keep it spicy on a high shelf in my kitchen.
It’s not all boxers all the time in this house. When the temperature dips and I’m feeling chilly, my gentleman-style Boston Terrier pajamas save the day:
They’re long on softness, but short on style … the pattern is overpowering and I look ridiculous in them. But I love them.
But wait, there’s more!
I’ve just done a mental inventory and there’s at least one small dog-themed item in nearly every room of our house, including the bathrooms. The only two rooms excluded are my husband’s home office and our formal living room.
It’s safe to say that my career has a strong presence in my house. Good thing I’m not a proctologist.
Do you have any great dog trinkets in your house? Leave a comment and tell me about them!
Do you love one of your pets more than the other?
You’re probably thinking, “No! Of course not!”
But mull it over a bit. Does one of your dogs get extra treats when you’re doling them out? Do you give more belly rubs to this one over that one? Do you baby the little pup and make the big guy fend for himself?
Though it might seem “mean” to admit that you have a preference for one of your pets, if you consider it you might come to realize that you have indeed been unconsciously giving one of your pets special treatment. Or in the case of my husband, giving special treatment very, very, very consciously. He’s not shy about loving one of our dogs more than the other, and he’ll happily provide you with a list of reasons why.
So which dog reigns supreme in his heart?
Yes, it’s Sumner, our sweet, loveable boxer. My husband makes no secret of his preference. When I asked him why he loves Sumner the most, his answer elegantly summed up the difference between our two dogs.
“Zeke has a bad attitude.”
I have to agree with him. Though Zeke is incredibly clever, the devil-streak runs thick in him. Not that he’s naughty, mind you. He doesn’t destroy the house or bite visitors, and he’s really well trained. He’s just … a jerk. He takes advantage of Sumner’s softness by bullying him around to the point where we think Sumner has Stockholm Syndrome. Unfortunately, the bullying would be difficult to try to train out of Zeke … it’s subtle (a hard stare here, a nip to the heels there), but the entire household sees it, and is annoyed by it.
That said, Zeke also has a great deal of empathy. When I was recently overtaken by shriek-inducing back-spasms, Zeke followed me from room to room with his ears back and a concerned look on his face. When I finally came to rest flat on my back he sat next to me and placed his paw on my hand as if to say “Are you ok?”
So I flip-flop. In some ways I love Sumner more (always ready to cuddle, silly, incredibly gorgeous), but Zeke has some mighty fine qualities as well (super-smart, not afraid of anything, can read my mind).
Do I have a preference? I think I do. But I’ll never tell!
Have you filed?
I’m fortunate that my husband works as a tax preparer, so that takes the headache off of me. And as a freelance writer, I must keep scrupulous records and file itemized reports.
So after tomorrow, I’ll actually get to see my husband again during daylight hours.
I wonder of the cat and d*g will recognize him?
They may still be a bit miffed because he wouldn’t let me claim them as dependents.
At petside we value the idea of having an emergency plan for your pet, even going as far as having your own pet first aid kit.
So often, in a state of panic, we are forced to run for safety and overlook the needs of our beloved pets. An emergency pet first aid kit is really a simple thing to add to your home -- preferably by the nearest exit. It also makes a thoughtful gift to give to someone who is a petowner.
Little Sookee in Scotland was saved from smoke inhalation when rescue crews donned a child's oxygen mask on her little nose! Simple, effective, and by the look of little Sookee...well worth it.
I hope you are all doing your best to save the earth. In my opinion, Americans are getting a bum rap. Seems to me we're doing a lot MORE about recycling and emissions than other parts of the world...at least the places I'm traveling. It's no secret that cruise ships are taking their toll on the ocean's carpet, but I was pretty shocked this weekend to see thick, black smoke emitting from cars and buses, and the words 'recycling' might as well be written in Japanese. So keep it up...whatever small piece you are doing to go green.
Write in and tell us how you're going green with your pet at stories@petside.com
Did you know that cats sleep more than 16 hours a day? My kitty Seren must have read that somewhere, because she takes naptime very seriously.
Seren Sleeping in my Printer
And cats find the oddest places to sleep, don’t they? I’m always flattered when Seren decides to nap in my lap because it happens so rarely. She’d rather curl up in the well of my computer printer, or on the chair that’s next to me in my office, or even one of her cat tree beds.
Where do your cats sleep?
My clients Tazie and Harry have been on a 4-month training sabbatical due to Tazie’s recent ACL procedure. She had ACL surgery on her right leg a year ago and made a speedy recovery, only to have her left ACL fail in the fall.
Not fun for a 7-year old pup.
She was in fine spirits today, and the only visible reminders of her recent surgery were a cropped bit of fur where the pain patch used to sit, and an ever-so-slightly stiffened gait.
She was healthy enough to give her “little” brother Harry the business when he tried to take her bone. The scrappiness is back, full force!
Harry is about to embark on a new adventure next week … this handsome young pup is entering his first dog show.
Looks-wise he’s a sure thing to win, but he needs some work on the most basic of dog show behaviors: the “stand-stay.” Seems we did such a good job teaching Harry to “sit” that he assumes the position whenever possible. He did a decent job today attempting to unlearn what he has learned … here he is doing his millisecond “stand-stay”, trying his hardest not to sit or wiggle:
Any tips for teaching a reliable “stand-stay”? I’m not in the show dog world, and that’s not a behavior I teach in my regular pet-dog classes …
The US mortgage crisis reaps yet another pet-related, foreclosure tragedy. This one is really sad, as I have visited this seaside town of Barnegat...it's an old-school charmer with ordinary people, living near a major city and watching gentrification take over the beachfront properties. On top of that, according to reports, the last known residence of this house was a police dispatcher...serving his community, as with a reputaion as being an animal lover. Perhaps there are more circumstances to be revealed, but on face value, foreclosure took a very, very hard hit on this family and their pets.
There are more stories of strays and the controversies of people and how to manage stays...in all the news at the moment. Personally, I'm getting an entirely different view of dog and cat ownership as I am visiting a region in a warm climate where pets are not entertained indoors. Those I have seen appear to be content enough -- I'll strike that up to ignorance is bliss and to each their own. I was concerned about a darling terrier puppy, walking the sides of a very busy road.
I tried not to impose a tourist's instinct...stop the car, jump out, and let's rescue this pup...but while he didn't look wanting for food, the dangers of the roadway at his small size...not good.
I'm confident laws of nature will prevail. Write in about strays in YOUR neighborhood at stories@petside.com
Have you seen the story about a d*g born without useable front legs that has learned to walk upright? Faith has been on Oprah and Montel, she’s making the rounds of media, and has an agent. Her owner, Jude Stringfellow, gave up teaching in Oklahoma to take Faith on the road and has positioned her pet as a “27-pound self help book” with the inspirational message:
If a dog can do it, so can a person.
And so can a cat. Here’s a picture of Zak, a reader’s cat who lost one limb and learned to deal with it.
Another uplifting story features Phantom, a blue Persian show cat. He suffered a seizure shortly after his eleventh birthday and then began acting odd--hanging his head like it hurt, meowing with deep yowls. His owner, Judy Miley, told his vet she’d do anything to find out what was wrong--and so they went to a neurologist at the University of Illinois where he was diagnosed.
Phantom, before his seizure
The MRI showed a tumor in Phantom’s brain. The family was devastated, but pursued treatment. Surgery wasn’t able to remove the tumor, but enough fluid was drawn off to relieve Phantom’s pain--and to learn that it was NOT malignant!
Phantom, After Surgery
Phantom stayed at the hospital for radiation treatments (16 sessions, one every day) and came home weekends. The kitty didn’t want to eat while he was away from home and dropped from 10 pounds to 6-1/2 pounds during this time. Once he came home, though, he regained his weight--and his previous loving personality. His story, told in the book Complete Care for Your Aging Cat, continues to inspire other cat lovers.
Do you have a cat that inspires you?
I’ve talked about my favorite “secret weapon” dog toy before. There’s nothing quite like it. I recently called the manufacturer to place a reorder and was told that my #1 most-beloved toy, the spasm-inducing hedgehog, has been … discontinued.
Say it ain’t so.
You’ve got to have some extra ones hidden away in that big warehouse.
Can I request a special run?
No??
I haven’t completely abandoned my quest for more hedgehogs. (Let the letter-writing campaign begin!) For now I have 3 left, which will be doled out as I come across dogs that I deem “hedgehog-worthy.”
Happily, I have other magical toys in my arsenal, including these guys:
I think they’re refugees from cat-land (they’re not really built for the firepower that is a dog mouth), but these mice do the trick for supervised play, particularly hide-the-toy.
They also help to focus punchy puppies at the end of a taxing lesson … “Mousie Mouse” (as they’re know in my house) usually makes an appearance just as we settle down to discuss homework. That buys me 5 – 10 minutes of Q&A while the pups turn that cute fluffy puff into a soggy rat-like mess.
(It blends in with Mabel’s the Miniature Schnauzer’s fur)
As for where I get them … why do you suppose I call them my “secret” weapons?
The more I hear about animal abuse, I wonder what drives a person to justify such harm? For me, the primary issue is that pets DO have feelings, after all, isn’t that why they can help so much with ours? This all came to mind because I’m about to leave for a few days R&R, which means it’s off to the dog boarder for Maxi.
We were referred by a good friend to ‘Suzanne,’ who has turned her love of dogs into a business. Some months are slower than others, but for an ‘only’ pet like Maxi, the idea of spending a few days in a fenced in yard with a pack of friendly canines…um, well, actually, we now feel more guilty to bring him back home than we do to drop him off.
Most stories are built on the basic boy meets girl theory, and Maxi’s is no different. From the minute Suzanne’s dog Roxie, set eyes on our Max…it was love at first sight.
They go through a greeting ritual that involves a wrestling match, nips on the neck and the good old chase up and down the run. Not to be confused with shy, Roxie, an English Springer Spaniel, is usually the chaser. Other laughable matters include the fact that although she stands at least three times larger than Maxi…neither seem to care. And as for any roving eyes,
Roxie makes it clear to all other visiting dogs that he is all hers! Once she even jumped on me and blocked me from coming in to take him home!
So, all I am saying…having witnessed the true friendship that these two dogs have built, it is impossible to argue that there are no ‘feelings’ attached, and how grateful am I to Suzanne for her nurturing environment).
Shame on you who choose to overlook them, and if anyone has information on this abuser in NJ, please do what you can to aid authorities.
I’ll be checking out the traveling dogs at the airport, and reporting back with any news.
Meanwhile, send in your dog-meets-dog love stories at stories@petside.com
When we welcome a special cat into our lives, we understand that we will probably outlive them. After seven or twelve or 18+ years together, when they’ve purred their way into the very fabric of our hearts, the idea of them being “gone” forever can be wrenching. (For help dealing with the loss of a pet, see Petside's series Love and Loss)
We comfort ourselves with stories of the Rainbow Bridge, where we will be reunited in the spirit world with the pets we have loved and lost. And I often council folks preparing for the loss of a pet that no matter what choices they make, ultimately a decision made with love CANNOT be wrong. We hurt in direct proportion to the amount that we love.
That doesn’t make it hurt any less.
And however lovely those Rainbow Bridge stories might be, are they simply fairy tales that wishful thinking prompts? Over the Easter holiday, churches filled to overflowing with people celebrating renewed hope and love, and rebirth of all-things-good through their Christian faith. And one of the things I felt most grateful for was the love of my pets. Frankly, people around the world from all walks of life, cultures and religious persuasions love their pets, too--and I wanted some answers.
So on my radio show PET PEEVES I interviewed my own pastor, as well as Angel Animal Network founders to see what they’d have to say.
Do pets go to heaven when they die? Do they have souls? What do the world religions say? As with all such things, it comes down to faith.
I don’t know about you, but for me, it won’t be heaven unless my pets are there, too!
What do you believe?
Dear Neighbor,
I have an important question for you: why do you leave your dog-aggressive dogs in your front yard?
Sumner, Zeke and I were taking a Sunday stroll, enjoying the beautiful weather and the twittering birds. The three of us were zoning out … until we walked by your house. Our reverie ended abruptly when your two dogs came crashing through the shrubs and thrust their barking, snarling faces through the fence at us. We were caught off guard, and completely freaked out by the intensity of your dogs’ “greeting.”
Now, your property line ends a mere foot and a half from the sidewalk, so in order to pass your yard without a fence-fighting battle royale (my dogs were startled and reacted to the affront with a similar intensity), we had to divert into the street just as a giant pick-up truck was passing.
Dogs screeching, pick-up swerving, me simmering, all while you stood just a few feet away, calmly repeating, “Chloe. Max. Chloe. Max.” You didn’t try to reign in your dogs as we passed; you just chanted their names a few times.
Yes, neighbor, you heard me mutter an expletive, and no, it wasn’t because I was angry at my dogs, who by this time had accidentally tripped me in the middle of the street. That fancy word was just for you.
I don’t get it. You know that your dogs are going to react to passers-by. You probably have some idea that it’s frightening for the people and dogs on the other side of the fence. Yet you allow it.
The neighbor in me is upset with you because that kind of behavior is just unmannerly, but the dog trainer in me is upset because your dogs are perfecting a very unhealthy behavior. Think about it: every time someone passes your house, your dogs charge the fence barking madly. The perceived interlopers keep moving, so your dogs start to realize, “Charging and barking makes the trespassers go away. This strategy works!” And there you have an ugly put perfected fence-fighting technique that will be very difficult to curb, should you decide that you no longer want to piss off your neighbors.
Until that day comes (and please don’t call me to help untrain your dogs), Zeke, Sumner and I will be slightly grumpy and ready for the fracas every time we pass your house.
Over the past three weeks sweet Tino the 16-week old Bulldog has gone from textbook puppy perfection:
To a little scary looking:
Is it a tumor? Bee sting? Allergies? None of the above … Tino has a very common condition called “Cherry Eye,” which occurs when the third eyelid gland gets inflamed and pops out of place.
Tino’s going to have it taken care of when he goes in for his “big snip” in a few weeks. Until then, he’s requested that I only photograph him from his good side.
They’ve got a “National Day/Week/Month” for nearly everything these days, buit this one should be on every pet lover’s calendar. The month of April celebrates pet first aid, and every animal lover should be prepared for the worst--and hope it never happens.
Do you know the signs of a pet emergency? Or what to do if it happens to you? (Read more about this in the article, Surviving a Pet Health Emergency)
Of course, different emergencies require various responses but there are some basics you should know. ANY sudden change in behavior could be the sign of a problem. Physical signs include a change in gum color, for example. Pale could indicate anemia or shock; blue gums point to smoke inhalation, bright cherry red is the sign of carbon monoxide poisoning, and yellow (jaundice) could be liver problems.
Your veterinarian must be called and involved in treatment, but in some instances, you can’t wait to make a call. If he stops breathing, it’s up to you to save his life.
You’ll need to perform mouth-to-nose rescue breathing by covering his nose and mouth completely with your own, and gently blowing to watch that his chest expands. Give 15-20 breaths per minute until he starts breathing again or you reach emergency help.
Take a class from the Red Cross in pet first aid, and invest in a good first aid book. There are several available, including my own book that brings advice vrom more than 80 emergency room vets on everything from splinters to gunshot wounds, and how to use materials in your home (saran wrap, a condom, an ironing board *s*) to treat problems.
Familiarize yourself with emergency techniques ahead of time and have a reference on hand, just in case. It could save your cat’s life.
For more, see Petside's original VIDEO: Surviving a Pet Health Emergency
While businesses that rent dogs may be well intentioned, they’re unlikely to benefit the overall welfare of pets, and may actually do harm to the individual dogs they rent. So says the New York Times, and what do you think?
Quoting again from the Times, a dog is a lifetime friend and companion — not a two-hour rental. Dogs form attachments to their families and thrive on consistency. Frequent and abrupt changes in location, routine, discipline and attention are confusing and stressful. Moving them from person to person, home to home, can induce problems such as anxiety and depression.
Well I don't know the answer, but my BFD Maxi is looking pretty sullen about the prospect that I am leaving him for the day to go away to work. Amazing that he even knows how to position his chin between his paws to emphasize the word 'pitiful.'
And ha, ha Air Canada. New ruling says that . pets are people too
Shout out to any of you living in Florida. Pets need to be adopted and soon. Try to get there if you can. Send us your updates at stories@petside.com
Cats spend a great deal of time grooming themselves. But there are times when a lick-and-a-promise simply won’t be enough.
I can already hear the chorus protesting with, “Bathe my cat, are you insane?!”
But yes, it can be done. Cat show folks do this all the time, and some bathe their cats multiple times during a single show. The trick, of course, is to start when the kitten is young, doesn’t know any better, and you are bigger than him and more able to handle the pistoning paws.
I bathe Seren once a year whether she needs it or not, just on general principle. Nope, she doesn’t enjoy it, but she does tolerate the experience. There are some good rules of “paw” to follow. Above all, be prepared:
• Have all your bath materials gathered ahead of time. You do not want to be searching for the soap or towel with a wet, hissy cat in the sink.
• Run the water ahead of time. Cats object to the running water, but are much more likely to tolerate being lowered into standing water. Be sure it’s cat-body-temperature (not too hot or too cold).
• Use cat-specific shampoo. People shampoo or detergent can be too drying and irritating. Add shampoo to the standing water first, so it more easily penetrates the dry fur.
• Put a towel in the bottom of the sink. That gives the cat claws something to grasp other than you. Good footing makes kitty feel more secure.
• Use a cup to dip water. Cats seem to prefer this to the nozzle sprayer. But if you must use the spray, hold it close to the cat’s body for rinsing.
• Rinse. And rinse again. And then again. Once you’re sure all the soap is gone, rinse one final time so that none remains to dry out the skin or cause sores.
• Offer treats. I mean, break out the extra-special-scrumptious treats. Leave your cat with a (literally) good taste about the whole experience.
Do you have any special tricks to get your cat to tolerate a bathe? Leave a comment and let us know!
I’m casting another TV show, and every morning my inbox is filled with pictures from prospective canine actors that make me go, “Awwww!”:
That’s Bushido, an 8-week old Cane Corso. I’d say his face has “star quality” written all over it. You ready to steal the show, Bushido?
Because it’s difficult to judge the size of a pup from a photo (just look at that first photo of Wally and you’ll see what I mean), I’ve asked applicants to pose their pup next to a household object, like a water bottle. Easier said than done, it seems.
Little Sonny the longhaired English Cream Dachshund isn’t quite sure what to make of his photo session.
But his photos prove that he’s just a little bitty guy, which is just what I need for the show.
My new client Riley the Goldendoodle is in the running for TV-stardom as well. He’s bigger, but the cute is strong in this pup:
I think Dottie the 10-week old Labradoodle’s person used my favorite trick to coax this pose:
I’m guessing that there’s a treat just outside of the frame. Here’s Dottie doing a little freestyle posing:
You’re hired!
Think your pup has what it takes for TV stardom? If you live in the DC-metro area and have a smallish-pup under 16-weeks of age, drop me a line!
I got a press release from my friends at American Humane and the topic of the article made me realize that I’ve been a very naughty dog guardian lately … I’ve neglected a very basic but oh-so important piece of canine equipment: dog tags.
The press release was about “Tag Day”, a special event to remind pet owners that their dogs and cats need to wear identification. I’d never heard of the event, but I think it’s a great idea. Only sixteen percent of dogs and two percent of cats that end up in shelters are reunited with their families each year, mainly because their owners failed to put any sort of identification on them. A simple “return to sender” tag with your name and phone number on it will provide your pet with a ticket home should he ever get lost.
Both Zeke and Sumner have ID tags – somewhere. It’s just that I change their collars frequently and I forget to change the tag along with the collar! Lesson learned, and thankfully not he hard way. I remedied the missing tag situation today … check out their new bling:
The American Humane is celebrating Tag Day on April 5th, but as they say in their promotional materials: every day is tag day.
Okay, I know that in some parts of the country it’s still cold and snow continues to threaten. But here in North Texas, wild flowers have already begun to bloom. My roses are ready to explode, and the trees (achoo!) also splash the landscape with color.
And oh, the bugs are out and about.
Last week I found a tick, not on one of the animals, but on ME! Ew…I hate those spidery look-alikes. They not only suck blood from our cats and d*gs but they carry diseases that make pets sick as well as people.
Cats in the southern states may be at risk for a protozoal disease called Cytauxzoon felis. The disease is carried by bobcats and the wild critters usually has no symptoms. But housecats suffer a sudden extremely high fever, jaundice (yellow skin), followed by plummeting body temperature--and death. There is no effective treatment.
Please take precautions. There are some very good tick preventive treatments for d*gs--but some of these d*g treatments can be dangerous for cats. For instance, products containing permethrin or phenothrin labeled for d*gs can kill your cat. Frontline and Revolution both work against ticks and have formulations recommended for kitties.
Evicting mice from the environment also boots tick-bearing bobcats out of the neighborhood, so clearing debris reduces tick risk to your housecats, too. Keeping your pets from problem areas and treating the bug habitats reduces the pest population. So this spring, get TICKED OFF! And keep your felines safe.
Do you have any tips for keeping your pets and home tick free?
I remember when very young having somebody from the city visit my parent’s house, to collect fees for a license for our d*g. Different communities handle such things in various ways, with the moneys collected sometimes helping to fund other animal initiatives such as low-cost spay/neuter efforts or vaccination clinics.
Recently the city of Irving, Texas approved a new ordinance requiring d*g and cat owners to register their pets with the city or face Class C misdemeanor charges. But officials say it’s not about the fees--it’s aimed at reuniting more lost pets with their owners through built-in incentives.
The registration fees are tiered and offer lower costs to pet owners who have their animals microchipped, and to those who have them sterilized. Fees are $5 for animals with a microchip, $10 for sterilized animals that don’t have a microchip, and $15 for pets that have not been sterilized and do not have a microchip.
What do you think? Does your community require licensing? Will imposing these fees help spur people to be more responsible, or could it backfire and prompt low-income owners to simply dump pets rather than risking a major fine? The Irving ordinance goes into effect June 1st, but the animal services officers say they’ll push for voluntary; compliance before handing out citations.
Leave a comment and let me know what you think about this law!
Not every dog likes to play fetch, but the ones that do tend to like it obsessively. As in, “Here’s my ball. Throw it. Throw it. Please throw it now. I’m ready for you to throw it. I’ll put it in your lap and that might make you more inclined to throw it. Are you ready to throw it?”
Most of us dutifully throw the ball no matter how bossy Fido gets. Barking? “Demand” jumping? That’s just part of the game, right? Fido just can’t control himself when it comes to playing ball.
Um, yes he can. And he should.
It’s easy to teach your dog some fetching manners. Next time he “demands” that you play with him by exhibiting an inappropriate behavior, simply drop the ball and walk way. Wait a few moments, return and ask your dog to do a simple training exercise. (“sit” is the easiest, of course.) Toss the ball for him as a reward the second he does it. If he balks (or barks), drop the ball and walk away again. It might be frustrating at first, but if you’re consistent your dog will soon learn that being bossy isn’t a viable play strategy.
(That’s my client Buddy the Fetching Fanatic.)
As your dog gets better with his sit-for-play skills, make him hold the sit for a few seconds before you toss the ball.
Patience can be learned, Grasshoppers.
Is your dog fetch-obsessed? Leave a comment a tell me about it!
Although daffodils are poking through and the sun is shining more on the East Coast, the same cannot be said about the economy. Traders are still suffering depression while mortgage borrowers are living in a constant state of one step from foreclosure. Pet owners in financial trouble should check with local shelters or rescue groups for information about temporary assistance as some can provide food for the short term or provide lists of lower-cost veterinary care.
This report today reiterates the problem of abandoned animals arriving in droves to shelters. What happens to pets when the bank – God forbid - comes knocking at the door?
Updates on the Kingfisher plane in Bangalore, India, say that there is a rampant problem in that area of stray dogs running through airports.
And while it’s not the same scenario, folks in the US can better prevent their pets from becoming strays with microchipping.
No matter how intelligent we think of our pets, if they should get loose or wander off, they are subject to a host of temptations and distractions – notwithstanding theft – that could be circumvented by a good old chip behind the ear.
If you happen to be in the New Hampshire area this weekend, cat lovers ---stop by the Touch of Class Cat Fanciers Show on Saturday, April 5, at the Radisson Hotel in Nashua.
Send us your local news stories at stories@petside.com
What creates a fear of dogs?
Is it innate? Parental influence? Negative childhood experiences?
I’m sure choice “C” can have a profound impact on the relationship one has – or doesn’t have – with dogs. A scary run-in with a dog during childhood could certainly lead to a lifelong fear of dogs. Or maybe not. I had my very own traumatic childhood experience with a dog that left me with a physical scar, but thankfully no emotional ones.
I was young, probably about six, and visiting my Grandmother in New York. I thought her downstairs neighbor’s German Shepherd was adorable, and I couldn’t resist petting it under the chin as we passed it in the courtyard.
Scritch-scritch-scritch-BITE!
The bite caught my wrist. None of us have a clear recollection of the event, but I remember that it was sudden, painful and scary. And that it warranted a trip to the doctor for a shot.
Now, that episode could have left me afraid of dogs for life (or at least afraid of GSDs), but judging by my career path it didn’t. I had no post-bite “I don’t like dogs” period during my childhood … the event left no impression but the small scar I still bear on my wrist (I think it looks like a shark tooth):
I’d be interested to hear some of your dog bite stories. Were you afraid of dogs afterwards? Does the sight of the breed that bit you still impact you?
(Is anyone out there? When I ask you for stories it means that I truly am curious … c’mon, share with us.)
This past Saturday I attended the first annual Border Queen Book Festival in Comanche, Oklahoma and signed/sold books with about 40 other local authors. What a treat! The event was widely advertised and promoted as a literacy event so a large number of school children attended.
As a writer of pet books, I’m often mistaken for a children’s author. Young people certainly may appreciate my work and most certainly love cats and d*gs with as equal a passion. But my books are not written specifically for children but more for a pet-savvy adult reader interested in how-to information on care, health, behavior and training. So I was a bit concerned if the audience would be appropriate.
So I’m pleased to report that many cat and d*g lovers attended, stopped by to talk pets and ask questions, and a few even purchased a book or two. It was also a great treat to meet and compare notes with other authors. Interesting, isn’t it, that even the authors who don’t specifically write ABOUT cats may also have a “furry muse” at home that inspires them to write.
My Seren(dipity) cat would say, “That’s paw-sitively natural!.”
My new client Wally is a 4-month old Leonberger puppy.
Aww, what a cute little guy.
Wait – let me amend that. Cute? Definitely.
Little? Not so much:
Wally is a gigantic 65-pound puppy who can rest his nose at the edge of the kitchen table quite comfortably. It’s easy to forget that he’s still a young’un, what with his big-dog looks and his lazy-bones temperament. (Towards the end of our lesson I tossed a treat on the ground a few feet in front of his nose in an attempt to get him up and moving. He looked at the treat, looked at me, and opted to stay at rest.)
A vet projected that Wally will weigh at least 150 pounds. Thankfully, he’ll be a gentle giant – the breed is known for their sweet temperament.
Wally managed to rouse himself and do some up-tempo recalls during our lesson. His energy level definitely dipped towards the end of the session, but he regained some spunkiness when he stole a non-dog toy off the coffee table.
Puppy proofing is a little more difficult when the puppy in question is nearly waist high!
I have a confession to make. After many years of ‘pretending’ to be a writer and creating original ideas and content for countless articles, columns, books and websites--I’m a fraud.
I’ve been relying on the creative genius of somebody else. See, the true author cares nothing for publicity or accolades wouldn’t know what to do with money if it snuck up and bit them. So I’ve been flat-out ripping ‘em off with the true artist none the wiser, for years and years. This goes beyond “borrowing” a well-turned phrase or two, and is better characterized as downright THEFT.
But they say confession is good for the soul, and I’ve decided to turn myself in, publicly “out” myself and take my punishment. So for one and all, below you’ll find a picture of the affronted party--you can see she’s old-school and not into computers (another reason I could so easily burgle-the-cat-content).
APRIL FOOLS!
Iditarod 2008 may be over, but news about it - good or bad - is still making headlines.
The good news is that the veterinarian treating '08 champion Lance Mackey's sled dog Zorro, says he will make a full recovery from injuries suffered when he was hit by a snowmobile.
The not-so-good news is that Zorro will likely never race again after being accidentally hit somewhere around Nome, Alaska on the race route.
I'm struggling with the question today of how someone gets to own 61 cats? We've talked about hoarding and boarding for ages, but I'm still perplexed as to how one home can accommodate such quantities. On top of that, this news item takes it one step further with the discovery of a woman who stuck 41 dead cats in a freezer in the hopes of preventing the remaining 20 from falling ill.
Shame on you today... Delta Airlines...raising the price of fares for traveling with a pet is not something we like to hear at petside.
We do like to hear about great rescue stories though,
and this item scores points for all pit bull lovers.
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