- 10 Realtime And Reliable Photo Search Engines http://t.co/HoGUk218 via @zite
- Here they come to save the day! 10 Pet Heroes http://t.co/y3eMGNA2 via @zite
- Check out this article: Kemper’s director leaves http://t.co/CE7Usqk0
- This would've been very cool, I think....Steve Jobs' Dream Of iCar Revealed (VIDEO) http://t.co/ANCjjpwi via @zite
- Dogs helping their people..Dog Is Lifesaver for 3-Year-Old with Diabetes http://t.co/8HUXJWYW via @zite
Funny Pet Video of the Week
Some humor in dealing with a serious subject, spay and neuter….
Quick tips to reduce the allergens associated with your pets! Breathe easier!
Party Marty, here to shed some light on pets and allergies, most specifically related to dogs and cats. Hey! We know you love your pets, so don’t let those nasty allergens ruin the attraction you have to us!
If you suffer from allergies related to pets, here are some helpful tips from our friends at everydayhealth.com:
*When vacuuming, be sure to use a vacuum cleaner model that has a HEPA filter that can help to control the amount of pet dander in your home. Without this filter, the dander is just spread around, actually making things worse.
*Keep pets off the furniture, too, as they can spread their saliva and hair into the texture of the fabric.
*To minimize any allergic reactions you might have, consider giving your dog a weekly bath using a special shampoo designed to reduce allergens.
*Cats tend to cause more allergens than dogs, as their dander is light and sticky and travels everywhere. If someone in your home is not troubled by pet allergies, have that person brush the cat daily and then thoroughly clean the brush. Get in the habit of wiping the cat down daily with a damp washcloth. You can even inquire of your pet for a special pet diet/food that will minimize dander.
Finally, the biggest tip of all comes straight from the lips of yours truly:
*Consider getting rid of the dog. (Oops! Jessie just walked into the room! Gotta go! You did not see me here at all! I am off! Dang…hope she does not look in my browser for recent online activity!)
Is Mother’s Day Deadly to Cats? It Can Be….
Party Marty with an important warning about Mother’s Day! My buddy Bolt, the Yorkie-Poo, just called me to let me know that one of the humans in his house bought the other human some stargazer lilies for Mother’s Day. The clerk at the store asked the person, “Do you have cats?” He asked why and the clerk emphasized that stargazer lilies are highly toxic to cats.
If you have a human who adores these aromatic flowers and likes to have them at home, be careful if you own a cat! If a cat eats them, she can go into kidney failure.
Symptoms off stargazer lily ingestion include vomiting, loss of appetite, overall lethargy, depression, inability to urinate due to kidney failure, and death.
If you suspect your cat has ingested any part of a stargazer lily, take action IMMEDIATELY! Hydrogen peroxide should be administered to the cat to induce vomiting so that the stomach can be emptied and no further absorption of the toxin can take effect. Take the cat to the nearest veterinarian clinic where a 24-hour fluid can be administered for diuresis to allow for the cat’s kidneys to continue functioning as they should. Other medication may also need to be administered.
On the other hand, if your mom likes flowers, go for the artificial ones! Or…how about some made out of cat nip? Yeah…that sounds like a great idea! Catnip flowers! Genius! I may have to check into getting a patent on that grand idea!
Happy Mother’s Day to all of the incredible Moms out there!
Thanks to pawsdogdaycare.com for this helpful information.
Five Reasons To Get A Pet Bird
As I wrote earlier in the week, birds are the third most popular pet choice in the US. Below are five reasons birds may be a good pet choice for you:
- They can talk! Even though we often think we know what our pets are trying to say to us, with a bird there’s no guesswork!
- They’re smart-they can learn to mimic our actions and words, maybe being a bird brain isn’t a bad thing after all!
- They’re low maintenance. They don’t need walked or house trained. Although they do like some company, they don’t require as much time being entertained as say a dog…..or cat.
- They can live in small spaces. This can make them a good choice for apartment dwellers.
- They’re inexpensive. Although birds require specific high-quality pellet-type food, that can be supplemented with fruits and veggies from your kitchen. There are a few foods that are toxic to birds such as avocados, apple seeds, onions, chocolate and mushrooms so be sure to keep those away from your feathered friend. The other major expense for birds would be their cage. Birds are even ecologically correct, they’ll help you recycle your newspapers by using them in their cage as a liner.
Info from she knows.com
Exercises that are “ABs”-olutely Great for You and Your Cat!
Party Marty, the suave and sophisticated cat, checking out his profile in the mirror: Not bad. Not bad at all. Those winter months were not too hard on this bod! However, I bet there are some fat cats out there who could stand a bit of old-fashioned exercise before swim suit season is in full swing! (And their humans, too!) Here’s a fun exercise activity to do with your cat from which both of you will benefit:
Looking for a tummy toner that helps you and gets your cat moving at the same time? Do sit ups while holding a mini flashlight in each hand. When you are at the top position, tighten your ab muscles while simultaneously waivng the flashlight beams back and forth on the wall. Watch your cat chase them. Repeat. Again. More! Work it! Feel the burn! I’m done!
Thanks to prevention.com for this cool tip!
Helping “Flat-Faced” Dog Breeds Enjoy Summer
Summer is the time to get out and about with your dog, but for brachycephalic or “flat-faced” breeds like pugs or bulldogs, the warmer weather can pose serious health risks. Here are some ways to help your dog through the warm weather and still have fun:
- Walk your dog in the early morning and evening when the temperatures are lower
- Never leave your dog in the car unattended. Dogs can suffocate in a matter of minutes in hot weather
- Keep your dog at a healthy weight
- Use a halter rather than a collar to attach leash
- On extremely hot days, take short walks so you can get home easily if you need to
- Don’t overexercise your dog or get them too excited or stressed.
If you sense your dog is overheated, get him to a shady spot if outside, or to a cool place in the house such as the basement that has cool floors he can lay on. Put cool wet towels on him to get body heat down. Once stabilized, take him to the vet to be checked for any lingering problems.
Video: Pet Travel Safety at the New York Auto Show
If you’re planning a trip cross-country or across town, it’s important to have your pet safely restrained in your vehicle. Check out this video from the recent New York Auto Show that demonstrates some pet travel safety tips.
Undercover Filming of Farm Conditions in Jeopardy
The Missouri State legislature has proposed a bill that would make undercover filming of unfit farm conditions illegal.
The bill, HB 1860, makes it illegal to produce or distribute a record of an image or sound occurring at an operation without the consent of the owner of the facility. Violators could be subject to six months to four years in prison. Supposedly, the bill would not penalize whistle blowers employed by an agricultural business.
At least four other states are currently considering “Ag Gag” bills. Similar bills were introduced but failed to become law in Indiana, Florida and Illinois. The Missouri bill now moves onto the Senate.
Secret recordings have been a very useful tool to inform the general population of the way their meat, eggs and dairy are produced, and have led to massive public outcries in the past.
Personally, I’ve watched documentaries that graphically show the sub grade conditions farm animals often face. The legislator that introduced the Missouri bill also happens to be a farmer, which makes me wonder what he may be trying to hide with the introduction of this bill. If there wasn’t anything atrocious to film, the bill wouldn’t seem to be necessary at all.
What are your thoughts regarding this legislation?
Help Your Pet Reduce His Carbon Pawprint
With Earth Day coming up tomorrow, there is a lot of focus on taking care of the environment. Here are some ways you and your pet can help:
- Disposing of pet waste. It’s estimated dogs in the US produce 10 million tons of waste, cats 2 million. For dog waste, plastic bags do not decompose in landfills. Using biodegradable bags, which are often flushable, is an ecologically sound alternative. For cat waste, choosing a biodegradable litter is a good choice. Biodegradable litter is made of ingredients like wheat, corn, wheat or old newspapers. Odor control and absorption is often equal to the traditional clumping clay-based litter. Introduce the new litter gradually to minimize litter box avoidance issues.
- Spay/Neuter. Pet reproduction rates for dogs and cats account for 12-20 offspring per year, contributing to the 6-8 million homeless pets in the US. Many area animal shelters provide low cost spay/neuter services. If adopting a shelter pet, spay/neuter has already happened if the pet is of age.
- Sustainable Pet Supplies. A growing number of collars, leashes and pet toys are made with products such as cork, bamboo and hemp. Hemp is anti-fungal and breathable, making it a good choice for pets prone to allergies. It is also very sturdy, resistance to the elements is much higher than cotton. Hemp, cork and bamboo are highly renewable, making them a good ecological choice. Due to governmental regulations, hemp farming is not legal in the US. The majority of hemp used for products is imported from Canada, making the cost of hemp products higher.
Estate Planning and Your Pet
If you died unexpectedly, do you have a plan in place for care of your pets?
More pet owners are making provisions in their estate planning for their pet’s care. Most states allow pet owners to establish a trust for their pet. With a trust, property can be set aside for your pet’s care and a trustee named to manage the property.
A new owner for your pet can be named either in your will or irrevocable trust. If you don’t name a new owner, most state laws give ownership to your next of kin. In the will, you can also set aside funds to be given to the new owner for your pet’s care.
Have you planned for your pet’s care?
Info for this post from Whole Dog Journal, March 2012
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