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Does Your Pet Need a Pit Stop?

Sunday, July 25th, 2010

When traveling, we occasionally need a pit stop, but what options does your pet have when waiting at the airport for your flight?

With the number of pet owners that travel with their pets on the rise, many airports are adding pet relief areas or lounges to give pets the opportunity for bathroom breaks and a little exercise.  The pet areas were originally developed to assist travelers with service dogs, convenient relief areas weren’t required until the department published changes last year to the Air Carrier Access Act, which spells out travel rights for people who have physical disabilities.

These pet areas are often outside but within walking distance of the terminal.  A few airports such as Dulles International in Washington DC have indoor pet areas within its security zone, in addition to three relief areas outside. Engineers designed them after studying other dog parks. They contain ventilation and wall-mounted water-distribution systems for cleaning.

If you’re planning to take your pet with you on a flight, you can check petfriendlytravel.com to see if your destination or layover point has a pet relief area, and where it’s located in relation to the airport terminal.

Bon voyage!

Some information for this post from USAToday.com

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Posted in Human Pet Connection, Pet Wellness, cats, dogs, pet care | No Comments »

America’s Top Five Dog Parks

Sunday, July 4th, 2010

It’s summertime and many of us are planning vacations.  Are you looking for a trip that will be fun for you and your dog?  Check out the top dog parks in the country as ranked by Dog Fancy magazine.

  1. Jackass Acres K-9 Korral in New River, AZ.  Some of the highlights that make the top-ranked park in the nation are a complete recycling program, separate obstacle courses for small and large breed dogs, a doggie shower and monthly education events.  This park also has a strong volunteer corp. that provides various services to help pets and their owners together through rough economic times.
  2. Pilgrim Bark Park in Provincetown, Mass.  Features here include a memorial park and whimsical benches, one shaped like the Mayflower.  This park does not receive any government funding, so is very creative in its fundraising efforts.  Last year they invited Lily Tomlin (a frequent visitor to the area) to perform at a fundraiser that helped raise money for new shade structures at the park.
  3. Kenton Paw Park, Covington, KY.  This park features regular pool parties, agility equipment, a calendar and park t-shirts.  Kenton features several fun events but they feel a responsibility to educate the public by sponsoring many workshops like Meet the Vet and CPR for Dogs.
  4. Cosmo Dog Park, Gilbert, AZ.  This park features covered picnic areas, a lake with a dock for jumping and agility equipment.  Cosmo features a brick memorial walkway where pet owners can honor their pets that have passed away.  Another feature is a pawprint bridge that spans the lake.
  5. Puptown Dog Park, Chicago, IL.  This park features quarterly meet & greets, regular canine health seminars and an annual Halloween costume contest.  Puptown embraces a community atmosphere by offering regular events and park clean-up days.

Whether you check out one of these destinations or just get out and about your town, enjoy the summer with your dog!

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Posted in Human Pet Connection, Pet Wellness, dogs, pet care | 3 Comments »

Raise Your Pet Cancer Awareness This Month

Sunday, May 2nd, 2010

Blue Buffalo Pet Food and PetCo have teamed up to raise awareness and further the fight against pet cancer.  Statistics show that nearly half of all disease-related pet deaths are caused by cancer.

Throughout this month, PetCo consumers will be able to round up their in-store purchases to the next highest dollar or make donations of their choice.  Blue Buffalo is donating $1 for every bag of Blue Buffalo food purchased in May to further pet cancer research.  PetCo and Blue Buffalo are aiming to donate $1 million for the cause.

Blue Buffalo is sponsoring a nationwide Pet Cancer Awareness Tour that will stop at PetCo stores across the U.S. to provide pet owners with information on pet cancer.  In addition, PetCo is declaring May 8 Pet Cancer Awareness Day at stores nationwide.  From 10a-2p veterinarians will be available to talk with pet owners on pet cancer warning signs and prevention.

Look for more postings through May on prevention and treatment options, as well as various research projects currently underway to help curb the spread of cancer in our pets.

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Posted in Pet Wellness, cats, dogs | 1 Comment »

National Pet ID Week

Sunday, April 18th, 2010

Every year many pets are lost, with only a very small percentage (15% of dogs and 2% of cats) being reunited with their families.  To dramatically increase the chances of finding your pet if they get lost, pet identification is a must.  National Pet ID Week, April 18-24, brings focus to the importance of identification for your pet.

Microchipping has become a popular form of pet identification in recent years.  Statistics have shown that chances of finding a lost pet are six times greater if they’re microchipped.  Microchips are small, about the size of a grain of rice, and are embedded under the skin.  Each pet is assigned a unique identification that can be read by universal microchip readers at vet offices and many emergency pet care clinics or shelters.

Many animal shelters provide microchipping for pets they have available for adoption.  If you have a pet that has not been microchipped, many shelters offer specials on microchipping at their facility, or at community events.

If worried about adverse effects of microchipping your pet, read “Microchipping of Animals” at the American Veterinary Medical Association website, www.avma.org . Studies tracked reported adverse effects for nearly a decade, and found that the majority of complaints involved chips migrating from their implantation site. There were very few other problems.

On the other hand, dogs have been recovered by owners from hundreds of miles away, or years after they disappeared, when a scanner was finally applied to the dog.

The new AKC mixed breed program automatically enrolls registered mixed breeds in the AKC Companion Animal Recovery (AKC CAR) system. The 2006 National Animal Disaster Summit post hurricanes Katrina and Rita advised that all animals rescued during a disaster should be microchipped, as chips facilitated the identification of rescued animals.

Other identification methods include ensuring your pet has a collar with up-to-date license, rabies tag and contact information either on the collar itself or on a separate tag attached to the collar.

Even the most responsible pet owner can become separated from their pet unexpectedly, so be sure your pet has identification in the event it happens to you.

Some information for this post was gathered from www.examiner.com

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Posted in cats, dogs, pet care | 10 Comments »

When Spring Cleaning Has Gone to the Dogs!

Monday, April 5th, 2010

Jessie, the neat and clean dog:  I am so excited that spring is here!  I love the fresh, warm air; the calming breezes; and the smiling sun.  It does my heart good to celebrate in this glorious season. However, along with spring comes that dreaded spring cleaning ritual.  Sure, it makes us all feel good to get it done, but what a pain it can be.  Plus, with pets on hand and underfoot, we can add to your work load.  I tend to be rather neat and clean, but I have seen the work that my canine colleagues have done to their humans’ homes, so I am here to offer some tips to reduce that spring cleaning work load.

First, get rid of any and all house cats.  They are the worst offenders.

Bo, house cat extraordinaire:  I beg your pardon?  It seems to me that the DOGS bring in the most dirt and grime.  Cats are simply self-cleaning machines.

Jessie:  I was just kidding.  I only wanted to see if you were paying attention! So, back to business.  If you want to avoid muddy pawprints all over your clean floor this spring, teach your dog to stand at the door so you can wipe his paws before he comes in.  Be sure to use a soft, damp cloth…and remember to clean between the toes, too!  He could soon come to see this as some sort of paw massage or paw-dicure!

If you don’t want your muddy dog to roll all over your floor or your furniture while he is covered in mud, put slip covers on any furniture your dog is normally allowed to sit on.  Floor runners and mats can protect your carpets.

Many breeds of dogs shed all throughout the year.  It might become more obvious in the spring time as they begin to shed their winter coats.  To tackle this problem, brush your dog more frequently all of that fur gets stuck in the furniture or in the carpet.  You have enough work to do with pets….who needs dust bunnies?

Now is a good time to wash your dog’s bedding.  Use a commercial laundromat for the bigger beds.  Or, if you are lucky and you have a doggie bed with a removable cover, just stick that cover in your home washing machine.  It is best to use a non-scented detergent and do not use dryer sheets, as they can irritate your dog’s skin.

Those are my spring cleaning tips for the day!  I hope I have kick-started your week. (Looking around now…)  Speaking of kick-starting, where is that mangy cat?

(Information for this article was found at http://www.zootoo.com/petnews/howpetownerscanembracespringcl-1548.)

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Posted in Pet Wellness, cats, dogs, pet care | 11 Comments »

Beautiful Flower, But Deadly for your Pet

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

Bo and Jessie have taken the holiday weekend off and left me in charge of their post for today.  With spring now here, many of us are planting spring flowers and plants. Our pets, like us, enjoy beautiful plants and flowers.  Pets, however, sometimes like to nibble on the ones they find most appealing.  This habit could have serious, even deadly, repercussions.

The ASPCA has developed a list of some the most common pet poisonous plants:

  • Lilies-especially toxic for cats, ingesting even a small amount can lead to severe kidney damage
  • Marijuana-causes depression of central nervous system, increased heart rate, seizures, even coma
  • Sage Palm-Seeds or “nuts” are especially toxic, can cause liver failure or seizures
  • Tulip/Narcissus Bulbs-may cause severe gastrointestinal irritation or cardiac abnormalities
  • Azalea/Rhododendron-Severe azalea poinsoning may lead to coma or death from cardiovascular collapse
  • Oleander-Can cause hypothermia, abnormal heart function and death
  • Castor Bean-Severe cases of poisoning can cause dehydration, seizures, even death
  • Cyclamen-Main source of poison in the roots.  May cause serious gastrointestinal irritation, even death in extreme cases
  • Chrysanthemum-May cause vomiting, diarrhea or loss of coordination
  • Pothos-Can cause swelling of oral tissues and other parts of gastrointestinal tract
  • Amaryllis-Can cause depression, vomiting, tremors or abdominal pain
  • English Ivy-May cause hypersalivation, vomiting or abdominal pain

 

Liven up your indoor and outdoor living space with beautiful plants, but keep your pets in mind when making your selections.  For more information on this subject, see www.aspca.org

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Is Your Dog Getting Enough of the Right Exercise?

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

Different dog breeds have varying exercise needs.  Small companion breeds, such as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, don’t need strenous workouts, but do need good exercise and stimulation.  Working breeds, like the Border Collie, are bred for stamina making their exercise needs much more strenuous.  Consider the activity your dog’s breed was meant to perform, like herding or retrieving, and tailor exercise to best meet those breed-specific needs.

Variety should also be incorporated into your dog’s exercise routine.  Much like us, doing the same exercise routine every day can become boring to your pet.  When going for walks, change your route from time to time.  The change will give your dog new sights and smells to investigate which will increase their enjoyment of the walk.

So how do you know if your pet is getting enough, and the right kind of exercise?  One way to know is weight gain.  If your dog is gaining weight, this is an indication more walks of longer duration are needed.  Another sign of inappropriate exercise level is behavorial troubles.  Chewing and excessive barking are indications your dog may be anxious or frustrated.

Many people believe leaving their dog in the backyard all day provides enough opportunity for exercise.  Initially, the yard provides enough stimulation and area for them to get the exercise and stimulation they need.  Over time, however, the same yard becomes familiar territory with little to stimulate them.  Once this happens, behaviorial problems very similar to those of a dog kept inside all day will begin to surface. 

If your pet is left alone for long hours, consider hiring a dog=walker or taking him to a doggy day-care facility.

It’s Me or The Dog:  How to Have the Perfect Dog by Victoria Stilwell was a reference for this post.

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Posted in Pet Wellness, dogs, pet behavior, pet care | 3 Comments »

Is Your Pet Fit or Fat?

Sunday, March 21st, 2010

Did you know about 44% of dogs and 57% of cats are overweight?  Being overweight leads to a higher risk of arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer and behaviorial problems in dogs and cats.

Not sure if your pet is fit or fat?  A fit dog or cat’s ribs can be felt and there is a slight waist when viewed from above.  In overweight pets, the ribs are difficult to feel and there is no waist when viewed from above.  When pets are obese, their ribs are very difficult to feel and when viewed from above, there is no waist and a broad back.

For those pets battling weight issues, it is possible to still give them treats.  Following are some healthy pet treat options:

  • Cooked or raw carrots or green beans.  Dogs love the taste!
  • Reduce the size and/or number of treats given
  • Reserve a portion of daily food allowance to use as treats
  • Stuff hollow toys with morsels of food.  Pets will work off energy trying to get the food out of the toy

 

Another way to help with your pet’s weight management is to get them moving.  A game of Find the Treat works for cats and dogs.  Hide treats at various locations and your pet will search until they’ve found all of them.  This works especially well for cats using small bowls of food.  Their natural predatory instinct will kick in and they will hunt the food throughout the day.

Many pets will chase remote-controlled toys.  Look for ones that are pet-friendly and do not contain small parts that could be swallowed.  A variation on this for cats is a red laser light.  Many cats love chasing the light and this game provides a good amount of exercise for them.

With warmer weather on the way, swimming is a good exercise, especially for dogs with joint injuries or arthritis.  Playing fetch is also a great exercise option for dogs.

All of these exercise options are a great opportunity to bond with your pet.  Have fun and get moving with your pet today!

Information for this posting from Healthy Pet Magazine, Fall 2009 & Spring 2010

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Provide a safe lawn and garden for your pets this Spring!

Friday, March 19th, 2010

It is Spring Break and Bo and Jessie are taking a temporary vacation from this blog. They may be sipping Mai Tais on a luxurious island, or, more than likely, they are arguing in the back room about who needs to take out the trash this week. At any rate, we have given them a reprieve from their writing duties and present to you this post about preparing your garden for Spring while still making it safe for your pets.

With Spring in the air, many folks are putting their green thumbs back into action, and with that endeavor comes a responsibility to keep your pets safe when they roam around the yard. We all love our gardens and yards, but we also want to make sure our animal friends are free from harm and poisonous substances.

For example, when applying fertilizer to your lawn, please follow the instructions carefully and allow for the proper waiting period after application and before letting your pet run free across the yard. If your pet digests any of the fertilizer, it could cause stomach upset or even a life-threatening intestinal obstruction.

When using insecticides, be sure to store them in areas inaccessible to your pets. Be sure to follow the label for proper use and storage. While these products are necessary for a healthy garden, they can be quite dangerous to a dog or a cat.

Cocoa mulch is frequently used in landscapes for it attractive odor and color. However, its sweet, chocolately scent can attract dogs. If consumed by a dog, this mulch can cause vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tremors, seizures, and hyperactivity. Consider using shredded pine, cedar, or hemlock bark, but make sure you also keep an eye on your four-legged buddy when he or she is out in the yard sniffing around!

Are you composting? Good for you! Mother Nature loves you! However, be aware of what types of food you may be putting into you garden soil that could be potentially harmful to your pet, such as coffee, moldy foods, and certain types of fruits and vegetables. Those can prove toxic to your pet.

And when using your garden tools, please be sure to put them away when you are finished using them. They may seem harmless, but if a dog pokes himself on a rake or on any other sharp tool, he or she can risk tetanus.

So, go ahead and enjoy your beautiful yard this Spring! Just be sure to employ a few safety tips into your endeavors so you and your pet can safely and happily play in the yard!

Now, go fetch!

(Information for this post was obtained at www.aspca.org)

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Is this for real? Doggie make-up?

Monday, March 15th, 2010

Jessie, the beautiful dog: You know, The Crufts dog show is being held in England as we speak.  I am wondering why I am not in attendance.  I am not suggesting I should be a mere spectator, either.  I think I could hold my own quite well in such an event.

Bo, the annoyed cat:  Are you kidding me?  You could not even get a job as an usher there!  This is a top notch event.  It beckons the best of the best of the best.  Don’t think I saw your name on the list.

Jessie:  Well, if I could get our human, Karen, owner of Joy of Living Pet Sitting Services in Overland Park, to glam me up a bit, I might qualify.

Bo:  Well, from what I have read in the news, some of those dogs are being called on the carpet for engaging in behaviors that are completely disturbing.

Jessie:  What on earth do you mean?

Bo:  According to my sources at www.pawnation.com, the judges for this dog show, the world’s largest, are on the look out for canine competitors whose looks have been, shall we say, enhanced with certain cosmetics.

Jessie:  Does Maybelline know about this?

Bo, rolling his eyes:  Do you not know anything?  This is not about green eyeshadow, red lipstick, and pink blush.  It is about hair removal creams and color dyes.  While it has been alleged that some owners are suspected of using lipstick. eyeliner, and even acne creams on their show dogs, most are doing things such as giving the dogs a last minute shave, perhaps using a female depilatory cream, and even using corn startch to brighten up the legs.  Hairdressers unite!  At this event, it is all about shampooing, blow drying, and coiffing the ‘dos!  One dog in particular was spotted getting a last minute shave and even having her eyes touched up wtih white powder to get that nasty red look out of them.  Begs the question:  How many of these canine friends are wearing colored contact lenses or have had plastic surgery?  Where will it end?????

Jessie:  That is why I should be in the show.  With my natural good looks and dynamic personality, I would be the highlight of the show!

Bo, aside:  More like the court jester if you ask me.  Now, I have to get going.  I have a mani-pedi scheduled in 30 minutes.  What?  Those of the male persuasion have to look good, too!

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