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Posts Tagged ‘ Joy of Living Overland Park ’

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Is Your Pet a Jet-Setter?

Sunday, July 11th, 2010

Do you have a pet that aspires to be a jet setter?  If you want to fly with your pet, check out this list of pet friendly airlines from Petfinder.com:

  • Continental. Has a PetSafe program has a 24-hour Live Animal Desk that tracks the pets from origin to destination. Travelers using PetSafe can even earn miles. The airline also allows small cats, dogs, pet rabbits and household birds to be carried in the cabin on most domestic flights for $125 each way.  Small dogs, cats and rabbits are permitted to ride in the cabin
  • JetBlue Airways. For no additional cost, JetBlue provides a pet carrier bag tag, 300 TrueBlue points each way, a welcome e-mail and a free pet-travel guide. Small cats and dogs are allowed in cabin. In-cabin rates are $100 each way.
  • Airtran . It’s currently the least-expensive airline to fly with your small pet: just $69 each way. Small dogs, cats and birds are allowed to fly in-cabin
  • American Airlines. While they only allow a limited number of pets in the cabin (two in First Class and five in Coach), they ask pet parents to make special notes for their animal companions flying in cargo and promise to abide by all requests.  Small dogs and cats are permitted to ride in cabin.  The charge for pets riding in-cabin is $100.
  • United Airlines. They accept small cats, dogs and birds in the cabin; rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs as checked baggage and other animals including parrots, cockatiels and ferrets in United Cargo. (Shipping by cargo is for items, like some pets, that you can’t check as baggage. Your pet may or may not be on the aircraft with you.) Have a short-nosed dog that you can’t bring in the cabin? Check your date of flight; some breeds (including Boston Terrier, Boxer, English or French Bulldog, Shar Pei, Pug) and mixes are not allowed in cargo or as checked baggage from June 1 through September 30 of each year.  Fee for in-cabin pets is $125.

Airline policies regarding travel with pets are subject to change, check pettravel.com to get updated information before flying the skies with your pet.  Bon voyage!

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Posted in Human Pet Connection, 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 »

10 Tips to Keep the Peace in a Multi-Cat Household

Sunday, June 27th, 2010

Congratulations, you’ve added another cat to your household!  Having multiple felines can be fun but it also has its challenges.  Following are ten tips to maintain order and keep all the feline residents purring:

  1. If you have one cat currently and are now adding another, choosing a new cat of the opposite sex can reduce fighting among them.
  2. If your current cat is older, rather than adopting one kitten, consider adopting two so they can keep each other occupied.
  3. Never leave a new cat alone with the resident cat(s) until you are certain they won’t fight.
  4. Never give treats to one cat and not another.
  5. Window perches create space and allow your cats to sun themselves.
  6. Grooming your cats regularly can help reduce their stress.
  7. Do not allow play between cats to become aggressive.
  8. If fighting occurs between cats, do not attempt to separate them by hand.  Distract them by making a loud noise and put them in separate locations.
  9. Learn to understand feline body language.
  10. Make sure each cat’s needs are met and that each cat is treated as an individual member of the family.

Enjoy your feline family members and have a purr-fect day!

Information from Cat Fancy Magazine, August 2010 used in this post

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Posted in cats, pet behavior, pet care | 9 Comments »

Does Your New Cat Know the House Rules?

Sunday, June 13th, 2010

Congratulations, you’ve just adopted a new cat!  What sort of gear do you need to keep your feline friend happy and healthy?  The list includes litter and a litter box, bed, food and water bowls, a carrier and an ID tag.  Another important thing to remember is to check with the shelter or breeder where you adopted the cat to check on his/her current diet and eating habits.  Cats can be particular about food and it can cause digestive problems if you change the type of food you feed your new pet.

If you have other pets, it is important to introduce the new addition correctly.  Confine the new arrival to a specific area, being very careful to limit the amount of exposure to the other pets in the home.  Gradually increase the space available and exposure time the new arrival and the established pets.

Is your new addition a kitten?  If so, there are some basic “rules of the road” to enforce that will prevent problems later.

  • Be sure there are the correct number of litter boxes for the number of cats in the home.  The rule of thumb is one box per cat plus one additional box.  Be sure the boxes are in easy-to-reach locations and provide a level of privacy for the cat(s).
  • Offer plenty of toys and interactive playtime to satisfy her instincts.  If she attacks your ankles or tends to bite when you pet her, redirect these behaviors to a feather wand or other toy she can clutch and sink her teeth into.
  • Provide posts and cat trees for scratching, climbing and playing.  Posts and cat trees will satisfy a cat’s natural instinct to climb and jump, sharpen your claws and help protect your furniture.
  • Reinforce good behavior and redirect unwanted behavior.  Cats often like to “counter surf”, a way to prevent this is covering the counter with aluminum foil (cats hate the sound of the foil and how it feels on their paws).  Another trick is to put pennies in clean, empty soda cans and line them up on the counter.  Your cat will be startled by the sound the cans makes when they fall.

Adding a feline to your home can be a plus, but be sure they know and obey the “house rules”.

Information from this post derived from Cat Fancy magazine, April 2010 and The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Cat, Cat Breeds & Cat Care by Alan Edwards

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Posted in Human Pet Connection, cats, pet behavior, pet care | 3 Comments »

Pet Cancer Research Helps Pets and People

Sunday, May 16th, 2010

As we’ve been discussing this month, pet cancer is a serious problem.  There are research projects currently underway worldwide with thoughts of not only helping pets afflicted with cancer, but humans as well.  Research has shown that some forms of cancer rare in humans are much more common in pets, so studying and developing treatment options for pets ultimately helps animals and humans.

The Animal Cancer Foundation has collaborated with Cornell Medical Center to evaluate effectiveness of enhanced biological feedback to slow or stop growth of tumors.  Pets that were unresponsiveness to other treatments were given this treatment with some positive results.  Many showed dramatic prolonged survival (up to three years), with the tumors disappearing in some cases.  This treatment is set to begin human trials through the FDA.

Another study of bone sarcoma in Rottweilers has shown possibilities in helping children and adolescents diagnosed with bone cancer.  This study is scheduled for additional research.

A study began recently to study the DNA of canines to determine the genome makeup of cancer in pets and people.  Saliva, blood and tumor samples from many dog breeds will be used in this study which is endorsed by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Morris Animal Foundation.

In the summer of 2009, an FDA-approved drug, Palladia, became the first cancer drug approved for treatment of mast cell cancer in dogs.  Palladia kills tumor cells and cuts off blood supply to the tumor, helping dogs fight the disease more effectively.  This drug is still quite new and results are mixed, but this does provide hope for pet owners.

These projects, and many others underway, will hopefully provide answers to help pets have a better chance of surviving this disease.

The American Cancer Foundation site, ScienceDaily and MSNBC were used as sources for this post

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

What Causes Cancer in Pets?

Sunday, May 9th, 2010

The majority of pet cancer cases occur in middle aged and older pets, with Cats having a higher incidence of cancer than dogs.  Following are some feline cancer facts:

  • 32% of all cats over 10 years of age will die from cancer
  • 10% of all feline tumors are found in the mouth
  • 25% of all feline cancers are skin cancers, with 50-65% being malignant

So what are common causes of cancer in pets?

  • Carcinogens,  such as ultraviolet rays, X-rays, and cigarettes are known causes of cancer in pets. Secondhand cigarette smoke increases the risk of lung cancer in cats and dogs.
  • The feline leukemia virus also causes several types of cancer.
  • Herbicides have been associated with bladder cancer in pets.
  • Genetics- Some specific dog breeds are known to be genetically more susceptible to certain types of cancer. Retrievers, Boxers, and Cocker Spaniels are prone to lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes),  while larger breeds such as the Rottweiler are susceptible to osteosarcoma (bone cancer).
  • Previous injuries in cats and dogs are occasionally suspect in cancer cases.  Some veterinarians believe bone cancers may develop at the site of a previous injury.

Frequent home exams can often help with early cancer detection.  Regular vet visits, minimum once a year, are also necessary as a means of early cancer detection.  If you do see any changes in your pet, however, don’t wait until the annual exam to have them checked out, early detection is essential to help the treatment be successful.

Dog Owner’s Home Vet Handbook and Cat Owner’s Home Vet Handbook used as reference for this posting

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Posted in Pet Wellness, cats, dog training, pet care | No 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 »

Cleaning Greener

Sunday, April 25th, 2010

Our pets, because they live closer to the ground than we do, are exposed to more toxins via their paws (chemicals in cleaning products and carpeting, de-icing substances, lawn products to name a few). 

With all the chemicals around us and our pets, how can we make our surroundings healthier?  One way to eliminate chemicals from our homes is not always using commercial cleaning products.  In some cases, water can be an effective cleaner.  For tougher cleaning needs, a “green” cleaner can handle the job quite well.  Companies that offer green cleaning products include:  Earth Friendly Products (www.ecos.com), Fresh Wave (www.fresh-wave.com), and Petrotech (www.sea-yu.com).

The garage can be a hazard for pets and young children if they are exposed to antifreeze.  Due to its sweet smell and taste, it is attractive to pets and children.  A small amount can be deadly–two tablespoons can kill a small child, and many pets die yearly from ingesting antifreeze.  As an alternative, brands such as Sierra antifreeze/coolant, www.sierraantifreeze.com that contain propylene glycol are much safer for pets and people.  If you believe your pet has ingested even a small amount of antifreeze, getting them to the vet immediately may save them.

Many building products contain volatile organic compounds (VOC’s).  These contaminants have been linked to various forms of cancer, allergies and respiratory illnesses.  Carpeting, paint, and treated wood often contain VOC’s.  In order to reduce the presence of VOC’s in your home you can:

  • Use zero-VOC interior paint
  • Discontinue use of particle board or treated wood
  • Use natural flooring products such as bamboo, cork or natural fiber carpet

 

Taking a few steps like those mentioned here will help keep your home environment a healthy haven for you and your pets.

Pets Gone Green by Eve Adamson was used as a source for this post

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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 Clean Can Be Toxic to Your Pets

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

Jessie, the curious canine:   You humans just amaze me!  Every year at this time, something in you goes into overdrive, and you begin to clean in a frenzy and clear out the clutter.  You lovingly refer to it as “Spring Cleaning,” but not once do I see you throw out the cat in these attempts to dispose of the clutter!  However, I do want to point out to you faithful wardens of our domiciles, when you go into this mad, mad state of cleaning, please be aware that certain products you are using could be harmful, if not fatal, to your four-legged friends.  Sure, bleach and detergent can rid your home of those pesky bugs and viruses, but it can also rid your home of your pets.  If they get into these products, it can result in extreme illness or even death to them.  Please, just keep them away!

I know some of you are into the sweet, sweet smells of potpouri and their freshening oils.  They smell great, we agree, but they are extremely toxic to cats and dogs.  (And not to mention that we know of one 105-year-old lady who mistook a bowl of potpourri for trail mix….so think about your great-grandmas, too!)

Other harmful items to your pets include batteries, aluminum foil, moth balls, and cellophane candy wrappers…..don’t let your cat or dog choke on those!

In your garage, one of the biggest culprits is anti-freeze! This product contains ethylene glycol, and it can be tempting to your pet as it has a sweet taste.  Even just a couple of drops can kill your pet.  Purchase products that contain propylene glycol instead.

Well, that is my muse for the day.  Please be advised that these warnings do not give you license to abandon cleaning all together!  We do love a clean and inviting place in which to live…because it gives us something to dirty up again!

Have a great day!

(Information for this post was found at www.thedogbowl.com)

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Posted in Pet Wellness, cats, dogs, pet care | 2 Comments »

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