- Listen to the quiet..Ranking for signal to noise ratio http://t.co/GN7JmQea
- These are all GREAT! 7 Of The Most Shared And Innovative Marketing Youtube Videos From 2012 http://t.co/DdQah0GT via @zite
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- Yummy food comes with a price..Nearly All Restaurant Entrees Exceed USDA Nutrition Recommendations http://t.co/voUkpa7x via @zite
- If you buy large bags of pet food, pour the food into a storage bin, then throw the bag away, take a picture of... http://t.co/85glCiz6
The Great Pumpkin: Nutritional Benefits for Our Pets…And Us!
Halloween brought focus to the pumpkin….ah yes, carving a scary Jack-O-Lantern is a tradition in many households, but did you know pumpkin is a lot more than just something to carve?
Pumpkin has many health benefits for our pets, such as:
- Helping with weight management. Pumpkin has a lot of fiber and not a lot of calories, so putting a spoonful in with your pet’s normal food can help him feel full longer.
- Helping with digestion and elimination. As I mentioned above, pumpkin does have a high fiber content, so if your pet is suffering from constipation, adding pumpkin to his diet will help. Pumpkin can also help if your pet has digestive upset/diarrhea. This applies for both cats and dogs, by the way.
- Also, if your dog has a habit of “scooting”, adding pumpkin will aid in reducing the anal sac buildup that causes dogs to scoot.
- Helps support urinary health. Pumpkins contain oils that help support urinary health. They’re also a good source of antioxidants, Vitamin A and beta-carotine.
Be sure to feed your pet unsweetened pumpkin, not the pumpkin pie mix. The mix has added sugar that pets don’t need.
Tomorrow I’ll share a recipe for pumpkin dog treats that many dogs love!
Symptoms of Neoplasia and Cancer in Pets
Bo, the outspoken kitty: I have to admit. It is a challenge to write such serious blog posts without interjecting some insulting jab at Jessie, that four-legged mutt who resides with my human, Karen, and I. I mean, if I were to have my way in listing what the symptoms of cancer in pets are, I would probably start with #1. Jessie. And then I would go on to say how to eliminate that particular symptom. But, I will refrain from such poor taste in serious blog posts and merely pontificate as to the most common symptoms your pet might display if he or she is affected with neoplasia or cancer. I strongly urge you to consult your vet immediately should you notice any of these or anything else highly unusual about your pet. We are your loyal friends for life, and we know you don’t want to lose us! (Sidebar: The only thing unusual about Jessie is that she’s annoying to me, but the vet said there is nothing he can do about that condition!)
According to the March 2010 brochure called “Cancer in Animals,” distributed by the Veterinary Cancer Society, these are the 10 common signs of neoplasia in animals:
1.) Abnormal swellings that peresist and continue to grow
2.) Sores that refuse to heal
3.) Weight loss
4.) Loss of appetite
5.) Bleeding or discharge from any body opening
6.) Offensive odor
7.) Difficulty in eating or swallowing
8.) Hesitation to engage in exercise or loss of stamina
9.) Continued lameness or stiffness
10.) Difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating
Please be alert if your pet displays any of these symptoms! We care about all animals, and we know you do, too.
(However, can you not see that item #6 is just begging for me to say something about Jessie? And what about item #9? Sometimes, Jessie can be so lame. I do admit, however, that I am grateful for my continued good health, and, yes, for Jessie’s. If Jessie were not here, who would be the target of all of my good jokes and insults?)
We Can Be Serious About Serious Issues…Pet Cancer
Bo and Jessie here! While most of the time we take jabs at each other and goof around on this blog, we want to say that we know when to step up to the plate and maintain an attitude of serious decorum. This month, we are focusing on cancer in pets – with an emphasis on pet exams and signs to watch for in your cat or dog. We love all animals, and we trust that our humans love us as much as we love them…enough to make sure we have regular pet exams and to tune into any behavioral changes that might mean something is not quite right with us.
Did you know that cancer accounts for nearly half of the deaths of pets over 10 years of age? Dogs actually get cancer at the same rate as humans. Cats’ rate of incidence in cancer is fewer, however.
Neoplasia is an uncontrolled and abnormal growth of cells or tissues within the body. These can be benign or malignant. Benign neoplasms are not aggressive nor do they attack surrounding tissues. Malignant neoplasms grow quickly, spreading to other areas of the body.
The most common types of neoplasia in pets are in the skin, the breasts, the head and the neck, the lymph nodes, the testicles, the abdominal region, and the bones.
Our blog posts this month will serve to educate our readers on the signs and symptoms to look for in your pet. As with any health issue, the sooner it is tackled, the better your pet’s health success will be.
We know you might miss our humorous attitudes this month, but we are serious about this issue and want you, as pet owners, to be fully aware. After all, if your pet is loved as much as Karen loves us, then we know you want only the best for him or her!
(We have gathered and will continue to gather our information from the American Veterinary Medical Association.)
Raise Your Pet Cancer Awareness This Month
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.
Beautiful Flower, But Deadly for your Pet
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
Obstacles in the way!
Bo, the fit feline: In honor of our attention to pet fitness these past few posts, I just wanted to let our audience know that I take my overall health and fitness routine seriously. I love a buff body and know I have a long life (or LIVES!) ahead of me. Now, as for our lovable canine companion in the home, well, she needs to step up the workout routine a bit, and since she does not like to get too dirty outside, I have discovered a new indoor workout for her to try! If you really want to have some fun with your dog, especially on a rainy or excessively hot day, then set up an indoor obstacle course. It is so much fun for you and your dog to bond together in this manner, and even way more fun for the adorable house cat to sit back and watch. Talk about entertainment!
Jessie, the adorable canine: I thought we already had an indoor obstacle course, what, between all of your cat nip toys, the litter box, and your precious little cat pillows, I can barely get through the living room without hurting myself.
Bo: The maid has been on vacation for the past couple of weeks. What can I say? Now, for this obstacle course, you can do things like put your dog on pet steps next to a footstool and create some low jumps by using objects in your home, like a cardboard box placed in the middle of a doorway or two chairs and a broom. Have your dog fetch something as he goes up the steps and back and forth over that low jump. Try to teach your dog to run through a tunnel, too. Play fetch with him this way. Use a child’s toy tunnel or a big cardboard box with both ends cut out and have him run through it. (Ideally, I would position the tunnel next to an open doorway that leads to the outside and just watch that puppy keep on running…and then SHUT the door! However, I do not recommend you try that at home. That is just MY personal agenda that I may implement one day.)
(Information for this post was discovered at http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/19375291/)
What? Me? Work up a sweat? You have got to be kidding!
Jessie, the perfectly fit dog: I am sure you all have heard that exercise is great for people. They also say it is good for pets. I get enough exercise around here by jumping to conclusions and evading the issues. Why must I do anything further? I have seen many humans out on the streets running with their dogs. What is up with that? What are they running from? Or, better yet…what are they chasing? Why on earth do people run if they are not chasing a car or running from a bigger human?
Bo, the cerebral cat: If you must know, my dear canine friend. Exercise is important for both humans and animals. It keeps our hearts in shape, our bodies fit, and our minds clear. If anything, you could use a bit of fitness, if only to keep a bit more sanity about you. I do have a few tips on how to get started working out with your pets. Actually, I am just waiting for someone to open up a health club strictly for cats and dogs. It would be PAWS-itiviely awesome, wouldn’t it? They could have a spa, a salon, a place to dine on French kitty treats, a massage station, a….
Jessie: FOCUS! Our readers do not care one bit about your fantasies. If you are going to educate them, do it now and do it quickly. They have other blogs to get to!
Bo: (Clearing his throat) Fine. Well, as with anything you do in life, you need to be motivated to do it first. So, if you want to exercise with your pet, be sure to schedule in the time just like you would any other appointment. (Speaking of which, is my stylist still on speed dial?) If you have it written down in your calendar, you are less likely to skip that “appointment.” So, how much time do you need to spare for this indulgence? Most experts say that thirty-minute sessions about four times each week will suffice for a dog. Cats can get by on 15 minutes, once each day, provided they are in good health.
With your dog, you can play a game of fetch. Remember: YOU throw the ball, and HE fetches it. Not the other way around. (However, that would be highly entertaining, now that I think about it!) Take your dog on a long walk or even a jog. Play a game of chase around the back yard. (That will give the neighbors something to talk about! “Look, Norm, Jack is in his yard again, being chased by the dog!”) If you have a dog that loves the water, take him for a swim….just not at your local neighborhood pool. They might frown on that.
Cats like to play fetch with furry mice….fake ones…not real ones! Put a toy ball on a slick surface and watch the cat go wild. Catnip toys can also entice your cat to engage in some heart-pumping play.
Just remember to have fun. And make sure to offer your pet some water when finished. It is important to keep your pet just as hydrated as yourself! Before long, both you and your four-legged buddy will be looking fit and trim. After all, swim suit season is around the corner!
(Information for this post was found at http://home.ivillage.com/pets/cats/0,,p9rm,00.html)
Is Your Pet Fit or Fat?
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
Ways to Keep Pet’s Teeth Healthy
As Bo and Jessie discussed in their last post, dental care is an important issue for pets.
Although brushing pet’s teeth provides the maximum benefits, not all pets are receptive to it. There are alternatives that provide some benefits. Some of the alternatives include dental treats like CET HEXtra chews for Dogs. Dogs like the taste, enjoy the chewing action, and these treats have toothpaste built into them! There are a variety of dental treats available, so check with your vet for a recommendation. Raw vegetables such as green beans or carrots work well too, and dogs usually love the taste!
Another option that works for both cats and dogs is drinking water additive. The additive is added to your pet’s water daily to help prevent plague and freshen breath.
To protect your pet’s teeth, monitor chewing activity. Check pet’s toys (especially dogs) and if a toy is so hard it hurts when you hit your leg with it, it’s too hard for your pet and can cause tooth breakage.
Have your pet’s teeth checked once a year at a minimum. If your dog or cat has a history of dental issues, more frequent visits may be required. Consult your vet to develop a plan for your pet’s dental health.
February is National Pet Dental Month, so take the steps needed this month to keep your pet’s smile healthy!
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