I just found about something called, "Pet Travel Safety Day." The first annual celebration was January 2, so I'm a couple of days late to the discussion. But it's a topic I feel deserves some attention, especially because so many people in Florida travel with their pets.
Pet Travel Safety Day was designed to focus people's attention on the risks pets face when traveling with their human companions via automobiles and airplanes, as well as the dangers that lurk for them in hotels and recreational facilities.
We like the website because their philosophy echoes ours. FloridaPets.net's logo is, "They're part of the family, so take them along." And the Pet Travel Safety people remind us to also, "Protect your pets as you would yourself and your children."
The Pet Travel Safety group was started by a former paramedic who too often saw the results of unrestrained animals in vehicles. The site offers tips for keeping a beloved travel buddy safe, such as: How to properly install pet car seats or restraints, and more.
For more information on this topic, visit National Pet Travel Safety Day.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Seniors for Seniors
What is a new year? It's 365 brand new days, filled with fresh opportunities and retooling. Humans and animals alike deserve second chances.
Safe Animal Shelter (SAFE) in Middleburg is working to help older cats in Florida get their do-overs. They've developed "Seniors for Seniors" as a way to match up older felines with older people in an effort to give both groups some special love.
A Snuggle Session is scheduled every Tuesday at the Safe Animal Shelter to give some awesome folks an opportunity to hang out with some cool cats. There's lots of petting and purring going on, but this action isn't rated R. Like humans, animals understand touch, voice, and attention. Also like humans, they downright thrive on all of it.
If you don't yet have any new year's resolutions, here's an easy one to keep: visit SAFE on a Tuesday and find a furry buddy with whom to enjoy every day in 2011 - and beyond.
Should you fall in love with one of the cats you meet at a Snuggle Session, SAFE will make him or her available to you as a no-cost adoption after the application process. If adoption isn't the best arrangement for you at this time, you could consider a long-term foster plan (whether you are a senior or not.)
For more information about "Seniors for Seniors", visit Safe Animal Shelter.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Get a dog, not a facelift
I just read a terrific article about the benefits of getting a dog vs. having plastic surgery. I've referenced the entire piece below, which includes some terrific photos, but for this blog's purpose, I am listing the pros to getting a dog here:
* They offer a lifetime of love.
* They are cheaper - facelifts can set you back a good $10,000.
* They make you happier.
* often have better breath.
* They can be your hang-out buddy.
* They won't cause talking behind your back.
* They fetch.
* They cuddle.
* They aren't nearly as risky.
* They care.
Enough said.
Source
* They offer a lifetime of love.
* They are cheaper - facelifts can set you back a good $10,000.
* They make you happier.
* often have better breath.
* They can be your hang-out buddy.
* They won't cause talking behind your back.
* They fetch.
* They cuddle.
* They aren't nearly as risky.
* They care.
Enough said.
Source
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Are our topical meds making our pets sick?
Be very careful if you have a companion animal and use any kind of medicinal body cream, spray or gel, i.e., hormones, analgesics, treatments for psoriasis, etc.
We know how pets are prone to licking everything and that includes their human's hands, legs, or arms. Unfortunately, they can wind up absorbing these medications orally and becoming really sick.
Veterinarians from various parts of the country are reporting seeing dogs and cats with enlarged breast tissue, occasional vaginal bleeding, and confusing blood test results. Some cases are extreme, such as animals who appear pregnant, despite having been spayed months or years before.
Simply wiping your hands after using a cream, gel, or spray medication isn't enough to prevent your pet from absorbing the medication, experts say.
Here are some recommended precautions to take if you are currently using topical medications:
1. Creams, gels, and sprays can be effective if used on areas other than hands, arms, and legs. Try your backs and shoulders, or other places less accessible to your pet.
2. If you do have to place topical medications on your hands, arms, or legs, such as hormones, cover any affected skin left exposed.
3. If you must be with an animal while using topical medications, try to avoid close contact until the preparation has completely dried.
4. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water after using any medications.
5. To be extra cautious, wear disposable gloves when handling topical products, but be sure to properly dispose of the gloves when finished.
Oh, before I forget, here are some great little stocking stuffers for your fur child:
Greenies Dental Chews!
Click on the Greenies and Stock Up Now
We know how pets are prone to licking everything and that includes their human's hands, legs, or arms. Unfortunately, they can wind up absorbing these medications orally and becoming really sick.
Veterinarians from various parts of the country are reporting seeing dogs and cats with enlarged breast tissue, occasional vaginal bleeding, and confusing blood test results. Some cases are extreme, such as animals who appear pregnant, despite having been spayed months or years before.
Simply wiping your hands after using a cream, gel, or spray medication isn't enough to prevent your pet from absorbing the medication, experts say.
Here are some recommended precautions to take if you are currently using topical medications:
1. Creams, gels, and sprays can be effective if used on areas other than hands, arms, and legs. Try your backs and shoulders, or other places less accessible to your pet.
2. If you do have to place topical medications on your hands, arms, or legs, such as hormones, cover any affected skin left exposed.
3. If you must be with an animal while using topical medications, try to avoid close contact until the preparation has completely dried.
4. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water after using any medications.
5. To be extra cautious, wear disposable gloves when handling topical products, but be sure to properly dispose of the gloves when finished.
Oh, before I forget, here are some great little stocking stuffers for your fur child:
Greenies Dental Chews!
Click on the Greenies and Stock Up Now
Monday, December 6, 2010
The Vick is Back
Have you heard? Michael Vick is starting to get his swagger back. At least that's what sports writers are saying about him.
Successfully prosecuted for torturing and killing several dogs involved in his very own dog fighting enterprise, Vick spent 17 months in prison. Most animal lovers, including the author, would like to have seen him locked up for 17 years.
But, as is the case with much in life, if there is money to be made by a public figure, an amazing amount of sins, transgressions, even criminalities, take a back seat. In Vick's case, his former employer, the NFL, opened their arms and took him back in to the multi-million dollar a year fold. The Philadelphia Eagles tapped him as their backup quarterback and when their usual quarterback was injured, Vick stepped right back in to the spotlight.
When the NFL Eagles hired Vick fresh from the penitentiary, a collective amnesia began. Vick's victims, the beautiful dogs subjected to unreal atrocities, many directly by Vick's hand, were all but forgotten. After all, Vick has thrown 15 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions since he stepped in to the position. There is money to be made!
These days we are subjected to articles from star- struck sports writers with titles such as, "Vick has become a true leader for young Eagles." There's a lot of talk about what an inspiration Vick is, what a born leader and decent man he is. Yes, the amnesia is just about complete.
“I have all the belief in the world of those guys," Vick is quoted as saying, referring to his Eagle team mates, "and I think the world of them and I’d go to battle with them any day."
Too bad you didn't give your dogs that kind of love and loyalty, Michael Vick. But then, you only murdered the ones who didn't make money for you and the green stuff is really the bottom line, isn't it?
I find it ironic that Vick is now the money maker - again. He received a second chance, something his dogs did not. And if he stops performing well and bringing in the bucks on game days, he'll receive something else he never gave those dogs - mercy.
Meanwhile, check out these Michael Vick Chew Toys - a perfect way to put Vick exactly where he belongs.
Successfully prosecuted for torturing and killing several dogs involved in his very own dog fighting enterprise, Vick spent 17 months in prison. Most animal lovers, including the author, would like to have seen him locked up for 17 years.
But, as is the case with much in life, if there is money to be made by a public figure, an amazing amount of sins, transgressions, even criminalities, take a back seat. In Vick's case, his former employer, the NFL, opened their arms and took him back in to the multi-million dollar a year fold. The Philadelphia Eagles tapped him as their backup quarterback and when their usual quarterback was injured, Vick stepped right back in to the spotlight.
When the NFL Eagles hired Vick fresh from the penitentiary, a collective amnesia began. Vick's victims, the beautiful dogs subjected to unreal atrocities, many directly by Vick's hand, were all but forgotten. After all, Vick has thrown 15 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions since he stepped in to the position. There is money to be made!
These days we are subjected to articles from star- struck sports writers with titles such as, "Vick has become a true leader for young Eagles." There's a lot of talk about what an inspiration Vick is, what a born leader and decent man he is. Yes, the amnesia is just about complete.
“I have all the belief in the world of those guys," Vick is quoted as saying, referring to his Eagle team mates, "and I think the world of them and I’d go to battle with them any day."
Too bad you didn't give your dogs that kind of love and loyalty, Michael Vick. But then, you only murdered the ones who didn't make money for you and the green stuff is really the bottom line, isn't it?
I find it ironic that Vick is now the money maker - again. He received a second chance, something his dogs did not. And if he stops performing well and bringing in the bucks on game days, he'll receive something else he never gave those dogs - mercy.
Meanwhile, check out these Michael Vick Chew Toys - a perfect way to put Vick exactly where he belongs.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
More than food and water
We consider ourselves to be very responsible pet guardians and we doubt our dogs lack much, if anything, in terms of health and welfare. But an article I read recently provided a list expanding the definition of "welfare" and we were surprised to find ourselves lacking in a couple of areas.
For instance, we perform weekly physical checks on our dogs, including brushings, nail trims, palpations for lumps and ticks, and ear cleanings. But we don't do "vibe scans." You can do these scans by having your dog lay or stand comfortably in front of you while you hold your hands a few inches above him, high enough to "feel his vibe."
Staying in this "vibe" space, also known as the "energy space," slowly move your hand over your dog's head, down his face, up and down each leg, across his chest and around to the tummy and private areas, under and over the tail, then up and across the back, ending where you started - your dog's head.
The idea behind a "vibe scan" is to look for sensations of pain with your hands and intuition. Note: this won't work on a stranger's dog. You must already know your pet pretty well. Otherwise, the dog could actually block his "energy vibe" if he is not comfortable with you.
If you and your dog have been partners for several years, you can probably do this scan with your eyes closed and still learn what you need to know about his inner welfare. But most people will need to keep their eyes open so they can watch their dog's eyes and demeanor for pain signals rather than relying on intuition and vibe alone.
Either way, these "vibe scans" can be invaluable to checking in with your pet once a week. I'm sure these can be used with most any kind of animal. And they may be inner-species as well because I've actually seen cats perform these scans on their humans!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Click below for a delightful, fashionable way to keep your pet stuff organized
For instance, we perform weekly physical checks on our dogs, including brushings, nail trims, palpations for lumps and ticks, and ear cleanings. But we don't do "vibe scans." You can do these scans by having your dog lay or stand comfortably in front of you while you hold your hands a few inches above him, high enough to "feel his vibe."
Staying in this "vibe" space, also known as the "energy space," slowly move your hand over your dog's head, down his face, up and down each leg, across his chest and around to the tummy and private areas, under and over the tail, then up and across the back, ending where you started - your dog's head.
The idea behind a "vibe scan" is to look for sensations of pain with your hands and intuition. Note: this won't work on a stranger's dog. You must already know your pet pretty well. Otherwise, the dog could actually block his "energy vibe" if he is not comfortable with you.
If you and your dog have been partners for several years, you can probably do this scan with your eyes closed and still learn what you need to know about his inner welfare. But most people will need to keep their eyes open so they can watch their dog's eyes and demeanor for pain signals rather than relying on intuition and vibe alone.
Either way, these "vibe scans" can be invaluable to checking in with your pet once a week. I'm sure these can be used with most any kind of animal. And they may be inner-species as well because I've actually seen cats perform these scans on their humans!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Click below for a delightful, fashionable way to keep your pet stuff organized
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Review: Paw Pads™
Reviewing pet products is always fun and often I find a real gem. I consider our family of 6 canines to be good test subjects. Ranging in ages from 2 to 16-1/2, we have a dog for just about any product's purpose out there.
This week I will review Paw-Pads™ Self-Adhesive Traction Pads. These are little stickers shaped like dog paw prints that, once attached to a pet's paw, are supposed to provide the animal with traction on any kind of slippery surface.
The Subject: Sassy, our 15-1/2 year old Border collie, who suffers from mild dementia and a left rear trick knee. We lovingly joke and call her "Aunt Clara," a character from the old show, "Bewitched." Things appear closer than they really are to Sassy and her right leg often goes to the left as her left leg also goes to the left. This sort of activity leaves her unsteady most of the time and flat on her butt on her bad days.
The Preparation: It was amazingly easy to fit Sassy with the Paw-Pads™ . We waited until she was lying down, placed them on her rear paws, pressed on them for a few seconds, and then let her stand. One pad needed redone, but then she was off, walking, walking, which in itself helped attach themselves to her paws.
The results: Sassy didn't seem to mind these as much as the boots we had tried last year. She got around fairly well for a time, but later, while laying down again, she let us check the bottoms of her paws and we found all the pads had fallen off. A set of 8 large full pads is priced at $13. Subsequent sets stayed on less than 1 hour and at that rate, this option could get expensive.
My rating: I'd give the concept of Paw-Pads™ 4 out of 5 stars, but I'd have to lower that to 2 out of 5 stars for practical performance.
This week I will review Paw-Pads™ Self-Adhesive Traction Pads. These are little stickers shaped like dog paw prints that, once attached to a pet's paw, are supposed to provide the animal with traction on any kind of slippery surface.
The Subject: Sassy, our 15-1/2 year old Border collie, who suffers from mild dementia and a left rear trick knee. We lovingly joke and call her "Aunt Clara," a character from the old show, "Bewitched." Things appear closer than they really are to Sassy and her right leg often goes to the left as her left leg also goes to the left. This sort of activity leaves her unsteady most of the time and flat on her butt on her bad days.
The Preparation: It was amazingly easy to fit Sassy with the Paw-Pads™ . We waited until she was lying down, placed them on her rear paws, pressed on them for a few seconds, and then let her stand. One pad needed redone, but then she was off, walking, walking, which in itself helped attach themselves to her paws.
The results: Sassy didn't seem to mind these as much as the boots we had tried last year. She got around fairly well for a time, but later, while laying down again, she let us check the bottoms of her paws and we found all the pads had fallen off. A set of 8 large full pads is priced at $13. Subsequent sets stayed on less than 1 hour and at that rate, this option could get expensive.
My rating: I'd give the concept of Paw-Pads™ 4 out of 5 stars, but I'd have to lower that to 2 out of 5 stars for practical performance.
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