Wednesday Pet Roundup

Hi and welcome to Wednesday Pet Roundup! Meet a dog I met this weekend, Fozzie Bear! He likes to ride around in his mom and dad's golf cart.

* Catster brings you the cutest cat in the world. I agree!

* Here is a great list from Dr. Shawn Finch, DVM on Life with Dogs blog, about pet health including:

--- Feeding your dogs well will enhance and extend their lives more than any other thing I can imagine.

--- Dogs will not always stop playing when they are tired. They will not always come out of the heat or the cold. They do not know how to safely cross the street or balance in the back of a pickup truck. They need us to protect them.

--- Puppy mills are the scourge of the dog world.

See the entire list for more. I agree with every word.

* I Still Want More Puppies highlights yet another frustratingly depressing story about dogs in hot cars, and asks, "when will it stop?"

* Check out these photos from International Business Times of the Imperial Beach, California surf dog competition. 50 dogs competed, including Bulldogs, Border Collie, Pug, Pomeranian, and more.

Wednesday Pet Roundup

Hi and welcome to Wednesday Pet Roundup!
I wanted to start out with this. While not exactly pets, I just love this short video, especially the sound of the webbed feet on the pavement. Here's your smile for the day:


* Leash laws: For or Against? Should dogs be able to run off-leash in national parks? The New York Times reports on laws restricting unleashed dogs to fenced-in areas in certain national parks and recreation areas. Damage of habitat is cited as one problem. In the San Francisco area, for example, dogs are being blamed for contributing to the endangerment of the mission blue butterflies and western snowy plover.

* Cloning your beloved pet: For or Against? L.A. Times tells us that businessman Peter Onruang, has paid $310,000 to have his dogs Wolfie and Bubble cloned.

* New pet technology. The Daily Kibble reviews Pet Hub, a dog tag containing ID and other information in an online presence for your dog.

* From the Huffington Post: Whose mouth is cleaner, dogs or humans?

*OC Moms, the Moms Blog, ponders Why are people choosing pets over kids?

* Enter the Name that podcast contest, over at Fully Vetted.

*One more smile for the day. Slo Mo Bath Time. Enjoy!

Wednesday Pet Roundup

Hi and welcome to Wednesday Pet Roundup! Kelly wants you to see the wreath we made!

* I'm a bit behind the times with these, but I wanted to share these stories, found on the blog Life With Dogs. First, newlyweds sacrifice all to save their dog, who needed a $16,000 bone marrow transplant. Then, read about a husky reunited with his family after 5 year apart. I just love reading heartwarming dog stories, don't you?!


* Thinking of adopting a kitten or a puppy for the holidays, but everyone told you "no?" Are the holidays a bad time to adopt a pet? Or is this an optimal time shelters should welcome, and promote? RGJ.com reports on a change in thinking. What are your thoughts?

* For your smile today, don't forget to check out the world's longest cat!

* And finally, you've heard of dog agility...well check out bunny agility!

Monday Pet Round Up

Hi and welcome to Monday Pet Roundup!

* Would you lick a pet bandage? This past Saturday, if you did, you won a t-shirt and $1.00 donated in your name to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Race for a Cure fund. Nurtured Pets, makers of Anti Lick Strip Prevent bandages, hosted the "Lick the Strip Challenge" at the Because Your Dog Is Worth It Too event in Cranbury NJ. The bandages, designed to prevent dogs from licking wounds etc., are coated with cayenne pepper, clove oil, and oregano.

*Where does your dog ride in the car? USA Today reports that 60% of dog owners drive while distracted by their unrestrained dog as passenger.

*Yet another pet food recall--this time Beef Filet Squares and Texas Hold 'ems dog treats by Merrick Pet Care. If you have questions, call 1-800-664-7387

*And now for your laugh for today. Little short legs impede this Corgi's graceful dives as he executes what can only be called Corgi-flops.

Being Better for my Dog

Our dogs love us completely, even on days we fall far short on our end of the relationship. That unconditional love is part of the reason why we care so much. Yet, it is also why I want to try even harder to be the best I can for my dog.....why I research healthy pet food...take her to the vet's for check ups when needed... throw her tennis ball over and over and over. And I still want to do more.

An article last week in the Miami Herald cited ways to be a better pet owner. It mentions common suggestions such as daily care and preventative care, and being prepared for emergencies. But more importantly what specifically can I do for my little Kelly? I thought about this.

How can I be a better owner/friend/parent to my dog?

1. Take her on more walks. Kelly loves her walks. I know, because she livens up, her ears perk up, she wags constantly, and sniffs around almost with a smile on her face. And yet, some days I'm too busy to clip on the leash and get her out the door. Even if I only have time for a short spin around the block, I commit to walking her daily, or even twice!

2. Find her a playmate. I could be wrong, but I think Kelly would like a playmate. This is a bit difficult, because sometimes Kelly doesn't seem to get along with other dogs. She growls a bit when we meet them on the street. And sometimes when I've had a friend bring their dog over to play, neither dog is interested. Wow, Kelly must really be finicky about her friends. But whenever I see dogs romping together and playing, I think she must be wanting some of that fun, too.

3. Stop feeding her my pizza crusts. Since Kelly and I have been on a diet together, I've stopped feeding her table scraps. Well, almost. I really don't care for pizza crusts, or the crusts of sandwiches. And Kelly looks up at me so cute and beguiling. We've switched to whole wheat pizza dough and healthy whole grain bread, so I figure if it's good for me, it is good for her. But really, I know that is too many calories for a little gal. But did I mention that she looks at me so cute?!

I'm still not sure about #2, but I have recommitted to walking Kelly more and to stop giving her my crusts. (maybe a bite?!)

What about you? What are some ways you think you could be better for your pet?

Monday Pet Roundup

Hi and welcome to Monday Pet Roundup!

* My dog Kelly was having her ear checked out this weekend (poor Kelly!) and the vet reminded me of the ongoing pet food recall for Iams and Eukanuba. The salmonella risk can effect humans too, so please be sure to check if you have these brands of food and follow the manufacturer's instructions. The Iams number to call if you have any questions is: 877-340-8823.

* I love this post from WebMD. A study by scientists at Vienna and Oxford universities conclude that dogs imitate people. The research was conducted on dogs opening sliding glass doors. My dog doesn't imitate that, but she does copy my excitement for ice cream!

* If you're expecting a new little one (of the human kind), don't forget to prepare your dog for the new baby.

* Going on vacation? If you need to make arrangements for your pet, this can help: Get 10% off of petsitting services with Fetch! Pet care.

* Also, more people are rethinking the safety of bringing dogs and cats on airplane cargo areas after the recent tragedies. CNN offers tips for flying with your pet.

* Can cats and dogs get along? This Mercury New column by Gary Bogue features letters from readers sharing stories about their cats, dogs, summer walks and gardens.

What about you? Do your pets imitate you? And do your cats and dogs get along?

Monday Pet Roundup

Hi and welcome to Monday Pet Roundup!

* I'll occasionally review a pet product I think you'll find helpful, and csn stores contacted me recently with another great offer to review one of their products. At their website you can find everything from a bedroom vanity to a braided rug to a barbecue grill...but seriously, you're going to love their wide range of pet products. Stay tuned in the following weeks for my review!

* You may have heard of Ricochet the surfing dog. Now meet Outback Addie! This rescue dog was once afraid of everything, but now look at her go! Hang twenty, dude!

* Take the USA Today poll. Should dogs be allowed in restaurants?

* Neil Genlinger suggests that we may be wasting too much time watching cute pets on TV, movies and the Internet. In his New York Times article he notes that one You Tube video, "Surprised Kitty" received more than 28,500,000 views. The clip is only 17 seconds long, but this amounts to 15 years of time spent (he says "wasted") watching this. I don't know about you, but I think that 17 seconds of my life was worth it!

*Chocolate...grapes...onions. Zootoo reminds us to keep these foods away from our pets.

* My vet warned me that my dog Kelly shared many of the same risks as I due to being overweight. At Dancing Dog Blog, Mary Haight shares some authoritative insight on dogs and human diseases.

What's in those Genes?

Our first dog was a Dalmatian (That's Schuyler there on the left). After we adopted him, we learned that some dalmatians can be a bit snippy and also are prone to hip problems and deafness. Fortunately our dog was gentle and healthy.

Our next dog was a Yellow Lab. He was sweet and overall healthy, however like many labs he did become overweight (I take responsibility for my part in that).

Our little dog Kelly is part Cocker Spaniel and part Long-haired Dachshund. She's had a few seizures, which are reported in both breeds.

Just as we need to know our specific family history of cancer, heart disease and more, it's helpful to know the health history of our dog's breed too. With rescue and mixed breed dogs, we don't always have access to the parents or even any record of where the dog came from and what conditions may have been passed along. To help, ProbioticSmart.com has compiled a list of potential health issues for popular breed. Here are a few:

* Labrador Retriever-- tendency to become overweight

* German Shepherd-- bloat

* Yorkie--early tooth decay

* Golden Retriever-- hip dysplasia

* Bulldog-- enlarged heart

* Chihuahua-- skin sensitivity

Of course, not every dog will have every issue on the list. Use as a general guideline or as a checklist of things to be aware of. You can check out the entire list of health issues for the 15 most popular breeds of dogs.

What about you? Does your dog share any health concerns common for his or her breed(s)?

Sit! Stay! Diet!

When I decided to share my struggle--and my dog's struggle--of losing weight, I knew that many pet owners would relate. The American Medical Association reports that 65% of U.S. adults are overweight, and the American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that more than 40% of our dogs are overweight. So, if you like me and think that exercise is a four letter word and ice cream is a perfectly acceptable breakfast, then it stands to reason that our pets will be putting on a few extra pounds along with us.

At the time I wrote my book about dieting with my dog (Update: the manuscript is complete and with my agent. Hopefully she'll find the right publisher soon!) I'd lost 40 lbs and my spaniel Kelly (that's her, tugging on the leash. Think she wants a walk?) lost 6 lbs. We both kept it off for more than a year. Now, however, we're trying to deal with a few pounds rebound weight. We're working harder than ever to get the weight off and keep it off.

Here are some tips for getting back on track:

FOR YOU:
1. Keep track of what you're eating. A food journal helps maintain accountability.

2. Change your exercise routine. If you're bored with the treadmill, try pilates or a Zumba class. I just added Wii Fit to my routine.

3. Make just one change. Maybe you could drink more water or add 15 minutes to your exercise
routine.

FOR YOUR DOG:
1. Make sure you're not back in the habit of offering table scraps.

2. Change the route that you take when walking together. New smells are exciting!

3. Make just one change. You could try a new snack (Kelly likes raw baby carrots) or add some special play time to the routine.

And don't forget, reward yourself, and your dog, for good progress!

What about you? Do you have any (human and canine) diet tips? What are some healthy snacks you (and your dog) like to eat? And cat owners, I know some cats tend to get lethargic and pack on a few extra pounds. Do you have any tricks that help?

Dog Food Month-- Reading about Eating

What's better than a dog and a book? I love snuggling up with Kelly on one side, and a good book in my hand (and perhaps a nice cold drink in the other hand?) And in this case, what better than a book about kibble and canines to complete our month-long look at dog food?

A few of my favorites are:
The Dog Diet, A Memoir: What My Dog Taught Me About Shedding Pounds, Licking Stress, and Getting a New Leash on Life by Patti Lawson (2006)

Fitness Unleashed: A Dog and Owner's Guide to Losing Weight and Gaining Health Together by Marty Becker, DVM and Robert Kushner, MD. (2006)

And a new one I haven't had a chance to check out yet:
Chow Hounds: Why Our Dogs are Getting Fatter. A Vet's Plan to Save Their Lives by Ernest Ward, DVM.

Also, hopefully my book on dieting with my dog will soon find a publisher. My agent has been diligently submitting and searching for just the right match-up!

Here's another dog food book. Lesley from Rmd Advertising kindly sent me a review copy of a new book Feeding Champions, by Holly Strawbridge, about "the life and passion" of Bill Kelly, founder of Bil-Jac dog food. The book was released this spring.
One of the most interesting facts I read about Bill Kelly was his experience in World War II, when he worked for a time in the kennels of bomb sniffing dogs. Right away he noticed these German Shepherds were weak and sickly. He revolutionized their diet, incorporating the same quality ingredients fed to his family's dogs back home. Bill's dogs always ate a meat based food, and that was back at a time when most commercial pet food was made mostly of grains. With the new diet, the health of the Shepherds improved quickly.

Later, Bill and his brother Jack (aha! Bil-Jac!) used their knowledge of animal nutrition and passion for dogs to develop a formula of "super premium" dog food. The food started off as frozen. Starting in the 1970's Bil-Jac used a process of vacuum drying that doesn't damage the product and helps preserve the nutrition. The company has been family-owned and operated for more than 60 years. You can find the book on amazon.com.

Monday Pet Roundup

Hi and welcome to Monday Pet Roundup!

* Rachel Baum from Bark: Confessions of a Dog Trainer shares how pet parents often anthropomorphize their pets. I can relate! Isn't Kelly really feeling sad when I leave her home alone? Or hungry when she sees me eating a cheeseburger? Maybe that's why she gets what she wants!

*Love this story in Dogster: For the love of dogs blog about Chloe the pug who rescued his feline friend from a koi pond!

*I just "met" Frankie, the Walk 'n Roll dog. So sweet! Visit him here on Joyful Paws "dedicated to animals whose spirits teach us to live life with a purpose."

* I actually had a dalmatian who fleas seemed to run away from. But most cats and dogs are going to encounter fleas at some point. This post from Pawcurious shares some valuable information on flea control.

*Do you ever wonder about Schnoodles, Goldendoodles and Maltipoos? Here's a thoughtful article over at Pet Connection. I also liked this article "Time to stop littering" about spaying and neutering.

*We all know the benefits of adopting a shelter or rescue pet. But sometimes the connection doesn't last. Petfinder has launched a new program, FurKeeps, designed to KEEP pets in homes.

*A video to make you smile. Petopia has posted this YouTube video for Pedigree dog food featuring beautiful dogs catching treats in the air. The little fuzz-ball at the very end is so cute!