Frequently Asked Questions

A: In May last year, Ms Navarro's two dogs Maggie and Blue were stolen from her back yard in Galveston Texas. Blue was just a few weeks old at the time, and after searching for months Ms Navarro thought she'd never see either dog again. Maggie still hasn't been found, but Blue turned up at a shelter in Indiana a few days ago, and the shelter tracked down Ms Navarro from Blue's microchip. The joy of Blue being found was soon clouded by an everyday problem; Ms Navarro didn't have the funds to travel over a thousand miles to go get her dog. Fortunately, dozens of people offered to help. It didn't take long before retired deputy Ricky Mitchell set off for Indiana together with his brother and one more retired Sheriff's office employee. The three drove all the way, and posted photos of state signs they passed along the way. The men drove through the night to get Blue home as quickly as possible. You can read more about this story in the Galveston County Daily News - the paper has a series of articles about Blue and her journey home.

A: Yesterday we talked about the most popular puppy names during 2014, and today it's time for 2014 kitten names. The list is compiled by the website vetstreet.com. Bella has been the most popular name for female puppies since 2006, and the most popular name for female kittens since 2007. Media absolutely has an effect on how we choose names for our furry friends; Elsa wasn't even on the top 50 last year, and this year the name of the main character in Frozen sits at number 5. The number one choice for male kittens has been Oliver for a few years, and Oliver stays in the lead. Most popular names for girl kittens in 2014: Bella Luna Lucy Kitty Elsa Daisy Lily Callie Lilly Gracie Most popular names for boy kittens in 2014: Oliver Milo Leo Charlie Max Simba Tiger Smokey Jack Kitty

A: The holiday season is great for visiting with friends and family, but vetiq.com made a survey to find out what pet owners really want to do for the holidays. The results are both thought-worthy and amusing. A vast majority - 96 percent - answer that they would prefer to spend the holidays at home alone with their pet instead of leaving their pet at home to celebrate with in-laws. 85 percent of pet owners think a kiss under the mistletoe is okay for pets too. 85 percent also think their pets have been nice during the year. The survey doesn't report whether the 15 percent of naughty pets are the same 15 percent that won't get kisses... Only 24 percent of pet owners plan to travel with their pets during the holiday, and 97 percent of those who do will go by car. 54 percent say Santa Claus best describes their pet's holiday personality. 32 percent say Frosty, and 14 percent The Grinch. //youtu.be/_utgDQRUYlo

A: February 14th was the annual pet theft awareness day in the USA. Pets are stolen every day around the year, but there are some easy safety measures to take that will reduce the risk, and some tips that might help with retrieving a lost pet.  Make sure that your pet is microchipped and that your information is updated. This will aid in returning a lost or stolen pet to you. Never leave your pet unattended in a car or public area. Keep an accurate identification file for your pet. This should include a detailed description and several photos. If your pet is lost or stolen Visit your local animal shelters at once, and keep checking back with them every day. It is also a good idea to visit veterinarians in the area, contact animal services, and the police. Search everywhere. Pets can hide in strange places. Use the power of social media. Post pictures on your Facebook page and ask people to share. Distribute flyers, talk to neighbors, and chat with delivery men, postal workers, and others that move around your area on a daily basis.

A: The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention recently presented their latest survey with sobering numbers. 54 percent of US pets are overweight. 53 percent of adult dogs and 55 percent of cats have been classified as overweight or obese, and that equals 88.4 million pets. To make the news even more disturbing, 15 percent of cat owners and 22 percent of dog owners think their overweight pets are within normal range. The additional weight comes from a lack of exercise, and overfeeding. It is easy to forget how small a pet is compared to a human. A typical dog biscuit fed to a 20 lbs dog is the equivalent of a person eating two double-stuffed fudge cookies. Giving a pig ear to a  40 lbs dog is the same as a person drinking six cans of soda. Excess weight in pets often shorten the life span. It can lead to joint disease, diabetes, heart conditions, and skin disease. Good ideas to keep the pet's weight under control include: * Exercise * Use a smaller food bowl - it's easier to overfeed a pet when the bowl looks empty * Use a measuring cup * Follow feeding instructions, and check every time you change foods, because the calorie  contents might be different * Limit the treats

A: The phrase "working dog" is normally associated with something big and robust. Like a German Shepherd working as a police dog, or a Labrador helping someone hard of seeing. Sometimes good things come in small packages; Lucy is a Yorkshire Terrier who recently set a Guinness World Record as the world's smallest working dog. Lucy weighs a mere 2.5 pounds and works as a therapy dog. She visits hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers, and works with children with disabilities. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS8Cejh7jxg The previous record holder was named Momo, and that is an eight-year-old Chihuahua who works as a police search-and-rescue dog in Japan.

A: The New Guinea Singing Dog has been called a living, breathing, furry, and four-legged fossil. This breed is believed to be the rarest in the world and was local to New Guinea until 1957 when the first dogs left the island. Besides being rare, the dogs are also primitive in the sense that they were separated from all other dog breeds thousands - maybe even tens of thousands - years ago, and have developed virtually undisturbed. The dogs have adapted well to living as pets. They are agile, active, graceful, and alert. They are known to be affectionate with people they know, and they are both curious and clever. Being so close to the wild, they also have a strong hunting instinct, and they require a lot of exercise. They can climb trees, jump, and dig, so any yard must be very well secured. So, what's with the singing? The name comes from their melodious and distinctive howl. These dogs have a dramatic ability to vary the pitch. If they howl in a group, all the dogs will strike a different pitch. It sounds like a choir! They don't bark a lot, but are still quite vocal.

A: PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, is most often associated with military veterans, but can affect anyone. PTSD is triggered by facing a situation "larger than oneself," such as a car accident, home invasion, robbery, death of a loved one, natural disaster, or working in any type of medical or emergency field. These situations don't necessarily lead to PTSD, but they can. The symptoms are as varied as the causes, but the most common include nightmares, sleeplessness, recurring memories, irritability and anger, feeling numb, a sense of never being safe, and fearing crowds. This is difficult for the person afflicted with PTSD, of course, but also for loved ones who often have a hard time coping with personality changes and seemingly irrational behavior. PTSD is common. Almost 8 percent of Americans will experience it at some point. The number is much higher amongst military veterans. Almost 29 percent of veterans treated at VA medical centers have the diagnosis. For many who suffer PTSD, dogs are invaluable. A dog can give comfort and companionship without the need to talk. They help break out of isolation and keep depression at bay. K9s for Warriors is an organization in Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida. They specialize in rescuing dogs from shelters and training them as service dogs for military troops and veterans. The dogs are trained to perform special tasks, such as fetching things for veterans with physical disabilities. If someone feels uncomfortable in a crowd, their dog can be taught to "cover and block" which means standing between their person and any approaching people. PTSD service dogs are unique. Some dogs excel at the job, others aren't suited for it. Many who don't feel comfortable in crowds are able to trust their dog more than they trust themselves. Dogs are great observers of environment and body language, and dog often picks up on danger before a person. If a dog is relaxed, whatever danger the person perceives probably isn't real. Since the service dogs are rescues they come in all forms and sizes, and the person needing a dog is matched with one that will be suited for his or her needs. A tall person uncomfortable in crowds will need a taller service dog than a shorter person. The dogs are also trained to perform different tasks, and the organization strive to match the exact right dog with the right person. Training one service dog costs around $10,000, and K9s for warriors are funded solely by private donations. PTSD is not about what is wrong with a person; it is about what happened to a person. Everyone can help through showing common sense and respect. Don't insist that your children be allowed to touch a service dog. If a person shies away from you, it might not be because he or she doesn't like you; something in the past can have made the person sensitive to touch. If you want to learn more about PTSD and service dogs, visit K9s for warriors. You can also read more at the National Center for PTSD.

A: Electronic dog doors take the convenience of a dog door a step further and provides the security of only opening when your pet needs to use it. The PlexiDor Electronic Dog Door is only triggered to open when your pet approaches wearing the state-of-the-art RFID technology key, clipped onto the collar of your dog or cat. The collar key automatically reads the pre-programmed code to open and close the door, allowing your pet access while keeping other animals out. https://youtu.be/A02KLkm0FGc There are three waterproof collars keys included with your electronic dog door; each collar key weighs less than an ounce. The keys securely clip onto your dog’s collar and no batteries are required. The length of time the door stays open is adjustable to suite your needs. Then, the dead bolt automatically locks to ensure the security of your home through a ¼ inch steel deadbolt locking system. The unit can be plugged into a standard household power outlet or can be directly hard wired. The heavy-duty aluminum frame and composite panel door are built to last. There will never be a need for replacement flaps again. The PlexiDor electronic dog doors can be installed in an exterior house door or a stud, brick, block or cement wall up to 12 inches thick. An aluminum tunnel is included with the door to connect the interior and exterior frame on the wall unit models.  PlexiDor has installers in all 50 states and Canada. The PlexiDor Electronic is available in bronze and white for both the door and wall applications and will accommodate dogs up to 125 pounds. The units are manufactured in the United States. The PlexiDor Electronic Series has a 5-year residential warranty. All our PlexiDor products include a 90 day money back guarantee. Contact us anytime via email or call our Customer Service department. They are happy to assist with questions Monday through Friday 8AM – 5PM EST at 888-PETDOOR.

A: Some summer treats we enjoy are foods toxic for the dog. Dogs are more than just our pets, they are part of our families. As such, we want to give them the best care we can, including maintaining their health and happiness. Some foods we eat without issue can be harmful, even fatal, for our four-legged friends. Here is a list of human foods to keep away from your dog to protect them from unnecessary harm and potential health problems. Foods Toxic For the Dog Avocado, in season in summer, contains persin, a toxin generally harmless to humans. However, it can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs and should be avoided. Alcohol seems obvious to avoid giving to your pooch. Dogs feel the effects much more than humans and small amounts can lead to death. Onions, garlic and chives are all in the Allium family of plants and highly toxic to dogs. They cause stomach irritation and potential anemia. Onion poisoning, often, only occurs after a few days of your dog eating the vegetable. Grapes and raisins are extremely toxic to dogs, although what the exact toxic component is, is unknown. Ingestion of grapes can lead to kidney failure. Ice cream, a warm weather favorite, is a problem for dogs in two ways. The dairy may be an issue if your dog is lactose intolerant and ice cream is high in sugar. Both lead to stomach upset and diarrhea. Cherries, another summer seasonal fruit, have cyanide in the skin and pit. Humans are able to avoid the pit and the levels in the skin don’t affect humans. The toxin levels are too high for dogs to consume without consequences. Salt and salty snacks are easier for dogs to get their snouts on as they drop on the ground by clumsy fingers at BBQs and parks. Unfortunately, they can cause excessive thirst and urination. Salt also may cause vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, elevated body temperature, seizures and even death. These foods are toxic to the dog and not safe to share with your pet. Keeping these foods away from your dog will ensure their continued health and happiness. If you’re a dog owner who likes to share with your pet, there are many human foods good for your dog. In fact, many fruits and vegetables are especially healthy for your dog. Keep an eye out for another article to explore healthy human foods for your pup! Everyone here at Plexidor Dog Doors wishes you and your pets a safe and active lifestyle!