Keep laundry detergent pods out of reach

Pet information

Laundry detergent pods are convenient for making sure you use the right amount of detergent. Just make sure you store and keep them out of reach of pets and children – they are highly toxic.

As an adult it’s often hard to predict what will be dangerous, because we think like adults. We know laundry detergent goes in the laundry machine and not in the mouth. Unfortunately, the pods can look like candy to small children, and like toys to pets. They look fun to kick around, hold between the paws, and chew on.

Laundry detergent pods are dangerous to pets and children

But, isn’t the detergent in plastic?

Not exactly. The pods are designed to hold detergent until the shell comes in contact with moisture – such as the water in the laundry machine or your child’s or pet’s saliva. The detergent in the pods is highly concentrated and much more dangerous than most regular detergents.

When released, the detergent can cause life-threatening damage to the respiratory system, burning of the stomach and trachea, and eye damage.

Symptoms of contact with a pod include drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, and respiratory problems. Many times, the pod is gone – already swallowed – and it’s difficult to know what’s causing the symptoms.

The problem is easy to remedy. Keep your detergent in a secure shelf where your pets and children can’t reach it. Never leave a pod lying around the house, not even on top of a laundry pile.

 

Happy Labor Day, for everyone!

Pet information

As summer draws to an end, an extra day off might be a great opportunity to do something fun with your dog. Here are some ideas that require little preparation, so you can get right to the fun part!

If you live near the ocean, a lake, or a river, there might be a doggie beach nearby.  A beach offers many opportunities to smell new things and make new friends. Some dogs are a bit intimidated by large bodies of water, but they usually get over it quickly. If your dog likes to swim, it will be a marvelous time. If your dog doesn’t like to swim he or she can still have a great time frolicking on the beach.

If you have a house with a fenced-in back yard, consider throwing a party for dogs. This is a great way to get to know other dog lovers, and the pooches can play. If your neighbors have dogs they might want to come over, invite the people you bump into over and over when you walk your dog, and your friends and family who love dogs.

Another fun idea is to drive to an area where you don’t normally walk your dog and go for a hike. Smelling, seeing, and hearing new things will make it a true holiday for your four-legged friend.

jimibeach

 

Bulldogs can’t swim

Pet information

Summer is turning to fall, but large parts of the USA are still blazing hot, and it’s still season for beaches, boats, and pools. Whenever water is involved it’s important to know that not all dogs can swim.

Dogs will automatically paddle when they are in water, but some breeds are so front heavy that it doesn’t do them any good. Bulldogs, for instance, cannot swim. A Bulldog in water will sink, no matter how much they try to stay afloat.

Bulldogs are the worst breed when it comes to water, but all breeds with large, heavy chests and short muzzles have problems swimming. It’s also worth noting that even amongst breeds who generally love to swim some individuals will have an aversion to water.

If you are by the beach or on a boat, it’s a great idea to get a life vest for your furry companion. If you have a Bulldog and a pool or pond, make sure the water is fenced off. There are also emergency monitors that will alert if something breaks the surface of the water. If you Bulldog falls in he won’t be able to stay afloat, and he won’t be able to get out of the water.

Make doggie ice cream

Pet information

Don't leave your pets outside on hot daysAugust is one of the hottest months of the year, and few things are better on a warm day than some cool ice cream. Many dogs love ice cream just as we do, but it’s too sweet and crammed with lactose to be good for them on a daily basis.

Luckily, you can make frozen treats for your dogs both quickly and easily. Scoop the batter into ice cube trays for conveniently sized pieces. Once they’re frozen you can move them to a freezer bag for storage.

Banana – peanut butter ice cream

To make banana peanut butter ice cream for your dog, you need:

1 banana
32 ounces of plain or greek yogurt
2 teaspoons of peanut butter
2 pea spoons of honey

Mix ingredients in a blender, scoop up, and freeze.

Peanut butter – yogurt ice cream

Only two ingredients, and super-easy to make. Some peanut butters include lots of added sugar, try to find one with as few additives as possible.

1 cup peanut butter
16 ounces of plain or greek yogurt

Microwave the peanut butter for about 1.5 minutes to get it soft. Mix with the yogurt until it’s completely blended, scoop up, and freeze.

 

 

If you decide to get a puppy

Pet information

Sleeping puppyIf you decide to get a puppy, it’s important to know that puppies require a lot of time, attention, and training. As humans we tend to get excited over physical objects, and it’s fun to buy all the stuff a puppy needs, such as dog bed, bowls, toys, collar, leash, and food. These things are important for the puppy, but your time, consistency, and training are even more important.

When your new puppy arrives, it has just been removed from its mom and litter mates, and this is a big and scary world. He or she is vulnerable and needs security and routine.

Here are some good ideas to make the transition easier.

Schedule an appointment with your vet.

Your new best friend needs vaccinations. It can be dangerous for puppies to meet other dogs before they’re fully vaccinated, and many vets even advice against puppies touching the floor in the vet clinic or going outside before they have all their shots.

Play quietly and gently.

It’s tempting to flood the new puppy with attention and activity, but puppies need a lot of sleep. If he or she looks like it’s nap time, it’s nap time.

Decide who is responsible for what.

Routine is important to puppies. Who is responsible for getting puppy food and remembering when the puppy needs to eat? Housebreaking  a puppy is a lot of work; they need to go out after sleeping, after playing, and after eating, and this needs to happen at once. If you wait ten minutes to finish a phone call or watch the show your puppy is likely to have an accident.

Explain the rules from the start.

Encourage playing with the dog toys. Let the puppy know how good it is when playing with them. If he or she starts chewing on the furniture or other off-limits object, say “Off” and show one of the dog toys. Encourage taking the toy, and give lots of praise when the puppy plays with the right thing.

Never hit a puppy, give harsh reprimands, or scold the puppy for something that happened in the past. Positive and consistent training is the way to go.

Puppies don’t come pre-trained.

Some new puppy parents shout, “Come here, right now” and are upset when the puppy doesn’t get it. He or she has no idea what “come here” means. Enrolling in puppy class is a great idea. Here your furry friend will get socialization and learn how to behave around other dogs, and you will learn how to train your dog.

Puppies aren’t human.

It’s easy to assume they’ll understand our way of thinking, know what’s dangerous, or what’s good or bad. It doesn’t work like that. If you run into problems, ask for help.

Research dog breeds before choosing your furry friend

Pet information

Many people believe that dog breeds mostly have an impact on the outside of the dog, but picking a dog just depending on looks can be a mistake. Different breeds are created through selection of certain properties, and it is important to pick a breed that fits with the family’s lifestyle.

The breed’s size and grooming needs play a role, of course, but the breed’s temper can be even more important.

The American Eskimo is a great example. This cute bundle of fur looks pretty much like a Samoyed or Japanese Spitz, but is bred to be a guard dog. The average Eskie has a completely different personality than the average Samoyed, even though they look a lot alike.

American Eskimo
American Eskimo

Naturally, personalities between individuals vary as well. If you have children, make sure you find a dog that loves them. If the dog just tolerates them you might run into trouble if the kids get rambunctious or do something to the dog it doesn’t like. Dogs and children can be the best combination ever, or the worst.

This problem is often emphasized when a breed becomes popular in media. The Border Collie is a great example – this breed is extremely smart and often used in TV shows, movies, and commercials. The dogs are cute and do tricks on TV, and they are fantastic companions for the right family. Unfortunately, many people get a Border Collie unprepared for dealing with an explosion of energy that wants to herd everything that moves and is smart enough to open doors and cupboards just to see what’s on the other side. A Border Collie needs a job to do. It doesn’t have to be herding, but if these dogs don’t get a task they’re likely to invent one.

Border Collie
Border Collies often herd everything that moves – including children and cars.

Dalmatians are another great example. They’re beautiful, and countless families have fallen for their children’s pleas after watching Pongo on TV, unaware that the average Dalmatian has an abundance of energy and needs something to do.

If you want a certain breed but doesn’t think the personality is right for your family, consider a mixed breed. They’re often much more laid back than their purebred relatives.

Also consider if you want to get a puppy or an adult dog. Puppies are adorable. They’re cute, small, are ready to spend their life with you. They also need a lot of attention, time, and training. Many are surrendered once they get out of the puppy stage and into adolescence, because they require more time and training than the family is prepared for, or able to give.

The breeds mentioned here are just examples. In order to research dog breeds, you can find some information on our site. Also take a look on the AKC website – they have a lot of breed information including average life span, known health issues, and grooming requirements.

Today is Dog Day!

Pet information

Swedish VallhundToday is Dog Day, a perfect occasion to celebrate the bond between human and canine. Dogs bring love and many benefit into the lives of humans, and this is a great day to show the dogs in your life some extra love. Also, please consider pitching in to help the numerous homeless dogs around the country and around the world.

Helping shelter animals doesn’t have to be expensive. Many rescues and shelters ask for blankets, towels, dog and cat food, treats, and toys. Many also encourage the public to come over and donate a few minutes to play with a lonely dog.

Large numbers of shelter pets are scared and starved for human attention, and even if you can’t take the pet home, helping with some socialization can make a world of difference.

Another great way to help shelter animals is sharing their posts on social media. It’s completely free, and clicking the “share” button only takes a couple of seconds. Wouldn’t it be great if you shared an animal, one of your friends saw it, and this simple process could save a life?

Dog breeds perfect for apartment life

Pet information

With recent dips in the economy, more Americans than ever live in multi-family units. While it’s possible to make almost any dog happy in an apartment, choosing a breed well-adapted to the lifestyle when getting a new family member can make things easier. Here are some examples of breeds particularly well suited to apartment life. 

Scottish Terrier

This is a family friendly breed that quickly grows devoted to the family. The dogs often come across as serious and can be aloof when meeting strangers, but they’re very loyal and loving towards “their” humans. Daily walks and fun toys generally satisfy their need for activity.

Bulldog

The average Bulldog loves a good nap on the couch. These dogs are good-natured and loving, and not interested in excessive exercise. They love to snuggle, watch TV, and keep an eye on what might be happening in the kitchen. Be aware that Bulldogs are sensitive to heat, and that they can’t swim.

Lhasa Apso

These dogs have a convenient apartment-friendly size, are affectionate towards the family, suspicious towards strangers, and independent enough to not be needy. A Lhasa Apso tends to adapt their level of activity to that of the family. A daily walk and some play time keeps the dogs happy. Downside? The elegant coat requires a lot of grooming.

Pug

The Pug is a charming, playful, and affectionate bundle of love. These dogs can adapt to most environments and lifestyles – as long a they get to be a part of the family. As long as your Pug gets to be with you, he or she will likely be happy to chill in the sofa, go for a walk, visit family, or dress up in a costume.

Greyhound

The Greyhound is often called the 45-mph couch potato, and that describes them very well. An average Greyhound likes to mosey around the block with you, or run all he can for five minutes. When that’s done, they like to snuggle up somewhere soft and comfortable. As a bonus, they rarely bark and are easy to groom.

Sunshine story: Joanie and Chachi

Pet information
Joanie and Chachi
Image from the Huffington Post

A couple of weeks ago, animal control officers in Savannah, Georgia picked up an unusual pair. Joanie the pit bull carried Chachi the Chihuahua in her mouth. Joanie would put her friend down from time to time to lick the Chihuahua’s infected eye.

Animals can be be devoted, and Joanie carried her injured friend to safety. The dogs are so close the shelter staff call them soul mates.

Despite Joanie’s best efforts, veterinarians had to remove Chachi’s eye and the two had to live separated while he healed, but shelter staff made sure to give them together-time every day.  Neither of them care about other dogs; only each other.

Savannah police hoped the owners would come forward as the dogs got publicity. No one claimed them and the shelter put out pleas for an adopter, hoping the dogs could find a new home together.

The dream is coming true: the couple move to Florida some time this month. We love a story with a happy ending!

Sunshine story: Lost dog becomes life saver

Pet information

Stacey Savige found a lost terrier roaming around the local elementary school, picked it up, and took it home. Her neighbor Yolanda agreed to watch over it for a while. The two did everything to reunite the dog with its owner. They printed up 4,000 fliers that they stuffed in mailboxes, and they put in a Craigslist ad.

Yolanda’s sons – Azaiah and Christian – loved the dog at once, but she told them it belonged to someone else and would have to go home in not too long.

Four days later, RaeLee was still in Yolanda’s home, and when she came home from work the little dog flung himself at the screen door and barked like crazy. When she opened the door, he led the way to Christian’s room where the boy was in the middle of a violent seizure.

Without the dog she would most likely have headed in the other direction. The neurologist said her son would have choked on his own blood and died, but thanks to RaeLee help arrived in time.

The next day, the dog’s original owner called and came by to pick up his dog, but he was so moved by the story and the boys’ attachment to the dog that he let the family keep him.

Cormorant, Minnesota, has a new mayor: Duke the dog

Pet information

Inhabitants of the small town of Cormorant, Minnesota, recently set out to vote. It was time to elect a new honorary mayor, and everyone could vote for whoever they wanted. Many thought the owner of the store would win, but he didn’t even have half as many votes as the victor.

Meet Duke, a 7 year-old who is surely the fluffiest mayor in the country. He won a landslide victory and celebrated with an extensive grooming session and a new outfit. He does get paid for the job; a local pet store donated a year’s supply of kibble.

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International Homeless Animals Day

Pet information

Today is international homeless animals day and organizations around the world come together to inform about pet overpopulation. Today, you can count on seeing adopt-a-thons, spay/neuter clinics, microchip clinics, and many other activities. 

You might not think the situation is all that bad in the USA, but every year pet shelters are overrun by homeless cats and dogs. The sad consequence is that millions of pets are put down in shelters, often after just a couple of days. There are all sorts of pets in shelters. You can find pure bred dogs, mutts, cats, birds, rabbits, and even chickens. There are puppies and kittens as well as adult animals. Many are scared and confused, and don’t understand why their family isn’t there for them anymore.

If you’ve thought of adding a furry friend to your family, this might be a great day to do it. Go to your local shelter or visit petfinder.com to see available pets near you. Even if you don’t want or can’t commit to a pet, you can help by spreading information, sharing pets on social media, or bringing supplies to a local shelter or rescue.

Sunshine story: Lady gets a new life

Pet information

Lady is an elderly black lab who suffers arthritis. She ended up in a shelter in 2012 when her owner died, but she was adopted and everything seemed to work out okay. That is, until her new owners got another dog. Lady was promptly back at the shelter.

She wouldn’t have any of that. She walked 30 miles home to her family. Not a small feat since her arthritis make walking difficult. Unfortunately, they rejected her once more.

This could have been the end for Lady, but one of the volunteers posted about her on Facebook, and the heartbreaking story spread over the Internet all the way to Helen Rich, heiress to the Wrigley chewing-gum fortune. Ms Rich has had some hard turns in life herself and could sympathize with Lady. She promptly sent a private jet to pick up the dog!

Now Lady lives with Helen on a farm with seven other rescue dogs. Helen is also involved in the On the Wings of Angels initiative, helping innumerable dogs find homes.

Helen Rich and Lady
Helen Rich and Lady, image from the “On the Wings of Angels” Facebook page.

Children reading to shelter pets is a win-win scenario

Pet information

dog smallMany children have problems reading. The school environment can be intimidating, and it’s no fun to constantly be corrected. At the same time, shelters are overcrowded with pets yearning for some human affection. The connection between reading problems and shelter pets might not be perfectly clear, but bear with us. It’s there.

The children need practice and purpose in an environment that won’t judge them. The shelter pets need socialization and human interaction.

Turns out that children love to read to animals, and particularly cats are soothed by the rhythmic child voice.

Organizations around the country now offer programs where children are invited to read to animals. In many cases the same child comes back over and over again, and might even rehearse the story before presenting it to the pet.

These programs are particularly beneficial for many autistic children who find the animals a great source of support. Researchers at Tufts University claim the events lead to an increased use of language and improved social interactions.