Keep your pet on the right path to a long, healthy life

(NC)—A recent study by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and Hill’s Pet Nutrition found that, on an average weekday, pet owners spend three times as much time watching TV and nearly twice as much time surfing the Internet as they do playing with, or exercising, their pets.

The same survey suggests that exercise, along with weight management, good nutrition and dental care are keys to enhancing pet health across the country.

Here are four ways pet owners can keep their pets on the path to a long and healthy life:

1 Incorporate regular play and exercise with pets into your schedule. It’s a great opportunity for pet owners to become more active themselves. If your pet has poor mobility, speak to your veterinarian about how to help them become more active. Consider a pet food designed for healthy mobility.

2 Make dental care part of your pet care routine with brushing and regular veterinary dental cleanings. Proper dental care helps avoid serious oral problems and can improve your pet’s quality of life. There is pet food specifically designed to maintain healthy oral health, such as Hill’s Science Diet Oral Care.

3 Choose a pet food that’s right for the age-related and health needs of your pet so they get the right balance of nutrients to help prevent a range of health issues. You should also speak to your veterinarian about the feeding method that’s right for your pet.

4 Learn to recognize the visible signs of pet health problems, such as obesity or weight loss, bad breath, flaky skin or a dull coat. You can learn more about how to recognize pet health problems at Hillspet.ca or Facebook.com/ScienceDietCanada.

www.newscanada.com

Related posts:

1. ‘Paws’ to take this quick pet health quiz (NC)—A recent study conducted by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association...
2. Your Healthy Pet—Quick Tip: What a dog eats is key to helping prevent health issues (NC)—A study conducted by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and...
3. Does your knowledge of pet nutrition match up with the facts? (NC)—In a study by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Fast forward three years, and our greyhound, Greta, has, at the age of three and a half, become a welcome, if not comical, addition to our family. So it only seemed fitting that when we considered another venture up to Mendocino, we decided to take her along for the ride.

The original room we stayed in at MacCallum house, the Gazebo Playhouse, was quite charming and perfect for my husband and myself, but I knew that adding a dog crate and 60-pound pooch to the mix would turn the cozy quarters into a cramped jail cell.  

I finally decided that the best option for everyone was the Bug’s Ear, a stand-alone cottage about a mile away from MacCallum that offered a bit more privacy and much-needed space.

We hit the road on an early August weekday, and as Greta is not very fond of car rides, she was up and down and panting for the majority of the four-hour ride.

We arrived in Mendocino too early to check in, and I was dismayed to find that not one merchant in all of the small town had a dish of water out for a thirsty dog. Finally, we had to resort to begging for some tap water at a local cafe. (I did bring Greta’s dishes and water for the ride, but she is very particular about when she will and won’t drink from a dish, and in a car, moving or not, she won’t.)

Once we got some liquid in Greta and were able to check in, we set up her crate and she was finally able to get some rest.

The next morning, we took Greta to the beach, where she splashed and frolicked in the surf.

We had to keep her on leash, not only because she’s a greyhound, but also because the beach didn’t allow off leash dogs. (We heard there is a beach in Fort Bragg that allows dogs off leash, but we didn’t feel the need to make the 10-mile drive to check it out.)

The MacCallum house charges an extra $30 per night for pets, and they did provide us with a dog bed, blanket, and a few waste bags and treats. They also provided food and water dishes, although they would have been better suited for cats or very small dogs, so I’m glad I brought our large dishes from home. We also could have splurged on the Tail Wagger’s Club Basket (see photo below), but at $85, I decided to pass (since we were already paying an extra $60 for the two-night stay).

Other than a small coffee shop that had outdoor seating, there didn’t seem to be too many places in downtown Mendocino to dine with Greta in tow. We opted to pick up food and take it back to the cottage for lunch during the full day we were there. As breakfast was included with our stay, we did crate Greta both mornings while we ate, and we did the same for the two evenings we dined in town.

I’m glad we went, but next time I think we will stay closer to home and choose a place that’s more dog friendly. We did see a few dogs here and there during our stay, some large and some small, but in all, I was surprised that Mendocino didn’t have a more welcoming mat out for canines and their human travel companions.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The Golden Retriever is one of those quintessential dogs. They’ve got big hearts and gentle demeanors, so it’s no wonder that the breed is so darn popular.

The latest news only makes this sweet, dreamy dog seem even more appealing.

A Golden at a southeast Kansas zoo recently adopted three tiger cubs abandoned by their mother. It all started when the cubs’ mother had problems with them, and a day later, stopped caring for them entirely.

Because puppies take about the same amount of time as tiger cubs to develop, and the adoptive mother just recently weaned her own puppies, it was perfect timing all around. The adopted mother even goes so far as to lick and clean the cubs, too.

The Safari Zoological Park is a licensed facility that specializes in endangered species such as leopards, lions, cougars, baboons, ring-tailed lemurs, bears and other animals. It currently has seven white tigers and two orange tigers.

As for the adopted mom, when her nursing duties are over, she’ll no doubt go back to being a great addition to her caring, animal-loving family.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

In honor of Milk-Bone’s 100th anniversary, they are holding a Milk-Bone Moment contest, the winner of which could receive a new digital camera or a $100k contract as the new Milk-Bone SpokesDog.

There is no purchase necessary to win, and the contest ends September 18, 2008 at 11:59:59 PM CT.

To enter and be eligible to win, you must be a legal resident of the 50 United States or Washington, D.C., be 18 years of age or older, have a valid email address, and be the legal owner of a dog.

Between September 25, 2008 and October 18, 2008, the judging of all eligible entries received will be conducted to determine the top 100 eligible entries received (“Finalists”), and all eligible entries received will be posted on the Web Site for public viewing. The Finalists will be notified beginning on or about October 19, 2008 and their entries will be featured on the Web Site for voting. Voting will occur from October 19, 2008 at 12:00:00 AM CT to November 18, 2008 at 11:59:59 PM CT.

Click here to enter now.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

If you don’t have the time and/or patience to learn how to make dog biscuits from scratch, you can always rely on Wagatha’s to help you out.

Wagatha’s makes and sells gourmet organic dog treats that are 100 percent certified organic, kosher, and made in Vermont.

Wagatha’s gourmet organic dog biscuits are made with human grade ingredients. They do not use wheat gluten in our products.

Ingredients for Wagatha’s Dog Biscuits include easily digestible grains, whole-wheat flour, brown flax seed, extra virgin olive oil, sunflower oil, eggs, non-fat dry milk, honey, garlic, and sea salt.

The treats are available in Wagatha’s original flavor biscuits (toasted whole wheat with honey and garlic); Wagatha’s Wheat Free Tuscan Tomato & Herb Biscuits; Wagatha’s Wheat Free Cranberry Cheddar Biscuits with a hint of mint; and Wagatha’s Breakfast Biscuits (maple oatmeal with bananas & apples).

You can get Wagatha’s treats here.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

From In Defense of Animals, here are some tips to keep your pooch happy and safe over the holiday weekend.

* Leave your companion animals at home when you go to see fireworks.

* Before you leave home for the fireworks, make sure your animals are indoors in a sheltered, quiet area. Some animals become destructive when frightened, so be sure that you’ve removed any items that your companion animal could destroy or that would be harmful if chewed or swallowed. Leave a television or radio playing at normal volume to keep him/her company.

* Make sure your animals are wearing identification tags (and it’s even better if they’re also microchipped) so that if they do become lost, they can be returned promptly.

* Do not leave an animal in your car. With only hot air to breathe, your animal friend can suffer serious health effects, even death, in a few short minutes. Partially opened windows do not provide sufficient air or cooling, but they do provide an opportunity for your animal to be kidnapped.

* If you know that your animal becomes seriously distressed by loud noises, consult with your veterinarian before July 4th for ways to help alleviate the fear and anxiety he or she will experience during fireworks displays.

* Never leave your animals outside unattended, even in a fenced yard, and especially not on a chain. With explosions occurring, animals who normally wouldn’t leave the yard may escape and become lost, or become entangled in their chain, risking injury or death.

* If you find somebody else’s companion animals running at-large, either take them to the address on the tag, if you feel comfortable doing so, or bring them to the local animal shelter, where they will have the best chance of being reunited with their human families.

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center offers the following additional tips:

* Never leave alcoholic drinks unattended where animals can reach them.

* Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your animal that is not labeled specifically for use on animals. Use this instead.

* Always keep matches and lighter fluid out of animals’ reach.

* Keep animals on their normal diet. Any change, even for one meal, can cause severe indigestion and diarrhea.

* Keep citronella candles, insect coils and oil products out of reach.

* Never use fireworks around animals.

In Defense of Animals, located in San Rafael, Calif., is an international animal protection organization with more than 85,000 members and supporters dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of animals by protecting their rights and welfare. IDA’s efforts include educational events, cruelty investigations, boycotts, grassroots activism, and hands-on rescue through our sanctuaries in Mississippi and Cameroon, Africa. In Defense of Animals is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Although I know beer isn’t good for dogs, tell that to my greyhound, Greta, who tries to sneak beer any chance she gets. And since my husband is the beer drinker of the family, she usually can get a few licks after he’s done with a bottle, all before I catch them in the act and they both give me a guilty look.

Now, I don’t have to get mad anymore, because I found a beer for dogs.

Bowser Beer (TM) by 3 Busy Dogs is 100 percent American-made with human-grade ingredients, including glucosamine added for healthy joints.

First, they make a protein-rich beef broth, then add malt barley for shiny coats and the flavor of beer without the adverse affects. There’s no carbonation, alcohol, or hops (which can cause seizures in dogs) in these brews.

They are bottled in 12 oz. recyclable, plastic beer bottles with tamper-proof, resealable caps, and can be served room-temperature or cold.

They even offer customized labels for your pooch.

You can buy Bowser Beer online at:
www.pawshop.com
www.jakesdoghouse.com
www.amazon.com/grocery
www.doggonegood.com

For a list of retail stores in your state, click here, and for more information, click here, call (703) 850-9995, or email jenny@3busydogs.com.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

I’ve already mentioned why I rescued Greta, but here’s yet another reason: the Tucson Dog Protection Act, a ballot measure designed to improve the lives of dogs in South Tucson and, especially, the 540 greyhounds at Tucson Greyhound Park.
 
The measure establishes that dogs deserve wholesome food and regular exercise, and shouldn’t be given anabolic steroids.
 
It’s common knowledge that track dogs are fed uncooked byproducts that are unfit for human consumption. The U.S. Department of Agriculture declares as unfit for human consumption the meat of diseased, dying, disabled or animals already dead upon arrival at slaughter plants, and the Food and Drug Administration recommends this meat not be fed raw to any animal. FDA studies show high levels of bacteria in this meat, including E. coli and salmonella.

The Tucson Dog Protection Act would require that either the meat be cooked or that better quality food be served.
 
In addition, currently, track dogs are kept in small cages 22 to 23 hours a day for their entire racing careers. The Tucson Dog Protection Act would require that dogs spend no more than 18 hours in a cage.

Regarding steroid use, female greyhounds are routinely given anabolic steroids to prevent heat cycles, which can result in serious physical problems, including urinary tract infections, permanent malformation of dogs’ genitalia and liver problems.

This Act is just one small way to help greyhounds at this track in Tucson. Until greyhound racing is abolished, every little step helps. For more information, click here.

Also, as the economy is in the toilet, tracks from Oregon to Florida to Connecticut are closing, and dog racing proponents now admit that their “game” has become “less and significant and appealing” and is on the verge of collapse.

Over 2,000 volunteers have successfully collected enough signatures to qualify the Greyhound Protection Actfor the November election.  The Greyhound Protection Act will phase out greyhound racing at Wonderland and Raynham Parks by 2010.

Buy a Campaign T-Shirt to Support an End to Dog Racing!
 
 

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Drs. Foster and Smith, who offer amazing pet products, also have a television show, “Faithful Friends”, on Animal Planet that airs on Sunday mornings at 9 a.m.

So far, they have 13 episodes in the can, and the next two are about animal behavior (June 29) and pet nutrition (July 6).

The show is hosted by Wanda Goldberg (see photo above). Each week on the show, veterinarians Dr. Race Foster and Dr. Marty Smith have invited special guests that offer important information regarding both large and small animals.

With the help of additional veterinarians and animal expert guests, “Faithful Friends” provides support to pet parents on subjects including health, nutrition, behavior, travel, new and aged pets, horses, fish & coral, birds, and more.

Each show will highlight the following segments supporting the weekly subject:

• Wanda Goldberg’s interview with the featured guest
• Victoria Schade’s training tip
• Hands-on demonstrations with products, medications and nutrition
• Road trips to great pet friendly locations and events
• A visit to resident veterinarian Dr. Andy Walker
• Kids’ most frequently asked questions
• Dr. Marty Smith and Dr. Race Foster Q&A
• Itty Bitty Buddies for the home with Electra Mustaine
• Animal Myths

For more information about the show, click here.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Timberwolf Organics is recalling certain products/lots of dog food.

Dakota Bison/Ocean Blue Reported Issues

Due to recent reports from some customers, the company has ordered that two formulas from three specific dates be pulled from the shelves. These are:

Dakota Bison with ‘best by date’ of 12 Feb 2009
Ocean Blue with ‘best by date’ of 20 Feb 2009
Ocean Blue with best by date’ of 8 March 2009

The reported symptoms include dogs refusing to eat, diarrhea or vomiting.

While the problem is inconsistent (not every dog eating food from those dates/bag show the symptoms and not every bag), to err on the side of caution, they have decided to pull the formulas produced with the above dates. Initial testing has come back negative for problems and further testing is pending results.

As soon as the cause of this reported problem is determined procedures will be put into place to ensure that an event like this cannot happen again.

No other formulas and Ocean Blue and Dakota Bison with dates other than ones listed above are not affected.

If you do have a bag with those dates, contact the retailer you purchased it from for an exchange or credit. If you purchased it directly from Timberwolf Organics, email customer.support@timberwolforganics.com.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.