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Statistics |
| Unique Visitors: 29 |
| Total Unique Visitors: 555802 |
| Visitors Out: 2155 |
| Total Visitors Out: 12754 |
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| Fleas and Ticks and Mosquitoes- Oh My! |
| 2009-05-11 12:33:36 |
Ah, spring.... The sun is shining, birds are singing, bees are buzzing, fleas are hopping, and the ticks are lurking! While we're all excited to be spending more time outside, some of the less-than-friendly critters out there are just drooling at the thought of your poor furry pet's visit to their neck of the woods. Fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes aren't just irritating biters, either ---they all can carry and transmit some pretty serious diseases as well! And as if diseases like Heartworm, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Erlichiosis, Babesiosis, Hemobartonellosis (who comes up with these names?) weren't enough, many dogs and cats have severe allergic reactions to flea bites, leading to horrible rashes and skin infections. But that's nothing compared to the fate that befalls haple...
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| So What Is "Clicker" Training Anyway? |
| 2009-05-08 20:19:34 |
Clicker training was developed to help train marine mammals and supposedly works for just about any pet, not just dogs. The idea behind this type of training is that your pet will learn that a certain sounds mean “correct”. You don’t have to use an actual clicker, but you do need a noise that is consistent and can be made instantly, so voice is not the ideal choice. Animals will learn exactly when they are doing the right thing, so there will be less confusion and they will learn more quickly. We’re experimenting with clicker training for our dog and here are a few things we have learned:Before you begin, you have to teach your animal what a “click” means. We did this by having several sessions of just clicking and giving a treat without any commands in...
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| New! Hemp Dog Toys |
| 2009-05-04 01:43:17 |
Come see our new line of hemp dog toys! Available in owl, bird and elephant shapes.Hemp is naturally sustainable. It's also super sturdy & strong, so go ahead and toss one of these funky flat characters to your furry friend. Each comes with a squeaker.Colored by nature and 100% certified Non-Toxic dyes, these toys help to make your home a safe and chemical free environment....
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| How to choose a puppy (Part 4): Shelter Dogs |
| 2009-05-02 01:46:16 |
View the previous posts in this series:How To Choose a Puppy (Part 1)How To Choose a Puppy (Part 2): The Right Breed For Your LifestyleHow To Choose a Puppy (Part 3): Well, Maybe Not Quite A PuppyShelters vary widely; some are very upscale, well maintained adoption facilities, and others are depressing "dog pounds...." Dogs coming from more dire conditions will often need more "rescuing" than those from the more well-funded shelters, but they're no less deserving! You should think about what level of resources you can afford to devote to your new pet ----the adoption fees at the pound will be lower, but you may end up spending more at the vet, fighting off fleas, mites, skin infections, intestinal parasites, kennel cough, and other health problems. But if you can, few things are more r...
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| Vote for your favorite post of April |
| 2009-04-29 12:20:35 |
We want to make our blog interesting and useful for you! Please help us by letting us know what articles piqued your interest this month.Please click on the links below to view specific posts, or just scroll down to view them all.Ask The Vet: Bengal Cat With AllergiesReduce Your Dog's Footprint on the EarthA Pet Friendly Garden (Part 2)A Pet Friendly Garden (Part 1)Reduce Your Cat's Footprint on the EarthHemp Collar GiveawayEarth-Friendly, Pet-Friendly CleaningEarth Day 2009How to choose a puppy (Part 3): Well, Maybe Not Quite A PuppyFizz Dog CollarsWill Bo Wear Handmade?Presidential PetsThe Hebivore Feeding Project Part 2: It's sprouting!Tangerine Cat Collar GiveawayBone Recipe CardsLiving With BunniesSnow Day!Ask The Vet: Puppy with Swollen ShoulderEncyclopedia Entry: CatDog Training: In...
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| Ask The Vet: Bengal Cat With Allergies |
| 2009-04-28 01:21:17 |
Question:I suspect that our Bengal may have a food allergy. I’ve been doing research and it’s common for the breed. They are very sensitive to immunizations and pesticides etc. and ours is very allergic to Advantage Flea treatment. She has some spots that she is licking the fur off of on her arms only. No open sores though. I’m wondering if they are itchy and I’d like to put some cortisone on them and see if it helps. Do you know if it’s okay to put cortisone cream (the human kind) on a cat? The skin is maybe the tiniest bit bumpy in spots. Hard to tell there is still a short layer of fur. I don’t want to do tons of expensive and unpleasant medical testing on her if I don’t have to just yet...Answer:Assume that anything you put on the outside of a...
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| Reduce Your Dog's Footprint on the Earth |
| 2009-04-26 00:35:22 |
Here are a few easy tips to help you go green with your dog.Organic Foods: You can be an eco-friendly dog owner by buying organic foods for your dog. These foods are made from cows, chickens and crops without pesticides or hormones, which is better for the Earth. Quality food will also help your dog live a longer and happier life.Earth Friendly Dog Beds: Look into beds made with organic cotton, hemp or recycled materials. These dog beds, by West Paw Designs, are actually made from recycled soda pop bottles!Waste Removal: Dog feces can actually benefit the planet if you use it wisely. Never wrap your doggy poo in a plastic bag and then throw it away. The plastic will not decompose and it will preserve the waste for hundreds of years. Instead, use a biodegradable waste bag and try composting...
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| A Pet Friendly Garden (Part 2) |
| 2009-04-25 04:12:45 |
Sustainable, organic farming practices are good for the planet, and produce healthier, more nutritious food. But every time I walk through the gardening section of my local hardware or 'home improvement' store, I am amazed by the array of toxic products on the shelves. Whether you're gardening for food or for show, or just doing a bit of yard and lawn maintenance, you're likely to be offered products that can pose a hazard to your pets (and to the environment). So if you need some more encouragement to go organic, here are a few hazards organic gardening will help you avoid:Snail and slug bait: Even fans of escargot hate the slime trails and mutilated buds left by voracious snails and slugs. Every spring I do battle with hordes of snails intent on devouring my flowers before they eve...
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| A Pet Friendly Garden (Part 1) |
| 2009-04-24 02:26:08 |
Earth Day week is here, and it's wonderful to see how much more attention people are paying to environmental issues these days. There are tons of ways that we can reduce the impact we have on our planet, but as a Vet, I'd like to remind you that there's another reason to go as green as you can: to improve the health of your beloved pets (and yourself too!). Did you hear about the letter that agri-business lobbyists wrote, complaining about Michelle Obama's plans to have an "organic garden?" They encouraged her to consider using some "conventional" gardening techniques, including chemical fertilizers and pesticides. (as an aside: I've never quite understood why an approach to farming created within the past 150 years is called "conventional," when you consider the 7-10,000 year history o...
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| Reduce Your Cat's Footprint on the Earth |
| 2009-04-22 23:42:01 |
Collar that cat to save wildlife!Gardens are becoming increasingly important as providers of food and shelter to many birds, because of a decrease in natural habitats and food sources. Red-listed species such as the house sparrow, starling and song thrush are becoming more concentrated in gardens and therefore in closer contact with pet cats.According to a poll conducted by volunteer cat owners from across the UK, a correctly fitted cat collar with a bell reduced cat predation by upto a third. Results showed that cats equipped with a cat collar and bell returned 41% fewer birds and 38% fewer mammals than those with a plain cat collar. (RSPB Public Affairs 6 June 2005)Birds are most active in the garden an hour after sunrise and an hour before sunset, so it is helpful to regularly feed cats...
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