Pets may raise our stress level at times (like when you’re convinced that your dog is never going to be house trained, or you are replacing your curtains for the third time because your cat constantly climbs them after a stray ball of fluff or a fly), but as any pet owner can tell you, pets also greatly decrease our stress level. I personally find that nothing erases a stressful day like coming home and spending five minutes with my dog.
A recent study conducted at the University of Minnesota released findings that stated what pet owners already know: owing a pet may be good for your heart. This study, conducted by Adnan Qureshi of the Zeenat Qureshi Stroke Research Center at the University of Minnesota, found that people who owned cats - at least at one point in their life - had a lower risk of dying from a heart attack than people who did not own cats.
So I would say that the moral of the story is: eat right, exercise, and own a cat at least once in your lifetime.
2010 is right round the corner (and since I’m still convinced it’s October, I’m not totally sure how it’s the end of December). This is the time of year when everyone starts thinking about new year’s resolutions. Common resolutions include resolving to lose weight, stopping smoking, finding a better job (we are always looking for Pet Advisors!), getting out of debt, volunteering, and getting in better shape. This year, I am putting out a call to all pet people (owners and non-owners) to include animals in their new year’s resolutions. Need some suggestions? Here are a few ideas:
1) Get In Shape - With Your Pet: Increasing the amount of exercise your pet receives will help prevent your pet from becoming overweight, help an overweight pet slim down, and can help solve a number of behavior problems (my trainer used to say that a tired dog is a well-behaved dog). Look for opportunities to take your dogs on off-leash walks (even the little dogs I’ve known can easily walk 3-4 miles), explore new on-leash routes around the neighborhood, and increase the amount of time you play fetch and tug-o-war. Cats play in shorter bursts than dogs - usually a maximum of 10 minutes or so at a time. Offer your cat a mix of interactive and home-alone toys to encourage him to up his activity level.
2) Feed A Healthy Diet: Take a look at the first five ingredients in your pet food - they will tell you a LOT about what you are feeding your pet. Pick foods with meat meals (such as chicken meal or lamb meal) and avoid by-products (such as chicken by-products). Look for quality sources of carbohydrates such as brown rice. Stay away from grain fragments such as ingredients that have “flour” in the name of the ingredient. Choose a food with healthy fats (chicken fat is the most common fat used in pet food). Avoid foods that use chemical preservatives such as BHT and ethoxyquin. A pet fed a food preserved with chemicals will eat its weight in chemicals every three years. Look for foods that are preserved naturally with mixed tocopherols.
3) Show Your Pets You Love Them - Every Day: Whether it’s spending an extra five minutes playing tug-of-war, scratching your pet in his favorite spot behind his ears, or bringing home a new toy to tempt your couch potato kitty, find some way each day to show your pets you love them.
Do you have a new year’s resolution involving your pet?
Somewhere in the tropics, there exists a small, private island. This island is a small tropical paradise, owned, my family and I are convinced, by our veterinarian. We are also convinced that the funds to purchase this island came about owing to the treatment of Kicsi (the Komondor my parents had when I was in high school who needed everything from surgery to remove the foxtail that had gotten trapped in her foot and actually worked its way under the skin to a titanium bridge for her mouth), Pumpkin (the overweight, diabetic cat with megacolon), and a host of other animals that have lived with my family over the years. The upkeep of the island is taken care of by Shana (my parent’s Coton who has no natural fear of anything except children and whose most recent veterinarian visits occurred after first a tussle with rattle snake and then later with a raccoon) and of course Jade who along with the occasional eye or ear infection, routinely visits the vet about every three months for reasons that you really do not want me to go into.
Trips to the veterinarian are an expensive yet crucial part of being a responsible pet owner. And it is therefore perhaps no surprise that pet insurance companies are springing up, offering to help pet owners deflect the high cost of good veterinary care. I will admit that I am skeptical about pet health insurance and its actual benefit. Rather than purchasing health insurance, I liked a suggestion in an article Know What You Get In Your Pet Insurance Policy to “self-insure.” Essentially, rather than pay a 3rd party insurance company a lump sum every month, open up a special savings account and put the same amount of money into that account every month. If something drastic happens to your pet, use that fund to help pay for the costs.
If you do decide to purchase a policy, here are five important questions to ask before making a decision:
1) What is and what is not covered?
The pet insurance companies that I have looked at so far are pretty open about what they will and will not cover. The ones I looked at do not cover routine office visits or standard procedures such as spaying and neutering. They also won’t cover most hereditary diseases (Cavaliers for example are famous for developing heart murmurs. While these are frequently benign, most pet insurance plans consider this a hereditary disorder and will not cover treatment if treatment is needed).
2) How much is the deductible?
Like health care plans for humans, some pet health insurance plans have deductibles that must be met before any reimbursement occurs. One plan I looked at has a $100 yearly deductible - which is about what I spend now (barring unforeseen veterinarian trips) on veterinary care for Jade.
3) When does coverage begin?
Almost all pet health insurance plans state that coverage begins 30 days after your pet is officially on the policy. In some cases, the policy may go into effect immediately, but certain problems will not be covered until after a mandatory waiting period. So even if the insurance plan says that coverage begins after a set number of days, be sure to ask about any exclusions.
4) Is emergency veterinary care covered?
Last year, my dog Jade went to bed seemingly fine. He woke up the next day with his left eye almost swollen shut. Since it was a Saturday, I had no choice but to take him to the emergency vet hospital. Since pets don’t always get sick or injured during routine business hours, it is important to find out if emergency care is covered.
5) Can I get help from the insurance company when I need it?
Place a call to any pet insurance company before you make a final decision and spend some time asking questions. Ask about hours they are open, how long it takes to get reimbursed, and who is available if you need help or have questions. Look for a company that is staffed by people that are friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to give you all the time you need.
If you still have questions, you can compare different plans, read opinions and reviews, and get free quotes at Pet Insurance Review.
Search the internet for “pet safe holiday decorations” (or some variation on that them) and you will find plenty of websites telling you all the ways your pet can get in trouble during the holidays (from cats eating tinsel to puppies chewing on electric cords). I got extremely discouraged however because I could find almost nothing that said what I could do to safely decorate my house! So here are three of my personal suggestions for creating pet-friendly decorations this holiday:
1) Create Pet-Friendly Scents: I love the smell of cinnamon, apple cider, and cookies baking. And many of my friends re-create that scent this time of year with deliciously scented potpourri and candles. Unfortunately, potpourri and candles are hazardous to pets. Potpourri can be toxic if eaten by a curious animal, and birds and cats alike find it hard to resist a flickering candle. Along with the risk of your pet singeing herself, an unattended burning candle can prove to be a fire hazard if knocked over by a rambunctious pet.
Instead of using potentially toxic substances, recreate those same scents with pet-friendly items. Baking a batch of holiday dog cookies for example will fill the air with the same delicious scent as human cookies, and Fido can share in the treat (since I have a tendency to eat the batter before I ever get to the baking part when I’m making human cookies, my waistline thanks me greatly whenever I choose to bake cookies for the dog instead).
You can also create simple, inexpensive, and attractive centerpieces of oranges and cloves to fill a room with a delicious scent. DIY Life offers some great tips on making these simple and inexpensive centerpieces.
2) Cover Your Tree Stand: Dogs and cats alike seem to be irresistibly drawn to the standing water in Christmas tree stands. Since this is a breeding ground for bacteria, you really want to discourage your pets from drinking out of this particular water bowl. Covering stand with an attractive Christmas tree skirt will add a decorative feel to the tree, while preventing your pets from drinking the standing water.
3) Opt For Pet Friendly Decorations: When choosing ornaments to decorate your tree, opt for plastic over glass to avoid problems with breakage. I also recommend trying to find ornaments that are larger than your pet’s mouth so at least you do not have to worry about them being swallowed. Put small and/or breakable ornaments near the top of the tree where they will prove less of a temptation to an interested pet.
The ASPCA also recommends opting for decorations made from wood, dried flowers, or pine-cones which pets find significantly less interesting than shiny baubles (of course, humans find them less interesting too for the most part).
What pet-friendly decorations are you using this holiday season?
Ever wanted to experience life as a hamster? No, me neither. However, two French Architects, Frederic Tabary and Yann Falquerho, are convinced that humans want to understand what it feels like to live like their pets. According to the website, Hotel Chatter, Tabary and Falquerho have created a “hamster hotel room” inside an 18th century building in Nantes, France.
For 99 euros a night (that’s approximately $145 american), guests can don hamster outfits, feast on hamster grain, drink from a large drinking tube, and sleep in a double bed that is only accessible by climbing up a ladder and scrambling forward on hands and knees, and of course get their exercise by running in a human sized hamster wheel.
The FDA has issued a release stating that Pet Carousel has issued a recall of a number of its pig ears and beef hooves. These products were recalled after several samples tested by the FDA tested positive for Salmonella. Pets and humans can contract Salmonella if they have come in contact with contaminated product.
Humans who contract salmonella may experience some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Although rare, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis (inflammation of the lining of the heart), arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their health care provider immediately.
Pets with Salmonella infections may become lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets may only experience a decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected, but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed any of the affected products or is experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.
The affected pig ear products were packaged under the brand names Doggie Delight, Pork Tasteez and Pet Carousel. The affected beef hooves were packaged under the brand names Choo Hooves, Dentley’s, Doggie Delight, and Pet Carousel. You can see a complete list of the recalled products at the FDA. Consumers with questions may contact Pet Carousel at 800-231-3572. Recalled products should not be fed to pets and handled as little as possible; they should be returned to the store where they were purchased immediately. If you have handled contaminated product, wash your hands thoroughly to help prevent becoming infected or spreading the bacteria.
Step. Squish. YUCK. If I told you that this particular sequence just happened about five minutes ago when I took my dog Jade outside for a potty break, you would probably assume that I had just stepped in something dark, soft, and incredibly stinky. In fact, I accidentally stepped on a cluster of mushrooms.
The rainy season has come to California, and with it mushrooms are sprouting up on lawns all over the place. While many mushrooms that grow wild on lawns and in forests are harmless to humans and animals (and many more types that will do nothing worse than give the eater a mild stomach ache, a small percentage of mushroom species, Some like the aptly named “Death Cap Mushroom” can prove to be fatal if ingested. Even experienced mushroom hunters sometimes have difficulty distinguishing between toxic and non-toxic mushrooms.
According to the article Mushroom Poisoning in Dogs, Death Cap ingestion accounts for 50% of reported mushroom fatalities in humans, and is the number one cause of mushroom-induced fatalities in dogs. Death Cap is most commonly found on the west coast, and likes to grow under and around trees (oak trees in particular).
Wild mushrooms can prove to be a tempting and potentially deadly snack for a curious canine. Symptoms of toxic mushroom ingestion can range from vomiting and diarrhea to seizures and death. Even if death does not occur, a dog who ingests a toxic mushroom may develop permanent liver or kidney damage. If you have reason to believe your dog has eaten a mushroom (even if you do not think it was poisonous) contact your veterinarian immediately. The standard treatment is to induce vomiting and sometimes follow up with the administration of activated charcoal. Any treatment done however should be done under the guidance of a professional.
My brother-in-law and sister-in-law have a gorgeous Christmas tree. And, because they have a 2 year old son, they also have a baby gate surrounding the tree. And while this gate does prevent their son from crashing headlong into the tree, the cats merely see it as an opportunity to brush up on their jumping abilities. It seemed as if every time we looked away, one or the other of the cats had leaped over the gate and was happily batting at all the ornaments within reach, and using the tree’s trunk as a scratching post.
Christmas trees are a beautiful decoration - and an incredibly enticing, potentially dangerous, decoration as far as your pets are concerned. Trees can tip over onto unsuspecting animals, birds can chew on the cord for the tree lights and risk electrocution, breakable ornaments can turn into a cat’s new favorite toss and bat toy (and lead to cut paws when it shatters), and tinsel strung over the tree can cause fatal blockages when ingested by a curious puppy. Here are some ways you can keep your pet safe and your tree intact:
1) If at all possible, set up your tree in a room that can be completely closed off. Whenever you are not home (or you cannot supervise your pet), keep the doors to the room shut.
2) Place a harmless but effective deterrent around the base of the tree. I like Sticky Paws because while it won’t hurt either pet or human, animals don’t like the feel and will soon decide that the tree is not worth the trouble.
3) If you have small dogs, set up a baby gate around the perimeter of the tree.
4) Put breakable ornaments close to the top of the tree to prevent them from becoming your pet’s new favorite toys.
5) Spray a deterrent such as Fooey or Bitter Apple on any edible ornaments and the tree itself (animals have been known to ingest pine needles which can lead to intestinal blockage).
Americans (and I do include myself in this statement) have become addicted to hand-sanitizer. I personally have a bottle on my desk, a travel bottle in my purse, and use it about every 10 seconds when I travel (especially to trade shows where I am in contact with a LOT of product that has been touched by a LOT of people). Owing both to the fact that it is flu season (and I can’t seem to find anyplace in Contra Costa County that offers the flu shot) and to the fact that I learned a few months ago that using hand sanitizer does not contribute to the development of so-called “super-germs” or “super-bugs,” I have become compulsive in my use of hand sanitizer.
The only problem is that most hand sanitizers contain Ethyl Alcohol - a product that is phenomenal at killing germs, but one that can make kids and pets sick if sufficient quantities are ingested. Puppies and young children are probably the most at risk. Puppies and toddlers alike believe that if they can reach it, it goes in the mouth. And I’ve seen puppies of all sizes reach items in places I would have bet $100 bucks they couldn’t reach (same goes for toddlers come to think of it).
Fortunately, there is a simple solution! There are a number of hand-sanitizers that do not use alcohol. According to Instanthandsanitizer.org, alcohol-free hand sanitizers are just as effective as alcohol based ones, won’t dry out or irritate your skin, and are much safer for use with children and around pets (although ingesting them is still a terrible idea).
Insanthandsanitizer.org provides the following list of some of the more popular brands of non-alcohol based sanitizers:
EO
SkinWear
CleanWell
Hands2GO
The Germinator
Soapopular®
Do you have a favorite pet-safe hand sanitizer brand?
Earlier today I received an e-mail from a friend with Type 1 diabetes. She had just learned that she was approved to receive a service dog through Dogs for Diabetics. I immediately wrote back that that was wonderful news and I was extremely happy for her. I then typed “Dogs for Diabetics” into Google because I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about.
It turns out that Dogs 4 Diabetics is a nonprofit organization that provides service dogs to people (ages 12 years and up) with diabetes. Their website states “Dogs4Diabetics assistance dogs have been specifically trained to identify, and more importantly, act upon the subtle scent changes that hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) creates in body chemistry, changes undetectable to their human companions.”
On the website, one gentleman discusses how his service dog nudged him awake from a dead sleep. He took his blood sugar only to discover it was dangerously low. He believes he could have died had his dog not awoken him. If you know someone who suffers from diabetes, please encourage them to take a look at this website - it might just save their life.
