Pets for Real People

Help, My Dog Is Missing!

2010-03-01T19:50:00.004-05:00

Have you ever had a missing pet? What a horrible feeling followed by a frantic time of searching to try to get him back. Now there's a pet-finding service that can help, no matter where you live.

If you've ever lost a dog or cat, you know the urgent feeling of having to notify everyone in the area to be on the lookout to help get your baby home. You can go door to door through the neighborhood or you can call the neighbors (those few whose numbers you know) but all of that takes time. Instead, LostMyDoggie.com can make the phone calls for you and, in fact, can reach thousands of neighbors in your area, providing each of them with a description and contact information in case they've seen your precious Fido or Fluffy.

Using technology that you almost certainly don't have available, LostMyDoggie.com can reach thousands of people in a hurry with the urgent message about your lost dog or cat. Click on the banner to learn more and to read the happy testimonials, then keep the information close at hand - just in case.

Finding a lost pet quickly? Priceless.

Snow Day!

2010-01-30T18:00:00.003-05:00

We don't get much snow where we live, but Daisy didn't mind.

In fact, she loved it and barely slowed down!

Here she is taking a break, not even winded!

The Golden Retriever Dance

2007-08-06T21:49:00.000-04:00

This dog reminds me of our Maggie, years ago when she was in her prime. She never danced like this, but I'll bet she could have!

The Pupster

2007-07-18T15:55:00.000-04:00

The boys insisted on naming her Princess, but we called her Pup-Pup or the Pupster, too. Mostly, she was daddy’s girl.

She showed up at our front porch steps one October morning about 14 years ago. We heard her whining, trying to get up onto the first step which wasn’t very high, but her legs were just so short that she couldn’t make it. We all agreed that she looked like a fat, furry black barrel with four little legs and a tail attached and some white underneath. It was the day before dad’s birthday – and he was smitten.

We checked with the neighbors to see if anyone was missing a puppy, but no one claimed her. We live in the country, so maybe she was dropped off; we never knew for sure. When we took her to the vet for shots we asked him what kind of dog he thought she was. He answered, “She’s a dog dog.” We already had Maggie, the golden retriever and King, the German shepherd, but we knew that a “dog dog” would fit into our family perfectly, and she did.

We adopted Princess, but Princess adopted King. They both remained outside dogs, our trusted watch dogs, and Princess followed King everywhere and copied, or tried to copy, everything he did. She learned everything from King and learned well, except for the one skill King did better than any other dog. Try as she might, and she did try and try and try some more, Princess could never howl. King had the best doggy howl I have ever heard. When he heard a siren in the distance he would raise his long snout into the air, start out with a short, quiet howl and then work himself into a loud, wonderful barking, howling melody. He was an expert and we loved it. Princess loved it, too, but she didn’t have the long snout that apparently is required to sing the way King did. Instead, she would watch him, raise her nose into the air and try to shape her doggy lips just like he did, but the only thing that ever came out was more of a yappy sound of frustration. Once or twice she came close, but she’d usually end up with a frustrated little whine. When we would hear King start up with his song, we’d run to the door or the window to watch poor little Pup-Pup and we’d laugh every time.

Maggie was old when Princess came along and lived another year or so. King was middle-aged then and kept Princess company for several years, but his long, good life came to an end about four and a half years ago. We were a little concerned that Princess would be sad, but she adjusted quickly to being an “only dog” and settled into a routine, becoming very attached to her doghouse and her spot under the back deck, which we called her porch. She was a good watchdog, always quick to alert us to any intruder and, especially, the slithery kind that sometimes wanted to share her favorite spaces with her. In fact, she decided to take matters into her own paws, or jaws, with a copperhead one time and it got to her before we got to it. Fortunately the snake was small and the bite was small and she was okay the next day, but that was a close call that we certainly didn’t like, though it never happened again. Interestingly, after King died Princess never tried to howl again.

As Princess grew old she developed a tremor in her legs and she went deaf, but she was always happy, although she really preferred to just spend time alone. We began to miss her greeting us every time we came home as she could no longer hear the car when we arrived. When she did see us, her flag of a tail would always give us a happy wag, especially if we had brought her a doggy treat, which we usually had available in a pocket. She’d take it and run back under her porch. We’ve always wondered how many of those treats she buried there.

Princess left us on July 8th to be with Maggie and her old buddy King. We think she had a pretty good life.

But we miss her.

Special Care for Your Outdoor Cat

2007-05-11T11:21:00.000-04:00

Dusty is our outdoor cat. I'm not a proponent of allowing cats to live outdoors due to the safety factor, but when Dusty showed up and decided to live with us, there was no way our older cats would tolerate an addition to our indoor family, so he has to stay outside. Fortunately, we live in the country on a dead-end road, so traffic is scant and Dusty is relatively safe. We've also discovered that he's a great mouser, so he certainly earns his keep around here.

If you have a cat who lives outdoors even part-time, here's an article that I found on Purina's Yesterday's News cat litter site that offers some excellent safety advice:

If your cat is allowed outdoors, train her to wear a safety collar with an expansion device and a tag that gives your cat’s name and your telephone number to distinguish your cat from stray cats. Proper identification enables someone to contact you if your pet wanders far from home. Cats who are allowed to roam may damage neighbors’ gardens or use planters as litter boxes. If you allow your cat outside, keep a watchful eye on her. If she leaves to visit a neighbor, bring her back to her own yard. Keep her vaccinations current and take her to a veterinarian regularly to be certain she is free from internal and external parasites and in general good health.

You'll find safety collars, Purina's Yesterday's News paper-based cat litter, and other great products for your cat at petco.com.

"Smokey" part 1

2007-04-15T17:25:00.000-04:00

When I read the email my mouth suddenly became dry and my pulses pounded. I yelled in a very loud voice that my husband has come to accept, if not relish, during our 20 year marriage “Pat, Amy says we can have Smokey!”

Having lived and worked in the city most of our lives, my husband’s dream was to move to the country and have lots of animals that we both loved. We had first acquired 2 donkeys from the Bureau of Land Management Rescue program and now we were going to be given a horse. I had been corresponding with Amy via email for several weeks. She had answered an advertisement I had placed on an Internet classified site. I said we wanted to adopt a “companion” horse, companion meaning we had no intention of riding but wanted a horse to keep our grass down and to whom we could love. Amy loved Smokey and wanted to be as certain as possible that we were the kind of people who would also love and care for him. She told us he had a crooked leg from birth and could be ridden only by a child or a very small person. We assured her we did not intend to ride him. She gave him to us with only one stipulation, that if we ever decided to give him up we would contact her.

We had picked up our donkeys from BLM and had kept them in a small pen for a couple of weeks while they had gotten used to us. They were about waist high and, while at the beginning very wild, with treats and gentle voices we had won them over – but now we were going to get a horse.

Smokey was coming from Iowa, and when the hauler arrived with the large trailer and Smokey was led out, my husband and I both let out a gasp! He was so big!! Amy has said he was very friendly but would he accept us and if not… The hauler handed my husband the halter rope and started around the side of his trailer. Both of us remained frozen! Smokey, meanwhile, gazed around, then eyed us passively as if to say “OK, now what?” I’m not sure what we did in the next 10 minutes except stand as statues. The hauler eyed us with amusement, probably understanding that he was in the presence of novice horse owners, he asked my husband “Do you want me to take the halter off him?” Pat later denied that his voice squeaked. The man took off Smokey’s halter and the big horse meandered out to look things over in his new home. I believe now he was probably amused at all the brightly colored ribbons we had tied on the barbed wire along our pasture line to make sure he knew his parameters. We had been told that horses might run and not see barbed wire fencing so the ribbons would be a good idea.

Smokey adjusted more quickly to us than we did to him. We have memories of our first days. Of Smokey coming up one morning and putting his head over Pat’s shoulder in an attempt to get to the sweet feed that was in the bucket Pat carried. Smokey didn’t push or bite, just stood there nuzzling at the bucket with the oats. When Pat got over his initial shock, he placed the bucket on the ground and hugged Smokey’s neck as he ate his breakfast.

Another time we learned how quietly a 1400 pound horse can walk. Pat was again in the feed lot and had gotten down on his knees to clean out the water trough. He felt a tickling at his back and turned to see this large horse towering over him. Smokey was peering down at him while gently nuzzling his back.

(Find "Smokey" part 2 here to read the rest of the story.)

©Carol Thomas
04/15/07

(Carol, Pat, and Smokey and the rest of their four-legged family live in Oklahoma. When Carol isn't outdoors enjoying her large animals, she's indoors enjoying her small ones while running her ebay business.)

"Smokey" part 2

2007-04-15T17:07:00.000-04:00

(Find "Smokey" part 1 here.)

During our second year in the country, Pat learned he had diabetes. This change in health combined with the death of his mother and the end of his 25 year career at the university was too much for Pat. A dark cloud descended upon him and he became very depressed. Over a period of several months of debilitating darkness, Pat decided that the cloud would lift only if we could return to our life in the city. I love him very much and couldn’t stand to see the pain he was suffering. Although uncomfortable with the decision, I agreed to the move. But then we had to decide what we would do with our animals. Amy was told of our plans and she found a home for Smokey with a friend who lived in Missouri whom she knew loved horses and would care for him.

When the hauler came to pick up Smokey for his trip to Missouri, Pat led him out to the trailer. The hauler put Smokey in a trailer stall then decided to put his own halter on him. As he left to get the halter, Smokey wheeled around and jumped out of the trailer. He headed back up the lane to our barn and pasture. Tears came to both our eyes. Later Pat said if he could have called the whole thing off at that moment, he would have done so. We had fallen in love with the great, gray horse.

In the weeks and months following Smokey’s departure while we searched for a house back in the city, Pat’s diabetes was brought under control with medication and the cloud lifted. Suddenly he was enjoying life again. He spent hours in the pasture, mowing the weeds and brushing and loving on the donkeys. We missed Smokey but we had pictures that showed him with other horses and living a happy life.

A little over a year passed when we received an email from Amy saying she had sad news. Because Smokey had not gotten along with another gelding at his new home, he had been taken to a relative’s house. The relative, a large man and perhaps not knowing about Smokey’s crooked leg, had ridden him. Smokey had started to limp badly. A vet had been consulted and he had said, because Smokey would probably always have arthritic pain in the leg and shouldn’t be ridden, he should be put down. Amy was heartbroken and so were we.

Pat and I talked and decided to ask Amy if we could have Smokey back. We could give him the medicine he needed for his arthritis and we would not let anyone ride him. Amy consulted with the vet and was told that Smokey could make the trip back to Oklahoma. Pat and I were beside ourselves with joy.

Some negotiations with a hauler and several weeks later Smokey returned. We wondered if he would remember us, but when he arrived there was no question about that. He checked out all his favorite spots and learned he now had new horse neighbors on either side of our pasture. I’m happy to say that, after several weeks of rest, he no longer has a limp. Now when I go into the pasture, Smokey immediately comes to me and nuzzles my pocket for the carrot I carry. Life for us, and Smokey, is good again.

©Carol Thomas
04/15/07

(Carol, Pat, and Smokey and the rest of their four-legged family live in Oklahoma. When Carol isn't outdoors enjoying her large animals, she's indoors enjoying her small ones while running her ebay business.)

Buy From a Reputable Breeder

2007-04-08T18:47:00.000-04:00

Breeders specialize in their chosen breed. They know the breed standard, temperament, and characteristics. They strive to breed only animals that epitomize these qualities. This benefits the buyer by allowing the buyer a type of quality control. You will know better what you are getting - fewer surprises, fewer disappointments.

They make it a point to be aware of all known inherited defects affecting their breed. Reputable breeders then screen their breeding animals to be sure they are free of such defects. This may not totally eliminate an inherited defect from showing up, but it will greatly decrease the chances of them occurring.

A breeder is a valuable source of information should any problems arise after your pet is in your home. They can give advice on almost all aspects of caring for and training dogs. In the event that you find it impossible to keep your pet, many breeders will help you relocate your pet.

Most breeders provide you with written instructions on how to feed, care for and train your pet. You also have the comfort of knowing you have a concerned individual who is only a phone call away.

Breeders take the time to properly socialize their puppies. They give the special handling needed during the critical developmental stages in the puppies' lives. This socialization helps the puppies adapt and adjust to life with humans as well as laying a foundation for learning. A carefully bred, well-socialized puppy makes a happy, eager to please dog that is a pleasure to live with.

Because the breeder has been laying the foundation for learning through socialization, and because your puppy has not been kept in a small cage for a long period, buying your pet from a breeder may make it easier to housebreak your pet. Constant confinement in a cage, such as in a pet store, leads to a loss of the puppies' naturally clean nature. This complicates housebreaking because they are no longer bothered by living with their own waste. By living in a home situation with the breeder, they maintain their naturally clean nature making it easier to housebreak them.

If you wish to show your pet, your pet's breeder will help you get started in whatever area you wish to pursue- be it conformation, obedience, agility, carting, herding or tracking. A reputable breeder wants to better his beloved breed by constantly striving to produce animals of high quality. This endeavor carries a high price, not only in time and money but more importantly in emotion. Along with the joy of breeding litters comes much heartache. The satisfaction of bringing joy to the lives of others through the ownership of quality, loving companions is well worth the effort. On the other hand, buying a puppy also carries a price in terms of money and emotions. It is worth spending the time and effort on your part to find a reputable breeder for the purchase of your special companion so you can both enjoy a long, wonderful relationship together.

Total Rottweiler- Connecting rottweiler breeders. Our main goal is to connect breeders with lots of useful information such as rottweiler yellow pages, upcoming events, worldwide show results, online rottweiler show and much more.

Pet Food Recall Update/FDA New Pet Advice

2007-04-08T18:03:00.000-04:00

The news continues to accumulate regarding the recent pet food recall. If you have a dog or a cat, do check out the FDA website at http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html and consider signing up for the FDA Recalls mailing list to receive any breaking recall news. With multiple brand names involved in the recalls, it's important to keep updated. Take a minute to take a look and keep your dog or cat healthy.

While you're visiting the FDA's website, you and your children might want to review their "All About Animals" page, especially if you're considering adding a pet to your family. Pay particular attention to the "Reptile Rage" link if you're thinking about a pet iguana, turtle, or snake. Reptiles are great pets - as long as you follow good hygiene practices in order to avoid contracting salmonella.

Rules for Stray Cats

2007-04-03T11:48:00.000-04:00

1. Stray cats will not be fed.

2. Stray cats will not be fed anything, except dry cat food.

3. Stray cats will not be fed anything, except dry cat food moistened with a little milk.

4. Stray cats will not be fed anything, except dry cat food moistened with warm milk, yummy treats and leftover fish scraps.

5. Stray cats will not be encouraged to make this house their permanent residence.

6. Stray cats will not be petted, played with, picked up and cuddled unnecessarily.

7. Stray cats that are petted, played with, picked up and cuddled will absolutely not be given a name.

8. Stray cats, with or without a name, will not be allowed inside the house at any time.

9. Stray cats will not be allowed inside the house, except at certain times.

10. Stray cats will not be allowed inside the house, except on days ending in "y".

11. Stray cats allowed inside, will not be permitted to jump up on or sharpen their claws on the furniture.

12. Stray cats will not be permitted to jump up on or sharpen claws on the really good furniture.

13. Stray cats will be permitted on all furniture, but must sharpen claws on new sisal-rope cat-scratching post with three perches.

14. Stray cats will answer the call of nature outdoors in the sand.

15. Stray cats will answer the call of nature in the three-piece, high-impact plastic tray filled with Fresh 'n' Sweet kitty litter.

16. Stray cats will answer the call of nature in the hooded litter pan, with a three-panel privacy screen and plenty of head-room.

17. Stray cats will sleep outside.

18. Stray cats will sleep in the garage.

19. Stray cats will sleep in the house.

20. Stray cats will sleep in a cardboard box lined with an old blanket.

21. Stray cats will sleep in the special Kitty-Komfort-Bed with non-allergenic lambs wool pillow.

22. Stray cats will not be allowed to sleep in our bed.

23. Stray cats will not be allowed to sleep in our bed, except at the foot.

24. Stray cats will not be allowed to sleep in our bed under the covers.

25. Stray cats will not be allowed to sleep in our bed under the covers, except at the foot.

26. Stray cats will not play on the desk.

27. Stray cats will not play on the desk, near the computer.

28. Stray cats are forbidden to walk on the computer keyboard on the desk, when the human is asdfjjhhkl;ljfd.;oier'puyykmm4hb USING IT.

Sign You're Driving Too Fast . . .

2007-03-24T17:20:00.000-04:00

I got stopped for speeding the other day.

I thought I could talk my way out of it until the cop looked at my dog in the back seat.

(Courtesy an anonymous soul on the Internet whose dog probably has a big chiropractor bill right about now!)

Pet Food Recall

2007-03-17T12:16:00.000-04:00

I hope you've seen the news about the big pet food recall. It's important - animals are dying - so pay attention.

Here's a link to the news story, and here's a link to the recall notice and the lists of dog food and pet food brands involved, so you can read all the details for yourself.

Following is some of the pertinent information from the news story:

An unknown number of cats and dogs suffered kidney failure and about 10 died after eating the affected pet food, Menu Foods said in announcing the North American recall. Product testing has not revealed a link explaining the reported cases of illness and death, the company said.

The recall covers the company's "cuts and gravy" style food, which consists of chunks of meat in gravy, sold in cans and small foil pouches between Dec. 3 and March 6.

The pet food was sold by stores operated by the Kroger Co., Safeway Inc., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and PetSmart Inc., among others, Henderson said.

The company said it makes pet food for 17 of the top 20 North American retailers. It is also a contract manufacturer for the top branded pet food companies, including Procter & Gamble Co.

P&G announced Friday the recall of specific 3 oz., 5.5 oz., 6 oz. and 13.2 oz. canned and 3 oz. and 5.3 oz. foil pouch cat and dog wet food products made by Menu Foods but sold under the Iams and Eukanuba brands. The recalled products bear the code dates of 6339 through 7073 followed by the plant code 4197, P&G said.

Now, go check your pantry. Now!

Obedience Training for Your New Puppy

2007-03-11T11:20:00.000-04:00

By: Jim McKiel

Training is usually broken down into two types: obedience and behavioral. We will discuss obedience training in this article.

Obedience training for your new puppy should begin the day you bring him/her home. You should make obedience training fun and incorporate the training with play sessions. It is so easy to train a puppy when they are having fun and the puppy has no idea that they are learning valuable lessons. Please keep the sessions short and reward the puppy when they obey a command on the first call.

Some basic commands are: sit, stay, come and heel. Focusing on these commands with your new puppy is a good start. You should practice with your puppy at least twice every day and more often if you have the time. Make each practice session short so as not to tire the puppy or let the puppy become bored. Remember make it fun for both of you.

After your puppy has completed their vaccination course, you may enroll them in puppy classes. These classes are beneficial for both the puppy and owners. Before you enroll the puppy, stop by the class and observe the instructor during a training class. Is the class fun for both humans and animals? Do you feel comfortable with the type of training? Remember, your puppy's welfare is at stake and you want to be satisfied with the training techniques. Also, make sure the class size is small because you will receive more instructions and individual attention. This class should be fun for both owner and puppy and educational for both. If you feel uncomfortable or you're not happy with the trainers methods you may always find another class and instructor.

Puppy classes are invaluable. Your puppy will learn or reinforce the basic commands you have taught them and will be socialized. Socialization is the foundation of a well behaved dog. A puppy that is accustomed to being around many different people and animals is better behaved and less likely to be aggressive around people or other dogs. Make sure you practice the commands with your puppy at home and continue the socialization whenever you are out with your animal whether it is the park or just a walk around the block. Socialization is so very important during the first five months of the puppy's life. Letting the puppy get use to strange sights, sounds and smells will make him/her a more stable dog as they grow older.

There are many classes your puppy can attend. Some are called Beginning Puppy Classes, Puppy Kindergarten, Puppy Class 1 and so forth. After your puppy has graduated from the first class, you can enroll them in the next class for further training and socialization. There can never be too much socialization or training for your puppy or dog. As the puppy learns new commands and branches out further in his obedience training, he/she will become more self assured and you as the owner will be more confident and allow them more freedom in the home. Training benefits both the puppy and the owner.

As the puppy grows older, you may want to enroll them in a beginning agility class or a Canine Good Citizen class. There are many continuing classes for puppy's and dogs and the only limit is how much time you have to devote to your animal and the cost of the classes. There are many group classes offered that are not expensive and in some communities informal classes are formed by pet owners who just want their animals to play and exercise with other animals in dog parks. Dogs are social animals and are happiest when they can run and play with other dogs or play with their humans.

There are many books and articles on the different types of puppy and dog training. If you are not familiar with certain terms like reward training or Canine Good Citizen, do your research before enrolling your puppy or dog in any class. You want a rewarding experience for both you and the puppy in training class.

Article Source: http://www.articlebazaar.net
Jim McKiel lives in the Chicago suburbs with his wife Doris and their pet family members Buddy and Buster. They have devoted their lives to the betterment of pet ownership. For more information, visit Large Breed Family Dogs.

To find a puppy training class near you, ask at your local PETCO or visit the PETCO New Pet Center online.

Fish Make the Greatest Pets

2007-03-03T14:13:00.000-05:00

By: Jen Shircel

Aren’t the children always begging for a pet or another pet?

You don’t want a cat – there’s that whole litter box thing. You don’t want to train a puppy, plus what about when you want to go away for the night? Birds make such a mess and can be quite noisy. And then there’s those “rodent” things.

When we found out we were expecting our first child we decided to decorate the nursery in tropical fish decor. Then we thought a fish tank in the room would be perfect for the “white noise” and for a nice little night light. So we bought a 10 gallon tank set that cost about $40 for everything but the fish. We had no clue about caring for fish, so we only got a few fancy guppies that were about $3 each. How cheap!!

Who knew we’d become addicted? Well, me anyways. We learned that guppies are live bearers, meaning that they have “live” babies instead of laying eggs and they can be all sorts of pretty colors. Needless to say, we learned a few things about raising guppies and haven’t spent any more money buying fish (well, except for a few more different colored guppies and a bigger tank to start breeding our own)!

Fish are so easy to take care of and are rather inexpensive to keep. We clean out their tank a little bit each month and spend about $2 on food for them that lasts about 3 months. The kids all love the guppies – their pretty colors and especially watching the babies grow. I love the guppies because they’re cheap, relaxing, neat, quiet and they teach the children about responsibility with having a pet.

So before you jump down their throats about not having a pet, tell the kids to consider some guppies. If you’re looking to do some more research on them, check out guppies.com. There are plenty of tips and people there that are willing to answer all of your questions.

Jen is a mom to 2 wonderful boys and the owner of many websites including MomOnABudget.com- tips for moms. She also owns and operates Find me a work at home job, affordable insurance quotes, where to find cheap web hosting and recipes for making easy cookies.

Article Source: http://greatarticlesformoms.com

Fun Games for You and Your Kitty

2007-03-01T16:57:00.000-05:00

by Tara J. Yen

Many expenses have been made on toys for your cats (plastic balls with bells inside, fake mice that move when you pull the tail of the mouse, an remote control mouse, etc.) but did you know that most cats like the most inexpensive toys made out of foil, string/ribbon, wire, dowel rods, milk carton rings, sheets and your fingers?

Here are some simple games that your cats will love:

1. "The Two Way Exercise Game"

Take a small piece of foil and shape it into a ball. Throw the foil ball and watch your cat run after it. If your cat likes to play fetch, he/she will bring the foil ball back to you and the game will go on. If your cat is too spoiled to play fetch, he/she has the pleasure of running after it while you have to throw it, walk over to where it is and throw it again so the game can go on. This can keep your cat busy for quite a while. (Did I say "your cat"? I meant you.)

2. "The String Game"

Cut a piece of string and drag it around the house. Kitty will run after it and try and grab it. (Let him/her get it sometimes so that he/she doesn't feel defeated.) Your cat may grab the string in his/ her mouth and not let go. This can be used as a "leash". Now you can keep your cat occupied and go jogging, just inside your house.

3. "Rainbow Ribbons"

Shape a piece of wire into a circle and bend ends together. (Best with thicker wire, or braided wire.) Cut multiple colored ribbons in six foot lengths and drape on the wire ring and tie so it is doubled. Wave the ribbons in the air and on the ground while your kitty chases them. This is my cat's favorite toy.

4. "The Flicking String Game"

Tie a long string on a dowel rod and at the other end of the string tie a fake flower or milk carton ring. Do the same thing with this toy as you do with the "String" toy and the "Rainbow Ribbons" toy. This toy has an advantage because of the long rod so you have the ability to flick it more affectively.

5. "My Pretty Rings Game"

Simply throw a milk carton ring back and forth like the "Two Way Exercise Game". If your cat likes to play by itself, you can watch him/her as he/she pushes the ring under a rug and then in your shoes. This is my sister's cat's favorite game.

6. "The Exhilarating Sheets Game"

When you are making your bed and your cat comes wandering in, pick him/her up on your bed and throw the sheets over him/her. This can go on and on until Kitty gets tired (I mean until you get tired). If you want to upgrade it a little, tickle your kitty's back with he/she is under the sheets. Your cat may flip over and try it grab it with it's paws. Or slip your finger under the sheets while Kitty is on top of the sheets and move it just enough to drive him/her crazy!
These are games that our cats love, and I hope you and your cats will love them too. Don't buy a ton of cat toys when they are on top of your leftover food (foil), on a gift bag (string/ribbon), on your milk carton (milk carton ring) and in the dryer (sheets).

Have fun playing with your cat!

Tara J. Yen is the youngest daughter of David and Annette Yen, and enjoys making toys and playing games to amuse her happy cat, Scamper, of whom she is the happy owner. She and her older sister, Kathryn, operate HappyCatOwners.com.

Adopting a Baby Ferrett

2007-02-23T13:50:00.000-05:00

I didn’t know when my wife asked me to take her to the mall, we’d come home with a baby ferret (called a kit). For me, I thought we’d zip in and out (a husband’s dream), maybe catch dinner and see a movie at the local multiplex, my wife had other ideas. A close friend of hers had shown her a picture of a ferret, cute, cuddly, inquisitive, and my wife decided... “I have to have one”. What’s a husband to do except follow along and break out the credit card when asked.

I did learn a bit on the fateful afternoon, and while I’m not a ferret expert, I’m hopeful my experience can help you make your own baby ferret choice an enjoyable day out with the wife (good luck guys).

FERRET FACT: The scientific name for the domesticated ferret is ‘Mustela furo’; they are a member of the weasel family (polecat, mink, ermine, and otter). Historical records state the first ferrets came to the USA well over 300 years ago and were used primarily for rodent control.

Step one in our journey to furry ferret land, where can you find a ferret?

Pet stores, local breeders, classified ads, humane shelters are some among the places to check, with my first choice being the humane shelters. We all need a helping hand sometimes, no different for a displaced ferret. However my wife insisted on a baby ferret, her “biological clock is ticking” so the pet store was our (actually her) first choice. I grimaced quietly knowing if we walked out with a little bundle of ferret joy, I’d have spent around $200 (prices vary depending on your location) on a furry ferret and his necessities.

Be certain to ask about the personality of your (or her) choice, since ferrets, just like "man's best friend" can vary significantly with one enjoying a good snuggle and another wriggling their way to freedom whenever held. That's not to say there are evil ferrets, just a variety of personalities.
You'll need to consider a "litter box", yep, comes with the territory, guys and the fact your furry ferret bundle will need to be "nip trained". These nips aren't meant to hurt you, but biting is part of their nature, having tough skin and used to rough play. You (and your lovely assistant with the smooth skin) might not take these nips in the spirit intended. Plan your ferret "nip training" early and often, refrain from smacking them on the nose (anger management class might help), rather answering their nip with a LOUD NOISE. There are other methods and my wife insisted I try bitter apple spray, tiring quickly from my LOUD... yells.

I'm a firm believer in positive reinforcement, and the pet store owner (I'm taking him OFF my Christmas card list) told me to never let go, even if the little bugger gives me a good nip, rather to reward him/her with praise and a treat when performances equal expectations.

I'm not a vet, and neither was the pet store owner (he was a good salesman) but I knew enough to look for apparent signs of good health; clear eyes, smooth coat and most important, that alert and inquisitive personality that has caused ferrets to be our friends since the time of the Pharaohs.

We walked out of the store with a new pet who'd (in short order) become part of our family living his life (9 to 10 years on average) in the comfort of suburbia. Now then dear, how about that movie?

(Lee Dobbins writes for Epet Pet Center where you can learn more about all types of pets, including the Ferret. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Dobbins)

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Letting Gilly Go

2007-02-19T18:42:00.000-05:00

Gillis was a 4 year old red Doberman that I loved more than I should have. I got her from a shelter just hours before she was to be put down. The Animal Shelter people said she was so skinny (she was starving) she had to be sick and in that high-kill shelter it didn't take much to condemn a dog, especially a larger dog, because there were so many and so few homes. She and I bonded immediately. We communicated better than I could with most people. She seemed to know how I was feeling and what the appropriate thing was. She became my baby, my Gilly Girl. When my daughter was involved in a bad car accident and I spent days in the hospital, returning home only for a change of clothes and maybe a good night's sleep, Gilly always "took care" of me both mentally and emotionally while I was there.

A year ago she developed a limp. My vet said it was a trauma injury and she gave her a shot and pills. I took her home but didn't confine her and she played with our chocolate lab. He can be pretty rowdy and her leg didn't get better so the next week I took her back to the vet. She received another shot and I vowed this time that I would keep her confined so the leg could heal. We were busy on Tuesday and when I came home that evening, intending to work on my computer, Gilly let me know she needed me. I lay down with her and she snuggled against my side but she couldn't get comfortable. She would stand on the bed and look at me with her paw held out and I knew it was hurting her. I gave her Ascriptin and rubbed it with Allercreme. I even filled a bag with ice cubes and held it on her but nothing worked. Finally we both drifted off into a troubled sleep. The next morning I took her back to the vet and I kept thinking "her knee has probably accumulated some fluid that can be drained off or ..."

The vet x-rayed the leg and I was notified that she had advanced bone cancer. They told me we could amputate her leg and give her chemo and radiation but that would only prolong her life for a brief period, maybe 6 months, that was all we could hope for. I was heartsick but remembering how she had suffered the night before (I believe the Lord God gave me that night to help me be willing to let her go) I told the vet to put her down. I held her as the lethal dose was administered and talked to her about how much I loved her and how she was such a good girl - I never thought our time together would be so short. We buried her on our place and I somehow believe that we will meet again. The Bible says that God knows when even a sparrow falls and I believe Gillis is with Him in a happy place where there is no pain or suffering.

(Thanks to Carol for sharing her story about Gillis. If you're looking for a pet, consider one that might be otherwise overlooked, perhaps an older pet like Gillis. You can search by breed, age, size, gender, and zip code on petfinder.com to find a perfect pet in your area.)

Save Money at the Vet - Spay or Neuter Your Pet

2007-02-17T19:29:00.000-05:00

We’ve talked before about saving money at the vet clinic. Another way to do this, saving both your money and your pet’s health, is to have your cats and dogs spayed or neutered.

Research has proven time and time again that altered pets have fewer medical problems as they get older. Female cats and dogs that have not been spayed are at an increased risk for mammary cancer and infected uteruses. Intact males are more likely to develop prostate and testicular cancers. All are expensive to treat.

Pets that have not been altered also have a tendency to stray, thus increasing the risk for serious injury, treatment of which certainly can lead to enormous vet bills.

Would you rather pay for a routine surgery now or a complicated surgery later if it meant saving the life of your beloved cat or dog? Trust me on this one—it’s a total no brainier. You’ll thank yourself later as you enjoy your healthy pet as he ages. Indeed, pets who have been altered live two to three years longer than unaltered pets.

So, for the health of your dog or cat – and your pocketbook – spay or neuter your pet.

Avoid Expensive Vet Bills. Insure your Pets Today!

Say it with Doggie-Mail

2007-02-15T13:34:00.000-05:00

Want to send your favorite pet or pet owner a special message? Then you need to check out Doggie-Mail at www.petcentric.com (brought to you by Purina).

You can design a video message using your choice of three dogs, choosing a costume, accessories, and even the setting. (Put a cowboy hat on the cute boxer and he looks just like Rocky!) Choose a pre-recorded message, type your own, or even record a message by phone, then send your completed Doggie-Mail via e-mail. There are pre-recorded messages for several occasions, but we suggest getting creative and typing in a personal note. (We haven’t tried the telephone method.) You can choose from a selection of different voices so the doggie messenger can really speak.

Rocky and Bashful Boy loved the messages they received on Valentine’s Day, and so did their “people.” Your favorite person – or pet – will love hearing from you, too. Just go to www.petcentric.com and choose the “Say it with Doggie-mail” link. Have fun!

Bashful Boy

2007-02-13T11:05:00.000-05:00

Bashful Boy is a very special 4-year-old Beagle who I adopted at our local animal shelter on January 7, 2004. There were so many people who wanted to adopt Bashful Boy that the shelter held an auction for him. I had experience with eBay so after the auction bids had reached $200 and were still dragging on with only $10 bid increments, I hollered $400 to everyone else's amazement. Bashful was mine.

He had to be neutered before I could bring him home. He was still groggy when I picked him up from the animal hospital after his surgery. By the time we reached home, however, Bashful was happy to explore the backyard of his new home for any new scents he might pick up. He spent quite a bit of time roaming around the yard before he decided to come into the house and explore what new scents he might discover here. Each room of the house was new territory that Bashful Boy carefully examined. He finally settled in the living room where I quickly showed him how to use the doggy door. Bashful is a smart boy and learned his lesson very quickly.

We have now shared our lives for a little more than 3 years. He is a very playful dog and loves to go for walks, rides in the car, and play tug-of-war games with me. He will bring me one of his many stuffed animals and hold on to one end of the animal as hard as he can with his teeth while I sincerely try to pry the stuffed animal away from him with my hands. He also likes to play games with his kibble and doggy treats. He will throw them up in the air and see where they land. He will hide his doggy treats -- he especially loves Ritz crackers which I put in little sandwich bags for him -- for fear that I might find them and eat them before he has a chance to. He watches me as he carefully moves from one room of the house to the next deciding where would be the best place to hide those Ritz crackers from me. When we go to bed at night, he will jump in the bed with his little bag of crackers and eat them as a nighttime snack. He stretches out his body as he snacks on his crackers and knows full well that he is the master of this house.

Bashful is spoiled -- spoiled with love. His favorite food is chicken and I will often go to the store just to make sure we have cooked chicken on hand. A local market here sells the most delicious 2-pound roasted chickens for $4.98 and I buy 2-3 of them a week. Bashful fights me whenever I have to give him any sort of pill -- like Benadryl -- so I hide the pill in the chicken and can usually get him to swallow the pill without any problem that way. But if he senses the pill or finds it, watch out. He will spit the pill out and carefully inspect every other piece of chicken to make sure that I have not tried that trick on him again.

Bashful Boy, being a beagle, constantly has his nose to the ground. He goes crazy when he comes across a Bumble Bee or any other insect and will spend hours in the yard barking at those moving objects. He has tormented many bumble bees and they, in turn, have stung him. Benadryl is great for treating those stings -- and most other insect bites -- so I always keep it on hand. Bashful Boy's proudest moment was when he found a baby bird -- still alive -- in the yard and brought it inside the house to give to me as a gift. He did not like it when I picked up the baby bird, cleaned it off, and placed it back outside so its mamma could find it again.

I work out of my house so I have the luxury of structuring my life around my Bashful Boy. He hates the sound of garbage trucks on garbage pick-up day and stays right by my side until the trucks are gone. He loves the soothing brush that I used to brush his hair. He does not like water except to drink it. We have a pool in our yard and Bashful goes to the other end of the yard if he thinks I might try to coax him into the water. In the summertime when the temps get to 100 or more, he loves to lick the bowls of ice that I have frozen for him to drink from. I am in trouble if I forget to put bowls of water in the freezer for him during our hot spells.

There is so much more to say about this boy of mine but you get the idea. I love him to pieces and am so blessed to have him in my life.

(Thanks to Sally for sharing about her "baby boy.")

Cats and Dogs Don't Mix

2007-02-10T15:11:00.000-05:00

Cats and dogs don’t mix?

Don’t believe it. They do mix, and very nicely.

Think about it:

A 35 pound brown/black/white Welsh Corgi mixed with a little this and that . . . (We’re not sure just what. We think she’s a breed all her own.) That’s Maggie, THE DOG!

Now add:

A 3 ½ pound Persian Tabby. Registered? Oh, yes. A real little princess. Long black/white fluff of fur. Big wide, gold eyes and a cute little nose. Looks as if she was hit in the face by a truck. That is Zoie, THE CAT.

Now how cute is that?

Who rules? Well, that’s a matter of opinion.

THE DOG learned all the tricks: Shake hands, roll over, play dead, toss a treat from her nose and catch it AND be a “pretty girl” when she really wants attention. But it is so hard for THE DOG to remember she is not allowed on the couch or to “stay” when company comes. THE DOG loves sleeping on Pop’s lap while he takes his afternoon nap. At bedtime, THE DOG will take her treat and march off to bed like a “pretty girl.”

However . . .

THE CAT doesn’t have to learn all those tricks. All she has to do is look up at us with those beautiful eyes and we forget about tricks. We just sit and hold her on our laps until she takes her nap, then we play with a special shake toy – until she sees THE DOG’s tail (her favorite plaything). At bedtime, THE CAT marches into the bedroom with us and picks her spot. It might be between us, beside us, or down at the bottom of the bed, as long as she can touch us anytime she feels like it. One night I woke up and she was on top of Pop’s head . . . like Davy Crockett’s coonskin hat with the tail hanging over the side . . .

Who rules??? I’m not sure!!!!

THE DOG Maggie. . . THE CAT Zoie . . . Hmmmmmmmm

(Thanks, Swell Nell, for writing about Maggie and Zoie!)

Eliminating Pet Stains and Odors

2007-02-09T10:59:00.000-05:00

Promptness is the key to removing pet stains and odors effectively, especially in the case of pet urine, which not only stains but also leaves behind a potent, long-lasting odor. If you take care of the problem immediately, chances are the urine will leave no trace. Once dried, however, the stain and accompanying odor will become much more difficult to remove, and may require the services of a professional cleaner.

A variety of homemade solutions and commercial products are available to help you remove or neutralize stains and odors left behind by urine, vomit, diarrhea or feces.

Remove Pet Stains and Odors on a Variety of Surfaces

Carpets: If the stain is fresh, any good carpet shampoo will work well. First, be sure to remove any solid or semi-solid matter, such as vomit or feces. Clean the spot with the shampoo, and then soak it thoroughly with club soda. Allow it to stand for 10 minutes before blotting it up. If the stain has dried, or if the urine has soaked through to the floor, try using a cleaner with enzymes, which break down the odor-causing compounds. Be sure to follow the product's instructions carefully to prevent damage to your carpet.

Concrete: Fresh stains are easy to remove from sealed concrete. Simply wipe the area with a damp paper towel, and clean it with a commercial cleaning product. If the concrete is unsealed, and the urine or feces is allowed to stand, the stain will be much more difficult to remove, especially if urine has soaked into the surface. If this is the case, first neutralize the stain and odor using a commercial cleaning product then seal the concrete. If the odor is still present, you may have to call a professional cleaning service.

Hardwood: Wipe off fresh stains, and then treat the wood with a commercial cleaning product. If the stains - especially urine stains - have been allowed to stand, you may have to strip, sand and bleach or stain the wood, then re-apply the varnish or polyurethane.

Drapes, clothing, upholstery covers: Place any stained items in the washing machine with a cup of vinegar; do not use detergent. Wash as usual or take to a dry cleaner if that is appropriate for that fabric.

(Article courtesy of PETCO.com)

If a Dog was the Teacher . . .

2007-02-01T16:49:00.000-05:00

If a dog was the teacher you would learn stuff like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

When it's in your best interest, practice obedience!

Let others know when they've invaded your territory.

Take naps. Stretch before rising. Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back in the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

On snowy days, have fun with a snowman!

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout. Run right back and make friends.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

Comparison Shopping for a Vet

2007-02-01T15:10:00.000-05:00

We posted recently about the high cost of veterinary care for your beloved pets and that there are ways to keep the costs down. Here’s another tip.

Sometimes the best way to save money at the vet is simply to find the cheapest clinic in town. We have already said that running a vet clinic is very expensive, thus justifying some of those big charges, but certainly vet clinics do compete for patients, so in some cases cheaper can be better. So, how do you judge if that is the case?

Ask your friends where they take their pets and ask what kind of prices they charge. Ask to see receipts if possible because some hospitals charge for things differently. How do your friends like the service there? Are the doctors knowledgeable? Is the staff friendly? Do your friends recommend their own vet to others?

If you want to know how much a clinic charges, just pick up the phone and ask! Sometimes you can get a good feel about the hospital just by talking to the person on the phone. Some hospitals won’t give prices out over the phone and will want to mail you the information instead. That’s fine—you’ll just have to wait a little longer.

Which brings me to my next point: always get prices and estimates in writing. This is hard to do over the phone, which is why some hospitals ask if it’s okay to mail you something. But if they don’t, ask to have a list of prices sent to you (or pick them up yourself). Veterinary hospitals can be quite hectic at times and sometimes the person on the phone will simply quote you the wrong price. It happens. Then when you go to check out—surprise! This is no fun for anybody.

If you are calling around to get estimates on surgical procedures always ask what’s included in the price. If you ask “How much to spay a 40 pound dog?” they might say $150. But that may be just the price for the actual surgical procedure itself. Things like anesthesia, bloodwork, pain medication, IV fluids, and e-collar are often not included in that price. Be specific and, as stated before, get it in writing.

Most clinics make you sign an estimate before dropping your pet off for surgery. That way there are no surprises come pick-up time. If there is no estimate given at the time of drop-off, ask to see one (unless you really don’t want to know how much it’s going to cost!). Remember too that an estimate is just that—an estimate. Some things just can’t be predicted ahead of time, but you should be notified if the bill is going to be higher than expected.

With a little pre-visit work, along with some advice from your friends, a visit to the veterinarian doesn’t have to break the bank. With the money that you save by comparison shopping, you can get yourself – or your pet – a special treat!

Dusty

2007-01-29T15:12:00.000-05:00

Dusty is the latest addition to our family. A beautiful white cat with clear blue eyes, he showed up on our property rather mysteriously one day last September. At the time, our neighbor’s cat, Morris, spent about half her time at our house and had established ownership of our front porch. When the white cat would try to get to the food on the porch, Morris, though half the size of this new ghost-like intruder, made it perfectly clear that this porch belonged to her and she had no intention of sharing.

We didn’t want to have to deal with a cat fight, so we supported Morris by shooing the white cat away, and he would reluctantly retreat to the yard only to look back at us and plead for a share of the food with the most pitiful-sounding cat voice I’ve ever heard. Oh, how I hated to keep chasing him away, but for three or four days that’s exactly what we did – until we happened to see him on the back porch eating food out of the dog’s bowl. Poor kitty. I had assumed he lived up the street somewhere and was just trying to extend his territory, but when I saw him eating the dog food I realized that he was awfully thin and must not be getting fed somewhere else. So, I relented and put a bowl of cat food on the back porch, out of our dog’s reach. He gobbled the food, eating like he hadn’t eaten in days and days, as was apparently the case.

Well, to make a long story short, it wasn’t long before the white cat decided the back porch just wasn’t big enough to share with the dog and he wanted the big front porch to be his, and so it was. When we found Morris up a tree one day and the blue-eyed white cat sunning himself by the front door, the change in ownership was complete. We didn’t feel too awfully bad for Morris because he had a loving family who fed him and a warm doghouse to sleep in. Besides, I’d occasionally slip her a bowl of food on the boat behind the garage, the place where she liked to go to cool off on a hot day.

We never did figure out where this white cat came from, but we eventually decided since he had resigned himself to staying, we’d might as well give him a name. Our number two son, the animal lover and former vet assistant, thought Dusty would be a good name, and so it was. He judged Dusty to be about a year old, which is probably about right. Nearly full-grown when he showed up, Dusty had filled out quickly with a regular diet and his orange features had become more prominent.

Dusty is a very loving cat who thrives on attention. He has learned to be submissive to us and trusts us for his livelihood. He has a nice, warm bed on the porch since he must stay outside due to our two indoor cats, who are too old to adjust to a newcomer. He still has a tiny little meow for such a big boy, but he doesn’t sound quite so pitiful anymore. In fact, when he runs from the porch to the garage to greet us when we arrive home, he looks and sounds downright happy to be here. And we’re happy to have him.

Saving Money at the Vet Clinic

2007-01-27T11:36:00.000-05:00

In case you haven’t noticed, quality vet care isn’t cheap. But if it were, you should probably worry because it would be your pet’s health that would suffer. The cost to run a veterinary clinic is more than what many people expect, and I've been told that most veterinarians retire before their college loans are paid off!

The important thing, of course, is for your pet to receive proper health care from a qualified professional, but how do we accomplish that without breaking the bank?

I asked my friend Amanda, a vet tech, for some advice about how to save money at the veterinarian's office. She was full of great suggestions and we'll be publishing many of those here over time, so stay tuned. Today, here's the first tip, directly from Amanda herself.

Tip #1: Be straight up!
If your pooch is acting sick and you KNOW he ate something out of the garbage—tell the vet! I can’t tell you how many times we’ve gone through a list of expensive (and sometimes unnecessary) diagnostic procedures to find out that the owner knew all along what the problem might be!
“Oh yeah—I did notice that I had a sock missing . . .” Ugh!
We had one gentleman who knew his dog ate a pair of panties but didn’t want to tell us because, well . . . the panties didn’t belong to his wife.
Fortunately, the dog got better, but his pocketbook paid the price.
Not sure what happened to the marriage.

We'll have more tips on saving money on pet health care in the future, so be sure and sign up for our updates using the box at the top right of the page. Rocky will fetch those directly to your email box so you won't miss a thing!

The Purrfect Cat

2007-01-26T18:37:00.000-05:00

Is your favorite feline a purrfect pet? Put the little dear to this test--you might take her down a peg or two.

My Kitty:

Knows her proper place (smack dab in the middle of the king-sized bed, between the other occupants.)

Practices home improvement--carefully lines up the claw marks on the furniture.

Greets important company properly--the white cats jumps on the lap of Mr. Black Suit, the black one adorns the white velvet lap of his wife.

Helps clean the dishes (sometimes when company is still eating).

Practices time management--eats, sleeps in alternate quarter-hour periods.

Assists with web site development by helpfully keeping keyboard warm and mouse excercised.

Protects me from the annoyance of unwanted cats on my shoulders (by getting there first).

Helps me read the newspaper by holding it down firmly.

Maintains good grooming habits by washing several times daily.

Provides free wake-up service (at 2, 3, 4 a.m. or whenever hunger strikes.)

Allow ten points for each affirmative answer.

Scores:
30-50: Take another look at your pet. Are you sure he isn't a giant gerbil?
60-80: Your kitty needs to attend the Bubba Academy of Attitude Adjustment.
90-100: Congratulations! Your home is graced by a Purrfect Pet.

How did your kitty score? Leave a comment to let us know!

(Thanks to cats.about.com)

Pet Health Warning – This Sugar Substitute May Poison Your Dog

2007-01-26T12:09:00.000-05:00

Have you heard of the alternative sweetener called xylitol? This sugar substitute, often recommended for diabetics and touted for its ability to reduce the process of tooth decay, has shown to be highly toxic to dogs, according to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.

Xylitol is used in many products such as chewing gum, mints, nicotine gum, chewable vitamins, and oral care products. It is also often purchased in granulated form and used as a sweetener for cereals, beverages, and baked goods. Although discovered in the late 1800s by German chemist Emil Fisher, xylitol was not used for commercial purposes until the 1970s.

Xylitol has grown in popularity during the past several years, mostly because it is considered a good sugar substitute for those on a low-carbohydrate diet and those concerned with the glycemic index of foods. Xylitol is popular among diabetics because it does not cause large peaks of insulin production after ingestion.

However, as the popularity and number of products containing xylitol has increased, so has the number of reported toxic exposures to dogs. In 2003, the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center reported three cases of xylitol poisoning. In 2005, 193 cases were reported. During just the first half of 2006, they received 114 reported cases of xylitol poisoning in dogs.

Although it has always been known that xylitol causes hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in dogs, it has only been recently discovered to produce acute and possibly life-threatening liver disease. Humans and dogs do not metabolize substances in the same way and xylitol is no exception. Dogs seem to absorb almost 100% of xylitol while humans absorb only 50%. As a result only a small amount is needed to produce toxic effects.

After ingesting xylitol dogs can begin to vomit and may develop hypoglycemia within 30 to 60 minutes. Some dogs will develop liver failure within 12 to 24 hours after xylitol ingestion. One reported case involved a 3-year-old dog that ate five or six cookies containing the sweetener. It became ill 24 hours later and died the next day.

Pet owners who are watching their diets and using xylitol-sweetened products in their home need to be aware of its toxic effect on dogs. You need to ensure that your dogs do not get hold of any of these products. If your dog is prone to helping himself to muffins or sugarless gum left out on the counter, be sure to check the ingredients on the package as xylitol is being used more and more often on a commercial basis. Ever share your sports drink with your canine friend? Be certain you know what was used to sweeten that thirst quencher.

Xylitol’s effect on cats and ferrets is currently unknown. Other sugar sweeteners such as sorbitol, mannitol, saccharin, aspartame, and sucralose are generally regarded as safe for dogs.

If you suspect your dog has ingested xylitol, don’t delay. Call your veterinarian immediately.

Pets for Real People

2007-01-25T16:09:00.000-05:00

Maybe I should say "Real Pets and Their People" since, as all pet owners know, we don't own them, they own us!

However you want to phrase it, people love their pets and pets love their people, and that's what we're going to talk about here. From stories of real cats and dogs to training and grooming, dog and cat breeds, pet care and their health, to unusual pets, if it's about people and their pets, you just might find it here.

Stay tuned. . .