Furry Friends Tidbits

Enjoy our monthly little tidbits on your furry friends. Here you will find interesting fun facts on dogs and cats or any other little tidbits of information from delicious pet recipes to different types of pet beds to fun games to play with your pet. You never know what you will find, so join us each month for some fun and exciting tidbits!

Five Fun Facts
Adult dogs have forty-two teeth.

Did you know a dog can carry HALF it own weight comfortably in a backpack? Your dog would be a great companion on a hike or camping trip!

When a dog chews on grass, it does not always mean it has a tummy ache, grass adds fiber to his diet. It is a dog’s salad!

Kittens are born with blue eyes, just like a baby. If their eyes will change, it will occur at four to five weeks of age.

Cats will meow at people, but will rarely meow at other cats. Plus, they could put in a growl or two with the dog they share a house with!

Popular and Unique Names for your Pets
Dog Names:

Wilson
Andrea
Jonathon
Hermione
Seth
Hudson
Daisy
Bryan
Cat Names
Cactus
Cadbury
Milkshake
Honeybee
Zuly
Brutus
Alley
Sabrina Lily

A Game to Play with your Pet

Treasure Hunt:
Have your dog sit and stay. Put a treat or special toy within sight. Give you dog the release command to run to her treat or toy. Let her eat it or play with it. After you do this a couple of times, have her sit and stay again, but this time change the place you put the treat or toy, still within sight. After a couple of times doing this, you can “hide” the treat or toy. The first time you hide it, you will want her to see you putting it there, but you don’t want her seeing the item. Each time you hide it, put it further away. You can even start hiding more than one item. This game is a lot of fun for both of you!

Pet Products
Pet strollers are a great way to take your dog or cat out for a walk or to give them a break on the way back from a long playtime in the park.

Pet beds are wonderful to have for your pets to have a special place to sleep after that long walk or playtime in the park!

Pet costumes or clothes are great for cold weather or simply for fun. Check out all of the cute costumes and coats available these days!

Dog Recipes – Warning these can be too tempting for humans!

This section is dedicated to all of those who like to make your own natural dog food or treats.

Whole Wheat Cheese Snaps:
1 cup uncooked oatmeal1-½ cup hot water or meat juice/broth1 cup grated cheese1 egg, beaten1 cup wheat germ¼ cup margarine½ cup powdered milk4 cups whole wheat flour

Directions:
Preheat oven to 300 F (150° C).
In large bowl, pour hot water over oatmeal and margarine: let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in powdered milk, grated cheese, salt and egg. Add wheat germ. Mix well. Add flour, 1/3 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. Knead 3 or 4 minutes, adding more flour if necessary to make very stiff dough. Pat or roll dough to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes and place on a baking sheet sprayed with nonstick spray.

Bake for 1 hour. Turn off heat and leave in oven for 1-½ hours or longer.

Makes approximately 2-¼ pounds.

Your furry little friend will love these delicious and homemade treats made from the heart!

Tips for Introducing Cats and Dogs - July

When I brought our new puppy home, I was afraid that the cat would turn into a very mean cat. She was already “evil” according to our kids, but she was just a loner. She was actually starting to come around where you could actually pet her. She basically tolerates us to make us happy so that we will continue feeding her! So, she allows us to pet her for about three strokes and then she dashes.

So, bringing in a new puppy into the mix was going to be interesting. I was concerned that she would just become mean. The strangest thing happened. She actually became even more tolerant of us. She has turned into a pretty sweet kitty.

She bats and growls at my puppy, but luckily she does not have those front claws! However, it seems as though she actually tries to get the puppy to chase after her. It is pretty amazing the change I have seen in our cat. Now, the puppy will sit there and take the batting at her face because she thinks it is all in play. Little does she know!

Here are some tips to help you introduce your new dog or cat to your pets.

Be prepared to look for the perfect addition to your family. You will need to be sure you are aware of the needs of the dog or cat, as they are different.

Make sure you are able to provide time and resources for both pets.

Prepare your home before bringing in a new pet. Be sure to clearly mark their territory for their pet beds, food, and litter areas. Try to make it so that neither pet can intrude on the other pets resting area.

It is important to clip both animals’ claws before their first meeting.

Each pet should be allowed to smell the other pets blanket to begin the introduction. This helps to avoid surprise.

Give each pet extra attention and praise and be sure to spend quality time individually with each pet. Consider taking them both out for a walk individually. Grab the pet stroller and the pet coat and venture out with your new kitty or puppy.

Monitor them closely for the first thirty days for any aggression. Do not leave them alone until you are positive there is a bonding. If you have to leave, you will need to separate them by putting them in different rooms.

Refrain from punishing either one if they do not get along on their first meeting. This will cause negative feelings. They will resent the other pet because they were punished.

Love, love and love some more-give each pet an abundance of love and praise, especially in the beginning.

Hopefully with time your pets will learn to get along or will love each other at first sight. Usually, it takes a little bit of time for them to come around. Good luck on your new venture and your new little addition.

How to Give your Dog CPR - July

We are all aware of how important it is to know how to give CPR to a person, but have you really ever thought of what you would do if your dog was choking? How much of a tragedy would it be if you could have saved your dog’s life, if only you would have taken the time to learn how to give your dog CPR?

This month’s “how to” is designed to help give you the steps you need to save your dog’s life in the tragic event that your dog chokes. This can happen all too easily with all of the toys that are available for dogs these days. This article does not take the place of a professional training course. It is recommended that you enroll in a professional training course for more specific detailed training.

CPR for dogs under 30 pounds and puppies

Put the dog on the right side.

Locate the dog’s heart in the chest just behind the points on the front elbows. Put a cupped hand over the heart on either side of the chest. One hand should be resting between the dog’s body and the floor, while compressing one to one-and-a-half inches. Count to one, then release for one count. Do this at a rate of 100 compressions per minute.

If you have someone who can help you perform the CPR, you can give one breath using mouth to nose breathing every two to three compressions. If you are alone, you should do one breath every five compressions.

Puppies are a little different. Use your thumb on one side of the puppy’s chest, with your fingers on the other side. You will not need as much force, but you must be sure the compressions are strong enough to compress the chest.

CPR for dogs over 30 pounds

You will follow the steps above, except you should use both hands on the same side of the chest. Do NOT place your hand directly over the heart. Instead you will need to kneel on your dog’s back and place the heel of your hand at the widest part of the rib cage and put your other hand on top of it.

Keep your elbows straight and push straight down while compressing the chest two to three inches at a rate of one and a half to two times per second.

If you have someone that can assist you, you can give one nose-to-mouth breath every two to three compressions. If you are alone, give one breath every five compressions.
It is important to continue to give your dog CPR until your dog has a steady pulse and is breathing on his own.

Grab your dog’s pet bed and rush your dog to the veterinarian or nearest emergency facility. It is likely that your dog’s ribs have been fractured during CPR.

You could be faced with this tragic situation. Don’t take for granted the time you have with your dog. Take some time each day to spend quality time with your dog. Take out the pet stroller and go for a long walk. Make the most of every minute you have with your loyal furry friend.


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Pet Advice for June

How much is too much chocolate for your dog?

Any of you who owns a dog has heard the saying “don give your dog chocolate or it can kill him”. I have grown up hearing that constantly from my parents. I remember being absolutely scared to death when my childhood dog got a piece of my candy bar. I hid the fact that she got a hold of the candy bar, but I was extremely worried that I was going to kill my dog.

Now, as an adult, my dog snuck one of those big Hershey candy bars right off of the table. My daughter was so upset, because it was the first time she was able to get one of those 7 oz. candy bars. However, my dog, which was an 80 pound German shepherd, started to feel sick. It scared me to death once I realized she ate the entire candy bar. This was not one of those King size bars, but much bigger. I knew something was wrong when I went to offer a treat and she refused it. Then a few hours later she seemed like she was in a drug like state. It terrified me. I called the vet and they said that a dog that size eating that much chocolate is not toxic. It would have had to be 40 ounces that she ate. He told me that she would likely feel sick, but that these levels would be okay.

Chocolate contains theobromine that is toxic to dogs in huge quantities. It is like caffeine and is in the same family as Xanthines.

The toxic levels are measured by the dog’s individual sensitivity, animal size and chocolate concentration. These are general levels:

Milk chocolate that has 44 mg of theobromine per oz. Semisweet chocolate that has 150mg/oz. Baker's chocolate 390mg/oz.Using a dose of 100 mg/kg as the toxic dose it comes out roughly as: 1 ounce per 1 pound of body weight for Milk chocolate1 ounce per 3 pounds of body weight for Semisweet chocolate1 ounce per 9 pounds of body weight for Baker's chocolate.

How does chocolate affect the dog?
It affects the nervous system, cardiovascular system and peripheral nerves. It also acts as a diuretic.

What are the symptoms of toxic chocolate?

Hyper excitability Hyper irritability Increased heart rate Restlessness Increased urination Muscle tremors Vomiting DiarrheaHow is a dog treated who has toxic levels of chocolate?
This type of poisoning does not have an antidote. Usually the toxin will remain in the dog for 17.5 hours. You should have your dog induced vomiting for the first 1 to 2 hours. Activated charcoal could inhibit the absorption of the toxin. An anticonvulsant could be needed if neurological signs are indicated. Oxygen therapy, intravenous medications and fluids could be needed. They will help to protect the heart of the dog.

I was lucky that my dog did not need any of the above treatments. I just watched her and she was up and back to her sweet self the very next day. Ready to go for our daily walk. I was grateful to be able to grab that pet stroller, since she usually runs herself ragged. Then she comes home to her favorite place in the entire house, her pet bed.

If you suspect your dog has eaten chocolate, don’t hesitate to call your vet. They will have the necessary information for you.

Furry Friends Tidbits for June

Enjoy our monthly little tidbits on your furry friends. Here you will find interesting fun facts on dogs and cats or any other little tidbits of information from delicious pet recipes to fun facts to fun games to play with your pet. You never know what you will find, so join us each month for some fun and exciting tidbits!

Five Fun Facts

Pets help to decrease the feelings of isolation and feeling lonely because they promote social interaction. They also help to increase morale.

70% of people put their pet’s name on a greeting card and 58% of people include a picture with their pets in Christmas cards.

Female dogs have 310 bones; male dogs have 311.

Cats begin puberty at about four months old.

95% of cats that are solid white and have two blue eyes are deaf. This is due to a dominant genetic trait that is linked to the white fur and blue eyes.

Popular and Unique Names for your Pets

Dog Names:
Max
Duke
Cody
Case
Dickens
Zoe
Sierra
Felix
Ace
Oliver

Cat Names:
Butterscotch
Buttons
Cabbie
Cabernet
Felix
Bianca
Fluff
Razzy
Sugar
Bluestar

Games to Play with your Pet
Doggie Says:
This is a game that you can play that also helps with obedience training. When you say sit, then you sit. When you say down, lie down. Get creative and close your eyes, turn your back to the dog. Of course, remember this is a game and it is just ways to enhance training. You could even stand on your head. Just make sure your dog is doing the correct moves, so you don’t confuse him!

Get a small box and punch several holes in it. Then place a small piece of ham or chicken in it. Let your cat play with it on the floor.

Pet Products
Pet strollers are a great way to take your dog or cat out for a walk or to give them a break on the way back from a long playtime in the park.

Pet beds are wonderful to have for your pets to have a special place to sleep after that long walk or playtime in the park!

Pet costumes or clothes are great for cold weather or simply for fun. Check out all of the cute costumes and coats available these days!

Dog Recipes – Warning these can be too tempting for humans!
This section is dedicated to all of those who like to make your own natural dog food or treats.

Chunky Peanut Butter Molasses Cookies:
4 cups whole wheat flour2 cups oatmeal½ - ¾ cup chunky peanut butter2½ cups hot water2 Tbs molasses
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350° F (180° C).
Mix all ingredients together, adding more hot water if dough is too sticky. Knead well. Roll out to ¼" and cut into shapes with cookie cutter. Bake on greased cookie sheet for 40 minutes. Turn off heat and let cool in oven overnight.

Your furry little friend will love these delicious and homemade treats made from the heart!

Pet Tips for June, 2008

Tips on how to tell if your cats are playing or fighting

If you live in a household with more than one cat, then you have likely witnessed your cats playing or fighting. The question is, “Are they playing or fighting?” This can be hard to determine as they tend to seem like they would be fighting when they are actually at play.
Here are some tips to help you tell if they are playing or are indeed fighting.

Tip #1 - The first thing you need to take into account is how they have behaved towards each other in the past. If they have never gotten along, then chances are they are fighting. It is important to stop the fighting by distracting them. Cats that fight can lead to disease transmission and/or wounds and infections.

Tip #2 - When cats play they will usually chase, swat, hiss or nip.

Tip #3 - When cats scream, they are likely fighting.

Tip #4 - One cat that is dominant over another cat to an extreme suggests fighting. Usually when cats are playing the dominant role will shift between the cats, giving them both dominancy at one point or another.

Tip #5 - Cats that continue to hiss for a longer period of time suggest fighting. Some hissing is normal during play, but if it continues for a long period they are probably fighting.

Tip #6 - During cat play, neither cat will get hurt. If one is hurt, this was obviously a fight.

If you find that your cats are fighting, you must find a way to distract them. You can make a loud noise by clapping your hands or dropping something heavy on the floor. A sudden loud noise will usually startle the cats and they will get out of there pretty quickly. You can also shake their can of treats if they are familiar with that sound.

If the cats are playing, you shouldn’t get involved. Let them play their games and have fun. However, if they are fighting it is recommended that you do try to distract them. NEVER try to physically remove one cat from a fight. You will likely be hurt in the process.

Tips on dog fights – canine rivalry

Dogs are pack animals. Pack animals have leaders. If your household has more than one dog, you will sometimes see rivalry between the two dogs. This is normal. The fighting will usually occur when one dog tries to move up into the higher dogs rank.

Here are some tips to remember when living with two dogs

Tip #1 - Although dogs think of humans as the highest rank, the dogs also think of the highest rank dog as second in command.

Tip #2 - As the owner, you should respect the ranking of dogs and treat the dogs as they should be treated as in a pack. For example, you should pet the highest ranked dog first, and then go down the line. The highest ranked dog should be fed first and given treats first. The highest rank dog should have the nicest dog bed.

Tip #3 - The ranking occurs through behavioral gestures and body postures. These behaviors include growling and snarling.

Tip #4 – Fighting can happen at any time. Sometimes a lower ranking dog will try to move into a higher ranking dog’s territory. When this happens, dogs will fight. Some of the signs that a dog is intending to fight to protect its rank is licking of the lips, one dog leaning over another, one dog rolling on its back, etc. The signs could escalate into snarling, growling or even a full fledged fight.

Tip #5 – If a full fledged fight occurs; you must stay out of it. NEVER try to physically get involved. If you are concerned that a dog will be hurt badly, you can try to distract them by making a loud noise or by squirting them with water.

Tip #6 - Aggression can be lessened by spaying or neutering.

It seems that same sexed, same breed and same aged dogs will tend to fight more. If you notice that the dogs are fighting more and more frequently or if a dog EVER directs its aggression towards a human family member, then you must contact your local vet for a referral to a good dog trainer.

Dogs are happiest when they know what is expected of them. Sometimes they just need a little help along the way.

Pet’s How to Column for June

How To Travel With Your Pet

It is that time of year. Summer is here and many people are taking vacations with their pets.
It is important to make sure that you are aware of how to take care of your pet while you are vacationing to ensure your pets safety.

Before you leave, make sure the hotel you are planning to stay at accepts pets. You can do this by either checking out their website or calling them direct. When you call, you should find out if there are any restrictions or extra fees.

Before you go, you should find out where the Emergency Veterinary Clinics in the area in which you are going. Anything can happen at any time, and if you are on the road and have no idea where to go in case of an emergency, the results could be devastating.

Even if your pet is completely comfortable with you, they may be frightened because they are not in their own familiar territory. Always have a leash on them before the door is opened to avoid any lost pets.

Many pets tend to get sick while on the road. It is a good idea to keep their food to a minimum and bring along ice instead of water. It is easier on their stomachs rather than huge amounts of water. When traveling by car you should feed your pet a small meal two to three hours before leaving. If you are traveling by airplane, you should feed them a light meal four to six hours prior to traveling. There is also medication that can be given to help with nausea.

You should have a special identification just for traveling that includes its name, your name and address, phone number, the place you are heading and a phone number of someone who knows where you will be in case of a lost pet.

Remember the temperatures could be very hot, so never leave your pet in a closed vehicle, even on cool days. A closed up vehicle is like an oven. Temperatures build up in minutes. Do not think your pet will be okay, even with the windows down. If you are traveling with your pet, you need to be sure that your pet is allowed every where you go. Otherwise you may as well have left your pet at home where he will be safe.

You will meet a lot of strangers on your travel. Be very careful when introducing your pet to strangers because they are out of their comfort area and could be agitated and scared. Even the sweetest pet can be a whole different pet when he is frightened. Do not allow people to approach your pet without supervision.

Never let your pet approach an animal in the wild. Wild animals can be fierce when they feel threatened– even wild animals that have a reputation for being tame. Plus, they carry many diseases.

Don’t forget to stock up on the flea and tick medication.

If you are going on a vacation where you will be doing a lot of walking, it is wise to take along your pet stroller. Remember to take many breaks if you are going on long walks as your pet will need to be rehydrated and rest.

Do not forget his pet bed. This will help him feel more secure at night.

Have a great time vacationing with your pet.