Preparing for Spring, Summer and Fall for Your Pets

Spring is right around the corner.  Have you thought about your pets heartworm or flea & tick control for this year? 

Dogs and Cats both should be on some sort of flea & tick control.  Flea's and Tick's can be around all year, not just during the warm weather months.  It is very important to your pet and your household to have these pests under contol.  There are many varities of flea & tick control products on the market today.  Some of the most popular products come in a liquid form that you place on the back of your cat or dog and can last up to a month.

Heratworm pills are also a must for your pets.  I had a dog who developed heartworm because I had forgotten to start his pills one spring and watching him go through those evasive treatments was heartbreaking. And keep in mind  that not all pets survive these treatments.   Do your pet and your pocketbook a favor and make an appointment for your pet today to be tested for heartworm.  Another thought would be to keep your pets on heartworm protection all year long.  That way giving your pets their monthly protection will be easier to remember.

For flea & tick products click HERE!

On a Rant

Okay, I am getting up on a soap box right now, so be prepared.



On Saturday I had some of the locals who run dogs on coyotes stop by the house to pick up their dogs who were on the property behind mine. Generally I have no problem with this, they are being responsible and collecting their dogs, but where my problem comes in is the condition of thier dogs feet.



They scooped up 2 dogs behind our house and when they brought them to the truck to load up I noticed their paws. I was just horrified. You could see blood around each toenail! Well, of course I couldn't keep my mouth shut when I noticed, so I said something to the guy about how bad the dogs feet were.



Guess what the response was that I got. Any idea's?



Here it was: "The snow is really crunchy today."



What kind of bologna is that? Ever hear of mushers wax? I don't think so. If only they would condition their feet with that and maybe pull the dogs if the "snow is too crunchy"? Just a thought.



And the sad thing for those dogs is, if the weather was cooperating the next day, they would be running them again.



Now, I am all for hunting with dogs and all, but what about taking CARE of them?

The nice thing about mushers wax is that it can be used all year long.  It helps paws on hot pavement, in sand, snow and salt.  Your dog would thank you if it could for protecting their paws.

To buy mushers wax - Click Here!

Potty Training Tip for your dog

I would like to share with you a very useful technique that I used for potty training my puppy.


When we brought Rage home she was 3 months old and not potty trained. At some point I had heard from someone about putting a bell on the door to train your dog to signal you that they need to go out. This idea appealed to me because some dogs just don't know how to signal their owners to what they need and this idea would give Rage a distinct cue to give us for the sole purpose of going out to do her business.

I went to the store and picked up one of those peel and stick hooks and a small cowbell. When I got home I measured what would be a good height for her to reach it with her nose and installed it there. From then on whenever anyone let her out to use the bathroom they would make her touch her nose to the bell and ring it, then she would be put outside.

It took less than a week for her to have it mastered and we haven't had an accident since. Rage is now 2.5 years old.


I hope this helps anyone with potty training issues.



Good Luck!

The Importance of Therapy Dogs

Over the years researchers have found that using animals in therapy has helped their Patients or Residents significantly. Some facilities have house dogs that live there and are utilized when needed, while other places have visiting therapy dogs. Either way there is going to be a positive response from the clients.

The versatility of therapy dogs makes it possible for them to be utilized in multiple types of therapy. Examples of these would be:

• Speech Therapy - talking or giving the dogs commands
• Physical Therapy - walking the dogs, throwing balls, or brushing
• Residents with difficulty communicating show increased signs of interaction when dealing with a therapy dog.
• Helping Alzheimers patients with distracting them and easing aggitation. Also, they help to break the sense of social isolation by listening to the patient even if it is a rambling, repeating story.
• Therapy dogs have helped reduce stress and anxiety by showing unconditional love for all.

The above listed examples are just a fragment of what positive affects a therapy dog can have. For anyone who handles a therapy dog I would like to thank you for your service to all of those whose lives you made a little brighter by your visits. Too many times it is overlooked what kind of time and dedication it took to recieve the Therapy Dog Certification.

I personally work with Seniors and bring my german shepherd with me to work sometimes and the response if overwhelming. I visit an assisted living facility with her and the smiles she puts on their faces are priceless. My office is located in a Senior independant apartment building and when the dog is in we get lots of visitors. Especially people who used to have dogs and don't anymore. She is spoiled rotten there. One of my Residents who doesn't have a dog has my dog trained to go to his apartment door to get a treat and then return to the office.

Something as small as a visit from a dog can make a huge difference to someone who can't for one reason or another have one. If you think your dog could make a difference in someone elses life, I suggest you check out getting them certified and start volunteering.

Loss of Your Pet

      Losing your pet can be like losing your best friend to some people. When my girls were pretty little we had a wonderful barn cat that they loved named Oreo.

     Oreo was a very affectionate cat who loved to hunt. One day Oreo was out hunting and hunted his way over to the neighbors house which normally would have been okay except on this day the neighbor set a trap for the critters that kept crawling up under his house. Unfortunately, Oreo followed some of his prey under the house and died in the neighbors trap.

So there I was with a dead cat and 2 little girls who were inconsolable. It was time to have the talk with them about life and death, which went considerably well I thought, but then the deed came to disposing of poor Oreo. After teaching my kids that you never put an animal in a plastic bag so you don't hurt them - here I was placing Oreo in a garbage bag to bury him. With a little explaining that nothing can hurt him anymore we set out to lay Oreo to rest.

     After burying Oreo I got to thinking that there should be a more respectful way to dispose of your pet when they pass, so I started to do some research. I could not believe that there are places that actually sell coffins for your pet. If you are going for a green burial they even offer biodegradable coffins. Now that is what I am talking about. If only I would have known about this earlier, Oreo could have had a more respectable burial.

     Not only is there pet caskets, but you can also purchase a wide variety of memorial stones to mark the grave site of you lost loved one. Now a days you can even have your pets picture laser engraved on the memorial stone. Examples of these can be seen at: http://www.mansbestfriends.net/shop/amazon_products_feed.cgi?Operation=ItemSearch&Keywords=pet+memorials+laser&SearchIndex=node%3AKitchen%3A518353011

If you decide to have your pet cremated there is also a selection of pet urns that you can get to hold the ashes.

Now that I know these type of products exist, all of my critters will be getting a more respectable burial.
For more pet memorial products please visit: http://www.mansbestfriends.net/shop/amazon_products_feed.cgi?SearchIndex=Kitchen&BrowseNode=518353011

Joint Concerns

In the last 5 years or so I have noticed people recognizing the joint discomfort in their overweight, large breed, and/or aging dogs.


Just like people, our dog's joints can deteriorate especially when they are overweight and getting older. Regular exercise and a healthy diet both aid in keeping joints healthy and lubricated even as our furry friend is aging. Now I am not saying by following these recommendations that your companion will never experience joint pain, but they will help in preventing severe discomfort in your friend.


Today there is a number of products on the market to aid in joint relief and repair. They range from topical ointments to chewable tablets. Be sure to read the information on each product that you are considering very carefully. Some products that are used for extended periods of time can cause severe complications. An example of this is products containing NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs). When used over a prolonged period of time products containing NSAIDs can cause Kidney and Liver damage in your friend.

The proven effects of Glucosamine and Omega-3 fatty acids not only work in us humans, but also in our trusted companions. An affordable product that I found which contains these vital supplements and is free of NSAIDs. 

 SynovialMax soft chews for dogs which is available at:http//www.mansbestfriends.net/shop/amazon_products_feed.cgi?Operation=ItemLookup&ItemId=B002R0DRQK .