As usual, summer brings with it the opportunity to get out with the pups, ride, walk and have fun.  Good for all...right?  Yes, absolutey a great time to be had for all.  Fresh air, sunshine and HEAT!  Sometimes too much heat.  On those hot and humid days it's important to remember that if you are hot, your pup is probably hotter.  After all, a dog's temperature is not like ours.  A dog left in the car for even a short time while you pop in the store can quickly become overheated.  A few cracked windows will not be sufficient to keep the pup cool.  Walking your dog on a hot day on the side walk or road can cause burns to the pup's paws.  Not providing enough cool, clean water can become an issue, too, as a dog needs to stay hydrated even on not so hot days. 

A few safety tips to incorporate in our summer routines would be to 1. walk the pup in early or later hours when the heat is not as intense.  2. If you do have to walk in the heat of the day remember to do the 5 second hand rule...if your hand gets hot when touching the cement or road just imagine how that feels on your pup's paws. 3.  do not leave your pet in the car without sufficient cool air flow.  A few minutes can turn longer and it doesn't take long for your pup's temperature to rise to a dangerous level.  Even taking the pup to the beach or family outing, you will need to provide shade, water and a safe environment for you precious pup. 4.  Provide lots of water and hydration for you pup.

So get out and take Fido for that ride, walk, outing and have fun knowing you are giving your dog the best life filled with love and security. 

I will never forget Thanksgiving 2007. Not because it was a wonderful gathering of family and time of memory making, but, because that was the night that my little dog, Zoe, began throwing up and became critically ill with her first of many pancreatitis attacks that would occur over the next 12 years. The attack was set into motion following her gobbling up fatty and harmful food that was carelessly left within her reach. The pancreatitis was so severe she ended up in the animal hospital for 2 days. The vet told me they would most likely increase in number and become more severe with time and possibly fatal.  That was my initiative to plunge into the world of pet health care and safety to learn how to keep my Lil' Zoe healthy, active and give her the quality of life all pups deserve.  However, that is all material for another blog (s) and for now I want to focus attention on holiday safety for all our precious pets, in particular, why what they put in their mouth matters.

Holidays ( especially Thanksgiving Feast Day) can put our pets at risk for potential food related health issues.  A house full of people, food and goodies is a gold mine for a "sneaky stealth eating pet" who can be poisoned by eating certain foods with ingredients that may be hazardous to their health. Also, fatty foods and poultry bones can be potentially damaging to their digestive systems.

Here are some Thanksgiving pet safety advice to consider......

Be careful not to drop food where your pet can scarf it up before you can blink an eye. Zoe was and still is a sneaky stealth eater.

Put trash away, cover and keep out of the reach of your pet. If they smell it, it will tempt them!

Don't allow others to feed your pets without your knowledge You may have to announce that before dinner and be on the look out for that soft hearted relative that “just cannot say no to” The Look”

Especially do not feed desserts that may have ingredients that are a “no no” for pets. Yeast dough in a pie can cause dangerous bloating and in the least painful gas. Most people know chocolate is on the no list for dogs, but so are many other ingredients and food to be wary.

Decorative plants can be toxic to some pets. Examples of toxic plants are: Amaryllis, Baby's Breath, Sweet William, Hydrangeas, some ferns, and more.  You can get a detailed list from the ASPCA.

If you believe your pet has been exposed to or eaten something toxic, call your veterinarian immediately. Signs of distress can include: sudden changes in behavior, depression, pain, vomiting, diarrhea and in the case of Zoe's pancreatitis attack, an odd stretching of the neck and arching her body to try and relieve the pain she was experiencing.

The ASPCA Poison Control Hotline is 888-426-4435

I am so thankful to still have my Zoe Girl who just celebrated her 17th birthday in October and I hope these tips will help to keep your pets healthy, safe and happy during the holidays!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Kathie Beach

4 Peace Of Mind Pet Care

I really love my pet care business!  I get to know and visit so many wonderful, quirky and unique individuals on a daily basis.  No, I'm not talking about my client's.  I'm talking about their pets, which I get to adopt in their absence.  It's only a matter of time and they become mine by adoption indefinately.  We develop a trust relationship, then the formalities are out the window and the real puppy or kitten comes out, even in my senior pets.  Each one is a "pleasure treasure" I like to say.  Some are funny and animated, some are laid back and calm, but all want attention and interaction, even if it's only to lay on my lap or have me pick them up for a love hug.  All are God's creatures great and small and each brings so much pleasure to our lives.  I like to think I bring some pleasure to them with each of our visits as well. <3

Bernadette and I had a blast certifying for Pet CPR, Animal First Aid and Senior Pet Care through PetTech.  We loved meeting other Pet Care Professionals and pet owner's who want to ensure their pets get the best care possible if an emergency ever arises. We are now part of an on-going campaign to Prevent One Million Pet ER visits annually.  Whoo Hoo!

I recently found myself in a critical situation trying to prevent a loose dog from being run over in heavy traffic.  The anxious pup was weaving in and out of traffic lanes trying to get across a median to the other side.  Traffic had come to crawl and we were three cars back before we saw the reason why.  Good citizens were stopping to let the dog get out of their way, but, unfortunately some not so patient (or good natured) were going around the slowed cars honking their horns and the poor dog didn't know which way to turn without seeing metal and rubber.  I had my daughter pull over to the side of the road, jumped out and yelled a hopeful "Come on, Come get a treat!"  in the hopes this pup knew the sound and spelling of the word  T R E A T S   Whether it was the word TREATS or the hopeful inflection of my voice, the pup turned, stopped and stared.  I squatted down and began to clap my hands and to my joy he came to me.  Now, how was I going to keep this HUGE, heavy pit bull mix with me and out of the road.  I had my daughter get out and open the door and immediately the big fella jumped in the front seat.  He was so big and my car was so small that I had to literally push on his butt to get the door closed.  I squeezed into the back seat to observe my daughter hanging half out of her driver window to avoid the slurps of thankfulness and drool from the thought of  T R E A T S.   It was a happy ending for this pup as we were able to get him to his owner almost within the hour. 

So....what to do if your pet is a runner or you run across another loose dog that needs your help?  The following article offers some good tips.

3 Strategies For Safely Catching A Loose Dog

by Amber Kingon May 02, 2018

Whether it’s your dog that slipped their leash or a stray running through traffic, catching a loose dog is never as easy as it sounds. Your first instinct is to give chase, but that rush of energy is rarely the right move. Dogs that are afraid, skittish, or simply overly excited will do everything they can to elude your grasp—even when that means putting themselves in danger. If you want to bring your flighty pup back home safely, you’ll have to resist the urge to run after them and try these safer strategies.

#1 – Stop, Drop, and Freeze

One of the best strategies for catching a loose dog is doing the exact opposite of what they think you’ll do. If your dog thinks they’re playing a fun game of “catch me if you can,” they’re expecting you to chase them down. It’s your job to remember the game is rigged, and their superior speed and agility means you’ll most likely lose. Take control of the game by throwing a curve ball. You’ll feel silly, but stop where you are and sit or lay down on the ground. Don’t call the dog’s name or pat your leg to get them to come over. They’ll either be intrigued by your strange behavior or worried there’s something wrong with you, and they’ll quit the game to investigate.

#2 – Use Calming Signals

If the dog you’re trying to catch is especially skittish—like a stray with few experiences with humans—your go-to moves will look like a threat. Walking directly toward the dog, holding out your hand, patting your leg, and making eye contact will only make them feel more afraid. Instead of overwhelming them with your eagerness, speak their language and use canine calming signals. Only look at them with peripheral vision and make all your movements lateral instead of direct. Yawning and licking your lips are translated to calming signals in doggy language, and kneeling to make your body look less imposing will also encourage them to come to you.

#3 – Appeal to Their Appetite

Few dogs can resist the temptation of a good treat. If it’s your pet you’re trying to catch, simply holding a treat in your hand could get their attention. But if the pup doesn’t trust you, start by tossing treats a few feet away. Let them approach the food on their own terms. Once they eat the first one, you can start tossing the good stuff a little closer to you. When they’re eating treats in your general vicinity without hesitation, sit on the ground and extend an especially high-value food item in your hand. Be patient and don’t make sudden movements or noises.

Doing the wrong thing when trying to catch a loose dog could send them running into traffic or threaten them enough that they lash out with fearful aggression. Panic is contagious, and if you yell, run, or act overly stressed, you’ll pass those feelings on to the dog. If you can stay calm and encourage the dog to do the same, you’ll have a better shot at a happy ending.

Written by Amber King

When my Zoe Girl's mom and sister's family moved away and she no longer saw them, she became very depressed.  They lived next door for the first two years of her life, visiting each other daily,  playing together and barking at the same squirrels and animals that might run across their yards.  Her grief was such that she had no appetite, laid around all day and showed little joy at walk opportunities or even treats.  She was hurting for the loss of her fur family and  could  not understand what could have happened to them.  After a couple weeks I got the idea that if she was able to visit them and see they were ok, it might help lift that depression.  So, I made the arrangements and was so glad I did!  Their reunion was so heartwarming to watch, it brought tears to my eyes.  They smelled each other from head to tail, ran, played until they were all exhausted and when they parted ways  Zoe had a skip in her step and a nonstop wagging tail.    Just knowing her mom and sis were ok lifted her out of the depressive state and got her back into life routines again.  She enjoyed walking, playing and cuddling on the couch. This type of turn around doesn't always happen so quickly or with such a happy ending when the depression is due to loss of a loved one.  So what can you do to help your pet deal with their grief when they lose a companion pet that meant so much to them?  This article below may give some insight.

https://iheartdogs.com/8-ways-to-help-your-dog-deal-with-the-grief-of-losing-a-family-pet-2/?utm_source=IHD-Email-Newsletter-022318&utm_medium=0000&utm_campaign=IHD-Email-Newsletter-022318&goal=0_02022df5fc-7d0562424d-186180702&mc_cid=7d0562424d&mc_eid=14cba0ac2e

https://iheartdogs.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-hip-dysplasia/

http://pets.webmd.com/ss/slideshow-flea-and-tick-overview?ecd=wnl_cat_020415&ctr=wnl-cat-020415_nsl-ld-stry&mb=E3QsmCoUTHn23fjrwETqVyhonS%2fH3cwyMhTxwfMzA5k%3d

https://www.facebook.com/IOWAnimalShelter?hc_location=stream

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10200387320826253&set=vb.1252454892&type=2&theater