Weathering the Cold

It's been bitterly cold outside the last couple of days - highs in the 20s, lows in the 10s - and that's not counting windchill. We've been spending most of our times indoors as a result and this has led to Andy having a touch of cabin fever. He's ratcheted up his harassment of his brothers a couple of notches and he's been extra needy. When we do go outside he usually wants to linger in the cold, mostly just to chomp on sticks.

I wore double layers every time I took Andy outside today, a sweatshirt topped with a jacket, and I was still cold. Makes me wonder what the cold feels like for the pup. I know he has a built in fur coat and a slightly higher body temperature than a human, but he also has a very fleshy, nearly fur-less tummy. Should I get him some sort of a full-body onesy to wear outside? Haha! Seriously though, as long as the temps stay as low as they have, we'll be staying indoors for the most part. 

Here are some cold weather tips for cats and dogs from the ASPCA you may find useful. Most of the tips are common sense, like keeping your cat indoors when it gets too cold, never letting your dog off leash in the snow or on ice, and avoiding anti-freeze. Other tips folks may not think about, including making sure your dog is completely dry after a bath before heading outside. Let's all do what we can to keep our furry friends safe and warm this winter!  

PSA: Dog Jerky Recall

I normally reserve Fridays for more lighthearted fare but think this is important enough to post about today. In the continuing saga of chicken jerky treats for dogs manufactured in China, several companies (Nestle, makers of Waggin' Train and Canyon Creek Ranch brand dog treats, and Milo's Kitchen) are voluntarily recalling select products sold in the U.S. market because they may contain trace amounts of antibiotics that are not approved in the U.S. While these antibiotics have been approved in China and Europe, and according to these companies, pose no health risks to pets, the fact that these products made it on to U.S. shelves where the antibiotics are not approved is worrisome...I can't help but wonder what else is slipping in under the radar.

For years now, as a rule of thumb, I've only purchased dog/cat food and treats that are manufactured in the U.S., with domestically sourced ingredients. Of course edible pet products made state side are also regularly recalled but I personally feel better about feeding my boys treats and food items that have been manufactured closer to home, and one would hope, products that have been subject to closer inspection and oversight by the FDA. That being said, it's also important to keep in mind that not all pet products manufactured in the U.S. are created equal. I only purchase brands that use high quality protein, no animal byproducts, and no fillers or artificial ingredients or preservatives. A few excellent brands I trust include: Merrick, Wellness, Blue Buffalo, and Get Naked. 

Check out this Washington Post article for more information on the recall.

The Ups and Downs of Raising a Shelter Pup

The annual holiday party at my work happened last night. This is the first year I actually RSVPd and made plans to attend. In fact, my husband and I planned on doing some serious gorging. To heck with hobnobbing and rubbing elbows...we were planning on putting away at least, at least, 3 lbs of peel and eat shrimp each. 

The day started off fine. We dropped Andy off at Camp Bow Wow, because we needed to be out of the house for the better part of the day, and we planned on picking him up after the party. Things didn't go according to plan. I got a call from camp around 12:30. At first I thought Andy might of done something naughty and they were telling us to pick him up and never bring him back again, but no, it was actually the owner letting us know Andy got injured during some rough play. At the time he told us he had cleaned the wound and that it didn't look too bad - he just wanted to let us know so we wouldn't be surprised when we picked Andy up that evening. Well, around 2:30 I got a second call. This time the owner said Andy's "puncture wound" was still bleeding. He urged us to pick the pup up and take him to the vet asap. What the what!?!  

Winterize Your Pup

This is going to be Andy's first full winter. Here are some practical measures we'll be taking in order to keep him warm and safe this season:

• As the temperature drops and we get more snow on the ground we'll start to limit how much time we spend outdoors.
• When it's actively raining or snowing we'll try to put a coat on Andy to keep him as dry as possible. We'll also have a towel available by the door to dry him off as soon as we get back inside.
• We'll try to avoid salt, chemical ice melters, and anti-freeze when we're outdoors and make sure his paws are deiced and clean when we get back inside.
• We'll make sure Andy has lots of dry, warm, and comfortable spots to pass the time.
• We'll also do more to keep his mind and body stimulated since he'll be spending so much more time indoors. We have plenty of toys ready to go and I plan on doing more obedience training with him once the semester ends and I have more time.

For information on how to keep your pets safe this winter check out the ASPCA's Cold Weather Tips.

Thanksgiving Safety Tips for Dog Owners

Check out some valuable Thanksgiving Safety Tips for Dog Owners over at dogster.com. Learn how to keep your pup safe and happy during the holiday season.

Some Thoughts on Doggy Day Care

Andy came home from day care last week with a gash under his right eye (you can kind of see the scab in the photo). A staff member pointed it out to us and told us they had put some Neosporin on it.  At the time, she referred to it as a "nick" - but once I got home and took a closer look at the injury I was surprised at how much worse than a "nick" it actually was - it was more like a small gash. It wasn't bad enough to take him to the vet but I definitely kept on eye on it all week and diligently applied Neosporin to it twice a day. My guess is that another dog's canine caught Andy's face while they were wrestling. It's more or less healed at this point. 

I wasn't actually upset by the incident. I wish it hadn't happened, but really, the occasional scratch or bruise is inevitable when you have a group environment with a bunch of dogs running around playing with one another all day. The dogs at Camp Bow Wow are supervised at all times so I trust this didn't happen due to their neglect. The environment is as controlled as it can be considering there are typically 10 or more dogs in a play area at any one given time. One of my neighbors stopped taking her dog to day care because she didn't like her pup coming home with scratches. The way I see it, the benefits of day care outwiegh the occasional scratch or minor injury. If you're considering taking your pup to day care you should expect that these things will happen and decide for yourself how much you're willing to tolerate.   

Review | Long Lasting Durable 5 Senses Chew

The "Long Lasting Durable 5 Senses Chew" was one of the first Nylabone products I purchased for Andy. I picked it up at a T.J. Maxx back in July for around $4.00 but haven't seen one there, or anywhere else for that matter, since. It still shows up on the Nylabone website so I don't think it's been phased out completely. I want to write a quick review, well mainly a caveat, in case there are folks out there that still have access to this particular product. 

The packaging for the 5 Senses Chew touts the following: See it! Interactive Shapes, Smell it! Irresistible, Taste it! Bacon Infused, Touch it! Bumps and Ridges, Hear it! Clickety Clack. I wasn't really taken in by all the claims when I picked this chew up. I decided to buy it primarily because it was a Nylabone product (which I generally trust), it felt sturdy, and it looked interesting. I think Andy might have been at the tail end of teething when I picked it up in July, so I know I was also on the lookout for durable chew toys. 

Give a Dog a Bone?

So I mentioned in this morning's Farmers Market post that we picked up a smoked beef bone for Andy yesterday. Some folks we know that sell at the market recommended them as did other vendors and dog owners. The bones looked and felt sturdy and smelled delicious, so it was no surprise then that Andy was all over it. It got me to wondering though how safe is it to give a dog a real bone? I was a little creeped out by the fact the bone had soft marrow in the center - uh, salmonella anyone?

Growing up we always gave our dogs bones from the table. The bones were never from chicken but from beef and the occasional ox tail. They loved it and we never had any problems. Digging around on the internet however yielded the fact that the FDA made a recommendation back in 2010 that dog owners not feed real bones of any kind to their pups. According to their consumer update the potential risks involved are many, including: broken teeth, bone fragments getting stuck in the intestines, constipation due to bone fragments, and severe bleeding from the rectum (ouch!).

The debate appears to be raging on. While many vets recommend avoiding bones altogether others say it's ok to feed your dog raw bones (they're less likely to splinter). I guess as dog owners we each have to decide how much risk we're willing to take when it comes to the health of our pups. From past experience I can say with confidence that giving my dogs bones never caused any issues but reading this FDA report has me feeling less confident about how safe they are. I hate to be overly protective of my pets, but then again, I think why take the risk? Yesterday Andy was focusing on nibbling off the meaty bits on the outside of the bone and the marrow that he could reach on the inside. Today he started really focusing on the bone itself and was managing to break off little pieces. I took it away at this point to be on the safe side. I'm on the fence about this and would love to hear what you think.

Pet Jerkey | FDA Summary Report

The FDA is continuing to investigate reports of pet illness and death related to jerky treats manufactured in China. They released their first summary report of their investigation last Thursday. According to the report the FDA has received approximately 2,200 reports of illnesses related to the treats, including the report of 360 canine deaths and one feline death. The FDA states that these illnesses/deaths "may be related to consumption of the jerky treats" but that  "no definitive cause has been determined." 

Despite the fact the FDA is not explicitly linking these illnesses/deaths to jerky treats manufactured in China at this point they seem to be implicitly implying that consumers should avoid them. The reports states that "the FDA is reminding pet owners that jerky pet treats are not necessary for pets to have a fully balanced diet, so eliminating them will not harm pets. Commercially produced pet food, which is very safe, contains all of the nutrients that pets need."

Personally I'm erring on the side of caution and avoiding any edible pet product  manufactured in China. This is actually quite easy given the number of companies nowadays that manufacture their products in the United States. Of course even this isn't a guarantee as U.S. manufactured dog foods are regularly subject to recall. There are however less risks involved with products manufactured stateside as plants in the U.S. are subject to closer inspection and more stringent oversight. 

Pablo Knows Best

My husband once gave me a beautiful bouquet of irises. They sat on my desk at work for a day before I brought them home for the weekend. Pablo is immediately drawn to any plants or flowers I bring into the house and the irises were no exception. He was kind enough to pose with them before knocking them down a couple of hours later. The flowers were completely mangled and ended up in the trash. I was upset at first but as it turns out irises are actually toxic to cats and dogs. The bulbs are the most potent but the flowers and leaves can also cause salivation, vomiting, drooling,lethargy, and diarrhea. Turns out Pablo knows best.

Peace of Mind | Consider Microchipping Your Pup

Our local humane society microchips all animals prior to adoption. The cost is built into the adoption fee. Microchipping is fast and painless and can be done through your vet for about $40. The microchip is injected under the loose skin between the shoulder blades. Once microchipped it’s up to the owner to register the microchip in a national pet recovery database. Should your pet ever go astray a microchip may play a part in its safe return. I.D. tags can be lost but microchips are relatively permanent.

For more information click this link for the American Veterinary Medical Association’s FAQ page on microchipping of animals.