Archive for the ‘News & Tips’ Category
According to Reuters, leading a dog’s life could be a good thing in the United States this year with spending on pets forecast to hit a new high despite fears of a recession and a crimp on consumer spending.
The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association released figures on Tuesday showing pet owners spent an estimated $41 billion on their animal friends last year which was almost double the $21 billion spent in 1996. But the non-profit industry group projected this would rise by nearly six percent to $43.4 billion in 2008 as pet owners treated their animals to spas, designer clothing, and other high-end goods as well as gourmet foods. APPMA President Bob Vetere said an increase in pampering and gift giving has fueled the industry as more pet parents continued to treat their pets like members of the family.
“We’re noticing more baby boomers are pet owners and they are treating their pets like members of the family,” said Vetere in a statement.
“For empty-nesters, pets are filling a void in their lives and they’re showing their appreciation to their pets.”
About 71 million homes in the United States — or about 63 percent of households — are estimated to have pets, with dogs, cats, and fish the most popular pets. This has led to a vibrant market in pet products, services and health insurance. Vetere said spending on pet health insurance was a growth area and there was also a marked increase in spending on grooming services such as pet hotels, pet spas and doggie day cares.
“High end products in general are on the rise, as is gift giving and new product introductions and innovation,” said Vetere who estimated six percent of dog owners bought their four-legged friend a Valentine’s Day gift. “The pet industry continues to grow at a record pace and the future is no exception. Pet owners and the companies providing pet products and services show no sign of letting up.”
PS: If you’re looking for a way to pamper the pet lover in your life, why not a custom Comic Style, Lichtenstein-like portrait of their dog or cat??
It is the middle of February already, which means its also the middle of “National Pet Dental Health Care Month.”
The California Veterinary Medical Association says all pets are at risk for developing dental problems, so it is important for owners to have their pets examined by a veterinarian annually to detect problems early. It also is important for owners to check their pets often between visits for these warning signs:
— Bad breath
— Tartar buildup on the teeth
— Swollen, receding or bleeding gums
— Fractured or abscessed teeth
— Change in eating habits
A pet should be taken to a veterinarian immediately if it shows any of the above symptoms.
The CVMA further recommends these simple steps to ensure proper pet dental health care:
Step 1. Visit a veterinarian at least once a year. – The veterinarian will examine a pet’s teeth and gums. Recommendations may be made for cleaning, polishing and other dental care in the hospital and a program of home dental care.
Step 2. Professional dental care. – If a pet already shows evidence of periodontal disease, a professional cleaning is in order. Depending on the pet’s age and physical condition, the doctor may recommend blood analyses, radiography or other diagnostic tests to evaluate the heart, liver and kidneys for coexisting disease before proceeding with general anesthesia.
Once a pet is anesthetized, accumulated tartar and calculus are removed by ultrasonic and hand scaling. Radiographs are taken to identify teeth needing fillings or root canals that can be repaired, and teeth that are beyond repair can be extracted. Finally, the teeth are polished to slow down formation of new plaque, tartar and calculus.
Step 3. Dental care at home. – Regular brushing is critical to any preventive dental program. A special toothbrush and toothpaste for pets are recommended.
Feeding pets a dental diet with the VOHC seal may help prevent accumulation of plaque, tartar and calculus. Consult a veterinarian regarding the best diet for your pet.
Step 4. Return to a veterinarian for regular dental checkups every six to 18 months or as recommended by your veterinarian.
The CVMA urges all pet owners during “National Pet Dental Health Care Month” to review their pet’s dental care and take the necessary steps to ensure their pet has healthy teeth and gums.
And we encourage you to protect your pet’s smile.
A great smile is makes for a great custom portrait!
Authorities say a Labrador retriever named Jet really can fly. The 65-pound dog survived a six story leap from a Tampa airport parking garage and lived.
Police and Jet’s owners and vet say the 2-year old dog accidentally leaped over a parking garage railing on New Year’s Eve and walked away from the landing — 60 to 80 feet below.
Jet spent the night at a vet’s office with a collapsed lung and some cuts and bruises. But by the next day, the dog was getting antsy again.
His owners are Clayton and Jessica Tieman of Largo. They named Jet for the sheen of his black fur, not for any flying abilities. They say their next dog will get a more earthly name, perhaps Scooter.
Source: Yahoo! News
At Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah they are called the Vicktory Dogs – 22 pit bulls seized from ex-NFL star Michael Vick and placed in special care at the sanctuary. They’re there because they had nowhere else to go.
Many of them are suffering from serious psychological and emotional trauma, similar to what you see in children from situations of abuse and neglect. Many of them had been forced to fight to the death – like gladiators in some primitive arena.
Other national organizations had simply called for the dogs to be killed. But what kind of message does that send about how our society treats the victims of such horrible abuse? There are real options, and with your support these dogs can have good lives that make up for everything that went before.
Already they’re making progress: learning how to play, how to relax, how to love. Many of them will be adopted to experienced homes. Others will live out their lives in the beautiful environment of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
On www.bestfriends.org you can read the whole story, learn more about many of the individual dogs and what you can do to help them.
It’s 4:00 in the morning and you’re suddenly awakened by incessant meowing. Your cat is sitting on your chest, letting you know it’s time to get up and feed her. She’s determined to make sure you pay attention to that feline alarm clock, so you get up and put food in her bowl. What’s wrong with this picture?
What’s wrong is that kitty has trained you. She’s very smart and learned that her behavior got her exactly what she wanted. When you respond to her meows for food in the wee hours of the morning, you reinforce the very behavior you don’t want.
According to Yahoo Pets, there are three steps to correcting this.
1. Don’t respond. This sounds simple but is actually difficult when your persistent kitty wakes you early. It may take a few days before she gets the message, but you must stop reinforcing negative behavior.
2. Use well-timed play. Cats are crepuscular, which means they are most active at dusk and dawn. In the wild, that’s when prey is readily available. It’s understandable that in the early morning hours, your kitty is gearing up for anticipated prey/food. To reset her internal clock, do an interactive play session right before you go to bed. Make it a great one where kitty really gets to show off her hunting skills. Then, wind the action down toward the end of the game so your cat is left satisfied and relaxed. Additionally, leave out activity toys during the night — ones that are not available to kitty during the day.
3. Use food for training. After your pre-bedtime play session, offer kitty a portion of her meal or a yummy treat. If you schedule-feed, divide the daily portion in order to save one for after the play session. If you free-feed, take up food early in the evening and replace it after the play session.
If all else fails, consider using one of the timed feeder bowls so you can get some sleep!
Our pets need to keep their weight in line and stay in shape just like we do, and a great way to help them do it is to have them exercise.
Walking or jogging with them, playing fetch, having them play with toys, swimming with them, and agility classes are some of the fun pet exercise options suggested by The Early Show’s veterinarian correspondent, Dr. Debbye Turner.
She points out that obesity isn’t only a serious problem among humans — it’s a big one in the pet population, as well, and can shorten their lives by causing or worsening joint disease, liver disease, and diabetes.
Always consult with your veterinarian before starting your pet on any exercise program, Turner stressed.
Start slowly, also as people should; your pet should ease into exercise. Humans can’t run a marathon the first time we go for a jog; nor can pets. Start with just 10-15 minutes of light activity, such as moderately-paced walking. Take cues from your dog. If he starts excessively panting, lying down, etc., then give her some rest. Slowly build up to 30 minutes, 3 times a week. For very athletic breeds, you can increase that to an hour a session.
An alternative to walking or running is vigorous play with your pet. For dogs, a good game of fetch will provide plenty of exercise. Cats have a natural prey instinct, so they love chasing and hunting. Using a feather on a string or a laser pointer will keep your kitty batting, swatting, and getting a good workout.
Swimming is an excellent form of exercise for medium-size and big dogs. It’s no-impact, so isn’t
harmful to their joints. This is particularly good for older dogs, and dogs suffering from arthritis or other joint diseases.
Enrolling pets in an obedience or agility class can provide great exercise for both your pet — and you! And, if you have the time and space in a fenced-in yard, you can teach your dog some agility moves yourself with the right equipment.
You can even put a pet on a treadmill!
Turner notes that you should provide plenty of fresh water before, during, and after the workout.
Be especially careful when exercising pets with “flat faces,” such as pugs, bulldogs, Boston terriers, and Persian cats. They’re particularly susceptible to respiratory distress. Also, be careful with dogs that have long bodies and short legs, like dachshunds. Some toy breeds aren’t suitable for strenuous exercise. And don’t over-do it with young puppies.
Conversely, be very careful when exercising an old pet. They just can’t take the physical demand like a young one can.
Turner also raised a caution flag about exercising your pet outside during extreme weather conditions, and also to avoid going outside when the humidity is high. Dogs don’t sweat like humans, so they aren’t efficient at eliminating excess heat. Plus, gravel surfaces can be uncomfortable for your dog.
Source: CBS News
Obviously you should try to keep dogs and cats indoors most all the time during the winter, especially when it’s especially cold. But here are some other common sense tips to get them though the winter months:
- When walking your dog, check the paws to make sure that ice is not building up between the toes and that salt from the roads is not irritating the skin. If you walk your dog on sidewalks that have been treated with de-icer, make sure to wash the dog’s paws when you get home; these chemicals can irritate the skin.
- Most outdoor pets need to be brought inside when the weather turns really cold. The ones that can stay outdoors should be given shelter that’s warm and dry, plus additional food for extra energy.
- They also should have fresh water put out a couple of times a day, or consider a special bowl that prevents the water from freezing.
- Brush their coats frequently to prevent moisture from collecting.
- Ingesting anti-freeze can be fatal for your dog or cat. It has a sweet taste and even a tiny amount can cause severe kidney damage and even death. If you spill some, soak it up immediately. (Clay kitty litter works well. Discard the litter once the anti-freeze has been absorbed.)
- When you take your pet outdoors for exercise and play, be aware of the temperature. Pets can get frostbite very easily on the ears, tail and paws.
- If your dog is a swimmer, keep it on a leash around open water or unstable ice. Hypothermia can set in quickly and the dog may be unable to get out of the water.
- To protect other animals too, before you start your car, you should honk the horn to make sure that a cat has not decided to nap in a warm spot under the hood of the vehicle.
Finally be sure and enjoy the season, play in the snow with your dog, then curl up with him by a warm fire – Spring will be here before you know it!
It’s just days before Christmas, and you’re so busy with last-minute shopping, visiting friends and attending parties that you’re hardly at home. To ease guilt about not spending more time with your dog, stuff low-fat peanut butter or other treats inside toys such as a Kong, Orbee-Tuff Ball or Busy Buddy to keep her occupied.
Other tips:
- Some pets thrive on extra attention from holidayvisitors, but not all pets are social butterflies. Respect their right to be bashful.
- When you receive gifts, remove any ribbon and tinsel before displaying them. They’re enticing to your cat, in particular, and you don’t want him in surgery on Christmas Day.
- Many people add substances such as sugar, fertilizers or commercial preservatives to the water at the base of a Christmas tree that can harm pets if they lap it up. Arrange a skirt around the tree stand to prevent drinking.
- Don’t leave chocolate out for Santa. It’s dangerous for your pets (and Santa doesn’t need the extra calories).
- Include all family members in the big day. Pets, too, appreciate gifts!
Source: USA Weekend
Earlier this week on NBC’s “Today” show, the ASPCA unveiled the nation’s first-ever “Mobile Animal Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Unit.”
What it is
– Ford E-450 (full-size van) customized by La Boit Inc.
– 26 feet in length, climate-controlled, full electronics suite with generator
What it can do
The Mobile Animal CSI Unit will allow Dr. Merck to process any suspected crime scene more quickly and more efficiently. Because she’ll be working on-site, rather than transporting animals and other evidence, this will reduce the stress placed on the animals. It will also provide for a proven chain of custody, ensuring the integrity of evidence.
Special features
The vehicle is fully outfitted to allow Dr. Merck to examine and care for animals found at suspected crime scenes, and includes a surgical suite. The on-board equipment includes:
* General supplies such as a Digital SLR camera, crime scene tape, a stretcher for animal transport, and face masks;
* Medical examination and surgical equipment to evaluate and treat animals for emergency life-threatening conditions, as well as necropsy equipment, including digital microscope, digital x-ray machine, sexual assault kit and anesthesia/oxygen machine;
* Blood evidence supplies such as Phenolphthalein, Blue Star imaging equipment and blood spatter photo scales;
* Evidence collection supplies such as packaging and identification kits, entomology collection supplies and a Tiger UV light source to detect trace evidence; and
* Grave detection and exhumation equipment including soil sampler, sifter, GPS unit, compass and digital distance measuring devices.
Also, the ASPCA will break ground on the nation’s first Anti-Cruelty Institute in New York in 2008. This institute will be dedicated to educating veterinarians and law enforcement officials about how to recognize and respond to animal cruelty. Scheduled to open in 2010, the facility will include a forensic laboratory, veterinary hospital and treatment center for animals who are victims of cruelty.
It’s great to see this kind of progress – Better life, and justice, through science for animals!
Source: ASPCA
Trying to shop with a conscious this Christmas? The ASPCA can help.. in their online store they offer some great gifts for pet lovers, like a Dog Treat Making Kit. The kit created especially for kids, includes everything they need to bake their own all-natural dog treats at home. This is a fun activity for the whole family—and your dog will give you licks of gratitude when he samples the results!
And we love this “Paint the Wild Puppies” kit! Three, hand-carved, solid wood, sculptures can be made into play figures, 
magnets or hanging ornaments that will provide hours of fun. Best of all you paint them yourself! The high-quality acrylic paints dry quickly, making it easy to paint over mistakes. Blank gift cards are also included which the recipient artist can personalize for a loved one or friend.
Of course a portion of all their online sales goes to help support the programs and rescued animals of the ASPCA.
For the animal lover who already has everything they could possibly need, Pasado’s Safe Haven, an amazing animal rescue group in Washington state is offering Gift Adoptions on their website. And is there a better holiday gift than one that means a second chance for animals who have suffered abuse and neglect?
You could choose from a senior dog, like Tulip, who weighed only 28 pounds when rescued (her ideal weight is 5olbs), a cat or kitten, or even a farm animal like Barack O’Lama.
Your gift recipient receives:
–A beautiful Full-Color photograph of their
“adopted” animal printed on glossy card stock
–Your personalized message!
–Biography of their rescue
–Certificate of Adoption
–Invitation to visit Pasado’s Safe Haven
If the person you’re shopping for is truly an animal lover they will truly appreciate that the money you spent went to help support pets in need, and isn’t that what the holidays are about?
