Peaches and Mio our very first cat and dog!
Monday, September 20, 2010
2010 Mutt Mosey
Despite the rain, we had a pretty good turnout on Saturday for our annual Mutt Mosey. Thank you to everyone who showed their support and came out in their rainy day best to support us! Check back soon for some photos of our event, along with the money you all helped to raise! Thank You again for everyone's support. With out you all we would not be here!
Friday, September 17, 2010
To Insure, Or Not To Insure....
Almost every domestic cat or dog will become sick or injured at some point during their lives. Thankfully, veterinary medicine now provides services once thought impossible -- using surgery, chemotherapy and radiation to treat many pet health problems. The downside of this new technology, however, is the high cost of these procedures. Too often, pet owners must choose between their pet's health and the size of their wallet. That's where pet insurance comes in. Pet insurance can help cover the costs of everything from routine care to major surgeries and procedures. Similar to car or homeowners insurance, pet insurance reimburses the policyholder. Almost all insurance policies allow the pet owner to choose his own vet, since medical providers are not paid directly by the insurance company.
The costs can be high Pet insurance can be a large expense in itself, ranging from $10-$50 per month. Understanding each plan's options and limitations is important. Routine care such as the annual physical exam, vaccinations, testing and prescription flea and tick control are not covered under the major medical plans, but coverage is available under a separate plan. Generally, insurance plans do not cover elective procedures, behavioral problems, pre-existing conditions or pet foods. Nor do they cover specific hereditary problems - such as hip dysplasia or eye problems that certain purebreds are prone to develop. Be sure to read the "fine print" in the insurance policy. There are deductibles, co-pays, unreimbursed costs and medical exclusions, which will all be paid out of your own pocket. Adding those costs to the premiums can be quite considerable.
… so can the advantages
Medical expenses only add unneeded stress to an already painful situation. People who have purchased pet insurance cite the emotional and financial benefits of not having to think twice about costly tests or procedures when their pets became ill. There is no age limit on insurance policies, and claims are generally processed very quickly. Over one million policies have been sold by Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the nation's largest licensed pet medical insurance provider. VPI covers over 6400 medical conditions, and offers discounts for multiple pet enrollments.
Is it right for you?
When determining whether or not to purchase pet insurance, experts recommend assessing your pet's risks, based on medical and genetic history, as well as behavior. One of the more common reasons for emergency vet visits is the ingestion of foreign substances. VPI reports that pets have been treated for eating tinsel, prom dresses, golf balls, electronic pagers, needles and thread, hearing aids, human medications, drywall, snail bait, anti-freeze and batteries and even pantyhose. If your pet likes to nibble on more than just dog chews, you might want to consider insurance! Behavior should also be considered. Cora, an Alaskan malamute, was out for a walk when she spotted a cat sunning itself in a window. Following her instincts, Cora decided to crash through the window, and was rushed to the vet with severe lacerations. Cora is thankfully fine, after careful - and costly - treatment. Always be sure to get your dog's medical history from his breeder or shelter representative, and speak candidly to your veterinarian.
For more information, visit http://www.petinsurance.com/, http://www.apswann.com/or http://www.healthypet.com/.
Article from Best Friends Pet Care
Monday, September 13, 2010
Senior Pet Photo Contest
'My Special Senior Dog' Photo Gallery
Upload a photo of your golden oldie and share a few words with other dog lovers about what makes her so special.
Like a fine wine, dogs just get better with age. As a tribute to our beloved senior pets everywhere, we’d like to know what makes your dog’s golden years so special.
Is she a young-at-heart senior? Or a true-blue friend to the end? Share your story with other dog lovers by uploading a photo and a few words.
Monday, August 9, 2010
And Man Created Dog
If humans were as varied as dogs we would range in height up to 22 feet tall and in weight more than 1,000 pounds. In the ultimate canine ancestral story, National Geographic Channel traces the genetic journey from wolf to dog, taking viewers back 100,000 years to meet the "mother of all dogs." It's no accident that dogs evolved this way, as humans have been selectively breeding them for around 14,000 years to serve our needs as laborer, companion, hunter, herder and warrior, as well as to suit our aesthetic fancy.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Mutts Mingling With Pure Breeds at AKC Competitions
by Kristen Seymour (Subscribe to Kristen Seymour's posts)
May 24th 2010 @ 12:15PM Filed Under: Pets News
Pam Vojtas
"After 125 years, American Kennel Club opens competitions to mutts," reports the Washington Post. Not all events of course -- your mixed-breed pooch won't be sharing the show ring during the beauty competitions, but your mutt can prove what he's made of in the skill contests.
The American Kennel Club, the venerable organization which has been celebrating the best of purebred canines since 1884, has relaxed its standards a bit, creating a new option for owners of mixed breed dogs called AKC Canine Partners. The program allows dogs, regardless of fancy pedigree (or lack thereof), to participate in AKC Rally, Agility and Obedience competitions. Paw Nation talks with Pam Vojtas, the owner of a 4-year-old terrier mix named Charlie, who is a big reason why AKC Canine Partners exists.
Vojtas adopted Charlie from a local rescue group. He proved to be a handful, eating cell phones, a couch and more. Vojtas enrolled him in obedience classes. "He was a 'C' student," she tells Paw Nation, "but one night after class, there was an agility practice going on in the arena, and we were both mesmerized. I signed up the next day for an intro agility class, and the rest, as they say, is history."
Ashley Lambert
Unfortunately, as quickly as Vojtas and Charlie became "addicted" to agility, they learned that nearly all of the agility trials near their South Florida home were held by the AKC, and mixed breeds were not allowed. Other venues have always allowed mixed breeds to participate, but these were much fewer and farther between in her local area. Vojtas, who by then had adopted another mixed breed, a shy "who knows what" mix named Quincy, was undaunted.
"I started writing letters to the AKC and filling out surveys, and encouraging my friends, both local and on the internet, to do the same. Since I volunteered at the AKC trials, I put up a poster with Charlie's picture that said 'Hey, AKC, I want to play, too!" along with a petition. At each trial, I'd collect names and send off sheets to the AKC," she recalls.
And the hard work paid off. "My club, the Dog Obedience Club of Hollywood, is proud to be one of the first in the nation to host an 'all-dogs' agility trials!" Vojtas says.
Charlie and Quincy both competed at the Palm Bay Agility club's AKC trial earlier this month, and the pair earned seven qualifying runs and seven first places. Not too shabby for a former "C" student and shy pup!
Want to get your pooch started in these competitions? Find events near you on the Canine Partners Web site.
May 24th 2010 @ 12:15PM Filed Under: Pets News
Pam Vojtas
"After 125 years, American Kennel Club opens competitions to mutts," reports the Washington Post. Not all events of course -- your mixed-breed pooch won't be sharing the show ring during the beauty competitions, but your mutt can prove what he's made of in the skill contests.
The American Kennel Club, the venerable organization which has been celebrating the best of purebred canines since 1884, has relaxed its standards a bit, creating a new option for owners of mixed breed dogs called AKC Canine Partners. The program allows dogs, regardless of fancy pedigree (or lack thereof), to participate in AKC Rally, Agility and Obedience competitions. Paw Nation talks with Pam Vojtas, the owner of a 4-year-old terrier mix named Charlie, who is a big reason why AKC Canine Partners exists.
Vojtas adopted Charlie from a local rescue group. He proved to be a handful, eating cell phones, a couch and more. Vojtas enrolled him in obedience classes. "He was a 'C' student," she tells Paw Nation, "but one night after class, there was an agility practice going on in the arena, and we were both mesmerized. I signed up the next day for an intro agility class, and the rest, as they say, is history."
Ashley Lambert
Unfortunately, as quickly as Vojtas and Charlie became "addicted" to agility, they learned that nearly all of the agility trials near their South Florida home were held by the AKC, and mixed breeds were not allowed. Other venues have always allowed mixed breeds to participate, but these were much fewer and farther between in her local area. Vojtas, who by then had adopted another mixed breed, a shy "who knows what" mix named Quincy, was undaunted.
"I started writing letters to the AKC and filling out surveys, and encouraging my friends, both local and on the internet, to do the same. Since I volunteered at the AKC trials, I put up a poster with Charlie's picture that said 'Hey, AKC, I want to play, too!" along with a petition. At each trial, I'd collect names and send off sheets to the AKC," she recalls.
And the hard work paid off. "My club, the Dog Obedience Club of Hollywood, is proud to be one of the first in the nation to host an 'all-dogs' agility trials!" Vojtas says.
Charlie and Quincy both competed at the Palm Bay Agility club's AKC trial earlier this month, and the pair earned seven qualifying runs and seven first places. Not too shabby for a former "C" student and shy pup!
Want to get your pooch started in these competitions? Find events near you on the Canine Partners Web site.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Springtime Dangers for Pets - What Cat and Dog Owners Should Know
Springtime Dangers for Pets - What Cat and Dog Owners Should Know
by Daphne Sashin (Subscribe to Daphne Sashin's posts)
Apr 27th 2010 @ 1:00PM Filed Under: Pet Health
April showers bring flowers for sniffing, long walks in the neighborhood and afternoon naps on the lawns. But before you let your pet leap into spring, make sure you're keeping your dogs and cats safe from these seasonal health hazards:
1. Watch Out for Poisonous Flowers
Tulip, hyacinth and daffodil bulbs can damage a dog's mouth and esophagus, causing drooling, vomiting, severe diarrhea or even abnormal heart rhythms, depending on the amount consumed. So be sure to keep bulbs out of reach before planting says Justine Lee, an emergency critical care veterinary specialist and Associate Director of Veterinary Services at the Minneapolis-based Pet Poison Helpline.
When planting, place the bulbs in deeply, surround them with plenty of mulch and then supervise your dog when it's outside to make sure it's not digging them up, Lee advises. Once the flowers are out and have bloomed, they generally don't pose a threat, as it's the bulb that's the most poisonous.
Also be very careful with lilies. Just a couple of leaves from certain lilies, like the day, Asiatic and Japanese varieties, can cause severe kidney failure in cats, according to Lee who said she dug up all the lilies in her yard in case her cat ever gets outside. "My own sister's cat died from it," Lee tells Paw Nation "Cats will always chew on plants. They're just curious and want to try something different. But one or two leaves will kill them."
2. Be Careful With Common Fertilizers
How you treat your yard is very important, as even organic supplements can be toxic to your pet.
Blood and bone meal are popular organic fertilizers, and dogs love the taste of these meat-based products. But ingesting blood meal can cause vomiting, diarrhea and severe pancreatic inflammation, while bone meal can create a cement-like ball in the dog's stomach, potentially forming an obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract and requiring surgery to remove.
Another known hazard are rose fertilizers containing disulfoton or other types of organophosphates which can be deadly to a dog. While most dogs wouldn't eat the granules just for fun, gardeners often mix the fertilizer with bone or blood meal, creating a tasty invitation. "The pet will ingest a larger amount of that chemical because it tastes so good, resulting in the ingestion of potentially two toxicities," Lee says. Consider fencing off roses with plastic or chicken wire so dogs can't get into them, says Lee. It might not be pretty, but "it helps protect your pets," she says.
3. Assess Pest Control Around the House and on Your Pet
Spring means ants. What you may not know is that many ant baits use peanut butter, practically luring dogs to nibble on them. In fact, the chemicals inside the baits are relatively innocuous, due to the low concentration of insecticide and small size of the bait, experts say. The biggest risk is a gastrointestinal obstruction from swallowing the plastic. To be safe, keep traps off the floor, placing them instead in areas such as on the counter or in a window sill.
Another big risk for your animals is misuse of flea and tick products. "Dog flea and tick medications can never be used on a cat because they have a different metabolism," Lee says. "They should never apply it without consulting a vet."
You should also learn more about the kind of flea and tick prevention you are using as recently there has been a lot of concerns about the toxicity of certain products. Depending on where you live and what your risks are you may consider some of the natural options for flea and tick control. (The National Resources Defense Council gives suggestions on chemical-free ways to keep pet pest free.) Discuss your concerns with your vet so that you can come to the best solution together.
Spring is a great time to let your animals roam and if you take the right steps to keep them safe, everyone will be happy.
by Daphne Sashin (Subscribe to Daphne Sashin's posts)
Apr 27th 2010 @ 1:00PM Filed Under: Pet Health
April showers bring flowers for sniffing, long walks in the neighborhood and afternoon naps on the lawns. But before you let your pet leap into spring, make sure you're keeping your dogs and cats safe from these seasonal health hazards:
1. Watch Out for Poisonous Flowers
Tulip, hyacinth and daffodil bulbs can damage a dog's mouth and esophagus, causing drooling, vomiting, severe diarrhea or even abnormal heart rhythms, depending on the amount consumed. So be sure to keep bulbs out of reach before planting says Justine Lee, an emergency critical care veterinary specialist and Associate Director of Veterinary Services at the Minneapolis-based Pet Poison Helpline.
When planting, place the bulbs in deeply, surround them with plenty of mulch and then supervise your dog when it's outside to make sure it's not digging them up, Lee advises. Once the flowers are out and have bloomed, they generally don't pose a threat, as it's the bulb that's the most poisonous.
Also be very careful with lilies. Just a couple of leaves from certain lilies, like the day, Asiatic and Japanese varieties, can cause severe kidney failure in cats, according to Lee who said she dug up all the lilies in her yard in case her cat ever gets outside. "My own sister's cat died from it," Lee tells Paw Nation "Cats will always chew on plants. They're just curious and want to try something different. But one or two leaves will kill them."
2. Be Careful With Common Fertilizers
How you treat your yard is very important, as even organic supplements can be toxic to your pet.
Blood and bone meal are popular organic fertilizers, and dogs love the taste of these meat-based products. But ingesting blood meal can cause vomiting, diarrhea and severe pancreatic inflammation, while bone meal can create a cement-like ball in the dog's stomach, potentially forming an obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract and requiring surgery to remove.
Another known hazard are rose fertilizers containing disulfoton or other types of organophosphates which can be deadly to a dog. While most dogs wouldn't eat the granules just for fun, gardeners often mix the fertilizer with bone or blood meal, creating a tasty invitation. "The pet will ingest a larger amount of that chemical because it tastes so good, resulting in the ingestion of potentially two toxicities," Lee says. Consider fencing off roses with plastic or chicken wire so dogs can't get into them, says Lee. It might not be pretty, but "it helps protect your pets," she says.
3. Assess Pest Control Around the House and on Your Pet
Spring means ants. What you may not know is that many ant baits use peanut butter, practically luring dogs to nibble on them. In fact, the chemicals inside the baits are relatively innocuous, due to the low concentration of insecticide and small size of the bait, experts say. The biggest risk is a gastrointestinal obstruction from swallowing the plastic. To be safe, keep traps off the floor, placing them instead in areas such as on the counter or in a window sill.
Another big risk for your animals is misuse of flea and tick products. "Dog flea and tick medications can never be used on a cat because they have a different metabolism," Lee says. "They should never apply it without consulting a vet."
You should also learn more about the kind of flea and tick prevention you are using as recently there has been a lot of concerns about the toxicity of certain products. Depending on where you live and what your risks are you may consider some of the natural options for flea and tick control. (The National Resources Defense Council gives suggestions on chemical-free ways to keep pet pest free.) Discuss your concerns with your vet so that you can come to the best solution together.
Spring is a great time to let your animals roam and if you take the right steps to keep them safe, everyone will be happy.
New Web site focuses on elderly dogs
Info on nutrition and other needs of older pets is provided
April 29, 2010
BY CELESTE BUSK Staff Reporter
Owners of elderly dogs can get help and information on a new Web site.
Pet Ventures LLC has launched www.seniordogs.com for owners of older dogs. In the United States, about 40 percent of households with dogs have at least one that is considered a senior (7 or older), statistics on the Web site indicated.
"Thanks to preventative care, better nutrition and advances in veterinary medicine, pets are living longer and enjoying a higher quality of life than ever before," said Geoff Mott, president of SeniorDogs.com.
"We designed the Web site to become a destination for all dog lovers who need our specialized content and who look to interact with other owners of dogs," Mott said.
Senior dog owners can find articles and resources all in one place, covering medications, health insurance, nutrition, dog arthritis and financial assistance. The site provides a full spectrum of pertinent information, as well as message boards where owners can find support and guidance from others who are experiencing the same challenges and joys of caring for an older dog. Users can interact the message boards to swap stories, share tips, ask questions and revel in the enjoyment of their pet.
The new Web site also features a photo gallery where pet owners can upload photographs of their dog to share with others. The site also has an online store that offers a variety of products designed specifically for older dogs, including beds, bones and vitamin supplements.
April 29, 2010
BY CELESTE BUSK Staff Reporter
Owners of elderly dogs can get help and information on a new Web site.
Pet Ventures LLC has launched www.seniordogs.com for owners of older dogs. In the United States, about 40 percent of households with dogs have at least one that is considered a senior (7 or older), statistics on the Web site indicated.
"Thanks to preventative care, better nutrition and advances in veterinary medicine, pets are living longer and enjoying a higher quality of life than ever before," said Geoff Mott, president of SeniorDogs.com.
"We designed the Web site to become a destination for all dog lovers who need our specialized content and who look to interact with other owners of dogs," Mott said.
Senior dog owners can find articles and resources all in one place, covering medications, health insurance, nutrition, dog arthritis and financial assistance. The site provides a full spectrum of pertinent information, as well as message boards where owners can find support and guidance from others who are experiencing the same challenges and joys of caring for an older dog. Users can interact the message boards to swap stories, share tips, ask questions and revel in the enjoyment of their pet.
The new Web site also features a photo gallery where pet owners can upload photographs of their dog to share with others. The site also has an online store that offers a variety of products designed specifically for older dogs, including beds, bones and vitamin supplements.
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