Creating a Safe Home for your Pet

There are many hidden dangers that we pet owners have in our homes and have no idea how harmful (and in some cases deadly) they can be to our precious furbabies. Here is a list of some of these hazards and what can be done in a worst-case scenario.

Hazardous and Non Hazardous Plants:
• For a list of plants that are toxic, click here.
• For a list of plants that have not been reported as harmful, click here.
• For a list of non-toxic flowers and bouquets, click here.

Also, there is also a great did you know section that explains additional items that are harmful and some that were thought to be harmful but in fact aren't, such as poinsettias.

Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pet
• Alcoholic beverages
• Avocado
• Chocolate (all forms)
• Coffee (all forms)
• Fatty foods
• Macadamia nuts
• Moldy or spoiled foods
• Onions and onion powder
• Raisins and grapes
• Salt
• Yeast and/or dough
• Garlic
• Products sweetened with xylitol

Warm Weather Hazards
• Animal toxins—toads, insects, spiders, snakes and scorpions
• Blue-green algae in ponds
• Citronella candles
• Cocoa mulch
• Compost piles and fertilizers
• Flea products
• Outdoor plants and plant bulbs
• Swimming pool treatment supplies
• Fly baits containing methomyl
• Slug and snail baits containing metaldehyde

Medication
Human medications that can be potentially lethal to pets, even in small doses, include:
• Pain killers
• Cold medicines
• Anti-cancer drugs
• Antidepressants
• Vitamins
• Diet pills

Cold Weather Hazards
• Antifreeze
• Liquid potpourri
• Ice melting products
• Rat and mouse bait

Common Household Hazards
• Fabric softener sheets
• Mothballs
• Post-1982 pennies (due to high concentration of zinc)

Now the question is what to do if you think your pet has ingested something harmful. First, stay calm! Try and figure out what your pet has ingested. If there is any left make sure to keep a sample so that the vet and/or animal control can use it to help diagnose the problem and find a quicker solution for your pet.

Then call the ASPCA poison control center, there is a $55 consultation fee. I know this seems like a lot but your pets life is worth a heck of a lot more: (888) 426-4435

Be ready with the following information: -The species, breed, age, sex, weight and number of animals involved, the animal’s symptoms, information regarding the exposure, including the agent (if known), the amount of the agent involved and the time elapsed since the time of exposure. Have the product container/packaging available for reference. Please note: If your animal is having seizures, losing consciousness, is unconscious or is having difficulty breathing, telephone ahead and bring your pet immediately to your local veterinarian or emergency veterinary clinic. If necessary, he or she may call the APCC.

If your vet office is closed, there is only one emergency vet clinic in Chicago and they are fantastic! Their contact info is:

Chicago Emergency Vet Services
773.281.7110
3123 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago IL 60618

Dog Tested...Dog Approved

We are on a lifelong mission to find some really cool products for our pets, and we want to share our findings with you. All of these items have been tested by our two Great Danes, Gweck and Beans who are definitely into all things dog related! Check back in on this post from time to time because we will always be adding more products to it!

Dog water fountain:
Our dogs love this! It's a great fountain with a reservoir to hold extra water. It has a filter that needs to be changed (monthly...ish). We add water to the reservoir about once every 2-3 days—not bad! When doggie pals come over they love it too. The not so fun part is cleaning it (it can get icky with dog food debris) but once you learn how to take it apart it's easy! You might have to train your pooch to not chug and chug because it's pretty addicting at first. We had to teach one of our boys to take a break!

Earth Bath deodorizing spray:
We love this spray! It's great for after long walks, a visit to the dog park or just because. Sometimes our pups don't smell so fresh and we don't want to give them a full on bath or it's just too cold. What to do? This spritz between baths is great. It comes in different scents and smells fantastic!

The Sarge:
Talk about an awesome bone! Merrick has fabulous healthy chews (and food) for dogs. The Sarge bones keep our boys busy for a LONG time and for that we are thankful! haha! Best of all, if you have carpet these bones don't leave a nasty residue behind...at least they didn't on ours (we now have wood floors). One thing you need to remember is when all the meat has been pulled off, throw the bare bone away. Also as your pup chews near the hoof end, some smaller bones might pop off and they could be a choking hazard. All in all this bone ROCKS!

Bully Sticks:
Bully Sticks are a terrific chew for dogs! They are 100% digestible and last a long time. They aren't bleached like raw hides (which are really pretty scary) so they are much safer for your furbaby! I'm not sure if I'll tell you what part of the bull they are because then you might not want to get them. But hey, it's not you chewing them. Your pup is and all that matters is that your dog is happy and the treats are healthy! So go get some!

Egg Babies - Platypus toy:
Oh are these toys a hit! They come in a variety of animals and have squeaky eggs that go inside! They are called smart toys because your pup has to do some thinking to get the eggs out of a slit on the underside! SUPER COOL! One of our dogs, Gweck will take the eggs out over and over and want us to put them back in, no prob but by about the 6th time we're done for a little while, haha. If your pup is destructive, this toy might not last that long but it's definitely worth the try! I would recommend cutting off all tags and the little loop at the top just 'cause that can be an easy rip-entry for stuffie destroying dogs!

Zoom Groom:
This is a GREAT grooming tool for short coated dogs and cats! Sometimes our furkids don't seem to enjoy being brushed which is supposed to feel good and be fun. This brush is one almost all pets enjoy! Our dogs and cats LOVE it! They always come back for more. The rubber tips are soft and gentle and it grabs a ton of loose fur! YAY for less sweeping!

Kong:
What a fantastic invention?! Kongs have saved us numerous times! There are tons of things you can fill them with to make an awesome yummy toy for your pup to play with! One of our favorites is filling our Kongs up with a couple tablespoons of natural peanut butter and freezing them. We try to always keep at least one frozen Kong on hand in case we have a dog that needs a distraction! Freezing it makes the peanut butter last longer! Woohooo! FYI, if your dog is a big chewer, they make a more durable black Kong.

Chuck It:

Do you have a dog that is a fetch addict? We do! Does your arm start to kill after a half hour of throwing the ball around? Mine does! The chuck it makes it so my arm doesn't get sore and the ball goes farther than I could ever throw it. One more bonus—no more picking up and carrying a nasty slobbery tennis ball (although we prefer to use a rubber Kong ball because it goes even further!). I swear by this toy. I used to see other people using them and think "LAME" but now I think "GENIUS!" hahahhaa!

The Suspicious Chicken!
Such a silly toy but also durable! We've had our boys chewing on them, playing tug-o-war and more! They definitely have outlasted MANY other toys! They also come in different animals and some are more durable, especially the ones without limbs, like the crinkly fish one! YAY for a toy that lasts more than 30 min!

Planet Dog Orbee:
Here's another favorite of ours, made by Planet Dog. This toy is definitely durable but in a weird way. Our Danes are known to pounce on toys and they have slammed on these balls like it's their job! We own the biggest ball they make and it's hollow and squishable. I think that because it's made this way some dogs don't feel the need to tear it apart. It's a really cute toy and we have had one in our place for over a year now to us that is a big success!

Want to Make a Difference?

Sign this petition and boycott Menu Foods. It has become known that even after Menu Foods found traces of Melamine in their products that they tested the food further on animals. How dare they! As if enough pets haven't suffered enough! Please sign the petition and pass it along. Let's make a difference in the quality of our pets food!

All Cats Considered!

So I've done a lot a dog related posts. Therefore, I thought it was about time I did a cat post!

Wet Food–To feed or not to feed?
This is a common question for all cat owners. While I have heard both 'yes' and 'no' from vets, cat food manufacturers, pet boutique owners and friends, I am a firm believer that wet food does more good than bad.
So I say 'YES!'

Here are my reasons why:
1. If your cat doesn't drink a lot of water or you don't witness he/she drinking much, the intake of wet food means they are getting liquid in their systems and hydration is important!
2. Cats are carnivores. Wet food is a good source of protein while minimizing and/or withholding grains which cats don't eat much of in their natural diet anyways.

3. It has been said (I'm not sure if it's true) that feeding wet food can help prevent kidney failure.

4. What cat wouldn't want some variety in his/her meals?

Here are some wet cat foods I highly recommend; Evangers, Wellness, Tiki Cat, Merrick, Innova, Eagle Pack and more!

Dry Food
Dry food is just as important as wet food! There are some really great cat foods out there but I highly recommend looking for them at your local pet/boutique stores rather than at the huge corporate pet stores where more money is spent on advertising rather than quality. Also with this pet food recall going on, not many of those major brands are safe! Here's a little info on reading and understanding the information on a cat (or dog) food bag. I recommend the same brands for dry that I listed for wet above, I even highly recommend grain free such as Serengeti, Evo, Nature's Variety Raw Instincts, and Orijen.

Litter
How to choose:

I have been on a mission to find the best cat litter. Safe, earth friendly, scoopable and smells good! It has been quite a journey–I would say we've tried about 10-15 different kinds of litter over the past 3 years, including clay-based and non clay. Oh yes it is true!

Here's what you need to know. Clay litter is NOT ok. Clay litters can be harmful to pets if it is ingested or inhaled. It swells and solidifies inside them and can be problematic or even fatal. Now if you are using a clay based litter, you do NOT need to freak out. Instead I would just recommend buying a safer litter for your feline and for the earth. When I first got my cats, I knew nothing about litter and after time and research I found out about clay litter and decided that I would change. I haven't looked back since!

Here are some litter brands that are safe and some info on each of them:

Feline Pine:
non clumping, pellet formed litter, flushable

Likes: the smell
Dislikes: the whole non clumping part is not good (I think most cat owners would agree with me on this one); the tracking of litter outside of the box; it was hard for my cats to cover their feces (the pellets seemed to roll off the top)

Yesterday's News:
non clumping, pellet formed litter

Likes: it's made from recycled paper!
Dislikes: please refer the Feline Pine dislikes.

Pa Purr:
non clumping, pellet formed, flushable

Likes: it's made from recycyled paper!
Dislikes: non clumping

Pa Purr (new version):
clumping granular, flushable

Likes: smells clean, clumps, flushable
Dislikes: really dusty, clumps so well that it's hard to scoop, if you don't use box liners it's hard to clean the box with spray. It gets this odd slippery residue.

The Worlds Best Cat Litter:
clumping, granular form

Likes: clumped well; smelled decent; flushable
Dislikes: started smelling bad pretty fast; the cats tracked it everywhere

Swheat Scoop:
clumping, granular, flushable

Likes: the clumping action ROCKED; the smell was good I thought; flushable; lasted a decent amount of time before needing to change the whole box
Dislikes: my boyfriend didn't like the smell (different strokes for different folks); it was very dusty (everything near the boxes was dusty); again, litter got tracked everywhere

Tidy Cats Crystal Litter:
rock like, synthetic material

Likes: the smell was decent for a little while
Dislikes: urine pooled at the bottom and turned the crystals a funky, toxic looking green; non clumping; needed to be fully changed often; when changing the litter, it was SO GROSS!

The Winner!

Nature's Miracle:
clumping, granular and flushable

Likes: Smells awesome (like a cedar closet); scoops very well; lasts long; not overly dusty; doesn't track far!!!!!!
Dislikes: NONE

We have been using Nature's Miracle for about 4-5 months and have yet to find something we don't like about it! Our cats seem to love it too! BONUS!

Litter Box Related:
Is your cat not using his/her litter box? There are some simple and not-so-simple reasons for this. Check out this site to learn more!

Easy tip!
We had an issue where one of our cats was hanging his tush outside the litter box, therefore totally missing the litter/box! UGH, what to do?

1. If it's near a wall, try moving it away from the wall a few inches.

2. Get a top entrance litter box–wait! Don't buy one, instead get a large tupperware bin from your local hardware store. Take a plate from your kitchen and trace it on top of the lid (make sure the lid is on the bin securely). Then take a box cutter and cut out your plate tracing. You have now created your own top entrance litter box for a fraction of the price! Booyah!

I hope this helps some of you cat owners out there!

Meow!

Pet Friendly Chicago!

So it's about that time of year when you want to take your pet everywhere with you but then you have to think–is my pet allowed? Well I am going to post lots of places where you and your pup can go together and have a blast!


RESTAURANTS & BARS

ALWAYS call and make sure that these places are pet friendly before going. We do not keep track of them all!

Kitsch'n on Roscoe
2005 W. Roscoe St.
(312) 644-1500

Talk about a great, cute, and eclectic restaurant! They have delicious brunch choices and supposedly dogs are welcome at their front outdoor seating! WOOHOOO!

Uncommon Ground
3800 N. Clark St.
(773) 929-3680


This is a way cute coffee house/restaurant. They have really good food, lots of outdoor seating and live music. Last time we went they brought us a bucket full of water for Gweck and a container of treats and pointed out a spigot to refill the bucket if needed! NICE! The food is yummy and the staff is sweet! This place is so dog friendly, passers-by will stop and want to meet your pooch. In addition, Four Legs (one of our favorite pet boutiques on the North side) is right across the street.

Deleece
4004 N. Southport
(773) 325-1710

Deleece is a great brunch spot on the North Side at Irving and Southport. The food is delicious and the staff is friendly. Usually they offer to bring out water for pooches but sometimes you have to ask–no biggy!

Orange
3231 N. Clark St.
(773) 549-4400

We have heard that dogs are allowed at Orange's patio but we are not positive, so definitely check first! The brunch is super yummy the wait can be long but hey, in warm weather who cares? Right. Haha!

Jakes Pub
2932 N Clark St.
(773) 248-3318

We've heard from a reliable source that this bar is way pet friendly. When we called to confirm they downright tried to convince us to round up the furry crew and head on over. Woohooo!

The Lakefront
I would recommend if you're with a friend or significant other, walk to any of your favorite restaurants and have one of you pick up food to go and take it to the lake! Perfect scenery and no shortage of seating! Bravo!


PET FRIENDLY EVENTS

Single and want to meet other dog people? Check out Paws Meet n' Sniff, May 8th
Gay Pride Parade, Sunday, June 24th
Paws Chicago Beach Party, July 11th!
Market Days, Aug 11th and 12th
Chicago Air Show, Aug 18th and 19th
Almost every neighborhood festival and farmers markets!
Chicago Canine Cruise! Running from July 8th- Sept 24th
Dog Adoption events too!


Always remember that the summer months are hard on our pups so always be prepared with plenty of water and do not hesitate to bring them home if you think they need a break and some good old AC! Dogs low the ground, and ones with long and/or dark coats are affected the most by hot summer months! Take all precautions, our fur kids safety is most important.

These events attract large crowds, so make sure you and your dog are prepared. Always work on socialization with your pups so they know how to deal with loud noise and random people petting them! Have fun and enjoy the weather!

Woof,

Julie


Great Chicago Dog Friendly Books:

The Dog Lover's Companion to Chicago: The Inside Scoop on Where to Take Your Dog

Doggone Chicago, Second Edition : Sniffing Out the Best Places to Take Your Best Friend

City Dog: Chicago