Park Place Bark > The Dog Dish

Cool Cat products found!

2010-03-30T19:27:00.005-06:00

Have you ever had the thought, "I'd love to get a cat tree for my adorable kitty but they are so dang fugly?" I have. It took us a while to find a carpeted one that we thought wouldn't be too much of an eyesore. But really, we'll try to find something in the future that will hopefully last a while, be fun for the furries, and nice on the eyes. Well, look no further. Below are some gems that I have come across and want to share.

Rustic Cat Trees from BJ Marketers
(I love the use of actual wood in these)

The Sky Climber from Whisker Studio
(mid-century modern, need I say more?)

The Lotus Tower from The Refined Feline
(super mod!)

I could go on and on but you can find more at Modern Cat.

I have also thought the same thing about cat beds. Why are they always so colorful or or constructed in garish animal prints?! Some of us like to have a flow throughout our homes with pet beds that add design to the space instead of taking away from it.

Check some of these out!

The Cat Cave from Whisker Studio

The Pod Bed from Hepper

More beds can be found at Modern Cat

Another thing about having felines in the home is the litter box. Don't get me wrong, I love my kitties. But let me tell you, their poop is some pungent shit (pun intended!). I have been on a mission to find an inconspicuous place to put our litter boxes (for four cats!) and how to deal with the poopy smell.

We used to have this set up:

We took the base of a HUGE fish tank, cut openings on either end, added shelves and lined five litter boxes up on the inside. Besides the boxes being inside the unit, they were also on top of litter mats in case a sassy feline decided to hang their bottom over the edge of the litter box and let some nasty nasty fall below.

After some time Googling and brainstorming we decided we were due for an upgrade. I know, I know... you're thinking "how could you ever upgrade from that amazing creation?" Well here you go:

(sorry not a great pic, taken on my iphone)

Modern Cat has a FABULOUS do it yourself section and that's where we found this much more streamline modern litter box hider that totally blew ours out of the water. Here's a link to better pics of what we did on Modern Cat's site and the how to!

I hope some of you find some inspiration to sass up your feline related items!!!

Ciao,
Julie

Weekend Time!

2010-03-26T09:00:00.015-06:00

This is a fun related post. I might try to make it a regular thing on Fridays. Cute videos or pictures that just make you laugh or smile. If you like the idea, let me know!

I found a great video on You Tube, "Things You CAN'T Do When You're NOT a Dog" This is the funniest thing I have seen in a while. And if you're a dog owner you totally get it although I am sure non dog owners will laugh at this too!

I also found this great little thing called a PortAPoo for when you're walking your dog, would be useful when you're on a long walk and can't find a garbage can! Totally funny but also functional!

On another note, who wouldn't want a little lamb after seeing this ahhhhdorable video!?

I wants!!! Is that not the cutest thing EVER? I can't stop watching!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Cold Weather Gear!

2009-12-10T10:14:00.014-06:00

Oh the weather outside is frightful...

Well it seems as though freezing temps have kicked in earlier this year here in Chicago. Big bummer! It is really important that not only us people are dressed for the brutal weather, but that our pooches are too! Chicago is a city obsessed with salt. The salt that is strewn across the roads and that buildings dump on sidewalks are loaded with chemicals. Those chemicals burn dogs paws and if you even grabbed a handful of the salt, it would burn/sting your hands. Also if they lick their paws and ingest the ice melt they could get upset stomachs and diarrhea.

Another thing to consider is if your dog does not have a double coat like a Shepherd, Akita, Husky etc. you should look into getting them a coat. The windy city sure is windy and our wind chill temperatures are insane! Below I will list some of my favorite winter products for our pooches!

Apache River Dog Coats
Apache River dog coats are awesome! They are thick and lined to really keep out the cold weather. They have full chest coverage and go pretty far up the belly. They also have thigh straps so that if you hit a windy road the jacket won't fly up thus letting all the cold air in under the jacket. My boys love them!

(Beans)

Pawz Boots
Paws boots are great for dogs that have never worn boots. Dogs are able to feel the texture of the ground through them thus they get used to them very quickly! They are similar to balloons in material and disposable so once you see a hole toss it. 12 come in a pack so a pack should last a season unless you let your dog romp in them. They are not good for playing in.

(Tucker)

More Pawz!

(Molly)

Ruff Wear Boots
Ruff Wear Boots are the next step up. When you want something more durable that will last longer. They are really great, have vibram soles to help prevent slipping. Besides being very functional, they are ahhhhdorable!

(FYI Beans looks miffed in almost all pics)

Ruff Wear Boot up close

Be sure to shorten walks in severe temps! If you're uncomfortable, it's likely your pooch is too!

Chicago Veterinary Emergency Services: News

2009-10-13T13:08:00.005-05:00

I know I know, it's been far too long since I have blogged but if I blogged when I didn't want to or feel like it I think you would hate what you were reading. At least that's what I keep telling myself ;-) Onto my awesome important updates!

Starting Oct 17th 2009, Chicago Veterinary Emergency Services (CVES) will be open 24/7. This is great news for all of our fur and feathered kids. They are such a great emergency clinic, it is great to hear that they will be available even more now. Hopefully none of us will need to use their services. ;)

My second announcement is about canine blood donations. We had Gweck and Beans blood type tested about 2 years ago and found out that they were not the type that CVES was blood banking yet. We got a call a few weeks ago and were told that they are now expanding their blood types! They now have technology that can test an emergency patients blood type so that they can receive their blood type instead of only using the canine universal blood type.

What you need to know:
"Dogs should be between the ages of 2 and 8 and weigh more than 55 pounds. All dogs must be current on vaccinations, on a heartworm preventative year-round and have a friendly disposition."

How it works:
You call in to 773-281-7110 and ask to speak to Kate Gallagher about donating your dogs blood. They will set up an appointment with you to bring in your pooch so they can get a sample to see:
A. What you dogs blood type is
B. To do a full blood panel to make sure everything checks out all clear.

You will then wait to hear from them to make sure everything is good to go and then they will call you to set up a donation appointment. It only takes minutes to donate and is so worth it! So quit waiting and set up an appointment!

Chicago Veterinary Emergency Services Contact Info:
Website: Chicago Veterinary Emergency Services
Phone: 773-281-7110 ext. 67
Address: 3123 N Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60618

How one sweet pooch copes with the heat...

2009-06-22T13:01:00.000-05:00

Otto goes to Johnny Sprockets (our neighborhood awesome sauce bike store) for treats and a short cool off on the cool floor.

Post From My iPhone

Going Green With Your Pet!

2008-07-16T20:19:00.003-05:00

Alright, now is the time where we pet owners must think about what we can do to leave a smaller footprint on the earth. Considering everything nature has provided for us, I think it's about time for us to give back.

For dog owners, consider using biodegradable poo bags. Why? Think about it this way–I walk about 10-15 dogs/day and pick up about 10-15 poops/day not including my own dogs. Now think about all the other dog owners and dog walkers, think about high rise buildings, it adds up! Let's make it a little easier for the planet! For cat owners there are biodegradable cat liner bags AND even if you don't use liners think about scooping your litter into a biodegradable bag! I scoop into biodegradable dog poop bags.

Read packaging labels! You may think your bags are biodegradable but once you look closer they say nothing of the sort. One bag that I highly recommend is called Bio Bags. They are even compostable! WOOHOO!

Think about the chemicals you put onto and into your pets bodies. Talk to your vet, find out more about Frontline, Heartguard, Advantage etc. Ask if you live in an area where you need to be using these chemicals 12 months a year. Ask about annual shots and boosters. You might not need to use them if you don't board your pooch/kitty or take your pup to day care. Start questioning things!

At your home, think about what your pet is laying on. Is it a bed that is filled with a toxic foam? Does it have natural fibers in it? What about your pets collar and leash? Bowls? Food? All of these things have a large impact on the environment. Buy the largest bag of food available in order to cut back on packaging waste. Recycle wet food cans! Don't use bottle water for your pet. Get a Brita! When choosing a cat litter use a natural one instead of clay based! They smell great, plus they clump...I promise. Some brands that work great are VetBasis (lavender scented), Worlds Best Cat Litter, Nature's Miracle and Arm & Hammer (natural one).

I will also be writing a post for humans and how to green up your life and make your carbon footprint smaller. I know that it can seem like one person making changes doesn't make a difference but I guarantee it does! Keep checking back for my next post!

Thanks!

Julie

Supersize My Dog and/or Cat

2008-05-07T20:51:00.008-05:00

Have you ever seen the movie Supersize Me? The one where the guy eats McDonald's for 30 days consecutively? After day 5 he starts throwing up, gaining a ridiculous amount of weight, sweating without doing any physical activity, not sleeping well, etc. Sounds awful, right? You wouldn't eat McDonald's everyday so why make your pet?

I know I already wrote a dog food post when there was the recall, but I really want to write one that talks about food in general. I still see so many people walking home from big name pet stores with really unhealthy food and lemme tell you, it is getting harder and harder for me to bite my tongue. I also see that a fair amount of my clients are feeding unhealthy food as well. It's amazing how effective the media and advertising has been in training the public to think that the prettier the packaging, the healthier the food. I also think that while many vets do know about dog nutrition, A TON DON'T. This is because they often take a single nutrition class that covers all animals, from horses to dogs to cats to birds, and guess who pays for it? Hills, the maker of Science Diet. Talk about having a little push the upper hand in the curriculum. So I'm gonna break it down for everyone.

"Some companies are more forthright than others in listing their ingredients, so knowing some of the basics will help you get through the list without being bamboozled or confused.

Generally, you want to read through the ingredients carefully until you get to the first fat/oil listed. Ingredients listed before this make up the bulk of the food, and those listed after are included in much smaller amounts for flavoring, preservative value, to provide trace minerals, etc. There are some key things to look for among those top ingredients.

First, dogs are carnivores, so the meat is by far the most important ingredient in your dog’s food. You want to see specific animals rather than generic terms listed as the sources of protein (chicken/lamb/bison… not animal/meat/poultry…). “Meal” form is preferred, because it means it is weighed after the moisture has already been removed. You want to avoid foods with “byproduct” listed in the ingredients, because this pretty much means “anything left after all the stuff that is fit for human consumption has been removed.”

Let me clarify . . .
chicken meal = excellent
chicken = good
poultry = bad, because it is unidentifiable
chicken byproduct = crap
poultry byproduct = unidentifiable crap
poultry byproduct meal = unidentifiable crap in concentrated form

Second, if your food contains grain (most does), you want to check for both the type and form of the grain. Rice is generally the most digestible grain. Oats and barley are also OK. Corn is the least digestible. Other than corn, wheat is the grain most likely to cause problems because many dogs are allergic. So, generally rice is best, but not all rice is the same. Like your mother told you, brown rice is healthier than white rice. “Ground” or “meal” form is fine, but stay away from other forms of processing because any nutritional value is lost. A common ingredient is “brewer’s rice” which simply means “the crap left over from the brewery after we’ve gotten anything worthwhile out of that rice.” Stay away from that.

Third, anything that sounds mysterious on your list of ingredients is probably something the manufacturer doesn’t want you to know about. For example, stay away from foods with “animal fat” or “animal digest”—these are unidentifiable ingredients and often contain rendered animals, which can be diseased animals, animals that died before slaughter, roadkill, and euthanized pets from animal shelters. Eeeeewww!

Finally, anything that sounds like it isn’t good for your dog probably isn’t good for your dog. Stay away from “lard” or sweeteners (often used for flavoring). Stay away from foods with lots of grains listed among the first ingredients or several variations of the same grain listed early in the list (for example, ground rice, brewer’s rice, and rice flour? . . . can you say “filler”?). Also stay away from menadione (a vitamin supplement that may cause health problems).

One big confusion about dog food, I think, lies in the marketing terminology. The term "premium" has been used for years to distinguish foods you buy at pet stores from foods you buy at the grocery store. Unfortunately, the companies that produce "premium" foods are no longer committed to the same level of quality they once were. They are, however, banking on the reputation created years ago.

Companies that produce foods such as Iams and Science Diet have been bought out by corporations that also produce foods for human consumption. Therefore, instead of having their own chicken processing plant, for example, the pet food companies are getting whatever parts of the chicken we won't eat (and if you've ever had a Chicken McNugget, you know we'll eat almost anything).

Some people refer to the newer, more complete dog foods as "super premium." I avoid this term myself, because I think it promotes the same marketing confusion. I'd rather learn to understand what the labels say and decide for myself whether it's the best choice for my dog.

Manufacturers are keenly conscious of the growing awareness among dog food buyers about the ingredients listed for their products. If they have something good in them, they will highlight it however they can. So, yes, "chicken byproduct meal" may contain organ meat, but if it were all organ meat or even mostly organ meat, the label would surely indicate that. The grains listed are of little value nutritionally and there are several ingredients that are potentially detrimental.

I hope this helps. For a far more thorough and authoritative explanation, I suggest you visit Dog Food Project. This post is really intended for those who don’t have the time or inclination to sift through all the content on that site. It is definitely worth a read if you do have the time."

You can also check out D og Food Analysis and see where your dogs food ranks and others. This site is almost right on, but there are some points that I would disagree with.

Which brands are healthy? There are a bunch! I will just name a few in no particular order. Innova, Wellness, Evangers, Canidae, California Natural, Nature's Variety, Solid Gold, Wysong, Artemis and more!! Grain Free healthy foods are Evo, Nature's Variety Instinct, Orijen and more! With grain free you will feed much less because there is absolutely NO filler.

Where can you find these foods? I'll name some stores that are in the area (Park Place Bark's service area) but there are a lot of locations in Chicago not mentioned below!

Soggy Paws
Located at
1148 West Leland Avenue
773.334.7663
and
1912 South State Street
312.808.0768

4 Legs (A walk away from Park Place Tower for all you folks!)
Located at
3809 N Clark St, Chicago

Wigglyville (Another short walk for a LOT of clients!
Located at
3337 N Broadway St, Chicago

What food do I consider unhealthy? Iams, Sciance Diet, Nutro (YES NUTRO), Pedigree, Purina, Dog Chow, Ol'Roy. Pretty much most foods from big name pet stores and big box stores are unhealthy.

Please think about what you are feeding your dog/cat, it can make a HUGE difference in their life and yours. For one they will probably live longer! Also you can expect terrific tiny poops, better breath, shinier coats, less shedding and more! Your kids are worth it.

Bark In The Park 2008!!! Pictures!

2008-05-05T20:12:00.005-05:00

Well Bark In The Park was a BLAST! We did awesome with raising money this year. Together, Aaron and I combined raised $1040. Here's the cool part, $500-999 collected provides spaying/neutering for 40-100 animals!!! So we just spayed and neutered a BUNCH of puppers! wooohooo!

We had so much fun, there were tons and tons of puppers. Here's how the day went. We woke up at 7:30am, it was painful. We got the boys walked and fed, picked up bagels and met our friend Susan who had coffee for all of us, I then turned into happy Julie. We hopped in the Zipcar and headed up towards Montrose Harbor. Since it's always crazy and crowded, we always go to Wilson instead and park at that lot and walk down to the event. Once there we met up with a bunch of friends, we all said hi to each other and each others pooches and then the walk began! I will post pics with captions below! Enjoy!

Let's Start!!

Matthew, Carla, Toot, Sally and me (Julie)!

A Beautiful Pupper!

A cute pupper but the poor thing was dyed pink! ha!

Partaay! Check out all the people and puppers! So many!!

Matthew, Carla and Toot!

Group Photo at the Start Take 1

Group Photo at the Start Take 2!

Stewie (left), Gweck (right)

A Happy Sally!

Matthew and Toot

Michelle and Stewie

Our friend Joe and his ENORMOUS Dane Hogan

Me (Julie) squinting at Hogan

A cute Neapolitan Mastiff

Everyone struttin' their stuff

Gunther and Nigel

A beautiful view

More struttin'!

Our friend Chris with her dogs, Gunther and Nigel

Gweck saying "Let's go mom!"

Wooohooo! Check out Gweck's tongue! HA!

What up!? hehe

Group Photo #2 (notice Gweck and Elle staring longingly at the beach!)

Group Photo #2 Take 2

Hogan making a new buddy!

Hogan was super popular!

Joe, Sarah and Hogan, Matthew, Carla and Toot!

Hogan!

Gorgeous weather!!!

A cute Mastiff!

Hallie & Elle, Aaron & Gweck, Susan & Sally

Aaron and Gweck

Soooo many people, soooo many pooches!

Heyyyyyy! Susan and Aaron

Gunther!

Stewie

Elle

Elle, up close and personal! hehe

We made it to the FINISH!!!

Sally, A tired pupper is a happy pupper!

Thank you to EVERYONE who donated! We really appreciate it and we know that Anti-Cuelty does too!!!

Photos of Our Boys!

2008-04-13T21:08:00.006-05:00

I've been feeling the need to do some fun, non informative posts. Hehe. I thought I would do a post with some of our favorite pics of Gweck and Beans. There are a lot so brace yourself. I figured I don't have a lot of them up on the website and I love to show them off.

We got Gweck when he was 4 months old. A family was giving him up and we were more than willing to take him and bring him up in our family. They gave us a few puppy pictures from when he was brand spanking new,

We got Beans when he was 2.5 years old (Oct 2006). He was super skinny, we put a little weight on him and he's looking much better. He and Gweck are best buds, it's amazing how well they get along.

Best Friends Forever!

Do You Feed Nutro? Think again

2008-03-18T18:24:00.002-06:00

Consumer Affairs Nutro Info.

If the first recall didn't scare you enough (which it should have!) then hopefully this will. There are REALLY great healthy brands of pet food out there. Please switch! Go to your local pet food store (NOT a big name one) and read the ingredients. Do your pet a favor and care about what goes into them! I'll post another thread to explain how to read the back of dog/cat food bags soon.

Julie

Deck the Halls!

2007-11-27T21:20:00.001-06:00

Hey everyone! Christmas is just around the corner and I'm sure some of you have started decorating. I just thought I'd post about some safety concerns when decorating for the holidays!

For cat owners, click here or read below:

Overview:
Christmas is an exciting time for the family, but it always pays to take some extra precautions with our pets. There are many dangers around, below are some suggestions on how to ensure your cat stays safe during the Christmas period.

Christmas Tree/Decorations
The only fool proof way to keep your cat away from your Christmas tree is to put the tree in a room the cat can't access. Unfortunately, this is often not practical. So the next best solution is to make the tree as safe as possible. Real Christmas trees are more dangerous to cats than fake plastic ones. Pine needles can puncture internal organs if eaten, they are also toxic to cats. If you do have a real tree, make sure the drink stand has plenty of water to prevent the tree drying out & losing needles. It is important that your cat isn't able to get to this water & drink it as it could result in poisoning. Ensure the tree has a good solid base so it won't easily be knocked over by your cat. Try not to have the tree near furniture & or shelves which the cats could use to jump onto the tree.

Be careful with tinsel, if you must have it on your tree, place it at the top of the tree where the cat is less likely to be able to get at it. Tinsel can be caught around the base or move down to the intestines & stomach & cause a blockage, which will result in emergency (and costly) surgery to remove it. A safer alternative are the strands of beads. Ornaments should be securely attached to the tree to prevent them being knocked off. Also place delicate ornaments up high where they're less likely to be knocked off & broken. When there is nobody around, unplug Christmas lights, you may want to try applying a cat repellent such as bitter apple to the lights to deter your cat from chewing the wires, obviously if this was to happen it could cause a fatal electric shock.

Artificial snow is toxic to cats, so is best avoided.

Candles are especially popular over the Christmas holiday period, be careful to make sure your cat can't get close to lit candles.

Please note, your cat isn't a novelty item & it's dangerous to try & decorate your cat with ribbons etc.

Plants
Holly, mistletoe, poinsettias are all popular plants to have in the home at Christmas, especially in the northern hemisphere. These plants are toxic to cats so should be placed where your cat can't get to them. Please see our page on common household toxins for an extensive list on toxic & non toxic plants.

Food/Sweets/Chocolate
Many cat owners enjoy giving their cat the occasional treat of "human" food & generally this doesn't harm the cat. However, it is important to remember that some foods which are fine for humans to eat can be toxic to cats. The odd sliver of chicken or turkey (off the bone) is fine, however it really isn't a good idea to give them large quantities of such food as this can lead to gastrointestinal problems. Never give your cat cooked chicken or turkey bones, these bones can splinter & can become lodged in your cat's throat or puncture the intestines & stomach. - Chocolate is toxic to cats, the darker the chocolate, the more toxic. Chocolate contains both caffeine & theobromine, which are both toxic. If you suspect your cat has eaten chocolate watch for signs of restlessness & vomiting, if in doubt, see your vet.

Cats will often scavenge for food in the garbage so be aware that if you've covered your turkey with foil & thrown it in the bin, your cat may drag it out & chew on it which could make the cat sick. Cooked turkey bones will also attract your cat. Be aware of this & if possible, take your food scraps etc., to your outside bin.

Xmas ribbons/wrap
Ribbons etc., pose the same problem as tinsel, if eaten, it may lead to intestinal blockages. It's important to ensure all ribbons/wrap etc., are safely disposed of.

Visitors
Some cats love the attention of visitors, others find strangers in their house stressful. Christmas is often a busy time with visitors coming & going. Be mindful of your cat's feelings & give the cat the option of somewhere quiet to escape to should the need arise, this is particularly important if your friends & relatives have young children.

Holidays
If you are going away on holiday, you have several options for your cat. You may choose to put your cat in a boarding cattery while you are gone. It is best to check out the premises prior to taking your cat there so you can ensure the cattery meets your standards. Any reputable boarding cattery will insist your cat is up to date on it's vaccinations, this is important for the well being of your cat & all other cats they have boarding there. Many vets also do boarding for cats but in my opinion this isn't ideal for more than a few days as their cages tend to be much smaller than those you'd expect to find in a boarding cattery.

There are a growing number of pet sitters available these days. They will come over once or twice a day to feed & play with your cat & to clean the litter tray. I find this most suitable when going away for a few days.

If you are going away for an extended period of time you may want to consider asking a friend or relative to house sit.

Toys
When buying toys for your cat, make sure you thoroughly check them first. Similar precautions should be taken with your cat's toys as you'd take buying a toy for a young child. Make sure there is nothing glued on that the cat can pull off & swallow. As the toy will quite likely be chewed on, ensure that it's made from a non-toxic substance. There are many wand like toys on the market which most cats love, these should be put away safely when not in use because the cat could become tangled on the string. Any toy that is small enough for your cat to swallow is dangerous & should be avoided.

Kittens as gifts
Buying a kitten as a gift is fine as long as the person receiving the kitten has asked for a pet & knows that owning a cat is quite likely to be a 15-20 year responsibility. Never buy a pet as a surprise gift for somebody. Also, because Christmas is usually such a chaotic time, it is best to try & arrange to collect your kitten after Christmas to avoid undue stress on the animal. Please, if you are considering buying a pet as a gift, really think it through before you do so. Pet ownership is a big responsibility & shouldn't be entered into lightly. Any shelter worker will tell you that their most busy time of the year is just after Christmas people bring them unwanted pets. Don't add to the problem by buying a pet for somebody on a whim.

For dog owners, click here or read below:

The “12 Pet Tips of Christmas” – A safety guide for Pet Owners During the
Holiday Season

Let the countdown begin! Here are the ”twelve tips of Christmas” to help keep your dog (or any other pets) safe during the eventful holiday season. They will keep your holidays safe, healthy, and happy!

1. Anticipate your guest's arrivals and confine your dog to prevent it from escaping or worse yet “soiling” your guest’s clothes with an unwanted jump.

2. Reduce your dog's stress by maintaining its regular feeding and exercise routine. Develop a routine for your dog during holiday parties. A special treat in a special room of your house works well.

3. Put packages out of reach! Dogs who smell food in a package will rip it open. Food is the number one holiday hazard for dogs. The foods that we eat can cause havoc on an animal's intestines. Put away children's toys after they are opened. Ingested toys can cause choking and may have to be removed through surgery.

4. Tell guests not to share indulgences with your pet. Poultry skin, fat trimmings, rich gravies, and buttery sauces can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, or even worse, a life threatening inflammation of the pancreas. Also, remember that an ounce of alcoholic beverage can put a small dog into a coma.

5. Stow chocolate candy or baking ingredients out of reach. Chocolate is the most common toxicity treat during the holidays. Small amounts cause problems. Larger amounts can cause above normal heart rhythms, nervous system malfunctions, and even death. Secure your garbage in bins with tight lids. (This is a good habit to get into all year!) A dog can chew up holiday garbage, which can result in intestinal problems.

6. Buy only decorating products (tree water preservatives and artificial snow) that are labeled non-toxic.

7. Secure large trees to the wall to prevent tipping, or consider a smaller tree that can fit on a tabletop.

8. Remember that stomach problems can be caused by popcorn and gumdrops. Avoid using these strings of edible decorations.

9. Fasten all your tree decorations securely, with the more fragile ones at the top. Dogs who chew these can suffer cuts in their mouth from broken ornaments.

10. Return paper and other gift wrapping materials to their storage places after gift wrapping is finished.

11. Place holiday plants out of reach and vacuum often. Poinsettia can cause drooling, oral pain, and vomiting. Mistletoe causes vomiting, labored breathing, shock, and death from cardiovascular collapse. When animals eat the needles from real or fake trees, they can also get intestinal blockage.

12. Display candles on high shelves to avoid painful burns and singed Whiskers and make sure that cords are tucked out of reach. Electrocution can put a huge damper on Holiday festivities.

Important Numbers to have on hand:

Chicago Emergency Vet
773.281.7110
3123 N Clybourn

ASPCA Poison Control
(888) 426-4435
A $55 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card.

There are plenty of dangerous things your pets can get into, ingest etc. Please be careful this Christmas.

Cheers and Happy Holidays!

Julie

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-29T20:48:00.000-06:00

Ok, this post is going to be fluffy and full of fun! This past weekend—well Sunday—Aaron and I worked our butts off on making Halloween costumes for the boys. I love making them costumes and I make sure I don't do anything like dye their fur (not that you could dye black fur) or do anything that could be harmful and/or permanent. So without further ado...

Mr. Benito Beans, the scary spider web covered in spiders!

And Gweck, the cow "moooo, eat more chicken!" hahahha

We hope you have a fantastic, fun and safe Halloween! Don't forget to put all the candy you and your family collect from trick-or-treating in a safe, dog free area. Also be careful on Halloween of people dressed in costumes that might scare your pooch!

Woof,

Julie

To Choke or Not to Choke

2007-09-24T23:34:00.003-05:00

I'm talking about collars here. I have been walking around a lot lately (go figure!) and I have been noticing how many people are either: 1) using a flat collar on their dog who is choking; 2) using a training device inappropriately; or 3) using the totally wrong training collar/device all together. So I want to give a little advice on this. If there is a constant tension on the leash when you are walking your dog then I would say you need to work on training with your dog and yourself.

I swear there is not a day that goes by where I don't see a dogs neck being wrenched because the owner is yanking them inappropriately. People need to remember that dogs need to breathe freely. They have feeling and sensations too and that it is really painful for them to have their necks yanked on constantly. I mean try the collar on for yourself and give the leash to a friend to give you a swift tug in the opposite direction (don't really do this cause you might cause permanent damage but hopefully you get the point).

If you crate your dog I wouldn't even leave a buckle collar on when he/she is in there. There are too many horror stories about dogs collars getting stuck to inside of crates, thus suffocating them. It is so easily preventable—take the collar off.

There are OH SO MANY options out there for us to choose from that it can be a little daunting. So I am posting this topic to show you some of what's available and how it's used or a link to a great explanation on how to use it!

Let me show you some training tools out there:

First, the no pull harness from Wiggles, Wags and Whiskers. This is by far my most favorite harness. It fits much better (at least I think it does) than previous no pull harnesses we have used in the past. I love that you can clip the leash to the chest and/or at the back. It has a velvet strap that goes under the armpits which helps prevent chaffing. Overall a great harness.

Next, the Sense-ible harness! Honestly this is one of my favorites. This is a GREAT help when you are training your dog not to pull or if you have a dog that pulls regardless of the training. I like this brand a lot because it's good for short and long coats. The instructions are easy. The only thing is people usually put the harness on wrong. Here's the deal, the ring that is in the center of the front strap is the front of the harness! That goes on at the chest! I swear it does. The whole thought process behind this harness and the one below is that you pull your dog so he/she turns and faces you, you correct then. I.E. "Fido, no pull, heel" and keep walking.

Then there is the Easy Walk Harness, very similar to the Sense-ible except for where you clip your leash. You clip it in the same place but that area is different than on the Sense-ible. I have used this before and on short/fine haired dogs I found it chaffed the underarms. I had to go to the vet to get my boy some ointment. I think for long haired or thick coated dogs that this would work well!

Next is the Gentle Leader. Wait...don't say it. It's NOT a muzzle! This is another great training tool for pullers or semi-aggresso (toughie) dogs. It comes with a great "how to" video and works very well. The only thing is you BETTER NOT yank on it or I will come after you. Also if you go to the park with your dog and let them off leash, take this head halter off.

And then the Halti is another favorite of mine. I use this on my (semi-aggresso) Dane and it works GREAT. I have what you would call a bucking bronco and this really helps me keep him under control. It makes it so I can control which direction Beans (my Dane) goes. Since dogs choose their direction with their heads, you can choose the direction they go! YAY. It's a total arm saver. I use this instead of the Gentle Leader because the Gentle Leader rubbed some fur off of Beans' nose, and the Halti does not! Again, no yanking! Also if you go to the park with your dog and let them off leash, take this head halter off.

The "traditional" harness. This is great for puppies, English Bulldogs and dogs in general. If you EVER get in a sticky situation, at a park, hiking, camping you can just grab the strap down the back and lift them away. You aren't pulling on their neck on walks, therefore keeping their trachea and esophagus perfect and healthy! I do not recommend using this harness on serious pullers because they will pull you ALL over the place like a sled dog! But if your dog is older, smaller, or not a puller, then by all means use it!

Onto the Step in Harness. This is another great harness for puppies and English Bulldogs and such! It's REALLY easy to put on (much easier than the traditional harness). All you need to do is put 1 paw in 1 hole and the other in the other hole and clip up at the back! Again this is a great one for dogs that are smaller, small pullers, or medium sized non-pullers.

Onto the Prong Collar. Lots of people think that this collar is painful but used correctly, it's not. The whole point of the prong collar is you give a slight tug to get your dogs attention and then you correct their behavior. I use this on my other Dane, he doesn't really need it unless we are walking towards our favorite pet stores or the park. But I keep it on so he just knows to behave and it works great. If this collar is used improperly it can most definitely be painful. BUT used correctly and it is a very helpful training tool. You can also buy rubber covers to put on the tip of the prongs if you are still uneasy about using this collar. Definitely take this collar off if take your dog to the park and let it play with other dogs or when your dog is at home or crated.

And lastly the choke collar. I pretty much hate this collar, the reason being almost everyone that doesn't show their dog uses it improperly. They get it way too big and their dog is choking themselves the WHOLE time and this collar causes the MOST damage to a pups throat. If you use one of these I HIGHLY recommend you do your research and even take a class to use it correctly. These are an old school collar for old school thinking and with so many other great options out there to try today I really don't think this is one that needs to be used. That is my honest opinion. Definitely take this collar off if take your dog to the park and let him/her play with other dogs or when your dog is at home or crated.

I have one more thing to mention, retractable leashes, DO NOT USE THEM. They are horrible for numerous reasons:

1. there is constant tension between you and your dog. If the leash is not slack (which a retractable NEVER is, then there is tension.

2. If you live in a city then you have to worry about cars and intersections and retractable leashes make this such a pain.

3. They are choking hazards if it gets wrapped around your dog or another that it's meeting.

4. ROPE BURNS!

5. Don't be lazy, use a 6ft leash and walk with your dog!

Leaving Your Dog Unattended

2007-09-18T21:31:00.000-05:00

This has been driving me CRAZY. Why do people INSIST on leaving their dog in a car or tied up outside of an establishment by themselves?! If anyone did this to their child it would be a crime but since it technically is not a crime to do it to their dog people do it, a lot. It's ridiculous! I swear if I see one more dog tied up because the owner is TOO LAZY to walk their dog, bring them home then go to the store or get coffee, I will GO NUTS!

Reasons to NOT tie your dog up:
1. THEY CAN GET STOLEN and used for bait for fighting or put in a lab for testing.
2. It's too hot out, resulting in damage i.e burned paw pads, overheating etc.
3. It's too cold out resulting in damage i.e a cold, fever, frost bit paw pads etc.
4. They could get tormented by people or other dogs.
5. You wouldn't tie up your child why do it to your pet?
6. It's just not safe.

Reasons to NOT leave your pet in your car:
1. Too hot.
2. Too cold.
3. It's just not safe.

Here's a study that was done on how fast and how much cars heat up:

VEHICLE HEATING DYNAMICS
The atmosphere and windows are relatively "transparent" to the sun's shortwave radiation and are warmed little. The shortwave energy does however warm objects that it strikes. These objects (e.g., dashboard, steering wheel, childseat) heat the adjacent air by conduction and convection and also give off longwave radiation which is very efficient at warming the air trapped inside a vehicle.

CONCLUSIONS

Average elapsed time and temperature rise
10 minutes ~ 19 deg F
20 minutes ~ 29 deg F
30 minutes ~ 34 deg F
60 minutes ~ 43 deg F
1 to 2 hours ~ 45-50 deg F

"Cracking" the windows had little effect
Vehicle interior color probably biggest factor
"Parents and caregivers need to get the word out that a car is not a babysitter...
but it can easily become an oven"

Please think twice the next time you leave your home with your dog. Don't tie them up or leave them in your car. There are way more cons than pros and you can't ever replace your pet. No two are alike. Is that newspaper, coffee etc. worth the life of your companion?...I didn't think so.

Been Slacking Big Time!

2007-07-29T15:46:00.000-05:00

Hey all!

Julie here, I am really sorry I haven't posted a new blog. I think I have been in a blog funk. I have plenty of topics to write about but for some reason I have not been motivated to write! I am going to try and get on track asap! Please check back soon!

Thanks!

Julie

Creating a Safe Home for your Pet

2007-05-20T14:24:00.001-05:00

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

2007-05-12T22:43:00.001-05:00

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?

2007-05-09T00:59:00.000-05:00

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!

2007-05-05T20:34:00.001-05:00

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!

2007-05-01T20:48:00.001-05:00

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

Dog Food Info/Food Recall Info

2007-04-18T19:56:00.000-05:00

Eiyeiyei! More food has been added to the recall list! This is devastating. Here I thought we were getting closer to this all being over but I guess not. Here is a link to a list of MOST the foods that have been recalled from the Pet Food Tracker. I am noticing there there are more recalls then I think the USFDA can keep up with so I highly recommend going straight to your dog foods website and make sure it's not on the list. My advice to everyone would be if the brand of food you feed is on the list, you should NOT feed it anymore. EVEN if you feed a dry food that is not on the recall list but that same brand has a wet food that IS on the recall list, I would highly recommend that you switch to a new higher quality brand altogether. Why support a company that is not going out of its way to ensure the safety of your pet? There are tons of other foods out there that are healthier with more reliable manufacturing. I am going to put a TON of food information on here because I think it is so important.

A friend of mine, Holly from BPO explained dog food really well so I am going to quote her:

"Some companies are more forthright than others in listing their ingredients, so knowing some of the basics will help you get through the list without being bamboozled or confused.
Generally, you want to read through the ingredients carefully until you get to the first fat/oil listed. Ingredients listed before this make up the bulk of the food, and those listed after are included in much smaller amounts for flavoring, preservative value, to provide trace minerals, etc. There are some key things to look for among those top ingredients.

First, dogs are carnivores, so the meat is by far the most important ingredient in your dog’s food. You want to see specific animals rather than generic terms listed as the sources of protein (chicken/lamb/bison… not animal/meat/poultry…). “Meal” form is preferred, because it means it is weighed after the moisture has already been removed. You want to avoid foods with “byproduct” listed in the ingredients, because this pretty much means “anything left after all the stuff that is fit for human consumption has been removed.”

Let me clarify . . .
chicken meal = excellent
chicken = good
poultry = bad, because it is unidentifiable
chicken byproduct = crap
poultry byproduct = unidentifiable crap
poultry byproduct meal = unidentifiable crap in concentrated form

Second, if your food contains grain (most does), you want to check for both the type and form of the grain. Rice is generally the most digestible grain. Oats and barley are also OK. Corn is the least digestible. Other than corn, wheat is the grain most likely to cause problems because many dogs are allergic. So, generally rice is best, but not all rice is the same. Like your mother told you, brown rice is healthier than white rice. “Ground” or “meal” form is fine, but stay away from other forms of processing because any nutritional value is lost. A common ingredient is “brewer’s rice” which simply means “the crap left over from the brewery after we’ve gotten anything worthwhile out of that rice.” Stay away from that.

Third, anything that sounds mysterious on your list of ingredients is probably something the manufacturer doesn’t want you to know about. For example, stay away from foods with “animal fat” or “animal digest”—these are unidentifiable ingredients and often contain rendered animals, which can be diseased animals, animals that died before slaughter, roadkill, and euthanized pets from animal shelters. Eeeeewww!

Finally, anything that sounds like it isn’t good for your dog probably isn’t good for your dog. Stay away from “lard” or sweeteners (often used for flavoring). Stay away from foods with lots of grains listed among the first ingredients or several variations of the same grain listed early in the list (for example, ground rice, brewer’s rice, and rice flour? . . . can you say “filler”?). Also stay away from menadione (a vitamin supplement that may cause health problems).

One big confusion about dog food, I think, lies in the marketing terminology. The term "premium" has been used for years to distinguish foods you buy at pet stores from foods you buy at the grocery store. Unfortunately, the companies that produce "premium" foods are no longer committed to the same level of quality they once were. They are, however, banking on the reputation created years ago.

Companies that produce foods such as Iams and Science Diet have been bought out by corporations that also produce foods for human consumption. Therefore, instead of having their own chicken processing plant, for example, the pet food companies are getting whatever parts of the chicken we won't eat (and if you've ever had a Chicken McNugget, you know we'll eat almost anything).

Some people refer to the newer, more complete dog foods as "super premium." I avoid this term myself, because I think it promotes the same marketing confusion. I'd rather learn to understand what the labels say and decide for myself whether it's the best choice for my dog.

Manufacturers are keenly conscious of the growing awareness among dog food buyers about the ingredients listed for their products. If they have something good in them, they will highlight it however they can. So, yes, "chicken byproduct meal" may contain organ meat, but if it were all organ meat or even mostly organ meat, the label would surely indicate that. The grains listed are of little value nutritionally and there are several ingredients that are potentially detrimental.

I hope this helps. For a far more thorough and authoritative explanation, I suggest you visit http://dogfoodproject.com/ This post is really intended for those who don’t have the time or inclination to sift through all the content on that site. It is definitely worth a read if you do have the time."

Some of the brands of food that I recommend are Innova, California Natural, Wellness, Evangers, Evo (made by Innova), Solid Gold, Canidae, Natures Variety, Eagle Pack, Merrick and many more. One of the great things about these brands is that while you may be spending more on a bag (depending on which brand), you will be feeding less because these brands of food have many more ingredients that are digestible. So a bag of the healthy food will last just as long as the unhealthy.

Many companies i.e Iams, Science Diet, Nutro and more all use a lot of their money for marketing and advertising. The brands that I listed use their money on the quality of food they produce. I really hope that you find this information useful. Nutrition is a very important part of our lives as well as our furkids lives and can help them live longer and healthier lives just like us!

If you have ANY questions, feel free to contact me! I would love to help in any way that I can!

Bon Appétite!

Julie

Grooming Tips

2007-03-31T22:09:00.000-06:00

Alright, so some of us take on the grooming of our pets with gusto! We bathe, we ear clean, we cut or dremmel nails. But not all of us know how. So I'm gonna do a little explaining and linking to great sites that will help show others how to, so they can be more in tune with their dog!

BATHING
Bathing can be a HUGE chore, but it doesn't have to be! There are self serve dog washes all over the city where you can bring your dog and get a big tub that has both side exposed. You get lots of shampoo, conditioner, brushes and towels. Your pooch even gets a doggy facial. All of this plus NOT cleaning up when you're done costs about $18! Not bad! One of my favorite places to go to is Soggy Paws.

EAR CLEANING
Fun stuff, hahaha! This great ear wash recipe is courtesy of a member of BigPawsOnly.

Blue Magic Ear Wash

> 16 drops of Gentian Blue Solution, (also known as Gentian Violet) found at any local drug store in dropper bottles

> 2. 4 Tablespoons of Boric Acid Powder, (also found at a pharmacy)

> 16 ounces of Isopropyl Alcohol

Mix all the above ingredients well...shaking it works well...pour into a large squirt bottle, (like a large water bottle with the pop-up squirt top, try to get a bottle that will hold the entire amount you have made). And this is very important: SHAKE IT WELL before every use, so the boric acid powder is distributed in the solution before you squirt it out. I squirt a very generous amount onto a sterile gauze pad, I put enough on the cotton to make a big circle and it is sopping wet with the blue solution...then I wipe the outer ear flap first, until the dog gets used to the coolness of the solution, and then proceed to working deeper and deeper into the ear canal, gently swabbing it out, and removing the brown build-up...I never squirt this solution straight into their ears...if you have the cotton soggy enough with this solution, it will be enough to coat the inside of the ears just fine...do not wipe it out, leave it dry in their ears.

This can be done every couple of days for a week or so, then once a week, then once every two weeks, until you only need to do it once a month until you see no build up any more (this may take several months if there is a really bad ear infection), but eventually you will only have to wipe their ears with this every 3-6 mos...it seems to put a very nice balance back into their ears...and over cleansing for too long, can actually cause some problems.... so once the dog has clear ears, I back off and let their body take care of itself...there should be a little waxy build up which is normal and healthy and protects the ear canal...(of course I don't mean the gross black/brown fudgey stuff, that isn't normal in large amounts). OK, I hope this works for you, as well as it has for me! I love it!

(Another tip: I typed the recipe on a piece of paper and taped it to the bottle it's in, so I have the recipe right in front of me the next time I need to make it, but it lasts forever, so you don't have to make it often...and it's sooooo inexpensive! Also, place a big "SHAKE WELL" tag on your bottle too...you must shake it well before each use, even between squirts!)

NAILS
I am a HUGE fan of Dremeling. A Dremel is a hand held tool that you can put multiple bits onto for whatever project you're working on. They are great to have around the house! Your chances of hitting the quick are so small that once you get used to it you'll never go back to clipping nails. There is also a long attachment (below) you can use so the sound that the tool iteself makes is further away from your dog, therefore making him or her less wary of it.

When we do it, I have Aaron (my boyfriend) feed the boys treats, talk to them and pet them while I work at the nails. It's a perfect arrangement! Here's a site that I recommend for learning how to Dremel!

Good luck! This is a terrific bonding experience for you and your pup!

Homeowners Insurance Available to Breeds Previously Excluded with CGC Certificate

2007-03-29T17:11:00.000-06:00

Do you have a dog that is not covered by home owners insurance? Well we just found out some terrific news from the AKC (American Kennel Club)! Nationwide Insurance is issuing homeowners insurance to owners of breeds previously prohibited by the company, providing the dog passes the AKC Canine Good Citizen test.

"Nationwide has begun to allow the owners of certain prohibited dog breeds to attain homeowners insurance if they provide an original copy of a certificate demonstrating successful completion of the AKC Canine Good Citizen program. This provision is currently available in limited areas and provided the applicant meets traditional underwriting requirements. The Canine Good Citizen program demonstrates responsible dog ownership and we certainly hope this change will prove successful."
(see original article)

Note: at the moment, only specific Nationwide Insurance locations are participating.

Here is the link to the AKC Canine Good Citizens information page.

Wooohoooo for smart insurance companies!

Bark In The Park!

2007-03-29T00:03:00.000-06:00

Bark In The Park is around the corner and I wanted to give everyone a heads up! This is a fun, fantastic fundraising event for Anti Cruelty. It's a 5k walk (3.1 mi) up at Montrose Harbor! It starts at 9 am on May 5th! Here is the site for details. If any of you would like to meet up and walk with me, Aaron, Gweck and maybe Beans we would LOVE to see you! It is sooo much fun, TONS of dogs and people, great weather, and lots of companies set up tents for you to check out. There is an agility course that you can run your dog through for fun a raffle and other fun contests. All in all it's just a great time! If you can't make it, please think about donating, our Park Place Bark page is www.firstgiving.com/parkplacebark2. We really hope to see ALL or some of you there.