One of the Veterinary Technicians with whom I work is starting a pet sitting business. Angela is a wonderful pet nurse, pet sitter and rescuer. I love working with her, and am hoping to be one of her very first clients as soon as we can take a trip to see our awesome family in OHIO!! : )
I love that she will be able to medicate Fuzzy Rat and that all of my pets already know and love her!
Angelas_petcare@yahoo.com
(402) 740-8720
Call Angela for more information!
In one month from today, we are taking all three dogs on the Nebraska Humane Society 2010 Walk for the Animals. I think it will be a very fun time!
All proceeds raised go to support the dogs and cats (and little guys!) of Nebraska Humane Society. I think they should label the corner behind the cats “Miscellaneous” as a joke, but maybe some people would not get the joke and then it would not be a good label. That’s where all the non-dog and cat pets are. I LOVE that corner!! In just the past few months, they have had super cute newborn fuzzy white bunnies, painted turtles, ferrets, rats, gerbils, budgies and even a cockatiel.
ANYWAYS, Russ and Jodi and I are all attempting to raise money for the Nebraska Humane Society. You don’t even have to bet on whether I will finish the mile or number of laps or anything. You can pledge a set amount…or just wish us well (which is free!)
Here’s my link! Here is the link for Family Finch (Jodi, Russ and me)
If your business would like to become a corporate sponsor, here is the link…I have read through the list of sponsors, you would be in the company of awesomes!
Last night’s #dogtalk was about pet blogging. Very fun. Find the entire transcript on Dr. Lorie A. Huston’s Pet Health Care Gazette site.
(Thanks Doctor!!)
I wanted a place to gather all of the websites mentioned last night, so I could go back and look at each of them one by one. Many I already know and love. So I will start with a list of last night’s participants and add others I like and discover as we go. Hopefully this page will end up as out of control and fun as the follow friday page!
First the blogs of the four awesome bloggers who were featured last night:
Dancing Dog Blog by Mary Haight
Dawg Business by Jana Rade
Dogan Dogs by Dino Dogan
Pet Health Care Gazette by Lorie A. Huston, DVM
And, the rest!
Daisy the Wonder Dog and No Dog About It
Dr. Patrick Mahany – Patrick Mahany, DVM
Fang Shui Canines – Hillary Lane
Mary’s Dogs by Mary Doane
Pampered Pets Pal by Stevan R. Grimes (link to old blog)
And in case you are inspired to start blogging (I KNOW you love pets – you might love blogging too!) here is a fun article from Dino Dogan on starting…http://askaaronlee.com/blogging-how-do-i-get-started-in-10-steps-or-less/
Here’s a list of other blogs I love. Most of them are here and there in Riley and James, but now they will all be in one place. Someday, maybe I will get even more organized and have them all on the home page or something! Not today though…
Blogs by Veterinarians – I created a seperate post!
Blogs by Other Pet Lovers:
Bunny’s Blog by Vikki Cook
Darlene Arden by Darlene Arden
Dog Spelled Forward by Eric Goebelbecker
Fearful Dogs by Debbie Jacobs
Will My Dog Hate Me by Edie Jarolim
And, finally, not (directly) pet related, but I LOVE these blogs:
And Now We Are Six by Cathy Babcock
Artists for Hope by Roberta VanderZwaag and friends
Beat the Hell Outta ALS by Team Anderson
Boobs and Coffee by Vera Jo
5AMthinking by Gordon F. MacPherson, Jr.
Life as a Vicar’s Wife by Kelly Rasmussen
Names Have Been Changed to Protect the Idiots by KindaSassy : )
One Year Bible by Stan Parker
ProBlogger by Darren Rowse
Secret Penguin by Dave Nelson
Shellybobbins by Shelly Bobbins
Maybe with a bit of encouragement, all of Omaha will begin to shift to a dog-welcoming atmosphere. How fun would that be? If you know of dog-friendly businesses or events, let me know and I will add them. If you OWN a dog-friendly business, let me know and I will add it and also say, I think you are awesome.
Check out this site that I LOVE – Go Pet Friendly – and thank you guys for allowing me to link to your site! My little blog post here will have Omaha-specific information as I collect it. Go Pet Friendly has country-wide information, including pet-friendly hotels! Very fun site to visit, even if you do not happen to be heading out the door with your pup!
Also check out Fido Factor – They also have helpful information on pet-friendly places! Pretty soon we will be able to walk in about anywhere with our pups!
Omaha Pet-Friendly Places…
Pumpkin Patch at 120th and Military – inexpensive pumpkins and very dog friendly! Support your local farmers! October 14, 2010 *Just in time for Halloween!* Thanks Alicia!
PetSmart – 6 area locations
Outdoor concerts at Shadow Lake Towne Center
Jazz on the Green concerts at Midtown Crossing
Bookworm Bookstore 88th and Pacific
Canfield’s Sporting Goods 84th and Center – They may even take your dog’s picture and hang it on their wall!
Trocadéro “Lifestyle and Accessories Emporium” – Old Market
Underwood Hill’s Presbyterian Church – This church in Dundee has special services to which pets are invited. I was reminded of this great program recently when I saw a fellow grocery shopper with a Underwood Hill’s T-shirt with paw prints on it.
Subway in the Old Market (outdoor seating)
Upstream in the Old Market (outdoor seating)
La Buvette in the Old Market (outdoor seating)
Farmer’s Markets – Old Market (Saturdays), Aksarben (Sundays)
Come to think of it…The Old Market and the surrounding areas have amazing dog walking and hanging out areas.
McFoster’s Natural Kind Cafe 302 South 38th Street (outdoor seating)
Trovato’s Italian Restaurant – Dundee (outdoor seating)
Chipolte Mexican Grill (outdoor seating)
Goldberg’s – Dundee (outdoor seating)
Nebraska Humane Society – in designated areas
QC Supply in Elkhorn – went there today (Sept. 27, 2010) with Noodle the Poodle, LOVE this store!!
Old Chicago – beer garden at Old Chicago of 76th and Cass – I will find out about other locations! It will be fun to support this one – I love their food (and drinks!)
Merle Norman Cosmetic Studios – 50th and Dodge
Call a business or restaurant ahead if you are unsure if they welcome pets! Even if they say “no” you will get them thinking!
*****
Some stores will make exceptions if your pet is cute enough. Russ and I would always walk to Blockbuster’s in Littleton Colorado. I would stay outside with our dog Benji while Russ went in to get our movie. One time, the manager came out to the parking lot to pet Benji and said, “You can bring him in if you want to.” I always did from then on, and we rented movies there more than ever to say “thank you” to that kind manager. It is a very good memory now over ten years later.
OK, this one is not official, so don’t go bringing your dog in to Sam and Louie’s just because you brought him on errands and didn’t think through how hot it is out! But I DO want you to support Sam and Louie’s, specifically the one near 72nd and L Street! I went there with my friend Erika, and we overheard a guy at the bar saying he was just going to get a drink or two while his dog waited in the car.
Both of us have dog-loving qualities that are about one hundred times stronger than our introversion (which is a pretty strong trait in both of us!) ANYWAYS, the manager there ended up relenting to our pleas (so we let go of his ankles and stood up), and Ray Charles, the very cute, very blind, very brachycephalic Boston Terrier got to sit under his owner’s feet at the bar instead of in the hot car with the windows up during the lunch hour. Thank you Very Nice Sam and Louie’s manager. Because I no longer get my movies at the Littleton Blockbuster’s, I will transfer all of my love for the Blockbuster’s manager to you and express it by buying your pizzas and sandwiches as often as possible.
Thank you to Alicia Weiland, Jen Howell, Jess Kamish and Russ Finch for help with the initial info gathering. You are three of my favorite women and my absolute favorite guy.
me: He’s gone.
mom: He’s gone, Sweetie.
But he’s right here.
mom: That’s his body. He’s in heaven with Jesus…and Grandpa.
So he’s in heaven and his body’s still here?
mom: yes.
Does he not need his body in heaven?
mom: no.
What’s he doing in heaven?
mom: Maybe running…or playing with Grandpa.
me: He can do stuff like that again because he doesn’t hurt anymore.
Oh…good.
mom: You are doing a really good job handling this.
Good enough for a hot rod?
me *whispering* Please say yes.
(If you don’t mind, imagine the next sentence fragments in the voice of Flint Lockwood, from Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. You know I LOVE to be boring, but sometimes I love to SEEM exciting, so I thought maybe that would help. Thanks.)
Gathering! Restating! Linking! Helping! <running around the living room> <pushing big red button> Publishing!
I know it’s been said, but I just wanted to make sure you and your pets have all the resources you need for this Independence Day! So this week I am gathering and reposting information about storm and firework phobias. Add any tips or resources you have!
Scared on the Fourth of July – Last Year’s Posting With an Update
Thunderphobia – Trainer Eric Goebelbecker’s Great Posting on Dr. V’s Pawcurious Website
Fourth of July Fireworks Safety Tips for Your Pets – brand new article from Dr. Patrick Mahaney, Veterinarian and Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist
Thundershirts! – Too late to order them from the website for Sunday! And as you know, yahoos in Omaha are already shooting off fireworks, so the poor dogs are already pretty worked up.
Nebraska Humane Society has some Thundershirts, but they are running low! Quick, go push someone out of the way and grab theirs. (Don’t really.)
Happy Independence Day! Make sure your pet is with you or safe at home this weekend. Here’s to a safe and wonderful weekend for you and your family! God Bless America!
Every problem Pugs are prone to is magnified if they are carrying extra weight. Breathing issues become more severe. Joint issues become more painful. Even wrinkles become deeper! Obesity may even worsen conditions that may seem unrelated, such as allergies and other immune problems.
Unfortunately, Pugs are also genetically prone to being overweight. This does not have to become a hopeless cycle. Start now to keep your Pug fit and at an appropriate weight, and you will minimize and perhaps even eliminate many problems in the future.
Pugs should be broader at the shoulder and chest than most dogs, but their body condition should be muscular. They should have a slightly tucked in waist, and ribs that can be felt, but not seen. Weight loss, if indicated, should be guided by your veterinarian and spread over several months.
Provide your Pug with a high quality diet, perhaps a low fat version of his normal food. Consult with your veterinarian as you formulate his feeding plan while he is losing weight and once he is in great shape. Your veterinarian can also give you ideas on treats and between meal snacks. Consider weight loss goals and your pet’s preferences. Some treats to consider are green beans, carrots, chicken and low fat commercial treats.
Walk your Pug as often as you can. Once or twice a day is ideal. Playing fetch, running in the yard and swimming, if he or she enjoys these activities, are also great, but walks will most likely be the crux of your exercise program. Base the length and intensity of the first walks on your Pug’s fitness level. Do not push him or her beyond what can be done comfortably.
Remember that all dogs are prone to heat stress, and Pugs and other brachycephalic dogs are more sensitive than most. If your pet seems at all uncomfortable during exercise, be grateful that though they may be overweight, they are still portable and can be scooped up and carried home if needed! Have water available on your walk, and a cool place to rest inside after exercise.
Over weeks and months you can increase the duration and intensity of exercise until you are both in peak condition.
Stephanie Alford’s Typhoon
No beer for dogs in real life! But you knew that, right?
Dogs shed or need haircuts. Pugs shed very, very well. A high quality diet will help minimize shedding, but your Pug will still shed. Brushing your Pug at least weekly will contain some of the shedding, but will also keep the skin healthy with the gentle stimulation of brushing and redistribute the skin’s oil along the hairs.
A slicker brush can be used, but a Furminator is even better. This is a brush based on the grooming clipper blades that gently works out the loose undercoat. It is the most effective brush I have found. The one precaution you will need to take is be careful about brushing one area of skin over and over, as excessive or rough brushing can cause skin irritation. If you are concerned, spread a good brushing over two or three days.
Bathe your Pug regularly. Every two to four weeks is ideal. Any more often (unless prescribed by your veterinarian for a medical condition) may cause skin dryness. Use a puppy or dog shampoo. Massage it into the coat well and rinse completely. This too will keep hair follicles healthy, so shedding is as minimal as possible, and will also contain some of the shedding to bath time.
When you are bathing your Pug, make sure you gently wipe the crevices of his or her wrinkles with a soft cloth. Make sure they are dried completely. Pay special attention to the wrinkles around your Pug’s eyes. These can be extra prone to moisture problems, as tears may collect here. If needed, wipe these wrinkles out daily with a pet-specific wipe, being careful to avoid the eyes themselves. If the wrinkles seem red or have any discharge, make sure you get your Pug in to see your veterinarian as soon as possible. After bath time is a good time for nail clipping and ear cleaning.
When your Pug is dry, check his or her wrinkles for moisture. They should be as dry as the rest of your Pug. Moisture at the worst is a sign of a skin problem and at the best, predisposes your Pug to skin problems in the future.
Pugs have wrinkles around their eyes and muzzle, over their shoulders and around their tail base. The depth of the wrinkles varies from dog to dog, but can be accentuated by excess weight. Keep your Pug at an ideal weight, and wrinkle problems will be minimized.
Stephanie Alford’s Typhoon
Pugs are brachycephalic (literally “broad headed”). The upper respiratory system of Pugs is not as efficient as that of mesochephalic (normal) or dolichocephalic (“long headed”) dogs, and many of the breathing problems Pugs are prone to are due simply to the inability of air to travel smoothly from the outside atmosphere to the lungs. Our job as Pug lovers is to make that journey as smooth as possible, and thus minimize breathing issues as much as possible.
Pugs often have stenotic nares, meaning their nostrils are smaller and not as fully open as other dogs’ nostrils. They have a shorter snout which means they also have a shorter, more compressed sinus system. Their soft palate, which is behind their hard palate, or roof of their mouth, is longer than that of other dogs, and also goes back farther into their pharynx. The soft palate may cause no problem at all, or may interfere with breathing by blocking the opening to the lower respiratory system. Often their laryngeal saccules (small membranes near their larynx, or voice box) may be inverted, which could be a primary issue or secondary to chronic negative pressure due to the other respiratory issues.
All of these will at best make your Pug a snorer, a snorter and a reverse sneezer, and in the worst cases will cause respiratory issues that can be very serious.
Some of the issues Pugs face are potentially surgical. If your Pug has stenotic nares, a veterinarian who does nasal surgery (usually a general practitioner) can reshape the nostrils under general anesthesia to create more comfortable air flow. If this is done at a young age, often secondary problems of elongated soft palate and everted laryngeal saccules can be avoided. If these also are problems (your veterinarian can check for you), they can also be surgically corrected, either by a general practitioner or a board certified veterinary surgeon.
Weight management will be the number one variable you will be able to control in keeping your pet’s respiratory system healthy. If your Pug is fit and at a healthy weight, he or she will be better able to deal with the shortcomings of the respiratory system. Your Pug will be even more heat-sensitive than other dogs, so be over-protective in warm weather. Exercise is important, but watch carefully for any signs of discomfort and let him our her rest or discontinue an activity that is causing respiratory distress. Keep him or her cool and well hydrated.
Control what you can, and have treatable problems treated. Keep your Pug at a healthy weight, and be very watchful for respiratory discomfort. May your snoring, snorting, reverse-sneezing Pug always be completely healthy and fully oxygenated.
Stephanie Alford’s Typhoon
Interdigital cysts can be a problem for any dog, but Pugs may be more disposed to them, and dogs who have spent time on wire grating often develop interdigital cysts secondary to the irritation caused by the wiring. Broken toes are another risk of living on wire flooring.
Wire grating is NEVER an appropriate substrate for sensitive pet paws, but is often used in puppy mill situations to fit too many dogs into too small of an area. It is illegal as a flooring material for pets in many communities, including Omaha.
Sometimes interdigital cysts will occur without prior foot trauma, and sometimes they will mimic other diseases, such as tumors or foreign bodies in the foot. If a “cyst” seems to be growing or is not healing, have it checked by your veterinarian.
Many times interdigital cysts will resolve without treatment. Make sure your Pug is not uncomfortable or favoring one paw over the others. If all else seems well, keep an eye on your Pug and call your veterinarian at the first sign of the problem worsening.
Watch for discomfort, discharge, enlargement of the cyst and failure to resolve in ten to fourteen days. Your veterinarian may remove or lance the cyst and/or prescribe antibiotics or foot soaks. He or she will also rule out other causes of swelling between the toes, so be sure to have your Pug seen if the problem does not resolve or if it worsens.
Stephanie Alford’s Typhoon