Tag Archives: safety dance

What’s in Your Bowl?

1 Dec

Last night, my mom stumbled upon a very interesting documentary posted on the blog of our friends at Biscuits by Lambchop. The documentary is called Pet Food: A Dog’s Breakfast and was originally aired on CBC through Doc Zone in 2008. The large focus of Pet Food: A Dog’s Breakfast chronicles the events of the 2007 Menu Foods pet food recall and details the stories of a few humans who pets died or were affected by the recall. It also discusses en length the trickery and mislabeling of most commercial pet foods and what it is that you’re actually feeding your pet when you choose to buy pet food from grocery or big box stores. The documentary roughly 45 minutes, but worth the watch. As a warning, at the 23.29 mark, there a bit of the now infamous PETA animal food testing footage (and thankfully the only time any animal rights groups are mentioned). I’m unaware of how long this video will stay on youtube (things like this have a habit of disappearing), so watch it while you can.

This video raises many topics that I think the regular pet food consumer isn’t aware of, specifically, the falsification of ingredients labels (such as Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins explained, ingredient splitting), the fact of how overly processed kibble is, what can meet pet food standards (mmm, old work boots), and what I find to be one of the most important facts, that veterinarians are taught next to nothing about animal nutrition (think about that the next time your vet tells you should be feeding Science Diet). There are also some things that I think the video missed, mostly the opportunity to talk about what is quality commercial pet food. Thankfully reading nutritional labels was stressed, but saving a segment to highlight some foods that aren’t following the old boy’s network of most pet food companies would have been a good point to make. In fact, it seemed that the video was lumping all commercial pet foods together, when today, there are a lot of brands (many that I’ve highlighted in this blog) that are making strides in terms of quality ingredients and manufacturing. For more on this, check out this great video by Dr. Karen Becker.

Want to see how the food you’re currently feeding your pet stacks up? Check out it’s rating on Dog Food Advisor or run it through K9 Cuisine’s dog food rater.

I love to hear what your thoughts are on Pet Food: A Dog’s Breakfast.

Happy tail wags!

The Trouble With Chicken Jerky

29 Nov

If you’ve been keeping up with my twitter and facebook pages, you’ll notice I’ve been talking a lot about chicken jerky, or more specifically, chicken jerky from China. Since 2007, after 157 dogs became ill, the FDA has been issuing alerts about humans feeding dog specific chicken jerky (also described as tenders, strips, or treats) manufactured in China to their dogs. In the 2007 cases, there was a melamine (a compound that used to make things like fire-retardant fabric and the suspected cause of the 2007 pet food recalls) contamination causing over 95 dogs to become ill. In 2008, another FDA warning regarding chicken jerky was issued, this time involving dog illness cases in Australia. This time the warning also involved dental chews made from soy, corn, and rice. The link between the two? Being manufactured in China.

On November 18th, 2011, the most recent date, a third alert was issued. Within a year, complaints of dogs becoming ill after consuming Chinese manufactured chicken jerky had risen from 54 reports of illness in 2010 to 70 (and rising). There has yet to be found an actual cause for illnesses nor any recalls of any chicken jerky, tender, strips, or treat brands. The symptoms that the reported dogs have experienced are as follows: decreased appetite, decreased activity, vomiting, diarrhea (often times bloody), increased consumption of water, and usually increased urination. Symptoms usually appear within hours to a day after feeding. These symptoms are linked to Fanconi Syndrome, a kidney disease commonly found in Basengis.

So where does that leave me and my fellow dogs who have a severe craving for chicken? The FDA strongly urges cutting back on how much chicken based treats you give your dog, going so far as to remind everyone that “chicken jerky products should not be substituted for a balanced diet and are intended to be fed occasionally in small quantities” (there is some speculation, though not confirmed, that regular consumption of chicken jerky is the cause). My suggestion, and one that should carry into not only the chicken jerky, but also in every facet of your dog’s diet, stop buying treats made in China. It has become clear, especially after the pet food recalls of 2007, that pet food and treats coming out of China are bad news. It is wiser, then, to purchase treats and food (especially chicken jerky treats) from companies who only manufacture in either the United States or Canada (or if you’re not a North American reader, from your home country). My chicken jerky of choice? TriPom Chews. Not only do they use 100% USDA Grade A, restaurant quality whole chicken and turkey breast, but they are also made in my home state of Maine.

If you’re going to be purchasing chicken jerky for your dog, make sure to really read the label. If it says “Made in China,” skip it! Look for a treat that is “Made in the USA” (and make sure it says “made” and not just “packaged.” That’s a tricky way some treat companies try to fool consumers). And, if you’re dog has eaten chicken jerky and is experiencing the symptoms I mentioned above, call your veterinarian.

Happy tail wags.

P.S. There has also been a misinformed rumor spreading around the internet (mostly on facebook) about a Blue Buffalo recall in connection to the chicken jerky alerts. As I stated earlier, as the FDA is still investigating everything, there have been no recalls of any products. In fact, none of Blue Buffalo’s products are made in China, it’s all made and sourced in the US. Blue Buffalo has released a statement regarding the rumors that you can read here.

Sources: FDA 2011, FDA 2007, FDA 2008, Food Safety News

Give Your Thanks and Don’t Eat the Bones

23 Nov

Thanksgiving, a day of human satiation and enough drool-worthy food to cause any dog to wish they could walk on only two legs and own opposable thumbs. Tomorrow my humans will sit down at the barely used dining room table to tuck in whilst I’m stuck under the table hoping one of them slips me something yummy. Many of my fellow blogs and animal-centric sites are all a buzz with the feast foods one shouldn’t be sharing with their pooches, but what about those dog-friendly dishes? Thanksgiving is full of them! Let’s take a look:

- Sweet potatoes: Sweet potatoes are a great spud for your dog to nosh on. Of course, we’re talking sweet potatoes free of butter, spices, and those little white marshmallows. When you’re busily cooking away for your feast, throw a sweet potato in the oven to set aside for your pup.

- Turkey: Yes! Turkey! The main event! Feel free to slip your dog some skin-free (skin is too fatty and hard for your dog’s digestive system to break down), seasoning-free, light turkey meat. And while it is important to skip cooked bones, a raw bone is totally fine. If you can’t get a raw turkey bone, maybe find a marrow bone or raw oxtail. Not only will your pup love to gnaw on it, it will also keep them busy and not begging at the table.

-Pumpkin: Like sweet potato, pumpkin is a great snack for your dog. Also like sweet potato, make sure it’s plain pumpkin (i.e. no pumpkin pie filling).

-Vegetables: Think cooked (or raw) carrots, green beans, and peas. While not my favorite, there are dogs that go bananas for some cooked, plain veggies.

-Butternut squash: One of my favorites! Remember, no butter, seasoning, etc.

-Potatoes: Some dogs are allergic to this spud, but if yours isn’t, feel free to share some butterless, seasoningless (seeing a pattern yet?) potatoes.

See, your dog can partake in the fun and festivities of Thanksgiving too! Just remember, skip the fat and the extras and keep it simple and plain for the four-legged crowd.

Happy tail wags!

Scram Scams

4 Oct

When you donate to a pet-based charity, do you know where your money is going? A few weeks ago, this question was brought up in my mom’s mind when an obviously photoshopped picture of a puppy made the rounds on her facebook page. The puppy, while obviously suffering from some form of skin condition, had been altered to look like it was suffering from severe, life threatening wounds. The original poster of the photo, a dog rescue, was using it to garner funds to help save the dog that they claimed was a victim of being a bait dog. After some investigation, it turned out that the rescue was legit and the photo wasn’t there’s, it had been sent to them through another source. Even still, it’s a harsh reminder that there are humans out there who prey on the charity of those that just want to help animals in need. So like I asked before, do you know where your money goes when you donate to a pet-based charity?

Because of these scams, as well as organizations like the Humane Society of the United States who claim their money goes to help pets in need when, in fact, it doesn’t, we have only ever donated to local animal shelters (like the Humane Society of Knox County or the Camden-Rockport Animal Rescue) or out-of-state/national rescues where we personally know people involved (like Ratbone). When you keep your money going to places you know, have seen yourself, and trust, you can be assured that the pets in their care (and that they actually have pets in their care) will benefit. This article from Wisconsin Dog Rescue has some great tips to assure the rescue you’re donating to is reputable.

What are your favorite shelters and/or rescues that you donate to?

Happy tail wags!

 

The Itchy Issue

2 Aug

Fleas. I don’t think anyone anywhere would actually say that they like those itty bitty bloodsucking fiends. It’s even worse for dogs who have flea allergic dermatitis (FAD) or flea bite hypersensitivity. FAD is a reaction to a flea’s saliva that is left during a flea bite. While not life threatening, FAD is incredibly uncomfortable for a dog due to the skin becoming severely itchy. The itchiness can lead to hair loss, skin inflammation, and skin trauma due to chewing and scratching. If you need proof, you can take a look at my back end.

While I’ve always had a uncomfortable time with fleas, this summer has been especially awful. Right now, my back, rear legs, and belly are almost hairless, rather red, and covered in tiny scabs, which has led my mom to believing I have FAD (she’ll be scheduling a vet appointment in the near future to confirm). The fleas seem incredibly inexhaustible this summer, mainly due to the humans’ suspicions that the front lawn may be infested (probably thanks to an influx of stray kitties, a new neighborhood raccoon, and the empty house next door becoming a bat haven). Even the usual preventative steps to protect myself and the kitties from fleas and other nasty bugs aren’t working. So what’s a poor, scratchy pooch to do?

Sadly, not much. My mom has been researching safe methods to deflea the yard (even though we are moving soon), the kitties and I are being tortured with flea combing three times a day, and we’ve all been doused with not only holistic anti flea remedies, but also the heavy, not so natural stuff (Frontline and Capstar). For the itching, a friend of my mom’s and co-owner of The Animal House, a pet store in Damariscotta, Maine, suggested raw coconut oil. Not only is coconut oil a great, healthy treat, it is also antiseptic so it’s great for cuts and scrapes. Stay tuned for a separate post about all the benefits of coconut oil!

Now it’s all about the waiting. Even after a single bite, a FAD prone dog can suffer symptoms for an extended period of time. On the 13th, the humans, the kitties, and I are moving in with my GG and gramp, so that takes care of having to worry about the infested lawn. I also think the kitties are going to be scheduled for a professional defleaing at a pet groomers (thankfully it’s them and not me!).

If you have any flea related or flea allergic dermatitis related tips, please feel free to share in the comments!

Happy (but itchy) tail wags!

Source: PetMD

Jaxs’ Allergies

11 Jul

I often extoll the virtues of a doggy wardrobe. Not only are dog clothes incredibly stylish, but they often can protect against sun, rain, cold, and yes, even allergies!

(photo source)

Meet Jaxs, a eight year-old Jack Russell Terrier who suffers from a painful allergy to grass (among other things including milk protein, and oats) If Jax comes in contact with even a single blade of the green stuff, sores start to form on his paws and his fur falls out in clumps. His very concerned human didn’t know what to do with Jaxs’ condition or any idea what has causing it. It wasn’t until Jaxs’ veterinarian ran a few tests confirming that he was, in fact, allergic to grass.

Armed with this information, and a set of canvas and velcro booties, Jaxs began his new life of romping through lawns without the painful side effects that would make him chew his paws. In fact, Jaxs has become so enamored with his booties that he will protect them from other dogs (especially when they try to pull them off) and he even cuddles with them when he sleeps. When his human grabs his leash in preparation for a walk, Jax will even go fetch his boots.

Obviously there are some less than understanding humans who believe the Jaxs’ human is cruel by making him wear his boots. The way I see it, though, it would be cruel if Jax had to be kept confined to his home due to a reaction with a very simple cure. Plus, I’m sure Jax doesn’t mind having a posh set of paw covers just as long as he gets to run in the fresh air without pain.

Happy tail wags!

Source: Small World News Service

Hypoallergenic or Just Hype?

24 May

While we were waiting for the final decision as to whether or not I would be able to live with my mom at college, I often mused over possible reasons why I wouldn’t be allowed to go. One of the big reasons I thought of was the fact that there are humans out there who are allergic to dogs. Since we would be living in a communal environment, I would be interacting with a lot of humans on a daily basis, some of which may be allergic me (no matter how cute I am). The thing is, I could be what is labeled a “hypoallergenic” or “non-allergenic” breed as both Yorkshire Terriers and miniature Poodles are on the low allergen list. But, can a dog be truly non-allergenic or is this all just hype?

The most important thing to consider is that humans usually aren’t allergic to a dog’s coat, the usually scapegoat for an allergic reaction. In fact, there is another major culprit, dander. Dander is made up of skin cells that tend to linger in a dog’s coat.  All warm-blooded animals, including birds, produce dander.

So what’s a human to do? While it’s true that there is no 100% allergen free pooch, a dog that has hair tend to accumulate less dander than dogs with a fur coat. This is also true of dust and pollen that may accumulate. Regular grooming, including bathes, will also help cut back on dander. A HEPA air filter in the home is also suggested.

Thankfully none of my humans are allergic to me too much (my aunt sometimes gets sneezy around me), but we are aware that in the fall some things may need to change in case there are humans who may have an adverse reaction to my presence. While I don’t really like it, I will be getting more baths than I usually get (though not enough to dry out my skin). I’m already brushed every day, so we’ll just be concentrating on keeping me nice and squeaky clean, even if I hate it.

Please leave some of your tips for a low dander lifestyle in the comments.

Happy tail wags!

First Aid

20 May

For the longest time my mom has been wanting to take a pet first aid class. Though she is on the way to attending veterinary school and becoming a vet, there is a long time between then and now. An emergency may happen involving myself or one of the kitties within that time. If she has some tools that will help her help us, the more the better. So she was more than excited that The Loyal Biscuit decided to host a pet first aid class as a fundraiser for the Maine POM Project. For every class fee of $40, the Red Cross gets $22 to cover fees while the POM Project gets $18 to help purchase Pet Oxygen Masks (or POMs) for Maine emergency vehicles and firetrucks. So far, The Maine POM Project has donated over 152 sets of POMs to areas all over Maine, including my town and the ones that are neighboring.

A pet oxygen mask

The human who teaches the pet first aid class, Bobby Silcott, is an ACO as well as the one doing the majority, if not all of the work behind the POM Project. In between his duties as an ACO, he goes around the state teaching pet first aid classes as well as handing out and doing the training for the POMs.

Heidi, the owner of the Loyal Biscuit, and Bob Silcott.

While I can’t divulge everything that my mom learned at her class (while time is a factor, taking the class is far better than reading everything on a blog anyway), there were a few key points that my mom felt needed sharing. The first is that knowing pet first aid does not mean you become a stand-in for your pet’s veterinarian. In fact, the number 1 priority is get the pet stabilized enough so that you can make it to the vets, not make them 100% better. To go along with that is to try to remember as many facts as possible to better inform the veterinarian. If you see a dog get hit by a vehicle, it can be important to know where the dog was struck, what kind of vehicle it was (compact car, truck, etc), how the dog is acting, etc. The more information, the better.

Bob administering chest compressions on his helpful, stuffed assistant Hope.

The second important thing is to know what is normal for your own pets. Know their eating habits, bathroom habits, grooming habits, what their normal heart beat feels like, etc. We animals can not verbalize to humans when something is wrong with us, so we rely on you to notice if our behavior changes; a signal that we are not okay.

Bob showing how to use a make-shift muzzle

Another thing that Bob stressed is that you can never fully trust an injured animal, even if it’s your own. He said that cats, especially, can turn very violent when they are stressed and in pain. That’s not to say all injured animals will always lash out, or always get violent, it’s just to stress caution. If you are injured when trying to help your pet, you will no longer be able to help to the best of your abilities.

Because of this wonderful and informative class, my mom feels better prepared in case of an emergency. She is now certified in both cat and dog first aid, and has a handy manual that helps give information on everything from eye injuries to hypothermia. If you are interested in taking a pet first aid class, please check with your local Red Cross. If you would like to donate or learn more information about the Maine POM Project, you can check out their website and facebook page.

Happy tail wags!

Dog Rehabilitation Center of Maine

1 Mar

Updated March 29th: Please check out the addendum I wrote regarding this post.

Sometimes there are dogs that their humans believe they just cannot handle. This could be from behavioral issues, aggression issues, or something that takes severe dedication from both humans and pooch, like house breaking. Sadly, if humans feel they are at the end of their rope, a lot of these dogs will face re-homing, abandonment, or even euthanasia. But, there are places around the country (and the world) that try to rehabilitate these “trouble” pups. One of those places just happens to be in my home state and is called the Dog Rehabilitation Center of Maine.

(photo source)

The Dog Rehabilitation Center of Maine, or as it’s sometimes known, the Dog Temple, is run by a human named Sergei Bachkovski and his team of Well Balanced dogs, or “the pack”. Balance is what Sergei and his four legged team are all about. Often, Sergei is hired to come into the homes of dogs whose humans feel have no more options. He will assess what is going on, figure out where the problems are, and plan a course of action that will help rehabilitate your dog. The Dog Temple also has a Doggy Boot Camp! Dogs stay with Sergei and his doggy team where they can get the proper attention they need, all the energy releasing exercise they can handle, and most importantly safe and therapeutic interaction with the pack.

Some local animal shelters, such as the Kennebec Valley Humane Society, have asked Sergei for his assistance in rehabilitating the dogs brought into their shelters who would otherwise be euthanized due to behavior issues. Sergei will bring the dogs to his facility and work with them until they are adoptable and ready to find their forever homes.

Besides the intensive rehabilitation, the Dog Temple also has Doggy Daycare and overnight Boarding.

If you’d like more information, or are interested in the facilities offered at the Dog Rehabilitation Center of Maine, please check out their website or their facebook page.

Happy tail wags!

Source: The Dog Rehabilitation Center of Maine

The Tale of the Cone

18 Jan

While I’m not the most flexible of dogs, I am able to put up with a lot. I mean, look at how many crazy outfits I let the humans dress me up in! There have only been a few times I’ve had to put my paw down, one of those times being when I had an unfortunate run in with “The Cone of Shame” (or, as it is most commonly known to you humans, the e-collar). It all happened after that big trip to the vets that most young dogs go through (I’ve heard the humans refer to it as a spay or neuter. It’s all gibberish to me). My mom was afraid I would chew the cut running down my belly, so she slipped this hard, plastic cone thing on my head. Terrified isn’t quite the best descriptor to explain how I felt. Not only did I have a hard time moving my head around, I also couldn’t get comfortable when trying to lay down. I wound up standing in the corner of the couch, the mouth of the e-collar resting on the arm. Thankfully, my mom took pity on me and removed the horrid abomination resting around my head.

Due to this wonderfully scarring event, I was a little more than skeptical when I received an offer to try out an interesting, flexible take on the hard plastic e-collar from Trimline Manufacturing. Of course my mom jumped on the chance (in her words “would you rather go back to the ‘cone of shame’ if something were to happen?” Anything but the cone of shame!). Trimline Veterinary Recovery Collars, also known as the “soft blue collar,” are just that, soft. They are made from laminated fabric that is non-toxic, non-allergenic, and water resistant which allows the wearer the ability to sleep, eat, and drink comfortably. This coated fabric also helps to keep the collar safe from wear and tear from any chewing and scratching (something that came in handy after the kitty Gracie Lynn decided to try to use it as a scratching pad).

And now for the embarrassing photo evidence:

Stop laughing!

While I didn’t run and hide during the reveal of the Trimline collar, it did take a little more than the average amount of coaxing and treats to get me comfortable enough to slip it over my head. As the collar is held in place with a draw string, it wasn’t as tight or uncomfortable as the traditional e-collar. In fact, after a few minutes of adjusting to having a bright blue thing in my peripheral, I was walking around the house as if I wasn’t wearing a funny form of neck wear (except that the humans were a lot more giggly whenever I walked by them).

The things I do for you people!

While I don’t need the Trimline collar anytime soon, thank goodness, it is something that is good to have on hand for those emergency situations. It’s flexible design means its incredibly easy to store away so my nanny won’t toss it due to it being “in the way” as was the fate of my last e-collar.

To order a Trimline Veterinary Recovery Collar, check out their website or you can contact your local pet supply store to see if they carry the “soft blue collar.”

Happy tail wags!

(FTC Disclosure: I was sent two Trimline Veterinary Recovery Collars to review. No other compensation was given for this review. All opinions expressed are solely from my little puppy brain!)

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