Dog Care Tip: Modular Dog Kennels

I personally hate chain fences, they're not the prettiest things in the world and they don't offer you, your family or your home much protection. However, they became popular because they were cheap, and an easy way to keep your pet inside your yard. But no more!

Now there is new modular fencing that is affordable and safer. With chain link fences your dog's collar could get caught on a link, or might not be effective in keeping smaller breeds inside the yard. What pet owners can do is invest in modular fencing or a modular kennel ( seen above) , both are easy to install and available in custom sizes to tailor to your pet's specific size.

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Dog Care: Signs of Stress

I was reading Pet Age magazine and I found this great little pet care tip.

It's important to recognize when your dog is stressed. It can avoid an attack, bad behavior and even medical problems. Here's what Pet Age magazine said are some signs of canine stress:

Licking the Lips

Yawning

Closing the Mouth

Stiffening of the body

Flashing the whites of the eyes for more than 15 seconds

Nervous clawing or jumping on the supervisor

(in play groups)

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Dogs and Cats need to keep Warm

Tips to keep them safe:

Only take dogs and cats outdoors when necessary because they can get frostbitten ears, noses and feet if left outside.

The two biggest threats to our pets: (haha get it!)

1) Hypothermia and 2) Dehydration

What to do:

For Inside Pets:

- Consider a sweater for short-coated breeds, avoid sweaters made of cotton

- Keep fireplaces screened and heaters out of reach as a pet may chew the cord or knock it over and cause a fire.

For outside pets:

-Give them thick old blankets or towels to snuggle up with

-Make sure they have food and water

-Consider installing a door, and make sure the "door" to their house is protected against wind

-Check on them regularly, to check for signs of hypothermia and to replace frozen water

Remember: Animals naturally found in warm temperatures can not adapt to severe drops in temperatures.

- Outdoor cats will climb under the hoods of cars for warmth, bang loudly on your car’s hood before starting the engine to give them a chance to move.

-Your car becomes a freezer in the winter-don't leave them inside of it.

After taking them on a walk:

-Avoid tiny cuts and cracked pads by towel or blow-dry after exposure to rain or snow.

Remember: chemicals used to melt snow and ice walkways can burn your pet

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It's like Virtual Pets that are Real!!!

This gadget isn't exactly new, it was developed in Japan and finally came to the US in 2003- but it's still awesome! It's called The Bowlingual. It translates your dog's bark into six different categories that tell you what they're trying to say!Sad, happy, frustrated, on guard, needy and assertive/showing off!

The Bowlingual is pre-programmed with 200 different breeds of dog all listed on the Bowlingual website. But even if your breed isn't listed ( such as a newest trendy cross-breeds) this gadget can still work by entering your dog's size and muzzle shape.

Buyer Beware: It doesn't quite work for puppies...yet.

Does anyone have one? Tell us how it works out!


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Veterinary Medicine of 2007

Well, it's officially over. The end of 2007 was saluted by a graveyard of last year's Christmas trees bordering my street, waiting for the garbage truck.

I'm saying my good-bye to 2007 by saluting the great veterinary accomplishments made last year.

1)Melanoma Vaccine

The first therapeutic vaccine of any kind (human or otherwise) to guard against cancer approved in the United States.

2)Dental Disease Vaccine

Protects against Periodontal disease which is the most commonly diagnosed disease in veterinary medicine. It affects 85 percent of dogs older than 3, most often in small-breeds likePugs or Pekinese.

Dogs that have good oral health live 15 percent longer or an average of two years.

3)New Vaccine Delivery System

No needles!Instead a syringe can deliver vaccines directly to the animal's muscles, making it easier on everybody.

Tired of struggling with your cat meds? Profender (from Bayer) is the first de-wormer that can be applied just to your cat's skin!

4)New Drug for Weight Loss

We've had them forever, it was only a matter of time eh?

5)New Breed Specific Food

Royal Canin and Iams came out with thier line of food for specific breeds of dogs and cats. So far they've developed formulas for boxers, bulldogs, Chihuahuas, dachshund, German shepherds, Golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, poodles, Shih Tzus and Yorkshire terriers.

6)Whole Meals

Now your dog's food is for the mind and the body. You can feed your dog a biometrically designed, one-piece meal from Mars Veterinary. The different textures within the meal piece is packed with nutrition and satisfies your dogs animal instincts.

7)New Pain Medications for Cats

Last year, new medication was approved for arthritis in cats.

8)Genetics Test

Papers-Smapers. Let science tell you exactly what breed your dog is!

9)*My Favorite* Probiotics for Gastrointestinal Health

In English? Put some of these new sprinkles in your dog's food and that bad breathe (you know, the one that comes from the other end) will be no more! THANK YOU!

Good bye 2007!
What could 2008 bring us?!



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