Lions, Tigers, and Horses?? Oh, my! Category: Pets and Animals
Shang got to go with his forever family on Sunday and it was quite an adventure. We met them at a horse show and along for the ride were Shang, Momma Daisy, and brother Fa Zhou. Although the boys hadn't spent much time on-leash, I have to admit they did fantastic. Of course, Daisy setting the example and blazing a trail toward something fun helped!
Her first indication that this was no normal family affair was the huge pile of horse dung she ran into outside the fairground building. WHOA!! The brakes were put on and an inspection was performed that would have made Frank the Pug from MIB very proud! What animal could have made this wonderful stuff that smells good enough to eat?? Or to roll in?? The wonder of it all!
It wasn't too many more minutes before she got to see what this animal was. She was in awe, walking through the barn to get to Shang's family. Then with the excitement of meeting so many people who wanted to pet her, she momentarily forgot the horses. Once things settled down, I lifted her to a stall so she could meet one up front and personal. She was fine till the horse snorted a big breath of air in her direction. Her eyes got really wide and she was pretty much done at that point. Also, somewhere along the line, it occurred to her that her babies were here with these huge beasts and she decided to get a little protective. A horse would walk by her and she would stare silently with big saucer eyes till they got to the end of the row and turned toward the arena. As the tail would swoosh on it's way out of sight, she would give it a big, brave WOOF. That's my girl.
The barn was full of dogs. In our little area we saw an australian shepherd, a border collie, and a beagle. At these, she barked fairly freely, with me trying to correct her. The herding dogs looked at her, recognizing her as a newbie without a clue. But the real kicker was when the border collie ran from his area, past us, outside to do his business, then returned to his place, all without the supervision of a person. She was fixated on him, and kept looking up at me with a questioning look. Why does HE get to run outside without a leash?? I explained this is how GOOD dogs act (hint, hint).
The puppies handled it much better than Mom, taking everything in stride. All these people and cool things to investigate had their little minds totally occupied. Shang went for a walk around the area and handled it like a champ. At least he was smart enough not to bark at the horses, not even a tail swishing out of sight. He did start to get lonely for the pack after we left, but some kids walking by making over him took care of the rough spots. He has settled in with his new family and is enjoying all the cool things in the world out there to discover! We look forward to hearing more about our little flat-faced apricot horse dog.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Lions, Tigers, and Horses?? Oh, my!
Lions, Tigers, and Horses?? Oh, my! Category: Pets and Animals
Shang got to go with his forever family on Sunday and it was quite an adventure. We met them at a horse show and along for the ride were Shang, Momma Daisy, and brother Fa Zhou. Although the boys hadn't spent much time on-leash, I have to admit they did fantastic. Of course, Daisy setting the example and blazing a trail toward something fun helped!
Her first indication that this was no normal family affair was the huge pile of horse dung she ran into outside the fairground building. WHOA!! The brakes were put on and an inspection was performed that would have made Frank the Pug from MIB very proud! What animal could have made this wonderful stuff that smells good enough to eat?? Or to roll in?? The wonder of it all!
It wasn't too many more minutes before she got to see what this animal was. She was in awe, walking through the barn to get to Shang's family. Then with the excitement of meeting so many people who wanted to pet her, she momentarily forgot the horses. Once things settled down, I lifted her to a stall so she could meet one up front and personal. She was fine till the horse snorted a big breath of air in her direction. Her eyes got really wide and she was pretty much done at that point. Also, somewhere along the line, it occurred to her that her babies were here with these huge beasts and she decided to get a little protective. A horse would walk by her and she would stare silently with big saucer eyes till they got to the end of the row and turned toward the arena. As the tail would swoosh on it's way out of sight, she would give it a big, brave WOOF. That's my girl.
The barn was full of dogs. In our little area we saw an australian shepherd, a border collie, and a beagle. At these, she barked fairly freely, with me trying to correct her. The herding dogs looked at her, recognizing her as a newbie without a clue. But the real kicker was when the border collie ran from his area, past us, outside to do his business, then returned to his place, all without the supervision of a person. She was fixated on him, and kept looking up at me with a questioning look. Why does HE get to run outside without a leash?? I explained this is how GOOD dogs act (hint, hint).
The puppies handled it much better than Mom, taking everything in stride. All these people and cool things to investigate had their little minds totally occupied. Shang went for a walk around the area and handled it like a champ. At least he was smart enough not to bark at the horses, not even a tail swishing out of sight. He did start to get lonely for the pack after we left, but some kids walking by making over him took care of the rough spots. He has settled in with his new family and is enjoying all the cool things in the world out there to discover! We look forward to hearing more about our little flat-faced apricot horse dog.
Shang got to go with his forever family on Sunday and it was quite an adventure. We met them at a horse show and along for the ride were Shang, Momma Daisy, and brother Fa Zhou. Although the boys hadn't spent much time on-leash, I have to admit they did fantastic. Of course, Daisy setting the example and blazing a trail toward something fun helped!
Her first indication that this was no normal family affair was the huge pile of horse dung she ran into outside the fairground building. WHOA!! The brakes were put on and an inspection was performed that would have made Frank the Pug from MIB very proud! What animal could have made this wonderful stuff that smells good enough to eat?? Or to roll in?? The wonder of it all!
It wasn't too many more minutes before she got to see what this animal was. She was in awe, walking through the barn to get to Shang's family. Then with the excitement of meeting so many people who wanted to pet her, she momentarily forgot the horses. Once things settled down, I lifted her to a stall so she could meet one up front and personal. She was fine till the horse snorted a big breath of air in her direction. Her eyes got really wide and she was pretty much done at that point. Also, somewhere along the line, it occurred to her that her babies were here with these huge beasts and she decided to get a little protective. A horse would walk by her and she would stare silently with big saucer eyes till they got to the end of the row and turned toward the arena. As the tail would swoosh on it's way out of sight, she would give it a big, brave WOOF. That's my girl.
The barn was full of dogs. In our little area we saw an australian shepherd, a border collie, and a beagle. At these, she barked fairly freely, with me trying to correct her. The herding dogs looked at her, recognizing her as a newbie without a clue. But the real kicker was when the border collie ran from his area, past us, outside to do his business, then returned to his place, all without the supervision of a person. She was fixated on him, and kept looking up at me with a questioning look. Why does HE get to run outside without a leash?? I explained this is how GOOD dogs act (hint, hint).
The puppies handled it much better than Mom, taking everything in stride. All these people and cool things to investigate had their little minds totally occupied. Shang went for a walk around the area and handled it like a champ. At least he was smart enough not to bark at the horses, not even a tail swishing out of sight. He did start to get lonely for the pack after we left, but some kids walking by making over him took care of the rough spots. He has settled in with his new family and is enjoying all the cool things in the world out there to discover! We look forward to hearing more about our little flat-faced apricot horse dog.
My Pet Counts Postcard Blitz
My Pet Counts Postcard Blitz Category: Pets and Animals
For anyone who has had a pet affected (death or illness) by the pet food recall, and are annoyed at the reports still citing only 16 deaths (which all occured within Menu Foods Test Labs), there is a postcard blitz under way.
Instructions and addresses are located on this site:
http://64.79.216.38/~itchmo/forums/index.php?topic=107.msg841#msg841
Also, there is breaking news that antibiotics and fungicides can be mixing with melamine to produce toxic effects.
Check out the information on itchmo: http://64.79.216.38/~itchmo/forums/index.php?topic=183.msg1254#msg1254
For anyone who has had a pet affected (death or illness) by the pet food recall, and are annoyed at the reports still citing only 16 deaths (which all occured within Menu Foods Test Labs), there is a postcard blitz under way.
Instructions and addresses are located on this site:
http://64.79.216.38/~itchmo/forums/index.php?topic=107.msg841#msg841
Also, there is breaking news that antibiotics and fungicides can be mixing with melamine to produce toxic effects.
Check out the information on itchmo: http://64.79.216.38/~itchmo/forums/index.php?topic=183.msg1254#msg1254
Adventures of Mulan, Part II
Adventures of Mulan, Part II Category: Pets and Animals
P, our youngest cat, is a great lover of pugs in general. Thinks Akua is his personal buddy. So, we were really surprised that he always seemed to avoid Mulan. When she chased him, he jumped on the chairs to get away, but otherwise made no effort to interact with her. Sure, he would creep close and sniff if she was asleep, but other than that nothing.
Soooo, tonight after dinner, Mulan was baby-gated in the kitchen. P jumped in there with her and reclined on the kitchen bench. So Mulan, abandoned by all, thought yeah, a friend to play with. She started jumping at him and barking. Each time she jumped up, she got a smart box around the chops. We didn't intervene because she's pretty much been tormenting him and B (our other boy cat). She leaves M (our queen) alone because M told her about a week ago, "Oh no you didn't" when Mulan barked at her.
After a few b-slaps, Mulan just kind of milled around beneath the kitchen bench, bewildered. Then, we noticed P reaching out and tapping her head and then withdrawing when she pounced. He would reach out his paws, extend his pads (because he has no claws) and tap, tap, tap. It was one of those moments when we really wished we had a video camera present. P had finally realized that she was old enough to learn her place in the family--and that, according to him, was definitely beneath him. :)
Mulan just came in from outside with the girls--she managed to find a mud puddle out there and yes, wallowed like a pig. Guess who needs a bath? In her muddied state she ran into Akua's kennel and seeing a chance to be free of the little curmudgeon, Akua shut her in. LOL!
*****************************************************
Okay, last night Mulan decided, "I'm done with this stinkin' kennel" and made a concerted effort to dig her way out—from 11:00-12:30 a.m. I finally caved (huge mistake, I know) and brought her into the bed. From there it was all drama and panting, because of course she'd gotten herself all worked up trying to tunnel out of Shawshank. Finally, around 2:00 she calmed down and started to snooze. Then up again at 4:30 for a brisk romp around the yard and breakfast.
We generally put her in her kennel while we're getting ready for work, etc. because we can't keep an eye on her and that's usually when she gets into the most mischief. She howled, she fretted, she dug, and otherwise told us exactly what she thought of us for daring to put her in solitary. When she quieted down for a moment and when we were ready for work I opened her door and she shot out of there like she was loaded on a spring! J Hubby said, "Yep, she's done with the stinkin' kennel." So now, we're on the look out for a bigger bed, since ours is definitely too small for me and Hubby, three cats, one adult and somewhat chubby pug AND one little pug. J Who would have thought such a little stinker would run the house?
**************************
We've come to the conclusion that Mulan is no Couch Pug-tato. Can I just say she is the fiercest little thing I've ever met. She totally RULES this house.:) We were just discussing, as we watched her open up a can of whoop hiney on Akua, that she wasn't at all like her mama--who is reported to be laid back. But no matter how wild and ferocious she is, she's still soooo darned cuddly. Up until a week ago she was sleeping curled up on the top of my head. (Yep, that staying in her kennel until she's house trained didn't last long. :)) Now, however, she's decided she's got puggy things to do in the middle of the night and she's been jumping off of our bed to investigate. Sooo, alas, she has to go in her kennel. She has reached the stage in her house training where she knows what she has to do, but doesn't always want to do it. So we've instituted our standard policy of "no off leash" policy until both cylinders have been emptied. No spankings though. The only thing they really get in trouble for in this house is chasing the cats--which, unfortunately, she's managed to convince Akua is great fun.
P, our youngest cat, is a great lover of pugs in general. Thinks Akua is his personal buddy. So, we were really surprised that he always seemed to avoid Mulan. When she chased him, he jumped on the chairs to get away, but otherwise made no effort to interact with her. Sure, he would creep close and sniff if she was asleep, but other than that nothing.
Soooo, tonight after dinner, Mulan was baby-gated in the kitchen. P jumped in there with her and reclined on the kitchen bench. So Mulan, abandoned by all, thought yeah, a friend to play with. She started jumping at him and barking. Each time she jumped up, she got a smart box around the chops. We didn't intervene because she's pretty much been tormenting him and B (our other boy cat). She leaves M (our queen) alone because M told her about a week ago, "Oh no you didn't" when Mulan barked at her.
After a few b-slaps, Mulan just kind of milled around beneath the kitchen bench, bewildered. Then, we noticed P reaching out and tapping her head and then withdrawing when she pounced. He would reach out his paws, extend his pads (because he has no claws) and tap, tap, tap. It was one of those moments when we really wished we had a video camera present. P had finally realized that she was old enough to learn her place in the family--and that, according to him, was definitely beneath him. :)
Mulan just came in from outside with the girls--she managed to find a mud puddle out there and yes, wallowed like a pig. Guess who needs a bath? In her muddied state she ran into Akua's kennel and seeing a chance to be free of the little curmudgeon, Akua shut her in. LOL!
*****************************************************
Okay, last night Mulan decided, "I'm done with this stinkin' kennel" and made a concerted effort to dig her way out—from 11:00-12:30 a.m. I finally caved (huge mistake, I know) and brought her into the bed. From there it was all drama and panting, because of course she'd gotten herself all worked up trying to tunnel out of Shawshank. Finally, around 2:00 she calmed down and started to snooze. Then up again at 4:30 for a brisk romp around the yard and breakfast.
We generally put her in her kennel while we're getting ready for work, etc. because we can't keep an eye on her and that's usually when she gets into the most mischief. She howled, she fretted, she dug, and otherwise told us exactly what she thought of us for daring to put her in solitary. When she quieted down for a moment and when we were ready for work I opened her door and she shot out of there like she was loaded on a spring! J Hubby said, "Yep, she's done with the stinkin' kennel." So now, we're on the look out for a bigger bed, since ours is definitely too small for me and Hubby, three cats, one adult and somewhat chubby pug AND one little pug. J Who would have thought such a little stinker would run the house?
**************************
We've come to the conclusion that Mulan is no Couch Pug-tato. Can I just say she is the fiercest little thing I've ever met. She totally RULES this house.:) We were just discussing, as we watched her open up a can of whoop hiney on Akua, that she wasn't at all like her mama--who is reported to be laid back. But no matter how wild and ferocious she is, she's still soooo darned cuddly. Up until a week ago she was sleeping curled up on the top of my head. (Yep, that staying in her kennel until she's house trained didn't last long. :)) Now, however, she's decided she's got puggy things to do in the middle of the night and she's been jumping off of our bed to investigate. Sooo, alas, she has to go in her kennel. She has reached the stage in her house training where she knows what she has to do, but doesn't always want to do it. So we've instituted our standard policy of "no off leash" policy until both cylinders have been emptied. No spankings though. The only thing they really get in trouble for in this house is chasing the cats--which, unfortunately, she's managed to convince Akua is great fun.
Adventures of Mulan, Part I
Adventures of Mulan, Part I Category: Pets and Animals
When Daisy and Fabio had their puppies, a very nice family came in search of an addition to their own family. They already had a couple of furbabies, incuding a pug named Akua. When the mother saw the pups at an early age, it was love at first site with little Mulan. So they were able to visit on and off throughout her puppyhood and make the transition to her new home a very easy one. These are some of her adventure stories!
*******************************
Okay, so life here is beginning to settle into a semblance of what it's going to be from here on out. :) Akua has decided that having a little sis ain't that bad. Okay, so she's trying to nurse (if you know what I mean) and he's not to thrilled with that, but we're working with her and she's beginning to understand that it might not be the best move. Certainly, it's not one that's going to make him love her more.
Here's what her latest adventures have been: she discovered the joy of ice cubes today when one fell on the floor from the fridge. She chased that little guy all over the kitchen. Then, she helped her daddy sweep the floor--the broom was a little scary, but she felt better when she could look at it from between his feet.
She's ALMOST ventured outside after the big dogs. She stood on the doorway and I could tell she desperately wanted to join us, but I figured she'd come out in her own good time. She and Akua have been playing and now that I'm not being obsessively vigilant I've noticed that when she gets out of line, he just smacks her down and holds her there until she rolls on her back and holds her paws up to him. :) He's being a very brave pug about the whole thing. Hubby said that he's establishing his dominance and when she gets bigger she'll establish hers--because she's a woman. :)
The cats still haven't quite asserted their authority, but I know the time is coming. She barks at and chases them until they finally realize they out weigh her by about 10 pounds. Then they turn and do the standoff.
She sleeps in her kennel in our bedroom at night and (here I'm really bragging) NO accidents on her blanket. She's even gone from 11:00 to 5:00 the last two mornings without waking us up! What a big, brave warrior princess pug. Still, I can tell she's a sassy thing and we're going to have to stay on our toes to prove we actually ARE the boss of her.
**************************************************************
A couple of nights ago—she went down the stairs (or at least one stair) for the first time. I was taking laundry down to the basement and she was whining and barking at the top of the stairs for me to join her. Her front paws slid to the step below and she stood there with her hind legs high in the air like a cirque de soliel (sp?) performer. I promise I didn't laugh until after I rescued her. J Well, maybe not too much anyway.
She's had her first bath and man did she play it for all it was worth—crying, shaking, carrying on. Had her paws around me the whole time—so we both got a bath. Then dried her off thoroughly and wrapped her in a porous blanket and put her down for a nap on the sofa. Akua felt so bad for her that he jumped up, curled up beside her, and feel asleep too.
*****************************************************************
Last night, she snuggled on the bed with us for a while before retiring to her kennel. My youngest daughter woke up at 4:00 and consequently woke up Mulan. So, took her outside and then put her back to bed. She was shocked at first—hey, where's my breakfast?—but she went back to sleep quick enough.
She adores her Grandma. The feeling is mutual. I come home most evenings to find them snuggled together watching TV.
Mulan is doing great with the big dogs—she chases the biggest one around my yard and is quickly becoming part of my mom's pack. I have to admit though—she is absolutely spoilt. In fact, Hubby just called to let me know that his briefcase had survived four years of law school and only three weeks of a pug puppy. Apparently, she chewed through the handle last night while he was studying.
*************************************************
Okay, now on to the fun stuff. Mulan is getting so big. She still looks tiny to me, but the pink fleecy jacket I bought her when she first came to stay with us is now barely fitting her—it used to hang over her tail—now it barely comes to the end of her hiney. She loves going outside—though the last day or two she has come to the realization that "Oh, they EXPECT me to go outside and take care of business." Before, I think she just thought it a happy coincidence that she took care of business and we had a parade in her honor. J Silly puppy!
I think, too, that she's so busy playing with the other dogs when they go outside that she forgets to take care of business first. So, we are now taking her outside by herself. Then she can go out with the boys when she's done. She'll pick it up in no time—she's so smart. She's working on her sitting and doing pretty good. She's leash trained now—though she still feels as if she should carry her leash around with her. She is doing so well.
She actually slept on the bed with us earlier this week. I know J I said she couldn't until she was housebroken, but she was curled up next to Akua and they were both snoring so happily. She slept through the night. We tried to let her sleep out the next night, but she was more intent on playing than sleeping. She and Akua are getting along fabulously. They play like bandits all the time and more and more she's able to keep her stash of toys. Though, I have to say Akua is quite the greedy thing—if he can steal it from her, he will. He likes to steal things and then jump up on furniture because he knows she can't get up too. The other night he jumped on the footstool to get away from her. She couldn't get up behind him, but he had forgotten to hitch his fat puggy butt over the edge and she took a chunk out of it. J You could tell it stung.
When Daisy and Fabio had their puppies, a very nice family came in search of an addition to their own family. They already had a couple of furbabies, incuding a pug named Akua. When the mother saw the pups at an early age, it was love at first site with little Mulan. So they were able to visit on and off throughout her puppyhood and make the transition to her new home a very easy one. These are some of her adventure stories!
*******************************
Okay, so life here is beginning to settle into a semblance of what it's going to be from here on out. :) Akua has decided that having a little sis ain't that bad. Okay, so she's trying to nurse (if you know what I mean) and he's not to thrilled with that, but we're working with her and she's beginning to understand that it might not be the best move. Certainly, it's not one that's going to make him love her more.
Here's what her latest adventures have been: she discovered the joy of ice cubes today when one fell on the floor from the fridge. She chased that little guy all over the kitchen. Then, she helped her daddy sweep the floor--the broom was a little scary, but she felt better when she could look at it from between his feet.
She's ALMOST ventured outside after the big dogs. She stood on the doorway and I could tell she desperately wanted to join us, but I figured she'd come out in her own good time. She and Akua have been playing and now that I'm not being obsessively vigilant I've noticed that when she gets out of line, he just smacks her down and holds her there until she rolls on her back and holds her paws up to him. :) He's being a very brave pug about the whole thing. Hubby said that he's establishing his dominance and when she gets bigger she'll establish hers--because she's a woman. :)
The cats still haven't quite asserted their authority, but I know the time is coming. She barks at and chases them until they finally realize they out weigh her by about 10 pounds. Then they turn and do the standoff.
She sleeps in her kennel in our bedroom at night and (here I'm really bragging) NO accidents on her blanket. She's even gone from 11:00 to 5:00 the last two mornings without waking us up! What a big, brave warrior princess pug. Still, I can tell she's a sassy thing and we're going to have to stay on our toes to prove we actually ARE the boss of her.
**************************************************************
A couple of nights ago—she went down the stairs (or at least one stair) for the first time. I was taking laundry down to the basement and she was whining and barking at the top of the stairs for me to join her. Her front paws slid to the step below and she stood there with her hind legs high in the air like a cirque de soliel (sp?) performer. I promise I didn't laugh until after I rescued her. J Well, maybe not too much anyway.
She's had her first bath and man did she play it for all it was worth—crying, shaking, carrying on. Had her paws around me the whole time—so we both got a bath. Then dried her off thoroughly and wrapped her in a porous blanket and put her down for a nap on the sofa. Akua felt so bad for her that he jumped up, curled up beside her, and feel asleep too.
*****************************************************************
Last night, she snuggled on the bed with us for a while before retiring to her kennel. My youngest daughter woke up at 4:00 and consequently woke up Mulan. So, took her outside and then put her back to bed. She was shocked at first—hey, where's my breakfast?—but she went back to sleep quick enough.
She adores her Grandma. The feeling is mutual. I come home most evenings to find them snuggled together watching TV.
Mulan is doing great with the big dogs—she chases the biggest one around my yard and is quickly becoming part of my mom's pack. I have to admit though—she is absolutely spoilt. In fact, Hubby just called to let me know that his briefcase had survived four years of law school and only three weeks of a pug puppy. Apparently, she chewed through the handle last night while he was studying.
*************************************************
Okay, now on to the fun stuff. Mulan is getting so big. She still looks tiny to me, but the pink fleecy jacket I bought her when she first came to stay with us is now barely fitting her—it used to hang over her tail—now it barely comes to the end of her hiney. She loves going outside—though the last day or two she has come to the realization that "Oh, they EXPECT me to go outside and take care of business." Before, I think she just thought it a happy coincidence that she took care of business and we had a parade in her honor. J Silly puppy!
I think, too, that she's so busy playing with the other dogs when they go outside that she forgets to take care of business first. So, we are now taking her outside by herself. Then she can go out with the boys when she's done. She'll pick it up in no time—she's so smart. She's working on her sitting and doing pretty good. She's leash trained now—though she still feels as if she should carry her leash around with her. She is doing so well.
She actually slept on the bed with us earlier this week. I know J I said she couldn't until she was housebroken, but she was curled up next to Akua and they were both snoring so happily. She slept through the night. We tried to let her sleep out the next night, but she was more intent on playing than sleeping. She and Akua are getting along fabulously. They play like bandits all the time and more and more she's able to keep her stash of toys. Though, I have to say Akua is quite the greedy thing—if he can steal it from her, he will. He likes to steal things and then jump up on furniture because he knows she can't get up too. The other night he jumped on the footstool to get away from her. She couldn't get up behind him, but he had forgotten to hitch his fat puggy butt over the edge and she took a chunk out of it. J You could tell it stung.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Amendment to the previous post on Nutro
I must make an amendment to the article below. After speaking with a representative of Nutro, I am understanding the situation more. They are deluged with responses and requests for information. They have had to hire people to help field calls and these people do their best, but don't always have access to the information that we need. It is still a suggestion that they poll the callers to see if a particular product is getting a high call volume so that they can check it out, but perhaps they just don't have the facilities in place to be able to adequately track the information coming through the phone lines.
However, the gentleman mentioned below had sent an email to the corporate headquarters on Tuesday saying that his dog was sick. Today (Thursday), they responded to ask how it was. When he responded that it had died, they took immediate action and requested information on symptoms, UPC code on the food, and they are sending him a packet so that he can send them the tainted food for testing. All of this was in response to his email, so that tells me that corporate is genuinely concerned and is going to try to address this situation. I just pray that they are able to quickly address it before other puppies out there suffer the same fate. But for the time being, my faith in the company is at least a little bit restored.
However, the gentleman mentioned below had sent an email to the corporate headquarters on Tuesday saying that his dog was sick. Today (Thursday), they responded to ask how it was. When he responded that it had died, they took immediate action and requested information on symptoms, UPC code on the food, and they are sending him a packet so that he can send them the tainted food for testing. All of this was in response to his email, so that tells me that corporate is genuinely concerned and is going to try to address this situation. I just pray that they are able to quickly address it before other puppies out there suffer the same fate. But for the time being, my faith in the company is at least a little bit restored.
On a Lighter Note
On a lighter note... Category: Pets and Animals
Jolene vs. the Stairs. All of them can go down the concrete steps in the front, where I don't want them to go down. And all of them are scared of the wooden stairs in the back where I do want them to go down because you can see through them. Once they get over the fear, they're fine, but we usually have to sit down and work with them till they're comfortable.
Jolene was no exception. She would stand at the top of the steps upset at not being able to play with the big dogs and join in all the fun until I went to get her. One day while playing in the kitchen, the pack collectively barked and ran outside. She didn't even realize she was following them as she ran past me and flew down the steps with effortless ease. I was shocked!! I was so proud of her that I sent a note to her breeders.
So of course, the very next day she remembered she was scared of the stairs and wouldn't go down them again. I waited about a week, then took one day on the weekend and worked her down them, step by step. She tentatively followed me, getting a little more brave with each up and down. Now she's a champ and you can see her strut her stuff on the ground, showing off in front of the puppies still scared at the top of the stairs. Our little girl is growing up.
Cooter vs. the crate. As many of you know, we were going to wait to breed little Ellie Mae. But when she was around a year old, safely tucked away in her crate, I let Cooter out into the same room to keep him away from the oven fumes as I was cleaning. Everything was going well and I ran an errand while the oven was soaking. When I came back, Tony said that while he was getting ready to leave, he came back into the living room to find them hooked. Somehow or another, Cooter had found a way to open the crate and spring Ellie Mae free.
The next night I let him into the living room to see him in action. He systematically walked around the crate, grabbing each wire to find the one that magically released his woman. I couldn't believe my eyes. When he got close to the correct one, I scooped him up and took him back to the other room. He KNEW one of them would open it.
Fast forward a couple of months. The other night Tony was away on a business trip and Cooter had been getting under my skin for whatever reason. So I needed a break and a good night's sleep. I put him in the crate overnight and the next morning he started whining when he heard my alarm go off. Of course, I hit snooze and tried to go back to sleep and here came Cooter, jumping up on the bed. The stinker has figured out how to open it from INSIDE the crate now. UGH!!
Maybe I should skip the whole crating idea and find a belly band with a padlock on it for when the girls come into heat.
Jolene vs. the Stairs. All of them can go down the concrete steps in the front, where I don't want them to go down. And all of them are scared of the wooden stairs in the back where I do want them to go down because you can see through them. Once they get over the fear, they're fine, but we usually have to sit down and work with them till they're comfortable.
Jolene was no exception. She would stand at the top of the steps upset at not being able to play with the big dogs and join in all the fun until I went to get her. One day while playing in the kitchen, the pack collectively barked and ran outside. She didn't even realize she was following them as she ran past me and flew down the steps with effortless ease. I was shocked!! I was so proud of her that I sent a note to her breeders.
So of course, the very next day she remembered she was scared of the stairs and wouldn't go down them again. I waited about a week, then took one day on the weekend and worked her down them, step by step. She tentatively followed me, getting a little more brave with each up and down. Now she's a champ and you can see her strut her stuff on the ground, showing off in front of the puppies still scared at the top of the stairs. Our little girl is growing up.
Cooter vs. the crate. As many of you know, we were going to wait to breed little Ellie Mae. But when she was around a year old, safely tucked away in her crate, I let Cooter out into the same room to keep him away from the oven fumes as I was cleaning. Everything was going well and I ran an errand while the oven was soaking. When I came back, Tony said that while he was getting ready to leave, he came back into the living room to find them hooked. Somehow or another, Cooter had found a way to open the crate and spring Ellie Mae free.
The next night I let him into the living room to see him in action. He systematically walked around the crate, grabbing each wire to find the one that magically released his woman. I couldn't believe my eyes. When he got close to the correct one, I scooped him up and took him back to the other room. He KNEW one of them would open it.
Fast forward a couple of months. The other night Tony was away on a business trip and Cooter had been getting under my skin for whatever reason. So I needed a break and a good night's sleep. I put him in the crate overnight and the next morning he started whining when he heard my alarm go off. Of course, I hit snooze and tried to go back to sleep and here came Cooter, jumping up on the bed. The stinker has figured out how to open it from INSIDE the crate now. UGH!!
Maybe I should skip the whole crating idea and find a belly band with a padlock on it for when the girls come into heat.
Diamond Pet Foods, Here's Your Sign!
After doing some more digging, I found portions of an interview done with Diamond Foods. They take the leftover production runs or that which doesn't meet standards for dog food and sell them to the hog farmers, preventing it from simply going to a landfill. They distributed the tainted food before the recall was issued.
Here is a portion of an interview:
Q: Please explain the situation with the pet food that was sold to the hog farmers.A: It is common regulated practice for animal food facilities to provide salvage product to farms with non-ruminant animals. This regulated practice is mindful of the environment as it does not waste energy (food) and saves valuable landfill space. All of the salvage food was sold prior to Diamond Pet Foods being notified of the contamination in rice protein concentrate.
Q: What is salvage pet food?A: Salvage pet food is product that comes off the equipment at the very beginning of a run of food. It is high in moisture and thus can’t be bagged.
Q: If your dry foods are not being recalled, how did the salvage food get contaminated?A: We did manufacture two formulas for Natural Balance that were recalled – Natural Balance Venison & Brown Rice dry dog food and Natural Balance Venison & Green Pea dry cat food – and it was the beginning portions of these runs of food that ended up in the salvage food that was sold.
http://feeds.feedburner.com/dogster/pet_food_recall
Here is a portion of an interview:
Q: Please explain the situation with the pet food that was sold to the hog farmers.A: It is common regulated practice for animal food facilities to provide salvage product to farms with non-ruminant animals. This regulated practice is mindful of the environment as it does not waste energy (food) and saves valuable landfill space. All of the salvage food was sold prior to Diamond Pet Foods being notified of the contamination in rice protein concentrate.
Q: What is salvage pet food?A: Salvage pet food is product that comes off the equipment at the very beginning of a run of food. It is high in moisture and thus can’t be bagged.
Q: If your dry foods are not being recalled, how did the salvage food get contaminated?A: We did manufacture two formulas for Natural Balance that were recalled – Natural Balance Venison & Brown Rice dry dog food and Natural Balance Venison & Green Pea dry cat food – and it was the beginning portions of these runs of food that ended up in the salvage food that was sold.
http://feeds.feedburner.com/dogster/pet_food_recall
Nutro Max Puppy food, dry, purple bag
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Nutro Max Puppy Food, dry, purple bag Current mood: crushed Category: Pets and Animals
In researching different products and diets, I had a conversation with a woman who runs an animal sanctuary and works with healing animals. She has a protocol for handling poisonings of all types and system malfunctionings of animals affected by the pet food recall. This protocol can be found at: http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/pet_food_recall_protocol.html
In our discussion, when she found out I had formerly been feeding Nutro Ultra, she mentioned that 4 cases of animals dying from this particular Nutro product had been reported to her. Last night, unfortunately, there was confirmation of this. Someone on one of the internet boards I frequent lost his 6 month old pug. The vets thought it was rat poisoning. There was nothing more to be done for the poor pup who was lost (in Minnesota). The anguish of a family being helpless to help their puppy is a terrible thing to see or feel. A call to Nutro responded in denials. I am extremely disappointed because we've been in their food program for breeders for over a year. It would be to their benefit to say "send us some of the food and let us test it" to at least acknowledge that there might be a problem and try to fix it.
Please beware that the contamination might be found in more and more foods, including dry. If your dog has unexplained vomiting, then be sure to check kidney function with a blood test. Also, if the vomiting is right after eating, discontinue that particular food and try either homecooked or raw until the animal feels better.
If you have an animal you suspect is affected, have a post-mortem (or necropsy) done to check for melamine. Be sure to report the information to www.petconnection.com and to the fda (petconnection has a link to fda reporting on their site).
The wide spectrum of this problem has to be recognized and addressed and not swept under the rug in an attempt to minimize the damage. The manufacturers don't realize that this is making or breaking their reputations. Companies like Nature's Balance and Blue Buffalo have been affected, but they have taken swift action to communicate and contain the problem. Companies like Nutro are continuing to deny the issue, allowing more pets to die needlessly, and are establishing a reputation of being all about the profit. Let's hope it changes soon.
**** update ****
Another puppy, this one 10 months old in Georgia has reportedly died from Nutro puppy formula which contains wheat gluten. Reading the label for the holistic line doesn't show any glutens, so it is a safer bet, but still keep a close eye on your pet.
Nutro Max Puppy Food, dry, purple bag Current mood: crushed Category: Pets and Animals
In researching different products and diets, I had a conversation with a woman who runs an animal sanctuary and works with healing animals. She has a protocol for handling poisonings of all types and system malfunctionings of animals affected by the pet food recall. This protocol can be found at: http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/pet_food_recall_protocol.html
In our discussion, when she found out I had formerly been feeding Nutro Ultra, she mentioned that 4 cases of animals dying from this particular Nutro product had been reported to her. Last night, unfortunately, there was confirmation of this. Someone on one of the internet boards I frequent lost his 6 month old pug. The vets thought it was rat poisoning. There was nothing more to be done for the poor pup who was lost (in Minnesota). The anguish of a family being helpless to help their puppy is a terrible thing to see or feel. A call to Nutro responded in denials. I am extremely disappointed because we've been in their food program for breeders for over a year. It would be to their benefit to say "send us some of the food and let us test it" to at least acknowledge that there might be a problem and try to fix it.
Please beware that the contamination might be found in more and more foods, including dry. If your dog has unexplained vomiting, then be sure to check kidney function with a blood test. Also, if the vomiting is right after eating, discontinue that particular food and try either homecooked or raw until the animal feels better.
If you have an animal you suspect is affected, have a post-mortem (or necropsy) done to check for melamine. Be sure to report the information to www.petconnection.com and to the fda (petconnection has a link to fda reporting on their site).
The wide spectrum of this problem has to be recognized and addressed and not swept under the rug in an attempt to minimize the damage. The manufacturers don't realize that this is making or breaking their reputations. Companies like Nature's Balance and Blue Buffalo have been affected, but they have taken swift action to communicate and contain the problem. Companies like Nutro are continuing to deny the issue, allowing more pets to die needlessly, and are establishing a reputation of being all about the profit. Let's hope it changes soon.
**** update ****
Another puppy, this one 10 months old in Georgia has reportedly died from Nutro puppy formula which contains wheat gluten. Reading the label for the holistic line doesn't show any glutens, so it is a safer bet, but still keep a close eye on your pet.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Thunderstorms vs. Petunia
Thunderstorms vs. Petunia Category: Pets and Animals
The other night when I was trying to catch up on sleep, we had a true blue, rip roarin', house shakin' thunderstorm. The first sound of it was a huge thunderclap that about shook the roof off. Inside the house, there was a collective jump of fur about 4 feet high off the bed. Most of them settled down afterwards, but Petunia headed for the hills, or under the bed, as it were. She continued to battle with the thunderstorm, mumbling at it under her breath between sounds, and out and out barking at the claps and lightning flashes. She wouldn't come out from under the bed, even with my promises to tuck her under the covers and keep her safe. Instead, she preferred to peek out from under the bed with one eye looking toward the ceiling so she could fend off the intruder. Satisfied when it finally went away, she returned to bed.
The other night when I was trying to catch up on sleep, we had a true blue, rip roarin', house shakin' thunderstorm. The first sound of it was a huge thunderclap that about shook the roof off. Inside the house, there was a collective jump of fur about 4 feet high off the bed. Most of them settled down afterwards, but Petunia headed for the hills, or under the bed, as it were. She continued to battle with the thunderstorm, mumbling at it under her breath between sounds, and out and out barking at the claps and lightning flashes. She wouldn't come out from under the bed, even with my promises to tuck her under the covers and keep her safe. Instead, she preferred to peek out from under the bed with one eye looking toward the ceiling so she could fend off the intruder. Satisfied when it finally went away, she returned to bed.
Quiz - Foods that are bad for dogs
Quiz: Foods that are bad for dogs Category: Pets and Animals
How well do you know what your dog can and cannot eat? Try this quiz to test your knowledge.
1. Many people give this fruite to their dogs as a treat. However, just a few bites can cause fatal kidney failure in some dogs.
a. grapesb. bananasc. applesd. strawberries
2. Dogs who eat this may become very ill from alcohol poisoning:
a. bread doughb. grape jellyc. applesaused. oatmeal
3. Ingestion of a few of these nuts can cause temporary paralysis of back legs in some dogs.a. macademia nutsb. peanutsc. brazil nutsd. pecans
4. Which raw fish can cause poisoning in dogs?a. sardinesb. salmonc. bassd. eel
5. This food is sometimes used to season dogs' meals, but can cause anemia:a. onionsb. chicken brothc. bacon fatd. peanut butter
6. In some dogs, this sweetener causes hypoglycemiaa. sucraloseb. saccharinc. xylitold. aspartame
7. Raw chicken bones are more dangerous to dogs than cooked onesa. trueb. false
8. A common food byproduct used in gardens has been found to cause vomiting, tremors and fast heartbeat when dogs eat it. What is it?a. composted vegetable wasteb. cocoa bean mulchc. composted corn husksd. peanut shell mulch
9. Dogs--especially dogs that are fed a straight diet of dry food with little variety--may get an inflammation of the pancreas called "pancreatitis" if they eat certain foods that they are not used to. Which of the following is likely to trigger pancreatitis?a. mashed potatoesb. raw eggsc. turkey skind. sugary candy
10. Which of the following holiday plants is "least" toxic to dogs?a. actually, none of these are toxic to dogsb. mistletoec. poinsettiad. holly
*******************************************Answers
1. GRAPES - both grapes and raisins can be toxic. Some dogs eat them with, seemingly, no ill effects. However, some dogs become ill after ingesting only a few grapes or raisins. The first symptom is vomiting, followed by acute kidney failure, from which many dogs do not recover. As of yet, the toxin is still unknown, nor do we know why some dogs become sick and others eat grapes or raisins without a problem.
2. BREAD DOUGH: The yeast-containing bread dough can ferment in the dog's stomach, releasing large quantities of alcohol. Small dogs are most susceptible to this toxicity.
3. MACADAMIA NUTS: The ingestion of as few as siz macadamia nuts has caused paralysis in dogs. Dogs with macadamia poisoning will appear anxious and have difficulty moving their rear legs. The legs may appear to be painful. Luckily, the paralysis is temporary and clears up within a few days. The causative agent of the paralysis is unknown.
4. SALMON. Salmon and trout can be infected with a parasite called Nanophyetus salmoincola, a type of trematode worm. THe worms themselves can be infected with a type of bacteria knows as Neorickettsia helminthoeca. The bacteria only infects canids: other animals show no symptoms from eating it. When dogs eat raw fish infected with this bacteria, they can show symptoms including weakness, vomiting, loss of appetite, swollen glands, and fever. Ninety percent of untreated dogs die. Cooking kills the worm and the bacteria.
5. ONIONS. Onions and garlic contain a chemical called thiosulfate. When ingested either in large quantities or in small quantities over a long period of time, they can cause an anemia called Heinz body anemia. This is reversible if you stop feeding onions or garlic.
6. XYLITOL. This toxicity usually occurs when dogs eat large amounts of sugar-free candy or gum, although there have been some serious cases from a single piece of gum in a smaller dog. In humans, xylitol does not cause a drop in blood sugar; in dogs it does. This can lead to weakness, staggering, and other symptoms of hypoglycemia. There is also some evidence that some dogs may develop liver failure after ingesting xylitol.
7. FALSE. The reverse is true. Cooked bones are much more dangerous. They are more brittle than raw bones and can splinter into sharp shards.
8. COCOA BEAN MULCH. Coacoa bean shells contain the same toxic theobromine that chocolate does, and are poisonous to dogs for the same reason. The mulch has an attractive chocolate smell that is irrisistable to some dogs.
9. TURKEY SKIN. In dogs, pancreatitis often results from eating a very high-fat meal. Sometimes, when a dog eats a high-fat meal, its pancreas overproduces enzymes to the extent that they actually begin to "digest" the pancreas and inflame it. Common culprits are turkey skin and ham fat. Symptoms include vomiting and stomach pain. This is a medical emergency and such dogs must be treated by a vet. Some breeds are genetically predisposed to pancreatitis.
10. POINSETTIA. Despite common misconceptions, poinsettias are only mildly toxic, and most dogs who eat them will experience no symptoms at all. Some dogs will drool or vomit after eating them. Holly causes intense nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Mistletoe causes vomiting, diarrhea, neurological problems, and heart failure.
How well do you know what your dog can and cannot eat? Try this quiz to test your knowledge.
1. Many people give this fruite to their dogs as a treat. However, just a few bites can cause fatal kidney failure in some dogs.
a. grapesb. bananasc. applesd. strawberries
2. Dogs who eat this may become very ill from alcohol poisoning:
a. bread doughb. grape jellyc. applesaused. oatmeal
3. Ingestion of a few of these nuts can cause temporary paralysis of back legs in some dogs.a. macademia nutsb. peanutsc. brazil nutsd. pecans
4. Which raw fish can cause poisoning in dogs?a. sardinesb. salmonc. bassd. eel
5. This food is sometimes used to season dogs' meals, but can cause anemia:a. onionsb. chicken brothc. bacon fatd. peanut butter
6. In some dogs, this sweetener causes hypoglycemiaa. sucraloseb. saccharinc. xylitold. aspartame
7. Raw chicken bones are more dangerous to dogs than cooked onesa. trueb. false
8. A common food byproduct used in gardens has been found to cause vomiting, tremors and fast heartbeat when dogs eat it. What is it?a. composted vegetable wasteb. cocoa bean mulchc. composted corn husksd. peanut shell mulch
9. Dogs--especially dogs that are fed a straight diet of dry food with little variety--may get an inflammation of the pancreas called "pancreatitis" if they eat certain foods that they are not used to. Which of the following is likely to trigger pancreatitis?a. mashed potatoesb. raw eggsc. turkey skind. sugary candy
10. Which of the following holiday plants is "least" toxic to dogs?a. actually, none of these are toxic to dogsb. mistletoec. poinsettiad. holly
*******************************************Answers
1. GRAPES - both grapes and raisins can be toxic. Some dogs eat them with, seemingly, no ill effects. However, some dogs become ill after ingesting only a few grapes or raisins. The first symptom is vomiting, followed by acute kidney failure, from which many dogs do not recover. As of yet, the toxin is still unknown, nor do we know why some dogs become sick and others eat grapes or raisins without a problem.
2. BREAD DOUGH: The yeast-containing bread dough can ferment in the dog's stomach, releasing large quantities of alcohol. Small dogs are most susceptible to this toxicity.
3. MACADAMIA NUTS: The ingestion of as few as siz macadamia nuts has caused paralysis in dogs. Dogs with macadamia poisoning will appear anxious and have difficulty moving their rear legs. The legs may appear to be painful. Luckily, the paralysis is temporary and clears up within a few days. The causative agent of the paralysis is unknown.
4. SALMON. Salmon and trout can be infected with a parasite called Nanophyetus salmoincola, a type of trematode worm. THe worms themselves can be infected with a type of bacteria knows as Neorickettsia helminthoeca. The bacteria only infects canids: other animals show no symptoms from eating it. When dogs eat raw fish infected with this bacteria, they can show symptoms including weakness, vomiting, loss of appetite, swollen glands, and fever. Ninety percent of untreated dogs die. Cooking kills the worm and the bacteria.
5. ONIONS. Onions and garlic contain a chemical called thiosulfate. When ingested either in large quantities or in small quantities over a long period of time, they can cause an anemia called Heinz body anemia. This is reversible if you stop feeding onions or garlic.
6. XYLITOL. This toxicity usually occurs when dogs eat large amounts of sugar-free candy or gum, although there have been some serious cases from a single piece of gum in a smaller dog. In humans, xylitol does not cause a drop in blood sugar; in dogs it does. This can lead to weakness, staggering, and other symptoms of hypoglycemia. There is also some evidence that some dogs may develop liver failure after ingesting xylitol.
7. FALSE. The reverse is true. Cooked bones are much more dangerous. They are more brittle than raw bones and can splinter into sharp shards.
8. COCOA BEAN MULCH. Coacoa bean shells contain the same toxic theobromine that chocolate does, and are poisonous to dogs for the same reason. The mulch has an attractive chocolate smell that is irrisistable to some dogs.
9. TURKEY SKIN. In dogs, pancreatitis often results from eating a very high-fat meal. Sometimes, when a dog eats a high-fat meal, its pancreas overproduces enzymes to the extent that they actually begin to "digest" the pancreas and inflame it. Common culprits are turkey skin and ham fat. Symptoms include vomiting and stomach pain. This is a medical emergency and such dogs must be treated by a vet. Some breeds are genetically predisposed to pancreatitis.
10. POINSETTIA. Despite common misconceptions, poinsettias are only mildly toxic, and most dogs who eat them will experience no symptoms at all. Some dogs will drool or vomit after eating them. Holly causes intense nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Mistletoe causes vomiting, diarrhea, neurological problems, and heart failure.
Camera Hound
Camera Hound Category: Pets and Animals
I have no idea where she picked this up, but without a doubt, Isabelle is a camera hound. She will run in front of the camera when you're taking pictures of someone else and butt them out of the way. She wants all the attention and the flashes on her.
Tony set up a temporary picture studio in one of the rooms and we started taking pics of the dogs in front of backdrops. He's still adjusting the exposure, etc., but the pictures are getting better and better. Training the dogs to sit still is a challenge, of course. So we put a table up and now they sit a bit better on top of the table.
The first time we took Isabelle up, she jumped off the table. I caught her and put her right back on and LEAP, she was back off again. I told Tony to hurry up and snap, and he did take a shot of the empty backdrop. Isabelle's ears shot up and she stared at the camera. Next time I put her up there, she laid down perfectly still and followed Tony's hand wherever it went and cocked her head at cute angles. You couldn't get her OFF of the table after that!!
The Blink Blink
Saturday, April 21, 2007
The Blink Blink Category: Pets and Animals
The blink blink. For those of you who haven't experienced it, how to describe? It's along the same lines as the vulcan mind meld and the jedi mind control. Every pug has their own preferred method of bending you to their will, but you don't really see the blink blink coming. Or it's so subtle, it can easily be written off in your mind before you realize how they've got you right where they want you.
Isabella would be the blink blink equivalent of the jedi master in our home. Let's say you went to 3 stores, looking for the perfect something. Like the other day I bought a mechanical pencil with one of the softest grips I've ever used. I was soooo happy with my purchase, especially since I had a lot of work to catch up on and was going to get great use out of it. Within 24 hours, it was in shreds. If this had been Isabelle, I would have ravaged, "WHAT are you DOING to my PENCIL???" to which she would have replied with a What? look followed by the blink blink. The what look serves to proclaim innocence and redirect blame to the person who left it somewhere in the house accessible to the pugs. The blink blink is there to emphasize and throw the accuser totally off track. And somehow it serves to make them so utterly adorable that the pencil is forgotten and they are rewarded with a tummy rub for bringing the mangled piece of plastic back to you.
I thought maybe the blink blink was an Isabelle trait, but I was so wrong. During the throes of tax season, when I was working day and night, somehow little Rizzo would always end up in my lap. I didn't remember bending down and picking her up. In fact, I remember skeedaddling them all out of my way after playtime so I could get some work done. But somehow there she was, always staring deep into my eyes and bringing an inner calm to my soul. Since it was such a mystery, I started paying attention and noticed that she would very gently and calmly lift her paws and put them ever-so-softly on my legs. Then she would stare intently at me till I subconsciously reached down to pull her up onto my lap. She never barked, never whined, and never scratched.
She followed me everywhere, and whenever I would sit down, there she'd be with those soft little paws. One day as I was moving around the house, she was sitting stationary, watching me intently, waiting for me to come to a rest. We made eye contact, and one of the older pugs sat down right in front of her, blocking her view. Her little head bobbed around the side of the older pug and captured my eyes again. And there it was ... the blink blink. D'oh! How long had I been fallen prey to the subtle trickery? Was that how I had become her lap slave so easily??
Rizzo -
ParvAid
Saturday, April 21, 2007
ParvAid Category: Pets and Animals
In our continuous search for education, we have come across a product that is very popular in certain circles. It is a natural remedy called ParvAid that treats parvo with a very high success rate. I first read about ParvAid on the site http://www.wolfcreekranch.net where I bought some diatomaceous earth as a natural wormer. I went through the rest of their products and was impressed with their selection. Since then, I've heard reference upon reference in different groups where I read messages about how wonderful ParvAid works and how many people always have a bottle on hand, just in case. The testimonials on it are terrific. After talking with the woman who runs Wolf Creek Ranch (she also has an animal sanctuary there where sick animals are treated holistically) and discussing some of the issues in our household, I ordered some products and decided to become a distributor. When I have time to re-arrange the website, you'll see links and product information on all the items that they sell and I'll have them on hand here for those who are interested.
Some of the things that their products treat include: parvo, distemper, worms/parasites, coccidia, giardia, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, uti, kidney issues, cancer, allergies, vaccinosis, and general health. Check out their site - they have so many helpful products!
ParvAid Category: Pets and Animals
In our continuous search for education, we have come across a product that is very popular in certain circles. It is a natural remedy called ParvAid that treats parvo with a very high success rate. I first read about ParvAid on the site http://www.wolfcreekranch.net where I bought some diatomaceous earth as a natural wormer. I went through the rest of their products and was impressed with their selection. Since then, I've heard reference upon reference in different groups where I read messages about how wonderful ParvAid works and how many people always have a bottle on hand, just in case. The testimonials on it are terrific. After talking with the woman who runs Wolf Creek Ranch (she also has an animal sanctuary there where sick animals are treated holistically) and discussing some of the issues in our household, I ordered some products and decided to become a distributor. When I have time to re-arrange the website, you'll see links and product information on all the items that they sell and I'll have them on hand here for those who are interested.
Some of the things that their products treat include: parvo, distemper, worms/parasites, coccidia, giardia, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, uti, kidney issues, cancer, allergies, vaccinosis, and general health. Check out their site - they have so many helpful products!
ParvAid
Saturday, April 21, 2007
ParvAid Category: Pets and Animals
In our continuous search for education, we have come across a product that is very popular in certain circles. It is a natural remedy called ParvAid that treats parvo with a very high success rate. I first read about ParvAid on the site http://www.wolfcreekranch.net where I bought some diatomaceous earth as a natural wormer. I went through the rest of their products and was impressed with their selection. Since then, I've heard reference upon reference in different groups where I read messages about how wonderful ParvAid works and how many people always have a bottle on hand, just in case. The testimonials on it are terrific. After talking with the woman who runs Wolf Creek Ranch (she also has an animal sanctuary there where sick animals are treated holistically) and discussing some of the issues in our household, I ordered some products and decided to become a distributor. When I have time to re-arrange the website, you'll see links and product information on all the items that they sell and I'll have them on hand here for those who are interested.
Some of the things that their products treat include: parvo, distemper, worms/parasites, coccidia, giardia, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, uti, kidney issues, cancer, allergies, vaccinosis, and general health. Check out their site - they have so many helpful products!
ParvAid Category: Pets and Animals
In our continuous search for education, we have come across a product that is very popular in certain circles. It is a natural remedy called ParvAid that treats parvo with a very high success rate. I first read about ParvAid on the site http://www.wolfcreekranch.net where I bought some diatomaceous earth as a natural wormer. I went through the rest of their products and was impressed with their selection. Since then, I've heard reference upon reference in different groups where I read messages about how wonderful ParvAid works and how many people always have a bottle on hand, just in case. The testimonials on it are terrific. After talking with the woman who runs Wolf Creek Ranch (she also has an animal sanctuary there where sick animals are treated holistically) and discussing some of the issues in our household, I ordered some products and decided to become a distributor. When I have time to re-arrange the website, you'll see links and product information on all the items that they sell and I'll have them on hand here for those who are interested.
Some of the things that their products treat include: parvo, distemper, worms/parasites, coccidia, giardia, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, uti, kidney issues, cancer, allergies, vaccinosis, and general health. Check out their site - they have so many helpful products!
Raw Feeding Update
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Raw Feeding Update Category: Pets and Animals
There is an incredible amount of information out there to absorb. The principals are basic and simple, but they lead to so many more questions and avenues of thought. But let's just start by saying that the dogs are doing WONDERFUL on the raw food. Cooter started out hesitantly and still prefers poultry to red meat, but he actually jumped around my feet yesterday, dancing for his food - something he has never done before. And another first, this morning while getting ready for work, Daisy found an empty food bowl and brought it to me! She looks so much better now and is going back to the doc next week for a follow-up blood test to make sure that her pancreas is totally out of the woods. Everyone seems very happy with the changes going on here and their fur is even more soft these days. The stools are smaller, they need less water to drink, and thier stools aren't as stinky, either! They say after a few months on raw, the doggy odor goes away. I'll have to get back to you all on that one.
Oh - and you should have seen Mariah steal a whole egg from Fabio who had no clue what to do with it. She carried it around, nosed it, rolled it, carried it some more, then finally figured out how to get into it - lol.
This is a pretty neat brochure that lays out a simple explanation on raw feeding and has some good links on it, if anyone is interested:
http://www.usrmb.net/brochure1.pdf
Tony has been ordering more equipment for his studio. He just received a light set with umbrellas in the mail and a holder for the backdrops. There are a few professional-type backdrops on order, then we're going to get new pics of all the dogs up! He's also been shanghied by the council to take pics of all the Village council members for our new updated page to be posted soon. Should be fun!
Raw Feeding Update Category: Pets and Animals
There is an incredible amount of information out there to absorb. The principals are basic and simple, but they lead to so many more questions and avenues of thought. But let's just start by saying that the dogs are doing WONDERFUL on the raw food. Cooter started out hesitantly and still prefers poultry to red meat, but he actually jumped around my feet yesterday, dancing for his food - something he has never done before. And another first, this morning while getting ready for work, Daisy found an empty food bowl and brought it to me! She looks so much better now and is going back to the doc next week for a follow-up blood test to make sure that her pancreas is totally out of the woods. Everyone seems very happy with the changes going on here and their fur is even more soft these days. The stools are smaller, they need less water to drink, and thier stools aren't as stinky, either! They say after a few months on raw, the doggy odor goes away. I'll have to get back to you all on that one.
Oh - and you should have seen Mariah steal a whole egg from Fabio who had no clue what to do with it. She carried it around, nosed it, rolled it, carried it some more, then finally figured out how to get into it - lol.
This is a pretty neat brochure that lays out a simple explanation on raw feeding and has some good links on it, if anyone is interested:
http://www.usrmb.net/brochure1.pdf
Tony has been ordering more equipment for his studio. He just received a light set with umbrellas in the mail and a holder for the backdrops. There are a few professional-type backdrops on order, then we're going to get new pics of all the dogs up! He's also been shanghied by the council to take pics of all the Village council members for our new updated page to be posted soon. Should be fun!
Massages, Updates & More on Raw Feeding
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Massages, updates & more on raw feeding Category: Pets and Animals
Massages... One of the best side benefits about owning a pug is the massages. I will lay down across the bed for a minute to relax or stretch my back, and wherever I go, they follow. They will play on and around me and they are just the perfect weight. As they walk on my back, it feels like a nice massage! Pugs bring a whole new meaning to the term "therapy dog." Did you know that they used to be used like we use heating pads and hot water bottles? And I even read one source that said they were used under the covers to warm the feet before central heating was invented. So for those of you who pack emergency survival kits, don't forget the PUG!!!!
Rawfeeding - the current problems with pet food have launched us into raw feeding. As you can tell from some previous posts, we have been doing lots of research. There are still a couple of unanswered questions for me, but in the meantime Tony has taken the bull by the horns. He ordered a grinder, retrieved his venison from a friend's freezer, and made 40 lbs of ground for us to start using right away. I've also found some chicken thighs and turkey legs on sale and have been giving those to select dogs whole, under supervision, and they are doing quite well with them. Because I'm still in tax season and there just aren't enough hours in the day, I will still leave some kibble for them to access when I am low on time. Once some time frees up for me, it's all raw, though! We just invested in a deep freeze and 200# of chicken parts, but haven't had time to thaw them yet!
So even though we haven't made a full transition, we're seeing happy dogs. Their stools are better (smaller). Daisy's puppies already had thick fur, but Ellie's pups had somewhat thin fur which will grow in thicker as they age. But on raw, their hair is already growing in more thick and softer. The adults are handling it VERY well. I thought we'd see more resource guarding, but they're all on their best behavior for the "good stuff."
I'm still monitoring Daisy from her bout of pancreatitis. Some days she seems up to eating, and other days she just isn't really that hungry. I remove the skin from the chicken/turkey before giving it to any of them, and her health is definitely improving. She turned her nose at the venison at first, but now she's scarfing it down like a champ. This is a good indicator to me that her body is coming back around. It's time to get a follow-up blood test on her to see where things stand clinically.
The pups are getting stir crazy. All that wonderful time outside came to a screeching halt as the most recent cold front came through. In addition to their playtime, I've been taking Daisy's pups one per night and allowing them to sleep with me and some of the adults. They love their special time. Some settle right in (Shang) and some want to play till all hours of the morning (Rizzo). The boys personalities are really distinctive now. They are making it very easy for me to place them in the right homes for them! The girls are still really similar in personality and looks, but one is turning on the sass (Penelope) and one is turning on the sweet (Carmen).
Massages, updates & more on raw feeding Category: Pets and Animals
Massages... One of the best side benefits about owning a pug is the massages. I will lay down across the bed for a minute to relax or stretch my back, and wherever I go, they follow. They will play on and around me and they are just the perfect weight. As they walk on my back, it feels like a nice massage! Pugs bring a whole new meaning to the term "therapy dog." Did you know that they used to be used like we use heating pads and hot water bottles? And I even read one source that said they were used under the covers to warm the feet before central heating was invented. So for those of you who pack emergency survival kits, don't forget the PUG!!!!
Rawfeeding - the current problems with pet food have launched us into raw feeding. As you can tell from some previous posts, we have been doing lots of research. There are still a couple of unanswered questions for me, but in the meantime Tony has taken the bull by the horns. He ordered a grinder, retrieved his venison from a friend's freezer, and made 40 lbs of ground for us to start using right away. I've also found some chicken thighs and turkey legs on sale and have been giving those to select dogs whole, under supervision, and they are doing quite well with them. Because I'm still in tax season and there just aren't enough hours in the day, I will still leave some kibble for them to access when I am low on time. Once some time frees up for me, it's all raw, though! We just invested in a deep freeze and 200# of chicken parts, but haven't had time to thaw them yet!
So even though we haven't made a full transition, we're seeing happy dogs. Their stools are better (smaller). Daisy's puppies already had thick fur, but Ellie's pups had somewhat thin fur which will grow in thicker as they age. But on raw, their hair is already growing in more thick and softer. The adults are handling it VERY well. I thought we'd see more resource guarding, but they're all on their best behavior for the "good stuff."
I'm still monitoring Daisy from her bout of pancreatitis. Some days she seems up to eating, and other days she just isn't really that hungry. I remove the skin from the chicken/turkey before giving it to any of them, and her health is definitely improving. She turned her nose at the venison at first, but now she's scarfing it down like a champ. This is a good indicator to me that her body is coming back around. It's time to get a follow-up blood test on her to see where things stand clinically.
The pups are getting stir crazy. All that wonderful time outside came to a screeching halt as the most recent cold front came through. In addition to their playtime, I've been taking Daisy's pups one per night and allowing them to sleep with me and some of the adults. They love their special time. Some settle right in (Shang) and some want to play till all hours of the morning (Rizzo). The boys personalities are really distinctive now. They are making it very easy for me to place them in the right homes for them! The girls are still really similar in personality and looks, but one is turning on the sass (Penelope) and one is turning on the sweet (Carmen).
Rabies Challenge Fund
Monday, April 02, 2007
Rabies Challenge Fund Category: Pets and Animals
For those of you who are like me - appreciate vaccinations and the protection they give, but don't believe in over-vaccinating, this might interest you. When I read that there were no cases of rabies in the domestic population 50 years prior to my state's decision to legislate mandatory shots every year, you know it's a money-making decision in many states.
Dr. Jean Dodds is a noted veterinarian who has re-written vaccination protocols and is well-respected in the animal community. Now she has teamed up with an animal activist and established a fund to challenge the mandatory rabies vaccinations, citing studies that show that their effects run much longer than governmental bodies are recognizing.
Here is the official web page: http://www.rabieschallengefund.org/
Rabies Challenge Fund Category: Pets and Animals
For those of you who are like me - appreciate vaccinations and the protection they give, but don't believe in over-vaccinating, this might interest you. When I read that there were no cases of rabies in the domestic population 50 years prior to my state's decision to legislate mandatory shots every year, you know it's a money-making decision in many states.
Dr. Jean Dodds is a noted veterinarian who has re-written vaccination protocols and is well-respected in the animal community. Now she has teamed up with an animal activist and established a fund to challenge the mandatory rabies vaccinations, citing studies that show that their effects run much longer than governmental bodies are recognizing.
Here is the official web page: http://www.rabieschallengefund.org/
Raw Food
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Raw Food Category: Pets and Animals
I've been researching raw feeding for about a year and have only gone so far as to make the satin balls for Gator. However, with a combination of events, we are starting to make the leap to raw feeding, starting with Tiki and Daisy. They've only had a couple of chicken thighs so far. Happy to report no diarrhea or other visible ill effects. On the second one, Daisy managed to eat the bone, but on the third she didn't even finish the whole thigh!
To help with the transition, I joined the yahoo group RawFeeding which is HIGH volume and 4000 members strong. There are so many posts that daily digests have to be sent out about 4 times per day! But the wealth of knowledge and the obvious experience of the folks there who have the good heart to help out the newbies is incredible. They've made me much more brave about the switch. Here are a few sites recommended by one of the advisors in the group:
http://www.skylarzack.com/rawfeeding.htm http://wwwrawfeddogs.net - complete with recipes
http://www.rawlearning.com/rawfaq.html http://rawfed.com/myths/index.html http://www.rawmeaty bones.com - this one has a .pdf you can d/l and read free
Have any of our readers and friends fed raw? What were your experiences? Any recommendations?
Raw Food Category: Pets and Animals
I've been researching raw feeding for about a year and have only gone so far as to make the satin balls for Gator. However, with a combination of events, we are starting to make the leap to raw feeding, starting with Tiki and Daisy. They've only had a couple of chicken thighs so far. Happy to report no diarrhea or other visible ill effects. On the second one, Daisy managed to eat the bone, but on the third she didn't even finish the whole thigh!
To help with the transition, I joined the yahoo group RawFeeding which is HIGH volume and 4000 members strong. There are so many posts that daily digests have to be sent out about 4 times per day! But the wealth of knowledge and the obvious experience of the folks there who have the good heart to help out the newbies is incredible. They've made me much more brave about the switch. Here are a few sites recommended by one of the advisors in the group:
http://www.skylarzack.com/rawfeeding.htm http://wwwrawfeddogs.net - complete with recipes
http://www.rawlearning.com/rawfaq.html http://rawfed.com/myths/index.html http://www.rawmeaty bones.com - this one has a .pdf you can d/l and read free
Have any of our readers and friends fed raw? What were your experiences? Any recommendations?
Congrats Vincent!
Monday, March 26, 2007
Congrats, Vincent!
Category: Pets and Animals
That's right. You have to talk to him with respect now. Vincent, the handlers' frenchie, gets the highly sought CH in front of his name now. No more getting chased off the couch, Vincent. And make sure they upgrade your bowl to fine china! Or maybe you just get a bathrobe and cigar?? We're proud of you!
Congrats, Vincent!
Category: Pets and Animals
That's right. You have to talk to him with respect now. Vincent, the handlers' frenchie, gets the highly sought CH in front of his name now. No more getting chased off the couch, Vincent. And make sure they upgrade your bowl to fine china! Or maybe you just get a bathrobe and cigar?? We're proud of you!
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