This post is taken from a Trilogy (the makers of Life’s Abundance pet food) Online blog entry dated September 10, 2009. This particular message struck home as I grieved for three years when my favorite cat of all time, Sidney, passed away after 18 years of filling my life with joy. The grief did pass eventually (but the pleasant memories remain) and I now have two new delightful furry friends:

Losing a companion animal is devastating.  And yet, many pet parents don’t receive the kind of emotional support they might expect if they had lost a human family member.  Failing to show such a depth of compassion is common for those who have never shared a special bond with a companion animal.  These people might say to themselves, “What’s the big deal … it was just a pet.”  What they don’t understand is a very simple truth … losing a companion animal is losing a member of your family.

Anytime we suffer a dramatic loss, it is appropriate to grieve.  Your first priority should be to come to grips with the fact that it is perfectly acceptable to grieve the passing of your companion animal.  Accepting the magnitude of your loss can facilitate the process of grieving.  The more you fight to suppress your feelings, the worse your grief can become.  Hiding the heartache will do you no good.

Read more »

One of the biggest problems owners face, other than house breaking, is chewing. A dog can find things to chew in a empty room, including your couch or shoes if you’re not watching.

Chewing is a normal pattern for dogs. One of the main reasons dogs chew is to relax.  There are other reasons and they can threaten your rapport with your dog!  This is a destructive habit that needs to be altered.

Your dog may chew because he is teething and, just like with a baby it hurts (a lot). Giving him frozen rawhide bones is a wonderful way to begin breaking this habit. Keep a few in the freezer for him.

Because a dogs attention span is all of a foot long, it is a good idea to get 10 or 12 rawhides chews to freeze. Put five down, then in a few days put them back in the freezer and put down the other five. Each one smells a little different and this gives him a variety of things to chew on without endangering your furniture or shoes!

Read more »

The following article was published in the July issue of the HealthyPetNet Newsletter:

In the summer of one of the most turbulent economic periods in a lifetime, Americans are rediscovering simplicity and frugality.  These days, it’s not uncommon to see a small group playing an impromptu game of Frisbee, or a couple enjoying a nature hike through a local park, or an extended family spending an afternoon in the backyard barbecuing.

The summer months provide ample opportunities for outdoor fun, whether your idea of open-air enjoyment is a power-walk with your dog or watching an afternoon storm roll in from the safety of a back porch with your cat.  These activities help us brush away the winter cobwebs, shedding new light on our daily life.  But sometimes, we make discoveries that are not altogether pleasant.  Too often, the thinner, summer coats of our pets can reveal what winter coats have hidden from plain view – reddened skin irritations, possibly the sign of a seasonal or chronic allergy.

That’s right … just like humans, pets suffer from allergies.  Allergens can come from any number of sources, including grasses, trees, molds, dust mites and flea bites.  Even their food may contain allergens.  With all of these possible culprits, how can a pet parent learn what’s causing their pet’s allergy?

Read more »

52. There are 703 breeds of purebred dogs
53. Dachshunds were originally bred for fighting badgers
54. The world’s smartest dogs are thought to be (1) the border collie, (2) the poodle, and (3) the golden retriever
55. … while the dumbest dog is believed to be the Afghan hound
56. A dog’s smell is more than 100,000 times stronger than that of a human’s
57. … which they need because their eyesight is not as keen as a human’s.
58. Dogs judge objects first by their movement, then by their brightness, and lastly by their shape
59. Chocolate contains a substance known as theobromine (similar to caffeine) which can kill dogs or at the very least make them violently ill
60. George Washington had thirty six dogs – all foxhounds – with one named Sweetlips
61. All dogs are identical in anatomy – 321 bones and 42 permanent teeth
62. Smaller breeds mature faster than larger breeds
63. Female dogs are only ready to mate – “in heat” – twice a year for a total of roughly 20 days
64. Puppies sleep ninety percent of the day for their first few weeks
65. Rin Tin Tin was the first Hollywood dog star
66. … and he really signed his movie contracts – all 22 of them – with a pawprint
67. The Wizard of Oz’s Toto was played by a female Cairn Terrier named Terry
68. Up until the late 1800’s, Collies were known as Scottish Sheepdogs
69. Dogs have two times as many muscles to move their ears as people
70. The longer a dog’s nose, the more effective it’s internal cooling system
71. An elderly woman was saved by her 12 pound Yorkshire Terrier who fought off an 80 pound Akita and survived with only 9 stitches
72. U.S. Customs dogs “Rocky” and “Barco” were so good at patrolling the border that Mexican drug lords put a $300,000 bounty on their heads
73. Dogs are all direct descendants of wolves
74. Wolves and dogs can mate to produce fertal offspring
75. Female wolves have been known to travel great distances to regurgitate full meals for their hungry pups
76. Cerberus was the tri-headed dog that guarded the underworld in Greek mythology

Today’s final fact: dogs love fresh, natural, Life’s Abundance dog foods from Wholesome Pet Supply.

As most of my regular readers know, Wholesome Pet Supply sells Life’s Abundance pet food. This all-natural, holistic food contains no chemicals or fillers and is shipped fresh to your door. The formulator of all Life’s Abundance pet foods is Dr. Jane Bicks, a world-renowned veterinarian.

Below is her message from the HealthyPetNet March Newsletter. Also, Dr. Jane has a weekly program where you can call in and ask her questions. You can be a part of the next Dr. Jane call. Calls with Dr. Jane are always informative and a lot of fun! To participate, simply dial 218-844-0860 at the appropriate time, and enter pass code 626116# after the prompt. The next “Ask Dr. Jane” call will be held on Wednesday, at 8:30 PM EDT.

Read more »

26. Female dogs bear their young for 60 days before they’re born
27. Dogs’ sense of hearing is more than ten times more acute than a human’s
28. Humans can detect sounds at 20,000 times per second, while dogs can sense frequencies of 30,000 times per second.
29. The earliest dog fossil dates back to nearly 10,000 B.C.
30. Bloodhounds are prized their ability to single out and identify a number of scents simultaneously
31. Dalmatian puppies are born completely white.
32. The Ancient Chinese carried Pekingese puppies in the sleeves of their robes
33. Boxers are so named because of their manner of playing with their front paws
34. All breeds of dog have been found to attack livestock – from 3 month old puppies, all the way up to thirteen year old poodles
35. A dog’s heart beats up to 120 times per minute, or 50% faster than the average human heartbeat of 80 times per minute
36. The oldest dog on record – a Queensland “Heeler” named Bluey – was 29 years, 5 months old
37. Davy Crockett had a dog named Sport
38. Dogs were first domesticated by cavemen
39. Dogs live 15 years on average
40. Many foot disorders inn dogs are simply an issue of long toenails
42. More than 5,000,000 puppies are born in the U.S. every year
42. More than 1 in 3 American families own a dog
43. Average body temperature for a dog is 101.2 degrees
44. The Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts both offer merit badges in dog care
45. Dogs are natural pack animals
46. They are naturally submissive to any creature with higher pack status – human or canine
47. Dogs instinctively require the pack leader’s approval
48. Dogs with little human contact in the first three months typically don’t make good pets
49. The Chihuahua was named after the state in Mexico where they were discovered
50. After birth, puppies’ eyes do not fully open until they’re about 12 days old
51. Their vision is not fully developed until after the 1st month

Don’t forget another important fact: dogs love  fresh, natural Life’s Abundance dog foods from Wholesome Pet Supply.

1. It is a myth that dogs are color blind. They can actually see in color, just not as
vividly as humans. It is akin to our vision at dusk.
2. Dogs DO have better low-light vision than humans because of a special light-
reflecting layer behind their retinas
3. A German Shepherd guide dog led her blind companion the entire 2100 mile Applachian Trail
4. If never spayed or neutered, a female dog, her mate, and their puppies could
product over 66,000 dogs in 6 years!
5. Dogs’ only sweat glands are between their paw pads
6. Like human babies, Chihuahuas are born with a soft spot in their skull which closes
with age
7. The breed Lundehune has 6 toes and can close its ears
8. Teddy Roosevelt’s dog, Pete, ripped a French ambassador’s pants off at the White
House
9. President Lyndon Johnson had two beagles named Him and Her
10. Franklin Roosevelt spent $15,000 for a destroyer to pick up his Scottie in the
Aleutian Islands
11. In Roman times, mastiffs donned light armor and were sent after mounted knights
12. The Russians trained dogs during WWII to run suicide missions with mines strapped to their backs
13. A dog’s mouth exerts 150-200 pounds of pressure per square inch
14. … with some dogs exerting up to 450 pounds per squre inch.
15. A one year old dog is as mature, physically, as a 15 year old human
16. The U.S. has the highest dog population in the world
17. France has the 2nd highest
18. The average city dog lives 3 years longer than a country dog
19. 87% of dog owners say their dog curls up beside them or at their feet while they
watch T.V.
20. Dogs can be trained to detect epileptic seizures
21. 15 people die in the U.S. every year from dog bites
22. In 2002 alone, more people in the U.S. were killed by dogs than by sharks in the
past 100 years
23. Gidget is the name of the Taco Bell dog
24. Newfoundlands are great swimmers because of their webbed feet
25. Basset Hounds cannot swim

Another fact about dogs is that they love  fresh, natural Life’s Abundance dog foods from Wholesome Pet Supply.

By following some simple tips, you can ensure a trouble-free holiday season for you and your pets.

There are some things from which you should shield your pets during the festive months.

Some common holiday plants are toxic to cats and dogs.  Don’t keep holly, poinsettias, lilies or mistletoe on or near the floor, where pets have easy access to them.

If you have a live tree in your home, don’t let pine needles accumulate on the floor, as these needles can perforate the intestinal lining of dogs and cats.  Additionally, trees should be tethered to a wall or the ceiling to prevent them from falling on pets.

Don’t leave unfamiliar extension cords fully exposed, as these can resemble chew toys, which could result in serious injury to your dog.  Never leave lights plugged in when you are not at home.

Read more »

The cool winds of winter are already blowing through the nation.  Some states are experiencing sooner and greater than expected snowfalls.  So, what can you do to make sure your companion animals are prepared for the coming months?  Here are just a handful of helpful tips …

If your companion animal is older and arthritic, be sure not to leave her or him outside too long.  Just as with humans, colder temperatures can make arthritic joints stiff and painful.

Dogs that tend to walk on sidewalks and streets should have their paws cleaned upon re-entering the home.  Ice, rock salt and other chemicals can collect in their pads and cause irritation.

Read more »

The upcoming season presents numerous instances for increased anxiety during a flurry of holiday-related activities.  As you’ve probably seen time and time again, your sweet companions can be rattled by your own elevated levels of stress.  Fortunately, there are some specific steps you can take to cope with the demands for your time and energies, to make the holidays merry for you and your pets.

Be sure to plan ahead, to reduce the likelihood of last-minute decisions, which often infuse activities with an unnecessary sense of urgency.

Take advantage of online shopping, so you don’t have to leave your companion animals alone for extended periods of time.  And try to take care of multiple errands during each trip.  You’ll not only save gas (and therefore, money), you’ll also spend less time away from home.

Read more »