I hope they have comfie beds, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  We LOVE to travel and finding decent accommodations that will accept dogs has always been a bit of a challenge!  I just read in the spring edition of Modern Dog Magazine that the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel will gladly accommodate your dog!

The ad reads, “The dog friendly Sheraton Centre Toronto.  Where you’ll find a warm welcome waiting for your smallest family friend.”  Sounds very inviting!

Check out their website at www.Sheraton.com/tospecials.  Have a great weekend everybody and stay warm!  See you on Wednesday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

Avocados are bad for us, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  Many of you know I recently started Weight Watchers so I’m really watching what I eat!  I’ve learned that there are good fats and bad fats.  Avocados are a tasty healthy fat for us BUT NOT FOR OUR YORKIES!!!

According to the ASPCA Poison Control Centre avocados are poisonous if ingested by dogs.  “The leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados contain Persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs.”  Persin is a fungicidal toxin (poisonous substance) found in avocados.  Ingesting avocados can be fatal to your dog.  CLICK HERE  to see the ASPCA’s “People Food To Avoid Feeding Your Pets.”

So remember:  keep the peel, pit, leaves and the fruit of the avocado AWAY from your Yorkie!  See you on Friday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

I love having my pic taken, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  I really LOVE dogs but I also LOVE animals!  The Animal Planet channel is part of the Discovery Channel family and I’ve watched some amazing shows.  If you don’t have access to the channel click on the following link, their website is spectacular!   (Check out the Yorkshire Terrier video at the bottom of the page!)

On their site, you can watch all kinds of funny and informative videos about dogs, read pet health info, share and look at pet photos, learn about wild animals and so much more.  I was so absorbed in this site I completely lost track of time!

Have a great weekend everybody and see you on Wednesday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

I don't like reclining chairs, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  My husband LOVES to come home from work, disappear into the family room and hop into his comfy La-Z-Boy recliner chair.  I can hear the familiar “crank” when he leans back and raises the footrest.

Recliner chairs and couches are wonderful but can pose a real safety hazard for your Yorkie!  I recently read about a dog that broke her leg when she got it caught in the footrest of a reclining chair.  Fortunately the little doggie’s leg has healed properly.

Please keep your Yorkie away from any reclining furniture!  They can easily become trapped when the footrest is closing or get caught in the tracks or mechanisms under the chair. 

Gideon and Hope sit at my feet when my husband is reclined in his chair.  But, he always looks around the chair before he gets up just to make sure no Yorkies have scooted under his footrest before he closes it.

Having your Yorkie sit with you while you relax is comforting but be extra cautious when reclining on your couch or chair.

Hope you enjoyed your Valentine’s Day yesterday!  See you on Friday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day, everybody!  Remember to cuddle your Yorkie and keep all the chocolate goodies away from your furry sweetheart.  See you on Wednesday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

I'm so sorry to hear about Mia, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  Our hearts go out this morning to a dear friend of our guest writer, Judy Wright of Rosehill Yorkies, whose Yorkie, Mia passed away after a sad and tragic accident at home.  Judy would like to share her story.  Please keep her friend in your thoughts: 

My dear friend went shopping and in her rush to bring groceries inside, she dropped her purse in her chair, as she struggled to get the bags of groceries to the kitchen.  She made several trips to the car, rushing back inside, with her arms loaded down.  

The phone rang, the kids needed picking up from soccer, dinner was not even started yet, bathroom break was way overdue and meanwhile, her precious little girl, Mia, climbed into her purse, thinking she would “load up” for the next car trip out with mommy.  She then decided she would “snack” a little while waiting for mommy to go again.

She looked around in the purse, found a packet of sugarless gum, had a couple of pieces, a roll of sugarless mints, then noticed those tiny little pills in that blister pack.  She ate a couple, they were really small and did not do a thing for her pre dinner hunger pangs, so she ate the rest of them.  Mommy was still running around and Mia was getting a little light headed so she jumped down and went to her bed, curled up and went to sleep.

My friend dashed out to get the kids, delivered several of the team-mates to their homes, rushed home and started dinner.  That is when she noticed that Mia was not in the kitchen, “helping” with dinner as she always did.  And then they found her lifeless little body, still curled up peacefully in her bed.

We all know we have to be so very cautious about purses and things these babies can get into and eat things that can cause them grave harm.  It just takes one minute of rushed confusion of everyday life activities, where we drop our guard, and we pay for it dearly.  

Lets review what we carry in our purses that can end tragically for our precious babies:

1. Human medications, both prescribed as well as over the counter meds – Antidepressants, NSAIDS, aspirin, Tylenol, Motrin, any painkillers can be toxic to your pet.
2. Sugarless Gum and Candy that contain Xylitol – Xylitol is highly toxic to your pet. It causes blood sugar crash in dogs, which they think is what happened to Mia.  She went into a severe hypoglycemic state of unconsciousness.
3. Cigarettes, Tobacco and Nicotine Gum – Just 3 cigarettes can kill your baby. Nicotine poisoning is rapid onset, and results in rapid heart and respiratory rate, neurological symptoms, seizures, paralysis and death.
4. Asthma Inhalers – Biting into and puncturing the dispenser results in acute life threatening poisoning.
5. Hand Sanitizer – Alcohol is the active ingredient in these, and even a small bottle of sanitizer is equal to a shot of hard liquor.  This results in drop in blood sugar, hypothermia, coma, and death.

PLEASE, try to remember in your hustle and bustle, to throw your purse on some high, out of reach area.  You do not want to go through what my friend now has to face.  The event alone is tragic, but the guilt she is suffering is overwhelming.  I do not know if she will ever get over that.

We’re so sad for Mia’s Mom!  We’ll be praying for her.  Freak household accidents happen everyday, folks.  Please be aware and keep your Yorkie safe.  See you on Friday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

I wish I had a Nylabone right now, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  Our little Yorkies LOVE Nylabones!  They have no removable parts, are easy to clean, the Yorkies love to chew away on them and they can even play a little tug-of-war!   

Nylabone

 We recently saw a video of a Yorkie puppy with a little hard plastic ball stuck in his mouth.  One of the openings on the toy seemed to have gotten caught on his teeth and the toy had to be cut into pieces to be removed from his mouth.

THANKFULLY the little puppy was ok after the toy was removed and his experience doesn’t seem to have slowed him down at all.  But PLEASE make sure you only give your Yorkies toys that ARE NOT made of hard plastic and DO NOT have any removable parts.  We like stuffing free toys, Kong toys and Nylabones.

Have a fantastic weekend everybody and see you on Wednesday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

Am I drinking more than usual, mommy?

Yes, they can!  It’s one of the most common hormonal diseases of dogs.  Diabetes is a chronic condition that happens when the body doesn’t produce or use the hormone insulin correctly.  Sugar needs to enter the cells to be used as energy so that the body can function properly.

Diabetes usually affects dogs that are middle aged – about seven years and older – and more females than males BUT diabetes can affect dogs of ANY age. 

Symptoms To Watch For

• Drinking excessively, more than usual
• Urinating more frequently than usual
• Lack of energy
• Weight loss even though your dog is eating well
• Sudden blindness

If you think your dog has any of these symptoms or if you’re just not sure, make an appointment to visit your vet.  DON’T WAIT!!!  Untreated, diabetes can be fatal.  Your vet can check your dog’s urine and blood for evidence of diabetes.  She’ll suggest treatment and you can work with her to help your dog.

Glad to be back, everybody!  See you on Friday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

We're so happy for Faith, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  I wanted to share a little story with you today about faith and the power of believing in the compassion of others. 

Last Sunday, our church service started out like any other Sunday with lots of singing, praising and fellowship.  I’m the church photographer so I often have “assignments” to take pictures during the service. 

Leaving my seat a little bit early to snap some pictures of the students in our Youth Group, I quietly crept down the stairs.  And as I rounded the corner there was a sweet black lab puppy sitting wagging her tail with two of the Youth Group Leaders.  Assuming the puppy belonged to one of the leaders, I was surprised she’d brought her dog to church.

“The puppy isn’t mine,” she said.  “Someone just left her here with her bed, bowl and food.”  The puppy sprang up and kissed my hand furiously wagging her tail.  She’d obviously been well taken care of and I wondered if her family just couldn’t afford to take care of her anymore. 

Sadly, people give puppies as gifts at Christmas and don’t really understand the magnitude of the commitment required to look after a dog.  Poor puppies like this little dog are left confused and waiting for their family to return. 

“I think we should call her Faith,” said the Youth Leader.  I have to admit it was hard for me to tear myself away from Faith.  I said a little prayer for her as I rushed to take the Youth pics. 

Shortly after the service ended, the Youth Leader caught up with me.  “A young couple is taking Faith home!” she said excitedly.  “They’re really great and she’ll have a good home.”  Relieved I packed up my camera equipment and stopped briefly at the spot where her bed had been. 

Keep the faith I thought to myself.  No truer words have ever been spoken.

Have a great weekend everybody!  See you on Wednesday, February 01 for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

It's too cold out today, mommy!

TODAY’S FEATURE:  We’ve had rain, freezing rain, snow…you name it (except sun!) this week.  To de-ice our slippery sidewalk and driveway we use Eco-Traction, a chemical free product that’s made of a volcanic mineral that sticks to the ice and gives it traction.  We’ve mentioned this product before but believe it’s safe and works.

Many traditional de-icers like rock salt contain chemicals that we don’t want our Yorkies ingesting.  They’ll lick the salt from their paws and eat it off the floor or carpet when it’s brought into the house on people’s shoes.  The salt can be irritating and make them sick.

So try Eco-Traction instead of salt.  Have a safe weekend everybody and stay warm!  See you on Wednesday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.