PET & ME

2013-02-25T20:00:00.000-05:00

7 Things Pet Owners Do That Drive Veterinarians CrazyBy Dr. Patty Khuly

It’s a tough subject to tackle. After all, veterinarians do plenty of annoying things, too. But this particular post is all about you — well, not you, but the annoying yous among you. Not that most of you deserve this, but some of you just might! So without any further hedging, let me launch into the most annoying things pet owners do.

1. Answer Their Cells
Need I say more? Is there anything more annoying and disrespectful than answering a phone call while your vet is delivering her state-of-your-pet’s-health address? OK, it might be worse if you dug out your phone to initiate a call midexam, but only by a smidge. They’re both just plain rude.
2. Bring Their Kids
I dearly love children (mine mostly, but yours can also be cool), but very young or badly behaved children are an unnecessary liability in a veterinary environment. It’s hard enough to keep pets safe — much less kids. So unless your children are old enough and/or chill enough to hang out in a vet setting, they should probably stay home.
One exception: If your pet has an emergency and you have no one to care for your kids, you are most definitely excused. We’ll understand. Call ahead and we may even assign an employee to keep tabs on them so you can concentrate on what’s wrong with your pet.
3. Let Their Dogs Run Amok
This is not the dog park. And, for the record, retractable leads should remain in the shortest, locked position for the duration of your visit. After watching an innocent human get taken down in the lobby by an overlong retractable line, I decided there should be a law against these in vet hospitals.
4. Carry Their Cat
I've never been able to fathom why some owners insist upon bringing their cats to the vet hospital without carriers. Some will use harnesses, which won’t help them when faced with a truly motivated dog. And, honestly, I’d never blame a dog for attacking a cat in a veterinary hospital environment. After all, these cats are probably giving off cornered prey vibes that some dogs can't ignore.
Remember my post on cats in carriers? Cats are more comfortable in uncertain environments when they’re enclosed.
5. Deny, Deny, Deny
It drives us crazy. These clients effectively employ us to be their experts, then they put up roadblock after roadblock: No, my pet is not fat. No, my pet’s teeth are not rotting. No, he’s too old for surgery. No, her claws are not too long. It’s exasperating!
I can understand why you might (and should!) question your veterinarian about health care issues that are important to you, but why come to the vet if you’re unwilling to have an open dialogue about what your pet needs and doesn’t need?
6. Refuse to Pay
It happens more often than you’d think. Pet owners agree to hospitalization and procedures — and later refuse to pay. Sometimes they say that they forgot their checkbooks. Other times they claim to have misunderstood the payment policy, even though there’s a sign in almost every veterinary hospital in the United States that explains payment is expected when services are rendered. I even had a client cancel her Amex payment after we saved her anemic cat’s life with a blood transfusion.
7. Don’t Follow Through
There’s no shame in admitting that you can’t medicate your difficult cat or trim your unruly dog's toenails. Veterinarians are pet owners, too. We absolutely understand why you might not be able to manage these not-so-simple tasks.

But you’ve got to let us know if you can’t, don’t or won’t do what we say. After all, we have plenty of alternatives to offer. And there are few things more frustrating to a veterinarian than failing to treat a patient who could have been helped if only the vet were able to employ some ingenuity.
Want to give your veterinarian the best holiday gift ever? Resolve to be a more honest, open, conscientious, cat box-carrying, child care-finding, cell phone-shirking client. For my part, I promise to offer you a New Year’s post on my personal mea culpa. It’s a fair trade, don’t you think? That is, as long as I do as I say and follow through.

2013-02-12T11:14:00.000-05:00

WHAT BREED OF DOGS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE THE SMARTEST BREED?

Brought to you by Breed Finder

Defining the smartest dog breeds depends on what defines a "smart dog." Is it the ability to wrap people around her dewclaw and get her way, no matter what?
Which dog is smarter, the one that does as he's told and works hard for his supper or the one that cocks her head, looks confused and is waited on because she's obviously too challenged to find her way to her own food bowl?
It's not a simple question. Just as you have book-smart and street-smart people, you have dogs that are smart in different ways. Dogs that we consider book-smart are the ones that tend to learn commands easily--and once these commands are learned, do as they're told. By these criteria, the Border Collie is at the top of the class, and definitely should be considered one of the smartest dog breeds. As a matter of fact, scientists are currently interested in a Border Collie that is considered to be one of the world's smartest dogs.
Some of the other smartest dog breeds are:
· Australian Kelpie
· Poodle
· Beauceron
· German Shepherd Dog
· Golden Retriever
· Doberman Pinscher
· Shetland Sheepdog
· Papillon
· Belgian Malinois
· Labrador Retriever
Breeds often accused of being most likely to be held back a grade include:
· Afghan hound
· Basenji
· Bulldog
· Chow chow
· Borzoi
· Bloodhound
· Pekingese
Owners of these breeds might agree their dogs may not have college futures, but they do have street smarts, and when it comes to getting their way, they're without peer.
The reason for these differences in the smartest dog breeds and "other breeds" is all in the genes.

Or more precisely, the tendency to follow human direction depends very much on what a breed was developed to do in the first place. Of the most trainable breeds, almost all come from herding or retrieving backgrounds, jobs for which the ability to follow human cues is vital.
A good herder must be able to follow the shepherd's directions to move the sheep where they are wanted. A good retriever must be able to follow his handler's directions to locate fowl downed out of the dog's sight, or to avoid swimming into danger. Even lapdogs tend to have an obedient streak, giving them a chance at becoming some of the smartest dog breeds, since they've been selected as companions for generations.
It's easy to explain why some breeds are so obedient, but how can it be explained why some are so disobedient? Sometimes being disobedient, or at least independent, is a job requirement. Hounds and terriers, for example, were developed to trail or chase quarry without human direction; a hound or terrier that checked back with the hunter to see which way he should go would be a dismal failure on the hunt.

Other breeds tend to be disobedient simply because they're less civilized, so to speak. Breeds that DNA studies have shown to be more closely related to the wolf tend to think for themselves rather than rely on humans. These so-called progenitor breeds include the basenji, the Afghan hound, the chow chow and the Pekingese.

Domestication has selected for dogs that have an aptitude for training to a greater degree than typical wolves, which are notoriously hard to train. Yet nobody would ever think of accusing a wolf of being slow-witted. After all, is it smarter to do everything you're told or to make up your own rules?

Most people think they want a smartest dog breed, but be careful what you wish for. The smartest dog breeds need mental stimulation to keep themselves occupied.
If you can't provide it, they can undertake their own projects, which may include various home-improvement jobs, such as pulling up that old carpet, redoing the wiring or rearranging your pantry. Unfortunately, no matter how smart they are, they seldom get past the demolition stage of one project before moving on to the next.
There's something to be said for a dog that's easily entertained.

Want more dog breed info? Check out the Breeds Finder!

PET FOOD RECALL UPDATE MAY

2012-06-13T10:00:00.003-04:00

Dear Dog Owner, At your request, I'm sending you this special alert. Late Friday, Diamond Pet Foods announced yet another recall of one of its products. To learn more, please visit the following link:Diamond Naturals Recalls Small Breed Adult Dog Lamb and RicePlease be sure to share the news of this alert with other pet owners. Mike Sagman, EditorThe Dog Food Advisor

Dear Dog Owner, At your request, I'm sending you this special alert. During the past 10 days, Diamond Pet Foods and the Food and Drug Administration have announced a number of product additions and bag code changes to the information that had been previously reported. The recall now includes 14 brands. To make it easier for you to keep up with this ever-changing recall, I've updated my summary to include links to all recall information currently available. To learn whether these changes affect you or your pet, please visit the following link:Diamond Dog Food Recall SummaryPlease be sure to share the news of this alert with other pet owners. Mike Sagman, EditorThe Dog Food Advisor P.S. Not already on our dog food recall notification list? Sign up to get critical dog food recall alerts sent to you by email.

Dear Dog Owner, At your request, I'm sending you this special alert. On May 5, 2012, Diamond Pet Foods announced it had found and corrected an error in the bag code information it originally reported in its Friday night recall announcement. The recall now includes 12 national brands. To help you keep up with this ever-changing recall, I've prepared a special summary with links to all the recall information currently available. Please bookmark this page so you'll have a central place to return to as the story continues to unfold. To learn whether this change affects you or your pet, please visit the following link:Diamond Dog Food Recall SummaryPlease be sure to share the news of this alert with other pet owners. Mike Sagman, EditorThe Dog Food Advisor P.S. Not already on our dog food recall notification list? Sign up to get critical dog food recall alerts sent to you by email.

Dear Dog Owner, At your request, I'm sending you this special alert. On May 4, 2012, Diamond Pet Foods announced it has expanded its recall to now include 9 popular brands distributed in 21 US states and Canada. To learn whether this warning affects you or your pet, please visit the following link:Diamond Dog Food Recall Expands Again Please be sure to share the news of this warning with other pet owners. Mike Sagman, EditorThe Dog Food Advisor P.S. Not already on our dog food recall notification list? Sign up to get critical dog food recall alerts sent to you by email.

PET FOOD RECALL APRIL 2012

2012-06-13T09:58:00.000-04:00

Dear Dog Parent, At your request, I'm sending you this special alert. On April 6, 2012, Diamond Pet Foods announced a recall of one of its dry dog foods in 12 US states. To learn whether this warning affects you or your pet, please visit the following link:Diamond Naturals Dog Food Recalled for Salmonella Please be sure to share the news of this warning with other pet owners. Mike Sagman, EditorThe Dog Food Advisor P.S. Not already on our dog food recall notification list? Sign up to get critical dog food recall alerts sent to you by email.

The Best Pet Apps

2012-05-14T08:04:00.002-04:00

MapMyDOGWALK - Brought to you by Subaru. Dog Walking, Running, Jogging, Diet, Calorie, GPS, Pedometer: Walk Fido, burn and track calories with this app.

My Dog: A comprehensive app for storing information about your pup.

Perfect Dog - Ultimate Breed Guide To Dogs: Answer a few questions to find the perfect breed for your family.

Cat Wrangler: Own and care for a virtual herd of cats.

TextaPet: Create a social profile for Fluffy and Fido.
People like you:

Some Pet Facts

2012-04-28T09:47:00.000-04:00

Small quantities of grapes and raisins can cause renal failure in dogs. Chocolate, macadamia nuts, cooked onions, or anything with caffeine can also be harmful.

Every year, nearly four million cats are eaten in Asia. YUCK!!

Dogs have sweat glands in between their paws.

A cat can’t climb head first down a tree because every claw on a cat’s paw points the same way. To get down from a tree, a cat must back down.

Unlike dogs, cats do not have a sweet tooth. Scientists believe this is due to a mutation in a key taste receptor.

Puppies are sometimes rejected by their mother if they are born by cesarean and cleaned up before being given back to her.

There are more than 500 million domestic cats in the world, with approximately 40 recognized breeds.

The most popular male dog names are Max and Jake. The most popular female dog names are Maggie and Molly.

Cats make about 100 different sounds. Dogs make only about 10.

The name of the dog on the Cracker Jacks box is Bingo. The Taco Bell Chihuahua is a rescued dog named Gidget.

While it is commonly thought that the ancient Egyptians were the first to domesticate cats, the oldest known pet cat was recently found in a 9,500-year-old grave on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. This grave predates early Egyptian art depicting cats by 4,000 years or more.

A puppy is born blind, deaf, and toothless.

Cats are North America’s most popular pets: there are 73 million cats compared to 63 million dogs. Over 30% of households in North America own a cat.

The Basenji is the world’s only barkless dog.

Approximately 40,000 people are bitten by cats in the U.S. annually.

In early Christian tradition, Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers, is sometimes depicted with a dog’s head.

The group of words associated with cat (catt, cath, chat, katze) stem from the Latin catus, meaning domestic cat, as opposed to feles, or wild cat.

WOW

2012-04-28T09:45:00.001-04:00

By Dr. Patty Khuly, vetstreet.com
I spent four hours one day last week trying to clean motor oil off a patient whose owner had tried to use the slick substance to kill mange. It was a fundamentally bad idea - and not just because motor oil is probably more dangerous to dogs than it is to mange mites. Turns out the poor dog wasn't even infected with mange in the first place.
See Also: 10 Dangerous Human Foods for Pets
Every once in a while, I have to treat a patient whose owner's best intentions, coupled with a disregard for modern veterinary medicine, have combined to produce a spectacularly bad medical crisis - like these eight unfortunate scenarios.
1. Poison Purges
I've seen owners try lots of interesting oral "drenches" for poisonings, like pouring a mixture of olive oil and milk down the ailing pet's throat to force vomiting. In one notable instance, a patient who'd just bitten a bufo toad arrived thoroughly drenched in this concoction. Unfortunately, his lungs had been drenched, too, and he later died of aspiration pneumonia.
2. Parasite Dips
Where should I begin? The motor oil for mange was just a warm-up when it comes to homemade methods of treating parasites. Consider Pine-Sol, vinegar, Clorox, turpentine and linseed oil. One poor Maltese who I'll never forget came in tinged purple after she'd been dunked in a linseed oil/gentian violet dip for fleas. She didn't die, but I don't think the magenta hue in her snowy white fur ever quite went away.
3. Torching Ticks
Yes, really. This was perhaps the most impressively stupid example of pet remedies gone wrong that I've ever witnessed: Imagine a dog with weepy red sores all over her body. When I asked what was up with the crazy sores, I was told that the ticks had been "particularly bad" that week. Apparently, this owner's approach to removing ticks involved a bottle of rubbing alcohol and matches.
See Also: 4 Popular "Working Dogs" to Get U.S. Postage Stamps
4. NSAID No-No's
The human-only versions of NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium, constantly top pet poison lists - and not just because animals have a tendency to get into our stashes of candy-coated pills. Apparently, our willingness to medicate our pets with non-pet-specific drugs is killing them with "kindness."
5. Feline Acetaminophen Toxicity
It's long been known that this drug is a bad idea for cats. Yet people still think it's "safer" than other drugs for their cats. Well, nothing says really sick (or really dead) cat like a dose of acetaminophen, because felines are not able to break down the drug properly, which leads to a deadly blood disorder called methemoglobinemia.
6. Guarding Against Fleas With Garlic
Garlic - especially the raw variety - has a reputation for toxicity in pets. Pets who ingest too much of it get a nasty form of anemia. But this doesn't stop owners from believing that they can repel insects like fleas by giving animals excessive amounts of the stuff, which would presumably create an everlasting garlic odor.
See Also: Bad Pet Behavior - Training Issue or Medical Problem?
7. Parasite Cures
I recently had a client who explained to me that her pets did not need the harsh drugs that "all veterinarians" recommend for preventing parasites. A morning dose of salt, "a few days in a row every so often," was all that was needed to keep the wormy things at bay. After chatting up a vet friend on the subject, he informed me that turpentine was once employed throughout Greyhound racing kennels to deworm dogs. The product was billed as Jacksonville Jazz. Scary.
8. DIY Pesticide Applications
One of my colleagues, an oncologist, recently told me about a sad case of lymphoma in two young dogs, which was almost certainly the result of a chronic application of DDT in the owner's small yard. He'd had some of the old stuff in his shed, and he figured that it could work for his pets' tick infestation. For his sake, I hope he used gloves and a mask.
With all this in mind, let me say this one more time, please talk with your vet before treating your animal.
See More on vetstreet.com:
* Why Does My Dog... Lick and Chew His Paws? * How Much Should I Feed My Pet?
* Common Household Items That Stress Pets
______________________________________________________________________

IS PET INSURANCE THE RIGHT OPTION

2012-04-15T10:52:00.003-04:00

Provided by S. Lovering Owner of Tina Leigh

Pet insurance is starting to catch attention to many pet owners in the United States. Of the 136 million dog and cat owners in the United States, only about 1% have pet insurance, while it is said to be 12% in the United Kingdom.

In the United Kingdom there are over 60 different pet insurance companies, whereas in the United States there are only 7 major pet insurance companies and is continually growing.

The most well known Pet Insurance companies are:

VIP (Veterinary Pet Insurance)
Pet Assure
PetHealth Group
Pet Protect
Hartville Group Pets Health Care Plan
Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
PurinaCare Pet Insurance

Some things to ask before purchasing Pet Health insurance are:

What is the turnaround time for receiving a claim?

What exactly is covered?

Is holistic care covered?

What are the deductibles?

What are the premiums?

Can I take my pet to any vet or only to those listed on the plan you give me?

If I am on vacation with my pet and something happens will the exam be covered for out-of-state veternarian care?

What are the age restrictions?

Will this policy cover existing or hereditary conditions in my pet?

Will the policy cover cesarean section needed births?

Will the insurance policy cover spay and neurtering?

Will the policy cover Emergency Veternarian Hospital visits?

Will the policy cover surgical care needs?

Will the insurance provider pay the entire claim or only part of the claim even after my deductibles are paid?

What is the term of the policy?

Are vaccination protocols determined by my veterinarian or by the insurance company? (This is very important to make sure you find out this answer before purchasing the plan as you may be required to have your pet vaccinated only by the insurance companies policy and this may not be effective or a healthy choice for your pet, this should be determined by the health care plan of your veterinarian).

Are annual examinations and routine care (veterinarian routine health care plan for your pet), such as vaccinations covered at all times?

Health Care insurance can be a good investment to purchase but can be costly when you do not need to take your pet to the veterinarian all the time. Some emergent exams may not be covered and will still be an out of pocket pitfall. If the insurance policy covers the yearly exams and vaccinations and does not cost an arm and a leg, then it is worth the time and money spent to provide this protection for our furry loved ones.

Some of these questions may seem redundent or repeated but take my advise you will need to ask these questions even if they are worded or repeated in another manner so that you can be assured that you are getting the correct answers and the best policy for your pets needs.

Only choose a well reputable company with good feed back as there are some companies out there that are not legite and pray on pet owners as a means to make a buck. Shame on them!

Good luck to another Way to a Healthy Pets Heart!

Tina Leigh

4 Ways That Owning a Dog Can Actually Save You Money

2012-04-01T10:29:00.003-04:00

By Webvet
PostsBy Webvet Pets – Tue, Mar 27, 2012 9:20 AM EDT

Print

By Holly Mangan 2320080507104837dogwithmoneyinbowl You probably already know how great it is to own a dog - but did you know that having one can actually earn you money? Sure, dog costs can range anywhere from $400 to $700 per year (including dog supplies and veterinary care bills). But think of it as an investment - one that over the years could theoretically return it's weight in gold (well, depending on the size of your dog). Related: Taking care of your dog on a budget Here are four benefits of owning a dog:

1. Improved Health Dog owners often live a healthier lifestyle than those who do not own a dog. You exercise more, and a dog's natural enthusiasm is great motivation to get moving. In fact, studies show that dog ownership significantly increases your chances of surviving a heart attack. And it's practically common knowledge that petting and caring for your furry friend reduces stress. Related: Pet Owners Aren't Skimping On Health Costs All this translates to fewer medical issues and bills, which means more money in the bank. Owning a dog can be an extremely inexpensive health insurance policy!

2. Free Entertainment Goofing around with your dog in the backyard is free and fun! So is walking your dog in the neighborhood, and visiting the dog park can be a blast. If you spend time decompressing with these activities, it's time you won't spend on other expensive forms of entertainment, such as going to the movies or the local bar.

3. Great for Kids Getting a dog can be a boon to your children's psychological and physical well-being, not to mention to your pocketbook. A dog is an automatic playmate which means you'll spend less time entertaining the kids yourself and less money taking them out to expensive activities. Plus, owning a dog and teaching your children to care for it will help them develop a sense of responsibility and get them to play outdoors more often. It should go without saying that if your kids learn responsibility and get regular exercise, it will save you big bucks in the long run.

4. Increased Social Activity If you ever lament a lack of friends or your ability to meet interesting people, I have two words for you: dog park. Here you can find an eclectic mix of interesting dog lovers, and they are there nearly every day, or at least a few times per week. Just don't be surprised if they learn your dog's name before they learn yours. No worries - you'll probably do the same thing.

You never know quite who you'll meet in these situations. It could be your next boss, a boyfriend or girlfriend, or your next prospect if you're in business for yourself - any could add up to more money in your pocket. Final Thoughts It's hard to put an exact dollar amount on the savings you will incur by having a dog. But if you want a dog and are not sure you can afford one, look at what current expenses you might be able to cut out. For example, with an active dog, you may no longer need a gym membership, your kids may demand fewer video games and toys, and you may be able to limit your cable TV package or get rid of it entirely.

Owning a dog, especially on a tight budget, is about setting priorities. But when it comes down to it, as most dog lovers know, there is simply no price tag that can be put on the experience. More from WebVet!

HOW TO KEEP YOUR DOG FROM LICKING THEIR PAWS

2012-03-25T12:14:00.003-04:00

THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP

Epsom Salt: Put your dog into an Epsom salt bath. A warm Epsom saltwater bath will soothe the itching and help disinfect any skin problem areas. Instead of rinsing your dog's feet, allow them to lick after the bath. Then gently pat their paws dry. The salt water can be effective as an anti-bacterial solution. Epsom salt contains sodium chloride, potassium and nitrates, which help restore the natural bacteria balance on the dog's skin. Epsom salt can raise the pH level of the skin, which assist with regulating the normal ratio of bacteria. Very soothing for the dog, they will love you for it.

Socks: Put white cotton socks on your dog's paws. Use children size socks for larger dogs and baby booties on small to petite dogs. Socks can help protect the dogs from further harming themselves and can be soothing on their paws. Any infection our dogs may have will be contained and prevent spreading to other areas of the skin. I do not recommend using any elastic or rubber bands as this may restrict blood flow and can be very dangerous. I only recommend using the sock or booties just as it is made, if they are too loose try smaller socks or booties until you have found the right fit.

Baking Soda with water: Keep a small container or bowl with baking soda and water. Place on the floor with a towel underneath to prevent spilling if you like and will allow an area to help dry your dog's paws after you lightly swish their paws in the solution. This will help remove pollens which can cause itching and provoke our dogs from licking at their paws. This can be rubbed or rinsed on other skin areas that are irritated. Baking soda water is also very soothing to the skin.

Tea: Both chamomile and sage teas can be effective at treating the annoying itchiness, which can cause a dog to excessively lick at irritated skin areas and their paws. Chamomile can be effective antiseptic, sometimes better than antibiotics when used topically. Soak tea bags in warm water when swab the dog's paws with the tea bags. Using tea bags can speed the healing process of many types of wounds and is a calming agent.
Sage tea prevents and reduces swelling, while it also relives skin irritation. The anti-histamine benefits allow for a safer alternative to medications. Dogs should never be given Tylenol or ibuprofen always consult your veterinarian. Sage tea is also used as a mouth wash to relieve gum irritation. Sage tea is helpful for use as an antiperspirant beneficial to some dog's since their sweat glands are located at their feet helping to reduce dehydration. Keep in mind that dogs do need to sweat at time so allow their bodies to do what is natural.

If none of these tips are effective your dog may have other serious issues with itching and irritated skin, that could be diet or other household items such as carpet powder to reduce pet oder that our dog's could be allergic to. Dog's have sensitive skin just like we do and need that extra loving care. Consult you veterinarian for other alternative solutions.

A veal or duck diet can also be prescribed and is very beneficial.

Good luck
Let us know how you do we love to hear from you
Tina Leigh's

KITTY LITTER OPTION ON A BUDGET

2012-02-22T15:12:00.004-05:00

Chicken feed crumbles: if your cats prefer clumpy litter, you can by non medicated chicken feed crumbles, also known as chicken scratch or mash layena and can be purchased at your local feed stores. This cost very little so you can fill each litter box with only an inch or two and dump the crumbles the next day or you can use it to line the bottom of the litter pan before adding clumping clay litter.

This option works very well with kittens because if they eat the crumble it is not harmful or as dangerous as if they were to eat clay litter. Make sure to toss the soiled crumble and clean often to prevent alfa-toxin mold that can form with any grain litter.

As your cats dig in the box, the crumble mixes with the regular litter, because of this I would consider using a fifty - fifty ratio to litter and grain.

Make sure that the grain consist of mostly corn as its primary ingredient and that it does not contain any additives.

GOOD NUTRITION

2012-02-19T08:49:00.000-05:00

GOOD NUTRITION is the basic reason why we should cook foods for our pets. Your pets will of course get good nutrition from the traditional store bought bagged or canned foods, but do you really check to see what is in the foods, or read the labels?

Lets talk "ANIMAL BI-PRODUCTS" what is it? Animal bi-products include chicken beaks, arteries, skin, and other parts that may not ever be disclosed. Researchers believe that animal bi-products also include diseased animal parts, and this by far is beyond unappetizing.

If you would not eat it, then why feed it to our furry loved ones, all the more reason to cook for your pet. When you cook for your pet, you will always know what is in the foods that you make. These foods will have few to no additives or preservatives because you will be cooking with fresh ingredients. If you are a health fanatic go organic.

When you make stews and casseroles these are great when combined with your pets dry foods to insure that they are getting the proper nutrition that consist of PROTEIN, CARBOHYDRATES, FAT, VITAMINS, AND MINERALS.

Always remember not to add salts or seasoning that we would normally use in the foods we prepare for ourselves, pets do not need these additives and can be harmful to them. Believe it or not bland is all they need and they truly do like it.

Cats can be finicky so don't be surprised if they do not really care for home cooked meals. Tuna and fish is a great way to start with a cat.

Check out our recipes and start cooking for your pets. They will love you for it.

Sincerely;
Tina Leigh's

SPAY AND NEUTER

2012-02-19T07:49:00.000-05:00

With today's tough economy and the need to spay and neuter our pets has risen, here is a list of some local NH spay and neuter clinics as well as some National free or low cost spay and neuter clinic in your area. Check them all out. If they can't help they surely will guide you to who can.

http://www.aspca.org/
http://www.getyourfix.org/
http://www.friendsofanimals.org/
http://www.nhspca.org/
www.animalallies.org/spay-and-neuter
www.lovethatcat.com/spayneuter
http://www.petsandanimals.org/
http://www.saveapetslife.org/
http://www.humanesociety.org/
http://www.petassistancenetwork.com/
www.paws.org/spay-neuter.html
http://www.secondchanceanimals.org/
www.concordspca.org/ Concord, NH
www.rozziemay.org/ Conway, NH Mobile spay and neuter, they come to you!
http://www.derryhumanesociety.com/ Derry, NH
http://www.cochecovalleyhumanesoc.org/ Dover NH
http://www.monadpets.org/ Monadnock, NH
www.sarl-nh.org/ Salem, NH

WATER, WATER AND MORE WATER

2012-02-18T08:33:00.000-05:00

WATER is your pets most important nutrient. Water makes up 70 percent of an adult pets weight. Our pets cannot live without water. A pet can die within a few days if they become dehydrated.

Always make sure that your pets have access to plenty of clean quality water, never well water unless you have a good filter system. Well water can consist of many different bacteria that can be harmful to our pets.

Water bowls should be at face level to your pets height so that they do not strain to drink and aggressively gulp down water causing BLOAT. Bloat can be deadly to our pets and must be avoided at all time.

If your pet develops BLOAT get them to the veterinarians or Emergency Veterinarian Hospital ASAP! There is no time to wait on that it will cost your pets life if not taken seriously.

Sincerely;
Tina Leigh's

ADOPT A PET USA

2012-02-17T13:24:00.000-05:00

US ANIMAL SHELTERS
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PETS & MEDS

2012-02-16T11:23:00.000-05:00

DISCOUNT PET MEDS HELPS SAVE MONEY IN A BAD ECONOMY AND KEEP OUR PETS HEALTHY.

http://www.1800petmeds.com/
http://www.petcarerx.com/
http://www.drfostersmith.com/
http://www.universalpetmeds.com/
http://www.petinfoonline.com/
http://www.petmedcard.com/

Pet Industry News

2012-02-16T10:49:00.001-05:00

http://www.boston.com/community/pets/

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/16/garden/pet-foods-go-gourmet.html

http://www.seminolechronicle.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2012/02/15/4f3bc68e33c34

Pet Food Recall Products List

2012-02-15T14:14:00.000-05:00

Pet Food Recall Products List

PROVIDED BY THE FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION FDA

HELP YOUR DOGS & CATS CLEAN THEIR TEETH

2012-02-14T20:32:00.000-05:00

KEEP ON SMILING

Believe it or not, commercial wet canned foods can cause extreme tarter build up leaving our pets teeth fragile with a dark ugly color and really bad breath. It is very important that we alternate foods with wet to dry foods. The dry foods will help remove some of the tarter build up and strengthens the teeth. Unless you are preparing all natural wet foods yourself I would highly recommend illiminating commercial wet foods all together.

The best alternative for our dogs is to give "A DOG A BONE". That's right! A raw hide bone to your dogs size will remove tarter build up and help keep our dogs teeth strong. I don't recommend any raw hide that contains anything with a dental formula only because I have known many pets to become sick if eaten to much, as they have a hard time digesting the ingredients contained in the hide. This is a additive that has drawn much controversy. It's better safe than sorry.

If your dog or cat has really bad teeth and bad breath, it maybe time to take them to the vets and have their teeth professionally cleaned. If our pets adopt bad teeth, this can lead to health problems such as cardiovascular disease.

SOMETHING TO SCRATCH ABOUT

2012-02-14T19:23:00.000-05:00

ITCHY, ITCHY, ITCHY

Have you ever wondered why our Cats and Dogs itch so much, perhaps your thinking that its the shampoo your using. Maybe you think Oh No, Flees!!!. Well It could be all of those above but really it could be what we feed to our pets. Some dogs and Cats are allergic to grain, and foods that contain grains can cause dry itchy skin, that is why you will see your pet scratch , scratch, and scratch.

{CHECK OUT MY NATURAL SKIN CONDITIONER AND FLEA CONTROL RECIPE UNDER THE TIPS TAB}

Try giving your pets foods and treats without grains and see if there is a change. Remember you will need to give it at least a week or so before you notice a change. Good Luck and let me know how it went.The food I feed my dog is California Natural, Lamb and Rice, Grain Free.

Keep in mind I am the owner of a All Natural Gourmet Foods and Treats Business so I prepare special foods and treats for my dog as well as other Pets with special needs. Because you want to keep them Healthy and living much longer you have come to the right place.

Sincerely;
Tina Leigh's

A Message From Tina Leigh's

2012-02-11T15:13:00.000-05:00

For The Love Of Our Pets

I bet you all love your pets just as much as I do mine, and I am sure that you only want the best for them all the time. That's why I created this blog to offer you tips, recipes, and other pet information that I have found very helpful for my dog. I love to share anything that helps a pet and adds to their happiness.

I am the owner of Tina Leigh's All Natural Gourmet Treats & Boutique in Auburn, NH. I am a consultant and pet chef to pet owners to help them prepare foods and treats that are nutritious, all natural with no MSG, or bi-products its the "Healthy Way To A Happy Pets Heart."

Please come back and visit, don't hesitate to email me for information or send me a suggestion you would like me to post. We love to hear from you.

Sincerely;
Tina Leigh's