With September being heralded as World Animal Remembrance Month, we just wanted to dedicate this month to all of the loving animals in this world who have not only found a home in which to live, but who, more importantly, found a home in the hearts of those people who loved them dearly.

If you or someone you know has lost a beloved pet, now is the time to remember those pets fondly and with appreciation.  To start the celebration of your late pet’s life, you can do a few simple things to remember him or her this month:

1.) Take out some pictures of the animals who have passed that you have loved and who gave you so much unconditional love in return.  Share these with others. Put one on your desk at work or on the wall at home.

2.) Share your memories of the special times you enjoyed with your pet.

3.) Talk about how your pet impacted your life, even if it all boils down to the simple fact that each day when you came home from work, no matter how nasty your boss was or how horrible the traffic was, your pet was there with a wagging tail and a wet kiss, just for you!

Ask yourself what lessons your pet taught you:  Did you learn about loyalty and responsibility?  Did you learn about unconditional love?

Jessie:  Did you learn how to clean up regurgitated cat fur balls off the carpet?

Bo:  Shsh!  This is a serious subject matter today.  In the next post, we can begin to mock you!

In short, begin this month with a dedication to the pets you have loved and lost, but also to the pets who live with you now.

Happy Labor Day weekend!

Thanks to ehow.com for the information for this incredible post!

Part of a human’s responsibility to their cats is to keep them safe and healthy.  If you are one who still likes to give your cat that outdoor freedom…the freedom of the open road…read on.  I hope to change your mind.

Here are a few reasons why it is best to keep yourcat indoors:

1.) When indoors, cats do not get hit by cars…unless, of course, the dog of the house (not that our lovable Jessie would do this!) gets cocky and decides to see what it is like to drive, only to put the gear shift in Drive as opposed to Reverse, ramming the car into the living room from the garage.

2.) Indoor cats are safe from predators and dog packs. Otudoor cats rank below predators in the food chain, and if there is a hungry duck, coyote, owl, or the like, that cat is like a 24-hour McDonald’s drive-through.  Even with claws and fangs, the outdoor cat does not stand much of a chance.  If declawed, well, that is basically a suicide mission.

3.)  Indoor cats don’t upset the neighbors.  Even if your outdoor cat is “well-bred,” if it wanders into a neighbor’s yard who is not particularly fond of cats, well, you may have your own personal altercation there…and I personally don’t know where in the food chain you stand with your neighbor, but I really don’t want to know.  Neighbors can be down-right mean when it comes to matters such as these.  Best not to tempt fate.

4.) Indoor cats are safe from human abuse.  Did you guys see that video out of England last week where a woman put a cat into a garbage can and closed the lid “just for fun?”  She said she meant no harm, but seriously, folks….I mean, as much as the dog in our house bothers me, I would NEVER do something so ill-spirited as that!  I may throw some of her TOYS in the trash, but never her!

5.)  Indoor cats can get plenty of exercise.  Think:  interactive toys, climbing towers, and scratching posts.  Heck!  We can really get our hearts pumping chasing that family dog around!  I also get additional exercise by jumping to conclusions and avoiding the issue.

6.) Indoor cats do not get lost.  Even though the family dog may need a GPS to find its way from the basement to the attic, cats who stay inside pretty much have a handle on the lay of the land.  Get him outside, and all bets are off.  As he expands his outdoor territory, the chances of him finding his way back home get slimmer.

7.) Indoor cats are not stolen.  Ever hear of a “buncher?”  That is someone who steals outdoor cats and sells them to laboratories for animal experimentation or research.  Some people will even grab cats for use as “bait” for training fighting dogs.  Sounds hard to believe, but those low lifes are out there!  (Mmmmm…is that what a cat burglar is???)

Well, I know some of you have your own opinions of indoor vs. outdoor cats, and I respect that.  I just wanted to share my piece on this topic.  As for indoor dogs versus outdoor dogs…that is another story for another day.  I am sure there is some quick way to nail this doggie door shut once Jessie runs out for a bit.

(Thanks to cat.about.com for this awesome information!)

I must confess to being a skeptic when it comes to psychics for humans or pets.  Although I haven’t been totally convinced psychics are beneficial, friends and clients of mine have shared their pet psychic success stories.

One success story was of a dog that was healthy, but he just seemed sad.  His owner contacted a pet psychic to gain some insight.  The psychic “contacted” the dog, who in turn told her he wanted a job, wanted to run.  Once she discovered this, the owner enrolled her dog in canine frisbee activities and the dog was much happier.

Another story involved a cat that ran outside every time the door opened.  Her owner, concerned about the cat’s safety and becoming increasingly dismayed by this behavior decided to contact a pet psychic.  The psychic “contacted” the cat, who in turn “told” her she’d been under much stress and going outside was her form of stress relief.

The typical reasons pet owners contact psychics are to solve behavior problems, gain insight into their pet’s health, or to contact pets that have passed away.  Owners say being in contact with a pet that has passed away can provide closure and knowledge they did the best they could for their pet.

According to a recent Newsweek article, the practice isn’t restricted to cats and dogs.  Cowboys have begun consulting with psychics about their horses.  What they learn leads them to change the way they train and compete.

So why is this service growing?  Scientists believe this trend is due to humans thinking of our pets as “children” and wanting to care for them accordingly.  We tend to forget that our pets are, in fact, animals that naturally think and act differently than humans.  Much can be learned about a pet’s state of mind by their body language, if you know how to read the signs.

I am still not sure a pet psychic is right for everyone, but it does provide a unique option for those wanting to get inside the mind of their pet.

If particles of food and bacteria accumulate along a dog’s gumline, plaque will soon form, and when that is combined with saliva and minerals, it can turn into calculus, and that is not something you will find in a math book!  This leads to gum irritation and eventually to an inflammatory condition called gingivitis.  When this occurs, the gums directly bordering the teeth will appear quite red and this is indicative of the early stages of gum disease.  You humans, too, have to exercise preventative measures in terms of your dental care.

Periodontal disease can affect both cats and dogs.  (The horror!  I brush and floss regularly!) However, it is more common in older animals. (A good kitty, however, never reveals his true age!)

Periodontal disease first presents with the inflammation of one tooth, and, if left untreated, can progess to different stages of the disease. In Stage 1, the dog may exhibit gingivitis without any separation of the gum and the tooth.  In Stage 2, there could be as much as a 25% attachment loss, and by Stage 3, up to a 30% loss. Stage 4, also known as advanced periodontitis, there is more than a 50% loss in attachment. As the disease advances, the gum tissue will typically recede, exposing the roots of the teeth. (Ew!  Gross!)

With dogs, the most common cause of periodontal disease is due to streptococcus and actinomyces bacteria.  The smaller toy breeds and those that groom themselves are at a greater risk of developing the disease.  Poor nutrition is also a contributing factor.

Treatment depends upon how advanced the disease is. In the early stages, the focus is on removing the plaque buildup and preventing attachment loss.  This is done through daily brushing with animal-safe toothpaste, professional cleaning and polishing, and the application of fluoride.

In stages 2 and 3, treatment requires cleaning the space between the gums and the teeth and the application of an antibiotic gel that allows for the rejuvenation of the gum tissues and decreases the size of the space.

For the more advanced cases, bone replacement, periodontal splinting, and guided tissue regeneration may be necessary.

The overall prognosis depends on the severity of the disease.  The best way to minimize the ill affects caused by periodontal disease in dogs is to get an early diagnosis, along with proper treatment and therapy.

Thanks for tuning in today, folks!  Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go gargle and focus on that minty-fresh breath of mine! Keep smiling!  (I smile to show off my teeth.  However, Jessie thinks my continual smile means I am up to no good…either way, I am having a blast!)

(Thanks to petmd.com for this awesome information!)

What?  Are you freaked out about a dog wearing sunscreen? Just like humans, we need protection from the sun and its potentially-damaging  UV rays.  Dogs can, in fact, get sunburned.  In fact, dogs are quite sensitive when it comes to sun exposure, and those dogs with lighter-colored coats really need some protection from the sun.  If dogs are over-exposed to the sun, it can lead to serious sunburns, ulcerations, autoimmune skin diseases, and other problems. They can even get skin cancer.

As with humans, it is best to  limit time spent in the sun or just stay out of the sun between the hours of  10 a.m. and 4 p.m.  Even in the winter…as snow reflects the sun!

When deciding on which sunscreen protection factor to use on your dog, you should take into consideration the length of his hair,  the color of his coat, and his skin. Lighter-skinned dogs, as well as those with shorter hair, will require a greater protection factor cream.  If you have a long-haired dog but cut its hair short for the summer, you will need to take that into consideration, as well.

Be sure to speak with your veterinarian about the proper sun protection product you can use on your dog.  To prevent any possible allergic reaction, opt for the fragrance-free kind. DO NOT USE HUMAN SUNSCREEN PRODUCTS!  Those may contain zinc oxide, which is toxic to dogs.

Use sunscreen on your dog whenever you would use it on yourself.  To apply it, use a sponge or your hands…and don’t forget the nose, tummy, and private parts!  If you are using a spray version, be careful not to let it get into your dog’s eyes!

Now, enjoy the sun, but be careful!  And be sure to tip that darned cat a dime or two if he brings you a soda and some dog biscuits!  We have to keep him around to do all the dirty work, you know!  Being a sun goddess takes time and energy!

(Thanks to vetinfo.com for this cool information!)

• MiPets-$1.99. This app provides a way to track vet appointments, microchip numbers, medication and food information for an unlimited number of pets.  Once the information is loaded, you can email the file to  your pet care provider.
• Petfinder.com-Free. Many of us are familiar with this site.  Once you’ve found your next pet on the site, share the listing via Facebook, Twitter or email.
• Pet Safe-$2.99. This app contains a searchable database of plants harmful to pets, compiled by toxicologists at the ASPCA.  Toxicity symptoms are provided and there is a direct link to the Animal Poison Control Center hotline.  A portion of the proceeds from purchases of this app goes to the ASPCA.
• PetSnap-$1.99.  Have problem getting a good picture of your dog?  This app provides 32 different sounds to catch your dog’s attention.  Once you’ve gotten that great shot you can add a picture frame and send it to friends.
• PawTrotter-$2.99.  This app uses the iPhone’s GPS to find pet-friendly businesses near you based on your location.

Cats do sweat through their paws.  However, due to the small surface area of our paws, it is not the most effective cooling system.  So, we usually have to seek out the shadier spots and rest.  We like to rest on cool surfaces like tile or hardwoord floors or perhaps in the shade under the bushes.  Being intelligent creatures, we prefer not to hunt or exert ourselves when it is hot outside.  Instead, we groom.  This is a very effective heat lowering mechanism.  We may lay back and seem to be lesiurely grooming ourselves, but in effect, we are working to cool ourselves down.  When we lick ourselves, it actually serves to cool us down.  When our saliva evaporates off our fur, it actually lowers our body temperature, much like it does for humans when their sweat evaporates off of their bodies.

However, we cats will resort to panting if the licking measures are not effective enough.  Our normal body temperatures are 100.5 to 102.5 degrees.  If it rises to 105 or above, we may sustain heat exhaustion.  At 107 degrees, we risk heat stroke and possibly even death.

An overheated cat will seem sluggish and confused.  His gums and tongue will be bright red, and he will be panting heavily.  He could easily vomit, collapse, have a seizure, or lapse into a coma.  This is when you need to get him to the veterinary clinic.  Pour some cool water on his fur to begin the cooling process, and en route to the clinic, cover him with wet, cold towels.  However, do not use ice cold water.

So, there you have the skinny on how cats sweat and cool themselves.  Now you see why, on these incredibly scorching days, I keep that house dog within arm’s reach to cool me down and bring me refreshing drinks.

(Thanks to petplace.com for this great information!  Thanks to ME for writing this post…no sweat!)

Since Jessie and Bo are not the only educated and well-read pets on this blog, I decided to do a little research about this matter, and to my surprise, I learned that when dogs decide to sneak some human food, they try to draw as little attetnion to themselves as possible when eating food that is not meant for them.  That approach does not work for me, however.  I have to find a way to open the pantry door, drag the step stool out of there, and then position it in front of the accessible counter.  Not always the quietest thing to do.  I tried to convince that other dog to let me jump upon his back, but he refused.

Researchers at Hood College actually did a study with 40 dogs that had been trained not to eat food from a plate by placing before them two identical containers filled with yummy goodies.  One container was decorated with noisy bells and the alarms on the second one was disabled.

With human eyes on these dogs, the dogs fearlessly went for both containers equally.  When the human was not looking, but was present, the dogs went for the container that did not elicit any noise when it was touched.  This study concluded that dogs have a sense for considering how humans perceive their actions.

Interesting to me, as I have seen that other dog eye ball our humans whenever they leave the kitchen forgetting they have left something on the counter.  As soon as they are out of sight from the kitchen, that other dog will jump up on the counter with his front paws and snatch the food away, like a thief in the night!  It is amazing how quickly and quietly this all takes place.  Meanwhile, I am the one who is tagged as guilty, as I am hurrying to get that darned step stool back into the pantry, knocking everything over in doing so.  That other dog, however, is happily resting on the floor, with what I perceive to be the biggest grin ever on his face.  I guess I will just have to go see if anything fell onto the floor and slid under the diswasher.  At least I am small enough to get part of my snout and head under there!  That other dog, at the very least, could only swipe his tail under it.  Hey!  There’s an idea!  I should force him to sweep out the crumbs from under there and from under the fridge.  Gotta go!  There’s work to be done!

(Thanks to asylum.com for this great information about the dog studies!)

Many of the owners showing their cats were very gracious in sharing information about the respective breeds.  Often they would allow the public to pet their cats, if it wasn’t time for judging.  I was struck by the different sizes of the breeds; the Cornish Rex is quite small while one Maine Coon I met is expected to reach approximately 25 lbs. when he’s fully grown!

Show participants were also quite helpful to a newbie like me in explaining how the judging works.  Although not difficult, it does take a little while to figure out what’s what.  During one final judging, the officiating  judge explained what led her to select the finalists and their placement in the standings, something else helpful for newbies.

I wasn’t sure what to expect before attending the show, but I’ll say it was fun.  If  you’re a cat lover and haven’t checked out a show before, try it, you might like it!

Bo: Yeah?  Well there sure are a lot of funny videos out there about dogs and their silly antics.  I could easily be entertained for hours.  Nevertheless, I have more pressing things to do.  I prefer to bone up on research and matters of intellectual prowess.  So, when I was surfing the web, I came across some fun trivia facts about pets.  For example, did you know that cats have up to 26 more vertebrae than the human back bone?  This allows for greater flexibility.  Ahh…I feel superior already!

Jessie: Bet you didn’t know that during the 19^th century, mummified cats in Egypt were excavated and used as manure!

Bo: Well, I have it on good authority that in the past, Burmese cats were reported to have had their own servants!  In fact, at one point, Burmese cats were so highly valued that it was illegal to sell them!  Cats have class, grace, and dignity…something that you would never understand!

Jessie: Big deal!  Did you know that all dogs are direct descendants of wolves?  Yeah!  You better sleep with one eye open tonight, Fur Ball.

Bo: Before you get all high and mighty, did you know that 25% of a dog’s stool volume is shed intestinal epithelium?  (To the audience: Not exactly sure what that is, but it sounds gross!)

Jessie: Yeah?  Well, some authorities indicate that a dog’s sense of smell is as high as 1 million times greater than humans.  And guess what?  You stink!  (Storms off to the other room!)

Bo, sniffing his arm pits and then turning to audience: I wonder if she actually smells her intestinal epithelium?  Gotta go….just realized Jessie is on my Facebook page!  She could be posting incriminating information!  You all can friend me later!  I have pressing business to tend to! (Running down the hall yelling at Jessie: I am going to de-friend you if you don’t stop that!)

(Thanks to petchalet.com for these fun facts!)