PetSugar

Do Tell: What Has Been Your Scariest Pet Emergency?

PetSugar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:00:59 -0700

Resident Frenchie Samson had a bit of a health fiasco this week, and was taken to the ER for treatment! Word on the street is that he may have ingested some sort of toxin leaving him with muscle spasms and vomiting, which we all can imagine, are big signs of trouble. Thankfully, Samson is doing much better, but it sure did give mom a scare.

I imagine many of us have been there: pacing the waiting room of a vet's office on pins and needles, hoping for some good news. So tell me, what has been your scariest pet emergency, and how did you handle it?

Just a Reminder: Keep Those Ears Clean!

PetSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 07:00:12 -0700

With the weather out here in California constantly changing from hot, to windy, to cold, and back again, I noticed that North's ears tend to get dirtier faster (especially with us hitting the beach more often in the Summer months). I like to clean his ears about once a week or so with Fuzzyard Organic Ear Cleanser ($22) that contains Aloe Vera to soothe, and a mixture of Almond and Macadamia nut oils to soften stubborn wax.

But, if you aren't keen on the liquid solutions, I learned that Samson uses Earthbath Ear Wipes ($9) that come in a jar of 25. Since they are all natural, they don't sting or burn, and LilPeaPod tells me they work great! If your pet is a swimmer, it's especially important to keep an eye out for ear infections, and cleaning regularly will help stave off any problems. What do you use to keep your pet's ears clean?

What Is the Most You've Ever Paid for Vet Services?

PetSugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:00:23 -0700

Giggle tipped me off to a story the other day about a woman who spent nearly $12,000 dollars in reconstructive surgery on her cat after he was injured in a car accident. While I was stunned at the amount, I was not completely surprised.

How much is too much to spend on the health of your pet? I'm sure the answer may be "money is no object" but after reading her story, I was still very thankful that North and I have not encountered any catastrophic injuries that would literally break the bank to pay for. That's not to say that I haven't had some insane vet bills to deal with in my lifetime, but they were nowhere near the $12,000 dollar mark like in this story. What was the most that you've ever had to pay on a vet bill?

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Does Your Pet Have Health Insurance?

PetSugar — Fri, 16 May 2008 00:30:22 -0700

I know it might seem silly to non-animal lovers – with so many humans without insurance of their own – but pet insurance is out there, available, and useful in some situations. If you have a purebred dog that can be prone to more (known) health problems, investing in insurance may be a smart move for her health and your financial future. I've heard one too many horror stories about owners neglecting to go for checkups, or opting out of necessary care their pets need because they can't afford the treatment. It's a sad cycle that affects humans and animals alike.

How do you feel about pet health insurance? Is your pet covered for those times in need?

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Pet Podcasting With Pet Life Radio

PetSugar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:00:21 -0700

I don't get a ton of time to check out Podcasts as much as I'd like to, but when I do I usually go to straight to the PetLifeRadio section on iTunes first. PetLifeRadio is like a one-stop shop for all the pet info that you can handle, including a ton of fun and informative videos, pet fashion tips, as well as health information from certified veterinarian Dr. Bernadine D. Cruz called The Pet Doctor. This channel is one of my faves since Dr. Cruz offers a broad range of subjects that are super informative and easy to understand, so I'm not struggling to keep up with the medical jargon. To see why everyone can love Pet Life Radio, just read more.

Pet Life Radio offers more than just your usual cat and dog fare, stocking a ton of species specific shows from lizards to horses so no animal fan is left out. And if you're anything like me, you always have your iPod on hand, so tuning in is a perfect way to take your mind off your morning (or evening) commute. If you've never subscribed a Podcast before, check out geeksugar's easy to follow instructions so you can get new episodes automatically downloaded right into your library.

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Would You "Love Your Pet to Health"?

PetSugar — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:15:42 -0700

I was cruising the Internet yesterday for something interesting to share with you, and what I found definitely fits the bill! The Love Your Pet to Health Wellness Kit is a three-step approach to keep Fido and Sassy in tiptop shape using meditation, visualization, and a set of Oracle cards to help strengthen your connection to your furry pals.

Brought to you by veterinarian Dr. Anyes van Volkenburgh, the set comes complete with two CDs that will help you through calming sessions of meditation as well as teach you how to harness the power of visualization to not only bring lasting health to your four-legged pals, but to possibly heal from the inside out. Finally, a deck of 52 Oracle cards are meant to help you tune in and communicate with your pets, kinda like Tarot cards, but much more uplifting.

I'm not against getting in tune with your pets, but I'm wondering how well this method actually works! Would you use the Love Your Pet to Health kit?

Life on a Houseboat With Lots of Pets: In the LINK of an Eye!

PetSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:00:43 -0800

What's it like to live on a houseboat . . . with a bunch of pets? - Paw Nation
These Frenchies think they're herding dogs - The Daily Wag
10 ways to determine quality veterinary care - Dolittler
Should a Cape Cod market be allowed canine ambassadors? - Dogster
Holiday book list for dog lovers - Dogtime
Does your office offer pet health insurance? - PetMD
11 cute pets acting like people - People Pets

Source: Leslie Day

To the Rescue: Can Adult Dogs Eat Puppy Formula?

PetSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:55:24 -0800

Can they? Yes. Should they? Probably not. Although not that different ingredient-wise than adult formulas, puppy-specific kibble usually has more fat and protein.

The meat sources are likely listed first (ie, in higher proportion) for a growing body, which obviously makes it more appealing to an adult dog. The high protein and caloric content can make adult dogs overweight super quickly, so there's a reason the packaging says to only feed to the lil ones for a limited time - that meal for an extended period of time is damaging and dangerous to health.

In fact, some breeders of large dogs (especially those prone to weight issues or bloat) recommend not feeding these puppy formulas more than a few months due to the high content of all those things mentioned above. Did you feed your pets puppy food or move straight into adult bits for the babes?

Source: Flickr User estoril

Do You Leave Music on For Your Pets?

PetSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:00:10 -0700

Not only are pets great companions, we now know what good therapy having a pet can be. Petting our furry friends, or even just watching our fishies swim around their tank can lower our blood pressure and reduce the risk of a heart attack. But as much as pets benefit humans, I can't help but wonder how we can help them in return. I know from experience that pets can get stressed and anxious too, showing it by tearing up your couch cushions, or ripping to shreds their fave toy in five seconds flat. Now, a recent report says there's an easy way to return all the healthful favors.

A study conducted in 2000 shows that the sounds of a harp aid in lowering the blood pressure, heart rate and anxiety in pets that were recouping at a Florida vet hospital, leading us to believe that classical music could be as calming to Fido as it is to humans.

While I don't personally leave tunes on for North to chill to while I'm at work, he does get treated to the soothing classical sounds when he's staying at our fave Pet Camp and at our local Wag Hotel. Now I just might add a few classical tunes to our road trip soundtrack! Until then, I'm curious to know: do any of you leave music on for your pets while you're out?

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Pet-Proofing Your Home: Laundry

PetSugar — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 08:00:52 -0800

The final stop in my pet-proofing series is the laundry room. The greatest potential danger in a laundry room is the clothes dryer. Kitties may be tempted to jump and nap on warm, fresh clothes either near or in the dryer. Some cats will even choose the empty dryer for a sleeping spot. This can quite obviously result in serious injuries if you turn the dryer on. To protect your cat's health and well-being, don't leave the dryer door open.

To hear more laundry room dangers, read more

Another risk in the laundry room is the fabric softener sheets. These dryer sheets contain synthetic chemical compounds that can irritate and burn your pet's skin as well as cause diarrhea and ulcers if ingested. Some detergents can produce a similar reaction, and cats can be particularly sensitive to certain ingredients such as phenols. Remember, if your animal comes into contact with a chemical on his paws or fur, he can then ingest it while grooming.

Just like with the other rooms in the pet-proofing series, ingestion of cleaning products is a serious risk. Also, products containing bleach can cause stomach upset and respiratory tract irritation when swallowed or inhaled in a high enough concentration. The laundry room also has other hidden dangers, such as spilled liquid detergents or stain removers that a pet may lick up.

I've just offered some basic safety tips for you. If you fear your pet has ingested something harmful, immediately check with the vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. The ASPCA Poison Control Hotline is available 24 hours a day at (888) 426-4435 – there is a $55 consultation fee for this service.

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