Care for the elderly dog, What to do when they show signs of aging

Over the last few weeks I have begun to see signs of aging in my beloved dog poppy. Her eyes are starting to show preliminary signs of cataracts, and after a long walk the other day, I noticed that she was having a really hard time getting up on the couch to her favorite corner. I took her to the vet somewhat concerned because Poppy is really a active and happy dog.

The vet said " Kelley, poppy is not 10 she is 12 years old, that for a dog is fairly mature. She will start showing her age, She is the equivalent of 50 in human years. I went home and began researching senior dog care online and I found some really good articles. One web site stuck out to me the most. The Senior dogs project is a well put together web page with practical information The page is not heavy on advertising or trying to sell you products you don't need http://www.srdogs.com/index.html

The second article that I found was from the Drs. Foster and Smith Pet Education and care web site. While I have found that the web site prices for products tend to be about 25% higher than what I can pay locally for the same or similar products when you consider shipping and cost of goods, I have found their educational articles to be quite good.
Health & Veterinary Care for Older (Senior, Geriatric) Dogs Veterinary Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc. Holly Nash, DVM, MS

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2110&aid=618

Nash was quick to point out that Many veterinary clinics and hospitals have developed special preventive care programs for older animals. These are often called 'geriatric panels,' 'geriatric wellness programs,' 'geriatric screens,' or 'senior care programs.' These can include combination's of various diagnostic tests including blood tests, urinalysis, fecal exams, radiography (x-rays), and EKGs. Ask your veterinarian which tests are appropriate for your dog. She went on to explain in detail each of these tests and what to expect in the care of your senior dog.

For me the most practical article I found was 10 tips to senior dog care which you will find below.
While caring for a senior dog can be costly, the articles I reviewed prepared me for what is to come and what i can do to keep poppy comfortable. My first step this week will be to make a appointment for a "well dogie check". I know that Poppy needs a good teeth cleaning and a blood panel to ensure that she is not beginning to show signs of any disease process.

I believe that my old gal has many years of good life left. We are all getting older and medical care for both of us is to become a regular thing and a part of our routine maintenance. Over a few weeks, I transitioned poppys's food to a senior organic diet and added a senior multi vitamin, and we walk every day.

The Ten Most Important Tips for Keeping Your Older Dog Healthy

1. Establish a relationship with the best veterinarian you can find. For most older dogs, it is advisable to make an appointment with the vet every six months. Your vet should be someone whom you trust and with whom you feel very comfortable.

2. Become informed about the conditions common to older dogs and the therapies used for them. Be alert to symptoms, bring them to your vet's attention promptly, and be prepared to discuss treatment options.

3. Feed your older dog the best food you can afford; consider feeding him a home-prepared diet and two small meals daily rather than one large one.

4. Don't overfeed your dog. Obesity will create health problems and shorten his life.

5. Consider the use of dietary supplements such as glucosamine/chondroitin for arthritis.

6. Give your senior dog adequate exercise, but adjust it to her changing abilities.

7. Attend to your dog's dental health. Brush her teeth daily and have them cleaned professionally whenever your vet advises it.

8. Tell your vet you wish to have your dog vaccinated only once every three years, as currently advised by the major veterinary associations.

9. Be diligent in controlling fleas and ticks, and keep your dog and his environment scrupulously clean.

10. Make your senior dog as much a part of your life as possible, and do all you can to keep him interested, active, happy and comfortable.

(Of course, these ten tips also apply in large part to young dogs, too.)

These topics are among those discussed in depth on the Senior Dogs Project website. See www.srdogs.com/Pages/care.fr.html

Blessing to all!

By the way, we just uploaded the latest version of our web site and catalog. We carry medical alerts and informational tags for pets, people and their gear.

Kelley Barrett
www.ezpetid.com

Comparing pet tags.

A word about "the other guys" (Product comparisons):

We have ordered many tags from other corporate and "pet super store" kiosks to see whats out there. We tested some for wear and tear on our own dogs. Ours lasted longer.


In our research, we have found that many of these tags are NOT made in the USA. The metals they use are not quality controlled and remind us of cheap aluminum foil. Ours are made with industrial strength 16 gauge compressed aluminum. In a test for lead, we found that many contain lead by-products. Many color coat the tops and bottoms then stamp out their tags, leaving base metals exposed on the sides. All these issues make for a inferior product that will break and become damaged and illegible quickly.)

First Aid for pets tool for keeping your dog safe.

Help Your Dog!
Do you know what to do if your dog is injured or has a medical emergency? The decisions you make in the first few critical minutes can determine whether or not you successfully get your dog to a veterinarian for proper care. Do you have the National Animal Poison Control Center’s, veterinarian, and other important phone numbers posted in an easy to locate place in your home?

Dogs can bite into electrical cords, get hit by a baseball or have a heart attack that causes their heart to stop beating. You will learn dog CPR that could save their life. Many dogs have successfully be saved by giving them CPR.

You should know step by step what to do to protect your pets in any situation. Spring is here and if you take your dog on hunting and camping trips, you need knowledge on how to treat your pet in case of an accident away from veterinary help. What items you should have in your pet first aid kit?. You need to be prepared. Why take the chance of not knowing?

Below is a list of what my vet recommended to go in a first aid kit.
Rolled gauze (four rolls) Gauze pads
Cotton Swabs Ace bandages (two rolls)
Hydrogen Peroxide (3%) Betadine
Wound wash saline (two bottles) Instant cold packs (three)
One large blanket One small blanket
Tweezers Forceps
Stethoscope Muzzles
Medicine droppers Antibiotic ointment
Scissors Medical tape
Duct tape Four paint stirrers for splinting
Six washcloths Two hand towels
One gallon of water

Kits should also have medications included:

Benadryl Mylanta Gas
Pepto Bismol Aspirin (buffered)
Milk of Magnesia (for toxicity) Activated Charcoal (for toxicity)
Mineral Oil (for constipation) Glycerin Suppositories (for constipation)

We found several great articles on the internet from credible sources to educate you further on this subject. We found several great articles about first aid and other things you should know about pet care on http://petcare.suite101.com/ The site also had a similar list of supplies for a kit to the list we got from a local vet.

When traveling you should include additional items in your pet ID kit, a slip, twist, fall or attack by a wild animal could all happen and one needs to literally think of everything for your own piece of mind as well as the safety of your pet.

Pet owners should also include a three-days worth of any pet vital medications in the pet first aid kit.

This extra supply of medication is vital for pets who rely on a medication for survival, like a dog with diabetes, epilepsy or other disorders that require extra care. Ask your veterinarian for a bit extra medication for your kit next time you get a refill – he or she will be happy to supply you with the extra doses for your pet emergency kit.

One of our Face book Friends has a wonderful web site for dogs with disabilities and they talk on the page about first aid and care for senior and disabled dogs. http://handicappedpets.com/

The next thing you need is a good First Aid Guide, We strongly recommend the book, "Pet First Aid, Cats and Dogs by the American Red Cross".
Wishing you and your pets a wonderful fun filled Spring.

And for a light hearted moment The link Ive attached is just a cute and funny cartoon video.

Lessons learned about food your dogs need to avoid

I was recently handed this list by a vet after playing taxi for a friend who's dog broke into a postal delivery left on the porch of a neighbor. The box was from a famous dessert company and held an assortment of dark chocolates, dried fruits, white chocolates and cheeses. The vet pumped poor Harvey's stomach and gave him some medicines to minimize the damage. i thought that seeing as i didn't know about half the stuff on this list, others may not know either. So here is the list of foods you should never give your dog.

CHOCOLATE: Best to remember – dark chocolate, especially baker’s chocolate, is the worst when it comes to this type of “poisoning”. Chocolate contains a substance called Theobromine (similar to caffeine), which in toxic doses can cause heart attacks. As little as 2 oz baker’s chocolate can be fatal for a small dog. If you suspect your dog has gotten into chocolate call your vet immediately.

GRAPES/RAISINS: Surprisingly, this is a toxic fruit for dogs. They contain an unknown toxin, which can cause acute renal (kidney) failure. As little as a handful at a time can be deadly.

BROCCOLI: This one blew me away, My dogs have eaten broccoli out of the garden for years! I guess i need to start measuring it out! There has been a bit of confusion where broccoli is concerned. Broccoli is very good for dogs, however, if the daily intake exceeds more than 10% of the animals diet – problems can occur. The toxic substance is isothiocyanate and can cause gastrointestinal irritation.


ONIONS: A substance in onions, disulfide, is harmless to humans but toxic to not only dogs but cats, horses, sheep and cattle. It causes hemolytic anemia, and as little as 2 slices a week can damage red blood cells, impairing their ability to carry oxygen.
NOTE: Garlic and onion are in the same family, while small amounts of garlic will not harm your dog, too much is not good.

LIVER: In small amounts liver is very good for your dog (less than 3 servings a week). Large amounts cause vitamin A toxicity (hypervitaminosis A). This can lead to bone problems, weight loss and anorexia. Also, never feed liver if your dog is taking vitamin A supplements, and always cook it before feeding.

BONES: The latest recommendations are NO BONES for dogs!!!! I tend to personally think this is overkill as I have had dogs for 30 years given them cooked beef bones with no problems.

RAW EGGS: Cooked eggs are a very healthy treat for dogs, raw egg whites contain a protein called Avidin. This protein depletes your dog of B vitamins, specifically Biotin, which is essential to growth and coat condition. Also, raw eggs may contain bacteria, such as Salmonella.

RAW MEAT/POULTRY: Once again bacteria are the main problem – Salmonella and Clostridium, both can be very serious and costly to treat. Just remember, if you feed meat, cook it first.
NOTE: Best to avoid pork, especially bacon (which contains sodium nitrate).

MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS: FYI, 50% of dogs are lactose intolerant (just like people!) – they don’t produce the enzyme Lactase, therefore they are unable to break down Lactose (milk sugar). This can cause gas, diarrhea and abdominal discomfort.

NUTS: Walnuts can cause gastroenteritis and are considered poisonous to dogs. Macadamia nuts contain an unknown compound, which can cause muscle tremors, weakness and paralysis of the hindquarters – luckily these symptoms last a short time. In general, nuts are high in phosphorus and may contribute to the formation of bladder stones.
NOTE: Peanuts are a legume, “from the earth”, not grown on trees. They are not harmful when used in small amounts.

POTATO: Cooked and mashed potatoes are good for dogs. However, poisonous alkaloids (Solanum) are present in green sprouts and green potato skins.
NOTE: Poisonings occur in people as well as dogs!

TOMATO PLANTS: Stems and leaves contain oxalates, which can cause bladder stones.
NOTE: The fruit itself is not the culprit, however high amounts of vitamin C can cause gastrointestinal distress.

RHUBARB: This plant (especially the leaves) also contains oxalates.

TURKEY SKIN: YEP no more turkey skin at holidays!!!Known to cause acute Pancreatitis in dogs.

PIPS: Found in the seeds of apples, pears, plums, peaches and apricots – ALL CONTAIN ARSENIC!

NUTMEG: Is a hallucinogen in dogs. Seriously this can cause major problems for dogs dont mess around!

BABY FOOD: When I worked as a veterinary assistant we commonly gave chicken baby food to dogs and cats that wouldn’t eat. Just be careful that the baby food you are feeding doesn’t contain onion powder – some do. See onion poisoning for more information.

MUSHROOMS: In all honesty, any wild growing mushroom scares me, and if my dogs are anywhere near some, I go the other way – you just don’t know. Store bought mushrooms are fine, but do you really want you’re dog to develop a taste for them?

SKUNK!!!!!! What to do to get your peace and smell back

Three days after I remodeled my house, I had a cold. I had just installed new carpeting. Poppy, my Australian Shepherd met with a skunk. The encounter was brief and point blank. The smell at first was like rotten onions and with my cold, i didn't connect with the odor at first. It was not until a few hours later that the smell reached a part of my brain that freaked out! The oh my god smell was unforgettable. By then my house was permeated. After going through three days of misery and commercial products that were all useless I was handed this recipe.
While it took several baths in it, the recipe was the best at reducing the odor to a dull roar.

Ingredients

* One pint of hydrogen peroxide
* One-half a cup of baking soda
* Two tablespoons of dish soap
* A bottle of vinegar

Directions

1. Mix the hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and dish soap in a large bowl and stir until the baking soda is completely dissolved.
2. Next, use a spray bottle or sponge to generously apply the mixture onto the pet’s fur. Work the mixture through the fur and onto the skin below, massaging the solution into the affected area for ten minutes. Be cautious when applying this solution to the face, as the mixture should not come in contact with the eyes.
3. After ten minutes has passed, thoroughly rinse the solution from the animal’s fur and skin. Once the solution is completely rinsed away (there should be no soap bubbles remaining in the water as it flows off the body), towel the pet’s fur.
4. If the odor is still relatively strong and skunky, repeat the above-mentioned steps. If the odor is largely eliminated, then continue on to the next step.
5. Once the solution of hydrogen peroxide, dish soap and baking soda has been rinsed away, use a sponge or spray bottle to apply generous amounts of vinegar to the pet’s damp fur and skin. Again, saturate the fur and massage the solution into the fur and skin.
6. After letting the solution sit for twenty minutes, thoroughly rinse the pet with fresh water.

Kelley ezpetid.com

Interesting times! as seniors loose State benefits can they care for their pets?

Saturday many of my senior friends who receive Social Security received letters in the mail from the administration informing them that $30 to $99 would be taken from their disability- social security payments monthly due to the states budget crisis. I guess the state of California decided to balance the budget partly on the backs of our grandparents and disabled. For many of these seniors and disabled persons their beloved dog or cat is their best and in many cases only trustworthy friend.

Many now worry how they will continue to put food on the table for themselves let alone their pet. I worry that the impacts will be the increase in abandonment of California animals to shelters. Many shelters are reporting that they already are seeing increases in abandonment's due to the economy and its collapse.

I do have one suggestion for our senior friends, grab every sample bag you can at local pet stores of your pet food of choice. Look online for pet food coupons and shop around for deals on that food.

Perhaps sanity will prevail at some point.

Blessings to all.

Health Insurance for your pets?

So fido breaks loose runs into the street and gets hit by a car, You are suddenly faced with a emergency room visit that can cost almost as much as a emergency room visit for your kids! What to do, Most people will clean out the checking account, max the credit cards and hope that between the two they have enough for that bill.

Recently I began researching pet insurance. I found that they can be as diverse in what they offer and dont offer as human health insurance. So we decided to present a list of pet insurance service providers so that you can find the policy that fits your pets needs.

1.Research the genetic conditions that are most likely to affect your dog by visiting the Canine Health Foundation website http://www.akcchf.org/. Some conditions may not be covered by most insurance policies, but others can be covered if your dog was insured before the condition was diagnosed.

2. Compare insurance quotes for your dog's age and breed. You can get quotes online from most pet insurance companies.

3. After checking out the insurance company with he Better Business Bureau, Buy your preferred insurance. Most providers allow you to buy online, although you are also able to buy via telephone.

4. Double-check the price and coverage of your dog's new policy. Your actual policy may differ from the one you chose.

5. Wait until after your dog has been insured to schedule a physical. Just like people, If your vet finds that your pet has an illness when it is still uninsured, it will be much harder to get coverage. But if an illness is diagnosed after coverage begins, it isn't considered a preexisting condition.

We also suggest that you:
If you have a younger dog, you may want to look at policies with higher levels of accident coverage.

Your vet can give you an estimate of age during a physical, this is important information to have in case your pet was adopted and you are not sure of its age..

Enroll all of your pets with the same insurer, this can mean a steep discount.

Purebred dogs are more likely to suffer from hereditary conditions, making them more expensive to insure, you can check this out with the foundation mentioned above. Select wisely when you are getting a new puppy.

Many insurers will not cover dogs over a certain age--typically around 10 to 12. Some insurance companies will not insure dogs over 9 years of age.

Not all plans cover spaying or neutering. If your dog will need either procedure, you may be required to pay out of pocket, Many communities have companion animal foundations that can help with this procedure if you are low income or a senior.

Insurance plans that cover checkups and dental cleanings are more expensive. In some cases, you may wish to cover wellness visits out of pocket, rather than through an insurer.

Here is a short list of pet insurance companies we found serving California

http://www.gopetplan.com
Petplan's simple, customizable dog insurance and cat insurance plans provide full coverage for congenital and hereditary conditions for life*. From office visits and diagnostic testing to surgery and rehabilitation to alternative therapies, Petplan has your pets Covered for Life™!


http://www.petinsurance.com/
Dogs, Cats, Exotics, and Birds

Pets Best Insurance
http://www.petsbest.com/

In researching this article we also found a pet insurance review web site. it looks like they have alot of great information that can assist you in selecting the right insurance. http://www.petinsurancereview.com/

We do not have personal experience with these companies, We will be buying pet insurance for Bailey the cat and poppy our therapy dog in the near future and we will report back to you what our personal experience was. and feel free to let us know what your experience was.
Blessings!!!

Sometimes even pet lovers need a computer repair guy

No great inspiration today about the pets, other than the fact that Poppy had to give me some anxiety therapy today! Sometimes there is just not inspiration when your computers hamsters go on strike and refuse to run on the wheel!

Today our web site ezpetid.com crashed. After a desperate call or 10, to find someone who could fix the computer network, I found the reincarnation of superman! This wonderful guy named Justin Loch. He owns a company called Page Weavers. He arrived with a smile and a sympathetic ear about our computer woes.

In just 45 minutes he not only had the network back up, wires straightened out, routers routing, servers serving and he had my "fax printer copier scanner" working like it was designed to do! That in and of itself was a miracle, Ive owned that printer for a year and we never could get the fax machine to work!

If you ever need repairs done I strongly recommend Justin! He can be reached at 707-822-4200 or at his web site http://www.page-weavers.com
I am shamelessly plugging this guy because I am a strong believer that awesome service should be rewarded and Justin provided us with excellent service today which will make things smoother for our customers and our business! THANK YOU Justin, you are now officially our computer repair guy!

Care for your best friend

Here are some tips for daily pet care that i thought I would share.

Brush your dogs teeth daily and fur, You’ll avoid conditions like gum disease, dogie breath, and skin problems. And you’ll also know when things aren’t quite right with your dog, before an injury, illness or condition worsens.

Best of all, you’ll be lessening the chance that your dog will have to suffer due to a preventable or avoidable problem.

Be aware of breed-specific and size-specific issues. For example, if your dog is very tall, elevate her food and water bowls. Stretching down to the floor can cause neck and other problems. If your breed is prone to a particular disease or condition, learn the signs and symptoms and keep an eye out for them.

Involve your dog in daily activities, There are lots of great books available through www.ezpetid.com our web site.

If your dog spends the day outside, ensure there is shade in the summer (as well as lots of water) and protection from the cold during winter (along with unfrozen water).

This is an ongoing task. Dog-proof your home to ensure that there are no opportunities for injury or poisoning. Every day, something may be dropped on the floor that could injure your dog, asphyxiate her or poison her. Vaccume daily and keep an eye out for even the smallest of items that could harm your beloved pet.

Bless you all and your furrd friends!
Until next time.