On February 27th this year it was time to let our precious old lady go. Last July we did the same for our eighteen-year-old feline family member. As hubby and I get closer to being ready for our next furrever friend, so many messages have come out of my creative self that I've created many new great shirts for all those pet lovers out there. My designs are now available on several online safe and secure shopping environments for you to browse and enjoy.

So, if you're looking for love ADOPT a furry companion and save both your lives!

What to do with Fluffy & Fido?
For me the downside of any trip I plan is the worry of who is going to pamper my precious furry children while I'm gone.  Of course there are several options and much depends on the pets you have as well as the life they consider to be normal.  Some pets do well with change, most do not.  Some pets are social, some are not. So first you need to understand your pet(s).  We have two indoor only house cats and one large breed dog.  We eat together, sleep together and have movie night together so we're a pack.

House Sitters with Benefits
What's a house sitter with benefits?  It's a Pet Sitter that will stay at your home, living with your pets so their routine is completely unchanged during your absence.  This is our preference and the absolute best choice you can make for your pets whenever possible.  They sleep in their own beds, eat and potty where they do every day and the pack stays together except for the temporary change in leadership.  Your pets will barely miss you. Choosing a House Sitter can be difficult, but here are some ideas.

• Check with local pet sitters who have been recommended by your fellow animal loving friends.  Many of them for a slightly higher fee will stay at your home while you are gone and follow your routine to the letter.
  
• Do you have a single friend or family member that you can trust who wouldn't mind a change in venue who could stay at your home and take care of your pets?
  
• Perhaps you know a retired couple that you would trust who would love to have a week away with no changes in expenses on their part.  Sometimes one of them would just like to have a week apart from their spouse.  Living together 24-7 after retirement takes work and breaks are nice!
  

Pet Sitters International
Finding a pet sitter to provide the right pet-care services requires an investment of time—time to do phone interviews, time to conduct in-your-home meetings and time to thoroughly check references on those  you’re considering hiring.
Visit Pet Sitters International Website for Info and to Locate Pet Sitters in your area.

Well, kenneling your dog has come a long way since I was a kid!  If you spend the time to really check into the options you have available locally, you will undoubtedly find a place where your dog will be laying by the pool and meeting new friends during the day, then tucked away in a luxury doggie suite with a temperature controlled environment, TV and cushy bed at night!  For the social and non-aggressive dog, this is a wonderful solution if you can afford it.

Be very aware of  the more old-fashioned 'standard' kenneling services of the past.  These still exist and unless your dog is used to being in a small kennel with continuously barking neighbors and little to no positive contact with other dogs or humans, this is a very unhealthy environment for your dog.  They are pack animals and if they live in the house with you and participate in your normal family life, this type of kenneling will cause tremendous stress and anxiety. We kenneled our dog many, many years ago for a week while on vacation.  When we picked her up she had lost 10-pounds and was so crazed that when she saw us she broke her leash to get to us.

So put some serious thought into taking care of your pet when you leave them.  Remember, they don't understand why they are being left or if you are EVER coming back.  That's the beauty of home care, the stress and anxiety is down to only one simple thing, they miss you personally. But when you leave your dog at a kennel, they are in a strange environment and they not only miss you, but they miss all their favorite things including other pets.  Leaving them in one of these great new Camp/Daycare environments is a bit different.  They are kept so entertained and they are having so much fun playing with new people and dogs that they alleviate any stress or anxiety they may have had when they arrived, leaving them exhausted and hungry enough to eat.

I've shared my life with thirteen cats and six dogs so far and each precious friend comes with their own set of health issues; sometimes as early onset and sometimes just as part of the aging process.  Years ago, we had no choice but to accept the diagnosis, endure the side-effects often accompanying the drugs our pets were prescribed and too often, watch them wither away before our eyes.  But, today we live in a world where holistic replacements and supplements are now readily available for our pets; and they can even save their life.

In the early 90’s my two-year-old German Shepherd/Australian Shepherd dog began to show signs of arthritis.  Sadly this was only the beginning of her health issues, but for me it was my first step into the world of holistic alternatives for my pets.  Though there were drugs at the time that did a wonderful job of making an arthritic pet feel better, those drugs had long-term damaging effects to the animal’s organs.  For a dog of ten or twelve, most likely the long-term effects would not catch up to the age of the pet; however for my girl she had her whole life ahead of her.

So my journey began with natural alternatives to alleviate the pain and increase her mobility, however back in 1992, there were no holistic choices for pets with arthritis.  That didn’t stop me.  I found a company that was putting two ingredients in one tablet, Glucosamine and Chondroitin.  My local health-food stores still sold these two supplements individually, I could not find them anywhere as one pill except this tiny little heath food store in Florida.  They had on their website many testimonials from people of all ages and sizes, praising how well this product worked.  So I contacted them, spoke with the owner and after a long and enjoyable conversation, she sent a sample bottle.

Ginger responded within a week.  The limping was gone; she ran and played with no favoring of the right hip which is where the arthritis began.  I reported back to Sunshine Health Foods and they were so excited that their new product had improved the life of a canine, that for the rest of Ginger’s life (another 13-years) they gave us the price of $8.30 for a monthly supply.  If anyone reading this has ever priced Glucosamine/Chondroitin in the store you know this is more than ½ the going rate.  Ginger lived a long and happy life with many other developing health issues which were all kept under control through working with a veterinarian that trusted my research and worked on his end to try less intrusive methods.

Several years later I got to put my holistic hat on once again after receiving a cancer diagnosis in one of our eight-year-old cats.  We took him in to have a tiny external growth checked and were stunned when the results came back that he had 3-months to live. His form of cancer was extremely aggressive.  Once the shock and tears subsided, I began my search for something that would save his precious and young life.  I found something at the time called E-Tea (Essiac Tea).  This tea was originally from a medicine man who passed the recipe on in 1922 to a nurse and was consumed to help support the immune system, detoxify the body and purify the blood.  At the time, the site I found this product on had many testimonials of people whose softball-size tumors had been significantly shrunk or disappeared all together.  Those same testimonials also mentioned amazing results on canine cancer patients. My vet and I discussed it came to the agreement that it certainly couldn’t hurt Bud to put him on the tea.

We made our own guess at what a thirteen-pound cat dosage might be and I would syringe feed 2-ounces of tea twice a day.  Budd was always rewarded with a little treat after sitting still long enough to drink the tea, so he quickly began responding to the ‘tea time’ call and came running for his dosage.  Bud was checked with x-rays and blood work after three months of being on the tea and we were all amazed that not only was there no indication that the cancer (which should have killed him already) had spread, but the existing tumor was shrinking.  We bought 2-1/2 years of happy quality of life for Bud and for us to spend with him.  During that time his appetite and weight was good, he was loving and playful.  He suddenly went downhill very quickly one day…but oh how grateful I am to have had that time with him.

Today, many years later, I sit here with another of my sweet boys; Oli whose been diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism.  In most cats this is a fairly easy fix, the medications usually do wonders and the cat lives a fairly normal life on medication.  However, one out of every 600 cats don’t respond to the medication, or in our case have a horrible reaction to it making them worse and even sicker than before the medication started.  After nearly a month of trying to reduce the dosage to something his body could handle, it was once again time for me to find out what else I could do for him.

Though we are still in the early stages of treating his Hyperthyroidism with an all natural holistic replacement to the medication, so far his body is responding a tiny bit more each day.  At some point I will be able to report back whether this method not only makes him feel normal again, but whether the test results on this thyroid come back with better levels.  But I am so grateful for having this knowledge base to draw from.  There are few options left for Oli aside from holistic, all are not only intrusive but possibly deadly.

In the meantime…

Be aware that there are alternatives the next time your pet needs medical help.  After visiting your vet and having the recommended tests done, do your part and research holistic remedies.  See what supplements might be available to support the treatment your veterinarian suggests; many can be used in addition to prescribed meds.  And the next time you find yourself in a situation as we are with Oliver, with a dog or cat that is not responding or rejecting treatment, find a holistic replacement.  You’d be surprised how much information is available out there to help you and your pet.

Extend Life Expectancy!
I once heard "If your dog is overweight, chances are so are you"...and I find that to generally be true.  Now, no offense people, but let's think this through.  The average dog owner treats their pup as a member of the family, so if the family walks, hikes, spends lots of time outside, then chances are they are good shape...and so is their dog.  However, for those of us who tend to be more housebound, many of us are carrying more weight than we should and there is a pretty good chance our pup is lugging around a few extra pounds too.  So...let's get to work and get that fat off our dogs and off of us while we're at it!  Just like people, a pet's life-expectancy and quality of life is greatly reduced, especially after the age of seven when carrying around extra weight.  Joint damage, diabetes, heart disease, difficulty breathing and so much more, are all conditions we share with our overweight four-legged family members.

Where to Start
We all have to start somewhere and sometimes, as in my case, we just have to start over!  If you are lucky enough to have a dog as your companion, then you have a motivated walking partner!  My dog and I used to walk everyday, my life changed drastically over past couple of years and along with it went my routine.  So here I sit two years later overweight, and the vet tells me my dog is heavier than she should be...gee what a surprise!

So, though I find it incredibly difficult to motivate myself to start my daily walks again, it's easier when I consider that my dog can't go for a walk by herself...if she could I'm sure she'd be in great shape, she's definitely more motivated than I am!  If, like me, you make every excuse in the book to procrastinate your exercise program, then look at your dog and do it for them.  Their life span is already too short without us taking years off their life by making them housebound and stuffing them with too many treats. 

So EXERCISE your dog...Daily!  Whether it's walking, swimming, rollerblading, biking, dog parks, fetch or a treadmill...just get them moving!  Of course, pay attention to your pal.  Make sure they are hydrated and if your dog is getting old, play close attention to when they slow down or stop while on a walk.  This is a clear sign they've had enough.  Pushing will only lead to injury or collapse.  Start slow and go on short excursions, build up their capacity to venture farther, longer.  Don't take a previously overweight, housebound dog and force them to walk for long periods of time without stops to rest and have water.  Be a smart walking companion.  For the dog with more energy than you, get a doggy backpack and put 1 or 2 bottles of water on each side of the pack (make sure its the same on both sides for balance).  This makes the walk more physically challenging for them and drains energy faster than you may be able to do without the pack.

To Treat or Not to Treat
Okay, so in addition to not enough exercise, our dogs get fat because of what we feed them and how much we feed them.  Again, just like us, our dogs love junk food and will eat just about anything we give them.  My dog, thanks to our vet's recommendation, was raised with fruits and vegetables as treats.  She loves fresh snap peas and blueberries more than just about any dog treat.  But the key to weight control are Quantity and Quality.

To get your dog to lose a few pounds, work with your vet on the possibilities of slowly switching your pup over to a dinner of fresher food that you cook, rather than only packaged food. In addition to less for dinner and a meal with less fat and empty calories, you must consider the amount of treats they get in a 24-hour period, and do they get table scraps?  I know from experience that it's much more difficult to give less treats than it is to choose healthier treats for your dog.

Let's face it, we've gotten them into these routines of expecting a cookie every time they tinkle, so introduce healthier choices such as these:

• Try fresh apple or other fresh fruit as a treat.  Same goes for vegetables.  Many dogs love these items and you won't know until you try.  Like us, they usually like some and not others, so give them the opportunity to decide...Please READ the list of what NOT to give your dog first!
  
• Another favorite of dogs is dehydrated fruit snacks.  We dehydrate apples, bananas, pears, melons, pineapple, strawberries, peaches and plums for the dog.  Now wait...let me explain.  There is only two of us and often there is a banana or apple that is getting a bit soft, these are perfect for dehydrating rather than throwing them out.  When you dehydrate your own fruits, you know your dog is getting pure nutrition.  They last for months and you can even use them outside or during training sessions.
  
• Another better choice is Chicken Jerky, these are a low fat, low calorie choice for your dog as a once or twice a day treat.
  
• For training I make a Dog-Gone-Good Trail Mix using Cheerios, dry dog food kernels, dried banana chips, dried strawberries, dried apple and chicken jerky broken up in bite-size chips.
  

For treats that are a little more substantial, consider these healthy choices:

• Use that dehydrator you just got to make dried fruit snacks for Rover to make Sweet Potato Chews.  Wash them first, then towel them dry.  Experiment with the thickness you cut them, because that will determine how crisp or chewy they are.  Don't put anything one them.  Slice them about an 1/8th-inch thick and lay them in the dehydrator.  They will take 12-hours give or take a couple.  Store them in a plastic bag in the fridge.  You can experiment and find out what your dog likes best.  It's affordable and healthy!
  
• If you or your hubby has a smoker or likes to BBQ.  Purchase a package of Marrow Bones from the meat department.  The next time the BBQ or Smoker gets fired up for the family, put those Marrow Bones on for the dog!  They will have a wonderful flavor and you'll have several of them to package in freezer bags for that once a week special treat.  If you've ever priced a package of Smoked Marrow Bones in a pet store, then you'll find that what you pay for one you can get six or more from the meat department and smoke them yourself...besides, then you know they don't have sodium or chemicals added!

Ossa's Diet
I'm no expert, nor do I claim to be.  What I am is a Dog Mom who has been cooking for her dog for more than 11-years with my marvelously holistic vet's guidance and approval. The result is a very healthy and happy Ossa.  There she is on the left smiling for her fans!

Believe it or not, it really isn't more expensive to cook for your dog than to feed them only packaged dog food ... this does of course suggest you are feeding them a good quality dog food. I will share what I do for Ossa and you can make plans to sit down with your own vet and discus options based on your own dog's health issues.

Ossa is a Golden Retriever/Labrador Mix (shelter rescue).  She will be 12-years-old this April.  She stands about 24-inches tall and is about 36-inches long.  She was 73-pounds two years ago, but we've reached our goal weight of 65 to 67-pounds - perfect for her size.  So, the first step in adjusting the calorie intake in their diet, is to take into account the calories and nutrition for the ENTIRE DAY, not just what they get for dinner. 

Ossa's Dinner - Low Calorie, No Salt, Nutrition Rich
A little note:  I do not mix these ingredients together in a pile in her bowl.  I serve them like I would on a plate, next to each other.  Might seem silly, but it's what Ossa has always preferred.

• 2-Tablespoons Brown or Whole-Grain Rice - In a rice cooker I make 3-cups at a time.  I then store weekly servings in plastic containers in the freezer.
• About 1-ounce of meat which I serve on top of her rice - Here's what I do:  I put the meat in the crock pot with a bit of water and fresh herbs.  I rotate between beef, chicken and turkey so depending on how much I cook at one time, this will make 2 to 4 weeks of protein for her dinner.  You can also rotate fish into the picture if your dog likes it. Again, this keeps well in the freezer.  Shop smart!  I don't buy low-grade meat, I buy on-sale lean meat and meat that is marked down to sell fast which I can take home and freeze.  Example: A whole chicken often goes on sale where I live for 99-cents a pound or less.  A whole chicken in the crock pot cooked for about 6-hours or so will fall right off the bone.  Separate the meat and freeze it.  Then keep the chicken juice to marinate those Marrow Bones I mentioned earlier.  I also find tri-tips and roasts that are up to $4.00 off because they have to be cooked or put in the freezer by the package date. I typically don't spend more than $5.00 for two to three weeks of meat.
• 1/2-cup of vegetables - I do one of three things.  1) give her fresh; raw green beans or snap peas (her favorites), or 2) the veggies are made from tossing the week old veggies into the crock pot and cooking with some herbs (makes a couple week supply)...or 3) Thaw a bag of frozen vegetables which lasts about a week.
• 1/4-Cup Dry Dog Food - I feel it's important for her to have some high-quality, nutrient-rich dog food to supplement anything she may not get in what I feed her.  Perhaps because she was raised on fruits and vegetables, she has always been very picky about her dry dog food.  I finally found Pinnacle Trout and Sweet Potato which she loves and it's a high-quality food.1-
• 1-Tablespoon Low-fat, Plain Yogurt or Cottage Cheese - This is a great pro-biotic for promoting healthy digestion, eliminating some unhealthy bacteria and providing healthy bacteria. 

Here's hoping Ossa and I have given you some good ideas to help get your dog in shape and feeling great!

Love to bake, hate the calories?
Then consider adopting the holiday tradition
I started several years ago ...

Bake cookies for your dog (and doggy friends) instead!  I used to fill the kitchen with dozens of batches of holiday cookies, breads and fudge, but anymore I hate to do that because then I simply have to taste everything!  So, I started baking cookies for my four-legged companion and not only is she getting very healthy treats which she adores, it’s more cost effective then buying expensive 'designer' boxes of dog cookies and I still get the same enjoyment out of holiday baking!  Over the years I've developed a couple of dog cookie recipes that both my dog and all of my friend's dogs simply love...

I thought I'd share one with you ...

Peanut Butter, Pumpkin & Turkey Bacon Dog Cookies
2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup natural peanut butter (I buy Organic at Trader Joe's)
1 cup 1% milk
1/4 cup crumbled, cooked Turkey Bacon
3/4 cup of Pumpkin filling
1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees
• In a bowl, combine flour, pumpkin pie spice and baking powder.  In another bowl, mix peanut butter, milk, turkey bacon and pumpkin.
• Add wet mixture to dry, and mix well.
• Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill overnight.
• Turn out dough on a lightly floured surface and knead.  Roll out to ¼-inch thick and cut out shapes.
• Place on a greased baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until lightly brown.  Cool on a rack then store in an airtight container.

Notes:
I found it necessary to make the dough then wrap it in saran wrap and let it chill in the refrigerator overnight.  This makes it easier to roll. If you don't do this, the dough is very sticky and unmanageable. I also use parchment paper on the cookies sheets to make less mess and give stick-free lift off. 

I like to make 4 batches of these and 4 batches of another kind at one time. It works well to make all the dough one day and then the next day, roll and bake the cookies.  It feels like less work and I get a supply that lasts one dog more than 2-months. After they cool, I package a week’s worth at a time in quart-size freezer bags and store in the freezer.  Take a week’s worth out at a time and thaw.  My dog loves it and I know she is getting treats that are healthy and made with love.

I also make a Ginger, Molasses Cookie with Blueberries & Nuts that she loves; perhaps I'll share that recipe one day.  I bake cookies year around for her and it’s a cost effective way to get wholesome goodies for a four-legged companion you love.

Happy Valentine’s Day and Happy Baking!

Keep Your Pets Safe and Happy This Holiday Season ...

Here are some things to keep in mind ...
With door bells and excited screams, the holidays can be a frightening time for many pets.  It can also be a time when little ones with good intentions of sharing with their four-legged friend, actually cause them to become seriously ill.  Be a good pet owner and have a game plan to keep your pet(s) safe and healthy this Holiday Season.

Holidays can be loud and frightening to some pets, consider them when making plans for entertaining ...

• Keep your pets in a room, behind a closed door in a place familiar and safe.  Provide them with all the necessities and include favorite toys and treats.  If possible, consider leaving a television or stereo on to help tune out some of the outside noise as well as focus their attention on something other than what is happening beyond the door.
• If you have an outdoor cat, remember that this time of year makes them targets for pranks and targets for vicious people who wish to hurt or kill (especially black cats).  Keep them inside the house, basement or garage for the week of Halloween, or at the very least bring them in before dusk every night.
• If you are having a party, remember to keep an eye on your pets or put them in a room during the party.  Children like to share treats, many of which are toxic to your pets and adults often think it funny to see your pets intoxicated or high when in fact it can easily kill them.
• Keep that bowl of candy and platters of chocolate cake up high enough to keep the dog out of it, they love chocolate and can go through a bowl, wrappers and all before you notice them in it.  Symptoms of significant chocolate ingestion may include vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, increased thirst, urination and heart rate—and even seizures. Candies containing the artificial sweetener Xylitol can be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts of Xylitol sweetener can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, which leads to depression, lack of coordination and seizures.  Ingesting tin foil and cellophane candy wrappers can pose a choking hazard or cause intestinal blockage.
• Pay close attention to your lit candles.  Pets can easily knock them over causing a fire or get burned by being too inquisitive.  Also be careful to hide the electrical cords from decorations to avoid being chewed on (I once saw a puppy brought to my veterinarian after chewing an electrical cord.  His tongue was so severely burned, that three-quarters of it was gone...the only option was to euthanize the pup because without his tongue he could not drink.) It happens, BE CAREFUL.
• We all love to see pets in cute costumes, but most of the pets really don't like it.  Unless your pet shows happy tail wagging signs of enjoying the adventure, you could be causing them discomfort and stress.  If you must dress your pet for the holidays, DO NOT block their vision or hearing, constrict their movement, or ability to breathe, bark or meow.  Make sure the costume does not have small baubles or dangling pieces that they can chew-off and choke on or swallow.
• Of course, always make sure your pet has proper ID.  In the event that your pet escapes and becomes lost, tags or a microchip can increase the chances you will find them.

If you do suspect your pet has ingested a potentially dangerous substance, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.