ThePetCheckup

Dog water treadmill therapy

2010-02-22T13:23:00.000-08:00

I have been reading about some great clinics around the county that offer water therapy for dogs. Some of the owners were giving very positive reviews on how the exercise is helping their dogs recover from accidents or surgery.

Dogs with the beginning stages of arthritis are also being helped with water therapy. They have to work hard but the buoyancy of the water doesn't put the stress on their joints.

I'll be reading more on this topic. Older dogs and certain breeds are prone to arthritis and, as long as the dog enjoys the workouts, this seems like a very valuable activity.

It would be great if rehab clinics for people added something like this...then dogs and their people could work-out together!!

another testimonial for ThePetCheckup - at home pet health kit

2010-02-04T15:06:00.000-08:00

We received another nice testimonial from someone today via email. It's always so nice to see how this simple product is helping so many people care for their dogs and cats.

"I just wanted to tell you your product is wonderful. I always tell my vets about it and hope that they may incorporate the kits in their businesses. It's such a nice feeling to take extra care in your pet while at the same time keeping them comfortable and home." M.B.

Dog and cat health...early detection is the best medicine

2010-02-03T12:30:00.000-08:00

I just discovered that there is an alternative and complimentary medical dictionary online.

Below is the definition of early detection. Everyone agrees on this atleast.

(Noun) In complementary, conventional, and natural medicine, the act of discovering a disorder or disease before it has fully developed.

if your dog receives a kidney disease diagnosis

2010-02-01T12:14:00.001-08:00

Many of our customers have dogs or cats who have been diagnosed with some form of kidney disease.

It is one of the most common illnesses for dogs and cats, especially as they age.

But there has been alot of growth in research and in understanding this illness and some of the news is quite encouraging. If there are enough functioning kidney cells, then it is possible for the kidneys to "restart" themselves and resume normal functioning for years.

This will probably be the first thing that the veterinarian will do...flush out the kidneys with large amounts of intravenous fluids and see how the animal responds.

Home Pet Urine Test for Dogs and Cats

2010-01-29T11:07:00.001-08:00

We received another nice testimonial from a repeat customer today:

"I use this product anytime my cats seem to not feel well to determine if something more serious is brewing.

Extremely helpful for animals with history of urinary tract problems." A.R., Las Cruces, NM

It's always so nice to hear how helpful ThePetCheckup is.

UTI's or Dog and Cat Urinary Tract Infections very common

2010-01-27T18:59:00.000-08:00

I read more information today about Urinary Tract infections in dogs and cats. Although the statistics vary on just what percentage of dogs and cats will have this illness in their lifetime, it is certain that this is one of the most common imbalances that affect our pets.

Female dogs are quite a bit more likely to develop urinary tract infections than male dogs.

This is because the length of a female dog's urethra is shorter compared to a male dog's urethra. So the bacteria can enter a female dog's bladder easier.

Keeping the animal's immune system strong is the best defense. There is an overwhelming amount of information out there on our animal's health and I know ThePetCheckup customer's are some of the most informed.

I just started giving Chloe and Kate New Zealand Colostrum again. I think it is a great product and for my fussy cats, something that they will actually eat mixed with their food.

Vinyl handbags contain harmful amounts of lead

2010-01-25T16:48:00.000-08:00

I just read an article about the dangerous amount of lead found in vinyl handbags, wallets etc.

For many of us who do not want to buy leather, this is an important warning. Purses and especially wallets are handled often.

Avoid:

PVC
VINYL
POLYVINYL CHLORIDE

The article also said that all handbags have interior tags which state what they are made of. I have often looked for tags on handbags and could not find them. But for now on, I'll look at fabric and nylon bags...that seems the path.

Bacteria and dog and cat kidney and urinary tract infections

2010-01-21T16:12:00.000-08:00

One simple thing I just read about to help prevent your dog and cat from developing urinary, bladder, or kidney infections is to be vigilant about washing out the water dish with hot/soapy water and changing the water atleast once a day.

Bacteria can grow quickly in the water and not just in hot weather.

The article mentioned some nice dishes that are made from recycled plastic. However, I believe stainless steel dishes are the best. Years ago, my cat Oliver developed what the vet called "feline acne"....little bumps on his chin. I was told that is something that is more common when the animal eats or drinks from plastic dishes.

And seamless dishes are the best, too, as bacteria cannot accumulate in any creases.

Great followup on adoption of 2 of the former Michael Vick dogs

2010-01-15T14:14:00.001-08:00

Below is a link from the Best Friends Animal Society website about Cherry and Handsome Dan - 2 dogs rescued from the Michael Vick property and now adopted into their forever homes.

It seems that the people who adopted these 2 dogs discovered that they only live 1 1/2 hours from each other and arranged a get together for the dogs.

Cherry and H.Dan were so happy to see each other....it was a very sweet reunion. There is even a video included.

They are planning many more get-togethers in the future which is so cool.

http://news.bestfriends.org/index.cfm?page=news&mode=entry&entry=327A0EC7-E92E-ACC0-C60C1980388D5BA8

My cat Kate's itchy ears are so much better

2010-01-11T16:05:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago, I did some internet research on remedies for infections in cat's ears.

Kate had already been on ear medicine twice for her infected ears and I never thought that the condition had ever been completely healed.

I read alot of great reviews for diluted Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) and decided to try it. The results were quite amazing.

I took a cotton ball and dipped it in the diluted mixture and squeezed some in both her ears. Within 2 days, she had stopped scratching and rubbing her ears and seemed greatly relieved. I was really surprised how quickly it worked.

Today I was doing some research about migraine headaches as I had a whopper yesterday. Again, lots of testimonials for ACV -- this time diluted with water and honey. I'm going to give this a try too.

It's so great to find a natural remedy that is this effective...will be interesting to see what happens with the migraine remedy.

Rolling Dog Ranch #1 winner in Animal Rescue Contest

2009-12-23T11:50:00.000-08:00

It's finally official. The Rolling Dog Ranch in Montana won first place today in the Animal Rescue site contest, along with the $20,000 prize.

It's great to see Alayne and Steve rewarded for the amazing work that they do for animals with disabilities. They write a blog every week day keeping people updated on what is going on at the Ranch.

http://blog.rollingdogranch.org/

You get to know Alayne and Steve and all the animals so personally--a wonderful way to start the day off. Sometimes the news is wonderful and sometimes sad. But knowing that these animals have found their way to RDR is the biggest reward.

It's going to be a Happy Christmas in Ovando, Montana.

Formerly blind dog regains sight

2009-12-08T08:18:00.000-08:00

Ok.

Here is a very happy tail and a great way to start your day.

http://bit.ly/8HPJV1

Vote for Rolling Dog Ranch until December 20th

2009-12-07T13:17:00.000-08:00

There are only 2 weeks left to vote on the Animal Rescue site for Rolling Dog Ranch in Montana.
Rolling Dog is still in first place to win the $20,000, but other organizations are moving in.

If you aren't familiar with Rolling Dog Ranch, please check out their website www.rollingdogranch.org

They are the very last hope for handicapped dogs, cats and horses and provide them with a loving home for life. Their blog is delightful to read and a great way to start your day.

Please vote for RDR everyday until the contest ends on the 20th of December. It is an easy thing to do for some very well-deserving animals. To vote:

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3

Henry Beston "The Outermost House"

2009-12-04T14:08:00.000-08:00

Very cool quote: “We need another and a wiser and perhaps a more mystical concept of animals. Remote from universal nature, and living by complicated artifice, man in civilization surveys the creature through the glass of his knowledge and sees thereby a feather magnified and the whole image in distortion. We patronize them for their incompleteness, for their tragic fate of having taken form so far below ourselves. And therein we err, and greatly err. For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the earth.”

Taking your dog to work is a growing trend

2009-10-14T09:08:00.000-07:00

I just read a really nice article about the advantages from the employers side of letting people bring their dogs to work.

A recent survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association found that the benefits are quite substantial.

* 66 percent of dog owners said they'd work longer hours if their dogs could join them at work. Almost half would switch jobs, and 44 percent would take a salary cut for the perk.

* Great retention tool. Dog-friendly companies hang onto their employees. Since the vast majority of businesses, especially larger ones, don't permit pooches, those who land jobs with dog-friendly companies tend to stay on.

* Dogs rarely cause problems at work.

* * Dogs at work are stress-busting team-builders. Petting a dog has been shown to lower blood pressure and reduce stress. When dogs show up at work, they tend to be social lubricants that bring people together and attract lots of pats.

Being on the alert for possible dog urinary tract infection

2009-10-13T09:01:00.000-07:00

Reading about urinary tract infections in dogs brought up this simple reminder....if your dog seems to want to go for more walks than usual, it may because he or she needs to pee more often. This can be due to a urinary tract infection brewing. So be aware.

Sometimes people get annoyed with their animals when the reality is that they are trying to tell us something. And that something may be that they are not feeling well.

Dogs with urinary tract infections will feel the need to pee even when their bladder is empty or almost empty.

And always make sure there is sufficient fresh water available. That will help to flush out bacteria.

Dogs forming struvite crystals

2009-10-08T07:23:00.000-07:00

For some reason, we have been getting more questions than usual from people who's dogs have a tendency to form crystals in their urine.

Actually it is fairly common for very tiny (microscopic) crystals to be present in dog and cat's urine, but since they are flushed out in urination, they pose no health risk.

The problem starts when the stones start attaching themselves to each other and become larger.

Genetics cab play a part. It has been shown that dalmations, hounds, beagles and pugs are more susceptible.

The other 2 most common reasons for formation of crystals are:

1. Bacterial infections: they can cause the urine to be more alkaline which increases the risk of forming struvite crystals

2. Diet: foods high in protein can increase the mineral content in the animal's urine

People who have dogs and cats with tendencies to form crystals pay close attention to diet and urine pH. Like many illnesses, practicing preventative health care and being pro-active can make a world of difference.

19 year old cat finds his forever home

2009-10-06T09:00:00.001-07:00

Wonderful adoption story on the Best Friends website about a FIV cat named Cash that has lived at the sanctuary since he was a small kitten.

Fast forward 19 years and see him in his new home.

He waited a long time to find his person.

You can read his story at www.bestfriends.org

Overweight dogs and cats predisposed to diabetes

2009-10-05T20:24:00.000-07:00

Back in Fairfield again after almost 2 months on Cape Cod. The garden is very overgrown and there is lots to do to get the house ready for what the Farmer's Almanac is predicting will be a very cold winter.

I was happy to see that Chloe and Kate look really great. Chloe has put on a little weight though and that is a concern as she was chubby before I left. Overweight dogs and cats are about 4 times more likely to develop diabetes.

She is coming outside with me when I am weeding and hopefully it will stay warm enough for her to get some more outdoor exercise. She really does like to run. Will also see if I can get the harness on her and try that again. We haven't been too successful with that in the past, but hopefully she will be more agreeable to it now. I really have to get her weight issue under control in the next few months.

Flannel hits the Cape Cod beaches

2009-09-24T14:39:00.000-07:00

We walked Lily and her friend Flannel on the beach this morning. Flannel is a beautiful black lab who (of course) loves the water. It was quite warm this morning on the Cape, so we let Flannel go in and out of the water (Lily is not a swimmer) to her heart's delight.

Afterwards, Flannie had a nice shower and both dogs had a good nap in the living room.

Flannie has also exhibited quite a talent for finding tennis balls. She has an inner radar that allows her to sense when they are under a bush or hidden along a trail. If they are right out in the open, she is not interested....too easy.

She is a wonderful role-model for everything that is fabulous about this breed. There are so many of them in shelters and I can see how hard that must be for them. They love adventure and they love people. (They love their breakfast and dinner too!)

Understanding dog cat urine reagent tests

2009-09-21T18:37:00.000-07:00

One thing to note about purchasing bottles of urine reagents (often called dip sticks) is that the reliability is compromised by the air, sunlight etc. every time the lid is opened.

Bottles of strips are made to be used up in 3-4 months. If the pet owner is testing often--every day or every other day as if often the case when an animal has been diagnosed with diabetes...then there will not be a problem.

But for preventative care, if the bottle is opened every few weeks, then in just a few months, they results may no longer be effective. That is why it is critical to have specially packaged test strips if you are using the strips to practice preventative medicine.

supporting The Magic Bullet Fund for Dogs with Cancer

2009-09-16T06:38:00.000-07:00

I may have mentioned this before, but there is a wonderful organization that exists to financially help owners who have dogs that have been diagnosed with cancer.

They can't help everyone in that situation of course, but they have been in existance for several years and have helped many people and animals.

Every dollar is helpful, so please check out http://www.themagicbulletfund.org/

I just received their email newsletter and there are 2 more dogs who are requiring assistance.

Dogs allowed on the Cape Cod beaches at long last!

2009-09-10T07:14:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday was a very auspicious day here on Cape Cod. In most areas, including Harwich Port, dogs are now LEGAL on the beach! Hooray!

The day after Labor Day is when most beaches allow dogs back on during the day. There are still some hold-out beaches who post September 15th and even September 30th, but they are the exception.

Lily and I celebrated on Tuesday by walking down to the beach. It was a lovely warm day, very few people on the beach and we had a great time. There will be many more beach walks with her before my trip is over and I look forward to all of them!

Wellness and preventative care for dogs and cats too

2009-09-02T10:39:00.001-07:00

With all this talk about health care reform, there have been some very encouraging articles about companies that are implementing wellness programs and preventative care strategies for their employees.

Some of the things are so simple, yet really effective....encouraging people to use the stairs instead of elevators, taking the junk food out of vending machines, serving healthier snacks at meetings, etc.

It looks like there is going to be a big wave of people becoming more responsible for their own health. This will extend to the care of dogs and cats too which is really great.

Bladder infections in dogs are quite common and usually fairly easy to treat

2009-08-30T09:09:00.000-07:00

Many of our customers tell us that regular use of ThePetCheckup helped them to catch bladder infections at a very early stage--when the infection was just beginning.

Bacteria in the bladder enters from the outside through the urethra. Treatment with antibiotics is usually pretty effective.

However, if the infection is stubborn or seems to return often, underlying causes need to be looked into.

Some of the most common underlying causes that need to be ruled out are: bladder stones, bladder cancer, Cushing's disease and diabetes mellitus.