March 24, 2008
The Ups and Downs of Rescuers
Some days I wish I knew nothing about animals and nobody knew what kinds of animals I have. The reason being, once word gets out that you love animals, or have a certain breed, it opens you up to other well meaning folks who rescue and love pets and know how easy it is to get you to say “Yes, I’ll do it” when you know deep down you will get hurt in the end.
Last Saturday Casey Werts from Casey’s Canine Cuts called and told me about some dogs needing someone to place them into good homes. One of the dogs was a standard poodle. I knew of some clients who were looking for a Standard Poodle and I was sure I could find her a loving home. How could I say no? So, we packed up our kids and hopped into her van for a ride down to Terre Haute to meet the rescuer.
The lady that rescued these dogs got them from a puppy mill, where it’s located, I have no idea. She told us that there were over 300 dogs on the property and the person that ran the puppy mill was 80 years old and had some deep connections with animal control and law enforcement. Many animal rights groups and others have tried to shut her down for the past 30 years, it hasn’t happened yet. Worse yet, she told the rescuer that she intended to go to a dog show and buy more dogs. Apparently she lets some of her “stock” go to this rescuer who finds them homes, or passes them along to other rescues. I can’t see how this is helping control this woman’s dog population other than helping the few she lets go get homes.
In Arizona recently there were almost 800 dogs and 86 birds that were rescued from a puppy mill. How is this legal? How is this allowed to get this out of control?
The most disturbing thing I’ve noticed about puppy mill dogs is the lack of human contact and socialization. These dogs are scared to death. They exist in cages only to breed over and over again. The dog I took was a 7 month old Standard Poodle female. This dog has the sweetest personality and is content to lie on my couch for hours. The problem is she’s a 7 month old puppy. That’s not normal puppy behavior. This dog should be bouncing all over the house destroying things. When I let her out to the potty area, she didn’t want to come back inside, and when I went to get her, she darted back into the house past me. If I cornered her, I could catch her easily and she didn’t respond by snapping or snarling, or even submissive peeing. She simply came along. She never had a leash or collar on by her reaction to them, and it took a little coaxing to get her to walk with me and not pull back and be afraid. She allowed me and my kids to hold her, pet her and she even licked the kids a couple of times. She seemed like she was comfortable in her new surroundings.
I found some time between grooming dogs to run her to the vet for a heartworm check and some vaccines, as I wasn’t sure she ever had any in her previous environment. She jumped right into my van like she was eager to go for a ride, and when we got out she took a few steps following me when all of a sudden she stopped and balked, and managed to pull out of her collar and was loose!
She took off like a rocket and even though I had other people try to help me catch her, it was futile. She ran across the cornfield by Country Critter Care with no intentions of stopping. She ran up and down the fence rows, and when anyone got near her, she bolted. We tried getting kids to go after her since she seemed closer to them, but it didn’t work. Animal control would dart her with a tranquilizer if they could get close enough but it was useless. This dog wouldn’t come within 30 acres of a human. One kind man had his dog “Buddy” go after her in the field, but when Buddy got close, he started to follow her farther away instead of leading her closer. We tried baiting a live trap, leaving a kennel full of food but no dice. This went on for over 24 hours. Needless to say, I didn’t get much sleep. I worried and prayed for her safety all night and was back out the next morning to see she was indeed alive, but just as reluctant to come to me or anyone else. Sheila from Fountain county animal welfare was out there too, watching with binoculars. I went back home and received a phone call from Denise Routzhan offering her husband and his 4 wheeler to go help. I called Troy and off we went in hot pursuit of this wayward pup. When we arrived, Brad Summers, Attica’s animal control was there with his dart gun along with Sheila and her binoculars but the dog was nowhere to be found. Troy and I mounted his 4 wheeler and took off through the fields combing the fence rows and looking over hundreds of acres of empty field for about an hour but no luck. We headed back towards the road when all of a sudden I saw her head pop up from the middle of the field. She had found a tiny space to lie in and was sleeping when the ATV woke her up. Brad hopped on with Troy and they ended up chasing her back and forth across the field having trouble keeping up with her! Every time she would stop, they would stop so Brad could dart her, and she’d take off again. She wasn’t wearing out. Finally, I heard a cheer from Brad and figured he had managed to dart her. Yet, she kept on running back and forth, adrenaline charging those spindly legs and still running like a racehorse! Then after several minutes, she began to slow down, and eventually stop and Brad was able to pick her up and carry her back to me. Sheila drove us to the vet where I had her checked out and also finished what I had came there to do, which was heartworm check and vaccines. To my horror, her heartworm test was positive. She was only 7 months old! This complicated the situation. If I were to find her a home, she would have to be treated for heartworm first. What rescue would take on a heartworm positive dog, knowing it was positive and expecting to have to spend a lot of money? Carolina Poodle Rescue would. I was put in contact with them and spoke with the lady in charge of it who assured me that they would indeed love to take this wayward baby I named “Ebony” and they would vet her and make sure she had only the finest of homes. They would rehabilitate her and teach her that humans aren’t all bad and scary, and they will arrange transport to get her to South Carolina ASAP. The lady I spoke with from the rescue said, “Aww, you love her don’t you! I can hear it in your voice”. I told her that yes, I do love her and I know how hard it’s going to be to give her up. But I was at my limit as far as pets go, and although I love this dog dearly, I can’t afford to keep her in the manner she deserves, at least not for long, and I don’t have time to rehabilitate her. I will place her in this rescue, knowing she will be in good hands with a group that is large enough to take care of the enormous vet bills they incur on many of the animals they bring in. She will be rehabilitated, spayed and treated for her heartworm disease and eventually placed into a loving home. In the end, our hearts get broken, but her life is saved. I guess that’s why we rescue. We can’t save them all, but one at a time, we can make a difference.
My eternal thanks to Troy Routzhan, Brad Summers, Sheila and all the staff at Country Critter Care for their help as well as thanks to the neighbors out there who kept the vet notified of sightings, and who did their best to help out. Thanks to Casey Werts for allowing me to be part of this little girl’s life even if just for a little while.
March 10, 2008 Kids Are Just Too Funny
March 10, 2008
Kids Are Just Too Funny
Last week the little girl down the street came over to "help" me because she was bored at home. She's 9. While she was chatting to me, she mentioned that her Grandma doesn't want her to become a dog groomer, but she likes working with dogs. I told her, “Well you could always become a veterinarian.”
“I can’t!” she replied with some shock in her voice.
“Why not?” I asked her.
"Because I eat meat” she replied sheepishly.
After I stopped laughing, I said, veterinarian, not vegetarian!
Did I mention she's blond?
You know, it makes a mother proud to hear her children say they are going to grow up to be just like her. My boys have always been exposed to animals of all sorts, and they have always been very gentle and compassionate kids when it comes to critters. My youngest tells me he’s going to grow up to be a dog groomer, and he’s also going to work at McDonalds, and be a firefighter like his dad and build cars too. Clearly, this is going to be one very busy man when he grows up.
My oldest son has actually had a crash course in grooming one day when I realized I had accidentally overbooked myself and I needed someone to help me bathe dogs FAST! Much to my surprise, he did a very good job! He liked it so much, he is ready to do it again for me. I promised him that if there was time this summer, I’d take him up on it. He does have that entrepreneurial spirit I admire. My youngest son has that spirit too. So much so that on heavy trash day when people were “shopping” in our trash, he was busy running them down and saying “Hey! You have to pay for that!”
I suppose selling trash is a good way to create income when you are 7.
He’s such a salesman when he’s in my boutique and clients are checking out, he’s busy pulling stuff off the shelves and informing them that their dog needs this or that, and he’s always ready to hand them a business card of mine too.
I had a client bring along her adorable little boy who was 6 when she came to have her kitty groomed. The little boy also had brought along his toy stuffed dog to play with while he waited. He talked to the kitty, and petted him and told him you’ll be alright, sympathized with his kitty when he meowed. He was sure to mention that he "helped" me groom his kitty and was expecting something for his hard work. I gave him some kitty toys for his kitty and him to play with and I put a bow on his toy doggie before he left and that made his day.
A few years ago, another mother had brought her dog in to be groomed and her child came with her and fell in love with my collie Brittany. Brittany was the ultimate kid dog. She loved kids! She would take any form of torture from children because she felt it was her job to watch over them. She truly was "Lassie". It was so cute because that little boy lay down on the floor and put his head on Brittany, his pillow. I swear she had a smile on her face. I wished I had my camera handy for that. She was in heaven!
When my youngest was an infant, I put a blanket on the floor and the baby on it and Brittany stood over him, protecting him from anyone who came near. There she stood proudly over my baby, in all her beautiful Collie glory, with long flowing hair. She was his protector and guardian and there she stood, with her head held high when the baby reached up and grabbed a handful of her hair on her belly and pulled. I could see her wince, but she continued to stand there and take it, because that was her job. She wouldn't dream of biting. Obviously, I couldn’t allow her to be hurt, so she got a haircut for her own protection.
Kids and dogs go together like peanut butter & jelly. It’s hard to imagine one without the other. There is nothing cuter than to hear a toddler say his dog’s name, “Pwincess”, “Mowwy”, or “Wex”. I love to see the look in their eyes when their dog licks their face. I’m sure that dogs love kids because they are such great sources of food too. Hey, someone’s got to clean the floor, and those hands! I fondly remember when my kids were toddlers and would carry around dry cereal, one for me, one for the dog. Let’s not forget ice cream cones, most kids eagerly share their cones with the family dog. While that vision grosses me out, kids are so pure and loving that they don’t seem to mind a little dog slobber, provided that “Wex” doesn’t eat it all.
So next time you’re in need of some spirit lifting, ask a child about his dog and see where the conversation takes you. I guarantee it will put a smile on your face.
Kids Are Just Too Funny
Last week the little girl down the street came over to "help" me because she was bored at home. She's 9. While she was chatting to me, she mentioned that her Grandma doesn't want her to become a dog groomer, but she likes working with dogs. I told her, “Well you could always become a veterinarian.”
“I can’t!” she replied with some shock in her voice.
“Why not?” I asked her.
"Because I eat meat” she replied sheepishly.
After I stopped laughing, I said, veterinarian, not vegetarian!
Did I mention she's blond?
You know, it makes a mother proud to hear her children say they are going to grow up to be just like her. My boys have always been exposed to animals of all sorts, and they have always been very gentle and compassionate kids when it comes to critters. My youngest tells me he’s going to grow up to be a dog groomer, and he’s also going to work at McDonalds, and be a firefighter like his dad and build cars too. Clearly, this is going to be one very busy man when he grows up.
My oldest son has actually had a crash course in grooming one day when I realized I had accidentally overbooked myself and I needed someone to help me bathe dogs FAST! Much to my surprise, he did a very good job! He liked it so much, he is ready to do it again for me. I promised him that if there was time this summer, I’d take him up on it. He does have that entrepreneurial spirit I admire. My youngest son has that spirit too. So much so that on heavy trash day when people were “shopping” in our trash, he was busy running them down and saying “Hey! You have to pay for that!”
I suppose selling trash is a good way to create income when you are 7.
He’s such a salesman when he’s in my boutique and clients are checking out, he’s busy pulling stuff off the shelves and informing them that their dog needs this or that, and he’s always ready to hand them a business card of mine too.
I had a client bring along her adorable little boy who was 6 when she came to have her kitty groomed. The little boy also had brought along his toy stuffed dog to play with while he waited. He talked to the kitty, and petted him and told him you’ll be alright, sympathized with his kitty when he meowed. He was sure to mention that he "helped" me groom his kitty and was expecting something for his hard work. I gave him some kitty toys for his kitty and him to play with and I put a bow on his toy doggie before he left and that made his day.
A few years ago, another mother had brought her dog in to be groomed and her child came with her and fell in love with my collie Brittany. Brittany was the ultimate kid dog. She loved kids! She would take any form of torture from children because she felt it was her job to watch over them. She truly was "Lassie". It was so cute because that little boy lay down on the floor and put his head on Brittany, his pillow. I swear she had a smile on her face. I wished I had my camera handy for that. She was in heaven!
When my youngest was an infant, I put a blanket on the floor and the baby on it and Brittany stood over him, protecting him from anyone who came near. There she stood proudly over my baby, in all her beautiful Collie glory, with long flowing hair. She was his protector and guardian and there she stood, with her head held high when the baby reached up and grabbed a handful of her hair on her belly and pulled. I could see her wince, but she continued to stand there and take it, because that was her job. She wouldn't dream of biting. Obviously, I couldn’t allow her to be hurt, so she got a haircut for her own protection.
Kids and dogs go together like peanut butter & jelly. It’s hard to imagine one without the other. There is nothing cuter than to hear a toddler say his dog’s name, “Pwincess”, “Mowwy”, or “Wex”. I love to see the look in their eyes when their dog licks their face. I’m sure that dogs love kids because they are such great sources of food too. Hey, someone’s got to clean the floor, and those hands! I fondly remember when my kids were toddlers and would carry around dry cereal, one for me, one for the dog. Let’s not forget ice cream cones, most kids eagerly share their cones with the family dog. While that vision grosses me out, kids are so pure and loving that they don’t seem to mind a little dog slobber, provided that “Wex” doesn’t eat it all.
So next time you’re in need of some spirit lifting, ask a child about his dog and see where the conversation takes you. I guarantee it will put a smile on your face.
February 25, 2008 Winter Salt Hazards
February 25, 2008
Winter Salt Hazards
I belong to an internet group of groomers who often consult each other when we find a client or our own dog with an issue that just doesn’t seem to be resolved any other way. I’ve come to know, meet and trust many of these fine people and their advice to me and others has proven itself more times than I can count. These people are genuinely helpful and concerned whenever someone presents them with a problem.
One groomer, Linda in Dodgeville, Wisconsin emailed the group when she had a client that had some terrible symptoms that vets just couldn’t figure out. The dog had stopped eating and drinking, became very lethargic and had sores in his mouth, not like canker sores, but all over the mouth and throat. Their vet ran tests on the dog’s blood and urine which didn’t show anything abnormal, and IV’s were given and the dog appeared to be getting much better. The dog went back home and as soon as the dog went out walking, the symptoms began again.
Another groomer mentioned that it could be poisoning from road and sidewalk salt. When the dog licks his paws, he ingests some salt and that can cause such symptoms. Well, it was winter and worth a shot to check into it. Linda passed along this advice to her client and the dog is now wearing boots outside and has not had a recurrence! Linda learned that her road salt also has chlorine in it to treat the roads and animals do lick their feet to get the ice and I’m sure the salt tastes good to them. Ingesting the salt and chemicals were what caused her clients dogs’ symptoms and she learned that other dogs had similar symptoms but not as severe, no sores but some weight loss. After protecting the dog’s feet from the salt and insuring the dog didn’t ingest anything from the road or sidewalk, those dogs gained back the weight they lost and became more energetic. Kidney failure and dehydration can occur from ingesting road salt and chemicals.
There are pet safe sidewalk salts you can buy but they are also expensive and not readily available in Attica. I have another simple and easy solution to prevent poisoning from salt by using something we can all get, baby wipes. Baby wipes are not just for babies and diaper duty. In fact, I’ve found so many uses for them on pets! When your pet comes in from outside use a baby wipe to remove the salt chemicals and clean off the mud! Be sure to wipe all his paws and between his toes and pads.
Baby wipes can also be used to clean out your pets ears, you can add some ear cleaning solution to them or just pour it into your dog’s ears and wipe out the ear with the baby wipe. You can use baby wipes to clean out the corners of your dog’s eyes when they accumulate goo. Also a few swipes on your pet’s hair will leave your dog smelling a little less “doggy” in between baths. Baby wipes are wonderful for cleaning under your dog’s tail too, yes I know, nobody wants to think about that but it has to be done from time to time, nobody wants “cling-ons” under the tail! Keep some baby wipes in your car too, so when you take your dog to the car to go visit someone, you can wipe off her paws in the car to prevent salt poisoning. Keep a few in a plastic zipping sandwich bag in your purse, because you just never know when you may need one.
If your dog really likes to lick things off the floor, be sure to keep your floors free from the salt you track in. That can be another source of the salt poisoning even if your dog never walks on it. Give your shoes a quick rinse to get if off from between the treads before your dog does. You just never know where we are going to run into a hazard for our pets.
Sometimes we find the simplest things can be the cause of major health issues in our pets. If you are experiencing symptoms similar to those mentioned above, keep a close eye on your dog and see if ingesting road salt could be the problem. If not for Linda’s asking about her client’s dog and passing along this information, the dog may not be here. Now he is still able to go for his walks and sports a pair of boots to protect his feet.
Winter Salt Hazards
I belong to an internet group of groomers who often consult each other when we find a client or our own dog with an issue that just doesn’t seem to be resolved any other way. I’ve come to know, meet and trust many of these fine people and their advice to me and others has proven itself more times than I can count. These people are genuinely helpful and concerned whenever someone presents them with a problem.
One groomer, Linda in Dodgeville, Wisconsin emailed the group when she had a client that had some terrible symptoms that vets just couldn’t figure out. The dog had stopped eating and drinking, became very lethargic and had sores in his mouth, not like canker sores, but all over the mouth and throat. Their vet ran tests on the dog’s blood and urine which didn’t show anything abnormal, and IV’s were given and the dog appeared to be getting much better. The dog went back home and as soon as the dog went out walking, the symptoms began again.
Another groomer mentioned that it could be poisoning from road and sidewalk salt. When the dog licks his paws, he ingests some salt and that can cause such symptoms. Well, it was winter and worth a shot to check into it. Linda passed along this advice to her client and the dog is now wearing boots outside and has not had a recurrence! Linda learned that her road salt also has chlorine in it to treat the roads and animals do lick their feet to get the ice and I’m sure the salt tastes good to them. Ingesting the salt and chemicals were what caused her clients dogs’ symptoms and she learned that other dogs had similar symptoms but not as severe, no sores but some weight loss. After protecting the dog’s feet from the salt and insuring the dog didn’t ingest anything from the road or sidewalk, those dogs gained back the weight they lost and became more energetic. Kidney failure and dehydration can occur from ingesting road salt and chemicals.
There are pet safe sidewalk salts you can buy but they are also expensive and not readily available in Attica. I have another simple and easy solution to prevent poisoning from salt by using something we can all get, baby wipes. Baby wipes are not just for babies and diaper duty. In fact, I’ve found so many uses for them on pets! When your pet comes in from outside use a baby wipe to remove the salt chemicals and clean off the mud! Be sure to wipe all his paws and between his toes and pads.
Baby wipes can also be used to clean out your pets ears, you can add some ear cleaning solution to them or just pour it into your dog’s ears and wipe out the ear with the baby wipe. You can use baby wipes to clean out the corners of your dog’s eyes when they accumulate goo. Also a few swipes on your pet’s hair will leave your dog smelling a little less “doggy” in between baths. Baby wipes are wonderful for cleaning under your dog’s tail too, yes I know, nobody wants to think about that but it has to be done from time to time, nobody wants “cling-ons” under the tail! Keep some baby wipes in your car too, so when you take your dog to the car to go visit someone, you can wipe off her paws in the car to prevent salt poisoning. Keep a few in a plastic zipping sandwich bag in your purse, because you just never know when you may need one.
If your dog really likes to lick things off the floor, be sure to keep your floors free from the salt you track in. That can be another source of the salt poisoning even if your dog never walks on it. Give your shoes a quick rinse to get if off from between the treads before your dog does. You just never know where we are going to run into a hazard for our pets.
Sometimes we find the simplest things can be the cause of major health issues in our pets. If you are experiencing symptoms similar to those mentioned above, keep a close eye on your dog and see if ingesting road salt could be the problem. If not for Linda’s asking about her client’s dog and passing along this information, the dog may not be here. Now he is still able to go for his walks and sports a pair of boots to protect his feet.
February 11, 2008 February is Pet Dental Month
February 11, 2008
February is Pet Dental Month
How many of you notice that your dog has pretty awful breath? Now unless your dog has just eaten something really rank, I can tell you that is not just doggy breath. The first thing I notice when I groom dogs is often bad breath and you can’t get rid of that with a mint, doggy dental bones or any other kind of cover up. You have to look at the gums and teeth and I mean ALL of the teeth. Go ahead and pull back your dogs lips in the corner of his mouth and take a good look at those back molars. Are the gums reddened above the teeth? Do you see some nasty tartar on the teeth? THAT, my friend, is the source of your dog’s bad breath.
Here’s the scoop, there is NO food or treat, canned or dry that will prevent tartar. Argue with me all you want, but the bottom line is if you eat crackers everyday and never brush your teeth, what do you think your teeth would look like?
Yeah, yeah I know, brush your dog’s teeth? What am I crazy? It can be done, but if you are like me, you are lucky to have time to brush your own teeth let alone your dogs’. I manage to get the job done occasionally because I have 3 dogs and I know what happens if you let the teeth accumulate tartar and the gums become infected. I’m not talking bad breath, I’m talking an infection that not only affects the dog’s gums, but becomes systemic and can damage your dog’s heart and other internal organs.
Bad breath is just the most common sign of tooth and gum problems. Drooling and difficulty eating dry food are sometimes noticed. I’ve heard people say, “well he is still eating”, well heck, you have to eat to survive! Eating isn’t a sign your dog doesn’t have a problem. Eating can be painful for your dog. Remember, dogs don’t show pain like people do. We whine and carry on when we hurt. They don’t. If they did, something would eat them, from your dog’s perspective.
The other thing I hear quite often is the owner fears having the dog get a dental under anesthesia. I understand that you fear losing your dog, but by letting his gums become so infected, he is dying now already, but it’s a slow painful death. I’ve also seen many senior dogs ages 15, and 17 years of age undergo a dental procedure at the vet, (after years of me begging their owners) and completely turn around! Old dogs with rotten teeth become lively again! They get the sparkle back into their eyes! They gain some weight and feel so much better! Dental procedures and anesthesia are safe when a blood workup is done beforehand to assess your pet’s health for undergoing this procedure. I’ve had many senior pets that have had it done with much success.
Sometimes your pets teeth may be so far gone they need to be extracted. I’ve seen dogs with teeth so bad; the tartar was the only thing holding them in! Relax! Your dog can still eat without many teeth. I have a near toothless dog myself that requires a softer diet, but he still munches on dry food too. Thankfully, that means I don’t have to worry about doggy dentures either! Whew!
So what causes dogs to get such awful tartar? Eating does. If your dog eats then his teeth are gonna get dirty, just like yours. If your dog doesn’t eat then you can safely assume you won’t have to worry about his teeth, because your dog is either dead or a stuffed animal. Some dogs seem to have more trouble than others do with tartar accumulation simply due to their anatomy. The way their mouths and teeth are shaped affects how food will accumulate on their teeth. That’s the way God made them and just be thankful they aren’t kids and you have to pay for braces!
If you want lessons on how to brush your dog’s teeth then please stop by and I’ll happily show you how to get started. In fact, I’ve found some products that really work to dissolve tartar and help keep your dogs teeth clean. This won’t replace a dental for dogs with bad tartar and gum disease, but I’ve seen some amazing results with my own dogs and my clients’ dogs with Oxyfresh® products that you add to their drinking water daily. I carry it in my salon but you can find it online at http://www.oxyfresh.com/ .
I’ve also partnered up with Attica’s own veterinary clinic Country Critter Care for February Dental Month and am offering coupons for grooming and photography when you have your pets teeth cleaned! Call them today at 762-6212 and schedule your pet’s dental and beautify her teeth and then call me so I can make the rest of her look good too!
Your pet will thank you for it!
February is Pet Dental Month
How many of you notice that your dog has pretty awful breath? Now unless your dog has just eaten something really rank, I can tell you that is not just doggy breath. The first thing I notice when I groom dogs is often bad breath and you can’t get rid of that with a mint, doggy dental bones or any other kind of cover up. You have to look at the gums and teeth and I mean ALL of the teeth. Go ahead and pull back your dogs lips in the corner of his mouth and take a good look at those back molars. Are the gums reddened above the teeth? Do you see some nasty tartar on the teeth? THAT, my friend, is the source of your dog’s bad breath.
Here’s the scoop, there is NO food or treat, canned or dry that will prevent tartar. Argue with me all you want, but the bottom line is if you eat crackers everyday and never brush your teeth, what do you think your teeth would look like?
Yeah, yeah I know, brush your dog’s teeth? What am I crazy? It can be done, but if you are like me, you are lucky to have time to brush your own teeth let alone your dogs’. I manage to get the job done occasionally because I have 3 dogs and I know what happens if you let the teeth accumulate tartar and the gums become infected. I’m not talking bad breath, I’m talking an infection that not only affects the dog’s gums, but becomes systemic and can damage your dog’s heart and other internal organs.
Bad breath is just the most common sign of tooth and gum problems. Drooling and difficulty eating dry food are sometimes noticed. I’ve heard people say, “well he is still eating”, well heck, you have to eat to survive! Eating isn’t a sign your dog doesn’t have a problem. Eating can be painful for your dog. Remember, dogs don’t show pain like people do. We whine and carry on when we hurt. They don’t. If they did, something would eat them, from your dog’s perspective.
The other thing I hear quite often is the owner fears having the dog get a dental under anesthesia. I understand that you fear losing your dog, but by letting his gums become so infected, he is dying now already, but it’s a slow painful death. I’ve also seen many senior dogs ages 15, and 17 years of age undergo a dental procedure at the vet, (after years of me begging their owners) and completely turn around! Old dogs with rotten teeth become lively again! They get the sparkle back into their eyes! They gain some weight and feel so much better! Dental procedures and anesthesia are safe when a blood workup is done beforehand to assess your pet’s health for undergoing this procedure. I’ve had many senior pets that have had it done with much success.
Sometimes your pets teeth may be so far gone they need to be extracted. I’ve seen dogs with teeth so bad; the tartar was the only thing holding them in! Relax! Your dog can still eat without many teeth. I have a near toothless dog myself that requires a softer diet, but he still munches on dry food too. Thankfully, that means I don’t have to worry about doggy dentures either! Whew!
So what causes dogs to get such awful tartar? Eating does. If your dog eats then his teeth are gonna get dirty, just like yours. If your dog doesn’t eat then you can safely assume you won’t have to worry about his teeth, because your dog is either dead or a stuffed animal. Some dogs seem to have more trouble than others do with tartar accumulation simply due to their anatomy. The way their mouths and teeth are shaped affects how food will accumulate on their teeth. That’s the way God made them and just be thankful they aren’t kids and you have to pay for braces!
If you want lessons on how to brush your dog’s teeth then please stop by and I’ll happily show you how to get started. In fact, I’ve found some products that really work to dissolve tartar and help keep your dogs teeth clean. This won’t replace a dental for dogs with bad tartar and gum disease, but I’ve seen some amazing results with my own dogs and my clients’ dogs with Oxyfresh® products that you add to their drinking water daily. I carry it in my salon but you can find it online at http://www.oxyfresh.com/ .
I’ve also partnered up with Attica’s own veterinary clinic Country Critter Care for February Dental Month and am offering coupons for grooming and photography when you have your pets teeth cleaned! Call them today at 762-6212 and schedule your pet’s dental and beautify her teeth and then call me so I can make the rest of her look good too!
Your pet will thank you for it!
January 28, 2008 Lost and Found Dogs
Lost and Found Dogs
It never ceases to amaze me how many dogs are found by caring people that have no means of identification, no tag, no collar and no microchip. The caring people end up calling and visiting local vets and groomers to see if they may know who the dog belongs to and getting the dog scanned to see if it has a microchip. They scour the town putting up flyers to find the home of the dogs, yet they don’t see any flyers posted from anyone who has lost the dog.
What on earth do people do when their dog goes missing? Do they just sit back and wait for Fido to come home when he’s good and ready? Do they assume he was ran over and forget about it? What goes through their minds?
Once my dogs had decided to take off one day, aided by a gate latch left open and after I had scoured the neighborhood streets and alleys and alerted strangers I saw, I made a phone call to the police describing them and told them they were friendly and to call me if they were found. I had to leave that night to go to Lafayette, and when I pulled into the drive my dogs weren’t’ in the driveway as I had hoped they would return on their own. My heart sank. I opened up the door to my house and there were my dogs, safely inside. An Attica police officer had found them and was so kind he even brought them home! You have no idea how much I love the Attica police for doing such a kind thing. I know it’s not in their job description to take home lost dogs. A larger city I’m sure wouldn’t have cared so much. We are blessed to have such caring people in our town. My dogs were found near highway 28 and could’ve been killed. Where else in the world would the police bring home your lost pet?
Lately there has been a rash of found dogs that caring people have found. Sadly I don’t recognize them as clients of mine; otherwise it would be easy for me to find their homes. One thing in common with many lost dogs is the fact that they are “intact” or not neutered or spayed, and that is the number ONE reason dogs leave home! Spaying and neutering your pets may not prevent your dog from wandering off, but it will give him a one more reason NOT to leave home. Male dogs can smell a female dog in heat 2 miles away. Ina 2 mile radius at any given time, there are numerous females in heat. Whenever there seems to be many calls about found dogs, it’s usually because there is a female in season in the general vicinity. Hormones win against obedience. Spay or neuter your dog.
The other very important thing to do is to microchip your dog. Your vet can do this very simple and painless procedure that will make it so much easier to reunite your dog with you should he become lost. Call up your vet and ask about it.
The other thing that astounds me is the number of dogs that are dumped off to fend for themselves in the country. What goes through these idiots minds? Do they think that some caring schmuck will take the dg in and care for it without another thought? Do they assume the dog will “hunt” for its food and thereby be fine? Do they think their dumped pregnant dog will deliver her litter safely without a home and food and water? Don’t these people have a brain? They apparently don’t have a heart.
I recently groomed an emergency found dog that came in looking like a much larger breed except that it wasn’t the dog I feeling , it was matted hair. The pelt came off in one gnarled piece that was filled with burrs and all sorts of debris. When I removed the dog’s hair there was no dog underneath. There was a mass of skin and bones. This dog hadn’t eaten in a very long time. The person that found it made sure it was fed and found a home for it, vowing never to give it back to whomever it belonged to or dumped it off. I can’t blame them. The dog had been neglected for a vey long time by the looks of it. Obviously, they don’t care for the dog properly, so why would anyone give it back?
What scares me most is that many humane societies are now shutting the door on owner surrenders. They can’t care for the ones they have and can’t take in any more. Rescues are constantly full and have no more room yet the people just keep on letting the dogs breed and dump them. Rescues in other counties can’t take any animals from anyone but their own counties because they are so overloaded.
How can we change things? First, let’s take personal responsibility for our own pets by having them spayed or neutered so we don’t bring in anymore sweet lives to give away that somebody will dump down the road. Trust me, even when you think you have good homes for the babies, something may happen and they give the dog away to a not so good home. Do you really want that on your conscience?
Second, please put some identification on your pets. It’s very hard to reunite people with their pets if we don’t know who they belong to.
Third, get the word out the second your dog is missing. Someone may have picked your dogs up, and they don’t see flyers posted, the police haven’t received calls about a missing dog, how do you plan to get the dog back if nobody knows they are lost?
Fourth, if you can’t care for your dog, find a good home for it. I know how hard that is, but you have to do it. You acquired this dog, it is your responsibility. Dumping the dog in the country isn’t an option. Free to good home ads do not cost you anything. Putting up flyers is easy. Calling a rescue, pound, or veterinarian is worth a shot.
Fifth, if you can’t afford to vet it, don’t get it. Resist the urge to get a dog if you cannot afford to get it properly cared for with vaccinations and spaying and neutering and grooming and feeding. If you can’t do it right, don’t do it at all. Wait until your life is on track financially before you commit to an animal for life. Animals are not disposable.
It never ceases to amaze me how many dogs are found by caring people that have no means of identification, no tag, no collar and no microchip. The caring people end up calling and visiting local vets and groomers to see if they may know who the dog belongs to and getting the dog scanned to see if it has a microchip. They scour the town putting up flyers to find the home of the dogs, yet they don’t see any flyers posted from anyone who has lost the dog.
What on earth do people do when their dog goes missing? Do they just sit back and wait for Fido to come home when he’s good and ready? Do they assume he was ran over and forget about it? What goes through their minds?
Once my dogs had decided to take off one day, aided by a gate latch left open and after I had scoured the neighborhood streets and alleys and alerted strangers I saw, I made a phone call to the police describing them and told them they were friendly and to call me if they were found. I had to leave that night to go to Lafayette, and when I pulled into the drive my dogs weren’t’ in the driveway as I had hoped they would return on their own. My heart sank. I opened up the door to my house and there were my dogs, safely inside. An Attica police officer had found them and was so kind he even brought them home! You have no idea how much I love the Attica police for doing such a kind thing. I know it’s not in their job description to take home lost dogs. A larger city I’m sure wouldn’t have cared so much. We are blessed to have such caring people in our town. My dogs were found near highway 28 and could’ve been killed. Where else in the world would the police bring home your lost pet?
Lately there has been a rash of found dogs that caring people have found. Sadly I don’t recognize them as clients of mine; otherwise it would be easy for me to find their homes. One thing in common with many lost dogs is the fact that they are “intact” or not neutered or spayed, and that is the number ONE reason dogs leave home! Spaying and neutering your pets may not prevent your dog from wandering off, but it will give him a one more reason NOT to leave home. Male dogs can smell a female dog in heat 2 miles away. Ina 2 mile radius at any given time, there are numerous females in heat. Whenever there seems to be many calls about found dogs, it’s usually because there is a female in season in the general vicinity. Hormones win against obedience. Spay or neuter your dog.
The other very important thing to do is to microchip your dog. Your vet can do this very simple and painless procedure that will make it so much easier to reunite your dog with you should he become lost. Call up your vet and ask about it.
The other thing that astounds me is the number of dogs that are dumped off to fend for themselves in the country. What goes through these idiots minds? Do they think that some caring schmuck will take the dg in and care for it without another thought? Do they assume the dog will “hunt” for its food and thereby be fine? Do they think their dumped pregnant dog will deliver her litter safely without a home and food and water? Don’t these people have a brain? They apparently don’t have a heart.
I recently groomed an emergency found dog that came in looking like a much larger breed except that it wasn’t the dog I feeling , it was matted hair. The pelt came off in one gnarled piece that was filled with burrs and all sorts of debris. When I removed the dog’s hair there was no dog underneath. There was a mass of skin and bones. This dog hadn’t eaten in a very long time. The person that found it made sure it was fed and found a home for it, vowing never to give it back to whomever it belonged to or dumped it off. I can’t blame them. The dog had been neglected for a vey long time by the looks of it. Obviously, they don’t care for the dog properly, so why would anyone give it back?
What scares me most is that many humane societies are now shutting the door on owner surrenders. They can’t care for the ones they have and can’t take in any more. Rescues are constantly full and have no more room yet the people just keep on letting the dogs breed and dump them. Rescues in other counties can’t take any animals from anyone but their own counties because they are so overloaded.
How can we change things? First, let’s take personal responsibility for our own pets by having them spayed or neutered so we don’t bring in anymore sweet lives to give away that somebody will dump down the road. Trust me, even when you think you have good homes for the babies, something may happen and they give the dog away to a not so good home. Do you really want that on your conscience?
Second, please put some identification on your pets. It’s very hard to reunite people with their pets if we don’t know who they belong to.
Third, get the word out the second your dog is missing. Someone may have picked your dogs up, and they don’t see flyers posted, the police haven’t received calls about a missing dog, how do you plan to get the dog back if nobody knows they are lost?
Fourth, if you can’t care for your dog, find a good home for it. I know how hard that is, but you have to do it. You acquired this dog, it is your responsibility. Dumping the dog in the country isn’t an option. Free to good home ads do not cost you anything. Putting up flyers is easy. Calling a rescue, pound, or veterinarian is worth a shot.
Fifth, if you can’t afford to vet it, don’t get it. Resist the urge to get a dog if you cannot afford to get it properly cared for with vaccinations and spaying and neutering and grooming and feeding. If you can’t do it right, don’t do it at all. Wait until your life is on track financially before you commit to an animal for life. Animals are not disposable.
January 14, 2008 E.S.P.
January 14, 2008
E.S.P.
How many of you have lost a loved pet and found that you can occasionally “hear” them, sense their presence, or feel them? This has become a topic of discussion on one of my online groomer groups and while some may think I’m crazy, I have had those same things happen to me after losing a dear pet.
For the record, I want you all to know that “I” do not think you are crazy for having these feelings. Some people seem to be more “in tune” with psychic feelings than others are. While I’m far from being psychic, I have had over my lifetime sensations, or visions that can’t be explained by any other means. For instance, when I was 14 years old, I had a horse. I raised him from a 3 month old colt to an obnoxious 2 yr. old gelding that was a holy terror, but that’s another long story. (Note to those wanting horses, do NOT buy a baby horse thinking you can raise it if you have NO experience. They are not puppies. They require someone with handling experience not a novice!)
One day while riding home on the school bus as I was daydreaming out the window I had a “vision” of my horse running in circles in the field we were passing by that was next to our house. I could “see” him running like the wind! As the bus stopped at my house, I shook off that vision and went inside only to hear my mom tell me, “your horse got out today, he was just running circles in that field, you should have seen him! But your dad got him back in his pasture”.
I can’t explain how I envisioned that before knowing anything about it.
Then there was the time a few weeks after I lost my cat “Fuzz”. He died unexpectedly at the vet before they received any of his blood work back. I was in shock. I couldn’t stand to be “catless” in my house. It just wasn’t the same. I adopted another cat from a rescue nearby to help me with my feelings of loss. One night I felt a cat walking on my bed. I could feel the cat walking up my body and could feel the pressure of weight lying against my side. I reached down thinking it was my new cat Dixie, but there was nothing there. I decided I must have been dreaming because Dixie was in my son’s room lying with him and my doors were closed. I closed my eyes and tried to go back to sleep but then I felt it again. This time I opened my eyes and I could see the indentations in the covers as the “feet” walked up my body. Suddenly I sat up, I woke up my husband and told him, “Oh, Tim, Fuzz has come back!” He was not happy being woke up, and decided I was hallucinating, but I was adamant. It’s Fuzz! I smiled and lay down content to feel the weight of Fuzz lying against me to say goodbye. I wasn’t able to say goodbye to him when I rushed him to the vet. I never expected him to die in the night either while nobody was around. I have felt Fuzz maybe once or twice since then. But I feel he came back to say goodbye to me, and went on. For me, it was comforting to be able to say goodbye to him and feel him again.
Many people have expressed to me that once their pet has passed away they can still hear them, or sense that they are there. They talk to them and eventually it stops and I truly feel that it’s to help us with our grieving and know that they have gone on to a better place but didn’t want to go without saying goodbye and taking care of our feelings of unfinished business.
There are so many times that I wish I have those feelings about some other pets that I’ve lost. I so want to feel the cold wet nose poke my hand for a pet one more time. I want to hear the sighs, feel the bodies brush against me one last time. But it hasn’t happened. I don’t know if it’s because those pets didn’t pass away without me being mentally ready for it. Those deaths were expected. Perhaps that’s why I haven’t felt them around me. It doesn’t make me miss them any less. I still long for them and wish they were here. Maybe it’s God sending back my pets that were such a shock to lose to help me deal with the loss. That’s what I choose to believe anyway. I’ve had dreams about people that I’ve lost and loved that have come to me in dreams and left me with the feelings of being hugged and feeling the weight and pressure of arms around me. That comforted me.
Why I have these feelings is a mystery to me. I prefer to think of it as a blessing that I am able to feel this, and not be afraid of it. I know there are many others who have similar and perhaps more intense feelings and connections with those that they have lost. They are blessed.
If you’ve never had these feelings, it’s okay too. Know that your pets loved you deeply and they will always be in your heart. Love doesn’t stop when someone dies. You will always feel love for someone or a beloved pet. It may get easier as the years wear on to deal with the pain of loss, but love never dies. It’s right there in your heart where it began.
E.S.P.
How many of you have lost a loved pet and found that you can occasionally “hear” them, sense their presence, or feel them? This has become a topic of discussion on one of my online groomer groups and while some may think I’m crazy, I have had those same things happen to me after losing a dear pet.
For the record, I want you all to know that “I” do not think you are crazy for having these feelings. Some people seem to be more “in tune” with psychic feelings than others are. While I’m far from being psychic, I have had over my lifetime sensations, or visions that can’t be explained by any other means. For instance, when I was 14 years old, I had a horse. I raised him from a 3 month old colt to an obnoxious 2 yr. old gelding that was a holy terror, but that’s another long story. (Note to those wanting horses, do NOT buy a baby horse thinking you can raise it if you have NO experience. They are not puppies. They require someone with handling experience not a novice!)
One day while riding home on the school bus as I was daydreaming out the window I had a “vision” of my horse running in circles in the field we were passing by that was next to our house. I could “see” him running like the wind! As the bus stopped at my house, I shook off that vision and went inside only to hear my mom tell me, “your horse got out today, he was just running circles in that field, you should have seen him! But your dad got him back in his pasture”.
I can’t explain how I envisioned that before knowing anything about it.
Then there was the time a few weeks after I lost my cat “Fuzz”. He died unexpectedly at the vet before they received any of his blood work back. I was in shock. I couldn’t stand to be “catless” in my house. It just wasn’t the same. I adopted another cat from a rescue nearby to help me with my feelings of loss. One night I felt a cat walking on my bed. I could feel the cat walking up my body and could feel the pressure of weight lying against my side. I reached down thinking it was my new cat Dixie, but there was nothing there. I decided I must have been dreaming because Dixie was in my son’s room lying with him and my doors were closed. I closed my eyes and tried to go back to sleep but then I felt it again. This time I opened my eyes and I could see the indentations in the covers as the “feet” walked up my body. Suddenly I sat up, I woke up my husband and told him, “Oh, Tim, Fuzz has come back!” He was not happy being woke up, and decided I was hallucinating, but I was adamant. It’s Fuzz! I smiled and lay down content to feel the weight of Fuzz lying against me to say goodbye. I wasn’t able to say goodbye to him when I rushed him to the vet. I never expected him to die in the night either while nobody was around. I have felt Fuzz maybe once or twice since then. But I feel he came back to say goodbye to me, and went on. For me, it was comforting to be able to say goodbye to him and feel him again.
Many people have expressed to me that once their pet has passed away they can still hear them, or sense that they are there. They talk to them and eventually it stops and I truly feel that it’s to help us with our grieving and know that they have gone on to a better place but didn’t want to go without saying goodbye and taking care of our feelings of unfinished business.
There are so many times that I wish I have those feelings about some other pets that I’ve lost. I so want to feel the cold wet nose poke my hand for a pet one more time. I want to hear the sighs, feel the bodies brush against me one last time. But it hasn’t happened. I don’t know if it’s because those pets didn’t pass away without me being mentally ready for it. Those deaths were expected. Perhaps that’s why I haven’t felt them around me. It doesn’t make me miss them any less. I still long for them and wish they were here. Maybe it’s God sending back my pets that were such a shock to lose to help me deal with the loss. That’s what I choose to believe anyway. I’ve had dreams about people that I’ve lost and loved that have come to me in dreams and left me with the feelings of being hugged and feeling the weight and pressure of arms around me. That comforted me.
Why I have these feelings is a mystery to me. I prefer to think of it as a blessing that I am able to feel this, and not be afraid of it. I know there are many others who have similar and perhaps more intense feelings and connections with those that they have lost. They are blessed.
If you’ve never had these feelings, it’s okay too. Know that your pets loved you deeply and they will always be in your heart. Love doesn’t stop when someone dies. You will always feel love for someone or a beloved pet. It may get easier as the years wear on to deal with the pain of loss, but love never dies. It’s right there in your heart where it began.
December 31, 2007 Resolutions
December 31, 2007
Resolutions
Who doesn’t resolve to start off the New Year fresh with a new attitude and goals to improve our life? Which made me start thinking what if our dogs made resolutions?
Resolution #1 Get the fat guy out of his recliner to walk me so I can get in shape.
Resolution #2 Chase the cat more to shape up.
Resolution #3 Leave my mark on the world, and the couch, and the table and all the trees in the neighborhood.
The wonderful thing about dogs is they change easily with new rules. They adapt to resolutions every day with ease. If today the rule is no more table scraps and you mean it, your dog make still give you those doggie eyes and beg, but if you IGNORE him, and in the end after all the whining and carrying on he gets nothing, no attention, no food, no acknowledgement for the bad behavior, the next day is much easier! They are so much like kids it’s not funny. You just have to be tough and resolve NOT to give in!
I’ll be the first to tell you I’m a fair weather walker. Therefore, my dogs don’t get enough exercise. Exercise is the key to fixing bad behavior, sort of like a kid with ADHD; you have to allow time to burn off the excess energy before you are asking the dog to do something. Throw the ball for your dog, play chase! Go on a long walk. Putting the dog outside in a fenced yard is NO substitute for interaction with you. You can’t just toss the dog out and expect him to exercise himself. It doesn’t work that way. You have to go out there with him and keep him busy chasing toys, or you.
If the weather is crummy, you can do most of this stuff inside the house. If you have a treadmill, teach your dog to walk on it. (Lord knows my treadmill makes a great place to hang clothes and collect dust!)
Okay, so maybe exercise isn’t MY thing! However, I am going to resolve to be more involved with my dogs in 2008. Maybe it will be trick training, working on a homemade agility course, and when the weather permits you may even find me walking the dogs this year. I expect to have a little more time. Who am I kidding? Okay, so I won’t have more time, but I WILL make more time.
I won’t bother making resolutions to lose weight and all the usual stuff, why disappoint myself? If it happens, great but I will not expect it. That’s the wonderful things about dogs; they have no expectations, therefore no regrets. They live in the moment! Life to a dog is all about what is going on at this very second. Which is why when you go out to get your mail and come back in your dog is so excited to see you! “You’re here! Hi Mom, long time no see!” I say live each day to its fullest. Enjoy every second. Eat dessert first! If it itches, scratch it! Lie in the sunshine and smile! Enjoy the wildlife around you, like your dog does, well maybe not quite as much as your dog does!
The point of all this is life is short. Dog’s lives are even shorter! They would never waste time brooding over something in the past, or not taking advantage of the fun in the present. Life is serious enough without worrying over silly things. So when the blues start to get you down, think like your dog. Live in the here and now, let go of the past. That’s one of our flaws as a human with such a complex brain, we think too much! Let it go, make time for today and enjoy it. I think that is going to be my next resolution for 2008, think like a dog and enjoy life. I hope you do too.
Resolutions
Who doesn’t resolve to start off the New Year fresh with a new attitude and goals to improve our life? Which made me start thinking what if our dogs made resolutions?
Resolution #1 Get the fat guy out of his recliner to walk me so I can get in shape.
Resolution #2 Chase the cat more to shape up.
Resolution #3 Leave my mark on the world, and the couch, and the table and all the trees in the neighborhood.
The wonderful thing about dogs is they change easily with new rules. They adapt to resolutions every day with ease. If today the rule is no more table scraps and you mean it, your dog make still give you those doggie eyes and beg, but if you IGNORE him, and in the end after all the whining and carrying on he gets nothing, no attention, no food, no acknowledgement for the bad behavior, the next day is much easier! They are so much like kids it’s not funny. You just have to be tough and resolve NOT to give in!
I’ll be the first to tell you I’m a fair weather walker. Therefore, my dogs don’t get enough exercise. Exercise is the key to fixing bad behavior, sort of like a kid with ADHD; you have to allow time to burn off the excess energy before you are asking the dog to do something. Throw the ball for your dog, play chase! Go on a long walk. Putting the dog outside in a fenced yard is NO substitute for interaction with you. You can’t just toss the dog out and expect him to exercise himself. It doesn’t work that way. You have to go out there with him and keep him busy chasing toys, or you.
If the weather is crummy, you can do most of this stuff inside the house. If you have a treadmill, teach your dog to walk on it. (Lord knows my treadmill makes a great place to hang clothes and collect dust!)
Okay, so maybe exercise isn’t MY thing! However, I am going to resolve to be more involved with my dogs in 2008. Maybe it will be trick training, working on a homemade agility course, and when the weather permits you may even find me walking the dogs this year. I expect to have a little more time. Who am I kidding? Okay, so I won’t have more time, but I WILL make more time.
I won’t bother making resolutions to lose weight and all the usual stuff, why disappoint myself? If it happens, great but I will not expect it. That’s the wonderful things about dogs; they have no expectations, therefore no regrets. They live in the moment! Life to a dog is all about what is going on at this very second. Which is why when you go out to get your mail and come back in your dog is so excited to see you! “You’re here! Hi Mom, long time no see!” I say live each day to its fullest. Enjoy every second. Eat dessert first! If it itches, scratch it! Lie in the sunshine and smile! Enjoy the wildlife around you, like your dog does, well maybe not quite as much as your dog does!
The point of all this is life is short. Dog’s lives are even shorter! They would never waste time brooding over something in the past, or not taking advantage of the fun in the present. Life is serious enough without worrying over silly things. So when the blues start to get you down, think like your dog. Live in the here and now, let go of the past. That’s one of our flaws as a human with such a complex brain, we think too much! Let it go, make time for today and enjoy it. I think that is going to be my next resolution for 2008, think like a dog and enjoy life. I hope you do too.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)