ePetDrugs Blog

Jodi Webb

The idea that we don’t have to bath cats as often as dogs is a plus. Of course that’s offset by that yucky little problem—the hairball. Instead of arguing with your family about whose turn it is to clean up the hairballs invest your energy in preventing them with a few simple steps.

1. Groom your cat daily, especially if you have a long haired cat. Sure they groom themselves but look where it gets you—on your hands and knees cleaning up gunk. Invest in a good brush and spend a few minutes slowly brushing in the direction of the hair (from head to tail)
2. Keep your cat entertained either by playing with him or providing lots of intriguing toys. If bored, cats will often spend their free time grooming. Extra grooming means extra hair in their system and often, hairballs.
3. If you can’t seem to get rid of the hairballs maybe your cat’s system just doesn’t process the fur effectively. Try a diet supplement that lubricates your cat’s system and makes it easier for the hair to pass. Because these hairball treatments come in a variety of flavors, your cat will happily accept them.

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Jodi Webb

We all want to start to exercise—we’re bombarded with news that even a little exercise can have a big effect on your health.  So why don’t we?  Well, so many times it’s just easier not to.  There are so many excuses: too cold, too tired, too busy.  That’s where the exercise buddy ploy works.  When you know someone is going to be waiting for you at the local walking trail you’re more likely to go.  Say hello to good guilt!  But what if you can’t find a reliable exercise buddy?

In Independence County, Arkansas that’s no problem.  According to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, The Humane Society of Independence County recently started a Dog Walk Club.  Volunteers from the shelter and a bevy of eager dogs travel to a local park where they meet up with their human ‘exercise buddies’.  Who could skip their exercise when they know there’s a furry friend waiting at the park, straining at the leash?

Don’t worry if your local shelter doesn’t have an official program in place—create your own.  Ask your shelter if they need volunteer dog walkers(they’ll say yes).  But don’t leave it up in the air—commit to a certain time each week.  Knowing that the shelter volunteers will be watching for you every Wednesday at 5:30 makes you more likely to show up.  Exercise for you, fun for your exercise buddy, and the unconditional love of dozens of shelter dogs.

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Jodi Webb

As you get ready to bath your dog remember that most canines like the water.  It’s all in the way you present it.  So let’s try to make bathing a happy event.

1. Use an old washcloth to clean your dog’s face.  No dog wants the showerhead spraying in(or threateningly close to)his eyes and snout.  And he isn’t supposed to get the inside of his ears wet anyway.  If your dog is an unwilling bather, you don’t even have to do this in the bathroom.

1. Your order of attack should be to first turn on the tub spigot and get the water to the correct temperature—you can do this while your assistant bather is washing his face in the living room.  Then get your dog into the tub and turn on the showerhead.  Make sure the showerhead is pointed away from your dog when you finally turn it on!  Does your water temperature often change?  Constantly re-check the temperature to make sure it isn’t too hot or too cold for your dog.

1. Wet your dog thoroughly then lather him from front to back with a pet shampoo.  Remember that the feet, rear, and tail are the spots that pick up extra dirt.  Don’t fool yourself into thinking a quick rinse will finish your bath.  You need to rinse head to toe at least three times to get out all the soap(watch to see if the water going down the drain is still sudsy—also check to see if any fleas or ticks are circling the drain).  If you don’t rinse thoroughly today you’ll regret it next week when you have a dog with itchy, dry skin.

1. Avoid “the shake” by trying to get your dog as dry as possible with your towels.  Still, keep on the lookout for signs of an impending shake—most dogs will shake their head slightly before doing a body shake.  You can also try pulling the shower curtain and encouraging your dog to shake behind it.  Don’t forget to remove the cotton balls from his ears.

1. When you finally set him free, having an assistant bather take him outside for a quick shake is another idea.  Also, keep an eye on him indoors.  No matter how dry you get them many dogs feel the need to dry themselves by rubbing against upholstered furniture.

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Jodi Webb

As we all wait to see which way the $700 billion bailout bounces, most people are looking for ways to cut corners.  Instead of sending your dog to the groomer for a bath you can do it yourself.  I think the key to stress-free bathing(for you and your dog)is to prepare.

1. Brush your dog.  Once those tangles become wet they’re twice as difficult to deal with.

1. Install a handheld showerhead.  You can buy one for under $20 and it makes the job so much easier.  The alternative is bathing your dog in a tub of water and rinsing him with the help of a bucket.  It can quickly turn into a wet, inefficient nightmare.

1. De-slip your tub.  If you don’t have a rubber bath mat, try a towel on the bottom of the tub. Anything to make your dog feel more secure.

1. If he’ll let you, place cotton balls in your dog’s ears to keep out the water.

1. Gather as many old towels as you can find.  Don’t kid yourself into thinking one will be enough—it won’t.  Also a washcloth for face washing.

1. Find a partner.  It helps to have someone, especially post-bath to help avoid the dreaded doggy shake.

Ready?  Check out Shampoo Your Dog: Turn On The Water

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Jodi Webb

A study by UK veterinarians found that 43% of the animals they saw were overweight.  Even though, in the tradition of that cartoon favorite Garfield, we think of cats as the fatties only 20% of cats were overweight compared with 47% of dogs.  And being overweight can cause or exacerbate many medical conditions for animals such as arthritis, diabetes, and kidney problems.  So it’s time to call in the fat busters.

Remember to discuss all your plans with your vet and keep him informed of your pet’s progress.  Cats shouldn’t lose more than a pound per month and dogs weight loss depends on their breed.  Larger dogs can lose up to 5 pounds a month.  Most vets will recommend the dieting triangle.

1.    Meals—With your vet, discuss diet dog foods and determine just how many calories your pet should be eating daily.  Feed your pet twice a day and leave the food out for only 20 minutes, not all day.  He might complain but he’ll learn to eat during mealtimes.  And you’ll eliminate the risk of your pet being fed over and over again throughout the day by family members who think everyone else forgot to fill the bowls.

2.    Snacks- Sticking to your feeding schedule doesn’t work if, in between meals, your pet gets a steady supply of treats. Treats full of fiber can satisfy your pet without adding a lot of calories.  Many dogs like vegetables such as carrot chips or green beans(no butter!) while some cats like a spoonful of canned pumpkin.  If you must stick to traditional treats cut the amount.  Instead of giving your cat three treats, give him one.  Buy the smallest size treats you can for your dog—no matter what size he is.  And start reading labels.  Not all pet treats are created equally as far as calories are concerned.

3.    Exercise—The third corner of the dieting triangle is exercise.  Try an extra walk for your dog or rev it up—a little faster pace if he’s up to the challenge.  Most cats won’t submit to a walk but you can add exercise to their daily routine.  One thing cats will exercise willingly for is food.  So divide his food into three smaller bowls that you hide around the kitchen or house forcing him to wander about or even jump if he wants to enjoy a meal.  Same with treats.  Both dogs and cats should have to participate in a bit of physical activity to get a treat.  Being cute just doesn’t it cut it anymore.

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Jodi Webb

October is Adopt a Dog Month and many humane shelters are offering incentives such as reduced fees or free spaying and neutering.  If you were considering a dog as a gift this Christmas, Hannukah, or Kwanza think again.  The winter holidays are a rough time for a new animal to enter the household.  Children are distracted by the festivities, entertaining either leaves your new dog alone while you attend parties or faced with dozens of new faces, and health risks to your new dog such as alcohol, mistletoe, leftover chocolate abound.

So why not considering introducing a new dog to your family in October instead?  Because you won’t be focusing on the surprise when your children open the present and find a furry little puppy you can get them involved in choosing the puppy.  It’s simpler to ease a dog into the household routine when the routine is still “normal” as opposed to “holiday”.  And for many homes October weather is still warm enough to enjoy time outdoors.  This helps when you’re helping a puppy burn off excess energy, house training him, and going on those long walks together.  Also, it’ll be tough for your kids to bond with a new puppy if they refuse to walk him from day one because they don’t feel like braving the snow and cold of December and January.  Thinking new puppy?  Think October.

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Jodi Webb

It starts out innocently enough.  He’s just a lonely puppy, crying in the kitchen.  So you bring him into bed—just this once.  “Just this once” doesn’t exist in the canine vocabulary.  As far as he’s concerned every action you make is etched in stone.  So before you know it you’ve got a 200 pound, snoring, farting, smelly, restless-leg-syndrome sleeping buddy.  In our family it happened when my family went to a family wedding—everyone except my husband and Maggie our dog.  Four days later I returned to a lot of dirty dished in the kitchen sink and a dog in my bed.

That’s the problem with letting a dog into your bed: things change but your dog doesn’t want to.  You get a girlfriend, your dog gets too big to be a sleeping buddy, you get a second dog and know there’s no way you could sleep with two dogs in the bed.  And suddenly he’s shoved on the floor, wondering what he did to lose his exalted spot in the pack.

The best idea is to head off this problem by making your bed off limits from the beginning.  If you’re convinced the floor is too hard(although many dogs prefer the coolness of a kitchen or bathroom floor in the warm weather months)find him a soft dog bed—they come in all shapes, sizes, and firmness.  Does he miss you at night?  Try covering his dog bed with a shirt you’ve worn—your smell will comfort him.  Does he jump up on your white sofa instead?(What were you thinking buying a white sofa and a black dog?)  Take the time to flip the cushions into an upright position or cover the sofa with a few uncomfortable barricades(books, baskets, a kitchen chair).  Make his new dog bed a comfortable and convenient spot and before you know it he’ll be snoozing there every night without a whimper.

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Jodi Webb

Fall and winter are mainly a decrease in events for our cat Simon to watch from his windows—animals, people, cars. The kids are back in school so he has no one to play with(also known as tormenting him). Except for occassional weather events: rain, snowstorms, even leaves falling from the trees—which make him crazy– he’s pretty sedentary during the cooler months. That’s why my husband planted some catnip in the backyard to harvest for Simon. [I don’t recommend this unless you plant it in a pot and cut off the flowers. Catnip will take over your garden.] Catnip stuffed in a toy can really get Simon moving. He’s even tracked it down when dried catnip was stored on a pantry shelf in a closed jar. A member of the mint family, catnip doesn’t affect every cat. Kittens and older cats aren’t that enthusiastic. If left to their own devices cats seem to like to rub up against catnip or chew on it. To help Simon get some exercise we introduce a catnip filled toy once a day, just out of reach and move it around to keep Simon searching for it. If you don’t want to risk your garden by growing your own catnip try one of the many catnip filled toys available.

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My neighbour went to the state fair this past week and brought back the traditional gifts for my children: cotton candy and every freebie he could get his hands on.  Organizations ranging from the Red Cross to local colleges to wineries give away bookmarks, refrigerator magnets, balsa wood gliders, calendars, whistles…and flying discs.  We once gave the plastic flying discs to our dog but quickly learned that what is a great toy for a human isn’t always a great toy for a dog.  It wasn’t that she didn’t love them—she did.  But the discs were shredded after just a few play sessions and we always wondered if those pieces of plastic were ending up in Maggie’s stomach.  We switched to discs made of a unrippable material but recently found a rubbery disc that is easier on Maggie’s teeth and doesn’t shred: Zogoflex Discs.  They also carry Huck and Tux—wacky shaped balls that are unpredictable when they bounce which just adds to the fun.  Best of all, especially at our house that includes a large pond, they float.

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Jodi Webb

With colder weather approaching in the Northern climates that eternal question—Should my dog wear clothes?—is rearing it’s head once again. Before you go out and buy your furry friend a cable knit sweater ask yourself a few question:

1. What breed is he? Dogs like Labradors or Collies have so much fur clothing would quickly overheat them. Dogs with short hair(Great Danes) or accustomed to warm climates(Chihuahuas) might need some extra warmth.

2. What climate is my individual dog used to? If your Chihuahua has lived in the frozen tundra of the Maine all his life he may have adjusted to cooler weather. If your Cocker Spaniel has lived in Fort Lauderdale all his life, a Christmas visit to family in Minnesota may make him chillier than if he lived in Minnesota. He might need a sweater for the visit.

3. Does he like clothes? Some dogs don’t like clothes, period. They’d rather find an alternative way to warm up such as walking faster when outside or burrowing under a blanket indoors. Dogs that don’t like clothes are more likely to try to get out of them and more likely to end up with them tangled around their neck or face.

4. Does he still need the clothes? A dog’s need for clothes can change from year to year and hour to hour. As a small puppy he might not have been able to keep warm but as a full grown dog he can brave the winter weather. He may need a sweater for an outdoors walk or even your chilly home but in a friend’s warm home or a party where a crowd of people raises the temperature he may be overheated. Once you put clothes on a dog monitor his comfort level frequently.

5. Are these clothes for me or my dog? Sometimes, we think those little sweater and hats are so adorable we buy them without even considering our dog. When you look at those little outfits in the pet store stop to think about what your dog wants and needs.

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Jodi Webb

On Saturday, October 4 you may notice a few more attendees at your favorite house of worship. Saturday is the traditional day for the Blessing of the Animals. This unusual religious holiday takes place on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, known as the patron saint of animals. One of Francis’s writings was a Canticle of the Creatures that included the verse “All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures.” Although St. Francis is a saint of the Catholic religion the tradition of the blessing of animals has been adopted by many religions. If your house of worship is considering inviting the animals this year(blessings are normally outdoors) here’s the prayer many religious leaders use:

Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.”

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Jodi Webb

Pennsylvania, my home state has long been called the Puppy Mill State.  Commercial kennels, many run by the Amish community, churn out hundreds of dogs for sale to pet stores in sub-par conditions with little vet care.  House Bill 2525 is attempting to change the lives of dogs where 26 or more dogs are bred for sale each year by distinguishing between the treatment of livestock and dogs, that are seen as companion animals.  The bill will address exercise for the animals, regulation of the environment(temperature, lighting, ventilation, stacking of cages), veterinary care, and fire safety precautions.  It will also increase the fines for disregarding laws about commercial kennels.

HB 2525 is not just an attempt of dog lovers to ensure that dogs are happier.  It will also significantly affect the health of many dogs—many conditions that will be outlawed encouraged fighting among the dogs and many dogs suffered health problems because of their treatment.  If you want to let your legislator or newspaper editor know where you stand on the issue check out the following Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture website:

http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/doglawaction/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=148991

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