ePetDrugs Blog

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

My five year old son brought home a new book from school yesterday, Boomer’s Big Surprise by Constance W. McGeorge. It was about how a dog named Boomer got a new puppy at his house. My son loved the book. But Boomer didn’t love the new puppy. Maybe because his owners did a few things wrong.

A second dog always seems like fun—fun for you, fun for your first pet, fun for the kids. And it is, after you get over that introductory phase. It’s up to you to create an atmosphere that makes these dogs friends, not competitors.

1. Initial Meeting—Don’t bring the new dog directly to your house. Try a neutral spot. But not the local animal shelter or a dog park. All those other dogs are a big distraction. Also, sad to say, it’s easier to return a dog if it becomes obvious the dogs don’t get along if the newcomer hasn’t actually been to your home. Keep both dogs on leashes and let them sniff each other—just a little bit.

1. Let’s Play—Put away your older dog’s favorite toys and introduce some new ones they can play with together. Sharing should not be expected at this point. No sharing toys, water dishes, beds. You should be seeing double at this point.

1. Suppertime—Feed the dominant dog first. Normally this would be your first dog. Same goes for treat time. Never put them in the position to be fighting over food. It also helps if you have a puppy or older dog who is eating a different type of food.

1. Go, Go, Go—Choosing two dogs with the same energy level increases the chance of them getting along. But even if you have two of the same breed if one is a puppy he’s going to have tons more energy. And he’s going to annoy the adult dog. Take special care using up the energy of your younger(or more hyper breed). He might need an extra or longer walk or more extreme play time.

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Jodi Webb

Last time we talked about preparations to make at home for traveling with your pet. Now it’s time to consider preparations to make for when you arrive at your vacation spot.

Let’s Pack – Of course you know to bring your pet’s favorite toys, and food bowls. Also consider taking enough of his regular food—there’s no guarantee the local grocery store will stock his favorite food and treats. What about the weather? If it might be much hotter or cooler don’t forget a blanket or a Super Soaker(a lab I know swears by them in the hot weather).

Having Fun – You’ll run on the beach, eat at outdoor cafes, shop out the craft fair…or will you? While you’re finding a animal friendly hotel check on what activities are animal friendly. Consider the disaster if you head you the beach only to discover that animals aren’t allowed on the beach until the weekend after Labor Day. Also check on any local ordinances about animals. And bring your pooper scooper! Even if the hotel owner swears there isn’t a scooper ordinance many tourist destinations often have their own scooper rules.

Pet Sitter – Yes, you’re going on vacation with your pet—you don’t want a pet sitter. You say that now. But what if you decide you want to hike up a mountain and your poodle isn’t keen on the idea? Instead of scrambling for a pet sitter/walker at the last minute get the name and contact info for one before you even arrive. Talk to your hotel owner.

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Jodi Webb

Dogs are a great boost to making new friends(cats not so much). Even if you’ve just met a person, dogs offer an instant conversation topic. Do you ever go to the park on Apple Street? Is he afraid of the Anderson’s German Shepherd? Which vet does he go to?

hen we moved into our neighborhood to get to know new people through their pets. Just make sure your kids know the rules about not approaching strange dogs(even on leashes)until you ask an owner’s permission. Some dogs have quirks: kids, running, high pitched voices. Don’t we all?

Another fun way to make friends with animal lovers long after the local dog park has been deserted for the night is www.mydogspace.com . You can make virtual friends and real life friends—some posters ask about dogs looking for friends in specific areas like central Ohio or the Denver area. Have fun!

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Jodi Webb

I’m not a big fan of reality shows—I like my TV viewing to be an escape from reality. I get enough reality from, well, real life. But I decided to check out Greatest American Dog. If you haven’t seen it, the show throws dogs and owners together in a house and gives them a ‘challenge’ to complete each week. The dogs were painting from what I could tell on my episode. The last team standing gets $250,000.

Of course, I tuned in for the drama portion of the show. Some dog nipped at another owner. Then there was a shot of the dog’s owner weeping in the backyard about how her dog was so “stressed”. Well, let’s take a look at the situation. Removed from familiar surroundings and thrust into a house with eleven other strange humans and dogs and forced to do strange things. If I was that dog I’d be biting people too. Even as a human I might bite a few people!

Can I make a suggestion? If humans want to make fools of themselves on TV for 15 minutes of fame let them. But can we protect those who can’t volunteer for themselves—pets, children? Isn’t our responsibility to give them a good life, not torment them on the off-chance that we might win some big prize. Get a job! Live within your means! Leave your dogs alone!

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Jodi Webb

Our 13 year old has always been a good one to take Maggie for a walk or a romp in the back yard but she isn’t our go-to girl for the less-fun aspects of having a pet—baths, teeth brushing, pill time. So my husband and I were surprised to come home from the grocery store to a clean, non-smelly dog. Sniff, sniff. Is that the aroma of strawberries? Oh, no. For her surprise good deed she bathed Maggie with her own HUMAN shampoo. Nothing against humans but like a lot of dogs, Maggie gets the itchies from human shampoo—not to mention that the smells we all think are so delightful drive her crazy. I guess no self-respecting dog wants to smell like strawberries. Maybe the other dogs make fun of her. Tomorrow John’s going to re-bathe Maggie in her own shampoo while I show our daughter where we keep the dog shampoo(and the dog toothpaste)in case she feels industrious any time soon.

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Jodi Webb

I just had an old chair from my grandmother’s house reupholstered—it was an incredibly ugly orange velour. Really! Everyone loves the new blue and white striped chair. Including Simon. Throughout the years Simon has chosen a succession of sleeping spots we haven’t agreed on. The baby’s bassinet, the bottom drawer of my filing cabinet, the top of the toilet(a bit disconcerting for those middle of the night trips), and now my new/old chair. My husband tries to redirect Simon’s sleeping choices with an arsenal of aluminum foil, stacks of books, and cat-proof locks. I, on the other hand, go shopping. Simon’s had a wide variety of beds: furry, hammock, mini-sofa, even one with a heating pad. This time we’re trying a cave-like cubby with a tiny door opening. It’s impossible to predict if he’ll like it or how long he’ll agree to use it. I’ve become convinced that it isn’t the bed so much as where it’s located. Lately he’s been tending toward high spots in quiet rooms of the house. So his new bed is going to start out on an unused ottoman in the corner of my daughter’s bedroom. Because of her big window it’s even in a sunny spot most of the afternoon. What cat could ask for more?

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Jodi Webb

Do cats make friends? I’m sure it’s possible but I’m a doubter. Simon and Maggie have never been friends. In fact, Maggie—despite being a dog and twice as big as Simon—has always given him a wide berth. Yes, our dog is afraid of our cat. Some people would say it’s just that cats are solitary animals while dogs are pack animals who live by the more the merrier adage. But is that right? After all feral cats live in groups. Friends of mine have a dog and cat who live happily together—they even take naps together. We just have to face facts, some cats are friendly and some are NOT. Some will go to any lengths to defend their right to a solitary existence. If you doubt that check out this photo of a cat defending his territiory.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/06/060613-cat-bear.html

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Jodi Webb

It started out as a good thing. It rapidly spiraled into the most terrible of things. My husband and I decided to do a major organizing and purging of our home’s closets. Turns out it was a bigger job than we imagined. An entire weekend job. During that weekend large black garbage bags sat against the bedroom closet doors filled with donations for the local clothes closet. I remember the sight of the garbage bags because in the upcoming weeks Simon urinated in that exact spot—over and over again.

At first we thought it was just a solitary mistake. Nope. Was he unhappy with the litter box. It was scrupulously cleaned out and the litter changed daily. Was he just getting older? We bought two extra litter boxes so he was never that far from the restroom. Was he sick? We envisioned the horror of giving him insulin injections for diabetes. Several expensive tests later the vet determined that he wasn’t sick. In fact, he was in great health. Was he stressed? This was the vet’s musing. On our own we never would have considered this one. When asked about changes in his environment we struggled to remember through the urine smelling weeks and pinpoint when it all began. Turns out it was the Monday after the cleaning spree. Ah, ha!

But what could we do now? Since the bags that stressed him out were now long gone the vet guessed that it had become habit. Despite our cleaning after each “incident” odor remained and Simon had labeled that section of our bedroom as an alternate litter box. We had to re label that section as a non-peeing zone. The vet gave us a spray that smelled like cat pheromones. He wouldn’t pee on another cat, would he? He wouldn’t. It actually worked!

The moral of the story? Ignore your husband when he decides to reorganize the closets!

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Jodi Webb

While on my beach vacation I read a sad story about Mayor Cheye Calvo of a small Delaware town Berwyn Heights.  It all began when packages of marijuana were sent to several random people, including the mayor’s wife Trinity Tomisic.  It seems the plan was for the drug dealers to swoop in and grab the packages off the front stoops before the people the packages were addressed to even took the packages into their homes.  The first problem was the mayor returned home early and took his wife’s package into their home before the drug dealers could arrive.  The second problem was his mother-in-law screamed when she noticed the officers swarming toward their home.  The third was that the family had two black Labrador dogs. The result was the mayor and his mother-in-law were temporarily detained for questioning and their dogs, deemed a threat to the officers as they entered the home, were killed.

Animal lovers are up in arms.  The story has received national attention and there is even an Online Petition to sign at.  I love black labs, and dogs in general and can understand how devstated this couple must feel.  But I also know cops and know how devastated their families would feel if they were mauled or killed by a dangerous dog during a raid.  It’s a tough situation but I’m going to have to come down on the side of the cops this time.   Folks on the petition website talk about having a plan to contain the dogs when entering the home.  But a ‘containment plan’ would take time to enact–even if it was just 10 minutes.  Could you contain the animals and not risk having evidence of the crime destroyed or altered?  Turns out the mayor and his family were innocent but the cops had no way of knowing that at the time.  Turns out the dogs were family pets not attack dogs but the cops had no way of knowing that at the time.  We all love our animals but can we really expect the government to put their safety before the safety of our police officers and the prevention of a crime(drug trafficking)that could affect hundreds–even thousands–of humans?

My heart goes out to Mayor Calvo. It also goes out to the officers who shot the dogs and are living with the nightmares.

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Jobi Webb

Our family is eagerly looking forward to the annual week at the beach—with the exception of Simon our cat. No, it isn’t that he hates the feeling of sand in his fur. Simon isn’t a happy vacationer. Turns out he isn’t a happy stay-at-homer either. Like many cats Simon just hates change. He hates the packing chaos, the absence of baskets of warm laundry to nap in, and the neighbor kid who looks after him. So how does he complain? By licking himself so obsessively that we return to a cat with small fur-free patches on his back. Thankfully, our vet mentioned Bitter Apple, a spray that discourages his constant licking. Of course now he’s replaced licking with stalking the neighbor kid’s toes when he comes to fill the food and water bowls. Maybe we should spray the neighbor kid with Bitter Apple too?

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By   Jodi Webb

News of the 44 lb. white cat roaming through a New Jersey town amazed me. My 5 year old son weighs less than Powder, who unbelievably would not qualify as the heaviest house cat according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Forty four pounds seem extreme but I can understand how a cat could pick up a few unwanted pounds. First, it’s easy to lose track of when he last got fed, especially in our busy family. Several family members take turns feeding Simon and as we come and go to work, sports, and appointments we can’t always ask everyone “Did you feed Simon?” Then there’s that highly effective M – E – O – W(often in the middle of the night)that usually ends with someone hollering in desperation “Feed that cat!” With the start of school our life will become even crazier so I think we’re going to give an automatic feeder like Pet Safe 5 Meal Feeder a try. Then we can make sure he’s eating only as much as the vet recommends. The only question is, Will Simon be satisfied with only the recommended amount?

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By Jodi Webb

Those in the publishing game will tell you that it comes in cycles—there was the anthology infusion, chick-lit, murder mystery/cookbook, vampires. Then there are the animal books. Some will tell you it started with John Grogan’s Marley & Me. But what about The Cat Who Came to Christmas, All Creatures Great and Small, even The Hound of the Baskervilles. Cats and dogs have been popping up in books since we first discovered that they make great friends. These aren’t exactly your traditional beach reads but they are fun…

Cat Trivia: Humorous, Heartwarming, Weird and Amazing by Diana MacLeod(Blue Bike Books)

Dog Blessings: Poems, Prose, and Prayers Celebrating Our Relationship with Dogs edited by June Cotner(New World Library)

Dog Culture: Writers on the Character of Canines edited by Ken Foster(The Lyons Press)

Dogs Miscellany: Dogs and Their Famous Owners…Dogs in Literature…in the Bible…Tales of dog Heroism, Trivia, Jokes, A Doggy Dictionary, and Much More! By J.A. Wines(Delacorte Press)

Dog Trivia: Humorous, Heartwarming & Amazing by Wendy Pirk(Blue Bike Books)

Joe Grey feline sleuth series by Shirley Rousseau Murphy(Morrow)

The Dog Fanatic: Tale Wagging Quotes on Man’s Best Friend edited by Patricia Sherwood(JR Books Ltd)

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By Jodi Webb

My family eagerly waved goodbye to a week-long heat wave that included 90 degree days–especially our dog Maggie, a seven year old animal shelter special. Maggie’s been lying around but mostly she’s been in a house with air conditioning or fans. Could it still be the heat?

Turns out dogs don’t have to be in a parked car to suffer from the heat–it can even happen in your AC if they conditions are right (or wrong). Several things can combine with the heat to cause problems–being overweight or short nosed, exercise, excitement, or even sudden temperature changes (dogs don’t have a chance to acclimate to warmer weather). Don’t judge a dog’s comfort by yours–they have fur, less effective sweat glands, and can’t pour themselves a cool drink when they’re thirsty. Watch for lethargy, weakness, loss of balance, excessive panting, roaring breathing sounds, excessive salivation, decrease in mental awareness.

Avoid heat exhaustion by taking early morning walks, avoiding excessive exercise like chasing a ball, frequently replacing their water, adding a few ice cubes to their water, giving them a kiddie pool or even a damp towel to lie on, and keeping them in a cool environment whenever possible. Another great treat for your dog in hot weather is watermelon!

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