// ]]>

Summer’s not over and those lingering hot days can really sneak up on you and your pet. Every year over 5,000 pets die from exposure to the excessive heat inside cars. When taking those last minute road-trips and traveling with you cat or dog make sure you remember that your pets can overheat much faster than you. Be mindful of your pet and with just a few simple things you can help your critter stay cool, comfortable and healthy wherever your go and avoid a potentially lethal tragedy.

When I travel with Sadie and Rusty I always make sure they have water available. I have an expandable water bowl
(It works great!) that I use for when we travel. Sadie and Rusty love to drink 1/3 of the water and spill the rest of all over everything.  It’s messy, but I’m prepared, because I put down a mat to catch the excess water. I also take a full thermos of water with me just in case their bowl needs a refill.

Besides staying hydrated my two pooches love to stick their heads out of the car window, it helps them manage the heat, experience the fresh air, smell the world, and it’s really cute. But in this case cute is also dangerous; dogs don’t understand the risk hanging outside a moving vehicle can pose, which is why we owners have to be mindful. To protect my canine companions, I buckle then each into their own seatbelt. The seatbelts are great, and they ensure my pups don’t accidentally get thrown from the car while it’s in motion.

Last, always make sure to leave the window open so your pets can get to cool air. If it’s hot outside and no cool air is available keep the A/C running. If you have to leave your car, never leave your pets alone in the car, get the leash and take them outside to the closest available shade.

On Saturday my husband and I were enjoying a relaxing afternoon at home. We were in the kitchen when we saw a green hummingbird fly up. We both love animals so I pointed the hummingbird out to my husband and was telling him how cute the bird was. Then suddenly smack! It flew right into our glass sliding door!

Making certain the dogs did not follow us out the door, we went outside to check on it. We found that the tiny bird was still alive, but it was not able to fly and appeared hurt.

My husband picked up the little bird while I grabbed a small cardboard box to put her in. We put the little hummingbird into the box. We put the box up off the ground where she would be safe from the neighborhood cats.

We called the local wildlife animal rescue. The woman (Sandy) who answered the phone told us to make up hummingbird feeder food. The recipe Sandy gave us called for 1 half cup water, 1 half teaspoon of white table sugar, and a few grains of white table salt. She said the homemade recipe is better than buying it at the store because there’s no red dye, which is harmful to hummingbirds.

After getting off the phone we made the mixture and went back outside to feed the little hummingbird. We were very happy when we discovered an empty box. The hummingbird had regained it’s composure and had flown away.

Sandy told us is to avoid this from happening again, put a picture on our glass sliding door so the hummingbird will not fly into it again. She said that if there is a reflection on a window they don’t understand it’s not more of the outside world. The picture however would deter any desire to go that direction. Especially if the picture depicts a hawk.

If you have a glass sliding door or window that could be a hazard try adding a window decal.

Diamond Pet Food issued it’s first recall on April 10, 2012 for a limited number of dry dog food bags. Today they are expanding the voluntary recall to include another production run and four production codes of Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula dry dog food. One bag of the product has tested positive for Salmonella, and the recall of the four production codes is being conducted as a precautionary measure. Currently there have been no reports of any dogs getting sick.

If your dog develops a fever, has a loss of appetite or has abdominal pain. Other symptoms include lethargic, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and may vomit. If your pet is exhibiting any of these signs, contact your veterinarian.

The only products in this new recall are:

National park week is next week, starting on Saturday April 21st until Sunday April 29th. For this week only you can get into all the national parks for free.

If you have meant to get out to a national park now is a good time. April is the low season for most of the national parks.

Plan your trip

Our dogs are part of the family, just like other family members we love to have pictures of them on our walls, desks, computers, phones the list goes on. However, our dogs do not understand we want them to pose for the camera. Here are a few tips that can help:

1. It’s all about the lighting. Natural lighting without harsh shadows is the best. When shooting indoors open all the blinds and curtains to let in light. Avoid using the on camera flash which creates harsh shadows. If you have to use a flash try putting a piece of wax paper over it to defuse the lighting.

Early morning, late evening and overcast days are best for shooting outdoors. The light is more even creating softer shadows which really helps when you’re photographing a dark colored dog.

2. Keep the eyes in focus. Eyes can show a lot of expression. They say that eyes are the windows to the soul.

3. Show off their personality! Every dog has traits unique to them. Try and capture those traits in your photos. For example, if you have a lazy dog take a picture of him yawning. If your dog is playful take a picture of her playing or doing her favorite trick.

4. Fill your frame! Get in close, dogs can get lost in the picture. A nice close up will eliminate all/most background clutter and show your dog prominently. If you love a certain feature about your dog for example you love your dogs paw, take a close up of his paw and see how it turns out.

5. Use bribery! Keep your dogs favorite toys and treats ready. The key is to have a helper who can squeak the toy at just the right moment or offer the perfect treat. Try many different toys and/or treats until you get the shots you want. For some dogs a lot of repetition and patience will be necessary.

I love this video! It has a wonderful message and the dog is super cute.

Losing a pet is never easy for you or the other pets in the household. Here is a video with a beautiful tribute to what our pets mean to each other.

With 2012 just a few days away I have been thinking about new years resolutions. This year I am again going to include my dogs in my list of resolutions and I encourage you do to the same. Nothing motivates you more than those sweet dog eyes “reminding” you its time to walk or whatever may be on your list.

I will feed my pet good quality food. What you feed is dog will be the foundation of his/her health. Make sure to feed good quality food. Take the time to research what ingredients are in your dogs food and where they are sourced from. Whole Dog Journal publishes a yearly review of dog food . I also really like Petsumer Report.

I will exercise my dog everyday. It is very important that both you and your dog get daily exercise and this is a great way to do it. Start this new year right by making exercise a priority.

I will have my dog spayed or neutered. A pet can have a longer life and be a much better family member when it has been spayed or neutered. It is very economical when you consider how many lives you could be saving.

I will Massage my dogs at least once week. This is something that is becoming more important as my dogs age. Dog massage has many benefits including early detection of anything ad-normal with your dog.

I will spend 5 minutes a day training my dog. Training provides mental and sometimes physical stimulation for your dog. Training will also make being around your dog more enjoyable and you can show off your dogs new tricks when guests come over.

I will take care of my dog’s teeth and make sure my dogs are well groomed. We know how important it is that we regularly brush our dog’s teeth in order to prevent periodontal disease, which can lead to a host of other problems. Show your dog how much you care by taking the time to brush their teeth and using something like Plaque and Tarter Control. Spend a few minutes each day brushing your dog. I brush my dogs while watching T.V. during the commercials.

I will be a responsible dog owner. I will make sure my dogs get an annual check up with their veterinary. I will have titers done to ensure their vaccinations are current. I will keep identification tags on both dogs. I will clean up after my dogs when out walking them.

I will play with my dog more often. We all know how happy our dogs are when we play their favorite game with them. Whether it’s a game of fetch, hide and seek, wrestling or some other game you make up, playing with your dog will show how much you love them.

I will let my dog sit on my lap more often. You know the most important thing to your dog is spending time with you. Even if you have to sit on the floor, so your dog can more easily crawl into your lap or lie next to you. Being with you is truly one of those things your dog loves the most. Just do it, if not for your dog than for yourself. Simply sitting with your dog will lower your blood pressure plus provide other notable health benefits.

I will give back to the community. I will continue to foster dogs from the local animal shelter. If you cannot foster a dog consider volunteering some of your time.

What resolutions are you planning on this year? Tell me by writing a comment below.

If you are like me you still do not have all of your holiday shopping finished. I have some good news, your procrastination has paid off. This Friday December 16, 2011 it Free Shipping Friday. With over 2100 merchants participating you should be able to find everything on your list and not have to pay for shipping.

Here is a list of the Pet Supply stores and here is the homepage listing all the information.

I have some exciting news, all Critter’s Inflatable dog life jacket’s are now on sale for the very low price of just $99.99. You can read and watch my video review of these unique and wonderful canine life vests at  Critter’s Inflatable Dog Life Vest Review. Keep your dog safe whenever you venture near potentially treacherous water.  For the incredibly low price of just $99.99 you can protect your four-legged friend from the risk of an accidental drowning. Whether you’re fishing, boating, or hiking near white water rapids you will be able to both have fun and enjoy the peace of mind knowing that your dog has the very best emergency floatation device in the world.

The Obama Administration has initiated a petition program titled ‘We the People, Your voice in our government’.  They asked, I’ve submitted the petition representing pet owners.  If we reach 25,000 signatures, we are promised an ‘official response’ from the White House.  Now it’s up to us!

On the Whitehouse.gov website, you’ll find a link to the new petition program.  The site states “This tool provides you with a new way to petition the Obama Administration to take action on a range of important issues facing our country. If a petition gets enough support, White House staff will review it, ensure it’s sent to the appropriate policy experts, and issue an official response.”

An ‘official response’ regarding FDA allowing waste ingredients into pet food!  Now wouldn’t that be interesting!  Here’s our chance.

We need 25,000 signatures for that official response.  Please, please, please sign this petition and ask every pet owner you know to do the same.

The petition itself had to be brief; only 800 characters were allowed (including spaces).  That was tough, but here it is…

We believe the Obama Administration should require the FDA to enforce the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (The Act) – as it is written – with pet foods.  The Act clearly defines ‘food’ as that for humans and animals.  Yet currently, the FDA allows materials from diseased animals, euthanized animals, downer animals, rodent feces and insect infested foods to be processed into pet foods/animal foods.  Consumers are not warned their pet food purchases could contain illegal ingredients and often pay premium prices for such.

We request the FDA to be required to abide by The Act or request the FDA to require all pet foods that do not provide certification of compliance of The Act to be clearly labeled with a warning to the consumer.  To learn more visit https://tinyurl.com/3spmd22
Here is the link to the petition:https://wh.gov/b1b

Not within the petition (just not enough room!), but significant for all who sign is the evidence supporting our petition…

The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (The Act) defines food as: “The term ‘food’ means (1) articles used for food or drink for man or other animals, (2) chewing gum, and (3) articles used for components of any such article.”  Section 201 (f)

Clearly, pet food/animal food should be protected by Federal law.

The Act defines adulterated (prohibited) food as: “A food shall be deemed to be adulterated – (a) Poisonous, insanitary, or deleterious ingredients.” (a)(5) “if it is, in whole or in part, the product of a diseased animal or of an animal which has died otherwise than by slaughter.” Section 402

Clearly, pet foods/animal foods that contain insanitary ingredients or ingredients sourced from diseased or euthanized animals would be prohibited to sell.  But…

Despite Federal law, the FDA provides the pet food/animal food industry with loopholes to violate The Act; these loopholes are known officially as Compliance Policies.

As evidence:
FDA Compliance Policy CPG Sec. 690.300
“Pet food consisting of material from diseased animals or animals which have died otherwise than by slaughter, which is in violation of 402(a)(5) will not ordinarily be actionable, if it is not otherwise in violation of the law. It will be considered fit for animal consumption.”

FDA Compliance Policy CPG Sec. 675.400
“POLICY:  No regulatory action will be considered for animal feed ingredients resulting from the ordinary rendering process of industry, including those using animals which have died otherwise than by slaughter, provided they are not otherwise in violation of the law.”

FDA Compliance Policy CPG Sec. 675.100
“FDA does not object to the diversion to animal feed of human food adulterated with rodent, roach, or bird excreta.”

FDA Compliance Policy 675.200
“The *Center* will consider the requests for diversion of food considered adulterated for human use in all situations where the diverted food will be acceptable for its intended animal food use. Such situations may include:
a. Pesticide contamination in excess of the permitted tolerance or action level.
b. Pesticide contamination where the pesticide involved is unapproved for use on a food or feed commodity.
c. Contamination by industrial chemicals.
d. Contamination by natural toxicants.
e. Contamination by filth.
f. Microbiological contamination.
g. Over tolerance or unpermitted drug residues.”

It is crystal clear; these FDA Compliance Policies allow pet foods/animal foods to violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.  No Government Agency should have the authority to tell industry they can avoid the law.

We ask the Obama Administration for one of the following…

1)  FDA to immediately remove all Compliance Policies that allow pet foods and animal foods to violate The Act; immediately enforce The Act as it is written; or
2) FDA to immediately require all pet foods and animal foods that may include an ingredient which violates The Act to be clearly marked with a warning on the label.  Only pet foods that certify compliance of The Act would be excused from the warning requirement.  We suggest the following label warning on all other pet foods and treats:  Warning This Pet Product could contain illegal ingredients and could put your pets health at risk.

So now it is up to us.  We need 25,000 signatures before December 1, 2011.  Here is the link to the petition:  Please forward this petition to every pet owner you know and ask them to do the same.

We have been given a rare opportunity to finally bring illegal pet food ingredients into the forefront of those that can force change!   Aren’t you a little curious as to how this subject will be responded to?  The ONLY way that can happen is if we reach our 25,000 signatures goal.  Please sign and forward!

Visit the Facebook Page for this effort – We the Pet People.  Please Like the page and ask others to do the same.

Good Luck to all of us!  Here’s hoping we get 25,000 + signatures.  I REALLY want to see the ‘official response’ to this!

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author, Buyer Beware
Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
PetsumerReport.com

Come One,  A new music video from Will Young has several talented canines as the main stars.  Will Young wins over the hearts of many  in the dog world with this new release. Enjoy!

Food is almost always one sure fire way to get your dog’s attention,  but there are some foods that can have truly monstrous results for dogs. Some foods a dog may like, but should never eat.  So here are some people foods that you can safely share with your four-legged friend.  My dogs, Sadie and Rusty, love these foods and I’m sure your dog will too. You can feel good about divvying out these tasty morsels.

Carrots – they are high in fiber and low in calories. Carrots also contain Vitamin A and Beta-carotene a powerful anti-oxidant which aids in improving eye-sight.

Apple slices –  contains Vitamins B and C as well as Pectin, a unique fiber which helps to improve intestinal function and aids in the removal of toxins from the gut.

Sweet Potatoes – contains high levels of Beta-carotene, Vitamins A and C, and Potassium. These nutrients have been known to promote heart health and eyesight.

Pineapple - contains high levels of Vitamin C and Bromelain, an effective anti-inflamitory. They are rich in Manganese, a trace mineral which helps promote strong bones and a good source of anti-oxidants.

Banana - contain high levels of Vitamin C and Potassium and serve as a natural antacid for the stomach.

Raw Bone - helps clean teeth and gums and is high in Calcium. As an added bonus raw bones give them metal and physical stimulation. Always supervise your dog when they’re chewing on a bone.

Lean Meat – plain (no sauces, seasonings etc) with no visible fat. Good source of protein and amino acids which are the building blocks to the muscle in your dogs body.

When possible get your treats from 100% organic sources, get the freshest produce possible. I like to go to our local farmers market when buying produce and fruit. I also get the bones and meat from 100% organic grass feed livestock. I order my bones and meat from Scott River Ranch.

Morgan, one of my clients dogs, enjoying the morning breeze while playing with the Rumble Ring.

Recently, I participated in PetTech’s First Aid and CPR class. Class had a rocky start with the instructor showing up an hour late. Yeah you read that right… an hour!

However, once the class started. I quickly became happy I enrolled. We learned how to muzzle a dog correctly. Muzzling is important for your safety, because a hurt dog is often scared and unpredictable, and they can accidentally harm the people trying to help. We also learned how to find a dog’s heartbeat, how to assess whether a dog is breathing or not and the snout to tail assessment. We were supposed to be given handouts to help document any findings during the snout to tail assessment, but the instructor, failed to provide them.

The course thoroughly covered how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (also known as CPR) on a variety of different canine body types. The CPR is used when your doggie patient is not breathing and does not have a heartbeat. Like people, dogs come in a variety of shapes and sizes so the technique varied depending on the type of canine you were trying to help. We also covered what to do in the event your dog starts choking.

Some of the First Aid items included: insect and snake bites, heat related injuries, heat stroke, cold injuries, seizures and what to do if your dog is bleeding from an injury.

PetTech’s First Aid and CPR class was very informative, and it would have been an even more enjoyable experience except for the late start and not receiving a copy of the snout to tail assessment sheet. I would recommend taking the course if you get the chance.