Using Acupuncture to Help Heal Your Pet

Acupuncture originates from China around 4500 years ago where the very first case of acupuncture used on animals is recorded to have happened during the western Jin dynasty period of China from 136 to 265 A.D.

Although people are usually the recipient of an acupuncture session, pets are also able to benefit greatly. This healing modality quickly spread to other parts of the world and was first used by veterinarians in the USA during the early 1970's.

Acupuncture is a natural healing technique that involves inserting a thin needle into specific points on the body to relieve pain in both large and small animals.

In reality it is believed that acupuncture enhances and restores the pet's natural flow of qi energy in their body. Qi energy circulates along 12 pathways, or meridians, in the pet's body. Every pathway is linked to an internal organ and its system. Very fine needles are then placed at certain points, called acupoints, along these pathways, in an attempt to stimulate the flow of qi energy. By doing so, the muscular, skeletal, hormonal and cardiovascular systems are all beneficially affected.

However, veterinarians and other acupuncture specialists in the western world explain that the body has about 365 main acupuncture points which are all located at little clusters of nerves and blood vessels. By stimulating these cluster points with the thin acupuncture needles, a host of local and general physiological effects are triggered within the pet's body which, in effect, increases the pet's own healing power within their body.

Unlike conventional medicine that is usually laden with pharmaceutical chemicals, acupuncture is a much safer and precise form of pain relief for pets that are suffering from a wide range of ailments, including allergies, hip dysplasia, paralysis, arthritis and respiratory problems.

In fact, acupuncture accelerates the release of neurotransmitters in the body such as endorphins, which are the body's natural pain killers, as well as small amounts of cortisal, which is an anti-inflammatory steroid.

Although acupuncture is most commonly given to cats, dogs and horses, any animal can benefit from acupuncture and so veterinarians have branched out to include ferrets, rabbits, hamsters, mice and parrots as well.

Besides pain relief, a few of the other benefits of acupuncture are an increase in blood cell production, an improved immune system, an increase in the animal's range of motion, as well as an overall sense of relaxation.

Another great advantage of acupuncture on older pets is that it has been proven to increase their quality of life, especially concerning those pets that may have had to have been euthanized or placed on medication for the remainder of their lives.

Traditionally, needles that are as a thin as a human hair are used for acupuncture therapy, however, modern times call for more modern techniques and so now other variations of acupuncture are being used. A few of these techniques can incorporate the use of either low power laser beams or low electrical currents. Either of these techniques carries the same benefit of using the needles in an acupuncture therapy session.

Before turning to acupuncture for their pets, most pet owners have tried doing the conventional medication route without any success. Other pet owners just prefer to treat their pet without using harmful drugs or surgery of any kind and prefer their pet's treatment to be as invasive as possible.

In an interview with the National Geographic News, a staff member of Colorado State University's veterinary program, Narda Robinson, explained that:

"The more that veterinarians learn and accept acupuncture and some of the other complimentary [alternative] medical techniques, the safety of medical intervention for animals will be that much better."

Most acupuncture treatments last between 10 seconds and 30 minutes depending on the ailment that the pet is being treated for. However, some pets will need to have between 4 and 6 treatment sessions before any real improvement will be noticed, although some pet owners do see instant improvements in the overall health of the pets after just one or two sessions.

Although some pets, and people too, will experience a little bit of pain when the thin acupuncture needles are first placed in the skin, the pain subsides very quickly and the majority of animals that are treated often fall asleep or become quite relaxed once the needles have all been placed in the right places across the body.

Veterinarian, Dr. Babette Gladstein, was quoted in the Long Island Press as saying:

"Acupuncture is one of the safest therapies available when practiced by a competent acupuncturist. Side effects are unusual. It balances the body's healing system, no chemicals are administered, and complications rarely develop."

Photo Credit: markhillary

'My Dog Is Cool' Campaign

The United Animal Nations has launched a new campaign aimed at informing dog owners about the dangers of leaving their dog in a closed car during the hot summer months. The campaign, entitled "My Dog is Cool", is the first campaign of its kind to solely focus on preventing the deaths of dogs who have been locked inside a hot car.

The campaign states that the "dog days" of summer can be quite hazardous to the health of an otherwise healthy dog, especially when you consider that thousands of dogs die each year after being locked inside a hot car whilst their owner is busy shopping, visiting friends, running an errand or even working.

Although this type of death is probably one of the worst types of death that any dog can suffer, the good news is that it is entirely preventable, and the United Animal Nations hopes to spread the word about how to prevent such a death through their "My Dog is Cool" campaign.

The United Animal Nations is a national non-profit animal protection group that was founded in 1987. Their focus is on 'bringing animals out of crisis and strengthening the bond between people and animals through a variety of programs, including emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance and education'.

The "My Dog is Cool" campaign has been specifically designed to do the following:

* Use of their 'Don't Leave Me in Here - It's Hot!' fliers, posters, and other educational materials that can be distributed to individuals and communities in an effort to educate them about how dangerous it really is to leave a dog alone in a hot car during the hot summer months.

* Inform and educate city officials, police, emergency workers, the media and even the general public on what to do to avoid dogs from dying inside a hot car.

* Use of their "A hot oven or a hot car" poster and their "Hot Temperature" warning sign, to caution other people about not leaving their dogs in parked cars on hot summer days.

President and CEO of the United Animal Nations, Nicole Forsyth, said:

"People mean well by taking their dogs or other animals along with them while they work, visit, shop or run errands, but warm weather can turn a car into a death trap."

However, a test that was conducted at Stanford University, determined that when the outside temperature is 72 degrees, the inside temperature of a car can increase to 116 degrees within the hour, regardless of whether the windows are cracked or not.

The test also revealed that when the outside temperature is 85 degrees, the inside temperature of a car can climb to 102 degrees in just 10 minutes and to 120 degrees in 30 minutes.

However, dogs are only able to endure a high body temperature for a relatively short period of time before they start to suffer from nerve damage, heart problems, liver damage, brain damage and eventually, death.

To help spread the word about the campaign even further, the United Animal Nations has launched a website with the same name.

Their hope is that the website will be a friendly resource for other pet owners and animal lovers to be encouraged and empowered to inform other pet owners about the dangers of leaving their dogs, and other pets, in a hot car even for "just a few minutes."

Such resources even include fliers and posters such as "A Hot Oven or a Hot Car... It's the Same Thing" poster that can be hung up inside gas stations, libraries and other places.

Concerned dog owners and other animal lovers can also print out, or purchase, from the website an "It's hot!" flier that they can easily leave on the windshield of a hot car that has an unattended dog inside it.

Another, cool, feature of the website is that it contains a weather forecasting tool which enables dog owners to input their zip code in order to see if it is too hot for the dogs to travel around with in the car.

The website also has an archive of news and police reports concerning the deaths of dogs that have been locked inside a hot car and the punishment received by their uncaring owners.

One of the more recent reports dated 28 June, 2009, is of the death of a one year old Black Labrador Retriever who was left inside a hot car with none of the windows open outside the Spokane Valley Mall in Washington. The owner, Charles M. Eschenbacher, 31, was booked into the Spokane County Jail and was being held in lieu of $5,000 bail. He was also charged with felony animal cruelty and a misdemeanor linked to 'confining or transporting an animal unsafely'.
Photo Credit: Just chaos

Leash Laws For Cats

Unlike dogs, cats have always had a special relationship with humans. One in which the cat was never truly 'domesticated' and was allowed to come and go as they pleased. Cats would hunt in the fields near where the humans lived and catch mice and other rodents. Humans were happy about that and allowed the cats' their freedom.

However, during the 19th century dogs that were roaming around freely were found to be a menace to both farmers and their livestock. Dogs would often hunt and kill young goats and sheep which would hurt the farmer's pocket. The spread of rabies also increased and eventually dog confinement laws were passed. These laws mandated the licensing and inoculation of dogs within the community. Further laws were established that gave farmers the right to shoot and kill any dog that they found to be preying on their livestock. Other laws allowed the impoundment of any dog that was found to be at-large. Soon enough some over-zealous people decided to take the dog leash laws one step further and suggested that cats be included in such leash laws. Some of these wannabe law makers even propose that trap and kill programs should be initiated to eliminate the presence of outdoor cats, claiming the protection of natural wildlife and birds was more important than the life of a nuisance cat. In fact the American Bird Conservancy group stated that "... cats kill hundreds of millions of birds, and more than a billion small mammals, such as rabbits, squirrels, and chipmunks, each year."

One such cat leash law was proposed in Wisconsin in 2005. Known as Question 62, the proposed law stated that cats who were found to be free-roaming and had no collar or other sign of being owned, could be considered an "unprotected species", the same classification as skunks, rats, mice and weasels, and could therefore be hunted down and killed at any time with no bag limit! Thankfully, the proposed law received a multitude of criticism from across the US and the proposal failed.

Because of their free spirited nature, most people have a belief that cats should be free to roam around outside as they like and not to be constantly confined inside a house. Most people, however, have indoor only cats, which are just as strong and healthy as their outdoor counterparts. But even more people have cats that spend most of their time wandering around outside the home, coming inside only to eat and sleep.

It is because of these free roaming cats, that leash laws have grown in popularity amongst major cities across the USA. Texas, for example, has two laws in which cat confinement is discussed: The first one being that cats are allowed outside as long as they are in a fenced yard or on a leash; and the second law is that cat's may be 'outside without restraint, provided they are under the owners' immediate control or on the owners' property'. Texas state law actually allows all of its counties the freedom to pass cat leash laws as it deems necessary for its county.

Another city that has strong laws regarding the confinement of cats is Dallas, Texas. The city's website blatantly states:

"All animals, including cats, must be confined at all times... restrained at all times in a fenced yard, in an enclosed pen or structure, or by a hand-held leash if in the custody of the owner unless the cat(s) belong to a Trap, Neuter and Release program."

In this law, the Trap, Neuter and Release program, simply allows the Director of Animal Control to authorize programs that enable the controlling of disease and overpopulation of feral cat colonies. Therefore, without such a provision, cats that are deemed as being feral may be captured by Animal Control and destroyed.

Not surprisingly, most people do not even know whether their city has a cat leash law. Take for example, a loving cat owner who recently moved into a new neighborhood in a town in Georgia. One of her cats was caught violating the county at-large law and was immediately impounded overnight. A cat at-large law states that a cat that is "...outside the owner's premises and not leashed or immediately responsive to verbal or non-verbal direction" can be picked up and impounded.

Before allowing your outdoor cat to go, well, outside again, check whether your city, county or state has any specific cat leash laws in effect. Most of the time these laws can be found by looking at the website for the city, county or state in which you live. Search under Animal Services, Health Department and Code Enforcement. A few cities even have their cat leash laws posted online at municode.com.

Photo Credit: juhansonin

10 Most Common Animal Attacks on Pets

Our pets have many predators, some of which we don't know even think about. Below is a list of the top 10 animal attacks on pets across the USA, according to Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. who recently released their top animal attack claims for 2008.

1. Snakes

Although snakes live in every state, the worst cases only occur in a few states.

Elizabeth Rozanski, an assistant professor of emergency and critical care at the Tufts University's Foster Hospital for Small Animals in North Grafton, Massachusetts, explains that:

"In Colorado and Arizona, we see a lot of snake bites, but those are often dogs coming unleashed in an area where snakes are."

The most poisonous snakes found in America are corral snakes and pit vipers, such as rattlesnakes, copperheads and the cottonmouth moccasin. However, coral snakes usually only bite once provoked, whilst pit vipers only become aggressive if they perceive a pet to be a threat to them.

2. Coyote

Coyotes have a tendency to hunt small animals and pets and will attack out of aggression rather than self-defense, and can be found every state.

Rozanski warns: "Coyotes definitely do attack. Unfortunately, what coyotes do is kill cats, not injure them, usually. If you're in an area that there's coyotes around, that's definitely a cause for concern."

You can always tell when coyotes are on the hunt as they will usually be in packs of two and will howl in the evening. Keep your pet inside if you believe that coyotes are outside.

3. Raccoons

Raccoons live in almost every part of the USA, and can carry Rabies.

If your pet is bitten by a Raccoon, Hohenhaus suggests that you attempt to trap and catch the Raccoon so that you can take into your veterinarian to be tested for rabies. It is also best to make sure that your pets are always current on their Rabies vaccine.

However, it is rare for a Raccoon to attack a pet. Usually a pet will attack a Raccoon who will then attack back in self-defense.

4. Squirrel

Except in Australia and Antarctica, Squirrels can be found everywhere else in the world.

Since squirrels are so small, they are desired prey for most dogs and bigger domestic cats. However, sharp claws can hinder a squirrel from becoming prey. Pets are bitten by squirrels most often when they corner it and it retaliates in self-defense.

5. Scorpions

Most scorpion attacks happen in Arizona. There are roughly 40 different species of scorpions that have the potential to kill a person via their poisonous sting. So one can only imagine how the sting would impact a smaller pet.

"[With] scorpions, those aren't really anybody's fault," explains Rozanski. She believes that a scorpion stings usually after a pet has chased it down, but also believes that the pet's owner is also at fault for allowing their pet to run wild

6. Javelina

Javelina's, or collared peccary's, are small pig-like mammals with sharp tusks that are found in the Southwest and Central and South America.

The javelina usually eats roots, insects and small reptiles, but, because of their sharp tusks, they can also hunt and attack small dogs and cats.

7. Porcupines

Injuries that are caused by a porcupines quill are quite common across the Northeast of the USA.

Veterinarians believe that porcupines are not the aggressors, which is usually evident with the porcupine's quills usually being found on the face of a dog or cat; proving that the pet was hunting the porcupine.

8. Groundhog

These underground creatures use their sharp claws and teeth to free themselves from a predators hold and are usually found where forests meet fields.

Attacks by groundhogs on pets are usually the cause of a pet becoming too close to the groundhog.

9. Skunk

Even though some skunks are kept as pets, their scent glands are usually removed first. However, wild skunks, can emit a rank smelling, yellowish type of liquid that is usually offensive enough to teach a domestic pet to stay away from skunks in the future!

However, skunks also have very sharp claws that were designed for digging. These claws can do a sizeable amount of damage if your pet got too near.

10. Rat

Common house Rats are usually the culprit in claims investigated by VPI. Rats can grow to be nearly 10 inches long and weigh about a pound. Rats are scavengers and seek out warm areas in which to live, such as houses.

Rats carry diseases like typhus and tularemia which can be passed onto the pets that they bite.

Being as aggressive and voracious as they are, Rats will do whatever they need to in order to protect themselves from pets and people, often biting and scratching their way free.

Photo Credit: Harlequeen

Teaching Your Dog To Play Dead Video

Want to teach your dog the play dead dog trick? Learn how with expert tips on dog tricks in this video by Kim Amatucci.

De-Clawing Ban a Possibility in San Francisco

West Hollywood, California, is the largest city in America that has a ban on declawing cats for non-therapeutic reasons. Now, San Francisco, California, may be next in line.

A prominent animal welfare advisory board, the San Francisco Commission of Animal Control and Welfare, voted 5-1 at a recent hearing, in recommendation that the San Francisco Board of Supervisors adopt a city wide ban on declawing cats, except in medical emergencies.

Their argument was that the practice of declawing cats was improper and inhumane. Commission Chair Sally Stephens, explained that such a cruel practice is usually only done for cosmetic purposes or to stop cats from scratching their owner's furniture.

Stephens describes the declawing procedure as a surgery in which the last bone in a cat's paw is amputated. Even though most veterinarians do use cat-friendly anesthetics, nearly every declawed cat suffers from long continuing pain as well as emotional and behavioral changes, easily noticeable in a cat that no longer uses its litter box (scratching at the litter will cause a pain reaction that the cat will associate with the litter box) or with a normally docile cat who becomes extremely skittish virtually overnight after being declawed.

"So basically it's kind of barbaric," Stephens said.

The proposed San Francisco ordinance would closely resemble a ban that is already in effect in West Hollywood, California, since 2003, that states it is illegal for anyone to perform a declawing surgery on a cat within the city limits, except in situations where there is a therapeutic purpose such as a removal of any infected or injured tissue.

This, however, is not the first time that the city of San Francisco has discussed the possibility of a city wide declawing ban. In 2003, San Francisco's Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution "urging pet guardians and veterinarians to discontinue the practice of declawing cats in the city and county of San Francisco."

Several countries across Europe have already banned the declawing practice for many years.

Such a ban would still, obviously, allow a cat to be declawed if the declawing was deemed to be medically necessary, as in the case of cancer or severe infections, stated Stephens.

Veterinarian, Dr. Jennifer Conrad of the Paw Project, a nonprofit animal advocacy organization, spoke out in favor of the ban stating that:

"De-clawing is no less cruel because it is labeled a common veterinary procedure. In fact, it is more cruel because veterinarians, of all people, should know better."

Conrad went on to say further that: "Declawing can result in lameness and other physical problems. It can also lead to litter box avoidance and biting, behavioral problems that can result in pets being abandoned at animal shelters."

However, such a ban also received opposition during the hearing, with representatives from the California Veterinary Medical Association. The CAVM also tried to sue in an attempt to overturn the declawing ban in West Hollywood in 2005. They were unsuccessful. The Court of Appeals in June 2007, upheld a ruling of 2-1 in favor of the declawing ordinance. Such an ordinance is the only one in existence throughout the entire USA. Legal arguments were filed by the San Francisco City Attorney's Office in support of the ordinance in West Hollywood.

The CVMA's argument is that the decision to declaw a cat should be left to the sole discretion of the cat's owner, along with sound advice from their veterinarian, rather than the ban being forced by the city, giving the owner no choice in the matter.

Stephens is hoping that the declawing ban would be in full practice by the end of this year.

However, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently signed in a bill that would make it illegal for any city or county in California, to pass a law that would prevent any veterinarian from performing any duty that is allowed under California's licensing standards.

This new bill simply means that cities and counties within the State of California will no longer be allowed to pass any law that goes against the State's licensing standards, but this bill would only be in effect for any legislation that is passed after 1 January, 2010.

This bill was sponsored by the CVMA, which has previously stated that the association is against any city banning veterinarian practices, especially those that are held up by veterinarians, veterinary associations and the state board.

The catch is that if the declawing ban is passed in San Francisco before the new bill comes into effect, the ban will stand.

Photo Credit: kevindooley

The Power of a Cat's Purr

Everyone who owns a cat, or who has ever been owned by a cat, knows how calming their purrs can be or how demanding their meowing can be, for that matter.

However, scientists have recently taken this one step further and have come to the conclusion that cats have the uncanny ability to mix a very relaxed purr with a somewhat annoying whine, in order to get exactly what they want from their human caretakers.

The reason, it seems, is that nearly every domesticated cat is physically able to emit two very distinctive sounds: a calm, content purr, and a very urgent, demanding purr. The focus of this study was on the urgent purr, simply because it is a cat's surefire way to get the attention of its owners and caretakers quickly and effectively. Reason being is that the frequency range of this urgent purr is quite similar to that of a crying human baby, and that is a sound that every human can hear and will definitely respond to.

Talk about being wrapped around your kitty's little paw!

The study was conducted by the Centre for Mammal Vocal Communication Research at England's University of Sussex. Scientists at the Centre research different types and aspects of vocalization in animals, including the different types of dog growls and the roars of red deer.

However, the most recent study investigated exactly how it was that domestic cats were cleverly able to use a simple purr in order to retrieve food and treats from their caretakers.

British Scientist, and head of the study at the University of Sussex in England, Karen McComb, was inspired to conduct the study because of her own cat's persistent early morning purring.

"I wondered why this purring sounded so annoying and was so difficult to ignore. Talking with other cat owners, I found that some of them also had cats who showed similar behavior".

Each human was subjected to an audio comparison of a purr that was recorded whilst a cat was actually searching and requesting food and of a purr that was recorded when a cat was quite happy and relaxed.

The result was that the humans were able to easily distinguish the 'needy' purr as being far more urgent and less happy than the second record purr, even for those humans who have never owned a cat.

Once the scientists had analyzed the acoustics of the 'needy purr', they discovered a rather high frequency module that was quite similar to a cat's meow or cry. The scientists then quickly re-mastered the purr digitally to remove the high frequency piece and were able to conclude that that humans who were listening to the recorded sound, did not feel that there was any sense of dire urgency in the tone of the purr. The high pitched cry that was embedded in the cats' happy purr, was thought to actually trigger a sense of urgency in the cats owners and caretakers, thereby potentially exploiting a human's natural instinct to nurture the young.

Their investigation revealed that the cats' mix of this special purr and meow combo, actually "exploits an inherent mammalian sensitivity to acoustic cues relevant in the context of nurturing offspring."

This study went on to be published in the journal, Current Biology, and claimed that most humans find such a purr to be extremely annoying and quite difficult to ignore.

McComb, suggests that by making such soliciting purring sounds, cats are proving that they have an understanding of how human sensitivity to sounds work and that it is related to nurturing instincts in humans.

"The embedding of a cry within a call that we normally associate with contentment is quite a subtle means of eliciting a response," explained McComb.

According to McComb, this type of 'solicitation purring' is most likely more tolerable to a cat's owner or caretaker, than blatant meowing.

However, 'solicitation purring' is not a distinguishing factor in every cat or kitten.

Those cats or kittens who exhibit such subtly demanding purrs usually have a very strong bond with their owners and, more often than not, have a one on one relationship with their owner or caretaker. This is evident in the fact that these cats that were being studied, refused to commence any type of purring, never mind 'solicitation purring'. In order to combat this set back, scientists had to teach the cat owners exactly how to record their cats' cries at home.

It is interesting to note that even humans who do not own a cat, were also able to perceive a sense of urgency in the tone of the cats' purr on the recordings that were played back to them. This undoubtedly proves that the cats' crying purr does cause a human's sensitivity level to rise.

Photo Credit: ToNG!?

Is Your Pet A Smoker?

Over the past few years there have been ample warnings, debates and even advertising campaigns that all tout the harmful effects of second hand smoke on both adults and children. But what about pets?

If you smoke, you can rest assured that your pet is a smoker too!

A study conducted in 2007 at the Tuft College of Veterinary Medicine, concluded that there was a very strong link between secondhand smoke and certain types of cancer in cats. Cats that had squamous cell carcinoma, or mouth cancer, more often lived in homes with second hand smoke than those cats that lived in a smoke free home. Even worse, was that cats who lived for longer than 5 years in a smoker's home, were more likely to have oral cancer than a cat that did not.

Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service veterinarian, Dr. Carolynn MacAllister, explained that:

"One reason cats are so susceptible to secondhand smoke is because of their grooming habits. Cats constantly lick themselves while grooming, therefore they lick up the cancer-causing carcinogens that accumulate on their fur. This grooming behavior exposes the mucous membrane of their mouth to the cancer-causing carcinogens."

"Secondhand smoke has been associated with oral cancer and lymphoma in cats, lung and nasal cancer in dogs, as well as lung cancer in birds."

Dr MacAllister says that there is also a correlation between second hand smoke and lung, nose and sinus cancer in dogs.

"A recent study conducted at Colorado State University shows that there is a higher incidence of nasal tumors in dogs living in a home with secondhand smoke compared to dogs living in a smoke free environment," she explained. "The increased incidence was specifically found among the long nosed breed of dogs. Shorter or medium nosed dogs showed higher rates for lung cancer."

It seems that longer nose breeds actually have a larger surface on their noses that is exposed to the carcinogens. This allows the carcinogens to build up on the mucous membranes, which prevents them from reaching the dog's lungs. However, those dogs that do contract nasal cancer do not live longer than a year.

"The reason short and medium nose dogs have a higher occurrence of lung cancer is because their shorter nasal passages aren't as effective at accumulating the inhaled secondhand smoke carcinogens," Dr MacAllister explained. "This results in more carcinogens reaching the lungs."

The good news however, is that a recent study that was published in the journal Tobacco Control illustrated that there was a considerable amount of smoking pet owners who would actually attempt to quit smoking, if the dangers of second hand smoke on their pets was explained to them.

The study conducted by the Henry Ford Health System's Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, polled 3,293 adult pet owners during an internet survey. Of these people, 21% said they were smokers whilst 27% said that they lived with at least one smoker in their household. Another 40% of both smoking and non-smoking pet owners who took part in the survey actually admitted that if the dangers of second hand smoke on their pets was explained to them, that they would either quite smoking themselves or they would try to help their fellow household smokers quit.

If you are trying to quit smoking yourself or trying to help someone else quit, you can reference a study that was placed in the American Journal of Epidemiology, which found that dogs that lived in a smoker's house had a 60% greater chance of developing lung cancer. Collies, Greyhounds and other such long-nosed dogs were twice as more likely to develop nasal cancer if their owner smoked, than those long-nosed dogs who did not live in a smoking household.

Tobacco smoke can also cause severe allergic reactions in dogs and cats, and respiratory problems in animals that have smaller lung capacity, such as pet birds, hamsters and mice. Undisciplined pet owners who drop their cigarette butts on the ground, either in their own home or yard, or whilst out in public, run the risk of a dog or cat (or other animal) finding and eating the butt. These animals would then become poised by the tobacco contained in the cigarette butt.

If you or someone you know is a smoker but are not yet ready to quit, you can help your pet not becoming a smoker by remembering to smoke outside the house and regularly replace your air filters inside your house and car to help keep the air that your pet breathes free of tobacco smoke.

Also remember to take your pet for regular grooming and bathing sessions in order to remove any excess tobacco particles on their fur. Thoroughly wash and disinfect your pets bedding and clothes as well.

Photo Credit: indi.ca

How To Build Your Own Dog House

Every dog needs to have their own dog house! But buying one in today's economy can set you back a few hundred bucks. It is much easier, and a lot more fun, to build your own dog house.

Before starting to build a dog house for your dog, there are a few factors that should be taken into consideration.

* The Size of the Dog House

The size of your dog at its full grown height, should determine how large his dog house should be. Your dog should be able to stand up inside at full height, turn around and lie down in a stretching position without any part of his body, paws or tail touching neither the sides nor the roof of the dog house. Make sure that the width of the door is wide enough for your dog to walk comfortable in and out of. Keep in mind that if your dog will be spending time outside in his dog house during the cooler winter months, that an overly large dog house will compromise your dog's retention of body heat.

* The Weather

Dog houses that have hinged roofs are becoming quite popular. The hinges allow the roof to be raised during hot weather, allowing cooler air to flush out stagnant warm air. Some of these roofs can also be lowered to create a smaller space for your dog to lie in that will help him preserve his body heat. Try not to use asphalt shingles when building the roof of your dog's house, unless you are able to provide adequate insulation between the roof and the main area of the dog house. A great idea is to build a slanted roof. This will help to ensure easy drain off of rain and snow. However, never build or buy a dog house that has a peaked roof, as they attract wasps and hornets who love to build their nests in the peaked crevices and they also prevent heat retention. Something else to consider when building a dog house is to add in wind walls. These help to break the wind and work to keep the dog house warmer in the winter. Don't forget to build the house a few inches off the ground in order to keep it properly dry and away from any flea eggs that can hatch in the soil. This will also cause air to flow beneath the house and will then prevent any moisture from sticking to the bottom of the dog house. If you have extra money to spend, you should consider adding a heater or air conditioner into the dog house, especially if your dog will be spending most of its time in it.

* Door Location

When building your dog's house, do not place the front door in the middle of the house. Instead, place the front door to one side of the front of the house, as this will help to prevent your dog from being directly exposed to adverse weather conditions. You can even design your dog's house to have removable front doors. These can then be removed during the summertime and put back on during the winter months. Another alternative is to build an awning over the top of the front door of the dog house for added shade and protection from the wind, rain and sun.

* Maintenance

A very important aspect to any dog house, whether you build it yourself or decided to buy one instead, is to make sure that it does not require high maintenance. A good dog house should be quick and easy to clean. Consider adding removable or adjustable roofs and front doors, wind walls and an awning over the front door. Avoid using certain types of paint, wood stains, or water sealers for the outside of the house as these can inadvertently make the house appear dirtier quicker and you will find that you are constantly cleaning the outside of your dog's new house.

* Wood

Stay away from using or buying plastic and metal dog houses because they can become quite hot inside during the summer and very cold inside during the winter. Using natural western red cedar would is the most preferred type of wood to use as it offers the best summer and winter insulation. An added bonus is that red cedar wood oils are natural insect repellants of fleas, ticks, ants and termites. Red cedar wood houses are virtually maintenance free on the outside but can also be painted or stained as well. Place a dog bed that has been filled with red cedar wood chips or shavings into your dog's house upon completion as they will help prevent insect infestation from creeping into your dog's bed.

Photo Credit: brandongreer

5 Tips On How To Keep Your Dog Cool This Summer

The 'dog days of summer' are finally here and because of the beautiful sunshine your dog is spending more time outside than he has all year!

However, along with that sunshine comes high temperatures which can lead to very specific health hazards for your dog. Heat stroke, heat exhaustion and even sunburn can afflict any dog that spends time outdoors.

There are quite a few things that you can do to help ensure your dog's wellbeing this summer.

Prevent Heat Stroke

When your dog is unable to rid himself of any unnecessary heat from his body, his internal temperature will rise. This increase in temperature can affect your dog's internal organs and lead to massive damage. Left untreated, heat stroke can lead to the death of your dog.

However, even though there are quite a few different symptoms of heat stroke, they are easy to notice. Look out for increased panting or breathing that sounds more desperate than regular breathing, a fast pulse rate, and bright red gums. Even their overall appearance should tell you that your dog is suffering from heat stroke. Remember that if you do not treat your dog immediately for heat stroke it can lead to your dog going into shock or to even loose consciousness.

This is especially true of puppies and senior dogs. Immediately move your dog to cooler area with good ventilation. If this is not possible you can also try soaking your pet in cold water, not ice cold though, or gently spraying him with cool water from a hose pipe or spray bottle. However, once your dog's temperature drops back down to 103 degrees Fahrenheit, you should remove your dog from the cold water as the risk of hypothermia increases. The cooling process is pretty fast, so be sure to constantly monitor your dog at all times.

As soon as you feel that your dog has become stabilized, you should immediately take him to a veterinary clinic. There are many hidden side effects of heat stroke, like brain damage and dehydration and only a veterinarian can help you with those ailments.

Protect Your Dog From Sunburn

Most dog owners liberally apply sun block on their hands, arms and face but do not even think about doing the same for their dog! Dogs are quite susceptible to sun burn, especially dogs that have light coats and short hair. Common places to get sun burnt are the tips of the ears and nose as well as the belly, groin and underside of the legs.

Remember to always use a sunscreen that has been specifically designed for use on dogs and apply it every time your dog goes out in the sun. Do not place any sunscreen on his belly or legs as he will be able to lick it off.

Turn On The Water

Since most dogs do not have an innate ability to cool themselves it is up to you as their care givers to make sure that they have continual access to cool water during the summertime. Bear in mind that a temperature of 100 - 102 degrees is perfectly normal for a dog and that they can usually release excess heat via sweat glands in their nose and paws; any temperature higher than 102 means that your dog is in danger of suffering from heat exhaustion.

The easiest, and fastest, way for your dog to cool down is to drink plenty of cool, fresh water. Therefore, make sure your dog has constant access to fresh drinking water. If you are taking your dog for a hike, remember to bring a bottle of water just for your dog to drink. If your dog is going to spend most of his time outside, then perhaps purchasing a water bowl that you attach to your garden hose and that automatically keeps the bowl filled with water might be a great option.

Keep Your Dog Out Of The Car

Under no circumstances should you leave your pet unattended in your car at any time and, in fact, it is against the law in most States in the USA! During the hot summer months, the temperature inside your car can increase by nearly 40 degrees in just one hour, with 80% of that happening within the first half an hour. Simply put, if the temperature outside the car is 85 degrees, then the temperature inside the car (even with the windows cracked) can quickly reach 102 degrees in less than 10 minutes.

Limit Your Dog's Activity

Try to avoid your dog running around outside when the sun is at its highest. Also switch to morning or evening runs and walks with your dog to avoid prolonged sun and heat exposure during the daytime.

Photo Credit: Sister72

Three Legged Cats

Every person who cares for a normal, four legged cat knows that such care taking is a huge responsibility that involves hard work and patience. However, taking care of a three legged cat requires extra caution and care, as well as a greater need to understand three legged cats better.

Most three legged cats have come that way to due to their fourth leg be amputated because of illness or injury. In a few rare cases, some cats are only born with three legs when the umbilical cord becomes entangled around one of their limbs and cuts off the circulation. Fewer still, are cases where a cat is born with a deformity or other such birth defect which causes one of their limbs to be deformed. If a kitten's leg is amputated during the early stages of her life, the kitten will actually grow up on its remaining three legs and will not know that they are any different from other four legged cats.

Regardless of why your cat only has three legs, you should still brush up on your knowledge of cat behavior so that you can best take care of your cat.

If your cat has recently lost a leg, you should keep in mind that there will be an initial adjustment period. Do not think that your cat will be back to normal quickly, as all cats will need to come to terms with getting around on only three legs.

If your cat has lost one of her forelegs, she may have trouble landing properly after she jumps down from a higher place. Keep this in mind and try to make sure that there are plenty of soft cushions for her to land on. But, if your cat has lost one of her hind legs, then she may not be to jump up very high.

During your cat's initial adjustment period, she will make a few mistakes which could possibly lead to further injuries. Although you should always keep a close eye on your three legged cat, you should allow her plenty of space in which to learn her own limitations and personal expectations. Cats are quite ingenious and the loss of a leg does nothing to stop them from enjoying their life to the fullest.

You should constantly monitor the weight of your three legged cat. She should never become obese as not only will it be harder for her to lose the excess weight, but she will also have fewer limbs on which to support the excess weight. Make sure that your cat gets plenty of gentle exercise in the beginning and then allowing your cat to become more active as she gets used to being on only three legs as this will help her in strengthening her remaining limbs.

Rest assured that most three legged cats are able to quickly adapt to having only three legs rather quickly and will eventually be just as active and inquisitive as they were before losing their fourth leg.

There are a number of ways in which you can help your cat adjust to her new life. Firstly, learn to pay extra attention to your cat's body language and the sounds she makes. Preferably, you should be able to match your cat's mood with her body language. After you have figured that out, your next step will be to take careful note of what situations cause your cat to become upset. Just by understanding this, you will greatly be able to help your cat live a less stressful life.

Something else to remember is that cats have a very good sense of smell. In fact, they can smell fourteen times better than a human can. So you will need to make sure that your her litter box is always kept cleaned, otherwise she might not use her litter box at all.

Nearly every cat that has three legs will be on some kind of prescription medication. You will need to learn how to effectively give your cat her medication as most cats hate taking medicines and will usually put up a fight. It will be easier if you are able to obtain medication that is in liquid form because pills are harder for cats to swallow.

Never apply too much pressure whenever you are petting your three legged cat, especially if she is standing on all three legs. The added pressure may cause her to lose her balance. Be cautious when touching your cat near the stump of her missing leg as she may well be overly sensitive.

All in all, by just being extra cautious with taking care of your three legged cat, you will be able to provide her with a happy and healthy life for many years to come.

Photo Credit: cygnus921

Mixed Breed Dogs

Many years ago, mixed breed dogs were the most commonly owned household dog across the world. Other names for such a dog have been 'Heinz 57 Variety', mutt, mongrel, tyke, cur, bitsa, and even random bred dog. In fact, different countries have their own special terminology as well. For example, in Hawaii a mixed breed dog is called a poi dog. Pot Cakes is what they are referred to in the Bahamas. South African's refer to mixed breed dogs as 'pavement specials'. There are a few registries and dog kennels and dog clubs in America today that prefer to use the more elite terminology of 'All American' when describing a mixed breed dog.

Back in those days, mutts were usually the result of a neighbor dog jumping the fence at the most inopportune time. However those mixed breed dogs came to be, does not deter from the fact that they were dearly loved and cared for by their owners.

However, there has been plenty of confusion surrounding the terms mixed-breed, pure-bred and cross-bred. Pure-bred refers to those dog breeds that have been artificially created through selective breeding by their human owners, so as to enhance a particularly desired physical or temperamental characteristic. The terminology 'cross-bred' refers to a dog that is the outcome of intentionally breeding two different types of pure-bred dog breeds.

Mixed-breed usually refers to a dog whose parental lineage is unknown and, because dogs are capable of breeding themselves, there is a wider variety of mixed breed dogs that have different markings, sizes, shapes, and even fur type, than there are of cross bred or pure bred dogs.

Certainly no pedigreed dog, the mixed breed dog is hardy and healthy. Usually because they were devoid of inbreeding that usually happens in purebred dogs. Inbreeding of purebred dogs over a few generations usually means that certain genes, good or bad, will be continually carried into the next generation of dogs. This has been the cause of most major health concerns that are commonly found in pure bred dogs.

Since a mixed-bred dog is created to be more genetically diverse, with the unplanned mating of its parents, it is less likely to have certain genetic disorders because of a lower chance that both of its parents actually carried such a gene. However, this does not necessarily mean that the breeding of two different types of dogs will lead to a healthy puppy. Sadly, most of the puppies will actually inherit the worst genes of both of his parents and is mostly commonly seen in pet store puppies or puppies that have come from puppy mills.

On a good note, however, a study conducted in Germany found that: "Mongrels require less veterinary treatment".

A Swedish study revealed that: "Mongrel dogs are less prone to many diseases than the average purebred dog" and that, "Mongrels were consistently in the low risk category" in reference to the death rates amongst all dogs in general.

An additional study reported that: "The median age at death was 8.5 years for all mixed breed dogs and 6.7 years for all pure breed dogs. For each weight group, the age at death of pure breed dogs was significantly less than for mixed-breed dogs".

There are four basic classification types of mixed breed dogs:

* Crossbred dogs, which is the crossing of two different, but recognized or purebred dog breeds. Such examples would be the deliberate mating of a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle in order to have Cockapoo puppies. Cross breeding can also occur when some unscrupulous breeder try to create new dog breeds. Although it is good to remember, that the majority of cross breeding happens quite accidently.

* A mixed-bred dog that shows the characteristics of two or more distinctive breeds. Such dogs may have purebred ancestry or stem from a long line of mixed breeds. Either way, these dogs are identified by the breed that they resemble the most, like a 'Lab mix'.

* A generic Pariah dog, such as the Canaan Dog. These dogs are the result of non-selective breeding that has occurred over the course of many generations. Simply put, these mixed breed dogs are descended from wild or feral dogs and are usually light brown in color with medium height and weight. DNA tests have since proven that the genes of a pariah dog are more ancient than that of our modern day mixed breed dogs.

* Purpose-bred dogs, such as the Alaskan Husky, are pedigreed dogs that have been chosen because of their outstanding performance at a particular task, such as dog-sledding. Since there is usually not a lot of dissimilarity between a "mix" and a "breed" with purpose-bred dogs, they eventually become accepted as their own, specific breed over time.

Photo Credit: madaise

Your Pet's Horoscope For July

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20)

Capricorn pets will be more wound up than usual this month. This is easily remedied by providing them with lots of undivided attention. Expect to spend some money on your pet. So get ready to spoil them with a few new toys or treats. A brand new bed might be just want they want.

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19)

Be prepared to be challenged by your Aquarian pet this month! Even though you thought you had taught them proper boundaries, they will try to get you to forget that you ever taught them a thing! Remember to show your pet that you are the leader of their pack and try not to give in to their whims.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20)

This month your Pisces pet may exhibit unusual behavior, such as hiding their toys and treats in curious places around the house. If you notice that your pet has started to sleep in a different spot, simply adjust the temperature of your house or provide a cooling fan for your pet. Your house may just be too hot for your pet to handle.

ARIES (March 21 - April 20)

The summertime heat will get to your pet this month. So be forewarned, your pet is not acting out because he or she is being naughty, but because the heat is becoming too much for them to handle. Keep this mind and curb their behavior by providing them with lots of activity and games. Remember, a tired pet is a happy pet.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21)

Taurus pets will be focused on enhancing their sleeping spots this month. Help them by buying your dog a new cooling bed, or placing a fan near a window ledge so that your cat can lie in coolness while she watches the birds outside. However, your pet's attention will quickly become focused on the more hurried activity that will consume the household near the 29th. Do your best to keep your pet calm and as anxiety free as possible.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21)

There will be many changes this month in the life of a Gemini pet. Such changes could come in the form of a move, a new pet or a vacation with the family. Keep in mind that sudden change in your pet's life can cause them undue stress. Help them be better prepared for any change by assuring them of your love and commitment with plenty of cuddles.

CANCER (June 22 - July 23)

This month your Cancer pet will be a very calming force in your household. Rest assured that when you are having a bad day, your dog will still want to play with you and your cat will still demand that she sits on your lap to console you with her quiet purrs. Consider showing your gratitude to your pet by allowing them a play date or teaching them a new game.

LEO (July 24 - August 23)

Even though it is hot outside, do not use that as an excuse to not exercise your Leo pet this month. Remember that since Leo pets have an insatiable appetite, they will quickly put on the pounds this month if they are not taken for a walk or provided with adequate activity.

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23)

During the beginning of July, your Virgo pet's mood will be quite high! Do you best at prolonging their high spirits by purchasing them a new toy that is sure to continually entertain them. Towards the end of the moth, however, your Virgo pet may show a change in their behavior. Remember, that if you think it is more than just a simple mood swing, take your Virgo pet to see the veterinarian as soon as possible.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23)

Your Libra pet will be happiest this month if he is allowed to have as many play dates as possible. However, you should put a hold on any activity if you feel that your pet is displaying signs of bodily stress or pain from too much rough housing. Consider treating your Libra pet to alternative health remedies such as water therapy or Reiki.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 2)

Scorpio pets might just surprise their owners this July with their boundless energy - and good behavior! Help your pet to keep up his energy level by providing nutritious meals and making sure that your pet is always included in family events.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21)

Provide your Sagittarius pet with a lot of TLC this month as they will be more sensitive than usual. Avoid changing their routine at all cost and remember that lots of hugs go side by side with telling your pet how good they are.

Photo Credit: Robyn Gallagher

Motor Vehicles That Are Dog Friendly

These days almost every home in America has at least one dog. Families are so besotted with their dogs, as well they should be, that they taking their dogs with them whenever they venture of the house.

It used to be that the only way to take your dog outside was for a walk around the neighborhood, and going on vacation meant going without your dog. However, with families now opting to travel further and further away from home for vacations and not wanting to leave the dogs behind with a pet sitter, they are now looking to purchase the perfect dog friendly car. And car manufacturers are listening!

Dog owners are now desiring cars in which both their human family members and their furry family members can ride in comfortably and safely. A number of car manufacturers are now offering cars that have been specifically planned with a family's pet dog in mind. These cars are designed to provide a safe and secure ride for everyone in the family.

Dog Friendly Element

Honda Motor Co. in Japan recently debuted their newest dog friendly Honda Element SUV at the New York International Auto Show.

This sports utility vehicle will keep your dog's head inside the car rather than hanging outside from the window. Inside you will find a dog sized cushioned pet bed with safety restraints inside the cargo area, a spill resistant water bowl, and a ventilation fan to keep your dog comfortable whilst he's in the back.

The newest Element includes a folding ramp to help smaller and older dogs climb in and out of the back of the SUV. Honda has even incorporated a pet carrier in the back seat as well as seat covers that can be machine washed; all this to make the SUV a lot more suitable for carrying around smaller pets.

To prove how dog friendly this vehicle is, the manufactures have even included toy bone shaped rubber floor mats and emblems in the shape of doggie paw prints on the side and back of the vehicle.

The new Dog Friendly Element model is scheduled to be released during the fall of 2009.

The 2009 Toyota Venza

The Toyota Venza, a five passenger, dog friendly, crossover vehicle, was tailored specifically for the North American market by being both designed and engineered in the United States of America.

The Venza touts more than a dozen dog friendly features that are available through dealers, such as a pet booster seat with a harness attached, a pet barrier system in the cargo area, pet seat belt buckles, and even waterproof, removable hammock style seat covers.

And just like the new Honda Element, the Venza also features a rear hatch pet ramp to help make loading and unloading of dogs easier and a leash tether to help properly and safely securing roaming dogs inside the vehicle.

Dodge Grand Caravan

The leading automotive review website with dog lovers in mind, DogCars.com, announced that the Dodge Grand Caravan was their 2008 winner of their DogCar of the Year award.

Dodge's new and improved Grand Caravan offers multiple storage compartments both in the floor and around the cabin that are perfectly sized for storing your dog's favorite toys. If you prefer having your dog travel by crate then you'll love the power tailgate. It has been reengineered to offer a better entry way for large, square, dog crates and also includes a sufficient amount of tie downs that can be used to safely secure your dog's crate.

If a new car is not on the horizon for your dog and family, keep in mind that the majority of these pet travel items such as the booster car seats, car seat covers and pet ramps, can be purchased online from most major pet supply stores. With the help of such items, you can quickly out fit your family's normal car into a dog friendly dog-mobile!

While it is also nice to know that most major car manufacturers are finally acknowledging the important roles that dogs play in our lives with our want and desire to make sure that our dogs have as safe a ride in our vehicles as we do, it can be somewhat difficult to choose the best dog friendly car.

Start by talking to your friends, neighbors or other dog owners about their likes and dislikes of the vehicle that they drive with their dogs as passengers. You could also go down to your local car dealership and request a test drive. But, since most dealerships won't allow you to bring your dog along for the ride, you can turn to DogCars.com instead. The site offers dog friendly reviews for a multitude of vehicles that have been deemed pet friendly.

Photo Credit: dsix

Mythological Cats

Cats have played a strong role in Egyptian Mythological stories and art work. The early Egyptians had a number of feline gods and goddesses whom they honored.

The most popular worshiped feline was the lion and the lioness. Egyptians even believed that powerful Lions guarded the noble god, Ra, every night when it was said that he journeyed to the underworld. The Egyptian Sphinx has a body of a lion with the head of a Pharaoh.

Sekhmet, Tefnut and Mafdet were three lionesses that the existed in ancient Egyptian mythology. The most powerful of three was Sekhmet. She was deemed to be a goddess of war who instructed by her father, Ra, to come down to Earth to destroy his enemies. Sekhmet is seen as having the body of a woman but with the head of a lioness. Tefnut's name means moisture in old Egyptian and she symbolized a primal force of nature. Mafdet was lioness goddess of protection.

One of the most commonly known, and revered, feline goddesses in ancient Egyptian was Bast. Drawings and statues of Bast depict her wearing golden earrings, bracelets and a wide necklace. She was the protector of all domestic cats and their human care givers, and she gave of her gifts, pleasure and happiness, quite freely. Bast was, therefore, quite a beloved household deity.

Bast's main home, or temple, was said to be at Bubastis which, it was believed, was the most beautiful temple in all of ancient Egypt.

It is interesting to note that there is some evidence that shows that the ancient Egyptians actually perceived both Bast and Sekhmet as simply being two personalities of the same divine might: Bast being more gentle and calm whilst Sekhmet was more violent and intimidating.

Bast was also thought of as the divine mother being and in some ancient drawings, had kittens at her feet. As young babies, children were often dedicated to Bast and, therefore, placed under her benevolent protection by their parents. If a young woman desired to have children of her own, she would wear a bracelet or necklace depicting the goddess Bast surrounded by kittens. The amount of children that the woman desired to have was represented by the number of kittens shown with the goddess.

All Egyptians admired cats and considered them to be very auspicious. Almost every Egyptian household had three or more house cats that were loved and well cared for. There were also many feline statues and paintings decorating the house. Egyptians even stylized their make up around their eyes to give themselves a similar feline look as their cat counterparts.

In fact, cats were so well respected and loved by the ancient Egyptians that they imposed a penalty of death to anyone who killed a cat. Likewise, after a family cat had passed away, their human family mourned the loss of their friend by shaving off their eyebrows to show their grief. Upon their death, most cats were mummified. Archeologists even came across a marble coffin in which laid a royal cat. On the outside of the coffin was inscribed 'Lady Cat' in Egyptian hieroglyphs.

However, cats have appeared in the myths and legends of other countries and societies around the world.

Poland : Legend here says that a mother cat was once crying alongside a river bank as she helplessly watched her kittens drowning in the water. Taking pity on her and her kittens, the reeds that run alongside the river bent over to let the kittens grab onto them to pull themselves onto dry land. Soon after, furry blossoms grew at the end of their stems as a reminder of the kittens, and they became down as Pussy Willows.

Norway : The goddess Freya is associated with cats in Norse mythology and is often depicted riding in a chariot being pulled by two gray cats.

France : The French believed in the matagot, a cat that could either bring bad luck or good luck into their home. If the matagot was well fed then it was believed to bring great fortune to the family.

Ancient Siam: The Siamese believed that when a king died, his soul would slip into the body of a cat in order for the king to attend the coronation of the new king. Another Siamese legend explains that Siamese cats kinked their own tails so that they could hold the rings of the princesses whilst they were bathing.

Malaysia : Here cats were said to guide souls from Hell to Paradise and if a person killed a cat, he was made to cut, carry and stack the trunks of coconut trees; one for each hair on the cat's body!

Photo Credit: traceyp3031

Teaching Your Cat To Come When You Call

This is a great instructional video that shows you how to train your cat to come to you whenever you call her.

Top 5 Pet Friendly Hotels

Summer is here and that means it is vacation time! Though owning a pet can sometimes put a limit on your vacation destination, here is a list of the top 5 pet friendly hotel chains across North America that together can provide you with endless vacation opportunities.

AmeriSuites Pet Policy

Since AmeriSuites understands that pets are part of the family, they allow small pets and dogs to stay in the same hotel room as their family.

Service Animals that accompany any person with disabilities are always accepted at every hotel.

Pets must weigh less than 30 pounds.

Pets should never be left unattended in their hotel room or suite

A $10.00 pet fee is required for each pet


Quality Inns Pet Policy

Quality Inns welcomes any well behaved pet with a maximum of 3 pets per room.

Dogs must not weigh more than 50 pounds.

No pet is allowed to be left alone in their hotel room unless they are in a crate, carrier or cage. If this is not possible, most hotel properties can provide a list of local pet sitters.

There is a charge of $10.00 per night per pet.

A $50.00 damage deposit may be required, but this is refunded if the room is in order at check out.


Sheraton Hotels Pet Policy

All North American Sheraton hotels will allow doggie guests at their hotels. The boutique style, W Hotels, also welcomes cats. Sheraton Hotels love to pamper their pet guests by providing them with luxurious custom pet beds and amenities like floor mats, food bowls, and ID tags. Every dog receives a 'Welcome Kit' which includes handy information on nearby areas for walks as well as other goodies to help make their travel more comfortable.

Some properties do require an extra per night charge and/or a deposit.

Although there is a weight limit of 80 pounds or 40 pounds at Westin Hotels, dogs that weigh more than that, as well as other pets may be accepted at the General Manager's discretion.

A Pet waiver form is required to be signed upon check in.


Four Seasons Hotels Pet Policy

This hotel chain only allows small pets that weigh less than 25 pounds and are well behaved. Pets must be appropriately restrained by their owners at all times and be kept on a leash whenever they are outside of their hotel room.

Pets should never be left unattended in their hotel room. Guests can contact the concierge to obtain information about pet sitters or pet supplies.

No pet is allowed inside any of the food and beverage outlets, health club or pool areas of the hotel, unless they are a guide dog.

Guests are responsible for immediately cleaning up after their pet on hotel property.

No disturbances, such as excessive barking, will be tolerated. This is to ensure that other hotel guests can also have an enjoyable hotel experience.

If you would like your room serviced during your stay, you are asked to contact the housekeeping department to arrange for a time when your pet will be out of the room.

Pet owners are responsible for any property damage and/or personal injuries resulting from their pet. They also agree to indemnify and hold harmless the hotel, its owners and its operator from all liability and damage suffered as a result of their pet. As such, the hotel has the right to charge a guest's account commensurate to the cost of such damages.


La Quinta Pet Policy

With over 350 pet-friendly locations from coast to coast, La Quinta is one of the best places to stay with your pet!

As long as they do not weigh more than 50 pounds each, both cats and dogs are welcome in all guest rooms.

Housekeeping services will only be performed if the pet is out of the room, crated, or if the pet's owner is present.

There are no pet fees or deposits required.

Loews Hotels Pet Policy

The "Loews Loves Pets" program is in effect at all 16 hotels, which offers specialized services and first-class amenities to pets and their owners. All well behaved pets of any type, except aggressive dog breeds, are welcome.

A few of the amenities include:

A welcome note from the hotel manager

List of the hotel's pet related services

Local pet related resources

Special pet beds

Complimentary bag of treats and a pet toy

Food and water bowls with a place mat

A special 'Do Not Disturb' sign

"Did You Forget Closet" - Here guests can purchase items such as litter boxes, pooper-scoopers, pet toys, leashes, and even rent a pet video.

The Pet Room Service Menu includes dishes such as grilled lamb or chicken with rice for dogs, grilled liver or salmon with rice for cats, and a vegetarian entree too.

Photo Credit: jrubinic

4th of July Fireworks Tips for Dog Owners

On Saturday night, millions of Americans will be lighting fireworks in honor of Independence Day. However, whilst you are reveling in the magic of the fireworks, your dog may be cowering in the corner, especially when you consider that a dog's hearing is ten times more sensitive than a human's. Therefore, the sounds of the fireworks going off can cause your dog to experience anxiety, stress and fear. Keep in mind that the sounds and sights of fireworks is not something that your dog will regularly experience, and so will come as a bit of a shock to him when he first sees and hears fireworks.

There are, however, a few things that you can do to help your dog through this festive celebration if he is afraid of fireworks:

* Leave your dog at home as it will be far better for the both of you if your dog is at home rather than taking him with you to watch the fireworks display at your local community park. Your dog will not only be in an unfamiliar environment surrounded by a mass of unfamiliar people, but the repeated loud bangs and flashes of light will stress your dog out quickly.

* If you live nearby to a community fireworks display try to keep your dog indoors whilst you are out, preferably inside a crate that he is already accustomed to. If a crate or carrier is not an option then leave your dog in a bedroom or other safe place where he can do the least amount of harm to himself and to your house. Close the curtains, turn on the all the lights, and turn on the TV or radio. Keep the volume relatively high as it will be harder for your dog to hear the fireworks through the sound of the TV or radio.

* If you are planning on staying home with your dog, remain with him at all times to monitor his stress level. Remember that even though your dog may not be stressed out by fireworks now, as he gets older his hearing will change and different sounds will affective him differently.

* Be sure that your dog is wearing his collar with ID tags attached, and make sure that your identification is up to date as well. Some dogs run away if they are outside, or jump through windows if they are inside, in order to get away from the deafening sound of the fireworks.

* Try to spend plenty of time playing with your dog beforehand as not only will this tire him out and help him sleep through the fireworks, but it will also prevent him from being resentful of being left home alone if you do go out. Make sure that your dog goes potty before it gets dark.

* Give your dog a nice doggie massage before dark as this will help keep him in a relaxed state of being and therefore better equipped to handle the stress of fireworks.

* Feed your dog cooked, plain, white rice with his evening meal. The carbohydrate will make your dog feel fuller and sleepier, and will therefore be less anxious hearing the fireworks go off.

* Use an aromatherapy plug-in, diffuser or essential oil such as Lavender, Juniper, Chamomile, Bergamot, and Frankincense, to release a relaxing aroma in your home that will help keep your dog calm. Remember to never leave an aromatherapy candle burning unattended!

* Purchase a herbal formula such as LessStress, which has healthy combination of herbs that have been proven to help calm a stressed out dog.

* If your dog is out with you and does get upset, try to distract him as best as you can. Bring along his favorite toy to bring his attention away from the loud noises and flashing lights. Try giving your dog a Kong toy that is stuffed with peanut butter, especially if your dog loves that taste. Another trick is to give your dog a brand new toy as a reward for being out with you. You might find that your dog is more interested in his new toy than in the fireworks.

* Keep in mind that soothing your dog with babyish sounds or with words such as 'its ok', 'relax', 'everything's fine', will not calm your dog down. Instead, those words and phrases will alert your dog to the fact that there really is something to be concerned about. Rather encourage your dog by cheerfully telling him that he is a 'good boy'.

*Never punish your dog for being scared of the fireworks as this can lead to severe emotional and psychological issues down the road.

Photo Credit: thedamian

How To Leash Train Your Cat

Leash training isn't just for dogs anymore. Other pets are learning to walk on a leash including ferrets, hamsters, rabbits and cats. Yes, cats!

Contrary to popular belief cats are relatively easy to leash train and actually enjoy being outside whilst attached to a harness and leash.

Steven Jacobson and Jean Miller, a married couple who have plenty of leash training experience have written and published their own book on leash training cats entitled 'Walk Your Cat, The Complete Guide'.

"After a tough day," says Miller, who is a Virginia Tech philosophy instructor, "it's a nice, relaxing thing to come home, get the leash and take the cat out for a long walk."

Those words will take some getting used to for a few cat owners. Others though, will jump at the chance to be able to bond with their cat whilst out for leisurely walk.

If cat walking is so easy, then why aren't other people walking their cats as well? According to Miller, there are two main reasons as to why this is. Firstly, most people do not think that cat's can be trained to do anything, never mind being leash trained; and secondly, Miller says, is "because they've used a dog model of leash training. That's certain to fail."

In fact, these two authors believe that the commanding and controlling approach which is often used with dogs will never really work with cats and probably will cause them to try and escape and run off. It is therefore, imperative to know how to motivate your cat and reassure them if they become nervous, as well as how to get them used to the sights and sounds of the outdoors.

The first rule in leash training cats is to have plenty of patience.

"Patience," Miller says. "Without patience it's not going to work."

Even though Miller encourages cat owners to keep their cats as indoor only cats for their own safety, she firmly believes that cat owners should oblige their cat's needs to go outside by walking them on a leash, as this will allow them "the incomparable variety and intensity of sights, sounds and smells," not to mention the significant "behavioral stimulation."

"Cats have a very real need to go outdoors," she says.

Besides patience there are also a few simple things to keep in mind when attempting to leash train your cat, the most important, being to provide your cat with a very well-fitting harness. Cats do not like being jerked around by their collars and can slip out of one quite easily, especially if it is a safety collar. Therefore a harness is better to attach a leash to and it should be loose and comfortable for your cat.

Before putting the harness and leash on your cat, let her play with them first so that she can get used to them. When you think that your cat is at ease with the new harness and leash, you can then attempt to place the harness loosely on her and see how she reacts to it. Let your cat wear the harness around the house for a few minutes every day.

Keep in mind that this is the most crucial step, because, if you force her to wear the harness, before she is ready, she will not respond to wearing it at all. This is where having lots of patience comes into play.

As soon as your cat has become comfortable with wearing her harness loosely, you can then tighten the harness up until it is the right fit for your cat. Again, allow your cat to wear the tightened harness around the house for a few minutes each day.

The next step is to attach the leash onto your cat's harness and practicing walking your cat around the inside of your house. This will help your cat to become accustomed to not only wearing the harness but also to feeling the tug of the leash.

When you believe that your cat is doing well and is comfortable with both the harness and the leash, it is then time to take your cat for a walk outside.

However, be sure that the leash is not too loose. Outside there are many distractions for a cat, like birds, squirrels and butterflies, which can cause your cat to want to run away, which is why you must keep a tight leash so that your cat walks with you and does not attempt to pull you all over the walkway.

Remember to let your cat set the pace and if your cat shies away from any step, simply go back to the previous one and try again.

Photo Credit: carolyn.will