Scratchings-and-Sniffings

The Woes of Wilbur

I'm often the first stop for family and friends when their dog or cat develops some sort of medical problem. I don't mind that at all. It gives me real life issues to write about here and it makes them better informed when they do go in to see their veterinarian.

I spent a while on the phone with my sister-in-law this morning discussing her nine-year-old English Pointer, Wilbur, and his persistent itching, licking and scratching. We talked about the joys of parenting teenagers too, but that's a subject for another blog.

 

Wilbur is miserable and Kari is going a little crazy, too, watching and listening to Wilbur go at it. He licks, he scratches, he bites and makes that biting sucking sound in the middle of the night. He's become something of a contortionist too as he balances just so to reach those hard to get at spots on his chest with his hind foot.

Scratchings & Sniffings Out Loud with Dr. Grace Long - Nutrition for Your Dog's Tummy Problems

Everyone has experienced it - tummy upsets that cause vomiting and diarrhea. When we have it, we endure and sleep it off. When our pets have it - we wring our hands in misery, because it's so hard to know what to do.

Naturally, if any tummy upset or other strange behavior lasts very long (my limit is 24 hours, as long as the dog or cat is acting ok otherwise), you want to visit your vet. Today, in this Scratchings and Sniffings Out Loud podcast, you are going to learn about a totally new diet from Purina that helps diarrhea and gastritis.

The fascinating part of this discussion, with Dr. Larry and Dr. Grace Long, is that the diet uses bovine colostrum to help with those tummy upsets. Dr. Larry and Dr. Grace are much better at explaining the way this works, and the value it brings to our dogs.

Watch for more conversations with Dr. Grace in the future. We hope to help educate folks on the many ways Purina works to make pet food nutritious and balanced. Their slogan is "your pet, our passion"... they say it and this podcast shows they mean it.

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Introducing FooPets - Realistic Pets Online Pet'em, feed'em, love'em

This podcast is a fun visit with the founders ofFoopets, Dr. Ron Hornbaker and Scott Sorochak. The Foopets site is sponsored by Purina (they get around, don't they?) so when you join and adopt a puppy or a kitten, they'll be fed Purina - for now.

That, of course, is how I found Foopets. I'm really glad I did. Since my Carmie passed over the Rainbow Bridge, I've been very lonely. I have Wabby, and she's ever more adorable and cuddly these days, but I am not ready to bring another dog into the house (partly because it's deep snow winter here and I'm not enthusiastic about training a puppy during this weather).

My puppy, Slurpy, is so much fun! I already love him to pieces. And, as you'll hear on th is podcast with the founders of Foopets, they have more interactive content coming. I am so eager to meet other Foopets owners and to someday walk my puppy in a park. Have fun with this podcast (watch it closely - that's the fun part) - I'm off to feed and play with Slurpy.

A Tale of Two Patients

I got an e-mail from a veterinarian friend of mine that I just have to share with you. It's not only timely, as we consider health care reform, it's kind of funny unless you happen to be in the same predicament.

Two patients limp into two different medical offices with the same complaint. Both are having trouble walking and it appears that both need hip replacement surgery.

The first patient is examined within the hour, x-rayed the same day and has time booked for surgery the next week.

The second patient sees his family doctor after waiting three weeks for an appointment. He then waits eight weeks to see a specialist. The specialist sends him to get an x-ray which takes another week for the radiologist to read. He has surgery scheduled a month later.

Why the different treatment for the two patients?

The first patient is a Golden Retriever.

The second patient is a senior citizen.

Too funny if it wasn't so true. I finally gave up trying to get an appointment with the local allergist and drove two hours to Las Cruces last week for treatment. I called my primary care physician last week for an appointment, got a recording asking me to leave my call back information. It's been almost a week since I left it and no call back yet. 

The message: if you are a human, don't get sick. If you are a dog or a cat, you have your choice of veterinarians that will be happy to see you today, in most cases.

Your Incredible Dog: Purina Incredible Dog Challenge 2009

Did everyone watch The Incredible Dog Challenge on TV yesterday? Wow! I have to say the show is as good (or better) than the Olympics! Hey, why don't we let dogs compete in the Olympics?

Ok, we're not the people to decide on whether or not dogs should be allowed in the Olympics...or are we? Purina's Incredible Dog Challenge certainly qualifies as sport. How could anyone argue otherwise? These dogs are super-dogs. They're so terrific, not just for their ability to accomplish the great feats of agility, strength and endurance in these dog challenge shows, but for the obvious enjoyment they get out of it!

Dogs love being with their pet parents. They love engaging in any activity with their pet parents. What's better than competing in Olympic-like trials of agility and sport?

Coming Soon: To a TV Near You! The Westminster Dog Show!

February 9th and 10th are right around the corner. Those are the dates for the ever popular Westminster Dog Show at Madison Square Garden.

This is the 133rd Annual Dog Show and promises to be a treat of infinite fun. (that's me talking - no one else has said that, yet...I just believe it to be true) I will have more info on this over the next week - but in preparation, I thought I'd share this funny video from the 2008 Westminster Dog Show. Enjoy. (and share with your dog!)

Pet Danger List: Keep your iPod Away from Fido and Fluffy

Thanks to Twitter friend Johann the Dog, and his quick tweet of an article tweeted by @sciencedaily (Science Daily), I feel compelled to write about products we have in our home that are dangers to our pets. (are you a tweeter? gotta love twitter!)

The actual article is from Telegraph.co.uk: Nintendo Wiis and iPods on pet danger list. Reporter Matthew Moore writes, "Dogs are especially inquitistive and often get under your feet when you are concentrating on something else." While true, aren't kitties tres' inquisitive and willing to eat things that are bad for them, also? I cite the holiday pine tree and tinsel...which is deadly to our kitties. And, the ever delightful for ladies (and men) chocolate...which is deadly to our dogs. 

That said, here are the top 5 gadgets on Moore's list (results from a survey of 3,000 animal owners; and the fact that this comes out of the UK does not make it irrelevant here - it applies to our pets, too)

1. iPod (per cent)
2. Laptop (10.8 per cent)
3. Remote Control (10.8 per cent)
4. Plasma TV (10.8 per cent)
5. Wii (10 per cent)

So, I wonder...has anyone done a survey on furniture that is dangerous for our pets? Readers...any thoughts on couches, dining room chairs, falling objects from bookcases, the stove???

Exciting News from the North American Veterinary Conference: PurinaCare Pet Health Library

I'm down in Orlando, Florida at the annual North American Veterinary Conference this week. Before you get too envious let me tell you that the weather is not so great, but it is better than in most places in the country. Low 70's today but turning cooler tomorrow.

That's not the exciting news, of course. I've got two items that I'm excited to preview for you and that you'll be seeing and hearing about for the rest of the year and beyond.

First off there is a very exciting development over at the PurinaCare Pet Health Insurance site. As many of you know I do some veterinary consulting for the insurance group. One of my projects last year was to help bring to life a vision for online veterinary information dreamed up by the PurinaCare CEO, Dr David Goodnight. 

Put Your Pet in the Obama Family Portrait! Courtesy of Pawfun

So, what else is there to do on a lazy, dazy, chilly Sunday afternoon - with your pets? Make e-post cards that put them right into the Obama family portrait. That's what!

My BBFF (best blogging friend forever), BL Ochman - whom I once compared to Diane Sawyer (yes, she's just as smart and just as talented and just as gorgeous!), has a fabulous new website called Pawfun that allows folks to add their pet's pic to T-shirts (can't wait to get one with my Carmie on it), and...as a launch promotion, she's got a delightful post card image of our new first family...to which we pet lovers can add a picture of our pet! Your own e-post card! You gotta try it... I did, look here...

National Scoop the Poop Week

Thanks to Dog Days! Squidoo page, and Jessica Whitehouse who writes the Pets page at the New York examiner, I have some kewl pet holidays to share.

The one that really caught my eye, gosh, I wonder why, was National Scoop the Poop Week. Who knew? Google is showing 11,900 hits for the term "pet waste removal Rochester, NY"...which seems pretty amazing. Gotta love Pooper Scooper Guys! Rates start at $4/week. But, a career based on scooping poop? Well, somebody's gotta do it!