Scratchings-and-Sniffings

A Soup Kitchen for Pets? Wow!

We're all about pets here...in case you haven't figured that out. That means we like to report on stories that focus on pet welfare. Well, here's one that will make you smile. It sure inspired me!

Thanks go to John McCarney for sharing this: A soup kitchen for pets:

This is out of Germany - where Claudia Hollm was watching a TV show about a family who had to give up their beloved pet because of the economy. A so-often told story here in the U.S. also. Well, the dog was taken to a shelter - where he died of a broken heart, so they think. He could not bear to be away from his beloved family, and they missed him just as much.

Another Specialty for Veterinary Technicians

If you've ever spent much time in a Veterinary clinic you've undoubtedly spent time with a Veterinary Technician. Like their nurse counterparts in human medicine, they do the majority of the actual patient care and they provide a good deal of education in the process. 

I wrote a post about an eye opening discussion I had with the executive director of NAVTA (National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America) just last winter. I didn't know that they had so many specialty certifications like Internal Medicine and Behavior for instance. Well now they have a new specialty and it's right up my alley. They just unveiled the Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians (AVNT).

Rufus Gets Interviewed

Ah, words of wisdom from a Champion. Enjoy!

Five Questions with...Rufus!

Rufus, the 2006 Westminster Best-in-Show, returned to Mystic Seaport for Dog Days (August 28-29th) and appeared as the Grand Marshal and head judge of the Museum's first Dog Parade. W00t!

Rufus took time out to speak with the folks at Mystic Seaport and this is what he had to say:

Nature, Science, Oceans, The Environment and Pets

I wanted to bring your attention to a cool new website that recently launched. It's called Hear The Answer and it is made up of five different areas of content. You can go to the site and get expert information on topics related to Pets, Oceans, Nature, The Environment and general science.

The web site is the brain child of my old friend. Paul Batishevich. who runs a media production company called Finger Lakes Productions. Paul and I have a long history going back to my days in Veterinary marketing at Purina.

 

We sponsored a radio program called Animal Instincts that is still going on. In fact, Animal Instincts is heard on over 500 radio stations around the country and I'm still involved doing voice over for the spots. Quite an accomplishment when you consider that I don't have what you might be called a professional radio voice.

The Grumpy Old Lady FURminates

I finally figured out how to get Mom to FURminate me more often. Here's the trick...you can use it, too:

I make sure she's busy doing something else like using the computer or just upstairs watching TV, or even reading a book. She does that a lot - that book thing. I tried reading a book but...I can't see the attraction. I mean, it doesn't even smell good!

Help With Pet Weight Loss is Here

In my humble opinion the reason people and pets fail at losing weight is that they try to go it alone. That's why I'm so excited about a new program from the Veterinary Division at Purina. It's Called Project Pet Slim Down and it's kind of like the popular reality TV show The Biggest Loser, except no one gets kicked out of Project Pet Slim Down.   

Project Pet Slim Down follows eight pets and their families in the quest for ideal body condition. There are videos on the Slim Down web site of these pets in their homes and at their vet clinics. It's basically a support program for owners and that's one reason I'm so excited about it. We talked about it with Dr. Grace just last week.

Foothills Animal Shelter: Denver, CO

I hope to be able to support animal shelters in my area by posting adoptable pets, often. I wish I could do it every day...maybe I'll get to that point. For now, I want to share the Foothills Animal Shelter with you.

Tom and Miah and I visited the old shelter, Table Mountain Animal Shelter, several weeks ago and I have been neglecting the good people and pets we met there. This great animal shelter recently opened a newer, bigger facility in Golden, CO and I so applaud their continued efforts to save our pets - all of our pets (including pit bulls...)

Cognitive Dysfunction in Older Dogs

One of the more popular articles in the Health section of the NY Times, recently, dealt with an important development in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Spinal fluid in people with memory loss contains markers that are predictive of eventual Alzheimer's. Even in people with no clinical signs these markers show up and are predictive of eventual disease.

Since it can take a decade for this disease to progress to the levels where clinical signs are evident, this is big news.  

Researchers hope to find some drug or treatment that can slow or reverse the pathological changes in the brain and with an early diagnostic predictor they can get started much earlier before significant damage has been done. Unfortunately, no such drug or treatment is completely meets or fits the bill, yet.

Just Stop It! A Note to dog walkers

While in NYC last... week, month, not sure...time is passing by too quickly these days... but, while at Blogher in NYC, Tom and I saw a fair number of folks walking their dogs along the city streets. We saw several of the same people and dogs, multiple times as we were 4 blocks away from the conference hotel, and we walked to and fro, every day.

This post is directed at most of those people who were out walking their dogs.

Stop it! Just stop it!

No, don't stop walking your dogs. Stop dragging them down the sidewalk!

Pets in Condos: Why Not?

Not too long ago I received a note from a woman in Florida asking if I knew about the restrictions condos put on people having pets. I had to admit that I don't.

She shared some great information that I thought I'd pass along.

You can visit Citizens for Pets in Condos for more details. I recommend it.