Scratchings-and-Sniffings

Helping Pets Survive Fires

Did you know that somewhere between 40,000 and 150,000 pets die in fires every year. I didn't, but given pet behavior, I'd be surprised if the actual number was closer to the high end. According to fire fighters, pets tend to hide when fire strikes which makes saving their lives that much more difficult. 

That job just got a little easier thanks to The Invisible Fence Company and a program called "Project Breathe". Invisible Fence is donating pet oxygen masks to fire houses around the country. In fact, they've given out over 1600 kits to fire houses around the country so far. Each kit contains a small, medium and large mask and the kit is valued at $60.

Bissell Gets Pet Friendly

That title should say "more" pet friendly. Ever since becoming a member of their Pack of Pet Lovers, I've been really impressed by the way Bissell embraces pet parents and their four-legged (or two-clawed, whatever!) kids! We use Bissell products on The Grumpy Old Lady's hairballs and they're great!

Well, I just read on Inside the Pack, the Bissell pet blog, that "The BISSELL Pet Spot is officially open!"

The Pet Spot is a place at Bissell for employees to bring pets. Can I hear a big cheer for that? Of course, Purina allows pets at their offices, but isn't it interesting when a company that is not traditionally pet-friendly, becomes pet friendly? I know Bissell has recognized the power of pets, how they uplift us and encourage us and just make us feel better.

A Girl and Her Dog

I've written lots about the unique relationships we have with our dogs and cats. I've written extensively about our dog Miles and the effect he's had on my wife and I since we took him in last winter. He's a special dog and we both love him.  

Lately though, I've noticed something interesting.

Miles is my wife's dog. Oh, he likes me and he's happy to see me in the morning when I come up the steps. He wags his tail and gives me a nice greeting, but he's really waiting for Chris to come up stairs. When he sees her his whole body wiggles and his tail wags and it seems that he even smiles. He's excited to see her and the feeling is mutual.

Gotta Love that Dog's Tongue!

Oh my word! I got all caught up in this fabulous video from Fido friendly and it made my day! It's a bit long, but well worth it. Enjoy!

Save Our Pets in the Gulf

I've written about this on BlogPaws, but I wanted to share it here, also. We cannot discuss it enough. We cannot speak of it enough. We must hold BP accountable on all counts - not only for the oil in the gulf, not only for ruining the livelihoods of so many Americans, but also, for causing the drastic increase in abandoned pets.

I'm not talking about pets left by the roadside, though my heart goes out to them with great love! I'm talking about pets surrendered at shelters because their pet parents can no longer care for them, or feed them!

Lyme Disease in Dogs

If you live in certain parts of the country you are undoubtedly aware of Lyme disease.

Lyme disease affects both people and pets and can have serious health consequences for both. If you live in the Northeast or upper Midwest you live in what is called a Lyme disease endemic area (see map).

That means your chances of coming into contact with a tick that carries the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease is pretty darn good. The chances that your dog will encounter an infected tick is even better, considering how they like to play in the woods and run through the brush where ticks hang out.

Exercising Your Dog: A Scratchings & Sniffings PodCast

Today, Dr. Larry and Dr. Grace share some insight into the best ways to exercise with your dog. Including the ever favorite frisbee toss and the "hey, let's run up and down the stairs!" (that's for rainy days...)

Seems simple enough, but remember - your dog isn't MY dog. And My dog isn't...my neighbors dog. All dogs are not built alike. I loved the stories Dr Grace and Dr Larry told in this Scratchings and Sniffings Out Loud podcast.

And, I learned some interesting facts. I'm betting you will, too.

Figuring Out How Much To Feed Your Pet

In the last post, I went through a convoluted process tying to figure out how much food to take for Miles on our upcoming backpacking trip. It can be tricky, especially when you consider the tremendous variation in caloric need created by different activity levels.

For most people it should be easier.

There are basically two ways to arrive at a starting point for how much to feed a pet. I say starting point because there can be significant variation in caloric need even in dogs and cats of similar weight and activity levels. That's important because most problems with excess weight happen because an owner feeds slightly more than a dog or cat needs over a prolonged period of time. As few a 15 extra calories a day over a year can add up to several excess pounds.

The Grumpy Old Lady Has a Fit

And rightly so! Honestly, how often do I have to tell Tom and Mom that I am not happy about Snotface (that's the ferret - I finally figured out his name). He's such a busy-body!

Just the other day I was minding my own business - I routinely mind my own business, as it's the only business in the house worth minding, and...out of nowhere, that ferret shoved his nose in my belly!

OMC! (oh my cat!) What's up with that? I gave him the loudest hiss I could and even batted at his head a few times. HISS-HJISS-HISS---- BATBATBAT -- HISS-HISS-HISS... But, he KEPT nosing around from my belly to my whiskers!

How Much To Feed Miles?

My wife and I are having an ongoing disagreement over how much food we need to feed Miles to keep him in tip top shape. We are planning a seven day backpacking trip and I've been trying to figure out how much food Miles will be carrying in his pack. We disagree about how much food we need for ourselves, too.

I tend to see backpacking trips as more about being out there than gastronomic adventures. Chris's biggest fear is that we run out of food. Mine is that we have some left in the pack when we get back to the trail head.

I've been feeding Miles about four cups of Purina ONE a day. Two cups in the morning and two in the evening. That comes to about 1530 kcals a day. I figure that Miles is about seventy five pounds or 34 Kilos and that he qualifies as an active dog.