Sadly, too many of these high-energy pets end up in shelters, abandoned through no fault of their own, because the owners weren’t aware of this simple issue: high energy in pets, just like in kids, must be managed/burned off first in order for the pet to be able to focus, listen to you, and behave. Without this simple management tool, you fail your pet and put his life in jeopardy if you end up surrendering him to a shelter. Shelters typically classify high-energy pets as unadoptable and end up euthanizing them. So listen up – the fix is simple and immediate and makes everyone’s life better!

It’s so simple and easy to manage your pet’s high energy, if you understand the difference between “suppressing” your pet’s high energy and “burning it off.” Consider this — have you traveled on a really long flight, and well into the flight you find yourself getting antsy? Your legs begin to twitch, your feet tap, you constantly shift position in your seat? That’s built-up energy, an actual physical thing, not a made-up saying. Can you convince yourself to ignore the twitching and just sit still? Of course not. Built-up energy needs to be managed, not ignored or suppressed. You have to get up and move around, shake it off, literally burn it off, before you can go back to your seat and sit quietly, comfortably, and focused.

Look at young kids – without regular exercise and physical activity, they get antsy, wiggly, and what happens then? Well, if the parents just order them to “sit still” or “be quiet,” they can’t. The kids begin to act out and get into trouble. It’s not because they want to get into trouble; it’s because they are being controlled by pent-up, unmanaged energy. It’s actually not their fault. It’s the parents’ job to help manage/diffuse their kids’ pent-up energy. And, generally, drugs are not the answer. It’s a simple biological issue — just get them active and burn off the energy. Likewise, for pets, it’s the owners’ job to manage the pets’ level of energy to keep the pet in a better state of behavior, focus, and comfort.

The body’s energy cannot be just ignored; the body continues producing more and more energy, and the energy keeps piling up inside, energy on top of energy. The ONLY way to eliminate all this increasing energy is to physically work it off. It’s the same with animals; except animals can’t rationalize that, so it’s all on the owners to take charge of this issue.

Regular small bursts of exercise is the answer. One or two or more times a day, 20-30 minute bursts of activity are all that’s needed to diffuse excess built-up energy. With the excess high energy burned away, you and your pet can both relax and de-stress better. Your pet becomes more focused and trainable, and you become more at ease and patient.

Another benefit of managing your pet’s energy is that, once the built-up energy is diffused, your pet will be able to focus better on you and actually hear you and absorb training. You’ll have an infinitely better behaved pet if you make exercise a regular part of your routine. And not just a leisurely stroll down the driveway or a quick pottie break in the back yard, but an actual 20-30 minutes of vibrant activity – a run around the block, fetch with his favorite kong toy, swimming in the pool, etc.

Or, if weather prevents you from getting outside, you can still play inside – tag up and down the halls, wrestling on the bed, tug of war with a rope toy, climbing up and down the stairs, etc. Get creative – whatever gets his heart rate up and circulation going for 20-30 minutes will help burn off the energy. One, two, even three or more times a day depending on your pet’s energy level. No big marathon runs or workouts needed. You’ll find these daily little bursts of activity are lifesavers – you and your pet will both be so much happier and relaxed. Burning off energy also burns off tension, stress, and anxiety. Everyone wins!

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008.  Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post Take Control Of Your Pet’s High Energy appeared first on BareFootPets.

Okay, How Do I Begin?

I know it’s tough to carve out time in your already hectic day to brush Fido’s teeth, every day after day no less. You already dread it, don’t you. Let’s make it easy then. First step–whenever you find little moments and you’re sitting around snuggling with Fluffy, massage her gums at the same time. See–no extra time needed. Massage very lightly, ok, don’t get all invasive on her like the bathroom scene with Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill in 21 Jump Street. At this point, you’re just getting her used to your fingers in her mouth, like it’s no big deal. I introduce my kitties and pups to gum massage by hand-feeding them cat kibble one piece at a time. They love being hand-fed so, when i start checking out their gums, they’re pretty much okay with it. Massage her gums lightly and very briefly, then stop, before she has a chance to object. Go on your merry way like it was no big deal. [TIP: Knowing when to ignore your pet is a tremendously effective training and handling tool ~ more on that later.] By making gum massage part of snuggle time and creating a positive experience instead of a dreaded chore, she’ll come to associate it with pleasure. Keep this tip in your memory bank.

Baby Steps … You’re Getting There

Once you’ve got your pet feeling okay about having her teeth and gums handled, you can introduce a toothbrush or rubber thumb. I prefer the rubber thumb because it’s similar to your finger and seems less foreign to the pet. Before you go shoving them in her mouth, tho, let her sniff them and get familiar, even batting them around like toys. Remember, baby steps. Use the brush to massage her teeth without paste for the first few times. Once she’s comfortable with the toothbrush or rubber thumb, then try adding a tiny dab of flavored pet toothpaste. She may not be sold right away–don’t force it. Never force it. But definitely keep the massaging in your routine and eventually try adding toothpaste again. You’ll get there eventually.

Here is a really good pet toothpaste I like to recommend for you. It’s popular because it’s made in the USA, it’s safe, pets like it, and it works!

In the meantime, stimulating her gums is a good thing. If, however, you have a pet who just refuses to warm up to a toothbrush, no worries. There are options. There are some great dental washes for pets that you put in their drinking water. Can’t get any easier than that!  Here’s a good one. Completely odorless/tasteless so your pet won’t detect it and get all fussy. It’s made in the USA and completely safe for your pet.

I also found this product below that you spray right onto their teeth and gums and, as the pet licks his lips and sloshes it around, it begins to reduce plaque and heal his mouth. It’s all organic, no chemicals to create allergies or inflammation, and makes your pet’s breath very fresh and sweet so you just want to get all up in his face and snuggle with him!  🙂  Give it a try!

It’s NEVER Too Late.

Ideally, you want to start your pet’s dental care when she’s a puppy or kitten. If she’s older, tho, no worries. Always better late than never at all. Just remind yourself how important dental care is to her overall health.

Bottom line is you may have to try a few approaches to your pet’s dental care before you find the one your pet responds to, and that’s ok, because there are many products of all kinds out there to choose from. One of them will work for you. As long as you’re patient and consistent, you’ll get there. Just keep your eye on the prize–longterm good health and protection for your beloved furbaby.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008.  Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post Ignore Your Pet’s Teeth … They’ll Go Away. appeared first on BareFootPets.

This post is a throwback to an earlier post on the same topic (Upside of Pet Steps and Ramps), with some helpful added information.

All dogs in general are prone to disk disease in their backs just because of the way they’re built.  Small dogs especially are at risk of injury to their spine because of their acrobatic flare.  Add high bouncing and jumping activity to that, and now their legs are in danger, too.  Torn cruciate ligaments are VERY common, especially in small dogs.  Delicate ligaments in their legs, especially the back legs, are easily ripped from the strain and impact of high activity.  They’re terribly painful for the animal, and can even leave him totally crippled.  Sadly, torn cruciate ligaments can be repaired only by surgery.  The cost to have the ligaments surgically repaired is in the THOUSANDS of dollars.  That’s why people often ditch their pets at the pound instead — they can’t afford to save their pet’s quality of life.  A very sad ending to a preventable injury.

This is my “Bed Head” Bandit? and he wants to share a very important message with you.  Bandit is young and high energy.  He jumps up on beds and sofas when he’s zooming the house during playtime, jumps in and out of the car, and jumps up at the door handle when he’s excited to go outside. Bandit is always in motion.  This puts constant pressure and tremendous impact on his spine and legs.  We give him daily glucosamine/chondroitin and turmeric supplements to keep his joints strong and inflammation low, which are critically important to his present and future orthopedic health; but there’s still more to be done.

Going The Extra “Step”

So we went shopping online for pet steps and ramps.  There are lots out there to choose from, and some are exceptional pet products.  But two significant factors kept popping up that we didn’t like about most of them:  (1) the good ones are generally quite expensive; and (2) most of them, in any price range, are clubby and in the way.  Yes, they say you can hide them conveniently underneath the sofa or bed, but then they’re not available for your pet to be using, are they.  Duh.  So we decided to keep looking.

Then we found these dandy little footstools on Amazon.  Even though they’re not an actual pet product, they’re PERFECT!  They’re the ideal height and dimensions for the pet’s use, yet small enough to be out of the family’s way so you don’t have to shove them under the sofa at all.  Another very important detail is they’re super cushioned, which softens the impact to your pet’s joints.  Plus they’re actual furniture, so they naturally blend in with your decor.  Last but not least, they’re super affordable, so we bought several to put all around the house.  They come in faux suede, faux leather, or fabric, and also in different colors and patterns.  Bandit took to them right away and is LOVING them!  Took him all of five minutes to learn to use them.  All-around great little find!

See how nicely the footstools look in our house, unlike clunky pet ramps.

No Slip-Sliding Away.

If these footstools have a downside, it would be that they can slide around on smooth flooring.  We have all tile flooring in our house, and it’s not an issue for Bandit when he’s launching himself off them.  This photo (below) is perfectly timed to show Bandit launching himself from the footstool to the sofa without the footstool slipping out from under him.

But I can see where it could maybe be an issue for a larger dog, that the footstool could slide out from under him.  This can be easily addressed by picking up some sticky-rubber adhesive foot pads at your hardware store that you can stick to the bottoms of the footstool feet.  Poof — problem prevented.

And that’s all it took to add another level of protection to your beloved pet’s health.  Way to Go! ?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post For All The High-Flying Dogs. appeared first on BareFootPets.

It cannot be overstated — toxic plants are too often lethal to our pets, and there are many out there to beware of.  Check the Chart BEFORE Buying Plants.  Choose your indoor and outdoor plants carefully BEFORE buying.  Planning ahead totally eliminates the risk of any emergency runs to the vet if your beloved pet has been poisoned by nibbling on an innocent-looking plant and is now fighting for his precious life.

Links To Identify Poisonous Plants.

Following are a few links that provide comprehensive lists and photos of poisonous plants, some with downloadable PDFs.  There’s even more info out there on the net if you want to do a Google search.  Keep your lists close at hand so you don’t lose precious seconds searching for them, should the need ever arise.

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants

https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-owners/basics/top-10-plants-poisonous-to-pets/

https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/common-poisonous-plants-to-dogs-and-cats/10105914

Financial Cost.

The financial cost of a pet poisoning can be staggering, even if your pet loses the battle in spite of the vet’s efforts.  Many emergencies end tragically because the owners cannot afford the unexpected price tag for life-saving measures.  Even if the pet could medically be saved, he is sometimes let go to die anyway because the money to save him just isn’t there.  Don’t let this happen to you and your little sidekick.  Take five minutes, Check the Chart BEFORE Buying Plants, and buy only safe plants.

Emotional Cost.

Regret.  Trust me, you do NOT want to set yourself up for the lifelong agony of regret, eating at you day in and day out, even in your dreams when you try to sleep at night.  Letting your pet down by not having taken simply five minutes and planned ahead is going to torment you for a long long time to come … maybe even forever.  Don’t let your pet die because you didn’t prepare.  Don’t set yourself up for that horrible failure.  Protect your little one and spare yourself suffering terrible guilt — take five minutes, Check the Chart BEFORE Buying Plants, and buy only safe plants.  Easy as that.  Just five minutes, and you’ve protected your fur baby, even saved his life.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

.

The post Pets And Plants. appeared first on BareFootPets.

* * *

We are hearing from local veterinary hospitals that there is a large upswing of bee stings to pets. The heavy rainfall this year has helped the bees. More water means more flowers, which means more nectar for them to come out and collect.

While the pictures we see on the internet of bee stung pets with swelling reactions can be kind of funny, the threat bee stings can represent to pets is not funny at all.

First Aid for Insect Stings in Dogs 

By Krista Williams, BSc, DVM, CCRP; Lynn Buzhardt, DVM  Care & Wellness, Emergency Situations, Treatment, Pet Services

Dogs are nosy creatures sniffing at anything of interest. Since dogs find insects interesting, they investigate them and when they stick their nose where it does not belong, they get a quick reprimand! Hence, lots of insect bites occur on the nose.

Since insects sting the closest body part, eyes, ears, and feet are easy targets. When a dog steps in an anthill or disturbs a wasp nest or beehive, the insects swarm and sting the dog’s whole body. Spiders are loners that do not swarm, but even one spider bite can be nasty.

The stings of bees, wasps, and hornets, and the bites of ants and spiders all spell trouble for a nosy dog. Insect venom causes problems ranging from mild irritation to life- threatening shock. Observant pet owners can minimize the reaction by taking prompt action. Keep in mind that even with first aid started at home, severe cases require prompt medical care.

What should I do if my dog is stung by an insect?

Be quick to recognize that your dog was bitten or stung.  If your dog suddenly paws at his face, chews at his foot, or begins to swell in any area of the body, consider the possibility of an insect bite.

Identify the insect.  Quickly search the area for flying insects as well as crawling ones. Since a spider is difficult to identify and may be poisonous, capture it if you can.

In the case of bee stings, look for a stinger.  Bees are the only insects that leave their stingers in their victims. These abandoned stingers continue to secrete venom so removing them reduces the amount of toxin injected into the dog’s body. If the stinger is still attached to the dog, remove it by scraping a credit card over your dog’s coat and flick it off. Do not use tweezers that may squeeze more venom out of the stinger sac. Luckily, other flying insects (wasps, hornets) do not leave a stinger behind.

Soothe the bite site.  Make a thick paste of baking soda and water and apply it to the sting site. If your dog has multiple stings or bites, a soothing oatmeal bath is the way to go.

Minimize swelling.  Apply an ice pack to the affected area for 10 minutes to reduce swelling. A bag of frozen peas serves as a handy ice pack for individual bites. A cooled towel works better for larger areas.

Prevent allergic reactions.  Give a dose of oral anti-histamine, such as diphenhydramine (brand names: Benadryl®, Vetadryl®) to minimize the reaction and decrease itching. Consult your veterinarian first for proper dosing!

Reduce the trauma of scratching. Use an Elizabethan collar (cone) if your dog continues to lick or scratch at the bite wound. Constant scratching will delay healing and may cause infection.

Maintain hydration and food intake.  Give your dog fresh water to drink. Dogs that are stung in the mouth may find it difficult to eat so feed them moist food. Dry food softened with water is less likely to upset the gastrointestinal tract than canned food.

When is an insect bite serious?

Like some people, many dogs are hypersensitive (very allergic) to insect stings or bites. The degree of reaction varies with the dog’s immune system and the type of insect. Allergic reactions usually occur within 20 minutes of the bite, but may be delayed for hours, so close monitoring is critical. Severe reactions (anaphylaxis) can be fatal so quick action is vital. Take your dog to the veterinary emergency clinic at the first sign of: 

• Severe swelling around the head and neck that could compromise respiration. Swelling in these areas may occur even if the bite occurred elsewhere.
• Hives on any part of the body. Hives appear as bumps under the skin that raise the hair, or as red bumps on hairless areas like the belly. Hives itch a lot, so your dog may roll in the grass or on the floor in an attempt to scratch at hard to reach places.
• Difficulty breathing or wheezing. Some dogs pant more than usual because they have swelling in the respiratory passages and/or because they are nervous. Do not attempt to figure out the reason, take your dog to your veterinarian.
• Excessive drooling. If there is swelling in the throat, the dog has difficulty swallowing his own saliva and drools a lot.
• Agitation. Some dogs become anxious due to the itching and difficulty breathing. Also, the insect venom may affect the nervous system.
• Vomiting or diarrhea. Even mild vomiting and soft stool can indicate trouble, so do not disregard this sign.
• Dizziness or disorientation. If your dog is not alert or stumbles, he is having more than the normal reaction.
• Seizures. Call your veterinarian immediately.

Medical treatment may save your dog’s life and is aimed at reducing the allergic reaction and preventing shock. In addition to anti-histamines, your veterinarian may give your dog corticosteroids or epinephrine. Your veterinarian may administer intravenous (IV) fluids to stabilize the dog and oxygen to help respiration. Blood and urine tests may be needed to rule out organ damage. The length of the hospital stay depends on how quickly your dog responds to therapy but expect to leave your dog at the hospital for 1 or 2 days. Once the danger is passed and your dog returns home, your veterinarian may prescribe an Epi-Pen® for use in future insect stings. The goal here is not to stifle your nosy dog’s curious nature, but to be prepared for the consequences. That means you have to act quickly in case she reacts to an insect bite.

Contributors: Krista Williams BSC DVM CCRP; Lynn Buzhardt DVM

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

.

The post ALERT!! Bee Stings Hazardous To Pets! appeared first on BareFootPets.

If you are a pet owner, you already have the great advantage of easily staying in shape during the COVID lockdown.  I noticed, when my company began its remote work environment back in March, that I right away began gaining weight, and it piled on fast.  Took about a minute to figure out I was engaging in more than my normal amount of comfort eating.  I knew I had to think outside the box to get that weight back off, because I hate exercising.  And, for a comfort eater, dieting is a very ugly word.

How Bandit Is Helping Me Lose Weight.

But it wasn’t hard to figure out the perfect answer.  I already take my awesome little dog Bandit out in the back yard every day for play time – at least twice a day, even three or four times a day sometimes now that I’m working from home during the lockdown.  It’s our time together out in the sunshine and fresh air, and we love it.  But he was the one getting all the exercise.  I just threw the ball.  So for me the answer was easy — I just started running with him.  Boom – problem solved.  Now I throw the ball and chase it right alongside Bandit.  He thinks that’s pretty cool, by the way.  Dogs love when you’re as excited about their toys as they are.  Sometimes we just get down on the floor and wrestle.  Bandit couldn’t be more thrilled for the extra attention and playtime, and I’m encouraged knowing it’s working for the good of my health as well.

How Gabriel Is Helping Me Lose Weight, Too.

I also have cats — Gabriel, SpeedBump, and Chelsea.  Although they sleep a lot more than Bandit, they do have their moments during the day when they get tickled and zoom the house.  So I’m taking advantage of those moments and zoom along with them, trailing long cat toys behind me for them to catch, or tossing squeaky toys across the room and running with them to retrieve.  Or making it a game of tag you’re it.  My cats love when I chase them through the house!

Better Than Taking A Happy Pill.

There are occasionally days during this never-ending lockdown when I don’t feel so much like running and playing, but I push on anyway.  Once we start and I feel the energy flowing, I’m very happy to be at it; almost feels like I took a happy pill!  And the pets are relieved to be shedding pent-up energy, too.  Remember — exercise benefits both you and your pets by reducing, even eliminating, stress, which we all know is bad bad bad for your body.  And Lord knows the lockdown has put a boatload of stress on everyone.  So, with the new more interactive playtime in our house, the pets are happier, I’m happier, everyone’s healthier.  And – the weight is coming off.  It’s a win-win for us all.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

.

The post Lock Down, Lighten Up. appeared first on BareFootPets.

Hi All! So this post is a shout back to an early-on post I did about the critical importance of clean clean clean water for your pet.

In today’s busy world, it’s really easy to cut corners wherever you can. Lots of people think if their pet’s water dish “appears” clear that it is in fact still clean and okay for the pet to drink. So they skip cleaning it for a day, or two, or a week, or more. WRONG!  The worst bacteria is in the pet’s saliva, which appears clear and doesn’t even show in the water dish. So it’s very important to understand then that once the pet takes its first drink from a dish of clean water, it’s actually already at that moment contaminated. That’s why it’s so so so important to clean the pet’s dish AT LEAST once a day, NEVER LESS.

It’s What You Don’t See.

You must NEVER wait till a pet’s water dish is green and slimy. By that point, you have far and away missed the mark for protecting your pet’s health. And, in fact, have put your pet in grave danger on several levels. You would even fall under the category of negligent and abusive at that point.  So let’s definitely avoid that, for your pet’s health and your good reputation.

How To Know For Sure if Your Pet’s Water Is Clean Or Needs Changing.

The most certain way to know is by programming yourself to automatically change your pet’s water dish at least once a day, every day, whether it appears to need it or not. Just become programmed, and this will guarantee your pet’s protection from any water dish bacteria.

Another way to check is to empty the dish and then rub your fingers over the inside surface of the dish. If it feels slimy, even a little, and no longer squeaky clean, then that’s bacteria buildup already. Have you ever been, say, late to work so you skipped brushing your teeth that morning? You could look in the mirror and not be able to tell, but you could feel it with your tongue, right. That’s the bacteria. Same deal with your pet’s dish.  DON’T WAIT TILL YOU CAN SEE IT!!

What The Bacteria Does.

First, you’re forcing your pet to drink contaminated water full of bacteria, fungi, and mold. These elements can and will damage your pet’s teeth, gums, blood, and organs. Do you see how this is hazardous to your pet’s wellbeing and even its life? If you choose to ignore your pet’s water dish, then get ready for hefty veterinarian bills to fix it — for example special diet and medication for damaged liver or kidneys, etc. Or, if you don’t want to pay out for veterinary care, either, then no doubt this is the point when your poor pet gets dumped at the shelter, right, so that you’re off the hook now. But imagine what’s ahead then for your precious pet that you just left behind. His future is now at risk, for both his health and even his life.

Do you really think someone else will come along and adopt him knowing all the health ailments he now has?  If you didn’t want to prevent them, why should someone else want to fix them?  Your pet may never find a new home and family to love and care for him, and he may never get out of that shelter alive, and this whole moment could so easily have been avoided. I know you don’t want that for your pet that you love so dearly. And I’m just playing devil’s advocate here to show you the progression when a pet’s health care needs are ignored. So let’s not let that happen.

Don’t Just Top It Off – Clean It First.

Don’t fool yourself into believing it’s enough to just “top off” or add extra water to the water already sitting in the dish. This does nothing to clean it of any bacteria. You’re just postponing the necessary cleaning, and allowing the bacteria to fester and grow. And all the while, your pet continues drinking the water because that’s all he has and he’s thirsty. So that bacteria is now also flooding your pet’s teeth, tongue, gums, bloodstream, and organs.

Here’s your FOOLPROOF way to the PERFECT WATER DISH ROUTINE:

1. Empty the dish entirely.
2. Scrub it completely WITH SOAP, inside and out, including the rim.
3. Rinse it completely until it’s SQUEAKY clean.
4. Refill with fresh water.
5. Add a capful of water treatment to prevent bacteria in the dish and in your pet’s mouth.
6. Repeat numbers 1-5 at least once every day.

BOOM!  It’s that easy. Takes less than two minutes. I know your pet is worth two minutes a day, right.  Also, I use a dandy little scrub brush that has a little soap dispenser in the lid. Makes the process even faster. I will never be without this brush!  And there also are some really good water additives you can use to prevent bacteria growth. My Amazon links to these products aren’t working right now; but, as soon as I get the links fixed, you’ll be able to click and go directly to them to buy or shop similar.

One Final VERY Important Tip …

Use stainless steel, glass, or food-grade ceramic dishes for your pets. They keep the water cooler longer.  PLUS — and this is important — plastic and acrylic dishes are porous enough that they absorb bacteria. So it’s tougher to scrub bacteria away, and no guarantee that you’ll get entirely rid of it.  So stick with stainless steel, glass, or food-grade ceramic bowls.  Food-grade means ceramic that is actually used for dinnerware, and not artwork, as in sculpting materials.

Oh, And One More VERY Important Final Tip …

Fountains are a great idea, too.  BUT — they are only as clean as you keep the filter. This requires you to at least partially disassembled the fountain to get at the filter and clean it or replace it.  Filters can be expensive if you’re changing as often as recommended.  If you’re trying to save money by not changing as often as recommended, then most likely the water isn’t getting filtered as well as it should.  So your bacterial problem still exists if you’re only putting in minimal work.  Like I said, tho, if you’re willing to keep up on it, fountains are great. They especially encourage your pet to drink even when he’s not feeling well, which is a huge plus.  Again, choose a fountain that’s food-grade ceramic, or glass, not plastic.  See my earlier post  for more info.

But, at the end of the day, the number one priority is CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN!!

God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post What You Don’t See DOES Hurt You! appeared first on BareFootPets.

Running a pet rescue organization means we have lots of kitties. So it also means we go through LOTS of kitty litter. I was frustrated with kitty litters for decades. Dealing with litterboxes on a daily basis is unfortunate enough, to put it nicely. But putting up with the many downsides of kitty litter makes it just that much worse.

So I made it my mission to try as many kitty litters as possible and make comparisons so I could narrow it down to the very best one. Every time I tried new litters and compared their pros and cons against other litters, one in particular consistently rose to the top of the list. I believe I’ve chosen the very best one, and I’m more than happy to share my thoughts with you here.

I’ve tested many brands and many types (clay, corn, wheat, pine, silica beads,…), but I’ll offer just my three most recent comparisons for you here so that it doesn’t seem overwhelming. By comparing just these three, I can still describe the factors that helped me rule out some and give a thumbs-up to others, and ultimately brought me to my final choice. In the end, it comes down to your personal preference, but I think my rationale can at least show you what to look for and help you choose the best litter for yourself.

Arm & Hammer Naturals.

When I opened my first bag of this litter, I was excited that it may be “the one.” At first blush, it’s promising. It has a lovely fragrance and gives the impression it would be stellar at odor control. The litter was clean and dust-free as I poured it into the litterbox. So far very promising. But it didn’t take long to pick up on some issues.

After a short time in the litterbox, the fragrance filled my whole house and felt a bit overwhelming. Not entirely unpleasant, but definitely too much, like when a woman wears too much of a beautiful perfume. I admit this may not be an issue for everyone, but worth noting.

Secondly, this litter doesn’t clump as well as others I’ve compared. It does clump, but the clumps tend to break apart when you scoop, and this contaminates the rest of the box. So the whole box has to be replaced more often, which is wasteful and leads to a higher cost factor.

This next issue is the biggie. Arm & Hammer Naturals is super lightweight and totally flyaway. Although it is ideal for scooping and cleaning in the litterbox, it clung all over the fur on the cats’ toes, tails, and tummies, and traveled with them all through the house. Especially with our medium-to-longhair cats. Within minutes, I was vacuuming – my furniture, carpet, bedspreads, throw pillows, throw rugs, pet beds – everything. I even had to clean it off my countertops. Everywhere the cats went, the litter tracked with them. They cuddle with me in bed at night, so I even had litter on my pillow and in my sheets! Omigosh! And then trying to comb it out of their fur was also a constant and unfortunate challenge. Overall, it was a nightmare, and I was anxious to be finished with it.

For these reasons, and although it does have other good qualities, the Arm & Hammer Naturals falls short of the winners list.  🙁

Arm & Hammer Slide.

This is standard clay litter that claims to be a dust-free, supreme clumping product. First thing I noticed on opening the box was that the fragrance is ideal. Not too much, and it did a good job eliminating ammonia odor. It claims to be dust-free, and I agree with that feature as well. There was no noticeable dust in the air. Very promising so far.

It also claims to be easy clean, stating that the litter slides right out of the box at cleaning time. That was not my experience with this litter. It stuck to the litterbox surface like other clay litters. I would not hold this against the manufacturer had it not been their biggest selling feature right on the front of the box.

Arm & Hammer Slide is a very very heavy litter. My cats, young and old both, struggled with digging in it to cover their waste. And, I would safely guess that, if your cat is declawed, even more doubtful she’d have any luck using it.

But here is my biggest issue with Arm & Hammer Slide. It claims to make “rock-hard” clumps. This is true. Unfortunately, it also sticks rock-hard to my cats’ feet and genitals. Milagro (my rescue organization) rescues senior animals. Many of them are blind, many of them have arthritis and are weak in their legs as a result. These health issues cause the cats to squat lower and to step unknowingly into wet spots in the litterbox.

This litter cemented itself in big rock-hard chunks between their toes and over their genitals. It made walking painful for them, and also dangerously blocked their genitals which would have prevented them pooping and peeing and maybe even caused urinary tract infections, had I not bathed them every day to get the cement-like litter off their genitals and feet. And it didn’t just rinse out – I had to soak them in the bath for a good while before it would start to soften. And even then it just became gooey and thick so that I had to massage it away like peanut butter. The last thing my cats need is a run to the veterinarian to treat a blocked, infected urinary tract.

I acknowledge that others may have better experiences with this product. However, for this very significant fail, I cannot recommend Arm & Hammer Slide.

!! THE WINNER !! WORLD’S BEST CAT LITTER!!

“World’s Best Cat Litter” Original Unscented is an absolute joy, if that can be said about a litter. This one checks all the right boxes. I’ve used it for years. And, after every test run of other products, I’ve always come back to “World’s Best Cat Litter” Original Unscented, even though it’s pricey compared to others. Truth is, tho, it’s worth it. After making all my comparisons over the years, I stopped complaining about the cost and decided to just be grateful for its benefits. Besides, I do manage to find frequent, good sales on “World’s Best Cat Litter“ at pet stores and grocery stores, so cost becomes more of a non-issue, and I can feel totally right about this choice. It comes in several varieties, and I have tried them all.  But I always come back to the Original (green bag).

Here’s why “World’s Best Cat Litter” Original Unscented is my number one choice:

• It is a natural, compressed, earth-friendly corn product, much much cleaner than standard clay litters.
• It is sublime for odor control, as long as you scoop often (1-2 times every day), which you always should do anyway to keep a healthy cat box. Fresh, not perfumed. [If you find that you’re noticing an ammonia smell, it will not be this litter’s fault. You’re simply not cleaning the box often enough. Maintain your litterbox as recommended, and it will always be a healthy and non-offensive environment for your cats and your home.]
• There is literally no dust to contaminate your lungs and your cat’s lungs.
• It makes very solid clumps that are easy to scoop without falling apart. This helps prevent contamination of the whole box, and thus keeps replacement costs down.
• It doesn’t stick to cats’ feet, genitals, or fur, but shakes off easily without having to bathe them, and so minimizes health risks to cats.
• It isn’t too heavy for cats to dig in. I watched them actually enjoy digging in this litter, like it’s playtime.
• Very little tracking beyond the box. Doesn’t carry throughout the house, so your time spent vacuuming is greatly minimized.

I find very little, if anything, negative about this product. For the reasons above, I’m very happy to score “World’s Best Cat Litter” Original Unscented as, in fact, the world’s best cat litter!

A Moving Target.

New kitty litters pop up on the market almost every day, so the “best” litter may continue to be a moving target as products are improved.  For now, however, I wholeheartedly recommend “World’s Best Cat Litter” Original Unscented.

Happy Scooping!

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge(TM) (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post Let’s Compare Kitty Litter. appeared first on BareFootPets.

Pauly was it – that once-in-a-lifetime dog you’ll always tell stories about. This is the funniest “Pauly” story of all.  I’ll tell it my best, but there is just no substitute for having been there when it happened. It was a million-dollar moment, sadly before the days of cell phone cameras.

I’ll Always Remember The First Time I Saw Him.

Pauly was a pathetic, sad-looking little dude. The Humane Society called me one day and asked me to come get this poor little mess that had been picked up as a stray. They called me because Pauly was a senior and that’s what I do – I rescue seniors (www.milagropets.org). So I hiked on over to the AHS, and the folks there walked me to the back room where all the strays are held. And there he sat, this nasty-looking little disaster that used to be a red Pomeranian, lounging in an eye-level kennel and looking out at me like he already knew I was coming and why was I so slow about it. Good Lord! He was a big spit wad of steel wool, with a ratty tail and a really cute face. And I swear – he gave me a wink and this “whadda you lookin’ at, Sugar” kind of attitude. Really? This scroungy little thing thought he was God’s cutest gift. And I already believed him.

Pauly also had a collapsed trachea, so he yacked all the time … ALL the time. Loud. All day long … all night long. I said loud, right? You know how when a teenage girl gets a used Mustang with standard-shift for her 16th birthday and she keeps stripping gears between first and second because she has no clue what she’s doing? Loud like that. God bless his heart. Poor little guy had to be miserable and exhausted for all the wretched coughing, but Pauly just had a great attitude about things.

There is a surgical fix for collapsed tracheas where a stint is installed to keep the bronchial way open, but the veterinarian wouldn’t do it for Pauly because its rate of success was pretty low. She didn’t want to put Pauly, as a delicate senior, through the trauma of surgery knowing it very likely might not work for him. So she put him on a few medications instead — they didn’t work.

Uncommon Strategist.

Pauly quickly became my sidekick. He had a natural instinct for making me laugh. How he knew was amazing. His timing was spot-on like any great comedian on TV – he could actually orchestrate moments of hilarity. Truly this little dog was gifted. Not only did he have the instinct, but it was important to him to make me laugh, as if he assigned himself the job of being jester in the queen’s court. The whole house was just happier with Pauly in it. I LOVED him for that.

So I’m Sitting There One Day …

Talking with my close friend Marilin. I was plopped on the kitchen floor, and Marilin was perched up on a dining room chair facing me, about four maybe five feet between us. It was a typical, gorgeous winter day here in Phoenix, mid-70s, the grass is green, and you can have all the doors and windows open. I had the sliding patio door wide open and the seniors were wandering in and out and in and out … because they could. They were completely entertained walking out the door, then in the door, then out the door. It tickled them like Christmas day. Their traffic path moved right between Marilin and I, so we had front-row seats to the show. We chatted and drank coffee and watched the seniors enjoy the sun on their faces and the breeze in their fur, and it was just an easy, great day.

Along Came Pauly.

When all the other seniors had settled outside to sunbathe in the winter grass, Pauly came strolling through the kitchen as if headed outside himself. But then he stopped dead between us, right in our line of vision, and stood staring out the door. Marilin and I chatted on for another minute, not realizing yet that Pauly was waiting on us to notice him. But then we picked up on his very deliberate, patient pose. So we got quiet and focused on him, wondering what he was up to.

Confident that he had our attention now, Pauly turned his head to the left and looked up at Marilin. They locked eyes, and Marilin pulled her chin back and got this really confused look on her face, like what the?? Pauly looked at Marilin a few more seconds, apparently to be sure she was under his spell, or at least paying close attention. She was. Then he turned his head meaningfully all the way to his right and locked his eyes on me. He held his gaze on me until I was fixated, too, almost as if he intended to hypnotize us. His head was cocked as he looked at me, and then over at Marilin again, and then back to me, as if to say “do I have your attention now?” Yes, for certain he had our undivided attention now.

Wait For It, Wait For It.

It may have been only seconds, but it felt like the lonnngest pause. Marilin and I were still as we could be. Seems we had gotten the same message. We had no idea what was coming, but neither of us planned to miss any of it.

Pauly gave one more back-and-forth check from me to Marilin and back to me again. Then he looked straight ahead out the door, closed his little chocolate-brown eyes really really tight, pulled up his shoulders, and bore down hard … and FARTED … real long and real loud. It was high-powered and rumbled like an old Harley, and he kept bearing down hard to keep it going for as long as he could. I admit to being quite impressed. For a moment, Marilin and I were frozen in disbelief that a little old dog could produce something so majestic, and moreso that he staged the whole event. Who knew dogs could do that?! And as we sat watching him, stunned, Pauly lifted his head, opened his eyes, and looked again at Marilin and back to me, clearly proud of himself, and fully expecting praise for his most excellent accomplishment, knowing he had achieved greatness.

But It’s Not Over!

Once it hit us what we had just witnessed, we fell into raucous laughter, and Marilin fell right off the dining room chair onto the floor, which put me totally over the top laughing and I wet my pants. My face hurt, my neck hurt, my ribs hurt, and I felt bruised for days from laughing so hard. My neighbors hollered over the fence asking if we were okay. For a minute, I was not even sure.

As soon as the laughter began, it was like Pauly knew he had us. He straightened himself up all high and mighty, gave a quick chin-up to his audience, and rolled slowly on outside to bathe in the sun. He was walking his red carpet, telling us all “Yeh that’s right, I’m bad” and glowing in his success. What I wouldn’t give to have captured it all on video.

For months after that, whenever Marilin and I would call each other or see each other, we would launch again into tearful laughter before we could even begin a normal conversation. Only she and I knew why – people thought we were nuts. In my life, that is one of the funniest moments, and I’ve had some doozies. That was our million-dollar moment with Pauly – my little comedian. My heart. My laughter. Your legacy lives on, little man. Bravo!

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post Pauly, My Little Comedian. appeared first on BareFootPets.

But why? It isn’t routinely done, so what’s the big deal?  Well, let me say I found out the hard way. And it’s a tough pill to swallow, seeing every day what it cost my precious Mikimoto.

Mikimoto.

My little Mikimoto is a stunning Creampoint Himalayan. I’ve had him since he was 12 weeks old. He’s now 17 years old, a sweet and treasured little old man, but still my baby to me. My heart.

Mikimoto has always been a playful, inquisitive little fellow, rambunctious but gentle, tiny at only 5lbs, a mama’s boy. He loves to run in the grass of our back yard and chase butterflies or a feather on a chain as I run ahead of him. He has not one mean bone in his body. He is the poster kitty for sweetness.

No Warning Signs.

In early January 2017, when Mikimoto was 15 years old, he woke up one morning deaf and blind. It was very sudden, as if a switch were flipped and the lights went off. I snapped my fingers, waved my hands in front of his face, called to him, but nothing. I tried to get him to walk, but he wouldn’t. He just sat there not knowing what had happened or what to do. I called our veterinary eye specialist and got him in right away.

The doctor said he saw some bleeding inside Mikimoto’s eyes and said it appeared he was having retinal detachments. He put Mikimoto on prescription drops and told me to bring him back in a couple of weeks or if any other changes occurred sooner.

It was a long couple of weeks. Mikimoto was completely confused and just pancaked to the floor. He shut down, he didn’t care if he ate, he didn’t try to find the litterbox, he just laid there. I was heartbroken to watch him this way, but I was also confident that the treatments would repair his eyes.

No Improvement.

At our follow-up appointment, the doctor said he saw the most minor of improvement in Mikimoto’s eyes and encouraged me that there was hope to recover his vision. I also took Mikimoto to our regular veterinarian for bloodwork and an exam to ensure something else wasn’t also at play. She gave Mikimoto a clean report.

Another week or so later, we went to the eye specialist for yet another exam. This time he wasn’t as encouraging. The meds weren’t working and he was concerned for permanent damage to Mikimoto’s eyes. I, however, was faithful and knew Mikimoto would see again.

More Follow-Up.

The next few weeks were packed with follow-up exams at both the regular veterinarian and the eye specialist. Meds were adjusted to hopefully gain some headway over any long-term damage to Mikimoto’s vision. Both doctors began preparing me for the sad outcome, but I remained faithful and urgent in my prayers for Mikimoto’s eyes.

After a couple of months of intensive treatment, and still no improvement, my regular veterinarian said “you know what, we should check his blood pressure.” Up to this point, neither of the veterinarians had apparently thought of it. It is not, after all, a routine part of pet exams. So she checked Mikimoto’s blood pressure. It was so high off the charts that the machine wasn’t even able to give an accurate reading. It didn’t go that high. I was shocked, but happy to know the cause finally.

Coordinated Efforts.

Now that we had finally pinpointed the apparent cause of Mikimoto’s sudden blindness, the regular veterinarian and the eye specialist started communicating with each other, and a new treatment began immediately. Several meds to bring down Mikimoto’s blood pressure and hopefully start seeing his vision come back, and we kept checking his blood pressure every week to stay on top of any changes.

I was thrilled at the new hope, until my veterinarian told me the window of opportunity to save Mikimoto’s eyes had passed and she was not at all optimistic for any success. Turns out we had at best only two weeks to reverse the high blood pressure before the damage to his eyes was irreparable. It had now been two months.  At our next visit to the eye specialist, that doctor agreed.

Sad Realization.

So, had either of them thought to check Mikimoto’s blood pressure right off the bat when he first lost his vision, they could have saved his eyes. But, because no one thought to check his blood pressure until two months later, the damage was now done. Both our regular veterinarian and the eye specialist told me this. Mikimoto would be blind forever. I was crushed. Mikimoto would have to live with this. His life was forever changed. Sadly, it could have been prevented.

It’s a year and a half now that Mikimoto has been blind, and still I pray for the gift of his vision to return. In the meantime, it’s my job to help him navigate this new normal.

Mikimoto’s New Normal.

In the beginning when this all first started happening, I scooped Mikimoto up in my arms and held him close to me. I carried him everywhere, I hand-fed him, gave him water through an eye dropper and subq fluids, put pet gates up to contain him in the pet room, removed all the pet stairs and cat trees to prevent his inadvertently climbing up and not knowing how to get back down, or perhaps even falling and getting hurt.

It was almost a year before I realized I was doing Mikimoto more harm than good by being so overprotective. I just woke up one day and realized I needed to teach him how to function in this “new normal” and how to rediscover his joy of life. I had failed him in that regard, and I felt like two cents. It was time to correct that.

First, I removed all the pet gates. This was Mikimoto’s home for 15 years before he lost his vision. He can learn his way around again. I knew that I already had at least two specific tools to help me — Mikimoto’s memory, and his whiskers.

Use The Tools That You Have.

I began teaching Mikimoto how to get around the house by using his whiskers to feel his way along the walls. And I put feeding stations and pee pads in every room of the house, positioned so that no matter where he ended up, if he followed the walls, he would always find food and water. I changed out the traditional litterbox for a Rubbermaid storage container that was 2-3 times more spacious and had lower sides so that he could easily step in without having to climb or jump.

Then I taught Mikimoto touch signals. His preference now is to just curl up and sleep most the time, and I have to encourage him to move around and stay active. So I walk along behind him and, if I touch his right shoulder, it signals him to turn left. When I touch his left shoulder, he knows to turn right. When I touch his lower back, he knows to go straight ahead.  And when I kiss him on top of his head or rub his tummy, he knows he’s arrived at his desired destinatIon.

Guarding Over Mikimoto.

I always give Mikimoto a reference point that he’s familiar with, a starting point for the day sort of. When I have to leave for work, I make sure he has eaten, had a big drink, and pottied. Then I lead him to his bed, and he hops right in and curls up. He knows at that point he’s on his own for awhile now. He also knows his litterbox is about 10-12 steps to the left of his bed, and the food and water dishes are only two or three steps to his right. At night, he still sleeps on my pillow with me, as he has done all of his sweet life. He also knows to stay put. I have big cushy pillows on both sides of the bed, just in case.

I bought Verizon’s Canary for my cell phone, so I’m able to watch him all throughout the day while i’m at work. Only a couple of times has he gotten confused moving about on his own and ended up out in the hallway circling, but eventually he gets back to his bed again.

Mikimoto’s Progress Report.

Had Mikimoto been born blind, or lost his vision at a much younger age, no doubt he would have been able to adjust more easily to this new lifestyle without vision. But having lived a lifetime with vision, the adjustment to living life without its benefit has been a tremendous challenge for him, and I don’t blame him for not catching on easily. He may always be unsure of himself now, time will tell. And that’s okay. Whatever Mikimoto needs, I will give him. He is that important to me.

We’re working on toys now. Mikimoto is slow to engage in play anymore. I suspect because he’s afraid the other cats will join in and that frightens him. He’s become quite the loner. So I close the other cats out of my room while Mikimoto and I flop on my bed and I offer him his favorite toys. I’m hopeful at some point he’ll start showing interest and begin swiping at them. In his own time, no pushing, no frustration, just encouragement. This is his life now, and I’m here to support him however and whatever he needs.

Mikimoto’s Message To You.

If your pet wakes up one day blind for no obvious reason, like Mikimoto, get him to the vet ASAP and REQUEST A BLOOD PRESSURE CHECK! Don’t hesitate for a minute, and don’t take no for an answer. Remember: you have only a two-week window to get control of the high blood pressure and save your pet’s eyes. High blood pressure may not be the cause in your case, but then again, what if it is. Don’t rule it out without checking for sure. Don’t take chances with your furbaby’s wellbeing. Be his advocate, don’t waste time.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008.  Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post Check Your Pet’s Blood Pressure! appeared first on BareFootPets.