Sharing what I’ve learned about cats & dogs, after many years as a professional vet tech, groomer, breeder, kennel owner, international transporter, and pet owner
So the ads finally got to me.... why should a dog eat the same dry kibble for every meal of its life? Yes, the Farmers Dog ad. If you've followed me for a while, you probably know I have Border Collies. They are farm dogs, and we always had them on the farm to herd … Continue reading Try The Farmers Dog food free as a gift
There are few things that equal the sudden loss of a four-footed family member. This recently happened to our household. One night when I couldn’t sleep, I was up reading at about 2.30 AM. With a blanket on my lap, both Tommy and Squeeze, two of our house cats were on my lap. For an … Continue reading When a Pet Suddenly Dies – How to Cope with the Loss
Follow some simple rules for a great photograph of your pet. These ideas work even if a family member is also in the photo. Though many phone cameras are great and get better every year, the more professional photographs will be taken with an SLR camera (most are now all digital), which have a lot … Continue reading Smart Ways to Take a Great Photo of your Favorite Pet
We have an old stray cat, named Tommy. So original for a tom cat right? At one time he was quite feral. He would spit and hiss if we got within 10 feet of him. We persisted, giving Tommy a wooden box on the front porch, and a heating pad to stay warm all winter. … Continue reading I Didn’t Know How Bad my Cats Teeth Really Were!
I am a bird watcher....usually from my porch or deck, sometimes while walking in the woods. I enjoy watching them change colors in the spring, and the migrating transients that pass by, raise clutches of babies in bird houses and bushes all summer, and then somehow survive the cold and snow of a northern winter. … Continue reading How to Make Perfect Homemade Bird Suet Cakes
I started to write an article for a magazine about farm dogs, and it turned into an expose of remembrance about my first dog. My article took on a life of it's own, much too long for the publication, and I had to submit a much abbreviated version. My first dog was a true friend … Continue reading Why a Dog Can Be So Important
This weeks polar vortex and snow hitting the mid-west and northeast USA prompt me to remind everyone to protect and care for our four-legged friends. Extreme cold cannot be tolerated by dogs and cats, even those used to being outside. It was -27 here a few days ago - that was the actual morning temperature, … Continue reading Protecting Outdoor Pets in Cold and Snow
My dogs expect a "cookie" every time they come in from outside - yes, they have us well trained. Not that I give them a treat every time, but often enough so they expect it. Tragedy this week I am out of dog biscuits. I forgot them when I went shopping last week. Now sad … Continue reading Fox Pines Peanut Butter Pumpkin Dog Biscuits
I firmly believe all children should grow up with some kind of pet. It teaches compassion for other living things, as well as responsibility for caring for an animal. In my recent September/October issue issue of Eating Well Magazine had an article that caught my eye - "Would getting a dog benefit my kids?" it … Continue reading All Kids Should Grow up With a Pet
As a veterinary technician, I saw lots of dogs with hot spots, technically called a moist dermatitis. A pet owner would call in a panic for an appointment, because overnight their dog now had a large, irritated bloody spot with no hair, and the dog just wouldn't stop licking. As a pet owner, I've never … Continue reading Summer means Hot Spots in Dogs