Does your dog have rough or cracked pads?

One of my readers inquired about what to do for a dog's rough or cracked pads, so I did some research on the subject.

Apparently, dogs should have somewhat rough pads, much like a fine sandpaper, in order to have proper traction. But sometimes hot pavement, or ice and snow can cause the pads to be irritated and extremely rough and cracked. So what to do if that happens?

You'll want to be careful what you put on the pads to lubricate them, as first of all your dog needs to perspire through his or her pads. Also, if the substance stays on the surface, it could make walking hard for the dog, or the dog will continually lick at the substance to get it off and possibly make the situation worse.

I found two products that many people seemed to be pleased with and got good results from. Bag Balm (from Bagbalm.com or possibly available locally in the pharmacy department of stores like Walmart) is said to work very well, with no oily residue. Also, Musher's Secret specifically states it allows the dog's perspiration to excape through the toes, contains vitamin E for healing, and dries quickly to protect the pad. It is also helpful for soothing scrathes and bites and is non-toxic, non-allergenic, and non-staining. It's available at Drs. Foster and Smith online, and possible at pet stores locally.

Insane -shelter dogs released into the wild!

I read an article at GollyLog about a mayor in Arkansas who made the insane decision to release dogs from their shelter back into the wild. This story sickens me that anyone holding a public office could be so incredibly stupid. These dogs were in the shelter through no fault of their own, victims of neglect, cruelty, lost or surrendered because their owner could no longer care for them. Some were loved and pampered pets and have no outdoor survival skills. Now this lame-brained mayor decides to release them and let them fend for themselves, with no food, shelter or human interaction. They will soon revert to a wild state and become vicious in order to survive. There are so many other options he could have used, plus he says he's sticking by his decision and he did nothing wrong.

For details of this story, CLICK HERE.

Houseplants poisonous to pets

Dogs and cats, especially puppies and kittens, love to snoop and chew on greens, so it's best to eliminate any poisonous houseplants from your household. I have found different plants listed in various places, so I've tried to combine them into one list. There may be others, so if in doubt, it's best to call poison control at 1-800-222-1222. Why not program it into your speed dial right now.

Poisonous Houseplants:
* Aloe
* Amaryllis
* Angel's trumpet
* Arrowhead vine
* Azalea
* Bird of paradise
* Boston ivy
* Caladium (angel's wings)
* Chinese evergreen
* Crown of thorns
* Christmas rose
* Chrysanthemum
* corn plant
* Creeping Charlie
* Creeping fig
* Croton
* Cyclamen
* Daffodil
* Devil's backbone
* Devil's ivy
* Dieffenbachia
* Dracaena (Warneckel & Striped)
* Dumbcane
* Elephant ear caladium
* Emerald duke
* English holly
* English ivy
* Ferns (Asparagus, Australian nut, Emerald, Lace, Plumosa)
* Flamingo lily
* Foxglove
* Hydrangea
* Iris
* Jerusalem cherry
* Kaffir lily
* Kalanchoe (air plant)
* Lilies - especially toxic to cats
* Lily of the valley
* Marble queen
* Mistletoe
* Philodendron
* Poinsettia
* Pothos
* Red princess
* Rhododendron
* Rubber tree plant (Japanese & variegated)
* Schefflera
* Snake plant (mother-in law's tongue)
* Spider plant
* Sprengeri fern
* Tulips
* Umbrella tree

Vacation travel tips for your pet

Many pet owners wouldn't think of taking a vacation without their beloved cat or dog. But some preparation is needed to make it a fun and safe experience for both you and your pet.

Whether you'll be driving or flying with your pet this vacation season, the ASPCA has some great tips for you. CLICK HERE to read more.

National Dog Bite Prevention week

This week is National Dog Bite Prevention Week, designed to bring awareness to a very important subject, dog biting. Today's post is written by guest poster Susan Daffron, founder of the National Association of Pet Rescue Professionals. Here's Susan:

Thank you for letting me write a guest post for your blog!

My name is Susan Daffron and I'm the founder of the National Association of Pet Rescue Professionals (http://www.naprp.com) and the author of books on caring for adopted dogs Happy Hound and adopted cats Happy Tabby.

This week is National Dog Bite Prevention Week, which is designed to increase awareness of an all-too common problem: dog bites.

Many people seem to think that a dog would "never" bite them, but the statistics show that every year, 4.7 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs. Even worse, sixty percent of those people are children. Every year, roughly 800,000 people require medical attention for dog bites, and about 12 people annually are actually killed in dog attacks.

The statistics are scary, but the good news is that almost all dog bites can be prevented. The three keys to preventing dog bites are education, responsible dog ownership, and animal control. Here are a few tips:

1. In many rural areas, animal control resources are limited, so it's especially important that you gain an understanding why dogs bite and educate your children on dog safety. Statistically 50% of children will be bitten by a dog before their twelfth birthday. Don't let your child become part of that statistic!

2. Many dogs are friendly, so it's not like you have to walk around fearing every canine you meet. But it pays to be cautious. The majority of bites are from a dog the person knows. Never assume a dog is friendly; always ask the owner first (if one is around).

3. Dogs bite for three main reasons: to defend territory or to express fear or dominance. Often it's a combination of all three, so pay attention to the behavior of any unfamiliar dog. If he seems edgy, afraid, or behaves oddly, he's more likely to bite.

4. Don't look an unfamiliar dog straight in the eye. If a dog knocks you down, curl up into a ball and cover your face.

5. Teach your kids not to approach any dog that looks tense or aggressive. If a strange dog approaches, they should stand still. Make sure your kids also know that they should not run or scream. Teach your children not to tease dogs or disturb a dog when he's sleeping or eating. Also explain that they need to tell an adult whenever they see a stray dog or a dog that is acting "weird." Never leave little kids alone with a dog unsupervised.

Thank you again for helping me spread the word about this important subject. The reason I wrote my books and started the National Association of Pet Rescue Professionals is to help educate more people about pet care and keep these animals out of shelters. Here's to saving more lives!

Caustic substances and your pet

As the weather gets warmer and our pets are outside more, their exposure to caustic substances increases as well. Listed below are caustic substances your pet could come in contact with both inside and outside of your home.

If you think your pet has swallowed a caustic substance, DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. These substances can do fatal damage within minutes, and vomiting will worsen your pet's condition even quicker. According to the ASPCA, if you live in North America, you can call the Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435 24 hours a day/ 365 days a year for help. They will be able to tell you if the substance is caustic. A $60 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card.

Some common caustic substances:
Paint thinner
Paintbrush cleaner
Turpentine
Kerosene
Battery acid
Carbolic acid
Motor oil
Sidewalk salt
Fertilizer
Putty
Plaster
Glues
Drain cleaner
Household cleaners
Pine cleaners
Bleach
Laundry detergent
Nail polish
Nail polish remover

If the substance is not caustic, you can induce vomiting by giving your pet 1 teaspoon of Syrup of Ipecac or 2 teaspoons of Hydrogen Peroxide orally. If you have neither of these items, a teaspoon of table salt can be used. Then call your veterinarian immediately.

Plants that are poisonous to your pet

Spring brings out the gardener and landscaper in many of us, and we need to make sure the plants our pets are exposed to won't make them sick or worse, cause their death. According to the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center, the 17 most common poisonous plants to pets are:

Lilies
Marijuana
Sago Palm
Tulip / Narcissus bulbs
Azalea / Rhododendron
Oleander
Castor Bean
Cyclamen
Kalanchoe
Yew
Amaryllis
Autumn Crocus
Chrysanthemum
English Ivy
Peace Lily
Pothos
Schefflera

For a larger list of poisonous plants and more details of each plant, CLICK HERE.

Bulbs are very poisonous, so if your cat or dog likes to dig in the dirt, it's a good idea to fence off any bulbs, and if you overwinter them in the basement, keep them where the pets can't get into them. If your pet eats any poisonous plant, call your veterinarian immediately.

Danger to your pets from electromagnetic frequencies

Due to our world becoming saturated with electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs), more and more people and their pets are becoming "electrically sensitive." Symptoms range from headaches, burning sensations, tingling, debilitating brain fog, heart arrhythmias, migraines, severe depression, chronic insomnia, and even life threatening seizures and heart attacks. The elderly and very young, along with pets because of their size are most susceptible.

Take steps now to reduce exposure to such items as Blackberrys, cell phones, cordless phones, computer games, computers, WiFis, refrigerators, air conditioners, electric heaters, dishwashers, microwaves and other large appliances.

There's a great article by Natural News which goes into this in more detail, and also provides 15 ways you can reduce EMF radiation in your home and life. To read this article, CLICK HERE.

Some essential oils are dangerous to pets

In our attempt to make our pet's world safer by removing chemicals, we have to be careful what is used on and around our pets. Aromatherapy containing essential oils is very popular, but some of the oils can be toxic to our furry friends. So I recommend always investigating any product you plan to use in your home.

I read a very good article at Dog is my teacher regarding essential oils and our pets. Be sure to check out the list of oils that are safe as well as those that should never be used around your pets.

Don't support animal testing unknowingly

Pets by Penny has a very informative article listing the companies that support the cruel practice of animal testing. To help us make the best informed choice of products we buy, she also has links to companies that do not do animal testing. Here is her article:

Do you unknowingly support animal testing?

For my animal loving readers who want to avoid products and manufacturers of products tested on animals, there was an extensive list posted on one of the Care2 threads. I don't know where it came from, but I know other posts from this group are usually reliable. However, it never hurts to double check the information, especially if you are really attached to a product made by one of these companies.

Please note that that the list below only says it contains companies that test on animals. Don't confuse that with products that are environmentally friendly or made from natural ingredients. It is entirely possible for a company to make green products and still test them on animals. Unfortunately, we all have the intimidating job of trying to sort through the misleading ads, the greenwashing companies, and those that just try not to give us all of the information to make informed decisions that might eliminate their products from our shopping lists.

Allergan Inc. Alcon Labs Applewoods Arm & Hammer Astley Dye & Chemical Company Andrew Jegens Co. Aziza Bay House Aromatics Baush & Lomb Beauticontrol Cosmetics Betterware BioForce UK Bic Corp. Block Drug Co. Boots Plc Brodie & Stone Braun (Gilette Co) Breck Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (Matrix, Clairol, Ban, Final Net, Redmond, Herbal Essences, Sea Breeze, Aussie, Keri) Bronnley Boyle-Midway Calvin Klein Carabay Seaweed Carlonina Herrera Chesebrough-Ponds (Aziza, Fabergé, Cutex, Oil of Olay, Vaseline) Church & Dwight (Arm & Hammer, Arrid, Lady's Choice, Nair, Pearl Drops) Clarion (Sea Breeze) Clairol Inc. (Proctor & Gamble) Clorox (Pine Sol) Colgate-Palmolive Co. Consumer Value Stores (house brands) Cosme Decorte Coty (Davidoff, Joop!, Jovan, Lancaster, Rimmel, Stetson) Color Me Beautiful Cover Girl (Procter & Gamble) Crimpers Pure Dana Perfumes Del Laboratories (Sally Hansen, Natural Glow, Naturistics, Flame Glow, Commerce Drug) Dial Corp. (Purex, Renuzit) Dome Cosmetics Donna Karan Beauty Company (Has anti-animal testing policy, but markets fur) DowBrands Dracket Products Co. EcoLab Inc. Eli Lilly & Co. El Sanofi Inc. Elizabeth Arden Enamelon Inc. Erno Laszlo Estée Lauder Cos.(Clinique, Origins, Jane, Origins, Donna Karan, MAC, Prescriptives, Tommy Hilfiger) Ettusais Faberge Fendi (Elizabeth Arden) Fernsoft Flame Glow Fort James Gallery Cosmetics Gehe UK Givaudan-Roure GWP Group Helene Curtis Industries (Finesse, Unilever, Suave) Henkel (Schwarzkopf, Dep) IAMS (DOG FOOD PRODUCT) Intimate Brands (Bath & Body Works tests ingredients, Veronica's Secret sells fur) ISO IPSA JCB Developments Jhirmack (Playtex) Jergens, Andrew Co. (Bioré) Johnson & Johnson (Neutrogena, Clean & Clear, Roc) Johnson Products Co. Jovan (Quintessence) KAO Cosmetics Kanobe Kimberly-Clark Corp. (Kleenex, Scott Paper, Huggies) Kinarese Kingsmill Cosmetics KMS Research Labs Kose Lamaur (Willow Lake, Colorsoft) L & F Products Lever Brothers Lifestyles Lloyds Chemists L'Oréal LPI Cosmetics Manetti & Roberts Marlene Klein Cosmetics Marshall Pet Products (make pet products, while selling animals to research labs!) Max Factor (Procter & Gamble) Mead Melaleuca Inc. Mennen Co. (Colgate-Palmolive) Micol Direct Miss Selfridge Murphy Phoenix Co. (Colgate-Palmolive) Nalgene National Trust Natural Eco Trading Nature's Sunshine Products Naturelle Neoteric Cosmetics (Alpha Hydrox) Neutrogena Neutron Industries Inc. Noxell (Procter & Gamble) Olay Co./Oil of Olay (Procter & Gamble) Oral-B (Gillette Co.) Original Additions Pantene (Procter & Gamble) Parfums Givenchy SA (Givenchy, Extravagance, Amarige) Parfums International (White Shoulders) Parker Pens (Gillette Co.)
Pennex Perrigo Pfizer Inc. Playtex Products Inc. (Banana Boat, Woolite, Baby Magic) PPR
Group/Pinault-Printemps-Redoute (GUCCI!) Prada Group (Fendi) Thanks PETA Prince
Matchiabelli Procter & Gamble Co. (Secret, Crest, Vidal Sassoon, Tide, Cover Girl, Max Factor, Old Spice, Hugo Boss) Publix Super Markets Purex Corp. Quintessence Reckitt Benckiser (Coty, Lysol, Mop & Glo, Resolve, Spray 'N Wash, Woolite) Redmond Products Reflect.com Richardson-Vicks (Procter & Gamble) Rimmel (supplied by Unilever) Ronson International Sara Lee Sally Hansen (Del Laboratories) Schering-Plough (Coppertone, Ban de Soleil, Dr. Scholl's) Schick (Warner-Lambert) Scott Paper Co. Scottish Fine Soaps S.C. Johnson & Son (Pledge, Drano, Windex, Glade) Seven Seas Shiseido Company Ltd. SmithKline Beecham (AquaFresh, Contac, Tums) Sofina Softsoap Enterprises (Colgate-Palmolive) Sterling Drug Suave Sunshine Makers (Simple Green) Sun Star 3M (Scotch, Post-It) Unilever(Lever Bros., Calvin Klein, Elizabeth Arden, Helene Curtis, Ben &Jerry's, Aim, Close-Up, Dove, Finesse, Salon Selectives, Pond's,Vaseline, Sure, Pepsodent, Mentadent) Vidal Sassoon (Procter & Gamble) Victoria's Secret Viktoria Apothekere (Phas) Vogue International Warner-Lambert (Lubriderm, Listerine, Schick) Wellbeing Westwood Pharmaceuticals Whitehall Laboratories Xynergy Health Products Yvonne Gray

Here is another source of a list http://www.caringconsumer.com/pdfs/companiesDoTest.pdf of companies that test on animals.

These two links provides wonderful lists of cruelty free places to shop, with PDF files you can print or download to share.

http://www.caringconsumer.com/pdfs/companiesDontTest.pdf

http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ&sdn=environment&cdn=newsissues&tm=163&gps=81_1174_1276_607&f=10&tt=2&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//clk.about.com/%3Fzi%3D1/XJ%26sdn%3Denvironment%26cdn%3Dnewsissues%26tm%3D71%26gps%3D93_1174_1276_607%26f%3D10%26tt%3D2%26bt%3D0%26bts%3D0%26zu%3Dhttp%253A//www.leapingbunny.org/pdf/ccicguide_full.pdf

For more information about what is involved in animal testing and what this means, read the article listed below too.

http://www.hsus.org/animals_in_research/animal_testing/

For general information about becoming more aware of what we are consuming and who we support, check this publication. http://www.caringconsumer.com/

Don't forget to check my online boutique for pet products. I only carry spa and bakery products that contain safe natural ingredients and that are not tested on animals. If you can't find what you need, let me know and I'll try to help. If you have a great resource, please share it by sending your comments.

Happy shopping!

New service helps find lost pets

I just learned about a new one of a kind service called "FindToto.com, called the Amber Alert for lost or stolen pets. This service was inspired by a pet owner after losing their own cat. Their pet's loss made it clear how difficult and time-consuming it was to call all their own neighbors and post flyers. Unfortunately they never found their cat, but saw a real need for a service such as this to help other pet owners.

All you have to do is go to FindToto.com, sign up for the service, and within 1 hour they are alerting your neighbors of the situation. The service is operated 7 days a week. The cost is based on how many people you'd like them to call, and ranges from $59.99 to $500 (for $59.99 they will call 250 neighbors).

I've added a link to them at the top of my blog, in case you ever need this service. Hopefully you never will.

Help your dog have a safe Valentine's Day

With any holiday, there are special precautions we need to take as pet owners to make sure our pets remain safe. Valentine's day is no exception, and I found some helpful tips at the ASPCA website that I wanted to pass along to all of you. Here is their article:

THE ASPCA GUIDE TO A PET-FRIENDLY VALENTINE’S DAY
Ready for some romance next Thursday? As sweethearts far and wide make their Valentine’s Day plans, we’d like to offer some tips to ensure a loving, safe day for all species—Romeos and Rovers alike!

- Many varieties of lilies are highly toxic to cats, so if these are your—or your Valentine’s—flower of choice, make sure your cats can’t get near them. Other potentially poisonous flowers may include tulips, amaryllis, daisies, chrysanthemums and baby’s breath. Check out our Safe Flower Guide for a list of alternatives.

- Candlelit dinners are about as high on the romantic scale as you can get—but please don’t leave the room while flames are still burning. Many pets, particularly kittens, are attracted to the flames and could get burned or singed. Let curious paws find safer things to play with!

- Take extra care if you’ll be serving vino with your dinner—many pets have been known to explore an alcoholic beverage left in a glass. If ingested, this could cause a range of symptoms, from vomiting and diarrhea to metabolic disturbances and even coma.

Click here for the complete ASPCA Guide to a Pet-Friendly Valentine’s Day.

Keep your dog safe this New Year's Eve

New Year's festivities can expose your dog to many hazards, but being aware of them can reduce the chances of an emergency visit to your veterinarian.

If you're having a party, try to stick as closely a possible to your dog's normal feeding and walking schedule beforehand. When guests arrive, watch that your dog doesn't slip out the door in all of the confusion. It's a good idea to watch him around small children even if he's always been friendly in the past. Remind your guests not to give your dog any alcohol, or feed him chocolate or anything with onions in it. It's best if they don't give your dog any human treats to avoid over-feeding or stomach upset. If any foods have toothpicks, keep an eye out that they don't fall to the floor-they can damage a dog's intestines if swallowed. The same goes for any aluminum foil or plastic wrap from food - it can be tempting for a dog to grab and lick, but dangerous if swallowed. Burning candles can attract a curious puppy, and a burning fireplace can cause bronchial irritation for any dog. If your dog isn't sociable, it's best to put him in a closed room with his bed, food, water, toys and play soft music to drown out the noises.

If you're going out for the evening, it's also a good idea to leave music playing- classical music is very calming to a dog. Keep your dog inside in case of fireworks or other noisy celebrations by your neighbors at midnight. If that's not possible, make sure his I.D. tags are up to date and on his collar in case he is frightened and gets out of your yard.

Enjoy the festivities and have a safe and Happy New Year!

Traveling with your dog

Traveling with your dog during the holidays or vacations takes some special planning to insure your dog's safety and happiness. I found a great article by Travel Hacker called "Traveling with man's best friend: 20 tips for a dog-friendly vacation.

To read the article, click here