Blog – Paw Print

Pet Tips

Moving Prep with Pets: Tips to Combat Stress While Preparing to Move

August 24, 2022

We are in the final stretch of prepping for our move! We’ve been living in our current apartment for over 10 years. The whole moving process has felt a bit foreign. This is also the first time ever that we’ve had to move with dogs. Our oldest dog, Kit, joined our pack just a few months after we moved into this apartment. He’s lived in the same apartment with us since he was 9 weeks old, and he’s almost 11 now! Throughout the moving process I’ve stayed pretty vigilant when it comes to my dogs. Moving can be a big source of stress for pets, as well as their people! Luckily my boys are pretty resilient, and I’ve followed a few tips that I feel have helped to keep their stress levels at a minimum during our moving prep.

Post Contents:

1 Try to Maintain Your Regular Routine.
2 Keep Comfort Items Out for Your Pets.
3 Set up a “Quiet Zone” Where Your Pets Can Stay Safe and Stress Free.
4 Don’t Bother Going Crazy Cleaning.
5 Get Plenty of Exercise!
6 Try To Stay Stress Free Yourself.
7 Try to have fun!
8 Thank you SO much to everyone whose wished us luck with our move!

Try to Maintain Your Regular Routine.

If you’re like most pet owners, you and your pets are used to following a certain schedule. Animals can be creatures of habit, and breaks in their normal, everyday, routines can be big sources of stress. My fiancé and I have been super busy; running around to get moving stuff done, tying up loose ends at work, and visiting with friends and family before we leave. Despite all that, I’ve tried hard to make sure I keep my dogs’ schedule as consistent as possible. You know Kit knows exactly when it’s dinner time, and he’s not a happy camper when it comes late!

Keep Comfort Items Out for Your Pets.

Since we’re so close to moving at this point, I’ve packed quite a bit of my dogs’ belongings, including most of their bedding and toys. I think it’s important, though, to make sure you leave them with access to at least a few comfort items. My dogs each have a few favorite toys, and I’ve made sure to leave those out for them. I also left out their favorite dog bed, and Fen’s crate. These items have been especially useful in our case, since we decided to sell off most of our furniture and start fresh in the new place. I didn’t want Kit especially, with his arthritis, to be left without a comfortable place to relax.

Set up a “Quiet Zone” Where Your Pets Can Stay Safe and Stress Free.

In the past couple of weeks we’ve had quite a few people coming and going from our apartment – Friends visiting, people picking up furniture we sold, etc. We’ve also been breaking down some furniture, and moving around really heavy boxes. There have been quite a few times when, for everyone’s safety, it has been best to not have to worry about my dogs getting underfoot. To protect your pets from getting hurt or bolting out open doors, it’s a great idea to create a nice relaxing ‘quiet zone’ for them. If you can, set aside a room in your house just for your dogs. If you don’t have the space to set aside an entire room, consider using a crate to confine your dog during times when it may be unsafe or stressful to have him/her running around.

Don’t Bother Going Crazy Cleaning.

When we first started packing, I went into crazy cleaning mode. I had plans to clean everything, or at least almost everything, before packing it away into boxes. It’s important to remember, though, that sense of smell is more important to pets than it is people. Bringing items that smell like home into your new house when you move can be really comforting to dogs especially. I decided not to go so crazy with my cleaning, and am even packing a lot of bedding dirty on purpose for the dogs. I can always clean everything later, after everyone gets settled into the new place.

Get Plenty of Exercise!

Believe me, I know, you’re going to want to use moving as an excuse to not exercise your pet as much, at least if you’re anything like me. I’ve been SO sore lately from moving heavy stuff around, plus extra tired because I’ve been so amped up that I haven’t been sleeping very well. Running around at the park is one of the last things I’ve been wanting to do. But I do it for my dogs. Exercise really does help reduce stress! Getting excess energy out in appropriate ways will help ensure your dog isn’t getting into trouble while you’re trying to pack. It can also just be a great way to get out with your dog, to take everyone’s mind off of the craziness of the move even if just for a little while.

Try To Stay Stress Free Yourself.

Easier said than done, I know. Don’t forget that our pets, dogs especially, look to us for ques on how to react in new situations. They feed off of our emotions. If you’re super stressed out, believe me, your pets are going to know it. Despite everything going on here lately I’ve been reading quite a bit, and snuggling with the dogs often, as these are some of the things that help me to destress. Moving is so hectic, it’s important to remember to look out for not only those who you care for (such as pets), but for yourself as well!

Try to have fun!

Packing isn’t fun for everyone, I get that, but there’s no better way to fight off moving stress for our pets than with fun! My younger dog, Fenrir‘s, favorite part of packing so far was when we were getting ready to sell our couch, and found just how many toys had been hiding under there. So many tennis balls! I’ve been taking plenty of breaks from packing to play with the dogs, even just to roll a tennis ball around the newly empty rooms for a few minutes with Fen. A few minutes of fun here and there can really help to lighten the mood of the move – for us and our pets!

Can you think of any tips that I didn’t post here? What are things you do to help keep your pets stress free in a stressful situation, whether it be moving or something else?

Thank you SO much to everyone whose wished us luck with our move!

Things are still going well, and before we know it I’ll be blogging from our new home. I have a few more moving themed posts planned, hopefully no one minds. I’ll be sure to keep everyone updated on our progress. Please don’t worry about us if we go radio silent for a bit at some point. It most likely just means that we’re in our new place, working on getting everything back up and running again. Thank you all so much for reading! All of you are part of what helped to make this next step in our journey possible and I am so thankful for each and every one of you! 🙂

This post originally went up on September 10th, 2019. It was edited and reposted on August 24th, 2022. We successfully moved from our city apartment, to an amazing rental house in the country back in 2019. Moving with pets can cause stress, but this move was a huge upgrade for us. Kit and Fen have both been loving life as country dogs!

Papillons

Are Papillons Hypoallergenic?

August 23, 2022

There are so many things to consider when you’re thinking of adding a new member to your pack! Papillons are an amazing small, but mighty, breed of dog that can make awesome pets for the right people. I’ve been writing quite a bit about papillon’s coats lately, including this post about papillons having single coats, and this one about whether or not papillons shed. But one question I see asked often is whether or not papillons are hypoallergenic.

Post Contents:

1 What, exactly, does hypoallergenic mean?
2 What causes dog allergies?
3 Are there any truly hypoallergenic dog breeds?
4 Are Papillons Hypoallergenic?

What, exactly, does hypoallergenic mean?

First thing first, to determine whether or not papillons are hypoallergenic it would help to have a good understanding of what hypoallergenic means, and how it relates to dogs. The Merriam-Webster definition of the word hypoallergenic is “having little likelihood of causing an allergic response”. So, basically, a hypoallergenic dog breed would be one that has little likelihood of causing an allergic reaction in people impacted by dog allergies.

What causes dog allergies?

A lot of people associate dog allergies with dog’s fur. However, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, “When you have a pet allergy, you are not allergic to the pet’s hair, fur, or feathers. You are allergic to the protein that is found in the pet’s dander (dead skin cells) saliva, and urine”. This is why people can still be allergic to dog and cat breeds who don’t have fur.

Fur can, however, trap allergens. Exposure to a high concentration of trapped allergens can trigger allergy symptoms in people who are allergic to dogs. Common dog allergy symptoms can include a stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, coughing, hives, and swollen and/or itchy eyes. Pet allergies can sometimes progress to asthma, which can include more serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing.

Are there any truly hypoallergenic dog breeds?

Unfortunately, there are no truly hypoallergenic dog breeds. Since dog allergies are caused by proteins found in dogs’ dander, saliva, and urine, all breeds of dogs will, to some extent, impact a person with dog allergies. However, there are some breeds of dogs that produce less dander. These breeds have no, or non-shedding, coats and may not trigger allergies as strongly in some people. It’s important to note, however, that even breeds in these categories can still cause allergic reactions. A lot of it comes down to your individual allergies, how sensitive to dog allergens you are, and how much effort you put into keeping your dog and environment as allergen free as possible.

Are Papillons Hypoallergenic?

No, papillons are not hypoallergenic. Papillons are not on the list of dog breeds who have no, or non-shedding, coats. This breed does shed. They do not produce a lower amount of dander compared to other dog breeds. No dog breed is truly, 100% hypoallergenic, but papillons are also not on the list of dogs that may be less likely to cause allergic reactions for some people. If you suffer from dog allergies, a papillon will probably not be the right breed for you.

Do Papillons Shed?

Papillons are amazing little dogs, but will probably not be the right breed for someone who suffers from dog allergies. But that’s ok! Learning what breeds, or types of pets, aren’t for you is an important step in your journey towards finding your ‘perfect’ animal companion. Comment below! Do you suffer from dog allergies, or are you allergic to any other type of pet? What are some of the things you do to help mitigate, or deal with, your allergies?

Pet Tips, Dog Health

Nationwide Low Cost Spay and Neuter Programs

August 22, 2022

Millions of homeless pets are euthanized in animal shelters each year. One sure way to make sure that your beloved pets do not contribute to this tragic number is to get them spayed or neutered. However, depending on where you live and what type of pet you have, the surgery to have your pet fixed can be quite expensive. Luckily, there are a number of different programs that offer lower cost spaying or neutering services.

What programs are available to you will most likely depend on factors such as what type of pet you have and where you live.

While there are some nation wide assistance programs, there are many more location specific programs that you may qualify for. This post is going to focus mostly on nation wide programs. However, if for some reason any of the organizations listed here can’t help you don’t give up hope! Your local veterinarian or animal shelter should be able to advise you about any programs specific to your area.

Friends of Animals offers a national low cost program. You can purchase a low cost certificate from their website and use it as payment for your pet’s surgery with a participating veterinarian.
Spay USA is a nation wide referral program that works to help connect pet owners with local low cost programs.
Most states will have local low cost spay and neuter services available to residents of that state. There’s too many to list here! If you are searching for a program in your area, besides talking to your local vet/animal shelter and doing a general Google search, you can also check out the search tools offered by the ASPCA, and/or The Humane Society.

Spaying/neutering is a surefire way to make sure your pet doesn’t contribute to the insane pet overpopulation problem. However, I think it’s important to note that, as with anything, fixing your pet comes with both pros and cons. Do your research when deciding how long you should wait before fixing your pet. Personally, going forward, I will always wait until my pets are fully mature before fixing them. However, what’s right for you and your pets will depend on your individual situation!

If you are aware of any nation wide low cost spay and neuter assistance programs that I left out please comment below! I will add them to our list.

Pet Products

Review of the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum

August 21, 2022

Ah vacuums! I feel like every dog owner out there is on a never ending quest to find “the” holy grail vacuum. You know the one. The one that isn’t insanely expensive, that sucks up all that dog hair with ease, without getting clogged. The one that isn’t too heavy, too fragile, so on and so forth. For years now, in dog groups, owners have been recommending Dyson vacuums. I tried out the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete vacuum. For just over 5 years it was my only vacuum. I hated it. There, I said it. Well, wrote it at least.

Post Contents:

1 Not worth the price (in my opinion)
2 Get the warranty!
3 My Dyson lost suction.
4 The ball is destructive
5 I will 1,000% be the first to admit that I’m rough on my vacuums.
6 Personal Preference?
7 Are you supposed to use the warranty this often!?
8 I’ve had much better luck with much cheaper vacuums.

Not worth the price (in my opinion)

I bought my Dyson animal vacuum way back in 2014. It (thankfully) came with a 5 year warranty. Almost exactly 5 years after I purchased it, and right before we moved, I ditched the Dyson. With the state it was in, it just wasn’t worth it to me to go through the trouble of bringing the Dyson along on our move. I know that people always seem to rave about Dyson vacuums, especially pet owners. But after 5 years of using ours I’m not sure I’d be quick to invest in a Dyson again.

Dyson vacuums are worth their inflated cost, or at least I don’t think they are. I found the Dyson DC41 Animal Vac on Amazon for $800, even though I’m pretty sure that the DC41 is now an outdated model. Looking at the Dyson website, their updated version of this vacuum seems to be the Dyson Ball Animal 2. It currently (at the time of this post) retails at $599.99.

Get the warranty!

Over the 5 years of using my Dyson I was SO thankful that it came with a warranty. The first time I needed to use it was about a year in. The acclaimed ball on my vacuum kind of just…fell apart…and I had to have it repaired/replaced. I remember the Dyson rep didn’t want to let me ship my vacuum in to be repaired. At the time I didn’t have a car, so I wasn’t able to take the vacuum in to a repair shop.

Despite its high cost, most of the parts of my Dyson seemed to be made of cheap plastic, which made it prone to breaking. Over the 5 years I had it, I basically rebuilt my entire vacuum, piece by piece, as each piece broke and had to be replaced.

My Dyson lost suction.

I’ll admit that when we first got it, our Dyson vacuum did an amazing job of getting all the pet hair off my rugs. Five years later though, it did a horrible job. If I went over the same spot on my rugs about a million times, I could get them to look pretty clean. However, upon close inspection I could always see remaining bits of dog fur and such (see the photo below, it was taken right after I vacuumed!) stuck to my rugs. This was especially true when I didn’t have a ton of time and only went over the rug once or twice, instead of a million times.

The ball is destructive

I found the wand, and to some extent the vacuum itself, clunky and awkward to maneuver. The ball on the vacuum is supposed to improve maneuverability, and I felt that to some extent it did, however it doesn’t come without its share of problems. Perhaps you can chalk this up to human error, but I sometimes ran over the cord of the vacuum with the ball and nothing good has come of it. The cord was so damaged that I began to question whether or not it was safe to continue using the vacuum.

Besides the cord looking like that, the ball on my vacuum was missing one half of the cover because it fell off and I couldn’t figure out how to reattach it securely.

I will 1,000% be the first to admit that I’m rough on my vacuums.

I mean, I don’t use them as punching bags or anything crazy, but I use them a lot, usually at least once a day, and I’m not always super strict about keeping up on maintenance when it comes to deep cleaning each part. But for $500 plus, I expect a product to have some longevity. While I did still have a semi-working vacuum after 5 years, like I mentioned above, at that point so many of the parts had been replaced that it was essentially not the same vacuum it was when I bought it. Despite many of the parts being newer than 5 years old, what I was left with didn’t work all that well anymore.

Personal Preference?

I don’t want to discount all the accounts I’ve heard/read of people having excellent experiences with Dyson products. Perhaps a lot of my issues come down to user error, and/or personal preference. I think the main con, to me, is just that these vacuums, at regular price, are so expensive. To pay that much for a vacuum with parts that break often is frustrating to say the least. There are quite a few competitive brands out there that are a lot more affordable. From my experience, they also seem to be more durable. If you’re lucky you can find a Dyson on sale. Then perhaps the cheaper price point makes any issues later on a bit more tolerable.

The 5 year warranty on new machines does help lessen the blow a bit when you need replacement parts. However, at least on the machine I had, it’s a limited warranty so not everything was covered. If you need a replacement part that doesn’t happen to be covered, it probably won’t come cheap. And that’s not even taking into account the fact that, whether you get it under warranty or pay for it out of pocket, getting replacement parts shipped, or a repair, means you’ll have downtime which, in a house with a heavily shedding or otherwise messy pet, isn’t very fun.

Are you supposed to use the warranty this often!?

While I was appreciative of Dyson’s warranty, I had to use it SO many times over the course of 5 years. I feel like using a warranty on a product should be the exception rather than the rule. It’s nice to have if you need it. But when you pay so much for an item you don’t usually expect to have to replace parts so soon, or so often.

I’ve had much better luck with much cheaper vacuums.

I think the main con of the Dyson vacuum I tried just keeps coming back to it’s price. After we moved, sans the Dyson vacuum, I picked up a much cheaper $150 vacuum during an Amazon sale. I don’t even remember the brand of the top of my head. I just really needed a new vacuum, and didn’t want to pay a ton for it. Three years later that cheapo sale vacuum is still going strong. I still use it almost daily, and have never had a single issue with any of the parts breaking. It’s crazy to me that a cheap, no frills vacuum has been holding up way better than my Dyson did!

What do you think? Have you ever tried a Dyson product? Was your experience similar or different to mine?

Papillons

Are Papillons Cuddly?

August 20, 2022

I fell in love with papillons when I was around 8 years old. I first learned about the breed in one of my sister’s dog breed books! Of course reading about a dog breed in a book and actually living with one are two different things. I made sure to do lots of research before finally deciding that yes, papillons are the right dog breed for me! Before getting a papillon of my own, there were a lot of things I wanted to learn about these special dogs. While most dogs are friendly, especially with their people, I really wanted to know whether or not papillons are cuddly! Small dogs often get categorized as companion, or lap, dogs. But in reality, not all small dog breeds like to snuggle.

Post Contents:

1 Papillons are a high energy breed!
2 What do I mean by “cuddly”?
3 My personal experience with my own papillon…
4 But that doesn’t mean that all papillons are cuddly.
5 Other factors to take into account
6 Conclusions

Papillons are a high energy breed!

Papillon owners sometimes refer to these dogs as the “border collies of the small dog world”. Not only do they have a lot of physical energy, but papillons are also the 8th smartest dog breed in the world! That amazing combination of energy and smarts means that papillons are always on the go, go, go! They need ample amounts of both mental and physical exercise. At least they do if you have any illusions of keeping them out of trouble.

One of the many things that originally drew me to papillons is what amazing adventure buddies they can make. I love spending time outdoors, hiking or otherwise just enjoying the great outdoors. I wanted a dog that would enjoy adventuring with me, but, for many reasons, preferred a small breed dog. Papillons seemed to fit the bill. But the breeds energy level left me wondering whether I’d be able to enjoy doggy snuggles during our downtime.

What do I mean by “cuddly”?

I think most people would have a similar definition of what makes a dog cuddly, although I suppose peoples’ perspectives could differ. Dogs can be affectionate without being snuggly. To me, a snuggly or cuddly dog is one that enjoys laying in my lap or next to me, receiving attention, for an extended period of time.

Does “cuddly” mean the same thing to you? I’d be interested to hear if other people would define a cuddly dog differently.

My personal experience with my own papillon…

My papillon, Kitsune, is super snuggly! Ever since he was a puppy, he’s loved cuddling up with my partner or I, ideally both of us at once, while we relax and at night. Yes, Kit sleeps in bed with us. Kit loves to cuddle so much that he’s very much earned the nickname “the snuggle king” around our house! In fact, if anyone at our house sits down, even just for a few minutes, chances are it’s not going to take long at all before Kitsune is in your lap. He is an equal opportunity snuggler!

But that doesn’t mean that all papillons are cuddly.

Of course my account of my one papillon being cuddly doesn’t really answer the question of whether or not members of the breed in general like to cuddle. I thought it would be interesting to poll some other papillon owners to see what they said about their own dogs. These were the results…

48.7%, almost half, of the papillon owners I surveyed said that yes, they also have cuddly papillons. 13.7% said that their papillons were more independent, and don’t really like to cuddle. What surprised me the most was that a whopping 37.5% of owners couldn’t definitively answer yes or no, and said that “it depends”. Most of the people who answered this way said that their papillons are sometimes cuddly.

The biggest factors that these people reported that influence whether or not their papillons were cuddly included their dog(s) mood, and the time of day. Apparently, it’s quite common for papillons to enjoy snuggling with their owners in the mornings and evenings, but not as much during the day. I wonder if this could have to do with papillons’ high energy levels. It makes sense that they may be more likely to cuddle during more relaxed times of the day, while the rest of the day they work on burning off all that energy!

Other factors to take into account

Some other things I took note of while discussing this topic with fellow papillon owners was that, in general, owners reported that their male papillons are more snuggly than their females. However, this was not consistent across the board. A few owners even reported the opposite; that their females were more cuddly. Also, in general, people with younger papillons were much more likely to report that their dog(s) didn’t like to snuggle due to their high activity levels.

Conclusions

My personal experience has been that papillons are, indeed, a very cuddly breed of dog. However, that is not true across the board. Not all owners report that their papillons like to snuggle, and for many dogs whether or not they cuddle with their owners seems to depend on factors such as their mood, activity level, and the time of day. Younger papillons seem to be less likely to stay still long enough for a good cuddle, which makes sense. Papillons are a high energy breed, especially when they’re young. Like most things when it comes to dogs, whether or not your dog likes to cuddle may just come down to their unique, individual personality. While it does seem like a majority of papillons do enjoy snuggling with their owners, not all of them do. This is something potential owners should keep in mind when deciding whether this breed is right for them.

Comment below! Do you prefer cuddly dogs, or dogs who are more independent? Does your dog like to snuggle? Have you ever had the honor of snuggling with a papillon?

Dog Health

Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?

August 19, 2022

My papillon, Kitsune, is the ultimate foodie! If he thinks something is even remotely eatable, he’ll eat it! Weather dependent, I’ve been trying to spend as much time as possible lately outside with my two dogs, Kitsune and Fenrir. When we’re outside, I have to keep a close eye on Kitsune. While Fenrir enjoys playing fetch and relaxing in the sun, Kit likes to try to spend a majority of his yard time grazing on the lawn! This led me to ask the age old question. Why, exactly, do some dogs eat grass?

Post Contents:

1 Soothing an upset stomach?
2 Making up for a diet deficiency?
3 Instinct?
4 For attention? Or boredom?
5 To relieve health issues?
6 Do dogs just like eating grass?
7 An individual thing!
8 Sources:

Soothing an upset stomach?

While Kitsune will try to eat grass almost every time we go outside, my Alaskan klee kai Fenrir almost never does. In fact, Fen showing any interest in eating grass has always been a sure fire sign that he’s got an upset stomach. I’ve always heard that dogs eat grass when they aren’t feeling well, perhaps to make themselves throw up. While Fenrir does seemingly eat grass to help sooth an unset stomach, he almost never throws up afterwards.

There seems to be anecdotal evidence that some dogs, including my Fenrir, do eat grass as a result of an upset stomach. However, soothing an upset stomach can’t be the only reason why dogs eat grass. My Kitsune eats grass all the time, pretty much every time he goes outside, and there’s no way he is experiencing stomachaches that often. He’s healthy, active, and playful, with no health issues or symptoms that would indicate he is experiencing constant stomach upset.

Making up for a diet deficiency?

Another theory as to why some dogs eat grass suggests that they might be trying to obtain nutrients, or perhaps fiber, that they are lacking from their regular diet.

An interesting paper by Kang et al, from 2007, discussed the case of a miniature poodle who was reported to have consumed grass daily for 7 years. The dog’s owner was directed to switch their dog to a high fiber diet. After doing so, the poodle was reported to have ceased eating grass. Although this case only discussed one single dog, it seems to suggest that, at least for some dogs, eating grass is an attempt to make up for dietary deficiencies.

I don’t think this is the case with my own dogs, however. Both of my dogs are on a well balanced diet. In the case of Kitsune, I actually have tried feeding him a higher fiber diet. Doing so did nothing to curb his cravings for grass.

Instinct?

Could dogs eating grass be an ingrained instinct that goes back to their wolf ancestors?

The stomach contents of wolves have been found to contain 2-10% plant matter. However, this plant matter is thought to mostly come from the stomachs of herbivores that the wolves eat. But examining the stool samples of wolves has seemed to suggest that some wolves do, at least occasionally, consume grass.

For attention? Or boredom?

Yet another theory suggests that some dogs might consume grass for physiological reasons, such as to illicit attention from their owners, or because they are bored. It may also be a nervous habit, similar to how some humans will chew on their fingernails or inappropriate objects when they are stressed.

While I can’t speak for all dogs, of course, I don’t feel these reasons resonate with my own dogs. Kit and Fen find spending time outside anything but boring. I usually make sure to keep them engaged when we’re outside. We play with toys, work on training, or go for a hike.

To relieve health issues?

I haven’t come across any evidence that grass eating can help elevate health issues such as internal parasites/worms. I have seen it suggested that this could be a cause for grass consumption, though.

Do dogs just like eating grass?

After all of that this, I think, is the most likely reason why my dog Kitsune eats so much grass. Plain and simple, I think he enjoys it. He seems to, often times, take great care in walking around the lawn looking for choice pieces of grass to eat. He’s a grass connoisseur! Anyone who knows Kit would probably agree with me. He’s one of those dogs who is obsessed with eating and that obsession, apparently, extends to eating grass.

An individual thing!

Like most things related to dogs, there doesn’t seem to be a one size fits all answer as to why some dogs eat grass. There are many theories as to why, including that grass eating can help relieve health issues, that they do it for attention or to relieve boredom, that eating grass is instinctual to dogs, that it can help make up for dietary decencies, or sooth an upset stomach. The fact of the matter is that some dogs might also just enjoy eating grass!

Comment below! Do you have a dog that eats grass? Why do you think your individual dog does it?

Sources:

Kang, B. T., Jung, D. I., Yoo, J. H., Park, C., Woo, E. J., & Park, H. M. (2007). A high fiber diet responsive case in a poodle dog with long-term plant eating behavior. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 69(7), 779–782. https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.69.779

Dog Health, Pet Tips

Common Garden Plants Can Be Toxic to Pets

August 18, 2022

For the last couple of years, our gardens have been completely bombing. This year, I tried to do some container gardening. I thought that keeping my plants in containers close to the house would protect them. Nope! The deer still visited at some point and ate almost everything I was growing. If you planted a garden this year, hopefully yours was a bit more successful, and you’ve been able to enjoy the fruits (vegetables and flowers too) of your labors.

If you’re anything like me, you probably share your fresh garden bounty with your pets. Especially if, like me, you have a pet highly skilled in the art of begging (those eyes!). Fresh fruits and vegetables can be delicious, low calorie snacks for many types of pets. Home grown garden goodies are extra healthy if they were grown organically. It’s important, though, to remember that not all types of fruits and veggies should be shared with your pet. And while flowers are beautiful, some can be toxic.

The ASPCA has a great list of plants that are toxic to dogs, cats, and/or horses. If you have other types of pets, it’s usually pretty easy to find basic lists of toxic plants by searching online. I wish I could include a list here, of either safe or dangerous garden plants. But the list would be massive, and even then I’m sure there’d be lots of plants that I’d forget.

If you don’t know for sure whether or not a plant is safe, it’s always best to avoid offering it to your pet until you can do more research. If you don’t want to do the research yourself, your pet’s veterinarian should be able to help you. Never assume that just because a plant is safe for humans, or even for other types of pets, that it will be safe for all species. For example, small pets such as rabbits can safely enjoy grapes. However, grapes are toxic to dogs.

Another thing to keep in mind is that just because part of a plant is safe, doesn’t mean that the entire plant is. For example, like people, many dogs enjoy red tomatoes. But did you know that green tomatoes, as well as the leaves and stems of tomato plants, contain a compound called tomatine? Tomatine has anti-fungal properties that help to protect the tomato plants. It is, however, toxic, and can cause gastrointestinal irritation, weakness, and ataxia (neurological symptoms) if ingested in large enough quantities.

I don’t think many pet owners would purposely feed their pets flowers from their garden. It’s still important to note that many kinds of common garden flowers, such as Morning Glories, Tulips, and Daffodils, can be toxic to pets. If you’d like to plant types of flowers that can be toxic to animals, it’s probably best to grow them in areas your pet can’t access.

Not all people realize that fruits and vegetables can actually contain a high amount of natural sugars. Although humans can usually handle these sugars without any issues, this is not always true for pets. Sugary fruits or vegetables can cause gastrointestinal distress in pets, if fed in excess.

Some types of pets, such as dogs, cannot digest raw plant matter well. Your dog can still enjoy an occasional fruit/veggie snack, however if you want him/her to get more nutrition out of plant material you should try cooking or mashing/blending the food first. This breaks down the plant’s cell walls, making them easier for carnivores to digest.

Comment below! Is your garden successful this year? What types of home grown produce do you like to share with your pet?

Dog Health, Pet Tips

The Dangers Of Cocoa Mulch

August 17, 2022

If you attempted a garden this year, I hope you had more luck than I did! We’re still living in a rental house, so I’m limited on how much gardening I can actually do. I attempted to set up a couple of outdoor container gardens, but it didn’t go so well. My salad greens were growing nicely, until a deer paid us a visit one night. I have a couple of tomatoe plants growing, but it’s mid August now and my plants are still on the small side. I’m not holding out much hope that I’ll get many tomatoes.

Whether you have a massive garden and a green thumb, or just have a tiny bit of turf to tend, pet owners know that some plants can present health risks to our furry family members. Seemingly unrelated, almost all pet owners also know all about the danger of chocolate. Why am I talking about chocolate in a post that started off being about gardening? Because of cocoa mulch, that’s why! Don’t let your pet become a victim of the mulchacre (get it – mulch massacre?)! The dangers that cocoa mulch can present to pets is no laughing matter.

What exactly is cocoa mulch, you ask?

Photo Credit: Leslie Seaton. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

And what did it ever do to me to make me want to write an anti-mulch post about it? I’m glad you asked.

Cocoa mulch is, well, it’s mulch. Mulch can be made of a verity of substances, but is generally a soil covering that gardeners use to help reduce weed growth, conserve soil moisture, improve the fertility of the soil, and sometimes just to look nice. Sounds pretty harmless, right? Most mulch is. But cocoa mulch, as its name suggests, is made from cocoa bean hulls. The hulls are a byproduct of the chocolate industry. Unlike the cocoa bean itself, the hulls aren’t used to produce yummy delicious chocolate.

Normally I’m a huge proponent of recycling. Using otherwise useless cocoa bean hulls as mulch sounds like an awesome idea, especially since I’m a huge chocolate fan. Hey, all those bean hulls that are a result of my late night chocolate binges have to end up somewhere right? But the ASPCA and many other animal advocates warn against the use of cocoa mulch, especially if you have any four footed garbage disposals, otherwise known as hungry dogs, that frequent your yard.

Why is cocoa mulch dangerous for dogs?

Cocoa mulch is toxic to dogs for the same reason that chocolate is potentially deadly for dogs. Or I should say, a chemical in chocolate can be deadly to dogs. That chemical, theobromine, can also be present in cocoa hulls.

There’s been some debate on just how series of a risk using cocoa mulch around dogs can be.

The American Veterinary Medical Association posted an article back in 2006 suggesting that the mulch may not be quite as dangerous as some people make it out to be. However, they still recommended that pet owners avoid using cocoa mulch.

But even if dogs don’t die from eating cocoa bean hull mulch, it can cause other symptoms of theobromine poisoning such as vomiting and muscle tremors. Not fun, for dog or owner! And according to popular myth busting website Snopes, there has been at least one confirmed dog death attributed to the consumption of cocoa mulch.

What do you think? Is the evidence enough to convince you to avoid using cocoa mulch in your own garden? My dog Kitsune has a passion for food, and sometimes what he considers to be food is a far cry from what I consider eatable. Even if he never eats enough cocoa mulch to do any damage, letting him gain a taste for chocolate is the last thing I want. All the chocolate in this house belongs to me, and me alone!

Pet Tips

10 Tips to Help Your Dog Beat the Summer Heat

August 16, 2022

Is anyone else just ready for fall? Just me? I had so many fun things I wanted to accomplish this summer. While I did complete many of them, the number of excessively hot days we’ve had this year made it hard for me to stay as active as I was hoping too. The hot weather drains my energy, and multiple heat waves have meant that I’ve had to limit how much time I spend outside with my dogs. Do you, and your dog, like the heat?

I recently posted Keeping Your Pet Cool – Summer Safety Tips, but this post is going to be a bit more in depth. Here are 10 easy ways you can help your dog beat the summer heat!

Post Contents:

1 Water, and plenty of it:
2 Scheduling:
3 Location location location:
4 Panting and paws:
5 Made in the shade:
6 Remember your grooming:
7 Use sunscreen:
8 Protect those paws:
9 Cool treats:
10 Stay informed:

Water, and plenty of it:

Make sure your pet has access to fresh clean water at all times. It doesn’t take long for animals to start becoming dehydrated in the summer time. Make sure to bring water for your pets if you travel with them. A nice big bowl of cool water can be just as refreshing to a hot dog as it can be to a human.

Scheduling:

If you can, try to reschedule your dog’s day during the summer. Walking, running, or playing during the hottest parts of the day may become uncomfortable for both you and your pooch. Temperatures are usually the coolest early in the morning or later in the evening. These would be great times to get in your dogs daily walks, or to go to the park for a game of frisbee. It’s important that your dog continues to receive daily exercise, and planning it for the coolest parts of the day can make exercising more enjoyable for both you and your dog.

Location location location:

Remember to never leave your dog alone in your car! Seems like common sense, right? Even a few minutes inside a hot car can harm your dog. Just as importantly, make sure you don’t leave your dog alone in other areas where he/she could overheat. That can include any type of structure without proper ventilation or air conditioning, such as a shed or garage.

Panting and paws:

Dogs sweat through their paws. Panting also helps cool them down when they are hot. Use your common sense, and don’t do anything that would prevent your dog from utilizing his/her natural cooling systems. If you must use a muzzle on your dog, opt for a basket muzzle that it is designed so that your dog can still open his/her mouth to pant, and that he/she can still drink through the muzzle. Pets may look cute in clothes, but summer is not the appropriate time to be dressing up your pet; it will only make them hotter.

Made in the shade:

When spending time outdoors with your pets, make sure they have a nice shady area to retreat too. Although your dog may love sunbathing, too much sun exposure can cause heat stroke. If you don’t have any naturally shaded areas in your yard, consider building your dog a shelter where he/she can go to get out of the sun.

Remember your grooming:

Don’t forget to groom your dog in the summer time, even if you have a short haired or non-shedding breed. A clean, well groomed coat will help to dissipate heat much better than dirty or matted fur. Some dogs will benefit from a nice summer hair cut.

Use sunscreen:

Yes there is such thing as dog sunscreen! It only makes sense, since dogs can get sunburns. Most common areas for sunburn to occur include areas with less fur such as dog’s bellies, noses, or ears. If you have a dog with very short, light colored, or no hair then they may be more prone to getting sunburns. Invest in some doggy sunblock if you are planning on taking your dog out somewhere where they will be exposed to the sun for an extended period of time. Human sunscreen, however, can contain chemicals that can be toxic to pets, so make sure you choose a sunscreen that is dog safe.

Protect those paws:

Pavement can get very hot after a few hours of having the sun beat down on it. Dogs paws are sensitive to heat, so make sure to check the temperature of the asphalt before making your dog walk around on it. If the pavement is so hot that it is uncomfortable for you to stand on it in bare feet, than it’s going to also be uncomfortable for your dog.

Cool treats:

You can help your dog keep cool and have fun at the same time in a number of different ways. If your dog likes the water, you could take him/her swimming, set up a kiddie pool to play in, or turn on the sprinkler. Playing in the water is a great way for your dog to get some exercise as well as cool off. You can also give your dogs some cool treats such as kongs stuffed with frozen yogurt or peanut butter, frozen veggies to chew on, or even something as simple as an ice cube to play with.

Stay informed:

Learn the signs of overheating, dehydration, and heat stroke, so that you can recognize when your dog is having a problem coping with the temperatures. Make sure you know your vet’s hours and phone number in case you need to call or bring your dog in. It’s also good to know the location of at least one emergency vet in case your dog is in distress and his/her normal vet is closed.

Remember that if the temperature outside is uncomfortable to you, it’s probably uncomfortable to your dog. The summer time can be a lot of fun for you and your best furry friend, as long as you make sure to be careful and stay cool. Comment below! How have you and your dog(s) been dealing with the heat this summer? Do you have any tips for keeping your dog cool that I missed?

Dog Health, Pet Tips

Summertime Dangers: Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)

August 15, 2022

Despite now living in the great north, we’ve had to deal with some pretty intensely hot temperatures this summer. Thanks, global warming. We don’t have air conditioning, so we’ve had to find other ways of keeping cool on hot summer days. Swimming, or otherwise spending time by the water, can be a fun way to keep cool with our dogs. No matter how hot it gets, however, no one wants to swim in mucky green water! Well, no human at least. I’ll bet quite a few dogs would dive, much to their owner’s chagrin, right into a pond full of nasty green muck. Why is it that so many dogs seem to enjoy playing in gross water outside, but yet despise baths? It’s important to be aware that, requiring a bath aside, blue-green algae can be dangerous for our dogs.

Post Contents:

1 Some types of algae are toxic!
2 But not all blue-green algae is toxic.
3 Blue-green algae blooms occur most commonly in slow moving, fresh bodies of water.
4 The best way to avoid cyanotoxin poisoning is to stay away from potentially contaminated waters.

Some types of algae are toxic!

Photo via Lamiot
Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0

You might want to think twice before allowing your pet to play in water containing large amounts of algae, though. Besides the after effect of having to wrestle your furry friend into the bath tub, some types of algae are actually toxic, and can be fatal for dogs (as well as humans).

Cyanobacteria, more commonly known as blue-green algae, is a type of photosynthetic bacteria. Individual cyanobacteria cells cannot be seen by the naked eye, but when lots of the cells accumulate together it appears as a, for lack of a better term, muck. The color of the algae can range from different shades of greens and blues to browns and reds. It is sometimes described as looking like pea soup or paint, but can also appear in clumps that look more like foam or mats floating in the water.

But not all blue-green algae is toxic.

Keep in mind that not all blue-green algae is dangerous. Some algae blooms are quite harmless, so much so that they are used as ingredients in natural food coloring and in dietary supplements. However, it can be hard to distinguish between harmless and toxic algae blooms, and it’s not uncommon for natural blooms to contain a combination of toxic and non-toxic algae. Most experts recommend to steer clear of water containing large amounts of algae, just to be on the safe side.

Blue-green algae blooms occur most commonly in slow moving, fresh bodies of water.

Hopefully no blue-green algae here!

Especially during the warmer months, algae blooms can appear and spread rather quickly. Some cyanobacteria produce toxins (cyanotoxins) that are not only dangerous to humans, but to animals and plants as well. Cyanotoxins are some of the most powerful naturally produced toxins, and they have been known to cause symptoms ranging from mild irritation, to neurological complications and death.

There is currently no known antidote for cyanotoxins. Symptoms can begin as quickly as 15 minutes after exposure and can include more minor symptoms such as skin irritation, rashes, nose, throat, and eye irritation. More severe symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, liver damage, lethargy, difficulty breathing, lack of coordination, convolutions, and nervous system damage. Cyanotoxins can cause death, especially in smaller pets, sometimes as quickly as 30 minutes after exposure.

The best way to avoid cyanotoxin poisoning is to stay away from potentially contaminated waters.

Don’t let your dog play in, or drink water that contains algae blooms. If you believe your dog has been exposed, don’t allow your dog to lick him/herself until all the algae has been removed from his/her fur. Wash your pet as soon as possible. If you believe your pet may have ingested some of the algae, contact your vet. Your vet may recommend that you induce vomiting, or bring your pet in for supportive care.

Since, again, there is no known antidote for cyanotoxins, this is truly a case of prevention being the best medicine.

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