The Pet Supply Guy

This week we faced the unfortunate decision that every pet parent dreads - our oldest cat, Heidi, had developed a rather large swelling, and although we quickly called the vet to get her in, we knew that it was likely that this would be Heidi’s last trip to the vet. Donna and I had gone together, fully prepared to hear the worst, but hoping against hope that she still had some time. Unfortunately, there was nothing to be done for her, and we made the fateful decision to put her out of her misery.

Heidi came into our lives almost 16 years ago. Rescued right after her birth along with her mother Amber. The other siblings were unfortunately dead. Donna nursed Heidi until Amber was strong enough to do it herself.

Donna found a home for Amber, but we kept Heidi. She ruled the pet population in our household. No cat or dog would dare cross her, and she was not above whacking a dog on the nose just to remind them who was boss.

She will be missed for a long time.

The current swine flu health issue has many pet parents concerned that their pets might contract the malady.

As far as pets are concerned, there is good news - they are not at risk. The mis-named Swine Flu is an airborne virus that is passed between humans.

Pets have a different biological makeup, and cannot get the virus even if a human in the household has it.

Additionally, pork products are safe to eat for pets and people. You can’t get the virus by eating pork, ham, or bacon.

As people age, some find it difficult to perform routine chores at home. Such people require a helping hand. Did you realize that animals can be trained to help in the home? Along with helping, they also provide great companionship. The most common assistance pets are dogs. Cats are sometimes used to provide company to people like senior citizens who need to keep their blood pressure low, and to help them beat stress. Even exotic pets such as capuchin monkeys are trained for this purpose. Not only are they a big help for senior citizens, but also for the physically handicapped, such as deaf and blind people, and quadriplegics.

Service dogs are dogs are specially trained dogs for patients with disabilities. The hearing dog is a special kind of service dog which is trained to help the hearing impaired. They help by alerting their disabled partner when they hear important sounds such as phone rings, doorbells, alarm clocks and smoke alarms. They are of great help not only within the house, but also outdoors. They alert the handler when someone calls out the person’s name, approaching sirens, and vehicles. Hearing dogs can be recognized by the bright orange leash and collar they commonly wear. Sometimes they even wear a jacket or a cape.

Some service dogs are trained as mobility assistance dogs, whose job is to help a person who is physically challenged. They are trained to open and close doors, pick up things, and even turn lights on and off. Large dogs can also be trained to pull patients in wheelchairs with the help ofa special harness.

Some canines are trained as walker dogs, which have been nicknamed “living canes”. They help patients with Parkinson’s disease and other ambulatory disorders. They help by providing balance while walking. If the handler stumbles, the dog helps him to regain position by acting as a brace.

Dogs are also trained for assisting people with Type 1 diabetes. They are trained to smell the odor changes in the body which signal hypoglycemia or low blood glucose. Another type of service dogs is the seizure response dog. They help patients with epilepsy or other seizure disorders. They are trained to seek help in case of emergency and wake up the unconscious patient. They are trained to use a pre-programmed phone to get help quickly. They also provide emotional support, and often carry information about the patient’s medical condition.

There are also service dogs trained to help people with psychiatric or neurological disabilities such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, autism, and post traumatic stress disorder. They remind the handler to take medicines, and can also help people suffering from hallucinations or paranoia. They also act as a brace and help to retrieve objects.

Dogs which help visually impaired people are known as guide dogs. They help the handler to avoid obstacles. Guide horses, which are miniature horses, are also employed to help people who are blind and who do not like dogs. Some people prefer horses because they live longer than dogs. Some are allergic or afraid of dogs. However, dogs have the advantage of being able to come in the house, while horses, even miniature ones, cannot. Additionally, service dogs can accompany their owner on public transportation, and horses of course cannot.

Playful pets can eat a lot of things which they can’t digest. Sometimes these foreign objects can block their intestines and if immediate action isn’t taken, it could lead to death of the animal. Usually in serious cases, the foreign object must be taken out surgically. 

Animals such as dogs and cats commonly chewing loose cords, especially those of the computer. Other things which get chewed are plants, wool strands, plastic bags, shoes, toys, purse straps, vinyl objects, leather objects, baskets, furniture, woodwork, and bed frames. Although preventative measures can be taken, and the house can be made relatively pet proof, still there are chances of accidents. Some animals either pass these objects through stool or vomit it out. Such incidents can happen anytime and the animal cannot be lucky every time. The objects can still remain in the body even after pooping and vomiting. 

Vinyl and leather materials get stuck to the walls of the intestines. This condition is hard to be determined immediately as the animal doesn’t stop breathing or starts feeling dizzy. But by close observation if it is noted that the animal isn’t eating properly as it used to before, doesn’t defecate, and lies dull on the bed whole day long, means something is wrong. Since the animal isn’t in immediate danger, the owners need not panic. An x-ray and a blood test can explain the situation and the veterinarian can get a clear idea of what to do.  If the blood test comes out normal, it indicates that the animal still has time on hand and the foreign object can be removed with the help of some laxative. And if there is an indication of an infection in the blood, a sonogram or a barium x-ray can be done. The very last resort is surgery, and this should be done only when the animal refuses to eat anything. In situations liek this vomiting should not be induced as this could aggravate the condition. If the animal vomits by himself, it is okay. 

Heavy duty materials block the intestine completely. Besides blocking or sticking to the walls of the intestines, some plants can also be toxic to the animal. Pet owners should become familiar with these plants, can refrain from planting such plants in their yard or home garden. Instead, most pets like to play in grass. 

Plastic bags can also pose a big threat to the animal. But the rustling noises can make the plastic more attractive to your pet. Objects made out of plastic should be kept out of reach. Another precaution that can be taken is to treat objects that you don’t want chewed with bitter apple spray. They can be even cleaned with a disinfectant with a strong odor, but be careful of the type of disinfectant you use as some can be poisonous to your pet. 

Since leather items are made from animal hides, they are a favorite for chewing. Shoes can be stored in high shoe racks, drawers, chest or even better, in walk –in closets, along with the purses. 

A pet stands a better chance of recovering from eating something they shouldn’t have if it is attended to promptly. Make sure you post the phone numbers for your veterinarian, and also the emergency animal clinic, near your phone where they are easy to find in an emergency.

Dog owners who live near a forest, beside a river, or on a farm will be quick to tell you that there is something about stinky, decaying, items that appeals to dogs. It doesn’t seem to matter if it is black swamp water, dead fish, or a pile of slimy manure, if it stinks and can be rolled in, the dog is happy. While smelling like a walking barking sewer system is a dogs idea of heaven on earth, its owners are normally less then enthusiastic. The odor emitting from their pet means that they have to take time out of their busy day to either take their pet to the pet groomer and have it bathed, or they have to bath their dog themselves. Even then there is no way that they can be sure that the offensive odor will wash out of the dog’s coat.

Dog experts believe that dogs roll in things like dead fish, road kill, and manure in an attempt to disguise themselves. What nobody know is why they feel the need to camouflage their scent. It could be a throwback to the days when they hunted their dinner, if the prey couldn’t smell them, they stood a better chance of capturing something to eat. Another reason dogs might feel the need to hide their scent is protections. They might be trying to hide from potential predators or other packs of once feral dogs. Maybe stinking like a landfill made it easier to be accepted into another pack. On the other hand its possible that dogs roll in the stinkiest object they can find just because it feels good. Nobody really knows for sure why dogs feel the need to smell.

The quickest, most efficient way to remove odor from your dog’s coat is to wash your dog. Try to use a shampoo that is specifically designed for dogs. Human shampoos can strip the dogs coat of its natural oils, leaving the skin unprotected and open to rashes and infections. Dog shampoos are made to clean the dog’s coat, without stripping it of the natural oils. If the dogs stink is especially strong, like the scent of a skunk, bathing the dog in tomato juice is one of the quickest ways to remove the smell.

If you have dog that consistently rolls in stinky, smelly items, you may want to consider taking him to a professional pet groomer and having his coat clipped. The shorter coat will be more comfortable for the dog during the hot summer months and while the shorter hair wont prevent your dog from rolling in the smelly items, the shorter coat will be easier for you to wash, and will dry faster.

If you have bathed you dog and still notice a strong odor whenever it is in your presence the source of the smell might not be the dog’s coat but a more serious health problem. When they have dental issues they have breath the smells so foul that you can smell it throughout your entire house. Strong breath odor can also indicate more serious diseases such as kidney failure and diabetes. Dog’s are also prone to having anal sacs that become impacted and infected, and therefore extremely stinky. If washing your dog does not seem to take care of the odor you will want to take your dog to your veterinarian and have the stinky problem officially diagnosed so that treatments can begin.

The internet has allowed many of us to socialize with others in far away places. The number of social network websites gets larger every day.

People like to talk to other people who share the same interests. A great way for pet-oriented people to meet like-minded online friends is to join a social network designed specifically for pet lovers, like YouPet.

YouPet allows you to set up a profile for youself, plus one for each of your pets.  There are forums about just about all aspects of pet ownership, and also breed-specific forums.  Lots of great info on Pet Diet and Pet Health.

Take a look at YouPet when you get a minute.

And if you’re looking for a potential mate for yourself,  you probably prefer someone who loves animals as much as you do.  There is a site called Pet Lovers Date Link where every member is an animal lover.  If this kind of thing piques your interest,  head over to Pet Lovers Date Link and sign up for a free membership.

Stray cats and feral cats are not the same.  A stray cat is usually a result of someone’s neglectful pet care. For instance,   leaving a cat to take care of itself and/or neglecting to have their cat spayed or neutered. Feral cats are wild cats, while strays usually have had experience with humans. Feral cats have had little human interaction and as a result  can be very hard to socialize.

Since feral cats are extremely hard to tame, they are generally regarded by many as unsuitable pets.  As a result there are rescue organizations dedicated solely to the care of feral cats. Many times, these organizations trap the cats, have them spayed and neutered and then release them near where they were originally found. Then, they dedicate themselves to providing food to these colonies.

Feral cats are everywhere. You can find feral cats in rural or farm areas, abandoned buildings and even parks and alleyways.  Although it’s common to catch a glimpse of a feral cat, it’s unlikely that you would be able to catch them easily.  Their lack of human interaction makes them very shy. Have you wondered how hard it is to convert a feral cat into a friendly house pet?

Taming a feral cat can be a challenging task simply because they are not trusting of humans. Depending on their previous contacts with people, some cats might be classified as totally feral, semi-feral, or converted feral. This classification will largely dictate how much potential there is that a cat can be made into a pet.

If you find a cat that is has been feral for years, chances are that there is little to no chance of socializing it. With no human interaction at all, totally feral cats are overly independent and would never depend on a person for food or companionship. But you might have some luck with a semi-feral cat. The semi-feral cat has some previous experience with people.

Taming a converted a feral cat is a more realistic task.  Since it was previously a pet, it is likely that it will eventually respond to the love and attention of a caring individual.

If you want to attempt to domesticate a feral cat, remember that it can be hard to get the cat to trust you after being out on its own for so long. Sometimes, your efforts will not pay off for months, especially with older cats. But if you are persistant and succeed, the rewards are worth the work, since you will have developed an extremely tight bond with your pet.

There are a few things to remember if you’ve decided to undertake this labor of love. First, feral cats will almost always see you as an adversary and as a result will spit, bit, hiss, and scratch.This behavior is to be expected.  After all, you are a perceived danger to them.  Be ready to treat any bites or scratches you get.

Also, it is imperative to immediately take your feral cat to see the veterinarian.  You need to be sure that the cat is not diseased.  It’s also important that you have the cat neutered or spayed.

After you bring your cat home, you need to let it acclimate itself to its new home by giving it a place where it can feel safe. Allow the cat to stay in a small bathroom or laundry room, where it will not feel overly stressed. To help the cat feel at home, consider getting a cat condo or cat tree to add to the room.  You will need to take time every day to spend time with the cat and allow the cat to adjust to you.  Increase the time daily until the cat comes around.

Remember, not all feral cats can be socialized; however with love and patience, you might just be rewarded with a gentle, loving cat that will be eternally grateful.

The Savannah is a beautiful - and expensive - cat. A cross between the African Serval and domestic cat, its distintive markings made it desirable for those feline fanciers that love exotic looking cats. Savannahs have been bred in the US since 1986, with the breed standard being accepted by the TICA (The International Cat Association) in 2000. The cost of a Savannah can run into thousands of dollars.

Sharon Gratix of Alaska is the proud owner of Simon the Savannah. This past summer, Simon bolted out the door of Sharon’s home, and for the past six months, has been MIA. On November 7, the Alaska Fish and Game notified Sharon that Simon had been found and captured.

The Beautiful Savannah Cat

Simon was severely malnourished and had a broken tail. But after being returned by the Alaska Fish and Game, he has been cared for and getting better all the time.

BUT, after having her beloved cat returned to her by the state of Alaska, Sharon has received a letter telling her that her cat is illegal in Alaska, and must be moved out of the state in 30 days. Apparently there is a state law that prohibits hybrids of wild animals not native to Alaska and domestic animals. The worst part is that she had no idea that there was such a prohbition, and neither did the Fish and Game dept, since they returned Simon to her.

So what seemed like a happy ending to an unfortunate tale had morphed into a bittersweet calamity. Yes, Simon is safe and recovering, but he will soon be parted with his Mom.

There’s an unfortunate lesson for all of us to learn here - if you plan on acquiring an exotic pet, check the laws of your state before you do so. Failure to do your due diligence could put you in the same position as Sharon Gratix.

If you live in Alaska, Iowa, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Georgia, or New York, and you have a Savannah, I strongly suggest you keep it hidden from the authorities.