quote
vafnana | December 5, 2009
“A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes.”
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scaly hand skin tip,
vafnana | December 4, 2009
When your hands are dry and you need an on-the-spot scrub, wash your hands with a teaspoon of sugar, rinse and moisturize and voila!
bloat
vafnana | November 29, 2009
Bloat doesn’t sound like an emergency to some but it is. It’s a condition that is called gastric dilatation, a stomach full of gas. This starts out as an uncomfortable feeling but can fastly turn into a second stage called volvulus, where the stomach actually flips or turns which causes the gas to be trapped.
Seek immediate veterinary help if you see a bloating stomach or your pet tries to burb or vomit and nothing comes out.
Some ways to avoid bloat are to not feed large meals, avoid eating and drinking quickly, or vigorous activity after a meal. Some large breed owners place the dog dishes up to a level where the dog is not bending down to eat or drink.
k9 heart disease,
vafnana | November 28, 2009
There are three types of heart disease. Mitral Valve Disease (MVD), Patent Ductus Arteriosis (PDA) and Pulmonic Valve Steriosis (PVS) that I learned about today. These diseases can be genetically inherited or just birth defects.
There are two ways to fix the “broken” heart. The first and most common way is to use drugs. The second and rarely used is surgery.
How can you tell your pet has a heart problem? Visit your veterinarian every year for a pet under the age of 7. Twice a year for over the age of 7. At this time you might encounter offers such as chest x-rays, blood pressure checks and electrocardiograms.
Symptoms of heart disease can include, coughing, decrease stamina, pale gums or skin, lethargy, decreased appetite, or swollen abdomen. Any pet can have an off day, but if these symptoms persist, call your vet.
Our pets give us their hearts unconditionally, the least we can do is help mend them when they need it.
feline memory,
vafnana | November 24, 2009
16 hours is the length of a cat’s memory! A dog’s is no more than 5 minutes!
dog’s teeth
vafnana | November 14, 2009
Does a dog need to have its teeth brushed? -
Periodontal disease is one of the most common health problems in dogs. More than 75 percent of domestic dogs 3 years and older are affected by gum infections.
Once or twice a week an owner should use a canine toothrush, a soft child’s toothbrush or a gauze pad wrapped around a finer to brush the dog’s teeth. The AKC recommends toothpaste formulated for dogs (human toothpaste can upset the pets stomach and ingestion of too much fluoride can be fatal) or a paste made from water and baking soda.
Scrub the teeth completely, especially the insides and back upper molars.
In between cleaning, dental chew toys help fight plaque and tartar.
k9′s & chocolate
vafnana | November 8, 2009
Is chocolate really deadly for dogs to eat?
Eating too much chocolate can be harmful to a dog. The darker the chocolate, the more of the toxin theobromine is present. Baking chocolate is the deadliest, white chocolate is the least.
Signs of toxicity occur within hours after a dog eats a sufficient amount of chocolate. Signs include vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate, rapid breathing, muscle tremors, seizures, and coma. If a high enough quantity of theobromine is eaten, the dog could die from cardiac arrest.
The approximate toxic dose of four types of chocolate for a 20-pound dog:
*White chocolate has very little theobromine, and the dog would have to eat more than two and half times its body weight to reach toxic levels.
*A little less than one pound of milk chocolate.
*As little as six ounces of instant cocoa or semi-sweet chocolate.
*Two one-ounce squares of baking chocolate.
If you know your dog has eaten a questionable quantity of chocolate, take it to a vet immediately.
poem
vafnana | November 5, 2009
Dog Property Laws author unknown
1. If I like it, it’s mine.
2. If it’s in my mouth, it’s mine.
3. If I can take it from you, it’s mine.
4. If I had it a little while ago, it’s mine.
5. If it’s mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.
6. If I’m chewing something up, all the pieces are mine.
7. If it just looks like mine, it’s mine.
8. If I saw it first, it’s mine.
9. If you are playing with something and you put it down, it automatically
becomes mine.
10. If it’s broken, it’s yours.
CIV, canine influenza virus
vafnana | November 2, 2009
CIV fact sheet: First identified in racing greyhounds in Jan ’04, next identified in a pet population in Spring ’05, 100% of exposed dogs will become infected, about 80% of infected dogs show signs of disease, 20% of infected dogs will not show clincical signs and can become asymptomatic sources of infection for other dogs, fatal in fewer than 8% of cases, infected dogs can spread the virus for 7-10 days after onset of clinical signs, sign include purulent nasal dishcarge, cough, and a low-grade to high fever.
The CIV vaccine can reduce the incidence and severity of lung lesions, as well as the duration of coughing and viral shedding. The vaccine may not completely prevent disease.