Post-Sandy Update

Hello, animal lovers,

Just a note to say we're all fine after Sandy and have moved house. I am at the same email address and phone number, just a different mailing address.

I have been thinking of and rooting for every person and animal affected by the storm. Here are some links to help:

http://tinyurl.com/b3m4lgw
http://tinyurl.com/avfwsbe 

Also, check with your local wildlife conservation organizations and remember that the Humane Society of the US also helps zoos.

Best wishes and take good care!

Losing A Pet From Heat Stroke: My Story

Today I have a painful personal story to tell, but I am sharing it in hopes that it will help save animals' lives.


Last July, a tragic accident ended the life of our dear cat Quan Yin.  She had her own room in our house because as a former feral, that was how she felt safe.  On a day of very high temperatures, we didn't want her to get too hot, even though the air conditioner unit was a room away.  We positioned fans drawing cool air into her room, provided a giant water bowl with added ice cubes, and I checked on her frequently to make sure she was comfortable.  If it grew too hot in her room, we planned to move her to the main air conditioned room, even though she might be stressed leaving her regular space.

All day I checked on her and everything seemed fine.  In the early evening, my partner called me as asked if I wanted to go out for dinner.  I said yes, but we couldn't stay out for very long, because we had to keep an eye on our animals.  We were out less than an hour.

Gretchen Featured In Article In HuffPo About Separation Anxiety In Dogs

Hello, animal lovers.  I hope you are having a most excellent almost-summer.  So, far my communications requesting mosquitos to stop biting me have had no effect, but since that's pretty much what they do to survive, I didn't expect results.  I guess one price to pay for getting on well with animals is that sometimes the ones that bite are especially attracted to you!

Back on topic, I wanted to let you to know that I have been featured in an article in The Huffington Post called

Separation Anxiety in Dogs: Can You Teach an Old Dog New Tricks?  I enjoyed talking with the author and her anxious dog, Rapunzel, and giving them some tips to help with the anxious barking and urination.  In my experience with anxious animals, it often takes not just communication, but consistency and practice with new training methods and supplements to encourage relaxation and openness.  I'm sending Reiki and best wishes to Rapunzel and her human "mom" for continued improvement.

I hope you enjoy the article, and feel free to comment, share it, or ask me questions about the topic. 

Happy National Pet Week!

Are are you celebrating?  You could do something fun with your pet, like some extra play time, or give him his favourite treat.  You could help your kids draw pictures of the family pet or talk to them about the importance of being kind to animals and pet health care.  You could use it as a reminder to make an appointment for your pet's next check-up, volunteer at a pet shelter, make a donation, sign an animal issue petition, or even just post a photo of or poem about your pet online!

The American Veterinary Medical Association has a site full of ideas, information and even games for you to check out.  But of course, the best things you can give your pet are affection, attention and letting her know you love her.  Take a little time out and give your animal friends love and appreciation.  They'll thank you in return.

Update: Wellness Adds Brands to Voluntary Pet Food Recall

In response to the pet food recall issued by Diamond Pet Food, Wellness has decided to voluntarily recall some of its brands made in the same plant. Please read the letter from Wellness after the jump for more information.

Warning: Pet Food Recall

Diamond Pet Foods has issued a recall for several pet food brands due to concerns about possible salmonella contamination. These are:

• Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul
• Country Value
• Diamond
• Diamond Naturals
• Premium Edge
• Professional
• 4Health
• Taste of the Wild

No deaths have been reported, and it is a voluntary recall.  It is mostly for dry dog foods, but they have expanded the recall a couple times, so better to be safe than sorry and check your pet food.  For more information or to check to see if the serial number on your pet food matches the recall list, go to http://www.diamondpet.com/information

Update: Missing Dog Found!

Great news! My sister in law posted the following update today:

 Bayley was found this morning in a concrete culvert at the entrance of the neighborhood that the people who adopted her lived in. She was found by a fantastic couple who are also animal lovers. They worked for 30 minutes to get her out and then took her to an animal emergency hospital. She had been attacked by an animal and had puncture wounds all over her body plus multiple insect bites. Bayley had been surviving on bugs. The doctor was amazed at how many bugs came out of her. We brought her home and even though she is in a lot of pain, she is her same old puppy self. She wanted to play with the other dogs right away. I thank God for all the prayers that were put up for Bayley. Out of this horrible ordeal, we have made friends with two amazing couples who we plan on keeping in touch with. Once again, thank you to everyone for spreading the word and for the prayers.

And thank you from me to everyone who read about Bayley and sent their prayers, good thoughts and energy. I know we all wish her a speedy recovery and happy healing from her trauma.

Dog Missing In Storm Hit Area In Texas

Hello, friends.  My lovely sister-in-law Sherry, a great animal lover and dog rescuer, has reported that a dog she rescued and got adopted out has now gone missing.  According to her post:

This is Bayley the feral puppy we rescued 2 months ago. She was adopted Sat. and they lost her yesterday in a rural part of Forney. She was lost off of FM740 between Cool River Dr. and Travis Ranch Blvd. She is microchipped and is wearing her tags on a bright pink collar. We will be circulating flyers today. Please keep us and Bayley in your prayers. The area is full of coyotes and snakes. If you have any animal contacts, please share.

The area Bayley was in was hit by large hail and, in some places, tornadoes right around when she went missing.  So please, if you or anyone you know lives or has contacts near Forney, TX (about 15-20 miles east of Dallas, see map,) please keep an eye out for Bayley.  If you have any information, please send me an email at info@animaltalker.com.  I will be checking for updates, and if you include your phone number I will give you a call.

Many thanks, and please think good thoughts for Bayley!

Are Retractable Leashes Dangerous?

Courtesy of  Lulu Hoeller

With spring-like weather creeping across my region, I look forward to seeing more dogs out and about for longer walks.  Every time I see a happy dog and his or her person enjoying a walk together, I smile.   But as healthy and much fun walking your dog can be, there are always safety hazards, especially in highly populated areas.

One of these became more apparent to me when I received the following letter from a reader:

Dear Gretchen,

... I have two main concerns that I feel need to be known by other animal lovers and dog owners especially!

I work at an animal hospital as a veterinary assistant for many years now and I also dog walk on the side. Both concerns involve the very popular "Flexible Leashes" people use to walk their dogs with lately.

Who's Going To The 2012 Westminster KC Dog Show?

Frank Franklin II, AP

Are you going to the upcoming WKC dog show or any of the related events?  If so, welcome to New York City, and maybe you'll run into me!  Are you interested in having a communication session with your dog while you're in town?  Maybe you'd like to help him or her better understand all of the things going on, or hear his or her opinions on the show afterward?  Feel free to contact me at info@animaltalker.com or via telephone at 917-607-8630.

Best of luck to you and your canine friends, and have a wonderful time!

Ready to Pawty?

Hey, animal lovers!  Come check out the BlogPaws Twitter BlogPawty today from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, ET.  I will be mixing with animal loving bloggers from all over.  There will be music and prizes.

My cat Maurice is all dressed up in his tuxedo and... oh, dear.  Mo?  Maurice?  I wonder if he's had a little too much to drink...

One too many Tuna Nip-tinis.

Happy Holidays, Safety First - Updated!

Photo courtesy of El Caganer

You may have noticed that I have posted several times on winter and holiday safety and tips for animals.  Topics have included suggestions for travelling with pets, helping them cope when you have people over for holidays, keeping animals warm in cold weather, and keeping them safe from common holiday accidents.  

 Still, you can’t know too much about keeping your pets happy and healthy, so I have a few more more links to recommend.

I Get So Emotional, Baby

Clients sometimes tell me that they try to communicate with their animals, but they get frustrated.  They feel that they keep trying to work out the same problems again and again, or they feel “she just won’t listen to me like she listens to you… her trainer… my husband.”  This can frequently happen not because a person is not capable of communication, but because they are too close to the situation.

If this happens to you, you’re not alone.  Just as physicians are advised not to treat their own family members, we animal lovers can sometimes let our emotions about an animal close to us interfere with our judgment and ability to communicate with them. 

Update On: Winterizing for Animals

If you've read my previous post on Winterizing for Animals and my review of the PetSafe Universal Pet Bed Warmer , you know I like to keep people informed about ways to keep their pets happy and healthy during the colder months. The American Animal hospital Association has published a useful article which prompted me to post a few more tips:

Courtesy of  www.scharfelinse.com

• It's a good idea to get your pets a pre-winter check-up with a veterinarian.  Talk to your vet about any concerns your may have about your pet's health, particularly related to cold weather, and ask her or him to evaluate your pet for conditions or ailments that could make them more sensitive to the dangers of cold, ice and snow.
• Keep your animal's physical condition in mind. A cat with asthma or chronic respiratory infections should be watched closely for reactions to cold or extra-dry heated air.  Humidifiers can sometimes help in these cases.  Meanwhile, a dog with arthritis or leg injuries might have a harder time than usual walking on slippery areas or up stairs in the cold.  For vulnerable dogs, on-leash at a slow pace and limited time in the cold is best, and try walking behind them on stairs, just in case. An extra warm and comfy bed could help their joints, too. Your vet should be able to tell you if your pets have any conditions that might make it difficult to control their own body temperature.
  

Product Review: PetSafe Universal Pet Bed Warmer

Not Annie, but they got her colour right!

Now that cooler temperatures are moving in, it's especially important to ensure that your pets stay warm and healthy.  Older animals, particularly those with arthritis, thin and small animals not built for the cold, like chihuahuas and hairless cats, often need a good amount of warmth to feel comfortable.

Having already addressed the basics of Winterizing for Animals, I found myself having to test an alternative source of heat for pets.  My mother was going away from her house for some time, and had someone to stop in and care for her cat, Annie, but she had to turn the heat down in her house while she was gone to meet her budget. Adding a timer to her furnace would be too expensive, so she asked me about what sort of warming device she could provide for Annie, instead.

Thanksgiving for Pets

While your pets may be thankful for you, they may be confused by holiday happenings like visitors, travel, pet sitters and different foods. Remember, certain human foods, like onions and chocolate, can be toxic to your animal family. Cooked bones can be a choking hazard, too much sugar can be unhealthy, and being startled by exclamations over the football game or chased by the kids can send Fluffy running under the sofa or out the door.

If you're having guests over, make sure you set a safe space where your pet can go, and check to see what local veterinarians will be available in case of emergencies. It's also a good idea to set aside a small amount of the turkey or meat to give your dog or cat separately, or give them their own treat. Make sure they don't get into scraps you drop on the floor or into the garbage.

Winterizing for Animals

As the weather changes for those of us in temperate climates, I notice animals putting on winter coats, eating more and snuggling up in cozy places – whether that is a special nest or their person’s lap. The tree squirrels in our local park spent the recent last gasp of warm weather busily stashing winter foods and preparing their dreys (nests), while my cats at home have been howling for more wet food and curling up with me on their favourite “mommy blanket” – a deep, furry throw that reminds them of their mama cats’ bellies. Have you noticed the critters around you preparing, too?

Of course, you can also help your animal friends prepare for and get through cold weather. Here are some ways:

Fun with dog training

I can't resist putting up this amazing video by OK GO featuring dozens of dog training behaviors in one take.



According to Roland Sonnenburg, the person from Talented Animals that coordinated this, "We had 12 trainers, two furniture movers, 12 dogs, one goat, 38 buckets, and a bunch of furniture, all of which needed to move around and be in the right place at the right time without anyone stepping in front of camera."

One of the keys to the success of the filming was that the dogs actually started to have fun doing their behaviors. It's a wonderful example of people and animals communicating and working together with time, caring and patience. See the Gizmodo article for more photos and interviews about how the video was made.