I know I can tell you that I have spent a pretty penny on my two dogs.  You have to factor in things like new toys, food, medical costs, grooming, and much more.  If I were to add up how much I have paid, people would be absolutely shocked.  In fact, some people would even say that they are just dogs, but it is the owner’s responsibility to care for pets and that does mean shelling out money at times. I have a friend with a great dane who has his own full mattress in their guest room! A dog with its own bed! Ridiculous!

Check out how much (on average) it is to have a pet in the below infographic.  My small dog and big dog have both spent mre of my money than the infographic says they should have, but maybe that’s just me…

• Be mindful of where you leave human treats.  This can mean things like chocolate and candy or pies and turkeys.  If you plan on leaving a room and stuff is left lying around, the possibility that your pooch is going to indulge is great.  Put things far out of reach of your pets, especially those things which are very harmful like chocolate.  And as I have learned, never underestimate the reach or smarts of your dog.  Four Christmases ago I received one of those large plastic candy cane shaped tubes of Hershey’s Kisses.  They were deep down in a bag with other gifts on top.  I left for dinner that night with the bag sitting on my dining room table.  I came home and the bag was knocked over, the plastic tube torn to shreds, and not a bit of chocolate or foil left to be found.  My pug ate it all!  Poison control referred me to the nearest emergency animal hospital and I spent the rest of my Christmas night trying to corral my incredibly hyper dog at a vet’s office.  Luckily he was fine and none of the chocolate got into his blood, but it was scary nonetheless.
• When choosing gifts for your pups make sure that they are appropriate in size.  Also choose toys that are not easily torn and eaten by larger dogs, the sturdier the better.
• Sometimes dogs can get a little too anxious when there are a lot of people going in and out of your home.  Be sure that your dog feels comfortable when people are coming and going.

I hope that you all and your critters have very happy holidays!

On Wednesday night of last week, I got into bed and my pug, Rocky started whining.  This is not typical of him, so I made sure he was comfy and eventually we both dozed off to sleep.  The next morning when we went outside, I noticed that he was having trouble urinating.  He was in the squat position but nothing was coming out.  The day before his flow was weak, and so I decided a trip tot the vet was in order.  I thought maybe it was a bladder or urinary tract infection, and until the vet open he would squat down struggling to pee and nothing would happen.  He was in pain.

At the vet’s office they did x-rays and found two stones.  One was blocking his tract and the other which was even larger was in his bladder which was two times the normal size because he had not been able to urinate properly.  I immediately signed the surgery estimate and they prepped Rocky for surgery.

Hours later he was recovering and I was sent out on a mission to find prescription dog food that would help prevent these stones from coming back.  The stones were primarily composed of struvite.  When that is the case it is most often the diet and/or water that caused the high magnesium levels to form the struvite stones.

Now, Rocky is still moving a little slowly thanks to the two incisions healing up, but he is in good spirits and able to go potty when he needs to.  If you are interested in reading about the dog foods available for this concern, look for Hill’s S/D and Royal Canin SO dog foods.

• Keep the pets away from the treats.  Chocolate, especially baking chocolate and dark chocolate, is no good for your dog or cat.  It can be incredibly dangerous.  Xylitol, the artificial sweetener can  allows cause issues.  Be sure the candies are out of the reach of the furry friends, and you should be fine.  If you do think your pet has ingested something harmful, then immediately phone your veterinarian’s office.
• Make sure costumes aren’t causing issues.  Let’s face it sometimes our little four legged pals do not embrace the idea of dressing up like we humans do.  If your pet seems to be uncomfortable or stressed over the fact that he or she is in a costume, then don’t force them to wear it.  If they are okay to dress up and play along, then make certain that the costume is not too tight and does not affect their movement or breathing.  Lastly, be sure there are not small pieces or parts of the costume that your critter can ingest.
• We love the look of jack-o-laterns with a candle burning inside of them, but make sure they are out of reach from your pets.  Curious pets may risk getting burned, and others might accidentally knock over the pumpkin.

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

The above video shows the 5 cutest pets.  I’m pretty partial to my own critters so I think they are the cutest, but these guys come pretty close.  They are adorable.  You will meet Heart Puppy the puppy with a heart shape in his fur, Snoody the adopted owl monkey, Danka the smallest dog in the world, Shaggy a rescued bear cub, and Malone the orangutan who lives with Bugsy the French bulldog.  They all are so sweet!

The video showed some fairly unique pets, but the infographic below is just about cats and dogs in US homes.  The image of the man laying down talking to his dog just cracked me up for some reason.

This video is an introduction to Geckos.

Here is an introduction to pet pigs.  That’s right pigs for pets!

Now you can find out more about having a pygmy goat for a pet at your home.

I must say I am a fan of all pets, and I think that having a furry family member is one of the greatest things in the world.  Pets help to alleviate stress, they are a companion when you need one, and they add a ton of joy.  So, if you were wondering about the company that other people keep, in regards to pets, view this infographic that reveals the top ten pets in the United States and how much they cost too.  Keep in mind too, this is not based on the actual animal population in the United States, but it is based on how many homes feature the type of pet.

Keep it Cool.  One of the hardest things to do is to stay completely calm when you are having to tote your pet to the vet.  All animals, dog especially, geed off of the emotional vibe that you are giving out.  So if you’re stressing he or she probably will too.  You could be anxious for a lot of reasons.  Maybe your pooch is not-so-sweet around other people and dogs, so you get tense, or perhaps he or she is quite sick.  Those are sufficient reasons to be antsy, sure, but for you sanity and the sake of your pet, stay calm and collected.  Your pet most likely will follow suit.

Reward Good Behaviors.  Just like in daily life with your pet, you need to reward the good behaviors.  Same goes for when you are in the vet’s office.  If you are going to the office with your pup, then take some small treats along with you so that if he or she does well, you can let him or her know.  This way too, it will become a more habitual action and hopefully show up at the next visit.

Leash Your Dog.  I know that it is important to trust your dog, but at the same time he or she definitely needs boundaries.  I have seen so many people walk into the office without a leash on their dog.  On a typical day Fido may stay close by the owner, but once all of the smells and other components of the vet’s office get into his nose, it is no longer a typical day for most.  It is inconsiderate of the other patients and owners and also to the veterinarian staff that might have to help you track down your roaming pooch.

Hopefully your next visit to see the veterinarian will be smooth for both you and your pet.

Esther. Esther’s proud Pomeranian mommy is none other than Fran Drescher.  Esther gets to go on all sorts of adventures, like a recent appearance of the daytime television show, “The Talk.”  One look at  a picture of the adorable Esther, and you are probably just as smitten as Fran Drescher.  What an adorable little furbaby.  Lucky for Esther, her mommy knows how wonderfully blessed she is for being able to have Esther.  In a recent interview she said just that.

George. Some people might ask how spoiled is too spoiled when it comes to dogs.  Everyone, of course, has their own ideas and beliefs, especially when it comes to their own dogs.  But would you carry your seventy pound furry friend through an airport?  That may sound silly, but Ryan Gosling did it with his sweet mutt George recently.  I must say, if I could, I would.  Take a look at how happy and content George looks in his dad’s arms?  Too sweet!

Paco. What man wouldn’t want to share a bed with Olivia Wilde?  Well, fellas, take a number because Paco has Olivia Wilde’s heart and the other side of her bed too.  Paco was rescued in California and he is a mixed breed happily hanging around with his mom.  Oh, and he has earned a claim to fame without his mom’s help by winning a contest to become a former Old Navy mascot doggy.

Bo. Let the flags wave and freedom ring, the First Dog, Bo Obama is coming through.  This Portuguese water dog has got the life indeed, and it is obvious that the first family considers him a first rate friend.

The Lambert Crew. Miranda Lambert and her new hubby, Blake Shelton have seven adopted dogs, and three of them got to be a special part of their wedding day including Cher, Delta, and Delilah.  The other four decided to hold down the fort during the wedding, and their names are Waylon, Jessi, Virginia Bluebell, and Black Betty.  Even better, Miranda Lambert has a non-profit that is dedicated to provide money for shelters, training, and therapy.  It also encourages pet adoption.

If you are home, then let your cat or dog come inside (if they are outdoors mostly).  Be close to your pet, so they will know that they have you to depend on in case of a fright.  Make sure that you try to keep the visual of the storm to a minimum by closing the blinds and such.  Having soothing music or the television turned on can also be a help to drown out the loud horrible noise of thunder.  You could even turn to aromatherapy.  That’s right aromatherapy with incense works for pets as well as their humans.  In fact, I buy bulk herbal incense to keep around in the event of a storm.  I know that I’ll always have some calming fragrances available for my pups.

Give your cat or dog a refuge from the storm.  Pets want to feel secure, and the best place to them would be a small enclosed space that will allow them to curl up with comforting things.  If you do not want them to have to seek a place for themselves, then create a little sanctuary in a crate.  Add in their favorite cozy beds or blankets with a couple of their favorite toys, and they should fin the place to be a safe haven.

If you have a warning of an approaching storm, then make sure that your critters have plenty of time before the storm to go potty outside.  When I am home and know that a storm could be arriving soon, I will take my two dogs out for an extended period of time to make sure that they have had plenty of time to get everything out.  during the storm they will not want to go outside and neither will I.

Following the above tips will help you and your pets to feel better in the event of a summer storm.