The Pet Friendly Canada Newsletter
For Pets and The People Who Love Them!
www.petfriendly.ca (Accommodations in Canada)
www.petfriendly.travel (Hotels in the USA)
www.pawfriendly.com (Pet care directory)
February 2010
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PET QUOTES
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"It's tough to stay married. My wife kisses the dog on
the lips, yet she won't drink from my glass."
(Rodney Dangerfield)
"When dogs leap onto your bed, it's because they adore
being with you. When cats leap onto your bed, it's
because they adore your bed." (Alisha Everett)
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Featured Story: LITTLE MUNCKIN'S JOURNEY
Source: PawFriendly.com - Pet Stories
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"On a warm sunny afternoon in June 1999, my new family
inched their way westward on the Long Island Expressway
toward LaGuardia airport in Queens NY. Little did they
know that we would soon meet their new relative that
would forever change their lives. My plane from
Tennessee taxied to the gate and I vividly remember
how the little nine year old boy’s face lit up the
moment he saw me and I felt the same about him. We
were instantly best friends. They named me Munchkin.
I was a tiny four-week-old black, white and yellow
Havanese puppy (they soon discovered the yellow was
‘number 1’, from my trip, and they washed it off).
For Debbie and David it was a day they had longed for
but dad did not look forward to it at all as he was
never a ‘dog person’ and had no intention of becoming
one. All the responsibilities I brought… walking, feeding,
extra expense of a dog sitter at vacation time, being
tied down… blah, blah, blah why did we need it. Hmmm,
I would have to win him over.
In the beginning I won’t kid you it was hard as I ran
roughshod through our house..."
[Continue Reading]
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PHOTOS FROM PROUD PET PARENTS
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"This is picture of me and my new puppy Robbie after we survived a near fatal
van/motorhome collison on the I-80 while on vacation in Indiana. A 40-foot motorhome that was
in the passing lane beside us in the driving lane pulled into us as he said he never saw us,
sending us shooting across the passing lane at 65mph head on into a high concrete barrier
wall and then he hit us again which sent us into spins for about 300 feet down the road.
Needless to say my minivan was totalled but my friend Susan, Robbie and I all survived.
Our seatbelts and airbags saved us and Robbie's varikennel saved him, we were battered and
bruised and some cuts from flying glass but we are still breathing albeit pretty sore.
Along the whole trip we met so many nice people, not only on the road but also at the
motels we stayed at all the way from Saskatchewan to New Hampshire and back. We ended
up staying in Freemont, IN for three days after the accident and the family who own
the Travellers Inn there were so kind to us and had no problem allowing Robbie to stay in
the motel room with us.
Hopefully our next roadtrip will be uneventful, just us having fun travelling throughout North America.
- Jacqueline A. from Regina, SK
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"Peppi is a well travelled 8+ yrs young poodle/malamute x who loves car rides,
snow and his sister Anna (who is a 2+ yrs young calico), who loves Peppi's basket, sleeping under
Grandma's chair and sunning herself in the back yard. Oh yes! And, she loves Peppi too! Both
love trips to Grandpa's cabin where they chase gophers, chipmunks and squirrels and relax on the
porch watching hummingbirds with Grandpa.
- Leah and John S.
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DOG CARE - COMMON HEALTH ISSUES IN OLDER DOGS
Excerpted from: Dog Care - Health Issues in Senior Dogs
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Senior dogs are truly special. I love everything about
them - the slowly wagging tails, the gentle eyes, the
greying muzzles, the way they snore and twitch in their
sleep. As our dogs age, though, there can be some health
issues that may require us to put in a little extra dog
care to make sure our faithful friends remain healthy as
long as possible.
- Dog joint problems. Many older dogs have arthritis,
sometimes mild, sometimes more extreme. One thing we
can do to help alleviate pressure on their joints is
to keep them at a lean and healthy weight. Extra weight
puts additional stress on the joints which can make
mobility problems worse.
- Loss of sight. One of my dogs, while still perky and
active, has had a slight loss of vision. Occasionally
he'll spot a clump of grass and think it's another dog,
and he'll go bouncing over to say hello! If you notice
that your dog may be losing his sight, it may be best
to keep him leashed and close to you so that he doesn't
accidentally bump into something or get lost. Just like
with people, vision loss often affects night vision
first: you might notice that your dog can't see as well
as night as he does during the day time. To make it
easier for your dog to see while on his nightly bathroom
breaks, turn on the lights for him or install some
solar
garden lights to help him find his way.
- Hearing loss. My friend always jokes that her dog has
"selective hearing" since he can hear food being prepared
500 feet away, but he can't hear her calling him for his
bath when she's 10 feet away. However, as dogs age they
may not be able to hear as well as they used to (he isn't
just being contrary, or trying to test your patience!).
You might find you have to give you dog a tap to get his
attention, or just call him a little louder. If your dog
starts to show signs of hearing loss, you will also have
to re-consider whether or not to let him run off-leash
(where allowed) -- it can potentially be dangerous if
he can't hear you call him back.
- Skin problems. Lots of older dogs develop lumps and
bumps under the skin. As you brush your dog or pet him,
gently feel for any changes in his skin. Lumps should
be promptly checked out by your vet, especially those
that have changed in color or size. Don't panic - many
lumps are completely benign.
- Heart murmurs. As dogs age their heart valves may weaken
and cause abnormal blood flow. Vets can diagnose heart
murmurs initially by listening to your dog's heart with
a stethoscope, and may follow up with a variety of tests
to determine the cause of the murmur. Some of the
symptoms to watch for include exercise intolerance and
coughing (particularly when the dog is sleeping).
- Changes in behaviour. Maybe you've noticed that your
previously rock-solid, housetrained dog is now having
accidents in the house. Or perhaps your dog has
developed a reluctance to take the stairs. Behavior
changes sometimes have a medical reason, such as
canine
diabetes, Cushings disease, thyroid issues, or other
health problems that can become more common as dogs
age. Consult with your vet - medical tests can help
to rule out certain diseases or conditions.
- Lesser need for exercise. You might find that your
older pup no longer craves those long runs or endless
sessions of fetch. Instead, adjust your dog's exercise
as needed. Perhaps a couple of shorter walks every day
or every other day may be more appropriate than one
long session. Do not stop exercising your dog completely
unless advised to do so by your vet - fresh air and
exercise are still good for senior dogs and helps
to keep them healthy and active.
Visit your veterinarian to discuss the changes you see
in your senior dog. If he or she prescribes medications,
make sure you do some research into the medication and
ask questions. Although medications can improve the life
of your dog they often have side effects as well. You
can also consider alternative treatments like acupuncture
that have helped improve the quality of life for many
dogs, without the need for drugs.
With a little extra care and adjustments, you can help
your furry pal enjoy his or her retirement years to the
fullest.
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UPCOMING PET EVENTS
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- Friday, February 5, 2010: VANCOUVER, BC:
SUMMIT Photography Auction will benefit SAINTS, an
end-of-life shelter for senior, disabled, and terminally
ill animals that have nowhere else to go. Location:
East Van Studios - 870 E. Cordova - Vancouver, BC.
Tickets are $10 at the door.
More info
or Facebook page
If your non-profit pet organization is holding an event,
please send us the details!
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