Saturday, February 12, 2022
Our Pets Can Feel the Daylight Savings Shift More Strongly Than We Do
While pushing the clocks back only one hour might seem like business as usual for us, our pets’ are sometimes not as amenable and might act up! Just by switching the clocks to Daylight Savings Times, our dogs and cat’s schedules can be completely off-kilter! Our fur children are so in tune with when they are going to be fed, what time to go to sleep and eat, that we need to be prepared!
Dogs and cats have internal clocks that affect their rhythm
Just like humans, animals have internal clocks that tell them when to eat, sleep and wake up. This biological timekeeper, also known as circadian rhythm, is set in motion by natural sunlight. However, for pets this effect is minimized by the artificial environment they live in, where light comes on not with the rising sun but with the flip of a switch. Household pets might get grumpy when they show up to an empty food dish at their perceived dinner time.
Our dogs and cats are used to their routine so we need to ease them into the new time
A dog or cat’s daily routine is something they would prefer to be written in stone. Unfortunately, things happen that can alter schedules and a simple time change can be perplexing for some pets. When we gain an hour and can sleep in, our pets are still on daylight savings time and don’t understand why we’re still in bed when they are up and ready to go. Their internal clock is saying morning has arrived and it’s time to get moving (and get fed!).
Our dogs and cats are more affected by daylight savings than we are
Our pets, however, might feel the daylight savings shift more strongly than us. Pay attention to them this week; they might be cranky themselves. Sleepy dogs might not want to end their naps to go out on a walk earlier than expected. Or some cats might turn their noses up at food if that comes an hour before the normal time. In the wild, animals pattern their lives around the phases of the sun, but domesticated pets follow their own versions of our schedules. Daylight savings can really mess with our pets internal rhythms for a few days, or even a week, until they readjust.
Try to change their schedule in increments and they will adjust quickly
The good news is most pets will adjust to the time change fairly quickly. A few things you can do to make the transition easier is to keep them on their normal schedule and slowly begin to change their daily routine by 5-10 minutes each day. Keep doing this until you make up for the hour change adjustment. Moving their feeding times, play time and walks back a little each day can make it easier for dogs and cats to adjust.
Most cats won’t be as affected as dogs will while some pets won’t even notice.
But, don’t be surprised if your dog or cat wakes you up earlier to be fed and might be a bit cranky this upcoming week!
FOLLOW US!
Friday, February 11, 2022
The Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Your Dog
We do all these things because animals make our lives better. Most pet owners would agree that the money we spend on pets pales in comparison with the amount of joy they bring us.
All of these expenditures are directly related to improving the lives of the animals we share our homes with. While it is important to care for your pet in the best manner that circumstances allow, it is also important that we remember the one simple thing each of us can do to improve the lives of not only our own dogs and cats, but dogs and cats throughout the nation and internationally - spaying and neutering dogs and cats.
Why You Should Spay Or Neuter Your Pet
There are many benefits of spaying or neutering your pet. One of the most important is that spaying dogs and cats ensures that your own pet will not contribute to the pet overpopulation crises. Unaltered cats and dogs can be prolific breeders, and there are many more cats and dogs needing homes than there are homes for them. Pets without homes are often euthanized in shelters or left to fend for themselves, often unsuccessfully, in the search of food and mating opportunities.
Others spay/neuter pets for health reasons. Here are some of the benefits of neutering male dogs:
- Eliminates the small risk (probably <1%) of dying from testicular cancer
- Reduces the risk of non-cancerous prostate disorders
- Reduces the risk of perianal fistulas
- May possibly reduce the risk of diabetes
And here are some benefits of spaying female dogs:
- If done before 2.5 years of age, greatly reduces the risk of mammary tumors, the most common malignant tumors in female dogs
- Nearly eliminates the risk of pyometra, which otherwise would affect about 23% of intact female dogs; pyometra kills about 1% of intact female dogs
- Reduces the risk of perenial fistulas
- Removes the very small risk (.5%) from uterine, cervical, and ovarian tumors
- Spaying and neutering also can reduce roaming behaviors, territorial marking behaviors, intersex aggression, etc. in dogs.
The Spay/Neuter Debate
As with any major surgery, there are both benefits and risks associated with spaying and neutering. While spaying and neutering pets seems to reduce the risk of many cancers and illnesses, there is evidence that it can contribute to others, and there is research that indicates that spaying and neutering can decrease some behavioral problems while contributing to others.
Most veterinarians advise spaying and neutering around six months of age. Some dog owners, particularly those with large breed dogs, prefer to wait until the dog has physically matured until neutering or spaying. Dogs that are neutered/spayed after reaching full maturity tend to be more muscular than early spay/neuter dogs, which is important in working dogs.
Some dogs may have health problems which might prohibit spaying or neutering. Educate yourself about the behavioral and physical health benefits and risks associated with surgery and have a discussion with your veterinarian about what is best for your dog.
If You Decide Not To Spay Or Neuter Your Pet
As of right now, the law cannot force you to spay or neuter your pet (although legislation to this effect has been proposed). If you choose not to spay or neuter your pet, it is imperative that you do not allow your pet breeding opportunities. If you have an unspayed female, she must be on leash at all times during a heat cycle and not be given the opportunity to interact with intact males. If you have an intact male, it is your responsibility to contain him safely so that he does not run through the neighborhood creating the next batch of puppies that will end up dying in a shelter because there are no homes for them.
Dogs should only be bred intentionally to other similarly accomplished purebred dogs if they have conformation championships, all health testing appropriate for the breed, are over two years of age, in top physical condition, display no behavioral problems (shyness, aggression, reactivity), if the breeder is prepared to spend a LOT of time and money whelping and socializing the litter, carefully interviewing potential adopters and educating them on the breed. Breeding should be left to those with a good working knowledge of canine genetics, the history of the breed and their goals for improving the breed.
FOLLOW US!
Be Careful What You Share on Facebook: A Picture of a Dog that Said it Had Been Badly Burned and Disfigured While Trying to Save his Family from a Fire…Was a Hoax
In these days of instant viral news, be careful what you share. In the past few weeks, many users have fallen victim to the story of Mark Zuckerburg giving you his money for copying and pasting a status (it's a hoax). A new one popped up in the days before Christmas and it is spreading quickly.
The Terrible Dog Food Ingredients You Need to Avoid
When Petting Your Dog Always Check for Lumps and Bumps
Radiography
TREATMENT
Saving Your Pet with CPR
Thursday, February 10, 2022
How to Identify Whether a Dog Is Dangerous or Not
A dog behavior expert has revealed the signs which indicate an animal is dangerous, and unable to be safely adopted.
Gia Savocchi, based in New York, regularly shares her animal expertise on TikTok, uploading clips on restraint, control, collar grabbing, and aggression tests.
Savocchi is the founder of Thinking Canine, which specializes in rescue animals, particularly one displaying anxiety and aggression.
To read more on this story, click here: How to Identify Whether a Dog Is Dangerous or Not
Dog Breeds Banned By Home Insurance Companies
Aside from natural disasters and water, the three things that give home insurance companies agita are dogs, pools and trampolines. Basically anything fun.
The problem with dogs is the expensive liability claims against the dog owners. Homeowners insurance pays out for dog bites or other dog-related injuries—such as a fall when a dog jumps on someone or runs at them. The average dog bite claim has been around $44,760, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
To rein in costs, many home insurance companies have lists of banned dogs—cases where the insurer won’t provide coverage if a customer owns the breed. Not all home insurers have strict lists of banned dog breeds. Some take dog bite problems on a case by case in deciding whether to offer insurance to the owner.
To read more on this story, click here: Dog Breeds Banned By Home Insurance Companies
Tuesday, February 8, 2022
Puppy Bowl 2022: Start time, Live Stream, TV Channel, Kitty Halftime
The Puppy Bowl in 2022 is projected to be the cutest ever. It’s time to talk about Puppy Bowl XVIII. The season finale will take place on February 13 at 11 a.m. PST and 2 p.m. ET, only a few hours before the Super Bowl.
Aside from the commercials, food, and touchdown dances, there are plenty more things to enjoy during the game. With that in mind, why not start with something cute? Each team will be identifiable on the field by the use of a specific color scheme. We also do not require you to bring your pet.
This year’s Puppy Bowl will feature performances by Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart. The event was billed as the Ultimate Dogfight when Snoop Dogg and Stewart presented it. They will be coaches this year. As a consequence, they’ll be in charge of teaching and motivating their puppies to succeed.
To read more on this story, click here: Puppy Bowl 2022: Start time, Live Stream, TV Channel, Kitty Halftime
Sunday, February 6, 2022
Calculate Your Dog’s Age With This New, Improved Formula
A study of the epigenetic clock in Labradors shows calculating a dog’s age is much more complicated than just multiplying by seven
One dog year is not equivalent to seven human years, despite widespread use of the ratio for calculating the age of canine companions. Presumably, the ratio is based on the average lifespan of dogs being 10 years and humans being 70 years, it’s not quite so simple. The formula is not based on any real science and it was debunked by veterinarians years ago.
To read more on this story, click here: Calculate Your Dog’s Age With This New, Improved Formula
Sunday, January 9, 2022
Family returns home to find their walls and floors covered in blood after pet dog attacks intruder
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — A Chesterfield family recently opened their door to find a scene from a horror film. There was blood covering the walls and floors of their home.
The family said there have been several break-ins recently in the Ashbrooke neighborhood where they live. The family came home Thursday night to find they too had been the victim of a break in. They say thanks to a family pet, the would-be robber got away with nothing. In fact, he was lucky to get away with his life.
To read more on this story, click here: Family returns home to find their walls and floors covered in blood after pet dog attacks intruder
Betty White fans hatch plan to celebrate her 100th birthday by giving back to animals
In loving animals, she’s just unstoppable.
Before we moved into 2022, tragic news spread across the internet. The iconic television personality Betty White died just on the eve of the new year.
But even so, she left a legacy of kindness, joy, and generosity. And as fans celebrated her life and work, they put to the spotlight a side of White that people always cherished – her love for animals.
To read more on this story, click here: Betty White fans hatch plan to celebrate her 100th birthday by giving back to animals
Saturday, January 8, 2022
Dogs can differentiate between familiar and unfamiliar human languages
They are the first non-human animals to be able to tell the difference between human languages.
If you were to move to a new country with a different language and bring along the family dog, your pet would likely have a hard time understanding commands from the locals, according to a new study looking at how dogs' brains react to different languages.
MRI scans revealed that dogs' brains can distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar languages, making them the first-known, and so far only, non-human animals to be able to tell the difference between human languages.
To read more on this story, click here: Dogs can differentiate between familiar and unfamiliar human languages
Tuesday, January 4, 2022
Hong Kong dog causes panic – but here’s why you needn’t worry about pets spreading COVID-19
These results have raised many questions and concerns. Can our dogs really catch the virus? Should we be worried about our pets getting sick? Could dogs spread coronavirus between people?
To read more on this story, click here: Hong Kong dog causes panic – but here’s why you needn’t worry about pets spreading COVID-19
Monday, January 3, 2022
Betty White was a trailblazing animal rights activist
Betty White had a wild side.
The legendary “Golden Girls” star — who died Friday at age 99 — was a pioneering animal rights activist devoted to saving endangered species and improving conditions at the Los Angeles Zoo.
The beloved actress worked for decades to champion animals in her charity work, along with publishing a book on the subject and starring in the nature-boosting 1971 show “Pet Set.”
“Betty White demonstrated a lifelong commitment to helping animals in need, including dedicated support for local shelters and animal welfare endeavors, fiercely promoting and protecting animal interests in her entertainment projects, and personally adopting many rescued animals,” said Matt Bershadker, ASPCA president and CEO.
To read more on this story, click here: Betty White was a trailblazing animal rights activist
'Very unsettling': Scientists see troubling signs in humans spreading Covid to deer
Humans have infected wild deer with Covid-19 in a handful of states, and there’s evidence that the coronavirus has been spreading among deer, according to recent studies, which outline findings that could complicate the path out of the pandemic.
Scientists swabbed the nostrils of white-tailed deer in Ohio and found evidence of at least six separate times that humans had spread the coronavirus to deer, according to a study published last month in Nature.
About one-third of the deer sampled had active or recent infections, the study says. Similar research in Iowa of tissue from roadkill and hunted deer found widespread evidence of the virus.
To read more on this story, click here: 'Very unsettling': Scientists see troubling signs in humans spreading Covid to deer
'Her Legacy Will Have a Lasting Impact': Animal Groups Remember Betty White's Lifelong Support
Following the death of Betty White, the Golden Girls star is being remembered as a lifelong champion of animal welfare and conservation
Betty White is being remembered for her decades-long work in animal welfare and conservation, following her death at 99 on Dec. 31.
On Friday, the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA), the nonprofit partner of the Los Angeles Zoo, shared a tribute to the late Golden Girls star, who started working with the California zoo in 1966 and officially joined GLAZA's Board of Trustees in 1974.
"We are incredibly saddened to hear about Betty's passing this morning and want to offer our deepest condolences to her family and friends as we collectively mourn the loss of a true legend, on and off the screen," Tom Jacobson, president of GLAZA, shared in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. "Her work with the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association spans more than five decades, and we are grateful for her enduring friendship, lifelong advocacy for animals, and tireless dedication to supporting our mission."
To read more on this story, click here: 'Her Legacy Will Have a Lasting Impact': Animal Groups Remember Betty White's Lifelong Support
I’ll Believe We’re Getting a White House Cat When I See It
President Biden has a problem with expectation-setting. He has yet to fulfill lofty promises on the pandemic, voting rights, and Build Back Better. Most egregiously, his administration has toyed with America by promising a White House cat that has yet to materialize.
Monday appeared to finally bring an end to this Long National Nightmare, but as always with this White House and cats, nothing was straightforward.
It was a big day for presidential pet news. At 4:52 p.m., the White House announced that the Bidens had adopted a puppy named Commander.
To read more on this story, click here: I’ll Believe We’re Getting a White House Cat When I See It
One of Betty White’s greatest legacies is helping animals
Animal advocates sing the praises of the Golden Girl’s devotion to animals.
Though Betty White was a charming actor with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, her lifelong love of animals was no act.
In the introduction to her 2011 book “Betty & Friends,” she wrote that both her mother and father “were genuine animal nuts, and I am eternally grateful that they have passed much of that passion on to me.”
Fueled by that passion, White helped countless animals in myriad ways throughout her life.
To read more on this story, click here: One of Betty White’s greatest legacies is helping animals
Here's what happened to animals rescued in Dixie, Lava, Antelope, Fawn fires in 2021
Three bear cubs, a bobcat and a pig rescued from Northern California fires in 2021 went safely home or will soon be released.
In October, the Redding Record Searchlight published stories about animals who were victims of the state's raging wildfires, including the 1,500-square-mile Dixie Fire.
They and other animals were rescued by wildlife experts and caring neighbors. Injured wildlife received medical attention, then bunked at animal refuges where volunteers fed them and helped them keep their specialized skills and wild ways.
As 2021 wrapped up, we circled back with people who care for five of the animals we featured to see how they were doing.
To read more on this story, click here: Here's what happened to animals rescued in Dixie, Lava, Antelope, Fawn fires in 2021