Bringing Home Baby to a Dog’s World

The scenario is far too common. The happy, expecting couple stroll into the clinic with their four-legged child for her Annual Wellness Exam. The first born of the family is healthy and has a great check-up so I turn my attention to the parents who are expecting their first two-legged child. “Have you starting thinking about how you will introduce your new baby?” All of the sudden, the happy couple becomes the bewildered couple and stares at me with the “deer in the headlights” look. I know it’s time to have “the talk”. Bringing home baby to a pet who has ‘ruled the roost’ for years can be done. We have a few guidelines for you.Many soon-to-be parents don’t realize that without proper precautions and planning, their new bundle of joy will be their pet’s worst nightmare and is even at risk to be harmed by their pet.

It is important that every pet owner who is expecting a child follow a few easy steps to ensure the new addition to the family is a happy addition.

1) Allow your pet to becomes used to “baby stuff” before the big day comes. While babies themselves are terrifying enough for pets, all their stuff can be even worse. Strollers, cribs, toys, high chairs, and car seats are all brand new items for your pet to adjust to. Stock the nursery early and allow your pets time to get used to all the new stuff before their is a screaming child who is taking all your time and energy sitting in them. Even going on walks with the empty stroller or having bonding time in the baby-less nursery can put your pets at ease. If your pet is anxious or scared around new noises, play recordings of baby noises in the months leading up to the delivery. Start at low levels that your pet doesn’t react to and slowly work up to “real life” levels. Do positive things with your pets such as eating, giving treats, brushing, and playing during these noise desensitization sessions to allow your pet to become comfortable with the change.

2)Teach a calm, controlled behavior. Many dogs get excited around new people and like to jump up on them to greet them. Teach your dog to “sit” or “lay” and make them do it before they receive anything (food, treats, toys, affection, etc.). Think of it as teaching your dog to  say “please” before they get something they want. Pets with good manners are less likely to injure children or be scolded by adults who are holding children. Remember, we want having a baby to be a happy experience for the pets and constantly getting scolded because the baby is around will lead to further fear and anxiety for your pet.

To  read more on this story, click here: Bringing Home Baby to a Dog’s World

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Myths/Facts About Protecting Your Pets in the Winter

We love our pets as family members, so it is our responsibility to make sure that they are safe and warm in the winter.

Here are some myths/facts about caring for your pets:

Myth: Unlike summertime where a car acts as a greenhouse and can cause harm and even death to pets, a pet is safer in a car during winter months.

Fact: Pets can freeze to death even in a short period of time. Cars act as a refrigerator in cold months. A dog alone in a car, no matter the season, is a target for thieves.

Myth: All ice melts are created equal.

Fact: Not all ice melts are formulated to keep pets safe. Pet-safe ice melts like Morton Safe-T-Pet are salt- and chloride-free, which is safer on pet paws and stomachs. Never use a human grade ice melt, and always sprinkle Safe-T-Pet on sidewalks; do not pile product and risk Fido or Fluffy’s health.

Myth: A dog’s pads protect them from all elements of weather.

Fact: Though a dog’s pads contain much fatty tissue that does not freeze as easily as other tissues, protection against scuffing, scraping, cutting, and ice damage is crucial in winter months. Ice cubes and “snowballing” may occur in the delicate areas between toes and pads. Protective booties or a product like Musher’s Secret, which is used on sledding dogs, can help ease extreme conditions on sensitive pads.

Myth: Dogs do not absorb antifreeze or harmful chemicals on walks through their paws.

Fact: A dog’s pads are more resilient than other parts of his body, but chemicals can be absorbed through them. In turn, chemicals like antifreeze can be licked by dogs and cause severe problems. Wipe dog pads off thoroughly after a walk, perhaps using some warm water and a washcloth to melt any ice balls that may have formed on the feet.

Myth: Coats are for show and really do not keep pets warm in the winter months since animals have a natural fur coat.

Fact: Dogs and cats get cold, particularly short-haired breeds, senior citizens, puppies, and pets with medical conditions. Look for an insulated sweater with a turtleneck, that covers the belly, and that allows for protection from neck to tip of tail.

Myth: Dogs should gain weight in the winter to keep their fat ratio up and stay warm.

Fact: Not always. Though dogs are more sedentary in winter months, gaining weight as a form of insulation is not always advised. Indoor dogs who participate in strenuous activities or winter sports may require additional food in colder months. A recent study from the Association for Pet Obesity revealed that 53 percent of cats and 55 percent of dogs are overweight or obese in the United States. Keep a pet’s heart, organs, and joints healthy and keep an eye on their weight year round.

Myth: Thought a humidifier may help people, it does not do much for our pets during winter heating season.

Fact: Dry air in the home can make pets itchier, cause dry noses, upper respiratory infections, more dander, and dry throats. Consider a humidifier, talk to the veterinarian about skin conditioners and fatty acid supplements for healthy skin.

Myth: Fleas will not affect my pet during the winter months.

Fact: Though fleas may not survive in brutal winter temperatures outside, the warmth of home means fleas gravitate towards indoor comfort where they can affect pets. Using a natural, safer product with no chemicals, and a safe alternative for pest control and prevention during colder months. Always consult a veterinarian with any questions.

  

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Football Fan Cuddles Cat During Chiefs Raiders Game At Arrowhead Stadium

A photo of a stray cat being cuddled inside Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium during a football match has gone viral, with the unusual sight raising plenty of whiskers.

“Just a man and his kitty in a sea of red,” Instagram user Max Chilen captioned the bizarre snap as the Chiefs battled the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

As if the cat’s attendance wasn’t enough of an anomaly – especially considering stadiums’ strict rules on restricted items -- the man seen holding the animal is decked out in Green Bay Packers garb.

According to Chilen, the foreign fan scooped up the cat after finding it wandering around inside. Another Twitter user shared a photo of the man appearing to exit the stadium with the cat in his arms.

"Great work by Arrowhead security tonight. This dude managed to sneak in an effing cat," Taco Salazar sarcastically tweeted with the photo and hashtag #StandUpJob

But Chilen said they got it wrong.

“The dude found it in the spiral walkway heading into the game so they kept it instead of giving it to security,” Chilen tweeted to an Arrowhead Pride reporter.

“At the 4th quarter security came and there was quite the protest to let him keep the cat. Then he went away with them but … I think they planned on letting him keep the cat,” he continued.

To read more on this story, click here: Football Fan Cuddles Cat During Chiefs-Raiders Game At Arrowhead Stadium

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This Photo of an Absolutely Adorable, Brown Ball of Fluff is Indeed of a Dog… Not a Bear

The first great Internet mystery of 2016 has been solved. This photo of an absolutely adorable, brown ball of fluff is indeed of a dog -- not a bear.

The dog is actually a female Pomeranian-mix named Bounce, according to Ryan Horn, an employee of The Dog Spot, West Nashville, Tennessee, a retailer, dog supplier and daycare store with three locations in the Nashville area.

Horn told ABC News that Bounce checked in The Dog Spot last Monday, when he took a photo of her and texted it to his friends, joking, "Somebody brought this bear into doggie day care."

One of his friends, Lanier Basenberg, posted the photo to Reddit and Imgur with the same text as a caption. The post took off, and hundreds of users got into a debate over whether Bounce was indeed a bear or a dog. The photo of the smiley "bear dog" on Imgur had nearly 1 million views as of Tuesday afternoon.

"Bear with me -- I think he might be a woof," one user, carson9910, wrote.

Horn explained that Bounce is actually owned by Elizabeth Maguyon, a 19-year-old chemical and bio-molecular engineering student at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Maguyon told ABC News today that she and her family were on vacation in Tennessee when they checked Bounce into doggie daycare.

"We hate leaving her at home and try not to board her as much as possible, so we decided to take her on the road trip with us and then board her there if the hotel wouldn't allow pets," she said.

Maguyon said that while walking Bounce in downtown Nashville,"every single person who walked by her stopped, took photos of her and commented about how cute she was, saying things like, 'Is that dog a bear?!'"

"Since she was getting so much attention, I actually made a joke on the trip that Bounce would become famous without us even knowing because of all the pictures people were taking of her, and little did we know she actually did!" Maguyon said.

The 19-year-old and her family were shocked after several family friends texted them about seeing Bounce on the Internet.

Maguyon said that funny enough, Bounce isn't just like a bear in appearance but also in personality.

"My mom thinks she looks like Paddington, and she also loves to sleep," she said. "She could sleep all day long. She doesn't ever bark either. She naps all day and in that way, I guess she's like a little bear who sleeps lots in winter. We joke all the time she's not even like a real dog."

In light of the Internet fame, Bounce "hasn't let all the attention get to her head," Maguyon said, adding, "She's just a normal, very, very friendly and nice dog."

         

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American Kennel Club: We Have Two New Dog Breeds – The American Hairless Terrier and the Sloughi Have Joined 187 Other Recognized Breeds

A hairless terrier and an ancient North African hound are ready to run with the pack of dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club.

The organization announced Tuesday that the American hairless terrier and the sloughi have joined 187 other recognized breeds. The newcomers can now compete in most AKC shows and competitions, though not at the prominent Westminster Kennel Club show until next year.

Many American hairless terriers are, as advertised, bare-skinned, though others have short coats but carry the hairless gene. Their rise began when a hairless puppy emerged in a litter of rat terriers in the 1970s, wowing a Louisiana couple and leading to deliberate breeding of the hairless dogs, according to the American Hairless Terrier Club of America.

The lively, inquisitive terriers can do well at canine sports and as pets for people with dog-hair allergies.

"They're terrier-smart" but somewhat calmer than some other terrier breeds, said club secretary Lynn Poston of Fontana, California. "They're very easy to live with because they're very trainable."

The sloughi (pronounced SLOO-ghee), also called the Arabian greyhound, was developed to hunt game as big as gazelles. The lean, leggy dogs have some similarities to salukis, another hound breed from North Africa.

Sloughis are known for speed, endurance, grace and rather reserved demeanors.

"They are very attentive to their family, but they are not the kind of dog that will jump on your lap - they are not after you all the time," says Ermine Moreau-Sipiere of Como, Texas, president of the American Sloughi Association. She has owned them for nearly 40 years.

The dogs need patient training, opportunities to exercise, and a substantial fence if they're allowed to be loose in a yard because they may follow their hunting instinct far and wide if they spy prey, she said.

Criteria for AKC recognition include having several hundred dogs of the breed nationwide.

Some animal-rights advocates are critical of dog breeding and emphasize that many mixed-breed dogs need adoption. The AKC says breed characteristics help owners anticipate a dog's characteristics and make an enduring match.

This undated photo provided by the American Kennel Club (AKC) shows an American Hairless Terrier, one of two newcomers recognized by the AKC that can now compete in most of the organizations shows and competitions, though not at the prominent Westminster Kennel Club show until next year. The two new breeds announced Tuesday, Jan 5, 2016, are the hairless terrier and a sloughi, also called the Arabian greyhound. (American Kennel Club via AP)

This undated photo provided by the American Kennel Club (AKC) shows a sloughi, also called the Arabian greyhound, one of two newcomers recognized by the AKC that can now compete in most of the organizations shows and competitions, though not at the prominent Westminster Kennel Club show until next year. The two new breeds announced Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, are the sloughi and the American hairless terrier. (American Kennel Club via AP)

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Jack Russells Are More Likely to Bite Their Owners Than Any Other Breed of Dog

Jack Russells are more likely to bite their owners than any other breed of dog, according to police.

Data from the city of Liverpool – the second worst area in the UK for dog attacks – ranked the small terrier as the most likely to bite humans.

A total of 71 dog attacking incidents were reported to police over the last 12 months in the city, which ranks only second to Oxford.

Officers were able compile data on the most aggressive dogs based on reports, with Jack Russell coming out on top.

The terrier, which has its origins in fox hunting, is a popular dog, but is known for its high energy and considered mainly suitable for experienced owners.

It topped a list that includes Rottweilers and Staffordshire bull terriers.

In Liverpool in 2015, Jack Russells were responsible for six attacks where police could definitely say what the dog was.

Pitbull and Staffordshire bull terrier-type dogs accounted for five recorded incidents during the year, with German Shepherds accounting for three.

Elsewhere on the list is the rather surprising addition of the Daschund.

A recent YouGov study put the worst city in the country for dog attacks as Oxford, with Liverpool, Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, Hull, Leeds and Wakefield also on the list.

However, Phillip Gower, of solicitors Simpson Millar, which commissioned the study, said argued breeds have nothing to do with attacks.

He said: “In 20 years working on dog attack cases I haven’t spotted a trend in the breed of dog that attacks. It’s usually down to the owner.”

The full list is as follows:

Jack Russell

Staffordshire bull terrier

Pitbull terrier

German shepherd

Rottweiler

Daschund

Boxer

Great Dane

Doberman pinscher

Husky

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Tips for Feeding Backyard Birds in the Winter

If your community gets consistently cold (below freezing) in the winter or has extended periods of snow and ice on the ground, you may be surprised to learn what a huge difference you can make by feeding wild birds right outside your own door or window.  A large-scale winter storm, with deep snow or ice cover, cuts off many birds from their natural food supplies and can actually cause them to starve by the thousands and even millions. Backyard bird feeding can make a real contribution to their survival and even thriving during the winter months.   Here are ten pointers for a successful winter bird feeding season:

1.  Put out feeders with good size capacity:  And/or use multiple feeders to provide ample food especially during snow and ice storms.  There are many stores in your area that sell excellent bird feeders including bird-specific stores and most lawn and garden centers. You can also visit the National Wildlife Federation’s online backyard store to purchase feeders while also supporting the Federation’s conservation work:

2.  Provide nutritious winter seed foods: For most birds theses often include seed mixes of: black oil sunflower seed, hulled peanuts, niger seed and white millet seed.  Mixed seed bags can be purchased at local bird and lawn and garden stores or you can go on line and visit the Scott’s Songbird Selections website for a store locator or to learn more about wild bird feeding:

3.  Offer fatty food too:  Birds need to burn more calories in the winter just to stay warm.  Suet is considered a high energy food because it consists of fat that has 9 calories per gram compared to 4 calories per gram for carbohydrates or protein. Peanut Butter is also popular with our flying friends but is more expensive than suet. Suet feeders are a favorite of woodpeckers and other insect-eating birds

4.  Keep your feeders full: Winter birds need to stock up on calories especially for those long, cold winter nights.

5.  Be consistent and keep feeding through the winter: Birds grow accustomed to your feeders especially in severe weather when the snacks you offer may mean their very survival.  If you leave home for an extended period, try to have a neighbor or friend keep the feeders going.

6.  Remember water: Birds can become dehydrated in winter even if surrounded by ice and snow.  Putting out a pan of water near the feeder on warmer days is a terrific idea.

7.  Stamp down the snow below: Ground-feeding birds such as dark-eyed juncos, doves and many sparrows will be able to gather up the seed that drop from the feeders if they don’t have deep snow to try to manage. 

8.  Hang feeders in cat-safe locations: Place bird feeders in locations that do not also offer hiding places for sneak-attacks by cats and other predators. Think of placing the feeders ten to twelve feet from shrubs or brush piles.  This gives the birds some time to react.

9.  Remember feeder cleanliness: Your feeders can get a little grimy. Because natural food sources are scarcer in the winter, more birds may be attracted to backyard feeders and those feeders will need to be cleaned with some hot water and dried a few times during the season.

10.  Save some money and stock up on seed: Bird feeding veterans say it is best to stock up on birdseed in the Fall when many lawn and garden centers are discounting it to make way for winter merchandise. Stored properly, (in cool dry places) seed can easily last for months, particularly seed mixes and sunflower seeds.

The first days or winter are a great time to start feeding birds.  Once you have bird feeders, some water sources, some shrubs and trees for habitat cover you are well on your way to qualifying for certification as a backyard habitat with 135,000 other U.S. residents.  Learn more about NWF’s Certified Wildlife Habitat™ program and see if you might like to join up.  The winter birds surely need you.

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Feeding Bread to Birds: May Actually Do More Harm Than Good

Many people have memories of going to a park and tossing out scraps of bread to feed the pigeons and ducks.  It is not unusual for people to put out bread that has gone stale in their backyard feeders, too, so that it "doesn't go to waste".  However, caution must be taken with offering bread, as it may actually do more harm than good.

Bread molds fast outside and injesting these molds can cause a whole range of illnesses in birds.  Bread offered in too large pieces may also cause blockages in birds' digestive tracts.  Crop stasis, a condition where the crop fails to empty properly and food ferments leading to secondary yeast infections, can result from bread consumption.

Bread is more likely to attract nuisance bird species, particularly European Starlings, House Sparrows, and pigeons.

The biggest problem with offering bread is that it does not offer proper nutrition to birds.  Birds that fill up on bread feel full, but have not obtained the fats and proteins needed for survival.  Many of our favorite feeder birds have digestive systems that rely on calories obtained from dietary fats, not dietary carbohydrates, for daily health and survival.

Consider the following facts:

• Dietary fats supply bird with energy, essential fatty acids, and pigments. 
• Fats are the most concentrated energy source that a bird can consume. 
• Fats are the only dietary component that is deposited intact into a bird’s tissue. 
• Stored fats are the primary energy supply that fuels a bird between meals, throughout migration, and during a chick’s embryonic development. 

• In small passerines the amount of fat stored is a function of overnight energy expenditure used to maintain metabolic rate and body temperature. Up to ¾ of fat reserves may be used in one night and replenished the next day. 
• When fat reserves are depleted, protein, mostly from muscles, is depleted to sustain energy needs.

100 grams of white bread contains only 28.6 calories from fat; you may get up to 40 calories in some multi-grain breads.  By comparison, 100 grams of black oil sunflower has 354 calories from fat.  How about other favorite seeds of our backyard birds?  The same amount of safflower offers 322 fat calories, peanut chunks give 413 fat calories, and sunflower chips offer a whopping 429 fat calories.  Those tiny nyjer thistle seeds that goldfinches love?  Yup, they're fatty too, providing 342 fat calories per 100 grams.

These seeds all also offer more protein calories than bread.  100 grams of bread offers about 30 protein calories, while black oil sunflower gives 74 protein calories.  There are 56 protein calories for safflower, 91 for peanut chunks, 70 for sunflower chips, and 84 for nyjer thistle.

If you do decide to put out bread, we suggest following these guidelines:

• Only put out an amount of bread that the birds will eat in a day; food left on the ground overnight may attract undesired visitors such as rats and raccoons.

• Brown bread is better than white.

• Crumble bread into tiny pieces.  This is especially important during the breeding season so that it is only eaten by adult birds.  Dry chunks of bread will choke baby birds, and a chick on a diet of bread will not develop into a healthy fledgling.

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