Excerpts from a Dog's diary
8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!
Excerpts from a Cat's Daily Diary :
Day 683 of my captivity:
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.
They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something
in order to keep up my strength.
The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the floor.
Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. The audacity!
There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of:"allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.
Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.
I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded!
The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe....... for now...
Monday, November 24, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
More Graduates to conGRADulate!
Charlie and Marley graduated last night and Miss Priscilla graduated last week! Marley the Golden is already signed up for Intermediate! Way to go, pet parents!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
No Classes Next Week
I will be gone from 11/26 through 12/3 so there will be NO CLASS the week and weekend of Thanksgiving! I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!
Please remember - do NOT give your dog the turkey skin, this has SO much fat in it, your dogs pancreas may not be able to stand it!
Always looking out for your puperoonie - Tori
Avocado - Dangerous or Not?
I get asked about this quite a bit during the nutrition chat week. Will Avocado harm my dog? Given that out of the thousands of dogs eating Avoderm dog food are by and large doing fine, I stand by the fact that leaves, pits and hides would be the harmful part to keep away from the pup, just like any other "pit" fruit. Cody seems to be doing fine on Avoderm Large Breed, and he's the poster child for icky poo on most other foods.
So here's the downside of the avocado from ASPCA, followed by the Avoderm websites philosophy.
ASPCA - Avocodo Toxicity
According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center in Urbana, IL, pet poisonings from avocado and avocado-based foods like guacamole are a consistent risk. In 2008, the Center managed 115 cases involving ingestions of avocado, and though an overwhelming 83 percent of those incidents involved dogs, the most devastating effects were seen in birds, rabbits and certain large animals like horses and cattle.
A native of Central and South America, avocado (Persea americana) is a subtropical tree that produces a pear-shaped fruit prized for its high fat content, vitamin-rich “meat” and smooth texture. Unfortunately, the fruit also contains a toxin called persin that’s harmful to animals, especially in large quantities.
"Avocado leaves, fruit, seeds and bark all contain the toxic principle known as persin,” says Dana Farbman, CVT, Senior Manager of Professional Communications at APCC. Guatemalan varieties—sold in grocery stores nationwide—are most often involved in pet exposures, Farbman adds, while other strains have varying degrees of toxic potential. Birds—who accounted for 5 percent of avocado cases in 2008—appear to be particularly sensitive to the fatty fruit; consumption can result in respiratory distress, congestion, fluid accumulation around the heart and even death. In curious canines, clinical signs of ingestion can include gastrointestinal distress, vomiting and diarrhea. Typically, these effects are seen in dogs who’ve nibbled on significant amounts of a tree’s fruit or branches.
Pet parents should prevent their animal companions from coming into contact with avocado by placing the fruit—or that festive bowl of guacamole—out of reach. For those lucky Californians who have an avocado tree in their backyards, keep a close eye on your pet when he’s outside, and don’t mistake the toxic fruit for Fido’s gnarly tennis ball.
As always, if you suspect your pet has eaten something toxic, please call your vet or the ASPCA’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.
AvoDerm Natural and Avocado Safety
You can feel quite confident in AvoDerm Natural pet products safety and nutritional value. In the 25 years since Breeder’s Choice first introduced this product line, millions of dogs and cats worldwide have consumed AvoDerm products with no negative reactions from avocado oil or meal. The avocado is full of vitamins A, C, D, E, and B6. Also, avocados are rich in potassium, niacin, essential fatty acids and many other nutrients for excellent skin and coat condition. AvoDerm Natural pet products use only carefully selected suppliers of avocado meal and avocado oil. Years of problem-free consumption of these products indicate that AvoDerm products are not only safe for dogs and cats, but also provide vital nutrients for them.
Concern has been expressed by the ASPCA about the consumption of the leaves, fruit, bark, and stems from the avocado tree, with the exception of the avocado fruit which is used for the oil and meal; none of these parts are factors in any of the AvoDerm Natural pet products formulations.
Dr. Art Craigmill, UC Davis, Professor and Extension Specialist in Environmental Toxicology has said that his studies and other research in the United States and Australia have shown that the problem of toxicity is in the leaves and the pit of the Guatemalan variety; the avocado meat of the fruit and oils have not been shown to be toxic. AvoDerm Natural pet products do not utilize any Guatemalan variety avocados, nor do we use any leaves or pits of any variety of avocados for our avocado meal and oil.
The avocado meal and oil used in the AvoDerm Natural pet products comes from the meat of the fruit and does not contain leaves, bark, skin or pit of the fruit. The oil is extracted from ripened fruit in which the meat pulp has been separated from the skin and the pit. Through a mechanical separation process the oil is extracted and filtered and placed into sealed containers. The pulp of the fruit is dried, ground, and screened before being placed into its final packaging and than shipped to our facility.
Dr. Guy Whitney, Director of Industry Affairs and Research of the California Avocado Commission, has stated: “...in California there are around 7,000 family farmers who grow avocados and almost every one has dogs that actively seek out fruit that has fallen from the trees to snack on. The happy, well-filled out and shiny-coated orchard dog is a familiar sight to anyone in this industry and we have NEVER had a report of a family orchard dog getting sick from eating avocados. Also, the US Forest Service and UC Santa Barbara are about to publish a paper on the importance of avocado orchards in California to sustaining carnivore populations (bears, coyotes, mountain lions, foxes and small cats) during drought conditions. All of these animals are known to eat the protein and nutrient rich fruit that has fallen from the trees. Now birds are a different creature and it IS known that avocados are toxic to birds. Avocado leaves are known to be toxic to horses. Avocado seeds (pits) are NOT edible and are toxic to animals.”
Our AvoDerm Natural formulas put dogs and cats on the right nutritional track with healthy skin and coat on the outside and the right nutrients to keep them healthy on the inside as well.
So here's the downside of the avocado from ASPCA, followed by the Avoderm websites philosophy.
ASPCA - Avocodo Toxicity
According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center in Urbana, IL, pet poisonings from avocado and avocado-based foods like guacamole are a consistent risk. In 2008, the Center managed 115 cases involving ingestions of avocado, and though an overwhelming 83 percent of those incidents involved dogs, the most devastating effects were seen in birds, rabbits and certain large animals like horses and cattle.
A native of Central and South America, avocado (Persea americana) is a subtropical tree that produces a pear-shaped fruit prized for its high fat content, vitamin-rich “meat” and smooth texture. Unfortunately, the fruit also contains a toxin called persin that’s harmful to animals, especially in large quantities.
"Avocado leaves, fruit, seeds and bark all contain the toxic principle known as persin,” says Dana Farbman, CVT, Senior Manager of Professional Communications at APCC. Guatemalan varieties—sold in grocery stores nationwide—are most often involved in pet exposures, Farbman adds, while other strains have varying degrees of toxic potential. Birds—who accounted for 5 percent of avocado cases in 2008—appear to be particularly sensitive to the fatty fruit; consumption can result in respiratory distress, congestion, fluid accumulation around the heart and even death. In curious canines, clinical signs of ingestion can include gastrointestinal distress, vomiting and diarrhea. Typically, these effects are seen in dogs who’ve nibbled on significant amounts of a tree’s fruit or branches.
Pet parents should prevent their animal companions from coming into contact with avocado by placing the fruit—or that festive bowl of guacamole—out of reach. For those lucky Californians who have an avocado tree in their backyards, keep a close eye on your pet when he’s outside, and don’t mistake the toxic fruit for Fido’s gnarly tennis ball.
As always, if you suspect your pet has eaten something toxic, please call your vet or the ASPCA’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.
AvoDerm Natural and Avocado Safety
You can feel quite confident in AvoDerm Natural pet products safety and nutritional value. In the 25 years since Breeder’s Choice first introduced this product line, millions of dogs and cats worldwide have consumed AvoDerm products with no negative reactions from avocado oil or meal. The avocado is full of vitamins A, C, D, E, and B6. Also, avocados are rich in potassium, niacin, essential fatty acids and many other nutrients for excellent skin and coat condition. AvoDerm Natural pet products use only carefully selected suppliers of avocado meal and avocado oil. Years of problem-free consumption of these products indicate that AvoDerm products are not only safe for dogs and cats, but also provide vital nutrients for them.
Concern has been expressed by the ASPCA about the consumption of the leaves, fruit, bark, and stems from the avocado tree, with the exception of the avocado fruit which is used for the oil and meal; none of these parts are factors in any of the AvoDerm Natural pet products formulations.
Dr. Art Craigmill, UC Davis, Professor and Extension Specialist in Environmental Toxicology has said that his studies and other research in the United States and Australia have shown that the problem of toxicity is in the leaves and the pit of the Guatemalan variety; the avocado meat of the fruit and oils have not been shown to be toxic. AvoDerm Natural pet products do not utilize any Guatemalan variety avocados, nor do we use any leaves or pits of any variety of avocados for our avocado meal and oil.
The avocado meal and oil used in the AvoDerm Natural pet products comes from the meat of the fruit and does not contain leaves, bark, skin or pit of the fruit. The oil is extracted from ripened fruit in which the meat pulp has been separated from the skin and the pit. Through a mechanical separation process the oil is extracted and filtered and placed into sealed containers. The pulp of the fruit is dried, ground, and screened before being placed into its final packaging and than shipped to our facility.
Dr. Guy Whitney, Director of Industry Affairs and Research of the California Avocado Commission, has stated: “...in California there are around 7,000 family farmers who grow avocados and almost every one has dogs that actively seek out fruit that has fallen from the trees to snack on. The happy, well-filled out and shiny-coated orchard dog is a familiar sight to anyone in this industry and we have NEVER had a report of a family orchard dog getting sick from eating avocados. Also, the US Forest Service and UC Santa Barbara are about to publish a paper on the importance of avocado orchards in California to sustaining carnivore populations (bears, coyotes, mountain lions, foxes and small cats) during drought conditions. All of these animals are known to eat the protein and nutrient rich fruit that has fallen from the trees. Now birds are a different creature and it IS known that avocados are toxic to birds. Avocado leaves are known to be toxic to horses. Avocado seeds (pits) are NOT edible and are toxic to animals.”
Our AvoDerm Natural formulas put dogs and cats on the right nutritional track with healthy skin and coat on the outside and the right nutrients to keep them healthy on the inside as well.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Buyer, Beware... More Bad Dog Food Out There
If you feed Nutro or Canidae products and your dogs are having ANY health problems, you might consider switching them to something else. I visit an Alaskan Malamute Forum on the internet, it is a great source of information about my favorite breed. I was reading a post about nutrition and there are some very unhappy people out there who's dogs are getting sick from Nutro foods. I've been hearing this from customers, so I did a consumer search and found this:
String of Illnesses Afflicts NUTRO-Fed Pets
consumer complaints
Now, a few disgruntled customers is one thing but there are HUNDREDS of complaints listed here. Please review and be sure none of your pets are showing similar symptoms if you feed Nutro Products.
Concerning Canidae dog food, same thing. They changed the formula, dogs start having health issues with the new formula. This web site is full of letters from scandalized and angry dog owners. Whenever your dog goes from good poo to bad poo, something's wrong!
Canidae Problems
Like I say, you might be paying for the "best dog food in the world", and it may very well BE the best dog food in the world, but that doesn't mean it's the RIGHT dog food for your dog.
Read your labels - if it says FORMULATED to meet AAFCO requirements, it hasn't been tested on real dogs and you should be aware of that!
String of Illnesses Afflicts NUTRO-Fed Pets
consumer complaints
Now, a few disgruntled customers is one thing but there are HUNDREDS of complaints listed here. Please review and be sure none of your pets are showing similar symptoms if you feed Nutro Products.
Concerning Canidae dog food, same thing. They changed the formula, dogs start having health issues with the new formula. This web site is full of letters from scandalized and angry dog owners. Whenever your dog goes from good poo to bad poo, something's wrong!
Canidae Problems
Like I say, you might be paying for the "best dog food in the world", and it may very well BE the best dog food in the world, but that doesn't mean it's the RIGHT dog food for your dog.
Read your labels - if it says FORMULATED to meet AAFCO requirements, it hasn't been tested on real dogs and you should be aware of that!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
ConGRADulations, Toby!
Toby the Keeshond and his mom Cindy couldn't make graduation with their own class but that didn't stop them from coming back in and getting the ol' sheepskin!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Dig 'er Bigger Duke
Honestly, I'm not exaggerating when I tell people about Duke's Digs. She's dug this yawning hole in the ground, it goes down at about a 45 degree angle nearly 5 feet, then it turns left and I cannot see the end of it. There's room for her to go in, turn around, and come back out. She's about 85 pounds. It's not a "little" hole!
I was finally able to capture her on my camera, in the act of carving her cavern out a bit bigger. The whole thing being near the carport, I've put "spatter shields" up, because she flings dirt so far, I'd come out and there would be dirt on my truck!
It's the only place she digs,(the boys aren't so particular)so I encourage her to dig, and warn visitors not to fall in the gaping hole in my back yard!
The Hole
She's goin' in!
Ahhh! Hole Sweet Home
I was finally able to capture her on my camera, in the act of carving her cavern out a bit bigger. The whole thing being near the carport, I've put "spatter shields" up, because she flings dirt so far, I'd come out and there would be dirt on my truck!
It's the only place she digs,(the boys aren't so particular)so I encourage her to dig, and warn visitors not to fall in the gaping hole in my back yard!
The Hole
She's goin' in!
Ahhh! Hole Sweet Home
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