Pill Popping for Dogs

Anyone who has ever had a dog has surely, at some point, had to administer a pill or two for medical reasons. I've always gone the "hide the pill in food" route. My vet recommended using the stinkiest food around because those incredible noses will always sniff out a lurking pill. My "go to" food has always been Braunschweiger which actually has worked beautifully for all of the pups in my life...until now. I don't know about your little friends but my Schaetze has become a master of artfully chewing his way around the pill and then promptly spitting it out, clean as a whistle, on to the floor.  In my search for a more effective method of delivery, I happened upon "Pill Pockets" from the Greenies company. They work like a charm. They too are stinky, but I think their malodorous sent is more potent than Braunschweiger's. What ever their secret is, they have worked for me and I couldn't be any happier! They also have Pill Pockets for cats. They are offering free samples for both dogs and cats from their website. Just go to the second page of products to locate this offer!
Mary Ann
BestFriendsStudios

Choosing the Best Food for Your Dog

About a year ago, our 5-year-old yellow lab developed a horrible case of chronic, quite smelly gas. Though Jasmine had experienced sporadic bouts with gas in the past, it now had morphed into an everyday occurance. She was literally clearing out rooms! Since our vet couldn't pinpoint any health problems that might cause excessive flatulence, he suggested we try other dog foods.

For years, Jasmine had been eating what I thought was a top-rated, organic dog food. But like humans, every dog's system is unique. As my vet said, what agrees with my neighbor's lab might be a gastronomical nightmare for Jasmine. So the search began.

We buy our food from a wonderful independent pet store in St. Louis called the Canine Center. Before heading in there, however, I decided to research dog food online. I found quite a few sites with dog food reviews but the best of the bunch was Dog Food Analysis, an independent site that provides detailed information on more than 1,500 dry dog foods, along with ratings and reviews. (They also review canned dog food but I was interested in dry food.)

The review section of Dog Food Analysis is broken down into six categories ranging from the top-rated 6 Star Premium Dry Food to the not-so-great 1 Star Dry Food. Of course, I started in the premium categories. After reading profiles/reviews on several of the dog foods, I headed to RateItAll.com to read what dog owners had to say about the foods I was considering. While the Rate It All site did not include overviews about the nutritional content of dog food, its huge collection of consumer reviews provided me with more than enough feedback to decide what food to try first.

Armed with the knowledge that I was not blindly choosing just any dog food for Jasmine, I ended up purchasing Now! Petcurean Dog Food. And like magic, Jasmine's gas problem has all but disappeared. There are many great dog foods out there, but Now! worked best for us. If I hadn't done my research before heading to the pet store, we probably would have gone through several trials before settling on a food that worked. Used together, the Dog Food Analysis and Rate It All sites can help dog owners make more educated decisions about what to put in their dogs' mouths.

• http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/
• http://www.rateitall.com/t-353-dog-food-brands.aspx
  

Hope for Paws

Amazing what love can do? This video comes from one of Best Friends Studio's favorite rescue organizations, Hope for Paws. They were recently voted among the "Top 100" charity organizations in the US in the Chase Community Giving competition and won a $25,000 donation for the animals. They are now in "Round Two" of the competition which could win them a ONE MILLION DOLLAR donation for the animals and you could help them get that million. All you need to do is vote for them here: http://www.facebook.com/tos.php?api_key=2a27719bdff95d4759c4fd201c4e9c92&next=http%3A%2F%2Fapps.facebook.com%2Fchasecommunitygiving%2Fcharities%2F1227836%2A&v=1.0&canvas

They have 2 days left to win. PLEASE help them help the animals!
Mary Ann
BestFriendsStudios

Why People Don't Fix Their Pets

Every once in awhile, I run across a statistic that blows my mind. According to a recent article in USA Today, 48% of unsterilized animals acquired in the past year were not neutered or spayed. I guess I'm naive, but with all the PR about pet overpopulation, puppy mills and euthanization, I assumed that these numbers were much lower. Apparently, I'm in good company because according to the article, a whopping 62% of those surveyed between 18-34 years of age estimated that animal shelters euthanize less than 1 million animals annually. (Reality Check: The Humane Society puts that estimate at 4 million annually.)

So why don't people spay or neuter their pets?

• The top answer (34%) was "pet is too young." So at six months old, it's OK for your dog to get pregnant and have a litter of puppies but not OK for a routine surgical procedure? 
•  Thirty-one percent surveyed responded that sterilization was "too expensive." I don't buy this excuse, either, since there are so many low-cost spay and neuter programs available through local shelters. In addition, sterilization is usually included in the price of adopting an animal from a shelter. 
• Which leads us to the next excuse (24%): "haven't gotten around to it." That's great. I'll bet you'll get around to dropping off your pet's unwanted offspring at the shelter. 
• The remaining responses ("didn't feel it was necessary," "it's not natural," "concerned about impact on pet's personality," "it would deprive pet of natural life") simply show us how much more work and education is needed to improve our spaying and neutering numbers.

OK, I'm off my soapbox for today! But please, spay or neuter your pet. It's the kindest thing you can do for him or her! Ellen

ABOVE IMAGE: Pet overpopulation is an age-old problem as evidenced from this 1909 vintage postcard of an unwanted dog in the city pound.
BestFriendsStudios

Earthquakes

Having just recently moved from a state that earthquakes seem to be a common experience in, the largest quake I ever experienced in California was only a 5.8. Scary enough but obviously nothing like what the people of Haiti have experienced. Their quake was registered at 7.0. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Richter Scales ratings, each time an earthquake's magnitude increases by one point it causes 32 times more energy to be released. So not only was Haiti's earthquake exponentially more devastating because of the power of the quake, it has been devastating because of the inadequate (if even existent) earthquake prepared buildings. The fact that Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world has helped to make the Haitians extremely vulnerable to a natural disaster of this kind. Their buildings were completely unprepared for this kind of quake in part because the country lacks the funds to construct buildings with adequate infrastructure to withstand (or at least not disintegrate from) earthquakes. We are very fortunate here in the US that this is not the case for those who live in the most earthquake prone areas of this country. We are lucky. The Haitians are not. So my heart goes out to all of those who are suffering such tremendous loss in Haiti. May they all be in our prayers.
Mary Ann
BestFriendsStudios

Curl Up With Your Dog & A Book

When the cold days of winter hit, I find myself yearning to curl up with a good book and mug of hot tea. If I can convince one of the dogs to keep my feet warm, I have the necessary ingredients for the perfect Sunday afternoon. We're fairly dog-obsessed in our household since my husband owns a Fetch Pet Care franchise and I'm co-owner of Best Friends Studios. Since we naturally gravitate toward books in the dog genre, I decided to compile a list of books about our best friends.

DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED (we've read and loved them)

• The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein.
• What the Dog Saw and Other Adventures by Malcom Gladwell.
• Izzy & Lenore: Two Dogs, an Unexpected Journey, and Me by Jon Katz
• Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog by Ted Kerasote
• Marley & Me: Life and Love With the World's Worst Dog by John Grogan
• Dog Years: A Memoir by Mark Doty

ON MY READING LIST (we've heard good things about them)

• Soul of a Dog: Reflections on the Spirits of the Animals of Bedlam Farm by Jon Katz
• A Dog Named Christmas by Greg Kincaid (I actually caught the TV special last December and it was a touching story)
• Story of Edgar Sawtelle, The by David Wroblewski
• From Baghdad with Love: A Marine, the War, and a Dog Named Lava by Jay Kopelman

SHOULD BE ON MY READING LIST (never heard of them but they look good)

• Dangerous Book for Dogs: A Parody, The by Rex and Sparky (my son loves the Dangerous Book for Boys so I might have to check this one out)
• How to Raise the Perfect Dog: Through Puppyhood and Beyond by Cesar Millan (hmmm, I guess this should be on everyone's list)
• Shelter Dogs by Traer Scott
• Why My Third Husband Will Be A Dog: The Amazing Adventures of an Ordinary Woman by Lisa Scottoline

So there you have it...a not-so-complete list of potential good reading material to get us through the winter! Ellen

Coming Home

After 20 years, I have made a move back to my home state of Missouri. Of course my timing is impeccable as I have chosen the coldest winter in 10 years to come home! My friends in California wonder what I was thinking too since it's been in the 70's and 80's there the last couple of weeks. But I'm home and getting settled in. I love being closer to my "Best Friend" and business partner in crime and her children and husband. They have been such a blessing to be with. She and her family opened up their home to me until I found a place of my own to stay. Which was a huge sacrifice for them especially since I came with all my sewing equipment! I think they are still finding pieces of felt and thread all over their home.  I also love being closer to my brother and his family. I'm finally having an opportunity to be part of my 4 nieces' and 1 nephew's lives on a more regular basis which has been a blast. (I've been rock climbing and ice skating and for a 45 year old, it's been a bit painful but so much fun!) And I'm getting to spend time with my sister-in-law and her mom too.

Of course I miss my "family" in California. All of them will always have a HUGE place in my heart. And heck, I couldn't have a better place to go visit when I want to escape the 13 degree weather we are having in STL!

Mary Ann
BestFriendsStudios

BISSELL MVP Pet Photo Contest

If you've often thought your dog or cat could make it as a celebrity, consider entering BISSELL's 3rd Annual Most Valuable Pet Photo Contest. The grand prize for this popular contest includes your pet's photo on a BISSELL box, a $10,000 donation to the pet charity of your choice, a BISSELL pet vacuum or cleaner, and a $500 "Perfect for You and Your Pet" shopping spree. (The prizes for the runners-up are pretty sweet, as well!)

The contest features 12 submission periods through March 25, 2010, with the top five pets from each week moving on to the semi-finals for a chance to win the grand prize. Once you've submitted a great photo of your best friend, encourage everyone you know to vote. For more details and to enter the contest, visit Bissell's site. Good luck!

ABOVE PHOTO: Norman from Columbus, Ohio, won the Bissell MVP Pet Photo Contest in 2009.
BestFriendsStudios

iPhone Apps for Dog Lovers

For all of you who may have received an iPhone for the holidays, here are a few apps that you may find interesting:

1) Eukanuba's "Off Leash" app locates the 5 nearest dog parks to your location and the cost is FREE!


2) "iSqueak" is an alternative to actual toys, but can keep a dog's interest when an actual squeaky toy is unavailable. Cost is $1.99.

3) The Dog Whisperer's "Cesar Says" app allows you to access some of Millan's famous training tips and with a tap or shake of your iPhone, you'll get to hear his trademark "tsst!" warning. This one is free too.

4) PetMD "Dog Emergencies" app gives you hands-on information for most doggie health emergencies and for only $1.99 it may be the best 2 bucks you could spend if your Best Friend happens to suffer a medical emergency.

5) "Dog Tricks - Best of 101 Dog Tricks" gives you 8 tricks to try on your furry friend with a simple step-by-step approach. Cost is $2.99.

To find these apps and many more, just visit the iTunes store and type in "dog apps" in the search box.

Best Friends Studios wishes you a very happy start to the new year!
BestFriendsStudios