Thursday, July 30, 2009

Summer treat: Silkcicles

Frosty Paws are sometimes stocked in the ice cream section at the grocery store, although my local Albertsons has a small cooler in the pet food section where it keeps its Frosty Paws. A box of 4 individual cups of frozen fun costs about $5. My dogs love them, but at that price, I can't keep a freezer stocked with them! I got to thinking I could make a similar treat with small Dixie cups and soymilk.

Silk soymilk comes in several flavors...regular, chocolate, vanilla and very vanilla. We fill several little cups full and put them in the freezer for an hour or so and they're done. The dogs love them!


Supervision is recommended as the dogs will want every last bit and will chew the wax cup into bits. Some dogs may make a mess with theirs, so it's best if they eat them on a kitchen floor or outside.

~ Sanya

Monday, July 27, 2009

Kane the Paniolo Buys a New Dress for Annie!

Howdy Y’all! It’s yer old pal Kane the Paniolo checking in. I just had to poke my head in and tell y’all about sumthin special goin on. Seems today marks one year since I came to Pibble Creek so Ms. Lynn and The Yankee are having an Annie Versary party. I’m not quite sure what Annie’s Versary has to do with anything. Heck, I don’t even know what a Versary is, but figure it must be a pretty dress if Ms. Annie celebrates getting one every year, but I shore am glad she gets that dress ‘cause I learned it means that I get presents and cake too! That sounds like a purty good deal so I might just saves up my wages and buy Ms. Annie a new dress a few times a year ‘cause I really like cake.

Now it has been one helluva year, what we me havin to get all dem worms out of my heart and going to that Neuter Party and getting robbed. So much has happened so fast. My, how time flies. Once I got dem worms out of my heart, I’ve been trying real hard to be a good ranch hand at Pibble Creek. I always help Ms. Lynn when she works in dog corral but there must have been some trouble brewing ‘cause I heard her and The Yankee say they was declaring war on The Chiggers and The Ticks. I’m not even sure who they are but they must be two gangs of bandits ‘cause for a few hours each day, Ms. Lynn puts all us dogs in our bunks with our vittles and then she goes out to battle them. She also puts these funny smellin’ drops on us each month to keep them away from us and they must work as I ain’t never seen one of those varmits yet.

I g
uess Ms. Lynn and The Yankee must want to get a good look if those hooligans are headed our way ‘cause each time we come out of our bunks I notice that more tree branches have been trimmed real high like and more and more of that tall grass in the meadow has been hacked away. I shore hope we’re winning that there war ‘cause I don’t want them Chiggers and Ticks making it to the house and eatin up all my cake!

In addition to all the stuff that happened to me this last year, Ms. Lynn up and caved again and let another convict join us at Pibble Creek. Wouldn’t you just know it, it was one of those darn juvenile delinquents that seem to be so much trouble. I thought the Rangers shipped all dem delinquents up North but I heard dis little whipper snapper couldn’t go there because there was something wrong with the way she looks. Darn if that didn’t give me flashbacks to the time I met that drunken Dr. Baker (you know the one that didn’t bake nuthin) and she wanted to hook me up with the homely girl Ivy.

So I was pretty worried about what kind of ugly girl Ms. Lynn and the Yankee
might be bringing home to Pibble Creek but once I saw her, I figured out da problem straight away. See, that girl ain’t homely, you just can’t tell if she’s a dog or a cow. Ms. Ipo, who was at Pibble Creek before I came, has that same darn de zees. I think I got a touch of it too from my mama’s side but shore am glad I don’t have as many spots as those two ladies. I was careful not to stare and didn’t say nuthin’ cause I know that would be unpolite like. I’ve heard of Cowgirls before but didn’t know they weren’t allowed up in Yankeeville.

I’ve been getting on swell with Ms. Nani and that old cow poke Koa. Ms. Nani likes to gallavant with me once in a while but she has bad hips so I take it easy with her on the dance floor. Koa is a cranky old c
oot but he’s taught me a bunch and he just likes to lay under a shade tree or whittle a new pipe now and then and not bother nobody. Dem Cowgirls are both crazy and I’m startin’ to think that the reason they aren’t allowed in Yankeeville ain’t so much their looks but that de zees they got must do sumthin funny to their brains.

Well, that there about covers most of my missing adventures since I last popped in for a chat by the fire. I’m going to go get ready for Annie’s party now. I can’t wait to meet her and just hope I don’t get no cake frosting on her purty new dress.

Kane Agape aka The Paniolo
w/Lynn, Koa, Nani, Ipo, Lilo and the Wiley Cats!

PS: You can read chronicles of his first few weeks at Pibble Creek written in his own words:
http://pitbullrescuecentral.blogspot.com/2008/07/howdy-yall-from-pibble-paniolo.html

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Sago Palm Poisoning Alert

It has come to our attention that many home improvement stores are selling a houseplant that can cause serious poisoning in pets and children. The plant is called the “Sago Palm” or “Cycad”. It is also referred to as “The Oldest Known Plant”. It is used in outdoor landscaping in Southern States, but can only survive as a houseplant in the North. All of this plant, including the seeds and root ball are toxic. Signs of illness first appear about 12 hours after ingestion and include gastrointestinal sign such as vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy. The toxins in the plant lead to severe liver failure with progressive weakness, jaundice, bruising and bleeding and other signs of liver failure that lead to death. It is estimated that 75-80% of animals ingesting this plant will die in spite of aggressive medical treatment. If you have one of these plants in your home you will want to be sure to keep it away from pets and children, preferably by disposing of it safely in a covered trash can or “rehome” it with someone who does not have pets or young children in the household.

Courtesy of Burnt Hills Veterinary Hospital
http://www.burnthillsvethosp.com/
For photos and information about the Sago, visit: http://www.rhapisgardens.com/sagos/

Friday, July 10, 2009

The Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Program was established by the American Kennel Club in 1989 to reward good doggie manners at home and in public as well as responsible ownership. All dogs, mixed and purebred, can participate and become CGC certified.

CGC tests are administered by AKC-approved evaluators. To receive certification, the dog must pass each of the following ten test items:

1. Accept a friendly stranger
2. Sit politely for petting
3. Accept grooming and examination
4. Walk on a loose lead
5. Walk politely through a crowd
6. Sit, down and stay on command
7. Come when called
8. React politely to other dogs
9. Demonstrate confidence in a distracting situation
10. Maintain good manners under supervised separation

If the dog doesn't pass one item, s/he must redo the entire test in order to pass the test. Dogs can take the test as many times as needed to become certified.

Treat/food lures are not permitted during any portion of the test. Reassurance through pats, hugs, smiles, and verbal praise is allowed and encouraged. Dogs are tested on a 6-ft lead wearing a flat or slip collar. Head collars, harnesses, and prong collars are not permitted during testing. Eliminating (peeing or pooping) during the test, disqualifies the dog from passing and the dog must retake the entire test.

The owner/handler must pledge the following:

- I will be responsible for my dog's health needs.
- I will be responsible for my dog's safety.
- I will not allow my dog to infringe on the rights of others.
- I will be responsible for my dog's quality of life.

Many therapy dog programs are now requiring dogs pass the CGC test before they can be considered potential therapy dogs. Some insurance companies and landlords have incorporated the CGC into their requirements. And, various animal control agencies use the CGC Program to manage dog problems in the community. Other countries, including England, Australia, Japan, Hungary, Denmark, Sweden, Canada, and Finland, have developed CGC programs based on the AKC’s CGC Program.

The cost of testing and certification is usually minimal, from $5-15.

To locate CGC classes and evaluators in your area, go to: http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/cgc_bystate.cfm

For more info, visit the CGC website, http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/

Friday, July 3, 2009

Fourth of July Festivities: Should You Bring Your Pet?

(From the ASPCA)

As the country dons its red, white and blue to celebrate Independence Day, nothing says patriotism like a good old-fashioned barbecue with a side of fireworks. But beware pet parents, what’s fun for people can be a downright drag for our furry friends.

The ASPCA recommends keeping your pooch indoors as much as possible during backyard parties and Fourth of July festivities, even if he is a pro picnicker. From toxic food and beverages to raucous guests and fireworks, the holiday weekend is a minefield of potential pet problems.

“Even the most timid dog can leap a six-foot fence if he’s spooked by loud noises,” says Dr. Pamela Reid, Vice President of the ASPCA Animal Behavior Center. If your dog shows signs of distress from fireworks or boisterous revelers, Dr. Reid suggests giving him a Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter. “The consistent licking should calm his nerves,” she says.

The ASPCA offers some more expert advice to keep your pet singing, “Oh Say Can You See,” all the way to the fifth and beyond:

  • Keep your pet on the wagon. Since alcohol is potentially poisonous to pets, place all wine, beer and spirits well out of paws’ way.
  • Avoid scraps from the grill. Stick with your pet’s normal diet—any change, even for a day, can result in stomach upset. Certain foods like onions, avocado, chocolate, grapes and raisins are especially toxic to pets.
  • Avoid lathering your pet with any insect repellent or sunscreen not intended for the four-legged kind. Ingestion can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy.
  • Stay fire-smart. Keep your pet away from fireworks, matches, citronella candles and lighter fluid, which if eaten can irritate the stomach, lungs and central nervous system.
  • Be cool near the pool. Don’t leave pets unsupervised around a pool or lake—not all dogs are expert swimmers! Also, pools aren’t large water bowls—they contain chlorine and other toxic chemicals that can cause stomach problems.

As always, if you suspect your pet has ingested something poisonous from the picnic table, please contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. And be sure to check out our more complete list of holiday pet care tips for a safe and happy Fourth!