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Getting Started on Facebook

May 12th, 2011

Once thought of as a fad, Facebook can no longer be ignored by businesses, even veterinary ones. Many veterinary practices are now online with a spiffy web site, and that is a great first step. Adding a Facebook page as another way to connect with clients is the logical next step.

Nuts and Bolts: Getting started on Facebook

1) Sign up on Facebook – You need to have a ‘personal profile’ page first, even if you do not intend to be on Facebook as an individual. You will be prompted to create a login at the very first stop: www.Facebook.com.

Many people I have talked to at clinics protest “ugh I don’t want to be on Facebook!” Not to worry – your personal profile page is not publicly connected to your business page. You do not have to do anything with it if you do not want to. Be sure to go to Account > privacy settings to maximize your privacy.

2) Set up a Facebook Fan Page – This is a separate page from your personal profile! It is easy to confuse the two. A fan page is public. Viewers do not have to be signed up on Facebook to see what you have to say. Viewers “like” fan pages. In contrast, people must request to be your “friend” and you must approve that request before they can access your personal profile page. (Your privacy settings will dictate what viewers can see publicly).

Here is where go to set up a Facebook fan page.

3) Customize your page – Now the fun begins. Facebook has some prompts for importing your contacts and promoting your page, but I like to click on the “edit page” button at the upper right. Here you will find several categories to fine-tune the look and function of your page.

First stop should be the Profile Picture. Browse on your computer to find a clear photo of yourself, your logo, or clinic photo, and upload. There are also tips and tricks if you are feeling creative with the profile photo space.

Be sure to fill in address, phone, and all other traditional ways for people to contact your practice.

4) Get posting - This is the most intimidating part for many people. What should we say? How do we post stuff?

Thankfully, Facebook makes it easy to share content with your viewers. Start by copy/pasting a link of a page from your blog or a site with information relevant to your viewers into the “write something” box at the top of the page. Facebook automatically pulls in an image (if there is one) and the text from the article and !viola! a nice easy post – just need to press the “share” button.

Posting photos (and videos) is also easy – click on Photo > browse > upload, add a comment and  ”share.”

I believe strongly in having your own web site/blog first. Putting all of your photos, posts, and practice content into one basket – Facebook – is bad if Facebook goes away or for some reason your page goes away. On the other hand, Facebook makes sharing photos and videos very easy.

There are tools to automatically connect your site and Facebook, which is a nice way to cross-promote and have the best of both worlds.

5) How to find inspiration – Post a pet of the day photo (with owner permission), a behind-the-scenes photo of staff hard at work, or an interesting case. Invite your viewers to post their own pet photos.

By “liking” other pages of interest, you may find pet information that will benefit your viewers. Simply copy the URL, and paste it in the “write something” box. Find stories in your local newspaper or using online tools such as Google Alerts to notify you of topics that would be a good fit for your page.

6) Fans find you, spread the word – Tell your friends and clients about your new page. Once you reach 25 ” likes,” you can claim your own URL, for example www.Facebook.com/YourPracticeName. Each time a fan likes or comments on something on your page, it shows up on their page, letting more people know about your page and what you are up to.

For more information

This is a very quick guide for the mechanics of how to set up a page. To learn more about Facebook etiquette and social media policies specific to a veterinary practice, I highly recommend Social Media for Veterinary Professionals by veterinary practice manager Brenda Tassava CVPM CVJ as a great primer on this topic.

Related:

• Does your clinic have a practice web site? Share it!
• Connect on Facebook

Posted in K9 Fun, K9 News | No Comments »

Tips for Happy Canine Campers

May 5th, 2011

Going camping and getting outdoors with your pets always sounds like great fun… until it isn’t.

Away from the routine and comforts of home can be stressful if you aren’t prepared. A little planning can make a huge difference in the fun factor.

If you are planning a trip, be sure to check out GoPetFriendly.com for pet-friendly campgrounds, hotels and restaurants. Once your trip is planned out, it’s time to get packing with these tips in mind.

Tips for Happy Canine Campers

1 ) First Aid Kit – This is probably a ‘no-brainer,’ but a first aid kit customized for your pet is even better. An extra supply of any current meds, or medications they might need, such as a vet-approved NSAID for pain from extra hiking, etc. are especially useful.

2 ) First Aid Training – A first aid kit is great, but if you don’t know how to use the items, it isn’t much use. When your dog is in pain and the situation is tense, staying calm and putting previous training to work is much more effective than guessing.

My vet colleague and I do a “wilderness first aid” class at our local REI store – check your outdoor stores for similar first aid intro classes. Check with your local Red Cross chapter or community college for more in-depth training on pet first aid.

3 ) Pet Identification – Is your pet’s collar tag and microchip registration information up to date? It is important to remember that cell phones may not work in the places you are camping. Adding a phone number of your vet or someone in town who could reach you is a good idea; either by adding a new tag or affixing the info to the current tag(s).

4 ) Food from home/regular diet – Keeping your dog’s diet as ‘normal’ as possible will help prevent diarrhea, upset stomach and pancreatitis. Fatty trimmings from campfire cookouts (and the yummy, drippy foil found on the ground!), corn cobs, and other camping feast foods can spell disaster for your dog.

5 ) Wildlife – Keep your pet in close range to avoid mishaps with wildlife – bites and unfortunate encounters with porcupines and skunks.

6 ) Extra towels and rags – A sudden downpour or swim in the lake can make for a wet dog who may get hypothermic with all of that wet hair as temps drop. Bringing a supply of towels to have on hand helps with the comfort factor too.

7 ) Flea, tick, mosquito and other bug protection - Your pet may already be on a monthly flea/tick preventative, but if not, check with your vet about the best product for your pet and where you will be traveling to. Extra caution for dog and cat households; products should never be used on a species it is not labeled for, and some dog flea/tick products are toxic to cats.

8 ) Keeping it routine – My dogs, like many, get to know and anticipate the normal routines of life very quickly. Travel and camping disrupt that routine. Most dogs go with the flow and are totally fine with this. Some aren’t. You may notice pacing, panting and even trembling if your dog is feeling out of sorts.

Throw in a thunderstorm or fireworks, and you may be up all night with a dog who is very frightened and won’t settle.

We pack the big bulky dog beds. The Greyhounds go “oh good – HOME” and settle right down. I am also a big fan of DAP spray to spritz on their beds. (I also love the DAP collars – see my review here.)

Finally, packing the Thundershirt is great to take a chill off the Greyhounds as well as provide a little comfort, if needed.

And sometimes…

Pets do better staying with family, friends or the pet hotel rather than braving the wilds of nature.

Photo credit: Bluey estoril/Flickr

Posted in K9 Care, K9 Expert Question, K9 Fun, K9 Health, K9 Nutrition | 2 Comments »

The HairBear that almost wasn’t

April 29th, 2011

Hairballs. We’ve all seen them. We try to ignore them. But not anymore!

Today is Hairball Awareness Day. This annual event was started by the National Museum of Health and Medicine of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (NMHM) to showcase hairballs and other ‘ball’s (called bezoars) found in the stomachs of cats, cows, humans and other animals.

Romeo the cat (love him!) is the spokescat for the FURminator Hairball Awareness Day. I interviewed Romeo’s staff, Caroline Golon, to learn more about this campaign and to help spread the world.

Caroline is also the genius behind the Amazing Hairball Creatures idea. I love the FURminator tools, and this year’s “long hair, large cat” model is my favorite so far. The hairball creatures just added to the fun.

Here is ‘my’ entry, also found on PeoplePets:

I say ‘my’ because it was a joint project between my daughter and I and several pets; some of whom had some naughtiness that almost brought this project to a screeching halt. CoughQuincyandPurlCough

Here’s how it happened

Honestly, I didn’t give my creature creation much thought. I figured I would do the requisite brushing for my review of the tool, then smoosh the hair around until it looked like something recognizable, sprinkle a few beads around, and call it good.

Then I mentioned the project to my 11-year old daughter, the real arteest. She is a huge fan of Romeo and was on fire with the idea. I told her to “think of stuff” while she was at school, not expecting too much. I mean… it’s hair. We have tons of pet hair here on a daily basis.

After school, my daughter had a concept, name, and sketches for this project. She was serious. Ok, let’s do it.

Being the arteest that she is, she wanted to have full control of the project, including procurement of the materials. I wasn’t so sure about this, but hey – the pets always need brushing, so OK.

Barnie’s hair was the focus. My daughter excitedly carted him around, getting everything ready. Barnie: not so happy. Then she decided she needed to lay down a towel to do the brushing and hair collecting. More carting around to find a towel. Barnie: getting irritated at this point.

By the time the brushing commenced, Barnie did not want anything to do with this project. I intervened. Got hair. Then I had the idea that the other pets could play, too. Quincy, Sophie, Argos and Purl all loved their massages, and my daughter loved the new expanded hair color palette. Everyone happy. HairBear V1.0 complete.

The next day…

It was Saturday, and instead of getting up at 5:30am as usual, I thought I would sneak a little sleep-in time. After the early morning dog turnout (dogs don’t get the sleeping in thing), I noticed Purl either chewing on something or trying to spit something out. Turns out, it was both. I assist. To my horror, I find HairBear. Unrecognizable now, ruined.

My daughter, as per her usual, didn’t put HairBear away in a safe place the night before. Quincy the night owl kitty found it, and had a great time running around the house and ultimately abandoning HairBear in the laundry room where Purl found it. Uh oh. It was bad enough that it was ruined, but eventually I would need to tell the arteest about it. I grumbled to my husband about kids not putting things away, and tried to go back to sleep.

I figured I would have a few more hours, since it was Saturday after all, and the kids love to sleep in.

Not this Saturday.

Inexplicably, my daughter was up at the crack of dawn and stormed into our room, furious about HairBear. (Why was she up so early? How did she find HairBear so quickly?) She was done with this project. Stoopid pets.

I had to work to convince her to create HairBear V2.0, which included grooming the pets all over again. Barnie: are you guys crazy?

But I did. And she did. And the pets helped. And here we are with HairBear V2.0. Whew!

Check all of them out!

Lots of fun and creativity to be found in these hairball creatures!

Posted in K9 Care, K9 Fun, K9 Health, K9 Stories | 3 Comments »

What do you do with all of that hair?

April 21st, 2011

Time to spring clean the pets! Pets need to be groomed all year round of course, but many are shedding more now and need help transitioning into their summer coats.

I have big hairy dogs all of my life. Lots of time spent grooming, but definitely not my favorite way to spend time.

I have been using the FURminator tools almost exclusively since the first version of this deshedding tool. The tools have been modified and improved over the years, and the 2011 FURminator model for cats is my favorite one so far.

My 2011 FURminator is marketed for “long-hair, large cats,” but this brush worked great for all of my dogs and cats, long and short-haired. Even the low-shed Greyhounds loved their grooming sessions.

I can pull out more hair (and prevent more mats) in just a few minutes with these brushes than others I have used in years past. No matter what model of FURminator you have, it is a worthwhile tool to have in your pet care cupboard.

Now what do you do with all of that hair?

The brushed out pet hair piles up quickly. I always try to do this task outside. Windy days are even better, scattering the hair. Free for the birds to use in their nests. That is what I do. My pet hair recycling program is pretty low key.

Here are some other ideas.

For the birds and others

I read somewhere that birds like to scavenge the nice soft fibers for their nest, so that is how my pet hair scattering program got started. I’ve also read that placing tufts of your pet’s hair around your yard or garden might deter some pests. I am not a gardener and haven’t tried this, but it can’t hurt to try.

For the environment

After the devastating oil spill in the gulf, pet and human hair was used to make oil-collecting booms. Recycling and saving the environment.

For the art of it

I have seen the photos of people wearing knit garments with yarn supplied from their dog before, but now that I have taken up knitting, this gives me pause for thought. More yarn! There are apparently lots of places that will spin your pet’s hair into yarn, but I am not quite there yet. No real ‘reason,’ other than I am used to the sheepy smell of wool. A doggy smell is not so appealing.

Plus, Purl the Greyhound loves to snatch a skein of wool and run through the house with it. What would she do snatching a skein of… Sophie? That might be weird.

But not as weird as this: clothing, jewelry and furniture made from human hair. That is where I draw the line.

What do you do with your pet’s hair?

Any crafty types out there? Environmentalists? I’d love to hear about your art.

April 29, 2011 update: Make HairBears!

Posted in K9 Care, K9 Expert Question, K9 Fun, K9 Health | 1 Comment »

5 Fabulous Reasons to Foster

March 15th, 2011

I wrote about Adopt the Internet last week. The focus of the PetFinder Adopt the Internet is on adoption. As it should be – PetFinder has helped place over 17 million animals in their 15 years.

For this post, I am focusing on the sidekick to adoption; fostering.

Fostering is providing a temporary home to an animal waiting on their forever home. It may be because their time has run out at the shelter, the animal is declining or in poor health in the shelter, or the rescue group does not have the facility to house the animals they take in.

Fostering is a great service to that animal, making them ultimately more adoptable. Fostering is also a great way to “test out” how a particular animal or breed of animal will fit in your household. If it works out, you “fail” fostering and welcome a new adoptee!

5 Reasons To Foster

1) Help a pet out of the shelter
Most shelters do the best they can, given the facilities and funding on hand. Even in the best of circumstances though, a shelter environment isn’t a home environment. Lots of animals, smells, and noises can make even most outgoing animal shy or overly attention-seeking.

Offering a stable home environment allows for close observation of that animal – personality, health, and behavior – to ensure that the animal is healthy and provide accurate information to prospective adopters to ensure the best possible match.

2) Watch them bloom
Even though both of our fosters (adopted pets, too) had radically different personalities, they all “bloomed” after getting settled in. That first tail wag, play bow, or silly smile makes it worth getting over little houstraining accidents or ‘mistakenly’ chewed up item.

Meeting other household pets must be done with care and caution – to protect both the foster and the resident pets. Gradually allowing more freedoms and interactions as they get to know each other keeps the peace.

3) Basic training
Each new foster is a big question mark – are they already housetrained? Do they know basic obedience? Can they walk on a leash? When fostering, you may not get all of the background info you would after reseaching a potential adoptee.

Don’t be intimidated – use this as a great opportunity to brush up and practice those basic skills. If you need help, reach out to your foster coordinator or others who foster. Most will be happy to offer tips and advice.

The benefit? Our fosters have eagerly and quickly taken our advice – they have trained quickly and it is gratifying to see the results – and their self-satisfaction at a job well done.

4) Good cardio workout
This is a dual meaning for me, and a little tongue in cheek. With our latest foster, Burro the Greyhound, I am getting a lot of strength training because she is terrified of our non-carpeted floors. She is getting better at this, but for ease/quickness, I often carry her to carpet for good footing. Lucky for me she is small and easily carried.

The second part of the cardio work out is the happiness, then the sadness, then the happiness when a foster finds their forever home. It is definitely a good feeling, but I did feel the tinge of ‘what if’ with our first Greyhound foster, Hammer. It was short-lived though, because the photos and emails from his new family proved that everything turned out as it was meant to be.

5) Give them foundation, then wings
Before Hammer came to our family, we had a big sit down meeting with the kids. What fostering is, how it helps the animal, and what our role is. The kids “got it” better than I anticipated. They did great and it was a good learning experience.

Fostering provides a solid foundation of health, behavior, expectations and basic training for the newly adopted dog. This is the main reason I foster – knowing that they dog is a little more ‘polished’ and ready for a home. Less worry about a return or  adoption gone wrong if more of the variables are known.

After Hammer found his home, we had several phone calls and emails about his personality, little quirks and other Hammer humor to discuss. It is a great way to make new friends.

Never Say Never

I used to say never. I could never (ever!) foster. I would surely adopt every single one. But if you view fostering as a service to that animal and the adopters, it makes it easier. PetFinder.com also has some great tips and resources all about fostering.

Posted in K9 Care, K9 Fun, K9 Rescue, K9 Stories | 5 Comments »

Adopt the Internet

March 8th, 2011

Pet adoption and rescue is a topic I visit often. I live it.

I am not one of the super heroes of the rescue world; those who rescue countless animals or work tirelessly in shelters or situations of abuse or neglect, but I do what I can.

Every little bit counts.

Many of us are familiar with this quote:

“Saving just one pet won’t change the world
but, surely, the world will change for that one pet “

It is easy to feel overwhelmed — not only at the sheer numbers of animals being euthanized (killed) each day because time for them has run out but also the numbers of animals waiting in shelters and rescues.

If the time isn’t right to adopt now, the overwhelm-guilt is even bigger. That is why I focus on the quote above. It makes things more… attainable. Doesn’t fix everything, but it is a start, and hopefully times are changing. Hopefully, some day, we can change the bigger picture.

Sometimes the process still feels too slow. It is easy to be impatient. To feel powerless. We have many pets, how can we help one more? One thing my family has  done is to foster dogs awaiting their forever home. I never thought I could – it would be too “hard” and would it really help anyway? Turns out it did.

First we fostered Hammer. Now we have Burro (pictured in the photo with her mentor Argos – more photos here). Hammer was a sweetie, but needed a little refinement in the manners department. He was an energetic teenager dog who shined after a little polishing, and found a fabulous forever home.

Burro is the complete opposite – she is afraid of her own shadow. At times immobile from fear. We have only had her for 3 days, but she is already blooming out of her scaredy cat shell. She is discovering that walks are fun, there’s lots of yummy food here, and cats aren’t scary (most of the time).

Fostering has not only helped the dogs, it has helped all of us to have more patience with dogs who aren’t quite yet “pet-ready” yet and the power of a nicely matched adoption success.

For now, let’s Adopt the Internet

PetFinder.com is a household name these days. Fifteen years of hard work and 17 million pet adoptions later, it’s time to party. Time to celebrate each single pet who found a home (Sophie and Argos) because of this web site.

It’s a party and you are invited! Fun prizes, cute photos, and more.

Here are some ways you can be involved:

• Add a badge to your Web site to show your support.
• Take the PetFinder pledge that you will tell one person about pet adoption on March 15. By pledging, you’ll enter for a chance to win one of 10 Pet Hair Eraser® Vacuums from BISSELL.
• Caption a Petfinder adoptable-pet photo on ICanHasCheezburger! The photos with the best captions will be featured on the ICanHasCheezburger.com homepage on March 15.
• On March 15, donate your Facebook status and photo to an adoptable Petfinder pet. Simply replace your photo with one from the Adopt-the-Internet All-Stars gallery and post one of these messages:
  -More than 320,000 pets are waiting for homes on Petfinder.com. Help Petfinder Adopt the Internet today and find forever homes for as many as possible!
  -I adopted my pet from Petfinder and now I want to help get this pet adopted! If you want to help pets in need of forever homes, please repost this!
  -On March 15, share an adoptable Petfinder pet on Twitter with the hashtag #adopttheinternet.
• Add a link to your blog, Facebook or Twitter post to this page! (Come back on March 15 to find out how.)

So join in… in some way. Every little bit counts.

March 9, 2011 update: Just had a great question from Twitter:

When I get ready to add to my furry family, would I be able to find purebreds on PetFinder?

Answer: Yes! Check out the many dog breeds and cat breeds available on PetFinder.

Posted in K9 Care, K9 Fun, K9 Rescue, K9 Stories | 4 Comments »

Home Alone – Is Your Dog Safe?

March 2nd, 2011

More than ever, pets are being accepted as members of the family. Not just a dog who lives in the yard and goes for a walk now and then; they live with us, eat with us, and travel with us.

Businesses have become more pet friendly (when the health laws allow) and pet-specific businesses, such as doggie daycare and serve yourself dog washing places, are now the norm, not the exception.

Some work places allow employees to bring their dog to work. (And if they don’t, maybe they would reconsider for just this one day.) People who work on the road or at home also get lots of time with pets.

But what about those times you need to leave your pet? Have a little alone time? Most of the time, this is fine. Sometimes though, all of this togetherness may exacerbate separation anxiety behavior in dogs that are prone to this type of anxiety. That is a big topic for another day.

For now, let’s take a look at ways to ensure your house is safe when you are away.

Home Alone Safety Tips

1) Pet-proofing: Most of us have a “pet-proofed” home already. At least while we are in the general vicinity. Assuming your pet isn’t hungry, doesn’t need to go outside for a bathroom break, and is not bored, what will they do while you are gone?

Look around with new eyes, make sure all medications (human and animal) are safely locked away. I once left a brand new, unopened bottle of Vitamin C on the counter and went to work. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but lo and behold, my dog ate almost the entire bottle while I was gone. Why did he do it? No idea. Pets eat icky and weird things. Thankfully he was fine, but there was lots of cleaning up to do.

The same goes for cleaners, chemicals and foods, especially foods toxic to pets, such as raisins and grapes, xylitol in gum, and chocolate. Dogs can smell “inside” boxes and cupboards, and are adept at opening them, too. Same goes for cats. My cat Quincy opens drawers and cupboards with ease. Thank goodness for baby locks.

2) Baby gates: While some pets roam the house freely, never causing a problem, creating safe areas for your pet to be in while away is a good idea for many. When thinking of a ‘safe place’ to contain your pet, think of the flooring – easily cleanable, non-chewable surfaces are ideal. Any items such as shoes, laundry or rugs should be removed to prevent chewing and ingestion.

The type of gate is an important consideration. Not all baby gates are created equal. Some may be deadly. Consider how “chewable” the gate material is. Is the construction sturdy? Could your pet hang himself or be injured if the gate falls over?

3) Crates: Opinions vary on crates – everything from “love them” to “no way.” Much depends on the type of crate and the dog. Some dogs love their crate and go there if they are feeling scared/unsure. Other dogs resist crate time. With proper training, crates can be a valuable tool to keep your pet safe in the house and in other situations, such as traveling.

Chew-safe toys, such as a Kong, serve to keep your pet busy and happy when crated.

4) Outside time: If you live in a temperate climate with a safely enclosed yard, this is a great option. I live in a definite “four season” climate, so optimal conditions are only at certain times of the year. For dogs outside, it is important to provide fresh water, shelter, and to prevent heatstroke and protect from winter cold and elements.

One note about dogs in yards - theft of pets is a sad reality. Ensure your pet’s enclosure is safe, and that proper ID is on your pet.

5) Doggie daycare: I used to wonder about doggie daycare. Who would go? Why is it needed? But a place to drop off your pet where s/he is safe, gets to play with humans and other dogs, and food/water or any medications can be given on time is a good thing. And a valuable service for the furry members of today’s busy households.

A Few More Thoughts On Pets Alone, Together

If you have mixed pet populations, keeping them separate while they are alone might be wise. My dogs and cats live in harmony, but it is a fairly common occurrence to see a paw (most often a kitty paw) take a passing swipe at a dog nose, apparently “just because.” No problems arise while I am right there, but wonder if things get out of hand? Do cats or smaller pets have a place to “escape” to if things get out of hand?

If you have very small pets, such as hamsters or guinea pigs, is there any way that the dog or cat could access the room they are in or their housing? Teeth and claws can work wonders on housing that seems safe…

Years ago, a client had three dogs, one of them an epileptic dog. The anti-seizure medication phenobarbital usually kept the seizures at bay, but now and then the dog would have a seizure. Once the dogs were alone when this happened, and the other two dogs attacked this dog, requiring sutures. Something to consider if you have an epileptic, diabetic, or other “special needs” pet.

Another scenario happened while I was at our local emergency clinic a few weeks ago. A sweet Dachshund, with a large laceration in the ‘armpit’ and a few surrounding bite wounds. This dog was not an epileptic, but was housed with two larger dogs. They were alone. No one knows exactly what transpired, but when the client came home, this dog jumped up into her lap, and the wounds were discovered.

Pets are unpredictable. That is part of the deal. (And a big part of why mine bring a smile to my face every day.) With a little planning and foresight, homecomings can be the happy reunions we always assume they will be.

Photo: Happy at Home / TravisIsaacs on Flickr

Posted in K9 Care, K9 Expert Question, K9 Fun, K9 Health, K9 Stories | 1 Comment »

And The Best Dog Is…

February 23rd, 2011

The one in your house. The one you go for walks with. The one who sleeps on your bed.

But you knew that, right?

Westminster Dogs

I just returned from a crazy busy week in New York for the 135th Westminster Dog Show. I attended this show for the first time in 2008, on behalf of About.com (my photos and coverage here) to film videos on pet care.

Even though I was very active in 4-H dog obedience and showing as a teen, I was unsure how I would fit in at a show of purebred dogs and breeders. Especially now as a vet who loves the various mixed breeds, pet adoption, and shelter medicine.

As part of my first trip research, I watched Best in Show. While a comedy, I did see some resemblances at the show(!). I also saw real life; dogs who were very much a part of their family, out on the farm, visiting nursing homes and schools, and loved like any other dog. Just like my dog.

For this year’s show, I interviewed several veterinarians and vet techs who attended, and asked if they incorporate their dog show life into their practice life. I enjoyed reading their varied answers. One interviewee said that she didn’t blend show and work because of “negative feelings” between show and veterinary people.

I get that.

But I also love dogs. All of them. I love seeing the vast differences between breeds. I love learning the history of where they came from and what they were bred to do. I love seeing them in action. The variability of size, form, and function of dogs is like no other species I know of. Amazing.

Back Home To My Best Dogs

Seeing all of those gorgeous, well-groomed and well-loved dogs makes me miss my dogs even more than a ‘regular’ trip. And there they were… Sophie and Argos, waiting for my return. I think they thought I had abandoned ship.

We quickly got back to our normal routine, and while out on our daily walk, I watched them. Argos who sees everything. Sophie who smells everything. Doing what they they do best.

Argos, one of the sighthound breeds, sees things way before I do, and often sees things I can’t, even with my glasses on. He runs like the wind. Sophie, on the other hand, knows how to use her nose. She is a blend – with Golden Retriever and Collie influences. When she is on the beach, she doesn’t know if she should chase seagulls or herd them, but she sniffs everything. She is happiest nose-to-ground, trotting along.

Seeing my dogs “do what they were bred to do,” I love watching them evolve to fit in with each other and family life. When we adopted Argos, walks were new to him. He would stand around looking lost on those first walks, what was this other dog doing? What was she smelling? Now Argos gets in on the act, sniffing around, sometimes pushing Sophie out of the way in the process. Here is a recent photo of Team Sniff in action.

Sophie has taken cues from Argos, too. When he sees a deer, a cat, or a piece of garbage blowing through the air, he freezes. Head up, ears up, his undivided attention gets our attention. Sophie will pause, scan the horizon, determine if the item is barkworthy, then usually resumes sniffing.

Celebrate Dogs

We have strong feelings about our best friend. Emotions run high. No breed or dog is “better” than the next. Some breeds/breed types are definitely better suited for certain lifestyles and people, though. A thorough assessment of your family and home life paired with research about a specific dog or breed will help ensure a happy life together.

We found Sophie via our local shelter and Argos via Petfinder.com. If you are looking for a purebred dog, check out the hundreds available on Petfinder. Learn fun breed facts, history, behavior traits, health concerns, and more in the PetFinder Breed Directory. Of course there are many fabulous dog “blends,” cats, exotic and farm pets who are looking for homes too.

Another great PetFinder resource: Train Fur Keeps program to ensure a long healthy relationship with your new pet.

The Pedigree Foundation has a strong presence at the Westminster show, raising awareness about pet adoption and raising funds to help shelter animals around the US.

Go forth and award your best in show dog(s) with a big hug. They deserve it.

Related: More photos of Sophie and Argos (and my various cats)

Posted in K9 Care, K9 Fun, K9 Rescue, K9 Stories | 3 Comments »

6 Free (Or Almost Free) Stuff for Pet Health

January 27th, 2011

Today’s economy is tough. Routine veterinary care is becoming a luxury for some dogs and cats.

What can we do? Start small. Keeping our pets healthy is a first step. Some of these ideas can also be applied to animals awaiting homes in shelters and foster care, too.

6 Free (Or Almost Free) Stuff For Pets

1) Go for a walk

• Cost: Free
• Benefits: A happy, healthy dog. Healthier you, too. I find that even if I feel that I am too busy/it’s too cold/it’s too hot/I’m too tired, I always feel better after a nice walk with the dogs.

2) Brush their teeth

• Cost: $5 -7 for pet toothpaste and toothbrush. You can use a human soft toothbrush to save money, but do not use human toothpaste or mouth rinses. Dogs won’t spit out the fluoride like we do. Most pet toothpastes work with enzymes, and do not need to be rinsed. And bonus – they are flavored with yummy things like chicken and beef!
• Benefits: Healthy teeth, gums and mouth. Dental disease affects more than the mouth – heart, liver, and kidneys can suffer from the bacterial load of dental disease. Keeping those pearly whites clean and white equals good health, and less problems necessitating vet visits.
• How to do it: Tips and Tools for Dental Health
• Related post: More Than Fresh Breath
  

3) Check their weight

• Cost: Free.
• How to do it: At home, weigh yourself, then you and your pet together, and subtract the difference. This can be difficult to do with a large dog and one bathroom scale. Most veterinary offices have the easy walk-on platform scales where you can weigh your pet at no charge. (Call ahead to ask what the best days/times are for stopping in.)
• Benefits: Knowing your pet’s weight and optimum/target weight keeps everyone honest and on the right track. Added to that, visiting the vet for “non-stressful” visits such as a weight check help dogs (and cats) who may not enjoy vet visits, car rides, or meeting new people.
• Related: Tips to reduce your cat’s stress in the car and at the vet

4) Keep them safe in the home
Pets eat stuff they shouldn’t, and sometimes tip over a burning candle or potpourri. We want to keep them safe all of the time, but what if there is an emergency or fire while we are away? Here are some free alert stickers for all of these situations.

• Cost: Free, or for cost of a stamp.
• Benefits: Information at your fingertips and piece of mind for emergencies.
  Free fire alert rescue stickers – from ADT
  Pet Poison Helpline clings (requires self-addressed stamped envelope)
  Pet Safety Pack – from ASPCA
  Rescue Sticker and Alert Cards – from ARF, Animal Rescue foundation

5) Keep track of them and find them fast if lost
No one wants to think of their pet being lost. But wonder if they are scared by a thunderstorm or disoriented in new surroundings while on a trip? Pet ID tags and microchips have reunited thousands of lost and separated pets.

• Cost: Here is a free ID tag.
  For other ID tags, check with your vet or one of the many places online to buy pet ID tags. For microchips, check with your veterinarian or local pet shelters and rescues. Some even offer microchip “clinics” with discounted prices. Once your pet is microchipped, it is important to register the chip. Fees may apply, and vary with the service the chip is registered with.
• Benefits: Quick reunions. Lost pets are at risk of being hit by cars, or end up in shelters, where disease or euthanasia are possible outcomes.

6) Check in with the vet
Some vets offer “free first exam” and some cities have low-cost options for veterinary care at shelters or clinics. Call your shelter or local veterinarian for options in your area.

• Cost: Here is a free new pet exam at Banfield Veterinary Hospitals.
• Benefits: Establishing a vet-pet relationship is good for many reasons. Besides a health exam and head start, your vet is a resource to call if you have health questions or concerns, or need a record of care if your pet needs to be boarded or needs emergency care in the future.

One more…
While I didn’t include this on the list, good nutrition leads to good overall health. You can also find many free pet food samples on the web and on K9Cuisine, too.

Posted in K9 Care, K9 Expert Question, K9 Fun, K9 Health, K9 Nutrition, K9 Rescue | No Comments »

How Connected is YOUR Vet?

January 6th, 2011

A web site used to be a luxury of sorts – reserved for the few who ventured outb and embraced the new technology of the Internet.

As time passed, businesses realized that having a web site was another form of “real estate” and a great way to advertise.

But web sites aren’t just a piece of advertising, especially now. Web sites are a way to connect with customers and clients and continue providing service and building a brand.

Where Are The Veterinarians?

As a group, veterinarians have been slower at adopting this “new” technology of the web for their practice. Many reasons: Too busy, don’t know where to start, don’t want/need to advertise (if people need veterinary care for their pets, they will find us) and so on.

The exact demographics vary with location, but in my area, many practices still spend lots of money each month on phone book ads. Phone books?! Does anyone even use them any more?

I may be biased, being on the computer as much as I am, but with computers and smart phones everywhere, most people are searching for the vet’s location and phone number using an electronic device, not that big brick of a book.

Veterinarians Who Are On The Web

For those veterinary practices that are on the web, it is a mixed bag. Some have very nicely designed sites with prescription refill and scheduling capabilities, behind-the-scenes info (e.g. “case of the month”), and are active in social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter.

Other practices have “home built” sites with basic information about the staff, business hours and location. It’s a start. And in today’s world, I believe necessary.

Related: Are you a veterinarian with a great practice web site or a client who knows of a great practice web site? Show it off here.

Communication Choices

At the 2010 Blogpaws Vet Track, Dr. Nancy Kay discussed vet-client communications. She did an email communication survey of 120 of her colleagues, and found that “58% of the vets who responded are communicating with their clients via email,” but of those 58%, over half of them (62%) are selective in choosing what clients to give out their email address too.

Dr. Kay discussed many pros and cons of opening up the communication pathways beyond the traditional phone call. I highly encourage you to read all of the details on her post at Speaking For Spot.

Questions For You

• How do you feel about businesses that don’t have a web site?  Are you as likely to do business with them as with one that does have a web site?
• How do you prefer to communicate with your vet: Phone calls? Email? Other?
• Is connecting via social media for general (not patient-specific) information about your veterinary practice important to you?

We are getting plans in place for Blogpaws Vet Track 2011. Your input about vets on the web, client communications and interacting via social medial is very helpful. Please leave a comment below or send an email with your thoughts/ideas on this topic.

Related Posts:

• Getting Online – Where to Start?
• Anatomy of a Great Clinic Web Site
• Putting Vet and Pet Sites to Work

Posted in K9 Care, K9 Fun, K9 Health | 4 Comments »