You're Only As Old As You Feel

DixieLee

Hey Y’all!  It’s DixieLee.  

Mama was worried about Zeva so she asked me to do some research for her.  When I showed her what I found, she said I was a Good Girl and asked me to write a blog about it.

You see, Zeva is getting old.  I know, we all are and none of us likes it.

 Mama saw stuff.  Saw changes in Zeva that bothered her.  She thought Zeva might be getting something called “Dementia”.

 

Dementia is something that can happen to older dogs, just like it can happen to older peoples.

The biggest thing was that Zeva would just stare into space and not listen when Mama called.

 

I found that staring into space and not listening are things that dogs do when they get dementia.  Staring into space is also something that dogs do when their eyes get old.

Mama has said that Zeva has needed glasses for a long time now, and it’s not like Zeva listens when Mama calls most times.

Here are some other things I found out about dementia in dogs that I am going to share with you. 

        

1.     Confusion

2.     Anxiety

3.     Aimless wandering

4.     Peeing in the house

5.     Lack of interest in playing

6.     Sleeping more

If you are having these symptoms, your human should take you to see your Vet because there are things you can do to help.

We looked at the list and decided, Zeva probably isn’t getting dementia after all.

Zeva has always been a little absent minded, not confused but if she were a human, she would be blond.

The only time Zeva is anxious is when there is a thunder storm or someone is making fireworks go boom.

Her wandering isn’t aimless, it’s usually because she finds so many things interesting.

She can hold her pee for hours!

Every morning she insists that Mama play games.  Doesn’t matter that it’s Mama breakfast time.

Sleeping is Zeva’s favorite thing to do when she is not going for walks or playing.

Mama will talk to Doctor Katrina when she sees her for our regular check up and she will keep an eye on things but all seems good so far.

One thing I learned from this, writing a blog is hard work.  No wonder Zeva takes a nap when she is done!

Be good boys and girls,

Love,

DixieLee

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, go to pawpalsboutique.com 

          

Off To Work I Go

Supervising dog food delivery

This week we honored sled dogs.  These are hard working dogs that live in places like Alaska.  Alaska is a really, really big place and there are lots of places where there are no roads.  Sled dogs help peoples get food and fuel from one place to another.

Although it is super cold and it can be miles and miles between places, sled dogs love running and pulling sleds.  Their peoples know that they are super important so they get treated really, really well

.

There are all kinds of dogs that work hard for peoples.  Some do dangerous work like those who look for bombs or drugs or help police get bad guys.  These dogs have lots of training.

There are other dogs that work hard helping their companions lives better.  We think every dog makes our families better but the dogs I am talking about have special jobs.

Like Service Dogs.  Service Dogs are trained to help peoples who have disabilities.  People who can’t see or hear, have mental problems, or have sicknesses like seizures or diabetes.  Service dogs help make these peoples’ lives easier by helping a person who can’t see walk outside or one who can’t hear know when the phone is ringing.

Another helping dog is the Companion Dog.  Their job is to be the bestest friends to their peoples.  Companion Dogs are sort of like Emotional Support animals.  I say animals because cats make good Emotional Support animals too.

Emotional Support animals help people who have emotional or mental health issues.

Then there are Therapy Dogs.  Therapy Dogs are trained to give comfort and love to peoples who are in hospitals, nursing homes, hospices or who lived through a disaster like fire or flood.  They also visit schools and libraries where childrens go.

So, even though we all give love and comfort and help our families, there are dogs have these special talents and we give a big paws up to them.

Keep sharing love wherever you go,

Zeva

P.S. For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, visit pawpalsboutique.com

It's A Jungle In Here

Always curious DixieLee

You would think that once dogs (and cats) got domesticated and started living in houses that we would be safe from danger. Not so.

There are many dangers to pets in every house.  When DixieLee came to live with us, she was always getting into things.  She was good at getting into the trash which is very dangerous for dogs.  Besides lots of food that are bad for dogs, there are things in the trash like cellophane wrappers, paper towels and aluminum foil that can make a dog super sick or even died.

DixieLee is super smart so it took Mom lots of tries to find a trash can she couldn’t get into.  She also figured out how to open the cabinet door and get into the dog food bag!  Putting childproof locks on the cabinet worked.  She also put locks on the cabinet under the sinks in the kitchen and bathroom where we keep cleaning stuff.

We learned to keep the lid down on the toilet too.  We don’t use that blue stuff but we do clean it with bleach and it’s better to be safe all the time.   If you live in house with a kitten, it’s a good idea to keep the lid down so they don’t fall in and drown.

DixieLee wasn’t a super chewer but she does like Dad’s socks.  All kinds of every day things like wires and electric cords, children’s toys, batteries, coins rubber band are dangerous so it's best to keep them out of reach.  And if your house has valuables like some jewelry, keep that stuff locked away in a drawer.  It would be awful if something got so chewed got ruined!

When we go outside we stay in our pen so we can’t get to dangerous chemicals that Dad keeps in the garage like gasoline, antifreeze, pesticides and car cleaning stuff but he still keeps them high on a shelf.  We also make sure that any lawn stuff and plants are pet safe.

We live where it snows A LOT so we make sure to use a salt that is pet safe.

Be careful when you bar-b-que or use your fire pits too!

Decks and balconies are fun places but a dog can get hurt they slip through or get caught between the railings.

 

Pets, ‘specially young ones, are curious and can get into real trouble so it is up to your humans to make sure they live in a safe home.

Take care and be safe,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, go to pawpalsboutique.com

Halloween is too Scary!

Wearing our Halloween kerchiefs 

We like doing tricks to get treats!  I think all dogs do. But not all dogs like when humans do trick or treat on Halloween.

Sure, some dogs like to get dressed up in costumes but some dogs don’t.  DixieLee and I don’t like to be dressed up.  We like pretty collars and even kerchiefs but say no to anything else.

Our job is to protect our house.  We get overwhelmed when lots of peoples come to our house on Halloween night.  And it’s not just that there are lots of them, they don’t look like friendly peoples, some look very, very scary!

And then there are the “treats”.  In our house, we get treats that are sort of healthy.  On Halloween, most treats are not so healthy.  In fact, some of them are so bad they can make a dog died.  Lots of peoples buy chocolate candy and chocolate is poison to dogs!

Chocolate isn’t the only treat that is bad.  Some candy is made with Xylitol, a make believe sweetener.  Xylitol is poisonous to dogs and cats!  Treats that peoples think are healthy, like raisins, can make dogs really sick too.  So if your humans give chocolate or other treat to the peoples who come to the door, make sure they keep it out of reach.  Even though we know certain things are bad for us, they can be awfully tempting.

Empty candy wrappers are also tempting but if you eat them the foil and cellophane can get caught up in your belly and make you so sick you could died or at least have to go to the vet and get an operation.  Everyone knows that operations are not fun so it is best not to eat stuff you shouldn’t.

There are things we don’t eat that are also dangerous for pets at Halloween (and other times too).  Candles make a house look spooky but they can cause a big fire if they get knocked over by a super excited tail.

Childrens like toys called Glow Sticks.  Glow sticks and glow jewelry are fun toys for children to carry on Halloween.  If you live in a house with cats, tell them that glow sticks are really pretty but that they should not chew on them.  The stuff that makes the glow will make you sick!

DixieLee and I going to stay in the bedroom and listen to pretty music on Halloween and let Mom and Dad deal with the scary peoples that come.  We can trust them to do a good job one day out of the year.

Have a happy and safe Halloween,

Zeva

P.S.  For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, check out pawpalsboutique.com

Sweet Dreams

I was having a nice quiet sleep when all of a sudden DixieLee yipped really loud. She scared me awake and I jumped off of the bed. I guess while I was having a good dream about lying on the bed, watching the birds, she was have a bad dream.

I ended up sleeping on the sofa because she was whimpering and shaking. She was moving around so much that she even woke Mom up. It’s a really good idea not to wake up DixieLee (or any dog) when she is whimpering and shaking cuz she just might think you are the bad person and snap at you.

Mom talked whispery to her. She said things like “DixieLee is a good girl” and “It’s okay now” and “Mom is right here” until she settled down and slept quiet.

When I asked her the next morning what she was dreaming about, she said she was sorry she woke me up but she didn’t remember any dream. Dogs are like people like that. Sometimes we remember or dreams and sometimes we don’t.

Scientists did tests so they know that dogs dream because of something called REM (rapid-eye-movement). They said that when a dog’s breathing gets irregular and their legs start to move, they are dreaming.

Puppies and older dogs are more likely to have running legs because of something called pons in their brains. Pons in adult dogs are strong and keep the leg muscles from acting like they are running. All this science stuff is complicated but it is important to know.

The scientists also say that dogs dream the same way that people do. They could even have nightmares. I think DixieLee was having a scary nightmare when she woke me up. They say dogs probably dream about things that happen when they are awake. Like a Black Lab might dream about chasing birds and a German Sheppard might dream about chasing bad guys.

All this talk about dreaming is making me tired. I think I’ll take a nap and maybe dream about sitting in the sunshine.

Sweet Dreams,

Zeva

P.S. For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, check out pawpalsboutique.com 

Don't Forget Us

It has been a week since Hurricane Florence made so many people have to run away from their homes.  We are so sad seeing that some peoples left their pets behind.  Thankfully there are other peoples who went in and saved them.

We have talked before about having a Pet Emergency Evacuation Plan.  It’s not super easy but with planning it’s not so hard to take dogs and cats and birds in your car and drive to safety.  We talk about making sure you have enough food and water and other things your pet will need but what do you do about horses or other farm animals?

Not everyone who has a horse or cows have trailers and not many horses will fit in the back seat of a car.  And where would you put all the hay and stuff?

 That doesn’t mean you should just leave them behind.  There are many things you can do to make sure they are safe too.

What to do depends on what the emergency is.  There are “emergencies” that don’t mean you have to leave your house but are still dangerous.  At these times you need to know if your animals are safer in a barn or out in a field.  But, if it is not safe for you to stay, it isn’t safe for your animals either.

The Humane Society website has lots and lots of information about what to do in the different kinds of emergencies.  If you have a large animal or know someone who does, please share the information with them.  No one wants to see their animals hurt but may not know what to do.   Knowing what to do ahead of time can avoid needless suffering.

We hope you never have an emergency evacuation but please take a minute to make sure you know how to protect your pets if you do.

Stay safe,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion.  For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe check out pawpalsboutique.com

Hi, My Name Is.........

Most of my blogs are about dogs because, well, I’m a dog so I can talk from experience but because at Paw Pals Boutique we make gift baskets for all pet, this blog is about other types of pets.

There was a stray cat that liked our neighborhood so she would come by our house every day. She finally adopted a family that lives on our street. We don’t get to see her much any more because she likes her new family and has turned into a house cat.

DixieLee and I were talking about her the other day. We called her Midnight because she is a beautiful all black cat. We are wondering what her new family named her. The next time Mom sees someone from her family, we’ll find out but in the meantime we searched out the most popular cat names for 2018 to see if she gets one of them.

According to Healthy Paws, here are the top ten:

Stella, Oscar, Gracie, Finn, Daisy, Jack, Chloe, Simba, Mia and Loki.

Nala, Oliver, Luna, Milo, Bella, Leo, Lucy, Charlie, Lily and Max were also really popular.

We have lots of friends who have horses as their favorite companions so we looked to see what are the more popular names for horses.

Saddle Box finds Bella, Alex, Lilly, Alexia, Fancy, Sugar, Lady, Tucker, Dakota and Cash are really popular.

People also like the names Jasper, Misty, Smoke, Cheyenne and Breeze.

We like to know the names of our friends so let us know what your name is and what kind of pet you are.

Love,

Zeva

P.S. For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe check out pawpalsboutique.com

Eau de Stinky 2

I’m in the dog house.  Mom is wearing her not happy face so I think I’ll just hang out where she isn’t.

Everything was going just fine.  We all went for a big walk and, like usual, when we get back to our yard I get to go off leash.  I like when I get to go off leash because I can investigate more places.

Just as I got to the top of the little hill, I smelled something interesting so I ran for it.  Just what I thought, I nice big pile of poop.  I think it was from a coyote.  There are lots of wild animals living in the woods around our town.

I don’t like when they cross our yard but they are sneaky and do it when I am sleeping so I can’t stop them but maybe, just maybe there is a way to catch them.

If I smelled like a coyote, they wouldn’t know it was me and I could sneak up on them and chase them away.  So, I rolled and rolled in the pile until I was covered all over with their scent.

Coyotes might like the smell, but Moms don’t.  Oh boy, was I ever in trouble.

This wasn’t the first time I got myself in this particular kind of trouble so you would think Mom would remember that I told her that it was what dogs have done since early, early days.  We cover ourselves with the scent of prey so that they don’t know it is us sneaking up on them. She wasn’t buying it.

So, just like last time, I got washed and dried and now I really smell yucky.  Mom used some of the stuff we get for our Spot’s SPA Gift Baskets.  Humans like the smell and it makes fur more fluffy.  I guess I’ll look at this as a “product testing” session.

DixieLee loves to roll around on grass and rugs.  She does it all the time but never in poop so she doesn't get in trouble.

Here comes Mom now.  I think I’ll find another room to be in for a few minutes.

Love,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion.  For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe go to pawpalsboutique.com

What Color is Your Ribbon?

Our friend Beauregard had a very bad experience the other day. He and his Mom were taking a walk. There was a Mom and a little boy walking in front of them. The little boy spotted Beauregard and started to go toward him.

Beauregard is a service dog. His Mom has Autisim. Her Autisim makes her uncomfortable around strangers so they crossed the street to avoid the little boy. The little boy started running toward them, waving his arms. Beauregard’s Mom was so upset.

I guess if you are not a “dog” people, you don’t realize how dangerous it is to approach a strange dog. Not all dogs are friendly and dogs like Beauregard have big jobs to do and should not be bothered.

Some service dogs, emotional support dogs or therapy dogs have special vests that they wear to let people know that they are working.

Some peoples use colored ribbons to tell certain things about the dog.

Blue means the dog is in training.

Orange means the dog is okay around peoples but not so good around other dogs.

Green means the dog is friendly.

White means the dog is blind or deaf.

Yellow means the dog is fearful.

When we walk, Mom and Dad make sure we don’t get too close to strangers or other dogs. If we stop to talk with friends, Mom watches to make sure we are on our goodest behavior.

The idea of using ribbons is a good one except not everyone knows what the colors mean and lots of us like to wear pretty colored collars, harnesses and leashes. I have a pink collar, black harness and a pink leash.

DixieLee and I wear colorful kerchiefs too! All the mix of colors could confuse peoples. I think the bestest thing to do is not go near any dog until you ask the Mom or Dad and even then to watch the dog’s body language. Hey, we all have grumpy days.

It’s another beautiful day outside. I think I’ll get DixieLee and we’ll both stare at our harnesses until Mom and Dad get the idea that going for a walk would be fun.

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion. For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe check out pawpalsboutique.com

I Love My Job

It is so much fun talking with peoples who love their pets so much that they want to get them a special gift. Then we have more fun when we actually put together all the bestest toys and treats that make up the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe.

All of our friends love pets and lots and lots of them work in jobs that involve pets. We have friends who are dog trainers and pet sitters. Other friends who have day care places for pets and even a friend who can communicate with pets and tell their peoples what the pets think or feel.

There are lots and lots of businesses that work with pets. For people who like to bake, a bakery that makes cookies and cakes for pets is a good business.

For people who like to sew, a business as a pet clothing designer would be fun. They could make coats and dresses. They could have more fun making all kinds of Halloween costumes for pets.

DixieLee and I don’t like to dress up but we LOVE wearing different bandanas. We’ve worn handmade collars and leashes that are super pretty.

People who know how to sew also can make toys. One of our favorite toys to put in our gift baskets is a bone made from denim that a lady friend makes.

So many peoples are busy these days that they don’t have time as much time as they would like with their dogs so they hire other peoples to take them for walks. Other peoples who are busy, busy hire peoples to clean up the poop in their yards. Not as glamorous as pet gift basket designer but we understand the money can be pretty good if you live in certain areas.

Peoples who have artistic talents paint pet portraits or are pet photographers. Mom says she admires people who can get a dog to sit cute when they are having their picture taken.

The last time she tried to get a photo of me when I was doing something cute, I jumped off of the couch and all she got was a white blur. I couldn’t help it, that awful commercial with the smoke detector going off came on the TV. Don’t ad peoples know that sound is bad for dogs’ ears?

Most of the jobs we know about are for dogs and cats but one other unusual pet business we know about is tank designer. Big fish tanks are nice in an office lobby and there are peoples whose job it is to make sure the fishes stay healthy and the tank is clean and pretty all the time.

I bet there are lots more businesses where peoples get to work with pets all day. If you work in one, let me know.

Now I have to get ready to order some more dog treats. Didn’t I tell you I have the bestest job!?

Love,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion. For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe go to pawpalsboutique.com

'Tis The Season

We love the warm weather, We love the birds and the flowers. But there are things about warm weather we don’t like.

Fleas, Ticks and Mosquitoes!

We hate having to get medicines put on our skin to keep the bugs off and even when we do wear that stuff, some fleas or ticks or mosquitoes can still get on us. It wouldn’t be so bad except that fleas, ticks and mosquitoes carry littler buggies that can make us sick or even died.

We just read that ticks carry over a dozen different diseases and mosquitoes carry the bug that gives us heartworm.

Our humans could spray our yard with poison to kill the them but the spray is not good for us either. At our house we use plants to keep the bugs away and they seem to work pretty good.

There are many plants that keep fleas and ticks and mosquitoes away and MANY of them are okay around pets. There are some that keep bugs away that should NOT be planted where pets can get at them.

To keep fleas and ticks away from our yard we plant:

Lavender, Marigolds, Cat Nip, Sage, Rosemary and Lemongrass. Chrysanthemums, Chamomile and Citronella are good for keeping fleas and ticks away too but they can be toxic to pets.

I tried Catnip once. I don’t see why some cats like it so much.

Garlic and Eucalyptus are also good for keeping ticks away but they too can be toxic to pets.

Lavender, Catnip, and Rosemary are also good mosquito repellents.

Even though some of these plants are safe for pets, Mom doesn’t want to take any chances. We have big planters that she fills with these good plants and keeps them on the other side of our fence so we can’t eat them or rub them on our fur.

Looks like it's about time to take a tour around the yard to make sure everything is good and the lady in the little truck didn't steal our mail again.

Love

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion. For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, check out pawpalsboutique.com

Puggle or Pomsky

Mom was filling out some papers for me and one of the spaces needed to say what breed I am. Like we always do, she said I am a Lab Mix. When we have to fill in the spaces saying what DixieLee’s breed is, we say that she is a Hound Mix.

Mom said in the older days when she was young, they called dogs that were not pure breeds, “Mutts”. She says that all the dogs she has had were Mutts and that they are one of the bestest breeds.

There are still lots of dogs that are “Mixes” (which peoples think is a nicer name than Mutts). Mixes means that their moms and dads are not the same breed. Mixes are so good that some breeders are combining two pure breeds on purpose to create a whole new breed. These newer breeds are sometimes called “Designer Dogs”.

Lots of peoples like these new breeds because they say that the breeds combine the best characteristics of each breed which is a good thing because if dogs are too interbred, they can have bad health problems. Cross breeding hopes to make the good characteristics happen while making the bad characteristics go away.

There are rules about how to be a real Designer Dog. An established kennel club has to look at the ancestry of the dog to see its history and pedigree. There has to be three generations before a new breed can even be considered. If the kennel club says it’s okay then the club registers it and it becomes an accepted “breed”.

I think the bestest thing about Designer Dogs is they have fun names. Here are some of my favorites.

Labradoodle is a Standard Poodle and Labrador Retriever. These dogs are really smart and athletic.

Cockapoo is a Poodle and Cocker Spaniel and is one of the first Designer Dogs.

Peke-a-poo is a small Poodle and Pekingese. This combination gives puppies longer noses so they have fewer respiratory problems.

I’m not sure which I like best, I like Puggles, which are a cross between a Beagle and Pug. Puggle is a great name and Puggles, like Peke-a-poo, they have less breathing issues than Pugs.

I also think Pomsky is a great name. A Pomsky is a cross between a Pomeranian and a Husky. All puppies are cute but I think a Pomsky puppy is the cutest of all the cute.

Anyway, if your humans are thinking of getting another dog to live with you, you might like a Designer Dog or a Mix as your new brother or sister. It’s something to think about.

Right now, I think I will think about getting a snack. Writing a blog is hard work you know.

Love,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion. For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe go to pawpalsboutique.com

A Real Bargain

Some peoples think that they should be able to go to a shelter and get a good dog for free. After all, shelters are full and there are so many homeless animal, they think that the shelters would want to give pets away.

Different shelters in different parts of the country charge different money. Sometimes special needs or senior dogs cost less because they have a harder time getting adopted. Puppies usually cost most because everyone thinks puppies are better to have. I don’t think that is always true. For example, senior dogs are a good match for senior peoples.

There are lots of reasons shelters need to charge money to adopt a pet.

1. The shelter is a home and everyone knows that it costs money to live in a home. The shelters have to pay bills like regular peoples.

2. Even though lots of shelters have volunteers who feed and walk the dogs, some body has to be the boss. Bosses and other employees who take care of the day to day operations need to be paid. These are the people who make sure the animals are taken care of properly and that they get adopted to good homes.

3. Pets need to eat and food costs money. Some pets need special food which costs more.

4. And don’t forget toys! Pets need toys and beds and dishes and leashes and collars and stuff, just like dogs who live in houses.

5. One of the most important thing for an owner to do is to keep their pets healthy and shelters have to do that too. All of the pets need to have shots and be checked to make sure they don’t have heartworm or ticks or mites or any other buggies. They should also be tested for stuff like lyme disease and other diseases.

If a pet has heartworm, or lyme or something bad, then they need to have medicine until they are better. All of that costs money,

6. Some pets enter the shelter in really bad shape. They have been mistreated so bad that they need medical treatment to get better. They may need things like x-rays or antibiotics or other medical things to help them heal.

7. Most shelters make sure that pets are spayed or neutered. More puppies or kittens would only mean more need for shelters. Although many shelters have vets who give reduced rates, surgery and medicines are still expensive.

8. And most shelters microchip all pets before they get adopted. They know how easy it is for a pet to get lost and end up in another shelter.

So, when you pay to get a pet from a shelter, you are giving that shelter money so that it can take in another animal and give it good care until someone comes along to adopt them.

For all the love and affection that shelter pets give, I think you are getting a real bargain.

Love,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion.  For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, check out pawpalsboutique.com today.