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Lifestyles of the Modern Canine by Sandy Robins

Snacking right on Superbowl Sunday

February 3, 2012
Feed your pet healthy snacks such as Barksters -- you can eat them too!

Be careful that your pet doesn’t over eat on Superbowl Sunday while you are busy concentrating on the game.

Several foods to avoid feeding your pet  this weekend include anything fried or battered, covered in creamy sauces and steer clear of salty snacks. In fact, crunchy vegetables such as broccoli, baby carrots, celery and asparagus are  as good for pooches as they are for  people.

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, a  20-pound dog fed a single chicken wing is similar to an average adult eating almost seven wings. Feed a 40-pound dog one-half slice of pepperoni pizza and that's the same as an adult consuming two slices of pepperoni pizza and a 12-ounce cola.  

Plus another overlooked risk of chicken wings apart from the calorie content and the bones is the salt. One buffalo wing has almost about 160 to 200 mg of sodium. That's about the amount of sodium recommended for a 20-pound dog in a day. Feeding a dog too much salt can cause high blood pressure and can contribute to kidney and heart disease. Other foods high in salt that should not be fed to pets include pizza, hamburgers and cheeseburgers, fries, pretzels, potato chips, canned beef stew, potato salad and many sauces.

Alcohol is another potential danger for pets. Dogs and cats are extremely sensitive to alcoholic beverages and will often drink from half-empty cups and bottles and become ill. As little as a few ounces of beer or wine can prove toxic to a dog or cat.

The answer keeps one eye on the game and the other on your dog.

 

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The Chubby Pet Index ... Ouch!

January 27, 2012

It’s a very sad state of affairs, when pet owners are confronted by the fact that more than 54 per cent of American’s pet population is over weight and that there’s such a thing as a Chubby Pet Index. What does that say about us as pet owners? 

Recently Hill's Pet Nutrition, partnered with a research company to better understand the cities where pets are in the most need of help.  Subsequently they have launched a program called the Million Dollar Pledge -- a national call-to-action for pet owners to help their cats and dogs lose weight and get back on track to living a happy, healthy lifestyle offering advice hips about healthier eating and also offering rebates on special diet foods. 

Here are some of the starting facts that the survey revealed. When it comes to the chubbiest pet city, Los Angeles ranks number one, according to the Chubby Pet Index. Rounding out the top five cities are Washington DC, Chicago, Minneapolis and San Francisco.  There’s a full list of the top 20 cities on PetFit.com. 

Here are some of the other startling facts from the survey.

Only about half (49 percent) of dog and cat owners are engaging their animals in exercise at least once a day. A brisk walk in the park with your dog or shining a flashlight on the floor or wall to encourage your cat to play for just 10 minutes a day can make a big difference to their health.

Nearly three in five (61 percent) pet owners say their pet currently or in the past has needed to lose weight, and decreasing the amount of food (44 percent) is the most popular method they use to help their pets lose weight. However, when it comes to feeding your pet, consider switching to a pet food that provides precisely balanced nutrition to help pet's achieve and maintain their ideal weight like Science Diet® Light.

Nearly half of pet owners (45 percent) give their cats and dogs pet treats at least once a day – treats between meals can help contribute to the extra one or two pounds that your pet may be holding onto so be sure to account for them during meal time. And you can always swap out some treats with verbal and physical praise to keep pets happy and feeling loved.

Free feeding is common for many pet owners (42 percent), but what they may not realize is that this is also a fast way to derail their pet's weight management plan. Creating a feeding schedule is a more viable option to keep dogs and cats at a healthier weight.

 

 

 

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Hail to the Hound Dog

January 6, 2012
Portrait of Elivs at Graceland

January is Elvis Presley's birthday month and I have to admit its hard to think of this rock 'n roller as a 70-something grand dad!

Recently, while on a media tour of the south, I managed to take time out to visit Graceland in Memphis -- something that has always been on my " to do" list.

It was a cold and misty morning just before Christmas and I was the only guest touring the mansion, which was wonderful because instead of hundreds of gawking fans, there was quietness and a chance to feel his presence.

The house by today’s mansion “standards” is very small – more like your typical suburban home in any city across the country and of course the décor is locked in the Seventies with its shaggy carpets purples and yellows.

Sitting by himself in a tidy radio booth was a DJ from Elvis Presley radio, a satellite radio station that beams from Graceland.

 If you are in Memphis,and a fan, its worthwhile going to pay homage to the original Hound Dog. I am glad I did.

  

 

 

 

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Dancing for Adoption

December 20, 2011
Megan Blake and her "throw-away" fur kids Angel and Super Smiley

My colleague and friend actress Megan Blake has found a novel way to focus on pet adoption and staying trim at the same time. She and her pooch Super Smiley have been teaching pet owners how to improve the human-animal bond through dance.

Megan launched her Super Smiley Flash Mob Campaign last year and the twosome has started dancing “flash mobs” across the country.

"All my pets are adopted,” says Megan. “I prefer the term throw-away pet rather than the word ‘stray’ because the word ‘stray’ has such a negative connation.It applies that it's the pet that’s to blame for not having a loving home.

“All of my animals were ‘thrown away.’  My German Shepherd was found in the desert, my kitten in a parking lot in an ice storm, my purebred, pedigree horse was going to slaughter, and Smiley, my giant mutt lab mix, had been thrown away in downtown LA.  After seeing one of those sad TV commercials, I literally heard the entire song in my head, and the Super Smiley Flash Mob Campaign was born.” 

So far Megan and Super Smiley have danced their way around the country bringing awareness to pet adoption.

I truly endorse her campaign – adopted pets have such soul!

To learn about her itinerary for 2012, keep and eye on her website www.MeganBlake.com. In the meantime you can get fit and ready should she show up in your neck of the woods by learning the moves.

To view the dances go to www.ImSuperSmiley.com

Happy Howlidays!

 

 

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Bringing Cheer to Shelter Pets

December 18, 2011
Justin Rudd plays Santa Paws at Shelters around Los Angeles and Orange County

For me, the Saturday before Christmas is one of the most depressing days of the year. I go along with Justin Rudd of Operation Santa Paws and hand out gifts to dogs and cats in shelters around Los Angeles and Orange Country. Depressing because it upsets me that these helpless creatures are there in the first place.

Depressing because I have  to witness people dropping off their animals and walking away as if they have just returned a video to Blockbuster! 

Depressing because there are people who genuinely have to surrender their animals and walk away with an empty carrier or leash and in floods of tears. 

What brought good cheer to the occasion was the number of people who showed up to help and the huge amount of toys, treats, food and cleaning supplies that were donated. So much in fact, that Justin and his crew of helpers managed to drop off at additional shelters that weren't even on the list.

Justin started Operation Santa Paws about 9 years ago and since then it has grown across the country as well as in Canada. It's simply a matter of setting up collection booths at pet stores and getting people to donate and then visiting your local shelters to distribute the goodies and bring a little cheer to those frightened and depressed and very stressed pets. More information about how its done can be found at www.HauteDogs.org.

It's still not to late to round up goodies and play Santa Paws. You can and  do make a difference. 

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Free Food for a Really Worthy Cause

December 2, 2011
Mimi Ausland, was an 11 year old girl from Bend, Oregon, when she wanted to help feed the hungry dogs and cats at her local animal shelter. "There are 10's of thousands of dogs and cats in animal shelters across the country, all needing to be fed a good meal." From this desire to help feed shelter animals, Freekibble.com was launched on April 01, 2008.  

Freekibble.com's primary mission is to provide healthy, nutritious food to the dogs and cats at shelters who are working so hard to see that none of their animals go hungry - they need our help. Now, in addition to providing free kibble to the Humane Society of Central Oregon, Mimi and Freekibble are feeding many 1,000's of dogs and cats in shelters, rescues and through food-banks across the country... EVERYDAY!


Since it founded four years ago, Freekibble.com has donated more than 6.5 million meals to shelter pets!

Now  Halo and Freekibble are launching their Holiday Kibble Drop, where they will be sending semi trucks up the East and West coasts, delivering more than 400K meals to more than 40 rescues and shelters across the U.S.

Halo super premium, nutritious food. The point of the Kibble Drop is to deliver the most delicious meal possible to these pets for the holiday. Halo has shelters that have told them that premium, nutritious food makes a huge difference in their pets' well being and ultimate adoptability.

West coast stops include Kanab, UT (Best Friends Animal Society), LA, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland and the east coast stops include shelters in  Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, DC, Long Island, NYC and Greenwich,CT.

This is such a great way to give back over the holiday season and really make a difference. So keep visiting www.FreeKibble.com  as man y times as you can  and help get more food delivered .

Go take your mouse and click NOW!

Thank you Halo and thank you Mimi -- you are awesome!

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Holiday Traditions Aren't Just for People

November 27, 2011
Justin Rudd plays Santa Paws at an animal shelter in California

 

It's that time of year again! I am on my media tour across America for Petco promoting gift ideas for our furkids.  This year the theme is about how to include our pets in holiday traditions.And, when you sit down to think about it, there are lots of ways to include them and in turn strengthen our bond with these precious family members.

Here are some ideas:  

Family Game Night Around the Fire: As winter weather chills the air, pets may see less active time outdoors. Ten minutes of thinking play can equal 45 minutes of active play for pets. As many families light a fire and warm up with a family game night, we can include our pets in the fun with specially design puzzle games that pique their interest and keep them both mentally and physically stimulated and close to us at the same time. 

Steal a kiss under the mistletoe: Kissing under the mistletoe is a custom that dates back to the Greek festival of Saturnalia and this tradition is still sure to heat up any holiday party.   

Dressed to the Nines: The holidays mean plenty of parties and shopping for the perfect party dress or festive Santa tie. Dressing the part is part of the fun and there are wonderful Santa outfits for pooches. 

Delicious Dinner: The National Turkey Federation estimates that Americans eat 18 pounds of turkey a year, 33 percent of which is consumed during the holidays. Whether the family is feasting on a turkey dinner or delicious latkes, food is always part of the holiday celebration. There are special holiday dinners for epts too. So indulge them!  

Cookies for Santa: The excitement of waking up on Christmas morning isn’t complete without the anticipation of whether or not Santa ate the cookies that were left out for him. What about Santa’s four-legged  canine helpers?  There are wonderful cookies that you can put out the night before Christmas for your pet too.  

Photos with Santa:Taking photos with Santa is a time old tradition. Luckily, pet parents won’t have to stand in line at the mall to let the family pet share in the fun. PETCO stores nationwide will be offering pet photos with Santa on December 3 and 10, 2011.

Most importantly have fun with your pets. That's what the holiday season is also all about. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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It Could Be You

November 13, 2011

I am always seeing earthquake and fire drills being spoken about on TV and somehow never pay too much attention. That stuff happens to other people, right?

Well, that's the point... you just never know.

This weekend I came downstairs.All the fur kids were snoozing and didn't raise a whisker as I padded into the kitchen to make coffee. It was eerily silent and then I noticed that the pet fountain wasn't bubbling.

Before even looking at the kettle,I picked up the fountain and assumed it was clogged with hair and needed to be cleaned out. So I set to work,  rinsed it out, pulled the  motor  apart to service it, put in a new filter and reassembled it. I  plugged it in  again only to realize  the reason it wasn't working  in the first place was because we had a power failure!

 I went to the fridge to get water out of the filter tap -- nothing -- not working because there was no electricity!

Fortunately, my husband is more cognizant about earthquake  preparedness and we in fact do have a cupboard with supplies and that's where  I headed for bottled water because  our  normal supply of bottles was also finished.

As I stood outside boiling a pot of water on the BBQ  so I could finally have coffee and, later, cooking breakfast and lunch outside , the penny dropped about how important it is to be prepared for anything that throws our everyday world out of sync -- like the lack of electricity!

Well, I do have carriers at the ready for the fur kids along with harnesses and leashes , exrtra food and  bowls. But after this little episode I have made a note to complete our  emergency kit with things like bottle and can openers. After all, its all very well have the cans but they are useless if they are not self-opening! 

I did find some flameless candles which were safe to leave glowing when we went out later in the day.

It's a day later and still no electricity and no real explanation from Edison as to why. There is obviously a melt down happening insidethe freezer section!!!  (That will be another story). Iam typing this in my husband's  office in order to keep on top of my work schedule.

We are so reliant on electricity to run our lives especially as far as computers are concerned that this has been quite a reality check.

It made me realize that what happens to "other people"  could happen to each and every one of us.

It certainly caught me off guard.

 

 

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