Happy Friday!
I hope everyone has a safe and fun weekend! Here’s a LOLCAT to send you off with:
- Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Town buys pacemaker for search dog
If this story doesn’t make you happy, you officially have no heart. A 5-year-old chocolate lab named Molly who serves as a rescue dog in Missouri recently got rescued herself. Molly was diagnosed with an electric heart blockage. After an article ran in the local newspaper, offers to pay for a pacemaker and other related vet and travel costs poured in. Molly got the surgery at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. She was scheduled to return home Friday and has a long recovery ahead. Below is a photo of Molly with Allison Brown, 5. Allison’s parents are Molly’s owners.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
Hot dogs
This weekend kicks off summer time in Oklahoma, when every day fits into one of two categories: hot or oppressive. So during these warm months, pet owners have to be especially mindful of their animals’ health. Reader Johnna Vogel of Oklahoma City called me Wednesday to point this out, and I think it’s a great time of year to revisit the issue. The ASPCA offers lots of helpful tips for summer animal care, and they even have a special Web page that explains all the concepts in a fun way kids can understand. Here are some of their helpful tips:
- Animals can overheat if they stand on asphalt for too long. They absorb heat through the pads of their feet quickly.
- Heat is hardest on the health of older, overweight or snub-nosed dogs. Keep them inside as much as possible.
- Only use sunscreen or bug repellent that specifically says it’s OK for animals.
- Don’t shave your dog’s hair shorter than 1 inch. They could get sunburned.
- Never leave a pet in a car. The temperature in a car rises about 40 degrees within an hour. (That’s pretty dangerous even in 70-80 degree weather.) Opening the windows and parking in the shade won’t improve the temperature enough to be safe. If you have to leave your pet in the car, carry two sets of car keys with you: one to keep the car and A/C running and another to unlock the car door.
Keep an eye on the forecast, especially this weekend, and enjoy the holiday with your pets!
- Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
The photo above shows Kati Gaddis talking to Cheech at the Edmond Dog Park on Wednesday. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman.
No more gravy
So, once again our chubby cat Cottonball is on a diet. My husband used to say gravy would come out if she broke her leg. The other day I picked her up to brush her hair and realized how big she’s gotten again. We used to be pretty strict with her diet but we started feeding her different food when our second cat, Deadline, had urinary tract problems. Rather than get two types of food, we started feeding them both the food for cats with urinary tract problems. Hence, Cottonball has packed on some pounds, probably 2, but that’s a lot for a cat!
This article shares some great pictures of some of the world’s fattest pets and also discusses the importance of maintaining a healthy weight for your pet. Animals who are in their best weight range will live longer, happier lives.
We’ve discussed overweight pets on Pet Show in the past. Here are some tips to get you started if you have a pet who needs a little dieting help.
- talk with your veterinarian
- restrict access to food, meaning only give the recommended amount and don’t leave it out all the time
- use lower calorie pet food
- take your pets for walks and/or play with them (or if you have a chubby cat like mine, chase it a little)
We’ll be doing all of these things in our house. Wish Cottonball luck on her diet so she doesn’t end up looking like this doggy.
Staff Writer Dawn Marks
Long-lost twins
If you and your pet are long-lost twins, this is your chance to shine.
Check out The Oklahoman’s Creature Features Pet Look-Alike Contest. Give us a photo of you and your pet by June 14, and then the public chooses the winners in an online vote June 15-22.
There are already some awesome entries. I love it! And there have to be more entries out there. You could win $100 just for being as cute as your pet.
- Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
The Dogue House
The American Kennel Club has added a new breed to its registry: the Dogue de Bordeaux. It’s the dog from Turner and Hooch. They’re a French Mastiff bred for hunting and guarding. They’re usually calm, affectionate dogs. The Dogue has become the 158th breed recognized by AKC.
I have to say, though, the faces of the Dogue de Bordeaux are so funny. When they’re panting, they look hilariously happy. When they aren’t panting, they look like a grumpy old man.
Anyway, if you’re considering getting a Dogue de Bordeaux, please consider skipping the breeder. The Dogue de Bordeaux Society of America has a rescue organization.
- Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Silence of the dogs
The dogs of a New Zealand murder victim are helping investigators solve their master’s case. An animal psychologist says because the man’s dogs didn’t bark immediately before he was shot, the dogs must have recognized the killer. Interesting.
- Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Cuteness overload
Have to share this link and its bevy of pictures of cute animal odd couples.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
Barkity bark = prison riot
I’m not sure if I want to know what my dog is saying. Israeli prison guards are working on a device to interpret dog barks. Their barks are captured by microphones and filtered through a comptur system. This computer program apparenlty filters the barks and sorts them into groups – one group for normal yapping and one for aggression/stress. The prison guards then decide whether a response is needed. (I guess they could, you know, look outside to see if something was going wrong.)
My dogs bark pretty often. My bigger dog, Deter, barks constantly outside if anyone is near the yard. My smaller dog, Skye, barks most often when she’s inside and wants me to get up and play with her. I don’t have a lot of trouble interpreting, so I’ve got the prison guards beat on that one.
- Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Flying with Fido
On this week’s Tail Tips during Pet Show we discussed traveling with your pets. I haven’t ever flown with my animals but we have taken the animals on short road trips, some with better success than others. While Roxy was a great travel companion as a pup, George had trouble and was sometimes car sick. The vet recommended a small dose of tranquilizer. Often times that meant a sleepy, groggy doggy when we got to our destination. We don’t often travel with the animals anymore partly because of that reason. Perhaps it might have gone a lot smoother had we had these great tips from the ASPCA for flying and driving with your animals.
Here are the best three for flying:
- - Book a direct flight if possible.
- - Attach a current photo of your pet to the crate in case he gets out.
- - Tell every airline employee you encounter that you’re traveling with an animal.
Here are the best three for driving:
- - Go on a series of short drives before a long drive.
- - Don’t let your pet travel with her head out the window. She could get ear or lung infections.
- - Make sure your pet is wearing a collar and ID tag.
Have a great time traveling this summer!
- Staff Writer Dawn Marks
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