Leptospirosis (or lepto, for short) may be a risk for some dogs, and that must be weighed against the risks of the vaccine itself. Dachshunds are one of the breeds that can have severe negative reactions to the vaccine, and it’s important to know that before making a decision on getting your dog the vaccination. Let’s talk about what leptospirosis is, and look further into the lepto … [Read more...]
Can Dogs Go in an Infrared Sauna?
I'm getting an infrared sauna next month and I wondered if my dogs can go in an infrared sauna with me. Yep! I'm that crazy dog lady that wants to share as much of my life, and activities, with my dogs as I can. I wondered if they would enjoy the dry heat of an infrared sauna because they love to soak up the hot sun in the back yard. I wondered if the high temperature was safe for … [Read more...]
Can Dogs Get Altitude Sickness?
Whether you are moving to Colorado or hiking a to mountain peak over 10,000 feet, you may be wondering if your dog can get altitude sickness. I became curious about this a few years ago when I was planning a road trip to Colorado with my small dogs. Article originally publishes August 2015 We planned to stay in Denver, Leadville, and several other high elevation towns. We also planned to … [Read more...]
Top 5 Mistakes People Make When Cutting Their Dog’s Nails
This article is a case of do what I say, not what I do because I've made a lot of mistakes when it comes to trimming my Dachshund's nails. For the most part, their nails are ok but Gretel has nails that are a bit too long. It's a long story but, in short, she has back issues and, despite working with her for years, she fights me to the point I worry I will injure her so I have to take her … [Read more...]
Why I Chose Vectra 3DⓇ Flea and Tick to Protect My Dogs
I admit that I didn’t use flea and tick protection for my dogs for a long time. In Western Washington, it used to be rare for us to run into fleas or ticks so we didn’t need to. However, that has been changing over the last few years. Today, the number of these pests has increased in the region so it's more important than ever to protect your dog from flea and ticks if they venture … [Read more...]
Ticks, Ticks, Ticks: Remember to Protect Your Dog When Hiking
I never worried about ticks when I was growing up. Although I do remember my parents saying our family dog had a tick once; ticks weren't mentioned often and I hadn't seen one. I didn't realize how lucky I was, until later. You see, I grew up in Western Washington State where ticks are rare. I also didn't hike as a kid. And, as a child, I wasn't responsible for our pet's safety so nasty … [Read more...]
How Much CBD Oil Should I Give My Dog?
Whether you are talking about how much CBD oil, or dog treats that contain CBD oil, to give your pet, the discussion is really about the amount of CBD the product contains. One CBD dog treat from one brand might not contain the same amount of CBD as one treat from another. The amount of CBD, measured in milligrams (mg), you should give your dog depends on a lot of things like weight, your … [Read more...]
4 Ways to Make Your Own Hemp CBD Dog Treats
You've heard how CBD dog treats could benefit your dog. Maybe you want to give it to them to reduce seizures, anxiety, arthritis, inflammation, pain or one of the many other health issues CBD can help with. You have decided to go with dog treats instead of oil, but you are having difficulty finding them or your dog doesn't like the taste of the ones you've bought. Have you thought about making … [Read more...]
Why I Feed My Dogs Raw Food and Choose Darwin’s Natural
I ventured into the raw feeding world when Chester was 8. I'd given Chester and Gretel a little raw food here and there and not noticed the differences that a lot of raw feeding devotees claimed they saw. However, once I switched his diet to 100% raw, I did see a change. It gave him the zoomies. He not only started acting like a puppy again, but he started acting more spunky than he ever did as a … [Read more...]
Disaster Happens: How to Protect Your Pet When You’re Not Home
I hear a lot of people say that they would never separate from their pet in the case of a natural disaster emergency. I feel the same way. However, I have worked in emergency management before. I know the truth is you can't always choose to stay. Also, it's quite possible you could be away from home when disaster strikes. In that case, there is a very good chance you won't be allowed back into … [Read more...]
Layman’s Guide to Buying a Cold Laser for Your Dog
So you read my article about how cold laser therapy can help your pet with things like arthritis, ACL and other ligament tears, Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVDD) and other spine problems, general pain, healing wounds.... well, some claim a cold laser can cure about anything. Now you want to buy a cold laser for your dog but the information out there is overwhelming and … [Read more...]
Washington’s Toxic Plants Your Dog Should Avoid
Guest Post by Elena Edwards UPDATED: 9/3/2020 Moo and I went on a camping trip with some friends in the Hood River area of Oregon over Memorial Day Weekend. The area was super secluded, so I felt good about letting Moo off the leash to explore a little and have some fun herself (Moo’s not much of a wanderer, so she stays within sight). The hills were painted with bright yellow Tansy … [Read more...]
Winter Hiking With Dogs: Watch for Hypothermia
Chester and Gretel venture out in colder temperatures than most small dogs do. Or, at least, they are outside in cold temperatures longer than most dogs. Our average winter hike is in snow, at 25-30o F temps, and 3-4 hours long. I've never had a serious problem with Chester and Gretel in the many years we've been braving the elements. However, I would be lying if I said they never got … [Read more...]
Imagine a Better Life for Pets #LetsLiveBig
I was invited again this year to attend the Nestlé-Purina Better with Pets Summit in New York. I had such a great experience last year, I jumped at the chance to go. This is the same event that brought Gretel and I to New York for the first time last year where she had her first subway experience and explored almost all of Central Park. Unfortunately, because of the way my travel schedule … [Read more...]
Is the Leptospirosis Vaccine Necessary for My Dog?
UPDATED: September 1, 2020 Last fall, one of our friend's dogs - Jeffie - died from leptospirosis (lepto for short). He got it from the back yard and died suddenly. Jeffie's owner starting educating people about lepto and get the word out about the risk. I wondered, "Does my dog need the lepto vaccine?". I got curious and asked my vet about the vaccination. She shrugged it off and said dogs … [Read more...]
Best Hemp CBD Dog Treats – Pet Releaf Review
A few months back I went to a recreational marijuana store. In the corner, I spotted "weed cookies" for dogs. Ok, they weren't the kind of cookies that would get a dog stoned but they said "hemp" and had a cannabis leaf on the package. They were cannabidiol (CBD) dog treats, which I would later learn was about to explode onto the market for pets. Suddenly, I started seeing several brands of CBD … [Read more...]
Shopping for Hemp CBD Dog Treats? Read This First!
In the world of environmentally-friendly products, there is a term called "greenwashing". Greenwashing is the practice of using deceptive marketing or labeling to imply that a product is environmentally friendly when that feature is marginal or missing all together. When companies saw that people wanted "green" products, some adjusted their marketing to put a green spin on their product or created … [Read more...]
6 Reasons You Should Get Certified in Pet First Aid
Getting certified in pet first aid is one of the best things I’ve done as a pet parent. The knowledge came in real handy that time my hubby and I hiked 6 miles into the woods to camp with Chester and Gretel. Chester got bit by so many mosquitoes that his face swelled like a balloon. After a moment of panic, I was able to gather my thoughts and take control of the situation. Chester scraped … [Read more...]
Update: 6 Weeks After Gretel’s Back Injury
It's been 6 weeks and 4 days since Gretel hurt her back and was diagnosed with Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD).... not that I'm counting or anything :) The initial diagnosis of Gretel's IVDD was scary. I knew that Gretel wasn't past the "window" when IVDD is most likely to occur if it's going to at all - 4 - 7 years old - so in a way I had been waiting for the other shoe to drop. I suspected … [Read more...]
Our Food Journey Pt. 4 – Freeze-dried Raw to Full Raw
I often get asked what Chester and Gretel eat. It's been a series of transitions for us but I settled on a diet of raw food for them. Did you miss the posts on why and how Chester and Gretel transitioned their food from junk kibble? You can catch up here: Our Food Journey Pt. 1 – My Dogs Eat Better Than I Do Our Food Journey Pt. 2 – The Transition from Junk Kibble to Grain Free Dog Food Our … [Read more...]
