“My own dog…gone commercial. I can’t stand it!”
– Charlie Brown, owner/guardian of Snoopy
The dogs and residents of Prescott, Arizona got an early Christmas present this month: the opening of the Willow Creek Dog Park after $500,000 in expert renovations.
The Willow Creek Dog Park has a firefighting theme to honor 19 Granite Mountain Hot Shot firefighters that died last year fighting a wild fire
Linda Nichols, a Prescott resident, entered the park idea in Beneful’s Dream Dog Park contest and won.
This canine play equipment has a fire engine theme (Photo by 12 News)
What a wonderful Christmas present for all of the dogs in Prescott. Enjoy!
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, Canine Catering Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand
Yesterday afternoon the dogs caught me. Caught me wrapping up their Christmas toys! Dogs don’t miss anything! A simple crinkle noise from a package, sends them running to investigate. I sat on the rug in the living room wrapping up each new squeaky toy, rope pull, and stuffies, while they hoovered over my back the entire time. I was caught, but I continued to wrap!
But I made a mistake. When wrapping up a larger stuffie, I pushed down on it while wrapping and it “oinked”! “OMG” I thought and I turned around to look at Nikita and Bella and they were close to drooling! Their eyes were glazed over and the moved in to sniff the wrapping paper. I can’t believe that stuffie gave me away and squeaked on me! (darn stuffie)
I did not think much about the toys after I placed them in their Christmas stockings and…
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This is my first Christmas and holiday season without Daisy and, although I now have Izzy to nurture and care for, there are many memories I have of summer days and holidays with my special girl.
In my garden are now two daisy plants given to me by customers in the days following Daisy’s loss. On sunny days like today, the daisies are in full bloom:
And then it is clear that people are noticing that the addition of Izzy has changed things. I received a lovely note in my P O Box from the ladies at the Papanui Post Shop. It reads:
“Just a short note to say hello! It’s good to see you smiling. Daisy was such a kindred spirit, even though we didn’t see her much. I’m sure she was just as gentle and lovely like you. Kind regards, Faye and Karen (Papanui Post)
Izzy and Christmas trees are not compatible at this stage in her life; but I’m sure we will find a way of celebrating our first Christmas together.
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, Canine Catering Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand
Posted in Dogs, dogs and holidays, dogs and mourning
Tagged Christmas, daisies, Daisy, Papanui Post Shop
Just in time for the pre-Christmas madness, the Humane Society of the United States has published this very useful list of things to consider when choosing a boarding kennel for your pet.
How to Choose a Boarding Kennel for Your Pet : The Humane Society of the United States
Is your dog joining you for holiday celebrations this year, or are they going to a kennel? In our area, most kennels are fully booked for the Christmas holiday period.
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, Canine Catering Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand
As the Christmas holiday is upon us, across the world there are special people who are working in animal shelters and rescues caring for homeless dogs. Let’s be thankful that these folks exist. If you are considering adding a dog to your pack, please think adoption first!
This quilt hangs in the kennels at Dogtown in the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Kanab, Utah
Posted in animal welfare, dog quotes, Dogs
Tagged a special place in heaven, adoption, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, caregivers, Christmas, Dogtown, heaven, Old Friends
This is a garbage can…
…and this is a dog
Veterinarians around the world see a surge in cases of pancreatitis each year during the Christmas holiday season. That’s because our homes are filled with rich, fatty foods that are as tempting to dogs as they are to us. A single high-fat meal is enough to trigger the problem – and so the well-meaning family members who empty their plate in your dog’s bowl rather than the garbage are often at fault.
Low protein, high fat diets have been known to cause pancreatitis and it is a life-treatening condition. Symptoms of pancreatitis are acute vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, lethargy, loss of appetite, and in some cases, fever. The dog may have a tucked-up belly and assume a prayer position. The abdominal pain is caused by the release of digestive enzymes into the pancreas and surrounding tissue.
More severe cases of pancreatitis can develop rapidly and a dog can go into shock – a trip to the emergency veterinary center is essential.
Vets will treat your dog with fluids, antibiotics and pain relief and will withdraw all foods for a number of days to rest the pancreas. Assuming your dog survives, its pancreas may be permanently damaged. In these cases, your dog may develop diabetes mellitus if the islet cells have been destroyed or may develop exocrine pancreatic insufficiency if the acinar cells have been destroyed.
Dogs who have experienced one pancreatitis episode are susceptible to having future attacks that can be anywhere from mild to severe.
The lesson? Your dog is not a garbage can. Treats should be served in moderation and carefully monitored by one member of the family to ensure the dog isn’t over-fed. Avoiding table scraps is always a good idea.
Posted in dog care
Tagged acinar cells, Christmas, christmas holiday season, diarrhea, dog care, garbage can, health, leftovers, lethargy, medicine, pancreatitis, prayer position, table scraps, trash, vomiting
“A dog is for Life, not just for Christmas”
– slogan of the National Canine Defence League
In the United States, the big holiday of Halloween is approaching. For this holiday and for others like Christmas and New Year, some dog owners may be tempted to dress up their dog in costume.
Did you know that there are no safety requirements for dog costumes? Netting, sequins, wire, and elastic which are found on many costumes pose a choking hazard. If ingested, these items can cause bowel obstructions. In addition, a dog who runs away for any reason can get caught up in bushes and trees.
The lesson? If you want to dress up your dog, please ensure you are supervising them at all times!
With the start of the Christmas holiday season, it is important to plan to ensure your dog and guests will be comfortable and happy.
My suggestions for holiday preparations:
1. Start your housecleaning preparations now. A room at a time is fine and don’t forget to vacuum along the skirting boards (base boards for those of you in the Northern Hemisphere). This is where dust and pet hair gather.
2. Air the house out on a regular basis and avoid using chemical air fresheners. Your dog has a very sensitive nose and these products are too strong. Try sprinkling baking soda over your carpet before vacuuming. This is an excellent way of deodorising carpets.
3. If you must ‘freshen’ the air with something, try using an aromatherapy burner with only a drop of lavender oil. Again, it is important not to offend the sensitive nose of your dog. Don’t forget to watch for your dog’s reactions. If they get up and leave the room, it is probably too strong a scent for them.
4. Book your dog in for a grooming now. It is unfair to expect groomers to fit in dogs at the last minute – and just like your hairdresser – they do book up.
5. Remind your guests and family that your dog is not a garbage can. They should not be fed lots of table scraps because this can upset their tummy and lead to smelly problems to pick up later. Plan to give your dog a maximum of 1-2 treats per day throughout the holiday season.
6. Some dogs can become overwhelmed with the changes to their home environment with decorations popping up, guests coming and going, and parties that last into the night. Make a private spot for your dog now such as a spare bedroom or a crate. If they look stressed, put them in their quiet place with a favourite toy for company.
7. If you are planning to travel, you should have a kennel booking by now. Check to ensure your dog’s vaccinations are up to date and if not, make an appointment with your vet without delay. Like groomers, vets are very busy in the pre-Christmas period and you cannot expect them to have appointments available at short notice.
Christmas is for family and that includes the dog in your life. With a little preparation now, you will both have a happy and safe holiday season.
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
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