Archive for the ‘General Thoughts’ Category

« Older Entries

Green Pet Chat – 15 Answers on Housetraining Your Pet

Friday, January 20th, 2012

It’s important to house train our  pets properly as we introduce them into our homes.  The more work we do up front, the more we can enjoy our pets rather than cleaning up after them.  With this in mind, we asked Dr. Patrick Mahaney if he would share his experience and insights into house training.

I want to introduce Dr. Patrick to you before we start the Twitterview.  Dr. Patrick  is a Univeristy of Pennsylvania trained veterinarian and Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist.   He advises clients on pet-safe environmental changes,  recommends dietary modifications, prescribes medications, dispense supplements and Chinese herbs. He also  makes house calls with the emphasis on pain management through acupuncture and musculoskeletal therapy. You can find out more about Dr. Patrick  via his blog http://www.patrickmahaney.com/blog/ or follow him @patrickmahaney.
—————————————————————————————————

@CleanAndGreen Twitterview with @PatrickMahaney (@CleanAndGreen in bold)

 

.@CelebrityPetNws Lets get started – thanks so much for joining us today, Dr. Patrick! #greenpetchat

 

.@PatrickMahaney Q1 Housetraining – everyone does it differently! What are your best tips for housetraining a new #pet? #greenpetchat

 

.@CleanAndGreenA1 My tips for #housetraining are create consistent patterns & reward good bathroom behavior w/praise/treats. #greenpetchat

 

.@PatrickMahaney Q2 Gr8 advice! What do you hear from clients are their biggest issues with housetraining their pets? #greenpetchat

 

.@CleanAndGreenA2 Clients report greatest #housetrainingchallenge is not knowing how to train #pets from positive perspective#greenpetchat

 

.@PatrickMahaney Q3 It can be frustrating! When should a #petowner be concerned about their pet “going” in the house?#greenpetchat

 

.@CleanAndGreenA3 Owner should be concerned if #pet fails on path to appropriate #housetraining by having consistent bad days.#greenpetchat

 

.@PatrickMahaney Q4 How can you tell when it is just a behavioral issue (vs. a medical issue)? #greenpetchat

 

.@CleanAndGreenA4 Behavioral issues are diagnosis of exclusion when #medical problems are ruled out (fecal & urine testing).#greenpetchat

 

.@PatrickMahaney Q5 What are some of the reasons for this type of behavior? #greenpetchat

 

.@CleanAndGreenA5 #Pet owners not making time/effort to establish#housetraining patterns, refusing to crate train, etc #greenpetchat

 

.@PatrickMahaney Q6 What are some ways to get the behavior to stop? #greenpetchat

 

.@CleanAndGreenA6 Give praise/food treat to positively reinforce urinating & defecating in desired location (OUTSIDE). #greenpetchat#vet

 

.@PatrickMahaney Q7 For the millions of us who have #cats - what are some of the concerns around housetraining a #kitten ?#greenpetchat

 

.@CleanAndGreenA7 Fortunately, #cat have instinct to urinate/defecate in private locations, like litter box, & to cover waste.#greenpetchat

 

.@PatrickMahaney Q8 Do #cats have similar issues to #dogs in terms of how behavior issues affect their “housetrained” status?#greenpetchat

 

.@CleanAndGreenA8 Yes, #cats have #behavior probs causing#housetraining #fail. Infrequent litter box cleaning, overcrowding#greenpetchat

 

.@PatrickMahaney Q9 What are some of the medical issues at play when a #pet has trouble with #housetraining ? #greenpetchat

 

CleanAndGreenA9 #Medical reasons #pet #housetraining #failinclude gastrointestinal #parasites, food intolerance, urinary AbNs#greenpetchat

 

.@PatrickMahaney Q10 Are there different issues for #cats than there are for #dogs? #greenpetchat

 

.@CleanAndGreenA10 Yes, #cats/#dogs have different reasons for#housetraining #fail, but also can have similar/identical prob.#greenpetchat

 

.@PatrickMahaney Q11 What can pet owners do to help address those issues? #greenpetchat

 

.@CleanAndGreenA11 Schedule an exam w/#veterinarian, perform diagnostic testing, explore medical/behavioral treatment options.#greenpetchat

 

.@PatrickMahaney Q12 Is there anything owners of younger #petscan do to help curb these problems early on? #greenpetchat

 

.@CleanAndGreenA12 Yes, owners of juvenile #pets should start#housetraining ASAP & be consistent with commands & praise#greenpetchat

 

.@PatrickMahaney Q13 Some of us have older pets, what are some of the causes around incontinence? #greenpetchat

 

A13 Urinary & fecal incontinence can be caused by loss of muscle strength/control, generalized weakness, arthritis pain, etc#greenpetchat

 

.@PatrickMahaney Q14 One of our team members has a dog with a weak bladder who leaks. What can they do to help the problem?#greenpetchat

 

.@CleanAndGreenA14 Female spayed #dogs having #urinaryincontinence can benefit from #veterinary prescribed meds (DES, PPA). #greenpetchat

 

.@PatrickMahaney Q15 If u could tell everyone that is reading one thing to watch out for with housetraining, what would it be?#greenpetchat

 

.@CleanAndGreenA15 Re: #housetraining, if #pet repeat urinate/defecate in undesirable location, there’s often #medicalreason! #greenpetchat

 

.@PatrickMahaney I believe you have saved some good boys and girls some scolding! Thanks so much for your time, Dr. Patrick!#greenpetchat

 

.@cleanandgreen My pleasure! Anything to help #dog & #cats have better relationship w/owners. I love @CleanAndGreen products.#GreenPetChat

 

.@PatrickMahaney Thank you so much! Have a wonderful day. :-) #greenpetchat

 ——————————————————————————————–

Thank you Dr. Patrick!

Simon and Quincy 

Tags: , ,
Posted in General Thoughts, Green, Health | No Comments »

Happy 2012 – Visit Your Shelter and Adopt!

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

Happy New Year to all!  May the 2012 be a better for you and your human and pet family!

Now that all the presents have been opened and the holiday celebrations have passed, it is now time to turn to helping our pets once again.  As usual, the holiday’s are a time when people buy pets as gifts, only to return  them when they realize they’re not prepared to care for them.

As we know after adopting Simon, pets are traumatized when when they return to shelter cages, but  they can adapt to new home.   So, if you have been planning to bring a new pet into your home, this is the best time ever…and you’ll be helping to save a pet.

Happy New Year!

Quincy and Simon

Tags: , , ,
Posted in General Thoughts, Giving Back | No Comments »

Loving and Lovable Pets!

Monday, December 19th, 2011

USA Today had the following headline, “Are Americans crazy for treating our pets like kids?” The writer also followed this up with the question, ” Is there something, well, weird about that?”

In the article, it also sited a Kelton Research survey commissioned by Milo’s Kitchen pet treats, that reported the following:

•81% regard their pets as full members of the family.

•58% call themselves their pets’ “mommy” or “daddy.”

•77% buy pets birthday gifts.

•More than half say they talk about pets more than politics or sex.

Treating pets like family is “especially pervasive … among empty nesters, singles and/or childless, and the homebound,” says Waco, Texas, psychologist Julia Becker. Those groups are growing because we’re living longer, and also because so many people aren’t having children. Her feeling about pet obsessions: “It’s fun for the people who do it. There’s nothing wrong with it.”

Well, I am a mom with five human children and 1 dog child (Simon)…and I can say that these folks either don’t have kids and/or pets when they ask why pets are treated as one of the family.
Here is why Simon is treated as one of my favorite children:
  • Simon is always happy to see his Mom.  I can’t say that for the rest of my kids.
  • Simon never complains. I can’t say this for the rest of my kids.
  • Simon takes direction without a lot of argument.  I can’t say this for the rest of my kids.
  • Simon is grateful whenever he receives treats or presents. I can’t say this for the rest of my kids.
  • Simon always wants to be with his Mom.  Once my kids became teenagers, they didn’t want to be seen with us parents!
  • …and the list goes on.

And people wonder why we treat our pets like one of our children!  They love us all time…even when they are teenagers.

Quincy

Tags: , ,
Posted in General Thoughts, Health | No Comments »

True or False?

Thursday, September 29th, 2011

True or False:  Aerosol is bad for the environment?

True or False:  Aerosols damage the Earth’s ozone layer?

True or False:  Aerosol use has been banned in the US?

In our survey, 90% of the respondents answered True to the three questions above.  The actual answers are False.

First, we have to get the definition of “aerosol” understood.  Technically, an aerosol is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in a gas. Examples are clouds. The word aerosol derives from the fact that matter “floating” in air is a suspension (a mixture in which solid or liquid or combined solid–liquid particles are suspended in a fluid.

Now, why are the answers False to the above questions?

Aerosol is bad for the environment?  Aerosols themselves are not bad for the environment.  What may or may not be bad for the environment are the propellants used in aerosol cans.  More and more companies are using natural propellants like nitrogen that are not a green house gas and not toxic.

Aerosols damage the Earth’s ozone layer?  Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were once often used as an aerosol propellant, but since 1989 they have been banned in the US and replaced in nearly every country due to the negative effects CFCs have on Earth’s ozone layer.

Aerosol use has been banned in the US?  No, aerosol spray cans are still produce in the US; CFC were banned in 1989.  Look on the grocery shelves and you still find food sprays like PAM, whip cream and  many more on the shelves.

So, why after 22 years do we still feel that aerosols are bad?

What do you thin?

Quincy

 

 

Tags:
Posted in General Thoughts, Green | No Comments »

Adopt A Pet: National Pet Week – May 1-7, 2011

Monday, May 2nd, 2011

National Pet Week is May 1-7, 2011, and the message for this week from the  the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is “ Adopt a Pet”!

“The AVMA wants to encourage everyone this year on National Pet Week to think about the role that a new pet could play in your lives. By opening your home to a new animal, you’ll be saving an animal’s life while enriching your own life in innumerable ways,” explains Dr. Larry Kornegay, president of the AVMA. “This year we’ve posted a video on Youtube, AVMAtv and also the AVMA Media Library with some excellent tips and information that potential pet owners should consider before adopting a pet.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLd1_LNuO6E

If you can find it in your hearts to adopt a pet, I really encourage you to do so.  We adopted Simon and he brought a lot of joy in our home!

Quincy

Tags:
Posted in General Thoughts | No Comments »

Dog Keeps Toddler Alive

Thursday, April 7th, 2011

I know from first hand experience that children really benefit from having pets, especially dogs, in the home.  Simon really helped my son learn to verbally express his softer, emotional  feelings more easily.  Well… here is a case where they can actually save their lives! 

From AOL News, Family Dog Credited With Keeping Missing Boy Alive:

When 22-month-old Tyler Jacobson wandered off into the dark woods surrounding his South Carolina home, he was wearing only his T-shirt and a diaper.

Rescuers using a bloodhound tracking team and an infrared-equipped search helicopter scoured the woods for the missing boy, but high winds and deep darkness forced them to call off their search until daylight Saturday.

When 22-month-old Tyler Jacobson wandered off into the dark woods surrounding his South Carolina home, he was wearing only his T-shirt and a diaper.Thankfully, the toddler had someone looking after him. One of his family’s dogs had apparently tagged along and stayed at his side through the night, keeping the boy warm and safe as temperatures dropped into the 40s.

After wandering away from home, 22-month-old Tyler Jacobson made it through a cold night in the dark South Carolina woods thanks to his family dog, the local sheriff said.

Thankfully, the toddler had someone looking after him. One of his family’s dogs apparently had tagged along and stayed at his side through the night, keeping the boy warm and safe as temperatures dropped into the 40s.

“I believe that dog being with him is what kept him alive,” Kershaw County Sheriff Jim Matthews told AOL News in a telephone interview today.

“I was with one of my officers talking to the helicopter crew when we got the call, ‘They found him.’ And I was like, ‘Is he alive?’ We worried there was no way, because of the coldness and because he had been out there all night.

“When they said, ‘He’s fine,’ I’m thinking, Wow. How did that happen? And the answer is because of that dog.” 

Now, can we get the dog’s name…he is the hero in this story and he is just referrred to as “the family dog.”

Quincy

Tags: , , ,
Posted in General Thoughts | No Comments »

Pets No Longer at the Top of the Buying Food Chain?

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011


Are you spending less or more today than you were one year ago on your pets?
 
According to a survey by AdGenesis, pet owners aren’t the same in 2011 as they were before the recession hit.  They say that 57% of pet owners are spending $50 or less per month on their pets, and one-third are spending between $25 and $49 per month.   AdGenesis is also reporting that people are abandoning their pets as they lose their homes. http://www.bizreport.com/2011/04/survey-pet-owners-are-cutting-back-just-like-other-consumers.html 
 
According to the poll by American Pet Products Association (APPA) poll, however, pet owners are spending more — “Although the economy has a major factor for many industries, the pet industry continues to see unprecedented growth,” said APPA President Bob Vetere.  According to the following statistics released by the APPA, there has been a growth in sales in all pet industry categories.  http://www.americanpetproducts.org/press_industrytrends.asp
 
How about you?  I’m curious to hear if you’re spending more, less or the same amount as you were one year ago?

 Quincy

Tags: ,
Posted in General Thoughts | No Comments »

Valentine’s Day & Pet Safety

Monday, February 14th, 2011

Happy Valentine’s Day!  May all of you have a valentine with whom you will share this day.

Saint Valentine’s Day, commonly shortened to Valentine’s Day, is held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD and is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as “valentines“).

Now for all of you who also share your home with a pet or whose Valentine has a pet, here is just a little reminder that you need to be careful with all those flowers and confectionery.

Pet-Safe Bouquets 
Lilies (all types) are potentially fatal to cats. When sending flowers, ask that no lilies are included —and when receiving an arrangement, sift through and remove all dangerous flowers. If your pet is suffering from symptoms such as stomach upset, vomiting or diarrhea, he may have ingested an offending flower or plant. 

Don’t let pets near roses or other thorny stemmed flowers. Biting, stepping on or swallowing their sharp, woody spines can cause serious infection if a puncture occurs.   If you send roses, have them de-thorned.  If you receive roses that aren’t de-thorned, do so.

Chocolate and other Candies 
Remember that chocolate, including baker’s, semi sweet, milk and dark are toxic to pets. In darker chocolates, methylxanthines—caffeine-like stimulants that affect gastrointestinal, neurologic and cardiac function—can cause vomiting/diarrhea, hyperactivity, seizures and an abnormally elevated heart rate. The high-fat content in lighter chocolates can potentially lead to a life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas. Go ahead and indulge, but don’t leave chocolate out for chowhounds to find. 

Don’t let pets near treats sweetened with xylitol. If ingested, gum, candy and other treats that include this sweetener can result in a sudden drop in blood sugar known as hypoglycemia. This can cause your pet to suffer depression, loss of coordination and seizures

Careful with the Bubbly 
Spilled wine, half a glass of champagne, some leftover liquor are nothing to cry over until a curious pet laps them up. Because animals are smaller than humans, a little bit of alcohol can do a lot of harm, causing vomiting, diarrhea, lack of coordination, central nervous system depression, tremors, difficulty breathing, metabolic disturbances and even coma. Potentially fatal respiratory failure can also occur if a large enough amount is ingested. 

Enjoy your day and keep the house safe for your (pet) valentine!

Quincy and Simon

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in General Thoughts, Health | No Comments »

2011 Year of the Rabbit

Thursday, February 3rd, 2011

Happy New Year!  The Year of 2011 is the Year of the Golden Rabbit, which begins on February 3, 2011 and ends on January 22, 2012.  Rabbits are private individuals and a bit introverted, and people born in this year are reasonably friendly individuals who enjoy the company of a group of good friends.  They are good teachers, counselors and communicators, but also need their own space.

According to Chinese tradition, the Rabbit brings a year in which you can catch your breath and calm your nerves.   To gain the greatest benefits from this time, focus on home, family, security, diplomacy, and your relationships with women and children.   Make it a goal to create a safe, peaceful lifestyle, so you will be able to calmly deal with any problem that may arise.

Rabbit Years:  01/29/1903 to 02/15/1904 (Water), 02/14/1915 to 02/02/1916 (Wood), 02/02/1927 to 01/22/1928 (Fire),  02/19/1939 to 02/07/1940 (Earth),  02/06/1951 to 01/26/1952 (Metal),  01/25/1963 to 02/12/1964 (Water),  02/11/1975 to 01/30/1976 (Wood),  01/29/1987 to 02/16/1988 (Fire),  02/16/1999 to 02/04/2000 (Earth),  02/03/2011 to 01/22/2012 (Metal).

Famous Rabbit People:  Angelina Jolie, Anjelica Huston, Drew Barrymore, Edith Piaf, Fanny Brice, Helen Hunt, Jane Seymour, Joan Crawford, Kate Winslet, Natasha Richardson, and Tina Turner.

Happy New Year from…

Simon and Quincy

Tags: ,
Posted in General Thoughts | No Comments »

Health Alert – Don’t Sleep with Your Pet!

Friday, January 28th, 2011

Pet ownership is on the rise in the US.  Of an estimated 60 million dogs (pets) in the US, an estimated 21% – 33% sleep on or in their guardian’s beds — and of 75 million cast, 60% cozy up to their guardians.

In the journal, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Bruno Chomel of UC Davis and Ben Sun of the California Department of Public Health recommend that we stop sleeping with our pets.  These folks decided to find out if people are increasingly exposed to animal-born diseases by surveying the scientific literature.  What they found were examples of owners who contrated rare, unpleasant illnesses after kissing, sleeping in the same bed wth, or being licked by their pets.  Among them: chagas disease, staphylococcus infections, parasites, meningites and even bubonic plague.  However, a lot of these cases they surveyed are from several decades ago; the 7 person plague outbreak in New Mexico happened in 1974 and the meningitis infection that cite comes from 1985. 

What they don’t tell you is if these pets were outdoor pets or indoor pets, or what type of environement these pets were kept.  Don’t you think this would make a difference?

Can pets transmit diseases?  Of course, so can humans.  So should we stop sleeping and kissing humans too? 

Let’s use some common sense.  Most of our pets are indoor pets who only go outside when we take them for their walks or to the doggy park.  Indoor cats probably never go out at all.  We feed our pets so we control what they ingest.  We take them to the vets for their regular checkups, and make sure they have their anti-fleas treatments. We bathe them or take them to the groomers regularly.  So…with all this, are you concerned that your pet will pass on some terrible disease by giving you a kiss or sleeping next to you?  I don’t.

What do you think?

Quincy

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in General Thoughts, Health | No Comments »

« Older Entries