Friday, March 29, 2013

Something's a Little Fishy Around Here...

I have another pet to introduce everyone to today. Last weekend, we went to the carnival with the kids. We came home with a goldfish. My daughter insists on playing the goldfish carnival game. So everyone, meet Goldeen the goldfish.

Introducing Goldeen the Goldfish.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Can Dogs Save the World?

It's true that humans could really learn a lot from our canine counterparts. In fact, I'm sure many people have already learned so much from their dogs. But can dogs save the world?

I've been meaning to share this music video for a while now. It's one of my favorite songs by Swedish House Mafia. After watching the music video, it became my daughter's favorite song. 

The video does start out a little sad. I remember the first time I watched it, I wasn't really hopeful that it was going to end on a positive note. I was quite pleasantly surprised when the super heroes came to save the day though. Just watch and see what I mean. If you're a dog person, I promise you will love this!


If you can't see the video, click here to watch it on YouTube.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Tapeworms and Pets: All You'll Ever Need (and want) to Know

For some reason, parasitology was probably my favorite class in college. Why? I don't know. There is so much more to worms and other parasites than people probably ever care to know. In fact, many people have a lot of misconceptions about worms and their pet's health. One of the most common things I used to hear people say when their cat or dog was sick was "I think he has worms." Given your pet's symptoms, the chances are probably not. Worms are not the source of every sick pet's problem!

What do you mean I have worms!? 
Photo via Andrea Schaffer

Monday, March 25, 2013

Meet Baby Frosty and Honey Delite

Recently, I talked about my father wanting me to find some cats as mousers for his barn. I called our local shelter and learned that they have a barn cat program. They offer spayed/neutered and vaccinated feral cats as barn cats for people who need them at no charge. The cats would otherwise be euthanized according to the shelter.

Last Wednesday, I went to pick up two cats per my father's request. He owns a nursery and garden center called Snooper's. The barn here serves as his tool shed and check out area for his customers. Ever since Kitty Kitty Meow Meow passed away, mice have been running around like crazy around here. We also have a lot of rabbits, which I guess are not so great for a nursery business either.

Right outside of the barn. 

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Glogirly Design Grand Opening Giveaway

If you haven't heard yet, Glogirly Design is having a Grand Opening Giveaway! Don't know what Glogirly Design is? Let me fill you in!

Glogirly does amazing designs for blogs, Facebook cover photos, Twitter, avatars, and more! I'll admit that I love all of her designs! I've actually been wanting some Glogirly design work for my own blog for a long time. Glogirly is owned by two awesome cats - Katie and Waffles Too. They help her out with all her design work and let her have some of the credit. Katie and Waffles Too star in their blog on Glogirgly.com. OK, so maybe it's mostly Katie's blog, but I don't want to leave anyone out.

Anyways, Glogirly just created a website for herself where she can showcase all of her wonderful designs! You can visit the new website here to see just how amazing they are, but most of you probably already know this.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Social Pet Saturday: Cute Puppy Edition

I've got lots of exciting things to share with everyone today and unfortunately, one not-so-good thing. Hope you're ready for another edition of Social Pet Saturday - it has been a very busy week!

Nibblet is Inspiring


In case you haven't heard yet, Oz the Terrier is writing limericks about his friends throughout the month of March. He even wrote one about Nibblet! Oz is an awesomely terrific poet and if you haven't met him yet, you really should. You can read Nibblet's limerick here. Also, be sure to check out some of the other limericks he's written this month about other pets. They are really good! And thank you Oz! 

Friday, March 22, 2013

Birds and Heavy Metal Poisoning - A Deadly Combination

This week is National Poison Prevention Week, so I though it would be fitting to share a bit of information about a big problem for pet birds. Heavy metal toxicosis or lead and/or zinc poisoning. Of course, lead isn't good for any animal or person, but birds are especially sensitive to these metals. A bird only has to consume a small amount of lead or zinc to become extremely ill.

Amazon parrot.
Photo via Kamil Porembiriski

If you keep birds as pets, one of the best ways to ensure that they do not become sick from heavy metal toxicosis is to keep a very close eye on them. You may be thinking, OK - I already do that... but do you really?

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Did Someone Say Chicken Jerky?

I can see it now - you say "chicken!" and your dog's ears perk up and their head tilts sideways. I'm sure the smell alone has your pooch's tastebuds tingling. I wanted to share with you some new treats that I won from To Dog With Love. They are Hill's Science Diet Ideal Balance Jerky Strips with real chicken.


As soon as we received the box in the mail, Shiner was sniffing like crazy! She knew that whatever was in that box was for her and she wanted it now! I worked the box open, which didn't seem fast enough for her. I haven't seen her that excited for a treat in quite a long time. Of course, I tried to make her pose for a picture before giving her a treat. That photo shoot didn't last long because she became so impatient with me.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Happy Poultry Day!

Did someone say Poultry Day? As in chicken, quail, turkey, duck, goose, and pheasant? Yep - it's National Poultry Day! If you're a dog or cat, try not to drool too much on the keyboard and enjoy these cute pictures of poultry. 

Chickens
Photo via photo:graphic 

Monday, March 18, 2013

Amazing Video: Cat Has Two Faces

I came across this video the other day and was intrigued, so I clicked the play button. Next I was amazed by the cat (cats?) in the video. I have never seen or heard of a cat with two faces before. Apparently, they are called "Janus" cats, named after a Roman god that had two faces. Most die as kittens, but this one is recognized as the oldest Janus cat to ever live by the Guiness Book of World Records. That in itself is pretty amazing. His name is Frank and Louie. I realize the video is a little over a year old, so that would make Frank and Louie 13 years old now.


What a happy ending for Frank and Louie. :)

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Saturday Photohunt: Kitty Paw Print

Today's word for the photohunt is "footprints". This is my keepsake from my cat, Kitty Kitty Meow Meow who passed away in early fall. We used to make these paw print keepsakes for people at the vet clinic I worked at.


Speaking of cats, I have a small announcement to make. We *might* be getting a kitty over here. You see, my father has asked me if I can find a cat for his barn. Ever since, KKMM passed away the mice have been roaming freely. I haven't seen so many mice around since I was in high school.

Social Pet Saturday: Spring Break Edition

Spring Break is coming to an end here, but we had lots of fun. There has been lots of fun things going on this week in the pet world. Here's the scoop.

Shiner Tweets


So, I finally let Shiner have her own Twitter account. I think she'll have more follower than me in no time! If you would like to follow Shiner on Twitter, her name is @ShinerDoggy. Here's some of the stuff she's tweeting about. 



Friday, March 15, 2013

What Makes a Parrot a Parrot?

When I say the word parrot, I'm sure most people are thinking large macaws and cockatoos. Yes, those types of birds are parrots, but there are small parrots too. You might be surprised to know that birds like parakeets and cockatiels are also parrots. Parrots range in size from very small to very large. So what exactly makes a parrot a parrot?


A bird that belongs to the Psittacine order is considered a parrot. Psittacine is pronounced "sit-a-seen". An easy way to remember which birds belong to this family are the ones with "hookbills", which is another common name for them. Their beaks are shaped like a hook. Birds like canaries and finches have straight beaks and are not considered parrots.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Tips to Help a Dog With Motion Sickness


Photo via AMagill
Many dogs experience motion sickness when riding in the car. This can prove to be a problem for people who want to take their dog with them to events, vacations, or even just the vet's office. Motion sickness in dogs is just like motion sickness for people. Their stomachs get queasy when they travel in moving objects like cars, planes, or boats.

Young dogs may experience motion sickness when riding in cars because their equilibrium isn't fully developed yet. As the puppy matures, motion sickness usually goes away. Older dogs who experience motion sickness might have had a traumatic experience involving riding in a car in the past that has left them emotionally scarred.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Veterinary Medical Terminology 101: Fomite

Photo via comedy_nose
Fomites - they are everywhere! Fomite isn't a term that is exclusive to veterinary medicine, however. I chose this word because a doctor I used to work with was what one might call a fomite vigilante. She persisted that we reduce possible fomites as much as possible in the vet clinic I worked at and for good reason.

Monday, March 11, 2013

Brachiocephalic Cat Breeds and Their Common Health Problems

The term "brachiocephalic" literally means a short head. When used to describe cats in a medical manner, it basically means that they have a "smushed in" appearance of their face. They have a short nasal passages. There are many popular brachiocephalic cat breeds that have won the hearts of cat fanciers everywhere. Cat breeds with short faces are unfortunately prone to a number of health problems. Here is a list of some brachiocephalic cat breeds, mostly all of them originally coming from the popular Persian cat.
Persian Cat.
Photo via khanb1

  • Persian
  • British Longhair and Shorthair
  • Exotic Shorthair
  • Chinchilla
  • Himalayan


Sunday, March 10, 2013

Beautiful Butterflies by Purr Photography

Today, I want to share with you some beautiful butterfly tiles that I received from Purr Photography. I was introduced to Purr Photography through a blog titled "Cindy Lu's Muse" written by Kim Thomas. There was a giveaway on Cindy Lu's Muse and the prize was a collection of 4 beautiful tiles with butterflies on them from Purr Photography.

Purr Photography is owned by photographer and animal/nature lover Paul Blenkle. Paul and his wife are advocates for animal rescue and Paul volunteers his photography skills to help pets who need to find homes. Located in Northwest Chicago, Paul also offers event photography, senior photography, and family portraits in addition to pet photography. 

My beautiful butterfly tiles from Purr Photography. 

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Saturday Photohunt: Pretty in Pink

Today's photohunt word is "monochrome" (VBP). I had to look up the exact definition for this one. According to the dictionary, it means the following:
"A painting, drawing, or photograph in a single hue." 
The hue (VBP) that I selected for my photo is PINK! Doesn't Nibblet look so pretty in pink? She likes to think so anyways.


In case you haven't met Nibblet yet, she is my pet rat. Yep, that's right - I have a pet rat. Isn't she just crackerjack? (VBP)

Social Pet Saturday: The Name Game

Happy weekend everyone! It's that time of the week again - Social Pet Saturday! It's been a fun week, but I'm ready for spring break. My daughter will be home from school all week next week. I guess that means I can sleep in some.

Anyways, on to the fun stuff. Let's see what's been happening in the petosphere this week!

Facebook Furbaby


Last week, I shared a kitten from The Kitty Kanteen Feral Cat & Kitten Rescue on Facebook. Well, lucky me that they asked me to name one of the four kittens. I am so honored to be able to name this precious little baby boy. 

Photo via Charmaine Davey

Friday, March 8, 2013

Guinea Pig Care in Honor of Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month

I figured it was time to write something about guinea pigs since March is Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month. Guinea pigs are popular pets for children as well as adults. Did you know that there are rescue groups that are dedicated to helping out little piggies in need? Instead of purchasing a guinea pig from a pet store, you can adopt one from a local shelter or rescue group.

First, you are going to need to know how to care for one. Just because they are small does not mean that they require any less care or attention than other pets. Here are some key things you need to know about caring for your guinea pig.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Cooking for My Dog: A Special Treat for Shiner

I read about so many other bloggers who cook meals for their beloved canine companions and feline friends. Last week, I wrote an article about how controversial pet food can be for some. Some people are quite judgmental no matter what you feed your dog. After reading so many wonderful and insightful comments from that post I decided to cook some food for Shiner.

When I cook chicken for my family I trim off the pieces I don't want. Usually just fatty pieces or other pieces that don't look appetizing. There really isn't anything wrong with them so I decided to boil them up for Shiner. No need for the scraps to go to waste. I also was cooking fresh carrots that night and added the carrot tops to the pot with the chicken. Plus, there was some leftover rice in the fridge.

Shiner's special meal!

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Wordless Wednesday: Zoomies!

Today for Wordless Wednesday I present to you a fun movie called "Zoomies"! Starring Shiner, of course. Hope you have as much fun watching it as she had making it. :)


Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Bad Pets for Kids

As a child, I was fortunate to have many pets. My parents allowed us to have animals of all kinds. It seemed as though we mostly owned dogs, cats, and hamsters. I remember also having lizards, ferrets, and a bird. I've also worked with just about any type of animal imaginable and even ones you would never imagine people keep as pets.

Now I have my own children and hope that they can grow up to be animal lovers like myself. My 8 year old daughter already has a huge appreciation for animals and has told me that she wants to be an animal doctor when she grows up.

Shiner and Lily

Of course, not all animals make suitable pets in my opinion. Especially for children. I've compiled a list of bad pets for kids based on my experiences handling them in a veterinary setting and otherwise. I am not saying that these animals make bad pets all the time, just that they probably aren't your best choice when choosing a pet for your children.

Monday, March 4, 2013

Official Cats of the United States

As promised, I am sharing all of the Official State Cats of America. On Thursday, I informed everyone about official state dogs. I think more states need to declare official state cats because there are only 3 domestic cats and one wild cat that represent states as official felines. So anyways, here are the official cats of the United States! Enjoy!

Florida


The Florida Panther is an endangered species that lives in southern Florida. It was declared the state's official animal in 1982. They are closely related to the Puma. It's a shame that these big cats are endangered because they are so beautiful!

Photo via USFWS/Southeast

Sunday, March 3, 2013

A Very Special Birthday

Today is a very special day - Shiner's 10th birthday! I still can't believe that she is 10 years old... she doesn't act like it to me. I sometimes wonder when she will show signs of being an older dog, but so far I haven't really noticed much. She's as youthful as ever, thankfully.

Shiner as a puppy.

For those who don't know her, here's a little bit about Shiner. She's a pit bull girl doggy. Yes, she gets mistaken for a boy A LOT. Which is OK, because I used to call dogs the wrong gender occasionally. She loves to eat food - anything really. Shiner loves sticks but won't play fetch. She will go and get something you throw for her but then never return it. She's a licker, too. She's a stubborn dog and sometimes I think she has selective hearing. Shiner is a very loyal dog and is protective of me. She's an expert at cleaning up after the baby, which I am very thankful for because Violet can make some pretty huge messes when she eats. With Shiner around, there is no clean up afterwards! I love it.

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Saturday Photohunt: A Steel-y Coat

My picture for today's Saturday Photohunt features my favorite doggy patient of all time - Shadow. Shadow is a pit bull doggy with the most felicitous (VBP) personality. She brought a smile to my face every time I saw her.


Today's word for the photohunt is "Steel". Shadow's sleek and steely (VBP) coat is one of pulchritude (VBP). I sure do miss this pup! Hopefully, I can meet her again one day.

Social Pet Saturday - It's a Hit!

I received a lot of positive feedback from the poll I posted and the comments everyone left about my new segment "Social Pet Saturday". So I am happy to announce that every Saturday, I will continue to post a new Social Pet Saturday. Basically, it's a collection of pet-related things I like from all around my social networks.

Also, if we aren't connected on social media yet just click some of my follow buttons on the top right-hand side of my blog so we can follow each other. There are plenty of networks to chose from.

Now on to what's happening in the cyber world of pets!

Tired Tweets



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