Care4Hire: Petsitter and other care services

For those who are traveling home (me, for example) to celebrate these festival gatherings and unable to bring our precious with us, one of the best options is to get a petsitter.

Currently, Care4Hire is offering a free 14 day trial not just for pet parents looking for pet-sitters but also for families seeking for babysitting, elderly care, housekeeping, and tutoring services. Upon signing up, you get immediate access to caregivers’ profile with detailed characteristics, experience, availability including pictures. You also can post a profile to caregivers listing your detailing needs, hours, and expectations.

After the free 14 day trial, and should you decided to stay on, Care4Hire online matching database service fee is either $79/year or $9.99/month in addition to $34.99 one-time payment for the first month.

Wysong: Holiday Stockings

The best way to a dog’s heart is through his stomach. Not just any dog food/treats but Wysong’s. And not just for your dog but all your friends’ and families’.

One of the best Christmas gifts for dogs and cats this year is Wysong Holiday Stockings. Each stocking contains:

• 1 Bag of Dog Treats ($0.99)
• 1 Small Bag of Dream Treats ($2.89)
• 2 Single Dream Treats (0.69 ea.)
• 2 Pouches of UnCanny (2.09 ea.)
• 1 Au Jus Turkey 5.5 oz can ($1.79)

and along with lots of free Wysong health information and product literature! Read my review if you’re new to Wysong’s line of dog foods. All these items (valued at $11.23) in each stocking are priced at $9.99 + $5.00 S/H. What will make this deal even sweeter is to use my special coupon code SMALLDOG18 and get 18% off the sale price. It may not be much for one stocking but with 5 stockings (WS limits to 5 stocking per order due to high demand) it comes close to $9 off of the total sales price.

DogTagArt: Dog Tags

If dog food as gift isn’t your cup of tea and you want to make a strong and lasting statement, may I suggest DogTagArt’s dog tags. These aren’t your regular plain dog tags that wears off easily or get chewed into pieces. DogTagArt’s dog tag is a combination of unique Art design (designed by a list of artists…and it could be you) and made of indestructible material—tags are guaranteed never to wear out (check out their train test video here).

They have slightly over two hundred designs to choose from. Prices range from $9 to $14.95. You do get $2.00 off when you use this coupon code: HOLIDAY2OFF!. It’s valid until this Dec 25th. Any other promo offers by DogTagArt, please check out my pet coupon page.

To be honest, losing weight is the easiest part as compare to maintaining that ideal weight. When we decided to lose weight, we set a goal and implement the steps needed. And in a matter of months we accomplished what we had planned. But we know that our journey doesn’t end here if we want to stay trim and fit for good. Like us, to help our dogs to maintain their ideal weight is all about lifestyle—choices we make for ourselves and our dog each and every day. One example, if we don’t introduce or encourage bad habits, our dogs will never know what they are “missing”—i.e. giving table scraps whenever you eat.

The methods used in preventing canine obesity and maintaining program are very similar and interchangeable. You’ll also notice a couple of rules similar in the dog weight lose program. So I’ll list what is needed in no particular order. Take whatever you see fit and apply.

How to Prevent Canine Obesity and Keeping the Weight Off

Start Young: Start monitoring your dog’s weight using the Body Condition Scoring method (weighing and observing figure) when he turns one year old until his adult weight. Large and giant breed dogs, will reach their adult weights at about 2 years old.

Sterilized Dogs: Once sterilized, we’ll need to control the calorie intake by feeding the right amount in multiple small meals as advised by your veterinarian. “Lite” or reduced calories diets may also be used. These are also special prescription diets available, which can only be prescribed by a vet (usually very pricey and some are awful tasting, be warned!). Also, you might want to check out Royal Canin’s Neutered series diet specifically for neutered dogs. It’s important that you check with your vet before feeding it to your dog.

Quality Dog Food: Investing in a high quality diet will ensure your dog will live a long and healthy life and still enjoy the benefit of top quality diet. Some recommendations which many of my clients and myself use to feed our dogs are Natural Balance, Taste of the Wild, Newman, Sigma, and Wysong—raw or dry. These are some of the highest quality dog food in the market. Some of these brands come in many varieties—raw, organic, senior, grain-free, vegetarian, weight and allergy control to name a few.

Meals: Ideally, two meals a day. If your schedule doesn’t permit, then feed your dog in the morning so that he can burn those calories during the day when he is active. Avoid feeding him late at night.

Ban Free-feeding: No dog should be free-fed! I know this may sound “cruel” for those who spend long hours at work and on commute; and the thought of your precious companion with empty stomach for 12 hours may make you feel guilty or irresponsible. Trust me, your dog will still have the energy to jump on you at the front door and probably begging you to take him for a walk.

Treats: One or two tiny commercial treats a day won’t do any harm. If you want to give more, choose healthier alternatives like vegetables and fruits (do not overfeed those fruits with high level of sugar content). This goes to table scrap, but this can only be given in certain occasions like Christmas and Halloween.

Daily Exercise: If our dogs have no outlet to burn those calories, overtime those calories will turn to fats. Depend on the breed of your dog, mini and small dogs can get enough exercise just romping around the house. To know what suitable activity and exercise your dog needs is all explained here. The important key here is daily or at least alternate days exercise routine. Weekend exercise warriorlike regime will only put too much stress on your dog’s physique in turn doing more damages than be of any benefit at all.

Regular Vet Visit: I will leave this option open as it may not be feasible for some with very tight budget. However, I came across a few veterinary clinics in some suburban areas that offer free weight management program for pets—service includes weighing, body assessment, graphing the result on a computer but no consultation. It would be great if you can find one veterinary clinic that offers these free services and make it a regular visit.

To give you an ideal of how to track your dog’s progress in maintaining his ideal weight especially after the weight loss program, here is a sample of a daily weight management/maintenance log.

Once you begin to record his daily lifestyle on the log for about a month and managed to keep the weight off for good, you need not do so every month. Because the lifestyle (i.e. eating, exercise) has become a choice decision and in very rare case, you will fall back to old unhealthy habits. The only thing is just keep doing the Body Condition Scoring (BCS) once every month/quarter/semi-annually.

Series Posts on Dog Obesity:

1. Dog Obesity: What Are The Health Risks?
2. Behavioral Consequences Of An Overweight Dog
3. What Causes Obesity In Dogs
4. Dog Obesity Assessment
5. Weight Lose Program For dogs
6. Dog Obesity: Prevention and Maintenance Programs

What Is the Function of Dog’s Anal Glands?

Dogs have two anal sacs located on each side of the anus (5 and 7 o’clock position). The sacs contain a strong-smelling liquid which is unique to each individual dog. They use it to mark their territory (I was here!) or when frightened, and also to identify each other—which you often see dogs sniffing each others rear end when they say hello. =|

What Is the Cause of Anal Sacs Problem?

The sacs normally release a little fluid (grayish or brown in color) through tiny openings whenever your dog defecates. They are then refilled every day. When the stools aren’t firm enough, they can’t exert enough pressure to empty the sacs. When this happens, the fluid will accumulate in the sacs and eventually becomes overfull and impacted, making the anal area itchy and sore.

Anal sacs problems are more common among smaller breed dogs, which many vets aren’t sure why it is so.

Tips to Ease your Dog’s Anal Sacs Woes

• Stop Feeding Table Scraps. Not all human food is suitable for dog consumption. Some food will cause stools to be unusually soft—result in more fluid built-up.
• Change Diet. If you are feeding low-quality dog food, try introducing a higher quality dog food that has at least two meat sources in the top 3 ingredients listed. A couple good examples of premium dog food are: Wysong and Taste of the Wild.
• Increase Fiber Intake. If you’re feeding your dog homemade food, give an additional half to one serving of vegetables as fiber absorbs large amounts of water in the intestine making the stools become larger. Hence it will put more pressure to empty the sacs.
• Walk Regularly and More. As I said in my dog constipation topic, exercise helps “things” moving in the right direction. Regular exercise strengthens the rectal and abdominal muscles.
• Epsom salts. It is said that soaking your dog’s butt with Epsom salts water will help liquefy the fluid in the anal sacs so that it will flows more easily. It also reduce swelling, relaxes muscles and among many other benefits. If your dog is not willing to rest his butt in a tub filled with two inches height of water for 10 minutes twice daily, then you may have to bring Epsom salt to his rear by using hand towel. First, pour a tablespoon of Epsom salt into a small basin filled with 1 liter of lukewarm water. Let the salt dissolved before soaking the hand towel. Wring it lightly and cup it to your dog’s rear for 10 minutes, twice daily. Thrice daily, if it is a severe anal sac problem.
• Silica (Silicon dioxide). Silica is a homeopathic remedy that can help to treat anal sacs problems—swollen glands. It’s very useful especially for dogs who have frequent recurrence. Please consult your vet for the proper dosage for your dog. Alternatively, you may want to try Vetri-Science Fast Balance – G.I. (to be consumed) or AnalGlandz (to be applied) remedy which contain Silica as one of the ingredients. They are both easy to use and very effective, however I’m more incline to use Vetri-Science Fast Balance – G.I. as it has a host of other essential nutrients to promote healthy gastrointestional tract.

Steps to Express the Anal Sacs

For immediate relief, you may have to express your dog’s anal sacs. It is best to have your vet or groomer showed you once before attempting the following techniques.

Warning: The fluid has an exquisite smell (some think it’s worse than skunk stink), so it’s best done before bath. Folks with long nails please do not attempt to do it yourself. Though we only use the sides of our finger tips, inexperience owners may accidentally use their nails to express the glands. So don’t traumatize your dog any further.

1. Have your dog’s rear face 45 degree away from your face.
2. Lift his tail up with one hand and place a folded paper towel on the other palm to catch the secretions. (Personally, I use my bare hand to catch the secretions as it’s much easier and faster than having to worry about the paper slicing off my palm.)
3. Place your thumb and forefinger at the 5 and 7 o’clock position, slightly outside the circumference of the anus.
4. Gently press inward on the sacs until the fluids are released.
5. If nothing comes out the first time, slightly adjust the position of your fingers and retry. If you still can’t get any secretion out, stop trying. Pushing too hard can be painful for your dog and may also damage the sacs.

After you have tried all the above methods with no success (extremely rare but it happens), you may have to bring your dog to the vet immediately when…

• Your dog cringes whenever you touch the anal area.
• You notice large swelling or growths and it’s very sore.
• You notice the fluid contain blood or it has a gluey black substance.

Your dog could have anal-gland abscess which has become infected or ruptured. Your vet may suggest surgery to remove the sacs if all the above steps had taken and failed.

Final words: Remember, remedies are just remedies. They are not meant to be used on a long term basis. The only way to get out of this “predicament”  for good is to change lifestyle as I stated in the first 4 tips above.  Also I’d like add to the list is to get a good gastrointestinal supplement for your dog, for example, Only Natural Pet GI Support.

However, take a closer look. Do you even recognize some of the ingredients? Do you think your dog will look and feel his best if he eats this sort of food every day?

Probably not!

In addition, proponents of natural and raw food diets suggest that commercially prepared food is inadequate for a variety of other reasons, including:

• Some of the ingredients can be less than desirable, such as poor quality meat or restaurant grease.
• Fats added to the product can go rancid before it ever gets to your dog’s bowl.
• The method of creating commercial dog food (e.g., using high heat) may destroy some of the nutrients in the food.

Perhaps the best thing you can do for your dog’s diet (and for your diet, for that matter) is to make it as close to nature as possible. That means fresh food, no preservatives. It means doing your best to mimic your dog’s natural diet if he was out in the woods fending for himself. He’d very likely be eating bones, vital organs, raw meats and some vegetation. By eating a raw food diet versus a commercially processed diet, dogs can be introduced to various beneficial enzymes and the good types of bacteria.

So does this mean that you can just start feeding your dog table scraps and it will be healthier than feeding commercially processed food?

Absolutely not! In fact, that would most likely be even more detrimental to your dog’s health.

Dogs require a different balance of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients than you do. If you do not get this balance correct, you are putting your dog at risk for various ailments.

Indeed, the American and British Veterinary Associations are opposed to raw food diets. Part of their disapproval is due to their concerns about food-borne illnesses and parasites.

Some skeptics believe that the vets have monetary reasons to dissuade you from feeding a raw diet, simply because a vet office often supplements their practice by carrying a line of commercially processed dog food.

However, I suspect that part of their concern also stems from the fact that most people will not take the time to learn the correct way to feed a raw or natural diet (which again is detrimental to the dog).

Let me use the analogy of jumping from airplanes. If you take the time to learn how your parachute works and learn all the safety features, your skydiving experiences can be safe and enjoyable. On the other hand, if you get all gung-ho and jump out of the plane before you learn how to pull the rip-cord on your chute, you’re likely in for a nasty landing.

What I’m trying to say is this: if you start feeding your dog a raw food or natural diet BEFORE you learn how to do it safely, it’s like jumping out of a plane before learning how the parachute works.

For example, many times humans have a tendency to want to feed their dogs foods that they themselves would eat. If you wanted chicken perhaps you’d choose the white breast meat.

However, in order for dogs to get their required nutrients, they usually have to eat the whole food just as they would in the wild. So instead of a chicken breast, they get the whole chicken so they can eat everything including the vital organs. Instead of just meat, they get the entire bone. Instead of an egg, they get the shells and all. Instead of a fish fillet, they eat the whole fish, head, eyeballs and all.

There are two issues:

Homemade Dog Food vs. Commercial Premium Dog Food

Whether or not one is better than the other is a matter of preference, you not your dog. And whether or not your dog becomes a demanding “gourmet” is also depending on you; not your dog.

In choosing varied “gourmet” diets for our dogs (diets which are quickly becoming expensive), we fall into an anthropomorphic fallacy – a tendency where human characteristics for animals.

Dogs and all animals are creatures of habit. A pup raised on an ordinary feed (even he’s strictly on commercially packed food) will grow to like it, sometimes shunning rarer delicacies in favor of “the usual”.

Occasionally, your dog may clamor for your steak while his own kibbles awaits in his bowl, he’ll eventually go for his regular meal if other temptations don’t compete. Variety is not as crucial to him as it may seem to you. Didn’t think that was coming, did you?

Dogs are not finicky eaters by nature. We inadvertently create this problem by substituting food for love. We think that every time our dog does something cute, we should give him a treat. Of course, they do deserve a treat but not in terms of food instead reward him with hugs. Otherwise, our dog wants nothing but food treats, especially if they come from our plate or the refrigerator!

If you feed your dog a variety of food in hopes that one will appeal to him, he will demand a greater and greater variety, and you will have created a finicky eater! Choose a high-quality food and stick to it. Do not feed table scraps or give in-between meal snacks to your dog.

Some “gourmet” dog foods (and especially dog “treats”) are designed to appeal more to the human purchasers than the animal consumers. Color-blind canines are indifferent to the pastel hues that beckon the buyer of dog candies. We pay extra for such gimmicks because we consciously or unconsciously equate human tastes and needs with those of our dogs.

What matter most to them is the taste, not the shape, size or color. Dogs don’t know a clue about calories that gamey treat can add to their waistline. So is up to us to be the sensible one to give treats in moderation. If possible, limit it to training and party times. Ok, maybe a few afternoon tea with you!

Dogs become finicky when they are given too great a variety and by overfeeding. I’m not surprise that at this stage, they may already have weight and health issues to add to their existing dilemma. If so, you may want to incorporate some fitness programs into his daily lifestyle.

3 rules to remember on changing and selecting dog food.

• If you do change foods, do it gradually by adding a bit of new food each day to the old food. The reason for this is that the digestive flora gets used to one food and a rapid change can cause diarrhea and digestive upsets. This usually wears off a day or two, so don’t panic. You just end up doing a bit of extra work around the house.
• If you choose a high quality food, there is really no need for vitamin supplementation. You will pay more for premium dog food, but you will use less because a small feeding amount has more nutrients and is more thoroughly digested.
• And if you should decide on home cooked meals instead, just remember that you should depart from a “complete and balanced” dog’s diet in favor of a more specialized program. These reasons may include age, disease, or even stress.

A good rule of thumb to apply to your dog’s diet system is “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” And with this notion, your dog will soon know you are truly the Gourmet aka The Boss.

I’m a great fan of Wendy Volhard’s dog food recipe book. This book never ceases to amaze me how simple and yet healthy her recipes can easily wipe up in record time. I know this for sure, since we live in the city, and life here is like a rat-race.

Serving:

Approximately 10 to 20 Breakfast Bars depending the size that you cut.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups oats
• 1 cup buckwheat or millet, or wheat or barley
• 1 cup of whole-wheat flour
• 1 cup boiling water
• 8 tablespoons cold-pressed safflower oil
• 8 tablespoons blackstrap molasses
• 2 tablespoons raw honey
• 4 medium eggs
• 1 cup of raisins (optional)

Methods:

1. Set oven for 350 degree.
2. Put all the ingredients into a large bowl.
3. Mix with about 1 cup of boiling water.
4. Make a sticky dough.
5. Place on a well-greased baking pan and bake it for 45 minutes.
6. Take out and score into square.
7. Turn out onto a wire rack to cool.

Special Note:

If your dog prefers his breakfast bars on the crispy side, put back into the oven when you turn it off and leave overnight to dry out more.

“Super Premium Small Dog Food”, I smiled.

And in return, I got a blank look on their faces. So they tried to rephrase the question, hoping I wasn’t being cheeky. Unfortunately to them, my answer remains unchanged.

As we all know, there are many premium dog foods in the market but what differentials Super Premium Small Dog Food from the rest.

Before I tell you what the experts have to say, let me share with you my personal journey on dog food.

For decades, I’d tried almost a gazillion so called premium dog food for all my dogs be it pedigrees, mutts or even my former rescue dogs; and I won’t deny many were good but only to a certain level.

Briefly put it, many premium dog foods lack the holistic approach and many have by-products in them.

Shocked? Don’t! I know what you were thinking.

How can that be possible when these are classified as premium dog food?

Hate to alarm you, but it’s true.

What I’m saying is… these premium dog foods can only satisfied to your dog’s basic needs which is….hunger, but not to his overall optimal health.

So what is this Super Premium Small Dog Food that I’m so willingly endorse? Or I should rephrase it this way…my small dogs willingly endorse. After all, they’re the ones that’s wagging.

Without further ado, let me present you

Solid Gold Holistic Animal Nutrition

Because of the vast information it provides, it’s impossible for me to list them on one page. Hence I’ve categorized them into sub-categories. So do click on the topics that interest you most. Frankly, I’d suggest you to click on all categories to increase your knowledge on what Super Premium Small Dog Food is really all about.

Servings:

8 pieces of Apple Scones

Ingredients:

• 1 medium cooking apple
• 250g self-raising flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 75g margarine or butter
• 50g sugar
• 50ml milk

Methods:

1. Preset the oven to 400˚F.
2. Grease the baking try with some butter.
3. Peel the skin off the apple and cut into mini pieces.
4. Sieve the flour and baking powder into a mixing bowl.
5. Rub in the cut mini-sized butter and stir in the sugar.
6. Add the in the cut apples.
7. Stir in the milk and make a ball of dough. (Should be soft not sticky)
8. Roll out the ball of dough until it is a round shape about 1 inch thick.
9. Cut the dough into 8 pieces.
10. Place them on the baking tray with a fish slice. Brush with milk.
11. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

Special author’s note:

I use Fuji Apples as they’re much sweeter, hence I use less to no sugar at all. You may want to cut the apple scones into smaller pieces for your dogs. I use this as motivational dog treats when my dogs bring back the Frisbee. Works like magic. Plus it’s a great way to get them to exercise ideally in the spring and summer. My dogs can get a little lazy when the weather is breezy, especially Snowball and Trudy.

Servings:

1 loaf of Angel Bread

Ingredients:

• 5 cups bread flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 3/4 cup Crisco shortening
• 2 ½ teaspoons yeast
• 2 cups buttermilk

Methods:

1. Dissolve yeast in warm water (about 1/2 cup) – sift dry ingredients into large mixing bowl, cut in shortening with a pastry blender – stir in buttermilk, work into a dough.
2. Spray Ziploc bag with Pam or other veggie spray – dump dough into bag, zip up and keep in fridge (it will rise in the bag).
3. The dough lasts about a week in the fridge – you pinch off what you need, roll or shape into 1/2-inch thick biscuits and bake at 400° for 12 minutes or until golden brown.

Special author’s note:

I’ve kept the dough longer than a week in the fridge and found it to be as good the last day as it was the first.

Servings:

30-35 Bread Machine Dog Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup beef, chicken, or vegetable stock
• 1 cup bread or all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat or rye (or other dark) flour
• 1 cup bulgar wheat
• ¼ cup non-fat dry milk powder
• ½ teaspoon of salt
• 1-½ teaspoon yeast

Methods:

1. Use dough cycle. Roll dough to 1/4″ thickness.
2. Cut with cookie cutters or knife.
3. Place on baking sheets sprinkled with cornmeal.
4. Cover with clean kitchen towels and let rise in warm place about 45 minutes.
5. Bake at 325-degrees for 45 minutes. When all are baked, turn off oven and return all cookies to cooling oven overnight to harden. Store in airtight container.

Special author’s note:

Using a 3.5″ bone shaped cutter, I get about 30-35 cookies from this recipe.