Pampered Dogs
April 30, 2009
Have you read Michael Schaffer’s book yet? Titled “One Nation Under Dog: Adventures in the New World of Prozac-Popping Puppies, dog-Park Politics and Organic Pet Food,” Schaffer’s book highlights some of the extremes people go to for their pets and about some of the products available for pets today.
Tuesday’s Top Ten: Tricks I Wish My Dogs Could Do
April 28, 2009
I’ve been on a kick about tricks lately, mostly because my dogs are the kind that the only trick they can do is lay on the couch and sleep. You know the type. So, here’s my list of what I wish my dogs would do.
Saturday Survey: Does Your Dog Do Tricks?
April 25, 2009
If you didn’t see yesterday’s post, make sure to check it out. It shows a dog playing dead, which brought to mind the question – does your dog do any tricks?
Can Your Dog Play Dead?
April 24, 2009
Thanks to my brother, Jim, for sending me this clip from Letterman. I can’t ever imagine my dogs being this still!
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
EPA takes action on counterfeit flea & tick treatments
April 23, 2009
Thanks to friend-of-the-blog Steve for sending this important information.
What action is EPA announcing?
EPA, in cooperation with its state and regional regulatory partners, is announcing the issuance of stop sale, use, and removal orders to retailers and other distributors of certain counterfeit pesticide products for control of fleas and ticks on dogs and cats. The stop sale, use, and removal orders are intended to disrupt an effort to distribute counterfeit pet pesticides. The counterfeit pesticides appear to have been unlawfully imported and were packaged in cartons designed to look like legitimately registered pesticides available in the U.S. under the trade names “Advantage” and “Frontline.” The orders prohibit retailers and other distributors from distributing or selling the counterfeit pesticide products and require their proper disposal.
Why is EPA taking this action?
EPA is responsible for assuring that all pesticides sold in the United States do not cause adverse effects under EPA-approved label use conditions. The counterfeiters have placed foreign labeled applicator package inserts in counterfeited Advantage and Frontline retail cartons printed to resemble the U.S. -registered products. Frontline products, among other things, may be missing instruction leaflets bearing directions for use required under U.S. law. Further, the Frontline applicators may not be in the required child-resistant packaging. In addition to the inadequate labeling and packaging, consumers cannot be assured that the counterfeiters inserted the appropriate size applicator for the animal pictured or otherwise indicated on the retail carton of either the Advantage or Frontline products. So, use of the counterfeit products may put the treated pet at risk.
Are all of the Frontline and Advantage brands of pesticides counterfeit?
Consumers should be aware that the Frontline and Advantage brands of pesticides are registered by EPA. The manufacturers of these two product lines are not implicated in the enforcement actions EPA is announcing. However, product inventory that may be available at the retail level at this time could include both counterfeit and legitimately registered and marketed pesticides. Therefore, EPA is advising you about this problem and recommending that you determine whether the product you are considering or have purchased appears to be a counterfeit of the EPA-registered pesticides.
What products are affected by this action?
The following are brand names and EPA registration numbers of legitimate products. The counterfeit products may use these same names and numbers.
* Frontline Top Spot for Cats (EPA Reg. No. 65331-2)
* Frontline Top Spot for Dogs (EPA Reg. No. 65331-3)
* Frontline Plus for Cats (EPA Reg. No. 65331-4)
* Frontline Plus for Dogs (EPA Reg. No. 65331-5)
* Advantage 10 for Dogs (EPA Reg. No. 11556-117)
* Advantage 20 for Dogs (EPA Reg. No. 11556-119)
* Advantage 55 for Dogs (EPA Reg. No. 11556-120)
* Advantage 100 for Dogs (EPA Reg. No. 11556-122)
* Advantage 9 for Cats (EPA Reg. No. 11556-116)
* Advantage 18 for Cats (EPA Reg. No. 11556-118)
Go to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website to learn how to determine if you have purchased legitimate products, who to contact if you didn’t, and how to dispose of counterfeit ones.
Check your boxes!
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
Helmsley Trust to Benefit Animal Causes??
April 23, 2009
When Leona Helmsley died several years ago, she left a trust fund of more money that any of us will likely see in a lifetime, with the specification that the money be used for dog-related causes. Apparently, no one considered her wishes all that important. The foundation recently awarded $136 million. Guess how much went to dog causes? A paltry $1 million – less than 1% of the total.
Does Your Dog Get Hot Spots?
April 22, 2009
I had never heard of hot spots (aka pyotraumatic dermatitis) until I got a Golden Retriever, but I understand other breeds get them, too. Most recently, after my dog’s surgery, her incision became infected and inflamed, developing a hot spot right where the staples were – OUCH! She has also gotten them after being groomed, where she may have been clipped too short, or maybe she jumped and the clippers nicked her skin. They look terribly painful, and she will do just about anything to try to find relief. She scratches at them, tries to lick them if she can reach, rubs on the carpet, etc.
According to canismajor.com, “hot spots are surface skin infections caused when populations of normal skin bacteria grow and overwhelm normal resistance. They are generally circular patches that lose hair, can be swollen, may exude a smelly pus, and can be painfully itchy, causing the dog to scratch, lick, or bite to the point of self-mutilation. Untreated hot spots can spread and provoke a normally even-tempered dog to growl or nip when touched.
These troublesome sores can seem to arise in a matter of hours with no warning, but they do tend to follow a pattern that helps in predicting their occurrence.
Dogs most susceptible to hot spots are those with heavy coats and histories of allergies, ear infections, flea infestations, irritated anal sacs, and grooming problems such as hair tangles and mats, but any dog can develop this infection. Dogs in warm, humid climates may develop hot spots when they shed their undercoats if the dead hair is trapped next to the skin, and dogs with behavior problems may mutilate themselves by licking and thus encourage an infection to become established.”
Our vet generally prescribes an antibiotic spray that must sting, based on Maggie’s reaction. In this case, we had to give oral antibiotics, as well, because it was right at her surgery site.
What about your dogs – have you ever gone through this with them? Any suggestions for prevention and / or treatment?
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog
Tuesday’s Top Ten: Ways to Prepare Your Dog for a Natural Disaster
April 21, 2009
We are getting into storm season here in the Midwest. Have you ever given any thought to what you would do with your dog if you had to evacuate your home due to flooding, a tornado, or some other natural disaster? One of the other hats I wear (besides blogger extraordinaire) is Red Cross volunteer. One of our campaigns for this year is to encourage people to be “Red Cross Ready,” and for those of us with pets, it means having our pets ready, too!
Don’t leave your dog outside when you’re not home
April 20, 2009
Thanks to friend-of-the-blogger Pam for sending this important warning about dogs being stolen right from their own back yards. [Read more]
Saturday Survey: How does your dog feel about cats?
April 18, 2009
While we were dog-sitting last week, the guest dog had my cats hiding under the bed the whole time he was here. Made me realize how lucky I am that my dogs and cats get along, at least most of the time. How about yours?
Recent Comments