I spent last weekend in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware attending the Halloween parade and festival.  One tradition is that many people dress their dogs  in all sorts of great costumes. I noticed lots of Miniature Schnauzer’s dressed as everything from princesses to Sarah Palin. I thought that I would provide some information about the Miniature Schnauzer today.  The Miniature Schnauzer is a small sturdy dog with a square head. They are very intelligent, active and happy dogs. They get along great with children and really enjoy being around “their” people.  The are loving, affectionate and docile animals. The Schnauzer makes a very good family pet.  They cannot sense that they’re stronger minded than their owners or they won’t  listen. So you must be firm with them.  These dogs are easy to travel with as they love to go on trips with you.  Don’t  overfeed them because they tend to gain weight easily.

The Miniature Schnauzer makes a good apartment dog. They will be calm indoors as long as they get plenty of exercise.  Take them for long walks on their dog leash but be sure that you’re the leader and that they get enough exercise.

Their life expectancy is about 15 years and they usually don’t show signs of old age until late in life.

Their wiry coat  isn’t hard to groom. Comb and brush them daily with a short wire brush to prevent matting.

The Miniature Schnauzer is a German breed. During the turn of the century both smooth German Pinscher’s and coarse hair Schnauzer pups appeared in the same litter.

Today, I’m discussing people who should never own a pet. First of all, there are a lot of people who will get a pet because their child wants one or because they see a cute little puppy in the pet store.  These are not the only reasons to run out and get a pet. Owning a pet is like taking care of a child. They are members of our household and will be with us for a very long time. They need training, care,exercise and lots and lots of love. If you are the type of person who is always traveling, spends lots of time at work or out after work, then I would not recommend owning a pet, not even a cat.  Even though cats are more independent than dogs, they get also get lonely.

I’ve seen people leave their pet unattended outdoors, or go away weekends leaving the dog in a crate in the garage with no food or water. This is just plain cruel. I even know of someone who went off to Boston for the weekend and left her poor dog in a sweltering apartment during the summer. NO, these people should never own a pet.  When considering a pet, think of the animal rather then yourself. One thing that bothers me the most is to hear of or see a pet abused.

In addition to their unconditional love, pets provide us with so much more. They help us help us relax, reduce stress and blood pressure.

Pets may help us survive after a major illness like a heart attack.
Two studies have shown that owning a dog had a significant effect on survival after a heart attack. Patients who had been hospitalized for heart surgery or a heart attack were followed for one year. The researchers found that patients who were alive one year after leaving the hospital, were more likely to own a pet.

Pets provide us with exercise and play time. They are non judgmental and will play on demand. Get that favorite dog toy out anytime and your good to go!

Pets could be our silent therapists. We can unload our fears, problems and concerns on them without worrying about being judged. If my two cats Mollie and Millie could talk, they would probably give you an earful.

As you could see, pets are so much more than “things” used for our own amusement. Think twice before deciding to get a pet.  Are you willing to take the step?

Glaucoma is an eye disease that affects many humans but it doesn’t only affect us. It can also affect our dogs.  It’s caused by a build up of fluid in the eye and is one of the most common causes of blindness in dogs.  Did you know that Glaucoma strikes about 1 out of every 200 dogs?  Some breeds are more at risk than others. They are Cocker Spaniels, Terriers,  Basset Hounds and Beagles.  The problem with this disease is that the symptoms are hard to spot.  As with humans, an early diagnosis is critical to preventing blindness.  Some signs that you may want to look for are cloudiness, redness or a glassiness in a dog’s eye.  Some other symptoms may include tearing, a sensitivity to light or a dilated pupil.  If you notice any of these problems with your dog, have him checked out by your veterinarian. The sooner the better.  There is pet medication that can help if the disease is diagnosed early on.

Losing a pet is one of the most devastating  times in our lives. For most of us, our pets are not just animals. They are special beings who occupy a special place in our hearts. When one of our pets die, something also dies within us.  Pet owners may need to have their grief affirmed as with the loss of a loved one.  Pet sympathy cards are now widely available.  Some veterinary colleges now have hot lines where a  pet owner who has just suffered a loss can be heard. Most of the hot line volunteers are veterinary students who receive special training in grief counseling.  If you have a child who is trying to deal with the death of a pet, you could really help them cope by talking to them about their loss.  Share some of those precious memories like taking his pet for long walks in the park or playing a game of fetch with his favorite dog toy. It will really help and of course time will heal.  Don’t rush out to find a replacement for your pet but rather wait and give yourself a chance to grieve. The time will come when you will welcome a new pet with the same love and affection that you gave to the one that you just lost.

There are many misconceptions about have a cat around a baby in the same household. Some people believe that a cat is bad for a baby’s health.  An interesting study was done at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. The results showed that children who grew up around cats as infants had significantly less allergies that children without pets. Being exposed to a cat early in life, may introduce the development of the immune system.  Another myth which we hear frequently is that cats try to harm infants. That is not the case at all.  You still should not let a cat sleep with a baby unsupervised.  The reason for this is that a baby could not turn by himself and if the cat is too close, the baby may have trouble breathing. So let the baby sleep alone and the cat sleep in his cat bed. Both will be perfectly content.

Are you looking for a new career. In these days, lots of us are. Are you an animal lover? Then why not become a Veterinary Technician?  Maybe at some point you wanted to be a Veterinarian but the amount of college required held you back. Eight years of college is required to become a Veterinarian.  A Veterinary Technician works in both private and public clinics, in labs, on farms and even in classrooms.  Some of the things that they are responsible for are preparing animals for surgery and performing routine pet exams. The Veterinary Technician monitors a pets vital signs, takes X rays and also performs some dental hygiene processes.  A large part of their job is to educate people on the best way to care for their pets.  In most states a Veterinary Technician career requires a two year program.  You’ll also have to pass a national board exam. This could be a very gratifying career as it combines the love of animals with medicine and with people. So maybe you’re thinking of a career change. You love your pets and are constantly pampering them with long walks, dog  treats and lots of toys. Why not become a Veterinary Technician? It could be the best move you’ve ever made!