The Chihuahua is the smallest dog breed. I owned a Chihuahua that was a mix. It was slightly larger that the typical toy Chihuahua.  These dogs make great apartment pets. They are loyal and hearty. The can be very high strung. From the outside of my apartment, my Chihuahua sounded like a much larger dog by his bark. This was a good thing since his bark provided protection. Chihuahua’s are also very loyal and loving pets.  They are easy to keep. Sometimes it can be difficult to find a dog leash that fits properly if they are super small. Chihuahua’s live to about 15 years on average but since they are so small, they don’t have problems with arthritis that some of the larger breeds have.

You may be curious as to what is the smallest dog ever recorded. The answer is a Yorkshire Terrier that was approximately 3″ long and 1 1/5 inches tall at the shoulder. Now that’s a small dog!!

Remember, your pets count!

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After years of research, scientists have found that certain compounds in cranberries can prevent  urinary tract infections in humans. The compounds don’t actually kill the bacteria, it would take an antibiotic to do that but the cranberry compounds can act as a preventative. Amy Howell who is an associate research scientist at Rutgers University says that the disease causing bacteria cannot stick to the bladder wall and lose their ability to multiply. The bacteria is then washed out of your system. She says that the same process works in dogs. Not all cranberry products are equal. Ask your veterinarian for cranberry products that have hard hitting bio active properties. So hold off on the pet medication until you try a cranberry product for your dog’s urinary tract.

Remember, your pets count!

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The stress has been building over the past week for us. Our Atlantis who was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism and beginning stage kidney disease stopped eating. He had been back and forth to the vet four times in one week. His last visit showed nothing in the stomach Xray. They hydrated him and gave him more medication but Atlantis remained listless and not eating. I decided to force feed him which was heartbreaking for me. Having food squirt down your throat when you’re not feeling well must be torture!  I felt so bad and guilty that I was causing my little friend to stay in a quiet corner  in another room away from us.

This morning I woke up to Atlantis at his bowl eating! I was ecstatic! I’m giving him an appetite enhancer and I’m pleased to see him eating even if it’s a small amount. He hadn’t touched food by himself in over a week. This can be very dangerous! He’s still not quite himself but I do believe that the stress from being poked and prodded from the vet and having food being squirt down his throat caused him a lot of stress. Right now, I’m not force feeding him. I want him to settle down and not feel threatened. We’re taking one day at a time but we’re hopeful that we’ll still see a good result.

Remember, your pets count!

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It’s not uncommon for a cat to have a reaction after receiving a shot. As you keep an eye on your pets condition and behavior, you may observe symptoms such as pain, redness or swelling at the injection site, a low fever or a reduced appetite.  These are generally mild reactions and rarely a cause for alarm. Serious reactions are unusual but not unheard of. If your recently vaccinated cat suddenly has a seizure, exhibits serious vomiting or diarrhea, or show signs of acute distress, there’s no time to waste. Don’t ever try to administer any pet medication on your own. Rush the animal to an animal hospital immediately. Your cat could be having a very serious reaction called anaphylactic shock. Quick action on your part could save you cats life.

Remember, your pets count!

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As your dog ages, many predictable changes will occur. His metabolism will slow down and his energy level will decrease. He may spend more time in his crate sleeping. He will also gain weight so you may want to adjust his diet to one that has more fiber but less fat and fewer calories. His heart, lung and organs may function less efficiently and may become more vulnerable to disease. He may also develop arthritis and seem a little more stiff.  Pet medication such as anti-inflamatories   can do wonders for the pain.  If you keep a close eye on your dog and take him for regular visits to the vet,  chances are he will ease into a happy and healthy old age.

Remember, your pets count!

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Our feline friend Atlantis has been having some issues this week. On Monday, I took him to the vet because he was very listless and not eating. His vital signs were fine and the vet thought that it could be that the pills that I give him for hyperthyroidism could be having an effect on his sensitive stomach. He’s now on an antibiotic and has some new thyroid medication where it’s administered as a creme in the ear. This eliminates the medicine going through his digestive system.

He’s come around and not hiding in a corner anymore. He’s becoming his vocal self again and is spending time on our laps and in the family room with us just like he usually does. His appetite is not great. He is eating but not as much as I’d like. Atlantis is a very smart cat and I think he knows that I’m spoiling him. I’ve been doing everything to get him to eat. Yet, he’ll eat treats all day something he wouldn’t touch on Monday.

He has another appointment with the vet on Feb. 8th where they’ll check is thyroid levels. He may need a little adjustment to his medication.

Keep a close eye on changes to your pets behavior. I’m a bit overbearing and a worrier to say the least but I would rather be too cautious than not cautious enough.

Remember, your pets count!

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Many middle aged and senior dogs, especially those that are overweight develop benign, fatty tumors under their skin. These growths are usually located on the belly or on the upper legs and are generally harmless. If you notice a lump on your dog, have your veterinarian check it out.  If is a lipoma (benign tumor) and the dog’s movement is not compromised, then no treatment or pet medication is necessary.  It is still smart to keep an eye on the fatty deposit to make sure that it doesn’t grow. Your veterinarian may choose to biopsy the lipoma  every now and then to check for any cancerous changes.  Dogs that have one lipoma are often prone to more.  This doesn’t mean that you should dismiss any new lumps or bumps.  Always ask your vet to give each on a proper exam.

Remember your pets count!

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Our Atlantis

As you know our cat Atlantis has been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and is on Methimazole. Over the past several days, I noticed that his appetite began to diminish. When I woke up today, I found him very listless and not willing to eat or drink anything and he vomited. I took him to the local animal hospital and we just got back.

The doctor thinks that the Methimazole pills could be irritating his stomach. His vital signs are good but he still hasn’t eaten but did began to drink.  He was given an injection to help with his upset stomach. He was  given a new prescription for Methimazole where the medication comes in the form of a gel that gets rubbed on his ear and is absorbed into the blood stream bypassing the digestive system.  He was also prescribed Sucralfate and Metronidazole to help with his stomach upset.

I will monitor him closely and hopefully we can get this under control. We must pay close attention to our pets!

Remember, your pets count.

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If you see a service dog follow you or approach you without his owner do not ignore him! He is coming to you for a reason.

A service dog, while wearing its vest or other markers, is on a mission to ensure his human stays safe. He is trained for any medical needs his human has, including navigation for the blind or various methods of therapy for anxiety. They are also trained to alert someone close by in case of emergency. Being approached by a service dog without their human is the only time it is okay to interact with the dog.

If you’re approached, this means his human is in danger. They may be in a medical emergency such as a seizure or diabetic coma. They may be injured and unable to seek help on their own. To aid the service dog in their attempt to seek help, look around for someone who may be in need. Ask the dog “What is it?” or “Show me!” and try to follow the direction they point. Once you locate the person in need of assistance, administer first aid if you are trained, or call 911.

If you are unable to locate the dog’s human, stay with the dog and contact medical authorities. You will be able to provide information regarding how long the dog has been away from his human and prevent him from running off further and putting himself at risk.

Thanks to gohappypuppy.com for providing much of this valuable information.

Remember, your pets count!

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It always amazes me. Sometimes my cats gobble down their food in a minute or so and other times, they turn their nose to anything I give them. It’s true cats are very fussy eaters and only slight changes can cause them to sniff, turn up their nose and walk away. Cat Behavior Associates .com has put together a comprehensive article about finicky eaters.

No matter what food you bring home from the store your cat just turns her nose up at it and gives you a look that says “is that the best you have to offer?” In reality though, finicky eaters are made and not born. Here are a few tips:

Visit the Veterinarian

If your cat has developed a change in her appetite, the first thing that should be done is to have her examined by the veterinarian to make sure there isn’t an underlying medical cause for the sudden change. If she has stopped eating altogether, a veterinary visit is of the utmost importance because if a cat goes more than a couple of days without eating she is at risk for developing hepatic lipidosis. This is a condition where fatty deposits accumulate in the liver and it’s a very serious problem .

Have You Changed Your Cat’s Food?

One of the most common reasons a cat develops finicky eating syndrome has to do with the cat parent making sudden changes in the food. While variety is very helpful in avoiding fixed food preferences, abrupt changes can be upsetting to the digestive system. It’s good to introduce different brands/flavors and rotate them but make sure you do a gradual transition each time you introduce an unfamiliar food. Gradually add a little of the new food into the current brand over the course of a few days. Once that food becomes familiar you can then include that in your meal rotation.

Feeding Your Cat Table Scraps

Another reason finicky eating can occur is due to the feeding of table scraps. Why in the world would a cat want to eat her bowl of boring cat food or dry kibble after sampling some fried chicken, grilled salmon or even a nibble of filet mignon? Supplementing your cat’s diet with rich foods with high taste appeal is a sure way to get her to turn her cute little nose up at her regular meal offering. What often happens at that point is the cat parent starts incorporating some table scraps into the cat’s regular food in an attempt to get her to eat. This upsets the nutritional balance. And, because your cat is very smart, she quickly learns to simply eat around the cat food to get at the tasty table scraps.

Remember, your pets count!

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