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Archive for June, 2020

Well, here we go again! The hot weather is back here on Delmarva and not only the hot weather but the oppressive humidity that goes with it. I don’t mind the heat as much as the humidity. It actually drags me down, makes me feel sluggish and keeps me from doing the things I want to do. Enough about what it does to me but what does it do to your pet? Now is the time to protect our pets from the oppressive Summer heat. First and foremost, never leave your pet locked in a car at any time during the Summer months.. Here’s what the Humane Society says about this.

Never leave your pets in a parked car

Not even for a minute! Not even with the car running and air conditioner on. On a warm day, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly to dangerous levels. On an 85-degree day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. Your pet may suffer irreversible organ damage or die. Learn how to help a pet left inside a hot car by taking action or calling for help. Local law enforcement can follow this handy guide [PDF] on how to proceed.

Keep exercise brief and try not to walk your dog during the hottest part of the day. Early morning and early evening walks are best.

Make sure your dog has access to plenty of fresh water and for gosh sake, don’t leave you dog tied in your yard…never. If you want to get him out, take him to a park and stay in a shaded area.

These are all common sense guidelines but you would be surprised how many people don’t follow them!  Have a great Summer and make sure you protect your pet!

Remember, your pets count!

Keep the greatest oldies of all time playing–all day ! Edgewater Gold Radio the best music on the radio! Ask Alexa to “play Edgewater Gold Radio or listen from our website: Edgewater Gold Radio.com.

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Guidance For Crating Your Dog

Saturday, June 6, 2020
posted by Jim Murphy

According to the Humane Society, crates may be used to assist in house training a dog. They are used to reduce anxiety and to keep a dog safe when they are home alone or are traveling. Puppies under six months old should not be crated for more than three or four hours at a time.  Older dogs can work up to longer crating times, six to seven hours overnight.

It’s important to remember, dogs are social animals and like to interact with people. Keep your dog out of the crate when you are home and never put him in his crate to punish him. Make sure that the crate is always a positive experience for your dog.

Remember, your pets count!

Your oldies play all the time on Edgewater Gold Radio–It’s always the best variety–It’s a 60s and 70s weekend! Listen from our website, Edgewater Gold Radio.com.

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We’ve been discussing feline kidney disease in detail for the past several weeks and I described our journey with two of our beloved pets. Molly, who struggled with the disease for over five years and now Atlantis who is still with us and doing well. Dealing with this disease is an ongoing struggle and ongoing worry for me. There are days when Atlantis does great and luckily this is the case most of the time but some days are not as good. We adopted Atlantis in July of 2019 from a neighbor who has since sadly passed. We really didn’t have any knowledge of his medical history or how he was cared for. I do know that six months before we adopted him, he was not cared for at all.

The first thing that we noticed is that he had digestive issues that include vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite. A thorough exam by the vet did not reveal any digestive related diseases but did reveal hyperthyroidism and kidney disease. Our vet thinks that his digestive issues are caused by these two diseases. I’m still not so sure.

Yesterday was not a great day for Atlantis. He vomited twice and refused any food until late in the day. My stress level once again began to rise. Thankfully, he began to return to normal in the evening.

Today, he seems  to be fine but we can’t let our guards down. Kidney disease does not just go away and as a cat ages other issues may be at play. Thankfully his medication, Methimazole and the products made by Astro’s Oil have really been helping.

I know that Atlantis’s health will always be an issue and we will always be on the look out for any changes to his over all well being. So I ask my readers to do the same with their furry friends. Report any changes to your pets health to your vet.

Remember, your pets count!

 

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When your pet swallows poison, you have to decide whether to treat him at home or make a fast trip to the veterinarian.  You shouldn’t make this decision on your own.  If you pet ingests something dangerous, the first thing that you should do is call your vet or the Animal Poison Control center. Tell them what your pet has swallowed, how much and when it happened. They’ll also need to know you pets age, sex and approximate weight. Then follow their instructions to the letter.  There’s a chance that they will ask you to induce vomiting in your pet at home using hydrogen peroxide. They might also tell you to go to the veterinarian immediately.  If so, hurry, but don’t panic. Take a moment to collect a sample of whatever your pet ate.  It may be helpful to the vet.  Do not try to administer any pet medication by yourself. You may cause more harm than good.

Remember, your pets count!

Your favorite oldies are playing all the time on Edgewater Gold Radio or you can ask Alexa to “play Edgewater Gold Radio” you may also listen from our website: Edgewater Gold Radio.com.

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Every time I go to a store or even for a walk, I come home and mindlessly go to the cabinet and get the sanitizer or the bleach. I spray the door knobs, surfaces even the bottom of my shoes. Sometimes after I get finished sanitizing everything in sight, I actually feel a slight pain in my chest. It’s not from working, or walking, It’s the bleach and sanitizer that I’ve inhaled.

So what about our pets? Cats continually clean themselves. They lick their paws that could be picking up that sanitizer that was sprayed all around the house. Just like me, they could have also inhaled those products.

This is not written to suggest that you stop protecting yourself or your family, it’s written to raise awareness that our pets could be harmed if we don’t take precaution. I would suggest, only sanitize things that were touched, like door knobs, surfaces, handles and faucets. Spray into a cloth not in the air and don’t over do it. Always store cleaning and sanitizing products in a secure cabinet. It is now being said that Coronavirus is spread primarily through droplets an not so much on surfaces.

It’s still very important that we continue to protect ourselves, but while doing so, think of your pets and take precautions

Remember, your pets count!

Your oldies place–Edgewater Gold Radio –don’t miss your favorite song. Ask Alexa to “play Edgewater Gold Radio” or listen from our website: Edgewater Gold Radio.com.

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We have lots of cats here in our community. The one that I think is particularly beautiful is a brightly colored calico cat. There cats have natural orange/red, black and white coloring and will almost always catch your eye.

Calico cats are not a breed but they all share unique markings. They have separate patches of red, while and black fur. Some calico’s have separate blocks of color but in pastel shades which give them an ethereal appearance. The coloring on these calico’s is a little different from your typical calico. Because two “X” chromosomes are needed to produce these markings, calico cats are almost always female. Like any mixed breed cat, calico’s don’t have any specific personality traits.  Instead their personalities are determined by genetics and early contacts with humans. But regardless of personality, the calico is always sure to be admired by other cat lovers.

Remember, your pets count!

Keep the oldies playing as you go about your day today! Edgewater Gold Radio plays the best variety of oldies anywhere! Ask Alexa to “play Edgewater Gold Radio” or listen from our website: Edgewater Gold Radio.com.

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The risk of cats developing chronic kidney disease increases with age. So how is the diagnosis made?  My cat Molly began to lose weight and started having seizures. Her head would begin shaking and her eyes got very dilated. Of course , I panicked. I would pick her up and comfort her until the seizure subsided. I took her to the vet and they ran a series of blood tests. She was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and also kidney disease. The hyperthyroidism was causing her weight loss and her seizures. Often kidney disease is often diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and is not yet causing symptoms. The same diagnosis was made of my cat Atlantis.

The faster you act, the more years that you will enjoy with your cat. Don’t hesitate. Atlantis is now taking medication for his thyroid condition and I’m giving him Astro’s Oil, a Nitrogen-Creatinine Scrub and a renal care protein medication. All of these products are made by the makers of Astro’s Oil. We’ve discussed the benefits of these products in a previous blog. Your vet will usually recommend a renal diet. I am hesitant to start Atlantis on it because lots of cats won’t eat it and this food contains less protein which cats need. The Astro’s oil alternative is a much better choice for me. Atlantis is doing just fine at this point and is a loving member of our family.

So what does chronic kidney disease look like? Senior Cat Wellness.com, explains chronic renal failure.

Chronic Renal Failure

Chronic kidney failure is a slower process. It is often caused by wear and tear on your cat’s organs. Minor kidney blockages can gradually take a toll.

A young, healthy cat in the prime of its life enjoys 100% kidney efficiency. Over time, kidney function will drop steadily.

A cat can function with as little as 25% renal efficiency. This why chronic kidney disease can be a slow, creeping concern.

Kidney failure can also be brought on by secondary medical concerns. Some of the most common causes include:

  • Hypertension
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Cancer
  • Advanced periodontal disease

It is rare for any cat beyond middle age to avoid some renal failure. Treating the issue early improves the chances of managing kidney disease.

Keep a close eye as your cat ages.

Remember, your pets count!

 

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