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Archive for October, 2022

Doggie Tummy Problems

Monday, October 31, 2022
posted by Jim Murphy

kittenvetIt’s called inflammatory bowel disease, or irritable bowel syndrome but it’s just plain stomach trouble. This is not a happy time for a cat with a sensitive stomach or for the people who care for the cat. Chronic vomiting and diarrhea can have a lot of different causes. Sometimes changing cat food too quickly can cause these symptoms.

If any of these symptoms are occurring, get your cat to the vet for a diagnosis. Your vet might recommend a change of diet or administer pet medication to alleviate some of the symptoms. If your cat is overly sensitive to any kind of protein, many pet companies are aware of this and offer specially formulated diets that contain easy to digest rice and egg protein in their cat food. Sensitive stomach is not at all uncommon with cats, and fortunately, it’s almost always manageable.
Remember, pets are family!
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Your Pet Can Save Another Pet’s Life

Saturday, October 29, 2022
posted by Jim Murphy

dogdonorIf a dog or cat gets hit by a car, poisoned or has been injured and bleeding, an emergency blood transfusion can save it’s life. Where does this much needed blood come from? Beth Davidow, of the Animal Critical Care and Blood Bank in Seattle, Washington says that most of it comes from healthy pets whose owners get them involved as community blood donors. She says that many pet owners are concerned that other animals have blood available if they really need it. To become a donor, a dog must be free of diseases, not on any medication and is willing to lie still for dog treats while it’s blood is drawn. Cats can donate to but they must be anesthetized. If you want your pet to help other pets in need, you can ask your vet to help you find a program in your area. After your dog donates make sure you reward him with a new stuffed dog toy! After all his donation will go a long way!

Remember, pets are family!
Keeping your oldies all the time! Edgewater Gold Radio. Ask Alexa to “play Edgewater Gold Radio” or listen from our website, Edgewater Gold Radio.com.

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What are Your Cats Eye Saying?

Friday, October 28, 2022
posted by Jim Murphy

cateyeIf you stare at your cat and blink, there’s a good chance that she will blink back. I believe that one way that cats communicate is with their eyes. In shelters, if you blink very slowly at a feral cat, it usually calms them down. Cats can use their eyes to intimidate prey or even each other. When my cat Mollie sits and stares at my younger cat Millie, Millie will dash across the room and hide. Cats have excellent peripheral vision. You get up at night and are stumbling for the light switch but your cat is navigating around the furniture and enjoying her cat food without any problem. They have vertical irises and excellent night vision. Sometimes my cat will start to pounce on the floor. I see nothing but they see a tiny bug moving very fast through the carpet. We may have better color vision, but cats can detect motion much better than us. Cats also have a third eyelid which protects their eyes as they stalk prey under branches and underbrush. This eyelid is on the inside corner of the eye.

It’s not completely certain which colors a cat can see best but cats do have beautiful eyes and many times people will choose a cat based on the color of their eyes. So why is your cat so good at catching that bug or cat toy? That’s because of it’s excellent eyesight and ability to detect motion much better than humans.
Remember, pets are family!
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Eco Friendly Pet Care

Thursday, October 27, 2022
posted by Jim Murphy

DOG BICYCLEMany pet owners care for their pets in a very serious way. They take their pets to the vet, monitor their diets, drive to the dog park for exercise, etc. In return these pet owners get unconditional love and loyalty from their pets. When pet owners care for their pets in an eco-friendly way, our planet can also reap many benefits. Here are some ways that pet owners can incorporate some ec0-friendly pet practices into their pet care.

  • Use a biodegradable bag to scoop waste – This is a much better option than re-using a bag from the grocery store.
  • Use organic food – Organic foods are free from artificial flavors and coloring. They are produced without the use of hormones or chemicals.
  • Don’t Use pesticides in your yard – Whenever possible avoid the use of these products so that your pet can roam and play in a chemical free environment.
  • Walk to the dog park if possible rather than drive – Many communities have dog parks where dogs can roam freely and play with the other dogs in the neighborhood. If possible, walk there to reduce your fuel consumption. If it’s possible to take your bicycle along with your dog, this is a great way for you and your dog to exercise plus it helps the environment.
  • Groom you pet in a green friendly way – Use natural products when you shampoo your dog. These products are not made with chemicals that can harm the environment and even harm your pet if ingested.

Remember, pets are family!
The best oldies are playing right now on Edgewater Gold Radio! Ask Alexa to “play Edgewater Gold Radio” or listen from our website, Edgewater Gold Radio.com.

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How do Dogs Find Disaster Victims?

Wednesday, October 26, 2022
posted by Jim Murphy

ground-tracking-dogDogs are able to track and locate disaster victims using their amazing sense of smell. They have about 200 million scent receptors in their noses. We only have about 5 million. Dogs can sort out smell about 10,000 times better than we can. The longer the nose, the better it works. On the job, search and rescue dogs use two different search modes. One is air scenting, which involves the dog holding its head up as it works off lead. They will try to catch the victims scent in the air and follow it to the source. The other method is ground tracking. A ground tracking dog sniffs out a specific scent as it works on a lead with his handler. Keep lots of dog treats on hand when training these dogs.
Remember, pets are family!

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The Right Ingredients for Healthy Dog Food

Tuesday, October 25, 2022
posted by Jim Murphy

DOGOWNERThere are so many brands and types of dog food on the market that you can get dizzy just walking down the pet aisle of your supermarket. When selecting a dog food, it’s important to check the ingredients. Here are some tips that may help you make a healthy selection for your pet.

A very simple rule is that MEAT should always be the first thing that you see in the ingredients.
Always look for the source of the meat. Is it lamb, beef etc.?
Fatty acids such as omega 3 and omega 6 should be included in the label as they are important for your dog’s skin and coat.
If you see ingredients such as vitamin C or E or citric acids, these are acceptable preservatives.
Avoid foods containing wheat, artificial flavoring, soy, corn, coloring or by products.
All good dog foods should contain a blend of fruits and vegetables. These are natural antioxidants.
Avoid preservatives such as BHA, BHT or Ethoxyquin.
A basic rule of thumb to follow is to avoid any dog food where GRAIN is the main ingredient and avoid any dog food that lists more than one source of grain in the first few ingredients. Dogs and cats must get their protein from meat not grain. Remember, never use dog treats for your dogs main diet. The necessary nutrition is just not there.

Remember, pets are family!
The greatest oldies are playing right now on Edgewater Gold Radio! Ask Alexa to “play Edgewater Gold Radio” or listen from our website, Edgewater Gold Radio.com.

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The Importance of Positive Reinforcement

Sunday, October 23, 2022
posted by Jim Murphy

catdogshoeMany puppies and kittens fail to complete learning tasks in the early stages of training. This according to Suzanne Britts, Phd. CAAB, is because they either stopped trying or showed signs of distress such as yelping or engaging in abnormal behaviors. Your puppy or kitten begins life wanting and needing to learn. Don’t suppress the behaviors that you don’t like but rather re-program yourself to reinforce and encourage the ones you do like. Dogs and cats that hear “no” much more than they hear “yes” become afraid to try new behaviors. So if your dog refuses to go upstairs or your cat avoids the new cat scratching post that you just bought her, it may be because her willingness to try it was suppressed by so many “no’s” when she was young. When your dog or cat does something that you like, reinforce this behavior with a “yes good boy or girl.” When they really do something that you like, you can always give them a cat treat or dog treat and get them a new dog or cat toy!

Remember, pets are family!
The best variety of oldies are playing now on Edgewater Gold Radio. Ask Alexa to “play Edgewater Gold Radio” or listen from our website, Edgewater Gold Radio.com.

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Keeping Your Cat Comfy During Their Twilight Years

Saturday, October 22, 2022
posted by Jim Murphy

We have an elderly cat. Millie is almost 18 years old and she’s loved and comfortable. We won’t bring any other pets in the house while she’s still with us. She is the center of attention and deserves to be. Katzenworld.co.uk has put together guidelines on how to keep your elderly cat healthy and comfortable.

We all know that as our cats age they begin to change, just like us. Once they reach their elderly years – generally from age 12 onwards – they need a different kind of care to suit their slightly more restful and tender nature.

First things first, if you notice any changes in your cat’s health, you should take a trip to your vet. They’re there to help and will be able to offer some great advice in looking after your pet.

Food and Water

Older cats need a little bit more help when it comes to food and drink. Be sure to keep a number of water bowls throughout the house. This means your pet will never have to go far or struggle for something to drink.

When it comes to food, little and often is the way to go. Cats can start to lose their appetite as they age, so they might find bigger meals a bit daunting. They can also start to lose their sense of smell. Heating the food will make it much easier for them to smell it and encourage them to eat.

Grooming

You’ll have to take up some increased grooming duties at some point. A cat can struggle to look after their coast as they age, which means you’ll have to invest in a soft brush to give them a hand.

You’ll need to be careful when giving them a brush though. Keep an eye on your cat’s movement in case they give any indication of a body part being sore or painful. You should also keep an on the length of their claws as elderly cats find it more difficult to scratch them down to a healthy level.

Keeping favorite perches safe

All cats have got their favorite spots to sit, relax, and watch the world go by in. Trouble is they often like places high up which can cause difficulties for the less agile cat in your life.

Where possible, make your pet’s favorite spots a bit more accessible. It can be as simple as using a box as an extra step, up to including a ramp to their top spots. It’s also worth putting down soft items as crash mats in case of any unfortunate falls.

Litter Trays

Your cat may have toileted outside its whole life, but this might change as they get older. Colder and wetter weather may put them off leaving the house, so it’s important to put a few litter trays around your home.

If your cat is still braving the outside world though, try and create a fresh dug up border as near as possible to your house so they don’t have to venture far off.

Remember, pets are family!
Enjoy the greatest variety of oldies all weekend long on Edgewater Gold Radio. Ask Alexa to “play Edgewater Gold Radio” or listen from our website, Edgewater Gold Radio.com.

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Taking Care of A Very Young Kitten

Friday, October 21, 2022
posted by Jim Murphy

kitten-bottleTaking care of a baby kitten is no easy task. It will need to be bottle fed every two to three hours day and night for several weeks. You can find kitten milk replacement in special bottles at your local pet store. Hold the kitten gently and burp him after each feeding. Keep your kitten warm, clean and dry. Experts recommend placing a heating pad under one corner of the nesting box so the kitten can stay warm and can move away if it gets too warm. After each feeding ,gently stimulate the kitten’s bottom to encourage elimination. Kittens cannot do this on their own until they are about four weeks old. You can do this with a sterile cotton ball dipped in warm water. Hold off on any cat treats until your kitten is about eight weeks old.

Remember pets are family!
Enjoy your weekend with the best oldies of all time! Edgewater Gold Radio! Just ask Alexa to “play Edgewater Gold Radio” or listen from our website Edgewater Gold Radio.com.

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Dealing with a Shy Dog

Thursday, October 20, 2022
posted by Jim Murphy

shydogDogs that are shy or wary of strangers have either had a bad experience with people or weren’t well socialized as puppies. Only positive experiences can build up their confidence. If your dog is one of these shy types, you’ll need a good strategy and lots of patience. Arrange to meet a friend when you’re out with your dog. Ask the person to stop and chat but ignore the dog. Don’t talk or even look at him. Wait until you see your dog is relaxed, them give him a dog treat then go on your way. Repeat this exercise often with that friend and others until your dog no longer tenses up in their company. The trick is to notice when your dog relaxes. That’s when you can praise him, pet him and offer treats maybe even buy him a new dog toy. In time, he’ll enjoy the challenge of meeting new people.

Remember, pets are family!
Enjoy the best variety of oldies on Edgewater Gold Radio! Ask Alexa to “play Edgewater Gold Radio” or listen from our website, Edgewater Gold Radio.com.

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