Recall: Iverhart Plus Flavored Chewables
http://truthaboutpetfood2.com/virbac-recalls-six-lots-of-iverhart-plus-flavored-chewables
Dog vaccines
I’ve posted another “Must Read Article” titled: Schultz: Dog vaccines may not be necessary. (http://www.news.wisc.edu/8413)
Now, don’t go fumbling for this article because you want proof that you don’t have to vaccinate your dogs, period… The article talks about annual vaccines being unnessary.
Schultz was a professor and chair of pathobiological sciences at School of Veterinary Medicine when this was published in March 2003 and the article references him and his study.
I’m posting it because I got fed up today in a discussion of someone wanting to push an outdated agenda, that can actually harm our dogs, of yearly vaccinations all because /some/ dogs go unvaccinated. I’m not sure if they were attempting a scare tactic (like the heart worm infested hearts in jars) or what. I know this person just wants to help but I wish they’d take a more updated approach with FACTS rather than decade(s) old “that’s the only way” route.
The above article kinda goes with http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/purdue-vaccination-studies/
Rescue
Yesterday I helped rescue a young pup from our local pound. He’s a shepherd mix with a cuddle bear personality named Rolo (by the shelter). He’s heading to his new, forever home in Botetourt county Saturday morning.
I help rescue, foster, network pound puppies (and dogs) because we breed responsibly. I feel it’s my responsibility to help since we are breeding so from time to time you’ll see a dog listed here that might not fit our ‘MO’. I’m also considering applying to become one of the Rat Terrier specific rescues’ foster home. In my 10yrs of rescue I’ve actually pulled 2 Rat Terriers from our local shelter, one was a black tri named Tucker & the most recent, hard of hearing one, Carter.
I started my own personal dog rescue my first year of college, Tender Heart Rescue, and I’ve worked closely with the local Humane Society and Animal Welfare League through the years. Was actually a founding member of the Welfare League and joined the Humane Society not long after it’s formation.
*Remember — your local Humane Societies are not linked to the Humane Society of the United States, the HSUS does not actually help local shelters. If you want to donate your $$ (or time) to help pets, DONATE TO YOUR LOCAL SHELTERS AND RESCUES. They also appreciate food, collars, leashes, bedding, treats & toys.
Rolo will be receiving the new name of ‘Ruger’ and two Brittany Spaniel siblings.
It’s a good day here at Nimh Kennels.
STOP FEEDING Beneful!
Beneful dog food is a popular brand. Unfortunately over the last two to three months, pet owners have seen their dogs become ill after eating this food, based on reports on the Consumer Affairs website. Some pets are more sensitive than others, and their symptoms can include any of the following, sometimes more than one:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Excessive water drinking
- Lethargy
- Weight loss
- Seizures
- Bloat (this is life threatening to a dog)
- Kidney failure
- Liver failure
- Death
Tails/Dewclaws
The puppies had their tails and dewclaws done Friday evening. We’re a fan of docked tails here though we were sad to see the cute white tips go in this litter.
We nip and snip ourselves to put as little stress on mom, the pups and me as possible. Also limits exposure to the nasties. I’m perfectly fine with doing tails myself, using the banding process as described in How to dock tails by Darice Ragan of RaganRat Terriers, but when it comes to dewclaws, I tried it once and cried with the puppy. So needless to say, I now enlist help. Luckily I’ve made a new doggie friend, Valerie Yarber from Paramount Aussies, down the road who has experience doing them herself so she came to the rescue.
Everyone is doing great. They are 1 week old today!
Yellow Dog Project
This was being shared around facebook and I think it is a WONDERFUL idea!
Pets vs Jack Frost
I was attempting to come up with a good topic for our first Blog posting, and of course we have to keep it dog (pet) related so I was thinking with our recent ‘Frankenstorm’ we should talk about some pet safety tips.
R
ight now, we’re ‘walking in a winter wonderland’ – at the end of October here in Southwest Virginia! Here are a few tips on keeping your pets warm and safe during freezing temperatures.
- If you have outside pets and can’t bring them in, be sure they have plenty of warm bedding tucked away in a sturdy shelter to battle the cold and wind. Dry straw and shavings make for a nice soft area to nest.
- You will want to think about increasing your outdoor pets’ caloric intake as well to help them put on some extra fat for insulation against the dropping temperatures.
- Don’t forget the drinkable water to digest the extra calories. Without water, the pet can dehydrate quickly even with
snow all around. Don’t think that your pet can eat snow instead of drink water, by eating snow the pet will quickly lower its core body temperature and can lead to hypothermia and potential death. - Some breeds are made for colder climates and fair fine in the cooler temperatures, examples being huskies and malamutes. Please keep the smaller dogs indoors. Smaller dogs and short haired breeds will feel the cold much quicker than the larger, double coated breeds. The smaller breeds will be in more frequent contact with the fallen snow which, after a period of time, can lead to hypothermia from exposure.
- There are some health conditions that can hinder a pet’s ability to regulate their body temperature, such as heart disease, kidney disease, hormonal imbalance and diabetes. Keep a close watch on them as they do their business outside, if it’s cold for you it is cold for them as well. A jacket or sweater could help in those brief outdoor moments but not meant to be worn for long periods of time so please don’t think that your sweater-ed dachshund can spend all day outside in a foot of snow.
- Antifreeze, salt and other dangerous chemicals are also a major concern during the winter months. Wipe of your pets’ paws, legs and under belly when they come inside. Pets can unknowingly ingest the chemicals just by licking it off their body parts and it takes very little of Antifreeze to kill a dog.
- According to the
website, more dogs are lost during the winter than any other season so please remember to keep identification tags on your pets at all times. Microchips are also great as a backup since can’t be lost.
Everyone stay nice and cozy — maybe even ‘throw another dog on the bed’ 😉
Nimh’s Blogging!
We’re attempting to create a blogging area for our site.