WARNING!!! ProHeart6 back on the market!

ProHeart 6 — a controversial heartworm drug for dogs — came back on the market last week, almost four years after it was pulled when hundreds of dogs died and thousands more suffered adverse reactions. Ordinarily, this might be of interest mainly to pet owners and veterinarians. But this is much more than a dog story. Tale of ProHeart 6 raises questions about who calls the shots at agency. Read whole story: http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/06/our-view-on-dru.html#more

Healthy Immune System

Another good read is the online housepetmagazine.com It is packed with good information. This was my favorite read by: Dr. Shawn Messonnier, DVM "Maintaining a Healthy Immune System"

While supplements can be used in times of illness, maintaining a healthy immune system is important in decreasing the incidence and severity of disease. Follow the following tips to keep your pet as healthy as possible:

1. Feed the most natural diet possible. Learn to read a pet food label and avoid foods with chemical preservatives (BHT, BHA, ethoxyquin) and animal and plant by-products that can damage a pet's immune system and do not help maintain health as much as foods with natural preservatives and no by-products. When possible, prepare and feed a homemade diet (using on of the recipes in The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats) to ensure that your pet is eating the healthiest food possible.

2. Minimize vaccines. Most pets do not need annual "shots." A simple blood test called a titer test can determine which vaccines you pet needs.

3. Minimize chemicals. I prefer not to use chemical flea prevention products unless absolutely needed. Monthly heartworm medication is preferred over the 6 month injectable heartworm preventive.

4. Administer whole food vitamin and mineral supplements, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids to maintain a healthy body.

5. Administer choline supplementation to prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease (cognitive disorder) in dogs and cats 10 years of age and older."

Pets for the Environment

One of my favorite readings is 'Eddie's Blog"....Eddie is another dog on a mission for a healthier, cleaner, better world for humans and pets to live in. Take a look and pass it along. Great work Eddie!!!! http://www.petsfortheenvironment.org/about/pets

TO chip or NOT to chip?

Ahh Microchipping....just as controversial as dog food and politics. There are two good sides to every argument, and I wanted to discuss them.

PRO: As small as a grain of rice and claims to be safe, reliable and can re-unite you and your lost pet. And the only positive way (besides tattooing your pet to have it identified). http://www.healthypet.com/library_view.aspx?ID=78

CON: claims related to causing cancer and tumors at microchip site, as well as being an unnatural. Read about Argo: http://www.petsfortheenvironment.org/blog/2008/06/11/allies_dog_argo_and_the_microchip_dilemma#comment-431
more info against chipping: http://www.antichips.com/cancer/

Let's be a little greener!

Let's face it, I poop 3 times a day. That's 21 poops a week, 84 poops a month & 1,008 poops a year. Just from one 24lb American Cocker Spaniel. That's a LOT of turds.
• 4 million tons – It is estimated that dog owners do not collect over 4 million tons of dog waste annually.

• 20-30% of all pollutants in waterways attributed to dog waste – Pollutants originating from rainwater run-off via sewer systems, and dogs pooping near watersheds or beaches. Overall, it is believed dog waste is third or fourth on the list of contributors to bacteria in contaminated
waters.

• 4th highest generated waste – Plastics are the fourth highest generated waste in the U.S., originate from petroleum which is non-
renewable, do not biodegrade, and take thousands of years to break down. Paper, yard trimmings, and food scraps are the top three generated. However, all of them come from renewable resources.

• Bottom – Plastics are the least recycled with a 6.9% recovery rate. In 2006, the U.S. produced 29.5 million tons of plastic and only recycled 2.04 tons.
-info. from poopbags.com

So use biodegradable poop bags! Poop Bags meet the ASTM D6400 specification for biodegradability, and comply with biodegradable product claims in all 50 states. http://poopbags.com/Facts.html

Clean up your POOP

I love dog beach, but what I can't stand is irresponsible owners who don't clean up after their dog. I went this weekend and I was very disgusted by all the poop everywhere. WARNING: If I see you at dog beach NOT cleaning up your mess, I will pee all over your stuff.

Agility

I decided to conquer my fear of heights. I started agility and I am enjoying myself & meeting lots of new dogs. It had really been a confidence builder and great muscle toning. Getting my body ready for dog beach!

Over vaccination

Why is it that every vet thinks I need to be pumped full of shots every year? Do you get vaccinated every year? How do they know what I am immune to? After my one year shots, I am done. I will get a titer test to determine what I need. Check it out and decide for yourself: http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/titer_test.htm

Happy Valentines Day

What is Valentines Day all about anyway? Hallmark holiday I think. I had too many requests for dinner, so I chose to spend the night drinking box wine and watching Family Guy re-runs. Sorry ladies.

Here is what I think about snow!

the scoop on DOG FOOD...you are what you eat!

I am kinda a dog food snob. I just cannot fathom why some companies think us 'dogs' want to eat human left-over garbage, ie. 'by-products'.....it's all about $$$. Purina, Pedigree, IAMS, Science Diet = CRAP.....If you care about pets, then develop a food without all the cheap fillers that won't kill us! Check the back of your bag, and make sure your not eating any corn, wheat, by-products or soy. My favorite food is Timberwolf Organics. http://timberwolforganics.com/
But I also approve of: Eagle Pack, Fromm, Merrick, Canidae, Solid Gold, Innova, Wellness, Nature’s Variety, and Evanger’s.
Please check out the dog food analysis: http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/

It's the most wonderful time, of the year!!!

Christmas that is. Presents, cookies, ham, family, what could be better? We are traveling back to Michigan for the holiday. Stay tuned for snow adventures!

Sea Dog

I went out on my boat. I cruised the gulf. I love the warm salty air and feeling the sand between my toes.

Topknot or not???

Since my mom grooms me....she decided to take Aunt Sarah's advice, and work on my topknot. It's the poof at the top of my head. I like it and think it only makes me more handsome. For all you other novice cocker groomers out there, this site can really help: http://www.groomingsmarter.com/Basic%20cocker%20grooming.html
what do you think about it??

Happy Halloween

I really did not enjoy dressing up this year. I was T-Rex. Nobody in Florida seems to get the Halloween spirit. I did have some pumpkin though. I peed on the one that sat on our porch too, it was laughing at me and I didn't appreciate it.

say goodbye winter, hello FL

Bad news northern ladies, I'll be moving to Florida. I'l be sure to e-mail you my new address. Don't worry though, I'll fly back for holidays and special occasions. HELLLOOOOO dog beach!!!

My 2nd Birfday

I had a great Birthday. All my friends and cousins came over, I got to go for a car ride, and got chicken for dinner. My friends were pretty cheap with the gifts though. Guess I need to be more specific next year. I said I want an 'I-PHONE' not a rawhide bone!!

The kiss

It was magical.

more additions

I am starting to think my owner is a little dog nuts! I have 2 new sisters. Maddie & Reese. They really bug me, but I know I am still mom's favorite.

New Home

I was taken home by a nice couple. I was ooo-ed and ahhhhh-ed, kissed and squeezed often. I had a brother at home too, his name is Bernie. He is a little scrappy, bossy guy. But he made sure I knew he was in charge. He toldme on my first day home "I'm the cute one, I'm always right and I'll beat your a** if you mess with me." We were BF's soon after.

August 16th 2005

Hello world, my name is Buddy. I was brought into this world in the outskirts of Michigan. I had one red brother and 2 chocolate & tan sisters. I had big dreams of being a cowboy, moving out west, and working at rodeo's...but even bigger dreams of being loved.