Paws For Reflection

07/05/2024

This is crucial for healthy dogs. And while out are at it, put away your phone, slow down and enjoy a quieter time.

Here's one thing you can do right now to make your dog’s life even better than it already is: let them sniff! Walking your dog provides physical exercise, but letting them sniff along the way will provide your dog with mental exercise and stimulation, too. Not only is sniffing important to your dog, but it is essential for your dog’s wellbeing. Studies have also shown that olfactory stimulation lowers a dog’s heart rate and reduces stress levels. Next time you take your dog out, we encourage you to slow down and let your dog "smell the roses" and other epic scents on their walk!

Maria Scrivan

06/25/2024

Some really great information! I vouch for the explanations.

06/15/2024

Important information for the health of your dog.

Wow! Check this out!
Reaearchers at UC Davis have updated their guidelines on when to neuter 40 popular dog verieties by breed and s*x!
Check out this article to learn more!

https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/when-should-you-neuter-or-spay-your-dog

04/20/2024

This hazardous chewy toy is a by-product of the leather industry, not the food industry (which is why most are labelled as non-edible and/or dangerous if swallowed). The chemicals it takes to make this unsafe chew, from start to finish, is staggering!

Replace these chews with safer enrichment treats that will also nourish your pet without the list of chemicals. In The Forever Dog LIFE we give you lots of easy enrichment ideas, plus we show you how to make edible 'bones' that you can customize the density, to make it as soft or as firm you need it for your dog's chewing style. https://foreverdoglife.komi.io

03/31/2024

This!

DON’T FEED HOMEMADE PET FOOD!!!!☠️

Most vets say no👎🏻 to homemade pet food because studies shows more than 90% of internet recipes and pet cookbooks have recipes with terrible or inadequate nutrition, meaning meals taste and look good, but don’t meet your animals’ basic requirements for daily vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fats that are necessary for long-term health and well-being. That’s just a fact.

“But my pet likes my homemade food” and “I didn’t have to think about balancing with my other kids” is what we hear, as vets… but remember we are also the professionals having to deal with the ramifications of nutrient deficiencies in clinical practice that are very real: heart, kidney, liver, thyroid and eye degeneration, ligament tears, skin and coat problems, pancreatitis, immune system dysfunction, behavior problems and overwhelming gut issues, day after day.😿

Feeding recipes you find on the internet (and 99% of most pet cook books in print) is fine for a few meals a week… but how do you know you’re meeting your animals’ OPTIMAL nutrient intake when none of these recipes divulge exactly what vitamins, minerals, fats and amino acids are in their foods?! You can’t. Hence your vet’s rub.

And this is why vets around the world almost unanimously discourage parents from making their own pet food: you’re guessing at nutritional requirements, and guessing incorrectly. And who ultimately pays at that guessing game? Your pet - and their long term health. Don’t do it.

Thankfully, things are about to change.

This first-ever recipe book The Forever Dog LIFE, custom-formulates raw and gently cooked meals that meet species-specific recommended allowances for growing animals, adult animals and less active pets… and it’s never been done before, which is why we’ve done it now💥. It’s time for change.

We can’t wait for you to confidently show our complete nutritional analyses to your veterinarian, because chances are the food that you are feeding doesn’t have one (or the manufacturer refuses to disclose it🤬).

Every single one of our age & activity-level customized recipes (that tempt even the finickiest dog or cat) do not exceed extrapolated FEDIAF maximum nutrient requirements (no copper excesses!😅), and of course exceed current FEDIAF and AAFCO minimums.🙌

So what are you waiting for? Take charge of your pets’ nutrition, and show your veterinarian exactly what is in the pet food you are feeding or making at home… now is the time to advocate for your pet’s nutritional wellbeing, and challenge the status quo.

We proudly show you every nutrient in every recipe…can your pet food brand or recipe say the same? Let’s reclaim animal health now, through pure food. - Dr. Karen Becker

www.foreverdoglife.com

03/05/2024

It’s that time of year. I have Dawn dish soap on hand for this recipe.

It's that time of the year!

02/27/2024

""I died today.
I was found by a kind, sweet woman who does wildlife rescue.
I was so sick, I could barely open my eyes.
She took me inside, cradling me in her warm arms, and made me warm and comfortable.
I opened my eyes and looked at her and thanked her for making my last few minutes as comfortable as possible.
But I was too sick to keep fighting anymore.
I had eaten a mouse that was poisoned, and it made me very sick.
I closed my yellow eyes for the last time and went somewhere else.
Please, all I ask is never use poison to kill the mice.
Poison kills owls, like me.
All I wanted was a mouse for dinner.

Stop the use of poison for rats or mice.
Live traps are the best to use. Catch and release.
It only takes one share to spread the word." -

02/23/2024

This is an amazing Senior rescue organization!

02/22/2024

This is Sadie! A beautiful feline matriarch going on 26 yrs.old! So loved by Carol & David. I Love this work. ♥️🐾

02/18/2024

These two have my heart! At 15.5 years old, they are vibrant and full of life when awake and sleep hard the rest of the time.

02/08/2024

Today is Gus’ “gotcha day!” He is the perfect older gentleman and a good match for Chester and our family. We love him so much. Thank you Siskiyou Humane Society Adoption Center and Linn Tyhurst. Adopt a Senior!!!

02/06/2024

It came to me
that every time I lose a dog
they take a piece of my heart with them
and every new dog that comes into my life
gifts me with a piece of their heart.
If I live long enough,
all the components of my heart
will be dog and I will become
as loving and generous as they are.
~Anonymous~

01/28/2024

So you know…

Does your dog have arthritis, neuropathic pain or chronic pain? Then chances are your vet has prescribed gabapentin. But there have been ZERO controlled research studies on gabapentin to treat chronic pain. And case reports show mixed results. And it hasn’t even been FDA approved for dogs!

And one vet told us it wasn’t helping the dogs and the ones coming to her had bad reactions … like tarry diarrhea, aggressiveness, low energy, tremors, difficulty breathing, anxiety, loss of appetite and digestive issues.

There are better options when your dog has pain. Click the link to find out more about why you should avoid gabapentin ... and learn about natural pain relief for your dog.

https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/gabapentin-why-this-vet-will-never-prescribe-it/?fbclid=IwAR3wWKxVCJcpj1PcqXSLPMukslYhGV62DyqqDWyDm1e9ZZzltfLw4jxMcf

01/24/2024

If you are looking to improve the nutrition your dog gets, this is the book for you.

Want a GREAT read or audible listen about dog nutrition? Check out The Forever Dog! It's fascinating and very eye-opening!

01/10/2024

Thank you Kathleen Dowd. This is important info!

Bradie went suddenly blind last night at 10pm. Here's his story. Yesterday Bradie was having a perfectly happy farm dog day helping his people deworm his horse friends. Bradie was enjoying a few little snacks, some horse food and chowed down some horse manure... his favourite delicacy! Last night he started to feel a little weird and then he thought it was awfully dark all of a sudden and he couldn't seem to find his way around - he even bumped into a wall and almost fell down the stairs. He was very alarmed and was relieved that his owners brought him to the veterinary clinic this morning because he definitely needed a checkup he figured. On his exam Dr. Allen said there was absolutely nothing else going on with him except his pupils were very dilated and nonresponsive to light, and of course he couldn't see a darn thing. Turns out he had Ivermectin Toxicity from eating horse p**p or possibly getting some of the dewormer from one of th horses that eats Ivermectin cubes for deworming - most dogs have severe neurologic signs, including coma but Bradie only had the eye issues it looked like thank goodness. Collies and herding breeds are well known to have MultiDrug Resistance1 gene mutations (MDR1) which make them highly sensitive to a number of pharmaceuticals, including the avermectins. The good news, is Bradie should fully recover his sight if our diagnosis is correct. A reminder to all our herding dog owners that these dogs are about 200 times more sensitive to ivermectin (and some other drugs) and even eating manure from horses or cattle that have been dewormed with ivermectin can cause toxicity. Most dogs are much sicker than Bradie and end up in a coma which can take days/weeks to recover from. We can test dogs for the MDR1 gene which is important to do as these dogs have issues with multiple drugs, not just ivermectin. Washington State University has a wonderful website on MDR1 Mutations https://vcpl.vetmed.wsu.edu/ outlining affected breeds, drugs that cause toxicity, and breeding recommendations. All herding dog breeding stock should be tested prior to breeding. The test is a simple cheek swab. We will keep you all posted on Bradie but we expect a full recovery and Bradie wanted to put out a reminder to all his herding dog friends so nobody else goes through this scary ordeal of losing their vision or something worse.

01/05/2024

Ended with love. What a story…

Peyton passed away in our shelter last night.

He came to us just yesterday, a weary soul found in a barn. Fourteen years old, underweight, half an ear missing, and struggling to breathe. His microchip, dating back to 2009, was a silent witness to a life that once was – a life that had somewhere turned bleak and lonely.

In his final hours, Peyton experienced moments of love and care that had been missing for so long. We cleaned his crusted nose, combed out his matts, and he purred, basking in the affection he so deserved. He clung to our warmth, his body going limp with trust and perhaps, relief.

This morning, we found him gone, his struggle quietly ended in the comfort of a soft blanket and a full belly. His departure is a profound reminder of the countless animals who face similar fates, animals whose stories go untold, whose lives end without a whisper.

Peyton's story is a glimpse into the harsh realities faced by many animals. It's a testament to the resilience and enduring hope they possess, even in the face of neglect and abandonment. It underscores the vital role shelters play – not just as a place of refuge, but as a final sanctuary where love and care are given, even if just for a moment.

As we mourn Peyton, let's remember the countless others like him. Each day, shelters across the country are filled with animals waiting for a second chance, for a family, for a home. They wait for someone to notice them, to care, to extend a hand of kindness.

Peyton's story is not just about loss; it's about awareness, compassion, and the bitter-sweet role shelters play in the lives of animals. In sharing his story, we hope to shed light on the unseen struggles and to inspire a community of care and support for these innocent lives.

Rest in peace, Peyton. In your final hours, you were surrounded by love, and your story will not be forgotten.

12/28/2023

Heads up!

PSA: We adopted our dog, Rowdy, from the shelter 5 years ago. He was already an adult dog, so we estimate he is about 11 or 12 years old at this point. I love this dog. He is the sweetest soul and my BFF. For the past week or so he hasn’t been acting like himself. He licked a raw spot on his foot. He was panting constantly. He was pacing. Sunday morning, the pacing and panting got so bad, and I was REALLY nervous that there was something seriously wrong with him. For 45 minutes, he panted like crazy and constantly paced back and forth. He was keeping his tail tucked down all the time. His ears were pinned back. He would not settle down and he wouldn’t eat. We tried everything. I ended up giving him a trazadone that he takes sometimes when he goes to the groomer. It seemed to take a little bit of the edge off, but not much. He still wouldn’t eat and still wouldn’t settle. I took off work on Monday so I could take him to the vet. We did bloodwork and x-rays. Knowing he is a senior dog, I was trying to prepare myself for the worst case scenario. I was glad to see his bloodwork was great except for some elevated liver enzymes. The x-rays showed he was a little backed up but no major issues. He got an anti-nausea injection and some Gabapentin to help with some tenderness in his back and to hopefully help keep him calm. When we got home, he was ok for a little bit, but eventually started pacing and panting again. We walked around the neighborhood for a long time and he used the bathroom a lot. He seemed pretty happy about that and was in good spirits until we got home and he refused to come back in the house. Every time I took him out that evening, he would hunker down like he didn’t want to come back in the house. When my vet called and I gave her the update, she suggested there may be some new electronic device in the house that was emitting a high frequency noise that is hurting his ears. We had just put new smart outlets in the house about a week ago. His pacing and panting were worse when the lamps were on, so I unplugged all the smart outlets. He stopped panting, stopped pacing, and ate his food. His tail was even up and wagging again. When I plugged the smart outlets all back in and asked Alexa to turn on the lamps, he immediately started panting and pacing again. My husband used an app to test the frequency of the smart outlets. It was off the charts. We've left the outlets unplugged for two days and have confirmed that it is definitely the smart outlets that are causing his stress and discomfort. He's back to being a totally normal dog now. I really thought this was the end for Rowdy based on the way he was acting. I am so thankful for Dr. Newell at BoonesCreek AnimalHospital for figuring out this simple solution. If your pets are exhibiting similar symptoms, you may want to consider checking your electronics first. I cannot express how relieved I am that he is ok now. 😭♥️🐶

12/27/2023

12/16/2023

This is a great explanation about how we affect our animals and the environment around us.

12/04/2023

Thought you might find this helpful.

11/24/2023

If you must shop on this day, do this for your pups! ♥️🐾

ALL of our online premium courses are 50% off until midnight PST when you visit methodk9institute.com and use coupon code BLACKFRIDAY2023

You do not need to be a subscriber to purchase these courses.

11/05/2023

This is something to think about. Some are much more sensitive…

PSA: We adopted our dog, Rowdy, from the shelter 5 years ago. He was already an adult dog, so we estimate he is about 11 or 12 years old at this point. I love this dog. He is the sweetest soul and my BFF. For the past week or so he hasn’t been acting like himself. He licked a raw spot on his foot. He was panting constantly. He was pacing. Sunday morning, the pacing and panting got so bad, and I was REALLY nervous that there was something seriously wrong with him. For 45 minutes, he panted like crazy and constantly paced back and forth. He was keeping his tail tucked down all the time. His ears were pinned back. He would not settle down and he wouldn’t eat. We tried everything. I ended up giving him a trazadone that he takes sometimes when he goes to the groomer. It seemed to take a little bit of the edge off, but not much. He still wouldn’t eat and still wouldn’t settle. I took off work on Monday so I could take him to the vet. We did bloodwork and x-rays. Knowing he is a senior dog, I was trying to prepare myself for the worst case scenario. I was glad to see his bloodwork was great except for some elevated liver enzymes. The x-rays showed he was a little backed up but no major issues. He got an anti-nausea injection and some Gabapentin to help with some tenderness in his back and to hopefully help keep him calm. When we got home, he was ok for a little bit, but eventually started pacing and panting again. We walked around the neighborhood for a long time and he used the bathroom a lot. He seemed pretty happy about that and was in good spirits until we got home and he refused to come back in the house. Every time I took him out that evening, he would hunker down like he didn’t want to come back in the house. When my vet called and I gave her the update, she suggested there may be some new electronic device in the house that was emitting a high frequency noise that is hurting his ears. We had just put new smart outlets in the house about a week ago. His pacing and panting were worse when the lamps were on, so I unplugged all the smart outlets. He stopped panting, stopped pacing, and ate his food. His tail was even up and wagging again. When I plugged the smart outlets all back in and asked Alexa to turn on the lamps, he immediately started panting and pacing again. My husband used an app to test the frequency of the smart outlets. It was off the charts. We've left the outlets unplugged for two days and have confirmed that it is definitely the smart outlets that are causing his stress and discomfort. He's back to being a totally normal dog now. I really thought this was the end for Rowdy based on the way he was acting. I am so thankful for Dr. Newell at BoonesCreek AnimalHospital for figuring out this simple solution. If your pets are exhibiting similar symptoms, you may want to consider checking your electronics first. I cannot express how relieved I am that he is ok now. 😭♥️🐶