Thursday, December 30, 2010

Snow Day!

It's treat time at the B & B! After some fun in the snow, our guests enjoy a treat or two then nap time in the sun room.

Friday, December 17, 2010

The Right and Wrong Way to Give a Christmas Pet

by Helena Sung (Subscribe to Helena Sung's posts): Dec 15th 2010 @ 1:00PM Filed Under: Cats, Pet Adoption

mathias-erhart, Flickr

Is it ever a good idea to give a kitten or puppy as a holiday gift? Most experts wave the red flag at the idea of holiday pets, but if the animal in question has been a long-considered family addition, it isn't always a bad idea. Here are some things to keep in mind when thinking of gifting a new pet this month.

The Wrong Way
"Never surprise anyone with a pet as a gift. It's not an inanimate object. It's a living, breathing being that's going to depend on [that person] for food, water, exercise and attention -- for at least 15 years," says Sandra DeFeo, director at the Humane Society in New York City.

"Every year, people get a kitten or a puppy for someone as a present and the person receiving it isn't ready for the responsibility," says DeFeo. Pets given as gifts start trickling into the Humane Society soon after the holidays have passed, but most are surrendered in the spring, DeFeo tells Paw Nation.

"A lot of dogs given as holiday gifts start coming into our shelter in March and April, when they've started to grow from tiny, cute puppies into energetic, young dogs, and the owners can't handle it and are exhausted," says DeFeo. "People just didn't think it through."

The Right Way
Do a lot of research and preparation before bringing a puppy or kitten home. For instance, last year, Fitz Koehler, a mother of two in Gainesville, Fla., decided her children, ages 6 and 4 at the time, were ready to have a pet. "They'd been begging me for a long time to get a dog," Koehler tells Paw Nation. "We went through pet fish and lizards, and my kids were very loving toward animals. After my son carried a dead ladybug around in a box for a week as a pet, I knew they were ready."

Koehler began looking for the right dog for her family on December 1. She went to a nearby animal shelter, Haile's Angels Pet Rescue, and met several different dogs and breeds. She chose to adopt a 6-month-old, female yellow Labrador-greyhound mix who was sweet and gentle and, according to the animal shelter staff, good with children. "I asked the shelter staff a million questions," says Koehler.

Koehler named the dog Piper and arranged for Piper to stay at the shelter for several weeks until she was ready to surprise her children with their new family dog on Christmas morning.

"I visited Piper at the shelter every day and took her for long walks," says Koehler. "I also had time to get everything ready, like her food, bowls and leash. By the time Piper came home, I had everything prepared."

On Christmas Eve, Koehler arranged to have Piper stay the night at a neighbor's house. "On Christmas morning, after the kids opened all their gifts, I said there was one more present for them," says Koehler. "I brought the kids out to the backyard where Piper was waiting. They started squealing and ran to hug her. It was perfect."

A year later, Piper is very much a part of the Koehlers' family. "We're as lucky to have her as she is to have us," says Koehler.

Important Considerations
DeFeo feels strongly about a no Christmas pets rule, but after hearing the Koehlers' story, she makes a concession. "That is the one exception I can think of when it would be OK to give a pet as a gift," says DeFeo. "Because the person giving the pet as a gift would be the one taking responsibility for caring for it."

If you're considering doing something similar, Koehler has some advice. "Don't take the kids with you the first time you visit an animal shelter to pick a pet," says Koehler. "They're bound to fall in love with every puppy they see and a lot can go wrong if you let a 4-year-old choose the dog." Koehler knew what kind of dog would be best for her family. "I didn't care if a dog was cute or how it looked," she says. "I wanted an average-size dog that was gentle, athletic and good with children."

Still, not everyone considering giving a pet as a gift this holiday season will be the one to care for it. "If you really want to be a part of the process of someone getting a dog or other pet, there are other things you can do," says DeFeo. "Rather than give a pet as a gift, help the person prepare for getting a pet on their own," she says. For instance, give a certificate for puppy training classes or pay for a dog trainer. "There's a lot you can do to be helpful once the person gets the dog," says DeFeo. "Besides, a dog is a person's best friend. Would you want someone else to pick out your best friend for you?"

Friday, December 3, 2010

Sandy Paws is coming to town!!!!

Happy Friday!

Santa Claus is coming to town! Santa and Mrs. Claus will be visiting Just for Paws Veterinary Hospital, 9789 W. Coal Mine Avenue, Littleton tomorrow, December 4th from 12pm -5pm. Bring your critters, your camera and your Holiday spirit. All donations will benefit local animal shelters and Normandy Elementary School.

Hope to see you there!

Monday, November 15, 2010

Foods toxic to pets

Table Scraps Can Be Deadly

Sharing “just a bite” of food off your plate with your pet is harmless, right? Wrong. Many human foods can be dangerous — even deadly — to dogs and cats.

Alcohol

Alcohol is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and affects pets quickly. Ingestion of alcohol can cause dangerous drops in blood sugar, blood pressure and body temperature. Intoxicated animals can experience seizures and respiratory failure. Products such as desserts containing alcohol or yeast-containing doughs are often the unknown culprits.

Avocados

The fatty acid “persin” in avocado leaves, fruit bark and seeds have been reported to be toxic.

Symptoms include difficulty breathing, abdominal enlargement, abnormal fluid accumulations in the chest, abdomen and sac around the heart.

Caffeine

Coffee, tea, energy drinks, dietary pills or anything else containing caffeine should never be given to your pet, as they can affect the heart, stomach, intestines and nervous system. Symptoms include restlessness, hyperactivity, muscle twitching, increased urination, excessive panting, increased heart rate and blood pressure levels and seizures.

Chocolate

Cocoa and chocolate contain theobromine, a chemical that is highly toxic to dogs and cats.

Ingestion of small amounts can cause vomiting and diarrhea, but ingestion of larger quantities can cause seizures and affect heart rhythm.

Fatty Foods

Foods that are high in fat can cause vomiting, diarrhea and pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) in pets, especially in certain breeds like miniature schnauzers, Shetland sheepdogs, and Yorkshire terriers.

Fight the temptation to share these kinds of table scraps and give a healthy pet treat instead.

Grapes and Raisins

Avoid the wrath of grapes—keep them away from dogs. Just a few grapes or raisins can damage your dog’s kidneys or even prove deadly.

Even small amounts of raisins in trail mix or snack boxes can pose a problem.

Macadamia Nuts

Popular in many cookies and candies, macadamia nuts should never be given to pets. Lethargy, vomiting and loss of muscle control are among the effects of macadamia nut ingestion.

Nutmeg

High levels can be fatal. Signs include tremors, seizures and nervous system abnormalities.

Onions and Garlic

Onions and garlic in any form—even powdered—can endanger your pet’s health.

Ingestion of small amounts can result in a mild gastrointestinal upset, while larger amounts can cause severe anemia, particularly with long-term ingestion (like sprinkling it on your pet’s food).

Salt

Believe it or not, common table salt is poisonous to your pet—but it’s not usually from table scraps. The source is often what surprises pet owners: pets often experience salt toxicity as a result of eating household play dough, swallowing too much ocean salt water or ingesting paint balls, which are loaded with salt. Salt toxicity can be very severe and results in neurologic signs such as incoordination, seizures and brain swelling, and needs to be treated carefully by a veterinarian.

Sweeteners

Many sugarless gums and candies contain xylitol (pronounced ZY-li-tall), a natural sweetener that is acutely toxic to dogs.

Ingestion can cause vomiting, weakness, a life-threatening drop in blood sugar, loss of muscle control, seizures and liver failure.

Yeast Dough

Unbaked dough that contains yeast can expand in your pet’s stomach or intestines. As the yeast ferments, it releases gases, resulting in nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and even life-threatening bloat and a twisted stomach. Some yeast dough also ferments into alcohol, which contributes to signs of lethargy and alcohol toxicity.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Is everyone ready for some snow?

Fiona says bring it on Mother Nature!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Meet Gunny!

Red Bone Coon Hound
Favorite activities:
Making goofy faces, howling and peeing on bushes.

Welcome to the BoneJour Family Gunny!!!!

Howl-O-Ween

We had a fantastic time with the folks at Murdoch's for their annual pet halloween contest!!!!

We also participated in the annual Boo-rific treat or treat festival at the Foothills Recreation center

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Eyebrows? I haz em!

Meet Amelia, the newest member of our pet sitting/training family!

Monday, October 18, 2010

Blue Buffalo dog food recall

For everyone's info. Blue Buffalo has issued a voluntary food recall due to excessive amounts of vitamin D in their food. Please visit the link for more information:

BlueBuffalo.com

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Cold snowy day

Our #1 Broncos fan!!!

On the social scene at the dog park!

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Gross but educational

Many canine owners haven’t heard of the condition cuterebra. This condition occurs when fly eggs take up residence in a canine’s fur. Typically dogs become infected with cuterebra when coming in contact with rodents. If it is not treated properly this condition can be fatal in dogs.