Chew-sing a Recovery Collar

The dreaded Elizabethan Collar is often a difficult, but necessary, part of a pet's recovery after surgery, injury or other ailments. It is used to prevent the animal from licking, chewing, and scratching an area of skin or a bandage.

The plastic semicircle that attaches to the collar, resembling a cone or lampshade, is the traditional recovery collar. This is the type of collar that is usually given out at the Vet's to prevent further irritation to a sensitive area. This type of collar is probably the most effective for protecting wounds on the face and neck.

However, many pet's can either get the collar off, are still able to reach affected areas in other locations, or become anxious when wearing this type of collar. This can be frustrating for owners and a problem for a healing wound. Fortunately there are some tricks to better secure the collar and some other alternatives to the traditional ....

Hang Ten

2010 marks not only the start of a new year, but the start of a new decade as well. The last decade has been a big one for pets in terms of advancements and changes. Ownership of pets has gone up and the pet industry as a whole has grown rapidly, both signs that we love our pets more than ever.

The pet health insurance industry has grown immensely over the last ten years both in terms of availability and policy holders. Pet insurance is now much more mainstream and accepted by average pet owners. However, the industry has a lot of work to do in order to convert the skeptics and advance into the next decade. There may even be some effect from the human health care crisis and impending changes that will help grow pet insurance as a whole in coming years.

Part of the reason for increased awareness and use of pet health insurance is from the advances in pet healthcare in general. As new diseases and issues are discovered ....

As I look back on a year's worth of Paws to Ponder articles from 2009 I think about just what the common threads in the collection would be. In other words, what are the concepts and ideas that I try to follow regardless of the individual topic and would like you to take away from this column? There are many, but here are just a few that come to mind.
Pets are important to us and sometimes we take them for granted. Our pets bring so many benefits to our lives and ask so little of us in return. Spend a little extra time with your pet when you can just doing the simple things like taking a few extra minutes to play or just enjoy each other's company. This is probably the best gift that your pet could ask for and what they will appreciate the most.
On a similar topic, be kind to your pets and animals in general. If you are in a position to help other animals in need go ahead and lend a hand whether it be by volunteering, contributing basic supplies, or monetary ....

When we talk about holiday hazards we mainly think of dangers related to ingestion by pets of things like decorations or food items that are not good for certain types of animals. However, sometimes the hazards are things that you might never even think of, like the brand new Wii that is sitting patiently under your tree waiting for the lucky recipient to unwrap it.

Some might say that I am a little late to the ball game and I would probably agree, but only recently did we make an addition to our household in the form of the Wii gaming system. The safety concerns surrounding the Wii have been widely documented.

Injuries that occur in conjunction with the Wii are not just from getting up off the couch and getting more active, but also from incidentally bumping into objects in your own home while playing, flying remotes, or receiving a good whack from another participant who is focusing on the game.

What I had never thought about until we ....

Snow Much Fun

One of my favorite parts of winter is watching the Airedales playing in the snow.  Freshly fallen snow is always the best and our dogs love it.  They go wild for the stuff especially the first snowfall of the year.

Of course there is nothing like a puppy’s first snow.  They are usually filled with all the awe and wonder as a child’s first experience with snow.  Some are more daring than others diving right in like they have done it a hundred times before while others look at you with a ‘what the’ expression before warming up to the idea. 

Puppies take some time to really get the feel for playing in the snow, but it is the adults that are the most delighted by it. Our Airedales perform a variety of fresh snow dances each season. 

There is the tuck butt run with faces filled with pure ecstasy.  Some of the more dainty of our dogs prefer a tip toe ballerina style of dance followed by a snow angel like roll ....

Show Business

As the end of the year rolls around so does the final dog shows of the year for us. The summer months are the busiest for us with dog shows on the weekends, grooming during the week, and taking care of the dogs at the kennel. As the cold sets in it is nice to be able to take a break from the traveling and spend time at home with family and planning for the year to come.

The 2009 season of dog shows has been great to us with a win or two most every weekend we were out. We attended our final show of the year last weekend in Providence, Rhode Island. This was a great new show site for a weekend that used to take place in Boston. Most of the dog shows we attend are in the New England area although we do travel much further than that a few times each year for special shows.

Our Roxy was Best Bred by Exhibitor each of the four days last weekend and went on to compete in the Groups during a special Breeders competition ....

Howl-iday Gifts

With the holidays fast approaching I thought that I would share some of my favorite pet items that might make a good gift for your special pet or the animal lovers in your life.

One of my favorite items for cats and dogs are the collars, leashes, and harnesses that are made by Lupine. They have a variety of colors and patterns that should appeal to most anyone and come in multiple sizes and widths to fit any pet. The best part is that Lupine is a New Hampshire company and each of their products is guaranteed even if chewed. That means you can return it for a replacement at any time.

Another New Hampshire product that I love is the tick remover called Ticked Off. You can use it to remove ticks on any animal or even yourself if you are unlucky enough to need it. It might not be as elegant a holiday gift as some others, but when you are removing ticks right and left come springtime you will be thankful for this ....

Paws to Give Thanks

In the spirit of Thanksgiving I thought it would be a good idea to spend a little time giving thanks for the furry, feathered, and scaly little family members in our lives, our pets. They are our constant companions offering us unconditional love and devotion throughout the year and providing us with endless blessings to be thankful for this holiday season.

Beyond the priceless gift of companionship our pets teach us lessons we carry into our everyday lives and even provide us with various health benefits. In return they ask for very little beyond food, water, and a warm place to sleep at night. Our thanks this holiday is just a small token for everything they provide each day of the year.

While giving thanks it is important to remember that the holidays can be as stressful for our pets as it can be for us. Finding a little time to play or just take an extra walk with your pet is a good way to share your ....