Siku says: “Please reduce your pets’ carbon footprint.”

Posted on December 30, 2011 by

Siku—whose name means “sea ice” in Greenlandic—wants us to reduce our carbon footprint.  His unbearable cuteness and popularity comes at a time when concern over the polar bear population and their longevity is at a pinnacle, bringing further concerns over global climate change as a whole.  So why not help Siku and his relatives by making your 2012 New Year’s resolution to reduce your pets’ (and your own?) carbon footprint!

  • Buy Quality Pet Food: I speak to this a lot!  Invest in a high-quality pet food that lists a protein such as beef, lamb, chicken or fish as the first ingredient rather than a by-product or meal.  Not only will your pet feel and look better, you’ll feel better about picking up and scooping less pet waste!
  • Give Good Treats: Avoid all those packaged, heavily processed treats designed to resemble human food. Trust me, your pets can live without corn-based “treats” shaped like mini porterhouse steaks and T-bones.
  • Recycle Your Plastic Bowls and Feeders: Stainless steel and ceramic bowls remove the risk of exposing your pet to bisphenol A or BPAs. Not only do they last longer, but kitty prefers them.
  • Get Biodegradable Poop Bags: I cringe every time I enter a client’s house and see a stock pile of plastic grocery bags to be used for Fido’s poo, especially when I see they use reusable shopping bags for their groceries!  Eliminate plastic grocery bags and shop for biodegradable poop bags.   Every pet store sells them and they are inexpensive.
  • Embrace Hemp: Hemp produces durable, eco-friendly pet products. Scope out your local pet store to find rope toys and stuffed animals from brands like Earthdog and Simply Fido that will appeal to any dog.
  • Shop with Reason: You don’t by your kids, nieces or nephews cheap toys from China so why buy them for your pets?  Pet toys don’t undergo rigorous testing, so those super-cheap squeaky toys overflowing in the discount/deal of the day bins come with a cornucopia of unknown risks. Companies like Planet Dog and West Paw use nontoxic and or recycled materials in their cat and dog toys.
  • Groom Green:  Whenever possible, opt for eco-friendly, organic and naturally based pet shampoos, detanglers and other products. They are safer for pets and our planet.
  • Adopt, Don’t Buy:  With the thousands of puppies and kittens born each year, the simple choice of adopting a homeless pet can make an impact on the environment in the most practical sense. Making a choice to adopt from a shelter or rescue rather than buying from a puppy-mill breeder is a simple step in the right direction.
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Holiday Pet Recipes for Kitty and Pooch

Posted on December 21, 2011 by

Happy Holidays everyone!  Here are some great recipes for pup and kitty that can be enjoyed any time of the year! Kitty recipes follow the pup recipes.

Remember that treats in moderation are the spice of life and to always check with your vet about which foods are appropriate for your pet :)

Critter Queen wishes you the very best this holiday season and joy and happiness in the New Year!

DOG RECIPES

Meat Muffins
A great recipe that makes a lot, approximately 36 “muffins”!

As another option, you can cook this like a meat loaf in two loaf pans.  What’s great about doing it in muffin tins is that you have plenty of cute meat muffins to take to friends’ and neighbors’ pets :)

Tis the season of sharing and giving after all!

 Ingredients

  • 2.5 cups cook rice
  • 2 large potatoes, chopped into small bits.
    *I like to par bake the potatoes and then shred them after they are cool enough to handle.
  • 4 large carrots, grated
  • 1 medium apple, grated  or chopped
  • 6 pounds lean ground meat of your choice, please avoid using pork.
  • 6 eggs
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 1/2 cups regular rolled oats

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  You will need 3 large, nonstick muffin tins.  To avoid sticking, you can also grease your muffin tins with a little olive oil.

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix together, hands work best.  If mixture feels too runny, add a touch more oats.

Fill each muffin cup with some of the meat mixture, and pat down to make it firm. Bake 45 minutes, or until surface feels set. Cool completely before serving.

Remove the meat cakes by turning the muffin tin upside down over a sheet of aluminum foil or parchment paper.  Refrigerate or freeze in appropriate bags or containers.

Refrigerate or freeze leftovers in appropriate bags or containers.  Use or freeze within 36 hours.

Latkes for Fido
A traditional latkes recipe adapted for man’s best friend :)

Ingredients

  • 4 sweet potatoes
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose whole wheat flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • Approximately ¼ cup canola oil
  • Unsweetened applesauce (or fresh apple slices) for garnish, optional

Directions

Combine potatoes, eggs, flour and baking powder in a blender or food processor and pulse until thoroughly mixed.

Heat the canola oil in a skillet over medium heat.

Scoop up about ¼ cup of the mixture and shape into a patty.

Fry each latke for 2 to 3 minutes per side until brown and crisp, adding more oil if needed.

Let latkes cool completely on paper towels after cooking and top with a dab of unsweetened applesauce, or fresh apple slices, for an authentic touch.

Refrigerate or freeze leftovers in appropriate bags or containers.  Use or freeze within 36 hours.

CAT RECIPES

Feline Fishballs

Ingredients

  • 3 baby carrots, cooked until soft
  • 16 oz canned tuna in olive oil, drained
  • 2  tbls whole grain bread crumbs or oatmeal
  • 2.5 tbls grated cheese
  • 2 tsp brewer’s yeast
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tbls tomato paste (please do not use ketchup)
  • Several pinches of chopped catnip, optional

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Mash the carrots with the fish, bread crumbs or oatmeal, cheese, brewer’s yeast, catnip, egg and tomato paste to an even paste.

Mold into small balls and put on a greased baking tray. Bake for 15-20 minutes, checking frequently.

The fish balls should be golden brown and feel firm. Cool thoroughly before serving to kitty.

Refrigerate or freeze leftovers in appropriate bags or containers.  Use or freeze within 36 hours.

Holiday Treats for Kitty

Ingredients

  • 1 -14 ounce can Salmon, Tuna, or chicken, drained
  • ½ cup canned, plain pumpkin
  • 1 tsp cold pressed olive or canola oil
  • Approximately ¼ cup cooked rice or cooked oatmeal

Directions

Combine canned meat of choice, pumpkin and oil.  Slowly add cooked rice or oatmeal until mixture can be formed into bite size balls or patties.

You can also pulse in blender or food processor for thorough mixing.

Refrigerate or freeze leftovers in appropriate bags or containers.  Use or freeze within 36 hours.

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Oh Baby, It’s Getting Cold Outside!

Posted on November 30, 2011 by

Cold Weather Tips, brought to you by ASPCA

Brrrr—it’s cold outside!  The following guidelines will help you protect your companion animals when the mercury dips.

  1. Keep your cat inside. Outdoors, felines can freeze, become lost or be stolen, injured or killed. Cats who are allowed to stray are exposed to infectious diseases, including rabies, from other cats, dogs and wildlife.
  2. During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the cat a chance to escape.
  3. Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm, dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure yours always wears ID tags.
  4. Thoroughly wipe off your dog’s legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.
  5. Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog in the colder months, be sure to completely dry him before taking him out for a walk. Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.
  6. Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.
  7. Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy appears to be sensitive to the weather, you may opt to paper-train him inside. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him outdoors only to relieve himself.
  8. Does your dog spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep him, and his fur, in tip-top shape.
  9. Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center more information.
  10. Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.
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Thanksgiving Recipes For Your Dog and Cat

Posted on November 23, 2011 by

By now you are probably tired of reading about what not to feed your pets on Thanksgiving, am I right?  Well, I did my sermon on this topic last week so now it’s time for what you can give your furry friends!  Below are some recipes that are safe for your pets, enjoy!!

 

*Check with your vet about which foods are appropriate for your pet.

K9 Meatballs

½  pound ground turkey, or meat of choice

½ cup quick oats, or cooked brown rice

1 carrot, shredded

½  apple, shredded

½ cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley

1 large egg

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 375°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, this keeps the meatball from sticking.

In a medium bowl, combine all of the ingredients and mix well. Form the mixture into 10-12 balls and place on the baking sheet. Bake until cooked through, about 20 minutes.

Let cool completely before serving.  Use or freeze within 36 hours.

Kitty Skillet

1 large egg

2 tablespoon minced, cooked green beans or peas

2 tablespoon shredded carrot

½ cup cooked, skinless chicken or turkey breast (no skin) minced

½ cup cooked brown rice

1 tablespoon olive oil

DIRECTIONS:

Mix and mash all of the ingredients thoroughly with a wooden spoon or in a blender/food processor.

Cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until the egg is done, approximately five minutes.

Let cool before serving.  Use or freeze within 36 hours.

On behalf of Critter Queen, we wish you and your pets a very Happy Thanksgiving :)

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Keep Your Pets Healthy And Happy This Thanksgiving

Posted on November 15, 2011 by

Thanksgiving is always a busy time, and doubly so for veterinarians.  Pets often get sick during the holidays, largely due to distracted or imprudent pet owners.  Most illnesses seen by veterinarians are gastrointestinal issues that can be easily prevented.

The most widespread culprit is turkey bones. Because turkey bones are hollow and easily splinter into sharp pieces, the splinters can become lodged in your pet’s throat or intestine.  This can lead to punctures in the mouth, throat or intestinal tract and can also create blockages.  Even worse, bone splinters and fragments can stay lodged in your pet’s body for days before symptoms appear. Signs of a serious problem may include loss of appetite, depression, lethargic behavior, vomiting or diarrhea.  Sometimes the bone will pass naturally but other times, surgical removal is necessary.   So avoid giving your pets turkey bones and make sure garbage cans with food scraps are secured.  This will protect wild animals from harm as well.

And let us not forget that sharing the rest of the Thanksgiving feast is not recommended either.  Many pet owners have a hard time secluding their pets from Thanksgiving but feeding pets “people food” often results in issues ranging from mild gastrointestinal upset to more severe problems such as pancreatitis and life-threatening obstructions.  A small amount of white turkey meat (Dove Lewis recommends nothing more than a teaspoon added to your pet’s food) and or a small amount of plain potato or sweet potato is a great way to share.

Additionally, please be aware that houseguests can upset your pets as well. Kitties may choose to hide and dogs may become fearful or even aggressive.   It is always recommended to create a safety zone for your pets until the sounds, smells, and activities of the holiday are over.  Not only does this keep them from eating food dropped on the floor, it keeps them safe from underfoot accidents and injuries.

And accidents do happen so be prepared with LocalVets.com to find an emergency vet in your area.

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Support Our Vets By Supporting Their Pets

Posted on November 11, 2011 by

Pet owners and non pet owners alike know the many benefits animals provide us.  The following organizations offer invaluable services to our veterans ranging from pets being provided as companion animals, as service animals for our disabled veterans (the Tower of Hope reports that it takes 18-24 months and costs an average $25,000 to train service dogs), to reuniting vets with there beloved pets.

So, what better way to say thank you to our selfless military men and women, who have sacrificed so much for us, than by making a donation to one of these wonderful organizations today.

Pet For Vets – The Pets for Vets program is dedicated to providing a second chance for shelter pets by rescuing, training and pairing them with America’s veterans who could benefit from a companion animal.

Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet - An all volunteer nonprofit public charity supporting our military service members, veterans, and their beloved pets through programs aimed at reuniting pets and owners following deployment or an emergency hardship.

P2V- Pet2Vets provides our nation’s heroes with accessible, cost-effective Animal Assisted Activities (animal companionship) as they pursue rehabilitative and therapeutic care from their healthcare providers across the country.

America’s VetDogs – America’s VetDogs trains and provides assistance dogs for veterans who are blind or visually impaired; have disabilities other than blindness. We train physical, occupational, and emotional therapy dogs to work with wounded soldiers and active duty personnel.

Vets And Their Pets- Veterans and Their Pets is a branch of Valley Dogs Rescue, a nonprofit, no-kill animal rescue organization. Their focus is support for the animals of Veterans in need by providing veterinary care, temporary housing and food.

Veterans Moving Forward – Nonprofit providing service dogs to veterans, at no cost to the veterans, with physical and mental health challenges.

Patriot Paws - train and provide service dogs of the highest quality at no cost to disabled American veterans.  The current focus of Patriot PAWS is development of a prison program to train inmates to become trainers of service dogs.

Paws4Vets – Provides veterans, Active-Duty Service Members or their dependents, suffering from physical, neurological, psychiatric or emotional disabilities, with Psychiatric Service Dogs, Mobility Service Dogs or Rehabilitative Assistance Dogs, free of charge.  Like Patriot Paws,  the program uses dogs trained by federal inmates.

The Tower of Hope - Tower of Hope’s primary focus is on providing specially trained service dogs animals to wounded veterans – those that have suffered great physical or mental trauma defending our freedom.

Canine Companions for Independence – Provides highly-trained assistance dogs for children and adults with disabilities, free of charge. Their Wounded Veteran Initiative provides service dogs to wounded veterans.

The Psychiatric Service Dog Society - A nonprofit dedicated to responsible Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD) education, advocacy, research and training facilitation. They provide essential information for persons disabled by severe mental illness, who wish to train a service dog to assist with the management of symptoms.

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Do You Know What Your Dog Is Saying?

Posted on November 7, 2011 by

Many dog owners claim they can tell exactly what kind of mood their dog is in based on the variation of their barks and other noises  And Dr. Ádám Miklósi confirms that yes indeed we can understand our dogs.

Under the guidance of Dr. Ádám Miklósi, of Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, a team of researchers conducted an intriguing field study regarding human understanding of canine noises.  Dr. Miklósi explains:

“Scientists used to think that barking is a random noise without any specific information or content; however, we have a different idea. Dogs might tell us something about anger, fear, happiness, despair. So these are basic emotions which I think humans might be able to recognize in the barking sound.”

As the basis of the experiment, Miklósi and his team acted out a variety of situations, which caused dogs to bark and then recorded those barks. A panel of individuals was then brought in to listen to the recordings and instructed to match barks to emotions. Below are a few excerpts from the study:

The Alone Bark – A team member tied a dog to a tree and walked away.  Participants said:

“That sounds like a dog asking for attention.”
“It’s anxious.”
“It’s sad; distressed.”
“Wants to be let off a chain or something like that.”

The Excited Bark – A team member got a dog excited by showing the dog a ball.  Participants said:

“I think that one’s playful.”
“Excitement.”
“It seems as though they’re actually asking their owner for something.”
“It sounds as if it may want a ball or a toy or something. She could be playing with it.”

The Angry Bark – A team member walked up to a house with a guard.  Participants said:

“Angry”
“That is a sound that she would make if she [my dog] saw somebody behind the fence walking along”
“It’s a stranger. I think it’s a stranger encroaching on her territory.”

Studies like Dr. Miklósi’s are not only helping to strengthen the bond between owners and their dogs, but also suggests that throughout the process of domestication, dogs have evolved their vocal compilation, especially to communicate with us. How so you ask?  A quick example is how dogs sigh when bored and whimper or whine when sad.  These are sounds not often heard in wild canines.

Since our domestic friends have evolved greatly to communicate better with us; perhaps we should make sure to listen well to them :)

Test your bark knowledge by listening to some barks and identifying their meaning:
The Meaning of Dog Barks

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