If you are dating someone with a pet, it’s important to steal both their hearts.

First Impressions

Prepare, prepare, prepare for that first meeting, says Allie Phillips, J.D., director of Public Policy for the American Humane Association, and an expert in the human-animal bond. Ask questions before meeting that all important part of your love interest’s world.  Show you care by finding out things like where does the animal like to be petted? What is the pet’s favorite treat? What kind of toys does the pet prefer?

Arrive with a favorite bottle of wine or six pack of beer and tie a special bow around a bag of treats or a new toy. A little preparation will go a long way in establishing a terrific relationship with your date and your date’s pet.

Do you have a funny pet/dating story?  Share it here…

The ASPCA® estimates that between 500,000 and 1 million cats and dogs in the United States are at risk of becoming homeless because of the continuing economic downturn. “According to national financial estimates, approximately one in 171 homes in the United States is in danger of foreclosure due to the subprime mortgage crisis,” said Dr. Stephen Zawistowski, ASPCA executive vice president.

If you consider that approximately 63 percent of U.S. households have at least one pet, this means hundreds of thousands of pets are in danger of being abandoned or relinquished to animal shelters across the country.

Since about 5 million animals enter shelters each year, the economy will surely add to these staggering numbers. If possible, adopt a homeless cat or dog, donate used blankets, towels or even tennis balls to your local animal shelter or rescue group. Volunteer to foster adoptable animals in your home until they are ready to go to their forever homes. If you have a friend in a tough financial situation, offer to help take care of a pet until conditions change.

Canadian Personal Pet Chef

As if you didn’t already think you weren’t already a personal hand maid to your pets, a Canadian company is offering to cook safe, nutritious pet meals for pets. Karen Fraser and Tabitha Chapman have launched Trust Pet Cuisine using only fresh, local, organic, human level ingredients in every meal. “While your cats and dogs enjoy our Chicken Cacciatore or Quiche-on-a-Leash, you enjoy peace of mind,” Fraser says. Too bad there isn’t a company like this around the corner from your home, huh?

For more information about The Trust Pet Cuisine meals, go to www.trustpetcuisine.com or call (416) 955-1551.

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center recently issued a warning that Brunfelsia, a common garden plant, (also known as “Morning, Noon, and Night” or “Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow”) is poisonous.

This ornamental plant, which thrives in the gardens of warmer climates, or year-round in pots, has fragrant flowers that bloom in a vivid purple and gradually change to lavender before fading to white. Although dogs seem to be most prone to chomping on the plant, don’t rule out curious kitties. Felines aren’t immune to temptation. Pets that consume any part of the plant can become ill within hours and develop gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea. Tremors, seizures and muscle rigidity resemble signs of ingesting the rodent poison, strychnine.

Brunfelsia toxicity can progress very rapidly to a potentially lethal situation, so it’s critical that pet owners seek immediate veterinary care. For a list of non-toxic plants, go to www.aspca.org/nontoxic.

Do you know of other common house and yard plants we should watch out for?  Please share what you know by commenting below.

According a recent poll conducted by the Associated Press and Petside.com, 67 percent of pet owners claiming that they comprehend their pet’s language. In addition, 62 percent think their pet understands what they are saying as well.

However, not all species are not created equal: 69% of surveyed dog owners insist their dogs understand them when they speak to them, in contrast to 50% of cat owners asserting that their cats understand what they are saying.  Gender also plays a role, as more women than men reported they are on the same wavelength.

About 71 percent of women think that their pets understand them most of the time, compared with just 53 percent of men. And when looking at it the other way around, 73 percent of women think they understand the utterances of their animals, compared to 59 percent of men. The AP-Petside.com poll was conducted from Dec. 3-8, 2008 and involved interviews with 1,129 randomly chosen pet owners. The poll has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.

Do you understand your pet?  Tell us your story about your pet communicating with you!

1. If in a traffic accident, move the animal to the side of the road, using slow, deliberate movements. You don’t want to scare the already frightened animal or worsen any injuries that your pet may have suffered.
2. Call a veterinarian. Do not administer fluids or food to the animal in case an anesthetic is needed, unless instructed by the veterinarian.
3. Stop any bleeding. For heavy bleeding, apply firm pressure with a clean towel or cloth.
4. If an animal feels cold due to shock, wrap a plastic bottle filled with warm water in a towel to avoid burning or overheating the animal. (Never put a hot water bottle directly against the animal.) Insulating material such as a rug, a thermal blanket, or even bubble wrap can be used.
5. If you suspect a fracture, a board can be used like a stretcher. And remember, any pet may bite when in pain. A thick towel wrapped around your arm and hands can help. A tie or soft rope can be used as an emergency muzzle or leash.

For more information, go to www.homeopetpro.com.

Pets will swallow the darnedest things. They say, “The cat swallowed the canary,” but what about a dog swallowing a pair of panty hose or a hearing aid? Veterinarians say it’s often the least suspected household items like dental floss, socks or underwear that pets can find appealing.

“While some objects can pass naturally, others have a tendency to become compacted or lodged in pets’ gastrointestinal tracts, resulting in pain, vomiting, or internal injury. In those cases, surgery may be an immediate necessity,” says Dr. Jennifer Mlekoday. It’s not just the big stuff, either, she says, even things that seem too small to do damage like a Barbie® shoe can obstruct the narrow portions of the small intestine – especially if stomach acid is unable to break them down. Even uncooked chickpeas have completely obstructed the intestine and required immediate surgery.

According to Veterinary Pet Insurance, these are the Top 10 Most Common Swallowed Objects, (from No.1 to No. 10): Socks, underwear, panty hose, rocks, balls, chew toys, corn cobs, bones, hair ties and sticks. Signs a pet may have ingested a foreign object:

*Repeated Vomiting or Dry Heaving

*Sensitive or bloated stomach, pain to the touch

*Continued stretching or attempting to get comfortable

*Extreme Lethargy

*Not eating

Pet owners who suspect their pet has swallowed a foreign object should immediately bring the animal to the vet. A fast diagnosis and treatment lead to fewer complications and quicker recoveries for pets in trouble. Take a good look around the pet’s environment, using the pet’s point-of-view. Also, watch the sidewalk when out for a stroll. Look for discarded wrappers, Popsicle sticks, and even half-eaten fried chicken meals.

Cat people worship felines like pharos; dog people talk to hounds like people according to research that shows cat and dog people really are different. “Our studies have shown that there are some interesting differences between cat owners and dog owners,” says James Flanigan, head of marketing at the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

Among the findings are single people are more attracted to cat ownership, while dog owners are married with children. According to the survey, 67 percent of dog owners are married compared to 61.8 percent of cat owners, and 52.6 percent of dog owners are families of three or more, compared to 47.0 percent of cat owners. The data also shows that 82.7 percent of dog owners made at least one annual visit to a veterinarian with their pets, compared to 63.7 percent of cat owners.

There are more cats, 81.7 million compared to 72.1 million dogs, but there are more dog owners, 43 million compared to 37.5 million cat owners. This is because cat owners are more likely to have more than one cat. The AVMA conducts surveys of pet owners every five years, and publishes the results in the U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographic Sourcebook. For more information, go to www.avma.org/reference/marketstats/sourcebook.asp.

Here are a few tips to ease the sneeze of allergy season. If you think that you or a member of your family has allergies, go to a specialist who can determine the

exact cause of the symptoms and help alleviate them. Create an allergen-free room. A bedroom is often the most practical space because it allows for eight hours

of freedom from allergens every night. Consider purchasing hypoallergenic bedding and pillow materials.
Limit the amount of fabrics in your home. Allergens collect in rugs, drapes and upholstery, so try to eliminate them from your home. If you choose to keep

some fabrics, then steam-clean them regularly. Clean the litter box frequently, using low dust, perfume-free filler.  Vacuum frequently using one equipped with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate arresting) filter or a disposable electrostatic bag.

An air purifier fitted with a HEPA filter can also make a big difference in removing allergens from the air, and remember to let in some fresh air daily. Clean your pet, but not too often. Bathing your cat will remove allergens that accumulate in fur, but can dry out the skin.

You can also try wiping your pet with a product formulated to prevent dander from building up and flaking off into the environment. Ask your veterinarian to suggest one that is safe to use on animals that groom themselves. Don’t forget that frequent brushing or combing your cat will help keep allergens at bay.

Do you have any tips for living with pets when you have allergies?  Share them in the comments field below..

Hello,

Welcome to our new Odor-B-Gone Pet Owners Blog!

We have so much to say besides how to eliminate pet odor, that we have decided to start a blog.  Our first entries will begin in May 2010 and we plan to continue to post regulary about twice a month.

Don’t worry!  Our popular “Whiskers” newsletter is here to stay!

In fact, we have created an archive of the past issues so that you can search for topics you like, and refer back to some of the great tips, facts and advice.  Please feel free to add your comments, share your pet stories, and tips, too!

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Dave

President, Odor-B-Gone