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Curated

A Good Case of the Zooms: Video Chats with Pets

January 27, 2021 By Kelly Crompton Leave a Comment

Pets Curing Isolation One Video Call at a Time

I am so excited to talk about an organization a friend of mine in the Atlanta area turned me onto this week!

It’s called Pets Together, a program run through the Animal Farm Foundation, which offers several programs in service of both dogs and people. I am certain I will be revisiting their site many times to bring you information about how we can be great advocates for our dogs, combat breed discrimination, how dogs help those incarcerated, the benefits of service dogs, and more.

But for today my focus is on Pets Together. Over the years it’s become more popular to bring animals — usually dogs, though not exclusively — to nursing homes, children’s hospitals, and other similar places where people are in need of comfort and companionship.

Pet visits reduce anxiety, stir up happy memories, lower heart rate, reduce depression, and add a feeling of companionship, which is vital, particularly for people in isolation. Plus, upcoming animal visits give people something to look forward to.

Unfortunately, the pandemic has all but put a stop to many of these programs. At Pets Together, they got creative and embraced technology to give people and animals a way to still visit safely. They use video call services like Zoom and Skype.

From the sample pictures and videos I watched, volunteers have their dogs, cats, cows, goats — really any variety of pet — on video with them. Not always do animals actually look into the camera, but that’s part of the charm. We enjoy watching the little surprises. It makes us chuckle, and isn’t that what we’re all looking for?

In one of the video clips, a young man would play the harmonica, and his dog would “sing along” to it. In another, a young woman showed us one of her dog’s tricks.

Because these get-togethers aren’t in person, pets don’t need to be trained therapy animals. There’s no liability to be concerned with. It truly is solely about bringing a bit of joy to people who are otherwise pretty isolated at the moment. Plus, virtual visits open the door to a larger variety of animals as well as make volunteer opportunities more accessible for people who want to participate with their own pets.

Additionally, these visits are free. Pets Together is a nonprofit program, but of course they accept donations so they can keep this, and other wonderful programs on their larger site — Animal Rescue Foundation — running.

If you are interested in more information, want to volunteer with your own pet, or donate, please visit the Pets Together volunteer page and fill out an application.

In the meantime, tell me how animals have improved your own life, or what you’ve witnessed for others you care about. Drop a comment, come visit our community on Facebook, or even better — do both — and we love pictures!

Filed Under: Curated

Remembering Newtown and the Dogs Who Came to Heal

December 15, 2020 By Kelly Crompton 2 Comments

Remembering Newtown Therapy Dogs

Today I am remembering the victims of Sandy Hook. I cannot begin to imagine the depths of trauma the survivors and loved ones experienced, and are still experiencing. And while I should be thankful that I can’t imagine that, I am instead saddened that such tragedy even exists.

However, I AM thankful for the outpouring of compassion, love, and concern — which continues eight years later. I am thankful that therapy dogs were among the many strategies and tools used to help the people of Newtown.

This article, written a few months after the shootings, describes just how helpful therapy dogs can be to help navigate the emotions attached to such experiences.

…many of the Newtown officers wrote their reports about the shootings with a pen in one hand, and the other stroking a dog.

One thing adults and children alike have difficulty with is expressing all of the emotions involved with trauma. There are no words to adequately describe what they are dealing with. So without the vocabulary, how does one even begin to process, never mind heal?

This is where dogs shine. All dogs. But therapy dogs share a special affinity for instinctively knowing how to just be there. Merely petting a dog can bring one’s anxious, speeding heart rate back down. It can be easier to talk with a dog, because we know there is zero judgment. No pressure to feel better immediately. No advice given when our only need is to express our jumbled-up emotions, when we’re not ready to take anything in. We need to just let it out. There is only love.

Recent research has said that when [people] pet a dog, oxytocin is released, which causes people to feel relaxed and happy,” said Cynthia Hinckley, executive director of Bright Spot Therapy Dogs of Massachusetts, which visited Newtown High School one afternoon in December.

There are a great many stories of the bond between dogs and humans. Today I want to share this one. It’s an older article from that terrible time, but paints a picture of how therapy dogs from around the country swooped in to aid a school, an entire town, in need of comfort.

 

Filed Under: Blog, Curated

Caring for Fido’s Muscle Weakness

November 16, 2020 By Kelly Crompton Leave a Comment

Senior Muscle HealthMy Jackson turned 11 last month. He loves being around people and other dogs, and because he’s so patient, he’s a great companion for kids.

When little ones want to come up and pet him during our walks, I can allow it with total confidence that he will put up with pretty much anything. I always talk with children about how to properly approach a dog, especially one they’ve never met. We talk about not getting in their face or making sudden movements, etc.

But what’s wonderful about Jackson is that with many of these kids, I can then allow them to hug him. If they are listening well and paying attention to me, and the adult who is with them is comfortable with it, I let them know that Jackson is a special boy with a lot of patience who actually appreciates their attention and would love a hug. You should see a child’s face light up when they get to snuggle right in with my boy!

But as much as Jackson enjoys his walks, especially his off-leash hikes, he’s slowing down. He is beginning to lose muscle mass in his hips and back legs in particular. Stairs are increasingly difficult. So what can I do to help him? How do we take care of our aging dogs so they can continue their jaunts in nature and their playtime for as long as possible?

Animal Wellness magazine has a great article that explains the importance of muscle health, what atrophy is, how to prevent it, and what to do once it has already begun to set in.

In order to prevent atrophy and all of its side effects, like pain, weakness, and loss of vitality, it’s important for dog caretakers to make muscle health a priority.

Keeping an Eye on Diet and Exercise

First, always talk with your vet about proper exercise and nutrition. Usually, it is still very important to keep exercising your dog, even if the walks become slower and shorter. But you want to be sure you’re doing what’s best for your pup, and occasionally those walks might need to stop. Or become less frequent.

Jackson would go much further on our hikes in particular, but I know if I allow him to do too much, he will be sore for the next couple of days. While I hate telling him playtime is over, I know it’s what I need to do. I do forget from time to time, though. It’s just so fun to watch my old man fully enjoying himself.

After talking with my vet, I had to adjust Jackson’s diet a bit. While protein is vital, I was actually feeding him a diet that was too Fido's aging jointsrich in this nutrient for his activity, which affected his digestion a bit. That made him uncomfortable and also caused him to gain weight, which put more strain on his already aching back legs and hips.

There are some conflicting views about high protein diets for dogs, but what it really comes down to is the quality of the protein and your dog’s activity level. Much like humans, a working dog (like a sled dog, for example) will need more calories and protein than an older dog, or one that leads a more sedentary lifestyle. So make sure to pay attention to your dog’s behavior. She will tell you if something is off.

Supplements Might Help

Along with proper nutrition, some supplements can help keep a dog’s joints healthy, or help relieve pain and inflammation once they begin deteriorating and hurting a bit. Glucosamine and Chondroitin are commonly recommended, along with MSM (methylsulfonylmethane).

Certain fish oils, as well as turmeric, reportedly improve joint health as well. Just like everything else, always talk with your vet if you’re considering adding something new to your dog’s health and nutrition plan.

You may be wondering about CBD oil, since it seems to be sold everywhere these days and lots of people tout its physical and mental benefits for both humans and animals.

While I am all for natural remedies whenever possible, I personally haven’t had any experience with CBD, and not enough reliable testing has been done yet for me to feel comfortable offering an opinion either way. All I can suggest is you do your research to find a credible company that you have vetted, and discuss this option with your veterinarian.

Activity Level and Type

Next, I was concerned whether I needed to decrease Jackson’s activity. Was I harming him by still taking him for his favorite activity of off-leash hikes?

I asked my vet if I should just be allowing him a short walk around the neighborhood and leave it at that. Luckily for both of us, she assured me that Jackson should continue his exercise. She explained how it’s good for him, will help slow down muscle atrophy, and perhaps even help strengthen what he still had. I do, however, have to keep an eye on the difficulty of our hikes, as well as the distance.

If muscle loss has been confirmed, it can be addressed with exercise, nutrition, and supplementation. Together, they’ll help rebuild healthy muscle for better stability and mobility.

Jackson and Lillie Swimming
Jackson enjoying the water with his cousin, Lillie

Another wonderful activity to consider is swimming. It’s so much gentler on their joints, yet still allows them to use their muscles. And many dogs, especially labs, really enjoy the water. Jackson doesn’t dock dive (never did) or chase balls into the water these days, but he does love his leisurely swim in the nice, cool water, letting his body float.

Jackson will stop on his own when he’s tired, but I used to have an Irish Terrier who would try to go straight out to the middle of the lake, then be too tired to return to shore. Needless to say, that girl wore a canine life vest on her aquatic adventures. Either way, never leave your dog unattended, and be sure you have a way to bring them back in if they over-exert themselves.

If you’d like to read more about the health benefits of swimming for your dog, check out this article by Top Dog Health.

 

Filed Under: Blog, Curated

Great News for Pit Bull Lovers!

November 5, 2020 By Kelly Crompton Leave a Comment

Great News for Pit Bull Lovers

I was so excited when an acquaintance from another dog sitters’ page announced that Denver has lifted its ban on pit bulls!

(I realize pit bull isn’t an official AKC recognized breed, but is the common name for a group of breeds. But just give me this.)

As the article explains, for about three decades now, Denver had banned people from owning pit bulls. Yet in Tuesday night’s election, that ban was finally lifted with 64.5% of voters casting their ballots in favor of welcoming the breed back into their homes. The decision includes some provisions, such as requiring a special permit, a microchip, and as another article mentions, if there are no issues for a period of three years, then the individual dog can then be registered just like any other dog.

Most of  us who walk, board, or train dogs for a living recognize how ridiculous it is to outright ban any breed of dog. While the saying sounds trite, it’s true: it’s not the breed, it’s the owner.

Yes, some breeds tend to be easier to handle than others. And yes, you need to be aware of how confident a leader you can be, because dogs are pack animals. They listen to their Alpha. YOU are the Alpha. That doesn’t for one second mean you should be abusive in any way, only that you are the one who sets the rules, training, and boundaries. You must be consistent. But NEVER mean or aggressive.

Sadly, there are many pet owners who don’t understand how to properly train. Or they haven’t done their research before choosing the right canine companion for their lifestyle and temperament. Or both. THAT creates a perfect storm for behavioral problems. And of course, there are also situations in which terrible human beings have used these animals in rings to bet on fights.

But back to our sweet pit bulls. They are a smart, active breed that needs lots of exercise with both physical and mental stimulation. They are incredibly loyal and snuggly. The ones I’ve known can jump pretty high (I had one jump right up onto the counter when I was filling her water dish!) — and will do so as often as possible, on everyone possible, if allowed and not trained to have manners.

Agility work could be fun for both the dog and for the owner. They’ll get lots of physical and mental stimulation and get to jump! But in a controlled manner where they learn when it’s allowed, even encouraged.

Once you tire these sweethearts out, they will cuddle up as close to their human as possible for movie night. Just like most family dogs, they are intuitive and seem to recognize when their family members need extra kisses and pittie snuggles, and they are happy to bountifully dole them out.

It’s wonderful news that the people of Denver recognize that banning a breed isn’t the answer. Yes, they still have a few extra hoops for pit bull owners to jump through. But this is a fantastic start.

You can read more about the history of banning pit bulls in this National Geographic interview with Bronwen Dickey, author of Pit Bull: the battle over an American Icon.

Filed Under: Curated

Did Fido Try to Befriend a Skunk?!

October 21, 2020 By Kelly Crompton Leave a Comment

I recently discovered Jill from Living on a Dime, and although she is not focused on dogs like we are, if you have skunks in your area, you want this recipe on hand! I have used this many times (I got a similar one from my vet), and it definitely works better than anything else I have ever tried. And it’s likely you have all the ingredients already!

…things like tomato juice, vinegar, spraying with lemon, citrus, perfume or Febreze almost never work as skunk smell removers

This might actually work on a few other less than pleasing odors in your house as well, however, peroxide can bleach, so keep that in mind if you’re trying to ‘unstink’ a carpet or couch.

One thing to keep in mind, do NOT store this once you make it. The ingredients can explode in a closed container.

 

Filed Under: Curated

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