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And here’s another surprise for you: We moved to a bigger house!

Our Yorkie-sized pad (no offense to our miniature pals) was getting too small for us, so now you can find the same quality content at www.theravidapets.com ! This is only the beginning of exciting new ideas we’re brewing at our new home for 2009.

Thank you to all responsible parents that have followed us to this point and continue supporting our goal: enhancing connections between humans and their four-legged counterparts! 

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See you at TheravidaPets.com!

Fido may be what you call him, but loyalty is still their first name

Even when you don’t want to see anything else related to politics — inaugurations, balls, polls, Labradoodles — we’re still surrounded by it no matter where you go. It’s going to be a real interesting chapter in history, no doubt, and it will definitely be a test to our loyalty as a nation.

President Obama gathered a base of followers through all means possible: websites, wikis, door-to-door, Twitter, YouTube, TV, amongst a plethora of other tools and mediums that no other candidate ever thought about using before during their campaigns. But here’s the bottomline: gathering and keeping are two very different sides of this coin we call loyalty.

You can gather a friend by attending a conference, but keeping him as such will take a special effort from you if you believe in the relationship. Staying in touch and finding more about each other are some simple tasks one will do if interested in a person and if you continue doing so indefinitely it may label you as a true and loyal friend. And that’s what President Obama’s tactical leaders should be worried about: they were able to gather masses, but will they be able to keep them?

As a pet parent you were able to gather a friend when you decided to increase the number of family members at your dwelling. You probably visited your local pet shelter, talked to a friend, stopped at a pet store, or saw an ad in the paper. (Okay, now I’m interested: which one was it for you?). Now that was the easy part and you know you made a very good decision spicing up your life with a four-legged friend. Question is, will you be able to maintain the relationship young and full of life?

Ask yourself these three simple questions as a parent and you’ll be able to find out the level of loyalty you have toward your pal:

1. Making every moment count: Have you thought about how much time you have left with your pal?
2. Communication is the key: Do you connect with your pal through noise (aka words for us humans) and action?
3. Mutual understanding enhances the connection: Do you pay attention to what he/she is trying to tell you?

Examples abound on this special trait to make relationships flourish and last: the trait that makes this all possible is loyalty.

Don’t change the rules of the game if you don’t want to lose the game

It’s no science: animals are creatures of habit. Us humans as part of the animal kingdom share the same trait as our four-legged sidekicks. Imagine how hard it would be for you to keep track of your favorite TV show if it wasn’t on the same day and at the same time every week. We’re trained to be that way by society with the sole intention of keeping us organized (and focused) and we train our furry members of the family with the same goal in mind.

From day one we train the puppy to go outside and do his business at specific times: first thing in the morning, when we come back from work, and before we go to bed. We’re establishing a routine for them that even without the ability to read the time or even wear a watch, they are expected to follow until the end of days. Famous trainer Tamar Geller agrees that establishing a routine is critical when setting down boundaries and designing the foundation of your training.

If you take the TV show once again as an example, then consider this: how would you feel if you get home, take a bath, make dinner, and sit in front of the TV, plate in hand, waiting for your show to come on only to find out that it has been moved to another time slot. “Oh, the humanity!” rolls through your mind as chaos begins to settle in — somebody decided to change your routine without even having the dignity to consult with you first and now you’re in a panic-bordering-sad state.

Well the same thing applies to our furry friends when we all of a sudden don’t want to take them outside because it’s raining and you’re running late for work. As a responsible parent you know you need to but that involves drying their paws and waste more of your precious morning time, or simply risk it hoping you come back to a clean house in the afternoon. If you go for the latter, then you’re behaving just like that TV producer — changing someone else’s routine without their consent. My three words of advice: Don’t do it.

Would you explain this to me: how come you don’t get on the phone and voice your complaint over the schedule change but easily reprimand your pal if you come back to a soiled carpet? Pretty convenient for you, not so much for your companion.

In 2009 let’s put the dot on the i’s and take responsibility for our own decisions. Getting our friends used to a routine and then breaking it is not only confusing for them but also to you as it destroys that special connection that we all strive for as parents. Go ahead and be a producer of good things, just let your audience know about it. Now before you go, does your dog or cat get bored easily?

When it may be too late

You, reading these short lines, right now need to ask yourself a very important question: is your friendly companion really that important in your life?

If he or she is your inseparable soul, the magic energy behind your everyday life, then you need to commit yourself and realize that as a responsible parent their life is in your hands, 24 hours a day 7 days a week. This new year make a promise to that four-legged pal sitting in front of you and say to him/her: “I’m here for you”. This is payback — in a positive way.

The economy may be too of a pushing force that won’t allow you to sign an agreement for insurance, but you can lookout for your friend by just making sure you take the appropriate steps when something is going downhill. They’ll let you know, all you need to do is pay attention to the signs. Every day I come face to face with death in the eyes of a poor feline or a lonely pooch that was taken for granted and their human didn’t take action when needed. I ask for you not to make the same mistake and bring your friend to the vet’s office immediately if you notice any of the following:

1. Your friend hasn’t eaten anything in 24 hours — how would you feel if you skipped all three meals; breakfast, lunch, and dinner? Even if you’re on a diet you know you’re damaging your system. Something is damaging theirs and you need to do something about it.
2. Not drinking water for more than 12 hours — all living creatures need water; not to make the obvious even more obvious, but water is the life’s pillar. No interest in water is a major sign that something’s wrong. Renee at Small Dogs Paradise has a very complete article on why water is so important for well-being.
3. Vomiting for more than one day — come on, you throw up how many times a year? Is it normal to do it every 2 hours?
4. Blood in vomit or stool — another, are you kidding me! I can’t tell you how many times humans tell me “Oh, he’s been like this for 2 days”.
5. Not resting or resting for too long — if you suspect your pal is uncomfortable and unable to get some rest or on the contrary, spends the whole day in a corner, it’s time to get in the car.

Let’s make 2009 the year where all us humans really appreciate the joy and excitement our pals give us every day and do our share as responsible parents. It’s a shame when I have to witness the pain of putting a long-time friend to sleep because the cost of recovery passed the manageable limit for the parents. Take this with you: don’t wait until the last minute when it may be too late to stop destiny.

Was Santa the Naughty One?

Believe it or not but the vast majority of toys for both cats and dogs available on the market today are not safe at all for your four-legged companion. Think about it: they’re designed by humans to be sold to humans and the one that need to be grabbed is you, the being holding the greens.

As a responsible parent it’s important to check all those stocking goodies your pal got from Santa this year and making sure they’re not a threat to their health (or your wallet):

1. BALLS: Both plastic and fabric balls can cause serious problems if swallowed. They need to be of the right size. Most of us tend to buy balls because they look cute (who can resist all those flashy colors and shapes) but often forget to check if they’re big enough not to be swallowed by your dog or cat. The one thing you need to be careful about is checking that your pal plays and chews on it instead of trying to gulp on it (toy needs to be kept out of the mouth with no intent of closing jaws).
2. FRISBEES: Make the plastic test your priority by keeping an eye on its condition for the next few days. Toss it as soon as you see a piece of it missing. Most frisbee discs are fabricated using cheap materials (including melamine, a very toxic compound) that may cause serious gastrointestinal problems if swallowed.
3. SQUEAKY THINGAMAJIG: Is the thingy that makes the noise inside the toy secure? Almost all toys of this kind can be trouble, especially if they’re plastic. You need to be certain that it can’t be swallowed and that the inside components of the toy are not easy to get — check seams (if fabric) and absolutely return all those that enclose the noisy part with just a zipper.
4. RAWHIDES: We don’t recommend rawhides at all to any parents as big pieces can be chewed and swallowed, getting lodge inside the throat or digestive tract. Natural and soft treats are healthier, and if you’re looking for a teeth cleaning chew, there are excellent cookies and treats out in the market that will get the job done and keep you and your pal out of trouble.
5. VITAMINS: Hundreds of them; you find them anywhere. But the most important thing to remember is that an overdose of a particular vitamin may pose a big threat to your friend’s well being. Check with your vet during your next visit if that bottle with 200 tablets inside is right for your pal. Make a list of the vitamins and the dose provided by the food you’re feeding him/her and complement, don’t overdo it.

There are dozens of other goodies that your pal may have gotten from Santa and you need to do your part to make sure this New Year is full of happy and memorable moments, not bills and worries. Here’s to a great 2009!