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!

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.

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?

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.

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!

Why do we find it funny when we see a guy talking to his dog on a TV commercial and yet we never try it at home? The reason might lie on our subconscious telling us “What would people think! You talking to an animal?” But really, between you and me, who cares? The only thing that matters is how open are you to enhance the relationship between you and your pal(s), especially now that a new year is upon us. Let’s call it a fresh start. Here, try this short exercise:

1. Sit down and make a list of the 10 words that best describe how you feel about your friend. Don’t make it too elaborate – just simple words like candid, peaceful, hyperactive… Write them down on a piece of paper that is not too big (index card size is perfect).

2. Place yourself right in front of him/her, setting down the piece of paper either to your left or right – the critical thing is that you put the paper at the right distance for you to be able to read it but out of the way to avoid making any noise that may cause your pal to lose focus.

TIP: If this is your first time, the excitement caused by their curiosity on what’s going on may cause you to lose your temper. Don’t yell or get mad, believe me, for them this is new but exciting. Just wait for calm factor to settle in before you continue to the next step.

3. Now look at your friend straight in their eyes, slowly place your hands on each ear, and slowly begin massaging the tip following a circular motion. Do this for at least 1 minute on each ear. After this, start telling your companion the 10 words you came up with earlier using a soft tone of voice. Space words out by 30 seconds or you’ll just be barking stuff out to them.

BEWARE: You’re now talking to your pal so to some people you’re officially a “freak”. Never mind them. Carry on.

4. If you followed the steps above, you’ve established a basic level of communication with your friend for at least 3 minutes now. Their span of attention is deteriorating rapidly so it’s time to wrap this exercise up: After the tenth word, continue massaging for 1 more minute.

5. Finish with a kiss on his/her forehead.

Establishing a true connection with your pal is the first step toward good parenting. They do know how to read and understand us, why don’t we take the time to do the same?

Animal communicators (here is an excellent one that I can’t go on a day without reading her feeds!) are experts at this but you can do it by simply following this simple exercise at least three times a week. I know, I know, you probably hate schedules as much as I do… but the trick here is for your pal to get used to it and ASK for it. You’ll notice a big difference by the 10th session; I’ve tried this with all my companions and it works both ways: gives them a sense of security, gives you a feeling of completeness as a parent. Go ahead, call me a freak… I don’t care (and hope you don’t either!).

If there is any time during the year when keeping the four-legged member of the family pack in some extra pounds is now. Parents, listen up: this is not the time for dieting.

The cold during the winter months do take a toll on our pals, especially when going outside either for a walk or just for a five-minute run to the bathroom. As responsible parents we need to take the appropriate measures to protect our companion from head to paws by following simple rules and logic actions during this season.

We’ve all heard about it again and again: the coat, the boots, the powder for the paws (Doghobbyist has a great article on this); but most of us never stop to think about fat. Really, who does?

Well, when thinking about fat we’re not talking about the jelly-like stuff you see every day on the Food Network. It is really the good stuff that by keeping some of it in – not too much though – enhances the natural way your dog’s body protects itself during cold weather. However, it’s not about feeding your pal more during these months but rather preserving the fat ratio he/she currently carries to keep their internal temperature as stable as possible. You can achieve this the easy, inexpensive way by dropping some olive oil in their food (as a rule, 1 tablespoon per 30 pounds) or purchasing prime fatty acid supplements (liquid is better to digest) from your local store. Our recommendation is going with the olive oil since you can accurately control the serving size since supplements usually follow a broad standard guide by weight that if not careful may provide too much fat content to your friend. Remember, there are fatty ingredients already present in their food and overfeeding may cause complications that you don’t want like digestive distress or obesity (see below and you’ll know when it’s too late).

Another common mistake is that we worry too much about conditions outside and forget that winter health problems usually start inside our homes. The heated, dry air circulating through the rooms is the main culprit of dry skin and hot spots, conditions that are hard to catch on time and avoid a trip to the vet. Again, preserving the fatty oils levels is probably one of the simplest ways to keep that ratio in place. Another (but more expensive) option is to increase the humidity inside your home by using an electric humidifier – we’ve also heard they have many other good uses around the house but Santa forgot it again this year. Either way you go, just keep in mind that by following this simple practice during the next 90 days will save your pal from uncomfortable situations and your wallet from taking another hit (Holiday expenses were good enough, won’t you agree?).

If you’re one of those like me that trust your feline pal to go outside and wonder around the neighborhood just so they can satisfy their need for adventure, please, think again.

At the pet clinic I work at I see cases like you wouldn’t believe on a daily basis. Well, today I just happened to witness a pet parent bring in his cat that was having trouble breathing. A big but ordinary case, we all thought at the same time while we started running tests. Everything came back normal and just like that, we all started scratching our heads at the same time trying to come up with a reason for his agonizing intent to breathe. The scientific side of me found interesting that every time he tried to breathe, a bubble formed under the skin by his ribs.So we ran an X-Ray and found out the muscle tissue was ripped on his right side.  There was no signs of biting or blood, so, did it just decided to break today?

In less than 10 minutes we switched from “ordinary” to “extraordinary” case. Books were opened, calls were made, but nobody could offer a clear diagnosis on Pete.

I know that if you’re sharing your time with me is because you’re a responsible pet parent (otherwise, you’d be just surfing the Internet, not researching and learning from it). While doctors and assistants kept on looking for ideas – or should I say solutions? – to this case, I decided to talk to the 6’1″ human that trusted us with his friend’s health and hear him out. We started with the obvious: when was the last time he ate?, what about his vaccines?, have you seen him go potty recently?, and the like. But there was one thing that struck me: Pete was outside for 10 minutes before he found him in a corner of their garage, grasping for air. That has to be the missing clue to this puzzle, I thought.

And then it happened: Pete’s human mom called the clinic and said that the neighbor overheard a fight earlier and that their dog had scratches on his muzzle.

Pete’s skin bubble was caused by the neighbor’s dog apparently trying to play with him (and you know that tossing is probably the most appropriate term), and caused the muscle tissue that protects the rib cage to tear. You may know by now that everything inside our bodies have a place and a size to make our system work; the same goes with pets. This “bubble” caused the pressure inside Pete’s system to go nuts, making it hard for him to breathe normally since all organs are starting to come close and hit each other.

SO, next time you decide to let your cat out, think again. You definitely don’t want to see your pal fighting his or her own body to keep it working. And you most probably don’t want to end up at the hospital scratching your head with the staff and having to pay a bill that will make YOU grasp for air.

Satisfy your feline’s desire and innate needs for adventure inside the safety of your own home or apartment. There are hundreds of different toys out there for less than a $1 that, even if you buy one every day for a year, the total won’t even come close to half the bill I had to hand over to Pete’s dad today.

They are here again. A year has passed and we find ourselves less than two weeks away from the commotion and happiness of the climax phase for the 2008 Holiday season. Can you really believe we are up against this point in time again? It feels like it was yesterday when Milena opened frantically her 8-inch bone and Emma brought down the tree when she tried unsuccessfully to steal ‘Ger’s treats box. Ah, the Holidays.

You shopped, but did you protect?
It’s important as responsible pet lovers not to forget to keep everything safe for our four-legged kids during this season. In just a blink of an eye we could face an emergency that will either take us in the middle of the night to the vet’s office, receive and lament over a big invoice for their help, and in the worst of cases, destroy the joy of the season by saying goodbye to a member of the family.

I don’t intend to take time from your precious Holiday preparations by giving you a comprehensive guide on what to do. But this is what I share with other pet parents I know every year by making 4×4 cutouts and sending them with our Holiday cards:

1. Keep the human goodies with the humans. Bread, turkey, and cookies contain a high concentration of fats that are not good for any non-human invitee. It could lead to a serious inflammation of the pancreas known as pancreatitis. Macadamia nuts are a big NO-NO as well as they hind-limb paralysis, and candy (especially chocolate)… well, you get the point. Not worth the trouble to our friend for just 5 seconds of enjoyment, right?
2. No candles when kids are out of their hideouts. The bright light attracts them like flies to trash and bright flashes (a.k.a. fires) will follow.
3. Tack down all extension cords. We don’t recommend covering them as this could create a bigger problem for everybody in the house (short-circuits are the main triggers for Holiday fires). But by securing them with zip ties you’ll make sure they don’t go chewing or pulling on them.
4. Either hang your tree ornaments high out of reach, or get big wooden ones that can’t be ingested. It wouldn’t be a beautiful sight to get home and find your kid choking with a gold string hanging out of his mouth.
5. Another note on ornaments – replace the metal hooks with twine or yarn. If the ornament is big, they’ll probably go for the hook.
6. Put treats inside a plastic container and label with a Sharpie pen “APPROVED PET TREATS”. Show your visitors its location or keep it on the floor right beside the goodies table. What we usually do is let visitors know in a very subtle way not to feed our kids by posting a small sign on our refrigerator. Odds are everybody will walk by it and they’ll see the message. You can get the sign we made this year down.
7. Tinsel and angel hair – scratch them off right now from your decoration list.
8. Re-read numbers 1 and 6 above – wouldn’t it be easier just to keep Lady safe inside her room/kennel while you have visitors over?
9. Keep them warm and cozy. If you take them outside to do their business, keep an eye and bring them in as soon as they’re done. Cold temperatures could kill the joyful atmosphere by bringing your friend down with a cold. And by the way, stay away from baths.
10. You can get these Holiday plants but keep them outside or out of their way:
    • mistletoe
    • ivy
    • juniper
    • cedar
    • pine
    • hibiscus
    • poinsettias
    • There are others, and you can take a look at a very comprehensive list by PawPrints & Purrs

Along with this list, be sure to read what expert animal communicator Janet Roper has a shares on her site for you to keep Buddy safe for the next four weeks. An excellent resource for responsible parents.

This is what you need to do right now
Write down this number on a piece of paper, scribble “POISON CONTROL” at the top, and tape it to your refrigerator > (888) 426-4435

Also, get the Holiday sign we make each year with spaces for the vet’s office number and to let your visitors know your home is safe.
If your pal starts behaving oddly, chances are someone in your house didn’t follow the information on this post. Do not try to Google for “Is my pet poisoned?” or insist on treating the emergency by yourself – get a friend to get in touch with your veterinary and you call the number above to know what to do first hand before going to the vet’s office. The important thing is to stabilize your pal.

Do order your FREE Pet Safety Pack from the ASPCA and find out more on keeping your Holidays safe in 2008. A couple of clicks and you’ll get this kit along with important information on safety issues around your house.

hitting "bag" bottom

We talk about bailouts for the banks. We talk about bailouts for the auto companies. We’re even talking about bailouts for the Sock Puppet from Pets.com! But who’s going to bail out our four-legged companions from the downturn in this new economy world of ours. No answers on this one. Yet.

Reports keep coming in that pet parents are cutting corners everywhere they can to save some money and apparently the furry members of the family are next. PetSmart is telling everyone not to panic, that this will be temporary, but they’re starting to see their numbers go down this quarter. Even some are not stopping only at getting a less expensive food brand, they just went all-in and cut the plug from the top by surrendering their companion and putting them up for adoption.

Breaking down the numbers

Have you noticed the sudden spike in pet food prices during the last six months? We’re seeing a 14 to 15 percent increase from last year’s prices at the food aisle and noise is being created that this trend will continue during the first two quarters of 2009. This comes down to basic economics: cost of raw ingredients go up, retail prices go up.

Good news is that during bad economic conditions doesn’t mean Fido will start eating more because he’s depressed about the economy. As parents we just need to sit down, look at the numbers, and come up with a plan to make it work for him. Are you ready for it?

The key: Feeding the right amount. How much are you feeding your pal? Have you figured out the correct portions to use for feeding? Odds are that you are somewhat overfeeding without knowing it. If you’re not using a measuring cup and just pouring food on a plate by trusting your eyes you’re failing this first step. This is what you need to do as a responsible parent during these tough time:

1. Get a measuring cup. Most pet stores and vets give them away for free!

2. Calculate the exact portion (1/2 cup, 3/4 cup, 2 cups, etc.) and mark on the cup. This is very important – calculate portions based on your friend’s caloric needs. Most parents usually follow the instructions on the package which suggest feeding based on weight (easier to understand and sell). However, just by using a caloric calculator you can easily come up with safe guidelines for your dog/cat based on their activity level. This one for dogs is pretty accurate on its calculations; for cats, however, proper nutrition requirements vary and should be considered carefully. Here’s some interesting facts on this topic produced by The National Academies report on feline nutritional needs.

3. Keep the cup inside the bag (or close to the can) at all times. If you move it away, you’ll forget where you put it. Trust me on this.

4. Calculate how many portions you can feed from the bag/can.

5. Divide the cost of the bag/can by the portions you can feed from it.

6. Multiply this figure by the times you feed your dog/cat each day.

Here’s a much simpler formula to follow and tape to the wall where you keep the bag/can:

Hey, you did it! You just came up with the cost per day on feeding your friend. So, how much is it?

The point we’re trying to make is that people usually go changing and switch to lower quality brands in order to save some money (who are we kidding – it’s easier to blame it on the economy, right!). But if you already know the cost of your pal’s meal, can’t you just cut that extra cup of Joe at the cafe and pocket that extra cash to keep Fido happy with his favorite food brand? The amount you come up with is so insignificant compared to the happiness and well-being of your companion.

You know how much you spend at lunch each day. You know how much you spend on snacks each day. Do you know how much it cost to feed your pal each day?