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February is National Pet Dental Awareness Month

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 at 11:44 pm

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February is National Dental Awareness Month and my local veterinarian just sent me a coupon for $30 off of my dental cleaning. I have a friend named Angel who will be taking advantage of this offer. She doesn’t know it yet but her pet parent thinks her kisses smell bad and she wants to freshen her breath by having her teeth cleaned.

According to the Healthy Pet report, dental disease affects 85% of dogs and cats over the age of 2. Even though there are many pet products out there like toothpaste, oral gels and rinses, pet parents today resist putting a toothbrush or finger brush inside our mouths. If you live in a multiple pet household, be patient while you are waiting in line. You may be able to sneak off and hide if you really don’t like the process.

Here are 9 reasons why you should have your teeth cleaned by a veterinarian:

Your teeth turn yellow
Your gums can become swollen or inflamed from plaque and tartar buildup
You may have gingivitis if your gums are red or bleeding
You may have oral pain
You may not be chewing your food very well
You may not want to eat
You may be drooling excessively
You may have loose or broken teeth
No one wants your kisses anymore

Your pet parent may think that by giving you raw bones, your teeth will stay clean. What they may not realize is that you have cracked or broken a tooth on a bone. Infection can set in and cause you a lot of pain.

Enzymatic chews, rawhides, porkhides, and dental toys may help you keep your teeth clean. Your pet parent may even scale your teeth periodically to clean the tartar. However, it is extremely difficult to get to our back teeth when we are awake, no matter how cooperative we are.

The truth is, studies show that as many as 80% of us dogs and 70% of those *x! cats develop signs of periodontal disease or gingivitis before we reach 3. Bacteria can get into our bloodstream and cause damage to our heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. Oral disease is almost entirely preventable.

If I haven’t convinced you yet to have your pet parent schedule a dental appointment for you, then listen to my story. My pet parent scaled my teeth periodically. The vets were never concerned about the condition of my teeth whenever I went in for my exams. Even when I was under anesthesia for repairs after being attacked by other dogs, no one picked up on anything wrong with my teeth.

It wasn’t until I was almost 8 that my vet insisted that it was time for a dental cleaning because I had a strange odor coming from my mouth that was not the smell of cat poo or some other disgusting tidbit that I scooped up on the way into the office.

Plague buildup

Periodic dental scalings were not enough to keep the plague and tartar from building up on my teeth.

Yellow Teeth Ruin a Pretty Smile

A Cracked Tooth Was Removed

No one could see that I had a cracked tooth until I was “under” and they could open my mouth as my jaw relaxed.

Dental Cleaning Removes Plague and Tartar

Almost Pearly White Again After Dental Cleaning

I Have My Smile Back!

This is a big improvement!

People can see my pearly whites again!

All I can say is, find a caring veterinarian with an excellent staff and have your pet parent schedule a dental cleaning for you this February National Dental Awareness Month. Then you can celebrate having a beautiful smile once again once your cleaning is done! Have your pet parent leave a comment on your normal dental routine…we’d like to know how you keep your teeth pearly white.

Living in the moment,

Schatzi

Pet Companion to animal lover Amelia Johnson

Why Do Pet Sitters Sit?

Monday, January 30th, 2012 at 2:28 am

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This Kitten Plays With His Pet Sitter

Has your pet parent ever hired a pet sitter? Was the pet sitter a family member or a professional pet sitter? If they were a family member, then they either love you to pieces or your pet parent exchanges pet sitting duties when your “family” pet sitter needs some time spent with their pets. Sometimes these arrangements work, sometimes they don’t…depends on how even the requests are for time with you or the pets in your family circle.

So Why do Professional Pet Sitters Sit?

Many pet sitters get the bug for sitting by taking care of family and neighborhood pets. They find that they can work their visits with the pets around their current job. My pet parent started as a teenager taking care of the neighborhood cats. This was long before pet sitting became a recognized pet business by Pet Sitters International and the National Association of Pet Sitters back in the 1990′s.

Today, you will find many college students pet sitting to help with expenses. Professionals such as groomers and veterinary technicians add pet sitting services to supplement their income. Pet sitting is one of only a few businesses that allows a person to work on a flexible schedule.

If a pet sitter sticks to their own neighborhood and friends, the cost of doing business can be quite low and they can keep their fees low. They can walk to your assignment and work from home scheduling appointments. Once their territory expands though and they become a professional, the expenses add up and so do their fees to your pet parent. Professional pet sitters have to add in the car expenses, insurance, bonding, supplies, marketing materials, pet sitting association memberships and more.

Pet sitters get paid to exercise! This does not necessarily mean that every pet sitter is lean. Busy pet sitters tend to grab fast food throughout the day to keep them going, especially during the holidays. Dog walkers have a better chance of keeping the pounds off and the muscles strong than the cat sitters do…at least that’s my observation.

Hobby pet sitters earn just enough to support their hobbies…which usually revolve around pets, of course. Pet sitters who are insured and well trained can earn a very lucrative income, mainly in large metropolitan areas. The recent downturn in the economy has slowed down the pet sitting industry in areas where big businesses are tightening their belts and as people travel less due to gas price increases.

The most compelling reason pet sitters sit is simply because they love animals. These people would pet sit for free if they could. Their reward is the unconditional love that they receive from the pets. We pets rarely complain unless we have to take medicine in a form we don’t like or we are expected to pee when it’s pouring down rain outside.

Schatzi Enjoys Taking a Nap

I have always loved my pet sitters. I have had fun playing ball and taking long walks while my pet parents have been out of town. I enjoy staying in my own home where I can nap when I want without having to listen to a dog in the next kennel carry on at a boarding facility because he misses his pet parents.

I am glad that pet sitters sit for the love of us pets! Does your pet parent hire a pet sitter, call on family or take you to a kennel? Have your pet parent leave a comment…

Living in the moment,

Schatzi

Pet Companion to animal lover Amelia

The Secret of Cat Advertising

Friday, January 27th, 2012 at 12:13 am

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Sneaking Up While Hanging On

The secret is out about CAT ADVERTISING. An ad agency in Toronto is using cats in videos as a business tool. I wonder how that works…The cat outside my sliding glass door not only torments me, but keeps me entertained throughout the day. Perhaps this agency is onto the magnetic attraction that we all have to cats…whether we want to have it or not.

Kittywood Studios started in 1994 and mass produces cat videos on the web. Somehow though I can’t imagine cats actually working at advertising in commercials. The producers have to be very creative with their storyboards. Cats have a way of showing up in odd places or not showing up at all. I’m sure you’ve heard that cats take messages and get back to you later. I wonder if these cats have agents?

I was disappointed to see that some of the cat videos that I have been watching on YouTube were actually created by Kittywood…here I thought these were videos put up randomly by owners that were owned by super funny cats like this one:

These cat videos can be very powerful in advertising. They certainly hold our attention. Some of them even brighten our days. We will leave you with a hug in this pet video:

So do you think cats or dogs are better in commercials?

Living in the moment,
Schatzi
Pet Companion to animal lover Amelia

Pets Take Action After More Dog Treat Warnings

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011 at 5:17 pm

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Does your pet parent react with fear when they hear about more dog treat warnings? A recent warning involves chicken jerky treats from China. These may also be sold as chicken tenders, chicken strips or chicken treats. FDA officials said that the number of illnesses reported has gone up from the 54 reports filed in 2010 to 70 so far this year.

Only 70 reports of illness, you say? What if you are one of the 70? Have you lost your appetite? Has your energy level decreased to the level of only rolling over? Are you recycling your food or gushing with urgency? Are you thirstier and watering the grass more often? Have you been diagnosed with diabetes when, in fact, you may have Fanconi syndrome? If you have been fed those questionable treats, stop and consider a trip to the vet if you don’t start feeling better within 24 hours.

My pet parent took action years ago, even before dog treat and dog food warnings were in the news. I am benefiting by eating food and treats that are carefully made with a purpose in mind…and it’s not all about the money!

I can recommend a healthy alternative to you with our Holiday Gift Basket for dogs.

Holiday Gift Basket

It comes complete with an assortment of our most popular treats. When I’m looking a bit fluffier than usual, I eat wholesome hearts. When my teeth need a light cleaning, I eat the gourmet dental treats and chew on the porkhide bones. The antioxidant health bars chase those pesky free radicals away. When I am really super good at performing, I earn some Tasty Rewards.

Holiday Gift Basket for Cats

If you have a cat or cats in the house, have your pet parents order the Cat gift basket. They might stop ambushing your tail while you are dreaming if they learned that your pet parents heeded the warnings because of your health concerns.

If your pet parent would like to report a potential pet-treat-related illness from tainted treats, have them take action by filing a complaint at the FDA website.

Ask your pet parent to change the kind of treats that they give to you or your family feline so that your family can enjoy a happy holiday season. Give us your feedback.

Living in the moment,

Schatzi

Pet Companion to animal lover Amelia

Pet Holiday Greeting Cards add a Personal Touch

Monday, November 21st, 2011 at 2:52 pm

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Greeting cards that feature pets definitely add a personal touch to the the holidays. These cards are also a great way to grow any kind of business. With postal rates going up and service delivery going down, the number of holiday cards seem to be dwindling as pet parents are pushed for time and money. Inboxes are full so not even E-cards provide the perfect solution to showing people how much you appreciate their friendship throughout the year.

My pet parent found a great way to send postcards and greeting cards to our clients…not only can my picture be on the front of the card, but their pet’s picture can be inside the card…or the other way around…I tend to think life is all about me, so forgive the slip of the words there.

It's ALL about Me!

Instead of sending “cookie-cutter cards,” we can send out our personalized cards at a very reasonable price…which is amazing since this system that we use also comes complete with a Contact Manager. This enables us to have our client’s information on file so that we can send them a greeting card quickly at any time of the year while we are sitting at the computer. We can even send the same card to a number of clients or members of the dog kennel club at the same time. This permits my pet parent to have more time to play with me since this company prints the cards and mail them for us…all for about $1.00 per card.

We would be happy to show you how you can use our web site to send your customized greeting cards from the comfort of your home. If your pet parent is not at all creative or just lacks time to be, they can chose from thousands of cards already in the card library.

I must tell you though, that if you tell your pet parents about this and they chose to use this system to save themselves time and money, I will earn some money to buy more treats for my friends at the Frostburg Dog Park. I am a dog with a job that has fringe benefits. Your pet parents can earn commissions by sending greeting cards too…imagine that! Dream big…perhaps a huge bone or new bed or your own hydrotherapy pool!

Oh, and I almost forgot to tell you the other nifty thing about this holiday greeting card system that we use. We can send gifts to our friends and clients too! We send gifts to the veterinarians and groomers that refer business to us. Sometimes we send candy and sometimes we send pet treats.

Happy Thanksgiving

This picture is on the front of my Thanksgiving card. Isn’t it cute?

Pet greeting cards can be created in advance for every reason and every season. Some pet parents really get carried away with their pet pictures and create lots of cards. When it comes to letting people know that you care, there is nothing better than a greeting card or a gift that they can actually hold in their hands. Just think of all the fun you can have too by opening the gifts for them! If you have a reputation for being naughty by shredding paper, your pet parent can take a picture of you shredding the card and making you a poster pet on a greeting card!

If your pet parent is thinking about the chore of sending greeting cards this holiday season, have them check us out at PersonalTouchContacts.com for a quick and easy way to take action, to keep old friends and to make new friends.

Come back here and tell us about your photo session for your greeting cards…remember you get lots of treats for smiling!

Living in the moment,
Schatzi
Pet Companion to animal lover Amelia Johnson

Digging Into BlogPaws 2011 Treasures

Monday, September 12th, 2011 at 10:54 pm

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I’ve been digging into the BlogPaws 2011 treasures that my pet parent brought home from this gathering of pet bloggers. I am a discerning watchdog so Amelia took me along to keep her company. I also networked with the other pets, boned up on my social skills, and had some fun…actually the ferrets provided entertainment for me during some of the same sessions that we were in together.

BlogPaws 2011 was sandwiched in between the East Coast Earthquake and Hurricane Irene…which explains why some of the speakers never made it in or others had to leave early. We arrived Thursday, just in time for the Welcome Reception. The Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner welcomed pets in all of the educational sessions, general sessions, exhibit areas AND MEAL AREAS!! Of course, Amelia was required to fill out a Pet Waiver for me. A complimentary Pet Park and pet sitters were available too.

Friday morning’s Keynote was by Rescue Ink. Their message was both serious and humorous…and they made my tail wag.

Joe Panz, Amelia, Schatzi, and Big Ant

After meeting the Fire Safety dog Tango

Tango - Fire Safety Dog

and Travelin’ Jack,

Travelin' Jack

we listened to their pet parents Dayna Hilton and Jill Lane talk about leveraging niche blogging. Those lucky dogs get to travel everywhere with them. They even have their own products to promote their message. Cool.Our next stop was to meet Dino Dogan, the co-founder of Triberr to learn about Reach, Relevance, Design and Presentation. I don’t know what all this fuss is about tribes when most pet parents say we travel in packs…but Amelia understood the value of his message. I slept through it.

: Dreaming about Relevance

We had time for two more breakout sessions on Friday so we attended WordPress Tips & Tricks with Nikki Jeske of

Design Coyote

followed by StumbleUpon with Vijay Vachani, Business Development Manager for

StumbleUpon.

I think that is where I stumbled upon some of my own entertainment in the form of sleeping ferrets nesting in bags.

Ferret Entertainment

After snacks, cocktails for pet parents, and more networking, we were invited to the FIRST press screening in the country for Disney’s Spooky Buddies! Many of us dogs in the audience followed the action on the big screen and barked along when the puppies needed some assistance on Halloween night. I also watched the security guard at the front of the room to make sure he didn’t come to close to Amelia. He was one big dude! Amelia and I had our picture taken with Robert Vince, the Director, Producer and Writer of Spooky Buddies. He was sincerely interested in the feedback from the pet bloggers. Amelia got to hold one of the Spooky Buddies while I stayed with one very pretty lady who gave me an awesome neck rub.

Amelia & Schatzi with Robert Vince of Spooky Buddies

Amelia with a Spooky Buddy

Fresh popcorn had been served during the movie and pizza was served after the movie. No one went to bed hungry that night.

Heidi Ganahl, the Top Dog at

Camp Bow-Wow

was the Keynote speaker on Saturday morning. She found her purpose and overcame her grief after a personal tragedy put her on a journey that has been a blessing for pet parents and pets alike.

Then we learned how to Unleash Our Inner Movie Producer with Kenn Bell of

The Dog Files.

The Dog Files

One of Kenn’s dogs left the session with the pet sitter while his other dog slept through it…she’s heard it all before…

Dreaming about Dog Files

Our next session was about No Blog Being an Island. With Irene coming in, getting an internet connection was proving to be tricky but Felissa Elfenbein of

Two Little Cavaliers

persevered and the room full of people learned about topics such as Linky Lists, BlogHops, and other ways to grow blog traffic.

No Blog is an Island

Every Picture Tells a Story was the last session we attended with Brett Chisholm, the photographer for

LIFE + DOG.

Brett shared tips that we have yet to implement but we certainly hope that you have enjoyed the pictures in this blog post. We are grateful that pet bloggers will continue to bring out the Best of Pets.

How do you like my ghost costume? Do you think I would make a good Spooky Buddy for the Spooky Buddies?

A Natural Ghost Appeared at Spooky Buddies Premier!

Saturday morning, along with our room receipt, we received a letter from the Director of Operations and the Sheraton Team. The letter made us aware of the emergency preparations that were underway in preparation for Hurricane Irene’s arrival in the Washington DC area on Saturday evening, August 27th. Luckily, we drove, so we stayed to within two hours of Irene’s arrival. We sure didn’t want to miss dinner and only missed Saturday night’s networking. The remaining pet bloggers were either stranded there or chose to stay and party…Woofie Woo!

Living in the moment,
Schatzi
Pet Companion to animal lover Amelia Johnson

How Well Do You Know the Animal Rescue Organization That You Support?

Tuesday, February 15th, 2011 at 12:24 pm

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How well does your pet parent know the animal rescue organization that they support with their money…or their time? Have they met the Director of the organization(s) or do they just send in money because a celebrity supports the cause?

Pets are placed with rescue organizations for many reasons. Owners may seek them out as an alternative to shelters that are conditioned to euthanizing older or special-needs animals. They may feel that more effort will be made by the organization to place that pet with a suitable family than what they could do as an individual. Perhaps the owners are moving and cannot take the pets with them. Perhaps the owner has died and made provisions for their pets to be placed in rescue upon their death. In these cases, often times, the owners will also financially support the organization as efforts are made to place their pets.

Another scenario is when pets are rescued from an abusive situation. News reports highlight the abuse and support often flows in for veterinary care. An experienced owner is then sought to create a safe atmosphere for the recovery of this pet who may be fearful of trusting anyone again.

We have known of rescue organizations that have adopted very few pets out. Perhaps the pets are unadoptable or perhaps the director decides that no home other than hers is suitable for the pets. There is a fine line here on the intent of the organization, especially if it is a one-person setup. We heard of one lady who interviewed a stay-at-home pet owner with a fenced yard and a background of regular vet care and obedience training for his dogs who still turned him down when he wanted to adopt a pet in her care. To add insult to injury, she trounced through his immaculate home with muddy boots! Needless to say, word gets out and support went down for her “efforts.”

Oftentimes, a rescue organization starts out self-funded. We have known of boarding kennels that open up a space for healthy animals until they can find new homes. Although they may not officially become a rescue organization themselves, they will “shadow” an organization in this way.

We personally know of another boarding kennel that supports their non-profit Ark of Hope Rescue. They have taken in dogs, cats, goats, birds and abused animals over many years. Others in the community have helped them raise money to cover veterinary expenses and provided food and supplies to care for the pets. This is a family effort but volunteers have always been welcome to care for the pets and this no-cage facility.

The Director of the Ark of Hope Rescue, Diane Care, also educates the public at the local county fair, in schools and at fund-raising events. In 2010 alone, Ark of Hope rescued 275 dogs and puppies and 123 cats and kittens through their efforts. They stay in touch with the pets that have passed through their doors.

If you would like to adopt a pet through Ark of Hope Rescue, you may view their pets on Petfinder.

Watch this pet video to find out more about Ark of Hope Rescue.org: