Wanted to pass this along to all Pet Parents who are planning to travel with their pets this summer.  Now there is a free phone service you can call that can assist you to the nearest emergency Vet Clinic where ever you are.  This service is free until the end of summer, through Labor Day, Sept 6th.  Check this out for more information from The Veterinary News, “Free Phone Service Connects Travelers to Nearest ER Vet Clinic”.

My name is Dr. Ruan Bester, and my goal is to help you, the pet owner, improve your knowledge of your pet’s everyday needs and health care through a variety of pet services and veterinary resources. 

 

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Advantage: This is topical oil that you can place on your dog or cat to kill fleas. It does not kill ticks. It is applied the same way as Frontline. I have found this to be extremely effective against the fleas, more so in my experience than Frontline. If you do not have a tick problem in your area, this is a great product. I use this on nearly all of the cats with flea problems.

Pros: Very effective in killing fleas quickly; relatively easy to apply. No bathing restrictions.

Cons: Does not kill ticks. Topical, so you have to have some concern with young children (need to keep the children away from the application spot for a day or so).

Designed as a flea control/preventive product.

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Revolution: This is the newest anti-parasitic product that has come out. It has some effectiveness against fleas, ticks, some internal parasites, heartworm in cats and dogs, sarcoptic mange, and ear mites. It is also a topical that you can apply similar to the other products. We have now had enough time to evaluate the product and it works quite well. It is very good for use in pets that have multiple problems such as ear mites and fleas, and is the easiest way to prevent heartworms in cats. So in many puppies and kittens, this has become our first line of defense. I think we will find this to be revolutionary in helping prevent the often fatal heartworm disease, especially in our feline friends.

Pros: Effective against a lot of parasites; easy to apply.

Cons: Topical, so you have to keep the kids away from the area of application on the first day.

I am very pleased with the results of this relatively new product!

As always, I’m happy to help your pet…and their people, too.

Dr. Ruan

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to elephantjournal.com for putting together this adorable story, and to Sarah Wilson for posting it on her Fan Page for all of us to enjoy! It’s just a really cute story that makes you stop what your doing and watch how animals are so incredibly amazing!!  And, plus, this ones puts a big smile on your face, especially for the ”Mom”!  A true story about a Mother Duck in Spokane Washington.

 

 

 

 

I am sure there are alot of you Pet Parents out there who have Pups that get really scared with loud noises! My first experience was FRIGHTING!!  On one Fourth of July, my 80lb German Shepherd  became so freaked out he went through our car window that was barely open half-way!  Here is a really great article by Dee with balanceddogs.com, giving you great ideas and tips to help with this upcoming 4th of July!  When July 4th Stopped Being Fun

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you (again) to Sarah Wilson for posting this AMAZING story on her Fan page!  This story is about animals going against nature and purposely seeking each other out, truly unbelieveable!  Have a look at this video, guaranteed to warm your heart and put a smile on your face forever!  Animal Odd Couples: Unlikely Duos Find Friendship

We are so excited to share our great review from Susannah at The Funky Monkey Blog!  Makes us very happy here at petLINENS when we read her comments such as, “It has to be the best bed we’ve owned to date. I am very pleased with its quality and appearance. Our dog bed looks like it was custom made just for us!” 
Check out The Funky Monkey Blog to read our review and enter to win one of our Bed Sets (2 covers + 1 cushion) style and size of your choice!  Giveaway ends May 13th, 2010.

                *** We’ve got a Winner – Congratulations to Mona from California!! ***

For all the “Newfies” out there, coming up in May (22nd)  is the 7th Annual Newfiepalooza Fundraiser Event. This year it is being held in Chicago, Illinois by a 3000 strong non-profit group of Newfoundland dog owners!  Many of their members have their own Newfs trained in search & rescue, water rescue, therapy, cart pulling, grooming and showing, as well as other things.  Members and their Newfs come from all over the United States and Canada to attend this awesome event for rescue!
We are very excited to be part of Newfiepalooza again this year, as last year they raised close to $7,200 for Newf rescue, which benefited several rescue groups across the United States!  Congratulations “Newfies”, and thanks for helping  A LOT of Newfs in need!!  Check out what wonderful things these pups do…

My name is Dr. Ruan Bester, and my goal is to help you, the pet owner, improve your knowledge of your pet’s everyday needs and health care through a variety of pet services and veterinary resources.

Most cats do not need to be bathed unless they have a skin problem such as fleas, ticks, miliary dermatitis, seborrhea, and in some cases hot spots etc. But if you have a cat that will cooperate and you wish to give it a try, (assuming your cat has the conditions I mentioned), here are a few tips to follow:

- Be sure to use a shampoo made for cats. Their skin’s pH is different from ours, so even the mildest of human shampoos can cause them to dry out. This is very important!

- Brush them before AND after you bathe them. Brushing beforehand makes the brushing after much easier.

- If your cat has any mats, please see your veterinarian or a professional groomer for advice on how to remove them. Sometimes they can be teased out with a comb, sometimes they need to be clipped out. If they need to be clipped let a professional show you how the first time so you do not cut their skin.

- Clip their toenails, front and back, before you start. This may save you some wear and tear on your own skin.

- Be careful around their eyes and ears. If your cat will let you, place a cotton ball in each ear before the bath (remember to remove these when the bath is over). There also are bland eye ointments (Duratears or others that you can buy at most pet stores) you can use to protect their eyes from soap or detergents.

- If your cat does not like the bathing routine, don’t push your luck. An angry cat can be very dangerous.

- Most cats do not have an odor from not being bathed. If you think your cat smells abnormal, don’t jump to a bath. Have a check up with your veterinarian. Most of the time the odor is NOT skin related, but has some other cause, and you may go through an unnecessary bath, which may not be much fun for you or your cat.

Dr. Ruan Bester, BVSc (UP)

This is an awesome cause for all pet owners who love to take pics of their beloved pets, put it on a postcard and help save Shelter Animals!!  Check out how you can participate with Nikki Moustaki and Ilovedogs.com in The Pet Postcard Project!

 Kellan Lutz is always so vocal about how he got his dog, Kola, from a shelter. He is always so emotional when telling how he saw her in the corner and coaxing her out he knew that he had a connection with this dog. Later, he would adopt her saying that he felt he was the right owner for her. Read more…

My name is Dr. Ruan Bester, and my goal is to help you, the pet owner, improve your knowledge of your pet’s everyday needs and health care through a variety of pet services and veterinary resources.

Your dog’s ears are wonderful instruments, many times more sensitive than yours. They can hear sounds at far greater distances than humans can. And, in addition, are able to pick up sounds with a frequency so high that they are impossible for the human ear to detect. Persons who have trained dogs are familiar with this phenomenon, thanks to the so-called “silent” whistles, which, though inaudible to man, bring instant response from a conditioned dog.

The obviously different things about your dog’s ears are the large outer ears, their larger openings, and the highly developed muscular control it has over the outer “flaps.” Even dogs with flaps that completely cover the openings are able to lift them, to some extent, when “on alert.” Lifting the flaps, obviously, makes it easier to pick up the sound.

Because a dog’s ears are like ours in basic design, your dog can suffer from the same infirmities, damage and diseases. Even deafness is common, especially as an undesirable companion of old age.

Your dog’s ears require a good deal of care and attention. Frequent cleaning should be number one on your personal ear-care list. Periodic checkups by your veterinarian will be your assurance that your pet is protected from diseases and other problems.

Regular inspection of your dog’s ears is particularly important in keeping them clear of yeast, fungus, bacteria, external parasites, mites, and ticks in particular. Dogs with ears that flap over require extra attention in this respect and, in general, require more frequent attention than those with “erect” ears.

Working on a dog’s ears requires a steady hand and a thorough knowledge of just where and how cleaning should be done. To prevent irreparable harm from befalling your dog, ask your veterinarian to explain just how you should handle the cleaning procedures and get an absolutely clear reading on the do’s and don’ts.

In examining your dog’s ears, you’ll notice a series of “ridges and valleys” which comprise excellent places for wax and dirt to accumulate. Wax is the breeding ground for yeast and bacteria. These may be cleaned with a ball of cotton, used dry, or, if the dirt is stubborn, saturated with ear cleaner or a preparation recommended by your veterinarian. Remember to consult your veterinarian before you attempt to clean your dog’s ears and do not, under any circumstances, use a swab to probe in the canal area.

Just how important is it to keep your dog’s ears clean? A good way to answer that question is to point out that many people complain about “dog” odor and mention this as the reason they won’t have a dog in their house. My personal experience is that, in almost 80% of “dog odor” cases, the dog’s ears are the root of the problem.

Dr. Ruan Bester, BVSc (UP)

We are very happy to hear Doreen and her ”girls”, love petLINENS!  And, that she loves the idea of having extra slipcovers so she never has to get again, the “where’s my bed, mommy look!”  I guess all of us “dog mom’s” want to be sure our kids are comfortable and happy at all times!!  Here is what Doreen and her pups have to say…

  

  *Congratulations to Sienna from Seattle, WA , the winner of the bundled pL Bed Set – 2 slipcovers + cushion from Doggies and Stuff!!
(We hope you find the bed super soft and snugly Sienna and your mom loves having an extra slipcover around!)

This just put the biggest smile on my face! The proud owners of a dog washing/grooming business in Austin Texas, posted this on their twitter page and it is so cute I just had to share! Plus, great to see people who love their jobs and do wonderful things for animals! Have a look…

With “Spring in the Air”  (or wishing it was!) I’m beginning to start my gardening so I made a note to myself, “remind gardeners not to put weed killer down or  anything else”.  This thought reminded me of a very important article I want to share to help pet parents protect their beloved pets!  Please read below:

Over the weekend the doting owner of two young lab mixes purchased
Cocoa Mulch from Target to use in their garden. They loved the way it
smelled and it was advertised to keep cats away from their garden.
Their dog Calypso decided that the mulch smelled good enough to eat
and devoured a large helping. She vomited a few times which was
typical when she eats something new but wasn’t acting lethargic in
any way. The next day, Mom woke up and took Calypso out for her
morning walk . Half way through the walk, she had a seizure and died
instantly.

Although the mulch had NO warnings printed on the label, upon
further investigation on the company’s website, this product is
HIGHLY toxic to dogs and cats.

Cocoa Mulch is manufactured by Hershey’s, and they claim that ‘It
is true that studies have shown that 50% of the dogs that eat Cocoa
Mulch can suffer physical harm to a variety of degrees (depending on
each individual dog). However, 98% of all dogs won’t eat it.’

TRUE STORY … This Snopes site gives the following information:
http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoamulch.asp

Cocoa Mulch, which is sold by Home Depot, Foreman’s Garden Supply
and other Garden supply stores, contains a lethal ingredient called ‘
Theobromine‘ . It is lethal to dogs and cats. It smells like chocolate
and it really attracts dogs. They will ingest this stuff and die.
Several deaths already occurred in the last 2-3 weeks. Theobromine is
in all chocolate, especially dark or baker’s chocolate which is toxic
to dogs. Cocoa bean shells contain potentially toxic quantities of
theobromine, a xanthine compound similar in effects to caffeine and
theophylline. A dog that ingested a lethal quantity of garden mulch
made fr om cacao bean shells developed severe convulsions and died 17
hours later. Analysis of the stomach contents and the ingested cacao
beanshells revealed the presence of lethal amounts of theobromine.

PLEASE GIVE THIS THE WIDEST DISTRIBUTION!

For all you Mom’s plus Dog-Mom’s we are participating in a Giveaway and you can win one of our XL bundled Bed Sets (and that’s 2 slipcovers + cushion) with a really fun, cool and very informative Lacie Shipman Owner of the “Mommy’s Blog”,  Peanut Butter & Pickles.  Check it out and participate, it’s going on until Wed, March 3rd. 

 

AND THE WINNER IS…
Congratulations to Kathy from Zanesville, Ohio! 
We hope you and yours find the bed super-soft and snugly, and you love having an extra slipcover on hand!

For all of you out there that share my feelings for Big Daddy … An amazing dog  http://www.dogtipper.com/blog/2010/02/remembering-daddy.html

We are very grateful to all the peeps at dogtipper.com for their kind words and great review! And special thanks to Tiki and Irie, their “Dog Advisors”, for giving us their 4 paws up!

My name is Dr. Ruan Bester, and my goal is to help you, the pet owner, improve your knowledge of your pet’s everyday needs and health care through a variety of pet services and veterinary resources.

Feeding your pet should be one of the easiest things you do. However, with all the hype and advertising that exists in the media, it has become one of the most confusing areas for pet owners. Pet food has become a multi-billion dollar industry and each company is very interested in convincing you that their line of food is better than the others. Do they have your best interests at heart? Read on to learn more.

I suggest to stick with the major brands of food and avoid “generic” diets. The major brands are tried and true and they cross state lines during transport, which means they fall under stricter governmental controls. Diets that are made locally are not as rigorously controlled. And even some of the generic brands that are made by large super store chains cannot compete with the quality and research that is put into the diets that are made by companies making pet foods. So if you’ve never heard of a brand before, be sure you check with your veterinarian before you purchase.

Usually the commercially produced brands of food are complete. You do not need to add any supplements to these diets. Water is the only thing they are missing. Before adding anything else (vitamins, minerals, milk or other liquids, etc.), please consult with your veterinarian. Some of these supplements can actually cause more harm than good.

The only difference between the dry and canned versions of food is generally the water content. It is OK to feed canned foods if you want to deal with the added mess and work. Dry food is, however, very good for the teeth. If you do not feed dry food at all, and even if you do, be sure to give your pet things to chew on and consider brushing their teeth. This not only saves them from having dental problems, it will save them from having anesthesia to clean their teeth and save you veterinary bills.

As a general statement, puppies and kittens should be fed puppy and kitten food until approximately six months of age. At that time they should be slowly weaned onto adult foods. It takes about 2 to3 weeks to wean dogs and cats from young to adult food. This will vary from breed to breed, so please check with your breeder or veterinarian for your specific pet. Additionally, if you have a large breed dog (Great Dane, Golden Retriever, Burmese Mountain Dog, etc.), be sure to also check with your veterinarian about specific feeding instructions. It is extremely important to not overfeed the large breeds early in life. This will have an impact on their skeletal system and increase the chances of hip dysplasia.

Beyond all the hype of premium brands versus regular brands, pet store vs. supermarket brands, dry vs. canned, etc., I have found one thing to be true: the more money you spend on the foods, the less faeces you have to pick up! The premium brands are more concentrated and digestible, therefore there is less fecal material produced.

As your pet gets older, it is very important to discuss diet with your veterinarian. There are terrific diets on the market to help prolong the lives of our pets as they develop certain problems (obesity, kidney disease, liver problems, allergies, etc.). They may be more expensive, but well worth it. This is one area where the truth is as good as the hype. Dietary changes can make a significant difference in the older pets.

In summary, feeding your pet should not be hard. Pick a name brand that you are familiar with, feed puppy and kitten food to the young ones, adult foods to those generally over 6 months of age, check with your veterinarian on what to feed when they get past middle aged, and don’t get caught up in all the other advertising hype. Most of the diets out there are fine and our pets seem to thrive well on nearly all of them. Most importantly though, speak to your veterinarian or leave a comment with your specific questions.

As always, I’m happy to help your pet…and their people, too.

Dr. Ruan Bester, BVSc (UP)

Designed by petLINENS and made of cozy plush velboa, our giraffe print dog bed covers add spice to any decor.

My name is Dr. Ruan Bester, and my goal is to help you, the pet owner, improve your knowledge of your pet’s everyday needs and health care through a variety of pet services and veterinary resources.

Question: After adopting a dog from a shelter my dog was diagnosed with kennel cough.  Many people tell me their dogs never vomited when they had this.  My dog finally started eating but when she drinks water the dry cough starts and she vomits the water every time.  This has been one week now.  How long will this last??   My vet put her on antibiotics and he is away for a few days.  She isn’t lethargic like she was and is much more lively but I feel so bad for her to keep vomiting every time she drinks water.

Answer: Limit her water intake by offering her small amounts often so she doesn’t drink too much in one sitting. This can decrease the possible tracheal stimulation she is experiencing usually associated with kennel cough.  If it does not stop take her to your vet and ask him to do a culture and sensitivity by tracheal swab.  Your vet should be able to do this to determine the right antibiotics your dog should be on.