Memorial Day is coming up this Monday. If you have been unfortunate enough to have lost a pet, you can make a lasting memorial to him or her in a Buddhist-type altar, a Memoria Areca.
Designed for your living room mantle or a dressing table, the box has compartments for an urn as well as a glass display case to display special mementos, such as a collar, leashes, toys, apparel. A picture frame is built into the lid for your favorite photograph. The pet altar comes in two contemporary designs.
Or...you can turn your pet's remains into a Synthetic Diamond, which you can have set into a ring or pendant.
Other products in this vein are urns that look like perfume containers and flower arrangements that incorporate the pet's fur. These fit conveniently into the glass case of the memorial altar.
One good way to exercise your pet is to place him/her on a treadmill.
Aquacise for petss! The Ferno Aqua Paws Underwater Treadmill System creates a low-impact underwater treadmill workout that helps your pets to increase muscle strength and endurance. The warm water assists in pain reduction, and it is a gentle way for older or arthritic dogs to exercise. The water height is regulated to accommodate different sized animals.
Interested in a traditional treadmill for your pet? Try:
A serious downside to pet sterilization is cropping up. There may be future health consequences for your pet, as discussed in this article from MSNBC:
Studies have found that spayed or neutered dogs are at increased risks for problems including certain cancers, thyroid disorder, incontinence and some of the same behavior issues that the surgeries are said to prevent....
...Margaret V. Root Kustritz, a veterinary reproduction specialist at the University of Minnesota, reviewed 200 studies and found that while spay/neuter surgery has benefits, it is also linked to increases in the incidence of certain diseases and conditions such as bone cancer, heart tumors, hypothyroidism and canine cruciate ligament (CCL) injuries, as well as prostate cancer in male dogs and urinary incontinence in females. The extent of the risk can depend on the problem, as well as the size and sex of the dog, and the age the surgery is performed.
The risk of a type of cardiac tumor called hemangiosarcoma is five times higher in spayed female dogs than unspayed females, noted Kustritz. And neutered males have 2.4 times the risk of unneutered males. The risk was also higher for osteosarcoma (bone cancer): Dogs spayed or neutered before age 1 were up to two times as likely to develop the disease than those that hadn't been altered.
Cats seem to fare better:
The main risk they face from sterilization is that they can become sedentary and obese, according to Kustritz's review of studies. As a result, vets say sterilizing cats before 6 months of age is appropriate.
When we are in the kitchen whomping up some vittles, it is so hard to resist those cute faces. No one ever feeds them and all they want is a little tidbit! But are you sure those scraps you throw to them won't be harmful?
If you do make a mistake, or your pet does, here's what to do in case of emergency. Save or bookmark this info:
Despite all the precautions you take to keep your pet pals safe, accidents do happen. That's why the ASPCA, Humane Society and animal advocates advise pet owners to keep the telephone numbers of their local veterinarian and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center -- (888) 426-4435 -- in a prominent location.
Common signs of poisoning include muscle tremors or seizures; vomiting and diarrhea; drooling; redness of skin, ears and eyes; and swelling and bleeding.
If you suspect your pet has consumed, inhaled or come in contact with a toxic substance, stay calm and call for help immediately. If you see your pet consuming anything you think might be toxic, seek emergency help immediately even if she or he is not exhibiting any symptoms.
And while we are on the subject, here are two articles that may help someday:
An intriguing, interactive source of pet information has surfaced on the web, Ask the Vet:
You have questions. Veterinarian Eric Barchas (pronounced bark-us) has answers, plus stories from the vet's office, commentary on pet news and more. This blog is brought to you by Dogster, Inc., makers of the hydrant-famous Dogster and the unnecessarily feared Catster. You can ask Dr. Barchas a question. If he can answer it he will.
Writing this post, there is a Golden Retriever sleeping under my desk. If I move to another room, shortly I will hear the padding of golden paws behind me as she follows me there. Soon a furry head will nuzzle against my leg for a rubdown, or a nose jut into my side to tell me there is a "squirrel!" outside the window.
But it doesn't have to be this way. She could have her independence and live in her own luxury Dream Doghouse, complete with all those doggy delights such as climate control and wainscoting, plus all the flooring, electrical, roofing and interior options her sweet heart desires.
If she perchance feels "isolated" because "Dogs always love their family's companionship", the owner "may want to consider having satellite or cable installed."
And when she becomes queasy from eating too much discarded junk food on walkies in the evenings, no need to cuddle up with us for comfort. We can stow her away in her very own Luxury Pet House, with a solenoid valve for medical treatment. Check it out on display to the public, among other Korean novelties, at New York's Koreannovation show on May 14th and 15th.
Features:
Find some healthy pet tips this Earth Day at Pets for the Environment, a site dedicated to creating an non-toxic environment for pets and people. There you can subscribe to Eddie's blog [authored by a dog on a mission], sign up for Eddie's email and action update list, tell your pet friends about Pets with an ecard, or make a donation to support this vital cause.
At a time when people are fretting about toxins in baby bottles and prescription drugs in the water supply, a new report shows that our pets are teeming with chemicals as well.
The analysis, released by the Washington-based Environmental Working Group, used blood and urine samples from 35 dogs and 37 cats collected at Hanover Animal Hospital in Mechanicsville, Va. The study found high levels of numerous chemicals in dogs and cats, including chemicals used in the making of furniture, fabrics and electronics. Mercury was also detected at high levels, likely from fish used in pet food.
Fido is getting a new name -- several, in fact: "plaintiff," "trustee," "beneficiary" and even "defendant."
Dogs, cats and creatures of all sorts are being redefined in an emerging area of legal practice known as animal law. Once considered mere property, animals are being invested with legal standing as they're increasingly being named as partial beneficiaries of estates, subjects of lawsuits and victims of abuse.
As animals rise in the law, so does the profile of animal lawyers, or lawyers who practice animal law.
Ninety-two of the 196 law schools in the country approved by the American Bar Association now offer courses on animal law, up from the nine that offered classes in 2000, according to the Animal Legal Defense Fund.
We humans are ever-expanding our classification of beings to whom we grant "rights". However, all you soon-to-be law school grads, don't quit your day job yet. Read entire article
And, word to the wise, check your state and local laws--your dog may have more legal rights than your cat. Check out this short video via Clip Syndicate:
Moral of the story, microchip your pet, or place an ID tag on their collar.
If you are wondering how popular your pet's name is, here is a list of the top pet names from Veterinary Pet Insurance. People are noticing how many of the names are human names, a trend perhaps validating the contention that our pets have become really truly "members of our families".
MAX
BUDDY
MOLLY
MAGGIE
JAKE
DAISY
LUCY
ROCKY
BAILEY
SADIE
GINGER
CHLOE
SOPHIE
BUSTER
ZOE
CODY
CHARLIE
BEAR
JACK
PRINCESS
BELLA
ANGEL
TOBY
LADY
SASHA
DUKE
LUCKY
ABBY
SAM
You can view the most popular names by categories--Canine, Feline, Avian, Reptile, Exotic and search by either sex.
Make a Lasting Memorial to Your Pet 
Mailing List
Subscribe - RSS
Site Navigation
