Rub-a-Dub

The summer has been speeding by and I missed last week’s blog… soooo sorry! This week’s tip is about baths… something I don’t like but have learned to tolerate. Mom and dad have started spelling “bath” so I don’t know what they’re saying. When spending time indoors with us, keeping us clean is a priority. But how do you bathe us at home to avoid the dreaded trips to the groomer or do-it-yourself dog-wash without the mess of juggling super-size cups or buckets to rinse in the sink, bathtub or shower?

Bath time doesn’t have to be unpleasant for you or us. Bathing us at home can be easy if you know when and how to do it and have a few key items available. How often do we need a bath? It depends on our lifestyle and breed. Bathing too often can be irritating to our skin so a good guideline is to bathe us only when our coat gets dirty or begins smelling “doggy” (who me?!).

Begin by having the following items on hand before you start: brush, comb or rake; shampoo, conditioner, shampoo mitt, bathing tether, bath mat, drain strainer and cover, spray hose, towel and possibly a hairdryer.

 Gather all the things you need without us present (to reduce anxiety).
 Place a bath mat at the bottom of the sink, tub or shower so we won’t slip and the surface will be protected from nail scratches.
 Place a screened cover over the drain to catch pet hair before it goes down the drain.
 Brush or comb our entire coat. Remove mats and tangles (some areas may need to be trimmed with clippers or scissors).
 Bring us to the sink, tub or shower and attach a bathing tether to our collar to hold us in place and minimize movement.
 Use a spray hose and hold it close to our coat to allow water to saturate the coat and skin. Avoid spraying water into our eyes, nose and ears.
 Apply shampoo to a shampoo mitt and work the lather deep down to the skin. Rinse thoroughly with spray hose until water runs clear. If you think you’ve rinsed enough… rinse some more! Shampoo or conditioner residue left on the skin may cause irritation.
 Let us shake off the excess water. Then squeeze out excess water by running your hands over us.
 Finish by towel drying. There are towels available that soak up 10 times their weight in water. You may want to use a hairdryer, set on low, to speed up drying time. Keep us indoors and away from drafts until out coat is completely dry.
 Gather all the bathing and grooming items and place them in a caddy for convenient storage and ease of use at the next bath.

Remember to bathe us on a regular basis and start early. If you get your puppy used to a bath, you won’t have any problems when they are older.

My pups have grown so fast, where has the time gone? They’re four weeks old, wobbling around and ready to begin eating real food. I’m so happy about that because they have worn me out! These puppies have been the most voracious eaters of all my pups. They are aware of each other and beginning to play… chew on each other. Here are their most recent pictures:



See ya next week!

ON THE ROAD

Though I’m not a world traveler, I have been on numerous road trips. I do like riding around the island with the window down, my head out (with eye protection) and ears blowing in the breeze. Once we leave the island and the car is going much faster I settle down on the car seat or floor. It would be safest for me to have a pet restraint seat; however, mom hasn’t purchased one yet. No matter how cute we are or how much we beg, PLEASE don’t let us sit in your lap while you’re driving… scary!

While you’re planning the trip, you might want to check whether your final destination is pet friendly and if you may need a pet sitter. It will be sad for you and us if we can’t participate in all the activities and have no where to stay. Even if we have a microchip, an ID tag is important in case you get lost. A copy of our shot record and a first aid kit should be included in our travel supplies.

Depending on our tummies, we may need a small meal a few hours prior to travel. Some of us travel better on an empty stomach. It’s a good idea to take some short drives to see how we react to being in a vehicle prior to planning a long trip. If we demonstrate great anxiety, our vet can provide something to calm us down for the trip. After driving a couple hours, we enjoy stopping for a potty break. Even though we can probably go for many hours without one, it’s good for our caregivers as well as us to stretch our legs. Please remember if you visit a rest stop or just the side of the road be sure to pick up after us. It is unsanitary and disrespectful of others to leave our waste for others to deal with. Don’t forget a litter box for our cat friends. Its also important for us to have fresh water to drink during our breaks, so don’t forget to bring a bowl and water. We will also need food, toys and a bed/crate for our travels but mostly when we reach our final destination. We love spending time with you and can be such fun to travel with… let’s roll!

The pups are just over two weeks old and all but one pup have decided they’re interested in seeing the world. They continue to grow at an amazing rate and are getting nice and chubby. I don’t spend as much time in their bed, usually just at feeding time and for clean-up afterward. I do stay close by and observe but allow them room to sleep and drag themselves around the bed. Their legs are not strong enough to wobble around with yet... probably another week or so for that. Feeding time...



See ya next week!

LET'S PLAY!

Whew,…last week sure was very busy for everyone! The ponies swam, there was an auction and carnival, I had puppies and the ponies swam back. This week has been even busier … caring for new babies and having many four-legged visitors.

This week’s tip is about play. It doesn’t matter if you have two legs or four, play is very important. Personally, I find that play helps keep me young. I love chasing a flying disk, ball, squeaky toy… can do it for hours. I don’t care much for the fetch and return, but chasing is sheer joy. All pets need playtime with their caregivers. As well as being vital for our good health, it’s essential for bonding. Play is also great for reducing stress. Everyone is busy. However, taking 15-20 minutes a day to play with us will make both you and us much calmer and happier. It will remind us why we love each other so much.

Remember - It’s not that you get too old to play it’s you play NOT to get old.

Pup update: Here is a picture of my brood at one week. You’ll notice there are only six…unfortunately. Everyone's eyes and ears are still closed. They are growing like weeds...doubling in size since birth! When not busy eating, they move around their box and end up in either one big pile or multiple mini piles. We expect them to be peeking out at the world over the next few days. They won’t be ready to play for another couple of weeks or so but when they are…!!




See ya next week!

THEY'RE HERE! (Update)

We have puppies!...boy do we have puppies!! We were only expecting 2-3. Mom’s helping me write this week’s blog because I’m a bit preoccupied with six new pups! It began around 0430 this morning. I woke mom up with panting, and even though I have a special place to deliver my pups, I wanted to get under my boy’s bed (dark and cozy). Around 0800 mom took my temperature (yeow!) which indicated the pups could arrive anytime. At 1040 the first little boy was born, at 1140 the second boy arrived. Fortunately, I got a little rest between pups. The first girl puppy arrived around 2:15 pm. Mom left after pup #3 to care for some pets. Upon her return, she sure was surprised to see my second girl had arrived! I was tired after that pup… just wanted some rest. Though it didn’t appear I was finished, mom was surprised when the fifth pup arrived. Sadly, he wasn’t fully developed and didn’t survive. After that, there were two more pups. To recap after a day of hard work, I ended up with six viable puppies (3 male and 3 female).

UPDATE: Well, guess what... around 10 pm (7/30/09) mom came to check on me and the pups and I was busy cleaning up another female puppy!! So, 3 boys and 4 girls is the final count. Whew! I could use some rest... guess that won't happen for the next eight or so weeks! See the updated picture of "all" the new puppies below.

Mom was way too helpful and impatient during my deliveries. These things take time… Guess she forgets I’ve had puppies before and know what I’m doing. I’m a very good mother and attend to each one of my little squeakers when they need me. Here's a picture of all of us... notice none of them look like me! Please excuse my appearance, I just spent the day in labor and delivery.



The only pet tip for this week is let us have our babies in our own good time. Keep a watchful eye on us, stay calm and let nature take its course.

See ya next week…

DON'T BUG US!

The 84th Annual Pony Swim and Auction is next week, so we must be in the middle of summer! There will be thousands of visitors to our little island with lots of excitement and fun.

Another, less fun, way to tell its mid-summer is the mosquitoes, ticks and my personal least favorite fleas! All three can make our life miserable. Chincoteague is famous (at least locally) for its mosquitoes. They are just about everywhere and can be vicious. Remember to keep our yard (campsite) free of standing water to help prevent them laying eggs. Also, because heart worms are life threatening to us, please give us a heart worm preventative recommended by our vet. If there are trees, shrubs or tall grass there will be ticks. After we’re outdoors, be sure to check us (and yourself) daily for ticks. Some ticks can also cause life-threatening illness to both us and our caregivers. Collars, topical applications and pill treatments are available to help control ticks.

Last and definitely not least are fleas!!! They are the most troublesome for me because they’re everywhere and I have an allergy to their bites! Ouch!! As with ticks, there are multiple preventative treatments available via our vet or over the counter. I’m still searching for the perfect preventative for me… maybe I’ll go all natural with garlic and brewer’s yeast or a little lavender oil between my shoulder blades… It’s also very important to keep our home flea free because… Fleas are marvelously adapted for survival. The female lays eggs on the host animal, but the eggs fall to the ground, carpet, sofa, dog bed, owner's bed, or easy chair where they hatch in two-to-five days. Uck! The flea larva feeds on organic debris in the environment. Within a week or two, in the hard-shelled pupa, the larva transforms from a tiny maggot-like creature into a six-legged blood-thirsty super-jumper able to leap 100 times its own height, and the cycle begins anew... UCK!!! Flea/tick foggers and sprays can help rid your home of these pests. Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum… mothballs in the vacuum bag should kill fleas you suck up. It’s a never ending battle…good luck!! P.S. our vet is always an excellent resource for finding the best preventatives and treatments for summer pests.

I visited the groomer this week to get a fresh summer cut. I also had my tummy shaved to make it easier for the new pups to eat. There were a few fleas (surprise) so I received an all natural citrus based dip…even smelled pretty good. The pups are growing, mom can see and feel them under my skin…pretty cool! One more blog entry before their scheduled arrival!

See ya next week…

KEEP US PETS COOL!

It’s mid-July and summer is definitely here. The heat and humidity can cause problems for me and your pet. Do you ever wonder how we survive these sultry summers with a full coat of hair? We pets dehydrate quickly, so make sure we have plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot outdoors. Provide a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful to not over-exercise us, and keep us indoors when it’s extremely hot. Symptoms of overheating, heat exhaustion or heatstroke include lethargy, excessive panting and salivation, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and collapse. If you suspect your pet has heatstroke, wet it with water from a hose, put it in cool - not cold - water, or wrap it in a wet towel. Call your veterinarian immediately. Heatstroke requires veterinary care.

Here are some tips to keep us pets cool and safe this summer:

- Leave us home when you run errands. Even with the windows down,
your car can quickly turn into an oven.
- Exercise us in early morning or late evening, when it’s cooler.
- Let us stand on grass or shaded surfaces when outdoors. Asphalt
and concrete absorb heat, and hot surfaces can burn footpads.
- Take plenty of cold water when traveling with us.
- Grooming is very important during the summer to keep us cool,
clean and bugless. Long tangled hair traps heat, and matted fur
makes us more vulnerable to the festering of bacteria fungus—
and, of course, the enemy flea and tick.
- We can get sunburn and skin cancer, especially when hairless and
light. Use a natural sunscreen for pets if we’ll be exposed to the sun.
- Provide shade and fresh water if you take us to the beach and rinse
saltwater from our coat.
- Fill a child's pool with water for us to play in.
- Play indoor games for exercise on the hottest days rather than a walk.

A quick note about me… My tummy is getting bigger and mom lovingly calls me pudgy! I’m taking shorter walks and can’t beat mom up the stairs anymore. A little over two weeks until my bundles of joy arrive!

See ya next week…

Care Free Pet Sitting

Hi!

My name is Mei Li and I’m a Shih Tzu. This is my blog and I will be providing you with weekly pet tips and information. My mom, Hulda, has a pet sitting business on Chincoteague called Care Free Pet Sitting. She has been caring for pets professionally for two years after retiring with 35+ years Federal service. It was difficult to find someone reliable to care for me, my basset hound sister Lulu, and my two cat friends Shadow and Missy Lynx. After taking a couple months off to decide what to do next, she realized there must be other pet lovers in the same situation. She explored and researched the possibility of starting a business caring for pets. It all worked out and after completing the American Red Cross Pet First Aid and CPR certification, she was ready to go. Mom loves all kinds of pets and cares for them in their home. She’s insured and has discounts available for in your home care. Another service she provides is Beach Sitting. It’s for visitors to Chincoteague who want to go to Assateague, eat at a restaurant or participate in activities that pets aren’t interested in. Pets visit our home and receive lots of love and attention just like me.

Now about me! I’m 6+ years old and enjoy walks, riding in the car with my ears blowing in the breeze and chasing toads in the yard. I’m expecting puppies early next month. This will be my third and last litter. I’m not as excited about it as my mom is, but it will be nice to have some temporary playmates. I’ll provide a short update of my progress each week.

That’s all for now…next week I’ll have information on summer pet care tips for you and your pet.