Wag Reflex

Nail Clippers Make Great Stocking Stuffers

A colleague and I were recently comparing stocking stuffer gift ideas. (If you are like us and start thinking about winter holiday gifts in July, you probably have a list started, too.) One of my favorite pet stocking stuffers is a good pair of nail clippers. For the people with cats, I buy the human toe-nail trimmers in whatever cute form I can find. Ladybugs were popular last year. For dogs, I buy the large, orange plastic handled variety. If they sold them with decorated handles, I’d buy those.

They can be given every year, because even the good kinds lose their edge over time. If you actually use them (once a week, if you’re really good) they dull and my dog, Oscar, will tell you a dull blade changes things! If you feel excessive replacing them each year and start to accumulate a pile, donate the older ones to an animal shelter or family members who want to have a pair and never actually use them.

--Dr. Olson
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Dr. Olson practices small animal medicine in Denver, CO and is a regular contributor to Wag Reflex.

Disclaimer Regarding Veterinary Information

Happy Thanksgiving

Honey, the most photogenic Dachshund in the world, wishes everyone a happy Thanksgiving.

Photo courtesy of flickr.

--Spanno

What To Do If Your Pet Leaks

While all of us pet owners put up with the hair, dirt and drool our pets produce with a certain affection, nothing changes the mood like urine in the house. If your pet starts having urinary “accidents” in the house, take them into the vet sooner rather than later. Not only will your carpet thank you, but this new household contribution usually indicates a medical problem. Even if the accidents are intermittent. Some people postpone the visit in older pets, thinking that accidents in the house are a burden of old age. Others wait to see if what they identify as the cause (stress in the house, prolonged time without a potty break, difficulty moving around, drinking too much water) goes away, maybe the accidents will, too.

The information the vet will need includes:
- When do these accidents occur (when your pet is sleeping or active)?
- Where do they occur (by the door, in the bed)?
- How big are the puddles?
- Is there anything abnormal about the color?
- Does your pet urinate normally outside?
- Is your pet act healthy otherwise?
- Any change in water consumption?
- How frequently does your pet urinate?
- How long have these accidents been happening?
- Have they occurred in the past?

Inappropriate urination can be a behavioral problem, but we only make that call after routine diagnostics have been run. A urinalysis is the first place to start and you might hear recommendations for a urine culture, abdominal x-rays or ultrasound. Your vet can also check for signs of arthritis, anxiety, cognitive decline or other physical exam findings that can contribute to trouble holding in urine. There are medications, supplements and food changes to address the underlying issues. The problem can often be managed, if not cured, if addressed promptly.

--Dr. Olson
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Dr. Olson practices small animal medicine in Denver, CO and is a regular contributor to Wag Reflex.

Disclaimer Regarding Veterinary Information

Bring a Shelter Pet Home 4 the Holidays

Help save the lives of 1 million dogs and cats this holiday season. Iams' Home 4 the Holidays campaign kicked off on October 1 and runs through January 5, 2009.

It all started in 1999 with the Helen Woodward Animal Center in San Diego, CA, where they saved over 2,500 animals. Last year's campaign saved almost 500,000 animals. You can help them meet their goal by adopting a shelter pet, volunteering at a local shelter, or donating to your local shelter.

Here's Home 4 the Holidays spokesperson Felicity Huffman (from Desperate Housewives) talking about her shelter dog and the Home 4 the Holidays campaign.

--Spanno

My Favorite Things: HydroSurge Rapid Bath System

It has been a while since I've had a product to blog about, but recently that dry spell ended when I got the HydroSurge Rapid bath system. Since its getting cold out and my dog gets stinky fast, this was just what I needed. I was very skeptical at first, mostly because I noted some assembly required (I prefer to only keep animals put together) and because it looks a little bit like the hose nozzle in the yard, the one I used all summer to wash my dogs.

My initial impressions were very wrong. Basically this is an at-home grooming system that helps with the delivery of dog shampoo and all the rinsing…big time. The system screws onto your existing shower nozzle or hose in the yard hose, which is very quick and easy to do (thank god). The handle has 2 switches on it that allow you to turn on the suds, rinse or turn everything off. Inside the handle you insert a shampoo cartridge, so you never need to reach for the bottle dog shampoo.

Of course I couldn’t resist using my shampoo mitt to free up some additional hair, but you really don't have too. My only wish with the product is that I could somehow use my own medicated shampoo in its delivery system, because it disperses shampoo so well. This is a great product that I wish I had long ago.

--Dr. Hamilton
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Dr. Hamilton is an oncology resident at Michigan State's Animal Cancer Care Clinic and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex.

Disclaimer Regarding Veterinary Information   

Readers' Pets: Lucy the Maltese Mix

Introduction: Meet Lucy. We rescued her at the end of December 2007. She really is a "sweetie" and that's what they named her at the shelter. She was taken into a foster home where they named her "Lucy". We kept that name for her as it was her most recent and to not confuse her with yet another name.

Home: Mount Laurel, New Jersey

Age: We think she's 13. Lucy was dropped off at a shelter in Nov. 2007 with no information other than she's around 12 years old.

Breed: Maltese or Maltese/Yorkie

Personality: Lucy is very social. She loves other dogs and everyone she meets. She's a very calm dout g. She has only barked twice in the 10 months we've had her.

Likes: Going for a walk in her stroller. She gets really excited when I say "Do you want to go for a walk in your stroller?".  We have a doggie stroller for Lucy as she can usually only walk short distances before she's out of breath. Then there are times when she can walk a quarter of a mile or so. Most people do a double take when they see her in the stroller. Followed by "Oh, how cute, what a beautiful dog". Lucy has a collapsed trachea. Her trachea was damaged in May during dental surgery.

Dislikes: Taking her medicine. We gave up hiding it in food and just put it in her mouth. Also dislikes rice and vegetables.

Favorite Toy: No favorite toy. Doesn't like toys.

Favorite Food: Dairy Queen, vanilla ice cream. She gets about 2 tablespoons most evenings. And makes little pig noises when she eats it. Also a favorite is roast beef, chicken breast.

Trivia: Lucy brightens our lives and we are very fortunate to have found her. What are the chances. Our 12 year old maltese/yorkie died just before Thanksgiving last year. We weren't ready for another dog just yet when on a local TV station the dog loving host spoke of a shelter where dogs needed adoption. I went to the web site, entered my zip code and small dog, up popped Lucy. It stated she was a 12 year old maltese /yorkie who needed a loving home to live out the rest of her life. Just had to take care of this dog. Back then, 12 years ago, maltese/yorkies were "accidents". Now they are a "designer breed". Whatever, they are very sweet, loving, intelligent dogs.

--Spanno
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If you'd like your pet featured on Wag Reflex, email us (wagreflex@amazon.com) with the bolded topics and a 500-pixel-wide JPEG of your pet.

I Has Frydaze: An Earful of Kitty

Every Friday we feature our favorite LOLpets of the week.

see more puppies

--Spanno

Little Hairy Steelers Fan

We know who this little pup will be rooting for tonight. Someone give him a Roethlis-Burger.

From the Wag Reflex flickr pool. Add your favorite pet pics to the pool today!

--Spanno

Roomba Driving Cat

While most cats run and hide from the Roomba, this cat seems to enjoy the free ride.

--Spanno

Readers' Pets: Cedric the Welsh Corgi

Introduction: Meet Cedric. I've been told by other Corgi owners that he's an "inferior" one as he is too long and his coat is too short, but to me he is King Corgi. He goes everywhere with me--everywhere that will allow him to go with me anyway. He requires quite a bit of exercise and keeps ME exercised as well. I'd be a couch potato if I didn't have him.

Home: West Covina, California

Age: 16 months

Breed: Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Personality: He's very smart and easy to train. Quick on the uptake. If he doesn't know something it's because he has a lazy owner who hasn't taken the time to teach him. He's a calm, good natured dog, but can get nervous around things he doesn't recognize, like that paint can that wasn't there yesterday. He loves other dogs and people. With people he likes to run up and check them out, but will shy away if they try to pet him. No petting the Queen's dog until you've passed inspection!

Likes: Food, food, and food, and did I mention food? He likes to play fetch. He loves training sessions and his all time favorite is off leash hikes and the dog beach. He also likes his cat. He likes to swim and play in water.

Dislikes: Seeing me go out the door without him, wanting to play and me not being cooperative, snarky dogs scare him.

Favorite Toy: In the house it's his rubber gorilla, or was until the gorilla lost his head (gotta find another one). Outside its this orange baseball sized ball that floats. He plays fetch and fetches it out of the pool.

Favorite Food: He will eat anything.

Trivia: "Cedric" is a Celtic name meaning "beloved."

--Spanno
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If you'd like your pet featured on Wag Reflex, email us (wagreflex@amazon.com) with the bolded topics and a 500-pixel-wide JPEG of your pet.