Fall Pet Safety Tips

*** I am not a licensed veterinarian, nor should my advice be taken as any more than that from one pet owner to another. All photos below are copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2013.

I'm a firm believer in the plant to pet to baby process. That is, if a couple can't come together on a watering schedule for a ficus, they're likely not ready to tackle the feeding needs of a nursing baby. Once we'd mastered our 'greens' Jay and I moved onto growing our family through the adoption of a tiny pup. We already had Truffles, the troubled step-child, and had painstakingly worked through her introduction process with Jay, and were ready to experience pet parenting on a larger scale. As it turns out, Nora, our toy Morkie (Maltese + Yorkie) is very much like a cat (minus the whole 'have to carry her downstairs to go potty' bit). In fact, we call Nora our 'Fluffy Kitty' because, well, you can see how wild her hair gets when we let it grow out. But I digress; just over a year old now, adult Nora has given us many lessons on pet care from a short person's perspective. Here is a little of what we've learned, in hopes it will help keep you and your furry ones safe through the upcoming seasons.

It's not something everyone likes to discuss, but there are a myriad of pests waiting to irritate your furry pet member; the first one being allergens. Yes, pets suffer from seasonal allergies just as much as humans! Be sure to keep a clean yard with raked leaves and short grass to cut down on skin irritants and consult with a vet if you see your furbaby scratching too much. And don't forget to safe gaurd your home against unwanted pests of another kind; just because it is getting colder does not mean you can skip a month of flea and tick prevention. In fact, you are more likely to encounter an increased number of pests inside your home during these cooler months, so be sure to keep an alert eye for spiders and other creepy crawlies your child may consider a plaything! Fall is also known for snakes- for those of you who live in the more rural parts of our wonderful country, so never let your pups play unattended in the wild!

For those concerned about excess shedding that often comes with Fall and Winter months, be sure to brush your pet daily. This will naturally trap the hair/fur which would have fallen anyway, and cut down on allergens for human family members as well.

Many pet parents love to dress their pets up for the holidays- but clothing your pet is not just a frivolous  endeavor. We recently shaved Nora for the Summer and were careful to keep the majority of her covered during long excursions outside. Why would we do this in 75F Southern California weather? Don't forget that your pup had skin, which can just as easily become burned by the sun, as humans. Smaller dogs, such as toy and teacup breeds often have thinner skin which can easily become irritated with continual exposure to the direct sun. Naturally, the other reason to dress your dog smart is to ward against the cooler weather. While you may think your dog looks silly, they'll be sure to thank you for the extra warmth on their next walk. (And make sure you both have something bright/reflective on when walking at dusk or night!)

Believe it or not, Fall is one of the busiest times of year for lost pet reports- With increased brush ans fallen foliage, a dog can easily get excited by a sqwaking duck or running squirrel. Once a dog has taken off with it's leash, or wriggled out of it's collar/leash, it can quickly get lost in the cover of Fall. Be sure that your pet is microchipped, and fitted with the right size harness for walks. A harness will not only ensure a more comfortable walk for your and your pooch, but also cut down on accidental runs and excited adventures.

Believe it or not, many pets are actually less active during the hot Summer months when the scorching heat is a deterrent for playful activities. It's important to make sure your pets, especially those that rely on outdoor time have a chance to burn off that extra energy, and get some quality play time outdoors before the weather starts to turn. Fall is also a great time to brush up on training and tricks- many dogs get a little rusty over the lazy Summer and benefit from the positive reinforcement of a refresher course.

Additionally, both you and your pet are sure to be delighted by all the festivities and decorations of Fall and Winter events. When decorating your home make sure that the decorations are at a safe level, and do not include any small parts that a pup or kitty may be inspired to gnaw off. Additionally, be mindful of lights low to the ground that may become a tangle or suffocation issue for your pets or others'.

So many pet owners think dehydration is a thing of warmer months. The truth is, hydration should be top priority no matter the time of year. During the Winter it is important to keep an eye on your pets drinking habits and encourage any lack of hydration with added drops of chicken broth, or even a warm bowl. If your have a pet that spends the majority of it's time outdoors be sure to keep an eye on their water source and ensure there is fresh drinking water. Water may freeze overnight, rendering your per without a drink, or worse, attempting to drink chunks of ice that could become choking hazards.

Okay, we don't literally expect you to feng shui your cat- but it is important to remember to treat all family members with equal love and attention. Often we get caught up in our people festivities and forget to spend time with our furry kids as well. Don't encourage any Fall tantrums or behavioral issues with lack of attention; your pets will likely have it hard enough adjusting to the changes of extra guests and entertaining as it is!

Thundershirt: ThunderToy + ThunderTreat Review + Giveaway

*** We received a product sample from Thundershirt for the purpose of this review. No further compensation was provided. All photos contained below are copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2013.

At this very moment there is a 5.2lb Morkie snuggled, wet nose to my skin, beneath my arm as I type. It's no secret that our kids have fur, okay Nora- some of them have legit 'hair' too. But being a pet parent isn't all fluffy snuggles and wet kisses; it's hard work. While babies eventually develop verbal communication skills, we spend the life of our pets playing charades. Just this morning Jay questioned why the dog wouldn't drink her water; I promptly asked if he would down a bottle of water while he was crossing his legs, waiting to pee. Raising pets; feline, canine, or otherwise, takes a tremendous amount of patience. It can be easy to allow frustration to get in the way of a healthy relationship, but the rewards are often even greater.

Last November, you may recall, I had the chance to try out a unique pet therapy device, known as the Thundershirt. Our feral adoptie, Frankie, was positive for a feline autoimmune deficiency, and often experienced extreme anxiety. He would 'self soothe' by grooming himself constantly, until this disturbed his daily eating habits and digestion. Thundershirts, produced for both dogs and cats, are designed in multiple sizes, with the inspiration of a mother's soothing, swaddled, embrace. The concept is for the animal to associate high stress situations (thunder, fireworks, separation) with the soothing, soft, pressure of the Thundershirt wrap. We tried the Thundershirt on all three, four-legged, animals in our home, with especially noticeable success on Frankie. Not only did he groom much less with the Thundershirt on, he was less skittish when it came to quick movements and new people.

A month ago, Thundershirt reached out again with a new addition to their brand, ThunderTreats, and the companion ThunderToy, for canines. While the ThunderToy comes in 2 sizes (small: less than 25lbs, and large: more than 25lbs), Nora just tips the scale at 5lbs, and does not have the jaw expansion to play with either. This was a bummer, as the ThunderToy, chew toy for dogs, has a specially designed, hatched, stuffer that actually holds the unique triangle ThunderTreats in place for a delayed release. Thankfully, the unique blend of ThunderTreats were not too big for Nora to sample- and boy did she sample!

When it comes to food, Nora is a picky eater. We do not feed her human food, and she has never had wet food- literal treats are her 'treat'. We permit her to chew on anything from rawhide and bacon flavored chews to traditional biscuits, so long as her tiny jaw can handle it; but she usually turns her nose up. This time her nose was turned up, but in the direction of the bag of ThunderTreats. These bite sized triangular biscuits are 3x the size of her little bites kibble, but crumble easy enough chew. Made with a unique blend of soothing chamomile and lavender, they have a lite herbal aroma and are intended to slowly calm your pup over time. ThunderTreats are also made, and exclusively sold, in the USA, and entirely wheat, corn, and soy free.

Nora knew these treats were for her, immediately. Before I'd even broken the seal on the zipper pouch, she was sniffing and licking the bag. Naturally, I made her sit, and wait, a solid 15 seconds before presenting the first ThunderTreat to her. With 3 swift chomps the triangle was gone, and my pup was attentively staring back up at me. Like most treats, these are not intended to be your pup's sole dietary source of 'food,' so I was certain to limit her portion to a suggested serving.....But the bag did end up on the table during the photo-shoot, and Nora did help herself to an extra before I caught wind of her covert snacking.

ThunderTreats can be purchased separately, or you may receive a complimentary 4oz bag with your ThunderToy purchase. I've found that ThunderTreats stuff nicely into the puppy size Kong we use for Nora; and keep her engaged for a decent period of time. I can't speak to the immediate effects of the chamomile and lavender, but having a treat on hand to occupy your pup is always a great idea for travel, and stressful situations. Why not give ThunderTreats a try?

One Time Out For Truffles reader will win a ThunderToy and ThunderTreats prize bundle in their size of choice.

A Guide To Choosing a New Fish: Beta Fish

Every now and than I get a little bored. As bad as it sounds, it sometimes feels as though I don't have enough things to care for in my life. Maybe it's because I was an only child, or perhaps the simple fact that our 'pets,' when I was growing up, never stuck around more than a few months. I have an attachment to living things and caring for them, whether they walk on 2 feet, 4 feet, or rely on fins to get around. Sabrina (10) has a dwarf bunny and a rather precocious adult cat, and of course, here at our house, we have Truffles (the cat who lives life as a dog) and Nora (the awkward but adorable Morkie). I know it's Sabrina's job to drag home injured and wayward animals, but it's usually me pleading for a new family member at the pet store. I've been campaigning for a hammy (hamster) for months, though the upkeep and smell of small rodent pets has kept that idea at bay, and recently decided to make the plunge with a different kind of pet.

Choosing the right pet for your family can seem like a dubious chore. Even within a species (dog, cat, fish, bird, etc), there are many variants to consider (size, age, temperament, upkeep). In college my home had a working saltwater tank with some rather expensive fish; but I was hardly their caretaker. The truth is, the thought of caring for my own fish was a bit overwhelming at first. Sure they swim around in the designated area of a tank, and are relatively easy to feed, but maintaining a safe liquid habitat, and cleaning said habitat without disrupting the fish is a whole other story. Then there's the actual fish. Choose an expensive fish, and it likely will need more advanced care (larger tank, aeration, fresh foliage), choose a more affordable fish and you may be bringing Mr.Scales back in a Ziploc baggy floating backside. Furry or finned I have no desire to be responsible for the demise of an animal, and fish have always been something a little foreign to me.

Recently I discovered a new Beta tank designed to be self cleaning; well, as much as a tank can be. This No Clean Aquarium operates with a gravity driven fill system that pushes dirty water at the base of the tank up through a tube and out a spout at the top, when fresh filtered water is poured in. (More on the tank itself in a future post.) This method of external (hands free) cleaning gave me the confidence to invest in a Beta, one of the least fussy varieties of finned pets. Beta fish live in freshwater surroundings and do not require aerated water (this means pump free tanks); they simply rise to the surface for air as needed. They're your traditional starter fish, but have a few particularities that require one fish per habitat. Beta fish also come in a variety of colors and fin sizes which often range in cost from $4-$20. Thankfully there was a very helpful young woman working at the pet store we frequent who was happy to answer all of our never-ending questions and set us up with the necessary supplies. I let Sabrina (10) pick out the Beta she liked best, and it was no surprise she once again proved she had expensive taste, selecting the most flashy (and lively) fish on the Beta display.

As it turns out Beta fish love to 'lounge' on plants; creating a sort of hammock from existing leaves and foliage, so we were certain to pick out a few strands of living green to decorate our fish's new home. There are also many types of Beta fish food, specific for the gender, and coloring. Different formulas of fish food will have varied reactions with the scales and coloring of your Beta, so always ask for advice when not sure. These particular fish should be fed once a day, but can also survive up to a week on extended pellets of compressed food. Most importantly, though Betas require the least amount of habitat preparation, they do need chlorine free, filtered water. Be sure to invest in some Water Conditioner drops to pre-treat your tank's water, and allow the water and the fish to sit out at room temperature for a few hours before introducing the two in the new habitat.

Beta fish should have a natural light cycle; this means your fish tank should be placed where it will receive plenty of natural light (but not in the sun's heat), or outfitted with a simple LED tank light. If you are going the light route, be sure to make sure it is not in danger of being submerged in water, and turn it on and off with your regular sleep and wake cycle each day. Color changing LED lights can be bought at a local pet store to add extra personalization to your tank and decor. While you can decorate your tank as you wish, it's best to keep in mind basic safety flags when choosing decor that is not manufactured specifically for tanks. Avoid painted items that may flake or erode in water, do not over-clutter the tank with items the fish may become caught or snagged in, and always cover the basin of your tank with an even array or rocks (river rocks shown). We wanted to go with a Spongebob theme for our tank, but only the smallest decorations would fit. Most Beta tanks are on the efficient (Space saving side), as Betas do not require much room to thrive in.

I'm happy to report our newest family member is thriving in his new habitat, this Half Moon Male Beta has beautiful dual-tone colors, and was promptly named 'Gary' (as in the snail) on the ride home from the pet store. We feed him every night (with the furry kids), and clean his tank once a week (by refilling with filtered water). I have to admit, the No Clean Aquarium has really helped make the entire process much easier for me, and I highly recommend looking into it for any family considering a new Beta. (Again, more on the tank and it's unique filtering process in a future post.) I was initially a bit worried about how the cat would take to the fish, but the tank is quite sturdy (thanks to it's tall and skinny structure), and Gary serves more as a beacon of entertainment than a possible late night snack. But Nora (dog) and Truffles (cat) will sit for hours watching him swim back and forth, almost as transfixed as Sabrina. Gary may not be a very hands on type of pet, but he's a welcome part of our family none-the-less.

Does your family have a fish? Are you thinking of adopting one?