The Doggie that Launched a Million Smiles

Ripley Rose

A Doggie that launched a million smiles. Yep they all do.. That's thier Job!

 A lot of tears today  as my wife and I needed to put one of our pups down.  We rescued  Ripley and her partner in crime Charlie from a shelter about  11 years ago.

As all you pet lovers know it’s a hard thing to do..  however as we all know as the tears fade… The great memories and all the smiles and Joy that a pet can bring into your life and home will never fade away.



Ripley Show Me Tummy

  Thank God for you Pets they are truley with you for a reason

Thank you Ripley

Ask a Vet: What Kind of Treats Do You Recommend? -Amy Van Tassel, DVM

The first thing I look for in a treat is the number of calories it contains. A couple of years ago, I called some of the major manufacturers of commercial dog and cat treats to find out how many calories were in their treats. I was shocked by some of what I found. One treat had over 1,000 calories! That number of calories is almost the entire daily energy requirement for an average dog weighing 60 pounds.  I have a list of all the information I obtained from these calls on our website at http://woodridgeanimalhospital.com/Main/DogTreatCalories.html for dog treats or http://woodridgeanimalhospital.com/Main/CaloriesinCatTreats.html for cat treats. Click here for the rest of the story from Dr. Amy- Woodridge Patch

Another Tip on Keeping Cool Before You Call the A/C Guy……………. Cottonwood Trees and Your Air Conditioner

Due to the warm weather this spring in Chicagoland  the little “Snowflakes” fell early!

 

Cottonwood A/C Coil Clogs

Think about it for a moment… During the peak of cottonwood season, fuzzies are flying around your neighbor hood. This is when they attack your air conditioner. No they don’t use magic, or contain some sort of chemical agent. Instead, they are sucked into your condenser coil, and the result is reduced air flow across the coil. This will first cause your air conditioner to loose some of its energy efficiency. Although this is a problem, losing a little efficiency will only cost you pennies, but the bigger problem of an over heated compressor can cost hundreds.
Picture this, its 100 degrees outside and your cottonwood seed packed coil can’t cool itself off. Do you see the problem here? Those cute little fuzzies we chase around as kids just burnt out your compressor! Now you have to call up for an emergency service call in the high heat of summer.

From what the experts' tell me, the simple solution is to just fully hose down the grill work around your A/C unit so it can do it’s job!

Click here to see a Video on how it's done

“Neal Paskvan is a Real Estate Agent in Downers Grove with Baird and Warner”

Ask A Vet: Fireworks and Thunderstorms- Loud Noise Phobias in Pets - Woodridge, IL Patch

 Dr. Amy Van Tassel has been practicing in the Chicago suburbs since graduating from the University of Illinois in 2000. Dr. Amy Blogs on the PATCH in Woodridge. We are indeed Proud to Have her as a part of our Blog aslo. You will find a link to her website  and how to ASK a Question or contact her below.

Credits : Dr. Amy Van Tassel, DMV- Woodridge Animal Hospital

Spring and summer in the Midwest can be a rough time for pets scared of loud noises. Not only do we have the 4th of July, a day (sometimes week) that centers around fireworks, but we also have regular thunderstorms.
Even though it's a normal instinct for animals to fear loud noises, many pets experience excessive anxiety, particularly when it comes to fireworks and thunderstorms. Pets show anxiety in many different ways, the more significant include panting, pacing, whining, howling, trembling, digging, drooling, or even destroying things.
The most important thing you can do to help a pet cope with anxiety is to ignore them. Most people who have a pet showing signs of anxiety will try to calm them by petting and speaking reassuringly to them in a quiet, calm voice. While intentions are good, unfortunately this is the worst thing for an anxious pet. The reality is that the pet has no idea what is being said. Instead, they only know that by behaving the way they are (fearful and anxious), they receive all sorts of wonderful attention and praise. This only serves to reenforce the behavior and often will make the reactions more intense. Some pets will start to react to lightning instead of just the thunder, to light rain showers, or even to barametric pressure changes.

What you should do: Limit your pet's exposure to the noise. Let her have access to the area she feels most safe. This is often in a room without windows like the bathroom, a closet, or under a bed. Close curtains to prevent visibility of the conditions outside and have some background noise, like music or the television to dull the sounds of thunder or fireworks. And most importantly, do not give your pet any attention, this includes eye contact, touch, or talking to her. She can follow you or lay near you, just don't give her any attention unless she's calm.
If the things mentioned above alone don't help, talk to your veterinarian about other options available including pheromones, thundershirts, medications, and instructions on ways to teach your pet to relax.

If you have a question or would like me to cover a topic in this blog, please e-mail me at dr.amy@woodridgeanimalhospital.com.

Click Here to Learn More About Dr Amy

Overweight Dogs | Pet and Animal News

 Can My Dog Lose Weight?

Overweight Dogs: Can My Dog Lose Weight?
Although a fat, pudgy dog can be super cute, if your dog is carrying excess weight, he may be suffering physically. Many dogs are prone to be overweight or even obese. Other dogs may simply be suffering from a lack of exercise, or may be eating the wrong types of food. Perhaps your veterinarian has recommended that your dog drop a few pounds. If your dog is overweight, you can help him to lose some excess doggie flab. Obese dogs, just like obese humans, don’t live as long as their slimmer counterparts. And as the dog’s owner, it is up to you to keep him properly fed, socialized, and exercised. The tips that follow can help your porky dog to get healthier.

Feeding Your Dog
Just as we humans can fall into a pattern of eating the wrong things, your dog can fall into the same patterns – albeit you are the one who is feeding him. If you are feeding him from the table or table scraps, this can be detrimental to your dog’s health. A large dog needs two or three small meals each day instead of one big feast. Feed your dog a healthy dog food that is enriched with vitamins and minerals. Until you find a brand of healthy dog food that your dog will actually eat, purchase the smallest bag available in each brand. Your veterinarian can help you select good choices when it comes to healthy food for your dog to eat during its “diet”. After finding the right kind of dog food for your beefy dog, you can then start adding crushed veggies (steamed beforehand) to their food. Many people automatically assume that dogs only like meats, eggs, and so on, but lots of dogs enjoy vegetables and they can get a lot of extra minerals and vitamins from veggies that can help them shed excess weight.

Exercising Your Dog
Food adjusted, its time for the fun part – exercising your dog. Leash your dog and head out to the nearest park for some quality running, walking, and playing. Allow the dog ample time to rest during his exercise periods. Keep a portable dog bowl and plenty of water for the dog so that he doesn’t become overheated. Slowly add a longer course to your daily jaunts and walk for a longer period of time. Aim to get a minimum of thirty minutes of exercise each day. If you have a pool, don’t forget that your dog is a natural swimmer – and swimming is a great exercise for weight loss. Varying your dog’s workout will keep both you and the dog entertained, which means that you will have a greater success rate.

Reward Your Dog with Praise and Love
While doggie is dieting, it is important to avoid giving him any additional treats. Many dog treats are laden with fat and are not even that filling. Instead, reward your dog for a job well done with loads of praise and lots of love. Rub him, pat him, and give him a big kiss – but don’t make food a reward as it will just encourage his poor nutritional habits.

Article Provided by Pet and Animal News.

This news story is independently sourced and PetPeoplesPlace.com does not specifically endorse products or services offered by any company referenced in this article, or benefit from any association with any companies referenced.