The greatest dog in the world...is a companion who does all but speak. He will be gay or serious; he will console you in your lowest moods.

Ludwig Bemelman

We are entering the time of year that in days of old was a time to rest, reflect, and give thanks. The harvest was put up, the stores for winter use was put away, all the hard work of spring and summer was completed. As the daylight hours grew shorter and the weather of the day colder, members of the family would do the chores that absolutely needed done and then all would gather round the family hearth spending the evening hours together eating, reading, writing, indoor crafts such as candle making, knitting stockings, etc. before retiring for the evening.

In this modern world however with all the technology that is supposed to make our life easier, many of us find ourselves overwhelmed with all the hustle and bustle that starts before Thanksgiving and extends all the way through the New Years celebration. We are cleaning our houses top to bottom before guests start arriving, shopping for the perfect food, the perfect decorations, the perfect gifts, cooking, planning, baking,... our schedule has become over run with invitations that we can't turn down. And for others, the holiday season can be one of the lonliest times of year.

Believe it or not our canine companions experience the same emotions.

Our pups sense exactly what we are feeling. When we are uptight and stressed, our pets may exhibit those symptoms outwardly, by whining, moping, or acting lethargic, pacing, etc. If we are too busy to take them for their walks, play with them, pet them but for a quick pat on the head, or they are left alone in the home more frequently; they may act out by having accidents in the house, chewing stuff, or getting into my yarn basket and stringing it throughout the entire house getting into things they would regularly not. This type of behaviour from our pets will obviously feed the cycle above.

Let us make a commitment to ourselves and our furry friends to stop and seize the moment(s), to decompress, reflect, and enjoy each other for just a bit each day this holiday season. I think we all will be amazed at the peaceful difference this will make both with our pets as well as within ourselves.

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgivings!

With puppy love, HoneyDew, Sampson, and Tina too!

Senior Wellness

Sorry this is a bit late everyone-the pain meds from my oral surgery must have made me forgetful!

Senior Wellness

Pets are generally considered seniors when they reach the age of seven, although this can vary some with size and breed. Senior pets, like senior humans, need more visits to the doctor to make sure they stay healthy. In addition to twice yearly exams and annual blood screening, there are several tests that can be performed to make sure you and the veterinary staff are doing all they can to keep your pet healthy and happy for the as long as possible! Any and all of the items listed below may be needed for your pet-talk to your veterinarian about what is recommended for your special senior.

 Dietary changes: There are prescription diets available that can assist in treatment with many geriatric diseases. If your pet doesn’t have a specific medical condition then a quality senior diet is the desired choice.

 Tonometry: This test evaluates intraocular pressure (the pressure inside the eye). The reason for this test is that many breeds are predisposed to glaucoma-a painful disease where the eye pressure becomes elevated. This test is quick and painless and gives us valuable information about a potentially painful disease process

 Chest Radiographs: Radiographs or “x-rays” of the chest will help us evaluate the size and shape of the heart, as well as evaluate the lungs and large airways. This is a very important test for pets with heart murmurs, coughing, or abnormal airway sounds.

 Abdominal Radiographs: Radiographs of the abdomen help us interpret abnormal findings on bloodwork or on physical exam. They can help confirm a potential mass or bladder stone among other problems. Often these problems are easier to treat if confirmed early in the course of the disease.

 E.C.G.: This test evaluates the electrical activity of the heart as well as any arrhythmias (abnormal rhythm). This test is important in pets with any heart disease and in certain breeds predisposed to cardiac abnormalities.

 NSAID Trial: Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs are used in the treatment of arthritis or degenerative joint disease. This is a common disease of older pets and can cause stiffness, reluctance to jump or climb stairs or overall decreased activity. Your pet may be a candidate to try one of these very effective drugs.

 Urinalysis and ERD: Evaluation of a urine sample can help us get a better picture of the renal system and urinary tract. It can also allow us to pick up on infections, diabetes, and other diseases in conjunction with our blood work.

Dirty Dawg Shampoo Bar!

Welcome to this week's DOT post!

We have a couple new members this week. Please go over and welcome Gayle and Ella.

This week's post I'm going to do some self promotion but only because I really would love you all to go listen to an interview I did with Tim from The Soap Shed about his Dirty Dawg Shampoo Bar!

It's in Episode 37: SAFFtastic of my podcast about dogs, knitting, spinning, and my life called Barknknit Podcast.

For those of you who don't want to listen to the rest of the podcast, if you skip to about 14:45 minutes in the podcast then you'll be able to listen to just the interview. He was a very interesting man and the soap was inspired by his two rescued goldens. :)

Hope you enjoy it and have a blessed day! Happy Dogs on Thursday!!

Happy Hallowiener!!!

Hello, all! Penny here for the latest installment of Dogs on Thursday. I'm a little tardy... my mom got confused because she thought the 4th Thursday was today, but it was last week... and, since I'm a puppy, I can't take responsibility for such things. You know how it is.

So Saturday is Halloween! Be sure to watch after all your pooches, because I hear that a lot of them get kind of spooked with all the activity going on. And make sure they don't get into the candy (although I also hear that it's ultra yummy but bad for dogs -- pooh). Mom and Dad say that they're interested to see how I do with all the goblins who will be coming to our door. See, I love everybody. And I think they're all here just to see me! Isn't that how it's supposed to be for a princess??

Earlier this month my folks took me to an event sponsored by one of the dachshund rescue groups here in Atlanta called the HowlOWeenie. I have to be honest -- I was a little bit overwhelmed by all the wiener dogs there! So many in one place... a lot were dressed in costume... some were in carts since their back legs didn't work well anymore... some were bigger than me... some were smaller... There were more pooches there than I had ever seen before! We saw a couple who were black and tan dapples like me.There were wiener dogs in costume. I wonder if they went trick-or-treating afterwards? Do people give out snausages as treats??This little lady is in the red hat society. I'm hoping that's in dog years...And Elvis even made an appearance... complete with his security detail:All in all we had a good time. Visited some vendors there; Mom bought a new fleecy jacket for me to wear when the weather gets chilly here. She says she's "knitting" a sweater for me... the yarn is really tasty tho, and I don't understand why she gets so annoyed when I'm sampling it while she's playing with it and those sticks. Honestly, don't have it out where I can get to it if you don't want me to eat it!

I hope everyone has a good month of November ahead. I'll bark at you next month!