Pet Monologues

Though summer is upon us and there are many good summer tips to keep your pet out of harms way, here is year-round advice that can save a life.

An emergency situations calls for staying calm and making quick decisions. What should you do? Knowledge is power, so take the steps right now to learn how to handle an emergency. In addition to the first aid kit you have for home, camping, have a fully stocked pet first-aid kit (see below) know where the nearest 24-hour emergency pet clinic is. It could mean the difference between life and death. And act cautiously—animals in severe pain or fear may bite.

CAR ACCIDENTS
A pet that has been hit by a car needs to see a vet immediately. Internal bleeding is common, and outward signs of distress may not show for several hours. Also, puncture wounds that close rapidly can cause life-threatening infections later on. Enlist someone’s help in moving the animal by sliding a heavy towel beneath it. To avoid being bitten, tie a strip of cloth over your dog’s nose, or cover your cat’s face with a coat.

BLEEDING
Using direct pressure, apply a clean, dry cloth to the wound. If blood soaks through the first layer of fabric, add more so you don’t disrupt any clots that may be forming. Use a tourniquet only as a last resort, and make it just tight enough to significantly reduce the flow of blood. Loosen it every five minutes, and don’t keep it on for longer than 20 minutes. Transport your pet to the vet as soon as possible. Read the rest of this entry »

Is Rover coughing? It could be dog flu.

Experts urge pet owners to be on the alert now that the disease has been confirmed in Illinois. Read the rest of this entry »

Man returns dogs’ bones.

Transplants of bone marrow, perfected in canine tests, will soon treat their cancers. Read the rest of this entry »

swine n. , pl. swine . Any of various omnivorous, even-toed ungulates of the family Suidae, including pigs, hogs, and boars, having a stout body.

nellie, a hampshire from indiana is a clone

clone “offspring” pork chop from indiana

acorn-fed iberico pig in eastern spain

a proper carving jamonero with hoof properly up

chow time

Top two photos from Wired magazine [wired 15.11] discussing cloning. “The other other white meat”—it looks the same, it cooks the same, it tastes the same. but this pig, a Hampshire from Indiana name Nelly, is a clone. And cloned bacon? It may already be at your supermarket. The second photo deck copy reads “My fist-size chop is glazed in a sugary, thick-as-molasses marinade. It tastes better than anything I’ve had at a restaurant—moist, succulent, and wonderfully tender.” Read the rest of this entry »

Pet Monologues launched just as the pet-food recalls were front-page headlines one year ago. The events propelled us into the blogosphere to be sure. A year later it seems fitting to revisit pet-food and diet.

We (PM household) have not yet gone organic but feel fortunate living in a large metro area where there are many choices. However we also find ourselves having to decide daily whether to pay the premium for eating organic. You can find a more in-depth viewpoint on pet diet in our pet-food recipe section.

Let’s think about diet, fitness, and spirit. We are the messenger at this point in time.

The top five benefits of natural organic pet food for your dog:

Whether or not you’ve “gone organic,” you probably know how crucial a role diet plays in your overall health. People who switch to organic foods report a boost in their energy levels. Their complexions improve and rashes clear up. They catch fewer colds, suffer fewer allergies, and recover quicker from illnesses. The health benefits of eating organic seem to last long-term. Read the rest of this entry »

If you think the Pug can clean your monitor, wait until you see the cat clean your monitor.

The cat’s tongue…

When our cat scarfs his moist food placed on his chrome Wetnoz serving-plate, the surface looks like a mirror. There is nothing left, just a haze-free shine. You could not get the same results with sandpaper, yet that is what his tongue can feel like on your face in the middle of the night.

A Grooming Tool and More
A cat’s ability to groom itself is the result of numerous knobs called papillae on the surface of a cat’s tongue. Located at the tongue’s center, the papillae form backward-facing hooks containing large amounts of keratin, the same material found in human fingernails. These hooks provide the abrasiveness a cat needs for self-grooming. Read the rest of this entry »

An article in Salon “What I wouldn’t do for my cat” inspired the following letters (editor’s pick) regarding medical treatment for your sick pet.

My cat = my new carpeting

Last year, my husband got a nice bonus from work. The same week our cat, Leo, ate a penny (yes, ate a penny, in front of our two kids). Turns out that is a very awful thing for a cat to do. He ended up with pancreatitis, mouth infections, ulcers, was in an emergency vet hospital for a week on IV’s, all sorts of treatments. And, he pulled through. My kids love that cat–but the treatment? Took the bonus–ALL of it–over $5,000. I joked that the cat ate my new carpeting, which is what I had intended to spend the $5,000.

Yes, we love him and I am glad to have him, but I still think we were crazy to spend that much money on a cat. Read the rest of this entry »

New year’s resolution? Get your butt in shape. Animal inspired—of course.

Dog scooter. Produced in Bend, Oregon

Healthy body. Healthy mind. Fitness for man or beast. PM sees a lot of these Kanga boots lately and I need something that takes the strain off of these old bones. Check them out at kangoojumps.com

A Bend, Oregon manufacturer—possibly extreme terrain cyclists capital of the world—sent us info about their new product—for big, hearty animals only! Watching joggers run their companions on hot days or pulling the master who is on rollerblades raises a red flag. Play close attention to your animal, they would run themselves to death for you. dogpoweredscooter.com Read the rest of this entry »

The poop on where to hide your old pills.

WASHINGTON—Got some leftover drugs—the kind that someone else might want to use, such as painkillers or stimulants? Wrap them up in used kitty litter or other pet droppings, the U.S. government advises. Read the rest of this entry »

Hartz Vitamin Care recall.
Hartz announced a recall on November 2 for Hartz Vitamin Care for cats. Read the rest of this entry »