Gracie's Bark | Pet Friendly Resource

Celebrate Your Dog's Birthday with Gracie's Bark

Celebrate your dog's birthday with Gracie's Bark!

 

 
 We will wish your lovable dog a Happy Birthday on Gracie's Bark. 

Please send us a picture and your dog's birth date to [email protected].

(Picture and date of birth need to be received at least 3 days before your dog's birthday)

Asking Your Veterinarian Questions & Seeking a Second Opinion

Recently I was approached by a relative of mine who was having some health issues with her dog Molly who had gone to the Veterinarian for a small infection on an area of her skin. The infection was treated and Molly needed some minor stitches because that area had to be drained. A short time later her stitches were removed and in the same visit she received her immunizations. That night Molly began panting, pacing and shaking for quite a few hours. Along with these symptoms, she was whimpering and would yelp if someone touched her. She was also unable to go up and down the stairs. 

Molly was brought back to the Veterinarian and seemed to appear fine. The Veterinarian suggested that dementia might have settled in. Molly is what we would consider an "senior" puppy. She is a Shih Tzu that was adopted and her exact age is unknown. Molly's owners did not think it was coincidental that her dementia settled in the same night she received her immunizations. 

Finally after going back and forth to the Veterinarian, they determined that her c4 & c5 vertebrae were displaced and that was what had been causing her pain and bizarre behavior. Molly was placed on pain and anxiety medication and was finally able to sleep through the night. 

 

She is now receiving laser treatment and seems to be doing better. Molly may need to go for acupuncture if the laser treatment does not help. Hopefully, at least she is now on the road to recovery. 

I wanted to pass this story on because we should always be aware of what our Veterinarians are prescribing for our pets. And, if we are not happy with their diagnosis, then we should seek a second opinion, even if it is just a matter of involving another veterinarian from the same practice. 

I have found an informational 10-question checklist to ask your veterinarian when prescribing medication. I thought it might be helpful for everyone to read.  10 Questions to Ask Your Vet

And don’t forget to always look up any medication on the Internet that is prescribed for your pet. We now have unlimited access to all sorts of pet-related information at our fingertips on-line. 

Gracie's Hope for a No-Kill World

It may seem impossible to hope for a world where every dog (pet) is given the opportunity to live a safe, long and healthy life, but I think in recent years we are able to be more optimistic about this dream.

The majority of shelters involved in tracking data, in the United States including the Humane Society, are now estimating that the number of animals killed in shelters on an annual basis has decreased dramatically since the 1970s. 25 Million to 4 Million today!

Even though 4 million is still a staggering amount, we can hope to change this figure as we develop programs that will help sustain good care and promote adoption.  Taking preventative measures such as trap/neuter/return of feral cats, low-cost or free spay/neuter services, and comprehensive foster home and rescue associations are all detrimental to decreasing the amount of animals killed in shelters each year.

I would like everyone to really think about the 4 million figure for just a minute and realize how important adoption really is. Adopting a pet can be the most rewarding activity you do in your life.

At Gracie’s Bark, we encourage you to please think about adoption first when planning on getting a new pet!

Gracie Sniffed Out Some Great Ideas for Doggie Munchies

Sometimes it is fun to do a little research and find out some new foods that we can add to our dog’s diet.  I like to try new treats with Gracie because it keeps her interested and can add a healthy twist to her doggie nutrition.  I have also listed some useful tips when dealing with your dog’s upset tummy.

 

Rice is helpful substitution to add to your dog’s food when they are experiencing an upset tummy. White rice is easily digestible. When Gracie is having tummy trouble (depending on the severity) I either start adding some white rice to her food or I switch her food to Iams Intestinal Low-Residue. You can purchase this from your veterinarian.  

Squash (like pumpkin) can be added to your dog’s diet if you are looking to firm up their stool. It is also a great source of beta-carotene.   You can remove the seeds, slice it up and freeze it for a refreshing crunchy snack.

Air-popped popcorn, with no butter, oil, or salt can be a great snack for you and your dog while curling up to watch your favorite movie or TV show.

Lean meat, such as chicken, beef and pork (with no fat) is a great way to cook up a tasty alternative for training treats. Leans meats also provide a balanced source of amino acids which are the building blocks of muscle in your dog’s body.

Liver is available in most meat sections of your grocery store and is also a great training treat. Recently I cooked fresh liver, cut it up into small piece, used if for training with Gracie and she loved it. There is one important fact to know about your dog’s consumption of liver, which is that it is high in Vitamin A. Although liver is an excellent source of B Vitamins, you will need to limit your dog’s intake because of the high Vitamin A content.  Too much Vitamin A can be toxic to dogs.

Pineapple contains mostly sugar but it also contains calcium and potassium. Frozen pineapple cubes can be a tasty treat for those hot doggie days of summer.  Another interesting fact is that if your dog has a bad habit of eating their own stool (I know there are dog owners out there that struggle with this), adding a little pineapple to their meal can help. Once it is processed through the body, pineapple can cause their stool to taste horrible and prevent them from trying to eat it again.

Cottage cheese is relatively bland and high in protein and calcium. If you are looking to add some extra protein to your dog’s diet, this can be a good alternative.  It is important to remember that cottage cheese is a dairy product and some dogs (such as Gracie) cannot handle dairy. Make sure you start with just a small amount to test out your dog’s tolerance.

Parsley can be great for keeping your dog’s breath fresh. If anyone is cooking homemade dog treats, just add a little bit of parsley to the recipe. It is also a great source of calcium, potassium, and beta-carotene.

Peanut butter is another great alternative to regular store bought dog treats or Kong stuffers.  You can smear some peanut butter inside or on one of your dog’s favorite toys. One of Gracie’s favorite things to do is to lick the peanut butter container before I throw it away.

Carrots can be a fun snack for your dog. Gracie loves them. I just limit her quantity at one time, because they can be harsh on her tummy if she’s fed too many.  

It is important to remember, everything is always better for your dogs in moderation.  Keep in mind that too much of one type of food can have a tremendous impact on their diets.  Extra foods should not make up more than 25 percent of your dog’s diet. Be sure to try out new foods one at a time until you are certain that they do not upset your dog’s stomach.

Gracie & Jazzmin at Horseneck Beach

Gracie had a wonderful walk with Jazzmin today over at Horseneck Beach in Westport, MA. Alison (Jazzmin's mom) and I walked all the way down to Boat Beach and back again. It was great. The weather was perfect.  Here's a picture of our two girls enjoying their day together!

 
 
 

Gracie is Reaching Out to Rescue 4 Dogs in Memphis TN

Susan Taylor lives near Memphis TN in a rural area where dogs get dropped off all the time, including these 4 dogs. For 4 months, Susan has tried in vain to find homes for these dogs and because she has 3 dogs of her own she cannot keep the 4 newcomers. She says she will take them all to the Memphis Animal Shelter this weekend if she cannot find another place for them.

They are all current on shots and heartworm negative. All are females. All are sweet and gentle with people but NO CATS.

Please contact Susan Taylor by phone 901-362-3415 or by email [email protected] if you can help with any of these dogs or contact the Memphis Animal Shelter by phone 901-362-5310.

Gracie's Bark is happy to spotlight any dogs in need of a good home. We are very willing to do our part in finding the loving homes these dogs need, it is the least we can do! Email us anytime with requests at [email protected]. Find out more about our Reaching Out To Rescue.

How to Keep Gracie's Ears Clean: Dog Grooming 101

We've tried several tactics to keep Gracie's "floppy" ears clean. Recently I was searching the web for natural ear cleaning solutions and I came across a great dog blog called Halle Balle Dog. We've been in contact with Vish & Asia (owners of the blog and a beautiful Weimaraner named Halle) and they gave us some suggestions. We ended up purchasing a natural product called NaturVet Ear Wash. This product seems to be working really well. 

Gracie's ear cleaning question inspired Vish & Asia to write an article on their blog called Selecting a Safe and Natural Dog Ear Cleaner. We recommend you check it out. 

Thank you Vish & Asia. Hopefully we will enjoy happy (or at least tolerable...for Gracie) ear cleaning moments!

Gracie's March Spotlight Dog: Maisie, from Foxboro, MA

Jen Vondebrink, Life Enrichment Coach & Leadership Trainer, emailed Gracie's Bark with a story about her dog Maisie.

 

 Hi, my name is Maisie and I love adventure.   I don’t mean daily “hide the bone…now where did I hide the bone” kind of adventure.  I’m a travelin’ dog.  4 years ago this month, I was born on the streets of Mexico.  I was rescued, sent to Seattle, adopted and now live in Foxboro, MA.  When I’m not jetting around the world, I love to run, play catch then settle in for a long afternoon nap.  Thanks, Gracie, for the opportunity to be your March Spotlight Dog.

 

Maisie is adorable and we want to thank her for becoming part of Gracie’s Bark Blog Family. Every month Gracie will spotlight a local dog. Please email your entry with a photo to [email protected] and tell her about your favorite pal! (Three sentence limit)