PET CONCIERGE

Published bimonthly byBest Buddies Dog

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© 2009

EMERGENCY NUMBERS!Animal Eme rgency Clinic3165 22nd Ave N, StPetersburg, FL(727) 323-1311

Animal Eme rgency Countryside30606 US Hwy 19 N. Palm Harbor(727) 786-5755

Animal Eme rgency of Hernando

3496 Deltona Blvd, Spring Hill(813) 666-0904

A.A Animal Emergency ER Center36401 U.S. 19, Palm Harbor, FL(727) 787-5402

Tampa Bay Veterinary Emerge ncy Service238 E Bearss Ave. Tampa, FL33613(813) 265-4043

The Pet Concierge

Enter to have your dog’s portrait grace the next cover of “The Pet Concierge”Simply send a picture of your dog to DogsRule@BestBuddiesBoutique.comThe winner will get a free session with photographer Stephanie Smith and be placed on the

next cover of the magazine.All others will be placed on our in-store bulletin board.(winner will be chosen at random, no guarantees are made, no cash value)

Enterto win

One of my first steps...changing the kittylitter. Most popular retail cat litters aremade out of clay, specifically sodiumbentonite clay. This clay is what absorbs so

well in cat litters and are non-biodegradable and usuallyproduces a lot of dust. This dust consists of tiny particlesof silica which can be harmful if inhaled too often. Silicais a mineral very commonly found in sand and differenttypes of rocks. When those rocks are ground or brokenapart in any w ay, silica particles are released in the formof dust. Constant inhalation of this dust can lead toSilicosis, a lung disease caused by silica exposure. Thesymptoms are comparable to pneumonia and otherrespiratory diseases and usually become det ectableafter 10 years of the first exposure. On more rareoccasions the inhalation of silica can result in cancer.The reason silica is so dangerous is because it does notdissolve and w e, as w ell as animals, do not have th eablity to cough up the dust from our lungs. Over time, if

one is continuously exposed to silica, it will continue toaccumulate until breathing becomes difficult. This couldbe especially dangerous to ashtmatics and elderly orimmuno-suppresed people. Imagine how this could beaffecting our pets as well. One study has been done onthe possible effects of inhaling this dust in felines.(http://www.securepet.biz/wordpress/2008/07/study-on-silica-dust-in-cats/ ) Th e results mainly show that cat salready suffering from respiratory problems can worsenafter inhaling litter dust.

So let's take a look at the alternatives. I chose to try outFeline Pine which basically consists of condensed pinepellets which means barely any tracking. The litter isfragrance and dust free and is very absorbent. It doesn't

Green and FreeSelf-sufficiency, greener living, and more…by Vanessa Hernande z

“amazingly enough my cats have takento it pretty well and it seems to be taking

care of the odor wonderfully”

The Pet Concierge

clump but absorbs and breaks apart like sawdust. Ofcourse it is also biodegradable and 100% natural. It'salso relatively inexpensive. A 20lb bag runs about $11dollars. They also h ave a ver sion that clumps which is alittle pricier. Since this litter comes in pellets, themakers recommend to add a small amount to yourregular litter to transition your pet easily. I was a littlenervous at first because on e of my cats is incrediblypicky and she'll let you know if she doesn't likesomething...either on the bed, the bathroom mat, orthe couch. And of course I didn't realize at first thatthey recommend mixing both litters. But amazinglyenough my cats have taken to it pretty well and itseems to be taking care of the odor wonderfully. Formore: http://www.naturesearth.com/

Swheat ScoopSome other litters that I've found out about are Swh eatScoop which is an all wheat litter that is just as naturalas Feline Pine. This is only sold as a clumping litter andsome r eviewers have said the clumping is lacking totheir standards. Some pluses for Swheat Scoop ar e thatit is 100% safe to flush down the toilet (even with aseptic tank) and can be added to compost piles(not forvegetable gardens!). The makers also promise less dustthan clay litters. Though I haven't tried this litter, thewebsite claims that it looks and feels like conventionallitter so pets are more easily accustomed to it. Theprice range is relatively the same as Feline Pine. Formore: http://swheatscoop.com/

World's Best Cat LitterWorld's Best Cat Litter is another all natural litter made

from whole-kernel corn. This litter clumps as well and likethe rest is 100% natural and biodegradable. Also, likeSwheat Scoop, WBCL c an be flushed down the toilet. Themakers promise almost no tracking and superior odorcontrol. This litter seems to be very comparable to SwheatScoop. The price range for this litter is a little on thehigher side. A 17lb bag at Petsmart runs about $19-20bucks. For more: http://www.worldsbestcatlitter.com/

Yesterday's NewsPurina makes a litter called Yesterday's New s which ismade out of recycled newspapers. This litter comes inpellets like Feline Pine and absorbs pretty much the same.We actually use this litter at my job because it's ideal forpost-surgical pets since it doesn't stick to incision sites likepowder or clay litters. This one is like the rest, flushable,biodegradable, super-absorbent, and odor-busting. Somecats may be sensitive to the pine smell of Feline Pine sothis may be a better alternative if you want a pellet-likelitter. The makers offer two kinds, one being 'softer' thanthe other. Both are priced at $17 dollars for either a 27lb or30lb bag. For more: http://www.yesterdaysnews.com/

So far these are all of the n atural cat litters that I've foundand they're all silica free. These ar e great options if youwant to green up your cats litter box. There is anotheroption though that may be th e most natural of all and isvirtually free to try! Toilet train your cat! This may seemlaughable and all together impossible but it has beendone. Here's a link if you're interested http://planetgreen.disco very.com/home-garden/toilet-train ed-cats.html?campaign=daylife-articleÎ

April/May 2009

Vanessa Hernandez is a veterinary technician of four years, owner of 6 pets,and a freelance writer. She believes in promoting the healthiest care for petsin order to maintain long and happy lives for our little and not-so-little lovedones.

Follow Vanessa online as she explores the world of green living.

http://greenandfree.blogspot.com

Dogs are a joy, but there is justone (not so) little tiny thing aboutthem that isn’t so cute. You knowwhat I mean, their “business”. It’sa fact of life, but I just dread itevery day, several times a day.We’ve tried the usual methods,the baggie, the leftover shoppingbags, pretending like we didn’tsee it…

We just found the greatestthing to come around sincepeanut butter. It’s called theSkooperbox and it’s a small paperbox that you use to scoop themess up without having to dealwith the mushi ness. After you

scoop, you just toss the wholething in the trash. It’s made ofrecycled paper so it hel ps theenvironment; plus it biodegradescompletely unlike the plastic bagsthat take years to dissolve. Wejust love the Skooperboxes. Youget a month’s supply for $10,

which is $2 off the regular price.They also have them in large for$12 a pack. The best part is thatwe don’t have to deal with thatwarm gooey feeling anymore.The Skooperbox comes with aleash clip ad it comes flat so itfits in your back pocket orpurse. Just whip it out and itpops open ready for use. Whydidn’t anyone think of thisbefore? Î

You need a Skooperbox.

SKOOPERBOX IS AVAILABLE AT BEST BUDDIES DOG BOUTIQUE AND BAKERY400 BEACH DRIVE NE, DOWNTOWN ST. PETERSBURG FL

The Pet Concierge

Margot’s Kitchen

Pizza treats

2-3 bi g carrots 1 bag parsley 1 bag basil 4 T dried oregano ¼ cup mozzarella cheese 3 T sunflower oil 2 ¾ cups whole wheat flour 3 T bran 2 tsp baking powder ¾ cup water

Combine carrots, parsley, basil,oregano, mozzarella cheese and oil ina food processor. In a different bowlmix dry ingredients. Add wet mixtureand gradually add water and mix.Knead for a couple of minutes and rollthe dough into ½ - 1” log. Slice ¼”thick pieces Put on a baking sheet.Bake for 45-50 minutes at 325 °F andlet it cool overnight.

The Pet Concierge

8

Dear Jake,Mommy says I have a hard time withfood. She buys me different types offood, but it’s the same thing everytime. I sniff it a little, take a small biteand then go hide. She gets frustratedbecause I have lost some weight andshe’s worried about me. What can Ido?Signed,Loose Fitti ng Collar.

Dear Loose Fitting Collar,Does your mommy feed y ou rightbefore she leaves? Maybe you areequating eati ng with being left alone.Tell her to feed you one to two hoursbefore she has to leave so you won’tfeel bad when eating. Sometimesdogs connect eating with otheractivities. You may be feeling that ifyou finish your food, she will leaveyou. Always check with your vet if youare unsure.Bon Appetite,

Dear Jake,

Ask Jake a question, any question and hemight choose yours to include in thenext issue.askjake@bestbuddiesboutique.com

April/May 2009

9

As our beloved pets grow older, they need specialcare because most chronic problems startdeveloping during the "golden years". Often, quickdetection and intervention results in the prevention ofproblems, the delay in disease progression, or thecure of disease processes.

As pet owners, we should tell our pet doctor aboutany changes in the behavior of our dog or cat. It isimportant to pay attention to changes in w eight andalterations in habits, such as excessive thirst orurination, increases or decreases in appetite,abnormal color or consistency of stools, diff icultymoving, jumping or playing, changes in attitude andalertness, and modif ications in sleeping habits.

Common diseases that affect older pets are obesity,arthr itis , hear t and pulmonary problems,dental disease, tumors, diabetes, and thyroidproblems.

In cats, w e pay particular attention to changes ingrooming habits, breathing problems, blood in theurine, w eight loss (in spite of a voracious appetite),coughing, and constipation.

The A merican Veterinary Medical Associationrecommends a pet visits the veterinarian at leastevery 6 months. This is particularly important w henthe pet is a senior.

We recommend complete blood w ork be evaluatedon every senior pet. The complete w ork up includesa blood chemistry to check the status of the majororgans, a blood cell count and differential to detectabnormalit ies in the production of blood cells and theexistence of anemia or infection, a urinalysis, and athyroid test. Based on the results of these tests, thepet may be prescribed a particular diet or medication.

Other tests that we commonly recommend are chestand abdominal X rays, electrocardiogram, bloodpressure, ocular pressure, and rectal palpation inintact males to detect abnormalit ies w ith the lymphnodes and prostate gland. In addit ion, pets w ho takemedication on a continual basis need blood w orkregularly to detect any side effects that may occur.

(If you are over 50, you know exactly w hat I amtalking about...)

Veterinary medicine has evolved immensely. Wenow have specialists in every branch of medicineincluding ophthalmology, cardiology, internalmedicine, oncology, behavior, surgery, dermatology,neurology, and dentistry. We also have access tothe latest in diagnostic technology, includingultrasound, MRI and CT scanning.

The goal of all of this know ledge and technology is togive our pets the best quality of life possible in their"golden" years, just as w e w ish for ourselves. It is nolonger uncommon to see pets living over 19 years,just as people are living w ell over 80 or 90 years. Byrecognizing the onset of chronic conditions, andunderstanding their management and treatment, thispossibility becomes more and more feasible everyday.

If w e can live longer now , shouldn't w e do our best toenjoy our pets longer, as w ell?Î

The Senior PetAdvice for pets 7 years and moreBy Juan C. Molina-Brisson, DVM

Dr.Juan Carlos Molina-Brisson graduated i nBuenos Aires Argenti na in 1981.

Joined the Army and worked with the war dogbreeding/training facility until promoted toCaptain, while owning his own Small AnimalHospital.

Dr.Molina obtained the ECFVG certificate of theAmerican Veterinary Medical Association aftercompleting the National Board Exam, theClinical Competency Test and the ClinicalProficiency Exam.

His areas of particular i nterest are pediatrics andgeriatrics.

Andes Animal Hospital1019 Highland Avenue NELargo, FL 33770

727-518-PETS(7387)

www.AndesAnimalHospital.com

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For years people have jumped onthe eco-friendly band wagon, howevergreen has officially become the new blackfor 2009. And while most individualsconsider themselves good that they havepledged their consciences to nature,society has taken it one step further bycreating greener products for the four-legged generation.

Springing up everywhere are eco-friendly clothes, all natural treats, and toysfor man’s best friend. One of the foundingcompanies to grasp this vital concept wasWest Paw Design. Based out of Bozeman,Montana this company manufactures onlythe highest quality dog and cat productsby using durable, safe, eco-friendlyingredients.

They feel that by protecting theenvironment with their natural productswill be able to leave a more beautifulworld for generations to come.

West Paw offers products such as eco beds

and blankets, organic catnip, and a full lineof green apparel. West Paw can be foundonline at www.westpawdesign.com or inspecialty pet boutiques around thecountry.

Locally, Best Buddies Boutique carriesa number of West Paw Products.

So whether for you, or your four-legged friend, know that there are plentyof earth friendly options to stay green.Î

West Paw Earth FriendlyRecycle, Reduce, Reuseby Stephanie A Smith

Stephanie Smith is a local photographer who hasliterally “gone to the dogs” with her business. “ I love dogs…well animals in general, they are so much fun to be aroundand a blast to photograph”.

It began outside of Philadelphia where Stephanieenrolled in her high school photography program. “Wepracticed shooting a lot of inanimate objects to get the keyconcepts of photography, but I always went off aroundcampus to take pictures of animals”. By her senior year shehad won numerous awards and began teaching theunderclassmen. Never being one to fit the typical mold sheminored in photography at a local state college whileworking at a doggie daycare. Thus began her love for petphotography. “ I used to spend hours with these dogs, youwould really get to know each one of them and be ablecapture their personality”.

By age 26, Stephanie had started PawsitivelyPictures, a pet photography business serving the Tampa andSt.Petersburg area. Pawsitively Pictures offers both studio

Portrait of an ArtistBehind the lens of Stephanie Smith

and on location shooting which cover fun “dogumentary”style photography for pets and their “paw-rents”.

And when asked about how people may view heroccupation as odd because of her unconventional approachshe simply replies “I love what I do andfeel so blessed to beable to capture the bond between humans and their bestfriends, these are precious moments that will now last alifetime”.

Recently, Stephanie has taken her love for petphotography one step further byincorporating her love andawareness for the environment in her business practices.She believes that being conscience of what one uses andreuses makes a major impact on our world. “ As aphotographer I can become pretty wasteful so I have madeit my mission to find greener alternatives to my daily workroutine as well as working with companies who areenvironmentally conscience“. Being a member of GreenerPhotography has helped Stephanie gain manyknowledgeable resources to aidwith her mission.

Indeed, this is one business owner who has strivedto followher dream, and by doing so has brought eco-awareness anddog friendly memories to the cusp of the pet industry.

For more information on Stephanie and PawsitivelyPictures go to www.PawsitivelyPictures.com.Î