Dog Heat Stroke Symptoms

Here is a link to a very important article about canine heat stroke on PetMD. 


https://www.petmd.com/dog/emergency/common-emergencies/e_dg_heat_stroke

Here in the Detroit area, there is currently a "feels like" temperature of 105 Fahrenheit degrees at 4:30 p.m. (40.5 Celsius).

Tips To Keep Your Pet Safe During Summer Heat

The better part of the USA is dealing with an extreme heatwave this week, and temps in Detroit are expected to be in the triple digits on Thursday, with a dew points in the tropical range.

So, here are some tips for keeping your pets (and maybe yourself!) safe in this summer heat. Please feel free to add your suggestions!

Also, PLEASE read these tips at the ASPCA web site.

• If you have indoor pets, PLEASE be sure that their crate and/or cage or aquarium or living space is NOT in the path of direct sunlight.
• Be sure to provide plenty of water for your animal. If you're both away from home, carry a bottle or container filled with fresh, cool water.
• Leave your pets at home if possible (no car rides!).
• If you must take your pet along for the ride, don’t leave your pets alone in vehicles. Even with the windows open, a parked car can quickly become a furnace in a very short time (minutes).
• Exercise your pet in the cooler temps of early morning or evening; or forego exercise in this heat. Pets' paws can sustain burns or injuries on sidewalks and asphalt. Rethink the necessity for a walk in these high temps.
• Provide plenty of shade for outside pets. Bring your pet inside during the heat of the day and let them rest in a cool part of your house (basements are very cool if you don't have a/c).  
• Older and overweight pets are more susceptible to heat exhaustion, so take special care!
• Watch for signs of heat stress—heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid pulse, unsteadiness, a staggering gait, vomiting, or a deep red tongue.
• If you believe your pet is suffering from heat exhaustion, contact your veterinarian right away—it could save your pet's life. You can help bring your dog’s body temperature down by sponging it down with cool water, but don’t try to place him in a bath or douse him with buckets of water since this can send a pet into shock.

Here's a product for your pup that you might be interested in checking out -- it's a "Canine Cooler" bed. (I'm thinking of getting a couple of these for the greyhounds that work the summer events for Michigan ReGAP.)

Stay cool, be safe!

2010 Claws & Paws - Run/Walk in Clawson, Michigan

2010 CLAWS & PAWS
2 MILE RUN/WALK DOG JOG
PET CARE FAIR & ADOPTION CENTER
May 22 – Clawson City Park, Clawson MI


The Clawson Chamber of Commerce and the residents of Clawson are pleased to announce the fifth annual CLAWS & PAWS which combines a 2 Mile Run/Walk Dog Jog with a Pet Care Fair and Animal Adoption program.  Runners, animal lovers, and kids are all welcome to attend and participate in the event which begins at 10:00 a.m.  The other fun filled and educational events sponsored by some of our civic group partners, local businesses, and the City of Clawson will be available from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

 Last year the event was a huge success, with more than 300 people from throughout Metro Detroit, Ann Arbor, Flint, and Port Huron participating in the run.  With your support 2010 can be even more successful for encouraging healthy living through exercise, promoting local businesses, creating positive visibility for the City of Clawson, and raising funds for this year’s charity, Guardians for Animals.

You can learn more about the event, sign up to be a Walker, read about Sponsorship opportunities, or make a donation by visiting www.clawsonclawspaws.com  You can also contact the Clawson Chamber of Commerce for additional information by calling 248-435-6500, writing to the director at P O Box 217, Clawson, MI  48017, or emailing Sheryl@clawsonchamberofcommerce.com


Check Out this year’s Charity!

Guardians for Animals is dedicated to helping rescues, and sanctuaries save the lives of abandoned abused and neglected animals.  GFA helps dedicated; NO KILL rescue groups receive much needed funds, supplies, and help with placement of animals in their care.  Please visit their website to learn more about the wonderful services they offer.       www.guardiansforanimals.org  
                                                                    

Clawson is located in the center of Birmingham, Royal Oak, and Troy, about one mile west of I-75.  Clawson combines small town amenities with convenient access to all of Metro Detroit’s big city events.
The Clawson Chamber of Commerce was established in 1939 as an organization of local businesses dedicated to stimulating economic development and supporting business retention in Clawson.

Pet Airways - Airline for Pet Flight Travel in the USA

Ever need to transport your pet across country, but fear the horror stories of pets' adventures in cargo-hold on an airline -- so you end up driving? Now your pet can fly in the cabin, with a bit more attention and comfort, and without the fear of extreme temperatures (and worse) to which cargo holds are often subject. (After all, your pet is not a suitcase.)

If so, then you'll want to read an interesting article in today's New York Times, titled Paws Up - All-Pet Airline Hits Skies.

The article talks about a New York couple that have created an airline specifically for the transportation of pets between the cities of NY, Washington, Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles. As of this writing, the fare is only $250 one-way trip.

Detroit Dog thinks this is a great idea for both pet health and owner peace-of-mind.

Watching the Obama Inauguration

Dear Reader,

We're all here at home today to watch the inaugural news and festivities, and to watch the inauguration itself in just a little over an hour-and-a-half.

Mom (detroit dog, that is) is snuggly in flannel PJ's (just finished last week in my first-ever sewing class!) with a cappuccino and laptop, in front of the TV. (Stimulus-overload, ya think?) TigerLily is stretched out on the floor at my feet. Quasar is snuggled into a corner of the couch (allowed only when his blankie is on it). Dad (the hubby, that is) is having his coffee at his computer in his office.

Outside is about -- well, who knows how much snow by now. It snowed 6 inches on Saturday, and it seems to snow about every 2 or 3 days.

It's all a pretty and comfy scene here in anticipation of what we hope is a good year, and a Presidency of honor, hope, and greatness -- not just for us Americans, but for the world over. I am hoping we are taking great steps toward peace. (And towards making both Election day and Inauguration day national holidays -- work-free days.)

Here is a link to a great New York Times page appropriately titled Picturing the Inauguration: The Readers' Album. It's a collection of readers' photos that have been sent into the paper since January 18.

Wishing you peace and hope,

Veronica (detroit dog) & Alex, Quasar, & TigerLily

LOST GREYHOUND DOG - FERNDALE

Please be on the lookout for "Bella" (Isabella), missing since Sunday evening in the 8-1/2 Mile and Woodward/Hilton area of Ferndale.

Bella is a dark brown/black greyhound, very skinny and small -- about 50 lbs. She's very friendly. Was last seen wearing a red collar with her ReGAP tag on it.

Bella and her partner Cinnamon escaped from the yard (it's suspected that a neighbor left the gate open after going in to arrange his Christmas lights along the fence line). Cinnamon was found about an hour later (6:30 p.m.) just a block over; Bella was nowhere to be found.

If you find Bella, please do one of the following:

1. Call your local police (Ferndale and Royal Oak PD have been notified), or
   
2. Call Tracey at 248-210-8283, or
3. Call Michigan ReGAP at 1-800-GO-HOUND

Tracey and I put up some flyers around the area this evening. We've both driven up and down local streets calling for her. I've checked at the Michigan Humane Society for her today (talk about sad); tomorrow at the Anti-Cruelty Association and the Detroit Animal Control. She's checked at a few local shelters, called some local rescue groups, and ReGAP has shared the news with other local rescue organizations that have notified those on their listserves.

Let's hope Bella gets home soon. There's a Polar wind that's coming in, and we're expecting a few inches of snow by tomorrow night.

Thank you for your help!

Season's Greetings

Season's Greetings to you and yours, from Detroit Dog and Quasar!

Here's a sweet treat, The Snow Dog at www.jacquielawson.com (and thanks to blogger French Fancy for sharing the gift with us so that we could pass it on).

A Springtime Award

Thanks to blogger pal Poetikat at Poetikat's Invisible Keepsakes for the above award -- much needed by detroit dog today, and very much appreciated.

Do you need an award today, too? You are welcome to share in mine. Enjoy the spring.

Poisonous Processional Caterpillars

Earlier today I was checking in at blogger pal hardworking hippy's La Ferme de Sourrou. She has some interesting photos of Processional Caterpillars in the woods near her home in France, and also explains the extreme dangers to animals, children, and some adults: serious life-threatening danger from just touching the caterpillars or even inhaling their hairs. Read her post Processional Caterpillars in the Woods.

She also gives a link to her blogger pals at Chez Francois et Danielle, whose post Poisonous Caterpillars goes into great detail, along with photographs of their poor dog's mouth after he ate some of the caterpillars (his tongue and mouth swelled). They rushed him to an emergency vet, and he lived; however, part of the dog's tongue rotted out within a couple of days (photos of this, as well), and he now has some difficulties eating and drinking.

hardworkinghippy was also kind enough to steer detroit dog to a SUNY Cortland website about a variety of social caterpillars, including photos and a link to the Pine Processionary caterpillar.

The caterpillars, which live in host Pine trees, are found in Europe, the Near East and North Africa. They are called Processional because they follow each other literally "head to toe" from one tree to the next.

I will try to find out if they also populate the Americas, and will update this post if so.

Nellie McKay and Animal Welfare

Scott Gries / Getty Images

(image lifted form NPR web site)

Tonight, detroit dog went to see the multitalented Nellie McKay perform at a local museum. She was phenomenal. She has a beautiful voice, and sings in a rather jazz-inflected style; she plays piano and ukelele. And she is hilarious, and rather irreverent. "Performance Art" really. She sang about feminists, dogs, cats, love, and her encore was Ella Fitzgerald's signature song A-Tisket A-Tasket.

Animal welfare is obviously a very important topic for Ms. McKay as she talked - and sang - about animals used in lab experiments. Check out her The Dog Song. Love and life summed up. She suggested that audience members check out the following web site for more information: www.stopcolumbia.org (as in Columbia University); the link won't work, so I am suggesting that readers visit PETA's "10 Worst Laboratories List" (U.S. universities). You can read all about animal lab testing on animals, and why these 10 universities are deemed to have the worst labs. (Her first album is titled Get Away From Me and was released, oddly enough, on the Columbia Records label.)

You can also check out Nellie McKay on Wikipedia, or hear her NPR interview Nellie McKay, Live on 'Fresh Air' with Terry Gross. very cool.

Dog & Pet Rescue and Adoption: Detroit and Michigan Shelters & Rescue Groups

Looking to adopt a dog, cat, or any furry friend?

Then click one of these links, or one of the many more listed in Bastet's Pet Adoption Links in this blog's sidebar. While you're there, check out Bastet's Greyhound Adoption Links.

• Petfinder.com (type in your zip code anywhere in the U.S. and find animals in your area - cats, dogs, horses, rabbits - you name it
• Michigan Pet Shelters and Rescue Groups at Petfinder.com
  
• City of Detroit Animal Shelter
  
• Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption Society
• Michigan Humane Society (centers in Detroit, Westland, and Rochester; animals include hamsters, ducks, and the like)
• A True Blue Rescue (wonderful "foster to adopt" program: foster the dog for a short time to make sure that you are right for each other, if so, then adopt!)

Also in the sidebar are links to animal welfare and animal law sites, and detroit dog's (animal) site suggestions.

Links are updated frequently. See detroit dog's post of April 27, 2008, for a links listing of over 20 Michigan animal adoption/rescue groups at the 2008 Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo event. Or, click on the Adoption label in this blog's sidebar.

Blogs of Excellence

Blogger-pal Victoria at Teachings of The Horse has seen fit to kindly award detroit dog an Excellent Blog award. Thank you! I couldn't have done it without my girldog..... Uh-oh, I hear the orchestra playing.... Well, perhaps the money will start rolling in now. (There's that student loan and a flooded basement, and perhaps some art supplies.)

Of course, all gifts are meant to be passed on. While only one of the following blogs is animal-specific, nonetheless in the spirit of gift-giving, I would like to share this award with:

• my hubby Alex at son of a guitarist's notebook, "the second edition: a repository for lighter topics and links," his musings on the world of jazz and music and whatnot. (If you are a hardcore guitarist and want to check out jazz/Brazilian music transcriptions, check out his mother of a guitarist's notebook - the original edition.)

• blogger-pal hardworking hippy at La Ferme de Sourrou, "An off grid, home built smallholding in France." Her topics are: home, food, water, animals, self-built, energy, wildlife, foraging, and gardens. I cannot tell you how wonderful this blog is; one post was about "meat for the table," which basically took you from the chicken in the yard to the chicken on the table, there are videos of goats being born, photos of sheep being shorn. She knits the wool from her own sheep (and sells the product). The photos are beautiful. It's truly a wonderful life.
  

• another favorite is The Walks of David Keates. Mr. Keates documents in words and pictures his walks around Britain, from the West Highland Way to the Lake District. Just wonderfully detailed musings about the walking, the land, the weather. Great photos, too.

• GPS Cycling Tours is a travelogue of Erasmo Perez's GPS bicycling/randonneuring throughout Mexico - from Acompay to Zoquiapan (thus far). Interesting photos and videos of cities, towns, and archaeological sites visited, GPS maps of his travels. He's been at it for years. It's amazing. (btw, he doesn't know detroit dog, though I check in on him frequently.)
  

• A "self-described eclectic," Sandy is a mom, wife, teacher, and lover of frogs. Her Frog Diaries has been on vacation for a while, but is still worth the read. What's it about? Frogs and photographs of them; she raises them from eggs to maturity. The photos are fascinating (evolution in progress). rib-bit.

• Woodland Shopper's Paradise is "A mini-mall of media, critique, and commentary" according to blogger Andrew Wood, a San Jose State University prof. He says it best, so I've lifted this paragraph from his blog: "Here's a collection of tentative musings (and occasional rants) related to a number of my interests that include popular culture, public life, urban design, and roadside Americana. I generally post Monday through Friday. Some of these posts may find their way into forthcoming efforts at academic scholarship or freelance journalism. Others are cheerfully abandoned here, just to get them out of my head." Check out links to his other sites while visiting him.

• Yet another favorite blog, and recent Google Blog of Note, is A Lucid Spoonful. New York City gal and raw foods chef, and writer for The Brooklyn Rail, blogger robotslingshot muses about all things culture related to food, posts wonderful recipes and appetizing photographs, and talks about her travels, interviews, and such. She's writing a book, and loves "extreme food cultures." bizzee, bizzee, bizzeeeee.

• Of course, long-time blogger pal (well, since last summer) Linda and Her Surroundings deserves a Blog of Excellence Award. Linda will tell you that she blabs, blabs, blabs. And she does. But her blabbings are thoughtful, thought-provoking, entertaining, and at times poetic; Linda muses on life. And she is a mother and a wife and an artist-in-progress. (Aren't all artists?) And being here in the States with fat chances of getting to Australia one day, it's wonderful to read Linda's take on life and learn about the world from outside this country.

• Poetikat's Invisible Keepsakes is also a Blog of Excellence. Canadian Poetikat writes topical verse for fun and for profit. A perfect match! Go over and partake of her poetic offerings.
  

• And lastly, but certainly not least, visit Visual Norway and say hi to blogger-pal RuneE. I can't read his profile since it's written in Norwegian, but suffice to say that there's just about a picture a day posted of Norway. (wow. that rhymes.) In English and Norwegian. Good photos, good words. (And he's been showered with all kinds of awards lately.)

detroit dog will not tag anyone to pass on this Blog of Excellence Award. But the gift has been given; feel free to pass it on.

Meme: Quirks Shared by You and Your Pet

Recently, blogger-pal Poetikat 'memed' detroit dog with the assignment to tell 10 random things about me. Blogger-pal Victoria at Teachings of The Horse has a meme out for 7 quirky things about your horse.

With the knowledge that I am in need of further obedience training, I've decided to take on Poetikat's meme and borrow Victoria's meme. Kind of like mixing chocolate with peanut butter and coming up with that famed candy cup. Who can resist?

Human + Horse = Dog.

So, what follows are 12 random quirky personal characteristics that are shared by both detroit dog and mentor girldog Bastet:

1. Pizza crust is the most important part of the pizza; it must be chewed thoroughly and adoringly.
   
2. A good full-body hug is not to be missed.
   
3. Orange traffic cones are scary.
4. The kitchen is the most important room in the house.
5. Cheese is good.
6. The beauty in life can be found while lying in sunlight or walking in the park, in the woods, or on the beach.
   
7. Men take some getting used to.
8. A good blankie is essential.
   
9. The best thing about being in the rain, is coming in from it and having your head towel-dried.
   
10. Ear rubs and nose rubs are not to be underestimated.
    
11. Everything must be smelled; there is a world of smells and they must be appreciated (ok, detroit dog is there for the appreciation part).
12. Happiness is a car ride; it foretells great adventures.

What personal characteristics do you and your pet share? Pick a random number and consider yourself memed.

Punxsutawney Phil Predicts 6 Mores Weeks of Winter!

Famed prognosticating groundhog Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow at sunrise today, and has forecast 6 more weeks of winter weather!

brrrrrr!

Punxusutawney Phil "holes up" in Punxusutawney, Pennsylvania and has correctly predicted weather annually for over 120 years! Learn more about Phil and his Inner Circle at their very own web site: www.groundhog.org.

Phil's is a wonderful site, with a history of groundhog day, a list of Phil's annual predictions and related events and celebrity visits since the 1880's, a page for teachers, a page about the famed Inner Circle, and a page for the media.

Bundle up, stay warm.

Pet Appreciation

Still on that Thanksgiving theme....

There are lots of reasons to be thankful for our pets. Here are a smattering of thoughts:

1. Pets are excellent listeners
   
2. They love to go everywhere with you (ok, dogs like to go everywhere with you)
   
3. They don't complain (well, maybe a little grumble, but they get over it amazingly quickly)
4. Pets are always happy to see you
5. They like exercise
6. They actually don't mind being around you all the time
7. Scientific stats show that petting pets lowers your blood pressure
8. They always want to have fun, even when no one else wants to
9. Pets are warm and good for snuggling (well, not fish or frogs or turtles and the like)
10. Pets are entertaining (better than TV!)

Thanksgiving Pets

Pet.

I like the word pet. It defines pleasure, luxury, and love. Those of us that have pets are fortunate to have pleasure, luxury, and the only unconditional love of another being. And, more selfishly perhaps, pets allow us the pleasure and luxury of loving them unconditionally.

So, on this Thanksgiving Day, let us be thankful for our pets, the love we have, and the love we give.

Going for a car ride!

See you next week!

9/11: Where were you?

I've read a few blog entries from people telling about where they were or what they experienced on "9/11" when terrorism reared it's ugly head (by non-citizens) in the U.S.A. So, I thought to stray from my usual subject matter and throw in my "two cents".

My (future) husband and I had just landed at Gatwick Airport in London, on our way to Spain, when we noticed that planes to the U.S. were being held. We were curious, but thought it was some small thing. On we went to Bilbao. We arrived at our hotel and noticed everyone huddled around a TV in the lobby. We stopped to watch, but my Spanish not being up to par, and only a Spanish government official being interviewed, I thought perhaps it was a local hotel fire or perhaps an ETA bombing. It was disturbing, but we moved on. We went up to our room, then out about town. We returned about 10 or 11 that night (Spain time) and turned on the TV, sound down, while we unpacked. We looked up a couple of times and thought we were watching some dreadful program that was itself showing a CNN program. But then we noticed that the "CNN" was up too long. And what we were seeing was reality. Up with the sound! We were stunned. I'd lived in NY for 13 years and suddenly feared for my friends there. We didn't know what to do.

We were afraid that being Americans might not be a good thing at that time. We could not get through to anyone in the States via phone. We learned there were no flights to the U.S. Fortunately for us, just about every city in Spain, from our perspective, has cyber cafes. So we went to one nearby and started emailing my friends in NY, and family/friends/co-workers in Detroit. We heard back from those in Detroit, were told what was going on from the American perspective, and were assured that they were fine. I did hear from my friend Bindu, who sent me a series of quick emails as the events were happening - running out to Washington Square to see the events, then running into her NYU office to email me, then running outside again. Perhaps my most sad memory of what she wrote is that she was looking up and wondering about all the birds flying away from the towers, when she suddenly realized that they were not birds, they were people jumping.

Absurdly, we decided we had no choice but to try to enjoy our vacation, but we remained tense and somewhat fearful about the future. However, we had this sick fear that the U.S. would retaliate and start World War III. It was all such a surreal experience.

After several days, we traveled south to Burgos to visit with my friend Daniel, who was having an art exhibit. Burgos is beautiful, and I wish we could return. My friend and his gallery reps took us to dinner that night. We had a wonderful time - they were very gracious - and we talked about what had just happened in the U.S. They were very sympathetic, but reminded us that this type of thing goes on in Europe not infrequently, and that people in that part of the world live with this on a day-to-day basis. Of course, they are right. The people of Burgos were compassionate; that night (9/14, I believe), the Burgos orchestra/symphony played an impromptu performance at the gazebo in the town plaza. American music was all they played - John Philip Sousa, Duke Ellington, and others. It made us cry; everyone there was so kind.

After several days we took a train to Barcelona. We continued to feel rather unsure, though much more confident than before that we would be fine. After several days visiting Figueres and Barcelona, we went to Cadaques, where my (now) husband proposed to me. Very romantic!

Then on to San Sebastian and Bilbao, then home to Detroit. At home there were two phone messages from my friend Susan, who had moved to NYC just a month earlier. She just sobbed into the phone and hung up.

sigh.

If you've read this far, then please join me in praying for an end to the violence we wreak upon each other. It brings us nothing but sadness and sorrow. We should pray for each other, for ourselves.

Pepper the Sheep & Lambtown USA

Pepper the Sheep stays!

Dixon, California, politicos have ok'd Pepper the sheep/lamb living out her life with her adoptive family - in their back yard. Click on this link to Pepper's web site, and/or click on this link to read the article on Yahoo! news.

This is especially good news because Pepper is a 'senior' sheep. Pepper, who was born in a truck on the way to the slaughterhouse, was adopted at the tender age of one (1) day. She is now 6, and the average lifespan of a sheep is 8 years. It's good to know that she'll get to live out her days in the only home she has ever known.

Dixon, it turns out, is a big sheep town. Actually, the city calls itself "Lambtown U.S.A." They hold an annual event with a cook-off, and lamb cooking demonstrations, a national spinning contest, and a wool and mohair show, as well as a "sheep-to-shawl" competition. Click on the Lambtown link above to go to the web site and learn more about the event, and to learn more about sheep.

To have banished Pepper would have been - at the very least - very poor public relations for Lambtown.

A dog walks into an emergency room....

Found this at the Dogs in the News web site, and thought it might make for a good laugh. It followed several news articles about injured dogs that walked themselves into hospital emergency rooms.

THE TOP 8 SIGNS THAT YOUR SUITE-MATE IS A DOG

8. Greets you by sniffing your colostomy bag.
7. Will only take medication packed in cheese.
6. Gets into tug-of-war with doctor's stethoscope.
5. Digs a hole and buries your x-rays.
4. Gets all twisted up in IV-tubes and then stands there staring at you, like, "Hi!"
3. Imitates ambulance siren. Day and night.
2. Keeps sneaking off to the morgue to "go roll in something."
1. Actually likes hospital food.