Our Dog Plato Did Well in Hurricane Irene
We were all worried about what Hurricane Irene would do here in Connecticut. We fared well at our house. Our emergency preparations were in place, including adequate food and water for all of our family, including Plato. Plato and I took a long walk before the winds and rain started. Plato started to get edgy as the evening wore on and was very nervous by 2am when he woke me up during the thunder and lightening phase of the storm.
By morning we were awaiting the arrival of Hurricane Irene and it was raining buckets. Plato was panting and didn't eat. He went out for a brief bathroom break but had no interest in taking a walk. We were glued to the news on TV until the Irene actually went over and we lost power and we switched over to our battery powered/crank emergency radio. It wasn't comforting to learn that the power company predicted it would be up to a week before power was restored in some areas. We kept in touch with family and friends who were also likely to be hit by the storm or who were concerned about those of us who were in the storm's path. The temperature was cool enough to be comfortable so losing AC wasn't a problem at all. We had lanterns, craft supplies and board games so we were fine but concerned that the power would remain off for too long. Our little portable generator was enough to run our big freezer and we loaded our refridgerator with ice from the freezer and didn't open it much. Plato was edgy but OK. No dinner or snacks for him. He was too nervous. Irene passed by and our household did well with just minimal issues. We slowed down on our texting so we wouldn't run our cell phone batteries down after we lost power. We have a plug in phone so we could always use the land line. It was comforting to exchange texts to find out that everyone was safe, even those who had downed trees, flooding and power outages. We were lucky and our power was restored in about 12 hours.
It took Plato awhile to settle down after the storm passed. He seemed tentative when we went out for a short walk. There were some downed trees and power lines so we stayed clear of those areas and make it a very brief outing. Plato started eating and looking happy again the next day!
Jennifer Aniston's Beloved Dog Norman Died at Age 15
Jennifer Aniston's Constant Companion Died a Few Weeks Ago
I can't believe it when I write a "celebrity piece" but here goes. No, it's not about a celebrity who does or doesn't pick up dog poop. It's about the death of Jennifer Aniston's terrier-corgi mix, Norman, who it seems was constantly by her side. Jennifer Aniston was great in "Friends" and she always looks good, but what really brought her to my attention was the undeniable bond between the actress and her adorable rescue dog, who she called "my baby boy".
Aniston's representative confirmed Norman's death stating "He was an old dog and it was just his time." Norman's old age certainly doesn't make it any easier for Jennifer and I find myself wondering how she's doing. So many of the paparazzi photos of Jennifer that have been published are of her walking or running on the beach with Norman and her other dog, Dolly, a white German Shepherd. Norman was always there for her and with her. Dolly and Jennifer must miss Norman terribly
I can't believe it when I write a "celebrity piece" but here goes. No, it's not about a celebrity who does or doesn't pick up dog poop. It's about the death of Jennifer Aniston's terrier-corgi mix, Norman, who it seems was constantly by her side. Jennifer Aniston was great in "Friends" and she always looks good, but what really brought her to my attention was the undeniable bond between the actress and her adorable rescue dog, who she called "my baby boy".
Aniston's representative confirmed Norman's death stating "He was an old dog and it was just his time." Norman's old age certainly doesn't make it any easier for Jennifer and I find myself wondering how she's doing. So many of the paparazzi photos of Jennifer that have been published are of her walking or running on the beach with Norman and her other dog, Dolly, a white German Shepherd. Norman was always there for her and with her. Dolly and Jennifer must miss Norman terribly
The Verdict is Still Out on the Thundershirt
We Storm-Tested the Thundershirt This Week and it Looks Promising (But I am not ABSOLUTELY sure)
I bought Plato's Thundershirt (http://www.thundershirt.com/) because thunderstorms scare him so much and I don't want to drug him on days that thunderstorms are predicted. The theory of giving the dog a snug hug to calm his nervous system sounds like it should work. So, I bought the Thundershirt thinking it was definitely worth a try. A thunderstorm happened the day after the Thundershirt purchase and we got a chance to try it out.
It was a fairly loud early afternoon thunderstorm and I didn't see any lightning, so the shirt hasn't been field tested for lightning yet. I heard several thundering booms and I went to check on Plato, who was already wearing his Thundershirt in anticipation of the storm. I was thrilled to find him sleeping. Wow! Victory! I said to myself as I tiptoed out of the room. Maybe 5 minutes later, Plato came rushing in looking for me, panting hard and trembling. The good news is that he sat down with me and didn't shake as hard as usual and he soon settled down. Based on that limited one daytime thunderstorm field test, I guardedly conclude that the Thundershirt works. I figure the real test comes with a loud thunder and lightning storm in the middle of the night. If he is calm through that, I will be absolutely sure that the Thundershirt works great! I will report back.
I bought Plato's Thundershirt (http://www.thundershirt.com/) because thunderstorms scare him so much and I don't want to drug him on days that thunderstorms are predicted. The theory of giving the dog a snug hug to calm his nervous system sounds like it should work. So, I bought the Thundershirt thinking it was definitely worth a try. A thunderstorm happened the day after the Thundershirt purchase and we got a chance to try it out.
It was a fairly loud early afternoon thunderstorm and I didn't see any lightning, so the shirt hasn't been field tested for lightning yet. I heard several thundering booms and I went to check on Plato, who was already wearing his Thundershirt in anticipation of the storm. I was thrilled to find him sleeping. Wow! Victory! I said to myself as I tiptoed out of the room. Maybe 5 minutes later, Plato came rushing in looking for me, panting hard and trembling. The good news is that he sat down with me and didn't shake as hard as usual and he soon settled down. Based on that limited one daytime thunderstorm field test, I guardedly conclude that the Thundershirt works. I figure the real test comes with a loud thunder and lightning storm in the middle of the night. If he is calm through that, I will be absolutely sure that the Thundershirt works great! I will report back.
The Thundershirt: Good for Thunderstorm Anxiety?
It's Thunderstorm Season and Plato is Worried
We adopted Plato a little over a year ago and soon found out that he has thunderstorm anxiety. He's not as stressed as our dog Bailey was, but he is definitely worried. He shakes, pants and paces and wakes us up at night. He wants to do whatever he can to escape, but nothing seems to work for him. His "cave" doesn't calm him, even though he spent a lot of time in the cave when he first came to live with us (he rarely goes into his cave now and I am thinking of putting the crate away since it's just a waste of space).
But back to thunderstorms. I've been hearing so much about the purportedly amazing Thundershirt. I heard about it at a natural pet shop and at the baseball field. A friend of mine whose dog suffers from separation anxiety says it's miraculas. So, I started reading about it and watched some training videos on the Thundershirt website at thundershirt.com . I like that it's drug free and that the company has a money back guarantee. The idea is that constant gentle pressure will calm a stressed dog's nervous system. I've put the Thundershirt on Plato and he is very comfortable. It's easy to put on with the velcro closures and it's very adjustable to provide a good fit. Plato has a summer puppy cut so we won't have to worry about his fur getting caught in the velcro, which I've heard is a problem with long haired dogs. But, does it work? I can't say yet but since thunderstorms are predicted for this evening, we'll see and report back. Stay tuned.
We adopted Plato a little over a year ago and soon found out that he has thunderstorm anxiety. He's not as stressed as our dog Bailey was, but he is definitely worried. He shakes, pants and paces and wakes us up at night. He wants to do whatever he can to escape, but nothing seems to work for him. His "cave" doesn't calm him, even though he spent a lot of time in the cave when he first came to live with us (he rarely goes into his cave now and I am thinking of putting the crate away since it's just a waste of space).
But back to thunderstorms. I've been hearing so much about the purportedly amazing Thundershirt. I heard about it at a natural pet shop and at the baseball field. A friend of mine whose dog suffers from separation anxiety says it's miraculas. So, I started reading about it and watched some training videos on the Thundershirt website at thundershirt.com . I like that it's drug free and that the company has a money back guarantee. The idea is that constant gentle pressure will calm a stressed dog's nervous system. I've put the Thundershirt on Plato and he is very comfortable. It's easy to put on with the velcro closures and it's very adjustable to provide a good fit. Plato has a summer puppy cut so we won't have to worry about his fur getting caught in the velcro, which I've heard is a problem with long haired dogs. But, does it work? I can't say yet but since thunderstorms are predicted for this evening, we'll see and report back. Stay tuned.
10 Pet-Friendliest U.S. Cities
From Livability.com! The 10 Pet-Friendliest Cities
I don't live in one the the pet-friendliest cities, but I am still interested in pet-friendly locations and what we can do to make our cities and towns better for our pets. The Livability.com survey found the cities to be pet-friendly because of pet-friendly parks and trails, active animal-rights organizations, lots of pet shops and high quality veterinary care. So, here they are! The 10 pet-friendliest cities:
1. Portland, Oregon
2. Colorado Springs, Colorado
3. Rocky Mount, North Carolina
4. Boulder, Colorado
5. Santa Cruz, California
6. Eugene, Oregon
7. Asheville, North Carolina
8. Albuquerque, New Mexico
9. Nashville, Tennessee
10. Louisville, Kentucky.
I don't live in one the the pet-friendliest cities, but I am still interested in pet-friendly locations and what we can do to make our cities and towns better for our pets. The Livability.com survey found the cities to be pet-friendly because of pet-friendly parks and trails, active animal-rights organizations, lots of pet shops and high quality veterinary care. So, here they are! The 10 pet-friendliest cities:
1. Portland, Oregon
2. Colorado Springs, Colorado
3. Rocky Mount, North Carolina
4. Boulder, Colorado
5. Santa Cruz, California
6. Eugene, Oregon
7. Asheville, North Carolina
8. Albuquerque, New Mexico
9. Nashville, Tennessee
10. Louisville, Kentucky.
Cold Weather Paw Protection for Dogs
Cold Weather Paw Protection is Helping Plato Have Fun and Stay Fit
Plato is a very fuzzy dog who adores the cold weather. You can see the happiness on his face when he runs in the snow and wind. He loves the smells of winter and his delight is contageous! We need the walks for our sanity and fitness in the winter and I can't imagine staying inside just because it's cold and snowy. Plato's not crazy about slipping on ice and he doesn't like ice balls getting stuck in the pads of his paws. When the snow is sticky and balls up in his paws, Plato limps for awhile and then stops to try to bite the ice balls out. I help him by taking off my mitten and pulling the ice balls out with my fingers. He'd rather do it himself but that doesn't work very well so he grudgingly lets me do it. Plato always licks his paws thoroughly when we get back from our walks. Yuck. Road salt and deicer cannot possibly be good for his skin or his insides. People offer lots of helpful suggestions for slippery conditions such as kitty litter, fireplace wood ash and sandbox sand. These are great alternatives for around our home but do not deal with road chemicals when we take our daily walks away from home.
Wipe/Wash Your Dogs Feet. Or try Dog Boots!
Putting boots on dogs seems to provoke strong reactions in people. Some people think the boots are adorable and amusing. Others seem to think I am just dressing Plato up to look cute and that I should get over it. And some understand that boots can help protect Plato's feet. We used to put boots on our senior dog Bailey all year round when we went walking because he dragged his old arthritic back legs and damaged his feet unless he wore boots. Plato's legs are fine but with him, I am concerned about the pain that ice balls in his paws cause Plato. I am also worried about dry skin and cracking paws as well as the detrimental health effects from ingesting road chemicals when he licks off his feet. , was well as the discomfort of ice balls in his pads.
I tried wiping and washing Plato's feet after walking, but it hasn't worked so well for us. Plato hates it when I dunk his feet in water. By the time I get to the second or third paw, the bucket is usually knocked over and I have a big mess to clean up. And I don't think just wiping his feet off is good enough protection from road chemicals. So, I finally started putting boots on Plato when the snow is sticky and the roads are likely to be treated with salt or deicers. We use a sort of sneaker boot made by Ruffwear. Our favorite is the Bark'n Boots Grip Trex all season footwear with a Vibram sole. We tried a lot of boots on Bailey. Some didn't fit very well and others wore out quickly. The Bark'n Boots worked great for Bailey on his back two paws, and they're great on all of Plato's feet. We laughed to the point of tears at Plato's funny walk the first time we put the boots on him, but we collected ourselves, clipped on his leash and hit the road. Within seconds, Plato seemed to forget about the boots as he walked enthusiastically before entering into a spirited job just slow enough for me to keep up! The boots are great protection from ice balls and road chemicals and I admit it, they're cute too! I know we'll bring the boots with us on hikes too. Try it!
Plato is a very fuzzy dog who adores the cold weather. You can see the happiness on his face when he runs in the snow and wind. He loves the smells of winter and his delight is contageous! We need the walks for our sanity and fitness in the winter and I can't imagine staying inside just because it's cold and snowy. Plato's not crazy about slipping on ice and he doesn't like ice balls getting stuck in the pads of his paws. When the snow is sticky and balls up in his paws, Plato limps for awhile and then stops to try to bite the ice balls out. I help him by taking off my mitten and pulling the ice balls out with my fingers. He'd rather do it himself but that doesn't work very well so he grudgingly lets me do it. Plato always licks his paws thoroughly when we get back from our walks. Yuck. Road salt and deicer cannot possibly be good for his skin or his insides. People offer lots of helpful suggestions for slippery conditions such as kitty litter, fireplace wood ash and sandbox sand. These are great alternatives for around our home but do not deal with road chemicals when we take our daily walks away from home.
Wipe/Wash Your Dogs Feet. Or try Dog Boots!
Putting boots on dogs seems to provoke strong reactions in people. Some people think the boots are adorable and amusing. Others seem to think I am just dressing Plato up to look cute and that I should get over it. And some understand that boots can help protect Plato's feet. We used to put boots on our senior dog Bailey all year round when we went walking because he dragged his old arthritic back legs and damaged his feet unless he wore boots. Plato's legs are fine but with him, I am concerned about the pain that ice balls in his paws cause Plato. I am also worried about dry skin and cracking paws as well as the detrimental health effects from ingesting road chemicals when he licks off his feet. , was well as the discomfort of ice balls in his pads.
I tried wiping and washing Plato's feet after walking, but it hasn't worked so well for us. Plato hates it when I dunk his feet in water. By the time I get to the second or third paw, the bucket is usually knocked over and I have a big mess to clean up. And I don't think just wiping his feet off is good enough protection from road chemicals. So, I finally started putting boots on Plato when the snow is sticky and the roads are likely to be treated with salt or deicers. We use a sort of sneaker boot made by Ruffwear. Our favorite is the Bark'n Boots Grip Trex all season footwear with a Vibram sole. We tried a lot of boots on Bailey. Some didn't fit very well and others wore out quickly. The Bark'n Boots worked great for Bailey on his back two paws, and they're great on all of Plato's feet. We laughed to the point of tears at Plato's funny walk the first time we put the boots on him, but we collected ourselves, clipped on his leash and hit the road. Within seconds, Plato seemed to forget about the boots as he walked enthusiastically before entering into a spirited job just slow enough for me to keep up! The boots are great protection from ice balls and road chemicals and I admit it, they're cute too! I know we'll bring the boots with us on hikes too. Try it!
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