Pet Doctor Barbie and the Pet Food Dude

It’s been a while since I’ve done a Pet Doctor Barbie post. It’s past due for a new episode, yes? I think it’s time for Pet Doctor Barbie to meet one of her self-appointed arch nemeses, Pet Food Dude.

Episode 8

Hi Mrs. Sandford, good to see you and Muffin. It’s been a while!

I’m really glad you’re doing housecalls now. I want to get Muffin’s bump looked at again.

OK, I’ll just look at my notes here- 1 cm, top of head…mm hmmm… So where we left it one year ago was that you were going to go talk to your husband and then we were going to aspirate it.

Oh….yes. It’s grown quite a bit since then. We really need –

Yes, I wanted to talk to you about that. I’m a bit upset that you didn’t mention last time how his kibble might have caused this.

We don’t really understand why cancer occurs, Mrs. Sandford. The important thing now is to take care of this mass. I’d hate for you to blame yourself because of your food selection.

I don’t blame myself. I blame you. How much do you make from Big Pet Food anyway?

Actually nothing. But aren’t you feeding a boutique brand anyway? You told me last time you were feeding…let me check…organic grain free non-GMO preservative free all natural Wolf Chunks.

Yes, and you told me to stop and to go back to that one full of corn and despair!

Actually, no, I said Wolf Chunks were fine if that’s what you wanted. But about that mass…

I’ve been using turmeric on the advice of Pet Food Dude. Do you know Pet Food Dude? Can I borrow your computer? This guy knows all your tricks.

Sure, have at it. May I ask what tricks you are referring to?

Vaccines. Pet food. You know. Poison. They are full of free radicals that are overpowering the antioxidants and preventing cellular apoptosis no matter how many carrots I add.

Here’s his site. He knows your medicine is a lie and you’re really just after our money.

I’m going to log on and see what the forums say about your “cancer just happens” line. Oh wait….shoot. My membership is expired. Can you hand me my wallet?

Oh, I think I’ve seen his site. Is he the one who sells supplements and seminars on dog juicing?

Yes! He’s a pioneer. OK, credit card updated, I’m in.

OK, here we go: Have I at any point in the past fed kibble from Big Pet Food or gotten Muffin vaccinated? Yes, 10 years ago. So they say here that this is why he has cancer and it isn’t responding to the turmeric. They also said you would say exactly what you said about it not being their fault, and not to fall for it. What do you have to say to THAT?

Mrs. Sandford, I need to level with you here.

It really doesn’t matter to me what you’re feeding Muffin. I am glad you care about him and want to do what’s best for him. I do too! I promise! I’m having a really hard time talking to you when you’re typing at someone who is convinced I’m out to hurt you both. Right now I am just really worried about the size of this mass on his head. I think we need to get him in for a full evaluation ASAP.

*tap tap*    I’ll think about it. I haven’t tried coconut oil yet.

May I ask why you even had me come out?

I just wanted this all on DropCam- see it over there? It’ll be on Pet Food Dude’s YouTube tonight. He’s doing a “Vets Revealed” bit. Well, since you didn’t do anything I’m sure you aren’t expecting payment. You can see yourself out.

TO BE CONTINUED….

Save tons at the vet! How to keep your dog from dying of cancer

As a veterinarian, I’ve seen lots of cancers: lymphoma. Melanoma. Osteosarcoma. Hemangiosarcoma. Mast cell tumors. Wait, those are just my own dogs I’m talking about. When I factor in my clients, I think I’ve seen it all.

Dogs get cancer, at very high rates: about 50% of senior dogs die of it, if the statistics are to be believed. Why? Well, if you read overly simplified, graphics-intensive websites by people who really don’t know what they’re talking about, they will tell you that they know why cancer happens: GMOs. Preservatives. Kibble. Microwaves.

I wish it were that simple. It’s not. And the reason that line of thought drives me nuts is that it has sent so many lovely people into spirals of depression when their dog dies and someone on the internet convinced them it was their fault because they, the owner, did something terrible like feed their dog kibble or use a plastic bowl. People end up in therapy because of things like this.

Cancer is not a singular diagnosis; the type and breath of neoplastic disease means there’s often little resemblance from case to case; a transmissible venereal tumor bears very little resemblance to a splenic hemangiosarcoma. If we could pinpoint cancer to one cause, we’d all be rich. And yet, with all this secret knowledge, overall cancer rates aren’t budging.

Because I love a breed known for having one of the highest rates of cancer (is it the fact that Golden Retriever owners feed worse food overall? Or is it genetics?) I watch Brody pretty closely. Knowing that 60% of Goldens get cancer in their lifetime, I spend a lot of time inspecting him for lumps. As we speak, the largest observational study of its kind is currently underway to help us better understand what’s going on. In the meantime, you do the best you can but truthfully, there’s not a whole lot of ability to predict and prevent cancer. Even for the people who home cook organic food (sorry. Do it because you want to, not because it will make your dog live forever.)

You can save money (and life expectancy) by doing some simple things:

Knowing he is an at-risk breed, I do what I can to try and keep Brody healthy. When he gained too much weight on his food, I got the weight off. Obesity is thought to be a risk factor for cancer. Just as importantly, I get his bumps evaluated and when I find one, I don’t mess around.

The dog eats like a king; I give him the good stuff because I care about quality ingredients, though not enough to condemn people who can’t afford it. But even with his high end diets, at age 6, he’s on his second cancer. The first one, a melanoma, was excised two years ago and has yet to recur- because we caught it early. And now we have this: a little teeny ear lump.

I thought it was no big deal, but I got it evaluated anyway. See? We vets do it too. A lump is a lump is a lump. Until you get it microscopically evaluated, you just don’t know. I just got the call last week: it’s a mast cell tumor.

I’m thrilled we got this diagnosis

Am I thrilled Brody has a mast cell tumor? Of course not. They stink. Despite the fact that the visible mass is only half a centimeter, this type of tumor has tons of microscopic disease and is notorious for requiring huge surgical margins for a complete excision. For that little tiny tic-tac mass on his ear, he is very likely going to need to lose his entire pinna. (I’m getting a surgical consult this week.)

However, losing an ear is minor compared to where these things end up when people wait. You can lose an ear, but you can’t lose an entire head, for example. This is small beans compared to what lots of pets need to go through later in the game when masses grow. If we get a complete excision, this should be a closed case. And guess what? It’s so much cheaper than tons of radiation and chemo and massive surgeries. Win-win for the dog and your wallet. I’m not happy he has it, but I’m happy I know now, early.

Why wait? Aspirate that shizz!!

What one thing can you do to guarantee your pet won’t get cancer? There isn’t one.

What you can do is maximize their chances of survival and recovery: Don’t mess around. Dr. Sue Ettinger, veterinary oncologist and all-around brilliant person, has an initiative called Why Wait Aspirate that is as simple as can be: when a vet tells you that a lump is ok to “just watch”, what does that mean? When do you do more than watch it? Here’s Dr. Sue’s guidelines*:

ASPIRATE OR BIOPSY IT!

Easy peasy, no pun intended. Of all the things you can do to help your pet live long and live healthy, none matters more than early detection.

*Photo Credits: Calendar by Michael Hyde, Flickr Creative Commons license; Peas by Isabel Eyre, Flickr Creative Commons License

#AmazingPetExpo, Austin, TX, August 1 – 2, 2015

The sound of cheerful barks will be music to the ears of dog devotees in The Live Music Capital of the World as animal lovers gather on August 1st and 2nd for a free, Fido-friendly celebration of the joy that all of our friends with fur, feathers and fins bring to our lives.

DogTipper will have a booth at the Austin Pet Expo! Be sure to stop by and say hi (and see many of our PawZaar items, as well!) We’ll also have special goodie bags with great offers and samples from our sponsors!

Activities

• Fans of Rovers and reality TV can meet Animal Planet personality Shorty Rossi of Pit Boss fame and hear the advocate for Pit Bulls speaks about helping dogs who so often find themselves unjustly hounded by people’s misconceptions.
• Cheer for our buddies who bark as they show off their special skills in the Pet Talent Contest.
• Visit the Mars Wisdom Panel booth and purchase a discounted Wisdom Panel DNA kit — and have your dog’s cheek swabbed to learn his breed ancestry!
• Applaud the attire of the dogs in disguises who will try to win prizes during the Pet Costume Contest.
• Go walkies down Memory Lane with your canine companion as you play a dog-themed edition of a classic game form childhood, Musical Chairs.
• A happening with a lot of heart, the expo is also a mega-adoption event with potential pet parents getting the chance to meet adorable adoptables from such area rescue groups as 1Rez Q Pets, A Pet’s Wish Rescue, Austin Animal Center, Austin Greyhound Adoption, Austin Siamese Rescue, Ay Chihuahua Rescue, Central Texas Dachshund Rescue, Central Texas Rat Rescue, Central Texas SPCA, Diamond Dachshund Rescue, Don’t Bully Me! Rescue, Dori’s Darlings Cat Rescue, French Bulldog Rescue Network (FBRN), Georgetown Animal Shelter, Humane Society of the New Braunfels Area, Izabella’s Canine Rescue, Paws Humane Society, Paws Shelter of Central Texas, Short Mugs Rescue Squad, Stray Acres Sanctuary and Animal Rescue, Texas Sweeties Dog Rescue, Thundering Paws Animal Sanctuary, Wharton County Stray Pet Outreach Team (S.P.O.T.) and Wimberley Adoption Group and Rescue.
• Plus prize giveaways, exhibitor booths, discounted vaccinations, microchipping and heartworm and flea preventatives, and much more!

Admission: Free

When: August 1 – 2, 2015 (from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sunday)

Where: Palmer Events Center at 900 Barton Springs Road in Austin, Texas

For more information:

• visit www.austinpetexpo.com

Photo Credit: Amazing Pet Expos

ESPN’s Michelle Beadle Promotes I Saved My Best Friend Campaign

A co-host of ESPN’s SportsNation, Michelle Beadle has teamed up with Best Friends Animals Society for a campaign that is striving to be a real game changer for homeless dogs and cats.

A proud pet parent to three four-legged friends — including photogenic Fido, Henry — the Best Friends Animal Society Celebrity Supporter is the latest animal-loving luminary to step in front of a camera for the ‘I Saved My Best Friend’ photo campaign. The campaign shines a spotlight on the renowned rescue organization’s Save Them All mission to end the euthanasia of 9,000 healthy and adoptable companion animals daily in the U.S. shelter system by promoting the option of shelter adoption, curbing the pet overpopulation problem through spaying/neutering, by making a monetary contribution and by donating the gift of time through volunteering.

Other high-profile pals to those with paws who have shown their support by striking a pose for the campaign include Under the Dome star Rachelle Lefevre and Top Chef season nine competitor Chris Crary, actress Amanda Seyfried and Dancing with the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba.

“There is really nothing better than the faces of my fur babies when I open the door to come home,” the former Access Hollywood Live co-host stated. “Whether it’s been five minutes five hours, or five days, it doesn’t matter; that reception is my favorite part of any day, and a constant reminder that we didn’t just save them, they most definitely saved us right back. No matter what kind of pet you’ve always dreamed of, the breed, size, even color, your perfect baby is out there, waiting to be adopted.”

For more information regarding the ‘I Saved My Best Friend’ campaign:

• visit http://bestfriends.org/save

Photo Credit: Best Friends Animal Society

Fido’s Freebie Friday Has a Change of Plans

Well, this week didn’t quite wind up as planned…

We planned to head to the beach with Irie and Tiki on a quick one-night trip but, unfortunately, a family emergency with one of John’s elderly relatives meant a change of plans. A day spent at the hospital three hours from here meant rescheduling our trip.

While we were worried and disappointed, Irie and Tiki were just as happy as they are every other day.  They live in the present — and the present meant that we were all home and all together. They weren’t concerned about our future plans and concerns. Today was good.

It was, once again, a good reminder of the attitude that our dogs live with every day!

And our extra time at home this week gave us the chance to launch some new giveaways (with some more kicking off this weekend!) You’ll find all of our giveaways in this week’s Fido’s Freebie Friday, co-hosted with AllThingsDogBlog.com and ToDogwithLove.com.

If you have a blog hosting a pet-related giveaway, please be sure to link up.

Good luck!

Disclaimer: Each giveaway has its own entry rules. DogTipper, All Things Dog Blog, and To Dog With Love assume no responsibility for the legality of the rules governing the listings on other sites and giveaways that are posted here. We simply provide this forum as a gathering place for pet product giveaways to be offered. Fulfillment of each giveaway is done by the blog conducting the giveaway, not by the hosts of this giveaway hop; please contact the giveaway host with any questions regarding a giveaway or giveaway prize.

Enter Our CHOOSE RESCUE Bracelet #Giveaway!

We are so excited about our new CHOOSE RESCUE bracelet, available exclusively in our PawZaar.com gift store! Now one lucky member of our community (anywhere in the world!) will win a bracelet and can help share the word of how many great rescue pets are out there, waiting for a forever home.

Our new bracelet is stainless steel, perfect for everyday wear. (I even wear mine swimming!) You can also feel good that 10 percent of the proceeds from every bracelet sold — like all our PawZaar products — goes to help the homeless pets in the care of the week’s featured shelter or rescue!

Coupon Code

Can’t wait to see if you win the giveaway? Use coupon code RESCUE to save 25 percent on your CHOOSE RESCUE bracelet purchase!

How to Enter

As always, you'll find many ways to enter in the widget below. Enter with as few or as many entry methods as you like; you can always return to the widget for more entries during the giveaway period. And cat lovers: be sure to enter our giveaway for our exclusive Black Cat Bracelet, too! Good luck!

Entry-Form

This giveaway is sponsored by our PawZaar gift store; we'll be shipping the prize directly to the winner.

Stars to Help Animals in Need at Glitter & Glam

Fans of fashion, famous faces and our four-legged friends are invited to ‘put on the dog’ for Glitter & Glam, an annual fundraiser for Agape Animal Rescue which proves that trends may come and go, but compassion never goes out of style.

Following in the philanthropic footsteps of past Glitter & Glam hosts like Jana Kramer (One Tree Hill star/country music sensation), former American Idol contestant Kimberley Locke, and Christian singer/TV presenter Gary Chapman and Private Lives of Nashville Wives cast member Cassie Chapman, CMT’s Katie Cook will emcee the 2015 event, which will include:

• Celebrities escorting couture-conscious canines on the catwalk! Styled by Glitz Nashville and Platinum Jewelry, the lineup of two-legged models scheduled to strike a pose on stage for the paws cause include NFL Pro Bowl Player Brad Hopkins, Ray from the nationally syndicated radio program The Bobby Bones Show, recording artists Brian Fuente and Jordan Pruitt and the Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders. Rovers will rule the runway in doggie designs by Yvette Ruta in partnership with Winston Dog Boutique.
• Live and silent auctions which will feature such luxury items as vacations, jewelry and fine art.
• Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cocktails.

“Agape Animal Rescue is providing an incredible service to our community,” this year’s host, CMT Insider‘s Katie Cook, stated. “I love that they have a foster program to help homeless dogs transition into their forever homes and take great care in finding the right fit for dogs and the families. The more we support Agape, the more dogs we can save.”

Proceeds from Glitter & Glam will benefit Agape Animal Rescue, a non-profit which is doggedly devoted to rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming abandoned and neglected companion animals in the Middle Tennessee area.

Tickets: $70

When: August 30, 2015

Where: The Hutton Hotel at 1808 West End Avenue in Nashville, Tennessee

For more information:

• visit http://glitterandglam.org

Photo Credit: ClipArt

Win a Kurgo #SurfNTurf Dog Life Jacket!

Welcome to the #SurfNTurf giveaway that we’re co-hosting with some great fellow bloggers! Along with Baylie Dog, CindyLu’s Muse, Dogtrotting.net, Hey Lorri,  Something Wagging This Way Comes, Talent Hounds, and Tiffany’s Diamond Dogs, we’re giving away a Kurgo Surf ‘N Turf Dog Life Jacket to keep your dog safe on summer outings (and dry this fall and winter!)

Not all dogs are good swimmers; dogs with large heads or heavy coats often have swimming challenges. And even the best swimmer can tire in the water — or needs help staying afloat if injured.

The solution: a dog life jacket. Just as we would don a life jacket any time we’re in a boat, so should our dogs. If your dog will be on a dock, swimming in the sea or lake with you, or even swimming in your backyard pool, a life jacket is important as well.

Kurgo’s Surf ‘n Turf Life Jacket works with your dog’s own natural buoyancy to keep him safe in the water. Two traverse handles help you pull your dog from the water while two d-rings make it easy to snap on your leash. The machine washable vest so serves as great all-weather gear; you can remove the flotation insert and use the jacket as a rain coat or lightweight jacket when the weather turns cool

One lucky reader will win their choice of five sizes to best fit their dog.

How to Enter

You’ll enter in the widget below. One winner will be selected at random; Kurgo will ship the prize directly to the winner. This giveaway is open to readers in the USA and Canada. Good luck!

Entry-Form

Disclosure: This giveaway prize is sponsored by Kurgo; the company will ship the prize directly to the winner. All opinions and statements are entirely my own.

#AmazingPetExpo, Schaumburg, IL, July 25, 2015

Chicago area pet parents and their dogs will be blown away by all of the Fido-centric fun in store for attendees at the Windy City Pet Expo during a day dedicated to the joy that our pals with paws, claws and fins bring to our lives.

Activities

• Fans of both our four-legged friends and famous faces can meet Pit Boss star Shorty Rossi. The Animal Planet personality will sign autographs and talk about raising awareness of the need to help dogs who are so often unjustly hounded by prejudice.
• Cheer for the talented tail-waggers who will tackle tire jumping, negotiate a teeter and work their way through weave poles during agility demonstrations. During a Q & A session pet parents can find out how their pup can learn the impressive skills, and one lucky dog and their human guardian will have the chance to try out the agility course.
• Celebrate the special capabilities of our canine companions at the Pets Got Talent Contest.
• Applaud the apparel of dogs who will don disguises for the chance to win prizes in the Pet Costume Contest.
• Take a walk down memory lane with your barking buddy as you play a Rover-fied rendition of the classic children’s game Musical Chairs.
• A happening with heart, the pet expo is also a mega-adoption event where potential pet parent can meet adorable adoptables from area rescue groups like Across America Boxer Rescue, Adoptable English Bulldog Rescue, Cause for Paws Rescue, Dogs are Deserving Rescue, Home at Last Pet Rescue, Mid America Rottweiler Rescue, On Angels’ Wings Pet Rescue, Second Chance Pet Adoption, Shih Tzu Rescue, Adoption and Education Safehouse (S.T.R.A.E.S.) and Wave Animal Rescue.
• Plus exhibitor booths, prize giveaways, free nail trims, discounted vaccinations, microchipping and heartworm and flea preventatives, and much more!

Admission: Free

When: July 25, 2015 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Where: Schaumburg Convention Center at 1551 Thoreau Drive North in Schaumburg, Illinois

For more information:

• visit www.windycitypetexpo.com

Photo Credit: Windy City Pet Expo/Facebook

Everyone is Good at Something…

Everyone has something that they are good at.  Some people are more athletically gifted than others, some are more artistic and some have a special gift for the sciences.  The same holds true for dogs.  Some are really good at some things but not others.  So when this little boy figures out that his dog just isn’t going to be on a pro fetch team, he doesn’t get upset with the dog.  He hugs the dog, and tells him that he loves him anyway.

Dan + Shay Promote Pet Adoption in #NothinLikeYou Video

Fans of canines and country music are singing the praises of Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney of the gold record-selling duo Dan + Shay. The stars share the spotlight with rescue dogs in the just unleashed music video for their latest single, “Nothin’ Like You.”

Doggedly devoted to Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue, Dan Smyers is a proud pet parent of Chief and Joy, two dogs adopted from the non-profit organization (where he has also volunteered).  In the video the country crooners romp with Rovers from the Nashville-based rescue, which saves companion animals who have been abandoned or are facing their fate in high kill shelters. Approximately 150 dogs and 50 cats receive comfort and care each day from Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue’s dedicated team.

Discussing the Spot-centric shoot, Smyers stated: “As a dog rescuer myself, this video holds a very special place in my heart. It is obvious from our social media that the entire Dan + Shay camp are dog people, and what better way to showcase nearly fifty cute and adoptable dogs than to feature them in our music video?”

The tail-wagging thespians learned their acting chops thanks to Nashville K-9, a dog training facility which offers basic obedience for family pets as well as advanced dog agility and customized dog training for police and detection dogs.

By filming with Fidos who need forever homes, Dan + Shay have joined a list of animal-loving luminaries which includes Neil Diamond, OK Go, American Authors and Moby– all of whom have shown support for the option of pet adoption in music videos.

For more information regarding Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue:

• visit www.proverbs1210rescue.org

Photo Credit: Dan + Shay/YouTube

#PawPromise Adoptable Dog of the Week: Oreo

This handsome fellow is Oreo, a young Pit Bull Terrier mix who is currently in the care of the Animal Care Center of St. John in St. John, US Virgin Islands. This adoptable dog is about one year old, and he has energy to spare. He loves to play, and he gets along well with other dogs.

Oreo is neutered, house trained and is up to date on his shots. This boy has a great personality and will make a wonderful companion!

Share Oreo with Your Friends!

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Check out the #adoptable #dog of the week – handsome Oreo, in the care of @StJohnACC!
Click To Tweet

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PawZaar’s #PawPromise Program

DogTipper is proud that our PawZaar.com gift store is partnering this week with the Animal Care Center of St. John. This rescue organization, located in the US Virgin Islands, cares for homeless pets on the island.

Every Sunday, we highlight an adoptable dog (and an adoptable cat over on CatTipper.com), choosing from among rescues and shelters nominated by our readers. If you’d like to nominate your favorite shelter or rescue, please visit our nomination form.

This week’s Animal Care Center was nominated by a reader who said, “This shelter is a small, non-profit no-kill shelter working on a very tight budget. They have done some remarkable things to help the animals on the island and the ones that come through their doors. Most of the staff are volunteers that try to give love and attention to the animals that come through their doors. They rely on private donations and annual fundraisers.”

Not only does our program draw attention to the great adoptables out there, but your purchases also result in a donation to the week’s rescue. Every week, our PawZaar gift shop donates 10 percent of proceeds from the week’s purchases of our items, including our exclusive”Choose Rescue” bracelet and our “Black Cat Bracelet” to the shelter or rescue of the week.

For more information on this adoptable dog:

• visit Oreo’s Petfinder page
• call or email Animal Care Center of St. John Inc.
• follow Animal Care Center of St. John on Facebook

Photo courtesy of Animal Care Center of St. John Inc.

Family Adopts Pesky Sheep Who Thinks He’s a Dog

Marcus doesn’t seem to be cut out for life at a New Zealand lodge.  He prefers sleeping indoors and going on car rides to being outside in a paddock.  This wouldn’t be unusual if Marcus was a dog, but he’s a sheep.  So now he’s going to a home where his unique personality can shine.

Marcus the lamb seems a bit species-confused.  He doesn’t want to hang out with the other sheep – he wants to be inside with all the people at the Grasmere Lodge.  There are a couple of resident dogs there, so perhaps they’re where he’s getting the idea that he’s no ordinary sheep.

“He’s more or less a human/dog in a sheep’s body,” said lodge manager Thomas Butler.

His insistence on being in the lodge or hanging about just outside the doors would be far more endearing if it weren’t for one particular sheep behavior that Marcus can’t lose:  he poops EVERYWHERE.  Staff members find him adorable, but are less than pleased by his doorstep offerings.

“They’re not that keen on him funnily enough, so it’s a love hate relationship, he’s obviously quite cute, but he leaves deposits everywhere,” Butler explained.

His little gifts aren’t the kind the owners would like to constantly have bestowed upon their guests, so a new home needed to be found for the silly little guy.

“It’d be wonderful if he’d learnt how to clean up after himself, and then he’d probably be welcome to stay,” Butler said.

The lodge took to the internet to find a proper home for Marcus.  Bridget Parker and her family are happy to welcome him to their home.  But because of his lack of self-control in the defecation department, he’ll still have to stay outside.

“I don’t think he’s going to be able to live in the garden cause of the roses, he’ll kill them all, so he’ll be in a paddock just over here or around the house,” she said.

However, Marcus will be receiving lots of attention from Parker’s kids.