Right now, the best idea I can think of is to keep abreast of the news regarding pet food recalls.

Go to Google News and type in pet food recall (and possibly the brand you feed and want to monitor) and click “Search News”.

The search results are usually presented by relevance, but you can request that the most recent stories be presented first. (Google constantly updates with just-posted news stories.) These options are toward the upper right of the screen.

Please check frequently for updates, read critically and from multiple sources, and please share the info with friends, neighbors and co-workers.

May your pets be well-fed and healthy.

Consider your dog’s contact with the world. He walks barefoot across streets and parking lots through antifreeze, lead, and a variety of toxins. He walks on, plays in, and grazes in lawns that may have been treated with chemicals. He licks and chews on his well-traveled paws. He’s steeped in things we would consider downright dirty.

Who would not go in and wash their hands after such contact? Toxins in the environment can accumulate in our dogs’ tissues and contribute to disease. Don’t go overboard, but why not lessen exposure to toxins when we can?

Why not…

• Periodically wash your dog’s paws
• Use protective boots when needed (there will be an adjustment period)
• Avoid chemically treated lawns
• Don’t let your dog swim in water you wouldn’t swim in
• Use pet-safer antifreeze (brands like Sierra)
• Use pet-safer snow and ice melt (brands like Safe Paw Ice Melter)
• Leave your shoes at the door when you come home. Shoes can introduce lead, other pollutants and irritants into your home.

It’s bitterly cold in St. Louis, and more than 200,000 homes are without power after a recent ice storm. The governor has declared a state of emergency, the National Guard has been called in to help, and utility crews are here from across the country.

What about our pets? The Humane Society of Missouri has opened an Emergency Heating Center in St. Louis for pets whose owners are without power and do not have safe and warm lodging for their pets.

Five months ago, the Humane Society of Missouri opened a Cooling Center for pets. Temperatures soared to more than 100 degrees F and over 500,000 homes, many with pets, were without power.

These emergency shelters allow residents to take care of themselves as well. Many residents stated they would not go to a shelter unless their pets were taken care of.

If you need to take your pet to an emergency shelter:

• You may need proof of vaccinations. If you cannot locate these records, don’t give up. Ask the emergency shelter if your vet can fax the records or confirm vaccination over the phone. 
• Your pet should have a collar with current identification.
• Ask the shelter if they would like you to bring your pet’s crate. They may be very short on kennel space. 

What can you do to help?

• Encourage your area shelters to open similar emergency shelters if the need arises. Propose the idea now, before a crisis arises.
• Volunteer to assist shelter workers. They will need help to clean runs and walk dogs.
• Help get the word out to people and dogs in need.
• Are you in a dog club? Why not set up a program to take care of members’ pets if an emergency occurs? Those who are unaffected could house pets for members who are in need. 

Here are some cold weather pet tips from the Humane Society of Missouri.

The Great American Smokeout is today. Have you thought about quitting? Here’s a consequence of smoking you may not have considered: second-hand smoke has been linked to a variety of cancers in dogs and other companion animals.

• Dogs who live with smokers have a 60 percent greater risk of lung cancer (the American Journal of Epidemiology)

• Nasal cancer is a particular risk to long-nosed dogs who live with smokers (the American Journal of Epidemiology)

We live so closely with our pets. If we smoke, they get a double-dose of carcinogens. They first inhale second-hand smoke through their nasal passages. Then, smoke particles in the air become trapped in the animal’s fur; these particles are ingested when the animal grooms himself.

If you’re not yet convinced, here are some sobering statistics about cats:

• Cats who live in smoking homes are three times more likely to develop lymphoma, the most common cancer in cats (Tufts University).

• The likelihood of a cat developing lymphoma increases with the number of smokers in the house and the length of exposure (Tufts University and the University of Massachusetts).

If you are a smoker, please put your pets outdoors or in another room while you smoke. A smokeless ashtry or open window may help remove second-hand smoke from the environment.

For further reading:

Second Hand Smoke Affects Pets, Too - College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana

Do you know where the nearest Animal Emergency Hospital is? How about the others in your area? Are there any veterinarians near you that take after-hours emergencies?

Why not be prepared and make an info sheet for your local emergency clinic?

Ask your vet where she recommends you take your dog if you need immediate care after hours. Ask your vet’s office where the emergency hospitals in your area are, check in the phone book, or do an online search.

Open a new document in your word processing program, and include the following on your Emergency Clinic Info Sheet:

• Facility name, street address and telephone number
• Hours of operation
• Directions and landmarks
• Map (from Mapquest or Yahoo). Copy and paste onto your page.

Finally, put the info sheet where you can easily find it, and keep a digital copy on your computer, PDA, online storage, diskette or CD.

Here is a sample info sheet I created (in pdf format).

Halloween is fast approaching. In addition to the usual warnings about keeping chocolate away from your dog, and making sure he doesn’t slip out the front door when the trick or treaters come, there is a darker one.

Do you have a black dog or cat? A veterinarian I know cautions clients to keep black cats indoors and not leave black dogs unattended outdoors (or alone in your car) during the week before Halloween to a few days afterward. It may be a good idea to keep a close eye on pets of any color during this time. While it’s unlikely that your pet will be stolen and harmed during this time, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

On a more positive note…why not:

• Practice sit or down stays (in another room) while someone else hands out candy to the trick or treaters
• Make a cute costume for your dog and visit a nursing home
• Have a daytime Halloween party for your human and canine friends (dogs in costume)
• Attend one of the “Howl-oween” events sponsored by shelters or local dog-related businesses

I was standing outside on a cold, clear winter evening last year, waiting for Dash to potty one last time before bed. I was looking up at the night sky when I saw the owl. It freefell from an old hickory tree, extended its wings and swooped silently toward my unsuspecting puppy.

I ran toward my dog, yelling, and waving my arms to scare off the predator. The owl smoothly changed direction and flew up into another tree. I picked up Dash and headed for the safety of the house.

This owl could have easily carried away my tiny corgi. After that experience, I searched the bare trees for owls with a strong flashlight when we went out at night.

I had no idea there were such large owls in this dense suburban area. Since that night, I have witnessed several hawks snatch birds from our feeder, and racoons waddling across the yard at night. A nearby friend lost her cat to a fox. My veterinarian’s family nearly lost their dog to a coyote.

Please watch out for your small dogs and cats. Pets over ten pounds are generally safe from birds of prey, but may still be at risk if you have coyotes.

As we are taking over more and more undeveloped land, many owls, hawks, fox, coyotes are forced to look for food in the suburbs. Food is most scarce during the winter, so you may notice them more during this time. However, a staff member of the Wild Bird Center told me, “They’re there all year. You may not see them, but they see you.”

Animal Blessing ceremonies are very popular with the American public and increasingly accepted by many churches. People bring a variety of companion animals, everything from the expected dogs and cats, to rabbits and lizards, camels and horses, and even favorite stuffed animals and photographs of deceased pets.

Catholic, Lutheran and Episcopal churches seem to be most often the ones hosting the ceremonies. Sometimes college or university interfaith chapels hold animal blessing ceremonies. Most ceremonies are held outside, regardless of weather, while some are held inside the church.

The traditional time is the weekend nearest the 4th of October to commemorate the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, but ceremonies are often held from September through mid-October.

How do you find a ceremony?

• Watch the paper from the end of September through the month of October
• Inquire at your local Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal church, or university chapel
• Ask your vet’s office, your local Humane Society or shelter
• Do an internet search with these keywords: your town name, blessing, animals
• Check for ceremonies in your area in this partial list of Animal Blessings in the US

See a ceremony online:

• Duke University Blessing of the Animals (Photo Gallery)
• Animal Rescue League of Iowa Blessing Ceremony (Excellent, close-up video)
• Animal Blessing, Long Beach, CA, September 2006 (Composite video of a large ceremony, set to music)
• Animal Blessing at the Eldon College Chapel (slideshow of a small college ceremony, set to music)

Further information:

• Blessing of the Animals in the US (an article by a Franciscan Catholic)
• Prayers for Animals and other resources (Episcopalian Church)
• Browse online Newspaper coverage of animal blessings around the world.

Recommended Reading:

• Blessing the Animals: Prayers and Ceremonies to Celebrate God’s Creatures, Wild and Tame by Lynn L. Caruso
• Animal Blessings: Prayers and Poems Celebrating Our Pets, by June Cotner

Your dog seems to be choking, snorts loudly, inhales rapidly through the nose. She stiffens and extends her neck. She’s at the mercy of these spasms. It’s startling. It can be alarming and upsetting.

Thankfully I was at a Corgi Picnic when I witnessed Dash’s first reverse sneeze. They told me it was “just a reverse sneeze” and advised me matter-of-factly to cover his nostrils…and it stopped.

In thirty years of living with dogs, I hadn’t witnessed reverse sneezing, so I did a little research. Of course, please ask your veterinarian if you have further questions.

Reverse sneezing is not a sneeze at all, but a spasm. An episode can last anywhere from a few seconds to two minutes.

Why do dogs have reverse sneezes? Some possible sources are:

• Irritants (like dust, pollens, household chemicals)
• Excitement or stress
• Eating or drinking
• Running
• Pulling against the leash
• Sinusitis or upper respiratory disorders

Smaller dogs may be more susceptible to reverse sneezing.

How to stop the attack:

• Gently pinch the dog’s nostrils shut, or cover them with your hand
• Gently massage the throat area
• Gently lift the dog with your arm under his belly

The good news…although it’s alarming:

• It’s generally not harmful
• Your dog will stop reverse sneezing without your help
• Your dog will return to normal once it stops

Please notify your veterinarian if:

• Reverse sneezing suddenly begins in a senior dog
• Episodes become more frequent or severe
• Your dog develops a cough or has nasal discharge

Frozen water bottles are one way to help cool a dog crate. I’ve been using them this summer to further cool my dog’s crate in my (air-conditioned) car. Select heavy plastic drink bottles; one liter bottles are a good size. Fill the bottle nearly to the top and freeze solid. Tie these bottles securely to the back or sides of the crate, especially if the crate will be in your car. Left loose, they could seriously injure your dog if you stopped suddenly or had an accident.

I would stay away from the rectangular plastic “ice substitutes” that are meant to be frozen and then placed in a cooler to keep food cold. If your dog is a chewer, the shape and texture of these packs would probably be appealing. While they often say “non-toxic” on the label, I wouldn’t want my dog ingesting that undisclosed liquid.

As always, please consider your dog and the situation. Is your dog a dedicated chewer? Is he addicted to empty soda bottles? You may want to find another way to keep him cool, or use the frozen water bottles with close supervision.