The Muttropolis Blog

Drooley floors no more with the Drink Better Pet Bowl

My neighbor’s dog Baloo resembles a cross between Sasquatch, Cousin It, Slash from Guns N’ Roses and a whole lotta Pigpen. Weighing in at more than 125 lbs, Baloo is a furry bundle of love and Lulu and Zazou love having him over for play-dates.  However, a dog that rocks a fro of this magnitude (see photo), requires more than just a proverbial !Cleanup on Aisle Four!, particularly when it comes to the mess he makes when he drinks water. 

As you will see in this week’s video, Baloo’s beard releases the equivalent of Niagra Falls when he drinks from a water bowl, whether outside or inside the house. And don’t even talk to me about what happens when he shakes his head after drinking…it looks like someone let loose with a hose on the windows.

Enter the Drink Better Bowl

In an attempt to reduce the Slip-n-Slide that Baloo leaves behind when hydrating, I did a little research and found The Drink Better® pet bowl.

The innovative pet bowl integrates the use of a floating obstacle within the bowl to control the flow of water, encouraging dogs to drink at a slower, healthier rate, and make less mess while they’re at it…. just the thing I need for Monsieur Pigpen. According to Contech, the manufacturer, dogs that drink too fast (puppies do this a lot) can also experience digestive problems such as indigestion and vomiting and light-haired dogs may experience staining of the muzzle (from chlorinated water).

Check out this week’s video and see what happens when we test the Drink Better pet bowl with uber-slob-face Baloo!

Article reprint courtesy of The Daily Treat at Animalplanet.com

Top Tips to Keep your Pets Safe on July 4th

As much as we all enjoy watching the "big lights go boom" in the sky every Fourth of July, our pets are not so up on the holiday. Courtesy of our friends over at the ASPCA, here are some top tips to keep your pets calm and safe during the Independence day activities and prevent them from becoming one of the thousands of missing "July 4th doggies" that are traumatized every year by fireworks and other scary noises (...like Uncle Stan at the Karaoke machine, etc.)

1. Never leave alcoholic drinks unattended where pets can reach them. Alcoholic beverages have the potential to poison pets. If ingested, the animal could become very intoxicated and weak, severely depressed or could go into a coma. Death from respiratory failure is also a possibility in severe cases.
2. Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use on animals. Ingestion of sunscreen products can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. The misuse of insect repellent that contains DEET can lead to neurological problems.
3. Always keep matches and lighter fluid out of your pets’ reach. Certain types of matches contain chlorates, which could potentially damage blood cells and result in difficulty breathing—or even kidney disease in severe cases. Lighter fluid can be irritating to skin, and if ingested can produce gastrointestinal irritation and central nervous system depression. If lighter fluid is inhaled, aspiration pneumonia and breathing problems 
4. Keep your pets on their normal diet. Any change, even for one meal, can give your pets severe indigestion and diarrhea. This is particularly true for older animals who have more delicate digestive systems and nutritional requirements. And keep in mind that foods such as onions, chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes & raisins, salt and yeast dough can all be potentially toxic to companion animals.
5. Do not put glow jewelry on your pets, or allow them to play with it. While the luminescent substance contained in these products is not highly toxic, excessive drooling and gastrointestinal irritation could still result from ingestions, and intestinal blockage could occur from swallowing large pieces of the plastic containers.
6. Keep citronella candles, insect coils and oil products out of reach. Ingestions can produce stomach irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression. If inhaled, the oils could cause aspiration pneumonia in pets.
7. Never use fireworks around pets! While exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns and/or trauma to the face and paws of curious pets, even unused fireworks can pose a danger. Many types contain potentially toxic substances, including potassium nitrate, arsenic and other heavy metals.
8. Loud, crowded fireworks displays are no fun for pets, so please resist the urge to take them to Independence Day festivities. Instead, keep your little guys safe from the noise in a quiet, sheltered and escape-proof area at home. 
9. Consider calming your pet with a homeopathic calming remedy, available over the counter at most natural pet stores. If your pet has severe anxiety with loud noises, you might consider consulting with your Veterinarian for other options.

Please pass these tips on to any new pet parents you might know, to make sure they understand how to best prepare their pup or kitten for the holiday weekend and feel free to leave a comment with other tips you have found helpful. Happy Fourth!

Reprint courtesy of the Daily Treat at Animalplanet.com

Hot Dogs + Cool Cats: Seven Top Tips to Beat the Summer Heat

Summer 2009 is at long last upon us and nothing makes a summer adventure more enjoyable than having our beloved four-legged companions in tow! However for animals, the summer heat can be quite uncomfortable as our furry friends are covered with fur and walk directly on hot surfaces that can severely effect their body temperature. 

To help keep our critters safe and comfortable all summer long, check out the following  tips, ideas and products to keep summer from being a bummer for our pets!

1. Car Heat: Avoid heat exhaustion and DO NOT leave your pet alone in the car during the remotely warm weather. During warm weather the inside of your car can reach 120° in a matter of minutes, even if you're parked in the shade with the windows opened a little. Pet owners that carelessly leave their pets unattended in a hot car are now subject to hefty fines and possibly jail-time, so don't even think about it!

2. Let the Fur Fly: Dogs with extremely thick or long fur should be trimmed during the hot summer  months. Regular use of a deshedding tool, such as the FURminator deshedding tool can remove tremendous amounts of undercoat hair.

 3. Creative Cooling: Water or gel-filled cooling mats or cooling vests are great for dogs that are kept outside or if you do not have air conditioning in your home. As well, an elevated pet bed can help keep pets cool and comfortable and the raised sleeping surface keeps your dog off the hard ground, away from bugs and has an added bonus of great air circulation

4. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate: Provide plenty of water and shade for your pets so they can stay cool. Be aware that water will vaporize on extremely hot days. Collapsible Water Bowls and Gulpy Water Bottles are convenient portable water sources for your pet, especially if you're on the road. As well, the new ASPCA doggie travel water bottle can help you both hydrate and save lives...I'll drink to that!

5. Exercise at Dusk & Dawn: Pets need exercise, but on very hot days it is best to limit  exercise to early morning or evening hours. Keep in mind that asphalt and beach sand gets very hot and can burn your pet's paws. Consider protective booties to protect sensitive paws from hot pavement.

6. Avoid Sunburn: Pets can get sunburned too, and your pet may require sunscreen his or her nose and ear tips. Especially pets with light-colored noses or light-colored fur on their ears.

7. Be aware of the Signs of Heat Exhaustion: Heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid pulse, unsteadiness, a staggering gait, vomiting, or a deep red or purple tongue are all  signs of possible heat exhaustion.  What to do: Move the animal into the shade or an air-conditioned area. Apply ice packs or cold towels to their head, neck and chest or immerse them in cool (not cold) water. Let them drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes and consider taking them directly to a veterinarian.

Do you have some favorite tips to share to help our pets beat the heat? I welcome you to share them with fellow pet parents in the comments below!

Article reprint courtesy of The Daily Treat on Animalplanet.com

Satisfying the Picky Pooch with Stella and Chewy's Freeze-dried Raw Foods

If you share a home with a dog who is a picky eater, you undoubtedly understand the hair-pulling challenge of finding canine cuisine that actually motivates them to stand up and take notice when you yell “IT’S FOOD TIME!!”

Zazou, my Vizsla, approaches mealtime with great delight and joy, as he vigorously consumes the food in his bowl with great appreciation and verve.  Conversely, Lulu our diminutive mystery mutt approaches mealtime with trepidation as if she’s been instructed to walk the plank or something worse.  Like clockwork, each day I yell “It’s Food Time" and Lulu trudges up to the bowl, gives the bowl a half-hearted sniff, then plops down next to the bowl with an unceremonious ‘plumpf’.

This feeding time scenario has repeated itself for as long as I can remember and I have tried quite a  smorgasbord of healthy foods to pique her interest and was beyond thrilled when I discovered Stella & Chewy’s Fresh from the Farm all natural freeze-dried raw chicken patties, which Miss Picky Pooch-Lulu absolutely LOVES!! Mealtime is now truly a cause for celebration, not consternation.

Made from human-grade free-range meats, ground bones, and fresh organic vegetables and containing no preservatives, no chemical, dyes, sugar or salt, these freeze-dried patties can be easily crumbled into your pets kibble to introduce a new and tasty element to your pet’s existing diet, or it can be fed solely as their main course.

Better yet, they’re good ‘fer ya!

What I also like about the Stella & Chewy’s freeze-dried products is that they provide all the convenience of a conventional dry food without compromising the nutritional value and proven health benefits of real raw meat.  You can serve the patties as is or rehydrate by adding water. They’re also great for travel, training rewards, and treats.

Starting at $10.99 a bag, you can find Stella and Chewy's at Muttropolis.com

Article reprint courtesy of The Daily Treat at Animalplanet.com

Pets on Parade & Good Times with a Kissing Booth

We Muttropolitans recently had the pleasure of helping out with the First Annual La Jolla Pet Parade & Festival. The event was held in the super pet-friendly and beautiful southern California coastal village of La Jolla to benefit one of our favorite causes, the Spay Neuter Action Project (SNAP). SNAP is a non-profit, grassroots organization offering low cost spay and neutering in low income neighborhood and is responsible for reducing the number of unwanted puppies and kittens in the Southern California area by tens of thousands by snipping and snapping off, well, you know.

With our nation’s shelters overflowing with orphaned and surrendered pets,  spaying and neutering pets is key to solving pet overpopulation. SNAP presently conducts their neutering clinics in a mobile clinic known as their “neuter scooter” and as of today more than 15,000 pets have been fixed on their Neuter Scooter. They hope to build a permanent low-income, high volume spay-neuter clinic.

Our community parade kicked off with Grand Marshall Benji (...and author and creator of the Benji series Joe Camp hosted by Warwicks) and a Doga warm-up led by my pals over at lululemon, followed by contests, pet adoptions, barks & crafts and other fun family activities.

They came, they wagged, they air-kissed

Any time you throw a party or in this case a parade, there is always that nagging question of whether anyone show up? Well, we're pleased to report that hundreds of people and pets of all breeds and creeds did indeed represent and enthusiastically wagged, waddled, wheeled, padded and clip-clopped through the village…it was a sight to see!

Aside from raising funds for a worthy cause, making new friends and helping find new homes for dogs, cats and even a guinea pig that day, one my favorite activities at the event was watching the theater unfold in an old school kissing booth that Muttropolis brought along. The little contraption provided some visuals nothing short of ridiculous and this week’s Daily Treat Video highlights some of our favorite moments from the day!

ps. Studies show that volunteering increases health and longevity. But the real virtue may be in the pleasures gained in the process. Visit Petfinder.com to learn how you can help out at your local shelter or animal welfare organization or visit Serve.gov to find out about other causes in need in your area.

Blog reprint courtesy of Animal Planet and The Daily Treat with Janet McCulley

The Dog Bark Park Inn: Where a night in the doghouse ain't half bad

Ever wanted to really get inside a dogs head? You can literally live the dream at the Dog Bark Park Inn -- a bed and breakfast guesthouse inside the "World's Biggest Beagle."  This ginormious wooden beagle domicile, created by self-taught chainsaw artists and proprietors Dennis and Frances, is located in north central Idaho on US Hwy 95 in Cottonwood, Idaho.

Allow me to show you to your hind-quarters

Named one of the Top 20 Most Fun & Exciting Places to Stay by the London Times, guests enter the belly of the Beagle from a private second story deck.  (No word if the belly of the Beagle is strewn with bits of shredded sock, bits of tennis ball and twigs just for authenticity purposes.) Inside the bowels of the bed and Beagle guests will find a queen bed, reading nook within the dog’s snout and a bounty of kitchy canine-themed decorations, many of which are creations of the proprietors. 

Dogs of all sizes are welcome for an additional $10 per night per pet and guests can enjoy prairie views and starry nights from the second story 'tummy-deck.' During the day, excursions can include taking a jet boat tour into nearby Hell’s Canyon, horseback riding or hiking.

For more information visit the Dog Bark Park Inn.

Article reprint courtesy of Animal Planet's The Daily Treat with Janet McCulley

PediPaws Persuasion: The drama of trimming your dogs nails

Keeping your pets nails properly trimmed is important for a variety of reasons, including your pets comfort and health, as well as the health of your floors, walls, furniture and whatever else your pets perform their daily tap dance upon. 

Over the years, any and all attempts to trim my dogs nails have been an absolute bust, resulting in nothing short of a spectacular meltdown on behalf of all parties involved. To avoid this drama and mutiny, I’ve instead opted to send the kids to the groomer for their paw-ticures and have washed my hands of the whole situation.

However, given that 2009 marks a major comeback for the Do it Yourselfer, and we’re all looking at ways to save our pennies, I considered bringing their nail trimming service back in-house when I recently spotted the PediPaws pet nail trimmer commercial on TV.

Don't let this loud buzzing stick scare you

Essentially, the PediPaws is a like modified dremmel tool and the instruction manual emphasizes repeatedly the importance of properly introducing the device to your pet and developing positive associations to best acclimate them to the concept of this buzzing and frankly somewhat disturbing device.

As you will see in this week's video, “PediPaw Persuasion,” I tried just about everything from fun car rides, trips to the dog park and taking in our favorite show to get Zazou to cooperate with my attempts to use the PediPaw nail trimmer on him.

Watch the video and see what it took to get Zazou to calm down long enough to let me trim one nail. If you have any tips, tactics or insights for how you’ve managed to trim your pet’s nails, please feel free to pass them along!

ps. Upon further trial, it appears that the PediPaws may be best suited for dogs under 20lbs and  individuals who possess the patience of a saint.

Article Reprint courtesy of The Daily Treat with Janet McCulley on Animal Planet

Six Ways to Ensure a Righteous Road Trip with Rover

Memorial Day Weekend is just around the corner and millions of us will quite possibly spend our vacation by hitting the road with Rover or Rags in tow.

In fact, more than 10 million Americans include their 4-footed family members in their travels annually, according to AAA.  Eighty percent of us take the dog, while 15% carry a kitty and the rest of us bring other pets.

Proper Pre-paw-ration is key

Whether you’re headed out for a weekend junket or week-long affair, proper planning is essential to ensure good times are had by all.  The most important question to ask before hitting the road with Fido or Mr. Fluffybottoms is: “Is my vacay destination suitable for my pet?”  Some well meaning folks must understand that taking their cat camping or bringing their dog to the US National Lawnmower Races is not necessarily a good idea.

If you are looking for pet friendly destinations and accommodation ideas, Pettravel.com is a great resource as is FidoFriendly.com.

Herewith are my top six tips to ensure your adventure is both fun and safe:

1) Do what I say
Ensure your pet is taught how to “Stay!” in the car when you get out of the car as pets frequently get lost on trips when they jump out of the car during stops.

2) May I see your ID
Ensure your pet wears updated identification at all times -- including your mobile phone information or the phone number of your hotel accommodations.

3) Buckle Up Pup
Pet Safety Restraints and Car Seats help restrain pets that won’t tolerate crating, as well as help tiny dogs from bouncing around the back seat. These devices lessen driving interference and reduce injury due to sudden stops.

4) Create familiarity and routine
Bring a familiar bed, favorite toy or treats as a great way to help reduce stress and keep them comfortable. Great foldable travel pet beds are comfortable yet compact and can be used in the car as well.

5) Take the edge off
If your pet suffers from anxiety while on the road, you can help take the edge off your pet during your travels with Calming Rescue Remedy, a natural, homeopathic anti-anxiety remedy that helps to relieve stress and aid in the prevention of nausea associated with motion sickness. A great natural alternative to pharmaceutical tranquilizing with all the negative side effects.

[A note on whining: If during your travels your GPS takes you to BFE instead of Joshua Tree, may I personally suggest a calming remedy/adult beverage of a different kind courtesy of Mutt Lynch Winery.]

6) Leave no man-ure behind
An inconvenient poop can make for an embarrassing moment while on vacation, so don’t forget to bring plenty of disposable “pick up bags for pet waste disposal.

Do you personally have tips to ensure a fantasterrifc trip with Fido? Share them with us in the comments below!

Article reprint courtesy of Animal Planet's The Daily Treat with Janet McCulley

Cat Man Doo Bonito Flakes: These fish flakes bring all the cats to the yard

Just say yes to kitty crack

Healthy and natural for cats, the Cat Man Doo Dried Bonito Flakes are truly one of the seven wonders of the world, in that the most finicky, self-righteous and holier-than-thou cats actually come running for this mystifying treat. Ecstatic friends and gushing customer reviews report that their cats who regularly eat next to nothing will do backflips for these Bonito Flakes, which are preservative-free and made from Bonito fish, including the common or Atlantic Bonito and the Pacific Bonito.

The magic ingredient

According to the manufacturer, Cat Man Doo Dried Bonito Flakes offer the one and only stay-fresh sealed container on the market, allowing their flakes to arrive so fresh and flavorful with the tenderness cats crave. The nutritional value is maintained as a result of their special packaging process and the benefits are passed down to our pets by way of retention of the natural fish oils which provide urinary tract health, reduced hair balls, and a silky coat.

Containing no additives, preservatives or by-products, Bonito Flakes are an all-natural treat for both cats and dogs and are an excellent source of protein and taurine.

Priced at $4.99, you can find the Cat Man Doo Dried Bonito Flakes at muttropolis.com

Reprint courtesy of The Daily Treat on Animalplanet.com with Janet McCulley

Phone it in with the Dog Whistler by Mobeezio

My dogs Zazou and Lulu Schmoo come when I call them for the most part, but occasionally they will sniff out something or someone that is much more interesting than me and totally ignore my requests to return to home base.  They merely need to sniff out a wild rabbit running through our yard (which they will never catch) or the scent of a discarded half eaten Big Mac off the side of the road and my whistles and claps are all but ignored.

Do You Hear What I Hear? Enter The Dog Whistler App

Does your dog also periodically ignore you and your commands? Do you have an iPhone? If so, you can now take better control of your pooch and possibly teach your dog new tricks with the Dog Whistler App by Mobeezio. A completely free download from the Apple iPhone App Store, and rated one of the Top Ten Free Applications, the easy to use App mimics the sound of a dog whistle as you press the whistle picture on your screen. With four different presets, the sound range is adjustable from 800HZ to 2200HZ, and you can even create your own preset whistles.

I tried the Dog Whistler out on a range of dogs in different locations and some responded immediately while others were less impressed and/or slower on the uptake. Two of my test subjects responded quite unexpectedly, leading to the discovery of an entirely new application for the Dog Whistler. You can download the Dog Whistler for free at the Apple iPhone App Store.

Have you tried the Dog Whistler on your dog? If so, share your own experience and comments below!

ps. A note on dog whistles
According to trainers who use dog whistles, a dog whistle is best used with varying sequences to train your dog. For example, one long burst can mean "come," while a series of short, staccato bursts might mean "sit." Keep your whistle commands consistent and your dog will always know what you expect of him or her. For more information on dog training and behavior tips and techniques, visit the Animal Planet Basic Training Dog Guide.

Watch the video and check out my research findings now!

Article and video reprint courtesy of The Daily Treat at Animalplanet.com