The Muttropolis Blog

Cool Your Canines: Top Tips to Beat the Summer Heat

Maximize Canine Chillaxation

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 jailtime, 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, cooling vests and cooling collars 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. 

 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 special dog-friendly 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 in the event of heat exhaustion: 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!

[VIDEO] Owl + Pussycat Are True BFF's

Hoot Love: Animal Odd Couple Fum & Gebra Really Do Dance By The Light of the Moon

Have you seen the amazing friendship between this animal odd couple? Hailing from Tarragona Spain, Fum (a black cat) and Gebra (a barn owl) have been together since they were one year old. According to their handler, they truly like each other and enjoy hanging out until they are bored of each other - just like normal couples.

Watch this amazing video where Fum (which means Smoke in Catalan) and Gebra (which means Frost) play together in a field and interact like old pals. I must say that I was a bit of a skeptic about the legitimacy of this video, but my research seems to indicate that they are legitimately buddies!

What do you think? Watch the video below and weigh in >

Click here for another Animal Odd Couple>: Lean on Me: Blind Boxer Befriends Seeing Eye Goose

-Janet McCulley

Lean on Me: Seeing-Eye-Goose Adopts Blind Dog

Take a gander at this animal odd couple!

A blind Boxer named Baks has gotten a whole new lease on life thanks to a good samaritan goose named Buttons. Yes, you read that right. This is not a joke. 

Baks has been adopted and taken under the 'wing' of Buttons, a four-year-old goose who now leads her vision-impaired pal around everywhere either by hanging onto him with her neck, or by honking to tell him which way to go. How hilarious is that?!

Owner Renata Kursa of Lublin, Poland, was heartbroken when poor lil' Bak was left blind after an accident last year. But gradually Buttons got him up on his feet and starting walking him around. They're inseparable now - they even chase the postman together,' Kursa tells the Telegraph UK. 

Go Buttons! What's good for the goose is also apparently good for...the...boxer.

-Janet McCulley

 

Helping Animals in the Wake of Recent Tornadoes + Floods

The Humane Society of the United States Animal Rescue Team has been on the ground for more than a week helping pets and other animals affected by devastating tornadoes and flooding in the South and Midwest. While the search for human survivors in the rubble ended already, more than 350 dogs, cats, birds, snakes, lizards and even a tarantula already have been found in the shattered neighborhoods around Tuscaloosa, and the local animal shelter is so full it had to erect tents for additional space.

The HSUS teams are rescuing cats and dogs from devastated neighborhoods, giving out pet food and supplies to residents, and helping to reunite pets with their families.  They're also operating emergency shelters in Missouri and Mississippi to care for hundreds of animals.  As you can see firsthand in the disaster relief video compiled by the HSUS, many animals are still roaming through the wreckage, but they are understandably frightened and disoriented after the disaster. HSUS is making efforts to set traps in locations where high numbers of cats have been seen and where residents have lost their pets. 

Setting up temporary shelters, distributing donated pet food and reuniting pets with their families or finding new homes for pets is the order of the day with the Humane Society of the United States and we thank them for all their tireless, beautiful work!

How To Help These Animals in Crisis

To donate supplies or funds to assist in these rescue efforts or learn how to volunteer, click here or visit the Humane Society of the United States to learn about all the amazing ways they advocate for animals across the nation.

Source: A Humane Nation: Wayne Pacelle's Blog  

 

 

Adorable Beagle Plays Catch With Paws!

Forget Fetch...This Beagle Plays Catch!

Most fairly coordinated dogs can catch balls in their mouth, but just how many dogs can catch with their paws? Check out the remarkable eye-paw coordination of this darling Beagle pup who, after a few tries, masters the art of "catch" - and looks darn proud of herself I might add.

Adding to the adoro-factor is the off camera pitcher who hoots in celebration after each successful catch. If this doesn't put a smile on your face today, I simply don't know what will!

Thanks to Baby Praying Mantis for turning us on to this one!

Is Calling Your Pet "Pet" Derogatory? Experts Say Yes

Old Skool: "May I pet your pet?"

New Skool: "May I caress your companion animal?"  

According to the Journal of Animal Ethics, we have been unknowingly been insulting our beloved pets on a regular basis. A recent study compiled by university professors from America and Great Britain states that "pets" is downright derogatory and not an acceptable moniker for domesticated animals. They assert that "pets"  should instead by replaced with the term "companion animals"...which I whole heartedly agree with! 

Similarly, their findings maintain that words such as "owner," are also offensive, recommending instead that we be known as "human carers." (I personally would prefer "Lulu's mom" over "Lulu's human carer.") While technically correct in law, "pet owner" does kind of hark back to a previous age when animals were regarded as property. These academics believe that changing our vocabulary to companion or "parent" is essential to updating our understanding of the relationship between humans and the natural world. 

I have to say - I agree with their recommendations! What do you think? Will changing the way people refer to animals and pets help change the way they are treated?

source: Janet McCulley, The Daily Treat

I Lean: Seeing-Eye-Goose Befriends Blind Dog

Take a gander at this animal odd couple!

A blind Boxer named Baks has gotten a whole new lease on life thanks to a good samaritan goose named Buttons. Yes, you read that right. This is not a joke. 

Baks has been taken under the 'wing' of Buttons, a four-year-old goose who now leads her vision-impaired pal around everywhere either by hanging onto him with her neck, or by honking to tell him which way to go. How hilarious is that?!

Owner Renata Kursa of Lublin, Poland, was heartbroken when poor lil' Bak was left blind after an accident last year. But gradually Buttons got him up on his feet and starting walking him around. They're inseparable now - they even chase the postman together,' Kursa tells the Telegraph UK. 

Go Buttons! What's good for the goose is also apparently good for...the...boxer.

-Janet McCulley

 

What We're Loving: 'Throw the Damn Ball' Dog Tees

A Spring Must Have for the Ball Hound

There's no shortage of goofy attitude dog tee shirts and dog sweatshirts floating around in the marketplace, but this particular dog tee from Muttropolis caught my eye as it truly expresses the sentiments of annoyed dogs all across the globe ....wouldn't you agree?

Finally, a tee that allows your ball hound to express their true sentiments as you annoyingly jerk the ball to and fro for your entertainment, and they patiently await for you to throw the damn thing.

Made in the USA with 95% cotton and 5% spandex. Starting at $15, find it at Muttropolis.com

Meet Chaser - The Smartest Dog in the World

Think your dog is the smartest pup on the block? Think again!

The new reigning smarty-pants pooch, Chaser, a border collie, possesses the largest human vocabulary of any dog! Chaser, who is a female dog - naturally -  can recognize the names of more than 1,022 objects. According to a report by the New Scientist, Chaser can categorize the various objects based on function and shape as well as understand the basic concepts behind nouns and verbs! Impressive!

The last record holder, another border collie named Rico, knew 200 human words - still impressive, but Chaser's vocabulary is off the charts, putting her on intellectual par with three-year-old human children (and..um... some adult males we know ;).

As part of a three year training course at Wofford College, taught by psychologists Alliston Reid and John Pilley. Chaser was introduced to the names of 1,022 toys. Over the three years, Reid and Pilley taught the collie the names of 1022 toys by introducing them to her one by one, getting her to fetch the toy and then repeating the name to reinforce the association. They say there's no limit to what the dog can learn! Watch the video below and watch the amazing Chaser in action! (via Discovery News).

 

 

 

Animal Odd Couple: Curious Cat Plays with Dolphin!

We've seen curious cats play with their food, moths, iPads and even Crocodiles ...but a dolphin?! Srsly?

Check out one of the most improbable - and adorable - animal pairings you've ever seen! The folks on a tour boat certainly got a shock when their cat, Thunder, started making friends with a couple of gregarious dolphins. These unlikely friends are clearly smitten with each other - but what do you think is really happening here? Is the cat indeed nuzzling and "marking" the dolphin as some have theorized, or is it simply a case of opposites attracting? 

Either way - enjoy this darling interspecies connection!

source