What is Advantage II?

What is Advantage II by Bayer?

Advantage II is the next generation of the original topical pest control as developed by Bayer.  This product is taking traditional Advantage flea and tick control to the next level.

The addition of the compound called Pyriproxyfen has added an extra dimension to the flea control offered by Advantage and K9Advantix.

What does Pyriproxyfen do?

Pyriproxyfen works to interrupt the growth of immature fleas, never allowing them to grow into the adult biting stage. 

Contributing to the safety of the improved Bayer products? This compound can only be effective on an insect level and has no effect on mammals.

The new Advantage and K9Advantix products work to paralyze the mouth parts of any adult fleas picked up by a treated pet as well as prevent any larvae and eggs laid by those fleas from maturing.  This feature makes this product effective in treating such common skin conditions like flea allergy dermatitis.  The flea never has to bite the animal, so the allergic reaction is never triggered.   

The Advantage II line by Bayer consists of safe and effective flea and tick control products for dogs and cats.

Look for complete lines of Advantage II popping up all over. Xfleas.com is offering these products as soon as they become available. Come and buy your safe, affordable flea control 

How NOT to feed your dog

How Not to Feed Your Dog.

The other day, I came across a discussion board and the topic up for discussion was “how do you feed your dog?”

As a technician in the veterinary practice for fourteen years, I have many clients ask me WHAT to feed their dog. We’ve discussed the benefits of premium food over the store brand.  I’ve debated with clients over the quality of the ingredients that go into the food and how that translates into lower medical care costs for your pet.  I’ve even argued the benefits of alternative protein sources and even vegan diets for the treatment of food allergies. 

 But…..HOW to feed your dog?  Now that’s a new one for me.  For most of my 40+ years here on this earth I have been feeding dogs once (or twice depending on the dog) a day.  I’ve handed over table scraps in between meals (against doctor’s orders) and given a million treats for jobs well done.  All of this time, I figured I was performing this most mundane of animal ownership tasks to the best of my ability.  Usually “Feed the Dogs” means, fill the cup with the nuggets and split it between the two dishes that are still laying on the floor from the meal before.

There are a variety of pet feeding supplies available, from automatic pet feeders, to personalized pet bowls to stainless steel. I bought a set of ceramic bowls at the dollar store a few months ago.  I even sprung for an extra set so that I could have one set on the floor at feeding time and the other in the dishwasher to be cleaned for the next meal.  Unfortunately, the extra set spends most of its time in the cupboard, forgotten, until I happen to see them there and change them out. It seemed like a good plan at the time, but the dogs don’t seem to mind re-using now and again.

Oh Yeah, their water bowl?  Actually, it’s a bucket.  Well, not just a bucket, but the empty bucket that the kitty litter comes in when we buy it from the warehouse store.  Don’t judge me, our dogs may be smart and the Worlds Greatest Dogs, but they still can’t read.  What they don’t know, won’t hurt them right?

So anyway…long story short (too late)…I come across this discussion board and the topic is, “How do you feed your dog?”  Most of the postings are on the benefits of plastic bowls, versus stainless steel, versus ceramic bowls….(by the way, ceramic seems to be the least popular). Then, out of nowhere, I read a post from a person who raises German Shepherds in the Midwest and she feeds her dogs by “Scatter” method…….

SCATTER?

Yes, I’m afraid that it is exactly as it sounds.  This “dog lover” throws six cups of food out on her patio when she gets home to “keep her dogs entertained” while she changes and decompresses from work. Hmmmmm….now call me a purist, BUT, I can’t help but picture in my mind, what feeding time is like for the lowest dog in that pecking order.  Waiting for all of the other dogs to get their fill and then scrounging through the leftover (and probably slobbery) nuggets to get a meal. 

I know that this is how wild dogs live.  They make a kill and then the strongest eat and leave the leftovers to the weaker dogs.  It’s the law of the wild. 

It seems just a little too undomesticated to me.  We took these dogs out of the wild and made them our pets. We teach them NOT to hunt by feeding them meals that we provide and serve at regular intervals.  We make ourselves the alpha in their lives. We care for them by vaccinating them against disease, grooming them and allow them to live in our houses.  In return, they serve us with unconditional love.  They protect, and comfort and entertain.

It seems like a small price to pay to give them a little dignity, a little comfort…food in a dish.  Even if it’s a cheap ceramic dish that cost a dollar….and hardly ever gets washed.

Why Choose a Midwest Crate for your Dog?

Anxiety is one of the main reasons that a dog will show unpleasant behavior in its owner’s absence.  One of the simplest ways to deal with this problem is to crate train your dog. 

                Crate training has long been touted as one of the most effective methods of raising a dog from puppyhood through its senior years.  Study after study has determined that dogs instinctually “den”.  If provided with a safe and comfortable place to go whenever they feel the need, most dogs gain the confidence to wait patiently for their owner to return home.

  Midwest is one of the companies that have improved on the initial design of the dog crate to make the experience more pleasant for both dog and human alike.  These crates are made from durable wire mesh with black electro coating which is attractive and easy to clean.  The kennels are available in a variety sizes to accommodate the tiniest to the largest of dogs.

                Midwest dog kennels have taken on a new spectrum of functionality.  These lines of crates are fully collapsible when not in use for easy storage.  These crates can have one, two, or three doors for easy access and allow the crate to be parked anywhere and still easily opened.  The kennel remains set-up for day to day use but when it needs to be stored away, it is unclipped, collapsed and stored under a bed or in a closet.  

                Finally, these crates are made to last for years without showing wear and tear.  An investment in a Midwest crate is one that most pet owners remain pleased with.

Wind, Earthquakes, and a place of refuge

After four years, I was finally going to breakdown the Midwest Dog Crate that has been a fixture in this house.  

During various stages of development, this crate has sat in the living room, my home office, and the master bedroom (which is where it now resides).  It has served as a training device for my two dogs throughout their puppyhood and a recovery room for one major surgery.  While it’s still in perfect condition and the orthopedic bed is in great condition, it’s still just that…a dog crate…and Not the most attractive piece of furniture in our house.

As millions of people do this time of year, I was looking at the interior of my house and making a project list of things to do to get ready for "HOLIDAYS 2010 " last weekend.  While brushing my teeth one morning, I caught a glimpse of the crate in the mirror and realized that I hadn’t seen a dog inside the thing in weeks.   

We finally have the Labrador retriever under enough self control to be able to hang out free in the house when we are gone. The two dogs have beds throughout the house to rest on during the day.  They spend most of the time while we are gone sharing one bed and staring out the front window, waiting.

Then it happened….we got our first genuine windstorm in a couple of years on Monday night.  It was a corker.  Rumor has it that winds were clocked at over 60 mph in our neck of the woods.  The huge trees around our house were swaying and peppering our roof with branches. 

As a believer that Gods Plan is absolute and unstoppable, I usually do my best to make my family comfortable during storms and don’t really get too nervous.  But…this was a bad one and at one point, I was fully ready to wake up two sleeping kids and EVACUATE.  (Luckily the wind died down while I was still formulating my plan).  

The next day, we awoke to a house covered with pine branches but mostly unhurt and THANKFULLY, our power had been restored.  Unfortunately, for our dogs, at about 7:50am, we experienced a small shallow earthquake.  I didn’t feel it…my kids didn’t feel it….BUT….The dogs did.

Later that day, I went up to the bedroom with some laundry and saw………

Obviously, that crate is still a place of safety for our CharlieGirl.  When the sky is falling, when the ground is shaking, she has a place to go where she feels safe. We should all be so lucky.

So….for now, we will remain the “highly stylish” people that we are and continue to share our bedroom with a (sometimes furry) wire dog crate.  It’s the least we can do for the dogs whom  give us comfort and joy and ask for nothing in return.

Incidentally....it seems that Lillian Rose...our rescue kitty...needed some safety herself!  

Stay safe everyone!

10 reasons why dogs are better than turtles.

My sister is a bit more eccentric than myself.  While I stick to sharing our house with dogs, cats and an occasional pocket pet, she prefers to fill her with a beautiful (loud) assortment of Birds, Rabbits and lately, yes.....Turtles.........that's right....Turtles.

So.....we here in Washington decided to list the top10 reasons why

DOGS ARE BETTER PETS THAN TURTLES......

1. Dogs have fur.....Turtles have shells....When a dog curls up next to you at night, they are warm, furry and cuddly.  When a turtle curls up to you at night......oh....nevermind that would never happen.
2. One word......FRISBEE.......Whats a turtle going to do with that?
3. Stay with me here...  Dogs require a yearly vet visit.  Yes, this costs money and its a hassle to get an appointment .  Then, when you arrive, you end up dragging your dog through the front door while he pulls back at you with all of his weight because he KNOWS its the Vets office and DOES NOT WANT THEM TOUCHING HIM. True......but there's an Up-side.....For a few moments, your famous in that vets office.  If the staff is worth their mustard, they are working to calm the poor tortured canine and complimenting you on the utter cuteness of your terrified pooch.  Does that happen with a turtle?  I think not.  They come in a box, look like a hubcap. 
4. When you scratch a dog under the chin, his tail wags......WHERE IS A TURTLE'S CHIN HALF THE TIME?
5. Two words....DOG PARK.....a turtle wouldn't last 5 minutes.
6. You can teach a dog to sit, stay and fetch.  According to Michael J. Firth,...you can teach your dog 100 words.  What can you teach a turtle?  Maybe, just maybe, after years of trying...you can get the little guy to take a piece of lettuce out of your hand.  WOO HOO
7. Turtles can not stick their tongues out like dogs can.  Think about it. No licking, No grooming, they don't slobber after slurping up a huge amount of water.......how boring.
8. Two more words....."Home Security".  Studies have shown that MOST would-be burglars are turned around by the sound of a dog barking.  Unfortunately, turtles have not developed their skills in this area and are still unable to replicate the sound of a 90 pound Rottweiler.  (As a side note - we might as well have had a turtle.  We think our dog not even invited the hoodlums in, but offered them refreshments:). 
9. The Reverse Sneeze - Anyone who has witnessed this phenomenon can tell you that its probably one of the funniest things their dog has ever done.  Its unclear whether it's the look of surprise on the dogs face when these little fits hit or the spontaneous eruption of gas from the back end that often accompanies them....but its definately comical.
10. Finally.....Fur.  Yes, we curse it, we wash it, we comb it, we hate rolling it off of our furniture every spring and fall.  It sticks to our black clothing.  It defines us as dog owners in that it ends up in our cars, on our purses, stuck to our jackets.  But.....when properly cared for, it's soft and warm and fuzzy and fun to pet.

Yeah Yeah Yeah...we used fur twice....but hey.....that's HUGE...take a look at your dog and imagine him naked..... Ewww....

Oh yeah...and if you need anything to take care of that fur....check us out www.Xfleas.com!

How to Crate Train your Dog?

At the vet hospital where I work, there has been a steady parade of puppies, kittens, and newly adopted older pets coming through for their first checkups and shots.  Our puppy/kitten package sales are through the roof!  (For anyone not in the know...this is a "pay one price" package that gets you all the vaccines, exams and dewormings for the first year of a new pets life...its a great deal if you need it.)

At the same time, in the past week, I have spoken to two pet owners who are looking for homes for their dogs.  They just can't handle the destruction their dog has caused or deal with other behavioral issues.

This touches a nerve with me...mainly because I've been there!  We had a Lab for 14 years that systematically worked to destroy our home and our possessions until the day she died.  Coming home from a day of work was always an adventure.  Which floor would be chewed?.....which photo album destroyed?....which pair of shoes obliterated?  We spent one entire weekend building an outdoor pen for her safekeeping.  Only to watch her scale the fence within minutes.  The fifth of July was always a foreboding date for us.   Traditionally, we would spend that day cleaning up the diarrhea and vomit left behind by our poor dog tortured by the booming fireworks.

Still....the day she died, remains one of the saddest days of my life.  For all her faults....she tried to be a good dog....she just didn't have the confidence to be left alone or the self control to stick to her many training courses.

So.....I set out last night to write an entry on HOW TO CRATE TRAIN YOUR DOG!  I decided that I would start with some research to see if any of the ideas on crate training had changed since we trained our two year old Lab...Charlie.  What I found was one of the best resources that I have ever seen. It comes from The Humane Society of the United States and believe me, they know the drill!  This is one of the most exhaustive explanations I have ever read about crate training; why and how we do it and the positive results of the experience.  They map out the four main steps in crate training and also tell how to deal with problems that may occur along the way.

We learned our lesson the hard way....we raised two dogs to an elderly age without a crate. Yes...It can be done successfully..and we probably saved a couple hundred dollars in crates along the way.  But...we ate a ton of dinners in the parking lot of fast food restaurants because we knew that when we went home, there would be a mess to clean up.  We replaced flooring and carpet.  We lost cherished family mementos.  We even dealt with the local ASPCA a few times after they had retrieved a freaked and fleeing dog.  So yes...when we began the next dog generation in our house...we crate trained both of them.

Our three year old Aussie....is now free to roam the house when we're gone....we don't worry about damage or that she is on the furniture.  She trained in the crate and has the confidence and self control to wait patiently for our return.  Our two year old lab?  Still can't be trusted outside of her crate when her family is gone.  She loves her crate....hangs out in it while we're home and at night...voluntarily.  Finally, she usually crates herself 10 minutes or so before we leave the house for the day.  I swear she would pull the door shut behind her if she had thumbs!

So...if you are interested in a crate...or just want to know more about the different kinds available etc....go ahead and visit my website at Xfleas.com

And please remember.....Genesis 1:28  God blessed them and said to them "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.  Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." ....You are the boss!

Dr. Becker....I love your advice...but are you kidding?

Recently, I saw this post from one of the animal care blogs that I follow ......It was a clip that Dr.Oz had on his show.  Without further introduction, I'll ask you to click on the picture and view the piece....

Is your cuddly one causing chaos in your home? Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker joins Dr. Oz to offer up some expert advice on common pet-owner complaints...

A Balloon?

Dr. Becker.....a Balloon?


(OK, now here's where those of you who tried to skip the video need to GO BACK and review the clip:)

Even Dr. Oz didn't know what to say!

These are two well educated men that I hold in very high esteem so I don't want to be disrespectful here, but let me just ask...

How many balloons...exactly, would it take to pick up the fur left behind by my 65 pound labrador retreiver?

How about my cat...she's quite a bit smaller.....should I use one of the smaller water balloons?  
 
A balloon........hmmmmmm


We were living with that very same "embarrassing" problem of a shedding pet.  Vacuuming and bathing and brushing.  Finally...we bought a Furminator.  For those of you who haven't heard of the Furminator and have a short haired shedding dog.....your missing out. Why did we FINALLY try it?  I'll tell you, I had one of my favorite sales reps in my office a couple of weeks ago and he GUARANTEED it.  He said, "Try it...if you don't like it, we'll buy it back."  So..because I love to give this guy a hard time.....of course, I got it to prove him wrong....

In two days....we brushed enough fur off that dog to create an ENTIRELY NEW DOG....(just kidding...but we could have made a fur coat for a small child:) 

To be fair.....It didn't work as well on the Australian Shepherd.  She has more "hair" than "fur" and for her...I'll probably stick to our old method of collecting her fur on our couch and picking it up with our black pants and good church clothes. Or maybe a balloon if we have one around. 


So....there you go....my pet care advice for today....take a cue from one of the most popular vets out there and grab a bag of balloons and buy a Furminator!


PS....Dr. Becker and Dr. Oz....On the off chance that you happen upon my blog....I love you guys!