I have made mention of the different supplements I use to keep my little Louis Reginald in top form. PetFlora is one I mentioned in an earlier post and it truly has been a lifesaver. It works to sooth the GI tract an aid for diarrhea caused by stress or improper nutrition, helps your dog’s immune system stay at maximum strength. Bacteria and intestinal micro-flora are required to keep up your pup’s good health. The aforementioned microorganisms assist in fighting infection, aiding digestion, processing waste.

PetFlora is made up of soil based organisms (SBOs) that our dog’s wild ancestors would have gotten from eating organic grass and soil to replenish the micro-flora that our dogs require. Now, with fertilizers and other chemicals prevalent in the grass our dogs frequent, it is up to us to supply our dogs with SBOs. PetFlora can be used regularly as a supplement or in times of need when your pet is under duress, experiencing stomach upset or to offset the negative side affects that our dogs encounter when veterinarians prescribe use of antibiotics. I am using this product as a regular supplement as I believe in promoting natural health and preventing problems rather then waiting for emergency situations to arise.Please click here to read Vitality Science’s study on the benefits of Pet Flora for your dog or cat’s digestion.

Visit Vitality Science’s website to learn more or purchase their products!

Also available at Louis’ favorite store in Miami!

The DogBar, Inc.

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Since my last post on poo, things only got worse. The diarrhea was consistent and Louis’ discomfort was only growing. There are those that would disputer my decision not to take him to the veterinarian, but he is free of worms and parasites and I couldn’t bear the thought of putting the little guy on another course of antibiotics. According to Petstyle.com, industry statistics show that diarrhea is the number 3 reason people take their pets to the vet.

At the vet’s office, antibiotics are usually the prescribed course of action. This kills both the good and bad bacteria in the pet’s system and if there is a long term, chronic issue, antibiotics provide only a short reprieve from the discomfort of diarrhea and expose your pet to unnecessary side effects. In previous Poop Chronicles posts, I have made a major discussion of the importance of a high quality diet.

Over the past two weeks, there have been major changes in Louis’ diet, and dare I say, a solution has been found to his ongoing digestive disorders. My Dog Bar guru consulted with me, I explained Louis’ predicament and we discussed his digestive patterns, what food and supplements I was giving him and in what quantities. While many dogs easily digest high protein, all natural dog food without issue, it was suggested to me to try another approach on the healthful high protein theme. Since things seemed they couldn’t get any worse for Louis, we quickly switched Louis to a raw diet, made by Nature’s Variety.

Immediately, we saw a positive difference. His stools are firm, regular and best of all he is comfortable. He is experiencing some mild detox symptoms in that his ears are producing a bit more secretion (our ear hygiene routine, discussed in my post, The Better to Hear you With, keeps this from becoming problematic) and his coat is shedding a bit more intensively then normal. I recognize that over the next few weeks this detoxification process will resolve itself and we will experience the full benefits that raw feeding has to offer.

Detoxification often happens when making this switch as the dog is ridding itself from toxins and as he adjusts to properly in-taking nutrients. The length and severity of the detox depends on the general health of the dog.Over the past week, Louis’ stomach issues (including the lethally stinky gas he was sharing with us) have resolved, his eyes are brighter, his coat is softer and shiner then ever and the detox symptoms are slowing.

In addition to the Pet Flora we were already using, we added a Prozyme supplement to improve Louis’ nutrient absorption. As you can probably tell, we are gradually moving toward a natural, holistic way of caring for our puppy and I can only say that the results are so impressive, I am making changes in my own life and personal care to mimic the health I see in Louis.

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Another great article via the New York Times. This piece discusses having your dog at work with you. After reading this, a little web-research led me to find out about Pet Sitters International’s annual Take Your Dog to Work Day. Started in 1999, the objective of the day is to showcase the bond between humans and dogs, thereby increasing the amount of pet shelter adoptions and decreasing the number of pets that are euthanized. How canine-thropic!

I love having Louis at work with me. When he was four months old, he accompanied me to my office in Chicago. He spent the bulk of the day asleep on my lap and the rest of the time being passed around the office for cuddles. Research has shown that pets are great stress relievers and people who own dogs generally get more exercise and are more positive then their canine deprived counterparts. I know I am equally, if not more productive as a result of having my dog around.

On the days I have Louis with me, I am not thinking about rushing home to take him out and spend time with him. Recently, at eight months old, Louis started accompanying me to the gallery I have been assisting at. Again, he spends the bulk of his day asleep on my lap and the rest of the time quietly sniffing the artworks. When bringing my dog to work, I always try to be extremely aware of canine etiquette. Planning is the key. I always get permission first and make sure no one is deathly allergic. I make sure to give Louis a good, long walk before heading to the job. This way, he is tired and relaxed. Who can resist an adorable sleeping puppy?

If there are other dogs at the office, its probably a good idea to make sure they get along before committing to a full days work together. I make sure I have cleaning supplies in case of an accident and toys and chews to keep Louis occupied.

My friends at The Dog Bar recommend using a Bandiboo (shown on the cute Yorkie) for male pups to keep male dogs from marking their territory, which they often do in a new space.

With the right planning, socialization and training, having dogs at work is fantastic, reducing stress, improving morale and decreasing absenteeism.

Without planning, your dog will be viewed as a nuisance and won’t be welcome back. Click here for a ‘dogs at work’ checklist to ensure your dog becomes a welcome member of the office.

Image via Haute Diggety Dog, available for purchase at www.trixieandpeanut.com.

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China and the United States signed an agreement on Tuesday expanding the United State’s roll in certifying and inspecting food products. The agreement does not cover all food items that the US sought to have included, but pet food ingredients are included and the list may be expanded at a later time. (Read the New York Times coverage on this here and here.)This information is meant to make consumers feel safer in purchasing products made with ingredients (like the tainted wheat-gluten) produced overseas.

Should we really be reverting to blind faith in the pet food industry in light of these new agreements? Keep in mind, those ‘premium’ brands we all feel so good about buying were on the same lists as the less expensive, generic ones. Hasn’t the pet food recall over the past year brought to light the concept that even if commercially prepared pet food is good enough, how can we allow ‘good enough’ to be acceptable for our four legged family members?

Image via Haute Diggety Dog, available for purchase at www.trixieandpeanut.com.

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The canine ear is a remarkable part of its remarkable anatomy. I learned a lot about it after practically having a standing appointment at the vet’s office to deal with Louis’ ear infections.

According to Monika Wegler’s book, Dogs: How to Take Care of Them and Understand Them, “Dogs hear high tones in particular much better than humans do. Humans can pick up an average of 20,000 acoustic vibrations per second (kHz), whereas a dog is able to perceive between 40,000 and 100,000 vibrations.”

I don’t understand much of this hullabaloo about acoustic vibrations and frequencies, but I can garner that this information means dogs hear a lot better then we do. So on a side note, if you need to yell at your dog in order for him to pay attention, you should probably work on your relationship. He can hear you when you whisper - you don’t need to yell. Think about that…

In addition to hearing better then us, their ears are anatomically different then our. Our ears each have a mere one compartment, theirs have two! The following description comes from Dr. Dennis W. Thomas’s article An Ear Full of Auditory Advice (which you can read in its entirety by clicking here).

Beginning at the opening of the ear canal, the vertical canal travels downward towards the dog’s jaw. Then it makes a 45 degree turn and travels horizontally towards the ear drum. This makes visualization and treatment of the entire canal more difficult. Also, as a rule, most breeds have a much longer ear canal than humans. These differences predispose the dog’s ear to infection as well as make treatment more difficult.

Apparently, breeds with pendulous ears, like my little monster, are far more suceptible to ear infections then those breeds with upright ears. This is mostly because those adorable floppy ears act like trap doors for moisture, yeast and other culprits. But before we all run out and crop our dogs ears, problems can happen to any dog (for instance you wrinkly dog lovers should know that your dog’s ear canals are probably wrinkly as well and for those beasts with super hairy ears, beware!) There are a zillion culprits that can affect your dog’s ears. These issues can stem from foreign objects, yeast, mites, oil secretion differences, dermatological issues, allergies - the list goes on and on.

A good habit to get into is a routine ear hygiene regimen. I know what you are thinking - feeding, walking, trips to the vet, baths, playtime, etc. With all the care these guys require it should be a full time paying job to care for them. The fact is, when we take it upon ourselves to add any members to our household, it is our duty to give them the best care we can. Espcially for our family members who cannot speak up for their needs, we must be diligent in the care we take of them.

This does not mean waiting until there is a problem and running Spot to the vet. Ear cleaning takes all of a minute, once your dog gets used to it, and it can be a nice relaxing and bonding experience. Additionally, even with Louis’ floppy ears, cleaning two times a week, after baths and if its raining out is sufficient. Thats about 5 minutes a week, in total. Another benefit of ear cleaning is that you become familiar with your dog’s ear anatomy and what is normal for him as far as color, temperature, texture, etc. You will be aware of any changes and can act before serious issues arise.

Louis chronic ear infections started after the move to Miami, as the heat and humidity created a literal breeding ground in his floppy ears. Our previous vet attempted to treat him, unsuccessfully and recommended an ear cleaner sold in her office. The treatment dried out his ears, but what made the situation worse was the cleaner. His skin redder then ever and was literally peeling off from his ears, inside and outside. Upon closer inspection, I found the cleaner was made from over 50% rubbing alcohol. On a superficial note, the cucumber melon scent was awful and the product made his hair all greasy. I am not a vet, all of the information I have is from reading books on dogs, canine anatomy, the internet and from speaking to a doctor I trust. The rest is common sense. I would never apply anything with 50% alcohol to my own body, so I certainly wouldn’t want to do that to Louis.

I decided to try something else. I found Halo’s Natural Herbal Ear Wash for the first time at Whole Foods. As things couldn’t get much worse, I decided to give it a go.

According to Halo’s website:

• A full strength blend of herbs in a base of witch hazel
• Can be used for any problem ear condition, heals any kind of infection or abrasion
• Works on contact, is very gentle and is never greasy

Description: The most effective ear solution available today is great for ANY problem ear condition. This soothing blend of herbal extracts (in a witch hazel base)gently eliminates ear wax, odors, prevents infections, heals abrasions, and promotes healthy new cell formation. Natural Herbal Ear Wash is never greasy and always easy to use. Enjoyed by pets and pet lovers everywhere.

My review - it smells nice and fresh, doesn’t affect the texture of his fur and leaves his ears fresh and soothed. I can tell he enjoys cleaning time. The one caveat: be sure to buy a baby nasal aspirator with a bulb for application. The bottle reccomends ‘pouring 1/2 to a capful’ in the ear. You will get the product all over yourself and your dog’s face. This doesn’t work. The aspirator makes things simple. Be sure to give your dog a nice ear massage to work the product into the canal and relax him. You’ll hear it kind of sloshing around in there if you have done it right. Keep your aspirator clean. Louis has not had an ear infection in over three months and any time I notice redness or odor, I use this product and we are in the clear. If you are interested, there are some sites on the internet that list recipes you can make yourself that are similar to Halo’s product, but I admit that I am searching for a little convenience in the sea of care I give to Louis.Call your vet if you think there is anything wrong with your dog and don’t forget to clean his ears.Visit www.halopets.com for more great holistic pet products.

Available at select Whole Foods locations. Visit www.wholefoodsmarket.com to find the closest location to you.

Also available at Louis’ favorite store in Miami!

The DogBar, Inc.

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I mentioned Louis’ plethora of Hanukah gifts in an earlier post - a new collar and leash he received are worth raving about. We needed to get him something a little more ‘Miami’ to fit in with his new surroundings. The basic black nylon worked in Chicago, but Miami is a whole different scene in terms of fashion.

Purchased (of course) at The Dog Bar in Miami Beach, the collar and leash are made by a new company based out of San Fransico called Blueblood. Founded by two close friends, one with a background in the arts and antiques business and the other with a background in finance, Blueblood was founded with a fashion meets function philosophy for the puppy parent with discerning taste. The company makes collars, leads and beds in a variety of collars, patterns and materials. Currently, there are three collections, inspired by and named for coastal United States towns; Pacific Heights, Central Park, and Montecito.

Louis received the his collar and leash from the Montecito collection. The Gretel is made of regal faux white ostrich skin (it really looks like the real thing) and has contrasting chocolate brown fabric on the reverse. The hardware is made of nickel and is rust resistant. The Collar snaps together with a chunky, chic nickel buckle. The dog tag snap is removable so if your pup is lucky enough to have a wardrobe of collars, ID transfer is made simple.

After being soaked in this morning’s rainstorm, I was a bit concerned about the collar and lead maintaining the look they came with. They have both dried out and look as good as when we bought them and so far, the nickel truly is rust resistant! Louis looks totally Miami-luxe in his all white get-up, all in all - a fine upgrade!

Images via Blueblood’s wonderful website, www.bluebloodpups.com

Available at Louis favorite store in Miami!

The Dog Bar, Inc.

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Louis’ first Hanukah was filled with treats and presents, so over the next few days, I will share our experience, since some have been more successful then others. Louis’ grandparents were kind and generous enough to set Louis up with his own bed at their house and a second set of dishes so that he can pack a lot lighter for our weekends with them. In addition, knowing how much their grandpup loves his baths, they gifted Louis with a special dog towel.

The Aquis-Britanne Doggie Dryer® boasts itself to be “Your 2nd Best Friend®.” The claim is that the towel is made of a microfiber material that draws water from his coat quickly, reducing drying time. For Louis, that means less time under the dreader hair-dryer.During our morning walk, about a mile and a half from home, the bright sky suddenly opened up into torrential rain. This was Louis’ first time experiencing this side of nature. We waded home through puddles while the heavy rain soaked us. Less then thrilled, Louis kept attempting to shake the water off and his obvious confusion only compounded when a pickup truck rolled by on the street, sending up a spray of dirty rainwater that aimed itself directly at us.As we arrived at home, I figured it was as good a time as any for a bath and to test out he towel. Louis got the extra-large size, in spite of his diminutive stature. Thank goodness! The extra-large is perfect for swaddling my ten pound bundle of joy. On a bigger dog, I imagine it is better used for more vigorous toweling action as opposed to wrapping him up. The Doggie Dryer does not have as thick of a pile as a regular towel, so I was skeptical of its water sucking power. The company claims their unique fabric dries hair 5 times faster then a regular towel. I’ll take their word for it.Right away, you’ll notice it gets soaked through quicker then a regular towel and I did not notice Louis drying any faster (in truth, Louis’ grandma’s expensive towels from Schweizter in New York did a better job, but until I can afford that kind of price tag, we will make do).

Regardless, it got the job done and its great that Louis now has his very own bright red towel. It’s a cute product and Louis enjoyed a rousing game of tug-of-war with it, in addition to being dried by it.You can purchase your own Doggie Dryer at www.amazon.com.

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My sincere apologies for the lack of posts over the past couple of days.Besides being a dedicated dog mommy and canine aficiando, my other life includes working in the arts. Art Basel Miami Beach came and went. The long days were tough on the two and four legged members of our household. He has forgiven me for last week’s negligence and I have attempted to make it up to him with long romps in the park, lengthy walks to the beach and plenty of playtime.

We have mostly recovered and Louis has started accompanying me to work at a fantastic Miami gallery. He spends his days sleeping on my lap under the desk as I toil away at the computer. As he is slightly too big for lap sleeping, it is a delicate balance of positioning and making adjustments to keep him steady while allowing me to type.

Regardless, I am back and ready to blog. Caninity has started to get comments and the stats show increased amounts of readers, so I would like to extend my appreciation to each and every one of you.

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This has been a poopy week so far - hence the second post on this stinky topic. Not a bad couple days, just literally filled with dog crap. Louis has an exceptionally sensitive stomach. I know dogs have sensitive digestive systems and Lou is not my first pup, so I can confidently say that this dog consistently gets diarrhea with even the slightest upset to his schedule.

After a three month hiatus, I rejoined the world of the working yesterday and it was Louis and my first full day apart in some time. It was enough to throw everything out of whack resulting in some serious carpet stains. Smart to be a renter while Louis is working on being house trained. Anyway, we clearly have some work to do as far as separation anxiety, but that’s another topic for another day.

At the fantastic Dog Bar, mentioned in a previous post it was recommended that we try Pet-Flora. Since using this supplement, we have really been able to relieve Louis’ digestive issues. Its not yet perfect, but as I said, this is partly behavioral rather then a dietary issue.We have struggled with dietary issues since getting Louis. He was on a breeder and veterinarian recommended diet of a premium commercially prepared dog food when we received him from the breeder. I am not informed enough to know what exactly disagreed with Louis from this food, suffice to say, the first four months of his life with us we were constantly struggling with diarrhea and dry flaky skin around his neck. He was really uncomfortable from the diarrhea and quite itchy. I was uncomfortable with each vet we saw suggesting antibiotics as a solution to his stomach issues.

I started to do some research on my own and spoke to a holistic vet, breeders and read some books on the subject. After much consideration, we switched Louis’ food to Nature’s Variety Chicken Meal Formula which is a prepared food that mimics a raw food diet. We added a few drops of Cod Liver oil to his dinner and a bi-weekly dose of the afore-mentioned Pet-Flora pro-biotic.In spite of the past two days, Louis really has improved radically. His previously flaky, itchy neck is completely normal, his coat has never been shinier and he has even more energy then before. This food has an exceptionally high protein content, so it is extremely important not to overfeed your pet. In addition, this brand was unaffected by the pet food recalls, is produced in the United States using only human grade ingredients. I cannot emphasize enough that if we are going to feed our pets prepared food, we must be conscious of supporting companies that are producing human grade products that fulfill our pet’s nutritional needs above and beyond the basic standards implemented by the Association of American Feed Controls, Inc. More on that later….Wishing everyone a Happy Chanukah and easy digestion!!All products mentioned in this post are available for purchase at The Dog Bar.

Available at Louis favorite store in Miami!

The DogBar, Inc.

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Dog poo is a hot topic - no pun intended. It is something every dog owner is forced to deal with and non-dog owners are forced to contend with the issue when less then responsible owners don’t clean up after their pets.In the last week alone, I have been alerted to new laws being drafted in regions as far reaching as South Africa and Moscow. These laws would dictate that owners will incur heavy fines for not picking up after their dogs. These laws are also in existence in cities all over the United States. In Miami, where Louis and I are proud to reside, the fine is $50 for the first offense and $200 for each additional offense per calendar year. Please pick up after your pets. Its just good manners.

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