Archive for the ‘Pets’ Category

Will you be packing a bag for your pet for this year’s family vacation? If so, the checklist for your perfect accommodations just added another box: is the hotel pet friendly?

While a hotel’s website may indicate who’s welcome, call and talk to someone directly before booking to know exactly how welcome your pet will be. Here are some questions you may want to ask when deciding if a hotel is right for every member of your family.

Photography: The McClouds

What types of animals are welcomed?
Some places may welcome only dogs, while others may roll out the welcome mat for far more members of the animal kingdom. Hotels may also have restrictions based on the size and age of an animal.

Will we be charged extra for our room?
You may be charged anything from a small fee to help cover cleaning costs to a refundable damage deposit to a nonrefundable deposit. TIP: If your pet is used to being allowed on the furniture at home, pack a sheet to cover the beds and chairs to keep the room a little cleaner – and less furry.

What rooms are available to pet-toting families?
You don’t want to be saddled with an older room with torn curtains and carpet peeling from the floor, or if you’re a non-smoker, a room that’s usually reserved for smokers. And think about asking for a room on the ground level. Much easier to get in and out for those early morning walks and late evening bathroom breaks.

Let me grab a catnap before seeing the sights (photography: Eugene0126jp).

What's the area around the hotel like?
While a selection of restaurants and a mini putt nearby are lovely, if you’ve brought along your dog, you’ll need somewhere to walk him. Is the hotel in the middle of a busy city street, or is it a little off the beaten path with a park and other green spaces just a few minutes away?

Does the hotel provide any pet amenities?
You can save baggage space if you don’t have to pack food and water bowls. But you may want to bring along some comforts from home. The transition to a new place – even a temporary one – may be easier (not to mention less stressful) on your pet if he has his own toys and blanket.

Can I leave my pet alone in the room?
This is a firm no at some places, even if your pet is crated, due to concerns over barking, scratching and other disruptions to fellow guests (and the worry of what may come of the room). At places where the answer is yes, be sure to leave your pet in his crate (for the safety of cleaners or other hotel staff who may enter). You may even want to hang the Do Not Disturb sign on the door.

Are there extra services available for pets?
At places where your pet must be supervised at all times, a pet-sitting service would allow the family to check out local attractions without one person always staying behind.

Is my pet permitted to roam the grounds?
Taking a dip in the pool is probably a no-no, but what about other common areas?

Do I need to bring my pet’s vet papers?
Some hotels may ask you to bring your pet’s paperwork and proof of shots, as well as his ID (collar, tag, etc.).

Do your family vacation plans include your pet?

We know our pets keep us healthy (daily walks with the dog get us off the couch, and snuggling up with your pet can be a great stress-reliever) but did you know your pet has the potential to literally save your life? Earlier this week I attended Purina's annual Animal Hall of Fame ceremony in Toronto, where I listened in on four incredible stories that show how loyal, hard-working and tuned in our pets can be.

Here are their incredible stories:

Nanook, St. Catherines, ON

(CNW Group/Purina Animal Hall of Fame)

Siberian Husky cross, Nanook, was just a puppy when she woke owner Coleen as she neared a heart attack during the middle of the night. While Coleen and husband Gord tried to sleep, Nanook circled the bed, howled, barked and licked their faces. When she awoke, nurse Coleen noticed pain in her arm, and began to feel pressure in her chest, quickly realizing she was having a heart attack. Gord called an ambulance and by 11a.m. that morning, Coleen had been through surgery to place three stents in her heart.

Monty, Camrose, AB

(CNW Group/Purina Animal Hall of Fame)

Last March, in the middle of the night, orange tabby Monty acted unusually. Owner Patricia Peters woke up to her cat biting her fingers, and when she got up to put Monty on the floor she suddenly felt very dizzy. Newly-diagnosed with diabetes, Patricia slowly made her way into the kitchen to check her blood sugar, with Monty leading the way down the hall. When the pair got to the kitchen, Monty leaped to the counter and sat beside her blood testing kit. Seeing her blood sugar at a dangerously low level, Patricia took sugar tablets, then waited 15 minutes to re-test her blood. Monty sat with Patricia as she waited and when she re-tested her blood, it was back to normal. Patricia and her doctor credit Monty with saving her from slipping into a diabetic coma as she slept.

Bree, Blissfield, NB

(CNW Group/Purina Animal Hall of Fame)

Sleep never seemed to come easy to two-year-old dachshund, Bree. Owner Michele said she remembers waking up often to Bree's little snout in her face, or to Bree licking her face in the middle of the night. Last September, Michele woke to Bree sitting on her chest who also frantically forced her snout in to Michele's mouth. At that moment, Michele realized she was having a very hard time breathing and felt like she was drowning. Her husband called an ambulance, and when it arrived Michele was put on oxygen, and discovered her blood pressure was dangerously high. At the hospital, Michele learned she had severe sleep apnea, and that every night, little Bree had been waking her up to help her resume breathing again.

Service Dog of the Year: Titan, Oakville, ON

(CNW Group/Purina Animal Hall of Fame)

One stormy night last year, a woman called 9-1-1 and told the operator she had just gone to a wooded area, purposefully overdosed on medication with the intention to end her life. While the operator spoke to her on the phone, and tracked her general location, Constable Tara McLorn and Police Service Dog Titan raced to the woods in attempt to reach the woman before it was too late. Through high winds and torrential rainfall, Titan worked quickly to find the woman's clothes at the side of a river bank. With a stronger scent to track, Titan led Constable McLorn and her team to the woman, and they were able to help her from the water, just as the effects of the drugs began to take their course. The woman was rushed to the hospital and was saved from the overdose and treated for hypothermia. Tara credits Titan's fast action and direction with saving the woman's life that night.

Each of these animals are now recognized as one of Canada's most heroic pets, have their photo and story added to the Walk of Fame, located at Pawsway in Toronto.

In 1968 Purina began recognizing the life-saving heroics of Canadian pets, and this year added dogs Nanook, Bree and Titan, along with orange cat Monty. So far, 128 dogs, 26 cats and one horse have been inducted into the Purina Animal Hall of Fame.

Tell us: What does your pet do to make you feel better? My dog Bink is so enthusiastic about getting outside and moving around, it's contagious. I certainly spend less time on the couch and more time outdoors since bringing him home.

Well, you did it. After deciding that the family was indeed ready for an animal, you are now a proud pet parent. Among your first responsibilities? Finding your new addition a doctor.

When looking for a vet take time to visit the clinic to meet the staff and have a look around the facilities. Here are just a few things to think about during your visit.

1. The actual clinic.
First, is it easy for you to get to, or will you be lugging a kitty carrier on two buses, then walking six blocks uphill – both ways? During your tour make note if the facilities are clean, well organized and welcoming.

Yep, I feel at home here (photo: Wikipedia).

2. The vet and his or her staff.
When choosing a vet, you’re not only choosing a doctor for your pet, but you’re also entering into a relationship with the receptionist, technicians and other support staff. Ask for a quick introduction with everyone to make sure you feel comfortable with the arrangement. If you’re checking out a multi-doctor clinic, ask if you can request for your pet to see a specific vet each visit. (You never know who Rover will take a liking to!)

3. The services.
Do you want a one-stop hospital, or are you willing to go somewhere else if your pet needs to see a specialist? If you’re looking for the former, ask about the vet’s board certification (has he studied and passed an exam in a specialty area?). Will you pet be able to get an X-ray on site, or will you be referred to a partner clinic elsewhere? And what about surgical procedures?

4. The hours.
Appointments during regular business hours for you may not be an option. Check the clinic’s hours against your own: maybe they’re open every other Saturday or stay open late on Friday nights. You’ll also want to know ahead of time how emergencies are handled after hours and on holidays.

5. The extra mile.
Will the vet take your phone call if you have a quick question? If you ask to be fit in to the schedule should there be a cancellation, will the clinic squeeze you in?

Is you pet comfy with his vet? What was most important to you when choosing a vet?

A few weeks ago I shared a few of my favourite quotes about cats and a few fun words about dogs. I couldn't resist adding a third volume to the series.

With this collection everyone from world leaders to the rather-not-be-named offers up an opinion on cats versus dogs. Here are 9 quotes I particularly like:

• "Dogs have owners, cats have staff." – Anonymous

• “A cat, after being scolded, goes about its business. A dog slinks off into a corner and pretends to be doing a serious self-reappraisal.” – Robert Brault

Photography: Ohnoitsjamie

• “Dogs come when they’re called; cats take a message and get back to you later.” – Mary Bly

• "Cat's motto: No matter what you've done wrong, always try to make it look like the dog did it." – Anonymous

• “In order to keep a true perspective of one’s importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him.” – Dereke Bruce

• "A dog is a man's best friend. A cat is a cat's best friend." – Robert J. Vogel

Photography: Claudio Matsuoka

• “If a dog jumps in your lap, it is because he is fond of you; but if a cat does the same thing, it is because your lap is warmer.” – Alfred North Whitehead

• "Cats are ultimate narcissists. You can tell this by all the time they spend on personal grooming. Dogs aren't like this. A dog's idea of personal grooming is to roll in a dead fish." – James Gorman

• "Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow." – Jeff Valdez

Do you have a favourite quote that compares cats and dogs? Or maybe one about rabbits and guinea pigs?

April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month in the U.S. The occasion serves as a nice reminder for pet parents on both sides of the border to organize a first-aid kit and create a safety plan for handling pet-related emergencies.

It doesn't hurt to have a supply kit on hand should a bee sting interrupt your dog's backyard playtime or a meet-and-greet between cats gets more testy than expected.

Some gauze and adhesive tape – and a sympathetic friend – will help Rover feel good as new (photography: Mdk572).

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association recommends filling a pet first-aid kit with the following items:

• muzzle
• protective gloves
• digital/rectal thermometer
• rubbing alcohol
• lubricating jelly
• hydrogen peroxide (3% strength)
• antibacterial soap
• sterile rinse solution (saline, used as wound flush or eyewash)
• clean syringes (1 cc and 5 cc)
• pen light
• blanket (for pet transport)
• cotton swabs
• adhesive tape
• gauze squares
• gauze roll
• stretchy bandages
• no-stick sterile wound dressing
• cotton roll
• splinting item (such as a coffee stir stick or tongue depressor, for small pets)
• bandage scissors
• tweezers
• first-aid ointment or cream
• corn syrup

Do you have a first-aid kit and safety plan in place for your pet?

We're a little animal crazy around here. In between sampling the delights coming out of the Test Kitchen and putting a magazine together, you'll find editors sharing stories about and pictures of their non-human family members.

Meet just one of our four-legged friends. Piper is the adorable pug who belongs to our contributing art director, Chris Bond. Chris loves the one-year-old's strong will.. "Her personality is huge," he says, "and we appreciate the fact that she completely has her own!"

Is your pet this cute?

And now we'd like you to tell us about your pets! Canadian Living is introducing a new feature to the magazine called My Pet. Here's all you need to do: Send us a photo of your pet and tell us his or her name and age, as well as something unique that you love about him or her. Please also tell us your name and where you live. You can email us at myfavouritepet@canadianliving.com.

If your pet is featured, we'll send you a Canadian Living cookbook as a thank-you.

We look forward to oohing and aahing over your little critters!

Just a quick note to let you know who won the pair of Julie Klam books offered up in last week's Pet Blog. As usual our trusty friend, the Random Integer Generator, has the answer:

And our winner is:

Congratulations, Dianne! I'll be in touch about getting you your new books!

And thank you to everyone for your comments. My to-read list just got a bit longer!

In an act that would surely cause my mom to express both shock and pride, I organized my desk the other week. In the midst of my clean-up, I rediscovered two books by Julie Klam that celebrate the bonds between humans and dogs, and what we can learn from one another.

In You Had Me at Woof (Riverhead, 2010), Klan chronicles how everything she needs to know about life she learned from her dogs, starting with a Boston terrier rescue named Otto. Through looking after her dogs' needs, she learned a vast array of skills, such as how to be an amateur therapist and how to listen to that still, small voice.

Love at First Bark (Riverhead, 2011) is a "dog-oir" about how caring for dogs is sometimes the best way to take care of ourselves. Klan recounts trying to find a home for an abandoned and abused pit bull named Morris; her time with Clementine, a special needs Boston terrier she takes in as a foster; and the time she journeyed through swampy marshes to help rescue a starving feral puppy with a jar stuck on his head.

For your chance to win this pair of books, please leave a comment on this post by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, 2012, telling me what your favourite book (or movie, TV show, etc.) about an animal is or who your favourite fictional pet is. One comment per person, please; this contest is open to residents of Canada only. Not open to any TC Media employees or the people they live with. I'll randomly select and announce the winner on Wednesday, April 3, 2012.

Update (April 12): I've attempted to reach Jode a few time, but haven't heard back. I'll be choosing a new winner.

The new winner is:

Congratulations, Emma!

I'd like to give a big thank-you to everyone who entered our giveaway for the boxes of Nature's Harvest Fresh dog food.

It's always fun to hear about what animals will not eat, because they always seem to be trying to get their noses into anything that looks remotely edible.

Photography: Daniel Piil

As for the winner of the four boxes of dog food, the Random Integer Generator has spoken:

And our winner is:

Congratulations, Jode! I'll be in touch with more details.

Thanks again to everyone who entered.

Is your dog a picky eater?

Maybe he'd like to try Nature's Harvest Fresh, a new gently cooked dog food from Global Pet Foods.

Photography: Ildar Sagdejev

Made with locally sourced whole food ingredients, the fresh frozen patties have been gently cooked to the point of pasteurization and are available in four flavours: beef, chicken, lamb and salmon. You can find them at your local Global Pet Foods in boxes of 12 (for $21.99) or as individual patties (for $1.99 each).

You can also win one box of each flavour right here! Unfortunately, this contest is open to readers in only Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Please note that the winner will have to pick up the boxes at a Global Pet Foods store. (I, too, wish we had plane tickets to give away.) Here are the stores that carry the product:

ONTARIO
Ajax – 314 Harwood Ave. S.
Alliston – 113 Victoria St. W.
Aurora - 15440 Bayview Ave.
Bowmanville – 2316 Highway 2, Unit K1
Bradford – 170 Holland St. W.
Brampton - 2901 Queen St. East, Unit 4.
Brantford – 39 King George Rd #6
Cobourg - 471 Division St.
London – 509 Commissioners Rd. W.
Markham - 5990 16th Avenue. Unit 208
Newmarket - 130 Davis Dr. box 40
Oakville - 1011 Upper Middle Rd. Unit E5
Orangeville - 47 Broadway (Broadway & HWY10)
Ottawa – 700 Eagleson Rd. Unit 105
Ottawa – 1200 Wellington St. W. Unit E
Ottawa –  1029 St. Laurent Blvd.
Shelburne – 226 First Ave. E. SS 2
Thornhill - 70 Doncaster Ave.
Toronto - 243 Danforth Ave.
Toronto - 808 York Mills Rd. Unit 6
Toronto - 1753 Queen St. E.
Toronto - 125 Lower Jarvis
Waterloo - 425 University Ave. East, Unit 14
Waterloo - 440-450 Columbia St. West

QUEBEC
Brossard – 8200 Boul. Taschereau Unit 1265
Ile-Perrot – 475 Boul. Grand
Montreal – 5326 Chemin Queen Mary
Pierrefonds – 14905 Boul. Pierrefonds
Pointe-Claire – Plaza Pointe-Claire. 245-F Boul. St. Jean
Saint-Eustache – 136 25E Avenue
Sainte-Rose – 683 Boul. Cure-Labelle
Vaudreuil – 585 Ave. St. Charles #220
Vaudreuil – 3100 Boul. Harwood

NEW BRUNSWICK
Dieppe – 9 Rue Champlain
Moncton – 1126 Mountain Rd.

NOVA SCOTIA
Dartmouth – 100 Main St.
Halifax – 9-201 Chain Lake Drive
Sydney – 800 Grand Lake Rd.

For your chance to win 4 boxes of Nature's Harvest Fresh, please leave a comment on this post by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27, 2012, telling me what food your pet turns his nose up at. One comment per person, please; this contest is open to residents of Canada only. Not open to any TC Media employees or the people they live with. I'll randomly select and announce the winner on Wednesday, March 28, 2012.

And after you've entered, why not spoil Fido with a batch of Tested Till Perfect Classic Canine Cookies.