HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS

 

Mistletoe and Holly
Toxic to Cats and Dogs
Clinical Signs:  Vomiting, diarrhea and depression.

Poinsettia Plant
Toxic to Cats and Dogs
Clinical Signs:  Irritating to the mouth and stomach, sometimes causing vomiting, but generally over-rated in toxicity.

Lilies
Highly toxic to Cats
Clinical Signs:  kidney failure.

Winter Hazards for Pets
Winter brings cooler temperatures, holidays and seasonal hazards. Listed below are a few examples of potentially hazardous items that pets might encounter during this time.
Low Toxicity: (may cause gastrointestinal upset, but unlikely to cause serious problems unless very large amounts are ingested)
•    Christmas tree preservatives (stale water in tree stands can harbor bacteria)
•    Poinsettias
•    Holly
•    Canned "snow"
Moderate toxicity: (may cause significant signs beyond mild gastrointestinal upset)
•    Mistletoe (species-dependent)
•    Ice melting products
•    Liquid potpourri
•    Batteries
High toxicity: (potential for very serious or life-threatening signs)
•    Antifreeze/coolants
•    Chocolate
•    Rising bread dough (yeast produce ethanol, rising dough can produce bloat and foreign body)
•    Sugar substitute xylitol used in homemade baking goods and holiday treats can cause hypoglycemia and liver failure
•    Human medications (cold and flu medications, decongestants)
•    Alcoholic beverages
•    Homemade "play-dough” (high sodium content)

Source:  ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center

Maximizing Love

Man's Best Friend...Literally!
This is Max and his Dad. Max came to Postmore Kennels some time ago because his Dad could no longer care for him. He's been quite ill. But Max never forgot his roots and visits him often.

It is the highlight of his Dad's day to see Max.
There has always been a healing quality between humans and animals and Max is no exception.
These two "old men" have a bond that will carry them to the end.

A familiar photo in homes all over the world.
We are judged in some cultures by how we treat our animals.
We at Postmore Kennels hope this photo will do our judgement justice.

LOVE IS A WONDERFUL THING

Instructions for properly hugging a baby

  First, uh, find a baby..  

Second, be sure that the object you found was indeed a baby by employing classic sniffing techniques.

Next you will need to flatten the baby before actually beginning  the hugging process.

The 'paw slide' Simply slide paws around baby and prepare for possible close-up. 

Finally, if a camera is present, you will need to execute the difficult and patented 'hug, smile, and lean' so as to achieve the best photo quality.

 

HOW TO REMOVE TICKS

Thanks to INSTRUCTABLES

(it's flea and tick season again!)

I will demonstrate how to easily remove a tick from your dog without pulling it out. The tick will crawl out on it's own and you won't have to deal with 'did I get it all out?'. This sounds like a magic trick and you might even think it is, I did. My sister inlaw had been telling me how to do it for quite a while and I just never tried it, because I didn't think it would work. One day when I was at the vet getting my dogs their yearly shots, my vet found a tick and removed it using this method and I was sold.

I easily remove about 20 ticks a year from my two dogs. When I used the old way, which was get your tweezers as close to the head of the tick and pull straight out, it would often leave parts of the tick behind. Ticks seem to like areas near the eyes and ears, which would leave marks and scars that wouldn't ever go away.

So how do you do it?

Rub the tick in a circular motion and pretend you're trying to make the tick dizzy. I generally stick with one direction, clockwise. It usually takes less than a minute, so if it's not working, make sure the body of the tick is moving around. Remember you can't get dizzy unless you're actually moving in a circle, quickly. I doubt the tick actually gets dizzy, but they sure don't like something about the movement and they crawl out on their own.

FOOD IS MOST IMPORTANT TO PET HEALTH

REPOST

 (Thanks Susan! You're our Hero!)

TruthAboutPetFood.com

Many of us have worked for years trying to bring awareness of health/illness reports of pets directly linked to pet food.  For what seems to be forever, only other concerned pet owners have listened. However, things are changing.  Our efforts are beginning to show results.

An example of our efforts showing results...the recent Blue Buffalo dog food recall.  Not the recall itself, but how it happened.  Here's how I see pet owner efforts have led to this shift...

While Big Pet Food dismisses pet related blogs, often telling pet owners these websites are the foundation of misinformation, pet blogs/websites have helped save lives when it comes to a tainted pet food.  Countless thousands of pet owners have closely followed numerous pet websites, learned from these websites and shared with fellow pet owners for years.  Pet food information learned from these websites has altered pet food choices.  Informed/educated pet owners have then visited their veterinarians questioning quality of nutrition and common pet food ingredients.

At first, veterinarians were caught off guard.  By-products?  What?  BHA/BHT, ethoxyquin?  What?  What food was recalled?  “In the past I have been caught with my clients notifying me of recalls, which sort of makes you look like an idiot in the client’s eyes,” writes Dr. Randy Davis of Evansville, Ind., in a VIN discussion. “What — you're the vet and don't know about this?”  http://news.vin.com/VINNews.aspx?articleId=16618

To provide veterinarians with the latest online news, VinNews supplied forums for vets to discuss various health issues and learn from each other.  In September, VinNews announced a recall notification system for vets.  And then something amazing happened...

Statements from veterinarians linking a pet illness/death to pet food have been few and far between.  While perhaps vets thought or discussed in private a possible link to a tainted pet food, public statements were rarely made.  Then, in late August 2010, VinNews.com provided public news about pet illness linked to Blue Buffalo dog food.  And in early October 2010, Michigan State University did the same; publically announcing a link to illness in dogs and Blue Buffalo dog food.

Within hours after Michigan State University Diagnostic Center posted their information on the Internet, 10/8/2010, Blue Buffalo recalled various brands of dog foods.

I don't believe the timing was coincidence.  Two public statements from veterinarian organizations firmly suspecting a link between pet illness and a pet food would be a difficult thing for any pet food to ignore.  While pet owner complaints can/have gone ignored for years by (most) pet food, veterinary complaints are much more challenging to dismiss.

I cannot say thank you enough to VinNews and MSU.  Both of you have taken a brave step forward; both of your actions is a step to improved trust between pet owners and their vets.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  

Pet Owners...take a moment to pat yourself on the back as well.  We have nudged this momentum forward.  Our determination to learn the 'truth about pet food' (and I don't mean just from this website - all sources of pet information) and our determination to share what we've learned has shifted the 'don't tell' foundation pet food has had on everyone in the past.  http://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/a-shift-in-pet-food-incident-awareness.html

 

Holistic Pet Health

Martha Norwalk is an animal behavior therapist with over 35 years of professional experience and service. Tonight, we explore the souls of animals and what lessons they can teach us. Martha also hosts her own radio show, Martha Norwalk's Animal World. Sunday mornings on Alternative Talk Radio. She is available for private sessions, either in your home or over the phone. With her holistic approach, Martha can help you understand your your animal friends and solve any behavior, training or healing issues that they might be having. Martha's rates are surprisingly affordable and in most cases she will only need to see you and your pet once.

Read more: http://events.myspace.com/External/MySpaceMessage/Event/View/7135890#ixzz0z2mzgUpu

Have a Plan!

Remember pets are family too!

Please remember to include your pets when planning for if the "unthinkable" happens.
Weather can be unpredictable and you want to be prepared. But don't leave your pet out of your plans!
Collar and tag all pets. Use an alternate phone number on tags in case of emergencies.
Don't tie a pet if you do have to leave them. And leave food if you can.
Better yet, include them in your plans. Extra food, bottled water, and shelter.
Remember, pets are family too. The comfort they provide in a disaster is irreplaceable.

Postmore Kennels

DOG FOOD AND WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

TRUTHABOUTPETFOOD.COM

The FDA is supposed to enforce the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act laws.  Federal law clearly defines an adulterated food as:  Section 402 Adulterated food:  “A food shall be deemed to be adulterated – (a) Poisonous, insanitary, or deleterious ingredients.” (a)(5) “if it is, in whole or in part, the product of a diseased animal or of an animal which has died otherwise than by slaughter;”

However…FDA administration tells the Field Agents to ignore the above law in regards to pet food.  The following is the FDA Compliance Policy…
“Pet food consisting of material from diseased animals or animals which have died otherwise than by slaughter, which is in violation of 402(a)(5) will not ordinarily be actionable, if it is not otherwise in violation of the law.  It will be considered fit for animal consumption.”

This site may be of interest to Dog and Cat owners alike.
If you wonder about what goes into your dog's food this is a good place to start.

Informative issues, recall info, brand information and a general "education" about the  Pet Food Industry and what it is today.

Kennels @ Marin

Come on in to the Kennels @ Marin!

THE BIG SECRET

Max-imizing Help for BP Oil Spill Victims!

Now this is Max-imizing! 

A lot of hair comes from Kennels. And Postmore Kennels is no exception. 
But who would think it is something that can help the victims of the BP Oil Spill?!

Well I'm "just a dog" but I can do something to help and  
you can too!

http://www.ehow.com/how_5878380_donate-hair-oil-spills-program.html?sms_ss=email

The HAIR FOR OIL SPILLS PROGRAM by MATTER OF TRUST.ORG will take any and all hair donations to clean up oil spills!

They will  take pet hair, old nylon stockings with or without runs, waste wool, feathers, and natural fiber donors. 

What do they do with the hair?
They stuff loose hair into nylon stockings to make a "boom" that helps soak up and contain oil spills.
They make certain that all other garbage has been removed. The hair are sent off to a "nonwoven needlepunch factory" to make hair mats. They use these mats to line cages of birds and mammals who got caught by an oil spill. They also use these mats in other oil spill emergencies.

Now who would have thought that me, Max, "just a dog", could help victims of oil spills! But it's true! I can help and so can you!


So please, check out the links above and the instructions below and help all my brothers and sisters in their fight for life at this difficult time.

See how this program works

1. 
   
   
   Step 1
   If you are representing a hair salon, you can sign up to become part of their donor database program at www.ExcessAccess.org by clicking the Business Sign Up Link.
   
   If you are a one time donor, you can participate as well. Schools can collect hair and mail it in. Pet owners can do this as well.
2. 
   
   
   Step 2
   Directions:
   
   a. Please wash hair first.
   
   b. They will accept hair of any length.
   
   c. They will accept every type of hair - from the head only: straight, curly, dyed, permed, straightened.
   
   d. They also accept washed, used nylon stockings to pack the hair into. The nylons can have runs.
   
   e. Place the hair in a plastic bag and seal it tight.
   
3. 
   
   
   Step 3
   They are currently working on getting a new warehouse. They request you do not send the hair until they post the new address. If you will register at www.ExcessAccess.org, they will contact you by e-mail when the new warehouse is open for business.

Virtual Visit to Postmore Kennels

Welcome to Postmore Kennels!

Max and Postmore Kennels is excited to announce our Virtual Tour this month!

We will be streaming Live on UStream. 

Take a Virtual Tour of the Kennels, meet the Staff, and tour the Kennel Grounds all from the comfort of your IPad, cellphone, laptop, or home computer! 

We will also be launching our new "private" viewings for clients that entrust  their best friends to us for Doggie Daycare, Boarding, or Grooming! Just ask about our "Secret Password" when you bring your buddy in for any of the above services and our staff will fill you in on the details! 

Checking in on your best friend while away will assure you that they are having fun, being well taken care of and are getting the attention they deserve when you entrust them to the care of Postmore Kennels Staff.

So please, join Max and Postmore Kennels for our Live Virtual Tour this month on UStream! 

We will be posting the date and time here and on our website @ www.postmorekennels.com

MMMMMMMM...........Mango!

MY HAIR COLORIST IS CHRISTINA. SHE DOES GREAT THINGS AT POSTMORE KENNELS. I'VE SELECTED MANGO ORANGE FOR ACCENTS TO MY NATURAL WHITE COAT. THIS COLORING PROCESS REQUIRES A LOT OF PATIENCE ON CHRISTINA'S PART. I'M GLAD SHE HAS THEM!

LA LA LIMEY!

MAX GOES LA LA LIME

Max is full swing into Spring ! He's going Green and there's no turning back! 

Top Performance Colors * were the choice this time around.  

The results of Top Performance Colors and 

dyes created for dogs in general, 

seem to be  a softer hue.  

The gel was easy to apply but didn't

get the results expected.
 

Max had hoped for a more intense statement. 

(Sure didn't make me look like the dog in the ad!)

But since it's time for a haircut 

(ears a little too hairy and top knot too square)  

we'll use the down time as an  opportunity 

to explore organic dyes for people 

that can be applied safely to dogs.
 

The link below for Tops Pet Products 

was the best we could do.

No website that we could find. 

But there's plenty of folks out there who carry 

the whole line of products offered by Tops!

Tops Pet Products
Beverly, MA 01915 

"Safe for dogs over 12 weeks old" - Tops Pet Products

 




*CAUTION: 

• Do not ingest, or allow pets to lick or ingest. 

• Do not use on pets that have sensitive, irritated, or damaged skin.

• Avoid contact with eyes and mouth; if it happens, flush with a large amount of water for 15 minutes, and consult a veterinarian if irritation persists.

*WARNINGS: May cause allergic reactions, pain, or severe itching—if any of these occur, discontinue use immediately and consult a veterinarian.

*KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN
(Store in a cool, dry place away from excessive heat.)

MAX-IMIZING!

Max-imizing! 

Max is our Foster Care Dog! He came to us in celebration of 50 years of service to the Marin County, CA community! Max changes colors just like the seasons! He greets our clients and interprets our communications with the other Dogs in our Boarding and Daycare Services!
What a guy! 

Max will be posting reviews of products and services to the business community he is associated with along with anecdotes and stories of Kennel life and greeting Clients from a "Dog's Point of View"!

We hope you'll continue to visit our blog and Postmore Kennels to keep up with Max and Max-imizing to create a great exchange within the Community.
We look forward to all kennel response, input, and sharing. There's always a story to be told and Max wants to hear it!