Persnickety-Pets Feb Newsletter

FLEE FLEAS, PLEEZE!!

Florida may be primed for a pesky summer. On the heels of a mild winter with very little cold weather, and none of any significant duration, fleas are hopping, starting to unpack for a most unpleasant visit! Are you ready for these blood-suckers? Here are some interesting flea facts and tips on how to keep your pets, and yourself, off the flea menu:

Flea fossils date back 100 million years, it appears even T-Rex may have suffered from these pesky pests

Fleas can jump 150 times their own length, comparable to humans jumping 1000 feet

Fleas normally live 2-3 months and a female can produce 2000 eggs in her lifetime

If each dog in the US hosted 60 fleas, they would produce 6 trillion flea eggs - laid end-to-end, these flea eggs would stretch around the world more than 76 times

Flea larvae are blind

If you see one flea, there are usually at least 100 nearby in carpets and furniture

There are 2000 known flea species and subspecies, but it is the cat flea that is found most often on dogs and cats

The largest flea in North America measured almost 1/2 inch (12 mm in length)

The female flea consumes 15 times her body weight in blood daily. Only after ingesting a blood meal is she able to produce eggs

The cycle of a flea is, first egg, then worm-like larvae. It is in the 3rd larval stage that the larva spins a cocoon. One week later an adult flea emerges, hungry. However, the pupate can remain in the cocoon stage for up to 5 weeks. It is the vibration of an animal or human that will cause the pupate to hatch, sensing that a host is near. That is one reason why people returning to an unoccupied house are suddenly attacked by an army of fleas.

Fleas can host tapeworms, cause allergic reactions in humans and their pets, and vector such human diseases as, plague, typhus, and tularemia.

FLEA CONTROL:

It is important to maintain flea control on your pets and in their environments. If the pet is treated but returns to an infested environment, it will quickly become reinfested. Topical treatments, sprays, collars, and powders are all effective in their protection against fleas, but normally have to be used in conjunction with each other. Keep your pet's bedding clean, vacuum all pet areas regularly, vacuum furniture, be sure to remove all dirt where eggs can be deposited, examine your pet daily for any external parasites. Check with your vet on the best and safest manner to control fleas on your pet.

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

Even the dog likes a little variety now and then. Try this healthy, flavorful recipe on your favorite pooch!

SHUSH PUPPIES

2 cups cornmeal

1 cup wheat flour

1-2/3 cup cheddar cheese

3 tsp garlic powder

4 Tbsp oil

1 cup powdered milk

1-1/8 cup water

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl. Add oil and gradually add water, stirring to mix well. Dough should form a sticky ball. Using a tablespoon, scoop and form small oval shaped biscuits. Place on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes.

FUN FACTS:

The Irish Wolfhound is the largest dog, the Chihuahua is the smallest, the St. Bernard is the heaviest. The smartest dogs rank as: 1.) Border Collie; 2.) Poodle; 3.) Golden Retriever. The least intelligent is said to be the Afghan Hound.

Dogs are not born knowing the words "Sit" "Down" or "Stand", and if you shout the command louder and louder sixteen times.......the dog still will not know what it means!

Dalmation puppies are pure white when they're born.

The only breed of domestic cat natural to America is the Maine Coon.

Domestic cats are the only species able to hold their tails vertically while walking.

Due to genetics, all calico cats are female.

Crouching Aussie, Hidden Sprinkler.......by Kathy Graham Warren

Chance is neurotic. Always has been, always will be. I think it happened

during the few months he spent at the SPCA, but he could have been that

way all along. However, he's my boy and he knows he's "mama's boy",

Which probably only adds to his long list of weird idiosyncrasies

In typical Australian Shepherd fashion he is quick, agile, and nimble on his feet. He's also smarter than most people I know. Well, usually, anyway........

It was another water-logged day for us here in the land of sunshine!! My pool had already overflowed twice and now it was on the brink again. The ground was soggy and the grass was flattened by the downpour. But the rain had stopped momentarily, giving me hope that my tail-less wonders would have a moment to dash outside for a potty break. The problem is, my boy Chance doesn't go to the bathroom when it's wet outside, Not anymore.

Despite his quirks, Chance never had a problem with "going". When he was younger he loved romping through the grass, finding the right spot, and doing his thing. Afterwards there was the traditional "flinging' of the back legs, usually flinging poop along with it, and usually half-way across the yard. I did learn quickly that you did not 'stoop to scoop' until the last fling was flung, otherwise you would most likely be wearing the poop on your face and in your hair after it went sailing through the air. But all that carefree spirit of freelance pooping changed a few years ago, right after I had my sprinkler system put in. Early one morning, Chance wandered around the back yard until he found the perfect spot and then crouching, he assumed "the position" preparing to take care of business. The crouching happened at exactly the same moment that the tell-tale hiss of the sprinklers began.

Now, I, being the all-knowing human, knew what that hissing sound meant, but Chance, who was squatting over a sunken sprinkler head, had no idea his undercarriage was about to be blasted with several pounds of exploding re-cycled water!!! Well, ladies and gentlemen, I'm here to tell you today that I have seen a dog fly!!! Soar actually! When that sprinkler popped out of the ground, unleashing a sputtering, spitting rush of water directly into Chance's Nether Regions, he leaped higher than any dog ever has! He thought his butt was on fire and his nubbin was catching!! We fondly refer to that moment as "Crouching Aussie, Hidden Sprinklers"!!! The really bad thing is, now if it's wet outside, Chance thinks the sprinklers are coming on and he wouldn't go potty out there if his life depended on it! Ahhhhh! Life with Aussies!

DOGMAS

The Taco Bell Chihuahua, a Doberman, and a Bulldog are in a doggie bar having a cool one when a good-looking female Belgian Tervuren comes up to them and says, "Whoever can say liver and cheese in a terrific sentence can have me." So the Doberman says, "I LOVE liver and cheese." The Belgian says, "That's not good enough." The Bulldog says, "I HATE liver and cheese." She says, "That's not creative enough." Finally the Chihuahua says, "Liver alone...cheese mine!"

CAT-LORE

(Can your cat predict the weather?)

According to ancient lore and cat-myths, your furry feline may just be trying to tell you something about the weather, and then again it may just be hungry or has gotten into the catnip! :)

A sneezing cat means rain is on the way, and three sneezes in a row is a sure prediction of a cold for the cat's owner!

A cat running wildly about (spazzing out) darting here and there and clawing everything in sight means wind or a storm is on the way; when the cat quietens down, the storm will soon blow itself out.

Cats washing over their ears has long been held to foretell rain; the old rhyme goes 'When Kitty washes behind her ears, we'll soon be tasting heaven's tears'.

A cat which rolls over and over in the grass, claws the ground and behaves in a skittish manner, is indicating that a brief rain-shower is on the way.

When the cat is restless and moves from place to place without settling, it is foretelling hard winds.

When a cat spends the night outdoors and caterwauls loudly, it may be foretelling a period of several days' bad weather.

CAT LORE AND DREAMS:

To dream of a black cat is lucky. To dream of a tortoiseshell cat means luck in love. To dream of a ginger cat means luck in money and business. To dream of a white cat means luck in creativity, spiritual matters, divination and spellcraft.

AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERDS:

Australian Shepherds did not originate in Australia, they were actually developed in the United States in the pasturelands of the Old West. Probably orignating from various old shepherd breeds. They are a high energy, no nonsense type dog who are very serious about their work. They are a herding dog and retain strong herding instincts, although they also excel at flyball, frisbee competitions, agility training, and any activity that provides them the challenges that they crave. They are not a couch potatoes! Although the best seat in the house will belong to them!

HOW OLD IS OLD?

One of my clients has a 20 year-old cat - that's awesome!! Cats and dogs are living much longer than they did in the 1930's where the expected lifespan of pets was 7 years. Cats generally live longer than dogs but it is encouraging to know that the average lifespan for a dog today is more than 12 years. Dogs, like people are very individual in the way they age. Certain breeds, mixed breeds and smaller dogs tend to live the longest. A small dog of less than 20 pounds may be quite active and spry well past the age of 12. A 50-pound dog tends to start showing its age at around 10. Larger dogs begin slowing down at 8 or 9.

Nowadays it is not uncommon to see a dog live to be 14 or 15 years old. There are some established guidelines to help you determine when your dog might qualify as a senior. Being aware of your dog's "real age" may help you understand and anticipate changes in behaviour and changes in their health. Armed with knowledge of the senior process you can help your older dog remain active and a vital part of your family. Pay special attention to their nutrition, diet and exercise and make sure you give them a job to do. These are many of the same qualities of care which we afford ourselves to keep us younger!

Ensure that your pet is eating a high-quality food preferably a senior formula. If your older pet routinely jumps in and out of cars, or up and down beds and furniture, consider building a ramp or stairs to assist them. Jumping can injure joints and spines. Keep walks part of their daily routine. Ensure that all loose rugs are secured, slipping by accident is the number one injury to house pets.

Visit your vet regularly, consider use of dietary supplements such as glucosamine/chondroitin, do not overfeed your senior dog, provide adequate exercise, attend to your dog's dental health, provide quality food, control ticks and fleas, make your senior pet an active part of the family, keep him interested, happy and comfortable and above all, loved!

WHAT IS YOUR SENIOR DOG'S "REAL AGE" (Click here for Dog to Human Comparison)