While playing with our cat and dog, my eldest stated that cats were better than dogs. When asked why, she gave the reason that cats may be put out and survive because they have not forgotten to hunt while dogs can’t really fend for themselves. Just then my youngest (our brave one, he can handle a dog twice his size), said dogs are dependent and at times ‘dopey’ looking but they have more at stake than the cat.

Dogs are very much dependent on people because of their ‘pack’ nature. Domesticated cats do not have packs and can easily leave without being ruled or tied to a set of rules. Dogs at birth have a sense of pack mentality which makes them loyal companions to humans because they do not run out on you- which our cat does at times and comes back as if we owed him the meals he missed while gone (lol)!
Pet dogs are known for saving and warning people of dangers, usually showing acts of unselfishness ( *a dog burned its mouth when it tore off a burning dress from a child’s body to save her). Cats since they are mostly away and very small to help a human out of danger can only warn by making noise. There are stories of pet dogs going back to save family members in burning buildings, in one incident fire fighters sifted through the ashes and saw a child’s burnt body hugging their pet dog (also burnt) that got out then went in again to get to him.

I am a Cat lover but I do give credit to the Dog and its ability to have a conscience and a natural conveyance of love to its human pack ‘family’.

Coming from a line of dog owning people, it is safe to say that there are different styles of rearing your pet dog. Dog owning has become a paradox and complex because of the owners and not the dogs. Dog accessories and what-not manufacturing has boomed yet the number of pet dogs put in shelters number to thousands a week per pet shelter.

Considering your pet dog as a creature that is dependent on human contact to live as a domesticated one is the first step to a successful pet and owner relationship. Keeping in mind your pet dogs limitation would make a pet owners responsibilities clearer and simpler.

A pet owners primary and basic responsibility are communication and training of correct behavior. Being witness to the different styles of my kin’s approach to dog rearing have brought about knowing the basics. I’ve had an uncle whose dog depended on him that it just cant govern itself when my uncle was away-this is way before excessive barking and loud noise trauma was a condition to treat dogs for. One must consider putting all able bodied member of the family above the dog, this is in case the one considered as the pack leader leaves the house. Knowing its pecking order a pet dog is likely to follow another family member that shows dominance over the canine.

Most people would just pick out something for one reason or another. Some go for color, design, price and its rank in a household’s priority. The boom in dog bed manufacturing is a sign that most pet parent household have made dog beds a basic pet dog need.
Most pet parents are going through a tough time deciding what is really right for their pet dog. I’ve read in one of the pet supply sites a tip that makes the task 40% done. Have you noticed how your pet dog sleeps? Preferrably in its REM times (when their sleep is really uninterruptible even by a sausage near its nose), notice your pets positioning. You see there are dog beds made for loungers, snugglers, sprawlers and constantly moving dogs. Another consideration would be your pets sleeping requirements, this is for sickly (arthritis, dysplasia, scoiliosis) and old pets. Ortho dog beds are just right for them(they also come in several shapes). For young pups snuggle and cup beds are okay, just get one that will not cause it to drown in foam. A light-weight pup of below 5 lbs. is not suited for a deep hidey-hole bed, is it?

Who are you anyways?
Some pet parents who have had a pet dog for more than 8 years have experienced seeing their pet barking at walls or at unseemly things…they may have also seen their pets bump into places and get ‘lost’ in the home or just get stuck in a corner. Sadly,

some have bore not being recognized by their beloved pet.
Science and research has tagged these outward symptoms as dog senility or Canine Cognitive Dysfunction or Cushings Disease. This is very much connected to a dogs cognitive or recognition skills and exhibits behavioral changes. Pet dogs suffering from this old age disorder rarely responses the way they used to, their direction is often shut-getting lost in its own home for years. Some CCD suffering pets even regress from being the best smell hound to being an aimless old dog, often missing its elevated dog feeder.

A pet dog positively diagnosed with CCD is said to have less and less dopamine or neuro-transmitters which is broken down because of depleted enzyme absorption. The treatment drug L-Deprenyl allows a recovery rate of 80% in 2months treatment time.
Unlike senility in humans, CCD is reversible and risks may be medically lessened.
Like all pet related sickness, diagnoses by a trained professional is called for and maybe trained.

The first time we brought our cat and dog home, their ears were clean and nicely colored, as months passed they began having discharge thats colored dark brown. The discharge smells just terrible and we noticed both of them having a scratch-a-thon. Searching the Internet for ear itchiness and aches (my dog whines when she scratches her ears) brought the dreaded ‘M’ word. Mange are mites that cause irritation, I have always thought that Mange was based on the skin and not the ear canal. This kind of Mange is called Otodectes cynotis, ear parasites that can be transferred from one pet to another- which explains why both our cat and dog had scratching choreography. Infestation from these mites range from mild to severe, at times depending on the pet’s resistance.
These are symptoms to watch for:
Scratching and shaking of the head and ears…
Discharge and bleeding of the ears.
Foul smelling ears
Irritability in pets demeanor

Remedies vary according to how your pet would react to it. There are several cures available, yet the most effective one best would be 2 parts apple cider vinegar, to 1 part hydrogen peroxide, and 1 part Borax; diluted in a gallon or so of water. Before putting a dropper full of this mixture, make sure to have cleaned your pet’s ears with dog soap and water- this is to get rid of some of the Mange before starting treatment. Treatment is three times a week for two weeks. Be patient and consistent, you’ll see results in time.

For the second time, my eyes have failed me. Coming across a girl carrying a furry creature, it looked like a short-haired Spitz…lo and behold, it was a Fat Cat! Yes the ones you can just see in U tube. The first time I was in awe of a big feline was in a beach. An unbelievable healthy gray colored ‘teen-age pup’ was curled up and harnessed. Calling to it “Here, boy.” just to get to see its face…I was answered with a “Mrwaaawrr…” Oh, that was the longest and largest cat I thought I’d see in this lifetime. He or that big cat just got bumped off the list by the Fat One I just saw.

Anyway, fat pets are cute but its sad when you see them struggling to breathe and having a difficult time roaming or even struggling when lying on their backs. A cat is over weight if it exceeds 20% of its ideal weight. Keeping them on a balanced and safe diet prevents fatal diseases in the heart, liver and digestive system. From one cat lover to another, Fat Cats make cute caricatures as pets, its cruel. Any pet parent wouldn’t want to see their pet suffering,would they?