By Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Do you want to learn how to save your pet in an emergency situation or how to prevent spring and summer pet injuries – sign up for a Pet CPR & First Aid class. If you live on Long Island, you are in luck, the next class hosted by Robyn Elman, President and Founder of In Home Pet Services, who is also a certified Pet Tech is holding her next class onSaturday, April 20, 2013. From 9:30 am – 1:30 pm at the Bid-a-wee Learning Center in Wantagh (3300 Beltagh Avenue, Wantagh, NY 11793). The class is limited to 15 people and a portion of the proceeds will go to Pet Safe Coalition (www.petsafecoalition.org).

This class is offered to pet owners, pet professionals, and anyone that wants to learn these very important pet life saving procedures. Every pet owner and pet professional will benefit from learning these techniques. Using a life sized stuffed animal dog, this class will teach participants how to: restrain an injured or ill pet; CPR and rescue breathing; bleeding injuries; heat element injuries; spring and summer dangers to pets and how to prevent them; bandaging; insect bites and much more. Attendees will learn life saving techniques for their furry loved ones and make is a safer holiday season by being educated in pet first aid and CPR.  

To register for this class, individuals can call (718) 347-7387 or send a check or money order for $85.00 payable to In Home Pet Services, Inc. and mail to: 88-25 247th Street, Bellerose, NY 11426. Each participant will receive a take-home reference manual and a certificate that they completed the course. For more information on this course or about In Home Pet Services, go to:www.InHomePetServices.com. Space is limited.

If you want to learn the truth about veterinary care and nutritional holistic treatment options you will not want to miss the next free Veterinary seminar with Dr. Michel A. Selmer. The South Huntington Library is presenting Dr. Michel A. Selmer of Advanced Animal Care Center, in a live and free educational library seminar for pet owners who want to know the truth about veterinary care and nutritional holistic treatment options. On Thursday, April 25 at 7pm pet owners can ‘Ask the Vet’ about pet nutrition and other questions they may have about their pet’s health.  

Dr. Selmer will be speaking about holistic and preventative veterinary medicine, as well as answer any questions from the audience. Pet owners that are seeking information about alternative options of veterinary care or just want to know more about veterinary treatment today, what may or may not work best for their pet are encouraged to attend this event. Often times, pet owners leave their vet’s office and are not sure if it’s the right course of treatment or feel that their questions went unanswered but may not have another way to get their questions answered. This ‘Ask the Vet’ event will help those pet owners that want to learn how to treat, take care of and help their pets live a longer, healthier life. Dr. Selmer will answer questions and give attendees information that most veterinarians will not want pet owners to know. This is a free library event and for humans only – no pets allowed! To register for this event email Catherine Schmoller at cschmol@suffolk.lib.ny.us or call (631) 549-4411.

Originally published on Long Island Examiner.com!

by Robyn Elman, In Home Pet Services, Inc.

We all have read stories about how much pets can help disabled humans – from seeing-eye dogs, to therapy dogs, to the simple act of reducing our blood pressure by petting a cat or dog. What happens when the tables are turned and the pets are the ones who become disabled? Every year since 2006 we celebrate National Specially-Abled Pets Day on May 3rd to show case the amazing ways our pets and animals adapt that may have become challenged due to disease, birth flaws or injuries and develop greater senses and abilities.  I like to think we can celebrate them everyday!

Being a professional pet sitter since 2003, I have seen, worked with and helped clients with pets that are Specially-Abled over the years.  It is inspiring and touching to see the lengths people will go to give back to their pets. Take the story of an adult male German Shepherd owned by a 110lb. woman in Bayside, NY.  When his bone cancer became more aggressive and started spreading, there was no choice but to amputate one of his hind legs. A specially made harness was needed to help to lift up and support his rear while walking.  The client dedicated herself to helping her best companion to learn to walk again.  The dog was depressed in the beginning and didn’t want to walk, but she stuck by him. She actually began to work out to gain more strength in her upper body, and worked with her dog every day. We would come midday while she was at work to continue the routine of motivation and lifting him up to get his first few steps started. Through her hard work, compassion, and dedication, after only a couple of months he started to enjoy walking again. He was no longer depressed, loved to sit outside on the porch and even played ball.

I have also seen how pet lovers will not hesitate to bring an already disabled dog into their lives – especially ones who are blind or deaf. My staff and I have had the pleasure of learning how to care for these pets, and we are happy to go the extra mile to assist them in their care and help their owners too.  With a deaf dog or cat, it’s still our habit to talk to or call out to the non-hearing dogs, learning to tap on the floor so they know there is someone there, (they can feel the vibrations), and using a lot of visual cues.  Each dog has their own unique visual cues – just like human sign language.

For blind dogs, besides using a lot of audio signals, we let the dogs use their nose to approach and smell us before we use touch. It is amazing to see their ability to adapt to their environment. Once they get used to the layout of a room and house, they can navigate it without any hesitation.

Animals have a spirit and determination that never ceases to amaze me – and the kindness of people amazes me as well. With all our pets do to try and please us, it’s great to see people giving back to them – they deserve it!  After all, pets are considered part of the family these days and sometimes are treated better.

Shanna, lost her leg to cancer - lived until a happy, healthy 12.5 years as a 3 - legged wonder dog, inspiring people everywhere she went!

by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Pet Products and Celebrities

Once again Charlotte Reed, celebrity and pet product expert of Pet Socialite Events hosted a fabulous event on Tuesday, April 5th in New York City.  The Better Health and Wellness Pet Product Showcase event not only included some of the coolest new pet products this pet professional has seen in a long time, it was also host to many celebrities in attendance.  “I decided to do this showcase on Better Health and Wellness, because as more and more people are concerned with their own health and wellness, they are now looking for healthier, better, more organic and green products for their pets,” stated Charlotte Reed.

Charlotte Reed and Beth Stern

One of the first new products, I was really wishing had been invented while my other dog was still living since she always seemed to get minor cuts and scraps while playing, running, or on hikes is the PawFlex™ Bandages. I used to have to keep rolls of bandage, tape and gauze in the medicine cabinet – just in case – and this will solve that in an all-in-one simple solution, fantastic!  PawFlex is the first disposable, non adhesive stretch duel hook fastener bandage system designed specifically for our pets. Based in Brooklyn, and created by Jennifer DiGrazia, CEO of PawFlex – because of their beloved blind dog Maddy that she rescued, read more about it here.

PawFlex bandage2

Each bandage design has been specially created for a specific problem area regarding wound care as well as for distinct characteristics that has made past bandages less than adequate.  Also, each individually wrapped PawFlex bandage has a wound pad already attached, making it the first and only “ALL IN ONE” bandage for dogs.

There are currently four PawFlex designs ready for market with several more designs waiting to follow. Each design ranges from sizes XSmall to XLarge.  They will be soon available in local pet retail stores and vet offices.  Jennifer said, “they would also like to eventually be able to donate to small rescue groups and shelters.”

To prevent a little dog or puppy from falling off a balcony, your deck, through a slotted fence or baby gate – this next product is not only for safety, but pretty cute and very functional too.  Puppy Bumpers® originally called “Condo Collars” were invented by Ann Price in order to keep her own dog from getting through a baby gate.  The patented Puppy Bumpers® have been endorsed by dog trainers, veterinarians and other dog professionals as a non-aversive way to keep dogs safely inside a fence.

Puppy Bumpers

Ann Price of Puppy Bumpers showing Sonja Morgan of The Real Housewives of NYC

Did your pet just have surgery and is now a wearing a dreaded plastic e-collar and bumping into everything with it?  There is a better solution, the Trimline™ Recovery Collar.  Made from a specially designed fabric that is water resistant, non-allergenic and non-toxic, the Trimline collar easily slips over a pet’s head stays in place thanks to a drawstring design and is strong enough to withstand chewing and clawing. You also don’t have to worry about your pet bumping into things with the hard plastic e-collar with this new Trimline Collar – my dog would sometimes get stuck in doorways with the old big plastic e-collar on and scratch and dent furniture or walls – this won’t happen with the Trimline Collar.

My dog Max modeling the collar!

It is also folds, which is great to keep in a first aid kit in your car and one in your home.

The collar is an effective, flexible, collar for use with cats and dogs during grooming sessions or experiencing injury, surgery and trauma restraint conditions. It allows the animal to eat, drink and sleep in comfort while providing a barrier to the treatment area for licking and biting. It is soft, lightweight and easily applied with a simple drawstring design.

Then there was gym equipment made specifically for pets call FitPAWS which are like human fitness balls.  By looking at these you could see why they would be beneficial for pets with arthritis, that need physical therapy, and for pet enrichment and fun!  One may think a dog wouldn’t know what to do with the products, but all the dogs that were there hopped right on and seemed to instinctively know what to do, it was quite amazing.  One pit bull mix was having a blast it was very cute to see him on the equipment.  There was also a pet gym set up, that Charlotte Reed designed with pet health, activity and stimulus in mind and had FitPAWS equipment a doggie treadmill and more.

FitPAWS Gym Equipment

Going green – there were also a few different pet products that are honoring the green, holistic, organic and keeping local movement.  From very cool, unique and fantastic designed cat scratch posts, bed by Imperial Cat; to green dog beds by Molly Mutt – a dog bed duvet using your own old laundry for the stuffing of the bed; a brand new line of interactive pet toys and products that are safety tested to children’s toy standards by SafeMadePet™ and a local Long Island company; to lavender scented, made from corn, clumping cat litter by World’s Best Cat Litter; and grain free pet treats and raw pet food made from locally farmed products ingredients by Pawgevity™.

There will be a few other pet product reviews on products that were at the event coming up, right here on LIPetPlace.com – look for them soon!

Cubby, celebrity dog from Doggie Moms!

by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Are you in?  After a long, rough winter, if you haven’t already it’s time to get out there with your dog for daily walks!  The 250 Challenge is a 10-week challenge to get us moving again by walking at least 25-miles a week! I know what you are thinking, that is a lot, it’s not really if you break it up into a few miles a day.  With 4th of July just 13-weeks away, don’t you want to have a leaner you?  What about your dog – many dogs are obese in this country due to lack of exercise and overfeeding by their owners.  You know that fun owner and dog look alike contest?  This challenge will be interactive too, just click here and your can add your comments, miles you have done and more.

Many times in our dog education class we hear that the owners only ever let their dogs in the yard, and/or only walk them, if they do for 15 minutes at most. Understanding time constraints, schedules, we all have – but you know a tired dog is a good dog, and daily walks with your dog will not only help ease your stress levels, but mentality stimulate your dog also.  Not to mention bond with your dog.  Many dogs are just plain BORED, and need exercise, attention, training, socialization and fun!  Here are some tips on getting started for you and your dog:

• How to get started, first of all if you or your dogs have only ever walked down the street, take it slow! You want to build up to a longer distance walk – so don’t over do it for yourself or your dog.  If you dog is overweight, older or is just not used to walking you will want to just add a few minutes to his walk daily: 10-minutes day 1; 15-minutes day 2; 20-minutes day 3; etc.  You might be surprised that your dog will do ok or even better than you expected, and will definitely want to walk everyday.

• Set up a schedule, if you can only walk before work, set the alarm clock a little earlier – once you go a few days, your dog will become accustomed to and look forward to that daily walk.

• Get the proper walking sneakers and work out attire for yourself and sturdy leather or cotton 6-foot leash, proper collar with ID. If you are not sure about a training collar or equipment for your dog, contact a dog trainer for help.  Many dog trainers have all the latest products they can show you how to properly fit to your dog and use – and they can help you find the best for your dog.  They could also help you with training if your dog is just dragging you down the street and is the reason you don’t walk the dog!

• Bring dog treats with you in your pocket or treat holder, a squeaker small enough to fit in your coat and a couple of bottles of water.

• Change up the route!  As we get bored with the same walking route, so do our dogs.  You may notice your dog get a lot more excited just by going down a different street or down a different path.  This will help keep you motivated.  Check back here for a series on our favorite dog friendly parks throughout LI and secret hiking trails too!

• Don’t over do it.  If you are not ready to walk 3 or 4 miles a day, your dog may not be either.

• If you have never taken your dog anywhere, your dog may be super excited and may deter you from taking him again with you.  The more you take your dog, the better he will become.  Don’t give up after a couple of walks.

• Know your dog, know your breed.  If you have a tiny 3lb tea cup small breed – they may not be able to walk a long distance.  Realize that!  But if you have a small dog, don’t think because they are little they can’t walk far-they do have legs you know!

• Check your dog’s paws.  With debris on the road from sand from salt trucks and now landscapers, you will want to check your dog’s paws to make sure they did not get a splinter, step in glass, cut or even step on a thorn.  You can do so while on walk or after the walk when the dog is sleeping.   Sometimes dogs are stoic and don’t show pain or an injury, you don’t want to make paw pad or injury worse – so be sure to monitor your dog throughout your walks and afterwards.

• If you are hiking with your dog, be sure to bring a first aid kit for pets, bottled water and an extra collar or leash – just in case your dogs leash breaks or dog gets an injury.  If you are really hiking somewhere off the beaten path, make sure you have mapped out the local 24-hour veterinary clinic, again just in case.

• Can’t walk the dog yourself? Hire a dog walker – there are many on LI and can make your life easier.

• Leave your dog at home – if your dog just can’t do or does not want to walk, (I know a French bulldog that would rather NOT walk at all, and just stay in the house!), grab your ipod and go by yourself or with a friend!  This 250-Challenge is also for non-dog owners. 🙂

If you are not sure about walking your dog far or don’t know how to properly walk your dog – contact a trainer for help.  Also bring your dog for a check up at to the veterinarian; just like you might want to ask your own doctor before starting any exercise routine, you may want to ask your vet too.  I personally walk my almost 10-year old dog nearly 15 to 20 miles a week and he would keep going further if I let him!  So I will be adding 5 miles to my routine, and most likely brining him too!

Also, if your dog is in great shape and you are adding a mile two extra a day, you might want to give a little bit more food than normal, for instance my dog gets about 2 cups of premium holistic dog food regularly, and on long distance walk days (usually 5 or 6 miles), I will give him and extra ¼ of a cup or so.  With this, you don’t want to over do it either! Ask your veterinarian if you are not sure.

By Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com with contribution from Dr. Keith Niesenbaum

Does your pet Floss?

Did you know that the month of February is National Pet Dental Month? Over the last few years every veterinarian that has spoken in the Town or Islip’s Free Dog Training & Education class has stressed the importance of brushing your dog’s teeth – daily. While most people giggle in the class about it, or look at the doctor in disbelief, “I have to do what?” Dental health in dogs and cats is very important. Smaller dogs often have worse dental disease due to the mere fact that their mouths are smaller, and teeth are closer together. But all dogs can suffer from periodontal disease as well as cats.

If you have a new puppy or kitten, the best time to start is while they are still young, getting them used to brushing their teeth. There are specially made pet tooth brushes and pet tooth paste, (do NOT ever use human tooth paste on a dog, it can be very dangerous to the dog), that you can purchase in any pet store. If you are not sure how to brush your dog’s teeth, consult your veterinarian on the proper tools and technique – this way you will not hurt your dog.

I asked local veterinarian Dr. Keith Niesenbaum his professional thoughts on pet dental health and this is what he had to say on the subject:

“Good oral health begins with regular examinations of the teeth and gums by your veterinarian.  If a disease is found it should be treated immediately as early intervention can prevent serious conditions such as pain, tooth loss, kidney disease, heart disease, and systemic infections.  Your veterinarian will probably recommend cleaning, both above and below the gum line and polishing, to remove micro etchings in the enamel, as well as treatments for any specific pathology that is found.  Clients always ask me what they can do to prevent serious dental disease that will spare their pets more invasive procedures.

Prevention is always preferred to treatment.  The obvious, and often off the cuff response to pet owners is to brush their pets’ teeth – just don’t use human tooth paste.  Pets will swallow this and may vomit or even develop fluoride toxicity if they eat too much. Use a veterinary specific paste, they work well, are better tolerated, and won’t cause the problems of the human products.  Besides, what pet can resist the allure of poultry flavored tooth paste?  If you can’t brush at least 3 – 4 times a week, and most of us can’t seem to get that done, then the next best thing is dental chews. You want to get a chew that is appropriately sized for your pets and impregnated with enzymes that inhibit the build up of plaque, the precursor to tarter.  The physical chewing activity is good, but the enzymatic activity is better.  Non-enzymatic chews and bones are my next recommendation, especially if paired with some sort of anti bacterial rinse or water additive.  Owners must be cautioned about chews though, if they are too hard, they can crack teeth, causing a more serious dental problem.  If they can be chewed down to a size small enough to swallow whole, they can become lodged in the GI tract, necessitating surgery to remove them.  Very aggressive chewers should be watched carefully and dogs especially should not be left alone with chews that they might get into trouble with.

Although none of these home programs will remove the tarter once it’s there.  Flip your dog or cat’s lip and try to scrape that brown, mineral encrustation off with your fingers.  There isn’t a brush or a bone in the world that will safely remove that concretion.  Once it’s there, it needs to be professionally removed, and no amount is normal for a healthy mouth.  Many veterinarians are offering some sort of incentive to promote dental health during the month of February.  You should contact your veterinarian to see what programs they have in place.  At Crawford Dog and Cat Hospital we are performing free oral health screening exams during Pet Dental Health Month and you can schedule an appointment on line 24/7 at http://petsmdbook.com/crawford/.”

Thanks to Dr. Niesenbaum for his sound dental advice for out pets and the next time you are flossing, or scheduling your own dental appointment, you may want to think about your dog and cat’s dental needs too!

Nancy Hassel: As a side note, I personally let my dog chew on marrow bones I get at a local health food store, specifically for dogs and made right here in the US.  I happen to know my dog won’t try to eat that actual bone but rather chew on it, and do monitor him while he has it.  Sometimes he chips away at it, but never swallows any piece-you have to know your dog, and know your breed.  Be careful with any type of bone, as a huge mistake I bought one from a big box pet store one day and because of the process the manufacturer put the bone through (some sort of basting/cooking process) my dog cracked it in half within minutes of having it and it was a sharp as a razor.  I immediately threw the bone in the garbage – since that scary instance I stick with the ones I have been buying for over 10 years.