The truth about brewers rice: What is brewers rice in dog food?
Reading the back of a bag of dog food can be confusing. Some ingredients are easy to identify- meats, fruits, and vegetables. Even some vitamins and nutrients are familiar. Other items in the list baffle pet owners. Nutrients, the quality of the ingredients, and where they are sourced is far more important than the ingredients on that list. The same goes for brewers rice. A low-quality product purchased from an illegitimate source can be bad for your pet. If the ingredients are regulated and of the highest quality, it makes all the difference.
Frito feet: Why do my dog's paws smell like corn chips? And should I be worried?Frito feet! I know it sounds corny, but if your dog's paws smell like corn chips, then your dog has Frito feet. Full disclosure, Hazel has Frito feet sometimes, and so did Keira. Although TikTok is popularizing the term, this is something that I've heard pet owners mention in veterinary practices. January 29th is the perfect day to talk about why your dog's paws may smell like Fritos. Why is that? To celebrate National Corn Chip Day! Yes, that's a thing, and yes, it's today. Let's bite into what causes Frito feet!
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Hill's for the holidays: Making sure our pets are well groomed, well fed, and stay safe this season
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Our pets are as much a part of our holiday celebration as any other family member. I know my dog Hazel is! So, how do we get our fur-family holiday ready? It's all about priorities. My top priority is keeping Hazel safe this time of year because she is a trouble magnet. Hazel’s top priority is having a full tummy at all times!
Paws for a cause: We stand with the people and pets of Ukraine- and so can you!
Watching the tragedy in Ukraine unfold has been gutwrenching, and it is impossible to ignore. The people of Ukraine are suffering from an unjust attack. Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, has launched an illegal assault on the people of Ukraine, and his war has gone on far too long. It's day 70 of the war in Ukraine. People- and their pets- are suffering daily and many Canadians desperately want to help. I'm feeling hopeful today because I can share an inspiring initiative with all of my animal-loving readers that will help Ukraine's pets in need and support the veterinarians who are working hard to keep those pets safe and healthy.
How to keep pets safe during the Ottawa Occupation: Pets are suffering from anxiety due to excessive noise pollution
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This post contains affiliate links to products I've recommended to help keep your pet calm,
and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. |
No rational person can call it anything else- the city of Ottawa is being held hostage by an illegal occupation. Since January 29th, non-stop noise pollution from honking horns, yelling, harassment, and fireworks has created an unbearable environment for residents. For dogs and cats in downtown Ottawa, this environment is terrifying.
Merry Christmas: Ottawa veterinary practices are suffering during the holidays
Hazel and I wish everyone a very Furry Christmas! It's been a busy December for us and it will only get busier if we head into what looks like another inevitable lockdown. We hope we do go into lockdown because we want everyone to be safe. All we want for Christmas is for everyone to get fully vaccinated.
She was a once in a lifetime dog: Remembering Keira on Pet Memorial Day
They say grief doesn't shrink, we just grow to accommodate it. I still haven't grown enough to make space for the immense grief I feel after losing my sweet Keira. I never expected to own a pet who would leave paw prints on so many hearts. Keira had a spirit that lingered; it lingers still. All the feelings are still raw and close to the surface, not enough layers of life and time to bury the pain. But as we approach a year since I lost my best friend, I've noticed like most things in my life, I'm slowly learning how to manage the emptiness. The hollow. I've found a few ways to fill it, even if only temporarily.
Pet perspectives: Why a canine parvovirus outbreak made me want to get my COVID-19 vaccine
I’ve been thinking a lot about today. My mind returns to when I worked through a canine parvovirus outbreak. It was the most difficult time of my career. In veterinary medicine, we administer more vaccines than some human general practitioners do in their whole careers. We are educated about vaccines and their value, safety, and efficacy. That being said, I don’t often think “I’m glad I don’t have polio.” This moment in my career made me consciously think “Vaccines are so important to survival.” Most patients who contract parvo are puppies, but we see older patients suffering from this highly contagious infectious disease- that can be vaccinated against. I remember our team desperately trying to save a litter of puppies. One by one they died and one by one we grieved them. We did everything we could, at our clinic’s expense (average cost $1000-$2000 per pup to treat), sometimes on our own time. Because you're in full PPE, we couldn’t hold them against our warm skin. We couldn’t kiss their noses or pet their fur. We gave love through paper and plastic.
World Veterinary Day: I never believed I had what it takes to work in veterinary medicine
When I was studying print journalism and photography my life consisted of photographing and interviewing indie bands, hanging backstage at Bluesfest, and designing TV guides. If you told me then that I would go from interviewing Ron Jeremy, photographing the Never Ending White Lights, and drinking beers with Slightly Stoopid and Matty Mays, to working in media for the veterinary industry, I would have barked at you. I've loved animals my whole life, but working in a compassion-based industry was something I never wanted. I don't have what it takes.
How you can help #NOMV: Veterinary community and animal lovers raise awareness after three vet med professionals die by suicide
If you follow animal or veterinary groups on social media or are friends with someone working in veterinary medicine, you may have seen profile pictures change to support #NOMV. This stands for Not One More Vet, and it's trending for the worst reason. In the past two weeks, three veterinarians (Josh Smith) and one veterinary technician died by suicide. I extend my most sincere sympathies to their family, friends, and colleagues. Sadly, it's a story we in the veterinary profession have heard before. According to the most recent data available in the United States, depending on gender, veterinarians are 1.6 to 2.4 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population and veterinary technicians are 2.3 to 5 times more likely. The veterinary profession has the highest rate of deaths by suicide of any profession.
Do you have a story to tell? Share your story on Paws For Reaction
This year more than ever, I've been providing an outlet for people in the community to share their stories. I've teamed up with some wonderful and interesting guest bloggers, interviewed experts in their fields, and supported different organizations. I want to keep expanding upon that. That being said, Paws For Reaction is looking for new guest bloggers!
The end is coming: A New Year's message of overcoming 2020
The world is letting out a collective sigh of relief as 2020 comes to a close. We have some small glimmers of hope lighting up the horizon. Several vaccines have been created- thank you, scientists! There are fewer unknowns about the virus and how it spreads. We are better prepared to deal with lockdowns, second waves, and changes to protocols. There is awareness being raised about being kind, shopping local, and supporting the needy. The pandemic that separated and isolated us could end up bringing us closer than ever. The end of the year doesn't flip a switch but it may bring forth enough change to get the lights back on.
Guest blog: Living with my one-eyed, three-legged cat
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Guest blog by Kathy M. Finley.
So excited to welcome her to the Paws For Reaction extended family! |
While in the midst of a bitter divorce and a stressful job, I received an unusual birthday gift- a gray and white kitten. That gift, whom I named Clio, was a blessing, and besides having a slight heart murmur, she was a healthy cat. I had no idea that seven years later, I would be caring for a disabled pet.
National Senior Pet Month: Everything you need to know about senior pets and pet insurance
I love the grey fur that appears around a senior dog's eyes as they age, the mark that they've experienced life. The mark that they've given a lifetime of love. To leave our mark on them we need to prepare to support them during their golden years. I'm going to talk about one of my favourite topics- pet insurance. When we think about pet insurance we often think of puppies and kittens, but senior pets are eligible for insurance coverage too.
Since November is National Senior Pet Month, I connected with Karolyne Trottier, Regional Manager at Pets Plus Us pet insurance for a Q&A about pet insurance for senior pets. Can a senior pet get pet insurance? What about their pre-existing conditions? I asked Karolyne everything I could think of about senior pets and pet insurance, and these are her answers!
Do you have a story to tell? Share your story on Paws For Reaction
This year more than ever, I've been providing an outlet for people in the community to share their stories. I've teamed up with some wonderful and interesting guest bloggers, interviewed experts in their fields, and supported different organizations. I want to keep expanding upon that. That being said, Paws For Reaction is looking for new guest bloggers!
Ask an RVT: 10 things I love the most about being a registered veterinary technician
My years of experience working in the veterinary medicine industry taught me many things. One thing I learned on my first day is that the job of a veterinary technician is difficult. Veterinary technicians assist in surgery, dentistry, treat emergencies, learn how to care for multiple species, assist the doctor, be a nurse, provide emotional support for the client, and be an advocate for the patient. They work hard without breaks- often for less pay than you'd expect. It's stressful. It's fast-paced. It's emotionally draining. It's blood, sweat, and tears. REAL tears. And it is incredibly rewarding.
Rabies risks: Thinking about not vaccinating your pet against rabies? Here's what you need to know
I'm one of the many folks across the world anxiously waiting for a COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines are one of the most impactful inventions for humanity, and working in veterinary medicine has allowed me to experience first hand the power of vaccines. Watching a puppy die from canine parvovirus is a devastating experience, but it has given me a deeper respect for vaccines. Especially the rabies vaccine. Rabies is a fatal disease that affects mammals. Rabies is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans. Non-mammals, including fish, poultry, birds, reptiles, and amphibians can’t get rabies. Rabies is spread through the saliva of an infected animal. The animal bites a human or animal, breaking the skin, and the infected saliva gets into the wound, passing the disease on to the victim. You can also become infected by getting saliva, brain or spinal tissue from an infected animal (dead or alive) in an open cut, sore, wound, eyes, mouth, or nose.
My biggest mistake as a pet owner: I should have purchased pet insurance for Hazel, here's why!
I made a HUGE mistake! As pet owners, sometimes we make mistakes when trying to do the best for our pets. But this one... this is all on me. When I brought Hazel home, one of the first things I did was sign her up for a free trial of pet insurance. The next morning I brought Hazel to see her veterinarian because she was walking funny. It turned out Hazel had a broken femur that went undiagnosed before she came home to me. Any conditions she was diagnosed with before the trial became active would not be covered. She was already signed up for a lifetime of pain and pre-existing conditions, so signing her up for pet insurance felt like a lost cause.
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