 By Katy Cable/A 3 min Read Last week I discussed the often misconception of how easy it is to find a dog at a shelter or rescue. The other misconception about rescue/shelter dogs is that they’re damaged goods. Although there’s some truth that many dogs have been irresponsibly over-bred, thus carrying problematic behaviors. Most often, it isn’t the dog, but the negligent OWNER that’s to blame. Many people are uninformed of the breed requirements, as well as the expense and time commitment to care for a pet. A huge part of that comes in the form of proper TRAINING Many dogs get dropped off at shelters more than once, because of problematic behaviors that haven’t been corrected and continue in the new home. The top issues include:
A majority of these issues can be resolved but I do want to warn you, they may take a bit of extra patience and time. When a dog is surrendered to a shelter, it brings a tremendous amount of stress to the animal. Here are tips to help them make the transition from rescue dog to family pet much smoother! It’s so important for adoptive pet parents to understand what their new dog may need in order to reach his full potential as a beloved family pet. A rescued or adopted dog will react a bit differently when introduced to a new home, but common behaviors can include:
This conduct may or not linger as your dog adapts to his new family and living situation. You should keep in mind your new pet’s personality and temperament may not emerge on his first day home, or even during the first week or two. Heck, I feel like it took me 2 years to get Olive out from under the table after I rescued her. Before bringing your dog home, be sure you’ve puppy proofed it for safety. Even an older or seemingly well trained dog will be curious of their new surroundings and needs to be kept safe from harm. Set up a crate with a few toys in a slightly out of the way spot of the room. Find a place where your new pup can still see and hear his new family, but from a safe distance. Leave the door off or open so they can use this as a quiet, safe retreat. NEVER force the pet into the crate. Keep in mind, some dogs may be extremely fearful of them after possibly living exclusively in this type of quarter. When it comes to attention, affection and new experiences for your dog, set a slow, consistent pace. As difficult as it is, lavishing too much attention on your new pup can result in major separation anxiety behaviors when you must leave. After all you’ve probably just saved them and watching you leave is extremely scary. In the beginning, less is more. Aim to have a slightly bored pup. The worst thing is to over-stimulate them from the get go! Try and get them on a regular routine that works for you. Perhaps start with a few short walks and tossing around some new toys. This fun interaction will help their physical and mental state. If your dog doesn’t walk well on a leash or has anti-social manners, consult with a positive-reinforcement dog trainer immediately. Don’t delay beginning to work on forming new, appropriate socialization skills. Mealtimes may also be a challenge. While some dogs, live for food, others might not have much appetite in the first few days at home. Try to keep their diet as familiar as possible, slowly adding more nutritious, fresh foods. Feed them in a calm, quiet setting. After an appropriate amount of time, pick up their food dish and get them on a regular feeding schedule. Don’thesitate to call the vet if their appetite has not improved after a day or so of adjustment. -Or if anything seems off! Building a strong bond with your new pet is a process. Expect some resistance at times. You are building a whole new relationship with a pet that might have severe trauma and trust issues to overcome. Now you can recognize a few common situations and gather the resources necessary to deal with them. Also crucial is HOW you respond when your new pet misbehaves. Use this a teachable moment!👍🏼 A dog learns desired behaviors through positive reinforcement. There are dozens of techniques you can learn to effectively control your dog. Not only can you eliminate problem behaviors, you can build and reward good ones! Physical punishment should never be part of the equation. It’s not effective long-term, and it backfires by terrifying your pet into submission. It rips away at the still-fragile bond you’re trying to form. There are a million great training videos on YouTube or ask for references from your vet or pet store. Ditto if you discover your rescued or adopted dog has a deep-seated behavior issue you can’t resolve on your own. Remember to INTERVIEW and get a feel for perspective trainers. They are your coach and you and your dog need to feel comfortable. The keys to successfully transitioning most dogs from a shelter to a forever home are:
By being aware and practicing these skills you and your pet can make a much smoother and happier adjustment. Here’s to a wonderful experience for both you and your pet! Pugs and kisses!😘🐾💕  By Katy Cable-A 4 min. Read Everyday I am flooded with pictures of pets in dire need of a loving home. So many tragic stories of neglected, discarded, abandoned dogs makes me want to save them all. I myself am adopted and always felt strongly about adopting rescue or shelter pets. And while I’m the world's biggest advocate, what you may be entirely surprised to learn is HOW DIFFICULT IT CAN BE TO ADOPT ONE. Not a day goes by when I don't hear some pet parent share a horror story of how impossible it was to rescue a pet and how badly they were treated by a rescue/shelter. I can definitely relate to their plight. We got our first Pug, Raisin through the wonderful rescue: Pugs and Pals and our current Pug, Olive from the shelter. However, it wasn't without my own heartbreaking, exhausting, ordeal. Before we got Raisin we attended several adoption fairs, filled out applications, and were interviewed at length. We had our house thoroughly checked and scrutinized for suitability. Finally, we were presented with a laundry list of rules, terms and conditions such as agreeing to cook and feed the dog organic, fresh, human-grade food. (-Meanwhile my family was surviving on take-out and Campbell's soup.😜) Providing top veterinary/dental care, letting the dog sleep in our bed, and everything else just shy of providing the dog an Ivy League college education. At last, we were finally approved as suitable candidates to adopt a “wayward dog in need of a loving home!” Regardless of jumping through all those hoops, we still lost out on several dogs we had selected. A "better fit" (usually by someone in the rescue circle) always beat us out. Just when I couldn't take any more disappointments and was ready to contact a reputable breeder, the call came in: WE GOT RAISIN! 💕💕 After 11 wonderful years with Raisin, we had the devastating task of sending him to 🌈Rainbow Bridge. My heart was broken in a million pieces and I too wanted to go to Rainbow Bridge. I couldn’t live without a dog, so I began my search for a new rescue companion and the ordeal began, AGAIN! Regular trips to the shelter routinely put me on "waiting lists" for dogs that never panned out in my favor. Various rescues chose other families for the dogs I wanted and it seemed my only options were "hospice" or senior dogs requiring significant medical care. I'm glad I was patient and didn't settle because two months later, I lucked out and stumbled upon Olive. I got a text alert a Pug had come into a shelter out in the desert. I just so happened to be there on vacation and made a visit. When I arrived, the dog had been turned over to a rescue group due to some extensive medical issues. As I went to leave, filled with more disappointment, I heard yelpng and saw a tiny black paw darting out of another cage. I ran back thinking it was hurt or fighting. When I got to the cage there stood tiny Olive desperately trying to get my attention. I pet her through the bars and asked if she'd like to come home and live with me. I knew then and there that was my dog and went on a mission to get her. She too had many people interested, but this time luck worked in MY favor. The director of the shelter was familiar with Raisin and my work with the breed. Then, after an embarrassing tearful meltdown while showing him pictures of Raisin on my cellphone, I was awarded Olive. Although a completely different dog, in sex, color, and personality, she has been a huge blessing. My grief and depression over losing Raisin began to heal by having such a happy new experience with Olive. So, here’s the takeaway...If you luck out and on the first go, get the companion of your dreams from a rescue or shelter, YEAH! But, if not, hopefully you won't give up. Please understand that while rescues can be a royal pain, making you jump through lots of hoops, they’re doing God's work day-in and day-out. They’ve seen, over-and-over, helpless victims of horrific neglect and abuse at the hands of irresponsible people. Rescues and shelters have to make tough choices on a daily basis and be advocates for helpless creatures. They are constantly fighting for needed funds to try and heal injured, sick dogs. Try and remember the LAST thing they want is an uniformed pet parent not ready to make the huge, often 15-18 year commitment of time, money and finances a dog requires. There's nothing worse than having to re-home dogs again and again. The number one reason our shelters are full, is that people get pets on a whim. They’re a darling impulse buy and people are ill-informed or unrealistic in the time, expense, care and commitment a dog requires. A good rescue (or breeder) spends ample time thoroughly vetting applicants in order to find the best “Happily Ever Afters!” Rescues stand by their animals. They will always take one of their pets back into their care should you not be able to keep it due to some unexpected situation. Looking back, that "demanding" rescue was my lifeline when we first got Raisin. I knew NOTHING about dogs. During the first 6 months of him coming home, I called them DAILY. They were never bothered and always helped, advised, recommended and taught me. All those requirements I initially found obsessively ridiculous, actually allowed us to provide a happy, healthy life and experience for both Raisin and us. While it may feel like the odds of getting a pet from a rescue or shelter are less likely than hitting a Lotto jackpot, I hope before you run to a breeder or Craigslist with a fist full of cash, you’ll try this route first and have a better understanding of how things work and why it can be challenging. Good luck! 💝 🐾Next Week, I continue this topic with tips to acclimate your new shelter/rescue dog!😃  By Katy Cable-A 3-minute read For the past few weeks nearly every dog owner I know is complaining about their dog's relentless scratching and itching. I too, hear the incessant licking and tap-tap-tap-tap-tap of the dog tag as Olive attacks her own itch in the middle of the night. That starts me itching my own dry skin and you get the picture. Did you know your dog can suffer from seasonal allergies just as you do? Over half of all pet owners aren't aware their fuzzy family members can be feeling miserable thanks to allergens. Now lets take a look at what type of allergy it might be and how you can offer some relief for your sweetie. There are two main types of allergies: food allergies and environmental allergies. Food allergies frequently cause diarrhea, vomiting, bloat and sometimes irrational behavior due to your pet feeling uncomfortable and having no way to get relief. Later, itching and irritation can follow. If your pet gets itchy during winter, spring, summer or fall, and there isn't a bout of vomiting or diarrhea first, it's most likely a reaction to a seasonal allergens. If symptoms continue year-round, it's more likely a sensitivity to something in their diet. There are a several exceptions to this rule. For example, living in So. Cal where we don't get snow, a hard freeze, or, with the exception of this year, RAIN!😜environmental allergens can build up and cause year-round issues. And, without extremes in our seasons, allergies can persist or worsen year-round. Most humans who experience seasonal allergies, suffer from dry, red, itchy, puffy eyes. Sneezing, and a dry persistent cough. Dog allergies more commonly take the form of skin irritation or inflammation – a condition called allergic dermatitis. If your dog has seasonal allergies, their coat will become very itchy. You'll notice them scratching excessively, and they will most likely bite or chew their paws or other areas of their body. If your pup is rubbing up against you (especially if you don't have food in your hands) or if you notice them rubbing against furniture or rolling their faces into plush rugs or carpeting for relief, most likely they’re desperately trying to relieve uncomfortable itchiness as best they can. If this continues long enough without relief, their skin will become red, inflamed, warm and tender to the touch. Other signs of allergic dermatitis include patches of hair loss, open sores on the skin, and scabbing. If left untreated, hot spots can develop. A hot spot is raw, red, inflamed, infected skin that occurs when your dog's natural bacteria overwhelms an area of their skin. Typically the skin will be very red, and often there’s weeping, bleeding, and hair loss. Pugs, English Bulldogs, Basset Hounds and Irish Setters with allergies can also suffer from ear problems as a result. Their ear canals may be hot, red, itchy and inflamed as part of a generalized allergic response, or they may grow infected with yeast or bacteria. If your pug's ears are giving them problems you will notice them scratching at their ears, and shaking their heads frequently. Often you will notice anything from a hint of a sweet smell to a horrible foul odor in their ears. Upon cleaning their ears you may find a brown discharge that can be thin and runny or a thick clumpy sludge. While respiratory symptoms aren't common in pets with allergies, they do occur. A running nose, watery eyes, coughing, sneezing and that scary "back-breathing" in flat nosed, brachy dogs, can also attack four-legged seasonal allergy sufferers. Another tell-tale sign of an allergy is redness. Allergic pets often have puffy red eyes, red gums, a red, possibly bumpy blemished chin, red paws and even a red anus. Seasonal allergies can worsen or turn into year round problems. Allergic reactions are produced by your pet's immune system, and the way his immune system functions is a result of both nature (his genetics) and the environment. The more your pet is exposed to the allergens they're sensitive to, the more intense and long-lasting the allergic response becomes. In order to build up your pet's immune system and tolerance try to first identify the culprit and eliminate exposure Helping a Pet Suffering From Environmental Allergies. As someone who has been plagued by allergies all my life, my physicians recommend a few simple things which you can also do for your pet. We all need to enjoy the great outdoors but limit exposure during peak readings for pollens, ragweed, etc. During a rough season, it's important to shower both at night and in the morning to remove allergens. I recommend you do the same for your dog if they are symptomatic. Also use an air purifier and close windows during windy days and the peak pollen hours from 2-8 AM.
I hope this puts an end to some of your fur baby's suffering this season. For great tips each week, please subscribe to my free weekly blog by clicking the link below. Pugs and kisses!🐾 🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾  By Katy Cable- TWR / A 3-min. Read In the last year of working with pet parents, I have seen the demand for "grain-free" pet foods rise tenfold. I have also noticed nearly every brand of commercial pet food now offers a “grain free” variety. But is "grain-free" really better? When discussing dog foods with pet-parents, I often see frustration that their dog's current "grain-free" food isn't helping with their allergies, tummy upsets, arthritis, or weight loss. Many times their conditions are getting WORSE! While it is impressive that so many concerned pet-parents are learning about better nutrition, once again I see the $$$ “big business” $$$ of pet food companies at it again. It begins with the beautiful displays and packaging which is often just a misleading marketing scam. The reality is they’re making record profits on cheap ingredients that are simply not good for our pets. While a "grain-free" diet is certainly ideal for carnivorous canines who have difficulty digesting grains, if those grains are simply replaced by more starchy-high glycemic carbs, you are actually WORSE off. “Grain-Free" Doesn't Mean “Carb-Free” Funny enough, most pet foods marketed as "grain-free" contain even higher amounts of carbs, they just come from other “grain-free” fillers like potato or corn. In July an alert was issued by the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) warning grain free kibble may be linked to canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) It seems that pet foods which contain potatoes or legumes as the main ingredients, may be causing an increase in taurine deficiency-related dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs who aren't typically predisposed to this form of heart disease. Grain-free dry dog food is a new booming market segment, but it appears the high starch/carb content in these diets depletes the digestible taurine level in the food. And while legumes and potatoes are called out as the problem, grain-free kibble is usually higher in starchy carbs than grain-based dry dog food. The higher the starch level in any pet food, the less protein is included. I’m Especially meat-based protein. Once again, it’s IMPERATIVE to read those labels carefully. If you read the ingredients of many, many pet foods the way I do, you will notice the grains have often been swapped out for even less meat-based proteins and more starchy carbs such as: white potatoes, rice, and corn. These carbs quickly turn to glucose in the system and cause surges in blood sugar. And that is why many dogs eat and eat and eat without feeling satisfied. It’s no different than that CRASH we get after consuming a bag of potato chips or a candy bar. Out pets are getting obese and starving to death at the same time. The most important thing to consider when selecting ANY pet food, but certainly a "Grain-Free" variety, is choosing one that lists a premium animal or fish protein as the first two or three ingredients. There are several very popular brands that substitute nearly all the animal protein with starchy-BAD carbs and charge a premium for nothing more than a “grain-free” bag of corn, and brewers rice. Following the protein, look for LOW-GLYCEMIC ingredients. Sweet potatoes in lieu of white potatoes. Peas, chickpeas, quinoa and lentils instead of rice, oats and corn. According to leading integrated holistic veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker, with Mercola Pets: "Dogs are by nature scavenging carnivores and don't even have a carbohydrate requirement. We are putting into their bodies a bunch of foods that are metabolically unnecessary, that are setting up the same degenerative processes that are occurring in human bodies.” You may wonder why pet food contains grains and/or other “bad-carb” fillers if they're not even nutritionally necessary. The answer is simple: -PROFITS! Grains, corn, rice and potatoes are cheap fillers, and this is why they're the main staples of most popular commercial pet foods. To create a high quality, meat-based pet food would cost substantially more. It’s much easier and less expensive for pet food manufacturers to load their foods with corn, rice and wheat and keep higher profit margins. That doesn’t mean great “grain-free,” “low-carb” pet food options don’t exist, but if you don’t dig a little deeper and do your homework, you may be getting PET FOOleD!*+ So, before you reach for that bag of “grain-free” food, READ THOSE LABELS! Let me know if you have any questions or would like some recommendations for your pet. Thanks for taking the time to read this and care for your pup! Pugs and 😘 kisses! -Katy 🐾🐾❤️ +For more information on the pet food industry, I encourage you to check out the documentary PET FOOleD. Surprisingly, it’s not “as dry as dog kibble” but very informative and entertaining! www.petfooled.com 🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾  By, Katy Cable/TWR/A 3 min. “HIGH” Several years ago, I wrote a blog about the astounding results I was seeing in dogs using CBD oil to keep them calm during 4th of July fireworks. And that was just the tip of the iceberg. Arthritic pets, pets with seizures, anxiety, psychosis, depression, end-of-life issues, trauma, even cancer and metabolic diseases were all seeing unbelievable results from CBD oil. In a very short amount of time CBD and hemp products have gone from underground to the hot new thing! What was once only a handful of established companies selling CBD pet products, it’s now a booming market with everyone from Martha Stewart and Snoop Dog in the CBD business. If all this “buzz” (-pun intended 😜) about CBD/Hemp products has you confused and apprehensive, let me clarify all the important things you need to know. When I first heard the words “HEMP”, “CBD” & “CANNABIS”, the thing that came to mind was getting “high” and I got scared. I would never want to turn my little pugs into "pot-heads" and have these CBD's become the new “gateway" drugs for further excessive sleeping, binge snacking followed by opiates and heroin. I was extremely reluctant and apprehensive about using them. Once I turned to my trusted holistic/integrated vets for some clarification, I realized I was way off base. These vets have been using CBD's successfully for some time and straightened out my misconceptions. What is CBD anyway? All mammals have an endocannabinoid system which is located in the brain and central nervous system. It’s crucial for establishing and maintaining health. Among its many functions are regulating memory, metabolism, immunity, sleep, mood, appetite and pain sensation. CBD’s (short for cannabinoids) act on any imbalance in these various receptors in the body. They create balance and provide the support needed for relaxing, repairing, or restoring any deficiencies in the body. There are many varieties of cannabis plants with hemp and marijuana being two popular ones. These plants contain, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) which is a "psychoactive" cannabinoid that produces the "high.” Dogs naturally have an abundance of receptors in their brains and are therefore extremely sensitive to THC. So much so that should your pet get into your stash of edibles it could make them gravely ill. That put the fear of God into me about ever giving my pet CBD’s until I was informed these CBD’s were NON-PSYCHOACTIVE, meaning they contain NO THC. They are 100% non-toxic and safe. So, you get all the relaxation without the intoxication. And now they’ve become a mainstream health-boosting miracle worker. HOW CBD’s CAN HELP YOU & YOUR DOG! -THE ABC’s A’s- ANXIETY: CBD Has Been Extensively Studied For Its Amazing Effect On Stress, Anxiety And Noise Phobias. I couldn’t believe how great it worked on dogs who would typically go off the charts ballistic on the 4th. With CBD they were calm and content. It also worked miracles on Olive. Although she has no issues with the 4th of July, car and airline travel were another story. These caused such extreme stress and anxiety she would vomit, drool and shake even after trying nearly every anti-anxiety drug and natural supplement. Now after taking CBD, she relaxes and actually enjoys travel. I have also witnessed amazing results with frantic barking dogs in shelters or suffering separation anxiety. It’s the perfect remedy for anxious dogs visiting the vet, having nail trims or dental procedures! And it’s not just for your pets. CBD’s can be a tremendous help for those suffering from panic disorders, PTSD, and anxiety. Best of all there are NO SIDE EFFECTS. APPETITE: I know many cancer patients taking medical marijuana to increase appetite and now CBD’s are found to also work wonderfully. Not only with cancer but for many illnesses and aging. So if you’re having trouble getting your pet to eat, try some CBD to help stimulate their appetite. ANTIOXIDANT: With natural antibiotic properties, CBD is shown to be a more powerful antioxidant than vitamins C, D and E. CBD protects the brain from cell death caused by free radicals and toxins. It’s a great anti-aging supplement. AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES: CBD has been shown to decrease the production and release of inflammatory cytokines that can cause allergies and a wide range of autoimmune conditions. B’s- BRAIN HEALTH: CBD Can Help With Neurodegenerative Diseases:For dogs suffering from spine and nerve issues, CBD shows a lot of promise. CBD’s fight free radicals that cause aging and help repair dying brain cells. CBD Can Treat Seizures And Epilepsy: I know so many pugs (and other breeds of dogs) suffering from seizures. Most dogs are put on strong drugs such as phenobarbital and potassium bromide. While they may help control the seizures, they can be extremely harmful to your dog’s liver and other organs. And the drugs don’t work in all cases. CBD has been working well in about 15 dogs I personally know. Dogs went from such frequent seizures they were considering euthanizing until the CBD’s cut the frequency from hourly to monthly! I am SO excited about this and hope more people will look into this option for their pets suffering from seizures. C’s- CHRONIC INFLAMMATION/PAIN RELIEVER: CBD inhibits the production of inflammatory macrophages and decreases chronic inflammation. I've seen over 20 dogs unable to walk without assistance or limping after an injury or over-exertion, bounce back quickly after using CBD's. They work so well for pain that scientists are considering them a new class of drug for the treatment of chronic pain. Studies show CBD to be very effective for:
CANCER: With it’s anti-tumor effect, CBD has even been shown to stop cancer cells from growing and increased tumor cell death. This is HUGE! Cancer is the #1 threat facing our pets with 2 out of 3 dogs getting cancer in their lifetime. How exciting to have this promising new option which is affordable and doesn’t have the horrible side-effects of most conventional treatments.
CBD’s Are Legal, Safe & Non-Toxic: Because CBD oil for pets is derived from hemp oil and contains no THC, all 50 states have now approved the use of hemp-based CBD for human and animal products. With so many studies showing the health benefits of CBD, the most encouraging result is that CBD is completely safe, even when taken in high doses and over extended periods of time. CBD is non-toxic and animals don’t appear to build up a tolerance. Choosing A High Quality CBD Oil I’m sure you’re excited to race out and purchase some of this magic CBD oil but I urge you to do your research first! With any product that has this kind of interest, you must be very mindful. Not all CBD oils are the same and with minimal regulation you must be extremely careful. Here are a few things to look for:
If you wish to purchase products, you'll receive a 10% discount if you use discount code: WEEKLY RUNT at checkout. https://www.treatibles.com/ I now enjoy Treatibles myself when flying (no anxiety and no hangover!🤪) and I give them to Olive all the time as a healthy snack. I also give them to friends who are trying to use more natural pain relief methods for everything from chronic pain management to mensural cramps. I hope if you try them out you’ll keep me posted on your own results. Pugs and kisses! 😘🐾💕 🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾  By Katy Cable/TWR A 3 min. Read 💕 February is Doggy Dental Health Care month and believe it or not, this is a crucial element of your pup’s overall health. Here’s some very important tips and facts for you to “brush-up” on: I always thought people who brushed their dog's teeth were being a tad obsessive, but when my vet informed me they pulled 13 teeth out of my Pug Raisin's mouth and handed me a bill large enough for me to sink my own teeth into, I realized how important doggie dental care is. Unless you're a four year old child, you probably wouldn't dream of going day's on end without brushing your teeth. Believe it or not, just like us, your dog shouldn't either. When plaque is allowed to accumulate on your dog's teeth, within a few days it hardens into tartar. Tartar adheres to the teeth and irritates the gums. Irritated gums result in an inflammatory condition called gingivitis. Dogs with gingivitis have red rather than pink gums, and they often also have stinky breath. If the tartar isn't removed, it builds up under the gums, eventually causing them to pull away from the teeth. This creates small pockets in the gum tissue that trap additional bacteria in the mouth. Once things progress to this stage, your dog will have developed an irreversible condition called periodontal disease, which not only causes considerable pain, but can also result in abscesses, infections, loose teeth, and bone loss. But here's what's really shocking: Should your dog develop periodontal disease, the surface of his gums will be weakened, which can allow mouth bacteria to invade the bloodstream and travel throughout the body. If his immune system doesn't kill off the circulating bacteria, it can reach the heart and infect it with a multitude of scary issues. Some types of bacteria found in the mouths of dogs produce sticky proteins that can adhere to artery walls, causing them to thicken. Mouth bacteria are also known to promote the formation of blood clots that can also severely damage the heart If that's not bad enough, studies have linked periodontal disease in both humans and pets to systemic diseases of the kidneys, liver, and lungs. It can also result in diabetes complications, problems during pregnancy, and even cancer. These serious health problems can either develop or be worsened as inflamed or bleeding gum tissue allows harmful oral bacteria to filter into the bloodstream quicker than a pug can devour a meal. In addition to systemic diseases, infections in the mouth and gums often create other problems including tooth root abscesses, jaw fractures, nasal infection, and in extreme cases, eye loss and oral cancer. If your dog is lucky they may get by with a simple cavity or chipped tooth. That probably scared you enough to start looking for a now doggie toothbrush. And that's good news since most of these conditions can be avoided or greatly improved once good oral hygiene has begun and any dental disease has been resolved. As you can see, your dog's oral hygiene is much more than just an obsessive grooming afterthought. It's an extremely important factor in maintaining your dog's health and longevity. I advise you begin by talking to your vet and getting a thorough evaluation of your dog's teeth, gums and mouth. In my case, with young Olive, I began daily brushing at home which is sufficient for now. But with Raisin, I needed twice yearly cleanings and a major oral surgery to repair just a few years of neglect. Pugs, and other "flat-nosed" breeds come genetically disadvantaged in terms of dental health. They seem to have teeth settled in the far reaches of their throats. Not only are they hard to find, they’re even harder to clean. Their cramped, flat muzzles and shape of their mouths makes properly cleaning back molars about as easy as resisting homemade brownies straight out of the oven. Again, your vet can recommend possibly adding some tartar-removing sprays, and other products which might be useful. Hopefully you can get things under control and a deep cleaning with anesthesia will not be necessary. Here are a few simple tips for keeping your pet's mouth healthy and introducing the toothbrush:
The next step is to use a safe, natural dental cleaning product designed for pets and apply a small amount to the gauze before you rub your dog's teeth. I am a fan of Oxyfresh products With minimal time and effort all that brown hunk around the back teeth comes right off and usually professional cleanings can be avoided. If you don't have canine toothpaste, you can use organic coconut oil. Once they get used to this, you can progress to either a finger brush or a soft toothbrush the right size for their mouth. If your furry companion is highly resistant to having their teeth rubbed or brushed, or, in the case of a new rescue/shelter dog that comes with a mouth needing major attention, you can use Treatibles CBD treats and oil. (Use promo code: WEEKLY RUNT to receive a 10% discount on your order) This all-natural cannibis works miracles to chill-out an anxious dog. (To learn more about all the amazing benefits of CBD read my blog) I have tried several prescriptions and have found CBD to be the most effective and with ZERO harmful side-effects. Also, ask your vet about products that when applied to the teeth go to work to break down plaque and tartar without brushing. I love Oxyfresh products. Those can be an added bonus for Pugs or other pets with dental issues. Remember, the more rubbing and brushing your pet will allow, the more quickly you'll see results, and the easier it will be to maintain dental health. ☠️ALERT REGARDING DOGGIE DENTAL TREATS Please be cautious when purchasing doggie dental treats. Many contain harmful if not toxic ingredients. Before You Buy Dental Care Treats, Read The Ingredient List! I see lots of pet parents gravitating to dry kibble and dental treats to keep their dog’s teeth clean. This is a popular misconception. In addition to not containing healthy, species appropriate ingredients, they are loaded with harmful, if not toxic, synthetic additives and preservatives. Some of the most popular products such as: Milk Bone Brushing Chews and Purina Beneful Healthy Smile Dental Twists contain the synthetic toxic preservatives BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) which are used to prevent fats and oils in food from turning rancid. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Toxicology Program has identified BHA and BHT as cancer-causing agents that consistently produce certain types of tumors in laboratory animals. Unfortunately, the FDA still permits use of these chemicals as preservatives in food, deeming them "generally recognized as safe" in low doses. In addition, smaller treats that are chewed and swallowed in a matter of seconds provide no real dental benefit for your pet. Remember, even with bones, dental treats and a healthy diet, it’s still necessary to brush your dog’s teeth. It’s one of the best things you can do to keep your sweetie from becoming “All Bark and No Bite!” 😁 🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾 VEGAS PUG PARTY...JoinIng Fellow “Pug-A-Holics” Was The Best Anti-DEPRESSANT Money Could Buy!2/18/2019  By Katy Cable-TWR / A 4 min. read Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend but in THIS girl’s case, PUGS are! Feeling horribly depressed as my 53rd birthday hit me like a slap in the face, my amazing husband gave me the gift of a lifetime and agreed to accompany me on: Pugs Take Las Vegas. -A weekend adventure equivalent to Coachella for Pug lovers! As festival season kicked off, Pugs from the around the globe converged on Las Vegas for a “Pug-a-Palooza” of their own. Spearheading what is already a popular East Coast Pug travel trend(PugTakeovers...), Kristin Andrews, vet, and pug-mom to the late-great Chubbs The Wampug (66k followers ) twisted the paws of the organizers and got the green-light to make her “party-city” hometown the next destination. What was originally thought to be about 35 attendees, quickly turned into a sell-out crowd of 165 pugs from all around the globe. Included in the mix were several social media “PUG-lebrities” including: Minnie & Max the Pugs, (@minniemaxpugs)Surf Gidget the Pug, (@surf_gidget_the_pug), Milo & Otis the Pugs,(@otisthepugwalsh) and the new baby sister to the late Chubbs the Wampug, (@chubbsthewampug) Ms Worldwide. Typically having a child or pet with you in “Sin-City” will make you as welcome as a rash, but we found a luxurious base camp and invaded the pet (and eco) friendly Element Hotel in nearby Summerlin. The weekend kicked off with alfresco dining at Maggianos Italian restaurant where we enjoyed a family style dinner and perfect spring temps. Pugs were dressed-to-impress from head-to-tail, many sporting matching coordinated outfits with their human family members. And what could have been “dog-gone” madness, with crazed dogs running amuck and lifting legs with abandon, was instead a group of purrrrectly behaved Pugs. Unlike toddlers throwing temper-tantrums, there were no screaming-crying melt-downs with our fur babies. The Pugs were quite happy flopping around as food tidbits fell to the ground like a spring rain. The following AM we rose at the crack of dawn to brave the sweltering heat for a hike at picturesque Red Rock Canyon. Pugs aren’t known for their hiking agility. These stocky, bowling-ball shaped dogs are more likely to tumble down a hill than climb up one. With temps soaring in the high 90’s, most pugs preferred sleeping like rocks in their comfy, luxurious, all-terrain wheeled strollers. Friday night’s “Pugs, Pizza, & Pajamas” party was a sell-out with over 165 pugs invading every square inch of the hotel lobby. Tripping over pups romping in the festive pug-jamas was the cutest thing I’ve ever laid eyes on! Pugs had the option of indulging in pizza or could stick to their “summer-body diets” and enjoy grain-free, low-carb, lamb, beef & turkey “aPAW-tizers” sponsored by Nulo with organic, GMO-free, pizza toppers from Shake&Wag! Guests were treated to sWAG bags filled with amazing pet products including organic pet shampoo, designer poopy bags from Metro Paws, and CBD treats from Treatibles. The evening concluded with a champagne toast to Chubbs and other pets who have left us for the bridge. Early Saturday Olive and I headed to the “Pugs in the Park” playdate while hubby took off for a much needed-round of golf. Hundreds of pug-obsessed locals joined the “Pugs Take Vegas” weekenders at a beautiful, dog park for “mutt-mingling” and photo-opps with their favorite “pug-lebrities!” We had the pleasure of hitching a ride on Surf Gidget’s pimped-out tour bus. Complete with plush carpet, a mini-fridge, toilet, designer beds and even her own convertible parked inside, her ride was nicer than our hotel suite. Later that afternoon, back at the hotel, a raffle was held with “must-have” “pug-para-FURnalia!” Proceeds from both the weekend event and raffle raised nearly $20,000 for Southern Nevada Pug Rescue. The weekend’s main event was Saturday night when nearly 100 pugs boarded a fleet of party buses and caravaned downtown for a private rooftop dinner at The Commonwealth. It was nothing short of “Pugs-Gone-Wild” as they had us crying in hysterics with their version of “lap & pole” dances. Following dinner, we headed to the Bellagio and the infamous “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign for group pictures. It takes a lot to stand out in Vegas but the controlled chaos caravan of pugs parading down the strip in strollers and canine contour was definitely the talk of the town on that night! The pugs put the superheros and showgirls out of business and were by-far the most sought-after photo-opp! The next AM everyone was “dog-tired” and for our farewell brunch at the appropriately named, Lazy Dog restaurant. The patio was a buzz with the surround sound of snoring pugs sleeping soundly in their “Sunday Brunch Attire” -That is until the candied bacon and eggs hit the table. With tears in our eyes (partly from Visine and no sleep) we said our goodbyes and promised to keep in touch on social media. I can honestly say I don’t know when I’ve had so much fun or seen a better organized adventure in my life. My depression melted away faster than a snow cone in July as I realized wrinkles are an adorable Pug trademark and age is just a number! -Heck in dog years I’d be long gone! A huge “Round-of-a-PAWS! “ to Kristin and Sand for spearheading a “PAWS-itively PERFECT” weekend no one will ever forget! *There’s still time to attend THIS YEAR’S Vegas Pug Party coming up on Thursday, Feb. 28-Sunday, March 3. Now, bigger and better than ever, this year’s event will be held at the beautiful Lake Las Vegas Hilton and features all the same favorite activities. PLUS, we’ve added Saturday’s PUG Con. featuring vendors, speakers, contests, auctions, AND THE WORLD’S LARGEST PUG WEDDING officiated by Elvis. You don’t want to miss this “Bone-Anza”. 😀A huge thanks to the sponsors and hosts for making this such a memorable weekend. Please click the names for a link to their sites. To enjoy more videos and photos of this event and find out about more fun activities, follow me on social media and sign up to receive my weekly blog.  By Katy Cable No question, our pups fill our hearts with love ❤️ but they also play an important role in the vital health of that organ as well. You may be very surprised to learn dogs offer much more than just companionship. The following are 10 health benefits of owning a dog you may not have known: 1. Since it's ❤Valentines Day❤ (almost) Let's start with your ticker! An astounding amount of research concludes that owning a dog will give you a much healthier heart! Not only are dog owners are less likely to have a heart attack, if they do, their survival rate is much higher than those who don't own a dog. Studies have shown that the simple act of petting a dog lowers a person’s heart rate. Men tend to fare even better, as male dog owners in particular tend to experience a reduced rate of heart disease. 2. Your overall health will improve. Dog owners experience far fewer illnesses compared to non-dog owners. Perhaps because dogs expose their owners to lots of germs which builds up their immunity. As a result, not only do dog owners get sick less often, should they fall ill, it is with much less severity than a non-dog owner. Dog owners also tend to have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels compared to non-dog owners. 3. Believe it or not, your dog may save your life by helping you detect cancer. Dog’s have an amazing sense of smell which can be used for many purposes including tracking, drug detection, finding missing person's, and even detecting cancer. A number of dog owners credit their dogs with saving their life when their dog began repeatedly nudging, licking, and sniffing spots that turned out to be cancerous. Finally, many dogs are trained service animals who provide life-saving skills by detecting seizures, low blood sugar and other possible life-threatening health issues. 4. You’re less likely to suffer from "the blues" as owning a dog helps depression. Dog owners are far less likely to suffer from clinical depression and those who have been diagnosed, aren’t likely to be as severely depressed as those who do not own a dog. Caring for a dog naturally relieves depression symptoms since owners tend to be more positive around their pet. 5. Dog owners are much less "stressed-out!" Many studies have shown all the ways owning a dog reduces stress hormones. Playing with your dog, walking your dog, petting your dog, and even LOOKING at your dog can greatly reduce your stress levels. Even the stress of a new pet, training a pet, or caring for a sick pet, are far outweighed by the overall stress-relief benefits. 6. You will exercise more and be in better shape. Owning a dog motivates you to get outside and exercise every day. On those days when you'd much rather flop on the couch and stuff your face with potato chips while watching TV, the sight of your doggie waiting by the door anxious to go for a walk, will likely be the motivation to get out there. Just a 30 minute walk every day can greatly improve your overall health. 7. Your social life (and maybe ❤love❤life) will improve. Not only is walking your dog great exercise, Forget Match.com, your very own dog might also help you get a hot date! People are much more likely to stop and talk with you when you’re walking a dog. Going to the dog park or running errands with your dog may just lead to other dog-loving strangers striking up a conversation with you about your dog. -And WHO KNOWS WHERE THAT MAY LEAD😍! 8. Your kids will be less likely to have allergies. Children raised with a dog in their home are less likely to have allergies. In fact, living in a home with a dog can help kids grow up to have an increased immunity to pet allergies later in life as well. 9. You’ll feel safer.Dogs can be an effective home security system. Studies show that barking dogs deter burglars. Just knowing that you’ve got a dog who can use its keen sense of hearing to detect anyone prowling around can help increase your sense of security, which is good for both your mental and physical health. 10. Dog owners grow old gracefully. The elderly also greatly benefit from owning a dog. Not only do dogs offer wonderful security and companionship, caregivers of elderly patients report they experience far less stress. Research also shows Alzheimer’s patients have fewer outbursts when there is a dog in the home. Olive and I would like to wish you a Valentine’s Day filled with lots of pugs, kisses and everything that makes your ❤️❤️sing!  Katy Cable -TWR A 5 minute read My blog this week is two-fold. I first want to clarify the often misunderstood differences between a "Therapy", ESA (Emotional-Support-Animal) and a "Service" dog. I also want to introduce you to the many rewarding opportunities in therapy dog work and let you know how to get involved. I will never forget the horror I felt watching "Bear" a 135lb, out-of-control black Lab, jump up and knock over a tiny 5 year-old girl just a fraction of his size. He proceeded to grab the soft-serve ice cream cone right out of her hand and snarf it down in all of 5 seconds. The poor little girl was completely terrified and began crying as Bear then tore through the crowds, lift his leg and peed on a decorative planter at the elementary school graduation ceremony. The real kicker was this dog was wearing a "Therapy Dog" vest. Unfortunately, situations like this have become all to common. Many dog owners, wishing to have their pets accompany them to more and more activities, pop a vest on their back and BOOM! -Now they've got a dog they can take anywhere they please. Now I'm all for dog-friendly places and nothing makes me happier than meeting service and therapy dogs when I'm out and about. On the other hand, people ordering service-vests on-line then parading their barking, disobedient dogs through crowded malls, restaurants and hotels. infuriates me. These selfish, clueless people, whose dogs couldn’t don’t have the temperament or skills to pass a basic obedience class, are doing a major disservice to those true assistance dogs. They also put everyone in danger. According to the ADA, a "service animal" is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. This includes detecting drops in blood sugar, on-coming seizures, anxiety attacks, and assisting the impaired or disabled with tasks. These animals are legally allowed to accompany their owners anywhere and are not limited by restrictions which may sometimes be placed on "pets." For example, a disabled renter does not have to worry about finding housing that allows pets. Legally, these highly trained, highly skilled assistance animals are not considered "pets." It it is also not legally required that a service animal wear a vest or disclose that they're assisting someone with a disability. Under the law, if the animal isn’t immediately identifiable as a service dog, staff may only inquire if the dog is a service animal for a disability and what task they perform. They may NOT ask to see any ID, medical documentation, or require the animal perform the task. Unless the dog is out of control and can’t be managed by their handler, they may not be denied access or service. What is is completely taboo is leaving a so-called "Service Animal" unattended barking at home or in a hotel room, while the owner pops out for the evening. A true assistance dog accompanies their owner or abides by the rules for "pets" when not formally working. The owner of a service animal is also responsible for any damages incurred by their dog such as a cleaning fees or carpet steaming. Therapy Dogs on the other hand, provide comfort and emotional support through specialized visits. Any legit therapy dog organization should require that dogs master all Canine Good Citizen skills as well as other specialized tasks that may be required in medical/hospital settings. In addition, extensive temperament tests are done to confirm dogs don't get aggressive or act inappropriately. Any dog a year or older who passes the evaluation can become a therapy dog. Dogs only need to have the required vaccines and cannot be in heat during visits. If you have a dog that is well trained (or could be well trained) enjoys attention and petting, isn't easily agitated or anxious, I would encourage you to look into trying some therapy work. I have listed a link below to Therapy Dogs International, the company I worked through. TDI is one of the largest, most respected companies, however, there are many groups around if you check online. Most sights have a list of required skills as well as evaluation dates and locations. Make sure the organization carries insurance since you don't want to be liable if an accident occurs during a visitation. The group should also list opportunities and places seeking visits from therapy dogs. Hopefully you can read testimonials and see photos from current members as well. By far some of the most rewarding experiences in my life have been making therapy dog visits with my first Pug Raisin. Unfortunately, my current Pug Olive, is still overcoming anxiety issues from her abusive past. She isn't a good candidate for therapy work just yet but I'm hopeful she'll be ready someday. I really miss it. My experience doing therapy work began as a fluke. A woman approached my then 7 year-old daughter about bringing Raisin to elementary schools and helping kids develop their reading skills. I chimed in asking what was involved and how much it cost. The first step was my daughter had to take Raisin to a formal evaluation and make sure he had the right temperament. He also needed to demonstrate he could perform all the Canine Good Citizen skills on command. Karley surprised me with her interest and went right to work training Raisin. Not long after, we took him for his evaluation at a medical facility packed with beautiful dogs practicing their commands with their owners. I immediately turned into a nervous stage-mom wondering if he would make the cut. Most the dogs being evaluated before Karley and Raisin didn't pass. They were encouraged to come try again once they had mastered certain skills. I wasn't optimistic and had my "good try" speech prepared. Low and behold, Raisin passed with flying colors. That afternoon Karley became the youngest therapy dog handler and our life-changing journey began. After-school Karley took Raisin to elementary schools and started helping "at-risk" students learn to read. These children were more than most trained, mature teachers could handle let alone a child of roughly the same age. Seeing the students were not interested in reading they only wanted to play with Raisin, Karley decided to write a book about his “Wags-to-Riches” life hoping it might be of interest. "Raisin, -A Doggie's Tale..." is a heartwarming, funny story told from Raisin's POV. It teaches children how to be responsible pet owners and how to overcome obstacles. The book was such a hit with the kids, Karley published it on Amazon then used social media to market it. Within a few weeks, she made enough money to donate funds to a local shelter and purchase a new computer. Her book also caught the attention of Oprah Winfrey and Karley received an invitation to the White House where the President received an autographed copy. Best of all she got to watch her students thrive all because of her beautiful story, her love and her special little pug, Raisin. After watching my daughter transform through this unbelievable experience, I got a call to bring Raisin to the pediatric critical care unit of a local hospital. I remember sitting in my car in the parking lot paralyzed with fear. I was certain I had made a huge mistake. I was so terrified I would screw something up I couldn't bring myself to move. Healthy school kids were one thing, critically ill children were quite another. I somehow managed get as far as the lobby where I was immediately blindsided by a beautiful quilt hanging on the wall. Each square honored a child whose life was lost far too early. It took everything in my power not to run out the door hysterically crying. I so wished I had never committed to this. Raisin meanwhile had a spring in his step and complete confidence. He no sooner got his paw out of the elevator when literally every single staff member came over lavishing him with pats, strokes and attention. As we walked down the hall to visit our first patient, we passed a mom and dad slumped on the hallway floor. They sadly stared at their tiny 9 month-old daughter who was standing in a baby bouncer-saucer. She had two IVs her itty-bitty arms and look deathly ill. The toddler stood lifelessly gazing down at the ground. It broke my heart. The second we walked by this little pixie she began yelling and frantically pounding on her tray. I panicked. I was certain we had traumatized the poor little girl. I was waiting to be escorted out and told never to return when, to my surprise, her parents yelled, "You with the dog, please come back!" As I turned around I noticed the parents had tears streaming down their cheeks. They begged me to let their little daughter pet Raisin. I was so relieved! I happily took Raisin over and right then and there I experienced a miracle. Apparently this little toddler had never in her life displayed so much emotion much less enthusiasm. It was something her parents had never before witnessed. For the next 30 minutes they were all filled with joy. Everyone's faces lit up as the toddler giggled hysterically at Raisin's curly tail and funny Pug snorts. The color began returning to the child's face and she had an undeniable sparkle in her eyes. In that moment everything changed. I no longer panicked about therapy visits and looked forward to bringing happiness and joy to others in need. In addition to my daughter's and my own, I also was fortunate to witness many lives that were transformed because of Raisin. Difficult, problem children began behaving and excelling in school. Sick children riddled with cancer healed. Alzheimer’s patients recalled happy memories of a beloved pet. Prison inmates softened, and people took their last breath on this earth while petting Raisin. He was very, very, special. I am now a firm believer in the healing powers a dog can unleash. I hope if you're able, you'll consider participating in therapy work and will share some of your own miracles. For information regarding service animals visit: https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.ht For therapy or service dog work info. visit: http://www.cci.org/ http://tdi-dog.org/ To order a copy of "Raisin, -A Doggie’s Tale...click the link: https://www.amazon.com/Raisin-Doggies-Tale-Dumb-Dog-Tail-Waggin/dp/1453699929/ref=nodl_ 💕🐾This inspiring story is a must-have for any pug lover or child who struggles to overcome obstacles in life. Proceeds benefit various pug rescues nationwide.🐾💕 🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾  By Katy Cable - A 3 min. Read It seem like we're paying a lot of money for vets who are still "in-practice!" That was my poor attempt at veterinary humor. In all seriousness, if you welcome vet bills like a rash, here are a few simple tips to keep you splurging on your shoe addiction while also allowing your pooch to be in optimum health. According to research by the American Pet Products Association (APPA), it costs more than $1,600 a year to care for a dog, While I happen to know a few dog owners that blow through twice that amount in a single week covering gourmet food, daycare and their wardrobe. Now, these high-profile canines also have more social media followers than our President, so you get the picture. For a majority of us, food is the main expense of owning a dog. For others veterinary care tops the list. Most pet owners view their pets as part of the family, and spare no expense when it comes to their beloved pooch. That being said, the reality is most of us have some budget perimeters. Pet care expenses can suddenly put YOU into the dog house if Fido has an accident or illness requiring emergency treatment or surgery. Even the bill for routine exams can leave you feeling like you got kicked in the gut when all those, labs, tests, vaccines and whatnots get added up and require a swipe and signature. (There goes that new Chanel bag I was saving for.) In an effort to help keep your vet costs down, I recommend a few things: #1 Quality Diet! First and foremost DON'T pinch pennies and cut corners when it comes to feeding the best quality food you can afford. Do your research and read those labels. You don’t always get what you pay for when it comes to quality pet food. I have lots of helpful blogs on selecting the best foods if you need some assistance. Whatever you choose, remember, the nutrition you provide your pet is one of the most important tools in keeping your pet healthy AND keeping your veterinary costs down. #2. Find a knowledgeable vet you feel comfortable with. I can't tell you how many horror stories I heard from pet parents about bad experiences they've had with vets. Do your research. If possible find one who has experience with your breed of dog. Ask for references from rescue groups, dog clubs, trainers, and/or friends. Most vets give very low cost or complimentary consultations. Go get one. If the vet, office environment or staff makes you feel uncomfortable or their philosophy differs, shop around. And it should go without saying, if the vet is condescending, rude or seems abrupt with either you or your pet, RUN for the door. When we adopted Raisin from Pugs and Pals in Newport Beach, I chose to continue his care with Dr. Gail Renehan, DVM, and Dr. William Radovitch, DVM, owner of VCA/Airport Irvine Animal Hospital. It was a bit of a drive, (OK, a horrendous drive in traffic) but they’re SO worth the extra effort. The entire team is brilliant, caring, and compassionate, as well as very knowledgeable about the breed. I love my vet team and have learned so much from them. I also trust their expertise and judgement implicitly. I hesitate to publicize them too much for fear I won't be able to get an appointment if needed. 😜 Your vet team is your partner and it's so important to be able to communicate and feel comfortable with them. #3 Once you've found a great vet, your pet should be seen at least once a year for a regular check-up. However, if your pup is older or has a chronic health condition, a check-up every six months or more is a good idea. Preventive health care is just that. It involves regular monitoring of your pet’s health status and taking proactive steps as necessary to prevent the development of disease. You’ll be able to check on things like organ function and make changes in your pet’s treatment protocol, to prevent more serious issues from occurring.This definitely isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach; how often you get exams should be tailored to your individual pet’s needs. #4 Do regular at-home checks on your pet. While it’s crucial to take your pet for a professional exam at your vet’s office at least once a year, you should also be doing at-home physical exams on your pet regularity. This is a simple, inexpensive and very effective way for you to keep a close eye on your pet’s health as well as detect any issues early on. Steps For Performing a Successful At-Home Pet Exam Perform the exam in a relaxed environment, preferably at the end of a busy day or after some exercise. If your dog will fit, put them on your lap, otherwise, let them lay on a comfortable doggie bed.
Hopefully you will soon get your dog accustomed to massages so that you can eventually check them without much difficulty. If you examine your pet regularly you will begin to know what is normal and hopefully if there are changes you will notice them quickly because you are familiar with the terrain of his or her body. I have found it extremely helpful to keep a chart for my pets. If I notice an unusual bump, lump, wart or abrasion and don’t think it warrants immediately racing to the vet, I like to snap photos and make notes in my smartphone. I use an object or tape measure to indicate exact size and location. If it gets bigger a day or two later, I know it's time to call the vet. I am also a fan of shooting video clips of my pet's gait, unusual cough or behavior. This has been highly effective in helping my vet make a solid diagnoses. In the past my dreadful sketches and reenactments have only left her more baffled and my pet never performs on cue. On occasion I can simply send a text or email file and save myself a visit. #5 I highly recommend all new pet parents get an insurance plan. New puppies need lots of vaccines and more regular routine care visits. A new rescue/shelter pup might come with some unexpected health issues. While you are getting to know your new pet, a good insurance plan will protect you and keep your costs from spiraling out of control should something unexpected pop up. Plus, you are going to need that cash for all the great toys, beds and goodies you'll want to spoil them with. Remember, when it comes to your beloved dog, an ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure. By spending your pet care dollars wisely, feeding your dog quality food, partnering with a trusted vet, doing home exams to catch issues early, and purchasing some insurance you can actually save lots of money (even a rent payment's worth) by reducing your pet’s future veterinary care costs. Please keep me posted on just what you plan to do with all that extra cash? 💰💰💰💰-Pugs and Kisses! 🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾  ll By, Katy Cable-TWR /A 4 min Read Most of my followers are PUG-OBSESSED like I am, but for those joining the Weekly Runt interested in adding a Pug to your family, I want to educate you on some important facts about this special breed so you are not "unpleasantly" 😳 surprised! Believe it or not I never originally wanted a dog. I actually dreaded getting one and then I was introduced to PUGS! Now I know why people who love pugs say, "Its not just a dog, it's a PUG!" They’re darling. They’re hysterical. They tug at your heartstrings and all of the sudden you’re hooked and HAVE TO HAVE ONE! First of all, no two pugs are alike. Don't assume that magical, snuggle bunny Pug on your neighbor's lap or that comical Pug dressed up singing on YouTube is what you’re going to get. Pugs, like all dogs can vary greatly in their temperament, energy, intelligence and independence ranging from go-with-the-flow to I'm-in-charge-of-everything. That being said, there are some gross generalizations that tend to be SPOT ON: PUG PUPPIES: If I'm lucky, everyday at work I might have the opportunity to help out new pet parents shopping for their first puppy. Usually the puppy is cuddled in their arms dozing in and out of sleep. Just like a new sleeping baby, that in the blink of an eye turns into a high energy toddler on the move, the same holds true for puppies. Warn as I do, these parents are usually astounded when all too quickly that same puppy is a whirling dervish of energy who snuggles for 30 seconds and then is off again to race around the house, leaving a trail of destruction in his or her path. Pug puppies are no different from any other puppy. Expect nipping, chewing, gnawing, jumping, pulling on your pant legs, shoe destroying, and lots of mayhem. Here's the reality. The only puppy that’s a couch potato is a SICK puppy. Most are bundles of non-stop energy. You likely won't have a couch potato pug until at least the age of three and your pug may NEVER be a couch potato. Pugs from reputable breeders are more likely to have the pug temperament eventually, but they’ll all be little spitfires as puppies. If your pug is from the internet, a pet store, a newspaper ad, or rescue, then it's up for grabs what kind of temperament you may end up with. You might luck out and get a pug that has the solid and stable temperament that is the signature of the breed, but you might also end up with a pug like my Olive who has deep-seated issues stemming from horrific abuse. It may take diligent, loving, consistent, training to transform. -If ever! One of the best ways to wear a puppy out (or any busy dog) is to engage them in activities that make them work and think. This is why I cannot say enough about obedience classes! It will be money and time very well spent. Classes are a great way for both of you to bond, socialize and learn. One short hour of training can do wonders for taking the edge off of a busy new pup! A High Maintenance Breed: Don't get me wrong. I love pugs, but they are, without a doubt, a high maintenance breed. They need and want a lot of attention. Pugs are and were bred for the sole purpose of being companion animals. They need people. If you’re going to be gone for long periods of time and/or be too tired to engage with your pup when you get home from work, then a pug likely isn't the dog for you. And pug puppies are developing and learning. They need stimulation, guidance, time and attention. Any puppy left crated for eight to ten hours is going to be absolutely manic by the time you get home and will need you to devote the remainder of the evening to them. They are often referred to as “VELCRO DOGS" so if you don't want a dog that is going to be wherever you are all the time (including in the bathroom!) then rethink getting a pug. House training: Pug puppies will not be house trained in a month two months. Or possibly even six. Some pick it up quickly, but most take much longer before they are completely consistent and reliable. And most pugs won't ask to go out. Pugs generally will not just go outside and do their business while you relax comfortably on the couch enjoying a cappuccino. If they’re outside, you'd better be outside with them. Most will not potty outside without your company and encouragement. (Actually the only thing they probably will do without your fanfare is EAT!) PUG-ALICIOUS PUGS: Pugs have a variety of unique quirks that drive some people bonkers. They can be nosy, inquisitive, and often right under foot. Most are tremendously and dangerously food driven and will consume things that you don't consider edible. I'm not kidding. They will eat poop, grass, rocks, coins, sticks, basically anything they can get in their mouths. They ESPECIALLY love Kleenex and toilet paper. It is your most important job to PUG PROOF your home to avoid tragedy! I never trust any pug around any food source, garbage or even cabinets that they can reach. Trash cans sit up high on countertops, gates are installed, locks are placed on cabinets and chairs pushed away from table tops because even a sedentary pug will muster up the energy to "table surf" if they can get FOOD. -I have many ER vet bills to prove it. Things I never knew lived under the bed and old food left in a jacket pocket or a backpack have been devoured in a NY minute. Pugs can be quite vocal barkers, criers, howlers, moaners and grumblers. As a breed, they have the widest assortment of noises I've ever heard. You may have watched videos of them singing and saying, "I love you". Mine all cry and howl with joy when I return home after time away. And most snore louder than a 400lb man with a head cold. Pugs are referred to as “multim in Parvo” meaning “A lot of dog in a small space.” Pugs are tough little dogs that pack a lot of punch in their compact bodies. They’re confident and have no clue how small they are. Most will not initiate a fight, but many will vigorously defend themselves or others TO THEIR DEATH if a fight starts. Often they are hopelessly outclassed in the fighting department and can get seriously hurt if owners aren't careful. To say they are a food driven breed is a huge understatement. Be prepared for issues with food aggression and resource guarding. Especially if you have black female pugs and other dogs in your pack. Pugs are not fans of inclement or any extreme weather and will resist venturing outside in the cold, rain, snow, extreme heat or wind. And they can be prone to over-heating extremely quickly due to their "flat-noses.” Keep your environment in mind before getting a pug. Pug Smarts: While many people perceive pugs as dumb dogs. They aren't. In fact, most are extremely smart. Their outrageous food drive usually makes them fairly easy to train. They make amazing therapy and service dogs and you won't find better sports about dawning costumes for photos and videos. Because they’re smart, positive training, setting rules and boundaries is critical or you can end up with a problem on your hands. And while they are so much fun to dress up and take out, it's often easy to forget they’re DOGS. They need to do dog things such as go to parks, meet other dogs, play and have fun. Pugs are very adept at figuring out what you will and will not tolerate and will test the limits. You don't need to be a dictator, but all dogs want to know what the routine is and like a predictable world. Pug Energy: While pugs aren't ideal running partners or known for being athletic, sporting dogs, there are some, like Surf Gidget the Pug, that excel at surfing, swimming, agility, run like Greyhounds and are fit as fiddles. And while most would prefer to flop on your lap all day, that isn't good for either of you as you both should get regular exercise. Which brings me to the next important point... PUGS CAN EASILY GET FAT. As cute as they look with their square, barreling shoulders and chest, and the way they always act like they haven't eaten in a week, it is really easy to let them get dangerously obese! Pugs in particular need the right amount of food for their activity level. You significantly shorten their lifespan and quality of life by letting them get obese. (-See last week’s blog on extra “Dog Pounds” ) PUG HEALTH: This, more than any other issue is often the undoing of many a pug owner. As with any pure breed dog, a plethora of expensive health issues may crop up. DO YOUR RESEARCH on the breed and especially on where you are getting your pug. Rescues generally have a good idea of the health issues facing a given dog--don't assume that a rescued pug is going to be a health nightmare. You do put yourself at risk for expensive health issues with pugs from pet stores, internet ads and the newspaper. Even reputable breeders who have genetic testing going back generations offer no guarantee that your pug won't have a problem. Pugs have a very high rate of allergies—food being a big one—grains and bad carbs in particular. Pugs need a high quality diet. Grocery store kibble won't cut it and you can avoid a host of future problems if you start off feeding your pug a healthy, low-carb diet. Check any of my food-related blogs for suggestions. New Pug owners are always surprised to learn that fawn pugs shed like CRAZY. It's downright astonishing how much fur cones off those little bodies! They don't need extensive grooming you can't easily do yourself but they get enormous eye goobers and need regular cleaning of nose folds, ears and eye areas. And MY GOD they’re notoriously fussy about having their nails trimmed. You can see some real dramatic behavior around this. I've known several pugs to start screaming as if they were being killed at the slaughter before the nail trimming even started... They also do a horribly scary thing called “reverse sneezing.” I ran my first pug, Raisin to the ER, TWICE, convinced he was suffocating and was politely told it was just a reverse sneeze and all pugs do it. Pugs are one of the most affectionate, funny and overtly loving breeds you can ever own. To me, they’re worth every bit of effort, expense and time they require. I promise you these little clowns will provide hours of entertainment and completely melt your heart. But, in order to have a positive experience with this breed, I don't want anyone blindsided. As you can now see, a lot of time, and care must go into these amazing little creatures! My blog will be a great help keeping your new addition happy and healthy so I hope you’ll sign up. Pugs and kisses! -Katy 😘💝 🐾If you are interested in getting a pug, I hope you will consider rescuing one in need of a loving home. Message me for rescue groups in your area or check out the following rescues I work with here in So Cal: The Pug Queen Pug Nation Pugs and Pals Pugs and Roses Pug Rescue of San Diego 🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾 @pugsandpals @pugnationla.org #surfGidgetThePug  By, Katy Cable - A 3 min. Read Ahhhhh, it’s February! The month of LOVE! Everywhere you go, everywhere you look, love is in the air. From ❤️balloons and flowers at the grocery store to lingerie and jewelry ads on TV. This month more than any, the pressure is on to find the love of your life. I feel very fortunate that in addition to having a wonderful husband of 22 years, I also have a beloved dog. With that I have learned a thing or two about finding that perfect mate that may completely shock you and change your strategy. All my single friends think I have it made because I’m happily married. I have what appears to be the “perfect” relationship everyone is trying desperately to find. Not a day goes by when I don’t meet singles hinging all their happiness on finding that perfect someone. While I do consider myself very, VERY, blessed, I want everyone to learn the truth. My marriage is far from perfect and it’s certainly not always easy. It usually boils down to a daily conscious choice to stay together rather than some romantic fantasy straight off Lifetime Television. In today’s world (bonus points for living in LA) 22 years of a marriage is pretty much the equivalent of winning an Oscar, or an Olympic gold medal. It takes dedication, focus and hard work. It can be extremely challenging. It’s never equal. There are many times the scales get tipped and one person is doing a lot more of the “work” in the relationship. It boils down to two imperfect people choosing to honor their commitment. And even with that, ultimately the marriage is only as good or bad as the people in it. For those striking out in the search to find that “perfect person” why not start with a dog. Here’s 5 great reasons why: 1. Finding A Perfect Dog Is Much Cheaper And Far Less Time Consuming Than Finding A Perfect Mate. Like many things, it’s a numbers game. The more people you meet, the greater your odds for finding “The One!” Plus, it requires the same diligence, time and priority as anything else you want to succeed in. This means being available for dates, building on-line profiles, searching social media, attending parties, events, mixers and even agreeing to be “set-up!” That’s going to be tough to juggle if not impossible when finishing a masters degree or trying to get a promotion at work. It may even be hard to manage with normal day-to-day demands. Dogs are easy! Going out of town on business? Send them to boarding camp. Working day and night for tax season or the holidays? Get a dog walker. A new relationship will not blossom under extreme schedule demands. A dog on the other hand will be a great partner at the end of a business trip or long, stressful day. 2. You Don’t Have To Deal With The Dating Scene. Whether it’s bars, clubs, set-ups, dating sites, or Tinder swipes, dating can be time consuming, expensive and downright ego crushing. Most people would rather have a root canal than relive an awful date. Not so with a dog! No painful dating required. Dogs just need to get out in the fresh air and walk around. If you’re active, you can find one to run, swim or hike with you. For those whose idea of a strenuous day is peeling your sticky body off the leather recliner to grab the remote, a dog will happily flop at your feet and FETCH things for you. Whatever you enjoy, there’s a dog out there that loves that too. Every outing and date can be fun when choosing a dog. If it’s not a good match, there’s plenty more to consider. And even better, you’ll never go home feeling completely discouraged by some dating disaster straight out of a reality show. 3. They Build Your Confidence. When it comes to dating most people lack confidence. Everyone has that nightmare relationship that kicked them to the curb or they remember how horribly they might have treated someone. It’s easy to lack confidence in the dating scene even for those knocking it out of the park in every other area of life. Often, those credits don’t transfer to the dating arena. But a dog, that’s a whole different ballgame. A dog will love you unconditionally whether you have an MBA or dropped out of high school. And a dog’s love never wanes! They’re ALWAYS happy to see you regardless of the fact you’re wearing designer duds or last night’s dinner thanks to the stomach flu. Having a darling creature alway want to see and be near you is amazing for self esteem and happiness. Marriages are give and take. Even the strong ones can’t compete with the undying attention of a dog. 4. Finding a perfect dog to love is much easier than finding a perfect spouse. Just make a trip to any animal shelter or adoption event and watch how fast you fall in love with the loving gaze of an often stinky, shedding, drooling mess, of a dog that’s desperate to go home with you. One look and you can go from zero-to-psycho over this creature and lose all rationality. Finding A Marital Spouse Takes Much More Work And Searching. There’s so many deal-breakers and issues to consider beyond if the toilet seat stays up or down. Whether your standards are ridiculously high or merely, “doesn’t live with their parents and has their own Netflix account,” it’s tough to find available, suitable mates. On the other hand, when it comes to dogs, chances are probably 100% nearly EVERY SINGLE ONE would love nothing more than to go home and spend forever with you. 5. Last but not least, the very BEST reason to choose a dog is learning unconditional love. A dog will transform you into a more loving, kind, compassionate person. You will be healthier and happier just having a dog too! And although a dog will one day get their wings and leave you, to have your heart broken by a dog leaves you in gratitude for having gotten them in the first place. Not resentful or spinning with what was wrong with you. A dog is never going to dump you for another owner! Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾  By Katy Cable-TWR A 3 min. Read What do you think is the number one New Year’s Resolution? If you guessed: Lose Weight/Get in Shape, you’re right! This is great news considering Americans are plagued by a growing epidemic of obesity, diabetes, and a host of other health issues related to lousy diets and not enough exercise. And, what’s worse, our pets have followed suit! Therefore this might be a great resolution for them as well. Did you know the number one, single most important thing you can do to add years and quality to your pet's life is: keep them from becoming overweight. What and how much you feed your precious fur-baby is the number one component for all aspects of your dog's health, longevity and quality of life. The good news is with just a little will power on your part it can be done quite easily. Keep in mind, YOU 'RE in control of the bowl and what goes into your dog's body is 100% your responsibility. I'm not trying to be judgmental or fat shame anyone’s pup, since I too had no idea of the severity of a few extra “dog pounds!” When our family first went looking for a Pug to adopt, I gravitated towards all the gi-normous ones. I found the portly Pugs cuter and more cuddly (maybe because they couldn't move) and that they were the true standard of the breed. I had no idea a huffing, puffing, fur baby with their belly dragging on the ground and no visible waist was morbidly obese. Thankfully we ended up with a lean, active, healthy Pug and a valuable lesson in pet nutrition. The next eye-opener was how food-obsessed Pugs can be. They will literally eat themselves to DEATH if given the chance. I saw our first Pug Raisin, jump 3 feet onto a table, tear open and devour the contents of a raffle gift basket including a TIN of Almond Roca in less time than it took me to slide on a pair of flip-flops. Mission projects made of sugar cubes, holiday gingerbread houses, -Gone in less than 60 seconds. Nothing excites or motivates a Pug more than food. Most dogs (excluding Labs) are not this obsessed but it's still very difficult to resist the longing gaze of a food-loving dog. I will admit, when my darling Olive tips her head and pants longingly, I ALWAYS give her a small bite of any other human food that isn't harmful. However, I weigh my Pugs, and keep them fit, lean and trim. If the harness gets a bit snug or too loose, I adjust the portions and "small bites" accordingly. And, if they’re battling a health issue or illness, I'm extra diligent about nutrition. Why the big deal? Here’s the “skinny” on this issue: Dogs and cats are much smaller than adult humans. Excess weight on a smaller body has more significant, and immediate consequences than added weight on a bigger body. And when you factor in the short lifespan of the average dog or cat, it gets even shorter if that pet is overweight. Plus, the quality of their life will not be optimal as they develop the inevitable diseases that come with obesity. Believe it or not, dogs that are even A FEW pounds over their ideal weight are prone to FAR more arthritis, hip, vertebrae and mobility issues, cancers, and diabetes. Diabetes can lead to blindness and any issue negatively affecting mobility robs a dog of a big chunk of their quality of life. Tragically, it is often why many pets must be euthanized. If health issues alone weren't bad enough, there's also the expensive vet bills. According to Embrace, a pet insurance carrier, the average annual cost of vet care for a diabetic dog or cat is over $900. In the last year alone, insurance claims for pets with diabetes increased over 250 percent. Embrace, confirms orthopedic conditions are occurring in younger pets – and with greater severity typically because so many animals are overweight. And it's certainly not just one pet insurance company that’s concerned. "Seeing animals suffering from health conditions secondary to their obesity is a common situation," according to Crystal Sheran, DVM for Banfield Pet Hospital So, if your pet is overweight, hopefully you are now convinced it's a big deal and you are willing to “deal with the problem-before it's too late!" Here are a few common sense tips to help you get started:
🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾  🎉HAPPY NEW YEAR!🎊 For many of us, 2018 was a sad, difficult, and downright AWFUL year! We lost a lot of amazing notorious people, and PUGS. You don't have to look further than social media to see a sense of fear and frustration among so many. So if you're in that category, -CONGRATS! Say "Goodbye and Goodriddence!" to 2018 and here's wishing you an abundance of health, happiness, prosperity (and PUGS) in 2019! As we begin a New Year! 🎉most people make a resolution of one kind or another. The most popular being: to get in shape, workout and lose weight. Those are great goals but how about adding something simple for your dog? This is a perfect time to do some: SPRING CLEANING! -In the dead of winter. Get rid of the old and bring in some NEW! Taking the best care of your furry family member means paying attention to things you might not even realize need to be cleaned, repaired, or just TOSSED! Here are some great tips on dog-supplies you should PITCH for the sake of your dog’s health and well-being (and ultimately yours!) 5 Things Dog Parents Need to Toss Right Now 1. The old, stinky and ill-fitting collar: Your dog’s collar is like your underwear. They wear it all the time and it’s very close to their skin. And while most people wouldn’t think of wearing the same underwear day after day without ever washing them or getting a new pair, many dog collars never get replaced or even cleaned. I learned this, like EVERYTHING ELSE I blog about, THE HARD WAY when my first pug Raisin got a horrible yeasty, foul-smelling rash around his neck. After an expensive trip to the vet, followed by a heavy course of antibiotics and pricy RX creams, guess who also got a brand new, clean collar to wear! It’s important to keep your pet’s collar clean to reduce the risk it will cause an infection or hot spot on their skin. Worn-out collars, those with an unpleasant odor and collars that have either grown too tight or too loose, need to go. Also check to make sure their tag with your contact info is still legible should they ever get lost. You may need to replace and update that as well. Replace with this: New collar/ID tag I found a clip for the ID tag and now change out collars all the time. I have an entire collection of cute festive collars I find on sale. Have fun with this! 😜 2. Plastic food and water bowls: Plastic food and water bowls are inexpensive and convenient. Unfortunately, not only are they impossible to thoroughly sanitize, but as the plastic begins to break down, it can leak toxic chemicals into your dog’s food and water. In addition, I have seen many dogs (including my own) get blemishes on their chins and other skin irritations from bacteria and oils which get easily trapped in the peeling plastic. This was another expensive trip to the vet and medications I could’ve avoided! Some more sensitive dogs can develop allergies to the materials and dyes in plastic bowls, and get tear stains, rashes and other complications. In addition, aggressive chewers have been known to gnaw their bowls into small pieces and swallow them. Also avoid the cute pottery bowls since these can contain dangerous lead-based paint and other toxic materials. Again, I have learned everything the hard way and I hope to save you from the same mistakes. Replace with this: stainless steel, porcelain or glass food and water bowls. 3. Broken or chewed up toys: Many dogs are toy slaughterers. My pug Olive can tear off the head of a toy and devour the stuffing faster than I can open a jar of peanut butter. There have been many times I’ve left a dog alone with a stuffed toy, only to find they have a belly full of chemical-tainted cotton stuffing before I get to the first commercial break during Real Housewives! With any luck, (and a few spoonfuls of canned pumpkin purée) the stuffing will pass in their 💩. However, God forbid, they should swallow a squeaker or get a piece of the toy lodged in their GI tract. Suddenly that $5.00 chew toy can become a life-threatening situation requiring expensive surgery to remove. It’s a good idea to review the contents your dog’s toy basket on a regular basis and get rid of anything that could pose a choking hazard or GI obstruction. Replace with this: Repaired or new non-toxic toys. I love the un-stuffed flat, crinkle toys, non-toxic ropes, and Tugga Kongs filled with a premium pet food. 4. Dull nail trimmers: Most dogs enjoy nail trims the way I enjoy a root canal but one thing that can make a bad situation worse is a pair of dull clippers. I personally leave nail trims to the pros after too many bad experiences. I am about as welcome as a rash when dogs see me come at them with nail clippers. (Talk about feeling unpopular!) With dull clippers, instead of a quick clean snip, the trimmers can crush and split the nail. Or, not cut at all! Not only is this extremely painful for your probably already anxious dog, but it tends to make you — the human at the other end of the clippers — tense up. Your dog, in turn, picks up on your stress, which doubles theirs. In a worst-case scenario, a nail trim botched by dull trimmers can FOREVER make your dog run like a pack of wolves every time they see them come out. Trust me on this one. Replace with this: Freshly sharpened or new nail trimmers, or a battery-operated rotary tool (e.g., a Dremel). Or visit your vet’s office, PetSmart or a trusted local groomer and let a professional do it. For highly anxious dogs try giving CBD 2 hours before their mani/pedi👌 5. Retractable leash “Leash” is probably not a good word to describe the thin cord or ribbon used in many retractable devices. The real purpose of using a leash is to keep the animal safe and under your control while out on walks. Retractable leashes often do just the opposite. They give the owner and the dog WAY TOO MUCH LEEWAY and then put you both at risk when you must quickly RETRACT. I never recommend these leashes as a good option for pet parents. I only recommend them for those who are working specifically with a trainer on commands but never for walking. There are many reasons to avoid or reconsider use of a retractable leash, starting with the fact it's easy for your dog to get too far away from you to be safe. Suddenly a car, aggressive dog, or skateboard appears and if it's not too late already, quickly retracting can result in SERIOUS injuries. I personally have gotten deep, horrible cuts and burns and also know of young children needing extensive surgery from retractable leash injuries! In most cases, these devices are also completely counterproductive to training a dog to walk well on a leash. The very nature of retractables trains dogs to pull on the leash to extend the lead. The dog is out front and in-charge. Needless to say, this pulling behavior will be repeated whenever the dog is on a standard leash. Replace with this: 4-6-foot flat leash and pull it in closely until your dog has learned to walk at your side without pulling. Practice daily by rewarding dog with small treats as they walk nicely at your side. By reinforcing the way you want them to walk, they will quickly get the hang of it! In addition to tossing, losing, stopping, quitting. Why not TAKE ON, START, BEGIN, FIND a new thing or two for the new year. Set a few small goals that will be healthy for both you and your dog. Here's a few ideas: 1. If your pup is a bit pudgy, commit to a long walk, better food, smaller/healthier treats, and reduced portions to get them fit and trim. 2. Join a dog meet-up group and make a few new friends. 3. Check local events and do a dog hike, yappy-hour or another dog-friendly social activity with your pooch once a month. If you love pugs, don’t miss the Vegas Pug Party which promises to be the best weekend ever with non-stop pug fun! 4. Sign up for a training class together to refresh skills, strengthen your bond and work on socialization. If your dog has the basics down what about agility, tricks, or train them to be a therapy dog. 5. Grab your camera or phone and start a social media account for your pup. Connect with other pet owners and tap into your creativity in a positive way. Does your dog do something funny, unique, or useful? Do they have a disability? Have they overcome a hardship? Do they have a story behind them? Why not enter them in Facebook’s The World’s Most Amazing Dog Contest and perhaps you could win the $100k Grand Prize. In any case, for every entry, $1 is donated to the ASPCA to help pets in need. Check my homepage for activities and ideas and try to put something on this month’s calendar. Remember that $$$$ and time wisely invested in you dog will come back TEN-FOLD. I hope you will join me for fun, easy, healthy resolutions for you and your pup that you can do ALL YEAR LONG! I hope 2019 is a wonderful year for you and your beloved pets! 🎉 -Pugs and Kisses! -Katy & Olive 🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾  By, Katy Cable-TWR A 2 min. read There's a 50 year-old rumor that's still going strong amongst dog owners. Maybe you've heard it too. It's the one that says feeding your dog table scraps is a big-bad "No-No!" Well I'm here to squelch that myth and shed some light on the surprising truth. It always astounds me when I'm talking to pet parents about their pet's food and I encourage them to let their dogs eat table scraps! First let me clarify that when I say table scraps I'm referring to human-grade fish, meat, fruits & vegetables. -NOT nachos and beer. People are always surprised until I explain the true facts. Facts which confirm how the brilliant marketing machine driving the commercial pet food business has brainwashed us all. Today, it is estimated over 95% of all pet owners around the globe are feeding their pets dry, commercial pet kibble. What blows my mind is that a large majority of these people honestly believe this dry kibble is all their pet needs to be healthy and thrive throughout their entire lifetime. Furthermore, they believe that supplementing this kibble with “human food” would be extremely harmful. My how times have changed. Here's how this ridiculous "fake news" got started in the first place. Back in 1964, pet food manufacturers were having a difficult time selling their newly invented processed pet foods. At the time, pet owners by and large were feeding their pets foods from their own kitchens. In an effort to sell product, the pet food industry pumped loads of money into launching one of the most influential campaigns the pet world had ever seen: the “Ban All Table Scraps from your Pets’ Bowls” campaign! Every consumer was bombarded with newspaper, magazine, radio and TV ads warning of the dangers of eating "table scraps!" Pet owners were urged to introduce this new "balanced diet" of "processed" commercial pet food. Now, over 50 years later, this brilliant campaign is still going strong. So much so that even today, a majority of pet owners are still skeptical of offering their pets anything but big-brand commercial pet foods. It seems like a no-brainer to me. Feeding any living creature a diet of entirely dried, processed kibble for their lifetime is a bad idea. It may be the reason 1 out of every 2 dogs is dying of cancer at far too young an age. Diabetes, obesity, and other obesity-related illnesses are also skyrocketing. And it isn't just our pets suffering. A large percentage of Americans are also being plagued with the same diseases. I believe to find the reason why, one needs to look no further than our cups, bowls and plates. Food is either healing or it's hurting. For those who are still doubting, read on: A 2005 study conducted on Scottish Terriers at Purdue University confirmed my suspicion with some astounding findings. The results showed that simply adding some fresh vegetables to dry commercial kibble actually prevented and/or slowed down the development of transitional cell carcinoma (aka bladder cancer)! In the study, some dogs ate a diet of strictly dry commercial pet food, while others got an assortment of vegetables added to their food at least 3 times a week. When the study concluded, here's what the researchers found: Dogs that were fed ANY type of green vegetables, such as broccoli, kale, or peppers had reduced the risk of developing bladder cancer by 90% and the dogs that consumed any yellow – orange vegetables like carrots reduced the risk by 70%! (http://ilarjournal.oxfordjournals.org/content/55/1/100.full ) (Raghavan, Knapp, Bonney, 2005) Imagine that! A floret of broccoli could stomp out the risk of cancer by 90%. -Pass Fido the broccoli please. Still skeptical? I tell pet parents reaching for that bag of dry kibble, "At best, you're feeding your dog a balanced diet made up of processed food. It would be the equivalent of you going your entire life eating a nutritious bowl of fortified cereal or protein bars. For optimum health, you still need to mix in a salad, and real FRESH foods now and then!" In 50 years we've seen our world drastically change. There has been an increasing demand for quick, inexpensive, easy, convenient food. (In other words: PROCESSSED!) We have gotten away from cooking real foods and turned to microwaving packaged foods. On the other hand, our resources and food supplies are dwindling. Livestock is being pumped full of antibiotics and growth hormones. Most grains, fruits and vegetables are contaminated with pesticides and GMOs, and our over fed bodies are literally starving. Now more than ever, it is crucial for us to consume organically grown produce to flush out and detox our bodies from all the pollutants and toxins. Here's what you can do: Let your dog DIG IN!+ Use fresh foods as a "topper" to add to your pet's meals. Dogs are carnivores so let them indulge in some of your chicken, beef, lamb, turkey, fish, etc. (Set aside a few bites for your dog before you douse your dinner in A1 or BBQ sauce. 😜) -And save those organs too! Cut them up in small bits and freeze them to add to future meals. While you're at it, flash steam some fresh veggies then cut them in small pieces and purée them in a blender with a little water. Spoon a bit of this highly concentrated, easy to digest mixture over meals. Add fresh blueberries, apple, and other seasonal fruits to meals or use as healthy treats loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. +WITH ANY CHANGE IN DIET, ALWAYS INTRODUCE ONE NEW FOOD AT A TIME. NEVER ADD MORE THAN 10% NEW FOOD TO EXISTING DIET. GO SLOWLY TO AVOID GIVING YOUR DOG AN UPSET TUMMY. HOLD OFF ON THE SALT, SUGAR, SAUCES, AND SEASONINGS. STAY AWAY FROM FOODS THAT ARE DANGEROUS FOR DOGS. -See below A few words of caution. Dogs have been known to stop eating their kibble and "hold-out" until the delicious human food is offered. Or, they can start jumping in your lap each time you sit down for a meal. To avoid having these problems, add small amounts of food to their own bowl at meal times or offer fresh nibbles as treats. Never feed your dog off your plate at the table or you're asking for trouble. It's time to put an end to this crazy mindset about food and look at the writing on the wall (-or the numbers on the scale!) It's up to us to be educated, informed pet advocates and DEMAND the pet food industry be better! We have already made tremendous progress. Most pet food stores and big box retailers now carry fresh foods in refrigerators. Just take one look at all the slick new packages of dog food lining store shelves and our impact is evident. Huge brands with numerous food varieties including: "grain-free" , "single-protein", "farm-raised", "grass-fed" "fresh vegetables", "limited-ingredient" "all-natural" "GMO-Free" etc. This demonstrates our demands for higher-quality food are being heard. As exciting as this is, we are still outnumbered by skeptics watching those misleading TV ads who DIDN'T GET THE MEMO. And old rumors die a long, slow death. So, let's lead by example and get each and every pet owner on board. Adding some "table scraps" to better quality commercial pet food allows us to stretch our dollars, and most importantly, allows our pets to lead longer, healthier lives. Bon Appetite! ☠️6 Human Foods That Are Toxic and Potentially Fatal for Your Pets☠️ ☠️Chocolate and Chocolate based products. ☠️Plants containing allium, including onions, garlic, leeks and chives. ☠️Macadamia nuts. ☠️Vitis vinifera fruits, including grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants. ☠️Foods and product containing the sweetener xylitol. ☠️Ethanol in alcoholic beverages. 🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾  By, Katy Cable-TWR / A 4 min. Read Wanna know the WORST possible holiday gift you can give someone...-A NEW DOG they didn’t ask for! This time of year I see lots of happy pet parents stocking up for the “new addition!” And usually nothing makes me happier. But at the same time, many of these dogs are surrendered to shelters come February 1st. About the same time the novelty wears off and the responsibility becomes apparent. So as much as you may love dogs, here’s a checklist to review before you take the big leap and become a pet parent. 1. What are your plans for the next 5-15 years? If you’re lucky, a pet may be around for 15 years. Prior to getting one, evaluate your plans and goals. Like anything else, a new family member requires additional time and attention. You may want to hold off if you’ve just started a new job or are adjusting to the demands of a new baby. Also think about what the next 15 years holds. Will you be retiring, will you be in a position to care for a then aging pet. 2. Can you afford to care for a pet? New pet parents are often blind-sighted by the expense of a new dog. They assume adding a large bag of dog kibble to the grocery list and the costs of a few quick vet check-ups will be about all it sets them back. While my blog tips will certainly help with costs, you must anticipate the additional expenses of a high-quality food, pet training, initial pet supplies, regular vet care, dental care, grooming and pet daycare/boarding. If a pet gets injured or suffers from a medical condition you could be looking at thousands of dollars for treatment. It’s best to be realistic about your financial situation prior to bringing home a new pet. 3. Are all the adults in your home OK with getting a pet? Take it from someone who initially never wanted a dog. I was filled with anger and resentment that my feelings weren’t being considered. Thankfully I was actively involved in the decision making process and we had clearly defined agreements on pet care duties. I advise getting everyone’s input on the pet selected and who will be responsible for various pet care details. 4. Do you have the time and energy for a pet? Many new pet owners are surprised at how much time a new pet requires. -Especially a new puppy. If you’re rarely home, travel extensively or presently find it hard to carve out time to get out for a quick dinner with friends, a new pet may put you over the edge. New pets need time to bond with you and get a stable routine that includes training/obedience classes, daily walks, exercise, socialization, grooming, feeding and of course, belly rubs. If you leave the house before the sun rises and return completely spent late in the evenings, you’ll need to seriously consider if you want to set that alarm even earlier for a morning run with your new dog. Will you be OK with hiring a dog sitter while you’re away all day? Will you have the energy to throw on sneakers and get out for another walk after putting in a grueling 15 hour day? A bored, neglected dog will typically develop behavior problems and create unnecessary stress. Think seriously about whether you have the time to provide a new pet a good quality of life. 5. Lastly, are you prepared for a disruption in your home? One reason I initially dreaded getting a dog was the mess! I suffered from bad allergies and liked keeping my home obsessively neat. The thought of dog hair covering all my furniture and my designer shoes serving as the chew toy of choice for a new pet was my idea of a living hell. Be realistic about how important your fine clothing, furniture and household tidiness is. If you’ve considered the above-mentioned points and it’s still a “GO,” let’s consider a few more important details: What type of dog will be the best fit for your lifestyle? This is a biggie? Read up on different breeds and get an idea of energy levels and temperament. Do you want a cute designer dog you can pack in a purse and take with you everywhere? Are you the outdoorsy type that enjoys hiking, camping and water activities? A retriever might be the perfect breed. If you’re an avid runner or swimmer, some breeds are perfectly suited for those activities while others, like Pugs, overheat easily and typically sink like stones in water. Many people are misinformed and choose a breed that conflicts with their lifestyle and energy levels. I urge you to research breeds wisely first. Are you prepared to deal with emotional or behavioral issues? I’m hoping and praying you will opt for getting your new pet from a rescue or shelter, but do want to remind you that most of these innocent animals were completely let down by humans. They weren’t properly cared for, trained or socialized. Often it takes time for the new pet to form a bond and trust again. Poor little Olive was a breeder dog who was tossed out in the streets after having a litter of puppies. Just a puppy herself, she had lived in a crate her entire life. She had no interaction with humans or other dogs. Coming into a new home was terrifying and overwhelming. She ran and hid at the slightest noise or anyone approaching her. I was so heartbroken for her but remained loving and patient. Three years later she’s thriving, but it took lots of time. Remember most dogs are relinquished for house breaking problems, barking and other issues due to fear and anxiety. Are you committed to rehab this pet if needed. Do you have an existing pet to consider? Usually after an adjustment period, a new pet can be happily added to the family but there are times when two pets simply DO NOT GET ALONG and leaving them alone together is an outright dangerous situation. I recommend planning a meeting at a neutral setting that’s not too busy and stimulating. Try a nice walk with both on leashes and slowly see how a short interaction goes with the ability to pull them away if one gets aggressive. If it’s not a match made in heaven try consulting with a good trainer before ruling things out. Often shelters and rescues have ideas and recommendations to help you welcome a new pet into the pack. Typically it just takes some time for the pets to adjust and have a balanced relationship. I realize I’ve just painted a terribly grim and unpleasant picture of dog ownership. I left out all the best parts which is the unbelievable amount of joy they can bring to your life. The true unconditional love they shower you with, and all the happiness they bring typically FAR OUTWEIGH all the hassles and extra expense. However, I would rather prepare you for the worst case scenario and not have you blindsided by a rude awakening. These tips will hopefully make it a smooth, wonderful experience. I hope many of your holidays include a special new addition. Please pass my website and blog on to any new dog owner friends that may find it helpful. Until next week: Pugs & Kisses 😘❤️🐾 🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾  By Katy Cable - A 4 min. Read It’s the most wonderful time of the year! While it is for some, it’s also the most stressful time of the year for many. Suicides and domestic violence skyrocket and everyone seems spread WAY too thin. Everyday I hear people do much more complaining about the holidays than actually enjoying them. It’s a shame the commercialization of Christmas has got us brainwashed. This time of year, far more people feel depressed and sad instead of loving and thankful. As a “recovering” co-dependent I used to feel obligated to do everything and then guilty I didn’t do enough. I dreaded the holidays because I had enormous expectations for myself. It was up to “ME” (not Santa Claus) to make everyone’s holiday magical. I always did a pretty good job 😜 but every year I ended up angry, exhausted and sick. Now I actually enjoy the holidays because I’ve learned how to do things entirely different. So here’s a few tips that have turned things around for me. I hope they help you enjoy a much merrier holiday season. 1. Self Care is the name of the game. Most women (especially moms and wives) don’t do anything for themselves until everyone else is OK. They put themselves last on the list. I’m giving you permission to put yourself FIRST !. Nobody’s going to give you what you need or set your boundaries. In order to feel happy and joyful you simply must “Put Your Oxygen Mask On First” Shut down and rest if you’re stressed or getting sick. Eat well. Get some fresh air and connect with those special people in your life that lift you up. Spoil your pet with an extra walk and watch how many people you talk to and how great you feel. Make a list of 5 things you’re going to do EACH day for self care! Fun little things that make you feel good and rejuvenate you. ⭐️I enjoy taking Olive on a walk through the beautifully decorated canals near my home. It’s like being at Disneyland. All the homes and boats are so festive. It always puts me in good spirits and a place of gratitude. No canals or picturesque walking spots...How about taking a holiday drive through a pretty neighborhood. Blast that Christmas music and enjoy! 2. BE STILL AND BREATHE! If you’re like me you’re addicted to going, going, going! Sitting still and doing nothing is extremely uncomfortable. AND all the more reason I need to do it. Sit your butt down for a few minutes and breathe. Go online and do a 5-10 minute guided meditation or just sit quiet and do your best to think calm, happy, beautiful thoughts. When your “to-do” list or negative thoughts crop in, immediately shut them off by thinking to something peaceful. I can hear it now, “That might be fine for you but it’s so hectic right now I don’t have a minute to breathe!”...Well, make 10 and watch what happens. I have enjoyed sitting in bubble bath with candles and meditating in the warm, soothing water. Listening to the water fill the tub is also very relaxing. ☯️Sometimes It’s just impossible to stop my busy mind. When this happens, I swim some laps and focus on the cold, blue water and my breathing. Another helpful thing is taking a gratitude walk and thinking about all the things I’m thankful for using every letter of the alphabet. Try this when you can’t fall asleep or you’re obsessing about something! (-Bonus points for getting 5 things for each letter!) Usually I’m out like a light before I get to the letter “X” but if not, that takes some serious thinking! 3. JUST SAY “NO!” All month long the invitations and obligations come pouring in so do yourself a favor and say “NO!” Trying to get healthy and not pack on 20 extra holiday pounds...Pass on the cookie swap. Would you rather have a root canal than sit through another painstaking production of The Nutcracker or holiday chorale show? -JUST SAY NO! Everyone’s busy and either they’ll understand or they’ll get over it. Doing things you have zero interested in will only build up stress and resentments. NOW, in the true spirit of the holidays, there are some things that you should do. For instance your niece landed the lead role of Clara in the Nutcracker this year and the entire family is going. But, there will certainly be many, MANY, other invitations you can pass on that aren’t a big deal. Especially hitting every holiday parade, show, and get-together. Watch the volunteering too! DO NOT take on the ENTIRE job of organizing the office holiday bash, and a million extra volunteer jobs that are time-zappers. 4.”YES PLEASE!” That’s right! Now that you’ve cleared your calendar, go crazy with things that sound warm and fuzzy and FUN! Things that make your holidays MERRY! Start planning, inviting, organizing and doing a few of those! Love those holiday cookies, -host or attend a cookie swap. Is a favorite tradition hitting holiday sales at the mall or outlets until your feet bleed with blisters...go get those deals! Again, be honest about what is truly fun and not an obligation. Recharge those batteries doing fun things you love. 🎁One of my my favorite things to do is have my friends over a day or two after Christmas. Everyone comes in sweats, or PJ’s with a “RE-GIFT” (something nice but just not their thing.) Each friend brings left-over holiday cookies and food and we drink lattes (or champagne) while catching up on holiday happenings. Sometimes we make vision boards by cutting inspiring photos and headlines out of magazines with goals and dreams for the new year. 5. Surround yourself with DOGS! (Or cats, puppies, kittens, etc!) Seriously! Petting a dog actually makes the neurotransmitters in your brain go crazy. Oxytocin (a stress reducing hormone) is released and cortisone (a nasty stress hormone) is reduced. Walking a dog is easy exercise. It forces you outside in the fresh air getting your heart pumping and your blood flowing. Dogs are filled with love. Any attention drives them bonkers. Hug a few dogs, talk to them, pet them, love on them and watch how you feel. Why not see if a rescue or shelter will let you foster one for the holidays. 😜 🐾BONUS: One of my favorite traditions is participating in Justin Rudd’s Operation Santa Paws. Right after Thanksgiving, collection bins are put out all around the community. The weekend before Christmas all the items collected are taken to a variety of shelters and given to all the pets. It’s such fun to see the joy on the faces of all the needy pets. It’s a magical day! How about starting this in your community? If you’re a pet lover it will make your holidays extra special. ‘Tis is the season do something kind! Buy someone a coffee! Tip ridiculously! Donate to needy kids. Be someone’s secret Santa. Low on funds...”hold the door for someone, let the other driver take that prime parking spot. Offer to take someone’s “selfie” or just smile and give a genuine compliment. Doing kind things for others doesn’t have to cost a cent! It will make you feel wonderful! And you’ll be doing a kind deed during the holidays! Wishing you a peaceful, STRESS-FREE and happy holiday season. Pugs and kisses! -Katy 🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.  By Katy Cable-A 4 min. Read Happy Holidays! I hope all of you are delighting in the merriment of the season and not stressing out over schedules, finances, obligations and expectations. I'll be honest with you, when it comes to Christmas, I tend to be a bit of a "Grinch"! I over-commit and never remember to take traffic, crowds, budgets, or my own energy levels into consideration. I’m usually left sick, tired, broke and frustrated before most people have their Christmas lights up. Every year I promise I'm going to "scale-back" and do things differently but it never happens. I would do much better if the holidays came every FOUR years like the Olympics or Presidential elections. So, if you’re re anything like me, here are a few suggestions that I’m trying out this year. I’m hoping to have a much less chaotic, “happier” holidays! 🎁It's all about the gifts🎁 It astounds me, all these catalogs and websites showcasing “perfect” gift ideas that START at $500! If I had funds like that, I sure wouldn’t need a gift guide for assistance. But coming up with a personal, unique wonderful gift on a minimal budget is difficult. And honestly, most of us don’t remember what we gifts we got from people anyway. This year, instead of all my favorite products and finds, I’m doing something completely different. When it comes to the hottest gifts this year, the big trend is not presents that need to be wrapped but “experiences!” I love this! Instead of your closet overflowing with thoughtful items you’re just dying to re-gift, now you can have some fun making memories with your recipients AND possibly treat yourself at the same time. I’m going to start with my BIG IDEA for the pug lover, while this isn’t inexpensive, or something you can consider if you’re flat-broke, but if you CAN swing it, I promise you it will be the gift that keeps on giving and worth every penny you spend and more. That gift is to attend the 2019 Vegas Pug Party. What could be more fun for a pug-obsessed person than an entire weekend of pugs. Last year’s gathering was such a huge hit, and this year promises to be even bigger and better. So my one extravaganza is THIS! Put it on YOUR wish list, make plans with a friend, or just treat yourself! This is what I’m asking Santa for after having the time of my life last year. Please read my blog and watch the videos to get a glimpse! (#Pugs Take Vegas) This year the party takes takes place Thursday, February 28-Sunday, March 3, at the Lake Las Vegas Hilton. A lavish, 5 ⭐️ resort. All the fun parties (PJ’s, Party Buses) from last year are offered, but new this year will be a pug convention with vendors, seminars, auctions, games, contests, and a pug adoption fair. That evening will be “The World’s Biggest Pug Wedding” uniting all pug lovers, withElvis officiating. So, if funds are tight, start saving NOW or talk to friends and look into ways to keep costs down by carpooling, sharing hotel rooms and attending select activities. (Click here for link with details: Vegas Pug Party) Back to my great gift ideas when you’re broke. If you have even less money than time, don't feel bad. Some of the most cherished gifts are those that come from the heart and don’t cost much money. Here are a few of my favorite ideas: 🎁Are you great with a camera or love social media? How about offering to set up an Instagram for a friend’s new pet. Last year I made holiday videos for my friends. I used clips and photos of fun things we did all year long. On Christmas morning I sent them in a text message. 🎁Have a flair for fashion? Why not take a friend shopping and help them select some nice pieces for an occasion or work. Maybe hit a vintage store and get a special piece not found in stores. 🎁How about giving a friend a facial, massage, or show them how to make that amazing dish of your grandmother’s that they rave about. 🎁Have a cookie swap with some friends and place them on an inexpensive pretty plate. 🎁Fill small sachets or jars with Epsom salts and add a few drops of peppermint oil. Tie them with a holiday ribbon. 🎁Buy a pretty vintage tea cup and add a sachet of tea. 🎁Fill a small holiday stocking and with a coupon offering to do some dog walking or pet sitting for a friend. My favorite holiday tradition is my “White Elephant Christmas” Postpartum Party. In between Christmas and New Year’s, I invite a few friends over. Everyone brings a favorite dish and a “re-gift” We have a “re-gift” exchange and play some fun games like Pictionary or Jenga. Some years we decorate gingerbread houses, others we make vision boards by cutting inspirational photos from magazines and making collages. It’s such fun to spend quality time with friends and it doesn’t cost much money. Plus we usually trade an unwanted gift for something g we like better. Other ideas are movie nights, a sporting tail-gate party or meet for pedicures or massages where everyone can treat themselves to some post-holiday pampering. Another wonderful idea is treat yourself to a shelter pet. Many rescues and shelters offer “Home Fur The Holidays” programs where families can foster a shelter pet for the holidays. This allows prospective adopters to try things out before committing and gets a needy animal out of the stressful shelter for the holidays. Hopefully the pet will end up being a “foster-fail” and become a new family member. Check your local shelters or rescues for info. I hope this year you’ll spend much less money and have much more fun by trying a few of these ideas. -And wIth all the money you save on gifts, I’m hoping all you pug lovers can make it to the 2019 Vegas Pug Party! 😜 🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾  By, Katy Cable/A 4 minute read Happy Thanksgiving! No doubt many of you are busy, busy, busy, knee deep in preparations for the big event which, for many years was the case with me. Thankfully, this year we’re all gathering at Mimi’s Cafe and I will not have to worry about the fact my home is covered in a thin layer of dog fur and picking up all the clutter. The only thing I need to pick up is the VERY reasonable CHECK! But let's discuss our dogs for a second. I assumed since so many dog foods are turkey based and turkey is a very gentle protein that doesn't cause the allergies of say, beef or chicken, it was perfectly healthy for dogs. Also, with most of us wanting to indulge our pets with human "living foods" and not just processed food, "table scraps" can actually be a great thing. They key is HOW MUCH and WHAT KIND. So, here are some tips for enjoying a DOG-FRIENDLY Thanksgiving. TIPS FOR A DOG SAFE THANKSGIVING: 🦃 Keep the Dogs outside, in a bedroom or in a safe place. If you have a dog run, kennel, or crate, your best bet is to keep the dog safely inside it until all of the food has been put away and the scraps and bones disposed of. It's impossible to keep an eye on the dogs with guests coming and going and food everywhere. 🦃DON’T LEAVE UNCOOKED TURKEY UNATTENDED ON THE KITCHEN COUNTER – THE SMELL IS TOO TEMPTING FOR YOUR DOG. COOKED OR SMALL TURKEY BONES COULD CHOKE YOUR DOG OR BREAK/SPLINTER WHILE THEy'RE EATING THEM. BROKEN BONES CAN TEAR, OR GET STUCK IN, ANY PART OF YOUR DOG’S GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT AS THEY WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH THE SYSTEM; 🦃 ONCE YOU’VE COOKED YOUR TURKEY, AND BEFORE YOU SIT DOWN TO EAT, CLEAR AWAY ALL THE WRAPPINGS SUCH AS TIN FOIL, CELLOPHANE WRAP, PLASTIC BAGS, STRING AND MEAT SKEWERS – THEY ARE ALL POTENTIAL HAZARDS FOR YOUR DOG; I also recommend having someone clear all the appetizers and food and drinks guests may have left laying around while watching football or chatting, prior to the meal. Clear trash immediately and IF YOU PUT THE WRAPPINGS IN THE BIN, MAKE SURE THE LID IS ON FIRMLY; WE HAVE USED BRICKS ON THE BIN LID IN THE PAST TO KEEP OUT PERSISTENT SCAVENGERS! 🦃 I PREPARE A TURKEY dinner for the dogs with Nulo canned turkey, dried organic cranberries, puréed canned pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and ground pumpkin seeds. If possible, I add some gizzards and fresh turkey meat to their food. It may be possible for the dogs to eat alongside the family, then return to an empty bedroom until the meal is finished. 🦃I also stock up on toys for my dogs to play with and present a Kong stuffed with kibble or white turkey meat to keep them entertained. If your dog is happily playing, they're not getting into mischief in the kitchen. 🦃A TIRED DOG IS A GOOD DOG. I try and get out and give my dog A GOOD ENERGETIC WALK IN THE MORNING, SOMETHING THAT’S MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY STIMULATING. If you have an older dog, maybe a long walk in the stroller for fresh air. This way, they will BE MORE INCLINED TO SLEEP OR AT LEAST LIE QUIETLY WHILST YOU ARE PREPARING AND EATING YOUR TURKEY FEAST! 🦃If Thanksgiving gets too hectic, grab all the dogs and go for a nice walk. It might be a great escape and help you and the dogs gets one fresh air and manage the stress of the day. 🦃For anxious, stressed-out dogs, try TREATIBLES (https://www.treatibles.com/collections/shop). I swear by these little turkey flavor treats containing CBD oil. These have a drastic effect and calms anxious dogs. Good news! They're human grade so you can indulge as well! These will do a lot to help calm and sooth holiday stress. -Especially if you don't drink alcohol or are the designated driver! JUST TO BE SAFE: 🦃Most Veterinary offices will be closed on Thanksgiving. Know the phone number and the closest 24hr. Emergency Animal Hospital. 🦃Dogs and cats can get anxious with the commotion and unfamiliar crowds, make sure they are wearing a proper ID should they get out. 🦃Remind guests not to indulge your dog and be cautious. Those who don't own pets may not understand their ability to get into food and the complete lack of willpower many pets have when it comes to food. As a reminder, dogs and alcohol don’t mix either. 🦃While turkey meat and organs can be a wonderful healthy meal or treat, RICH, FATTY FOODS SUCH AS TURKEY SKIN AND DARK TURKEY MEAT ARE DIFFICULT TO DIGEST AND CAN CAUSE VOMITING AND DIARRHEA IN YOUR DOG, AND IN EXTREME CASES, BLOAT OR PANCREATITIS.* SYMPTOMS OF PANCREATITIS INCLUDE LOSS OF APPETITE, LETHARGY, VOMITING, ABDOMINAL PAIN, DIARRHEA AND FEVER. IF YOU SUSPECT YOUR DOG HAS HELPED HIMSELF TO A TURKEY DINNER AND IS SHOWING ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS, I SUGGEST YOU TAKE HIM TO YOUR VET AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! No-No's for dogs: Artificial sweetner: Xylitol (100x's more deadly than chocolate) found in sugarless gum, breath mints, candy, peanut butters, sugar-free foods. chocolate -The darker the more toxic. caffeine, alcohol, onions, grapes, raisins, popcorn, garlic, salt/sugar, macadamia nuts, avocado skin & pit. I want to wish each and every one of you, and your beloved pets, a wonderful, happy, SAFE Thanksgiving! Gooble-Gooble🦃❤️🐾 *(PANCREATITIS IS AN INFLAMMATION OF THE PANCREAS WHICH CAN BE LETHAL FOR YOUR DOG.) THE PANCREAS PRODUCES DIGESTIVE ENZYMES, AND WHEN INFLAMED THE NATURAL PRODUCTION AND RELEASE OF THESE ENZYMES IS DISRUPTED. WHEN THE DIGESTIVE ENZYMES ARE PRODUCED AND THERE’S NO FOOD TO DIGEST, THE ENZYMES WILL START DIGESTING BODY TISSUE INSTEAD. THIS CAUSES FURTHER INFLAMMATION OF THE PANCREAS – THE SEVERITY OF THE PANCREATITIS, AND YOUR DOG’S PROGNOSIS, WILL DEPEND ON HOW HE REACTS TO THIS INFLAMMATION. 🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾  By Katy Cable-TWR /A 4 min read Ahhhhhh the holidays... Not only the most wonderful time of year but also, when it comes to travel, the busiest. If you’re staying home and love pets, you may be considering making some serious cash by offering your services for dogs staying “HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!” You’re probably thinking it’s easy money and how hard can it be walking a dog and setting out a bowl of food. Before you agree and add pet sitting to your Google calendar, be advised! Today’s pets are the new royalty and you’re more likely to see dogs in strollers and toddlers on leashes. A pet sitter is often required to be a highly skilled professional accommodating incredible demands. Even a seasoned pet-sitter may be shocked at the efforts involved in caring for a pampered pooch these days. Take my recent experience for example: Nothing could have excited me more than to receive a call to pet sit for a certain celebrity pup while her parents went away on business. The rates they offered were 3xs more than I would’ve considered charging for even the most difficult dog. And honestly, I would’ve considered paying THEM to watch this darling, healthy, FAMOUS, 4 year-old pug, Petunia.* I thought I’d hit the pet-sitting Lotto and was about to embark on the easiest “JOB” I’d ever had! As I sat down with Petunia’s millennial pet parents* to review the schedule, I realized pet sitting today is anything but a simple “walk in the park!” Petunia * is a princess and lives a pug life that’s beyond reach for 90% of most humans much less dogs. This pug’s wardrobe, grooming, nutrition and health-care budget rivals a competitive athlete. Her parent’s would saw off an arm before they’d dream of using a pet-sitting service or boarding facility. After careful vetting and extensive research, they reached out to ME! With over 1 million social media followers, sponsors and major endorsements, Petunia isn’t just a pet, she’s a regular “PUG-lebrity.” Her Instagram alone has nearly 250K users that don’t want to miss her latest outfit, treat or adventure. I had to laugh at the fact I offer pet parents tips that will save them a rent payment in vet bills and I’m lucky to get a follow. -And that’s probably someone only interested in me trying their new health supplements. Petunia’s schedule included everything but leisurely dog day afternoons. Her jam-packed itinerary made my mom-ager duties for my daughter’s professional acting career look laid-back. Here’s a look at my daily “pet-sitting” regimen: Dearest Nanny Katy, Thank you for watching our baby! You know how difficult it is for us to leave her😭 Please text or call if you have any questions or need anything!”🎁❤️❤️😘😘 7:00AM PETUNIA GOES OUT FOR HER AM POTTY Please ONLY use the lawn on the corner, (it’s NOT treated with chemicals.) After she goes bring her home for breakfast. Please use the hypoallergenic paw wipes by the door and clean her since her allergies are awful this time of year. 7:30AM PETUNIA’S BREAKFAST IS IN THE FRIDGE Remove her evening meal from the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge. Petunia is a very sensitive pug and her RAW, homemade diet is delivered each week Her meals consist of free-range turkey with a purée of sweet potatoes, kale, green-lipped mussels and a cocktail of vitamins and minerals. It seemed excessive for anyone not battling a life-threatening disease much less a healthy dog, but just one look at Petunia and you could see the results. A glistening soft coat, sparkling white teeth, a lean muscular body, bright eyes and remarkable disposition. Petunia attacked her breakfast like a fight dog. Her head didn’t rise from the bowl until it had been licked so clean, it looked like it had just come out of the dishwasher. It was like a pig at the trough, snorting and slurping. This was an Instagram moment if ever there was one. When her face finally emerged from the ultra clean bowl, half her meal was buried deep into the folds of her darling wrinkles on her face. I laughed hysterically while giving her an after-breakfast facial. 12 NOON-1:00PM PETUNIA’S WALK IN THE PARK (Leashes/sweaters/coats in the closet) Stop by the La Croissant on the corner where Petunia gets a treat. A walk in the park was anything but. It took me nearly 40 minutes just to select the perfect ensemble. -Oh the choices! “Sweaters, and collars and leashes OH MY!” It was too much! I finally chose a fall-colored, bedazzled argyle sweater with a matching beret and scarf. A lovely understated LV harness with matching leash and Petunia was perfected poised for the park. I, on the other hand, had to up my game since ripped sweats, old Converse kicks and a baseball cap would’ve had someone quickly reporting Petunia stolen by a hobo. First stop was a darling French Bistro on the corner. Petunia is a regular and they always have a treat for her. Today’s seasonal snack was an organic pumpkin biscuit baked with coconut flour. I grabbed a turmeric, chai latte which ended up all over my shirt as petunia darted for another biscuit. As unfortunate as my spill was, it was ridiculous to think I could've managed a latte while also shooting IG’s of Petunia. Everywhere she went people recognized her and wanted to pet and snap a selfie with her. It was so wonderful to see how she brightened everyone’s day. -Including mine. Watching her prance down the street with her head held high and her cute little double-curled tail filled me with joy. 1:00-3:00PM SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES Please tag the outfits, sponsors, and pics with the list on the desk. I have left some fun hashtags and ideas. I admire your creativity but ask that you please stick to the list since we don’t want to go “off brand”! This put me in a panic! Instagram isn’t a fun hobby but a JOB! My pictures were average at best and the videos were atrocious. Lots of bad footage of my shoes and the sidewalk. Thank God there was a library ready to go and I just had to select a few things I liked. I spent the next 2 hours going through Petunia’s scroll, 💕💕💕pics and responding with kind endearments until my eyes were bleeding. And I still hadn’t made but a small dent in the staggering number of comments. By 3:00pm, It looked like Santa’s workshop on Christmas Eve. The entire living room was filled to the brim with the day’s delivery of products for Petunia. Hopefully she would try them, use them, love them and give them a shout-out on social media. In addition, her fans sent new products and everything from artwork to exquisite one-of-a-kind jewelry. Petunia’s afternoon/evenings were filled with a variety of “Yappy-Hours” events, premieres, grooming appointments and yes, DOGA (-yoga for dogs.) 6:00PM DINNER/FACE-TIME CALL. Please call us after Petunia finishes her dinner. We don’t want her to feel abandoned. ABANDONED????!!!! That was a laugh! Petunia was far FAR too busy. That dog got round-the-clock love and attention every waking (and snoring) second. My husband on the other hand, DID feel completely abandoned! He thought I’d lost my mind jumping through all these hoops and didn’t for the life of him understand how people could go to such lengths for a “DOG” -Until he learned the annual income Petunia brings in. 8:00PM PETUNIA GOES FOR HER EVENING POTTY ON THE CORNER. Again, wipe her paws when she returns home. 8:30-9:00PM BRUSH PETUNIA’S TEETH/GIVE HER A MASSAGE WITH CBD OIL. She loves cuddling in bed and should fall asleep immediately. I was so exhausted adhering to Petunia’s schedule I literally forgot to brush my own teeth. Petunia shares a bed with her mommy and daddy and she wasted no time attaching herself to me like Velcro. I was amazed how cramped a king-sized bed can be when a 17lb Pug is always underfoot. The entire night was filled with interrupted sleep. Petunia’s snoring was so loud, not only did she keep me from getting any sleep, occasionally she’d wake HERSELF UP out of a deep sleep. . By day four I was out of gas and ready to drop from exhaustion. I badly underestimated the stamina it takes looking after a high-profile pug. Thankfully Petunia’s parents were returning home. The second they walked through the door, Petunia sprinted over to them crying and squealing as if she’d been left alone inside a cardboard box all week. She was so excited to be reunited with her family, I didn’t get so much as a goodbye. Don’t get me wrong, I had an unforgettable time watching Petunia and I really miss her, but I was seriously delusional about the demands of pet sitting these days. And while Petunia is far from the norm of a typical pet -sitting gig, I want to warn you, the requirements can be anything BUT a cake-walk job! So, pet sitting may be the perfect way to earn some much-needed cash this holiday season, just be prepared that it may not be the simple walk in the park you’re expecting. -Especially if it’s a pampered, celebrity pet! *names and details have been changed to protect privacy 🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾  By Katy Cable- 3 min read Halloween may be over but don’t go smashing your pumpkins just yet! I bet you didn't realize what a nutritional powerhouse pumpkin is. -And not just for you, but your fur babies as well. I specifically saved this blog for today so if your pets get into something "naughty" and wind up with an upset tummy+ this may be the perfect cure-all! -Read on! These amazing tidbits about Pumpkin are guaranteed to make you feel all lit up and warm inside. 🎃 I learned about the Great Pumpkin many years ago. I vividly remember coming home from a quick trip to the market. The second I walked in the door I found my Pug Raisin on top of my dining room table, devouring the contents of a gift basket like a ravenous grizzly bear. A dozen gourmet marshmallows were long gone, and he was halfway through a tin of Almond Roca, (gold foil wrappers and all.) I raced him to the vet and after a thorough examination he was luckily given the OK to return home. The vet advised me to add a few spoonfuls of pumpkin to his diet. Well, genius that I am, I raced into the nearest market and grabbed pumpkin pie filling! But it still worked like magic! Since that incident, canned pumpkin is now my secret weapon for tummy troubles. I recommend every pet parent stock-up while it's readily available and keep a can or two in their cupboard year-round just to be safe. Your Halloween pumpkins may get an interested sniff from dogs but raw Jack-o-lantern pumpkin is not suitable for human or dog. However, canned and cooked fresh pumpkin, along with pumpkin seeds, is the new "SUPER FOOD" ! It can be a healthy addition to their a regular diet as well as a perfect ingredient to use in treats. Just look at all the health benefits it can also provide for you AND your dog.
Before you race out the door with your pooch to grab a few cans (and a Starbuck's Pumpkin Carmel Spiced Latte) consider this... The typical 13oz can of pumpkin contains around 29 tablespoons, and lasts about a week in the refrigerator. Unless you're catering for a small shelter or pack of canines, this is far too much pumpkin for your average dog or two to consume in a week. In an effort not to have this bounty end up in your garbage can, I suggest freezing extra in ice cube trays. Simply freeze, and pop out the cubes into a freezer bag. Thaw one out when you need it, mix with a spoon to blend any separation of water, and refrigerate the leftover pumpkin cubes to serve at your pet’s next meal. If you don’t want to retrieve pumpkin cubes from the freezer every other day, count out a week’s worth of servings into small freezer containers. Put them into the freezer and take out one container at a time to thaw and serve to your pet throughout the week. 🎃Just a note to those of you who may be considering buying a small jar of baby food. While the jar size may make it tempting, unfortunately pumpkin by itself is not a commercial baby food flavor; it’s usually mixed with sweet potatoes. So it’s not a good idea to feed this form of pumpkin to your pet. While pumpkin is readily available this time of year, good luck finding a can of it when you might need it in, say, April. Out of season you can still find it at many PetSmart stores. I like their brand of Authority, 100% pure canned pumpkin which runs between $2-3 for a 13oz a can or .70 cents for a small 4oz cat sized can. After my recent blog on how crummy most store-bought treats are, (MIS-treating your dog??) I now enjoy making my own creative delicacies using this super-food. These treats are far less expensive than most store bought ones and also healthier. An added benefit is baking the biscuits also makes your house smell wonderful! Now your sweet doggie can also enjoy a bit of the season while you are savoring your own slice of pumpkin pie. 🎃Crunchy Pumpkin Biscuits🎃. Makes 75 small biscuits/50 medium Preheat oven to 350 degrees 1/2 cup organic canned pumpkin 1/4 tsp sea salt 2 1/2 cups organic brown rice flour/or coconut flour 1 tsp ground parsley (optional) 2 eggs *unsalted organic creamy peanut butter/coconut oil/dried cranberries for decor if desired Combine eggs and pumpkin until smooth. Add salt, parsley, and slowly add in flour. Roll mixture out using additional flour if needed for sticking. When dough is 1/4 - 1/2" thickness, use small or medium cookie cutters to make biscuits. Place on cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. Turn biscuits over and bake for another 20 minutes. Drizzle or dip warm biscuits in organic, unsalted creamy peanut butter or coconut oil that has been melted in a microwave for 30 sec. Add dried cranberries for decor. Place on wax paper until cooled and dipping sauce has hardened. 🎃🎃Pumpkin Pops🎃🎃 1 can organic canned pumpkin 1 cup organic, plain Greek yogurt/plain Kefir/coconut water or milk 1/2 cup organic, creamy, unsalted unsweetened peanut butter unsweetened organic coconut flakes/dried cranberries if desired. Blend all ingredients until smooth. Pour into ice cube tray. You can add coconut flakes, dried cranberries, if you wish. Freeze for 12 hours and add to meals or as a cool treat. So whether you're enjoying the cooler fall temperatures or an Indian summer, I've got you and your fur baby covered with some Great Pumpkin options. And, best of all, neither one of you needs to feel guilty about indulging in a few tempting pumpkin delights. Enjoy!🎃🎃🎃 +This blog is not intended to take the place of veterinary advice/care! Always consult your vet if your pet is ill. 🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾 For more great ideas, tips and events follow me on social media and subscribe to The Weekly Runt by clicking the button below.  By, Katy Cable-TWR A 3 minute read It's time for a change! This Sunday, November 4th, if you live in the US, you’ll get an extra hour to sleep in -or be lazy in bed. Saturday at 2AM is when we (in the US*) FALL BACK! I love the extra time in the morning and think it’s a fair trade to have it dark at 4:50PM. For me it’s much more difficult trying to get my “dog tired” butt in gear to “spring forward!” It got me thinking...”What about our dogs?” “Can your dog tell time?” Many people claim that their pets know, to the minute, when it's mealtime, walk time, or time for their owners to arrive home. Is it true? Can dogs tell time? As research shows, the answer is an overwhelming YES! It seems clear that dogs are aware that time is passing, but many pet owners are amazed by how well pets are able to learn household routines. Dogs are highly adaptable and able to tell time well enough to stick to a schedule. They can also quickly adjust to a new one. Dogs, in particular, have evolved to be very skilled at picking up social clues and reading human behavior. You may not realize that your body language sends subtle cues about your mood and intentions, but your dog certainly does. Maybe you always grab the leash or your commuter mug before you venture out on your afternoon walk. Perhaps you stand up and walk toward the kitchen just a little more purposefully than usual when it's feeding time. If your dog is paying attention, they may be able to convince you that they're anticipating your every move in advance. Most dogs are also quite good at figuring out associations between events, so your dog probably knows that when you pick up his leash, it's time for a walk, and that when they hear a can opener or the pitter-patter of kibble, it's mealtime. And those are the “no-brainer” cues. They also seem to know when you're preparing to travel long before the luggage appears. The stacks of clothes, the way things are being organized and you're general demeanor is a dead giveaway to your dog. Internal Clocks: Like most living things, dogs derive most of their time sense from their circadian rhythms. Earth takes approximately 24 hours to rotate once around its axis and experience a full cycle of night and day, so most life on the planet has evolved to wake, eat, survive, and sleep on that 24-hour schedule. Scientists have observed this in humans, dogs, cats, and interestingly enough, insects, fungi and even some microbes. An animal's circadian rhythm is governed by it’s genes, but these cycles are also very dependent on light and dark. Your dog's circadian rhythm probably plays a big role in when your dog thinks it's time to play, sleep, or eat. This was very clearly demonstrated by my dogs always waking at the exact same time of the morning even though the time had changed. It also explains why as the daylight hours get shorter they will adjust to the new time and sleep a bit later. This internal clock along with aligning to the circadian rhythms is what gives all of us, including our dog's, the sense of time. If your dog is having some trouble with the time change, I advise these 3 easy tips: ⏰ 1. Begin slowly adjusting feeding and walk times by 10-15 minutes the week PRIOR to the time change. They should be adjusted within the week. Since, in this case you didn't get the memo until AFTER the time change, you can still slowly adjust time their schedule in 10-15 minute increments until your dog has transitioned. Then, in the SPRING start a week prior. 2. What I personally do is keep my feedings & walks not at a specific time but within a 1-2 hour time window. I get up and walk Olive between 7 & 8 AM, then feed her when we return home. I have the same 1-2 hour window for walks. This makes it an easy adjustment not just for time change, but also when we travel or have unexpected delays that throw off our schedule. 3. Another easy tip is to tire your dog out with more exercise to help them sleep and adjust to transitions. I have also found Treatibles, (Tap to visit site.**) CBD/Hemp products, can drastically help a pet having difficulty adjusting to the new time or a schedule change. Your dog should adjust easily to the shorter daylight hours and new time change. You, on the other hand might want to hold off on taking your dog for pa run after work (since it’s going to be pitch dark) and enjoy morning yoga or meditation while you adjust to the return of longer sunny days!. Happy FALL! Pugs and 😘 kisses! -Katy🍁🍂🦃 *Arizona & Hawaii are the only 2 US states which don’t participate in Daylight Savings Time and therefore stay on the same time schedule. **www.treatibles.com (For 10% Discount on your order use code: WEEKLY RUNT at checkout 🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾  By KATY CABLE-TWR/ A 3 min. Read TRICK or TREAT??? It's that time of year again. And now, even pet retailers are getting into the act by offering costumes and Halloween dog treats in every shape and size. And it's not just because it's almost Halloween. Take your dog for a walk around my neighborhood on ANY given day and they'll be offered a plethora of Pup-peroni, Milk Bones, and Beggin'Strips before you even reach the corner. Many local shops also have water bowls and treat dishes filled with doggie delectables right at the entrance door. Of course any pet shop is certain to have goodies at all the check-out stations. Basically everyday is a "trick-or-treat" opportunity for canines. We all love rewarding our dogs and giving them goodies. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the joy dogs get devouring treats. Let's face it, isn't my charming personality that's winning over the hearts of most dogs I meet, it's THE TREATS! ☠️ But don’t be tricked! Many treats can be downright dangerous for your pet! My first Pug, Raisin knew exactly where to walk in our neighborhood to get the goods and would drag me on his preferred route. As Raisin aged I began to notice a direct correlation between the treats and the tummy issues. I learned many expensive lessons so hopefully I can save you some similar pitfalls. Here are a few startling facts as well as some nutritious alternates to keep your pet happy, healthy and "well-treated!" When it comes to pet treats use extreme caution!☠️ It's not just your pooches waistline that can suffer. I was given the Halloween scare of a lifetime when I began researching this blog and learning about all the toxic chemicals being used in many popular pet treats. This has resulted in numerous illnesses and fatalities. What’s most alarming is that these products continue to be sold today in many large retail pet stores.* SIZE MATTERS: Treats should be tiny (yes, tiny) morsels of food you use to reward your pet for training and reinforcement of positive behavior. But remember, even tiny amounts of treats can add up over time. Dog's can quickly start packing on pounds or stop eating their more nutritious meals. And much worse is the fact some of the most popular treats contain preservatives, flavor enhancers, colorings and even toxic ingredients.* These can make a pet, especially a sensitive one or a pet with a compromised immune system, deathly ill. For starters, many popular pet treats are not bite-sized morsels, but biscuits as big as SmartCars. Not only are they too large for most dogs, they contain harmful ingredients like those highlighted.. Here's a list of a few "No-No" ingredients found in many popular varieties of treats currently sold in most grocery and large retail pet stores. I personally would stay away from any treat containing these ingredients but most certainly those highlighted:
BUYER BEWARE! Some of the worst, deadliest treats can also be the most deceiving. Such as the case with RAW-HIDE. You can't go into a big-box pet store or even a pet section in a large retailer without seeing numerous raw-hide products. Bones in every shape, size and color are front and center. Like me, most pet parents ASSUME if it's sold at a popular retail chain it must be safe! That couldn't be further from the truth. Rawhide is extremely dangerous and in my opinion should be pulled from the shelves of every pet store. Just watch the short video below by expert pet Blogger, Rodney Habib to see the truth about how this junk is made. Such as the case with those packaged jerky poultry/meat/fish dog treats. What many people don't know, is that seemingly safe bag that reads: “All Natural Made-in-the-USA” was completely misleading. In fact, in an effort to cut-costs, these treats contained toxic additives from China that killed thousands of dogs. Rumor has it the problem was identified and sourcing was changed but with piss-poor regulation and no accountability, I personally stay away from any and every treat that I don’t make myself or that doesn’t come from a trusted source. If you've just realized you're feeding your dog toxic treats or they are not up to par, don't panic or feel guilty. There are lots of healthy options your dog will love! Dr. Karen Becker, the world's most popular integrated vet, makes AMAZING natural, holistic treats and supplements: DR. BECKER BITES www.drbeckerbites.com/ When I attended the SuperZoo pet-product convention, I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Becker as well as her lovely mother and niece Blair who run Dr. Becker Bites. I stuffed my convention tote with as many samples as I could get away with without being too conspicuous and my pug Olive literally DANCED every time those goodies came out. TREATIBLES makes amazing hemp-based, organic, natural biscuits that are not only healthy and delicious but contain hemp oil which is a miracle cure for dogs suffering from anxiety, excessive barking, seizures, joint pain and a number of other issues. The woman-owned company has been a leader in holistic medicinal hemp for over 26 years. If your looking for some healthy options you can grab at the pet store, I am thrilled to announce NULO has introduced a wonderful line of healthy treats. They offer bite-sized training bites, soft jerky strips, and individually wrapped protein sticks. All treats are made with the same thoughtful consideration that goes into their food: Low carb, high human-grade animal/fish/poultry protein/no corn, wheat, soy, or molasses and amazing patented probiotics. These are pet feet for sensitive pets. Grab some next time you're in Petsmart or your independent pet retailer. Now when I'm out and about and kind people want to offer my pets a treat, I give them my own to feed them. If you don't have treats, in a pinch, Cheerios are a far better alternative to toxic treats. Small, gluten free, low sugar morsels. Right now they even offer pumpkin flavored ones. That way dogs won’t risk getting sick and everyone is happy. Plus it's often a great an opportunity to meet new friends and tell them about wonderful healthy treats options they can look into. When I'm at home with Olive I use blueberries, apple slices, carrots and broccoli as tiny treats but Olive is a PUG! A dog with a pickier pallet may not go for those options. I recommend if you're cooking and have any meat trimmings or organs, cut them up in small bites and freeze them for healthy treats or toppers. Lastly, for those of you in the mood, here are some treat options you can make yourself. These treats are easy, healthy and will work for even a very sensitive dog. They are also far less expensive than what’s available in stores! So toss out those toxic Milk Bones and give a few of these options a try! 🎃 🎃Crunchy Pumpkin Biscuit🎃. Makes 75 small biscuits/50 medium preheat oven to 350 degrees 1/2 cup organic canned pumpkin 1/4 tsp sea salt 2 1/2 cups organic brown rice flour/coconut flour 1 tsp ground parsley (optional) 2 tablespoons dried milk 2 eggs *unsalted organic creamy peanut butter/coconut oil/dried cranberries for decor if desired Combine eggs and pumpkin until smooth. Add salt, parsley, milk and slowly add in flour. Roll mixture out using additional flour if needed for sticking. When dough is 1/4 - 1/2" thickness, use small or medium cookie cutters to make biscuits. Place on cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. Turn biscuits over and bake for another 20 minutes. Drizzle or dip warm biscuits in organic, unsalted creamy peanut butter or coconut oil that has been melted in a microwave for 30 sec. Add dried cranberries for decor. Place on wax paper until cooled and dipping sauce has hardened. 🎃🎃Pumpkin Pops🎃🎃 1 can Organic Pumpkin 1 cup organic, plain Greek yogurt/plain Kefir 1/2 cup organic, creamy, unsalted unsweetened peanut butter unsweetened organic coconut flakes/dried cranberries if desired. Blend all ingredients until smooth. Pour into ice cube tray. You can add coconut flakes, dried cranberries, if you wish. Freeze for 12 hours and add to meals or as a cool treat. ☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️ For more information, watch this short, entertaining video by Planet Paws blogger Rodney Habib: https://www.facebook.com/PlanetPaws.ca/videos/ *(In researching this blog, the pet food manufacturers make the argument that these chemicals are used in very trace amounts and not enough to be worried about. Well after millions of recalls and pet deaths I'm not taking any chances or trusting their word.) 🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾  By, Katy Cable-TWR/A 3 min. Read BOO👻! It's Halloween time and nobody could be more excited! What’s more fun than dressing up as whoever or whatever you want while also going door-to-door scoring free candy. I will never outgrow that! I love that all the cobwebs and dust around my house just enhance the scary decor! I was so eager to begin the season I dragged out all our scary decorations before we were even in the month of October. But in all my excitement I completely lost sight of little Olive. My husband Rick, who loves this holiday as much as I do, came out in a scary mask looking like a 200 year-old crusty sea monster, and Olive started frantically barking and darted behind the couch for cover. We felt terrible giving her such a fright. Even when Olive watched Rick slowly put the mask on in front of her she still barked and ran away the minute it covered his face. And it only got worse. My little Pug Olive isn’t alone when it comes to “getting spooked” by Halloween! Think about it, a dog witnesses a barrage of boisterous costumed strangers pounding on the door. Their normally safe environment is now dark or billowing with fog, candles, and flashing lights. Their highly sensitive ears pick up sounds of dogs barking, cats hissing, chains clanking, footsteps, plus deafening screams and moans. If you’re not careful, pets can literally be “scared to death!” Many pet owners, myself included, get so caught up in the fun they can easily forget how frightening things can be for a fluffy and Fido! Halloween is one if the busiest holidays for pet emergencies so here are a few “TRICKS AND TREATS” to keep your pet safe! 1. Keep Your Pet Calm: A frightened pet can react by barking incessantly, losing bladder control, racing out the door or escaping, and often with aggression and biting. Keep your dog happy and calm with natural CBD tests by Treatibles. These natural treats contain none of the harmful THC and will do wonders for calming a frantic pet. 2. Keep your pets safe inside. Not everyone has good intentions and there are always several awful stories about killed, tormented, injured, or stolen pets on Halloween. Don't allow your dog to be the helpless victim of an evil prankster. 3. Keep your pets away from the front door. The constant knocking or ringing of the doorbell and excited chanting "trick-or-treaters" can send dogs into protective mode. Don't risk your doggie bolting out the door and running away or getting hit by a vehicle. Also, you don't want your terrified dog biting a costumed visitor. 4. Be careful with decorations. I've seen wagging dog tails knock over candles and nearly burn down a house. I've witnessed many excited pets jump up on tables, knocking over candles, eating harmful foods and causing total mayhem! Make sure all decorations are secured and not in reach of pets. Check that they cannot get trapped or entangled in large spider web decorations. Also, they may think decor is a chew-toy and eat something hazardous if it's within their reach. 5. It should go without saying not to give your dog candy. Chocolate contains theobromine, which can be lethal if ingested. Lollipop sticks can be a chocking hazard or cause damage to internal organs if swallowed. Ditto for caramel apples and the wooden sticks. Foil wrappers can be as sharp as razors if swallowed. The very worst are the sugar-free treats which contain toxic Xylitol. Dogs love the smell and bright colors of sugary candy and it just takes a few minutes of distractions to realize your dog has consumed an entire bowl of Halloween goodies. Even dog treats can cause major GI problems if too many are consumed. Remember, ONE dog treat, or a few healthy nibbles is PERFECT! 6. Use good judgement and think twice before you take your dog in the car or out with the kids trick-or-treating. All the crowds and excitement might turn your normally chill dog into a terrified, aggressive or protective bully. It may be way too distracting to manage both costumed kids AND a dog that gets freaked! 👻If you do venture out with your pet for Halloween festivities here are a few tips: 1. Give costumes a trial run to let your dog get used to them. Make sure their costume is not too binding or restrictive and that your pet can walk normally. Be very careful of masks. Dogs need to be able to see and breathe with ease. Nothing should go over their nose. Be extremely careful about dogs overheating, especially Pugs, Bulldogs and other flat-nosed (brachy) breeds. Make sure dogs can freely drink water in their costume. Some dogs (like my Olive) simply don't do well with costumes. Perhaps a lighted collar, decorative harness or bandana would be a better option. 2. Make sure your dog is micro-chipped and wearing a collar or harness with your contact number on the tag. If you will be out after dark, add reflective strips to your pet's costume and grab a small light to attach to their collar so they remain visible. 3. BE AWARE! While you are admiring those amazing costumes, your dog could well be devouring chocolate bars someone tossed on the sidewalk. If you are planning on hosting a Halloween bash, consider keeping your dog safe at a boarding facility like PetSmart's PetsHotel. http://pets.petsmart.com/services/petshotel/ With guests coming in and out, even if your dog is secluded in a quiet bedroom, it just takes one person to open a door and BOOM! Your dog escapes. Loud guests in strange costumes can scare and overwhelm even a normally easy-going dog. Some guests aren't familiar with pets and don't know alcohol, sweets and many human-foods can be deadly. A well-intentioned guest wanting to indulge your dog may bring them undue harm. Even if they aren't offered, a cup left on a table or half-eaten plates of food and desserts laying around can be far too tempting and could make your dog very sick. It's very difficult to keep your eyes on pets while hosting a party. Don't take the risk. PetsHotel and other boarding facilities have special packages and fun activities planned. This way you won't end up with a real Halloween horror of a sick or injured dog on your hands. Halloween may be a perfect night to bake some healthy treats, stay in, cuddle up and enjoy watching a Halloween movie with your furry best-friend. If you can't stay in with your dog, give them some yummy CBD calming treats by Treatibles, put them in a quiet room with some soothing music, low lights and douse the room in some lavender oil. I recommend, if possible, take your dog out during the day for a good run, a long brisk walk and plenty of exercise. This should wear them out and burn off excess energy. Make sure they potty before all the festivities begin at dark. If you're looking for some fun Halloween activities you can do WITH your dog, check my home page for events in the So Cal. area. http://weeklyrunt.weebly.com/ So go EAT, DRINK, and be SCARY! 👻 Have a wonderful 🎃Halloween! Pugs and Kisses! Katy & Olive 🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾  By Katy Cable-TWR-A 3 Min Read Fleas suck! -Pun intended! Unlike bees that pollinate our planet and keep us alive, or ants who are brilliant little armies of team players, capable of. carrying an entire picnic a GA-ZILLION times their own size and body weight on their tiny backs, what purpose do fleas and ticks serve anyway? Here in Southern California fleas can be year-round invaders. Although the dog days of summer days are over, your pup may still be wearing more than a cute collar and bandana. Right now, no matter where you live, chances are these blood sucking monsters are just waiting to spread like wildfire on your pet. The FDA recently released an alert warning pet owners of the potential dangers of popular brands of flea/tick preventatives containing the drug Isoxazoline.* While effective and safe for most pets, a notable number of otherwise healthy dogs and cats have had adverse neurological reactions including seizures, and muscle tremors. Brands mentioned include: Nexguard and others. Pet owners are urged to discuss flea preventative options with your vet and report any unusual side effects that may arise. Click the link below to review the full report The first few years we had our Pug Raisin I tried, honest to God, EVERY flea prevention product on the market. It started with OTC products whose effectiveness diminished after each passing month. Following that I tried all the RX brands my vet had in her arsenal and again, I had to apply harsh chemicals more and more frequently for them to work. I tried relentlessly cleaning, scrubbing, and vacuuming my home. I tried flea foggers, flea baths and flea combs on Raisin and still, nothing worked. I even called a non-toxic exterminator with a perfect track record and a money-back guarantee to get rid of these invaders. Guess who was the first customer to receive a FULL-REFUND! What started out as a few fleas soon turned into a terrible infestation of fleas, spiders, and eventually termites. I was frustrated and out of ideas. The final straw was when I came face-to-face with cockroaches as big as my size 6 foot. I then brokedown called an exterminator. Three days and several thousand dollars later, I was finally PEST FREE and never had another flea problem. When I rescued my current Pug Olive she was on Revolution, a monthly flea and heart-worm preventative I have used successfully in the past. Although Olive doesn't have fleas, she did get suffer a terrible allergic reaction to a flea bite. I raced a sneezing, coughing, incessantly itching Olive to the vet. Upon examination, the vet discovered red bumps all over her and was convinced it was an allergic reaction to a flea bite. I couldn't see how that was possible as she was on flea prevention. The vet explained that even with protection, fleas can jump on and bite a pet before dying. If a pet is allergic, that's all it takes. After Olive's incident, I am extremely diligent about washing her and keeping fleas away. I have discovered some excellent natural alternatives to products containing harsh chemicals. I currently apply organic coconut oil, to Olive's coat. It acts as both a great moisturizer and flea repellent. I also make sure to bathe her following adventures where she may have been exposed to fleas. I also am SO happy I replaced all my carpets with wood and tile flooring and “knock-on-wood”, haven't had another issue. Believe me, it's much easier to keep fleas away in the first place than it is to get those pests to leave once they've invaded. My advice, use something strong and powerful to kill them then hopefully you can lighten up and use some natural, less toxic remedies to keep them at bay. This does bring up a good point: It certainly doesn't have to be a harsh, toxic chemical for your pet to have a horrific reaction. Just like a human who can't touch a strawberry or a peanut. -Be it an unsalted raw one or a Reese's cup, pets too can have adverse reactions or even die from wholesome, organic products if they happen to be allergic. Before trying ANY product or food, I urge YOU to first research it. Check out the company, the ingredients, where it's produced. Talk to trusted vets and pet parents and always test it out with a very small amount first. So while natural products are usually preferred, even those can have disastrous outcomes if your pet has the rare allergy. Also fleas, ticks and other parasites may be resistant to some natural, less intense repellents and your pet won't be protected. Hopefully you can try a few of these tips and find a perfect, less toxic balance. And, as always, a clean healthy pet with a strong immune system will naturally repel more parasites than a sickly one. That starts and finishes with a nutritious, balanced diet 😃. Every flea season I consult with frustrated pet parents looking for flea repellent shampoos. I always advise against strong, harsh, shampoos loaded with chemicals. Any soap and water will kill and remove fleas. For heavy infestations. Here's a recipe for a gentle, non-toxic, flea repelling shampoo you can make at home. I use this on my shelter/rescue dogs who typically come in poor shape infested with fleas. Again, always sample a small amount first to check for adverse reactions. 🐞ALL-NATURAL FLEA BUSTER SHAMPOO: Slice 1/2 lemon and add to 1 Cup boiling water. Stir for 5 minutes then remove from heat, steep and cool. Remove lemon parts, drain juice into large canning jar or bottle. Add 2/3 Cup Dr Bronner's Purecastle Soap Add 1/2 cup Apple cider vinegar 1 TBS organic coconut oil 15 drops pure organic lavender oil Mix together and WASH your PUP! In addition, here are some recommendations for healthy flea/tick control: 🐾Remember, there is simply no chemical based pest control pill, dip, solution, shampoo, or collar that is without the potential for side effects. Just because a compound is applied to or worn on your pet’s fur doesn’t mean it’s completely safe. Remember: what goes on your pet goes in your pet, by absorption through the skin or ingestion during grooming.
*https://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/ResourcesforYou/AnimalHealthLiteracy/ucm620940.htm *https://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/CVMUpdates/ucm620934.htm 🐾Katy Cable is a former actress appearing in “Back To The Future” and starring in the TV series: “Safe At Home” & “ Fired Up!” In addition to her dog health & lifestyle blog/vlog: The Weekly Runt, (https://www.weeklyrunt.com/) she’s a contributing writer to numerous publications including Thrive Global, & The Huffington Post. Cable lives at the beach with her husband, Rick and her rescue Pug, Olive.🐾 |
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