By Katy Cable-The Weekly Runt / A 4 min. Read

I remember when I was young my dad, in an effort to get me to give up the Ding-Dongs and Oreos, told me about how “junk food” was made and that all kinds of bugs often got mixed in to these crummy processed snacks. Turns out, those very insects may have been the healthiest thing about my indulgence.

If you’d have told me just a year ago, there may come a day when insects become a major staple in our diets, I would’ve thought you were CRAZY! Now, I’m excited to share my experience and hopefully open your minds to joining the swarm of “insect eating”!

While visiting a popular beach town in Central Coast CA, I remember a street vendor selling crickets and grasshoppers dipped in dark chocolate. He also had tequila lollipops with a worm inside. It all seemed repulsive and I couldn’t believe people actually paid money to eat them. For me, this was just like a challenge that would get me booted off the island on a reality TV show.

At this year’s Vegas Pug Party, I had my eyes opened and my mind changed when I met Laura Colagrande, co-founder of Chippin Snacks. She kindly offered my little Pug Olive one of her apple, cricket, and flaxseed snacks. Olive, in all honesty, has never met a treat she didn’t like, devoured the little biscuit in under 10 seconds and begged for more.

Colagrande told me her story and I was intrigued. While studying design at U of Penn, she agreed to help her roommate, Haley Russell, a grad student at The Wharton School of Business, with a research project. The two examined using crickets as a viable alternative to meat for pet treats/meals and things have been hopping ever since.

🦗 WHY CRICKETS? 🦗

For starters, crickets pack a whole lotta punch! They’re an excellent source of omegas, vitamins and minerals. Additionally, they’re very low in fat compared to other proteins. Best of all, there’s no threat of e Coli, Staph or other pathogens..

HUMANELY SOURCED
That cricket chirp is their mating call. They live to reproduce. The process begins with crickets being cared for in numerous small farms which are all housed in warehouses. After the crickets have reproduced the temperature of their environment is slowly lowered until they reach a hibernation state. They are then frozen and ground into a powder. The cricket is never traumatized or feels any pain unlike nearly all other live animals used for food.

REDUCING YOUR CARBON PAWPrint🐾🐾🐾🐾
Did you know 80 % of water in the USA is used for food production? The natural resources used for the production of meat is staggering. I got “bug-eyes” when I llearned the statistics.

🐂 It takes roughly 2,000 gallons of water to produce 1lb of beef.
🐓 It requires around 560 gallons of water to produce 1lb of poultry.
🦗Now consider, it takes only 1 gallon of water to produce 1lb of edible cricket protein.

According to the Seattle Times, Americans eat more meat than ever before, nearly 223lb per person, per year! In 2018 America surpassed the all-time record eating over 100 billion pounds. The World Atlas names Australia and the USA as the world’s largest consumers of meat. With Americans owning 90 million dogs, pets in the USA consume more meat than 90% of the world’s countries.* That’s a lot of meat!

And that’s not all...
The global demand for meat is leading to environmental destruction. Livestock agriculture requires almost half of the earth’s total land. It’s wasteful AND TOXIC! For example, 55% of water used in the US is for factory farming. Runoff contaminates waterways with nitrogen and phosphates. The greenhouse gasses produced by livestock agriculture make up at least half of all man-made emissions. Methane, an emission, has a global warming potential that is 86 times more than carbon dioxide. The evidence is clear that animal consumption is the leading cause of reduced biodiversity, water pollution, and deforestation which are all causes of global warming.

WHAT YOU CAN DO...
Start with trying some cricket snacks. If you come to one of my events, I typically have samples. You can also find them at many pet stores, or order right here and use “WEEKLY RUNT” for a 10% discount. If you’re really adventurous you can purchase cricket powder and start experimenting. Try making your own meals and snacks. (Watch for my favs in an upcoming blog & show!😜)


​A FINE GATEWAY BUG
You may find crickets are your “gateway bug” into a whole new way of eating for YOU AND YOUR PET! Mark my words, insect protein is going to explode like ants at a picnic! A complete, viable protein that’s easy to farm, inexpensive and packs a lot of punch for a lot less water! Very soon all of us will be saying, “There’s a bug in my food!” And, “Please pass the crickets!”

BUGS, PUGS & KISSES, 😘🐾❤️
-Katy

CHIP IN & SAVE WATER

*https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/top-meat-consuming-countries-in-the-world.html

​
🐾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

To Bee Or Not To Bee! For years I've been hearing how our planet and our very survival is at great risk due to billions and billions of bees dying off at an alarming rate. As scary a thought as that is, I can’t understand it since I personally have seen no shortage of bees. As a matter of fact, quite the contrary. They seem to be buzzing around everywhere I look.

I'm deathly allergic to bees and just the sight of one puts me in a sheer panic! I'm often that crazy lady running around ballistically screaming and making a huge scene at the first sign of anything buzzing around me. And usually it’s just someone’s cellphone. Between my frantic behavior and my Chanel No. 5 cologne, I’m a total
“bee magnet” and they come after me like starving linebackers hitting the all-you-can-eat buffet! I've been stung on many occasions and because I'm allergic, my reaction gets worse with each subsequent attack! It’s so bad that I've been warned a sting on my face or neck could be deadly and I now carry an Epipen®️ to be safe. But what about our dogs?

Brachy (flat-nosed) dogs have a difficult time breathing as it is and a sting or any type of swelling to the face can be life-threatening. Now that the temperatures have warmed up, the flowers are in full bloom and we're spending more time outside, here are some important safety tips to both prevent and treat a bee-sting.

As the saying goes, "An ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure!" The first defense against bee stings is to try and avoid them in the first place. Don't leave your dog outside alone if your yard has plants that attract bees. Better yet, replace plants with varieties that don’t attract them. Roses are great options and mint is also a favorite.

Walk earlier in the AM or later in the PM when temps are cooler and bees aren't out in droves. If possible avoid going near certain flowers, herbs, shrubs and grasses that attract bees. Also stay clear of brushy bushes and trails.

Double check where your dog is going potty and lead them to safe places. Ditto for curious sniffing. Pet stores now carry lightweight clothing, caps, sunglasses and booties that might be a good option for outdoor hiking or even walks in bee prone areas. If you’re out hiking or in a place where you’re not able to race to a vet, I recommend carrying a bee emergency kit with you. I also advise keeping your dog covered up in lightweight clothing and booties.

🐝🐝TAKING THE STING OUT OF BEE STINGS🐝🐝

1. If an isolated bee pops out of nowhere and stings your dog, check and see if the stinger and venom sac are still attached. If so:
SLIDE A CREDIT CARD ALONG THE SITE TO GENTLY REMOVE THE STINGER WITHOUT pushing more venom into your dog's bloodstream.

2. IF YOUR DOG IS STUNG ON THE FACE AND/OR YOU SEE THE SIGHT IS SWELLING UP, ADMINISTER BENEDRYL & PREDNISONE IMMEDIATELY!

3. FOR PAIN RELIEF: MAKE A PASTE IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND BY MIXING BAKING SODA WITH A SPLASH OF WATER. DAB IT ON SITE. You can re-apply this paste every 2-3 hours as necessary. CBD can also be applied topically and orally!

4. APPLY ICE AND GET TO A VET IMMEDIATELY TO AVOID FURTHER COMPLICATIONS.

BEE STING KIT:
🐝Prednisone Pill (5mg pill for 10-25lb dogs)
🐝Benedryl Pill (1/2 25mg pill for 15-25lb dogs)
🐝small pill pockets for administering pills
🐝Baking Soda (put a few tbs in a plastic bag
🐝small doggie bandana
🐝small ice pack
🐝small bottle of water
🐝credit card or hotel key-for removing stinger
🐝1 small baby aspirin (for pain)
🐝CBD Oil

​Nothing can spoil a good time in the great outdoors like a nasty bee sting, so these tips will allow you to "BEE" 🐝 SAFE! Pugs & Kisses! -Katy

By Katy Cable-A 3 min. Read

😎Here in So. Cal it seems we get more clouds, drizzle and chill in June than we do in February. Still, now that the summer is in high gear and our calendars are filling with fun outdoor activities, I felt it was important to share tips on how to help your dog keep their cool during hot weather.

I live a short walk from one of the most popular beaches for DOGS in Southern California. Every weekend there are loads of events and meet-ups going on. Unfortunately there are also many incidents that could have been easily prevented. It’s so important for everyone to be aware of safety tips and signs of overheating.

Pugs and other brachycephalic breeds (dogs with flat faces and short noses, such as Bulldogs, Boxers, Pugs, Pekinese, and Shih-tzus), older pets, dogs that are ill or have a chronic health condition, and dogs not used to warm weather are extremely susceptible to overheating so be mindful of the following signs:
Heavy panting or rapid breathing
Elevated body temperature
Excessive thirst
Bright or dark red tongue and gums
Excessive drooling
Glazed eyes
Increased pulse and heartbeat
Vomiting
bloody diarrhea

If you dog is exhibiting any of the above symptoms you need to to start cooling them down immediately and keep close watch on their behavior.

Take your pet to the nearest emergency veterinary clinic IMMEDIATELY if you notice any of the following SIGNS OF LIFE-THREATENING OVERHEATING:
Staggering, stumbling
Weakness and collapse
Seizures
Unconsciousness

Now that you’re aware of the warning signs here’s how to keep your pup from getting overheated in the first place.

⛱ BEACH SAFETY 101 ⛱
Before you head out for the beach, I recommend bringing an umbrella, tent or Easy-Up so you have a shady spot for your dog to retreat from the sun. You’ll also want to bring 2 large towels or blankets. It's good idea to have one for your dog to lay on as well as one you can soak and use to cool your dog off if they get overheated.

If the sand sand is burning your tootsies, you can bet it will burn your doggie's paws. Make sure you put them in booties or socks if they are too large a dog to carry across the hot sand.

​Fresh drinking water and a bowl are MUSTS! Always have fresh water to keep your doggie hydrated and also so they are not tempted to drink seawater or from pools of standing water which may be filthy. Also communal water bowls can provide a lot more than hydration in the form of parasites and nasty doggy germs. Have your own bowl of water handy.

Many people don't realize dogs are susceptible to sunburn and skin cancer. The most sensitive dogs are:
shaved
short-coated
light colored
and if course hairless dogs.

For those breeds, I recommend staying OUT of the sun on extremely hot days and during peak hours (10AM-2PM). The best protection is to dress your dog in a T-shirt, sun-shirt with UV protection or a cooling vest which shields from harmful rays and keeps dogs from overheating.

I also advise getting a sunscreen for your dog. Please note, make sure the sunscreen is a formula safe for dogs. Human sunscreens can contain ingredients (such as zinc) which are toxic if ingested. Be sure to cover your dog's nose, ears, belly, and inside hind legs.

Along with sun safety, you'll need to be equally prepared to keep your sweetie safe in the water. Surf Gidget the Pug, makes it look easy but Pugs, and several other breeds are not strong swimmers (actually they're genetically designed to sink like stones!) I would recommend a life vest if you're out at the beach, in a boat or on open water. Even with a life vest you must supervise your dog in the water. An unexpected wave, rip current, rapids or even stepping on a dead bee, sharp coral or jellyfish can be major hazards.

It goes without saying if your dog may be sick, is lethargic, has the runs, or is in heat, do not visit the beach, dog park or any other public dog area.

Hold off on visiting a dog beach or park until your dog is trusted to obey commands. If you are dog sitting, have a new shelter or rescue dog, this may pose too much risk until you are more familiar with your pet. Many people love letting their dogs run around off-leash (I'm one of them) but if your dog isn't consistent with following your commands I recommend for everyone's safety, you keep them on a leash until they’re better trained. It can extremely dangerous if your dog is racing down the beach and not aware of a potential dangerous situation.

And finally, just a few “Golden Rules” for the dog beach. Remember beaches depend on all of us to keep them safe and clean. Bring waste disposal bags, -and maybe a few extras for those who may not be as conscientious. Be the bigger person who picks up and takes care of keeping the beach safe and clean. So many people don’t.
It goes without saying if your dog may be sick, is lethargic, has the runs, or is in heat, do not visit the beach, dog park or any other public dog area.

Be attentive to your dog. This is not the time or place to relax with a good book or your nose in your IG feed. Be on the lookout. A fun run down the beach chasing a ball can quickly turn to an aggressive dog fight. If you notice play getting a bit rough and you’re concerned, call your dog and distract them with some one-one-one play.

If everyone adheres to some basic safety precautions we can cut down on a lot of injuries. Let's keep dog friendly beaches a fun place to make memories. Pugs & kisses 😘 See you at the beach.⛱ -Katy Cable & Olive

If you’re in the SoCal area I hope you’ll join some of the fun beach meet-ups and events. Click here for more info: https://www.weeklyrunt.com/events.html

By, Katy Cable -TWR
A 4 min. Read

It’s been a real “shake and bake” holiday! As if 4th of July fireworks sounding more like “bombs bursting in air” weren’t scary enough, here in SoCal we also had two of the largest earthquakes to hit in over 20 years. I figured this was a perfect time to remind everyone: NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPARE!

If you’re a pet parent, that also means preparing for them too! Unlike most other natural disasters, earthquakes are sneaky and, as we just saw, don’t come with any warning. Total devastation can happen in a split second.

Waiting until the last minute to have an emergency plan and supplies in place is not only foolish but may be deadly. So, BEFORE a crisis, while it's fresh on everyone's minds, I hope each and every one of you will take a few minutes and: Make a disaster plan for you AND your pets!

⚠️BEFORE THE BIG ONE HITS⚠️
Here are some important tips to keep pets safe in natural disasters and emergencies:

1. HAVE ALL YOUR PETS MICRO-CHIPPED and make sure they’re wearing ID collars when home alone. You'll increase your chances of being reunited with pets who get lost by having them micro-chipped; But remember, the “Good Samaritan” who finds your pet likely won't be able to scan for a chip, but they will be able to read a basic tag!
*Put your cellphone number on your pet's tag. It may also be a good idea to include the phone number of a friend or relative outside your immediate area in the event you have to evacuate.

2. PREPARE AN EMERGENCY KIT FOR YOUR PETS: Include essentials such as:
🐾2 weeks of clean drinking water & non-perishable high quality dry pet food. Store in water-tight containers.
🐾Water purification tablets
🐾First aid kit
🐾Any medication your pet takes plus first-aid meds: (antacid/sm can pumpkin/Benadryl/baby aspirin) CBD oil (For Stress Relief)
🐾Crate labeled with photo of pet and ER contact #
🐾comfort toys/in crate
🐾booties or baby socks
🐾T-Shirt/warm coat/sweater/blanket/pillow
🐾reflective harness/leash
🐾Life preserver
​🐾Puppy pads/poop bags

3. KEEP EMERGENCY KIT SUPPLIES IN YOUR CAR AS WELL AS YOUR HOME. If you live in LA, there’s a good chance you may be in your car or out and about.

4. Make sure there's a sign on your door for emergency personnel that you own pets and where they typically hide in the house if scared.

5. Anchor televisions, bookcases and armoires securely to walls. Be mindful of heavy or delicate objects that may fall onto a pet or small child during shaking. Organize accordingly.

6. Entrust a neighbor with a key who can get your pets in the event of an emergency and you’re away. Be sure the person is comfortable with your pets and your pets are familiar with them. Show them where your pets are likely to be (especially if they hide when they're nervous) and where your disaster supplies are kept. I like to keep a backpack in a small travel crate.

⚠️If you have a pet-sitter: Make a plan well in advance. Also discuss a specific meeting spot to retrieve your pets should there be an emergency evacuation.

7. LOCATE A SAFE AREA IN YOUR HOME. If your family and pets must wait out a storm or an earthquake hits, identify a safe area where you can all congregate. Look for strong tables to duck under so you’ll be protected from falling objects and debris.

I highly recommend playing it SAFE! If there is a threat EVACUATE EARLY!! Don't wait for a mandatory evacuation order. Some people who have waited had to be evacuated by emergency officials and their pets were often left behind. The smell of smoke, rapidly rising water, or the sound of high winds or thunder may make your pet more fearful and difficult to locate or load into a crate or carrier. Evacuating before conditions become severe will keep everyone safer and make the process much less stressful.

IF YOU MUST EVACUATE, TAKE YOUR PET: This goes without saying. If it isn't safe for you, it isn't safe for your pets. You have no way of knowing how long you'll be kept out of the area, and you may not be able—or allowed—to go back and retrieve your pets. Pets left behind in a disaster can easily be injured, lost or killed. If you cannot get your pet, do not leave them chained, tied up or locked in a crate. At least give them the opportunity to escape.

Prior to the earth shaking, storm hitting or fire breaking out: check with hotels and motels outside your immediate area to find out if they accept pets. Ask about any restrictions on number, size and species. Inquire if a "no-pet" policy would be waived due to an emergency. Keep a list of animal-friendly places handy, and call ahead for a reservation as soon as you think you might have to leave your home.

For help identifying pet-friendly lodgings, check out these websites:

• Bringfido.com
• dogfriendly.com
• petswelcome.com
• tripswithpets.com

Contact your veterinarian's office. Ask for referrals or services in outside areas. Make a list of boarding facilities and veterinary offices that might be able to shelter animals in disaster emergencies (make sure to include their 24-hour telephone numbers.)

Check with your local animal shelter. Some shelters may be able to provide foster care or shelter for pets in an emergency. But keep in mind that shelters have limited resources and are likely to be stretched during a local emergency.

⚠️AFTER A DISASTER⚠️
Your home may be a very different place and it may be hard for your pets to adjust. The entire landscape of your neighborhood may have completely changed. Do these things to keep you and your pets safe:
​
⚠️Keep pets indoors. Put dogs on leashes and cats in carriers to protect them. Make sure they’re wearing fluorescent ID collars should they go missing at night. DON’T ALLOW PETS TO ROAM LOOSE. They could easily get lost or be injured by broken glass live wires and other hazards

⚠️Close off and eliminate any nooks and crannies where frightened pets may try to hide and/or escape. Tape up doggie doors, fireplaces, and windows. Familiar sights and smells may be gone and pets may be extremely fearful and/or disoriented. The last thing you need is to be looking for a lost pet.

⚠️Shut off gas. Stay clear of live wires.

⚠️Move/secure or clean up any dangerous items such as sharp tools, toxic products or glass objects.

⚠️Keep emergency supplies (see just above) in air-tight containers. Store in pet carriers and keep handy in the garage or under a bed for easy access. Also have supplies in your car.

⚠️Check your property for wildlife that may have been displaced and is seeking refuge. They could pose a threat to you and/or your pets.

⚠️Be patient with your pet. Prepare for some behavior problems after the event. Try and get them back into their normal routine as quickly as possible. Consult with your veterinarian if problems persist or you notice any major trauma health issues.

​I hope if the earth starts moving under your feet or or disaster strikes, these tips will protect both you and your beloved pets! Now go enjoy the rest of your happy summer! -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 - The Weekly Runt
A 3 min.read

l interrupt my regularly scheduled weekly blog to bring you this special update on the latest "GRAIN-FREE" PET FOOD SCARE.

This weekend I attended an anniversary event at a popular pet store. As I left my house, I was bombarded with a flood of texts, calls and concerns about the latest news story:
“FDA investigates possible link between popular pet foods and heart disease...”

When I arrived at the event nearly every pet parent I met was feeding one of the brands mentioned and most were extremely concerned about the safety of their pet's food.

SO, before I address this, I invite you to COME, SIT, and READ...First off, I AM NOT WORRIED ONE BIT ABOUT THIS NEWS STORY! In my blogs about "grain-free" diets, (most diets actually) the FIRST THING I advise pet parents to do is "read the labels" Often, "grain-free" foods are higher in sugar/carbs and contain more corn, soy, rice and vegetable proteins than foods that contain grain. Therefore, a "grain-free" pet food can often be a LESS HEALTHY option. It's simply a marketing/packaging spin!

I believe "grain-free" is still the way to go. Dogs and cats don't need GRAINS! They thrive on animal, fish and game protein. They do however, need a variety of trace minerals and vitamins found in veggies. Meat is expensive, and labor intensive, so, pet foods often keep prices low by adding corn, rice and potatoes as MAIN INGREDIENTS. Better options are low-glycemic carbs which don't convert to sugar as quickly such as peas, lentils and sweet potatoes, but they're still NOT A SUBSTITUTE for animal protein.

I attended this event on behalf of NULO pet foods, for which I am a proud brand ambassador. Nulo was not listed in the findings and one of the reasons must be because NULO uses the highest amount of protein from animal sources, not carbs! The first 3-4 ingredients are meat proteins followed by "low-gylcemic" carbs to round out the nutritional platform.

The founder of the company, Michael Landa, is an All-American medal swimmer who knows a thing or two about nutrition and performance. He also created NULO to provide a wonderful food for his own Lab, Max. Labrador and Golden Retrievers are listed as the top breeds affected by this particular heart condition: DCM. Nulo has long been aware of the common health issues affecting our pets and formulated a food to hopefully combat these problems.

If you're feeding a brand listed in the reports, I still wouldn't worry. Here's why:

Whenever there's a study (or scare) or I'm researching something, the first thing I do is figure out, "WHO'S PAYING TO CONDUCT THIS RESEARCH STUDY" 9-out-of-10 times it can be traced back to someone with special interests with big pharma or a major corporation. Face it, lots of alternative sites, products and research have been shot down and attacked for posting holistic options for cancer, diabetes, and an array of other health issues simply because there's NO MONEY TO BE MADE and these healthy options are putting a dent in the profits of drugs, vets, and giant commercial pet food brands. The people at the very tippy-top of the food chain aren't concerned with your pet's health but PROFITS! -Plain and simple. For more information on how the pet food industry works check out my blog: PET FOOLED

First off, this research is weak at best. Let's start with the report:
"FDA INVESTIGATING POTENTIAL LINK BETWEEN DIET AND HEART DISEASE IN DOGS. The FDA is looking into a potential correlation between grain-free diets and a type of heart disease in dogs known as dilated cardiomyopathy...or DCM."

DCM is a disease of the dog's heart muscle that results in weakened contractions and poor pumping ability. It can lead to enlarged heart and congestive heart failure. Even death.

The article goes on to list the breeds most commonly affected as well as the type of foods (kibble, wet, moist, raw, unknown) and the brands fed.

The first thing that struck me was all the brands listed were relatively popular, high-end, quality brands. I find it strange there wasn't one mention of some of the worst, cheapest, grocery store brands listed. Brands which list: corn, soy, rice, and potatoes as the FIRST TWO INGREDIENTS.

Another point: The FDA researchers observed that most of these DCM cases were associated with dogs eating DRY, GRAIN-FREE, foods. Doesn't that make sense when typically, far more dog owners feed dry food and most options available today are marketed as "grain-free."

The report lists the top brands named in this DCM study but it doesn't include any information or statistics of what other pet foods were used. I highly doubt dogs eating the 2 top foods named (Acana & Zignature) were fairing more poorly than dogs on IAMS, or Kibbles-n-Bits. In fact, the Acana feeder is probably more educated on pet food, willing to spend more money on their pet's food and visits their vet more frequently for routine care. They may also be more prone to own the breeds of dogs more prevalent to get DCM. SOOOOOOOOO MANY QUESTIONS, SO LITTLE INFO.

My biggest takeaway of this scare was this portion:
"It's important to note that the reports include dogs that have eaten grain-free and grain-containing foods and also include vegetarian or vegan formulations. They also include all forms of diets. Kibble, canned, raw and home-cooked."
"Therefore, we do not think these cases can be explained simply by whether or not they contain grains or by brand or manufacturer." (THAT'S IN BOLD RED TYPE!)

So, there it is! The whole study and story is BOGUS HYPE! It's designed to put the fear of God into pet parents and sell news. I wouldn't be surprised if a big brand pet food company, feeling the pinch of some of these competitors taking market share, is behind the whole scare. They may be planning to bring a new prescription DCM formula pet food to market!

The article goes on to state:
"To put this issue into proper context, the American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that they are 77 million pet dogs in the United States.
As of April 30, 2019, the FDA has received reports about 560 dogs diagnosed with DCM suspected to be linked to diet. (THIS TOO OUTLINED IN RED BOLD TYPE) Tens of millions of dogs have been eating dog food without developing DCM."

There's more to the article: DOG FOOD ADVISORY REPORT (That's the link for those of you who wish to research or read this more carefully.) My conclusion is the same as it's been since I started blogging and discussing "grain-free" diets way back in 2015 -before they were even A THING!

For nearly 18 years I've been working with sick, sensitive, shelter and rescue dogs (and PUGS!😜) I have witnessed healing and health due to simple holistic options and better diets that I had to SEE FOR MYSELF TO BELIEVE!

I now make it my business to do the research and investigation on matters concerning our pets health. I want to share my findings with you. I introduced miracles happening in dogs with deadly cancers due to ketogenic diets. I showed how CBD can reduce or eliminate seizures and anxiety and many other breakthroughs long before most people even knew what they were.

I'm honored to be a brand ambassador for many companies and products BECAUSE I CHOOSE to represent them and I personally use (AND LOVE!) their products. I have turned down many lucrative endorsements simply because I can't honesty stand behind what I wouldn't use myself or recommend to my loved ones.

Thank you for reading and being such a loving pet parent. Together we can make a difference and be part of a new movement advocating for our pets!

I hope you'll visit my site and sign up to receive my FREE weekly blog. Pass it on to your pet parent friends! You’ll find nearly 100 blogs on a variety of popular topics.

I welcome your comments or dialog and if I can be of any help, I hope you'll reach out! -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-Thrive Global
A 4 minute read

It’s that time of year again! Time for celebrations, outdoor living, beach day's, BBQ's and of course...What May be the WORST DAY OF THE YEAR for many dogs...The 4th of July!

When it comes to the 4th of July, I’m right there with most dogs and like the holiday as much as I like a parking ticket. Huge crowds of drunk, disorderly people invade my little beach community and it becomes a loud, crazy, “RED, WHITE & BOOZE” war zone.

Good news! Here are my SURE-FIRE, “tried & true” “red white & blue” tips for surviving the 4th! Hopefully these suggestions will allow your pup to enjoy a stress-free “Safe & Sane” holiday.

Did you know more pets go missing or end up in shelters during the 4th of July holiday than at any other time during the year. This is a crucial time to check your dog's ID tag and micro-chipping (your vet can scan and confirm your contact info. is up-to-date and it's working.) If your dog's collar is loose or getting worn or the contact info is hard to read, -get a new one! That way, God-forbid your dog goes missing your chances of being reunited are much more likely.

Let's start with your dog. If they have exhibited "off-the-charts" anxiety that would be more than even Cesar Millan could conquer, -PLAN AHEAD! I recommend if you can't stay with your dog, you consider making a reservation to board your dog overnight in a sound-proof facility. I know PetSmart has a great program with fun ice-cream socials and play-times. After a full day of fun, the dogs can rest peacefully in sound-proof kennels. The price is reasonable BUT they book quickly for this holiday (many are booked a year in advance!) so call NOW!!!

If boarding isn't going to work, look into hiring a pet-sitter to stay with your anxious dog. Preferably somewhere that has minimal firework activity.

Whether you’re staying with your dog, boarding them, or getting a pet-sitter, I recommend a few tips: Begin looking in stores or on-line for items that help with anxiety. The very best defense I have found for firework anxiety is CBD products by Treatibles®️ These treats, oils, and capsules have been a game-changer for fearful dogs. Since not all products are as potent or sourced as rigorously, I recommend and use Treatibles®️ You can purchase them at most independent pet stores or online. (Use code: WEEKLY RUNT at checkout for a 10% discount) It works MIRACLES on a variety of issues including firework anxiety and has ZERO side-effects.

Next, grab an arsenal of NEW toys/treats. I like to buy all-natural (free-range/grass-fed with no hormones, antibiotics or steroids) buffalo ears or, if I can supervise, bully-sticks. I give these out when the firework festivities are beginning. Often the dog is so focused on their stress-relieving chew, they forget about the fireworks. Buffalo ears dissolve and are suitable for even the tiniest of pups. Also they don't run the risk of being a choking hazard.

Another good idea is fill a Kong with some canned and dry turkey dog food (I use Nulo which is grain-free, human-grade quality and contains a powerhouse probiotic, GanedenBC30.) I mix the two together then pop it in the freezer if it's a hot day. The tryptophan in the turkey acts as a natural sleep inducer and will help relax your anxious dog.

Other great options are rope and chew toys made of hemp and/or calming herbs. Most pet stores have a great selection of “calming toys” to chose from.

When fireworks begin, distract your pet from the noise by engaging them with interactive play. Many people baby and pamper their frightened pet. This only encourages fearful behavior. Instead, snap them out of this state by grabbing a toy and playing chase or tossing a toy and telling them to go fetch. Try to keep their attention on interactive play.

Set up a "calming zone" in a quiet place with your dog's bed, a covered crate, a diffuser containing lavender oil and pheromone (a hormone found to reduce stress and anxiety.) Compression THUNDER®️ shirts can also be a help for some dogs but others get more anxious getting in and out of the restrictive garb. Add a few new toys. Don't let your dog have access to this area until the evening gets going. Toys will be new and exciting and a good distraction from fireworks. Try and drowned out firework noise with the TV or music but if it’s still too loud, maybe move this spot to the bathroom and run a warm bubble-bath.

If you must leave your dog, and can't hire anyone to pet-sit, put your pet in their calming area and put on classical music which has shown to reduce stress in dogs. There are several great stress-relieving music sources for canines if you search online. Try and stay with your pet until they are relaxed and calm.

Make sure pets are left in a secure place and can't escape. Before leaving: always double and triple check all windows, doors, and gates. (When in a state of panic dogs can scale 16ft walls and achieve other miraculous feats.) If possible use a camera to check on your dog while you are away. It's not an ideal time to leave them alone and depending on the stress level, I would only do this as a last resort for a very short amount of time.

Lastly, start the day with lots of exercise. It will no-doubt be crowded but try and get out early before the heat and craziness kick into high gear. If weather is a deterrent, sign up for a course at a local indoor facility like Zoom Room and have some fun together. Even an older dog can go for a nice, long, albeit SLOW, walk. Or, for less mobile dogs, a long stroll in a wagon will get them out in the fresh air. This will get their adrenaline going, get their heart rate up, and best of all, tire them out. Hopefully they will sleep like a baby later on.

Ironically, my little Olive, who's frightened of her own shadow, has no problem with fireworks. I'M the one who will be under the bed eating CBD treats, wearing my noise-cancelling headphones chilling out. Have a fun holiday! 🇺🇸Pugs and kisses! -Katy. 🐾

By, Katy Cable, TWR
A 3 min. Read
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In a suburban So Cal neighborhood where the lawns are perfectly manicured, and the streets are crowded with kids on skateboards and bikes, an unsuspecting little Maltipoo puppy named Pumba, fell prey to a coyote. This is not a rural area. The closest park is miles away. This home is not over-run with bushes and shrubs but features a tiny garden, large patio and a gi-normous swimming pool. Little Pumba was not roaming around lost in the woods but sitting in the kitchen getting ready to enjoy his evening meal.

No sooner had the dish been set down when Pumba, in the blink of an eye, was snatched and dragged out the small doggie door by a coyote. As as tragic as this story is, I chalked it up to an extremely rare occurrence. Then lo-and-behold, just that night on my social media news feed, I saw three other neighbors had found remains of dogs and cats on their lawns. -One lady went so far as to post graphic photos which will haunt me for months! Another post was a gentleman who issued a warning after having his small dog snatched by a coyote while he was out walking. The real kicker was when my best friend Alex, who lives over an hour away, lost her beloved cat, Juliette to a coyote.

Coyotes are no longer just found in rural, remote, wooded areas. They have now begun populating busy urban cities and beach communities. From late March, through the summer, AKA "COYOTE SEASON" coyotes are out in full force gathering food for their new pups. During this time, they are even more aggressive and resourceful and typically look for smaller, unsuspecting pets to prey on. As quickly as the flowers bloom and the weather gets warmer, so do the reports of coyote sightings. And even worse, heartbreaking stories of pets falling victim to them.

Don't be fooled, coyotes who dwell in more populated areas tend to be less fearful of people. Most will not hesitate to approach very closely and attack. In the amount of time it takes you to glance at a new text message, they can sneak up behind you, snatch up a small, unsuspecting pet and race off. Coyotes can scale 16ft solid wood walls, and slide through small doggie doors faster than you can say "Dinner Time!"

In the dark or from far away, it is easy to mistake a coyote for a malnourished Husky-mix or German Shepard. Warn children THESE ARE NOT STRAY DOGS. They are WILD ANIMALS! I nearly made this mistake myself when I saw a coyote running through a popular neighborhood park. The closest thing to a wild animal in my beach community is a hungry squirrel so naturally I assumed someone's dog had gotten out. As I drove around trying to catch "the lost dog" and got within a few feet, I knew exactly why it wasn't wearing a collar. -IT WAS A COYOTE! It wasn't scared. It didn't run off. It stood not 4 feet away waiting for my next move. I'm glad I didn't have the remains of a Subway Sandwich in my hand or I may not be here to write this blog.
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Here's a few important tips to keep you and your pets safe.


🐾BE PREPARED 🐾

Avoid walking your pet from dusk-until-dawn. If you must, use extreme caution and follow the tips below.

1. Pay close attention to both your dog and your surroundings. This isn't the time to chat on your phone or send text messages.

2. Use a short leash and keep dog at your side.

3. Bring a large stick. Invest in a deterrent spray, shreak alarm or loud whistle. A can filled with coins can work too.

3. Walk in crowded, well-lit areas if possible. Especially during peak coyote times.

4. Stay clear, and keep your dog away from bushes, brush areas and other places that may serve as coyote dens.

5. If coyotes have have been spotted in your area, DO NOT GO OUT during peak feeding hours.

6. Seal off doggie doors.

7. Do not leave food outside.

8. Cut back shrubs, bushes or other areas that could serve as hiding spots for coyotes.


🐾IF A COYOTE APPROACHES🐾

1. BE AS BIG AND LOUD AS POSSIBLE. Wave your arms and throw rocks while backing up slowly.

2. Keep your pet away from the coyote. Do not let them approach.

3. DO NOT RUN!

4. DO NOT TURN YOUR BACK!

5. If you do sight a coyote CALL ANIMAL CONTROL. Also post the details (location/time) on social media sites for your area. Advise neighbors with pets/children. If coyotes have hit the beach, they can be anywhere. BE ON THE 👀 LOOKOUT and be SAFE!

💔💔This blog dedicated to Pumba, Juliette and all the other beloved pets who were killed by coyotes. 💔💔

By Katy Cable-TWR
A 3 min. Read
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If you're like me your heart melts over the Pugs (and/or Frenchies, Bostons, Bullies, Shihtzus, etc.) You dote on their darling wrinkles while spending a king's ransom on Botox to remove your own. Their bulging eyes, curly "cinnamon bun" tails and soft folded ears that feel like rose petals make your day! I bet you can't imagine life without these special creatures.

We "smooshy-faced" dog lovers are not alone. Look no further than your TV and you're bound to see a Pug or two promoting products. They are adored by some of the biggest celebrities. Jessica Alba, Robin Williams, Hugh Laurie, Gerard Butler, Paris Hilton, George Clooney, Andy Warhol, and Valentino, are Pug lovers. While Lady Gaga, Madonna, Hugh Jackman, Reese Witherspoon, Micheal Phelps and the Beckham's own Frenchies. They have replaced the Scottie dog and Poodle gracing everything from T-shirts to gift wrap to decor. Doug the Pug is currently one of our most celebrated pug-lebrities.

In Great Britain, the French Bulldog replaced the Labrador Retriever as the most popular dog breed. With Pugs and English Bulldogs not far behind.
However this popularity does come at a price and in the case of Pugs, English Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Shih Tzus and other Brachycephalic** dogs, it can be an extremely high one. -Enough to leave you with both an “achy-brachy” heart AND pocketbook.

When it comes to pugs and other brachy (smooshy-faced) dogs, it's buyer beware. What many are surprised to learn is these breeds come with a laundry list of common conditions that can be astronomically expensive. And, due to their exploding popularity, irresponsible breeders hoping to cash-in, are perpetuating the problem. We currently have an epidemic of suffering, compromised pets and heartbroken owners facing financial ruin.

In fact, veterinarians in Britain are going so far as to run huge public campaigns urging people to stop getting this breed due to their plethora of costly, serious health issues.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) president, Sean Wensley sends a strong warning that flat-faced (brachycephalic) dogs typically come with numerous debilitating health problems, and "breeding them just encourages more pain and suffering."

Due to their altered facial construction, flat-faced breeds have what is called brachycephalic respiratory syndrome to varying degrees. These pets often have very small, tightly scrolled nostrils that are so narrow it can be hard to move air in and out. We would liken it to us as humans having to spend our entire life breathing through a drinking straw.

Brachycephalic respiratory issues are often progressive conditions, so breathing problems tend to worsen over time leaving many older dogs in complete respiratory distress. Because of all their respiratory issues, they are at severe risk when needing anesthesia and many are banned from airplane travel. They also overheat quickly and easily develop serious heatstroke.

They also have an elongated soft palate, which is a flap of skin at the back of the throat that causes the characteristic snorting and other respiratory sounds often heard in "brachy" breeds. Another common problem for these breeds is collapsed trachea, which also causes breathing issues.

The Pug also has a "highly desirable" double-curl tail, which is actually a genetic defect that can result in paralysis. Other breed-specific issues include: high blood pressure, heart problems, low blood oxygen levels, dental issues and skin fold dermatitis.

If you own a Pug, Frenchie or Bulldog and have ventured into social media you have no doubt experienced the backlash of haters. Calling your precious fur baby everything from ugly to wanting to kill you for owning a dog they feel is suffering.

So is the beloved Pug soon to be extinct? Thankfully the answer is an overwhelming NO! With their enormous popularity and appeal, the darling Pug is in no danger of going away anytime soon. However, we do need to raise awareness and stress more responsible breeding.​

For an example of how this crisis is transpiring, one needs only look at pugs over the years. Since the early 1900's pugs seem to have gotten shorter legs, larger heads, smaller nostrils, double curled tails and more exaggerated barrel chests. Carolinе Kisko, thе Kеnnеl Club sеcrеtary, said thе problеms with brachycеphalic dogs are bеing pеrpеtuatеd by disrеputablе puppy farms.
“Brееds such as thе Frеnch Bulldog and Pug havе sееn a suddеn incrеasе in popularity in rеcеnt yеars, lеading to a hugе dеmand for thеm. This has providеd a rеady markеt for unscrupulous brееdеrs to еffеctivеly churn out puppiеs for profit, outsidе of any rеgulation or umbrеlla of influеncе, with no rеgard for thеir hеalth and wеlfarе." She adds,
“It’s likеly that thеy’rе dеlibеratеly brееding еxaggеratеd dogs in thе hopе that thеy’ll appеar ‘cutе’ to puppy buyеrs. Rеsponsiblе brееdеrs will brееd with hеalth as thе top priority, and thе Kеnnеl Club brееd standards makе it clеar that еxaggеrations in any brееd should bе avoidеd.”
​
Sadly, what I see all too often are well-intentioned pet owners who can no longer afford the astronomical costs associated with these dogs and they’re relinquished to shelters and rescues in their senior years. Unfortunately, it’s not only happening here in the USA!

According to a headline in the UK's Telegraph, "While the purchase of flat-faced dogs in the U.K. is trending upward, dog parents are also reportedly abandoning their brachys in alarming numbers." The reason? Owners can't cope with the health problems associated with these breeds.

At the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in South London, the number of older Pugs, Frenchies and Shih Tzus entering the shelter almost tripled in just five years. And the rescues I work with here in So. Cal are also over-run with sick, older Pugs who have expensive conditions to treat.

Here’s what you can do to help:
1. First and foremost, educate yourself on the breed of any dog you’re considering. It will give you indicators on energy levels, temperament, lifespan and possible health issues.

2. Always consider rescuing or adopting a pet from a shelter. Many times shelters have pure-bred dogs and certainly rescues can be an amazing resource and support.

3. Only use responsible breeders. Responsible breeders thoroughly interview perspective owners and take the utmost care and selection in breeding.

4. Whatever you do: DO NOT SUPPORT backyard breeders, pups being given away, sold or “re-homed” on Craig's list and other sites. Stay clear of that neighbor who has a cousin that is breeding his cute pup.

5. If you are the parent of a brachycephalic dog, it's important to understand that breathing difficulties can prevent your furry companion from enjoying the very simplest things dogs naturally love to do, like eating, sleeping, play and exercise.

6. It's important to know the difference between normal and abnormal breathing sounds, and to make an appointment with your vet if you notice any unusual breathing or other signs of respiratory distress.

7. It is extremely important to keep a “brachy” dog fit and trim. Overweight and obese pugs have much more serious respiratory difficulties ANYWAY but keeping them at an ideal weight is imperative.

8. Keep your dog out of hot, humid environments is also crucial in order to prevent overheating.

9. Stress exacerbates virtually every health problem, especially breathing difficulties, therefore keeping your brachy's life as stress-free as possible is a must. It will do wonders for their health and quality of life.

I’ve said many times that I poured more money into my dogs than a vacation home or luxury car and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. However, I do want people to be well informed before they’re blind-sighted by these irresistible, yet sensitive/expensive little creatures. Heck, it’s one of the main reasons I do this blog. Thanks for reading, and please pass this on to any new “smoosh-faced” pet parents that may benefit from the info. Pugs & 😘 Kisses! -Katy

**Brachycephalic dogs: "Brachy" is a Greek word meaning short, and "cephalic" means head. Brachys are short-headed, short-muzzled breeds. Other examples of brachy dogs include the Boston Terrier, Boxer, Shih Tzu and Pekingese.

By Katy Cable-TWR
A 2 minute read

I am REALLY ANGRY! There is a serious crisis going on with one of the most popular brands of pet food and it just keeps growing. Even worse, it’s happening with prescription formulas being fed to the most compromised pets.

Since January, Hill’s Science Diet has had NUMEROUS recalls on nearly 44 varieties of their pet foods due to possible toxic levels of vitamin D. Instead of correcting the serious issue, the recalls just keep coming.

Several days a week I work as a brand ambassador at pet stores. Not a day goes by when I don't run into many worried, frustrated pet parents trying to help their ailing dogs and cats. What drives me BONKERS is watching them shell out an average of $50-90 on bags of prescription kibble in an effort to treat many common conditions. Typically this comes at the recommendation of their trusted vet!

Perhaps it strikes a chord because I WAS one of those pet parents. My pug Raisin was suffering from chronic bladder infections and his homemade organic diet was switched to RX urinary formula food. First he didn’t want to eat the dry kibble, but eventually he caved. Well, the food worked wonderfully in stopping urinary problems, but it quickly brought on a host of other equally troublesome issues.

When I started volunteering with shelters and rescue groups, I had my eyes opened. I witnessed complete transformations and miraculous healing in sick, compromised dogs all due to a simple change in diet. I watched what happened when pets eating meals loaded with grains, corn, soy, rice and potatoes and poor-quality proteins were switched to new diets of high-quality animal and fish protein, low glycemic carbs and probiotics. It blew my mind! I learned a pet's nutrition is one of the most crucial defenses in their health and most RX foods are nothing more than over-priced bags of junk.

When I purchased my first bag of RX food, the first thing I did was look at the ingredients listed on the label. When all I saw was brewers rice, wheat, corn gluten-meal, chicken by-product meal, and a host of other things I couldn't pronounce, I was puzzled. I asked the vet, "What are the medicines or active ingredients in this to treat my dog's condition?" All I could see were sugary, starchy carbs. and poor quality proteins. There appeared to be no difference between this high-priced kibble and nearly every other food on the market.The vet explained that although there is no medicine in the food, it is specially formulated to treat certain conditions. So in my case, it was designed to prevent urinary crystals from forming.

My next question was, "If there is no medicine in this food, why do I need a prescription to purchase it?" My vet said, "The reason it requires a prescription from a vet is because these formulas do not provide the right nutritional balance for an otherwise healthy pet. If a pet parent were to buy and feed this food to a healthy dog it could be dangerous. We want to monitor pets living these conditions and eating these specially formulated foods."

I still cringed at spending so much money on this poor quality RX food and wished there was an option that had the formulation my dog needed but was comprised of higher quality ingredients. With all the starchy carbs, it seemed I would be fixing one problem only to create others. And in my case (and so many others) that's exactly what happened. Although Raisin never suffered further urinary problems, instead he was on constant antibiotics for ear infections, yeast infections, tumors and other complications.

Fortunately, now there are several excellent choices that are both less expensive and healthier! If your vet recommends a "big brand" prescription food for obesity, weight-control, allergies or tummy issues, I would discuss considering a premium “wet/moist” pet food without all the starchy carbs and stick to a single “gentle” protein source like turkey, lamb, cod or chicken. I’ve had nothing but success using Nulo. I endorse it because it’s consistently worked. Frankly, it’s been the answer to my prayers. However, there are many excellent premium foods that would be better and safer options for these common conditions.

If your pet suffers from a chronic condition that could be life threatening, such as pancreatitis, diabetes, liver shunt, kidney stones or renal problems, I would consider trying a special diet from Just Food For Dogs. You may be familiar with them if you're from So Cal. JFFD is a unique place that makes fresh, human-grade food formulated for dogs. It's basically a stand alone store with a working kitchen in plain view.

What began as a single location on Pacific Coast Hwy in the beautiful California town of Newport Beach, has now grown to include numerous nationwide locations. Pet parents can stop in and purchase a variety of fresh pet foods, supplements and treats. The best part is JFFD offers an RX line for a variety of conditions. These specially formulated diets are roughly the same price as many other popular commercial brands, however JFFD uses only fresh, premium, human-grade ingredients.

With a team of 8 vets specializing in nutrition on staff, custom food formulations can also be created for specific issues such as cancers, or extreme allergies. These diets may or may not contain actual medications and are created based entirely on your dog's blood panels. If you're interested in giving this option a try for your dog but you're not from this area, all products, including RX foods and custom formulations can be ordered online or by phone and shipped to your door.

​Another pet food company offering high quality RX diet options using premium ingredients is: Darwin’s Intelligent Design™ Veterinary Formulas. (https://www.darwinspet.com/product/prescription-meals-for-dogs/) These foods actually do contain beneficial nutraceuticals for specific medical conditions. This company comes highly recommended by many vets who have specialized backgrounds in nutrition.

The other option for those pet parents requiring special diets for their dogs is to consult with an integrated holistic vet. These vets specialize in the role nutrition plays in healing/preventing various medical conditions. In addition to western medicine, other natural alternatives are incorporated into treatment plans. To find an integrated holistic veterinarian in your area visit: https://www.ahvma.org/find-a-holistic-veterinarian/

I want to set the record straight and put a stop to the misconception that these big commercial RX foods are the best and only way to go. I saw with my own eyes you don't need to spend a lot of money on RX foods and in many cases they do more harm than good. Many health conditions can be cured or greatly reduced with better nutrition. The best part is, it doesn't have to break the bank.

​Here's wishing you a long happy HEALTHY life for your beloved pet.
Pugs & Kisses!
🐾😘Katy Cable & Olive

By Katy Cable / A 4 min read

​Moms and proms. Dad’s and grads, -its the season for celebrations and vacations. Most of us consider our pets family members and are excited if we can include them on getaways. In order to make it a fun, safe, memorable IN-A-GOOD-WAY vacay, here’s a few great tips and resources:

🐾Prior to making your vacation plans, have your pet examined by the vet. They can honestly evaluate how safe and prepared your pet is for traveling. Perhaps a short trip to a dog-friendly campsite is ideal rather than trying to take an elderly or fearful pup on a long airline flight to a new destination.

Whatever your plans and budget a few of my favorite dog travel resources I have found are: Dogfriendly.com and Bringfido.com These terrific websites & apps include all the resources you need to plan and enjoy an amazing vacation with your pet virtually anywhere in the world.

From the glamour of Bevely Hills, to the beautiful beaches it would be hard to find a better travel destination than right here in my own backyard of Southern California. Not many places offer the year-round excitement, diversity and options. There are many pet-friendly places to stay as well. One of my personal favorites is The Waterfront Hilton in Surf-City Huntington Beach. For a beach-dog, this is a perfect choice. It's extremely dog friendly right down to allowing them poolside. There's the famous dog beach directly across the street and plenty of dog-friendly dining and shopping right down the block at Pacific City.

After a sunny day playing in the salt water and sand, your pup can be royally pampered at one of my favorite pet spas and boutiques. Right there in Pacific City is Top Dog Barkery. I’ve held many fun events here and not only do they offer grooming, day-care and a private play area, but they have a beautiful retail boutique featuring the best and coolest dog products as well as a gourmet BARKERY with lavish treats. Tell the owner, Karen you heard about them here for a free gift.

Make a short drive north to Long Beach and visit me in my neck of the woods, Belmont Shore. There’s a huge, sandy dog beach with very gentle waves due to a breakwater. Also you’ll find easy parking for a minimal fee, restrooms, showers, (hoses to rinse pets) and drinking fountains. When you’re ready for a break, stroll up to Second Street and get your dog pampered and groomed with a blueberry scrub at Pussy and Pooch. This is another unbelievable destination for you and your pets. A full-service paw-bar serves up the best and healthiest fresh fare for your pup and you can enjoy shipping for the latest and most creative pet products anywhere. All along the street you’ll find pet-friendly restaurants with water bowls and patios. Our beaches are wonderful places to visit year-round, but after Labor Day rates go way down as do the crowds.

As luck would have it, some of my personal favorite dog friendly weekend getaways are just short car rides away. Ojai Valley Inn and Spa is a beautiful, relaxing paradise for all of us. We enjoy long walks, popping our dog in the basket and going for bike rides, and then our pug Olive often joins us for al fresco meals. Olive has sat “shot-gun” in the cart while we go out golfing. She’s napped on an Adirondack chair at the driving range, taken 1000 steps hiking through lavender fields, posed for hundreds of beautiful Instagram pics or simply relaxed in the room while we hit the amazing spa or pool. Ojai Valley rolls out the welcome mat for dogs with a fresh baked welcome treat upon check-in as well as comfy beds and products just for your dog.

Although it can be far too sweltering hot during the summer, another favorite dog-friendly destination (November-May) is La Quinta Resort and Spa. I love the beautiful Spanish-architecture and historic grounds. The large casitas provide ample space and privacy for your pooch. La Quinta’s expansive property features numerous pools, world class golfing, tennis, and spa treatments. There are several quaint restaurants with patio dining and nearby you’ll find wonderful shopping destinations where everyone is happy to see a well-behaved dog.

If you want to escape the heat, head to the snow. I've have had some fun adventures right up in the local mountains. Playing in the snow is a perfect change of pace for my "beach-dog." Even during the summer months, you can get out on the lakes, or hike in the great outdoors and enjoy the fresh mountain air.

Yes, I know these are 5⭐️, luxury resorts but if you check on HotelTonight you may land a great deal or swing a high-end luxury hotel for a lot less $$$ than a budget stay. Chances are better if you can wait until mid-week or go at less popular times.

​Plus, it seems to be my experience that the finer the hotel, the more responsive they are to pets. My dogs receive first-class treatment at many 5-Star resorts, yet they're forbidden from staying at most budget motels. In addition, I've noticed my canine was definitely cleaner, smarter and better-mannered than most the other guests at some of these haunts. -Well, RULES are RULES😜!

Should you find yourself in a situation where you want to enjoy an outing or overnight sans dog, I recommend visiting the sites listed or trying Doggie Day Camp or the PetsHotel at select PetSmart locations. A loving, trained staff offers excellent care at affordable prices and can be readily found throughout the nation.
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Try not to feel bad if you don't have the time, budget or adaptability to do a full-blown getaway with your canine, on my Homepage I have listed some fun local events going on. You can have a ball on a free "stay-cation" right in your own neck of the woods. Not from this area? Check your Vet's office, pet stores or social media for meet-ups and events where you live. -Or start your own.

​I would 💝💝💝💝 to see your fun getaway photos and to include them on this site. ️
​🐾🐾Happy Tails to you!🐾🐾 -Katy & Olive

By Katy Cable -Thrive Global
A 3-min. read
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In honor of Mother's Day, I'd like to dedicate this blog to those special, often over-looked women whose “children have paws.”

My heart goes out to women who have a difficult time on this holiday. While this year I may have a joyous Mother’s Day to celebrate, there were year’s when awkward family dynamics and unmet expectations made "Martyr's Day" seem more apropos. I hope sharing my story and survival tips will help get you through the day and make it special.

Mother's Day just a few years ago my daughter was graduating high school then heading off to college. If that wasn’t enough, my beloved Pug Raisin, made his final departure for Rainbow Bridge.

I was approaching “empty-nester" status, wondering what I would do with my life. For the last 18 years I’d been consumed as a stay-at-home “MOM-ager” to my daughter who had been acting professionally since infancy. Very soon I would be putting her on a plane to attend college clear across the country. The time had come to get off the runway and let her take flight.

I sat in my quiet, clean, empty house battling severe depression while firing out job resumes through a waterfall of tears! I missed my daughter who hadn’t even left yet and I missed Raisin. I even found myself missing things I'd always complained about like: dog hair covering everything, dirty dishes left out, my daughter “borrowing” my favorite clothes, and endless booster meetings.

​In an effort to keep busy and get out of the house, I checked my ego at the sliding glass doors of PetSmart and took a part-time job consulting pet parents. My job no longer required high-heels and designer attire, but sneakers, yoga pants, a name tag and lanyard. Gone we’re the days I was taking meetings with top brass managers. The managers I was working side-by-side with now, were the same age as my daughter.

Ironically the company I represented was a new pet food company called “NULO” and at that moment I truly felt I had hit a "NEW-LOW" and my best days were behind me. I doubted I would last through the first pay period.

Much to my surprise, I was having the time of my life at my new job. Working with pet owners fulfilled me in ways no other career ever had. It did nothing however to quell my desire for another dog. -Just the opposite. I was so desperate to fill the huge hole in my heart Raisin left, I began obsessively searching every rescue and shelter. Had my husband not threatened divorce if I took in a dog without his approval, I would've snatched up any three legged, frothing-at-the-mouth, rabid beast needing a home.

The more I searched, the more frustrated and disappointed I got. My husband quickly grew tired of my insanity so I agreed to call off the hunt until after the holidays and join him on a business trip. -Something I hadn't been able to do since complimentary meals and free checked bags were still offered on flights.

No sooner had we pulled up to our hotel when I received a text alert. It was a photo of a pug who was the spitting image of Raisin as a pup. Strangely enough the pup was in a shelter located not two miles away from where we were staying. I was just certain it was a sign from God! -Kismet! I pushed hubby out the door for his meeting and proceeded to race over to the shelter.

When I arrived, his cage was empty and he was listed “unavailable!” -It was yet another disappointment! As I went to leave I heard yelping from another cage. I was sure a dog was injured and rushed over to help. When I arrived at the scene, I noticed a tiny black pug sticking her paw through the kennel bars yelping for me. My heart melted. I knew then and there she was my new dog. I pet her and assured her I would be back to take her home.

As luck would have it, I was able to pull some strings and adopt what was a very sick little pup. It was apparent, though just a puppy herself, she had just had a litter. The shelter said she'd been found on the side of a desert road and was likely a breeder dog who had never been out of a crate. She was just terrified of everything. I named her “little black Olive” and promised her that life was about to drastically change.
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For me, the cure for depression was this new dog. Olive made me happier than I'd been since everyone had "flown-the-coup". I was having the time of my life getting to know this darling new (and previously abused) pug.

No sooner did I find my perfect new pug, I got offered the "dream job" I’d applied for a few months prior. With Olive at my side and the ability to work in Nikes, I passed on the 80 hour work weeks and non-stop corporate demands. -And not for one second have I regretted my decision.

The takeaway of my story is: KEEP THE FAITH! Be optimistic and hopeful. And most importantly, don't rule out something that involves wearing comfy shoes, a name tag and lanyard. You might find you’re happier, healthier and far more fulfilled if you fall off the corporate ladder and try something completely new.

So if this Mother's Day, has you feeling down, consider this, most mother’s claim “CHILDCARE” is the #1 thing they want on their official holiday. 🤣 Here’s a few other things you can do to feel better:

1. Indulge in a 5 minute pity-party. Cry, scream, throw something, and feel sorry for yourself.-YOU GET 5 MINUTES!

2. Get out and count your blessings. Write or think of 20 things you’re grateful for. Over-achievers or severely depressed, go through the entire alphabet and find a blessing for each letter. Extra credit: Go ANYWHERE you’re likely to encounter toddlers having full-blown melt-downs and stressed-our parents!

3. Treat yourself to something nice. Better yet, treat yourself to a special day. Go buy yourself a present. No, splurge! Go buy flowers, candy, a full-body massage, whatever makes you happy. Start a new tradition honoring what a wonderful “Dog Mom” you are!

4. Honor special woman who are mothers to PETS! Why not plan your own little party. Not up for a big production, there are some fun, unique gifts for pet moms. If you're short on cash, donate time by dog sitting or walking their dog.

5. Don’t have family or friends with pets, how about volunteering some time to an animal shelter or rescue. I can give you lots of recommendations for places that would love your help!

Getting out and doing for others or spending time with an animal will definitely make you feel much better. (-If it doesn't I will personally refund your misery!😜) Who knows maybe you'll come home with a new "fur baby" of your own. A dog will love you unconditionally in ways a mother or child never can.

Happy Mother's Day! -Whether it's to a child by birth, blood, or choice. And Happy Mother’s Day to those special moms whose children have paws! 🐾Pugs & Kisses -Katy

By Katy Cable/A 5 min. Read

I’m interrupting my intended scheduled blog to bring you what seems to be much more necessary. This season’s “Super Bloom” in SoCal, has left many dog owners in TEARS! -Literally! The great outdoors has been anything but for allergy sufferers.

All week long I’ve had weepy-eyed, runny-nosed pet parents coming to me in desperation. Their poor dogs are relentlessly itching, chewing their paws and covered in rashes and hot spots. If the allergies weren’t bad enough, the vet bills and products have set them back hundreds of dollars.

Good news! Take a deep breath and read on. As someone who has suffered from severe allergies all my life and also worked with highly sensitive dogs, these tried and true remedies will get both you and your dog feeling brighter than a spring day in no time.

WHAT’S HAPPENING TO MY DOG...
When a dog constantly licks and chews certain spots on their body, it eventually becomes red, raw, inflamed and ITCHY! The area never gets a chance to heal because the dog won't leave it alone. At this point it’s easy to develop a bacterial or fungal infection which are also extremely itchy. The secondary condition then makes the itch much worse exacerbating the itch-lick cycle.

If yourdog is suffering from any sort of skin infection, they should be evaluated immediately by your vet. Typically it’s an allergy to a flea bite, food or something in the environment. But, it’s quite possible they have skin mites or have developed a fungal or bacterial infection that requires prompt attention. It may also be the result of compulsively licking and biting their skin to relive stress and anxiety.

​GET RID OF HOT SPOTS...
Regardless of the cause, start building up your dog’s immune system with a nutritious diet. GET RID OF THOSE BAD CARBS! I would switch to a wet/moist food since kibble by nature is nearly twice as high in carbs. Wet food is much easier to digest due to the higher water content.

Stick to a limited ingredient diet using one single meat, fish, fowl, or poultry protein source. Typically, turkey and lamb cause the least amount of issues. Feeding foods that contain chicken, turkey, beef and whatnot can be too taxing on your dog’s already weakened immune system right now. I personally use canned Nulo LID Turkey which works on all life stages.

READ THOSE LABELS! Look for high quality meat protein as the first 3 ingredients! Stay away from corn, wheat, potatoes, rice and oats. All very high in sugar. I’m astounded at how many vets put allergy suffering dogs on popular brands of RX foods. Basically it’s the same as serving yourself a heaping bowl of sugar chunks to cure your yeasty-rash! While you’re at it, cut out all fruit and treats. It’s not forever, just while your dog is healing.

Next, give your house a good sweep, vacuum and scrub. Wash all bedding, blankets and toys in Dreft, Pure Castile or fragrance-free, hypo-allergenic soap. Close up those windows during peak pollen hours and on high count days.

Grab a hypo-allergenic, gentle, fragrance/color-free, puppy shampoo and read the label. Don’t use any products containing OATMEAL. While oatmeal can be a gentle exfoliating ingredient, many dogs are highly sensitive to grains and applying it directly to their coats can further aggravate things. Your vet may prescribe a medicated wash as well.

Plan exercise and walks for later in the afternoon when winds calm and pollen counts are lower. Upon returning home, wash your dog’s coat to remove any environmental allergens. At the very least, use the shampoo on a wet cloth and wash their paws, around their bottoms, face, ears and any wounds. These cleansers are gentle enough to use daily without drying your pet’s coat.

TREATING THE WOUNDS...
It’s critical to keep your dog's mouth away from the wound while it heals. The sooner the licking stops, the faster the healing. Many dogs will chew right through bandages which adds another problem to your growing list, so pick up an Elizabethan (E-collar) o soft collar. If your dog’s obsessive licking is caused by a behavior issue, this collar will also do the trick by breaking the cycle.

Keeping the wound clean is imperative. I recommend disinfecting with Betadine twice a day. After disinfecting the wound, apply a topical remedy to speed healing. No one remedy works for every dog, so my advice is to try different topicals until the wound is healed. A few options to consider:

• MANUKA HONEY (This is a special type of anti-bacterial honey found in New Zealand & Australia. NOT the honey found in the plastic bears at the supermarket!) applied to the wound twice a day
• RAW ALOE Break open a fresh filet of aloe leaf and place it, gooey side down, on the wound. Hold in place with a bandana, t-shirt or dressing and replace every four hours.
• PAVIA NATURAL WOUND CARE CREAM applied twice daily.

Your vet may prescribe antibiotic creams or medications but these will hopefully work to keep things from developing or getting worse. You can also give these a try immediately while waiting to see your vet. Your dog may be very uncomfortable so I use Cannabidiol (CBD) oil both topically and on the wounds to calm dogs down and bring relief.

Another great way to promote healing is through physical activity. If they get a lot of exercise they’ll be preoccupied and also sleep better at night. If the outdoors is too high on the allergy index, jump into some indoor agility, nose work or training classes.

This is the time to keep stress levels under control. A bored dog left home alone all day or a dog who’s been sent to akennel while you’re away on vacation can begin obsessively licking or bring wound healing to a screeching halt.

Get in the habit of running your hands over your dog and inspecting his coat and paws daily checking for fleas, ticks, bumps or damp fur. Some hot spots can pop up within a matter of hours, while others take longer to appear. Don't wait until there's a nasty irritation before seeking advice from your veterinarian. And as the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!” Trying these suggestions will certainly reduce a lot of problems AND COST!

I hope these tips bring relief to your dog and you can get out and enjoy the springtime! Be sure to follow me on social for lots of fun, pet-friendly activities going on. Pugs and Kisses! 💕🐾😘

​By Katy Cable,
A 4 minute read

There are few things more fun than taking my Pug Olive to the dog park. She just loves racing around like a Greyhound and socializing with other dogs. In Olive's case, she was so badly abused and fearful when I rescued her, taking her to the dog park has strengthened our bond and healed her anxiety issues.

As a former organizer for several Meet-Up Groups and events in So Cal, I continue to attend several events every month. Plus I live one block from a very popular dog beach. While it's always fun to meet new friends and watch our fur babies play, disasters can occur. Unfortunately, sometimes when you visit a public dog park, there's that ONE DOG with a delusional owner who ruins everyone’s time. I'm sure you've seen it. The owner is typically lost in their own world, obliviously chatting away on their cellphone while their dog is stealing toys, humping any leg they can find, knocking over anything in their path and pooping with reckless abandon. In order to best prepare yourself AND your dog, the following "Do’'s and Don’ts" are a must-read before heading out with your furry friend
Dog Park Etiquette and Safety Tips:

Before You Go:

1. Check first and avoid any dog beaches or parks that have closed recently due to unsanitary conditions. If it looks dangerous or unclean, go elsewhere. Be on the lookout for fallen tree branches, trash, and people failing to clean-up after their dogs. The beach can be littered with trash, debris and unhealthful water after severe storms, so I recommend checking with the health department and having a look around at the conditions before a visit.
2. Before you actually enter the dog park, take a few minutes to observe how the dogs already there are behaving. If they are mostly milling around, fetching balls, or playfully chasing each other, it's probably a safe environment for your dog. If play looks aggressive and it's crowded with highly energetic dogs, try again another time.
3. Don't forget to bring your (fully-charged) cell phone. You will probably want to shoot some pics and videos and maybe exchange IG’s with a new friend, but you also want to have your phone in the event of an emergency. Make sure you know where the nearest emergency vet is located and that you have the numbers for the police and animal control handy should an injury take place. It's unfortunate but I have never visited a dog park without witnessing a scuffle of some type. Always be prepared!
4. If you have a new dog or are dog-sitting, hold off on the dog park. If you insist on going, do wait until you've seen their temperament around a few dogs in the neighborhood or dogs belonging to friends or family. Be certain they have good interactions with other dogs before venturing out to the dog park. Make sure they follow basic commands (even with distractions) and always check with their owner first.
5. If your pet is anxious, aggressive or fearful of other dogs, or if you have little or no control over them, DO NOT TAKE THEM TO THE DOG PARK! A dog park is NOT a good setting to train your dog. As a matter of fact it can be downright dangerous!
6. As a responsible dog owner, please realize the dog park isn't a good idea for everyone. Wait until your dog is better trained, older, or more socialized before you make a visit.
7. Leave the dog treats and favorite toys at home. Dogs can smell treats left in old jeans or pockets that have been through ten wash cycles. Often they get overly excited or even aggressive around food and toys. Not all dogs should be eating certain things and you don't want to provoke any food fights or unnecessary trouble. Dogs by nature aren't skilled in the art of SHARING.

When You Arrive:

1. If this is your dog's first visit to the park or if it's a different place than they're used to, let them greet the other dogs gradually -- I like to do a lap "on-leash" around the park or perimeter before I enter the fenced area. This is a good opportunity for me to scope out the conditions and temperament of the other dogs.
2. Don't enter the fenced area or gate if there's a gaggle of dogs crowding around the entrance waiting to play with your dog. This will be too tense a situation. Hold off until the crowd thins out.
3. Keep an eye on your dog's behavior. If they seem scared, or other dogs are playing too aggressively, take your dog out and go for a walk instead. Try another time when it's a better mix of dogs. Again, the dog park isn't for everyone. It just takes that one bad dog to ruin everyone's experience.
4. I stay clear of dog parks that don't offer separate play areas for small and large dogs. Big dogs can pounce or play too roughly around little ones and it's more likely injuries can occur. If the dog park you frequent doesn't have a separate area for small dogs, maybe avoid it if there's too many large playful dogs in attendance.
5. You Must Supervise Your Dog At All Times! The dog park is just like taking a toddler to the playground for the first time. This is not the place to relax on a bench with a good book or your nose in your social media feed while your dog is on the loose.
6. Pick up after your dog. Don't assume there will be a poop bag dispenser (with bags still available) and have a few on-hand, should others need one. I keep baby wipes and antibacterial lotion with me as well. Please don't be one of those annoying people who pretends they don't see their dog squatting. Be sure to dispose excrement as well. Nothing kills the buzz of a fun time at the park faster than trekking a shoe full of doggie doo-doo home with you.
7. It's important to know when your dog is anxious, frightened, tense, stressed, sick, playful, and aggressive. Sometimes rowdy-rough play can look similar to aggressive or threatening behavior. Know your dog. Know their moods. Be ready to break up the party if necessary before a problem arises.
8. Be ready to leave the park if your dog or another starts getting overly excited or aggressive. Don't make the assumption your "mellow" dog --who's never hurt a flea, wouldn’t break character and nip or attack another dog (or human) in a certain situation. It happens all the time. The #1 thing vets hear after an accident is, "But they've never done this before!" Remember you can't predict behavior 100% of the time.
9. Know some basics for breaking up a dog fight. An empty water bottle filled with coins, a whistle, a spray bottle of water or a big stick might come in handy to stop a fight from escalating.
10. In order for the dog park to be a good experience, your dog should enjoy interacting with others in a friendly way.

If you have a new dog that's come from a shelter or rescue, I recommend some basic obedience training and some smaller "meet-and-greet" activities before hitting the dog park.

Fearful dogs often act aggressively and a new unfamiliar dog might make life miserable for everyone at the dog park. Again, the dog park isn't the best place for every single dog. A timid or traumatized pet is often better off having play dates with one or two familiar, friendly dogs. Dogs can come along way after some successful meet-ups and play dates and you can always give it a go at a later date when your dog is more socialized.

Don't put others at risk. The safety of other dogs and people is just as important as your own safety and the safety of your pet. Be respectful! This is a great time for you to interact and play with your dog and others. Don't turn a blind eye on your dog and if they are misbehaving, stop it. My little Olive will hit any food treat she can get her mouth around and if she doesn't mind my command to "leave it" or if she's taking another dog's toys after their owner throws it, it's time for me to take Little Miss Olive HOME!

Now that summer is almost here, I hope you’ll get out and have some fun with your pets at the dog park. If you're in the So-Cal area, check my site’s EVENTS page for a variety of fun activities to attend. If you haven’t signed up and would like to receive my free weekly blogs, just click the button below. Hope to see you soon! Pugs and kisses! -Katy😘🐾
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By Katy Cable,TWR

If there's a pug in your family (or Irish Setter, Bassett Hound or Retriever) you are most likely all too familiar with chronic ear infections. My first pug Raisin was plagued with them throughout most his life. Ironically they began coming on about a year after I switched him from homemade organic dog food to a crappy, expensive "prescription" food used to treat his urinary issues. As time went on, and I kept filling him with processed corn, wheat, grains, gluten and poultry by-product meals, the infections got much worse.

After a few years of misery and living on pricey antibiotics, Raisin underwent an extensive surgery where a small hole was drilled under his jaw and a tiny tube was inserted deep in the canal of his inner ear allowing it to drain and heal. It was a traumatic, painful ordeal for the poor little guy but it was successful. However, not too long after, he began having problems in his other ear and eventually the infections returned with a vengeance.

At age 13 he got another painful infection, deep in his inner ear. Antibiotics were no longer effective and he was not in any condition to undergo another exhaustive surgery. We made the heartbreaking yet humane decision to let him go. I wish I had known then what I knew now because I truly feel I could've avoided most if not all these chronic ear issues.

If your dog is experiencing persistent ear problems or is a breed predisposed to them, -read on. These simple tips should save you a lot of expense, hassle and heartache because preventing ear infections is actually quite easy.

Ear problems in dogs are the result of inflammation and/or infection. Any untreated inflammation can lead to infection. If your dog's ears are warm to the touch, red, swollen and/or itchy, but there's little to no discharge, chances are the problem is inflammation. However, if one or more of those symptoms is present along with a brown, green or bloody discharge, that can be anywhere from thin and runny to a thick sludge, chances are it's an infection.

The most common reason for ear inflammation in dogs is allergies. An allergic response to food or something in the environment can cause inflammation anywhere throughout your pet's body, including the ears. A dog with allergy-related ear inflammation will shake their head a lot and also scratch incessantly at their ears. It is also common for them to butt their head along your legs or furniture in an attempt to relieve their discomfort. If you notice your dog doing any of these things be sure to check their ears for any signs of irritation, redness and/or swelling.

Another cause of ear inflammation is moisture. This is commonly known as "swimmer's ear." Although it is very common during the warmer months when dogs are playing in the water more, if you live here in So Cal, where we enjoy outdoor beach weather year-round, or you live in a rainy or humid area, your dog can be at higher risk. Wetness and moisture in the ear canals coupled with a warm body temperature can create an infection quicker than President Trump can send out a heated tweet. It's extremely crucial to thoroughly dry your dog's ears each time they come out of the water or are groomed. -Particularly if you have a high risk breed!

The third major reason for ear problems is wax buildup. The presence of some earwax is healthy and normal, and, just like humans, different dogs have varying amounts. Some dogs, like my sweet Raisin, needed his ears cleaned 2x's daily and little Olive has rarely needed a cleaning. 😀 Certain breeds, such as English & French Bulldogs, Pugs, Cocker Spaniels, Basset Hounds, Poodles, Labradors and Retrievers, in general produce more earwax. If you have one of these breeds, you should get your dog accustomed to having their ears cleaned regularly from the time they’re a puppy.

Ear infections typically involve the outer canal, which is actually very deep. The medical term used for these infections is "otitis externa." An infection that frequently recurs or never really clears, is termed, "chronic otitis." There are a number of things that can cause these infections including:

• Moisture in the ear which creates a warm breeding ground for infection.
• Heavy ear wax production. Excess glands in the ears that produce wax and sebum and clog up.
• Narrowing of the ear canal.
• Heavy, hanging ears such as a Cocker Spaniels & Bassett’s.
• Foreign material in the ear, such as from a plant like a foxtail.

If your dog has an ear infection, it's very important to identify whether it's a bacterial or a fungal infection, (or both), in order to treat the problem.

Bacterial Infections of the ear are the most common. They can either be pathogenic, which is a bacterial picked up from a source OUTSIDE the body, such as contaminated ocean water, or non-pathogenic which is a bacteria that are normally inhabitants of your dog's body, such as staph. Any bacteria can become overgrown and quickly cause an infection.

Fungal Ear Ifections in dogs are most commonly caused by yeast. This is the type of ear infections that constantly plagued Raisin. Some yeast is always present on the bodies of animals, but when the immune system isn't in prime condition, (or they are eating a diet high in starchy carbs, as was also the case with Raisin), the fungus can grow out of control and cause an infection. Most dogs prone to yeast infections need to have their ears cleaned and dried frequently. I would also recommend a grain-free-low carb diet, fresh or moist diet. I could always detect a yeast infection since Raisin's ears would either smell very sweet or horribly rancid. In any case, there was a distinct odor.

How To Prevent Ear Infections in Your Dog:

Unfortunately pugs are much more prone to ear infections than many other breeds. If you’re a pug parent (or have another susceptible breed) YOU MUST BE DILIGENT and check their ears daily. Any dirt, wax, or whatnot, left in the ear canal can bring on a raging infection quicker than norovirus spreads on a cruise ship.

If your dog's ears aren't squeaky clean, CLEAN THEM. An ounce of prevention is definitely worth a TON of cure! There are many ear solutions available in pet stores and your vet May recommend an anti-fungal rinse but this is an all-natural, inexpensive one you can easily make at home for far less money and can be used regularly:

• Mix equal parts distilled or alkaline water with organic apple cider vinegar. (Great for frequent yeast infections)
• Add one drop tea tree oil ( NEVER for cats!) 1 TBS organic coconut oil.
• You can also dab a cotton ball, cotton round or sterile gauze with Witch Hazel, cooled green tea, or hydrogen peroxide, add a dash of coconut oil and begin cleaning.

***NEVER use rubbing alcohol or wipes containing alcohol to clean your dog's ears. It is much too abrasive and can cause extremely painful burning especially if there's inflammation.

​Apply a generous amount of solution on a cotton ball, round, or sterile gauze. (Never use a Q-tip inside the ear canal as it can damage or rupture the eardrum) Gently wipe the ears clean. You may need to repeat and use several cotton balls to adequately clean the ears. Once the cotton is clear of any dirt and wax, you are finished. This should do the trick for most dogs, but if you have a dog with heavy wax buildup, like my Raisin, I would do the following ear cleansing routine and I would ask your vet for a stronger medicated rinse until it’s under control.

• Put your dog on your lap or for large dogs, lay their head in your lap with one ear facing up so solution can roll down their ear canal.
• Squirt a small amount of solution directly into the dog's ear filing up the canal.
• Gently massage the jawline under the ear as solution dissipates.
• Repeat on other side. At this point your dog should begin shaking their head like crazy, spraying you with ear cleaning solution🤣!
• Now, grab that cotton and clean all the loosened wax and debris out of your dog's ears as directed above.
• Follow with lots of praise and a treat. 😜 (AGOOD TREAT-not a big Milk Bone made of junk!)

You may need to do this once a day if ears buildup wax quickly.

***If you suspect your pug might possibly have an ear infection, Make an appointment with your veterinarian immediately! -DON’T WAIT! *** Should your sweetie be suffering from an infection they may require antibiotics and/or special medicated cleaning solutions. Letting an infection go untreated can lead to rupture of the eardrum and further complications.

If your dog is being treated for an ear infection its even more important to keep their ears clean. Adding topical medication to dirty, waxy ears filled with gunk will just be adding fuel to the fire. Extra moisture and warmth will allow the bacteria to grow like wildfire. Also the medication will not easily reach and penetrate the infected tissue.

If your vet diagnoses your dog with a bacterial ear infection, make sure they determine the EXACT STRAIN and course of treatment. This will be extremely helpful if your dog has re-current infections and/or develops a resistance to certain antibiotics. And, just like with humans, it is extremely important to finish any medication your veterinarian prescribes. Don't try and save a few bucks by stopping the course of treatment early and stashing the extra medication, your dog's infection clears. This can lead to regrowth of resistant organisms and eventually make them completely ineffective. Currently there are many strains of bacteria causing ear infections which are resistant to many (if not all) conventional medications.

I also recommend adding some probiotics to replace the healthy bacteria being destroyed by antibiotics. A few tablespoons of plain Kefir is ideal and can be found where milk and yogurt drinks are sold. Also, Nulo pet foods offer low-carb, high-protein jerky treats with patented probiotics resistant to antibiotics. Olive loves the soft salmon jerky.

If your dogs ear issues are driving you nuts, I HEAR YOU! These tips should be a game changer. If you’d like recommendations on products I like pj’s watch my you tube viseos or reach out to me. Pugs and kisses!🐾💕

By Katy Cable-TWR
A 3 min. Read

Happy Spring! Now that we’re thawing out from our harsh winter here in So Cal (we got a few days of some hard rain!😜) it’s time to hit the hiking trails, beaches and dog parks! With that, ONE OF THE BIGGEST MISTAKES DOG OWNERS CAN MAKE becomes very apparent! Can you guess what that is? If you answered: NOT TRAINING THEIR DOGS TO BE GOOD CANINE CITIZENS, you get a ⭐️⭐️👏!

Several of my close friends are dog trainers and puppy-raisers for Canine Companions. I also have friends who train and handle animals for TV and movie shoots. One important thing I've learned is
A GREAT DOG IS MADE NOT BORN.

Sadly, animal shelters are full of dogs who didn’t get a proper start in life to meet their basic needs. As a result they developed behavior problems. An unpredictable or out-of-control family dog is not only exhausting and difficult to be around, but worse, they can pose a huge danger to property, your family members, other animals or themselves.

I learned this first hand when our family was asked to participate in a new TV show for Animal Planet called "Who Gets The Dog". The concept was three different families share a shelter dog chosen as a good match for their lifestyle. The dog spends an entire day and night with each family while the show documents the visits. Lastly, a team of dog experts chooses who the best-suited family is to adopt the dog. The winning family is awarded the dog and a year's supply of dog food.

​We were looking for a small Pug or similar dog that was good with small children and didn't need a lot of space. I also have bad allergies and couldn't have some breeds. No sooner did we get the news from Pugs and Pals that we could adopt Raisin (our first Pug), we also received a call from the show. I declined their offer to appear but they twisted my arm insisting the dog they had was perfect and we would probably want to have this one as well. I again politely refused. The last straw was when they pleaded with me to please do them a favor as they needed just one more family to complete this episode. Poor Raisin went right back to his foster family for an overnight and the TV crew came out.

The minute the cameras started rolling, in bulldozed an enormous, shedding, ball of energy named SULLY. After knocking me flat on the ground Sully proceeded to run upstairs and unleash a good liter of urine on our new white carpet. I took one look at this huge furry dog and realized in an effort to make interesting television, they had pulled a total bait-and-switch. Sully went on to ransack furniture, tear up pillows and destroy pricey decor and it just got worse from there. My then 7 year-old daughter Karley loved the dog and it was too dangerous for us to let her walk him or go near him. I wanted this "DOG-GONE " and our darling Raisin back.

To begin what stands as the thee most exhausting stressful day of shooting in my entire life, we took Sully to our local dog beach to play some games. We no sooner got out of the car when the poor dog went completely crazy tearing down the beach chasing a bird. He nearly got flattened by a UPS truck and was so out of control it took 5 huge crew members to contain him. And it just went downhill from there. By the end of the day, I looked like a basset hound from allergies and sobbing.

I told the producers we weren’t interested in keeping the dog. He was not a good fit and it was terribly dangerous. I was so upset at both their negligence and the trauma it put on this poor animal and our well-intentioned family. The final blow was watching the show on TV only to discover they had further manipulated us by editing our segment to only show Sully sleeping or calmly laying down and catching our reactions when he had been bouncing off the walls or trying to catch him before he ran out in the road and was flattened by a delivery truck. We came across as manic and Sully looked like a perfect pet anyone would be crazy not to want.

Fortunately the show was quickly cancelled! Thankfully the trend of people seeking relinquished shelter/rescue pets, as well as senior, special needs or problematic dogs, is going strong! With that, it’s extremely important to understand the best way to rehabilitate and train animals who got off to a "ruff" start.

First of all: Expect some behavioral issues and address them from the get-go. The most common being housebreaking problems. Other stress-related behaviors include excessive barking, chewing & destroying inappropriate items, escape attempts, jumping up on people and hiding.

The most important thing to remember when trying to eliminate problematic canine behaviors is the best way to teach a dog what you desire is through positive reinforcement training. Simply put, you must reward good behavior and ignore the bad. What doesn’t work is any kind of physical punishment or yelling. This will simply add to your dog's anxiety and stress plus it can make your new family member fearful of you.

Training should begin the second your new dog comes home with you. Right from the first meeting you should begin addressing your dog by their name and using basic training commands like: "Come","Sit", "Stay", "Down" and "Off!" If you're lucky you might be surprised to learn your dog can already follow a few. And when they do, give lots of love, praise and positive attention.

On the other hand, you might find that you need to do a lot more work. If your dog isn't getting the hang of basic commands, take it very slow, and work on just one command a day or for a couple of days (or weeks) before overwhelming them with others.

Your dog doesn't speak English and repeating commands over and over and LOUDER and LOUDER won’t make your pooch listen any better or learn any faster. In fact, it will just set-back progress. I know first-hand how frustrating it can be so if you find yourself having issues, I recommend enlisting the help of a professional trainer who practices positive reinforcement to show you how to communicate more effectively and offer helpful tips.

Although I'm a huge fan of group training classes, when it comes to a new shelter or rescue dog, I often recommend having a trainer work with you in your home or one-on-one first to get the basics down. You will have much more success in a group class if you have waited until a trusting bond with your new dog has been formed. This might take more time, patience and work. Remember your dog probably had a life of complete chaos and fear prior to meeting you.

It’s also a good idea to assume your dog wasn’t socialized by their previous owners. They might be distracted by other dogs making training nearly impossible.

When I rescued Olive she was a frightened little breeder pup who had never lived outside a crate. She had never seen stairs, been on a walk, or had any loving experiences with humans. She was scared to death being put in a harness, driven in a car and led into a brand new home. In an effort not to completely overwhelm her, I enlisted the guidance of top-notched trainers who advised me to gently and slowly begin exposing Olive to all the sights, sounds, smells, and other living creatures in her new environment. When she got scared, I backed off and went at her timid pace. After nearly four year's with me she still has fear issues with crates, cars and resource guarding but she's come such a long way. She now knows complex commands and loves agility games. I still work daily on her more serious issues and give her lots of praise and love!

Do your best to make training fun for both you and your dog. Be a life-long learner and continue in classes, refresher courses, agility, therapy, nose-tracking work or other activities. Get suggestions from your vet, PetSmart or local pet store for fun classes, trainers or clubs to participate in. You don’t even need to HAVE a puppy to take classes and learn how to train one through Canine Comoanions. At the end of the day, you’re learning and getting just as much out of it as your pooch is.

By addressing behavior issues immediately, they can be corrected and not turn into bad habits which follow your dog into their new life with you. From there, you can literally be off and running on a good solid footing of trust and it's anyone's guess where that may take you. Pugs and Kisses!😘🐾💕

By Katy Cable - A 4 min. Read

​Congrats! If you read my blogs regularly, you now have more dog nutrition knowledge than many vets. I would imagine you’re seeing some impressive results if you’re feeding them more nutritiously and more in line with the way nature intended them to eat. Speaking of ancestral diets, here’s my exploration with another big trend in dog food: -RAW food diets.

Every night I see commercials for a popular brand of dog food showing an Alaskan Husky running through the wilderness looking for prey. The ad asks you to feed your dog like their ancestors ate in the wild. While this made perfect sense to me for those herding and working dogs, I questioned how effective it would be with my little moppet snuggled up in a fancy, pink, rhinestone sweater, snoring on a designer Temper-Pedic heated doggie bed. My little Pug would last about as long as a Popsicle in July before she succumbed to freezing temps, gobbled up something toxic, or ended up as dinner for a predator.

Did you know the Pug is one of the oldest breeds of dogs dating back to around 400 BC. They originated in China and were bred for one purpose: To serve as a companion dog and sit on the lap of Chinese royalty. (Certainly not to roam in the wilderness and hunt for prey.) Still, their DNA very closely matches wolves and larger working dogs 🐶 so it seemed logical to try out a raw food diet.

As a brand ambassador for Nulo pet foods, and a pet influencer, I’m given loads of foods and treats for pets. Although Nulo is my personal favorite for the Pugs, Frenchies, Bullies and sensitive dogs I work with, I like to offer a variety of wonderful options to meet any specific needs of pet parents.

Most pet food companies have begun offering higher quality foods with less fillers and raw options either as add-ins or complete diets. Therefore I had lots of incredible raw food options that weren’t around just two years ago. The first thing I did was toss out products containing harmful ingredients or from companies I don't trust. Everything I chose was from top-ranked, reputable sources using 100% human-grade, free-range, grass-fed meat and poultry.

Pugs for the most part LOVE ❤️ FOOD above all else and my “Chief Tasting Officer” Olive, is no exception. I have yet to offer her ANYTHING that hasn’t been devoured in a NY minute with sheer delight. That being said, the next day I am often faced with a stinky, messy situation on my hands. As was the case with the raw food diet.

My experiment didn’t go over well. The first diet was raw beef which gave her bloody diarrhea. I then switched to turkey and she wound up deathly-ill with a gastrointestinal infection. I was SO confused. Here I was trying to be healthier and I ended up making my dog very sick. My trusted vets know what a stickler I am about pet nutrition but when I showed them these impressive raw food samples I got the answers I was looking for.

The vets weigh-in:
My most trusted vets who work with many smooshy-faced (brachy) breeds, seem to recommend lightly cooked diets over raw ones. However, they typically work with very ill, extremely sensitive dogs. Also, they pointed out that dogs in shelters or on diets made up of high processed dry foods need to SLOWLY transition to a new raw diet. They advised first adding more nutritious dry food with less fillers, then adding wet/moist foods, making sure the stool is firm. Then, slowly switch out dry food with wet food and then slowly add more fresh/raw add-ins. Again, using your dog’s 💩 as your guide. A great way to begin is using fresh/raw food in place of store-bought processed treats.

That brought up another major concern for me. What about these risks of Salmonella and other bacterias I hear about with raw foods? Every week there seems to be a recall on raw foods because of this. Plus, I notice when pet food reps are doing in-store demos of raw foods, they wear gloves and set timers to discard food before bacteria settles in. That seemed very risky to be possibly giving a pet tainted spoiled food?

Dr. Pablo Etchemendy (goes by Dr. Pablo) with Banfield http://www.banfield.com/our-hospitals/hospital-locations/location-pages/coa/staff/dr-pablo-etchemendy, feeds his own pets a raw food diet, and he responded,
"If you live on a farm or if you know a local butcher so you can be sure about where your meat is sourced, and you have the time and energy to safely prepare raw meats and then sterilize your kitchen, I would say by-all-means feed a fresh, raw diet. However, I wouldn't recommend it for your average pet parent. There can be too many serious risks when you’re dealing with raw meats. Not necessarily for the pet but for humans who are at risk for exposure to harmful bacteria. A dog has a different digestive system with the ability to tolerate different bacteria that make humans gravely ill. It is also extremely important a pet has a balanced diet. I have seen a lot of pets get very sick and even die from proliferated bones, contamination, or unbalanced diets. Because of the risk-reward, I recommend several commercial pet foods that offer raw varieties depending on the specific needs of the animal and the budget of the pet parents."

My take-away, although this isn't brain-surgery, it also isn't a "no-brainer!” If you’re considering a raw diet or a home-made, "do-it-yourself" diet, I applaud you but recommend you work closely with a holistic veterinarian or do your research diligently.

Integrated Veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker, who is my
“go-to” for holistic options, brings up an important point:
"I'm a big proponent of people cooking or preparing raw, fresh food for their pets. If done properly, this is almost always the healthiest way to nourish your pet (just as it's the healthiest food for you, too). The whole debate about feeding pets raw food (and many veterinarians will discourage you from feeding raw) doesn't make a lot of sense considering dogs and cats have consumed living, raw meats for thousands of years; it's what they're designed for.
Dr. Becker cautions,
“You must remember that simply feeding your pet some raw beef or chicken will in no way meet his nutritional requirements. And if that's ALL you feed him, it can be even more dangerous than offering an inexpensive commercial pet food. Well-meaning pet parents are trying to feed species-appropriate food to their dogs and cats, but what many are missing is the need for nutritional balance.”
If you're interested in preparing a homemade diet for your pets, I recommend Dr. Becker's cookbook Real Food for Healthy Dogs and Cats. Based on the ancestral diets of canines and felines, this book provides a rotational feeding plan and recipes for a meat-based diet that include appropriate levels of vegetables, fruits, and supplements to complete the diet, analyzed to ensure nutritional needs are met. There are actually four main categories of balanced nutrition for pets. These are:

1. Meat, including organs
2. Veggie and fruit puree
3. Homemade vitamin and mineral mix
4. Beneficial additions such as probiotics, super green foods and enzymes, that aren't required to balance the diet, but can enhance the vitality of your pet. If you decide to use a commercial pet food, Dr. Becker offers some helpful guidelines for selecting a quality food, such as avoiding the toxic preservatives ethoxyquin, BHA and BHT. In addition she notes:

"Home cooking is the best thing you can do. Second best is to know the company you're purchasing from really well so you're able to discern that the ingredients it uses are U.S.-sourced, human-grade, preferably organic, and of course, species-appropriate.
…Needless to say, you've got to really read the labels very, very well.”

I'm a vegetarian and get weak in the knees thinking about preparing raw organs and whatnot. Not only that but these diets aren’t practical for my lifestyle and travel schedule. I’m lucky to get a frozen cheese pizza made for my own dinner. Plus I’m often working with sick/compromised dogs. What has worked best for me personally, is feeding my Pug Olive, a premium canned turkey and raw toppers. I also add some fresh fish, sardines, anchovies, chicken, turkey, and/or organic fruits and veggies a few times a week. This way she has some variety in her diet, gets some fresh, raw, living, foods, and still has well-balanced, nutritious daily meals. -AND NO MORE TUMMY TROUBLE!😁

Whether you're adventurous or not, I encourage you to stop feeding your dog the same chicken kibble every night and have some fun. Sample and experiment with fresh foods. Just remember, SLOWLY, and one-new-food-at-a-time, in small amounts.

By adding some fresh, human-grade ingredients to a regular, balanced healthy diet you will surely see a happier, healthier dog. And while upgrading to fresh, human-grade healthier foods might be slightly more time-consuming or expensive, in the long run you’ll save thousands in vet bills as well as offer better health and longevity for your pets.

Bone Appetite! 🐾🍲

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:

• Excessive Barking
• Aggression towards other dogs
• Lack of obedience training
• Lack of adequate veterinary care has caused health issues.
• The owner did not anticipate the time and attention a dog requires each day.

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:

• Fearful body language and facial expressions (Tail hung low, droopy head, not making eye contact. Shaking their head, shaking.
• Finding places to hide
• Wariness and general inhibited behavior
• Lack of appetite

​
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:

• Consistent daily exercise
• Nutritional species-appropriate diet
• Good veterinary care
• Socialization, obedience training and behavior modification as required. ​​

​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.

• Frequent baths give complete, immediate relief to an itchy pet and wash away the allergens on the coat and skin. Make sure to use a grain free (oatmeal free) shampoo. I like Oxyfresh Shampoo followed by massaging a dash of coconut oil over their wet coat. Zymox is also a favorite for stubborn itching.These pure, gentle cleaning agents won't strip or harm your pet's natural oils but will do the trick to remove allergens.
• Paw soaks are also a great way to reduce the amount of allergens your pet tracks into the house and spreads all over their indoor environment. If this is too much hassle, wipe their paws with a damp cloth and a dash of a product mentioned above after coming in the door. More expensive but also good are hypoallergenic pet wipes.
• Keep the areas of your home where your pet spends most of their time as allergen-free as possible. Vacuum and clean floors and pet bedding frequently using simple, non-toxic cleaning agents rather than household cleaners containing chemicals. I like Dreft or a hand wash in Pure Castile Lavender soap.
• Because allergies are an immune system response, it's important to keep your pet's immune function optimal. This means avoiding unnecessary vaccines and drugs. I have seen awful results from dogs getting vaccinated during a systemic outbreak. Vaccines stimulant the immune system which is the last thing your pet with seasonal environmental allergies needs. Talk to your vet about “titers” to measure your pet's immunity to core diseases as an alternative to automatically vaccinating. Or, wait until they’re not symptomatic.
• Switch your pet to a human-grade, species-appropriate, anti-inflammatory food. Foods that create or worsen inflammation are high in carbohydrates, grains and gluten. (Most dry kibble is 40% carbs.) This is a good time to try a canned or fresh food diet. Also, knock out the treats until allergies are under control.
• Add those Omega-3 fatty acids which help decrease inflammation throughout the body. Adding them into the diet of all pets, particularly pets struggling with seasonal environmental allergies – is very beneficial. The best sources of omega 3s are krill oil, salmon oil, tuna oil, anchovy oil and other fish body oils. USE EXTREME CAUTION when feeding fish oils and products. Typically pet food uses the least expensive, poorest quality ingredient sources. With lakes and oceans so polluted, you don't want to add mercury and other toxins to an already compromised pet. Use human grade oils that have been approved and stamped by outside third party companies. I use anchovies and sardines packed in olive oil or spring water. These are too small a fish to worry about contamination. I also use Nulo pouches containing sardines, salmon and mussels. They make an inexpensive easy treat or meal topper and they use extremely high quality seafood.
• Coconut oil. I also recommend coconut oil for pets but especially those with allergies. Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which helps decrease the production of yeast. Using coconut oil can help moderate or even suppress the inflammatory response. It also helps take a bit of the stinky, fish smell away. I have seen amazing results in a few days for dogs suffering from horrific skin/yeast problems by simply switching a dog's diet and adding organic coconut oil. You can also use this on their coat, paws, tear-stains, nose, teeth, and hot spots for relief.
• Try to get out during non-peak pollen hours and exercise or play with your pooch and wear them out. If they are tired they may sleep better and not be sitting around itching and uncomfortable.

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.🐾