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Care for our Pets in the Heat.

25/5/2018

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About Heat Stroke

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Heat Stroke occurs when your pet's body cannot dissipate excess heat as fast as is required to maintain a normal body temperature. This can occur because your pet is generating excessive heat due to exercise or anxiety or is exposed to high temperatures in their environment, or a combination of both.  

​Cats and dogs are susceptible to heatstroke because they can only regulate their body temperature through panting or sweating from their foot pads. A pet that is left in a poorly ventilated area, unable to avoid direct sunlight, or without access to water, such as in a car or shed can quickly succumb to heatstroke.

Very often we may not be aware of the fact that a pet has become overheated until symptoms suddenly develop. For example dogs are always very eager to please their human and will often continue playing or exercising until their bodies cannot take anymore.  Heat stroke in our pets is a very serious condition and its onset can be sudden, escalating into an emergency situation in a matter of minutes. Knowing how to treat a pet experiencing heat stroke may be vital to saving your their life.

Recognizing Heat Stroke Symptoms

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  • Elevated body temperatures and rectal temperature
  • Open mouthed breathing, heavy panting and rasping breath
  • Salivation, the saliva can be thicker than usual.
  • Frequent vomiting
  • An anxious expression or a staring appearance
  • bright red gums or in severe cases dark red or blue gums
  • Unsteady walk, collapsing, not wanting to move forward, tumbling over

What to do on a hot day with your pets.

  • Keep your pet inside
  • Make sure your pet has a shaded or cool area to escape to
  • Use your air conditioning or fans to increase air circulation
  • Spray small animals with a spray bottle set at fine mist
  • For guinea pigs and rabbits put their cage in a shaded cool area, but also make sure there is air circulating. 
  • Provide your dog with a paddling pool.
  • Repeatedly wet your dog with a hose or with kitchen cloth and cat with water squeezed from a kitchen cloth.
  • Add ice cubes to the drinking water
  • Excercise during the cooler parts of the day. Early am and late afternoon.

What Heat Stroke can do to your Pet

  • Brain damage in severe cases maybe permanent
  • Kidney damage or failure
  • Swelling of the upper airways
  • Ulceration of the stomach and intestines
  • lung damage
  • Liver damage or failure
  • Bleeding disorders
  • organ failure if the body temp raises above 43 degrees
  • muscle damage can be severe if heat stroke is related to excercise or seizures
  • Final but by far the worst: DEATH
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Excessive anxiety may also contribute to susceptibility of Heat Stroke

Useful tips

  • Before walking your dog, make sure to check the pavement with the “5-second rule.” Place the back of your hand on the pavement. If you cannot hold it for five seconds, it’s too hot to walk your dog.
  • Place rubbing alcohol on the pads of the dog’s paws if suffering from heat stroke. Dogs release heat from the pads of their feet, so putting rubbing alcohol on the pads can help draw some of the heat out. Be sure that the feet are uncovered and exposed to cool air.​ Do not use too much alcohol, as it can be harmful if ingested.
  • It is highly recommended that all owners of small animals purchase a thermometer that records the maximum and minimum temperatures. Place this in the main living / sleeping area (make sure its up high safely away from inquisitive teeth!) and check it throughout the day.
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Invest in Your Pet with an Eye for the Future

9/4/2018

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I have recently looked after a blind dog called Lupo (photo)

Lupo has been coming to stay with me for over 5 years. He went blind recently due to diabetes and March 2018 was his first time to come and stay with me as a blind dog.
I have been very honored to see many of my pets come back to me year after year for pet care/sitting, and, because of this, I have seen them age, I have seen changes in their health, I have seen them put on or lose weight and I have been able to advise on health care and thus prevent more serious health situations from arising.

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And so, with Lupo in mind, and including my observations over the years, I would like to write about the importance of investing in your pets with an eye for the future.

This will decrease the stress in your life, be more efficient in cost and  time and overall increase the life expectancy of your pet. 

Here are some suggestions:
  • I cannot stress enough the importance of finding a good and experienced family pet sitter. Someone who your animal has grown to love, trust and with whom they are very familiar. Each time an animal is left at home or with a carer there is always some sort of anxiety, whether they be a dog or a hamster.  It is important to keep to the same pet sitter to minimize this separation anxiety.
  • Pet Insurance. You never know what health issues your pet will experience, in the future. Surgery and emergency care is expensive.
  • Proper diet. Take note that cats and dogs cannot digest grain, that cats need a very high quality and percentage of protein in their diet, that dogs need good quality protein and bones to chew on, that small animals need a variety of fresh vegetables daily, that fresh clean water is always available. Good diet prevents kidney failure, urinary infections, dental problems, obesity and depression. These are just some of diseases due to bad nutrition.
  • Provide exercise.  BUT please do not do this out of guilt or obsession due to popular media. 
  • Find a good vet.  Research and try not to take their word as gospel, be curious ask questions.
  • Provide stimulation for your pet. Toys, thinking games.
  • Take the time to train your animal so that it is comfortable for visits to the vet, that its paws can be touched for nail clipping, its mouth opened for future medicine administration.
  • Take the time to train your animal to be at home alone.  It may simply be impossible to be with your animal for 24hrs, 365 days of the year. Teach them to be self confident, independent and adjusted little beings in their home space.
  • Groom your animal.  Maintain their coats.  Clean their eyes
  • Look for alternative therapies that will help your pet alongside veterinary advice.  Reiki, homeopathy, herbs, acupuncture, massage, hydrotherapy
  • Read up about your pet and investigate how it perceives its life through its senses.  Try not to see its life as if it was a human.
  • Spend quality time with your pet. They are just as important as our children. Allow time just for them. Allow their feeding times to be quiet and uninterrupted. 
  • Feeding routine as per the species.  Eg dogs are not cows, they don’t graze. I recommend that food is not left down on the floor 24hrs a day.
 
One of the things Lupo’s human has done on this list for the future is to invest in the same petsitter. Lupo and I love each other and Lupo is very familiar with my flat and routine. For this reason his transition to my flat over Easter, as a blind dog, was seamless. Here is why:
  • He was already familiar with my environment and as was able to find his way around confidently and quickly.
  • The other dogs that I had to stay already knew him and him them. They only needed to sniff and recognize each other.
  • He took his injected medicine for diabetes twice a day with no problems.
  • He received Reiki!​
Remember:  You are not the "owner" of your pet. You are its primary carer. Be all that you can be for the health of your pet.

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Fidos Philosophy

18/3/2018

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We are now in Spring 2018 and my first blog on this website was in Spring 2011!

In the last 6 months with the help of my wonderful web designer and my marvelous marketing strategist my website has been the object of a major spring clean. Cobwebs swept away and the windows are washed clean.
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Fidos Playground has a Philosophy, a Vison and a Mission Statement and in May 2011 i wrote a blog to share with you the qualities that I wanted as the backbone to our Pet Sitting Care. This Spring of 2018, with a lot more experience under my belt I would like to take this opportunity to refresh the philosophies behind Fidos Pet care. Over the last 7 years I have come to a crystal realisation that my personal passions lie in animal communication, health management, care and human relations.

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My first teachers of animal care were from the animals themselves. As owner of a Dairy farm in Zambia i had the opportunity to work with milking cows, horses, dogs and cats in a harsh environment with (in the beginning) little access to veterinary advice.  By the time i reached Barcelona in 2007 i already had 15 years of experience in animal health and care.

My second teacher was 'The Monty Roberts International Learning Centre', in California, where I learnt the art of communicating with horses in a discernible and effective way, using predictable body language. This language Monty Roberts created after extensive observation on wild Mustangs in Nevada at the age of thirteen. He calls it ‘Equus’, and it is silent, encouraging true partnership between horse and human. This method rejects the traditional and violent methods of ‘breaking in’ a horse and replaces it with the nonverbal, silent and nonviolent ‘Join Up’.

My third teacher was Jan Fennell ‘The Dog Listener’. She was initially inspired by Monty Roberts. Jan resolved to find a similar way to communicate with dogs by also rejecting the traditional methods of dominance and force. She did this by studying wolves, wild dogs and coyotes. This study has resulted in the application of a training system she has called ‘Amichien® Bonding’. This method of 'dog training' allows you to live in harmony with your trusted friend. It is a non-confrontational, stress-free, and gadget-free method.

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My fourth teachers have been the animals and their human companions in Barcelona who have given me the opportunity to create and grow in the pet care business.  Through my work I have been able to observe intensively how our animals may communicate with eachother and with humans; i have improved on my knowledge of animal health and care management, and I have learnt and am still learning, the art 0f clear, compassionate communication in all areas of my business and personal life. 

The concepts behind ‘Equus’ and ‘Amichien Bonding’ are similar to all species. It is important to understand how each species uses its senses to perceive and interpret its environment. It is important to observe how each species brings up its young babies; how they encourage and advise their teenagers and to how they then settle into adulthood and old age. Throught this knowledge we have the tools best equipped for the personal comfort of our pets.
 
Through our animals' guidance we can become better humans. We can learn how to connect with a compassion 
that comes from the heart and not the human mind.

​This type of love can cross any language and species barrier.


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Street Dogs and Alley Cats of Istanbul

17/1/2018

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Meet Raki.

Before he was adopted off the streets of Istanbul, he had a life very similar to the story I am about to tell you.

Raki's human took "a loving" to him and invited him to jump into the boot of her car when she drove passed him on the street. He eagerly obliged and that was the start of his new life in heaven where he could find warmth, foooooood and big love. Here at Fidos Playground he is our lovable clown, adored by each of us.

Picture this .....
It is estimated that there are 2 million stray cats in Istanbul and around 150,000 stray dogs. Your eye can't help but notice the animals.
 
Street animals have been a part of Turkish culture for generations, and many Istanbul residents believe they have as much right to inhabit the streets as people. Dogs and cats are allowed to roam the streets while the Municipality, residents and local shop owners look after them in a collective effort.
"These are the neighborhood's dogs," says Hamit Yilmaz Ozcan, as he sits with Chico, an elderly Alsatian, and Hercule, his younger, rust-colored companion, two strays that reside near his clothing shop in the neighborhood of Cukurcuma.
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​Some animals even become local celebraties like Fatso the cat. When he died the neighborhood collected money to build him a statue. ​

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How are they fed?

The local residents and businesses feed them, leaving bowls of water and food out for the animals to drink and eat.
Sometimes the dogs get so big from eating all the food given to them, that they become obese, reaching weights of up to 60Kgs.

This particular dog is so fat that there is a sign posted on the kennel asking the residents to "not give the fat one food as it is under treatment".
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Health care?
The local municipality picks the dogs off the street to vaccinate, spay or castrate them. Once they have been treated they are tagged with small eartags (as seen in the photo) and set loose to roam the street again.
​The cats are not treated and are allowed to breed.
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Shelter?
The municipality also organizes dog kennels and cat homes and puts them out in the street for the animals's protection from cold weather, heat and rain. 
​You can see these kennels  are well cared for and have blankets.

 
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Resident initiatives and Adoption?

Any of the dogs can be adopted.  The cats are generally not adopted.  They have a more free spirited life and are more likely to be treated like Gods than the dogs. 

In some areas residents have also collaborated with the Municipality to arrange for the care and protection of the strays.  In these photos the residents paid for and built a hospital with an animal ambulance.
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The Municipality pays for the staff.

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​Does this happen everywhere in Turkey?
The municipalities are all charged with the care of the animals but the quality of life for the animals varies greatly, depending on how much spare money the municipality has, to allocate to their care.  Istanbul has more money available and so the animals have housing and veterinary treatment. Care and interest of the animals can also vary within certain areas of Istanbul.
 
NOTE!!
If you get caught killing an animal in Turkey there is the possibility of a 10.5 year prison sentence
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To end the story of Raki and the stray dogs and alley cats of Istanbul, we finish with this cat celebrity called Gli. He is a devout cat living at the 1,475 year old museum of the Hagia Sophia. He is squint eyed, with one eye on God and the other on the Devil. He greets all the tourists and supervises the employees. He was even visited by Barack Obama.
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Declawing Cats

29/11/2017

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What is declawing?

Feline declawing is an elective and ethically controversial procedure, which is NOT medically necessary for cats in most instances. Declawing entails the amputation of a cat’s third phalanx [P3], or third ‘toe bone.’ Unlike human nails, cats’ claws are attached to the last bone in their toes. A comparison in human terms would be cutting off a person’s finger at the last joint of each finger.

It is important to understand that scratching is normal behavior for cats, and has an inherent function. Cats scratch to:
  • maintain the necessary claw motion used in hunting and climbing. 
  • to stretch their body.
  • Scratching serves to groom the front claws and leave markers of the cat’s presence and territory.
  • A cat’s claws grow in layers and scratching removes the worn outer layer to expose the new growth inside.
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Alternatives to declawing
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​Scratching posts/pads
Provide your cat with suitable ‘scratchers’ where they can exhibit normal scratching behavior. Scratchers come in multiple styles and textures. It is important to experiment with a variety of textures and types of scratchers to determine which your cat prefers. Some examples I have come across include:
  • scratching posts or pads with sisal rope or rough fabric
  • cardboard boxes
  • lumber, logs or driftwood from the beach
  • an old sisal chair
  • shoe cleaner mats normally left at the outside entrance of house or flat
  • scratchers can be vertical, horizontal or raised above the ground

​The placement of scratchers is very important.
  • Cats often stretch or scratch when they wake up so consider placing one near where your cat sleeps.
  • They also scratch to make a point of marking their territory when someone new enters their home, or, if their owner returns home from work or being away. Consider placing a scratcher in plain view of visitors or the greeting area.
  • It may also be effective to place a scratcher near or in front of a cat’s preferred, yet undesirable, scratching object (e.g. corner of the couch).

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Kittens and cats can be trained to use scratchers by rewarding use of the scratcher with the cat’s favorite treat. A spray bottle of water nearby can be useful if used with calmness and no dramatics.
Cats should always be positively reinforced and never punished.

Regular claw trimming
Regularly trimming your cat’s claws can prevent injury and damage to household items. Proper feline nail trimmers should be used to prevent splintering of the claws. The frequency of claw trimming will depend on your cat’s lifestyle. Indoor cats, kittens, and older cats will need more regular nail trims, whereas outdoor cats may naturally wear down their nails requiring less frequent trimming.
If possible, start trimming as kittens so they become comfortable with the process early on.  This method of teaching early is called imprinting.
If your cat does not like claw trimmings start slow, offer breaks, and make it a familiar routine.
Ask your veterinarian for advice or a demonstration on trimming your cat’s claws.
Always trim claws in a calm environment and provide positive reinforcement.

Continued scratching by cats may be related to stress, anxiety, attention seeking, or a perceived lack of security in their environment. Anxiety can also be intensified by punishment, thus driving the cat to increase scratching behaviors in the same or other undesirable locations in the home.
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Feliway® the synthetic pheromone can be bought as a bottle of liquid and plugged into your wall. The heat generated by the plug slowly evaporates the pheromone into the atmosphere.  In many of my experiences Feliway has had a positive effect in decreasing anxiety and stress.  The pheremone is also undetectable to human noses.

It can also help spraying Feliway® on the objects or areas in your home where your cat has exhibited undesired scratching. Remember to do this after cleaning the area with bio soap and water, to remove the communication marking scents left by your cat’s paws, otherwise the cat will only return to the same place again and again. Applying daily comforting pheromones can prevent your cat’s need to mark these areas again. Feliway® should NOT be sprayed on the desired scratcher.

Providing your cat with an environment that is enriching is vital to teaching your cat to scratch on appropriate objects. Destructive scratching​ can occur in cats because their needs have not been fully met. Cats need the proper resources to perform their natural behaviors and have control over their social interactions.

You can enhance your cat’s health and well-being by ensuring all their needs are met in the home.

​Great sites with lots of wonderful cat information: 
www.catvets.com/

http://www.adventurecats.org/

Shops with cat goodies:
https://www.tiendanimal.es/rascador-esquinero-protector-pared-para-gatos-p-5532.html
Kiwoko, Barcelona
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Dogs adore you and cats ignore you?

10/10/2017

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Often in conversation about pet sitting cats, someone will mention that our feline companions need very little care, that they are independent, aloof and can very nearly look after themselves. I don’t believe this is the case, whether they are indoor or outdoor cats. (photo)

I read a heading in a blog titled “Quiet lives of Desperation”. What a sad but true heading! Cats suffer very quietly. A cat without stimulation or interaction can suffer from stress through boredom and depression. This stress will show itself through less obvious problems such as obesity, a depressed immune system leading to infections (such as a urinary), or it can show itself more obviously through behavioural changes such as aggression, over grooming and soiling outside the litter tray. 

It’s important to visit your veterinarian to rule out any medical issues that could contribute to the problem. Once your cat gets a clean bill of health, you can look into ways to enrich his environment to meet his physical, emotional and social needs. Here are some suggestions.

Interaction
Cats may have set ideas about how they want to interact, but, it is important to set time aside for this to happen. Each cat personality is different, so it is important to explore with your cat (without expectations), to find out what it likes. 
Through our pet sitting experience we know that cats love to play hide and seek, to be groomed with a hand held hoover, hunt the string, chase the ball, they can be trained to a harness and go out for walks on top of terraces or into the wild (see this website), they can be taught to fetch a ball and more.
  • Play the hunter
Allow them to play the hunter, get them running, jumping, chasing and exercising. Hunting is instinctual and needs an outlet. It activates and excercises their senses.
  • Human touch
Cats love to be touched (as do we). They need to feel adored as well as being the adorer. They relish being groomed, having their tangles removed, scratched behind the ear, feeling the warmth of a lap and just gerneally loved. 
Set up a routine where this precious time is available to your cat
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A Safe retreat
Cats need a safe place where they can snooze uninterrupted; they need to escape from the other animals, from children and strange visitors. They love to perch on high vantage points or slip into deep, dark corners where they can see you but you cant see them!
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Make spaces available to them, or build little dens. See zooplus.es for some ideas. Or make beds on top of shelves where they can look out the window or feel the sun or a breeze


The basics
  • Find a cat litter tray that is 1.5 times the size of the cat and generally a litter tray for each cat. Cats also prefer uncovered litter trays. Also look for litter that is not scented and the grains not too large or rough for their paws.
  • Supply clean, fresh water with accessibility to it in different areas of the house. It might be an idea to explore the possibility of a drinking fountain to provide running water
  • Provide enough bowls of food for all cats. Some cats don’t like to share.
  • Take into account the age of your cat, their mobility and health restrictions they might have. 
  • Find scratching posts. I have seen a piece of driftwood, hard cardboard, an old chair, an old smelly shoe and a outdoor mat as loveable scratch posts. Use horizontal or vertical scratch posts. The posts allow your cat to mark with the scent glands in his paws, groom his nails and get a good stretch 
  • Expose your cat to different textures with a variety of toys.

Captivate their senses
Cats are especially interested in scents, so consider using catnip or synthetic pheromones in your house. Or provide some pet-safe grasses for your cat to nibble on. Explore aromatherapy oils, and cats love plants.

For auditory stimulation, consider leaving the radio on or playing a CD made for cats while you’re gone. Cats love classical music and there are even DVDs with birds and other prey to keep your cat entertained. (video)

Every cat is different, so you may need to try different enrichment strategies until you find what’s best for your cat. A few small changes around the house can help make your cat happier and create more harmony when multiple cats are sharing a house.
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What to do if you lose your pet

30/8/2017

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​Losing your pet causes a lot of anxiety and stress. It is hard to think calmly and be proactive. Here are some important points to remember to make your search easier.
  • Register your pet with the Archivo de Identificacion de Animales compania in Barcelona. Any veterinarian should be able to help you with this. If you and your pet are new to Barcelona, this is one of the first jobs to be done.
  • Make sure your pet is microchipped and, if you are from outside Spain, that the microchip can be read here in Barcelona.  Many of the international microchips cannot be read by the the Spanish readers. You will need a Spanish chip to make the whole identification process easier, quicker and more efficient.
  • Go to the police station nearest to where you lost your animal and register an Anuncio.  The police keep a photo record of all lost dogs or cats picked up by their patrols.  To save time in making the Anuncio you need the microchip number, a photo if possible and details of how and where your animal was lost.  
  • Call the Archivo de identificacion de Animales de Compania on 934189294 to report your animal missing. 
  • When dogs are picked up off the street they are usually taken to either the refugio on Tibidabo (http://www.protectorabcn.es/) or the Centre d'Acollida d'Animals de Companyia de Barcelona (CAACB) on the way to Sant Cugat in the Collserolla.  These hard working organisations are not so good at answering their phones, so the best option has been to get in a car and go there in person.  Remember to take your documents with you.
  • When cats are lost they also may be taken to a number of refugios, the most popular being the one on Tibidabo (http://www.protectorabcn.es/) or El Jardinet del Gats on Carrer Hospital. Cats tend not to stray so far from home, and so, it is important to contact each of your neighbours. If you have a terrace, contact the owners of all the terraces along your rooftop and leave food and water at strategic places.
  • Dogs and cats generally have a good homing instinct and will always try to find their way home.
  • Place colour posters in the vicinity where the animal was lost.  Generally loose animals get picked up quite quickly by kind people.
  • Try to keep as calm as possible.  Panicking will not help you.
  • When your pet is found (and they usually are, if they are microchipped) keep calm when you greet them. The experience will have been traumatic for them as well, and an overly emotional greeting can cause anxiety.

The experiences told to me by clients 
  1. Their dog was picked up by the Guardia Urbana and taken to the CAACB on the way to Sant Cugat.
  2. Their dog was picked up by a kind person and taken to the offices of Animales de Compania.
  3. Their dog was recognised by a poster on the street.  
  4. Their cat was found on one of the terraces along the rooftops of their block.

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Scent-sational News!

12/7/2017

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​Anal Glands in Cats and Dogs​
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What are Anal Glands?
Anal glands are pea sized sacs found on either side of your dog or cat's anal opening, at the 8 and 4 o’clock positions. They are paired glands located just below the surface of the skin and were designed by nature to produce a thick, foul-smelling, oily liquid secreted for identification and territory-marking.  
For the wild animal these glands also act as a powerful deterrent when it is in danger. The animals will voluntarily exude the goo from the glands, which causes the predator to stop, smell and re evaluate its situation. Skunks hold the prize for having the most foul smelling anal glands when in fear.
For the domestic animal on the other hand, the glands serve less of a function
 and they have largely lost their ability to empty their glands voluntarily. 

Who's Who?
This scent from the anal glands is used as a place marker, a communication device, and a personal ID card.  This is why dogs smell other dogs bottoms to see who's who, and, why cats pay special attention to poop in the same place. 

How do they work?
Passing normal firm stools puts natural pressure on the rectum walls causing the glands to squeeze out their contents and coat the stool with its distinctive and unique smell. The glands will, to some degree, also help to lubricate the anal opening in the process, making it easier for your dog or cat to poo.  
Dogs empty their anal sacs involuntarily and normally when under stress. You may have experienced this when visiting the vet with your dog.  In its anxiety it has let rip (literally) the fluid from its anal sacs. Not a pleasant smell or situation for all involved in the scent shower.


What are the problems?
The anal glands are one of the anatomical areas where cats have it all over dogs. It’s unusual for a cat’s anal glands to become impacted, inflamed or infected.
Dogs on the other hand are more commonly unable to fully empty their glands on their own, causing the glands to become impacted and uncomfortable. Impaction results from a blockage of the duct leading from the gland to the opening. This can be non-painful but swollen causing irritation, or painful, if an infection is involved resulting from prolonged impaction, causing the glands to build-up nasty bacteria resulting in pain, increased swelling, and sometimes a fever. A very painful condition requiring urgent veterinary treatment.

Signs that your dog or cat may have a problem with their anal glands
  • Dogs with impacted anal glands will usually drag or ‘scoot’ their rear-ends along the ground  attempting to empty them.  
  • Licking or biting around their anal area, chasing their tail, sitting uncomfortably, or even licking paws – both front and back – in sheer frustration.
  • blood or pus in the stool or an unusual brown or grey colour

Anal glands fill up for a number of reasons.
  • Most-commonly when the stools are soft (for example after a few days of diarrhoea) so insufficient pressure has been exerted to empty the glands.
  • A food allergy can also cause soft stools. A switch to a hypoallergenic diet may solve the problem. Maybe try a high fibre diet.  I have heard pumpkin being used as a rememdy.
  • inflammation or infection

What is the treatment?
Treatment is usually by expression of the gland by your veterinarian, or involves antibiotics and pain relief. The glands may need repeated flushing.  
Anal glands can be flushed at home, but this process can be extremely dangerous if done incorrectly.  It is always recommended to get vet advice before emptying glands yourself.

Information taken from www.vetstreet.com, vetadvice, www.marcthevet.com and my own personal pet sitting experiences.
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Reiki I Course

20/5/2017

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Usui Shiki Ryoho System of Natural Healing
​Reiki is an ancient practice of healing through our hands. It is a preventative and curative medicine that can be used on ourselves, our families, animals and all living things. This course introduces you to Reiki, its history, its philosphy, but most of all it will reconnect you to your own healing abilities. 
Through this initiation you will become a channel to direct this universal lifeforce energy to yourself and others in order to heal psychological, emotional and physical imbalances. You can use it to reduce stress, help relaxation, promote healing and much more.
Come and learn how to care for yourself, your loved ones and your animal companions.
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​When: 3rd and 4th of June
From: 10:00 to approx 17:00 each day
Where: Near Dos De Maig metro stop on the blue line
Price: 150 euros

Maestro Arvick Bhagramian
Organised by Susie Hunt

Please contact me
on 626570955,
through the contact form on this website, or directly on info@fidosplayground.com
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Sulphur Powder and Urine stains

18/4/2017

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As you walk around Barcelona you may have noticed the yellow powder that is sprinkled outside some shops or buildings.  This yellow powder is Sulphur and is supposed to repel dogs from peeing in that particular spot.  

In Malaga according to Sur.es, the Ayuntamiento have imposed a fine of between 75 and 500 euros if shops or residences sprinkle it outside their buildings.  This new law comes into effect this month - April 2017.  

At the moment there seems to be no definite evidence that Sulphur is effective in repelling dogs from peeing in certain areas. I cannot comment on whether this tactic works or not, but I do think that the sulphur makes the outside of buildings look very ugly!

Sulphur can harm your dog if ingested in large quantities, inhaled in large quatities, or if the dog's skin is exposed to it directly.

​In my travels around Barcelona i have not heard of any dog being affected by the sulphur powder.  It is not tasty enough! 

Sulphur is a product used in horticulture to prevent plants from insect damage.
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Wouldn't Sulphur cause more irritation to humans if picked up by the wind and inhaled?

Pee-mails
Once a dog has urinated in one spot, the urine acts as a 'peemail' to other dogs, informing them of their breeding status, health and a wealth of other very useful information. These spots then attract other dogs who also want to broadcast their status.
If a dog has weed indoors then they will return to the same spot to reinforce the message that the previous smell already contains.  

Do we use bleach to clean up urine stains? 
Animal urine contains ammonia amongst other ingredients. 
Bleach contains an ingredient that reacts with the ammonia in the urine breaking up the molecules and creating toxic gases, but, in the process this chemical reaction also strengthens the smell of the stained spot which broadcasts a stronger and more insistent message to other dogs, to come and wee in the same spot.
The same thing happens if the dog urinates indoors.  It will return to the same spot to reinforce any diluting messages.

What is the best way to clean up urine stains?

Here are some suggestions
  • If the dog urine is still nice and wet (if your stain is old, see the next step), start with old towels or kitchen roll and absorb as much of the urine as possible. 
  • Soak the dog urine stain with a solution of plain white vinegar and warm water. half a cup of the white vinegar and mix it with one and half cups of the warm water. Stir it together and then drizzle the mixture over the entire stain and let it soak for about five minutes. Vinegar is a good ingredient for cleaning dog urine due to its properties as a solvent and for being antibacterial.
  • Blot up the vinegar and water using the same method found in step one.
  • Use 3% hydrogen peroxide and some organic dish soap. Mix well about a cup of the peroxide with a little over a teaspoon of a good organic dish soap.
  • Pour dish soap and peroxide mixture slowly be careful not to splatter, all over the stain. Don’t over due it though. Peroxide has a habit of sometimes discoloring fabrics. (For this reason, I strongly advise that you first try this in an inconspicuous area of carpeting). Once the spot is good and saturated you may want to grab yourself a pair rubber gloves. Using your fingertips or a scrub brush, rub that baking soda down into the carpet. The better you work it in, the better it’s gonna be at removing dog urine.
  • Now let the ingredients do their magic and wait for it all to dry. Once completely dry run the vacuum over it the area thoroughly. Sometimes the baking soda gets a little crunchy and it takes some time for the vacuum to get it all.

For cleaning the outside of buildings, a mixture of vinegar and water in a bucket with a good brush will suffice.

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