Biscuit and Baxter in the BOB

We continue to be invaded by baby stuff. Yesterday, after nervously staring at the box for several weeks, I busted out the BOB Revolution Stroller. We were thrilled to get it, but I was concerned about a complicated setup. Thankfully, the thing comes 90% built ... just slap on the wheels and you're rolling.

Once I got it together, we just had to put somebody in it! Considering the 70 pound weight limit, it wasn't going to be me or Jenny. So, the dogs were the lucky riders.

Biscuit is so sweet and oblivious. God bless her!

Baxter is much more aware that there's something going on around here. He seems bewildered and pretty much terrified. Hey Baxter, so are we!

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Old Dogs are the Best Dogs

A friend sent me this link ... it's a great collection of pictures and kind words people have submitted about their long-time four-legged friends. It's heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time, as many folks are remembering friends who have gone to the great dog park in the sky.

I try not to think too much about saying goodbye to our little ones. But these stories and pics from the book Old Dogs are the Best Dogs are worth checking out if you're truly a dog lover.

Here's a link to the slideshow: http://www.wowowow.com/photo-essay/old-dogs-are-best-dogs-our-readers-share-some-their-old-dogs-170867

And I found the book on Amazon for cheap!


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Ingenious Pet Product Alert: Soft Paws

People are so clever! I love hearing about smart, simple solutions to everyday problems. I found this one the other day.

Warning: We're going to talk (briefly) about cats on a dog blog. Take a few deep breaths before continuing.

One big knock on cats is that they can really tear things up with their claws. Declawing isn't a good option, so a vet came up with this brilliant solution: Soft Paws.

Basically, they're rubber tips for the front claws. And not only do they come in a wide range of stylish colors like hot pink (see pic above), but you can mix and match. Incredible!

They come for dogs, too. We once were denied an apartment application because the landlord was afraid Biscuit would scratch up the hardwoods. So, while less necessary, I can see the use.

What will they think of next!

See a photo gallery of cats and dogs sporting their stylish pedicures here.


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Baxter Gets Sprayed By a Skunk

Oy vey, this one was a doozy.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I think his skunk smell is finally all gone. It’s been over two months, and until recently you could still smell it on his face. And when he got wet? Forget about it.

Our neighbors used to tell us a story about when their dog got skunked. It was probably a decade ago, and they still remember every horrific moment. Hearing the story, I prayed we would never have to go through it ourselves.

Fate is a cruel mistress.

It was a full moon (I swear). We were up late visiting with friends, and I was taking the dogs out for their last potty around midnight. The moon was so bright that I left the porch lights off so I could enjoy the eerie glow.

As I opened our bedroom door, I saw a dark form scurrying across the deck. So did Baxter, and he was off instantly at a sprint.

Jenny and I both screamed bloody murder at him, but he was in hot pursuit. We both knew instantly what was happening and that it would end badly.

The actually spraying took place just out of sight, and I rushed around a corner to see Baxter standing still, completely stunned. I never saw the skunk again as it scooted under the gate.

Baxter turned towards me with neon yellow liquid dripping from his face.

I picked him up, cautiously, to survey the damage. He had been hit on the left side of the face, taking the brunt of it below the eye and around the ear. I turned on the hose and rinsed off the excess goo.

Neon yellow? Seriously? What kind of creature squirts noxious, neon yellow syrup from its nether regions? That’s straight from a comic book, and has no place in the natural world.

Jenny scooped up Bax in an old towel and held him until I returned from CVS with the makings for a skunk bath. Keep in mind, she was smelling this all with a hyper-sensitive pregnant nose.

An internet search had revealed this recipe, developed by Popular Science in 1995, for getting rid of skunk smell:

• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1 quart hydrogen peroxide
• 1 tsp dish soap

Skunk is, conveniently, neither water- nor oil-soluble. Apparently, the above mixture blasts the stuff with oxygen molecules making it water soluble.

I haven’t yet mentioned the smell, but do I really have to? It makes your eyes water and your stomach turn. The only thing I have to add is that, up close, it smells somewhat like really strong garlic. And not in an appetizing, Mario Batali sort of way.

Baxter was calm, still stunned, as we (reluctantly) brought him into the house for a bath. We doused him in the magic mixture, hoping against hope that it would perform a miracle.

It does work, but by this time the smell is everywhere. Even keeping all the doors and windows closed won’t stop it from seeping in. On the other hand, one’s sense of smell has the uncanny ability to get accustomed to a certain level of stank.

After about two hours of madness, we were able to go to sleep in relative normalcy. We had become somewhat accustomed to the smell, and we were exhausted.

The next day, we did the special bath again. And, over the next couple of weeks, Baxter’s parfum faded naturally. It took many weeks to completely go away.

We have a new policy with nighttime walks now: never without a leash, even in the backyard. It’s just not worth getting sprayed again. Plus, we have raccoons and possums, too. They don’t spray ... they claw and bite, which is probably worse. So, we follow the leash rule.

Like so many Baxter episodes, we survived and we’re the wiser for it. But, I truly hope we don’t have to repeat it. ........Read more of this post!

Dogs Love Fish Oil Pills

We learned this somewhat by accident. A couple years back, Biscuit had some worrisome results from two consecutive blood and urine tests. The numbers were related to kidney function, and all of a sudden we were afraid she was in the early stages of renal failure.

One of the supplements I started giving her was Omega 3, or fish oil. At first I would snip the little gelcap open, and squirt the oil on her dinner. Eventually, I realized she would just eat the thing whole

Baxter took an interest, and now he's nuts about them, too. My vet said it's good for them, even at the 1000mg human dose. So, why not?

Back to the kidney thing ... We had been feeding Biscuit one of those dehydrated chicken strips every morning. I feel guilty just typing that. We cut those out, and her next blood test came back totally normal.

I can't say for certain the elevated kidney numbers were related to the chicken treats, but I can tell you she's never eating those again.

Anyway, normal fish oil pills are fine, or you could grab dog-specific omega 3 gel caps.

Just don't smell their breath for a little while after they eat them.

Salmon sushi photo by adactio.
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The Best Dog Leash

If you ask me, the Aspen Pet Walkabout is the best dog leash on the market. We have two, one for each doggy. We’ve had Biscuit’s for over 6 years, and it’s still working perfectly. When we got Bax, we grabbed another Aspen leash.

It’s got all the basic functions, including optional lock. Most importantly, it has an ergonomic trigger for quickly clamping the brakes on another Bax Attack.

Countless ankles have been spared, and many a neighbor dog has escaped a visit from Mr. Toothy by our trusty Aspen Walkabouts. Click the pic for more deets:
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