4th of July tips

June 22nd, 2010

Pretty..... but scary to pets!

Fireworks

We all love to bring in Independence Day with a bang!

Unfortunately, for some of our dog and cat friends fireworks are scary stuff. The easy way to help a skittish pet is to move them into the quietest room in the house before the fireworks start. Let them get comfortable, turn on some easy listening music at mid-level, then close the door for them to be alone.

If you have a couple of weeks before a celebration, there are new plug-in products to comfort and reassure dogs and cats. When you plug this product into the wall it releases an aroma that mimics a natural pheromone. Pheromones are an odorless chemical substance used by animals to communicate between their species. The mother releases this particular pheromone during her first 3-5 days of lactation. It gives the puppy or kitten a sense of well-being and reassurance. This same pheromone around adult pets has a calming effect on the majority of the animals that would normally be stressed by fireworks, thunder, changes in the house, boarding, or being separated from their owner.

Daisy

June 9th, 2010

Daisy, flying high on her birthday! (Note the ears!)

Meet Daisy.  She is 15 years old and is still as spunky as ever!  We got Daisy 13 years ago as a trade off.  My daughter, Kim, had 2 ferrets and we met up with a family that wanted ferrets but already had a pet named Daisy – Daisy or ferrets?  I was so glad that they  opted for the ferrets and we got cute little Daisy, alias “handlebar ears,” alias “the “Flying Nun!”  Daisy loves her walks and loves to lay in her bed while I’m on the computer.  Her favorite spot is when we watch TV and she snuggles next to me and puts her cold nose on my arm – just to let me know that she’s there.  Her favorite food is Rabbit/Potato with frozen peas! She loves her veggies and knows she gets a treat when she finishes her meal.  I call her our “runaway!”  She likes to sneak out the front door and visit the neighbors.  Usually, Emeril (the youngest) barks and lets us know that Daisy has gone missing. But he manages to sniff her out of the neighbors yard and bring her back home! Daisy may be small but she has a “bark” in her that even frightens Emeril not to mess with her!  Happy Birthday, Daisy!

“Doctor’s Delight”

May 5th, 2010

We all know “D.D.,” but what some of us didn’t know what  her initials stood for: “Doctor’s Delight.”

D.D. will be celebrating her 7th birthday this Friday, May 7th – get it, 7 – 7.   This must mean it is a “good high rolling year” for her!

Congrats, D.D. on your 7th Birthday – We all know you will be celebrating (we heard Victor was taking you out downtown Austin  this weekend with your dancing shoes and your hot pink collar!)

Enjoy life as much as we enjoy having you at the Clinic every day!

Flying Xena!

May 5th, 2010

Is this all for me!?

Meet Xena!

Xena was found on the East Side when she was a small, little kitten.  Her full name is Xena “Kitty Princess” which she got because of her warrior-like moves when she’s wrestling with her brother, Rufus.  Nicknames include “KP,” “Kitty P,” and “Mama.”

Her favorite activity is to crawl into dresser drawers and play dress up!  She picks out clothes and spreads them all over the bedroom!  She is a sneaky cat – she will stick her head in any cup of water left unguarded!

Meet Xena's brother, Rufus!

Sophie!

May 5th, 2010

All dressed up and no place to go - but I'm gorgeous!

Sophie’s Story:

Sophie was born April 25, 1997 and came into our life July 4, 1997.  Sophie’s father was from a champion bloodline!  We lived in Houston for 4 months before locating to Austin.

Dr. Hanks has taken such great and loving care of Sophie basically her entire life.  She really loves to eat carrots, sweet potatoes, and green beans.

She loves shopping at Fetch and traveling to San Francisco 4-6 times a year (she even has her own frequent flier number!),  and of course visiting with her hero – Dr. Hanks!

This is a picture taken of Sophie at Halloween in her “Snow White” costume.  She’s a girly doggie:)

Dezy

May 5th, 2010

Dezy and Rosemary prim and proper!

“Here’s Dezy (the cute one on the left) with her sister Rosemary.  Dezy celebrated turning 13 with a play date to a friend’s house.  It turned into a swim party when Dezy tried to take a drink from the backyard pool, and Rosy accidentally bumped her!  But with a friend’s help, Dezy swam to the steps, and her daddy helped her out.  We think she rather enjoyed the dip, and all the attention lavished on her afterward.

Her favorite food is a nibble of meat–any kind–although she also loves broccoli stems.

In her old age, she has become rather demanding–and at 9:30 each night she barks until she gets her evening chew stick.”

Harriet

May 5th, 2010

You can't get any prettier than me!

“Harriet’s”  biography:

We got Harriet 11 years ago as a 5 month old kitten from one of our son’s friends.  Initially she was freaked out by our dogs but soon came to take them in stride.

She likes to hang out on our deck or on the roof where she can watch everything that is going on in the front and back yards.

She is an accomplished hunter of rodents and everything else that moves through her territory on Johnson Creek in Tarrytown.

She’s like the 800 pound gorilla in that she sleeps wherever she pleases; usually in the bed with us or a dining room chair.

She wakes us up purring in our ears when she is ready to be fed in the mornings.

Satchel

May 5th, 2010

"Giddy-Up!"

All about “Satchel” -

We found Satchel at a shelter in Sherman, Texas.  When he was young, he was an amazing leaper and could jump from the floor to the top of the refrigerator.

He’s much slower now and he’s kind of the curmudgeon of the family; but for all of his big cat grump, he is the sweetest one to cuddle against and he lets our two year old climb on him and ride him like a pony.

Birthday wishes to Satchel, celebrating 15 “giddy-up” years!

Birthday Wishes!

April 16th, 2010

"Baby" having 'quiet time' on her 10th birthday!

“I got Baby for my 18th Birthday. A family in the neighborhood was giving away kittens and I instantly fell in love.

I had no idea she was part Maine Coon and would end up being so BIG! I kept waiting for her to stop growing! Her favorite food is tuna and she has a true obsession with purses and shoes.

She’ll rub on them and lay on them for hours. She likes her trust to be earned, and it’s a true sign that she likes you when she lets you rub her belly.”

Irish Wolfhounds

March 15th, 2010

The most distinguishing physical feature of the Irish Wolfhound is its great size. Built like a very muscular greyhound, the Irish wolfhound male can attain the stature of a small pony. Its large, long head tapers to a medium point and is held high.

Ears are small and stay close to the head except during moments of intensity. Strong shoulders, a muscular neck, a deep chest and a retracted abdomen give the dog its characteristic body shape. Paws are large and round. The tail is carried between the legs, curving slightly upward. The coat is rough, shaggy, wiry and especially bushy over the eyes and under the jaw. The Irish Wolfhound is graceful with an easy yet powerful gait. Historically these dogs had to not only possess speed but endurance, allowing them to follow their prey and hunt it down. They had to be hardy enough to withstand being injured whilst using their own brute force to bring the prey down.

The modern representation of the breed appears to be a dog capable of doing just that. Generally breeders aim for a height range of 34 to 38 inches at the withers in males,  30 to 35 inches for females. Generally acceptable weight 101–154lbs.

Read more at Wikipedia.com