It is also a bad season for fleas as I unfortunately found out. I have four dogs of my own and two of a family members that stay with a lot these days. They did not have nary a flea, but then about two weeks ago, the itching started. I wonder now if I inadvertently  brought in fleas from my daily pet sits or walks. However these nasty bugs came into being here in my home. Home they are, right in my dogs fur. Now it is not a cheap expense to get rid of fleas, believe me, especially with the number of dogs I have. I went to Petco today and not only purchased Frontline, but flea shampoo and powder, just to be safe. My pocket book  was a bit more empty. Its bath and flea control time tomorrow, even if the temps are not all the warm.

I encourage pet owners to take the steps to prevent fleas from taking over their furry four-legged companions. Just a quick trip to the pet store or your vet can save you the time and trouble of getting an infestation.

We here at Pawcific NW Petsitting would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.

Yes, there is a company that is releasing a gadget called the Spotlight. It is a rectangle box that attaches to fido’s collar and is smaller than a business card. It will connect with satellites and cell phone towers pinpointing the location of your dog’s whereabouts, through GPS tracking.

Now if the dogs goes beyond a certain point, the Spotlight will send a text message to your phone telling you where the dog’s location is. Not only that, but  if you  have a smartphone with web access it will provide directions! Nifty huh?

If you have an escape artist, this is an ideal solution, provided the device stays on the collar. Right now they haven’t released it,  but when they do I will be curious to find out just how well they do. It will be waterproof, and weigh less than 2.5 ounces and get this, it will have a LED light you can turn on remotely..I tell you it doesn’t get any more better than this. There of course will be a charge of $250 for the device with a monthly service fee, depending on what type of plan the owner wants.

The company releasing these devices is PAW , short for Positioning Animals Worldwide. They partnered with the American Kennel Clubs Companion Animal Recovery division. You can see the devices by going to www.pawgps.com

This months issue had me wondering if what I feed my dogs is really the best thing for them. The reason I feed them what I do, is my first adopted dog, Gus, had a very bad outbreak of skin allergies. I tried the expensive medicated shampoos, the very expensive foods; I tried oral medications, even putting vitamin E in his food, to no avail. He oozed and had a horrible smell about him. It finally got to the point where he lost most his hair. Poor thing, he was a site to be sure.

As I wandered the pet food aisle at my local grocery store, I saw a bag of food that had Salmon and yogurt. “Good for skin issues” is what the bag proclaimed. I thought, “why not”, nothing else is working.  Well low and behold his skin cleared up and his hair started growing back! Yes, it is a name brand food, but it worked and I have used it ever since.

I have been asked what brand I feed my dogs and after answering the question, get scowls and the ever common, “it’s full of fillers and it’s bad”. His vet recently even went so far as to give him a rated F on the brand of dog food! Although he did not find anything wrong with Gus and said his skin and hair are in great condition, I now feel like I am committing some great crime in feeding my dogs a brand named dog food from “ack!” a grocery store shelf!

So it was that I happened upon this article about “The Raw Debate”. It talks about the pros and cons of feeding your dog a raw food diet vs. the commercial brands out there. More are heeding the call to raw diet in wake of the pet food scares in recent years. Saying, “It is a more natural diet for dogs”. But, is it?

There are two types of raw diets, ones made commercially and ones you make yourself. (I have six dogs, so I won’t be heading to the kitchen anytime soon). Each consists of raw meat, veggies and supplements with a few grains and fruits thrown in. However, you have to be careful in making sure that it is properly balanced and meets the dogs’ requirements.

Pros are:

Safety, (you know what is going into the raw food when preparing yourself)

Health, when making or buying raw food it allows you to meet your dog’s specific needs. An example would be if your dog is allergic to wheat products or has any food allergies. It also has a high water content that allows you to feed more while keeping your dog weight under control.

Cons are:

Safety, When feeding a raw diet, people need to be aware of Salmonella and other canine pathogens. Bones that are in the mix can also cause choking and intestinal blockage.

Health, it is can be difficult to get an adequate, balanced and nutritional diet your dog needs. Sometimes it takes months for deficiencies to show up. Raw veggies are also hard to digest for some dogs. (They recommend cooking the veggies)

Last but not least is the question you have to ask yourself when considering a raw food diet. “Am I prepared for the expense and time it takes to prepare the food”? If you work a lot and spend more time on take-out food for yourself on a weekly business, chances are that you’re too busy to prepare a home-made raw diet for your four-legged furchild. If you travel a lot and board your dogs, many boarding kennels charge extra for the space and time it takes to store the food.

Right now there is little evidence on the health benefits of feeding your dog a raw food diet. I am sure as more health food scares arise and more people become aware of what really goes into their dogs’ food, there will be. For now, if you’re like me, it’s a matter of personal preference and what is working for your dogs.