Amy Shojai's Blog, page 110

Grain Free Cat Food, Does It Matter? #HillsPet Has Answers!

Seren loves anything in the bowl! Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC

Have you heard about grain-free cat food? A few years ago, the word “natural” got attached to both people and cat food products, even though there was no legal definition of the term or specific benefit—folks just like the idea of a “natural” product. Today the latest buzz-word is “grain-free” and a wide variety of grain-free cat foods are now available, including the new Hill’s® Science Diet® Adult Grain-Free product.

I’m lucky Seren-kitty has never been a picky eater, hasn’t had any food allergies or sensitivities, and for more than 16 years thrived on commercial dry cat foods. Some of my colleagues, who I greatly respect, may be shocked at that—but for me, if it ain’t broke, no reason to fix it. Seren maintained her healthy 6-pound svelt figure and c’attitude with no sick days whatsoever (until a sneezy attack last month). I have to give credit to good care, good food, and good kitty genes.

FOR MARKETING OR HEALTH—OR BOTH?

What does grain-free mean? And does it matter to your cat, or is it just another marketing term designed to sell cat food?

I got to tell you that both the “natural” and the “grain-free” terms have more to do with marketing than meeting the cat’s nutritional requirements—of course that’s my opinion, only, and your milage may vary. It’s not that foods labeled “grain-free” are bad—not at all, and in fact for a specific population of cats, they may be the best cat food.

I’m just saying that cat foods that contain grains are not inherently evil. And I’m also applauding pet food companies that don’t just jump on the band wagon, but do responds to the human “cat parent” concerns with new food options to address those concerns–and also use that opportunity to EDUCATE about the issues involved. Bravo!

Seren loves rose petals. And leaves. And cat grass. So I’m extra-careful what sorts of greenery gets in my house within paw-reach. Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC

So let’s examine the question. What’s the objection to feeding grain to cats? Well, most cats don’t graze out with the cows, or guzzle down gallons of grain. Given their choice, cats munch small furry critters–and if you’re my cat Seren, the occasional cricket.

Savvy cat folks understand that felines are obligate carnivores, which means they are animal eaters and do best on diets with high quality animal proteins. (Hey, I’m preaching to the kitty choir here, but in case there are lurkers, let’s cover the basics, shall we?)

Here’s the deal, though. Cats CAN digest carbs (especially when properly processed in commercial diets). They may gobble up the teeny grain-filled tummies of their prey. No, it’s not the main meal, but it is an important part of the total nutrition picture.

Carbohydrates provide energy and are obtained from starches and grains. And many folks forget that grains also contain proteins. Your cat’s body doesn’t care if that amino acid comes from mouse or corn, so proteins provided from meat and grain combos properly designed can be terrific kitty fuel. That’s why kitties for years have survived and even thrived eating well-designed commercial dry cat foods that include ingredients like corn, wheat or rice.

The operative words there, of course, are well-designed. Poorly designed, out of balanced nutrients can hurt the cat, whether the ingredients are paw-some or awful.

Even good diets may pose problems if balance gets out of wack or your cat’s needs are unique. When Kitty eats too much and exercises too little, the resulting Tubby Tabby may become predispose to other health issues like diabetes–and special formulations may be necessary for these cats. There also are cats sensitive to specific kinds of ingredients in cat foods that develop allergic reactions to protein sources (like corn or fish). For cats with skin issues or upset tummies the vet says are food allergies or sensitivities, a grain-free diet may be the purr-fect option.

LABEL MATTERS

It doesn’t matter if the food says “grain-free” or “natural” on the label (hey, poison mushrooms are natural, too! Just saying…). What matters is the correct balance of the various nutrients in the food, and the higher the quality of those ingredients, the more easily your cat’s body can utilize the nutrients.

Maybe you simply believe grain-free cat food is healthier and prefer foods without grain. Good for you! Depending on the formulation, it could be a great choice for your cat. However, if you’re choosing a grain-free food to avoid carbs, think again—the carbs may still be in the food but in another form. Potato starch might be even higher in calories than a grain ingredient. Hey, that doesn’t mean it’s bad, but do your research to be sure you’re getting what you think. You might be surprised at some of the unusual ingredients in pet foods–and how much they benefit the cat, even though Kitty might not be “naturally” inclined to gnosh beet pulp. Heck, I don’t think Seren would ever have snagged her own salmon, either!

Every cat is an individual. Isn’t that why we love them? A one-size-fits-all diet no longer is necessary and you can find the right formula that fits your feline. You can find out more about the new Hill’s grain-free cat food including the ingredient list and more at this link.

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Talk to your veterinarian about what's the most appropriate food for your heart-kitty. Age, health status, and more goes into match-making foods to individual cats. Image Copr. Hill's Pet Nutrition

So, have I confuzzled you? Hey, it’s complicated! That’s why I go to the experts. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to pick the brains (ouch! *s*) of dozens of veterinary nutritionists, both independent scientists as well as experts at pet food companies including the food scientists at Hill’s. That’s how I put together the paw-some info included in the various food topics in my books.The “grain-free” stuff is so new, though, that this is one of the first opportunities I’ve had to share.  Here’s a handy overview from Hill’s explaining exactly what is grain-free cat foods.

HOW ABOUT SEREN?

No, Seren doesn’t eat a grain-free cat food. That's due in part because she recently transitioned to a therapeutic food to slow down the progression of early kidney insufficiency. I worried she would snub the new diet but it turns out she loves Hill’s Prescription Diet™ k/d.

I might have requested a different food if I hadn’t personally met a number of Hill’s pet food scientists at their facility during a press trip a year or so ago. I had lots of hard-hitting questions and played “devil’s advocate” and was met with some great and thoughtful responses as well as further resources. What impressed me most was—they didn’t dodge the questions, answered honestly, and actually agreed that some issues have to do more with marketing than nutritional necessity. Wow.

And then last spring I got to meet more Hill’s folks at a BlogPaws breakfast where we received samples of Hill’s Science Diet™ Crunchy Creations™ Grain Free cat treats. Seren LOVES the salmon flavor of these occasional treats.

Bottom line, “natural” and/or grain-free cat food isn’t necessary for good cat nutrition—with very few exceptions having to do with ingredient sensitivities. Although the majority of cats don’t need a grain-free food, they can do very well on properly balanced formulations when that’s your preference. Heck, because cats are such individual, your cat may do better, who knows?

So what do you think? Does your cat require a special diet? Would grain-free cat food be something you’d like to try? Here’s your chance!

GRAIN-FREE FOOD GIVE-AWAY!

Image Copr. Hill's Pet Nutrition

Post your comments, below, and TWO of you will be chosen at random ON SEPTEMBER 27 to win 20 pounds of the new food!

If I don't have your email address from your comment/subscription, I'll contact you for that info--and your e-mail addresses will be submitted to Hill's where you can provide your shipping info to send you 20 pounds of Hill's Adult Grain Free Dry Food to try. (Just don't let your kitty eat all 20 pounds at once, LOL!).

Entries are limited to the USA and Canada.

 Add your comments, below. I hope you’ll also share the post with others—let’s get a conversation going!

This post is sponsored by Hill’s. I'm being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s® Science Diet® Adult Grain-Free cat food but I only share information that I feel is relevant to my readers. Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!

I Broke My Arm Boarding My Dog

Magical-Dawg prefers to stay home–or go for a play-date with other big doggies. Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC

I can’t remember the last time that my husband and I went on a vacation together, but I do remember how boarding my dog led to a broken arm. Since that time, my husband and I make an effort to not be gone at the same time.

Usually when I’m on the road, he stays at home to watch the Magical-Dawg and Seren-Kitty. And if he has a trip planned, then I make sure to stay home as well. Pet people do this as a matter of course, because we know that our dogs and cats do best in their own home environment.

I’m very particular when it comes to who I trust to care for my furry wonders. Most pet parents are. It can be tough to find the RIGHT place that doesn’t cost a furry arm-and-a-tail or that you don’t have to travel great distance to find.

I BROKE MY ARM BOARDING MY DOG

You think I’m kidding? Au contraire!

Our first dog, another German Shepherd, absolutely HATED being boarded, even though the folks were wonderful and took great care of him. Unlike Magical-Dawg who loves car rides, this guy would tremble and cry the entire car ride (about a 20-minute drive away). He hated that cement-floor run when he was used to spending time in our carpeted home. I’d take his regular food, but he often wouldn’t eat well when away from home and would lose weight during these boarding experiences. Picking him up after a trip always broke my heart, too, as he’d cry, shiver and shake all the way home–and then once back in familiar surroundings, he’d find a bush to baptize for what seemed like minutes. I think he “held it” for longer while at the kennel because he was so stressed being there.

He always came home smelling funky like the kennel, too. So after each visit to the boarding kennel, when we got back from vacation and picked him up, one of the first orders of business was a doggy bath. After a trip over Thanksgiving vacation, he smelled particularly “doggy” and so early the next morning I planned his sudsy dunking.

My first shepherd hated the kennel! Wish we’d had another alternative… Image Copr Amy Shojai, CABC

My husband left early for work, and so I gathered my towels and water-scooper-pitcher and canine shampoo and ran water in the tub. Once ready, I persuaded my 70-pound Shepherd to get into the tub (thank goodness he didn’t weight as much as Magic!). No sooner had I got him standing in the several inches of warm, sudsy water than the phone rang in the next room. (This was the days before cell phones…)

So, I told my good-boy dog to “stay” and turned to leave and answer the phone. Having selective hearing (my “stay” command didn’t include a “cookie” enticement), my dog started to climb out–dripping water–to follow me to the phone. Quick-like-a-bunny, I whirled to stop him–

And slipped on the wet linoleum, fell, and caught myself with one outstretched hand, and BROKE–MY–RIGHT–WRIST!

Now I’m on the floor, screaming (I’ve never felt such pain); and I have a kennel-stinky-dripping dog straddling over top of me. He’s crying and licking my face, sure that he’s killed me. Finally I managed to wriggle out from under him, lever myself upright, get to the phone that has since stopped ringing, and call my husband to drive home and take me to the ER.

The dog never got his bath. As a souvenir, I wore a right-angled cast for 6 weeks. So boarding my dog not only broke my arm, it killed several writing deadlines. That was the last time we boarded him at that particular establishment. Now, I don’t say that boarding your dog will lead you to such angst, but why take the chance? LOL!

Image Courtesy of Rover.com

Those who read this blog know that Magical-Dawg comes from a PAW-some local breeder. Magic is so big–nearly 90 pounds–that it can get pricy to book a stay for him at some of the nicer establishments. So when we can leave him with his breeder, it’s like a fun-filled play-date for Magic because he can play with the other big dogs.

Magic loves to have play dates with other big dogs like Hessi–ain’t she gorgeous? Image Copr. Gillian Salling

That’s pretty much what ROVER.com promotes, in a nutshell–local trusted care in home or nearby. I recently discovered ROVER.com and was intrigued by the company’s philosophy–that is, to provide match-making services between dog owners and dog sitters on the local level. How cool is that?! Instead of having to drive long distances, or pay expensive fees, it could be that someone in your own neighborhood is available to doggy-sit and allow your special pet to stay home while you’re out gallivanting. Check out this fun video for a quick overview.

I liked the idea so much that I agreed to write a few sponsored posts, including this one, about the company and its services. After all, holiday season approaches and it’s always a good idea to plan ahead. I’m being compensated by Rover.com, but as always, the viewpoints offered here are my own and I only share information with readers that I feel is relevant.

Greg Gottesman, the Founder of Rover.com, got the idea after a not-so-pleasant experience at a local kennel with the family dog, Ruby Tuesday. At a local “Startup Weekend” in Seattle, he pitched the concept of dog owners preferring loving homes to kennels for their canine family members, and he and his team won the top prize. That began his furry journey into creating Rover.com (see their Facebook page here) where you can not only find great local pet sitter options for your dog, you can offer your services as a pet sitter as well. More about that later.

$25 DISCOUNT! & FIND OUT MORE AT THE #RoverChat

The lovely folks at Rover.com have provided me with a discount code to share with you! Any new Rover customer will get $25 off their first booking through Rover.com. Just enter this code during the checkout process after booking a sitter:

AMYSHO25 

Have questions? There will be a twitter #RoverChat on Thursday, October 3rd from 6-7pm PST. I will be there, as well as Rover.com customer experience specialists to answer any and all questions Rover related.

How about you? What do you do when you hit the road? Do you board your dog? Take him with you on your travels? Engage a pet sitter? You can do a search on ROVER.com to find someone in your neck of the woods, read their customer reviews, and meet them in advance to be sure it’s the perfect furry fit. Have you ever broken your arm bathing your dog? Do tell!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!

 

#COFLOOD Affected Pets Need Your Help!

I’m a member of the Blogger Disaster Response Team organized by Blogpaws.com. Colorado is in dire need of HELP HELP HELP for both humans and animal companions.

BlogPaws is headquartered in Frederick, CO, and I’ve learned their offices are still dry but surrounding roads have been closed for days and many are completely washed out. They’ve provided the following numbers for me to share:

National Guard helping pets off a Chinook helicopter. Image courtesy of Blogpaws.

 

21 helicopters were being used Monday for evacuations
11,750 people have been evacuated
8 people have lost their lives
658 people are still unaccounted for, which means no one has been able to get a hold of them. This number continues to decline as more people are rescued.
This is being called the 100 Year Flood, here’s a little on what that means: http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/FS-229-96/
Approximately 2,377 agricultural properties have been affected
36 shelters are now open serving hundreds of people and pets
Flood conditions are spread across 200 miles covering 15 counties

There are many places right now that need help. BlogPaws is supporting their efforts to raise awareness and funds as described in this post.



Tuesday, September 17th, Freekibble is donating 100% of the Halo kibble raised to benefit those affected by the floods in Colorado. Visit www.freekibble.com and www.freekibblekat.com and answer the trivia questions. All of the Halo Spot’s Stew earned will be donated to Colorado shelters assisting people and pets impacted by the floods.

Also, Hill’s Pet Nutrition is working to enact their Disaster Relief Network.  Hill’s dog and cat food is on its way to several veterinary hospitals. They say, “We will continue to be in touch with our veterinary and shelter partners in Colorado. All of the pets and pet parents are in our thoughts.”

Please do what you can to help–next time the disaster may be in your neck of the woods. Be prepared with these tips! Again, there are resources I hope you will share in this post.

 I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!

 

Monday Mentions Sept 16

This past week has been a blur. I’m head-down fictioning these days, and the pace has picked up just like a thriller story should. For that reason, though, I’m trying to limit my online “schmooze” time to early morning and late evening. I know what comes next in the story, and am at that point it’s painful to break away. Thank goodness, Magical-Dawg reminds me to stop and take a break (when his eyeballs turn yellow, LOL!).

Stay tuned for some NAME THAT DOG and NAME THAT CAT contests/polls in the coming weeks. These are opportunities for you to name some of the animal characters in the HIDE AND SEEK book–and, that will get you the earliest read of anyone, with a free paw-tographed print book as soon as it becomes available! You can suggest names of your own pets, or one that you feel would fit the furry character.

Monday Mentions is the mash-up-day of all the neato-torpedo writer links and videos, pet schtuff and bling and writer-icity crappiocca collected over the past week. Check out the THRILLERFEST video at the bottom, too, along with a truly obnoxious BUT FUN! toy for dogs (Magic wants one).  For new followers to the blog, welcome! and you can expect more cat and dog specific schtuff later in the week on Wednesday and Friday.

WRITER-ICITY SCHTUFF

 Hashtags for #Writers

 Prairie Rose Publications now open for submission (calling all Cowboys!)

Social Media Changes–Especially for Pet Bloggers! from the awesome BlogPaws maven Carol Bryant (hey, these work for any writer)

Write Series? Smashwords Helps Discoverability a new series manager…thanks for the tip from Christine Clair MacKenzie

Fix These Big-Picture Problems Before You Pitch or Publish from the awesome Jodie Renner

 Free Conversion Tool–Word to Epub let me know how you like this, I’ve not used it. Thanks to Diane Capri for the link.

PET-CENTRIC SCHTUFF

 Dog Bless You Photo Exhibit by Mary Bloom this is one you DON’T want to miss…wish I was in New York to see it

AKC Community Canine the AKC’s CGC program now provides a comprehensive three- level training program for you and your dog. Beginning with AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, progressing to Canine Good Citizen and now to AKC Community Canine, the CGC program trains dogs through all stages of life to be well behaved in society.

Thanks to Karyl for the link to this PAW-some video!

Kassandra Lamb pointed out this hilarious video (beware the language–and don’t sip beverages whilst watching)

2012 Thrillerfest Panel

 

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!

How To Keep Outside Cats Safe: #Pet360 Wants to Know!

Can you see the fine-webbed fencing that keeps these kitties safe? There CAN be options–if you make the effort! Image Copr. Sanskrittlady/Flickr

This post is sponsored by Pet360. I am being compensated for spreading the word about Pet360.com, but I only share information that I feel is relevant to my readers.

What a small world…I’d already planned a post about outside cats, including the ASK AMY video, below, because I received a note asking about transitioning an INSIDE cat into an OUTDOOR kitty. Now the topic has also come up at the Pet360 cat discussion board because one of the folks reported a tragic story of a cat killed in his own fenced backyard by loose dogs that somehow got inside.

Do your cats get to go outside? How do you keep them safe from harm? How would you go about transitioning an exclusively INDOOR ONLY cat to life on the outside? What can you do to make certain your kitties are always safe? Pet360 wants your tips–you can  GO HERE and add to the discussion.

Seren sometimes stands at the door or window, meows, and digs against the glass with her paws as if she can’t wait to escape the plush indoor lifestyle. Folks who live in the UK think we Americans are cruel for not allowing kitties the joy of grass between their toes–many cat lovers in the UK have back gardens and the whole neigborhood of cats comes and goes.

Ready for an outdoor stroll, or would he rather lap-snuggle? Image Courtesy of Pet360.com

Here in North Texas, coyotes come and go from my back patio and turn into land sharks patrolling for kitty treats. Although in her younger days Seren went out on a leash to sniff roses, I’d never feel comfortable letting her out without that safety net. Instead, I offer her lots of indoor enrichment like multiple cat trees and condos.

I do offer some options for creating safer outdoor environments in my Cat Competability book like cat-specific fence products such as the Cat Fence-In, and my colleague Marva Marrow has a great how-to DIY design for safe outdoor cat enclosures.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not invest in an “electric fence” type of product that purport to protect cats (or dogs) using shock collars. Such things are not the plug-and-forget-it answers you want–it requires training to use correctly and even then can result in the pet “breaking through” the invisible barrier and then being prevented from returning home. Such products also don’t keep strange dogs or cats (or other critters) from invading your pet’s home turf. You gotta hope that your kitty has proper identification (is your cat microchipped?) to help the pet get home. Pet360 has some interesting articles and discussions on pet microchipping here.

The blue color would match Seren’s eyes! Image courtesy Pet360.com

I do agree, in the best of all possible worlds where cats could be safe, the best thing in the world would be for them to chase butterflies and sleep in the sun-puddle on the back patio. When you can’t provide a safe outdoor environment, maybe you’d want to take Kitty for a safe outing in a cat stroller–I saw some of these in action at BlogPaws convention and they are paw-some! The next best thing is to bring the outdoors inside with lots of hidy-holes, climbing ops, kitty grass for munching, and fun toys that float your cat’s boat.

Even exclusively indoor cats may escape out the door…Image courtesy of Pet360.com

Today’s Ask Amy video is a heart breaker. It’s a composite of some of the consults that I’ve dealt with over the past several years. Every home and person’s circumstance is different and I’m not in the writer’s shoes so can’t judge–and only seek to offer some insight and help. I hope you’ll share some of your suggestions (positive ones, please!) for any lurkers out there who have ever found themselves in such a dilemma.

How would you transition an indoor-only cat to the outside? And then, how would you transition an outdoor cat BACK into an inside cat? You can  GO HERE and add to the discussion or post your suggestions in the comments. I know this is a controversial subject–but we all want the best for our cats so let’s see what creative ideas we can develop!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!

Always Remember, Never Forget ALL the Heroes

See slide show from the book (above).

Canine Health Center monitored health of the 911 dogs. It’s the least we can do for our canine heroes.

Pictures of the 911 canine heroes.

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!

 

Monday Mentions: Conferences, Cat Games & Doggie Boo-Boos

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Amy at 2010 CWA Book signing–with a little “bling!”

We’re gearing up for the 19th Annual Cat Writers’ Association Conference in Dallas. That’s me (above) at a past CWA conference book signing–yep, there’ll be one again this year, right in time for holiday shopping. For those who write about pets…or write about anything (or want to find out more!) this is the conference for you. See details, below.

And if you’re unable to travel for whatever reason, you can now attend a VIRTUAL conference hosted by WANA INTERNATIONAL (see below). I’m speaking at both events, but even if I wasn’t, I’d want to attend. You can’t beat the price!

Magical-Dawg is a sensitive guy!

For those who read last Friday’s post about Seren-kitty’s snozzle-attacks, you know it’s been a challenging week for the fur-kids. I mentioned what happened with Magic–and promised an explanation. Each morning, my husband takes Magic for a ramble around the property (13+ acres) and then we all gather in the kitchen for breakfast together. The dog usually has a good appetite, although he often wants a taste of our breakfast, too. Last Wednesday, after an uneventful morning run-and-sniff-a-thon (per usual), he had no interest in food and in fact started looking poorly. He couldn’t get comfy, he stood up shivering, and held his left foreleg off the ground, limping and barely keeping his balance.

After checking the leg and paw for injuries, thorns, burrs et al, I couldn’t find anything–but Magic did seem to flinch when I touched his shoulder. We thought perhaps he’d strained himself (he’s now 7 years old!) but seemed in such discomfort he needed some pain relief. So I quick-like-a-bunny pulled out my pet first aid book to look up the proper dose and gave Magic some buffered aspirin. Within about 20 minutes he acted like he felt much more comfortable and settled on the floor. After I worked for an hour or so, and stopped o check on Magic about 9:00 a.m.,  while he seemed more comfortable, he still limped and his left front paw had swollen to double in size. Yikes! So I called for a vet visit, and scheduled a 2:30 appointment.

I had a TV appearance at noon, and when I got back Magic met me at the door with full weight on all his paws, and the affected paw swelling had gone down, yay! But we still kept the appointment. The verdict–probably an allergic reaction to a bug bite or sting. (head-desk) He’s had this happen three times before, but the signs on those occasions were face swelling and/or hives (have you ever seen a checkerboard dog?). The vet recommended Benadryl, which I already had on hand because of the aforementioned cases. We kept Magical-Dawg quiet (tried to, anyway) the rest of the day and the Benadryl helps with that because of the handy side-effect of making pets drowsy. The next morning, his “ramble” was on leash…but he appeared fully recovered.

The other part of the story–Magic had a GREAT TIME at the vet! He got to face-wash the veterinarian, got treats from the staff, pets from other clients in the waiting room, AND he got to sniff the clinic’s cat. Hmnnn…maybe he got stung on purpose.

Monday Mentions is the mash-up-day of all the neato-torpedo writer links and videos, pet schtuff and bling and writer-icity crappiocca collected over the past week. Check out the THRILLERFEST video at the bottom, too.  For new followers to the blog, welcome! and you can expect more cat and dog specific schtuff later in the week on Wednesday and Friday.

WRITER-ICITY SCHTUFF

WANAcon Oct. 3-5, a “virtual” online conference with best selling authors and experts you can attend in your pajamas…and yes, I’ll be presenting a how-to NONFICTION BOOK PROPOSALS. $119 if purchased before September 15, then $150!

Cat Writers’ Association 19th Annual Conference, Dallas, TX–Oct. 31-Nov. 2 I’ll be presenting E-BOOKS FOR WRITERS and also (with colleagues) song samples from STRAYS, THE MUSICAL. Want to offer your pro-services? Attend the SPEED-DATING EVENT! Here’s a promo video for the conference.

10 Ways to Fake A Pro Edit

Facebook Penalizes “Low Quality”  really???

Beware Balboa!!!

PET-CENTRIC SCHTUFF

A 112-pound Bernese mountain dog recently visited the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital because of a breathing problem. The veterinarians ultimately had to use horse equipment to save the dog. CLICK THE IMAGE for he full story! Image Courtesy of UC Davis.

Knittin’ Kittens iPhone Game…CLICK HERE for the Kickstarter project to bring this game to life, looks like great fun! Image Copr Knittin’ Kittens aka by John Sutherland

 Kittens Shut Down Subway

2012 Thrillerfest Panel

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!

Kitty Shnorkles, Gimpy Dogs & Resorptive Lesions

This past month seems to have been a bad one for human sneeze attacks, and pets are not immune. Neither the Magical-Dawg or Seren-Kitty have ever had problems before, until Seren began sneezing in mid-August.

What I thought must be a transient allergic reaction in Seren turned into a summer “kitty cold” that had her waaaay under the weather. She’s sixteen, so she had me very worried since those old-lady-cats tend to get sick quicker and take longer to recover. Cat colds not only make pets feel miserable, they can be a sign of a wide range of health problems.

What Are Kitty Colds?

Upper respiratory infection, caused by several different “bugs,” often affects cats. Some of these are related to the common human cold virus (a herpes virus), but people don’t catch colds from their pets (or vice versa). Cats catch URI from other infected cats, and the agents that cause kitty congestion usually aren’t lethal in adult cats. They can be caused by viruses or bacteria and rarely fungus, leave the cat with crusty nose and eyes and even painful mouth and eye ulcers. Yuck! Another problem is if the nose gets stopped up, kitties won’t eat unless she can smell her food, so sick felines potentially can starve if they get a stopped up nose.

Seren’s Sneezles

Seren’s sneezles started out with bursts of three or four at a time over a period of two or three days–and then seemed to go away. But over a period of five or so days, I noticed one eye seemed to water a little with a bit of clear drainage on that side of her nose—and then THAT seemed to go away.

But the next weekend, bam! The eye still watered clear tears, but her nose (on just that side) clogged with cloudy “schtuff” that choked her when she tried to eat or drink. Of course, she came down with the “shnorkles” over the weekend when my regular vet was closed, but first thing Monday morning, we visited the veterinarian.

Kittens that become infected with URI often have recurrences throughout their life during times of stress. Proper vaccinations can prevent infection altogether, or (depending on the causative agent) reduce the signs of illness if the kitty does get sick. Seren had all of her vaccinations as a kitten, and yearly thereafter received the standard “boosters” up until she was about eight years old. At that point, I followed the advice of feline vaccine experts Dr. Ron Schultz and Dr. Richard Ford (gathered from personal interviews for some of my books), who stated by age four after regular boosters the healthy cat without exposure to other cats usually should have virtually life-long protection.

So since she’d never had issues, was an “only cat” and indoors exclusively without exposure, I continued her “wellness exam” vet visits (VERY IMPORTANT!) but I stopped vaccinating her except for rabies (required by law). Did this put her at risk for infection? Have these experts changed their opinions? Do I need to re-think this? Perhaps.

Seren’s Treatment

So what was Seren’s treatment? She doesn’t interact with other kitties, so how did she catch cold? Be aware that “bugs” can be carried to your pet on your hands or clothes (or from the dog!) from contact with viral or bacterial agents. Did Magic make her sick by roaming our property and tracking in something from the environment?

The veterinarian suspected a couple of things that in combination seemed to have conspired to make Seren sick. First, the eye/nasal discharge was only on one side so it might be an infected tooth. Sure enough, the affected side of Seren’s gum was quite inflamed.Oh no! Maybe she’d developed a resorptive lesion, described in my Aging Cat book and in the great video, below.

But she didn’t have a temperature (thank goodness!), so the vet thought it might also be a nasal infection that started from an allergic reaction. The doctor explained that the nose is the perfect “petri dish” for infections to brew, being moist and warm, with ample opportunity to sniff in foreign material. A conservative treatment was recommended, and Seren given an injectable long-lasting antibiotic and a steroid-type drug (that lasts 4-6 weeks) to counter the inflammation, while we monitored how she reacted. Thankfully, Seren responded very quickly and within five days was back to her loving, dog-pestering self!

Relapse?

Well, not really, but kinda-sorta-in-a-way. Over the past weekend Seren sneezed again. A couple of times. And then on Wednesday (yesterday), she did a repeat of that 4-5 “achoos” in a row. OH NO, that’s the way it all started. The Covenia injection must have worn off (it lasts about two weeks). So day before yesterday (Wednesday) I planned to call the veterinarian.

Before I got the chance, Magical-Dawg got sick. Hoo-boy, what the heck is going on? Magic does his “patrol” around the property with my hubby every morning, and upon their return, we all have our breakfast together. This time, the dawgie had no interest in food–seemed fine on his ramble, but once inside suddenly felt bad, had the trembles, wouldn’t put weight on his left foreleg. When I checked, his shoulder seemed tender, so I gave him a small amount of buffered aspirin for the pain. But an hour later…that paw had swelled to double normal size. Off to the vet we went…(stay tuned for details about Magical-Dawg next week! yes, I’m a tease…and he’s fine now…)

While there, I talked to the doctor about Seren. Based on the signs I described, he believed it likely is a URI, and that kitties often harbor the virus all their life with no signs–until something stresses the immune system. He didn’t believe it was her teeth based on most recent exams. She’s old. Maybe allergies started it off, and the virus flared. Anyway, he prescribed another injection of Convenia to ward off possible secondary infections, and I gave her the shot when I got home. So for now, it’s still a wait-and see.

What You Should Do

Only your veterinarian can diagnose the cause of your pet’s discomfort, and prescribe the best treatment. Preventive vaccinations can help protect cats from these common illnesses. If you share your life with more than one cat, or interact with other cats outside the home, show cats, or otherwise there are exposure opportunities, re-vaccination as advised by your vet is vital. Today the recommended interval for boosters is every three years, although Drs. Ford and Schultz have stated that immunity may last 5 to 8 years–but you don’t know which pets have longer or shorter duration of immunity.

How often do you have your cats vaccinated? Do you use titer tests to measure the kitty’s immune status before vaccinating? There’s a great new product called VacciCheck for Dogs that can measure your pet’s immune status but it’s not yet available for cats. We don’t know for certain what caused Seren’s problems–there’s a reason they call it the “practice” of medicine, LOL!

What would you do in Seren’s case?

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!

Panting For Poochie Prizes

Is your pooch a show-stopper? Compete and win prizes locally at a fun Bark and Paws Dog Show in Denison this Saturday, Sept 7th from 9-3:00 at Heritage Park.

Last year I got to judge some of the fun contests–the pictures in today’s blog are from that event. Sadly, this year my schedule doesn’t allow me to participate other than long distance but if you live in the area, your pooches should have a wonderful time!

You can tell dogs enjoy the event–or not! Be sure your pooch has fun or leave him home. Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC

Dog registration in the park is free and begins at 8 a.m. (every dog must abide by leash laws and have proof of current rabies vaccinations). Vendors will set up on Burnett next to the park. Those already signed up include chair massage, pet massage, veterinarian, groomers, trainers, pet adoption, and more.

Winners of the 2012 Weinie Dog Race. Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC

Contest fees are $1 per event for the chance to win door prizes and drawings throughout the day. Events include Wienie Dog Races at 9 a.m., and an obstacle course and retriever competition also return. Other contests feature obedience tricks, the biggest, littlest, ugliest, oldest, and one that traveled farthest.

The pet parade offers ample opportunity to “put on the dawg” with costumes and more! Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC

The pet parade will begin at Heritage Park at 10:00, with dogs of all shapes and sizes encouraged to dress like a favorite movie star. Have your dog channel her “inner Lassie” and dress up to match your furry star. The best dressed dog will win an award based on their red carpet or movie star outfit.

A live auction presented at 10:30 offers many prizes including dog houses, dog training, gifts, and other dog related merchandise. I’ve donated a PAW-tographed copy of my debut thriller LOST AND FOUND which features doggy viewpoint. The proceeds will go towards future events and making Denison dog friendly. At 10:45, a Blessing of the Pets will occur.

If your dog is ready for his close up, visit Bark & Paws Dog Show this Saturday September 7th in Denison where any dog that’s worth his bark will be strutting his/her stuff. The event is organized by the City of Denison’s Main Street Department and led by volunteers who love their dogs. For specific event times, contest rules, more information or volunteer forms, visit www.downtowndenison.com and see current events or call 903-464-4452.

Remember that all dogs are winners when they have someone to love them. Be sure your dog enjoys events where other dogs and people are present, because some pooches prefer to be home-bodies. Please be especially mindful of the weather and keep your hot dogs safe as cool companions. Check out the ASK AMY below to learn more about when panting is normal or a sign of problems. If your dog loves the spotlight, you’ll all have a howling good time.

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!

Monday Mentions: Scat-Man, Scams, Pirates & Goldens Rule!

Pooh Bear in his tux at age six weeks…and passed away August 8, 2013 at the age of 13. Image Copr. Stephanie Collins/Flickr

Enroll your Golden in the Morris Animal Foundation program (listed below) and give hope to all the Goldens who have come before like Pooh Bear…and all the wonderful doggies of our future.

I’ve recently received several emails from WhiteHall Publishing urging me to sign up for a $175 (or more) listing in their online catalog that purports to get your book noticed by readers. Uhm…well, I don’t think so.

The company is a publishing service, something they define as a “brokered book” which basically means for a fee they will publish your title. The principles of this group may well offer terrific one-on-one coaching and advice, but posting a digital online catalog of X-numbers of books IMO is not a smart move for individual authors. They’ve advertised such things for actors forever–pay yer $$ to get a headshot/name listed–and that was the days of PRINT doorstop-size tomes no agent or casting director had the time or inclination to read.

Think about it–you’re also a reader. Will you go Internet surfing to find an online “catalog” of books for your next reading purchase? Let’s get real here. This offer basically “publishes” a digital book of author’s books (no rhyme or reason to the choices, just whoever has the funds to pay), and then the AUTHOR gets to “share” it with his audience/readers…and that’s supposed to increase the likelihood someone will buy your book. Oh, and the promo says it gets “shared” with 5000 others…who are those others? Whitehall mostly publishes horse and pet books–is your book a horse or pet book? Does the 5000 refer to other authors now in their database? Are authors your target audience? How many copies of your book will you need to sell to pay for that $175?

Hey, maybe you believe this is a great option–then go for it. But I would urge anyone to think critically about such offers, and make sure what you get for your $$ is the value you need.

Monday Mentions is the mash-up-day of all the neato-torpedo writer links and videos, pet schtuff and bling and writer-icity crappiocca collected over the past week. Check out the SQUEEE! cute pet-astic videos at the bottom, too. It’s fascinating to think how dolphins communicate–and compare it to they parakeet chatter. I’ve also included another Thrillerfest video from the awesome MEDICAL THRILLER panel. For new followers to the blog, welcome! and you can expect more cat and dog specific schtuff later in the week on Wednesday and Friday.

WRITER-ICITY SCHTUFF

 Know What Your Rights Are Worth

Win A Custom Book Cover! Deadline Sept 6, thanks to Karen Dionne for sharing this (btw, it’s her daughter!)

Writer Beware: Jonquil Press & Red Lizard Press

Author Solutions (Scam?) at Miami Book Fair from David Gaughran…come on David, don’t hold back, tell us what you REALLY think!

I Love Scribd! I’ve posted excerpts from my books there before…but when someone uploaded the ENTIRE “AGING CAT” book without permission, that hissed me off (it had been downloaded several thousand times). Check for your titles. Scribd makes it easy to get ‘em removed, though.

Albee Agency Now Sandpiper Publicity BEWARE!!!

 Choosing Distributors Carefully if you’re self pub’ing here’s a note of caution: Smashwords vs Draft2Digital

PET-CENTRIC SCHTUFF

 Calling All Goldens! Retrievers, that is…Morris Animal Foundation needs YOUR dog (under two years old) for a study that can help stamp out canine cancer! Will you help?

Feline Vaccine Advisory Panel Report thanks to my colleagues at GoodNewsforPets

Thanks to my cat-writing colleague Barbara Stein for pointing me to the cat-egorical video, below.

From the 2012 Thrillerfest Panels

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!