Amy Shojai's Blog, page 84
January 8, 2016
Enter the Cat Writers Contest, Win $11,000 in Awards & More
Sometimes it pays to be catty—I just finished hosting a Google Hangout On The Air (see bottom of post) about the Cat Writers’ Association annual contest. The international Cat Writers’ Association, Inc. (CWA) founded in 1992 is now accepting entries for its annual Communications Contest with more than $11,000 in prize money plus the prestigious Muse Medallion award in its kitty.
This year, CWA is offering 19 sponsored special awards of $500 to $1,000 each as well as its own Muse Medallions™ to winners in approximately 55 writing, broadcast and graphic arts categories. The special awards cover topics that include veterinary research, health, behavior, nutrition, seniors, kitten care, safety issues, the human-animal bond, humane issues and responsible ownership, plus awards for fiction and new writers.
Our contest showcases the very best in the feline field of professional writers, broadcasters, photographers and graphic artists. You don’t have to belong to CWA to participate. However, we encourage writers to beco
me part of this professional group that strives to improve the lives of cats and serves as a great network of professionals.
CWA’s writing competition is open to work published between June 16, 2014 and December 31, 2015 (a special one-time 18-month contest period). Categories cover feline-oriented articles and columns, short stories and blogs, poetry, fiction and nonfiction books, photography and illustrations published in magazines, newspapers, newsletters and online and video/audio tapes of broadcast material. Awards will be presented at CWA’s annual conference to be held this year June 23-25 outside Phoenix.
Rules and entry forms are available on the CWA’s website. Entries must be postmarked no later than Tuesday, January 19, 2016.
I’ve been fortunate to win a few of the CWA-sponsored awards. While the cash is terrific (writers are notoriously underpaid!), the kudos from colleagues and other pros in the field goes even further. Having one of these awards on your resume actually helps land future writing jobs.
CWA also sponsors an annual writing conference. This year the conference is held in conjunction with the BlogPaws Conference, and event that brings together beginning to professional bloggers with a passion for pets. That makes it possible for pet professionals, show people, products manufacturers and media attending the event to also attend the educational sessions. Anybody who’s anyone in the world of cats or dogs (or ferrets, birds, bunnies, even pigs!) will be at this event in June. Yes, it’s a long time away, but now you can mark your calendar well in advance!
Seminars offer help to beginning-to-advance writers, and are presented by a wide range of professionals. Editors in attendance welcome meeting with aspiring article and book authors. In fact, I have personally sold more articles than I can count, and four pet books as a direct result of attending this conference.
Because our members have specialized interest in all-things-pets, seminars and panel discussions in the past have included such varied topics as laws pertaining to animals; veterinary issues and hot topics to cover in the news; and shelter/animal welfare issues. I’ve just confirmed speakers on topics ranging from self-publishing to New York publishing, marketing your work, submitting proposals and more. BlogPaws speakers will offer a plethora of info on blogging, SEO, state of the industry, marketing and more. Stay tuned!
In addition to the great writing seminars, a pet book signing event will be held during the conference featuring many attending authors and their latest books. If you love pets–and you do or you wouldn’t read this blog; and if you are now writing or would like to learn more; consider entering the contest and/or attending the CWA conference and/or entering the contest. Check out this video from contest chair Arden Moore with more information. Hope to see you there!
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? 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, 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!
January 1, 2016
New Year Pet Resolutions 2016 Edition
A goal, courtesy of a gift from my brilliant and always astute (and never wrong) Dad.
It’s 2016 and this year I resolved to NOT make resolutions. Instead, I’m making “goals.” Rather than an end-accomplishment, I’d rather strive for the destination but try to enjoy the journey along the way. In my experience, some of the side-roads along the journey prove to be as much if not more rewarding than the final accomplishment. How about you?
A new year is a time for reflection on the past. This year has been incredibly challenging for my family on multiple fronts, and I’m in the process of reevaluating many things. But I’m also grateful for all of our blessings, and for the opportunity to share my work with other pet-loving peeps.
In the past two weeks, I’ve had two new books released, after much gnashing of virtual teeth. The third book in my thriller series SHOW AND TELL released December 22, and I’m delighted it’s already receiving some glowing reviews. Just so you know, it took nearly a year to write…and rewrite…and rewrite…due to some of those aforementioned unexpected side-roads.
Then last week on December 29 a purring-new cat care book released, CAT FACTS: The Pet Parent’s A-to-Z Home Care Encyclopedia. I can honestly say it took me nearly 25 years to write this book. This massive illustrated book is a compilation of my years as a pet care and behavior advocate and reporter, and my wish is that it helps cat lovers better care for their special kitties. Oh, and no worries for the wagging pets—DOG FACTS is in the works and hopefully won’t take another 25 years to accomplish (there’s one of my goals!).
None of this would be possible without my furry muses. It’s become a tradition to take stock of the past year from a pets’-eye-view, too, and the year to come.
The Magical-dawg had a renewed episode of licking his paws nekkid, and we’re still struggling to resolve that. It’s aggravated by stress, and I have no doubt Magic is feeling and reacting to my own stress so my goal is to DE-stress more to help us both. Magic is now nine, and has clearly begun to slow down and show his age.
Seren-kitty will be 20 in February, but has had no issue with schnorkles this year. She’s become more active and demanding of attention–a good thing! and I attribute that to the arrival of Karma-Kat. She’s become more tolerant of him and Magic, but is forced to move her furry tail to stay out the delinquent cat’s reach. She still makes sure they both know she’s the boss. In my CAT FACTS book the age comparison chart places her in the geriatric range, with a human age equivalent in her late 80s. Mee-wow!
Karma has grown from a lanky adolescent kitten into a hefty man-kat eager for a game of tag, chase, “towel skiing” and treats. He’s my nighttime pillow-share buddy, and the delight of Magic, makes Seren grumpy, and keeps us humans laughing.
So here are New Year’s Resolutions from Magic, Seren and Karma with commentary by Amy.
Magic: “I will train my humans to spend more time playing. And petting me. ”
Amy: He still insists on fetch. All the time. I mean ALL the time! both inside the house and out, even though his older legs have slowed down on the return time. So my goal is to toss toys shorter distances lower to the ground so he won’t have to leap, and use only the soft stuffed toys to cut down on household damage.
Karma: “I will train my humans to leave open the treat drawer so I can help myself.”
Amy: We’ve had to put an extra door stop on the pantry door to keep him from opening it and chewing through the dog food bag. Any treats must be kept behind doors or in drawers or he carries off the packaging and empties the bag. So my goal is to continue offering Karma cat-healthy treats kept in cat-proofed containers.
Seren: “I will stand on table tops, hassocks and Amy’s lap and cry and yowl to get another taste of yummy canned food.”
Amy: She’s been on a therapeutic food for a couple of years, but started stealing from Karma’s bowl—and at her age, we figure anything she wants is legal. As a result, she’s eating more, gained a bit of weight, and looks and acts better. Besides, Karma steals HER food, too. Yelling for food also gets her attention, a big coup for her to diss Karma. My goal is to keep Karma otherwise engaged so that Seren can enjoy her food without harassment from the delinquent cat.
Magic: “I will kill all squeakers and chew sticky-out wrong parts on toys. And keep Karma from stealing my toys.”
Amy: He amputates teddy-bear ears, and SQUEEEEEKS toys forever to drive us crazy. Magic got to keep the squeakie “Willoughby” bark toys from my role in the recent Mary Poppins show…but Karma steals them now, too. I will again seek to find a Magic-proof squeaky stuffed toy—been looking for years now. And remember to supervise so Magic doesn’t steal Karma’s toys, or vice versa.
Karma: “I will stalk and tease and pounce at Magic so he chases me, and turn Seren into my personal wrestle-toy to make the humans yell, what fun!”
Amy: Karma takes great delight in teasing Magic and getting him into trouble. He also gets on top of Seren to wrestle her, and at over twice her weight, turns her into a pancake of kitty frustration. My goal is to play interactive chase games with Karma each day to give him the exercise, attention and fun he craves and deserves.
Seren: “I will train Amy there’s more to nine lives than paw-tapping and staring at a boxy computer-thing. Like catnip. And whisker-kisses.”
Karma: “I will train Amy that playing with cats is more fun than anything else.”
Magic: “I will train Amy that there’s no such thing as too many treats. But time together is even better.”
Amy: My goal is to listen to my furry muses. What about you?
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? 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, 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!
New Year Pet Resolutions 2016 Edition
A goal, courtesy of a gift from my brilliant and always astute (and never wrong) Dad.
It’s 2016 and this year I resolved to NOT make resolutions. Instead, I’m making “goals.” Rather than an end-accomplishment, I’d rather strive for the destination but try to enjoy the journey along the way. In my experience, some of the side-roads along the journey prove to be as much if not more rewarding than the final accomplishment. How about you?
A new year is a time for reflection on the past. This year has been incredibly challenging for my family on multiple fronts, and I’m in the process of reevaluating many things. But I’m also grateful for all of our blessings, and for the opportunity to share my work with other pet-loving peeps.
In the past two weeks, I’ve had two new books released, after much gnashing of virtual teeth. The third book in my thriller series SHOW AND TELL released December 22, and I’m delighted it’s already receiving some glowing reviews. Just so you know, it took nearly a year to write…and rewrite…and rewrite…due to some of those aforementioned unexpected side-roads.
Then last week on December 29 a purring-new cat care book released, CAT FACTS: The Pet Parent’s A-to-Z Home Care Encyclopedia. I can honestly say it took me nearly 25 years to write this book. This massive illustrated book is a compilation of my years as a pet care and behavior advocate and reporter, and my wish is that it helps cat lovers better care for their special kitties. Oh, and no worries for the wagging pets—DOG FACTS is in the works and hopefully won’t take another 25 years to accomplish (there’s one of my goals!).
None of this would be possible without my furry muses. It’s become a tradition to take stock of the past year from a pets’-eye-view, too, and the year to come.
The Magical-dawg had a renewed episode of licking his paws nekkid, and we’re still struggling to resolve that. It’s aggravated by stress, and I have no doubt Magic is feeling and reacting to my own stress so my goal is to DE-stress more to help us both. Magic is now nine, and has clearly begun to slow down and show his age.
Seren-kitty will be 20 in February, but has had no issue with schnorkles this year. She’s become more active and demanding of attention–a good thing! and I attribute that to the arrival of Karma-Kat. She’s become more tolerant of him and Magic, but is forced to move her furry tail to stay out the delinquent cat’s reach. She still makes sure they both know she’s the boss. In my CAT FACTS book the age comparison chart places her in the geriatric range, with a human age equivalent in her late 80s. Mee-wow!
Karma has grown from a lanky adolescent kitten into a hefty man-kat eager for a game of tag, chase, “towel skiing” and treats. He’s my nighttime pillow-share buddy, and the delight of Magic, makes Seren grumpy, and keeps us humans laughing.
So here are New Year’s Resolutions from Magic, Seren and Karma with commentary by Amy.
Magic: “I will train my humans to spend more time playing. And petting me. ”
Amy: He still insists on fetch. All the time. I mean ALL the time! both inside the house and out, even though his older legs have slowed down on the return time. So my goal is to toss toys shorter distances lower to the ground so he won’t have to leap, and use only the soft stuffed toys to cut down on household damage.
Karma: “I will train my humans to leave open the treat drawer so I can help myself.”
Amy: We’ve had to put an extra door stop on the pantry door to keep him from opening it and chewing through the dog food bag. Any treats must be kept behind doors or in drawers or he carries off the packaging and empties the bag. So my goal is to continue offering Karma cat-healthy treats kept in cat-proofed containers.
Seren: “I will stand on table tops, hassocks and Amy’s lap and cry and yowl to get another taste of yummy canned food.”
Amy: She’s been on a therapeutic food for a couple of years, but started stealing from Karma’s bowl—and at her age, we figure anything she wants is legal. As a result, she’s eating more, gained a bit of weight, and looks and acts better. Besides, Karma steals HER food, too. Yelling for food also gets her attention, a big coup for her to diss Karma. My goal is to keep Karma otherwise engaged so that Seren can enjoy her food without harassment from the delinquent cat.
Magic: “I will kill all squeakers and chew sticky-out wrong parts on toys. And keep Karma from stealing my toys.”
Amy: He amputates teddy-bear ears, and SQUEEEEEKS toys forever to drive us crazy. Magic got to keep the squeakie “Willoughby” bark toys from my role in the recent Mary Poppins show…but Karma steals them now, too. I will again seek to find a Magic-proof squeaky stuffed toy—been looking for years now. And remember to supervise so Magic doesn’t steal Karma’s toys, or vice versa.
Karma: “I will stalk and tease and pounce at Magic so he chases me, and turn Seren into my personal wrestle-toy to make the humans yell, what fun!”
Amy: Karma takes great delight in teasing Magic and getting him into trouble. He also gets on top of Seren to wrestle her, and at over twice her weight, turns her into a pancake of kitty frustration. My goal is to play interactive chase games with Karma each day to give him the exercise, attention and fun he craves and deserves.
Seren: “I will train Amy there’s more to nine lives than paw-tapping and staring at a boxy computer-thing. Like catnip. And whisker-kisses.”
Karma: “I will train Amy that playing with cats is more fun than anything else.”
Magic: “I will train Amy that there’s no such thing as too many treats. But time together is even better.”
Amy: My goal is to listen to my furry muses. What about you?
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? 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, 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!
December 30, 2015
CAT FACTS Pounces Off the Shelves: Your EVERYTHING Cat Book!
IT’S HERE! Those who took advantage of the pre-order Kindle sale already have that version, and yesterday the print book was also released. Can I hear a “meee-WOW!”
After adding all the pictures, tips boxes and charts, the finished book totals 546 pages, and includes a detailed index to help folks find anything you want to know about your cat’s care, behavior, first aid, and more. I’ve included some screen-shots of the proof of the book, to give you a taste of what to expect. You can find the print book at this link.
The Kindle version is here (already ranking in top 20 or higher in Cat Breeds, and Small Animal Medicine!)
Hope you’ll post a review, too. Please share this post with anyone you think might benefit from an all-encompassing book on cat care, behavior, vet info, holistic treatments and first aid. Oh, and did I mention there’s a breeds-at-a-glance chart, too? *s*
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? 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, 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!
December 26, 2015
CAT FACTS, Your Everything Book for #Cats and Kittens!
EBOOK REGULARLY $9.99
KINDLE PRE-ORDER DISCOUNT $4.99!
CAT FACTS is the culmination of my more than 25 years as a pet journalist, with information gleaned from the 400 veterinarians I’ve had the pleasure to interview over the years. With more than 200 entries, double that number of charts, illustrations and cute kitty pictures, you’ll find first aid, natural healing tips, home care and veterinary information at the tip of your paws.
You can find the Ebook version on all platforms (the iBookStore already has the book for preorder here) but the $4.99 discount is exclusive to Kindle. The 550 page trade paperback ($19.99) will release next week as well.
Now is the time to subscribe to Pet Peeves because I’ll be giving away paw-tographed copies of the book to several subscribers! Please subscribe here...and tell your cat-loving friends!
…And if you are a blogger/reviewer/cat lover, please feel free to message me about possible review copies.
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? 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, 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!
December 22, 2015
SHOW AND TELL RELEASE! Pet-Centric Thriller Makes You Care
Winners of the NAME THAT DOG/CAT contest that appear in the book SHOW AND TELL. Enter to win your paw-tographed poster and bonus chapter! LEARN HOW HERE!
I am SO excited to announce that my third book in the September Day series is available today. And one of my favorite authors, Jon Land, has honored me with the following review–just Wow!
“SHOW AND TELL is one of those rare thrillers that hits you in the heart as well as the head. Amy Shojai hits the ground running and never slows down … damaged souls of both the two and four-legged variety join forces to rescue others along with themselves. Riveting, wholly satisfying …makes us care.” —Jon Land, USA Today bestselling author of Strong Light of Day
I hope y’all enjoy reading this story as much as I did writing it. I’m still waiting to get my copies of the book, and when they get here, I’ll ship to the winners of the NAME THAT DOG/CAT contest as well as the 10 winners from the Goodreads give-away.
And if you decide to write an honest review, please shoot me an email with the link to amy@shojai.com and I’ll send you a bonus chapter and maybe a paw-tographed limited edition poster, above (first come, first served).
ORDER HERE!
Barnes and Nobel (Nook & Print)
____________________________________________________
An animal behaviorist and her service dog race a deadly storm to expose a treacherous secret others will kill to protect.
A BLACKMAILER returns to sell a deadly cure.
A MOTHER’S DENIAL dooms millions of children.
AND A DOG shows true loyalty…when he runs away.
With her stalker finally caught, animal behaviorist September Day’s PTSD has abated and she’s begun to trust again. She dares to hope Detective Jeff Combs might become more than a friend, until his investigation into a dog fighting ring leaves her reeling.
Shadow wrestles his own demons. A German Shepherd autism service dog before losing his-boy to a health crises, Shadow found love and his true purpose working with September. Now his-boy is back–but changed–and Shadow fears he’ll be forced to choose.
When a desperate mom demands help, and Combs’s son disappears with his dog, September and Shadow must find the children before a devastating storm hits. But the children have a secret plan of their own. Only when September shows true courage, and a good-dog tells the truth, can they find their way home again.
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook,and get a FREE BOOK when you sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Want th e insider info on the latest books and appearances? Join my team and get advance sneak peaks related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
December 18, 2015
Poison Alert! 199 Pet Poisonous Plants & What to Do
‘Tis the season for decking the hall with garlands and more. I received an email from ProFlowers.com with this great infographic to share, and it seemed particularly timely.
Of course, my advice is to keep toxic plants out of the house entirely when you have pets (or toddlers!) eager to taste-test everything. Accidents do happen, though, so this is a handy guide to bookmark (and share!) with other pet parents.
Meanwhile, why not keep an emergency kit on hand? My go-to is the First-Aid Companion for Dogs & Cats not only for poisons, but for everything from torn nails to (gasp!) gunshots or snakebite. It’s a good time to “gift” the pet people in your life, too…although my wish for you and your pets is that you’ll NEVER need the emergency advice!
Have your pets ever “snacked” on something toxic? Do tell! What happened? what did you do…and what would you advise others based on your experience?
December 7, 2015
How to Create A Cat-Safe Christmas Tree
Create a cat safe tree your kittens and cats will leave alone–or can safely play with.
The Christmas tree might as well be an early holiday gift to your cats. Kitty can’t resist the urge to sniff, cheek rub, claw—and scale the branches to reach the highest possible perch. Don’t blame your cat. It’s normal for cats to compete for the top spot (literally and figuratively) to secure their place in kitty society. Youngsters won’t care about social standing, but high energy kitten play turns the holiday tree into a jungle gym. Tree encounters of the kitty kind not only risks breaking your heirloom ornaments, your furred family members can be injured by chewing or swallow dangerous items. Rather than fight a losing battle to keep cats at bay, create a second cat-safe tree with these 12 tips, so the fur-kids can enjoy the holidays as much as you do.
Cats turn anything into toys, even Christmas ornaments.
• Put yourself in your cat’s “paws.” Satisfy her desire to claw, lounge on branches, and trust that it won’t tip over under her assault. Match the tree size, sturdiness, base (perhaps add guy-wires for steadiness) to the activity level and number of cats.
• Ditch the lights, and any “fake-snow” flocking that can be chewed or swallowed. Instead, decorate with cotton balls or pillow-stuffing fleece for that snowy look on branches or around the base. If you’ve chosen a real tree, water with plain water and no additives in case kitty decides to drink.
• Strings and garland look great on the tree, but prove deadly inside a cat when swallowed. Dried flowers like baby’s breath look lovely and are nontoxic even if clueless kittens nibble.
• To increase the fun factor, insert a few sprigs of dried catnip—but be prepared for the cats to dismantle the tree!
• Catnip toys make great kitty tree decorations and won’t be destroyed during the feline assaults. Use “orphan” socks (singletons without a mate), fill with the ‘nip, and knot the open end.
• Jingle bells (quarter size or larger) can’t be swallowed and offer movement and sound when hung from ribbon on a branch. Put one inside the sealed catnip sock for more jingly fun.
• Furry toy mice come in bright colors—or go with a standard white theme—and can be placed in the branches for your mouse-aholic feline.
• Craft stores offer inexpensive bags filled with soft pompoms in a variety of colors and sizes—even sparkly ones. Cats love to play with these. Pompoms are so cheap you can fill the branches with one color theme, or a rainbow approach.
It’s not just the ornaments, but the electrical lights that can cause dangerous burns or death if chomped. Even the pine needles can cause injury if swallowed.
• Many cats adore feathers, but remember they can chew and swallow these. As long as supervised, a few feathers placed in the tree can be a fun accent as well. How about a bright feather boa instead of garland?
• Small stuffed toys—kitty theme or otherwise—appeal to many cats. Place around the base of the tree. Feline puzzle toys filled with special treats also are fun.
• Don’t forget the “cheap thrills.” Empty boxes, wads of holiday paper, and even paper shopping bags thrill cats. Remove bag handles so the cat won’t get hung around her neck.
• Toss a few special kitty treats in the boxes or bags. The smellier the treat, the better cats like them.
Be prepared to re-decorate the tree after the cats have fun. But a “Cat-mas” tree not only answers your kitty’s Santa Paws prayers, it means she’ll be more likely to leave your formal tree and decorations alone. That promotes a merry Christmas for the whole family, furry and otherwise.
What have I missed? How do you keep the holidays safe for your cats? Have you ever had a cat-astrophe with your tree? Do tell!
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook,and get a FREE BOOK when you sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Want th e insider info on the latest books and appearances? Join my team and get advance sneak peaks related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
November 29, 2015
Bright Mind Feeds Dog Brains #Betterwithpets #ad
Magic loves being scientific…and testing new treats (I mean…food)!
This post is sponsored by Nestle Purina® and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the BetterWithPets campaign but Bling, Bitches & Blood only shares information relevant to our readers. Purina is not responsible for the content of this article.
On November 3rd, I was pleased to attend the 3rd Nestle Purina #BetterWithPets event held in Brooklyn, NY, an all day event offered that several panels in the morning, which I blogged about here. Panels were followed by afternoon experiential hands-on exhibits, and that’s the focus of today’s blog. Everything was designed with the intention of “Exploring the best ideas for bringing people and pets closer together.”
Those who follow my blog know that I live with three pets: Karma-Kat (my youngest at age two); nine year old Magical-Dawg; and my Siamese wannabe, Seren, who will celebrate her 20th birthday in February. Aging pets strike a chord with pet people, having shared so much time and love with us–but all of us worry not only about physical challenges but the heartbreak of cognitive changes. We remember the youthful exuberance, joyful play, and sharp attention to everything–and when that begins to fade, it hurts your heart especially when partnered with that puzzled look of incomprehension in the pet’s eyes.
I’ve written about cognitive challenges in pets many times here on the blog and in my aging pets books, so I was intrigued and delighted to learn more about one special topic/exhibit at the Better With Pets summit. Purina’s top scientists have studied the effects of brain aging, discovered how enhanced botanical oils benefit the brain, and have incorporated MCTs into ProPlan BRIGHT MIND™ dog food (for dogs age 7 ).
Any “gift bag” I bring home from events get the once-over from Magic.
I wanted to blog about this immediately, and even have a short interview in the video (below) from Dr. Janet Jackson and Dr. Yuanlong (Gary) Pan recorded during the event. I’ve known Dr. Jackson for many years, having interviewed her a number of times for articles and books–we were both “mentors” and co-columnists on an educational online site for many years. Dr. Jackson joined the company in 1990 and today is the Vice President of Nutritional Research at Nestle Purina PetCare. Dr. Pan is a Senior Research Scientist at Nestle Purina and joined the company in 2000, and focuses on developing specific nutrients to promote brain health and function in pets.
I used the sample bag of Bright Mind to spike Magic’s regular food and help with transitioning to the new diet. No problem…he LOVES it!
I delayed blogging about this until I received promised information from ProPlan brand manager Lisa Pacatte. She kindly sent me a Bright Mind Trial Program kit last week. It included coupons to try the food, which I purchased at PetsMart, and instructions about how to transition Magic to the new diet, and ways to document any potential changes. Oh, and Magic is DELIGHTED to get to try out new food–the small sample I brought home from the Better With Pets summit has already been gobbled up like treats. Note: it’s important to transition your dog to any new food to avoid potential upset tummies.
DOG BRAIN HEALTH & BRIGHT MIND?
Aging is a type of biological rust, but feeding the body correctly offers protection and, dare I say, a type of beneficial oil that keeps all the gadgets moving smoothly, including the brain. The brain is primarily fueled with glucose but by about age seven, the glucose metabolism in the brain begins to change. These changes can be very subtle to more noticeable, depending on the individual dog. In general terms, though, this can affect memory, learning, awareness, and/or decision-making. You might notice your older dog isn’t quite as “mentally spry” as in the past, or his youthful prompt response to requests now take longer to process and achieve.
Studies have shown that adjusting the nutrient profiles in pet food–adding antioxidants, for example–can have a beneficial or protective effect on brain function. Since 2003, Purina has sought to find an additional energy source for the brain that could be more easily and efficiently metabolized than glucose. By providing this additional energy supply, scientists hoped the brain would function in a more youthful fashion.
Triglicerides are the building blocks of fats, but different kinds of fat include different types of triglycerides. When specific kinds of triglicerides (from palm kernel oil and coconut oil) were modified to consist primarily of medium-chain triglyceride vegetable oil (MCTs), they transformed into a highly effective energy source for the brain cells or neurons. In effect, “feeding the brain” appropriately with MCTs appears to slow brain aging or even turn back the clock for dogs, improving interaction with owners, interest in playing, and ability to adapt and cope with change.
Dogs in the Purina Bright Mind feeding study showed changes in their cognitive abilities in as little as thirty days. Scientists measured the dogs’ ability to remember things–finding a hidden toy, for example–as well as ability to learn new behaviors. Bright Mind not only addresses brain health with MCTs, it is also formulated for the needs of aging dogs to be highly digestible, with higher levels of antioxidants, and a bit less fat to reduce the potential “pudge” factor. You can find out more at the BrightMindEffect.com website.
I’ll keep a log of Magic’s Bright Mind journey, and report back in thirty days or so. Meanwhile, I’m anxious for Seren to get her chance at a similar product, which I understand is already available in parts of Europe. Wouldn’t that be a nice 20th birthday present for Seren?
What about your pets–do you feed your senior dogs and cats differently? Why/why not? Have you noticed any changes in your pets’ mental acuity? If the MCTs work for pets, would you want to put it in your foods, too? Do tell!
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–click the banner in the sidebar. Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook,and get a FREE BOOK when you sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Want the insider info on the latest books and appearances? Join my team and get advance sneak peaks related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
November 24, 2015
How To Pet Proof Your Holidays with 11 Life-Saving Tips
Pet proof your holidays to keep your fur-kids safe!
Do you pet proof for the holidays? Thanksgiving weekend seems to be a popular time to break out the holiday trimmings, not just in terms of munchies, but decorations, too.
Holiday homes become pet playgrounds at this time of year. Cats delight in un-decking the halls and climbing the tree. Dogs eat decorations and baptize the tree. The result is a Christmas that’s anything but merry. Refer to these tips to keep your pets safe and your holiday happy.
Plants and Pets. Dogs and especially puppies chew nearly anything. Cats rarely eat plants, but they do claw them and then lick/groom away the residue. Beware of holiday floral arrangements that contain pet dangers. Lilies can cause kidney failure. Holly and live mistletoe cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy if ingested by your pet. Poinsettias are NOT deadly but can cause nausea and/or mild vomiting. Choose pet-safe plants and set them out of paw-reach. Or consider using silk or plastic holiday plants make an equally showy statement without the poison potential.
Fire Hazards. Fireplaces offer extra warmth and atmosphere to holiday gatherings, but can prompt singed whiskers or burned paws. Candles prove irresistible especially for kittens who paw-test everything to see what it is, or meet it head-on to sniff and explore. That’s not just painful for pets, it’s a fire hazard for your entire family should Fluffy knock over the Menorah. Instead, electric candles are available for decorating purposes. If you must have the real thing, ensure pets are safely out of the way and candles out of paw-reach. Be sure the fireplace screen is secured against curious pets, too.
Toxic Treats. Gobbling any sort of candy may cause vomiting and/or diarrhea.
Chocolate poses special dangers. Too much chocolate, which contains a stimulant called theobromine, can kill your pet. Keep holiday candy out of reach, in latched cupboards, to keep your canine glutton from over-indulging.
Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many products, including gum, candy, baked goods and toothpaste. It can cause insulin release in most species, which can lead to liver failure. The increase in insulin leads to hypoglycemia (lowered sugar levels). Affected pets may vomit, act lethargic or uncoordinated and these signs may progress to seizures.
Macadamia nuts can cause weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs. Signs usually appear within 12 hours of ingestion and can last approximately 12 to 48 hours. Almonds, pecans and walnuts have so much fat in them, they can cause diarrhea in dogs, or even lead to pancreatitis.
Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. Avocado can cause heart damage and death in pet birds.
Flavored aluminum foil, grease-smeared turkey strings, and cellophane candy wrappers can be dangerous to pets if swallowed—dogs and cats rarely unwrap treats before eating. Eating raw yeast bread dough also causes problems when the dough rises in the tummy.
Christmas Tree Tips. Cats consider the tree a feline jungle gym with cat toys that swing, sparkle, and invite paw-pats and biting. Some dogs take “aim” at the tree just as they would your outside shrubs and baptize the greenery. Drinking from treated water in the base can poison pets. Eating tinsel and ornaments can prove deadly, and dogs often chew through electric chords with shocking results.
Smaller trees can be set on table tops, inside of baby play pens, or in a room protected by a baby gate. Situate breakable and dangerous decorations on the top of the tree out of reach of inquisitive pets.
Make the area around the tree unattractive to keep paws at bay. Clear plastic carpet protectors and place under the tree—nub side up. That makes cruising or lounging under the tree uncomfortable. The soft “tacky mats” available from home product stores designed to keep throw rugs from sliding around work well to keep small pets away because they dislike walking on sticky surfaces.
Use your pet’s smell sense to keep her away from the tree. Citrus scents are off-putting to cats so scatter orange or lemon peels (or potpourri) around the base of the tree. Vicks (menthol smell) also works as a good pet repellent. Dip cotton balls in the ointment and stick in the lower branches of your tree. They’ll look a bit like snow and blend in with the rest of the decorations.
Create a “pet safe” tree decorated with dog toys and catnip mice. Place these within paw reach on lower branches and reserve the off limits decorations for the top of the tree.
What other steps do you take to help keep your fur-kids safe during the holidays? Do tell!
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–click the banner in the sidebar. Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook,and get a FREE BOOK when you sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Want th e insider info on the latest books and appearances? Join my team and get advance sneak peaks related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
