As with humans, senior dogs change as they age. Unfortunately for dog lovers, it seems to happen way too fast! One way a dog may be considered to be geriatric is based on weight. Dogs who are 50 pounds and over are considered to be in the geriatric range at the age of 7 years. Dogs 20-50 pounds are thought to be geriatric at 9 years of age and small dogs of less than twenty pounds at 10 years of age. There are several factors to consider in caring for your aging dog.
Enjoy your dog in his golden years!
Hello, I just learned about and received three books for Dog Lovers (although they me be for all pet lovers and also for anyone who likes to read a variety of topics). I have not read them yet, but I look forward to delving in. Janet Lyman, my other blogger, is a fast reader, and will be reading them, too. We will provide our review when done. In the meantime, check these out:
Erik’s Hope: The Leash that Led me to Freedom is a fictional account based on the true story of a young woman’s transformational journey, assisted by her beloved dog, Erik. The book chronicles Andrea’s shift from a high-potential professional with little regard for matters of the heart to a passionate and caring advocate for personal change, growth and healing. To learn more go to: www.erikshope.com or on facebook www.facebook.com/EriksHope
Dogs Have Angels Too demonstrates how positive effects can come out of life’s unexpected turns and how the mutual love between people and pets is truly inspiring. In addition, Cavallaro reveals how one woman with a vision is able to enlighten others and bring about change for needy pups within her own community. Learn more at http://www.dogshaveangelstoo.com/ or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DogsHaveAngelsToo
Paranormal Pooch, written by Olga Horvat, is an eye opening story about one family’s four-month sojourn into the dark and unknown side of the canine world. Bideawee works hard at bringing pets together. For more information on Paranormal Pooch and Paranormal Pet Expert Olga Horvat, visit her online: Facebook: www.facebook.com/olgahorvat or Website: www.RoyalDogsGallery.com
Happy Holidays!
Tails Untold is very proud to announce that Sebastian, who recently was the Star of a Tails Untold New York City Adventure Book was just featured in an article in the New York Post on Sunday, November 27, 2011 on page 43. The article discussed how five dogs, Sebe included, are devoted to helping others.
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Today one of my students shared a picture of the newest acquisition to his family…”Bruno” , a rescue dog. He had a sample picture of himself, his brother and “Bruno” which they will use as a Christmas card. He could not wait to show his friends and teacher. It is not uncommon for people to use their pets in their holiday greeting cards. As many as 58% of pet owners do this, according to the American Animal Hospital Association. My student is language learning disabled, but he had no difficulty when it came to talking about his new pet. His eyes sparkled and the words just poured out as he described how he got his dog. Just one more instance of how pets can give back to their owners!
There are several things to look for when choosing a dog breeder:
Be sure your “new puppy” has:
1) Been in a social setting.
2) Seen a veterinarian.
3) A breeder with references.
4) Has a mom who had good prenatal care
5) Come from a facility you have seen that is clean and not like a puppy mill.
6) A guarantee from the breeder.
7) A good set of parents that you have “interviewed”.
Tales Untold is a firm believer in adoption, however this may not be an option for you. So, hopefully these tips about breeders will help in your decision making.
Tails Untold depends on your photographs to make our stories come alive. But getting good pictures of your pet is challenging, from getting them to stay still to getting the best light, it can be a frustrating task. And photos of our pets are so important, it’s one thing people always wish they had done more once their pets are no longer around. It’s important also to capture their stages when they are young and as they grow up. Who doesn’t wish for a few more images of their puppy at a few weeks old – or even a few months!
Here are some photography tips from professional photographers that will help you get great pictures of your pet. We hope you share them with us when you place your order for a tailsuntold adventure book.
Lighting Can Make or Break Your Pet Photography
Red eye gives Fido that evil or possessed look. A loss of definition may cause your finely groomed Kitty to look like a washed out ball of fur.
To prevent lighting from ruining your pet photography, follow these instructions:
Positioning for Perspective
While you’re probably taller than your pets, you don’t have to photograph them from your natural angle. Instead, take the picture from their level to get their perspective.
Here are more tips for positioning your pet for photography:
Here are more tips on taking pictures of all kinds of pets.
AP Published September 15, 2011
| Associated Press
NEW YORK – A calico cat named Willow, who disappeared from a home near the Rocky Mountains five years ago, was found Wednesday on a Manhattan street and will soon be returned to a family in which two of the three kids and one of the two dogs may remember her.
How she got to New York, nearly 1,800 miles away, and the kind of life she lived in the city are mysteries.
But thanks to a microchip implanted when she was a kitten, Willow will be reunited in Colorado with her owners, who had long ago given up hope.
“To be honest, there are tons of coyotes around here, and owls,” said Jamie Squires, of Boulder. “She was just a little thing, five and a half pounds. We put out the ‘Lost Cat’ posters and the Craigslist thing, but we actually thought she’d been eaten by coyotes.”
Squires and her husband, Chris, were “shocked and astounded” when they got a call Wednesday from Animal Care & Control, which runs New York City’s animal rescue and shelter system.
Willow had been found on East 20th Street by a man who took her to a shelter.
“My husband said, ‘Don’t say anything to the kids yet. We have to make sure,'” Squires said. “But then we saw the picture, and it was Willow. It’s been so long.”
ACC Executive Director Julie Bank said a scanner found the microchip that led to the Squires family.
“All our pets are microchipped,” Squires said. “If I could microchip my kids, I would.”
The children are 17, 10 and 3 years old, so the older two remember Willow, Squires said. As for the 3-year-old, “She saw the photo and said, ‘She’s a pretty cat.'”
The Squireses also have a yellow Labrador named Roscoe, who knew Willow, and an English mastiff named Zoe.
“We had another dog back then, too, and I remember that Willow would lie with them as they all waited to be fed,” Squires said. “She thought she was a dog.”
Squires said Willow escaped in late 2006 or early 2007 when contractors left a door open during a home renovation.
Since then, the family had moved about 10 miles from Broomfield to Boulder, but it kept its address current with the microchip company.
Bank recommended that all pet owners use microchips.
She said Willow, who now weighs 7 pounds, is healthy and well-mannered and probably has not spent her life on the mean streets of Manhattan. But there are no clues about her trip east or anything else in the five years she’s been missing.
Squires seemed a bit worried about a possible New York state of mind.
“I don’t know what kind of life she’s had, so I don’t know what her personality will be like,” she said. When Willow disappeared, she said, “She was a really cool cat, really sweet.”
The ACC and the Squireses were trying to arrange for transportation back to Colorado and health certificates and said it might be two weeks before the reunion. Willow may spend some time with a foster family in New York.
“The kids can’t wait to see her,” Squires said. “And we still have her little Christmas stocking.
One of the most fun things about bringing a pet into your family is choosing the name. There are some people who love the traditional – Spot, Fido and Rover, some who like the popular – Max and Bella and some the outrageous – Sir Broccolli? Ozzy Pawsborne? The last two come from a list of the wackiest pet names compiled by a pet insurance company, and it’s pretty funny to read.
Another method of naming a pet is to come up with something based on the pet’s personality or appearance. Another friend likes to use names of his favorite Italian soccer players: Baggio and Dino are his cats. A tailsuntold favorite is Lucky – he’s the fourth Lucky his owner has had over the years – it’s perfect because it’s gender neutral and Lucky’s owner always feels a little luckier thanks to his dog.
What are your favorite pet names? We would love to start a list and can post your pet’s picture and name on upcoming blogs.
“Here are three “facts” you may believe about aging in dogs… and why they’re wrong.
1. One year in dog years is equal to 7 human years. This formula was developed as a simple way to gauge a dog’s stage of life. However, it is much too simple to accurately reflect a dog’s age. This formula is also misleading because it does not take into account the size or breed of the dog. Larger dogs tend to age quicker and have shorter life spans than smaller dogs.
2. It’s easy to tell when your dog is getting old. This statement goes hand in hand with the “fact” that sick dogs show that they’re sick. As with many animals, there is a large disadvantage to displaying symptoms of sickness or weakness in the wild. It is simply not advantageous for dogs to show that they’re sick. As a result, you don’t always realize that your dog is sick or getting old until they are at an advanced stage of the process.
3. Slowing down is a natural part of a dog’s aging process and there’s nothing I can do about it. Many dog owners assume that as their dogs age, they will experience mobility loss and difficulty getting up and moving around. And because they truly believe that their dogs are simply undergoing natural changes, they will also assume that they can’t do anything to help their dogs. Once again, this statement is false. Many times loss of mobility is a sign that your dog is experiencing age related problems like arthritis, and there are many things you can do to help.
Now that you understand the truth behind these myths, you can do something with your knowledge. Your dog’s age in years is just a number. Many older dogs can continue to have an excellent quality of life, with some help from you.
What can you do?
The first step to helping your dog through the aging process is to make regular visits to your veterinarian. A vet can check for problems that may not be readily apparent to you. When you’re not at the vet’s, keep an eye on your dog for symptoms of illnesses or age related stress. Early detection is key!”
We are very excited to have our Tails Untold Blog up and running. We will bring you new ideas, information, and news about pets. We will also feature new pets regularly. Please visit often and we appreciate your comments. You can also email a photo of your pet to be featured. Don’t forget to visit www.tailsuntold.com to take your pet on its own adventure.
| Name: | Weezie |
| Nickname(s): | The Boss |
| Gender: | female |
| Characteristics: | One eye, white face, very large pointy ears |
| Personality: | stealthy, determined, quiet, funny |
