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In this episode of the Pet Question of the Day, Stephanie discusses how to keep your pet safe in cold weather and shares top tips on how to do it!
Hi everyone!
My name is Stephanie Goodman and I am your host of the Furbabies Podcast and the upcoming Furbabies Summit. I’m here with the our Furbaby Question of the Day! How can I keep my furbabies safe during cold weather?
1.First and foremost: Keep your pets inside.
Cats and Dogs are just as susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia as people are. They may have fur but that doesn't preclude them from being affected by the cold and it can happen a lot faster than you think. Yes There are some breeds who are bred for colder climates and can handle cold weather better but they should still not be left outdoors in freezing and sub freezing temperatures. Smaller breeds and animals closer to the ground feel the effects of cold and snow much faster and need to be sheltered indoors. A good rule of thumb to remember is: If you're cold, They're cold. Bring them inside!
2. Keep them dry! If you are providing outdoor shelter for your furbabies here are a few tips. Make sure to pick a dry spot. For the ferals or neighborhood cats outside during the cold, we set up a storage tub with a hole cut into one side and insulate it with straw. I know it's tempting to use towels or blankets but they can get wet and actually cause the animal to freeze to death while sleeping. We definitely don't want that. If you use sweaters or coats on your furbabies make sure to take them off if they get wet. It's easy to get caught up and forget but a wet sweater can drop their temperature really quickly, especially if they have certain medical conditions. Other companies also make insulated houses you can set on your porch or patio for your dogs and cats, and there are even outdoor heat mats you can use. Sometimes a sock full of warmed up rice or a hot water bottle also does the trick. With any heat source make sure you have it on a low setting with something as a buffer so they don't accidentally burn their paws and keep an eye on it.
3. Speaking of paws, Take care of their paws! When you take your dogs outside check their paws when they come back in and wipe them down. Lots of things can hurt their paws in extremely cold weather. They can pick up chemicals like antifreeze or de-icers that are toxic when ingested. We look for pet safe products that aren't poisonous so if our furbabies lick it off while cleaning themselves they're okay. They can also injure their paws from the cold so check for cracked pads or any bleeding. Watch out for accumulation of ice between their paw pads as you're outside as well.
4.Check your cars! Animals will seek shelter in any area they can find to stay warm and dry. Often a cat or kitten will crawl under the hood to get warmth. The problem is when you crank the engine they can be seriously hurt or killed by belts and other moving parts. We make sure to go out and check before starting the engine. How? We bang on the hood, we honk the horn a few times, we even raise the hood to double check if we know there are critters out there at night. These things can alert them and get them to jump on out.
5. Make sure to set out food and water and keep an eye on it so that it doesn't freeze. Your furbabies may need extra food during extreme cold too, as their little bodies burn more calories trying to stay warm. It all depends on their size and weight, but an extra can of food is always a welcome blessing.
These are our favorite tips for weathering the cold with your furbabies.
Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show?
Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com
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Rarely do animal lovers adopt a pet with the thought that they will one day have to rehome their loved one. And there is often a stigma of failure or backlash that comes when an emergency or an unknown situation arises that causes us to have to look to rehome our furbaby. Stephanie Goodman discusses this stigma that plagues animal lovers who have had to find a new family for their four-legged children and how to overcome this loss and feeling of guilt that can plague us.
Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show? Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com
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Manglende episoder?
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National holidays are often a great time to celebrate our history. Unfortunately, these holidays and the fireworks that surround them often lead to added stress for our furbabies. Fireworks can often scare our four-legged children tremendously. In this episode of the podcast, Stephanie Goodman shares what you can do to help keep your animals safe during the 4th of July.
Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show? Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com
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Should I put a Litterbox outside for my lost cat?
The answer is NO
Why? Instead of attracting your lost cat it can attract predators. Depending on what part of the country you live in, the smell of a dirty litter box can attract foxes, bobcats and coyotes. It can also lure in other neighborhood cats or ferals that may be tempted to lay claim to the territory if
they see it as a food source. Most indoor cats aren't skilled fighters, or ninjas at evasion like wildlife are. If they are approached outside they will likely be scared, or even terrified. If they get into a fight or confrontation they could get hurt. So, we really don't want that.
Now, on the wildlife side, I can tell you in my part of the world we have coyotes. Recently they have
been coming into neighborhoods because construction is edging them out of their habitat but they are also creatures of convenience. When they realize a neighborhood is a ready source of food, it's an easy kill. Now this is horrific for us, and deadly for our pets. A coyote can jump fences like they're nothing; 6 foot, 8 foot, we've even seen where one jumped a 10 foot fence. It's impressive, but really scary. And a coyote can make off with small dogs and cats in just a few seconds. It's a brutal end and one best avoided. So, should your cat accidentally escape please don't put a dirty litter box outside. It can spell disaster for both your cat, and your dogs if they are outside at night. To that end we recommend keeping your pets indoors overnight as much as you can. It's safer for them.
Now, instead of putting out a litter box, experts recommend you put out a piece of clothing or a blanket that has YOUR scent on it. These things won't attract wildlife but they can serve as a beacon for your cat to find it's way back. Studies show that most of the time your cat is close by, but they hide. If you go outside and speak as if you were talking to your cat normally, your cat may hear you and be compelled to return. Don't speak in a panicked or frightened voice, yes I know that's incredibly hard to ask, but remember, if YOU'RE Frightened, your cat may be even more so. So, use calm, even tones, speak normally, and it might help your cat to come on home.
Make sure to reach out to your neighbors and your other resources as well. Cats may be hiding in their garages or sheds, or under a porch or vehicle. Studies also show that most cats will try to return during the night. It's less frightening for them to come out of hiding then. So, if you have a garage, crack it open. If you can set out a blanket or shirt with your smell, do so. Set out super stinky tempting food like sardines, or fried chicken. We've used chicken to lure many a cat home or into a trap before. Warm and stinky food grabs their attention. Try to stay up in case you hear them meowing outside or trying to get in. If you have an outdoor security camera you can train it on the piece of clothing or the food to see if they show up. Now, don't leave the food out overnight, because that can also attract wildlife and scare off your cat. And the best thing to do, don't give up. Lost pets have been known to return weeks or even months after they were lost. It's a process, but don't give up.
Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show? Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com
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On this episode of the Pet Question of the Day, Stephanie discusses the different reasons why our cats Purr and how it works!
Why Does My Cat Purr? A lot of you have asked this question and there are a number of reasons why cats purr. Let’s talk first about the HOW they purr. Simply put, cats are able to purr thanks to muscles in their diaphragm and larynx, and something called a Hyoid bone.
When you hear a cat purr, you’ll notice that they make the sound both while they inhale and exhale. This is because the muscles of their larynx and their diaphragm are moving VERY quickly, like 20 to 30 times a second quickly, and this causes the air to vibrate and make sound. They also have that Hyoid bone. That bone sits between their tongue and their larynx and its flexible! The size and density of this bone is what enables them to make the purring sound as they breathe.
Studies have shown that these muscles get stronger over time and typically once your cat reaches the age of two, that purr will be their purr for the rest of their lives. You may notice during this time that their “voice” has changed. We’ve experienced that happening.
Purring is meant as a form of communication. Cats use it to communicate with other cats, with humans and to calm themselves. One thing that can vary is how loud a purr can be! Older cats can and often do purr more loudly than their younger counterparts, and of course they have humans well trained. Young cats learn how to use the purr to communicate emotions and needs. When kittens are first born they are both blind and deaf, so, researchers believe they use the purr to communicate with their mothers while nursing.
Cats purr to communicate with humans, to express happiness, contentment, excitement, hunger, heat cycles, anxiety or even pain. We are most familiar with the happy purr and the quest for food purr. Dare to let her bowl drop below the full mark and you will hear all about it. The food bowl saga is REAL and she will let you know, often with a high pitched mixture of both meow and purr. But across the board, you will know this purr. Experts labeled this the “solicitation purr”. She wants food, or she wants attention. But there are actual studies about this kind of purr and they showed that the “solicitation purr” is most used by adult cats and directed toward humans to solicit food.”This purr has a high frequency component within it that human participants consistently judged as more urgent and less pleasant than a ‘normal’ purr.” Thus, my yowler. She clearly got the memo years ago. “The frequencies of this ‘voiced peak’ correspond to those of human infant distress cries, which could explain why they are so easily perceived by humans as urgent.” Thank you, Dr. Valuska. You are accurate. So cats purr to communicate and to train us to understand what they need and when they need it. Now, they will actually also purr if they are in pain or distress. They really do. Or if they are anxious about something. They’ll purr and it helps to soothe them. So the key is to know and understand your cat so that you are aware of patterns in their behavior. If their purr is suddenly different and you notice other triggers, there may be a health issue or illness coming and it’s best to get them checked out. Purrs can be soft or loud, or VERY loud. I personally had a cat that purred like a little freight train! You could hear her engine revving from two rooms away! It was the sweetest thing.
Cats also have a healing quality to their purr and it has everything to do with the frequency of it! It’s been documented!
Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show? Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com
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Should I Adopt a Senior Dog?
Many of you have expressed your desire to adopt a dog recently, and many of you have over the last year. I hear this question a lot asking if someone should adopt a senior baby rather than a young dog or a puppy. There are plus points for both of those, but for today I am going to share with you the reasons why you should consider adopting a senior dog!
Now first, what constitutes a senior dog in age? In the Dog Aging Project, they say that while we can recognize an aging dog it is more intricate to truly define aging. They said that the term “senior” can be described as an aging pet, but the number of years considered to be “senior” varies and a significant factor is based on size. Other identifiers like species, breed, and the state of their organs can also help determine if a dog has reached old age. Here's what researchers had to say: small breeds ranging between 2 and 20 pounds and medium breeds between 21 and 50 pounds are considered seniors at 7 – 10 years old. Large breeds from 51 to 90 pounds are considered seniors at 5 to 8 years old. Giant breeds from ninety plus pounds are considered seniors at 5 years old.
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) published Senior Care Guidelines recommending that we approach senior status when the dogs are in the last 25% of their expected lifespan. There are additional physical, behavioral, and cognitive signs that help determine if our dog is in senior status. The takeaway here is that you can adopt a “senior” dog and have MANY years left to spend with them! Here are some great reasons why you should go out and adopt one right now, or two!
One, senior dogs are already housebroken so they understand routines. If there are a few missteps, they notice routines very well once they’ve had time to decompress and acclimate to your home. If you do have a more pressing issue, it could be that your new friend has a medical hiccup or is having challenges adjusting. Both, medical and behavioral can be readily checked out and worked through though so please do not let that deter you. These dogs are so smart and will be a model family member in no time.
Two, an older dog has already gone through puppyhood, so this means they are usually calmer or more laid back. Sure, they will still run figure eights around you in the park at times from excitement or joy but often they are calmer. They also know the routines of car trips or vet visits and are easy to travel with actually!
Three, you also know what their personality is like by this point. Puppies grow into their personalities, and it takes some time to see just what their temperament is like and who they really end up being. So, all those points about taking the best care of your puppies and bringing them up with love comes into play here. With a senior dog you know what they really love to do, and what they need to feel secure and happy. Plus, they communicate well. If you find they need some top up training they are smart enough to keep learning and absolutely can. Do not think they can’t keep learning.
Four, Senior dogs may be more affectionate. A lot of people love to have the type of dog who will curl up at their feet or share their bed at night or take walks with them. Senior dogs fit that bill! Few things are better in the day than coming home to a precious soul ready to love on you and hear all your stories from the day.
Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show? Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com
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On this episode of the Furbaby Question of the Day Stephanie talks about how awesome senior cats are and why you should adopt one now!
Should I Adopt a Senior Cat? I hear this question a lot asking if someone should adopt a senior baby rather than a young cat or a kitten. Today I am going to share with you the reasons why you should consider adopting a senior cat!
Now first, what constitutes a senior cat in age? I went back to the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), and they said that the term “senior” can be described as an aging pet, but the number of years considered to be “senior” varies. Other identifiers like species, breed, and the state of their organs can also help determine if a cat has reached old age. Now, the International Veterinary Senior Care Society says a cat is considered a senior when they reach 7 to 10 years old! So that surprised me, but it also made me think. A lot goes into our cat’s health and just like humans, what we eat and consume affects every cell in our bodies. The takeaway here is that you can adopt a “senior” cat and have MANY years or even a decade left to spend with them! So, what does that give us? Well, a huge gift. Senior cats are impressive. Here are some great reasons why you should go out and adopt one right now, or two!
One, senior cats are already housetrained so they understand how to use a litter box and are acclimated to feeding routines and the proper bowls and accessories for this. The only time you may run into an issue outside of the box is if your cat legitimately has a medical issue like a urinary infection, or something behavioral. Both, medical and behavioral can be readily checked out and worked through. So don’t let that deter you. These babies know what they’re doing, they’ll be just fine in your home.
Two, an older cat has already gone through kittenhood, so this means they are usually calmer or more laid back. Sure, they will still get the zoomies and it is so fun to watch them spaz out for a minute or two, but generally speaking they are calmer. They also know the routines of car trips or vet visits and usually manage these things well. They are great to travel with actually!
Three, you also know what their temperament is like by this point. Kittens Grow into their personalities and it takes some time to see just who they really are or who they end up being. So, all those points about taking the best care of your kittens and bringing them up with love comes into play here. With a senior cat you know what they really love to do, and what they need to feel secure and happy. Plus, they communicate well.
Four, Senior cats may be more affectionate. Now I know a lot of families love to have what we call the lappers: a cat that loves to snuggle and curl up on your lap. I agree, few things are better in a day than an hour spent with these purring, amazing souls curled up on you. It is love and comfort. With an older cat they are often happy spending this time with you in touch and affection.
Five, your older cat can self-entertain a bit longer than your kitten can. I know that when I head out to work or run errands, I know my older girls will spend the day watching bird tv out the window or watching a video and napping. My kittens will be ALL OVER THE PLACE and I cannot trust that they will not get into something. Also, why you need to kitten-proof your home but that is another topic.
Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show? Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com
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On this episode of the Pet Question of the Day, Stephanie talks about how amazing a cat's purr really is and how it has the ability to heal!
Is My Cat a Purring Healer? A lot of you have asked this question and it relates to the nature of the cats purr.
Now, in another question of the day we learned how they physically purr and some of the reasons why they purr. We know that as the muscles on their larynx and diaphragm move, it constricts the vocal cords and that causes the air to vibrate. And we know that the flexible Hyoid bone is what enables them to purr as they breathe in and out. This is how we physically get the purr. But, what we’re curious about today is, are there benefits to our cats or to humans?
Studies say there ARE benefits for our cats! Researchers have come back and said that the purr is in a range of 20 hertz to 150 hertz frequencies. They believe that this promotes bone growth in the cat, so, as they are purring while sleeping they are actually healing themselves and keeping their bones from becoming too weak. Their bodies also release endorphins during purring so it helps to relieve pain they may be experiencing. It may also be a way to help self heal after physical or emotional trauma. Thank you, Dr. Valuska!
Now what about humans? Again, researchers came back and said that the purring frequencies “correspond with established healing frequencies in therapeutic medicine for humans,” and specifically purrs with a frequency measured between 25 hertz to a 100 hertz. The researchers broke it down and noted that for humans, bone responds to 25 hertz to 50 hertz frequencies, while skin and soft tissues respond to around 100 hertz frequencies.
So they believe that the effects of purring can help heal bone and muscle! They also think that it can lower blood pressure, reduce the chances of heart disease so you don’t have a heart attack and greatly decrease the symptoms of shortness of breath, or, Dyspnea. Why? Again, because a cat’s purr is in the same frequency range that they know have various healing effects on humans. All of that is besides the fact that the purr is immensely calming for humans and lowers our stress levels. They are amazing! So go out and snuggle your cat today, and get those purrs in.
Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show? Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com
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On this eposide of the Pet Question of the Day Stephanie talks about how important it is to keep your cat hydrated and creative ways to get more water into their diet!
How Can I Get My Cat to Drink More Water? Many of you have asked this question and it also goes in line with other topics concerning their nutrition. Hydration is SO important. A Hydrated Cat is a Healthier Cat. It also helps to keep their kidneys functioning well, stave off urinary tract infections, digestive issues, and even behavioral issues. Sometimes your cat might be having a problem with the litter box, but they are actually dehydrated!
By rights, cats aren’t known for drinking vast amounts of water and this harkens back to their wilder days. Before modern times cats used to obtain everything, they needed in their diet from their prey. This included hydration! Now, we must supplement that hydration and try to get them to drink water as an aside from their food. We know they are particular eaters, but did you know that they can also be be sensitive to the taste of the water and also to the bowl it is presented in? Then there are environmental toxins we need to be aware of. Fear not though, there are creative ways to get your cat to drink more water on his or her own.
So how much on average should they drink? Veterinarians say that a normal ten-pound cat should drink7 to 9 ounces of water each day. If they’re eating kibble as their primary food source, it needs about 4 cups of water to break down a cup of kibble. They recommend either using Stainless Steel bowls OR Ceramic bowls with a clean, lead free, glaze. There are so many options in this range as well, from style to size to height. We’ve found that most of our cats really like free flowing fountain style water bowls and will often drink more that way.
Another creative way to get more water into your cat’s diet is to feed them canned wet food. Now the intricacy of food is a topic for another day and a multi- faceted one at that. The takeaway here is that we try to do the best we can with what we have where we are. So. If you can feed canned wet food to your cat and your cat accepts it, then it’s a plus point for better hydration. Now, some cats will absolutely give you a what for and refuse we food. The same goes with different brands of dry kibble or brands in general. Again, they can be very particular. The key is to keep trying and you’ll hit on something that works for both your cat and your budget.
Another way we add water into their diet is to add it to their food, no matter what that is. I’ll take a can of food and mix in water to that, so they get more. I’ve added water to freeze dried foods and kibbles. You don’t want the food swimming in water per se, unless you have a kitty with dental issues and sometimes it’s a little easier for them to eat if the food texture is soupier or like gravy.
Try adding multiple bowls of water around the house and look for ones that avoid whisker fatigue. This is where the cat will have to rub their whiskers along the sides of the bowl and generally that is unpleasant. It may take a few tries to see which kind of bowl your cat likes best but there are so many options out there now! Make sure to give them fresh water each day in the bowls. Some fountains can circulate a lot of water but being on the ground its subject to everything floating around in the air of your home: Dust, fur, kitchen cleaners, sprays, food particles, gnats, everything. If you change the water for them each day and wipe down the inside of the bowls, it will be much cleaner for them and more than likely they will drink more!
Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show? Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com!
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On this episode of our Pet Question of the Day, Stephanie Goodman talks about why your cat goes ballistic for catnip!
Many of you know what Catnip is but there are some who haven’t yet learned about this wonderful plant. Catnip is a recreational herb. You can grow it on your own or you can buy it It’s a perennial herb which means it will come back if you take proper care of it. If you grow it you can look for it under names like catmint or catswort. If you buy it in toys you have LOTS of options! So what is it in catnip that makes it so delectable? The actual chemical is called Nepetalactone. It’s found in the leaves and the stem of the plant This chemical, or oil if you will, is what gives them that crazy high and likely the zoomies all around the house. There are some interesting aspects to catnip. For one, not all cats are affected by it! Researchers call it an inherited sensitivity if a cat reacts to catnip, but some of them just don’t. Now they also may have more of a delayed reaction to it as they age, so, if you try it out on them when they’re babies you may see nothing. If you try it again when they are six months old or older. I’ve seen that happen with one of mine. Catnip never fazed him until one day when he was about a year old and then, oh wow, he went ballistic.
Which brings me to another point, not every cat has the same reaction to catnip or even different brands of catnip! Most cats will primarily sniff it, and researchers have proven that the chemical gets stuck to their olfactory receptors in the nose. But Some cats will EAT it. Either way it still mushes up the leaves and the stems, triggering the oil secretion and their happy buttons. It’s like a full state of euphoria. You’ll see them start rolling about on the floor or rubbing their face against the toy or the free nip, they’ll become very talkative, or dash about the house until they get sleepy. Sometimes they can even become a little aggressive. I have one cat nip brand that I love to give mine and I literally watched one of my girls become aggressive. She wanted to hoard all the nip! She started bapping her brother for the toy! So yes, they can sometimes fight over it. Lessons learned. More toys were purchased. You can buy lots of different kind of toys including ones that are pre filled, ones you can stuff yourself or refill when it gets old or drooled on, and even free form catnip that you can sprinkle about the house. In any case, it is a sight to behold when they go bonkers over it. Those are the times I joke that a good time was had by all and thankfully cats don’t drive!
Now these aren’t something you want to give every day, it’s more like a treat. Otherwise your cat can stop responding to it or they might feel a little sick afterwards. That shows up in ways like diarrhea or vomiting. So we temper the catnip. Also, until you know how your cat will react to it, try to give it to them by themselves, that way you can see what happens first in a safe environment. Your Cat will thank you though!
Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show? Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com
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On this episode of the Pet Question of the Day, Stephanie shares the signs you may see if your cat is anxious or stressed out and what you can do to help.
How do I know if my Cat is Anxious? There are definite signs your cat will give you that shows they are feeling stressed out or anxious in their environment at home. Some of the top ones involve issues like peeing outside their litter box, or hiding from you, responding aggressively to you, scratching things they shouldn’t or normally wouldn’t, or fighting with other members of the household. There are many reasons why your cat may be suddenly acting out of turn but one thing we do know is that it is rarely, if ever out of spite. When a pet owner thinks their cat has responded out of spite or to be ugly, this is a form of anthropomorphism where we apply human characteristics to an animal. We do it to objects all the time, but we shouldn’t to our furbabies when something is going wrong.
Usually when a cat is displaying the kinds of behavior above the best thing to do is assess the environment and get them checked out by their veterinarian. Think about any changes you might have had in your home recently? Have you moved, or has someone moved in or out? Have you added new furniture or taken a piece out? Have you changed foods on your kitty? Do you have a different type of litter or a whole new litter box? Do you notice if your cat is also acting differently like they just don’t feel good? Signs of that include lethargy, vomiting, hair pulling, over grooming, hiding or fighting just to name a few. Or they are fearful of something. Perhaps there was an emotional trauma you are unaware of or it takes time to figure out.
The key is knowing that your cat is trying to TELL You something, to communicate to you that something is different, or something is wrong. They live their lives in our homes 24/7/365 so they KNOW when something has changed. Getting a health check up is key just so you can safely rule out any illness or health issues. These can range from a urinary tract infection or a problem with a tooth! There are a lot of logical reasons why your cat may be suddenly acting stressed or fearful or anxious. We recommend taking a notepad and jotting down anything you might think that is different in the prior month and also as you change things.
If your cat is fully healthy, it may be behavioral, and those issues are solvable. Sometimes we figure it out by trial of elimination. The notes help as they establish a baseline for what we know was pleasant versus the issues at hand. Give them more love, try some calming diffusers like the feliways, see if that helps to reduce the stress level. Try calming music for them or more play to work out excess energy. Definitely get them checked out. It may just save their life because you were able to get in front of an illness before it became life-threatening.
Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show? Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com
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Have you ever wondered why your dog gives you the head tilt? You know what we mean right? You’ll say something to your dog and suddenly your dog will tilt their head to one side. You’re dying to know what they’re thinking right? Well, we’ve wondered too!
So we set off to find an answer to this lifelong question in the series of “Why does my dog do that?”, and we found some really interesting information!
Now, we KNOW our dogs are smart, and we know that some are smarter than others. What we learned from a study performed last year was that as dogs began to learn a new word for their toys or an object, they would tilt their heads either to the left or to the right while listening! The study data suggested that dogs who were able to learn words faster tilted their heads more often. They call these dogs Gifted Word Learners, or, GWLs. The dogs that didn’t learn as quickly and who didn’t learn above chance levels were classified as Typical dogs based on their learning ability.
The study was comprised of 3 experiments during a 3-month duration with testing intervals at each month. As the dogs learned the names of the toys, they would be tested each month with the goal of retrieving the right toy from another room by a verbal command from their owner. The toy request was random and at testing points the dogs would be choosing between 2 and 13 different toys. Their owners would sit before them and verbally request the toy, and the dog would head off to the other room to bring it back. The study showed that the GWL dogs consistently gave their owners a head tilt when their owners were speaking in front of them. The typical dogs did not. So, they think it could also be a sign of increased attention from their dog because they are hearing something meaningful. The researchers wondered if the head tilts might also be related to the dog making a memory match from the visual to the spoken word of the object. They call that a cross-modal match. All of the dogs were exposed to the same toys and the spoken object names so they were equally familiar with them, so this went above chance learning. Now, while the dogs in this study were all border collies, the researchers stated that it’s too soon to say that border collies as a breed are more inclined to be GWLs and do the head tilt with that.
The researchers were intrigued by their findings and data, and now want to do more studies on this to see how different breeds learn and perform! I We do too! But I think we can take away from this story that the head-tilt does have solid implications that your dog is a smart cookie and is actually listening to you!
How many of you out there have dogs who give you the lauded head tilt and what have they learned? Feel free to share in the comments! We love hearing about our dogs!
Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show? Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com
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In this episode of the Pet Question of the Day, Stephanie discusses the reasons why your dog might be eating grass and what to do!
Have you ever wondered why your dog eats grass? We have too and we’ve certainly witnessed it ourselves! So we went looking for some answers to this. Vets say that there are several reasons why a dog might be eating grass. One, they may just like it! Some dogs have been noted to even prefer grass at different times of the year than others, like spring. Vets say that dogs may also be looking to fill a gap in their diet. Their ancestors hunted but they also ate grass and scavenged to fill their diet as needed. Dogs are somewhere in between carnivores and omnivores, meaning they eat both meat and plants. In the wild they would get everything they needed from their prey, such as meat, bones, organs and whatever was in the stomach which usually included a mixture of plants or grass. In the commercial era they may need more fiber or roughage and seek out grass as their wild ancestors did. Vets said that dogs do still like to scavenge, and eating grass may satisfy that craving for them.
Now, most of the time your dog will be fine if they eat grass. We do have to watch out for pesticides and herbicides that might be sprayed in the area and also watch out for parasites. When dogs pull up grass they can also pick up worms like roundworms or hookworms left behind from fecal matter. We definitely don’t want that so make sure to be up to date on parasite prevention for your dog.
Vets say that grazing may also stem from boredom, anxiety or a craving for more attention from their owner. If that’s the case, it’s usually remedied by spending more quality time with your furbaby. You can gift them a new toy or a piece of clothing that smells like you for comfort. You can take them out for more walks or physical activity. You can also take the time to train them from doing this, in a positive way. More time with your best friend is a win win across the board and they will appreciate the time together just as we do.
Has your dog ever been a voracious grass eater? What happened? Feel free to share in the comments! We love hearing about our furbabies!
So that's our question of the day. If its been of value, these kinds of questions and more are some of the topics we will be covering in the upcoming furbabies summit so, you can go to furbabiessummit.com to get signed up! We thank you for listening and for being the amazing furbaby parent you are! Sending purrs, wags, joy and love to all of you! Have a great rest of your day!
Watch the original video HERE!
Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show? Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com
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Why does my dog scoot their butt on my floor? Have you ever wondered why? So have we!
Hi everyone! My name is Stephanie Goodman, and I am your host of the Furbabies Podcast and the upcoming Furbabies Summit. I am here with our Furbaby Question of the Day!
Do you have a scooter? No, I do not mean the fun little mode of city transportation. I mean our dogs! Little scooters! This is where you are going on about your day, when suddenly your adorable dog drops his or her butt to the floor and starts scooting across it? Yeah, THAT Scooter. If you have you know it can sometimes be messy, and it is often stinky! But why do they do it? We have wondered that too! So, we set off to find an answer to this question in the series of “Why does my dog do that?” and we found some interesting information!
If your dog is suddenly scooting across the floor, it is usually indicative that he or she is having a problem with anal glands. What? They have anal glands. Yes. 😊 If you have not heard of these before, they are two little pouches of tissue that are right under the skin. There is a little sac on each side of your dog’s anus. Why do they have these? Well, these glands make the scents that dogs use to mark their territory and identify each other! When it is outside, no problem. Indoors? On your floor? It can be smelly. Usually, dogs can empty them when they poop, as the internal pressures pushes out the secretions. Or they can be emptied by an external pressure, like scooting across a firm surface. OR, and this is the yucky one, they can be emptied spontaneously and unexpectedly! This can happen if your dog is afraid or is in some sort of distress. Hopefully it is not on YOU but do not despair, it has happened to a lot of us too! Yes, the smell will come out. 😉
Now normally these glands can be as small as a pea or the size of a grape depending on the size of your dog and how full they are. If they are ever unable to empty these glands, they can become impacted, and it can be painful for your poor dog! You may see signs like scooting or chewing their bum area as they are trying to empty them on their own. You may see redness or even pus around their anus. A smaller possibility but one we all worry about is the presence of a tumor. Of course, it can be benign, but we don’t know until it’s checked out. So, in these cases it is best to call your veterinarian so they can determine why the glands are impacted, or if there is even an abscess there, treat it and help your dog prevent that from happening again. This is one of those cases where you really want your vet or a vet tech to show you how to do this before trying on your own, as it can be unpleasant for your dog. Vets and techs can relieve the pressure externally or internally, via a cloth or a gloved finger that can gently squeeze the gland and push out the fluid. It is the massage you never imagined you would see yourself doing, but we love our dogs, anal glands are normal, and here we are. 😉
Your vet can help determine the cause of the impaction and work to create a solution for your dog. It may be due to a food allergy that is causing your dog’s stool to be less than firm, so your vet may advise to change their diet to rule out probable causes. Bear in mind it may be something that needs to be checked periodically or even routinely given your dog and your vet can educate you on that. We love our dogs so much and once they are feeling better the scooting should stop.
Watch the original video HERE!
Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show? Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com
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In this episode of the Pet Question of the Day, Stephanie discusses the reasons why you would want to get your cat and dog microchipped! If you're looking for a Microchip company we recommend the following:
HomeAgain: https://www.homeagain.com/
Avid: https://www.avidid.com/
Here with our Furbaby Question of the Day! Should I microchip my pet? What IS microchipping exactly? So the resounding answer to this question is YES, if you can, you should absolutely get your pet microchipped. A microchip is the size of a grain of rice that your veterinarian will implant between your pet’s shoulder blades. Each chip carries a unique identification number that can be “read” by a special scanner, and that number is what directs your pet back to you. How do they find you? Well, it’s kind of like a serial number or a vin number but it is registered under a holding company that has your personal information on file. This includes things like your name, phone number, email, address, an emergency contact and – many of them have a spot where you can upload your pet’s health information and a photo! It’s safe to do and your pet may actually be awake when they do it. Sometimes the sight of the needle might be a little frightening but that’s in line with most pets so your vet will work to make that part of a distraction so your pet isn’t focused on it. The goal is to make it as easy on your pet as possible. And it works. If you’ve ever given fluids to a cat before, we generally use a needle that is an 18 gauge up to a 22 gauge. They’re pretty darn small. The needle for a microchip is usually a 12 gauge needle, and the chip can pass right through it. An 18 gauge is tiny, like a sewing needle, and the chip needles aren’t big enough to be worried about really. Often times the chips are implanted during your furbaby’s spay or neuter surgery so it’s under anesthesia and doesn’t bother them at all. Now I do believe in watching the side effects, so, very rarely, you might find that the chip migrates from that neck scruff area to another spot, or you might see some swelling afterwards, or a mild infection or some hair loss. I’ve not seen that but ask your veterinarian if you think your pet might have any reason to have an adverse reaction, and that’s a good thing to do with any procedure. But why should you microchip your pet? Let me give you a few examples:
#1. If your pet accidentally gets out of the house, or the yard, or the apartment a number of things can happen. They can be lost. They can be STOLEN.
#2. Another reason to microchip your furbaby: If something happens to you!!
#3. Something happens while you are traveling with your furbaby!
#4. You experience a natural disaster and your furbaby is lost!
Watch the original video HERE!
Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show? Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com
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Stephanie Goodman talks with Joanne Silverman from FetchACure.org which is a 501 ©(3) non-profit organization focused on improving the quality of life for our pets. Their vision is simple: A common. Helping People. Helping Pets.
Watch the original video HERE!
In July 2006, Hannah Holland was diagnosed with nasal osteosarcoma of the skull. Little information about her condition was available, and what information her parent, Mike Holland, could find was hard to understand. So, Mike teamed up with Ryan Traylor and Tonie Stevens to create FETCH, a non-profit designed to raise awareness, to educate, and provide pet owners greater access to information about pet cancer, senior care, and treatment options. With Hannah’s prognosis of only two months left, Mike set out to do as much as he could to help Hannah fight this disease through various treatment measures. Hannah fought against the odds and lost her battle two years later. Her spirit lives on in the mission of FETCH.
Through community outreach by way of events, campaigns and fundraisers, FETCH a Cure is working to promote the need to help pets live long, healthy lives. FETCH continually works to raise awareness and further education about pet cancer, detection and treatment and senior care and aging issues.
We provide financial aid to families unable to bear the cost of the life-saving treatments for their pets that have been diagnosed with cancer through the Companions in Crisis program. FETCH continues to work towards providing more accessible treatment options for all within our community.
Through the Pixie’s Pen Pals program, FETCH is helping rescue dogs and inmates in Virginia correctional centers earn a second chance. By working cooperatively and bonding with the animals, the inmates learn responsibility, patience, tolerance and life-long skills, while the trained dogs find life-long homes.
Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show? Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com
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In this episode of the Furbabies Podcast, Stephanie Goodman interviews the founder of Tanks Inc Cat Rescue, Cindy McCullough, about how Tanks was started and what goes into running a successful cat rescue and sanctuary. Cindy shares some of her needs and how she and her staff work with other rescue organizations to help them all succeed.
For more info on Tanks click HERE!
Watch the original video HERE!
Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show? Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com
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In this episode of the Furbabies Podcast, Stephanie Goodman shares her best strategies for preparing your pets and animals for emergencies.
Watch the original video HERE!
Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show? Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com
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In this episode of the Furbabies Podcast, Stephanie Goodman interviews the owner of Sandy's Feral Fun, Sandy Estes, about her cat rescue. Sandy shares how she started, the inspiration for the rescue, and how she and her team have TNR'd over 4,000 cats since she began in her small county in Texas. She shares her biggest need and how she works with other rescues and causes to create win-win situations.
Watch the original video HERE!
About Sandy's Feral Fun:
I am a small-town rescue that has sterilized over 4000 cats in the last eight years. I love to help these cats become healthier and more productive in the communities in which they live.
Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show? Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com
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Stephanie Goodman talks with Jillian Adams from Wagmo.io (http://Wagmo.io) about Wagmo's pet wellness and insurance plans. Jillian breaks down why you need pet insurance, the affordability, and everything that the wellness and insurance plans cover.
Watch the original video HERE!
Jillian leads the People team at Wagmo, a pet wellness and insurance company dedicated to the health of pets and making pet care financially accessible for all. Pets have always been a part of Jillian's world. A regular pet foster she's a pet mom to Oti.
Wagmo was founded by two insurance nerds who are obsessed with their dogs. Pet parenting is expensive and pet insurance is confusing– that’s why we built Wagmo. Whether you need a little help, a lot of help, or know exactly what you need, Wagmo is here for you.
Wagmo is a Pet Wellness and Insurance company that helps you take care of your pets' routine and emergency needs. From routine vet exams to unexpected emergency care, Wagmo has you covered - from nose to tail! We offer two types of pet health plans - Wagmo Insurance and Wagmo Wellness Plans.
Wagmo Insurance covers the emergency and catastrophic care needed for accidents and illnesses. Wagmo Wellness helps pay for the routine maintenance of your pet, including annual vet exam fees, bloodwork, vaccines, and even grooming!
Tune into the Furbabies Podcast YouTube Channel at http://FurbabiesPodcast.tv.
Got a question or suggestion for Stephanie and the show? Book a call with Steph at TalkWithStephanieGoodman.com
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