Tag: Dogs

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Pet Living Wills

Have you heard of Pet Living Wills? They’re like regular living wills except these are instructions concerning your pets’ care in the event you are not available to ask.  I can see how this might seem silly to some, but I think it’s an interesting idea and at the very least should get you thinking about your pets’ welfare if you’re not there to make decisions on their behalf.  (via Unusual Business Ideas That Work)

$49 a year ($39 to renew) will get you an online record will be kept of:

  • when treatment should be provided or withheld
  • under what conditions you would support withholding treatment
  • what level of treatment expense you would be willing to incur under probable outcomes

I’m betting you could draw up your own living will for your pet for free and post it online for pet caregivers and vets to reference.

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DIY: Custom Fit Dog Jacket

I found a great little tutorial on making a custom fit dog jacket over at BurdaStyle.com. This is mainly a tutorial on making & customizing the pattern, not actually sewing the jacket.  You’ll need some knowledge about sewing, especially if you line the jacket.  But, this is doable so don’t be intimidated.

customdogjacket

Your jacket doesn’t have to cost much.  Look for remnants at your fabric store—a cute, durable upholstery fabric could be really cute.  You could also use fleece.   Or you could use a blanket from a thrift store.  If you find a fun wool blanket, you could felt it to make a more durable & very cute jacket.

Here are a few tutorials on felting:  this one covers both hand & machine felting, here is a printable one on machine felting, and another on hand felting.

In addition to fabric, you’ll need:

  • paper to make the pattern
  • sufficient fabric, plus fabric for lining if you plan to line it
  • fasteners like buttons, velcro, snaps
  • embellishments if you want them

The tutorial shows you how and where to measure.  Then how to transfer the measurements to paper to make the pattern.

Here are some instructions to help flesh out Step 4:

  1. fold your fabric in half & place “spine” of pattern on the fold
  2. when you cut the fabric, pad the pattern with extra fabric for seam allowances (5/8″ or 1.5cm is standard) unless you’re using fabric that won’t fray such as felt
  3. add tabs for fasteners
  4. cut out lining if needed, again padding the pattern for seam allowances as above
  5. if there will be no lining, hem the jacket
  6. if there will be a lining, place RIGHT sides together, sew leaving opening to turn the jacket, turn and finish the jacket
  7. add fasteners and any embellishments
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PetSmart Recalls Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits

The risk of salmonella contaminated peanut butter has lead to the recall of Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits at PetSmart. These are the effected products:

  • Small Assorted 32 oz.  barcode 73725702900
  • Small/Medium Assorted 4 lb.  barcode 73725700601
  • Small/Medium Assorted 8 lb.  barcode 73725700605
  • Small/Medium Assorted 10 lb.  barcode 73725702755
  • Large Assorted 8 lb.  barcode 73725700638
  • Extra Large Assorted 8 lb.  barcode 73725700779
  • Peanut Butter 4 lb.  barcode 73725700766

PetSmart also has information on the recall.

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Pet Food Recall: Australia, Taiwan, & China

Three countries are recalling pet food. The recalls may not effect most of you, but they do highlight the continuing safety problems with pet food.

Australia is recalling Orijen Cat Food after over 20 cats became ill with symptoms of paralysis.  Some had to be euthanized.  The irradiation of the cat food is suspected to be the cause.  Australia requires that certain foods coming into the country must be irradiated.  Pet food must be irradiated at higher levels than human food.

Approximately 400 stray dogs in Taiwan died of liver failure after being fed Peter’s Kind-Hearted Dog Food in shelters.  The food was manufactured by Ji-Tai Forage Company and was contaminated with aflatoxin. It’s believed none of the food was sold in stores.  Aflatoxin is a toxic mold and one of the most carcinogenic substances on Earth.

China is recalling Optima dog food after it was linked with the deaths of at least 20 dogs in Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, and Hangzhou.  It too is believed to be contaminated with aflatoxin. There is some confusion as to the origin of the dog food. It may have been manufactured in Australia by Doane International Pet Products (owned by Mars Pet Care, U.S.), but Doane reportedly only manufactures in the U.S.  It is also possible the food is counterfeit.

I generally don’t run around like Chicken Little shouting the sky is falling, but the idea that gamma irradiation might have made Orijen Cat Food lethal is sobering.  Find out more about irradiation and U.S. policies concerning it from:

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