January 26th, 2012 by jerry in Books · No Comments
Recent forum talk about hazardous things our pups have eaten got us thinking that all of us need more knowledge about pet dangers lurking in our homes.
From yucca plant seeds to makeup applicators, lots of common ordinary objects can be lethal. How do you know what a dog will and won’t ingest?
The only way to ensure your dog is safe is to evaluate your home for these potential hazards. We searched Amazon’s best selling pet safety books and found these useful guides that can get us pointed in the right direction.
Safe Dog Handbook: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Pooch, Indoors and Out
We know their favorite spots to scratch. We know which funny noises make them cock their heads. We know what treats they love the best. But do we know how to keep our dogs safe? The truth is, we often don’t consider what hazards lurk in our home and garden until an incident occurs. Each year, thousands of dogs are seriously hurt and even killed by a host of easily preventable accidents.
The Safe Dog Handbook teaches readers about the myriad ways to ensure a safe home and outdoor experience for their dogs. Full of practical information, this book is an essential guide for any dog owner.
What’s Wrong with My Dog: A Pet Owner’s Guide to 150 Symptoms and What to Do About Them
In What’s Wrong with My Dog?, acclaimed veterinarian Jake Tedaldi, D.V.M. gives you the answers. A first aid guidebook that’s easy to follow and use, it covers more than 150 symptoms, from behavioral problems to physical ailments.
Remedies cover a broad spectrum, from cutting edge conventional medicine to alternative therapies to home remedies that really work.
The First Aid Companion for Dogs & Cats (Prevention Pets)
Is there an animal doctor in the house? Most likely, the answer is no. And when an accident or other emergency threatens your pet, every minute counts. Don’t be unprepared! Open The First-Aid Companion for Dogs and Cats and learn:
- Basic first-aid techniques, such as cleaning a wound, making a splint, and performing CPR– step-by-step!
- Which over-the-counter human medications can help– or harm
What to keep in your pet’s medicine chest (many essential items are probably in your house already!)
- How to quickly pinpoint what’s wrong with your pet, using the First-Aid Symptom Finder
What steps do you take around the house to make sure your Tripawd is safe? Share them below!
Tagged: advice, dogs, first aid, health, safety
January 19th, 2012 by jerry in Books · No Comments
Pet insurance can significantly reduce the unexpected costs of an expensive dog amputation surgery or cancer therapy treatments, but how can you be sure that your policy will actually cover the procedures?
You can make choosing pet health insurance an easier process, by reading Your Guide to Understanding Pet Health Insurance by Dr. Doug Kenney DVM.
Expert Vet Helps Pawrents Choose a Pet Insurance Policy
Choosing a pet health insurance policy can be more confusing than picking health coverage for humans. Sifting through the many types of coverages, rates and exclusions can take time and without expert guidance you can be in for an unpleasant surprise when you actually need to use the policy.
In this 126-page book, Dr. Kenney, a practicing veterinarian in Tennessee, teaches you how pet health insurance works and the important factors to consider before purchasing insurance for their pets. Dr. Kenney’s book:
- Shares examples of how insurance companies reimburse pet owners for claims that are filed.
- Gives detailed information of each company’s policies that sells insurance in the United States.
- Supplies tables that can help guide pet owners to choose the right company and then the right policy for their pet.
In addition, Dr. Kenney describes the main differences between the two major types of insurance policies:
- Those that provide wellness care (annual exams, vaccinations and maintenance prescriptions)
- And policies that cover pets for accidents, chronic disease and accidents.
Your Guide to Understanding Pet Health Insurance also features a bonus section called “The Wise Pet Owner,” which helps folks learn how to avoid unnecessary trips to the veterinarian and save thousands of dollars. Dr. Kenney’s expertise can literally save a pet’s life and help insure that pet owners enjoy many happy years together with their beloved pets.
You can even take Dr. Kenney’s book for a test drive by downloading a sample chapter here. But buy your copy of his book through Tripawds’ Amazon link, since every purchase made here helps offset the costs of maintaining the Tripawds community. Thanks!
More Recommended Reading:
Listen to Dr. Kenney talk about pet insurance on this Wild About Pets podcast
Subscribe to “Your Pet Insurance Guide,” Dr. Kenney’s blog, and learn all you ever need to know about choosing a policy, what to expect when filing a claim and more.
Consider these providers to help support the Tripawds community!
Tagged: dogs, pet insurance, pets, reading
December 30th, 2011 by jerry in Books · No Comments
Once we’ve been touched by cancer in one of our dogs, it influences all aspects about how we raise our other fur kids, from what they eat to how we interact with our veterinarians. We all want to know: what can we do to avoid the canine cancer rollercoaster again?
The web is full of resources about coping with canine cancer once it happens, but it’s harder to find good information about actually preventing it. However, TatesPeeps recently mentioned she found a great place to start; “The Natural Vet’s Guide to Preventing and Treating Cancer in Dogs” by Shawn Messonnier, DVM, of which she has graciously provided the following review:
The Natural Vet’s Guide to Preventing and Treating Cancer in Dogs
“Dr. Messonnier is a proponent of integrative medicine, recommending holistic support of conventional therapies. He does not discount chemotherapy or radiation treatment but recommends supplements and other therapies to enhance the ability to fight cancer and also to reduce side effects. Dr. M. puts everything into easily understood terms; the book is not overly technical but thorough and can be a useful reference in fighting your dog’s cancer.
The first few chapters cover the basics of canine cancer very well, explaining how it develops, early symptoms for several common cancers, how they are diagnosed, how to proceed, and how to work with your vet.
I found it interesting that large and giant breed dogs are 61% to 185% more likely to develop osteosarcoma than dogs that weigh less than 75 lbs. Dr. M. recommends x-rays to rule out cancer immediately for these at-risk dogs. How many of us have had the vet tell us “muscle strain” only to find out a month later that it was cancer?
He specifically warns that NSAIDS are so good at pain control that diagnosis is often delayed. So don’t be afraid to insist on x-rays early. He also recommends aspirating every single lump, never take the “wait and see” approach.
Conventional versus Complementary Therapies
Conventional therapies, the mechanisms by which they work, and side effects are described in the next chapter. If the thought of chemo scares the pants off you, then read this. It demystifies chemotherapy. You may or may not decide to proceed with it, but at least you’ll make an educated decision (although not every chemo drug is covered). The discussion on side effects is good in that it tells you when to pick up the phone and call, and when to hustle your baby to the nearest emergency clinic.
The next chapters cover complementary therapies. The sections on acupuncture and chiropractic are quite short.
The sections on herbs and supplements are good references if you want to be knowledgeable when working with a holistic vet, as it describes specifically why each herb is useful and for what specific condition. These are the longest sections of the book as he describes each herb or supplement individually and is very thorough in his discussion. He warns repeatedly to consult a knowledgeable vet and do not try to figure it out on your own, as these agents can be toxic.
Also, holistic treatment is very individual. What works for one dog is not necessarily suitable, and possibly dangerous, for another.
Education is Power
The main value of the book is as a reference to educate yourself while working with an integrative medicine vet. It explains things very well, and will give you ideas about questions you should ask your vet about your pup’s care plan.
The only drawback is that the book was published in 2006 and given the progress in cancer treatments over the past five years, an update would definitely be welcome.”
Many thanks to TatesPeeps’ Mom Jan for this thorough book review. If you have a great book that you think Tripawds members should know about, contact us today, we would love to help you spread the word.
This Tripawds book review is dedicated to the memory of Spirit Tate.
Tagged: advice, books, cancer, dogs, health
December 20th, 2011 by jerry in Sale · No Comments
Are you a last minute shopper? Never fear, the world’s greatest online store is ready to help with Amazon Gift Cards and big savings on things like Dr. Dressler’s Apocaps CX Apoptogen Formula immune system support for dogs with cancer.
Apocaps Buy 1 Get 1 Free, with Free Shipping!
Do you know a dog fighting cancer? What better gift to give than a supply of 
Apocaps CX, the powerful nutraceutical Dr. Dressler developed and uses with his canine cancer patients at his veterinary hospital in Hawaii.
Apocaps is a 100% all natural nutraceutical which supports the critical biological process of apoptosis. All the ingredients are human-grade and Apocaps is manufactured in the United States in an FDA-approved plant that manufactures human supplements.
Shop now before this offer expires on 12/26/11. You must enter a quantity of at least 3 to your cart and enter code *HELPDOGS* at checkout.
Amazon Gift Cards Help Support the Tripawds Community!
Still not sure what to get your favorite humans and dogs in your life? Amazon Gift Cards are the perfect solution for easy shopping that helps keep your favorite three legged dog community online.
Available as a real certificate in a thoughtful holiday greeting card (with free overnight shipping!), or as an electronic message, Amazon gift cards have no strings attached — there are no expiration dates or fees.
Order your Amazon Gift Cards with free one day shipping today!
Thanks for shopping at Amazon through this website.
Purchases made here help defray the costs of keeping Tripawds online!
Tagged: dogs, gifts, holidays, supplements
December 7th, 2011 by admin in Sale · No Comments
Tagged: gifts, holidays, savings
Not too long ago, we humans thought that industrial-strength dog shampoo would keep fleas off our dog’s fur, but now we know that these harsh ingredients can do more harm than good. Today, we have more choices than ever to help our dogs live healthier lives, starting from the outside in with organic, all-natural dog grooming aids.
Shampoo Ingredients to Avoid
Avoid conventional dog shampoos found on grocery store shelves, which can strip important oils from your dog’s fur and cause dry, flaky skin that can attract fleas. In Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats, Richard Pitcairn, DVM recommends avoiding dog shampoos that contain:
• Anise oil
• Boric acid
• Benzene hexacholoride
• Benzethonium chloride
• Chloranil
• DDD
• Depentene
• Dimethyl phthalate
• Menthols
• Napthalene
• Pine tar
• Sodium arsenite
• sodium cresylate
• Xylene
Go Organic with Dr. Harvey’s Herbal Dog Shampoo
Earlier this year, we received a bottle of Dr. Harvey’s Herbal Dog Shampoo and Herbal Ear Wash for Dogs to test.
We finally got a chance to use the two grooming products, and found that both work better than any we’ve tried on Tripawds Spokesdawg Wyatt Ray.
The shampoo lathers nicely (but not too much), rinses quickly and leaves him smelling great. Dr. Harvey’s Herbal Dog Shampoo is one of the best, if not the best dog shampoo we’ve tried. Maybe it’s the ingredients:
Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Olive Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Aloe Vera, Vegetable Glycerine, Organic Chamomile Extract, Organic Stinging Nettles Extract, Organic Sage Extract, Organic Calendula Extract, Organic Hops Extract, St. John’s Wort Extract, Horsetail Extract, Lavender Oil, Organic Rosemary Extract
Dr. Harvey says: “Our formula is eco-safe and environmentally friendly because it is made with chemical-free base and pure essential oils and extracts that soothe and moisturize dry, itchy skin and encourages a shiny, healthy coat. Dr. Harvey’s Shampoo contains no synthetic ingredients and no preservatives. Perfect for puppies.. May be used frequently for cleansing without fear of toxic chemical reaction.”
Dr. Harvey’s Herbal Ear Wash for Dogs
Wyatt was recently suffering from itchy ears, so we cleaned them really well with Dr. Harvey’s Herbal Ear Wash for Dogs by swabbing his outer ear canals with a saturated cotton ball, then placing a few drops down in his ears (which he quickly sloshed around by shaking his head, doing exactly what we wanted him to do to alleviate his itchy ears). It’s been over a week, and he hasn’t scratched his ears yet.
Here are the ingredients, which Dr. Harvey says are “a unique blend of soothing and healing herbal extracts in a base of witch hazel. This amazing formula will protect your dogs ears without the use of chemicals. The formula is anti-fungal, antibacterial and antiviral.”
Contains: Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Olive Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Aloe Vera, Vegetable Glycerine, Organic Chamomile Extract, Organic Stinging Nettles Extract, Organic Sage Extract, Organic Calendula Extract, Organic Hops Extract, St. John’s Wort Extract, Horsetail Extract, Lavender Oil, Organic Rosemary Extract
If you try these organic grooming essentials, let us know what you think!
Recommended Reading:
Whole Dog Journal: Dog Shampoo Tests and Whole Dog Journal’s Recommendations
Tagged: animals, dogs, grooming, health, organic, pets
November 16th, 2011 by admin in Books · No Comments
With our upcoming Tripawd Talk Radio interview Sarah Wilson this weekend, we thought we’d share a short list of critically acclaimed dog training and behavior books she has written or co-authored.
Long time Tripawds fans will recall Sarah was the expert animal behaviorist featured in Nature: Why We Love Cats and Dogs which shared the story of our bond with Jerry. Sarah also maintains the popular My Smart Puppy community.
To see all her books and read reviews, please visit Sarah’s author page on Amazon.
Best Dog Training and Puppy Behavior Books by Sarah Wilson
My Smart Puppy: Fun, Effective, and Easy Puppy Training (Book & 60min DVD)
America’s most beloved dog trainers are back with brand-new training techniques in the definitive guide to raising a happy, obedient puppy…
Good Owners, Great Dogs
A dog-training guide that gives you immediate results even with an adult dog, this manual trains you, as it gives owners everything they need and everything dogs need to become…
Childproofing Your Dog: A Complete Guide to Preparing Your Dog for the Children in Your Life
Master dog trainers Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson show readers how to encourage children and dogs to be perfect companions, in a comprehensive manual that demonstrates how to train an older dog to acept an infant, choose the right breed, and more.
Dogology: What Your Relationship with Your Dog Reveals about You
Dog owners, this book reveals, fall into 9 distinct personality types: Angel, Dynamo, Soul Mate, Idealist, Observer, Expert, Buddy, Master, and Free Spirit…
Tails from the Bark Side
America’s premier dog trainers for the past 25 years–and authors of “Good Owners, Great Dogs”–present a heartwarming, humorous, and touching collection of true tales of remarkable canines. Illustrations throughout.
Metrodog: The Essential Guide to Raising Your Dog in the City
Now in paperback is America’s most loved dog trainers’ essential guide to raising a happy, well-behaved, and well-adjusted dog in the city. The authors tell urban dog owners how to do everything from housebreaking puppies to preventing them from barking in thin-walled studio apartments.
Tagged: behavior, Sarah Wilson, training
October 24th, 2011 by jerry in Books · No Comments
With the endless barrage of pet nutrition advice available to us, how do we know what’s pure hype and what can make a difference in our dog’s health?
We have three words for you: Dr. Karen Becker.
Dr. Karen Becker is the author of Dr. Becker’s Real Food for Healthy Dogs and Cats: Simple Homemade Food. She’s an integrative wellness veterinarian from Illinois who believes in identifying and removing lifestyle obstacles before disease occurs.
Instead of putting out health fires after they start, she strives to empower pet guardians to become knowledgeable wellness advocates for the animals in their lives, before disease presents itself. She partners with owners to intentionally create wellness and abundant health through wise lifestyle choices.
Even if you’re not a patient of hers at Natural Pet Animal Hospital, you can study her suggestions for healthy living by reading Dr. Becker’s Real Food for Healthy Dogs and Cats. This book covers the basics of a homemade meat and vegetable diet for dogs and cats based on their ancestral diet.
Dr. Becker’s program provides a rotation of different meats and vegetables and strives to provide most nutrients as food. Meals are intended to be fed raw, but recipes may be cooked. A mineral supplement recipe to fill in the gaps is included in an appendix. Analysis of individual recipes as well as the complete rotation is provided in an appendix. The program is formulated to meet nutrition guidelines for all life stages for pet food. Concrete direction is given for all parts of the preparation, with extensive coverage of all components of the diet.
Readers of Dr. Becker’s Real Food for Healthy Dogs and Cats rave:
“I have been feeding raw for over 17 years. Dr. Karen Becker & Beth Taylor have the most COMPLETE raw feeding book out there. They have studied the diet of wolves and came up with a feeding plan backed by data that covers everything you need to know about raw feeding “the RIGHT way”. People cannot just throw their dogs and cats some raw chicken or beef and expect their diet to be “BALANCED” nutritionally. A raw diet needs to be supplemented with other ingredients, vitamins and minerals since the meat we give them is not a fresh kill. You CANNOT go wrong with this diet! (please read precautions for an immunosuppressed or very sick animal).”
For a glimpse of Dr. Becker’s core beliefs about a species-appropriate diet, check out this video where she discusses why it is beneficial to feed your canine or feline a pet diet consisting of raw meat.
Order Dr. Becker’s Real Food for Healthy Dogs and Cats today!
If you have read her book, share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Tagged: book, diet, health, reading
September 23rd, 2011 by jerry in Books · No Comments
We’re only halfway done reading the hefty new print edition of Dog Cancer Survival Guide, but we’re so excited we couldn’t wait to share a few of our thoughts about this important book with you.
The Dog Cancer Survival Guide has been one of our most highly-recommended reading materials since it was first published a few years ago. Today, we can’t emphasize enough how vital this revised edition is if you’re coping with canine cancer.
In a nutshell, here’s why we think everyone coping with cancer should read this book. You’ll learn:
- Why and how you should cope with your own emotions before embarking on your canine cancer research
- The latest discoveries about cancer’s origins, treatments and cures, all written in an easy-to-understand format for the layperson
- All of the most promising holistic therapies that are proving helpful in treating dog cancer
- How to talk to veterinary professionals, friends and family about your treatment choices and what you’re experiencing
- When to make end of life decisions and how to cope with grief
Photo by Michelle Brady
The Ultimate Dog Cancer Guide
Written in collaboration with Dr. Susan Ettinger, a board-certified oncologist in New York, this 400+ page textbook is jam packed with the latest information about conventional treatments and helpful holistic therapies that anyone with any budget can pursue.
You’ll get a comprehensive description of different dog cancers and related treatments, as well as a thorough appendix filled with information about published dog cancer studies you can share with your veterinarian.
Dog Cancer Survival Guide’s information is grounded in reality and doesn’t make any promises that it will cure your dog’s cancer. But Dressler’s strong sense of empathy and wisdom extends a guiding hand to readers that’s so desperately needed when faced with canine cancer.
You’ll feel empowered, hopeful, grounded in reality and ready to face whatever comes next with the same Zen attitude as your canine hero.
We’re not done reading the book just yet and we’ll have more to share with you later. For now we just couldn’t wait to tell you how impressed we are with Dressler and Ettiinger’s work.
A big shout out goes to both docs for giving pawrents the layperson’s first authoritative, empathetic and hopeful tool available for coping with canine cancer.
Got a Kindle?
The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Kindle Edition
Be sure to check out our Dog Cancer Survival Guide e-book review in the Tripawds Downloads blog.
Tagged: cancer, dogs, Dr. Dressler
August 25th, 2011 by jerry in Books · 1 Comment
Many pet loss books help guide us through grief after the loss of a companion, but how many are there for us when doctors tell us that the end is near?
Laurie Kaplan’s “So Easy to Love, So Hard to Lose: A Bridge to Healing Before and After the Loss of a Pet” is one of the few that will be there for us before and after, and her book does it better than any we’ve encountered.
From the loss of a beloved iguana to that of a once-in-a-lifetime Tripawd friend, Kaplan’s book helps us come to terms with our impending loss by validating the love that we feel for our animals and the grief we are feeling.
Through brief and simple guided journal writing exercises we are taken on a journey from the day we brought our animal into our lives to the day we know we can face the future alone without tears.
“The person-pet bond is different from any of our other bonds because it is uniquely forever. The bond begins the moment we bring a new pet home, and we expect the partnership to remain intact “forever,” or until one life ends.
Not many relationships offer such a high expectation of everlasting and unconditional love. We rarely expect it and, when we do, we are often disappointed. The person-pet bond may, in fact, have the best sticking power of all types of relationships and the highest probability of enduring.”
“So Easy to Love,“ the first section of Kaplan’s book, assists us by helping to harness our emotions and taking us on a journey through the best days of our pet’s life.
Writing exercises guide us through remembering the ways in which we express our love for our pet, then gently give way to documenting the devastating prognosis, considering end of life decisions and finally, creating a plan for knowing when it’s time for euthanasia.
With each exercise, Kaplan tenderly respects our grief while simultaneously grounding us in the reality of the events that will soon transpire. One of the best Quality of Life Scales that we’ve seen is featured in the book and available here on Kaplan’s website.
“So Hard to Lose” is the second half of the book that we are told not to read until after our pet’s life is over. In addition to coping with saying goodbye after terminal illness, the section addresses other instances of grief, such as if a pet has permanently disappeared or has been surrendered to a shelter. All forms of grief are addressed again through writing exercises that help us come to terms with our pet’s absence.
“In the moments when you forget that the loss is real, your mind pretends that everything is as it should be and your pet is still here. These lapses are alarming at first, but really they are a gift! They allow you to slip into the storm of grief one toe at a time. You won’t avoid grief altogether, but these breaks will allow you to move gradually into the full force of the storm.
Forgetting about your loss and then remembering that it’s real, again and again, can be disturbing. But don’t waste any time wondering what’s wrong with you. These cycles are natural and healthy.”
Dozens of written and guided mental exercises help us cope with grief, regret and guilt. We learn to distinguish between sadness and depression and finally, how to turn grief back into love.
Kaplan’s book is indispensable for anyone who is facing end of life care for their best friend, as well as those who are already swimming in grief. It’s an inexpensive way to give yourself or a friend grief therapy; the book is easy to read in small sections at a time while giving the reader lots to think about and providing tips for feeling good again about the life they shared with their pet.
The only thing that could make this book better is the format should be larger to give the reader more space to write.
Overall, Tripawds gives “So Easy to Love, So Hard to Lose: A Bridge to Healing Before and After the Loss of a Pet,” three paws up! We can’t recommend it enough.
Kaplan is the author of one of the world’s most respected books on canine cancer health, “Help Your Dog Fight Cancer: What Every Caretaker Should Know About Canine Cancer
” as well as creator of The Magic Bullet Fund, a charitable organization assisting pet parents with paying for veterinary cancer therapy. A portion of sales of this book will be donated to the Magic Bullet Fund.
Tagged: advice, animals, coping, death, grief, Rainbow Bridge, therapy
