Gracie

I took the big leap this summer and am using only natural flea control on Gracie, my wonderful dog, instead of the horrible spot-on pesticides that the EPA is investigating.  Every summer I start out using natural products until July hits and the fleas here in the South get out of control.  Then, reluctantly, I would put Frontline on my dogs because it was the only thing that worked.  But not this summer.  I’ll never use those products again.  Ever.

Using only natural products for flea control, Gracie does have a few fleas and does itch more than she used to on Frontline.  And it’s a lot more time-consuming for me to flea comb and spray everyday but I truly believe it’s worth the effort.  To me, it’s really not even a choice.  Gracie is going through chemotherapy right now for a growth on her tongue and in her brain.  She’s already gone through surgery and radiation and there is no way that I would put any pesticide on her when her immune system is already being pushed to the max.  Why I thought it was ever OK to put poison on my dogs is a question I keep asking myself.

According to Jan Rasmusen on her  blog, Dogs4Dogs.com ,  “46% of dogs and 39% of cats dying of disease will die of cancer. Pesticides are proven to increase your dog’s (or cats) chance of getting cancer.  A University of Pennsylvania vet school study showed topical insecticides (aka preventatives) “significantly increased” bladder cancer risk, especially in overweight dogs. Other studies have shown cancer risks from herbicides. Some products meant for pets can even increase the chance you and your children will become ill.”

So this summer, I’ve been experimenting with different formulas and methods to naturally control fleas and have not settled on which one works the best. Along with daily flea combing, I’ve been trying four different things:

1.  Lemon Spray Repellent: Add a lemon that’s been sliced thin to boiling water and then let it steep overnight.  Spray your dog in the morning.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar Spray: Put half water/half vinegar in a spray bottle and spray away.  Be prepared for the smell of vinegar to take over your whole house.

3.  Rosemary Flea Dip: Steep two cups of fresh rosemary in boiling water for 30 minutes.  Once it cools, you can use it as a dip or spray. So far, this has been the most effective spray.

4. Diatomaceous earth: comb it into your dogs coat  and the fleas who come into contact with the razor-sharp silica in the DE , become dehydrated and die within a day.   When applying DE, you should wear a mask and keep your dog’s face protected with a towel because the silica can be inhaled and can irritate the throat and lungs.  I use this once a week.

Please let me know how you’re controlling fleas this summer because we can’t do it the old way anymore.  I’ll keep you posted on which of my methods is working.  We all know too much to go backwards.

Flea combs and the Ticked Off Tick Remover and now available at happydogsplay.com.

Photo of Gracie by Sisters Pet Pics.

On Tuesday, July 22nd, little Gidget, the Chihuahua that Taco Bell made famous, died at 15 of a stroke  and people all over the world are mourning her passing.  And I feel that same sadness.  But what about the animals that were killed to make the Taco Bell food that Gidget was made to help sell?  Do we mourn for them?  Well of course not.  Apparently “farm animals” don’t count as real animals with souls and personalities so it’s OK to eat them.  And the fact that many companies use animals to help sell other animals that are to be eaten as food is just plain wrong.  When I see billboards of  cows trying to sell chickens as a more desirable food, I get so angry.

But what about feeding meat to our dogs?  Is it really necessary?  I think about this question frequently especially since there’s now raw meat involved when I feed my dogs.  I see blood and ground up organs and I am so aware that an animal died so I could feed this food to my dog.   I know there are people who feed their dogs a vegetarian diet and there’s vegetarian dog food that I could switch to.    In a study of vegan and vegetarian dogs, these dogs were healthier and had less chronic health problems than they did when they were fed meat.  Also, the dogs who were on a vegan diet did better than the ones on a vegetarian diet.

Making the decision to switch is a big one and I need to do more research to make sure I can provide healthy vegan food to my dogs.  What do you think we should be feeding our dogs?

On a lighter note, these two Taco Bell toys are available to buy at happydogsplay.com.

$5.99 at happydogsplay.com

$12.99 at happydogsplay.com

Don’t mess with little Guy LeMieux when he’s on duty protecting his people, Denise Berthiaume and Steve Schwarz, while they’re out visiting friends in Folsom, LA.   He’s the official “Bad Dog” at Denise’s LeMieux Galleries in New Orleans, a gallery that features the work of Louisiana and Gulf Coast artists.  Steve is the owner and chef at  Mat and Naddie’s, a New Orleans neighborhood restaurant that’s known for its Creole cuisine and fun and friendly atmosphere.

Guy LeMieux is one bad dog.

Lisa Baxter sent in pictures of her two dogs, Lou and Chi Chi,  who seem to love a good time.  You might note that Lisa makes sure her dogs wear their life jackets while boating.  You can find life jackets in five different sizes as well as other safety gear at happydogsplay.com.

Lou and Chi Chi always wear their life jackets when boating.

Lou and Chi Chi are party animals!

When I first met Donna, she was clearly a cat person. She humored me about my dog fanaticism but I could tell that she really didn’t get it. That is, until she got her first Pomeranian puppy, Max. Donna’s life soon revolved around Max: she would only go on vacation if she could bring him along; she made little costumes for him for Halloween and Mardi Gras; she had professional photos taken of Max that she used on her Christmas cards; and she set up a video camera at home so she could see what Max was doing while she was at work. Then she got another puppy, CC and there’s no looking back. She officially lives in the Land of Dog with the rest of us and loves every minute of it.

Donna was the first person to send in photos of her dogs and so here they are. Max is orange and CC is chocolate & white.

Two beautiful Pomeranians from Folsom, LA

The Pomeranians on vacation.

With every order you place with happydogsplay.com, you’ll receive an “Adopt” sticker designed by Shepard Fairey that was designed as a fund-raiser for  Adopt-A-Pet.com, North America’s largest non-profit pet adoption web service.  In their effort to get more dogs adopted, they’re  promoting the “inherent worth of all shelter animals, whether mutts or pure breeds,” and urging the public to visit muttslikeme.com for information on how to help.

“As most of you know, I’m a big believer in speaking up for all who suffer injustice, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation or in this case, species! And I’m all for adopting from the shelter. The image I created for this print reminds me of a dog I had as kid, a mutt named Honey.”  – Shepard Fairey, Artist

happydogsplay.com is supporting  Adopt-A-Pet.com by purchasing these stickers for our customers.   

Shepard Fairey's "Adopt" sticker free to happydogplay.com customers