Oral hygene is just as important for your dog

Taking care of your dog's teeth is just as important as taking care of your own. It's best to brush daily, but a weekly regimen is a good start. There are many products available to aide in dental care – from toothbrush and toothpaste (never use toothpaste that's not specially formulated for dogs) to chews, water additives, breath spray and toys. The most important thing is to find the products that are right for you and your dog. My dogs prefer beef flavored toothpaste and dental chews.

Most veterinarians have specials on dental care during the months of February and/or March. Make your appointment today!

Don't forget to brush your dog's teeth...

tooth brush
Originally uploaded by ryoryozo

Dog hates brushing video

Save up to 20% on dog dental care products

Visit PetSmart for the above savings. If you don't like shopping online, you can find the store nearest you on this site too. PetSmart is also a great place for dog training as well as a fun outing for dogs and people to enjoy together.

Dental care at home doesn't replace the need for (at least one) yearly cleaning at your vet's office. It certainly can help keep your dog (or cat) happy and healthy, not to mention have better smelling breath. I personally don't recommend the Greenies brand or nylabone, but you must choose what's best for your dog.

Collie brushing his teeth at the sink

Three Bichons brushing their teeth

Cutest Video Ever!

Toothbrushing doggie
Originally uploaded by candleshoe

Little Ikea is a good girl and loves to brush her teeth.

Tooth brushing Pug in pink PJs - Cute Video

I don't know how much brushing is actually being done, but it's still cute!

How to Brush Your Dog's Teeth Video

Guidelines for home dental care

Dental homecare is preventative maintenance. It can not correct a problem once one has developed. Moreover, if there is a painful condition in the mouth, brushing will be very unpleasant for the animal and we do not want that. Therefore, a homecare program should only be started after a very thorough oral evaluation to ensure that there are no problems that need treatment prior to starting brushing.

The goal with a homecare program is to be brushing your pet’s teeth on a daily basis to remove plaque before it becomes firmly attached to the tooth surface and before it mineralizes to become tartar. Plaque will form on a clean tooth within hours and can start to form tartar within a few days. Therefore brushing daily will be far more effective than doing it two or three times a week.

When starting a homecare program, it is important to start slowly, letting your pet get use to each new phase before moving to the next. By introducing the program in small, easy to accept steps, and by including lots of positive reinforcement, most pets will come to truly enjoy having their teeth brushed. This is neither a contest nor a race. Take it as slowly as necessary to avoid upsetting your pet, because once they decide they do not like what you are doing, it will take a long time to overcome that.

Here are eight steps you can take to help maintain your pet’s dental health.

Step 1
When to start? As soon as possible. Eight to 12 weeks old is best. Pets don’t need maintenance this young, but by brushing once or twice weekly they will become familiar with the routine when the permanent teeth erupt. It is a good idea to stop brushing while your pet is losing its baby teeth as the mouth will be a bit sore and your poking around with the brush will cause more pain. Once all the permanent teeth are in you can pick up where you left off.

Step 2
The first step is to work with your pet’s mouth. With a little patience your pet will soon accept your attention. Make it fun for both of you. Use a lot of love and especially praise to gain their confidence. Try to have your practice sessions at the same time each day so your pet gets into a routine. Late in the evening often works well, as everyone involved is generally in a quiet mood then. If your pet is highly motivated by food, try just before dinner with the meal acting as a reward for co-operating.

Step 3
Start by handling the muzzle and tickling the lips and soon you will be able to rub the teeth and gums with your finger. Put a few drops of water, flavoured with garlic or garlic salt for dogs and tuna juice for cats, in the mouth daily. They will soon look forward to this treat.

Step 4
Next, use a washcloth or piece of pantyhose, wrapped around the end of your finger and flavoured as above, to gently rub the teeth. Start with the front teeth and gradually work towards the back teeth.

Step 5
Finally, use a soft toothbrush to brush the teeth. There are several veterinary brushes available and many human brushes are well suited to animal use as well. Hold the brush at a 45 degree angle to the tooth and brush back and forth or from gum to tip. Brushing the tongue side of the teeth is less critical. Use the garlic water or tuna juice. Make it a game.

Step 6
There is an ever growing selection of veterinary tooth washes, pastes and gels. Your veterinarian can help you select the one best suited to your situation. These products all increase the effectiveness of your home-care program but remember, it’s the brushing that does most of the cleaning. Brushing daily has been shown to be far more effective than three times a week and is easier to remember than every other day. Human tooth paste is to be avoided as it will cause stomach upset if swallowed. Baking soda, with its very high sodium content can be dangerous to older patients. Hydrogen peroxide can be too harsh for the gums and must not be swallowed.

Step 7
It helps to give mildly abrasive foods and toys such as dry kibble, raw hide strips and dense rubber chew-toys. The Veterinary Oral Health Council has undertaken to certify products that make claims of providing some dental benefit. To date, they have placed their stamp of approval on Hills® Prescription Diet™® t/d (original size, small bites and feline) and Friskies® Feline Dental Diet. Both of these maintenance foods have been shows to help keep teeth cleaner when compared to standard dry diets. Avoid natural bones, dried cow hooves and hard nylon toys as these are hard enough to fracture teeth.

Step 8
By following a consistent program of home-care, you will greatly improve you pet’s dental health. This will mean fewer professional cleanings, less tooth loss and a happier, healthier pet. However, please remember that there is no substitute for professional veterinary care. We must work as a team to ensure a long and happy life for your pet.

Start by handling the muzzle and tickling your pet's teeth.

Get them used to your hands in their mouth by rubbing their gums with your fingers.

Now you're ready to try brushing the outside of their front teeth. Toothpaste is not strictly required – the brushing does most of the cleaning.

When your pet is really comfortable, you'll be able to brush the outsides of their back teeth as well.

And don't forget a little reward for your pet after every dental care session.

This information and photos came from www.toothvet.ca
Be sure to visit their website for more on homecare.

Fraser Hale, DVM, FAVD, dipAVD
Phone: 1-866-TOOTHVET
(toll-free in Ontario, except 807 area)

DENTAL CARE FOR YOUR PET

	Introduction Most people are very aware of their own teeth. We know about plaque control, cavity prevention and the social evils of bad breath. Most people also visit their dentist regularly. Despite this awareness of human dentistry, many pet owners do not realize their animals are subject to the same problems. Why care for your pet’s teeth? For the same reason you care for your own. The most common disease in pet animals is periodontal disease. They are also subject to broken teeth, orthodontic problems and even cavities. All of these problems will affect your animal’s mouth, obviously, but can also lead to the infections that introduce bacteria into other parts of the body. In other words, bad teeth can lead to a sick animal. Do cats and dogs feel pain like us? Many owners tell us that they did not notice any change in their animal’s behaviour, so they assumed they were fine. This isn’t surprising. Our pets are ultimately descended from wild animals. It does a wild animal no good to advertise the fact that it is sick, or to stop eating because its teeth hurt. Most animals simply adopt a stoic attitude to chronic pain. But if you’ve ever had a chronic tooth ache, you know the meaning of pain. Studies have shown that dogs and cats have pain thresholds that are almost identical to humans. What can you do about your pet’s oral or dental health? Plenty. The first step is to look in your pet’s mouth, on a regular basis. If the gums appear red or inflamed, if there’s a foul odour, if you see pus at the gum line or broken teeth – see your veterinarian right away. He or she will assess the problem and formulate a treatment plan. The longer term solution is to look after your pet’s teeth with regular brushing and checking – just like you do with your own. Photo shows a healthy dog's mouth, showing well-maintained teeth. This information and image come from www.toothvet.ca Fraser Hale, DVM, FAVD, dipAVD Phone: 1-866-TOOTHVET (toll-free in Ontario, except 807 area)

February is Pet Dental Care Month

Dental Cleaning
Originally uploaded by reneetellezphotography

We get our doggie dental work done at:
Milan Area Animal Hospital, located at
517 W. Main St., Milan, MI 48160.
Phone: (734) 439-2273.

Dog Dental Facts
• Puppies have 28 temporary teeth that erupt at about three to four weeks of age. They have 42 permanent teeth that begin to emerge at about four months.
• Symptoms of gum disease in dogs include yellow and brown build-up of tartar along the gum line, inflamed gums and persistent bad breath.
• Broken teeth are a common problem, especially among outdoor dogs. According to veterinary dental experts, aggressive chewing on hard objects, such as commercially available cow hooves, is a primary cause of broken teeth in dogs.

Oral disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem for pets
• An astounding 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age 3, according to the American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS).
• Periodontal disease is a common problem in dogs, particularly smaller breeds.

Oral disease begins with a buildup of bacteria in the pet´s mouth
• Bacteria, combined with saliva and food debris between the tooth and gum, can cause plaque formulations that accumulate on the tooth. As bacteria grow in the plaque and as calcium salts are deposited, plaque turns to tartar.
• Bacterial plaque is the most important substrate in the development of periodontal disease. The inflammation and destruction that accompanies periodontal disease results from the direct action of bacteria and their by-products on periodontal tissues as well as the indirect activation of the host immune response.
• Without proper preventive or therapeutic care, plaque and tartar buildup leads to periodontal disease, which affects the tissues and structures supporting the teeth. Left untreated, periodontal disease can cause oral pain, dysfunction, tooth loss and systemic complications.
• Tartar has a contributory role due to its roughened surface, which enhances bacterial attachment and further plaque development, and also irritates gingival tissues.

Periodontitis may lead to other health problems
• Periodontal disease causes red, swollen and tender gums, receding gums, bleeding, pain and bad breath. If left untreated, periodontitis can lead to tooth loss.
• The inflammation and infection associated with periodontal disease may damage other organs such as the heart, liver, and kidneys, or lead to other serious health problems.
• Pet owners should look for warning signs of oral disease
• Common indications of oral disease include bad breath, a change in eating or chewing habits, pawing at the face or mouth and depression.
• If any of these signs are present, the pet should be taken to the veterinarian for a dental exam.
• Broken teeth are a common problem, especially among outdoor dogs. According to veterinary dental experts, aggressive chewing on hard objects, such as commercially available cow hooves, is a primary cause of broken teeth in dogs.
• The good news is that pet owners can reduce the risk of oral disease by following AVDS recommendations
• The first step in preventing oral disease is a routine physical examination including a dental exam.
• Pet owners should practice a regular dental care regimen at home, which may include brushing the pet´s teeth with specially formulated toothpaste. It´s best to start early, but grown dogs and cats can learn to tolerate brushing. Toothpaste for humans is not recommended because it may upset the pet´s stomach.
• Schedule regular follow-up care with your family veterinarian and ask about specially formulated foods with proven benefits in plaque and tartar removal.

Please visit www.petdental.com or Hill's Pet Nutrition for more information.

Dogs Can Classify Complex Photos In Categories Like Humans Do

Mel with hat
Originally uploaded by reneetellezphotography

ScienceDaily (Nov. 29, 2007) — Like us, our canine friends are able to form abstract concepts. Friederike Range and colleagues from the University of Vienna in Austria have shown for the first time that dogs can classify complex color photographs and place them into categories in the same way that humans do. And the dogs successfully demonstrate their learning through the use of computer automated touch-screens, eliminating potential human influence.

In order to test whether dogs can visually categorize pictures, and transfer their knowledge to new situations, four dogs were shown landscape and dog photographs, and expected to make a selection on a computer touch-screen.

In the training phase, the dogs were shown both the landscape and dog photographs simultaneously and were rewarded with a food pellet if they selected the dog picture (positive stimulus). The dogs then took part in two tests.

In the first test, the dogs were shown completely different dog and landscape pictures. They continued to reliably select the dog photographs, demonstrating that they could transfer their knowledge gained in the training phase to a new set of visual stimuli, even though they had never seen those particular pictures before.

In the second test, the dogs were shown new dog pictures pasted onto the landscape pictures used in the training phase, facing them with contradictory information: on the one hand, a new positive stimulus as the pictures contained dogs even though they were new dogs; on the other hand, a familiar negative stimulus in the form of the landscape.

When the dogs were faced with a choice between the new dog on the familiar landscape and a completely new landscape with no dog, they reliably selected the option with the dog. These results show that the dogs were able to form a concept i.e. ‘dog’, although the experiment cannot tell us whether they recognized the dog pictures as actual dogs.

The authors also draw some conclusions on the strength of their methodology: “Using touch-screen computers with dogs opens up a whole world of possibilities on how to test the cognitive abilities of dogs by basically completely controlling any influence from the owner or experimenter.” They add that the method can also be used to test a range of learning strategies and has the potential to allow researchers to compare the cognitive abilities of different species using a single method.

Adapted from materials provided by Springer.
"Dogs Can Classify Complex Photos In Categories Like Humans Do."
ScienceDaily 29 November 2007. 22 February 2009 .

Thesaurus use of dog...

dog –

noun
1 she went for a walk with her dog hound, canine; mongrel, cur; pup, puppy; informal doggy/doggie, pooch.
2 informal : you black-hearted dog! See bastard noun sense 2 .
3 informal : you're a lucky dog!



verb
1 they dogged him the length of the country pursue, follow, track, trail, shadow, hound; informal tail.
2 the scheme was dogged by bad weather plague, beset, bedevil, beleaguer, blight, trouble.

Anal Sac Disease

Here's some more information on reasons to take my advice about adding fiber to your dog's diet. I find that pumpkin is the easiest because they love the taste, it doesn't add too many calories and it doesn't cause upset stomach.

I found this article by William K. Kruesi, M.S., D.V.M./2001, 2005 at
Cold River Veterinary Center. Please click on the link to visit their website.

"Anal sacs are scent glands of the cat and dog located at 4:00 and 8:00 around the rectum. We frequently see pets with full or impacted anal glands that require manual expression of the glands to relieve pressure.

This causes three problems. First, any time a finger is inserted in the rectum and the scent glands squeezed, the operator is crushing mucosa, the delicate absorptive surface that lines the distal colon and rectum. Crushing intestinal mucosa allows enteric bacteria to pass into the circulation, causing infection. While this infiltration of bacteria may seem insignificant, it may contribute to already high systemic bacteria loads in pets with intestinal permeability (leaky gut syndrome). Second, the procedure hurts, no matter how small the doctor's finger, or how gentle the manipulation. Third, it requires an office visit as most owners do not wish to do the procedure themselves. Some pets would rather not make the trip to a veterinary clinic, for any reason.

No wild felid or canine would suffer the indignity of having a finger pushed in their rectum to squeeze the scent glands. This is a disease of modern living, where commercial pet foods lack sufficient insoluble fiber (bulk) to produce a normal stool volume that helps express the scent glands on a daily basis. In the normal cat or dog, these scent glands are expressed when a large stool passes through the rectum, pushing outward to leave a scant drop of anal gland secretion on the stool. The scent is a marker; it helps to identify individuals and their territory.

Anal glands may also be the site of disease due to abnormal secretions. The normal secretion has the flow characteristics of olive oil, not heavy cream or axle grease. In patients with impaired fat metabolism or bacterial infections the anal glands produce thick, viscous material that does not express easily. The worse situation is a gland filled with inspissated scent: dry, waxy, granular material that doesn't flow. This material must be softened with an emollient or surfactant (lubricant) such as an antiseptic ointment to facilitate drainage. In end-stage anal sacculitis, the glands become inflamed, infected, or dysplastic. The final stage of chronic disease may be cancer, i.e., an anal gland carcinoma.

Anal gland disorders are preventable with proper diet, exercise (to maintain anal sphincter tone), hydration, and fat metabolism. The keys to preventing anal gland impaction are to have adequate fiber and unsaturated fats in the diet. Many commercial pet foods promote their diet as being "so highly digestible, your dog produces smaller stools". Fiber however is essential for normal motility and fermentation within the lower gastrointestinal tract. Domestic dogs and cats generally need more fiber in their diet, not less.

Good sources of fiber include: raw sesame seeds, ground flax seed, psyllium seed (Metamucil), buckwheat, whole oats, brown rice, and wheat bran. We recommend adding 1/2-teaspoon to 2 tablespoons of bran to the patient's diet, from cat to giant dog, daily. Be sure to hydrate the dry fiber thoroughly before incorporating it into their food, so it does not cause intestinal impaction or choke. Ordinary whole grain cereals, bran flakes and the like are fine, so long as the pet does not have a food intolerance (allergy) to wheat or other cereal grains. Consult with your veterinarian for more information on fiber and essential fatty acids for pets. For information on preparing home food for cats and dogs see our recipe page.

At Cold River Veterinary Center we culture bacteria from anal gland secretions. Our results have been surprising, with the majority of abnormal secretions having obvious bacterial infections; many are antibiotic resistant strains. For chronic or recurrent anal gland abnormalities, contact your veterinarian or call us- we'll be glad to help.

For further information:
• Halnan CR. The frequency of occurrence of anal sacculitis in the dog. J Small Anim Pract 1976 Aug;17(8):537-41
• Halnan CR. Therapy of anal sacculitis in the dog. J Small Anim Pract 1976 Oct;17(10):685-91
• Isitor GN. Comparative ultrastructural study of normal, adenomatous, carcinomatous, and hyperplastic cells of canine hepatoid circumanal gland. Am J Vet Res 1983 Mar;44(3):463-74
• Rosol TJ, Capen CC, Danks JA, Suva LJ, Steinmeyer CL, Hayman J, Ebeling PR, Martin TJ. Identification of parathyroid hormone-related protein in canine apocrine adenocarcinoma of the anal sac. Vet Pathol 1990 Mar;27(2):89-95
• van Duijkeren E. Disease conditions of canine anal sacs. J Small Anim Pract 1995 Jan;36(1):12-6"

Dog – the definition

noun
1 a domesticated carnivorous mammal that typically has a long snout, an acute sense of smell, and a barking, howling, or whining voice. It is widely kept as a pet or for work or field sports. • Canis familiaris, family Canidae (the dog family); probably domesticated from the wolf in the Mesolithic period. The dog family also includes the wolves, coyotes, jackals, and foxes.
• a wild animal of the dog family.
• the male of an animal of the dog family, or of some other mammals such as the otter : [as adj. ] a dog fox.
• (in extended and metaphorical use) referring to behavior considered to be savage, dangerous, or wildly energetic : he bit into the chop voraciously, like a dog.
2 [often with adj. ] informal a person regarded as unpleasant, contemptible, or wicked (used as a term of abuse) : come out, Michael, you dog!
• [with adj. ] dated used to refer to a person of a specified kind in a tone of playful reproof, commiseration, or congratulation : you lucky dog!
• used in various phrases to refer to someone who is abject or miserable, esp. because they have been treated harshly : I make him work like a dog | Rob was treated like a dog.
• informal derogatory a woman regarded as unattractive.
• informal a thing of poor quality; a failure : a dog of a movie.
3 short for firedog .
4 a mechanical device for gripping.
5 ( dogs) informal feet : if only I could sit down and rest my tired dogs.
verb ( dogged , dogging ) [ trans. ]
1 follow (someone or their movements) closely and persistently : photographers seemed to dog her every step.
• (of a problem) cause continual trouble for : their finance committee has been dogged by controversy.
2 ( dog it) informal act lazily; fail to try one's hardest.
3 grip (something) with a mechanical device : [ trans. ] she has dogged the door shut.

Upset stomach?

Does your dog have diarrhea? There are a few things you can try before rushing to the vet's office or animal hospital.

First, go to the store and buy three things – eggs, brown rice (boil in bag is easiest) and plain lowfat/nonfat yogurt (NOT vanilla or flavored).

Next, feed a spoonful of the yogurt to your dog. The yogurt will start introducing the good bacteria back into his/her system (which is also helpful to people). Also make sure that fresh water is available, because it's very important to make sure they stay hydrated.

Now, start cooking the rice and eggs (I always use around three). The eggs should be scrambled without oil. After everything is done, mix together in a bowl and put in the refrigerator to cool off.

When feeding time rolls around, you are going to skip the regular food and feed this "bland diet" that you prepared earlier. For small dogs, measure out 1/4 cup; medium dogs, 1/2 cup; large dogs, 1 cup (kind of along the same measurements that you would normally feed). Add a spoonful of the yogurt and mix it all together. This will be their meal for the next two feedings, over a 24 hour period. If they don't want to eat, you must at least spoon feed the yogurt to them and try again later. I will use the same method as giving a pill – open their mouth with one hand, while spooning the yogurt into their mouth with the other.

It is also a good idea to give them another spoonful of yogurt before bed. Keep an eye on them and make sure they are drinking. If their attitude/stool does not improve after 24 hours, I would suggest seeing your vet. However, if they are in better spirits and the diarrhea situation is under control, then continue the bland diet for the next day while adding their reg. food back in gradually.

What we eat...

Nutro made their stool black. Sasha developed an allergy to Iams, which made her ears itch all the time. With so many choices out there, I had to do some research and ask around. My pal from Wags To Whiskers, located at 1363 E. Michigan Ave., Saline, MI. Phone: (734) 944-4800, told me to try the Wellness line. Believe it or not, the itching stopped within a few days. The only problem was that they didn't like it as much (yes, they are spoiled rotten).

Then I spoke with a rep from Canidae while at her other store, located at 1171 S Main Street 33, Chelsea, MI 48118. Phone: (734) 475-7000, who gave me a whole box of free samples. I thought – Wow! How nice of her. So, I tried out the Canidae. They loved it! So, we used that brand for quite a long time. The biggest problem is that all three of my dogs have seasonal allergies, and although Canidae is a top notch brand (I highly recommend it), I had to add fish oil to their food during seasonal changes. If you've ever smelled the stuff, you know how stinky it is. It's also a pain to clean up if it drips out of the bottle (which is most surely will).

Now I was back to square one and decided to give the Wellness another try. After a few meals, my dogs realized that this was "what's for dinner", and now they love it. I also add a little spoonful of soft food on top, plus the pumpkin, just for variety.

Both of those brands are of the highest quality, containing "fit for human consumption" ingrediants. For more information, visit their websites. Just click on the word: Canidae or Wellness to check it out.

Does your dog scoot across the carpet?

If you see your dog scooting across the floor, you could have anal gland problems (or they are just trying to wipe poo off of their butts). The first time this happened, I didn't know what the problem was because none of my dogs had worms. One day Sasha is scooting, the next day she has an open sore near her butt. I was totally freaking out and thought something was terribly wrong. As it turns out, her anal glands ruptured and we needed immediate treatment from a vet. Everything turned out alright, but we discovered that we needed to get her glands expressed on a regular basis. If you don't know what that is, rest assured that it is totally gross and foul smelling. Just take my word for it, you really want someone else to do it. Your vet or groomer will do this for any where between $10-$35.

I was fine with that, until my other two started having the same problems. $35x3=$105 every 4-6 weeks. I don't have that kind of money to throw down that often (on top of the heart worm pills and flea treatments every month) and don't really know anyone who does. I spoke with my local groomer (I usually groom all three dogs myself, but once in a while it's nice to have someone else do it) and she said to add fiber to their diet. I was confused, because I feed them a very high quality of food that should have adequate fiber. I explained this to her and she agreed that it was one of the top brands and told me to add a spoon of Pumpkin (not the pie filling) to every meal. I told her I would try it and as it turns out, I haven't had to get their glands expressed since (it's been over a year). I faithfully add a small spoon of pumpkin to their meals and just add a little more if I notice any scooting.

I will also add that the groomer did a wonderful job and Cercei smelled great for a long time. The local store is called Gators and the staff is super friendly and helpful. They get a gold star in my book. If you live near SE Michigan and would like to check it out, here's their info:
Gators Pet Supplies. 293 W Monroe St Dundee MI, 48131.
Ph: 734-529-9000.

Don't forget to check with your vet first.

Meet Mel

On the back of the chair.
Originally uploaded by reneetellezphotography

Our neighbor brought him over on Monday night and wanted to know if we would take him. He's already been to four homes and only a year old! The first owner was a 16 year old kid, and he kept him in a crate most of the time. Then, my neighbors took him {home #2} (related to owner #1) to find him a new place. The 3rd owners were an older couple, but since he was still just a puppy, it was too much for them and they couldn't care for him either. I think they took him camping once and he tried to run away. The 4th owners had their heat shut off, so obviously they couldn't afford to keep him. So, my neighbors took him back. They had five dogs (and sometimes up to seven) already, and knew he'd have a loving home with us.

He also never had proper care – no shots, heart-worm prevention and he still needed to be neutered. So, after letting him come over and play with Sasha and Cercei for several days to see if he would fit in, I took him to the vet for "the works" on Thursday evening. He came home Friday afternoon and immediately started copying everything the other two do. He even sleeps in the bed!

After a short amount of time, I then started to see the signs that the little guy had been abused. He was fearful of all people (except for us), cowered at the slightest noise and he would get this look of terror in his eyes when you took your belt off. I also recently found out from someone who knew one of the former owners (the ex-husband), and he informed me that Mel would actually get kicked and treated meanly by his ex-wife's brother. Who would do that? That made me furious! It's no wonder that the little fella has so many issues. Mel was actually never supposed to stay, but I'm so glad he did... that was five years ago.

Meet Sasha

Puppy Dog Eyes
Originally uploaded by reneetellezphotography

When we got Cercei, all was not well in our cats' world (we had six of them at the time) – she would "attack" their tails, leap at them and chase them around. When she would not stop, we decided to get her a buddy. I went to The Humane Society of Huron Valley after seeing one I liked on Petfinder.com. One of the very helpful staff members helped me try to introduce Cercei to a couple of the dogs there, but she was too scared. When I was about to give up, someone walked by with Sasha and I said that I wanted to try that one if the lady doesn't take her. Well, Sasha was more interested in me, so then Cercei became interested in Sasha. I took her home that day. It's been great ever since. Plus, it helped speed up the potty training, because Cercei copies everything that Sasha does! That will be six years ago in August.

Meet Cercei

Cercei
Originally uploaded by reneetellezphotography

I've wanted a pomeranian ever since I saw that SNL skit w/Mr. Bo Jangles. My husband was strictly a cat person, and really didn't want a dog. One weekend, I saw one at a pet store and he said I could have one (because I was sad when he said NO WAY). But, the ones at the pet store may have come from a puppy mill and I didn't want to support that. So, I went online and checked some local newspaper classifieds. There she was - one 5 week old, cream Pom for sale by a private breeder (an hour away). I was then told that if I wanted her, I had to go by myself to pick her up. Well, needless to say, as soon as I walked in with that little puffball, he fell in love. That was six years ago and she's been a spoiled brat ever since!

Neck and neck

.
Neck and neck
Originally uploaded by reneetellezphotography
Mel and Sasha love to play chase. Mel loves to be chased and Sasha loves to chase him. This looks like a race, but Sasha is just running to get in front of him... Gotcha! They never tire of this game and I never get tired of watching it.