CUTENESS = PUPPIES

A CUTE PUPPY MOMENT

DOG + iPAD = CUTENESS

MEET THE OKAPI

The okapi (pronounced /oʊˈkɑːpiː/), Okapia johnstoni, is a giraffid artiodactyl mammal native to the Ituri Rainforest, located in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Central Africa. Although the okapi bears striped markings reminiscent of the zebra, it is most closely related to the giraffe.

CAT + iPAD = CUTENESS

ALBINO KANGAROO

CUTE DOG OF THE DAY

 Meet Bebe,  She's a chow-husky, 4  years old and according to her daddy (@triplextopher) is a huge bitch  but who cares she is cute as a button.

SIGNS OF A HEALTHY DOG

Signs of healthy dog

Coat

Shiny, glossy, springy and soft to touch.
No dandruff, bald spots, excessive oiliness, skin irritation, fleas, ticks and parasites.

Eyes

Bright, clear, shiny, healthy pink area around eyeball (conjunctiva).
No paleness and discharge.

Ears

Clean and pink skin inside the ear.
No ticks, redness, swelling, excessive yellow or brownish wax and bad smell from the ear.

Feces

Firm and brown in color.
No straining, runny, watery, black in color, contain blood and rice-like shape inside the feces.

Feet

Short nails.
No dirty objects, redness or swelling.

Heart and Pulse rate

Depend on size of your dog. Average heart and pulse rate for resting dogs is 50-130 times.

Nose

Cool wet nose or dry warm nose doesn't necessarily mean that your dog is sick. Measure their temperature to get accurate diagnosis.
No foul smell, thick, bubbly, yellow or green nasal discharge.

Gums

Firm, pink, or pigmented with black.
No paleness in the gums which lead to anemia, Red inflamed gums are often initial sign of gingivitis or other periodontal disease.

Teeth

Clean, Sparkling, free of plaque and tartar (23 teeth for puppies and 42 for adult dogs).

Muscles

No odd lumps in the tissue or indentations of the muscles.

Skin

Flexible, smooth, pale pink to brown or black color depending on the breed.
No fleas, ticks, lice, open sores, scabs, growths, white flakes, or red areas.

Temperature

A dog's normal rectal temperature is 101 - 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

Urine

Clear and yellow.
No blood or excessive urination for short period of time.
 

Weight

balance between diet and exercise. The rib and hipbones should not be visible but can be felt by touching.

Signs of an Unhealthy Dog

A sick dog will show symptoms of lethargic and irritable in some case. Temperature can be use to determine the health of your dog. If the measured temperature is not in the average normal dog temperature mentioned above then this could be the first signs of illness. Always contact your veterinarian if your dog is not feeling well because there is a risk of infection from other types of diseases and parasites

BARKING CAT................IT'S POSSIBLE

CANINE NARCOLEPSY

RAWR............I'M HUNGRY

Wild guess.................The Lioness is hungry.

BAYLOR AND TUPELO

WHAT I DISCOVERED ABOUT GUINEA PIGS

A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine gave me a pair of guinea pigs.  It has been a journey of discovery for me since then for someone like me who has not had guinea pigs as pets before. I found out that they never seem to stop eating, they whistle and most surprising of all is that I found out that guinea pigs (at least the ones that I have) swim and enjoy bathing.

WORLD PEACE.................IT'S POSSIBLE

ELEPHANT POWER

WHOEVER SAID CATS ARE IMPATIENT

BONES AND DOGS ( a re-post from the FDA site)

The idea that it’s natural for dogs to chew on bones is a popular one. However, it’s a dangerous practice and can cause serious injury to your pet.
“Some people think it’s safe to give dogs large bones, like those from a ham or a roast,” says Carmela Stamper, D.V.M., a veterinarian in the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the Food and Drug Administration. “Bones are unsafe no matter what their size. Giving your dog a bone may make your pet a candidate for a trip to your veterinarian’s office later, possible emergency surgery, or even death.”
“Make sure you throw out bones from your own meals in a way that your dog can’t get to them,” adds Stamper, who suggests taking the trash out right away or putting the bones up high and out of your dog’s reach until you have a chance to dispose of them. “And pay attention to where your dog’s nose is when you walk him around the neighborhood—steer him away from any objects lying in the grass.”
Here are 10 reasons why it’s a bad idea to give your dog a bone:

1. Broken teeth. This may call for expensive veterinary dentistry.
2. Mouth or tongue injuries. These can be very bloody and messy and may require a trip to see your veterinarian.
3. Bone gets looped around your dog’s lower jaw. This can be frightening or painful for your dog and potentially costly to you, as it usually means a trip to see your veterinarian.
4. Bone gets stuck in esophagus, the tube that food travels through to reach the stomach. Your dog may gag, trying to bring the bone back up, and will need to see your veterinarian.
5. Bone gets stuck in windpipe. This may happen if your dog accidentally inhales a small enough piece of bone. This is an emergency because your dog will have trouble breathing. Get your pet to your veterinarian immediately!
6. Bone gets stuck in stomach. It went down just fine, but the bone may be too big to pass out of the stomach and into the intestines. Depending on the bone’s size, your dog may need surgery or upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, a procedure in which your veterinarian uses a long tube with a built-in camera and grabbing tools to try to remove the stuck bone from the stomach.
7. Bone gets stuck in intestines and causes a blockage. It may be time for surgery.
8. Constipation due to bone fragments. Your dog may have a hard time passing the bone fragments because they’re very sharp and they scrape the inside of the large intestine or rectum as they move along. This causes severe pain and may require a visit to your veterinarian.
9. Severe bleeding from the rectum. This is very messy and can be dangerous. It’s time for a trip to see your veterinarian.
10. Peritonitis. This nasty, difficult-to-treat bacterial infection of the abdomen is caused when bone fragments poke holes in your dog’s stomach or intestines. Your dog needs an emergency visit to your veterinarian because peritonitis can kill your dog.

“Talk with your veterinarian about alternatives to giving bones to your dog,” says Stamper. “There are many bone-like products made with materials that are safe for dogs to chew on.”
“Always supervise your dog with any chew product, especially one your dog hasn’t had before,” adds Stamper. “And always, if your dog ‘just isn’t acting right,’ call your veterinarian right away!”

This article appears on FDA's Consumer Updates page⁴, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.

A SALUTE TO SHANE MOSLEY

I may be rooting for Pacquiao in the ring but when it comes to the fight against animal cruelty I salute Shane Mosley. I hope other athletes follow his example.

SAVE YOUR PETS FROM HEATSTROKE

It is summer again in The Philippines, though we humans complain that it is so hot and unbearable lets us not forget that our pet dogs feel the heat too. They can succumb to heat stroke.

If your dog has heat stroke he will progressively show these signs:

• Excessive panting;
• Pale gums, bright red tongue;
• Disorientation and your dog doesn't respond to his name;
• Increased heart rate;
• Thick saliva;
• Vomiting;
• Breathing difficulties;
• Collapse;
• Coma;
• Death

Here are some tips to prevent your dogs from having heatstroke

Dogs really don't know when to stop - try and keep your dog's activity to a minimum particularly on hot and humid days;

Exercise your dog early in the morning and/or later in the evening when the temperature is cooler;

If possible keep your dog indoors during the heat of the day in a well ventilated or air conditioned room; and

If your dog is outside during the day, make sure there is plenty of shady areas for him to lie in and he has access to cold water. If he likes water, put a paddling pool of water for him in a shady part of the garden so he can lie in that to keep cool, otherwise periodically spray him with cool water.

THE CUTEST 'SORRY' PAGE YOU WILL SEE

 Go to Klout.com and enter a non-existent twitter user name and you'll see this pic along with the sorry message.

HOLD YOUR HORSES......HERE'S JIVE

Here's @Blissfulcow's Jive.
An Australian Sport Horse. 16.1 HH. 23 years old. she had her since she was 8 years old.
Jive loves kids, hates adults sometimes, really takes care of @blissfulcow. BUT DEMANDS her treats (carrots, apples, sugar cubes, gummi bear, bread) all the time. If you are not fast enough, she stomps her hoof.

HUNTER.........IN MEMORIAM

@Blissfulcow 's dog Hunter. He touched her life for only two years. But his memory will go on beyond that

PUPPIES...PUPPIES...PUPPIES

FROYO AND INTRODUCING SOPHIE

Here are @Davesi's dogs Froyo (cream) and Sophie (cinnamon). Notice how athletic Froyo is.

CUTENESS OVERLOAD

CUTE PUPPY OF THE DAY.....APOLLO

Here's @MDJsuperstar 's dog APOLLO, after the Sun God, a two-month-old Labrador puppy

@MDjsuperstar calls him PoPo. He likes chewing on belts and fighting his water dish

CUTE DOG OF THE DAY : FROYO

 Meet the cutest dog I've seen on twitter @davesi's FROYO

Froyo is a male cream chow, 8 months old. 
Likes - sleeping, running through the backyard, eating
Dislikes - being woken up from his 10-hour sleep marathons, being interrupted while he's busy eating.

CUTE KITTY......CODENAME MIMIW

Here is a cute kitty Photo sent by @Thenewjosel. He is his neighbors friendly fat cat.
 He knocks on @TheNewjosel's door and he is supposedly super "landi". A bit camera shy though.

TWEEP'S DOG OF THE DAY: SCHINDLER

Meet @ninaesque's dog Schindler, boy. He is turning 4 on the 26th. Mixed breed. Likes - cupcakes, ice, dog biscuits, mosquitoes. Dislikes - carrots, bikes, skateboard

143 in K9

I know my dogs love me.....But wouldn't it be nice if they said it to me

DOGS HAVE DREAMS TOO

Yes, dogs do have dreams. What they dream about is for them to know and for us to find out.

A CUTE MOMENT

With all the stress on Earth its little comfort to see cute puppies

How to Toilet Train a Puppy

 

How to Toilet Train a Puppy

Puppies will generally need to go to the toilet after they have eaten, or when they wake up. Owners should provide a place for the puppy to go, perhaps near its sleeping quarters in the laundry for example, with a good supply of newspapers.
Puppies prefer to go to the toilet on a porous surface like grass, timber (eg. decking), mats or soil, rather then tiles or linoleum. It is also best that food is not in the same room, if possible, or at least as far from the newspapers as possible.

The best way to housetrain your puppy is to place it in the room containing the newspaper, after it has been fed, and leave it there until it ‘goes’. It may also help to put some of his or her droppings on the newspaper.
Consistency is the key so if you use this method repeatedly, the puppy will soon catch on. Don’t forget to lavish praise upon the pup when it goes to the toilet in the right place. If the puppy has an ‘accident’ in the wrong place, the indiscretion should be ignored. Positive reinforcement and rewards work better.
If you wish to have your puppy go to the toilet outside, gradually start moving the newspaper closer to the door, and eventually outside. You’ll be able to stop using the newspaper once the puppy is going outside.
It is helpful to try and identify the times when your puppy might need to go. Usually after feeding or upon waking, bit also at times of exercise or excitement. If he or she needs to go you may notice them become restless, sniff the floor, move towards the door and perhaps whimper. Puppies don’t usually soil their beds.
This type of toilet training works best with young pups, but can be implemented with older dogs that were never housetrained. It may just take longer, so patience and consistency are important.
If your adult dog has only just started to soil the house, when it was once well trained, this could be indicative of a medical problem (eg, incontinence, disease), or a behavioural problem (eg. separation anxiety, new member of household introduced), so you should consult your veterinarian for advice.

Some Other Toilet Training Tips: Methods to Prevent Puppy Toilet 'Accidents' in the House

• Observe the puppy at all times when possible
• Reward correct use of the toilet area, rather than punishment
• Clean up accidents thoroughly to remove smells to discourage the pup from using the same area
• Feed a good quality diet (feeding a diet high in salt would make the pup need to urinate more due to excess drinking, and therefore make it harder for him or her to learn bladder control)
• Feeding fixed amounts at particular times of the day (feeding late at night will mean your pup will need to go to the toilet overnight)
• Exercise earlier in the day (if you walk the pup late at night, this will lead to more drinking and the pup will need to urinate overnight)
• When you’re out or unable to supervise (when you’re asleep), confine the pup to a small area (eg. Laundry room)

Once your pup is toilet trained, life will be much easier and more pleasant for the both of you!


from Suite101: How to Toilet Train A Puppy: Housebreaking Tips: A Guide to Housetraining Your Dog http://www.suite101.com/content/how-to-toilet-train-your-puppy-a107542#ixzz1IwifwFSN

TEN PLANTS THAT ARE POISONOUS TO DOGS (FROM CNN.COM)

1. Grapes -- The toxicity of grapes to dogs was once thought to be an urban legend, but it's true; even a small serving can cause vomiting and diarrhea, while larger amounts can lead to kidney failure. Researchers aren't yet sure what exactly causes this reaction, whether pesticides or a fungal toxin.
And while keeping the grapes and raisins in your pantry away from your dog is a concern, you should be on the lookout for grapevines outside as well. As any dog owner knows, berries and fruits of all sorts are a tempting treat.

2. Mushrooms -- While there are plenty of great-tasting, perfectly safe mushrooms out there, dogs just don't seem capable of discerning the difference between the edible and the toxic. To be on the safe side, it's best not to allow dogs to eat any wild mushrooms at all, unless you can confidently identify the species yourself.
Amanita, Galerina and Lepiota species are especially dangerous because they contain toxins that cause a series of worsening symptoms, from vomiting to swelling in the brain. Amanita phalloides, the Death Cap mushroom, is responsible for most of the reported fatal mushroom poisoning cases in dogs.

3. Marijuana -- For most people, the likelihood of your pet gaining access to marijuana -- whether on a live plant or not -- is relatively low. But regardless of your view of marijuana's safety for human use, it has absolutely no benefits for your pet.
After ingesting marijuana, a dog can experience symptoms like slow heart rate, lack of coordination, disorientation, drooling and tremors that can persist for up to three days.

4. Lilies -- While lilies are well-known as a serious danger to cats, certain varieties are highly toxic to dogs as well.
The peace lily, calla lily, amaryllis, lily of the valley, autumn crocus and the common houseplant, giant Dracaena or palm lily, are all deemed dangerous to dogs by the ASPCA. Ingestion of lilies can cause gastrointestinal upset, depression, anorexia and tremors.

5. Black walnuts -- Dropping from black walnut trees by the thousands, the nuts themselves don't contain anything that can harm your dog.
But once they start to decompose, they grow molds that can cause tremors and seizures. If you have one of these trees in your yard and your dog seems attracted to the nuts, it might be a good idea to rake them up on a regular basis.

6. Sago palm -- Often used in landscaping and as houseplants, sago palms develop seed pods that are often very tempting to dogs.
Unfortunately, the whole plant and the seeds in particular contain a potent toxin called cycasin that can be fatal, even if the dog only eats a single seed. Ingestion of any part or amount of this plant warrants immediate emergency treatment.

7. Azalea -- A member of the widely toxic genus rhododendron, the azalea is found in many varieties all over the United States and is commonly used as an ornamental flowering shrub in landscaping.
Ingestion of just a few leaves can cause serious issues like digestive upset, drooling, loss of appetite, weakness and leg paralysis. In some cases, eating azalea can lead to coma or death.

8. Castor bean -- This ornamental tropical plant, also used as a crop for castor oil, contains the toxic protein ricin.
At the least, eating this plant can burn a dog's mouth and throat and lead to excessive thirst, vomiting and diarrhea. But ingestion of even an ounce of seeds can be lethal.

9. Daffodils -- Among the first blooms to herald the arrival of spring, daffodils are a cheerful addition to the garden, but they contain poisonous alkaloids that can cause vomiting, excessive salivation, diarrhea, convulsions, tremors and heart problems.
The bulbs are the most dangerous part of the plant. Other common names for the daffodil include narcissus, jonquil and paper white.

10. Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane) -- With its broad variegated leaves, the dieffenbachia is often recommended as an ideal houseplant for natural air purification.

But if you choose to have one in your home, be sure it's well out of your dog's reach. When eaten, it not only burns the mouth and throat but causes the esophagus to swell, potentially blocking the dog's airway.