Kekoa is a quirky dog. I mean, all pets (and people, now that I think of it) are quirky in their own way, but she's quirky in that extra-special "I've been down a bit of a cobbly path these last few years and my insecurity is showing through." After a year and a half, I thought some of those behaviors might mellow with time but if anything, they're gotten worse. It's nothing destructive, nothing I can't handle. Just definitive behaviors that I haven't found the time or inclination to get to ... Read more »
Daily Life
The Litterbox Chronicles: Scoop Free Litter Box Review
As you know, Apollo has some marking issues that have made life rather, well, pungent. That is not a good thing. On the bright side, by following veterinary behaviorist Dr. Yin's advice to create a beautiful, austere, absolutely delightful potty palace for the cat I have been able to reduce a large amount of that behavior. So now that we're in a good place, I think you can understand why I was nervous to mix things up and try a new litter box, but in the name of technological advancement, ... Read more »
Love and Dogs at Comic-Con
So yesterday, in an attempt to pull me out of the glums, my husband surprised me with a one day pass to Comic-Con, which if you are not aware is an event where 125,000 people descend on the city in ill-fitting Transformers costumes and pack the convention center in a celebration of pretty much everything pop culture. It is massive, but getting in these days is like getting a Golden Ticket. So of course I had to go. First, I tried to get into the Game of Thrones panel, since the book's author ... Read more »
Heart Pet Day
I don't think it's the most politic of things to say, but sometimes we play favorites in life. I'd like to think I'm above that, but I'm so totally not. Emmett was my favorite dog. I love all of my pets, past and present, with all of my heart, but the bond we had was something special. It is the kind of understanding that is impossible to explain unless you've experienced it, and I say it as someone who's had pets all her life. I get all of my pets inside and out. But this one got me, and ... Read more »
What dreams may come
I love watching my dogs dream. They twitch, sometimes making little running motions with their feet, and Brody in particular makes a noise just like one of the Three Stooges- "whoopwhoopwhoopwhoopwhoop," a sound never heard when he's actually awake. I've always wondered what they dream about. Do their brains use the time to work out subconscious fears like we do? What can they be all that worried about anyway? They have it pretty easy. Are their dreams populated with the surreal workings of ... Read more »
Heart Pet Day is July 21
I bet you didn't know that, did you? That's because I just made it up. It's the two year anniversary of the day my own heart pet passed on, but I've found that the best salve to a broken heart is to commiserate with others who understand that loss. There is sadness, but also joy, in hearing about the bonds you all have shared with those you loved as well. I really loved putting together the video last year of everyone's heart pets, and I'll make sure I re-post that on Thursday. But I'd like ... Read more »
Giveaway Tuesday: On the Go Kits from VPI
Congratulations to our winners: Quinn, Pamela J, Shelly, Elizabeth and the Lab Crew, and Oralia! For going on a year now, I've been suspicious that Kekoa might have Cushing's disease. Her symptoms have waxed and waned, certain bloodwork values have gone up and down, but I haven't quite been able to pin it down. Have I tested her? Oh yes, I have, over and over. And ACTH stimulation tests, if you haven't had the pleasure, don't come cheap- even to us vet types. The tests for Cushings ... Read more »
The Sixth Sense
We all have heard the amazing stories: a dog who can sense when an epileptic seizure is about to take place, some disturbance in the electromagentic field or something that alerts the dog to an impending event. Or maybe those pets who sensed an earthquake or tsunami was bearing down, and ran for higher ground long before the people figured out what was coming. Or Oscar the cat, the gentle hospice feline who had a way of knowing when a person was about to pass on, and always managed to find ... Read more »
Much love to tech support
You know how every year, at the Oscars, they host the Technical Awards at some crummy second rate venue in downtown LA and they get a B-list celebrity to come host it? Those people work their butts off to make the movies look good but all they get in return is some lame hotel dinner and maybe a 30 second clip shown at the Oscar telecast. Tech support never gets any love. Sometimes I feel a little bit of similar guilt about the tech support here at pawcurious. It's just a party of one- my ... Read more »
Guest post: One is the loneliest number
My mother-in-law is a cat person. She loves the dogs too, don't get me wrong, but some people are dog people and some people are cat people, and she is a cat person through and through. Her most recent cat passed away a couple of years ago, and I'll be the first to admit I am surprised she is still cat-less. I think the urge is calling to her, though. There have been hints dropped and a wayward cat dish randomly winding up in the living room and suggestions of visits to the local cat rescue. ... Read more »
Giveaway Tuesday: Iams Sensitive Naturals and Simple and Natural
Congratulations to our winner, Elena! I hope your pet loves the food! I spend a lot of time reading pet food labels. I usually have to shoo off at least three well meaning but unhelpful store employees every time I'm at the store. Sometimes I'm reading to make sure it's a good choice for Brody and Koa, and sometimes I just pick up a bag of cheapie food to remind myself of the crummy stuff that's out there. I know I'm not alone in this- it seems like every time I go into the store, from a ... Read more »
It’s better in pairs
Today I saw a bumper sticker that gave me a good laugh: Discover Wildlife- Raise Twins. I couldn't imagine. My two kiddos are 20 months apart and that is zoo enough for me. Two at the exact same age would probably be more than my rickety knees and/or delicate psyche could handle. Pets, though, are another story. As much as I look on in horrified fascination at people with 4,5,6 kids and wonder how the heck they stay sane and solvent, I could very easily imagine myself waking up to four ... Read more »
Behold the power of the internet
I've spent a lot of time rubbing my temples in frustration at the things people pull off the internet and read as gospel- everything from "How To Assemble a Home Bloat Kit at Home Depot" to "Drug Dosing for your Cat" including, of all things, deadly Tylenol. The DIY instructions out there run the gamut from the harmless-but-useless to the downright killer. On the flip side, the internet can also be an absolute godsend. I say this not only as a medical professional, but as a patient and a ... Read more »
Partay!
It's a big weekend. A big, big weekend here in North America. To all my Canadian friends- Happy Canada Day! And to my American partners in crime, I hope you're getting the barbecues cleaned off and ready to roll! The Fourth of July is the number one day for pets to run off. Number one. So while you are busy perfecting your burger recipe and figuring out how many ears of corn you need for Monday, take just a moment to do a couple of things to keep your pet safe: ... Read more »
DNA comes full circle
I remember when DNA tests first became routine in crime scene investigations. It was groundbreaking. Murders decades old being solved, sinister crimes committed by evildoing masterminds brought to justice by the tiniest speck of blood. Those sure were the days. Now, we use DNA to bust people for not cleaning up after their dogs. How far we have come. Sherlock Bones is on the case. ... Read more »
Inherent Danger
My own fair city is back in the spotlight dealing with the aftermath of yet another tragic dog attack. In this case, a 75 year old woman was critically injured in her backyard by two pit bulls that got through a gap in their fence. My thoughts and prayers are with the victim and her family during this terrible time. Now let me be clear on this: despite what you might read, the city is not considering a pit bull ban (quote from City Hall to that effect at the bottom of the article), and I am ... Read more »
Grand Theft Karto
It was a beautiful, sunny weekend here in SoCal, which means one thing: the kids and the pets spend the entire time marinating in the pool. I prefer sitting in the shade, trying unsuccessfully to keep wet Brody from shaking off all over me. Mild mannered Dr. V, benignly watching over the family as they take in the sunshine. No one would suspect me of having more sinister intentions. Such as go-kart theft. What can I say? We got my son one for his birthday and I thought it looked like ... Read more »
Dog vs Stroller
Here is the lake path I have mentioned in a previous post. With summer upon us, it is even busier than usual (though you can't really tell by this photo.) You see all types on this path: young, old, big, small, athletes sprinting and elderly hobbling. There are tons of dogs, and tons of strollers, and a good smattering of dogs in strollers. Cyclists like this path too, and I've seen such strange sights as unicycles, tandem bikes, and rowing bicycles. ... Read more »
