Our Favorite Links!
Below is information and links that I have found incredibly useful. Getting a dog can be overwhelming at times, and if it wasn't for all the information out there, I definitely would have had a lot more trial and error! So, here's my two cents:
Tanya - the World's Best Dog Sitter!
Having a dog sitter is totally worth it! For those people who have to work full time (and let's face it, it's the majority of us!), I know firsthand how guilty I feel leaving my dog home 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. That's where dog sitting (or even dog walking) comes in handy. By the time you get home from work, you're exhausted, and don't always have the energy to give your dog the attention they deserve. So, every once in a while, when you know you've got a busy week at work, or it's the end of the quarter, take advantage of the great services around. At the end of the day, your dog will be far more exhausted than you!
Finding a great dog sitter can be a challenge. Well, I'll help you get one step closer! Meet Tanya....
Grooming
Finding a good groomer can be tough. But, personal recommendations always help. So, speak to those around you, especially the ones whose dogs always look the best! If you live or work in Downtown Vancouver, I would highly recommend Pawsh Dog Spa. At times, it can be hard to get an appointment, but Zoey actually doesn't mind going there, which says a lot about their dog grooming!
Veterinarians
There are great vets everywhere! Once again, personal recommendations are usually best, so speak to other pet owners to hear about their experiences. If you live or work in Downtown Vancouver, and are looking for a great vet, I would highly recommend Yaletown Pet Hospital on Smithe Street. Dr. Spooner and his staff are incredible. After Zoey was spayed, I think I got three different phone calls throughout her week of recovery to check up on her. They were so caring were willing to answer all the stupid questions I had.
If you're in the Richmond area, one vet I would highly recommend is Dr. Mike Charach. Known to his animals as Dr. Mike, he is incredible caring. Dr. Mike became the first Board Certified Animal Dermatologist in Western Canada, so when it comes to allergies, there's no one better you can speak to. Currently, there are only 145 actively practicing Veterinary Dermatologists in North America, so take advantage if you need to of one right in our backyard!
Other Interesting Links
Occasionally, we come across interesting links for other websites that we like to share with our clients! A few of our favorites are listed below:
Is your Dog #1? AKC Dog Registration Statistics - a list of the top breeds of 2007
My Two Cents....
Dog Food:
Early on, we discovered Zoey was scratching a lot – definitely more than what seemed to be normal. In addition, her breath was BAD. I don’t mean puppy bad, I mean REALLY bad – a really sour smell. After a trip to our vet, he suggested that Zoey probably had allergies. We had been feeding her Wellness food, however, it wasn’t grain-free and most dogs just don’t handle grains so well. So, I switched her to Innova Evo (small bites). I was absolutely blown away at the results! The itching stopped, her breath was better, and her tear-staining even stopped! However, one thing to be weary of – apparently, one problem with Evo (or raw diets) is the high protein levels. Crude protein is 42% in this food, and although there is not a definite conclusion, some veterinary professionals have cautioned that high protein levels can damage kidneys and/or liver in small breed dogs. I know there’s a huge controversy in the raw diet (and Innova EVO is the closest thing available in a kibble to a raw diet), but there is no conclusive evidence. Orijen, a Canadian dog food company, put out a fantastic article discussing protein levels in dog food. I highly suggest you give it a read. Click here to read it.
If you want more information on dog food, the best website I’ve found so far is www.dogfoodanalysis.com It has tons of reviews and useful information.
Dog Treats:
I used to feed our old dog all kinds of human food, but she became such a mooch that eating became a chore with her around. So, with Zoey, I decided straight off the bat – NO HUMAN food. Although my sister is famous for giving Zoey some leftovers under the table, for the most part, she just eats dog food and treats. Occasionally though, I do treat her to carrots, as I’ve heard they’re fairly harmless to dogs, and Zoey loves them! One thing I never knew – grapes are poisonous for dogs (same with raisins). It’s not widely advertised, but I know how much my old dog loved grapes, so if you’re feeding them to your dog, you'll probably want to stop.
One treat that Zoey is especially fond of is a line called Vida, organic treats made by Nylabone. The treats I give her are the skin and coat enhancer. Once again, full of fatty acids and great for the coat. More information is available at: http://www.nylabone.com/products/edibles/vida-organic-treats/ I just feel that there are so many good treats out there, so why feed them substandard treats? While we’re talking about Nylabone, I have so many good things to say about this brand. Zoey just loves all their chew bones (two of which are on the sale page). She’s a pretty aggressive chewer (it’s the stubbornness in her!) and they keep her occupied for a while.
Dog Supplements:
With all the challenges we’ve been facing with Zoey’s allergies, we decided to add in some supplements that can do no harm. The first was Prozyme, a digestive enzyme that helps in the digestion of food. I was amazed when I saw the results, but have since switched over to one called In Clover Fresh Digest (http://www.inclover.com/fresh_digest_dogs.html), which isn’t easily available in Canada. It’s fairly comparable to Prozyme; I would recommend either one.
I’ve also started Zoey on salmon oil. Once again, the omega fatty acids can do no harm. I will say one thing, her coat is amazingly soft. I tried the Grizzly salmon oil, but the really fishy smell turned us BOTH off. So, I ended up finding an unscented salmon oil called Icelandic Pure Unscented Salmon Oil (http://www.icelandpure.com/salmon_oil.htm) which does essentially the same thing, and in addition, is really not that much more expensive. Another one I really like is the Omega Nutrition OmegaPet Oil for Dogs (http://www.wholesalesupplementstore.com/omeganutrition-petoil.html) – it’s a mix of different oils (such as flax seed oil, cod liver oil, sesame oil, etc.). It’s a little more fishy smelling, but still pretty good and easier to find than the Icelandic Pure Unscented Salmon oil.
Extras:
Another product that we’ve tried is great for dogs that don’t like having their teeth brushed. It’s called Petzlife Oral Care Spray (http://www.petzlife.com/) There’s also a gel, but so far, Zoey doesn’t like the taste of either but her teeth and oral hygiene are in amazing shape!
Opinions on this website are not endorsed by a veterinary professional. They are derived from personal experiences and any changes you make to your dog’s diet or health choices should be discussed with your veterinarian.