Jenn Fadal and Lab

Abe’s Big Day

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Jenn
Posted in Excercise, Hips and Joints, Paws for Thought, Uncategorized

Tomorrow is Abe’s big day.  Just a little less than one month before his eighth birthday, he is going under the knife for ACL repair surgery.  My poor boy.  He has no idea that he is in for a 12 week recovery…no running, no chasing squirrels and certainly…no tennis ball action.

Our consultation with Dr. Hay, Abe’s surgeon, was February 3.  That morning, I told Abe to get his big boy pants on and get in the car.  He wore his very tough neon green rubber spike collar for the consult, fell asleep in the car on the way there, got lots of love at the office and then enjoyed an icecream on the way home. 

Dr. Hay is a nice man….I should have asked how many of these surgeries he does a week/month/year.  It seemed like a rotating door of ACL patients.  Dr. Hay explained the procedure and his recommended surgery at a fairly high level.  I was happy that I  had researched beforehand, or I would have been most likely been lost in medical jargon.  But, everyone who has had their dogs operated on by Dr. Hay holds him in high regard.

Out of the available surgery options, Dr. Hay recommended the TTA or Tibial Tuberosity Advancement.  He said that he performs this surgery 90% of the time and  the end result.  Abe should have 90%+ use of his leg when it is fully healed.  That is good news for Abe.

Tomorrow our journey begins and by Friday afternoon, Abe will be snug as a bug catching zzzz’s in his bed. 

Can’t wait to spoil my patient!

A Good Man Down

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Jenn
Posted in Excercise, Health & Wellness, Hips and Joints, Uncategorized Tagged , , , ,

My seven year old dog Abe is an athlete.  I say this with the utmost confidence because he is among the lucky and talented dogs that can catch a ball anytime, anywhere.  It is amazing to see just how fast he can pluck a ball out of mid-air after spinning around and doing a few acrobatic moves.  My husband and I are always saying “did you see what Abe just DID?” 

All of this talent has finally caught up with him though.  After limping around for a few days too many I took him to his veterinarian.  A couple of x-rays later, what I hoped wouldn’t be true came to fruition…he has torn his ACL in his right hind leg. 

What is an ACL tear?  ACL stands for Anterior Cruciate Ligament which crosses in the joint from the femur to the tibia.  A ligament is a fibrous band of tissue and can be torn or partially torn.  In Abe’s case, we believe it is fully torn.

Now, you see, I knew this would most likely happen.  But how do you keep an All Star on the bench?   Many of my customers’ similarly skilled dogs have had this surgery.   I have talked many people through the 12 week recovery period and loved on many cone headed muzzles.

Abe and I go to his consultation with orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Hay, on February 3.  It will all begin that day, more x-rays, choosing which surgery option, coming to terms with paying anywhere from $1,800-$2,600 and learning about the recovery period.

In the meantime, I thought I would share with you some of the warning signs, breeds who are at risk, how an ACL is torn and what you can expect from recovery.  I do hope that your dog will not have to go through this…but if he/she does, you will have an idea of what you and your dog can expect.

Warning signs:  Sudden limping, swollen knee, holding the foot of the affected leg off the ground, dog may start using the let again but lameness often returns.

How is it diagnosed?  A veterinarian can diagnose an ACL tear by manipulating the knee joint.  X-rays are also used to assess the problem and to determine if arthritis is present.

How does it happen?  A tear can occur if a dog is overweight therefore putting too much pressure on the joint.  Commonly, the ACL is torn when a dog twists on his hind leg.  This is what Abe does as he catches his ball or slips on our floor when running through the house.  Usually, a tear happens gradually over time and sudden lameness is the result.

Breeds:  Some breeds are more prone to ACL tears than others: the  Labrador, Rottweiler, Bichon Frise, St. Bernard are among them. 

Post Surgery:  After the surgery, dogs must be controlled and can only take low impact walks and/or swim as directed by a veterinarian.  Overweight dogs must lose a few pounds to take off the excess stress on the leg.  Recovery time is 8-12 weeks.

So it begins, Abe’s three month procedure.  Watch out for him this summer though…he will be better than before and leading our pack around Davis Islands.

We will keep you updated on our visit with Dr. Hay and our surgery experience.

Good morning!

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Jenn
Posted in Paws for Thought, Products, Uncategorized Tagged , ,

 

Our day started earlier than usual.  Typically the baby wakes up around 7am, we put him in our bed and he will lay there until about 7:30am all the while climbing, rolling and tackling my husband. 

Today however he woke at 6:30am so our morning routine kicked it up a notch!  The two other boys in the household, Abe and Chico, were raring to go at 6:30 as well and by 6:45am they were all begging for food in the kitchen!

I snapped a couple of photos of the three beggers:  Sebastian, Abe and Chico.

Everyone’s mornings are crazy I know…but mine are striking me as so humorous these days.  Maybe that is what lack of sleep does to a person…makes you a bit loony!

Now that the boys have had their fill of The Honest Kitchen and the baby has had his bottle and yummy looking peaches, I am settling in at Wag for a full day of working like a dog with the dogs!

Have a terrific Wednesday!

Uggie- the cutest celeb on the red carpet

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Jenn
Posted in Animal Rescue, Events, Lifestyle, Paws for Thought, Uncategorized

Is it possible that the best dressed celeb at the Golden Globes was wearing only a bow tie?  Uggie, the Jack Russel who was once kicked out of two homes and fated for life at the pound or worse, stole the show at the Globes Sunday night. 

In true Jenn fashion, I love watching the Golden Globes, the Oscars, People’s Choice Awards…etc…but usually haven’t seen the movies that are nominated.  This year was no different.

So when I saw the little Jack Russel Terrier named Uggie, go up to receive the award with the rest of the cast from The Artist I was surprised and knew I had to find out his story.

Apparently, Uggie is a trick happy, extreme skateboarding,  9 year young actor who has quite a bit of movie experience under his paw.  The incredible dogs website lists Uggie’s appearances which include:  Water for Elephants, Disney’s Life is Ruff, Mr. Fix It and now The Artist.

Uggie was such a hit that groups are calling for him to be in the running for an Oscar.  The facebook and twitter campaign is called “Consider Uggie” and I’ll tell you one thing for sure…he’s got my vote!

Dogs, Cats, Guineas, Rabbits…Oh My!

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Jenn
Posted in Uncategorized

Just before the holidays I was able to bring Jill, Nina, Winston and Raymond with me to the NBC studios in Tampa to film a segment for Daytime.  The interesting part about this is that Jill is a dog, Nina a cat, Winston a rabbit and Raymond a guinea pig.  You know how the saying goes…in showbiz…you never want to work with kids or pets! 

Well, I am happy to say that ALL FOUR of our featured pets were on their best behavior.  Jill and Nina found forever homes after the segment and Raymond the guinea is still looking for his.  (Winston the rabbit is owned by my customer Charlene. 

Click here to look at the Daytime segment and meet Raymond! 

For more info on Raymond visit:  www.pigsnbuns.org

Here is a bit on guinea pig care:

Guinea pigs are usually docile, rarely bite and are known to squeal with delight when their favorite person comes in the room.  They can make a good starter pet for an older child who has mastered proper handling techniques. Guineas are delicate and dropping them can cause harm. They should be fed twice a day and once hand tamed let out of their cage at least once a day for exercise.  Always opt for a larger cage at least 4 ft in length per guinea pig.  This makes for a happier/healthier pet. Guineas are very social and like to live in small groups.  So two guineas are always better than one!

I snapped a shot of the pets, their handlers and hosts Jerry Penacoli and Cyndi Edwards!

Happy Anniversary Chico!

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Jenn
Posted in Animal Rescue, Excercise, Uncategorized

 

 

The holiday crazies are in full swing.  For me personally, I have a party to plan, Christmas cards to mail,  inventory to count and about 10 more pages of to do’s.  Feeling anxious?  Yes.   More than anything else however, I am feeling grateful…for so many things.

Certainly for my family, work and friends but leading the pack are six little legs. Two of these legs belong to the little man currently belly laughing as he jumps away on his FisherPrice bouncer. My son Sebastian arrived on the scene on April 29 of this year. My husband and I couldn’t be happier to be his parents and we are enjoying every ounce of this child.

Prior to Sebastian’s celebrated birth, four additional legs ran into my life. Well, more like hobbled in. Chico, my 18lb Chihuahua mix walked through my doors on December 13, 2010. You may remember his story from past Paws for Thought articles. Chico was found at the Davis Islands baseball fi eld tied to a fence on what happened to be the coldest day of the year. For some reason I went against my cardinal rule (not to keep lost/found dogs myself but to lead the person in the right direction) and decided to foster him.

From December through April, I did try to fi nd a home for Chico. I took him to adoption events, wrote articles about him, posted his adorable scowl on facebook, took him to the store to meet my customers and more. Each attempt was met with an overwhelming silence.

 In the meantime, he was doing his best to win me over. He was my walking partner. I was very pregnant at this point and Chico was my constant companion as I logged many many miles all over Davis Islands. I do credit Chico for helping me to only gain 20 pregnancy pounds! He also put me through boot camp. In those first months, Chico was waking up at least once a night to go outside and “do his business.” As I begrudgingly suited up at 2am to take him out, I kept telling myself this is how it will be when the baby arrives.

 The baby did arrive in April, and both Abe and Chico’s jaunts with Mom were put on hold. Chico, however, took on another role. Instead of being my walking partner, he was now my middle of the night baby feeding side kick. No matter what time or how often I was up with Sebastian, there was faithful Chico, staggering in to the room and plopping down beside the rocking chair.

 By June, I knew that Chico was my dog….and by July, my husband knew as well. Chico finally won my husband over when he did his crazy small dog run through the backyard. If you have small dogs, you know what this is –one of the funniest things to witness. I fi nalized the adoption paperwork and Chico became officially a Fadal.

 It is amazing what one year can bring. I thought I was busy with a husband, business and one dog. Now, twelve months later, I have a husband, son, two dogs and a business. I am loving every hectic minute!

And, Chico has gone from being tied to a fence on a cold winter day to having his own family and getting ready for the annual Christmas photo.

 As Cesar Milan (and my good friend Jen) says you don’t always get the dog you want but get the dog you need.

I am thankful. Happy Holidays.

411 on Pet Halloween Safety

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Jenn
Posted in Uncategorized

1.      Keep Pets Indoors- Halloween night has the second largest number of lost pet occurrences out of the year.  Pets should remain home during trick or treating festivities  The combination of darkness and costumes may make your pet anxious and scared.  If you keep your pet in a gated yard, consider bringing them indoors.  There will be many pranksters out, who just might find it funny to let your pet out of the gate, antagonize your pet or even worse.

Tagg the Pet Tracker is an excellent and EASY option to give pet owners peace of mind.  It is a GPS tracking system for your pet and is unlike any other product out there.  It puts the owner in control of their pets whereabouts.  In a matter of minutes, you can identify where your lost pet is on a map. Only available at Tagg.com.

 

2.      Chocolate, Candy and other Yummies- By all means, all candy, especially chocolate is a big NO NO for Felix and Fido. Chocolate is toxic to a pet’s system and can have fatal results. Not to mention, the wrappers, foil, twist ties, etc. surrounding the candy can cause choking or may lodge in the pet’s intestines.

However, if you want to give your pet a sweet treat, try your hand at making them carob brownies!  Carob is actually a legume and is full of vitamins A,  a series of B vitamins, D and minerals.  It also has fiber and pectin and is low in sodium.  a safe sweet and therapeutic alternative. 

3.      Candles- We all know that Fido’s tail can whip around as fast as a category two hurricane and will take out anything in it’s path. If you have cats, no space is off limits.  Please keep all lit candles far out of your dogs range. And definitely remember to extinguish candles prior to leaving your home.  

Better yet, use a wickless candle like this one.  I have pretty much eliminated candles from my home and exclusively use no wick candles.  Scentsy.

 

4.      Trick or Treaters- Costumes and excited kids may cause your pet to bolt out of an open door or perhaps become scared/nervous leading to unwanted results.  The best precaution is to not let Fido greet trick or treaters without being on the other end of his leash or not at all.  Nervous or overly excited pets are better left in a cozy room with all of their favorite things while you are greeting trick or treaters or hosting a Halloween party. They will feel much better and you will not take the chance of your otherwise friendly FiFi becoming snappish.

A few must haves for their room is a long lasting treat (antler), twist n treat toy, comfy bed, water.  Natural anti anxiety remedies would be rescue remedy or thundershirt.

5.  Costumes- If you choose to dress your pet this season, please make sure that their costume is not constricting in any way. If the costume includes a mask, please ensure that the eyeholes are wide enough not to impede Fido’s peripheral vision. Limited vision could cause your dog to become nervous and potentially act out of the norm. Give your pet extra water when dressed as he may become warm and try not to leave his costume on for extended periods of time.

Check out Abe on TV and learn about a few more products to keep your pets safe and entertained this Halloween! 

Crypton to the rescue!

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Jenn
Posted in Environment, Hips and Joints, Products, Uncategorized

As most of you know, I have two seven year old boys at home.  Abe, my lab mix, is crazy about his ball!  His ball fetish began pretty much the first day we brought him home and has never stopped.  Because of his age and his craze, it is difficult for him to stand when he has been lying down on the floor or his bed for a while.

Chico on the other hand, could care less about a ball.  The only toy he likes is his toy chipmunk that we gave him the first day he was dropped on our doorstep.  He does have a few physical problems however.  He is missing the ball in his hind leg hip socket and he has a compressed disc in his neck.  He has his days when walking is very difficult.

I have tried various beds for both but had not gone the route of orthopedic beds yet.

The makers of Crypton pet beds contacted me to test their product.  Not only are they  known for making beds that really last but they have an orthopedic bed that is supposed to be fantastic.  Crypton beds are made with fabric that resists moisture, stains, odor and bacteria (the tag says that spills just wipe away!)

I took them up on their offer and two beautiful beds just arrived!  Can’t wait to test them on Chico and Abe and see the result!  I hope they like it!  Orthopedic AND odor resistant?  What could be better?

Chico's Bed

Abe's Bed

Keep following my blog as the Crypton story to unfolds!

Bow Wow Brownies

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Jenn
Posted in Health & Wellness, Nutrition, Pet Forum, Uncategorized

My dog Abe is not a picky dog…not in the least.  He is just as happy with a raw piece of meat as he is with his bowl of dry dog food.  When I bake Bow Wow Brownies however, he is one happy guy!  I think he actually smiles.

If you are looking to try your hand at baking for your dog, this is a sure winner.  Is your dog intolerant of wheat?  If so, try an alternate grain source and add the carob elements.  I don’t think one dog has turned these bad boys down!

Directions:=1

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.2
  2. Blend oil and honey in a bowl.3
  3. Mix in remaining ingredients.
  4. Pour into greased 15- by 10-inch baking sheet.

Fido’s Fall Schedule

Posted on September 13, 2011 by Jenn
Posted in Uncategorized

It’s that time of the year when you are probably back to your old routine of rising early, preparing for work, kids are busy with school and after school activities and you do it all over again day after day after day.  Visions of your relaxed summer are quickly fading as your fall routine takes over.

So, how about your dog?  After a few months of frolicking with your kids, perhaps vacationing or spending time in the pool and yes, most likely eating more table scraps than normal…he is back to his old routine of staying at home most of the day by himself. (and don’t you wish you had a camera to see what he is actually doing?)

While it is true that dogs do sleep most of the day, there are a few things you can do to put him on a schedule and make his life a bit more interesting.

  1. Diet- if your Fido has had a summer filled with extra treats and unscheduled feedings, now is the time to change that.  Feeding your dog a healthy diet twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, will help to regulate his digestive system and minimize the number of times he has to “do his business” during the day.  If you are out of the home most of the day, this will certainly help to minimize accidents.
  2. Toys- Introduce a few new toys to your dogs line up this fall.  My favorites are toys that release treats or food as the pet plays with them.  They can roll, flip and nuzzle these toys and treats/food release.  This will help your dog to get a bit of exercise while he eats as well as provide mental stimulation.  There are also “guaranteed” toys on the market that can take the force of a tough chewer.  If the toy is ruined you can send it back in to the manufacturer for a new one.
  3. Exercise- this is so key to your dog’s physical health and peace of mind…not to mention yours!!  My recommendation is to start with one good walk in the morning followed by another even better walk in the evening.  If you can fit in at least a couple of miles at a fast pace with a big dog or a high energy dog in the morning, your dog will have less anxiety all day.  This will lessen the tendency to chew furniture or other destructive behaviors.  The walk in the evening will release all of the pent of energy the dog has built up during the day.
  4. Dog park- if your dog is a good candidate for the dog park, this is a great way to burn off energy as well.  However, I do recommend walking your dog and getting energy out PRIOR to going to the dog park.  To ensure safety your dog should be in a calm state of mind when visiting.
  5. Gear-don’t have time for a long walk prior to work?  Opt for a short one but add a doggie backpack to the mix.  A back pack fits snuggly onto the dogs back and can be filled with weighted items on either side of the pack.  This will give your dog a tougher work out in a shorter amount of time.  (Think of yourself walking with added weights on your legs.)
  6. Support- if your schedule just does not allow much time for the dog, you have to align yourself with people who can support you.  This could be a pet sitter, doggie daycare, friends or family members that have time during the day to walk/play with your dog.  If you are financially able to hire a pet sitter to walk your dog midday, that is terrific.  Or, perhaps check the prices of a doggie daycare and enroll your dog a couple of days a week.  I guarantee you will come home to a tired dog.  Or, there might be a neighbor that is willing to spend quality time with your dog during the day as well….and they just might do this for a batch of fresh baked cookies or a pizza once in a while!
  7. Kids and dogs- gradually introduce pet responsibilities to your kids as they get older.  Kids can begin feeding and grooming your pets at about five or six and taking on more responsibilities later.  Always supervised of course. 

Creating a schedule for your dog and making sure he has an outlet for his energy will make for a relaxed dog and a happy owner!

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