Who would have thought that our pet prediction would come true?
Let the record show that the pet names predicted the winner on Friday.  Two paws up to the New Orleans Saints, who were able to pull out the victory on yesterday.

Congratulations on your first Super Bowl victory–ever!

With the big game’s kick-off this Sunday, everyone’s talking about the Super Bowl and making predictions.  While most people look to Las Vegas for the answers, we here in the pet world consult a different authority–Veterinary Pet Insurance Company.

They’re the nation’s oldest and largest provider of medical insurance for pets.  Catching a little Super Bowl Fever themselves, they recently analyzed their database of more than 475,000 insured pets to find which Super Bowl XLIV competitor has the most pets named in honor of the team or its players.

While it might not tell you who’s going to win, it definitely lets you know who has the most enthusiastic fans–which might just make a difference on game day.  And, just like this years match up on the field, this contest is pretty close!  With only three points separating the two, it’s a real nail-biter.  Here’s how the two teams stack up:

Super Bowl Of Pet Names

When it comes to this contest, the Saints come out on top.  We’ll see if that holds true on Sunday.  But to make sure your pet always looks like a winner, be sure to pick up some game day dog clothes like these football jerseys for dogs or a sports-themed dog or cat collar just for fun.

From your furry fans!

Max and Mittens

Let the debate begin! Apparently, there are fundamental differences in cat lovers and dog lovers. University of Texas at Austin professor Sam Gosling is a leading expert on human personality. He and his graduate student, Carson Sandy, recently concluded a study on the personalities of “cat people” and “dog people. About.com reported that “the study involved “4,565 volunteers [who] were asked whether they were dog people, cat people, neither or both. These participants were then given the “Big 5″ personality test (a standard personality test used by psychologists.) Preliminary conclusions of the study, which has not yet been officially published, are that “dog people are more extroverted, more agreeable and more conscientious than self-described cat people. And that cat people are more neurotic but also more open than their canine-loving counterparts.”

Let’s Dig Deeper!

We wonder what they mean by “more open.” Would any of our wonderful cat lovers care to speculate? We have lots of “cat people” in our circle of friends and, if they’re neurotic, they hide it pretty well. We’ve also known a dog lover or two who might need to spend some time in the “Chock Full ‘o Nuts” hotel, and they’re still terrific people. We’re waiting for a study to determine whether cats are more neurotic than dogs. Is your pet neurotic? Do tell!

The Ultimate Dog Bed!

Also on the radar screen this week is our new favorite bed and breakfast! The world’s biggest beagles host overnight guests at the Dog Bark Park Inn. Dog Bark Park is home to Toby and Sweet Willy. Toby is a 12-foot tall beagle statue, and guests enter the body of the beagle from a private 2nd story deck. Some of the dog’s decorative furnishings are carvings by Dog Bark Park chainsaw artists Dennis & Frances. Inside and up another level to the head of the dog is a loft room with additional sleeping space plus a cozy alcove in the muzzle. Hmmm. It must be hard to find dog collars that big. Oddly, their Web site doesn’t say whether dogs are welcome. We’re going to assume that they are, which is as it should be. Watch this video to find out more!

Just like a lot of you, my mouth can sometimes get me in trouble.  Licking myself (and sometimes everything else in sight) can set me up for problems–especially if I’ve trampled through something I shouldn’t have.  Now, I’m not talking about the occasional fur ball, but that toxic stuff that can be found right around the house–gadzooks!

So, now that we’re starting a new year, let’s make good dog and cat health our number one resolution by saying goodbye to common pet poisons…because it’s not the big stuff that seems to get most pets in trouble, but the things that kind of fly under the radar.  To help make sure that you and your parents keep an eye out, here’s a list of the Top 10 Pet Poisons for 2010, according the ASPCA:

Human Medications

It goes without saying that swiping them off counter tops and nightstands is a no-no.  But, that’s not the only way we get them.  We sometimes gobble them up off the floor when they fall and can’t be found by our parents.  It’s amazing how our keen eyes can see them!  And, just like that–you have another pet in danger.  That’s why year after year, human medications have topped the ASPCA’s list of common hazards, with over 45,000 calls related to prescription and over-the-counter drugs.  Please, for pet’s sake, tell your parents to keep meds tucked away in hard-to-reach cabinets and pick them up off the floor when they fall.

Insecticides

Surprisingly, one of the most common incidents last year involved the misuse of flea and tick products.  Yep…the thing that’s supposed to help us can actually hurt us!  The problem arises when the wrong product is used to treat the wrong species.   So, parents, if you’re not sure what’s bugging us, talk to your veterinarian before applying any flea and tick formulas.

People Food

Although this stuff tastes good to people (and it might even taste good to some of us pets), it’s really not good for us at all.  Foods like grapes, raisins, avocado and products containing xylitol, like gum, can cause serious problems.  Accounting for more than 17,453 cases last year,  it’s obvious that people food is not pet food.  And what’s the biggest offender?  Chocolate!  It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst, urination, hyperactivity, and in severe cases, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and seizures in pets.  Yikes!

Plants

Ah, plants…they’re everywhere.  While they are good to look at, they’re not good to eat.  Fascinating little foliage, like azalea, rhododendron, sago palm, kalanchoe and schefflera, is often found in homes and can be harmful to us. Lilies are especially toxic to cats, causing life-threatening kidney failure.  Best advice:  Be sure the plants are off the floor and out of reach.

Veterinary Medications

I know you’re saying, how did this make the list?!  But, the truth is that even though veterinary medications are intended for pets, they’re often misapplied or improperly dispensed.  Common culprits are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, heartworm preventatives, de-wormers, antibiotics, vaccines and nutritional supplements.  As a pet, you really don’t have much say in the application of the medication, so remind your Mom and Dad to read the instructions and call the vet if there are any questions.  Your health depends on it.

Well, that’s the top 5.  Rodenticides, household cleaners, heavy metals (like lead found in paint chips and linoleum), garden products and chemical hazards round out the list.  To get the full info and how to prevent toxic exposures, visit the ASPCA website at http://www.aspca.org/news/national/01-15-10.html.

Just doing my part to keep pets safe!

-Mittens

Max and I got word last week that, according to an Associated Press-Petside.com poll, 74% of people like dogs a lot, and only 41 % of people like cats a lot, much to the dismay of cat lovers—and a lot of teed-off cats, as you can see…
AAAAAAAAAAAA

Today, we’re going to have one of our friends here at Max & Mittens explain why she believes dogs are more popular than cats. I can’t wait to hear this. Her name is Susan…

I think I know why dogs have the upper hand in the battle for the hearts of pet lovers. But first, I want to say something about cats. I’ve never really had a cat companion. My husband and I have German shepherds, and we foster German shepherds for our local GSD rescue group.  We’ve talked about getting a cat (my husband had one as a child,) and we think our own dogs would eventually get used to having a cat around, but our fear is that the cat would be traumatized by every new foster we bring into the house.

I also have many cat-loving friends, and it’s given me an opportunity to get  very close to some fabulous cats. Over the holidays,  I visited a friend in California who was keeping her daughter’s rescued cat temporarily.  Stubby (so named because of an unfortunate accident to her right-rear leg when she was a barn cat,) became incredibly attached to me—and I to her. Stubby sat in my lap while I read and slept next to me in bed every night. I realized then that I’ve missed having a cat in my life, and someday, if we ever give up our fostering, I’d love to add a cat to our family. But here’s why I believe dogs prevail over cats in popularity:

AAAAAAAADogs are the only domesticated animals who love and protect their owners.

I know there have been stories from time to time about people or families being saved from fire because the cat woke them up in time, or horses who went to get help when their rider had fallen and was injured, or a fish that saved Pittsburgh. But dogs instinctively protect their human families like no other animal and, unlike cats, their love is enthusiastic and unconditional. Clearly, it’s hard to beat that combination.

For me, it doesn’t matter which pet is more popular. What matters is that we always strive to be responsible pet owners who honor the love and trust our pets—furry and otherwise—place in us, and that we never forget the affection and joy these friends bring to our lives. Rescue. Adopt. Love. Max and Mittens—you BOTH rule!

It’s amazing…and a little hard to believe…that with all the modern technology you humans have that a little old dog got the jump on you!  But, for his owner’s sake, we’re all glad he did.

Just think, a super-smart dog with a super-sensitive nose was able to detect CANCER in his owner!  That’s right, cancer.  Without the aid of x-rays, probes, biopsies or anything else, Paula-Bockman-Chato, of Kellyville, Australia was first tipped off by her pet saluki Kaspar.  First assuming that the dog was being overly affectionate–constantly sniffing and nuzzling under her arm–she really didn’t think anything of it.  “He kept putting his nose in my armpit and sometimes he’d put his paw in there as well.  I was totally unaware there was a problem until he kept focusing on that spot,” says Bockman-Chato.  However, a medical check revealed early signs of lymph node cancer in the exact same spot were Kaspar had been incessantly sniffing.

Wow!  A dog with a nose for cancer!  Yet another reason why us dogs rock! I don’t know about you, but Kaspar definitely deserves a top-dog award—or at least some new dog toys— for this one.  If he can sniff out potentially fatal diseases, who knows what else this wonder dog can do.  Hey, Kaspar…Just let me know when you’re ready to open up your practice–I’m there!

Until then, here’s a few pictures of the majestic Saluki dog, which dates back the Pharoah and is one of the oldest pure breed dogs in the world.

Max

Today, we’re turning over our forum for an op ed piece by Susan, one of our co-workers, who is an ardent animal lover (two German Shepherds and counting) and a foster Mom for her local German Shepherd rescue organization.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMax & Mittens
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Two New Zealanders have begun what I believe is, on their part, an unwinnable war. Their book, Time to Eat the Dog: the Real Guide to Sustainable Living, contends that the carbon pawprint of our pets is double that of a “gas-guzzling sports utility vehicle,” and we should reconsider our love and care for  the fellow creatures that make our lives complete.

Yahoo! News reports that Robert and Brenda Vale, specialists in sustainable living at Victoria University of Wellington, “analyzed popular brands of pet food and calculated that a medium-sized dog eats around 164 kilos (360 pounds) of meat and 95 kilos of cereal a year.

Combine the land required to generate its food and a “medium” sized dog has an annual footprint of 0.84 hectares (2.07 acres) — around twice the 0.41 hectares required by a 4×4 driving 10,000 kilometres (6,200 miles) a year, including energy to build the car.”

In their book, the Vales also site dog and cat poo as toxic, “causing high bacterial levels in rivers and streams, making the water unsafe to drink, starving waterways of oxygen and killing aquatic life.”

To this I say, so what? Humans are far more responsible for polluting our planet in an ever-expanding variety of ways. Maybe we should eliminate all the polluting humans, too. Good luck with that. Living in a world without SUVs is eminently doable. Living in a world without our beloved pets would be devastating. As a matter of fact, the Vales go so far as to say that other animals are not good for the environment either. I guess they conveniently forgot that humans are also animals, a fact frighteningly proven every day in newspapers, television, radio and on the Internet every day.

The Vales suggest that, if you must have a pet, get one that’s dual purpose—like a chicken that lays eggs or, as Robert Vale recommends, “Rabbits are good, provided you eat them.” You have got to be kidding me. Clearly, this couple doesn’t get the concept of pets. I feel sorry for any kids they may have, who get a precious bunny they fall in love with, only to wind up chomping away on its lucky rabbit’s foot during Sunday dinner.

As you can imagine, animal rights activists and pet owners are up in arms—but they don’t have to be. The diversity of life—wild, and otherwise—is the very essence of our world. And with the need for unconditional love becoming greater and greater, our pets aren’t going anywhere.

But there is a place Robert and Brenda Vale can go where they’ll be happy, because there will be no loving, cuddly pets or animals there to affect their environment. Not even a rabbit to roast over the fire…

AAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Certainly not the good folks who designed these fabulous dog crates!  Yep!  You heard it here…The next big thing in dog crates is furniture.  Looking like a stylish end table, no one would ever know it’s actually a crate for you!  And, this is just one of the beautiful styles you can call home while your parents are away.

Besides the beauty and functionality of these crates (and any crate for that matter), they’re an excellent way to house train puppies, protect furniture and keep you safe and comfortable during the day while your Mom and Dad are at work.  So to all you parents out there, here’s your chance to get those crates out of the garage or basement.  With these doggie domiciles, there’s no need to hide them.  And if you get a designer dog bed for times when you’re at home, your pet never has to leave the lap of luxury.

Wouldn’t this stately duo look great in your family’s den. Quick! Ask your Mom about it right now. Christmas is just around the corner, you know…

Forget about stocking stuffers–ask for furniture!

Hi, everyone! Mittens here with something interesting (of course!) about cats. Misty Belardo of BitRebels.com has had a lot of experience with cats, and she seems to have figured out how we talk to you–or more precisely, what our actions mean.  Bet you’ll be curious about whether number 4 is true.  On the one hand, I wish animals could talk, so we could confirm what you believe about us. On the other hand, talking animals would probably freak you out, but we’d sure have plenty to say. Here’s Misty’s cat translation, followed by a cute (is there any other kind?) cat video:

1.  Kneading - They knead their mom’s body when they are kittens. If they knead when they lie close to you, it means they have accepted that you are a parent.  Cats are not like dogs in that they don’t beg for attention.

2. Purr – When he snuggles close to you and you hear a motor like sound coming from your cat, then you know he’s content and happy.

3. Lick their Bodies after every meal -  When it’s bath time for them, they clean their bodies by licking. Cat grooming is common, but even if they do clean themselves, we give our cats a bath.  One of our female calicos, Dumpling, even plays in the tub.

4.  Blink their eyes while looking at you - This is called a cat’s kiss.  What you do is blink back. Its one way they show their affection for you and for cat lovers.

5.  They are digging – When they smell something they don’t like, they dig invisible litter.  When cats have to go potty, they usually make sure they hide it under the cat litter ,so when they’re not in the litter pan and smell something they don’t like, they do the digging motion.

6.  Smell something, then opens its mouth – This means there is a trace of cat pee somewhere near. Besides smelling with their nose, cats can smell with an additional organ called the Jacobson’s organ, located in the upper surface of the mouth.

The holidays are a time when most people try to do something good for others.  Well, thanks to the combined efforts of a few pet pantries, it’s also a time to do something good for us pets, too!  Realizing that hard economic times are also hard on pets, they’ve partnered to initiate a national pet food drive to collect dog food and cat food for families with little resources who are struggling to care for their pets.

Pet food or people food?

When times are tough, it’s a tough choice.  But, with the efforts of the Northland Pet Pantry in Missouri, Central Florida Pantry in Orlando and Pikes Peak Pet Pantry in Colorado, that choice doesn’t have to be made.  Although they aren’t collecting other pet supplies, admittedly, food is the most basic need to be met.  So, if you live in those areas or if there is a pet pantry where you are, get your parents to donate.  If not, see if they can send a monetary donation.  Who knows, their donation might just keep a beloved pet at home instead of being taken to a shelter because the family can no longer afford to care for the pet.

Fill their bowls with love!

The National Pet Food Drive ends January 1, 2010, and they need everyone’s help to make this a December to remember.  Their goal is to raise 15,000 pounds of pet food for dogs and cats.   So, let’s raise a paw and help make sure there’s food in their bowls.  For more information or to donate pet food, call 719-217-9528 or visit the participating food banks:

Pikes Peak Pet Pantry in Colorado Springs, Colo.
719-217-9528

Northland Pet Pantry in the Kansas City/Smithville, Mo. area
816-272-8508

Central Florida Pantry in the Orlando, Fla., area
321-252-2327