The Pony Dog Blog

Making Your Own Dog Food--#3 Adding Fruits & Veggies

2009-03-19T12:04:00.000-07:00

Many people have never thought to give their dog a carrot or a green bean. Just as fruits and vegetables are good for us, they are also good for dogs, too. While not all dogs go crazy for a crunchy veggie snack, you may find that your dog just might prefer a carrot to a greasy, commercially-prepared preservative-laden treat made from ground corn and heavy sugars.

I start my dogs out eating fruits and vegetables from puppyhood, and rescues from the time they come to me. It is a good idea to ask your veterinarian what fruits and vegetables he/she recommends for your dog. There are some important things to remember when feeding fruits, for example. Most fruit seeds/pits are toxic to dogs and actually contain cyanide. When giving apples, always remember to remove the seeds first. While bananas are a favorite around here, be sure to feed them in moderation as they can cause constipation and/or diarrhea depending on how much you feed. Grapes are a no-no, as are raisins. Check with your vet if you feel you need help formulating a safe list of fruits and veggies for your dog. A few common fruits and vegetables I use are potatoes (white, red and sweet), carrots, garlic, green beans, apples, bananas and tomatoes. I use organic, but if you are using non-organic, make sure to wash the fruits and vegetables thoroughly and peel them.

When adding to my protein/rice/pasta base I usually use fruits in the mornings along with oatmeal and yogurt, blended in the blender. I call this concoction Fruit/Veggie Slop or Soup. :-) Any extras are placed into a ziplock container for use the next meal.

Cottage cheese and tofu are good sources of protein that I utilize at breakfast time as well, along with hard-boiled eggs. I add all supplements in the mornings. When you are making your own dog food, it is a good idea to purchase a good quality multivitamin and mineral supplement to make up any deficiencies in your dog's diet and help in maintaining a gorgeous coat, healthy skin and eyes. I have long used The Missing Link and have been very satisfied with the results, but there are several other brands out there that are worth looking into as well. I have also used peanut oil, wild-caught salmon oil and flax oil for dogs who need a boost in the skin and coat department. Be careful not to use too much of any one particular supplement. If you are using a product such as The Missing Link, it will be unnecessary to add any extra oils as this can lead to over-supplementation.

By the time everything is mixed together it looks rather icky, but trust me, dogs go nuts for it. At dinner time, I utilize vegetables in place of the fruits. There is no law that says you can't use veggies in the morning and fruits in the evening; this is just the way I do it. Remember, try to keep a good ratio of protein to everything else. I generally go with a 70/30 split. Working dogs, young puppies and pregnant/lactating females may need more and you will need to adjust the diet in these cases.

Next: Kibble

Making Your Own Dog Food-- #2 Getting Started

2009-03-17T11:55:00.001-07:00

First let me state that I am not a canine nutritional expert or a veterinarian. My way of feeding my dogs is just that--my way. There are many other diets out there and many opinions on this subject. I am simply offering what I have learned over the course of many years of preparing my dogs' meals.

While the prospect of making your own dog food and being responsible for your dog's nutritional needs rather than blindly relying on what's inside a bag or can may sound daunting, it is something that--once you do it a few times--will help you to gain confidence and feel much better about taking that big step.

First decide whether you will be feeding a raw, modified raw or a cooked diet. There are many resources for each on the internet. There are many pros and cons for each method and everyone has their own opinions and ideas on what they feel comfortable doing. I myself feed a modified raw diet. My dogs get raw meaty bones, raw fruits and veggies, semi-cooked meats and cooked pastas. They also get cottage cheese, yogurt, eggs, ground eggshells and oatmeal. I also supplement with an organic kibble (both for crunch and so that they are used to eating it when we travel or have a dogsitter come in) as well as use a multivitamin supplement. More about all that later. ;-)

First we'll start with your dog's activity level and age, to determine who needs what. If you have young, active working dogs who are expending a lot of energy, their needs are going to be different than say an older, more sedentary pet dog. Puppies need more protein than older dogs. I generally like a 70/30 mix. 70 percent protein, 30 percent everything else. Take a look at the ingredient lists of several different bags and cans of premium commercial dog food. While many of the feeding suggestions should definately be taken as a guide and not gospel, look at the differences between Puppy, Adult and Senior diets. This will help you as you formulate the appropriate protein ratio for your dog's diet. If you have multiple dogs of different ages/dietary requirements, this can get a little trickier. No worries, though. You can do it! ;-)

As we know, dogs are carnivores. While it is possible to feed a dog a vegetarian diet with substituted proteins, we will not be addressing that here. Here we will be addressing the average household dog and how we can feed them a well-balanced homemade diet that's not only good for them, but palatable as well. So on to the first ingredient--meat!

Organic vs non-organic. I am a believer in organics. I feed my family organically and this includes the pets whenever possible. Getting your hands on organic meats can be difficult, however. While organic meats are more expensive than conventional meats, they are free of growth hormones, pesticide and antibiotic residues and other chemicals that I would rather not put into my body or my dog's. Sometimes, however, organic or natural meats are not easily accessible and we must settle for what we can get at the local store. I generally prepare my dog food for the week, so I shop for meats for the dogs while I do my regular grocery shopping. I have been very pleased to find that some of the larger chain superstores now carry a pretty good selection of organic and natural meats, and the prices are getting better. There are those times, though, when I can't find what I need in the organic or natural section and occasionally have to settle for non-organic.

Single vs multiple proteins. A single-protein diet is, in my opinion, not the best way to go. I prefer to rotate proteins. Beef one or two days, turkey the next, fish (wild-caught not farm-raised) the next, etc. I have found that by introducing a young pup to as many different protein sources as possible helps to minimize sensitivities to any one particular protein. Chicken, for example, tends to be a protein that many dogs have problems tolerating. I fed chicken until a few years ago, when tainted chicken began entering the food supply and became big news. I'd not had a problem before and all of a sudden the dogs started exhibiting strange symptoms. I eliminated the chicken and everything went back to normal. I have tried some organic chicken since but they just don't seem to tolerate it as well so I just don't use it. There are many dogs, however, that do just fine with it. You will learn what your dog tolerates well and what he/she does not.

Certain breeds may be sensitive to certain proteins as well. Chinese Cresteds are said to be prone to lamb sensitivity, so I avoid using lamb in my Crested kids' diets. My non-Cresteds do well on it. Do a little research to see if your breed has any specific dietary allergens.

Beef is a staple around here. There are many parts of the cow that are useful in canine diets, such as tripe (stomach), intestines, heart, tongue, cheekmeat and liver. Go sparingly with liver, however, as it can cause loose stools if you feed too much. I generally save liver for making dog training treats. It is something that they only get while training, and they love it, hence it remains a special once-in-a-while treat.

Fish is also a favorite protein, as it is packed with omega-3 fatty acids. All those fish oils make for a fabulously shiny coat. Ever see the containers of fish oil for sale in pet stores? It's a fabulous supplement. I have long used fish and fish oils for beautiful coats. It never disappoints. ;-) While fresh, wild-caught fish is the best, in a pinch you can use canned. I generally use salmon, but catfish, tuna, mackerel, cod and many others are good to use as well.

After choosing a particular protein, I pair it with rice or some variety of pasta. Rice is my first choice, but the dogs love various pastas and tolerate them well so I do rotate different types of pastas. These days you can get organic rice and pasta quite reasonably at most grocery stores. I have a huge pot (my dog food pot as it has come to be known) and I will start the meat in some water first. As the meat is nearly done, I will add the rice or pasta. You can either slice the meat raw or slice it afterward. I generally take the time to slice it up raw, so that when I am preparing individual meals, I just scoop out what I need, without having to slice it up as I am making each bowl. Impatient dogs will generally drive me crazy if I do that. ;-)

Stay tuned for the next installment!

Making Your Own Dog Food--#1

2009-03-10T13:25:00.001-07:00

Making my own dog food was something I'd learned years ago, shortly after adopting my first Rottweiler, a rescue dog in very poor health. I was working both at a veterinary hospital and a large chain pet superstore and had the benefit of being exposed to many different types of dog foods on one hand and on the other seeing the results of poor diets every day at the hospital. Poor skin and coat condition, dull eyes, flea investation and general overall health can be linked to a dog's diet.

I began making my own dog food in the early 90's after becoming involved in rescue and generally being dissatisfied with most of the dog foods on the market at the time. It was incredibly daunting in the beginning, as there were not as many websites devoted to canine nutrition as there are now. I studied a lot of pet food bags, spoke to a lot of seasoned dog people who were knowledgeable in this area, read a lot of articles, consulted veterinarians and experimented a lot. But even now, in a sea of websites on the subject, it can still be daunting. With many improvements having been made in the dog foods available today, we have many more choices than just a few years ago. Due to the more recent pet food recalls, however, many people are choosing to make their own dog food.

I have been asked many times what I feed my own dogs. In the next few articles I will outline the diet I have used with great success and hopefully make the prospect of making one's own dog food a little less daunting for those who'd like to try it. Stay tuned!

February Photo Contest Winner

2009-03-10T12:26:00.000-07:00

The winner for February's themed Photo Contest is Tre and his mom Patti. The theme for the month was "I Love You" and we felt that this photo--taken on Tre's Gotcha Day--embodied everything we were looking for. It just so happens that it's the one year anniversary of Tre's Gotcha Day! Congratulations Tre!

Patti has an awesome eco-conscious pet-related business, too! Check out her awesome recycled t-shirt jammies here and get some for your 4-leggeds today!

New Flavor For The Kitties! Tuna & Cheese!

2009-02-19T12:31:00.000-08:00

Did you know Monkeypups now makes cat treats? If you didn't, you should check them out! We have just added a new flavor--Tuna and Cheese! What cat doesn't love tuna? We've combined fragrant wild-caught tuna with scrummy organic mozzarella cheese for a cheesy treat! We've also added organic mint and parsley for fresher breath! Yay!

Organic Cat Treats

January Photo Contest Winner

2009-02-09T07:53:00.001-08:00

January's Photo Contest theme was Winter Fun. We chose this adorable photo of Ella taking a moment to kiss the bunnies while out on a potty break. So sweet! Congratulations Ella!

Mitzi & Ozzie--Can YOU help?

2009-01-29T10:36:00.000-08:00

Crested Guardians recently took in two adorable little Cresteds in need and both of them are in need of medical attention. Ozzie (top) and Mitzi (below) need some pretty expensive veterinary care before they can be adopted out to their forever homes. Crested Guardians has put together a fabulous fundraiser for these dogs. Follow the link below for more information on how you can help.

Valentine's Day Fundraiser

Monkeypups will be giving $5.00 coupons to everyone who donates to this very worthy cause. Just email us with proof of your donation and we'll send you a coupon for $5.00 off of your purchase at Monkeypups!

busy_baking@monkeypups.com

Newfiepalooza 2009, Chicago Illinois

2009-01-26T13:17:00.000-08:00

It's time for the 6th Annual NEWFIEPALOOZA Newfoundland get-together & fund-raiser to benefit Newfoundland dog rescue. Monkeypups was so proud to have been asked to participate in last year's event and we were thrilled to be asked again this year.

The North Central Newfoundland Club is a non-profit group of Newfoundland dog owners that is 3000 strong. Many members have their newfs trained in search & rescue, water rescue, therapy, cart pulling, grooming and showing as well as other activities. Newfiepaliiza is being held May 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. Members and their Newfoundlands) come from all over the United States and Canada to attend this spectacular event for rescue.

A sampling of what you'll find at this year's Newfiepalooza are as follows: Hundreds of dollars worth of quality raffle/silent auction items, such as a one of a kind newfie jewelry, handmade oiled latigo leads, newf pins, magnets, stickers and more, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to Rescue! Come for the fun, games, NEWFS, prizes, NEWFS, vendors, NEWFS, food, NEWFS, visiting with friends and did we mention the NEWFS?!

Check out the North Central Newfoundland Club's website for more information on this year's event.

Portions of this article written by Rhonda Brunning, others borrowed with permission from the club website. Photo courtesy Rhonda Brunning.

Current FDA Recalls

2009-01-21T11:51:00.000-08:00

In light of the current FDA recalls of peanut butter and peanut butter products, we would like to assure our customers that the peanut butter we use in our treats is not affected by the current recall. We are monitoring the situation closely, however, and will make decisions accordingly.

Please direct any inquiries or concerns to busy_baking@monkeypups.com.

To be aware of more product recalls, check the FDA's website here.

Princes & Princesses--Yappy Hour January 09

2009-01-19T14:10:00.000-08:00

After missing a few Yappy Hours due to dog shows or other events, we were happy to be back in attendance at one of our favorite Brevard County dog rescue events. This month's Yappy Hour was held at Ryan's in downtown Cocoa Village and was to benefit Pug Rescue. Even though the evening was a chilly one, there was a very good turnout and a good time was had by all!

Miss Seidye was in attendance, having protested wearing her lovely princess crown barrette with lovely pink sparkly rhinestones. Two seconds in the hair and BAM--it was shaken out of that little head and promptly broke on the ground, so needless to say we did not enter the contest. There were many other wonderfully dressed up pooches and they all looked fabulous. We can't wait until the next Yappy Hour!

Monkeypups Turns 1

2009-01-13T09:32:00.000-08:00

We can hardly believe it's been a whole year already! We've learned a lot this year and made many new friends. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our customers, all the rescues we've had the pleasure of working with and fellow small business owners who have helped to support us through this past year. We've come a long way, updating our bakery and equipment and launching The Pony Dog Blog. There's still a long way to go. We're excited to see what this year brings. We hope those of you who have followed us will continue to follow us and we hope that the new year brings a whole new bunch of friends and that Monkeypups will continue to grow and prosper.

Hugs everyone!!! XOXO

Happy 2009!

2009-01-13T09:14:00.001-08:00

Myspace Glitter Graphics

Monkeypups wants to wish everyone a happy and prosperous new year!

Holiday Photo Contest Winner

2009-01-13T07:50:00.000-08:00

It was a haaaaard choice this time around! We received so many wonderful holiday photos of your dogs and it was very hard to pick just one! We had to make a decision, though, and this month's winner is a lovely photo of Sugar (left) and her half-brother Giorgio in their holiday finest--Christmas Puffs! Don't ya just want to squeeze them? Ack! So cute!

Yappy Howl-i-days!

2008-12-04T10:07:00.000-08:00

Monkeypups is busy baking up some scrumptious holiday treats for all those dogs that have been especially good all year! We are proud to announce our latest holiday shapes and flavors:

Gingerbread Man Biscuits
Gingerbread Reindeer Biscuits
Carob Peppermint Skull & Crossbones Biscuits

Yum! Check them out here and get your order in today!

Monkeypups November Photo Contest Winner

2008-12-02T07:10:00.000-08:00

Sade & Shakuma took the turkey and just had to be our November Photo Contest Winner! Fabulous!

To find out this month's theme and how you can enter your dog(s) and possibly win some free gourmet organic dog cookies, visit Monkeypups today!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2008-11-25T07:47:00.000-08:00

Build your own Blingee

While we are enjoying the holiday, the bakery will be closed. No new orders will be processed from Tuesday 11/25/08 - Monday 12/1/08. Any orders placed during this time will not be processed until we return. Have a great Turkey Day!!!

Seidye and the toofers

2008-11-24T16:19:00.000-08:00

Seidye thanks everyone for the well wishes as she recovers from having some baby teeth extracted. She is thrilled at eating extra mushy food, as she feels that eating kibble is wrong on so many levels. Upcoming shows (Miami and Orlando) are iffy right now as the vet tech shaved part of her leg ((smacking forehead)), and whether or not we decide to show with a funky-looking leg is yet to be determined.

New Monkeypups Biscuits Flavors! Tomato Basil & Carob Cinnamon!

2008-11-11T08:02:00.000-08:00

Once again we've been busy bees in the Monkeypups kitchen! We are proud to announce the two latest biscuit flavors on our site, Tomato Basil & Carob Cinnamon! Yum! Made with all organic ingredients, of course, these flavors will drive your pup wild! Check them out here!

AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day 2008

2008-11-10T07:34:00.000-08:00

Organized by BCDTC (Brevard County Dog Training Club), the 3rd annual RDO Day was a smashing success. The weather was gorgeous, there were dogs everywhere and lots of fun things to see and do. Radio Disney even made an appearance, offering lots of music and Disney fun for the younger folks in attendance.

Monkeypups offered up lots of fresh-baked organic goodies for the dogs in attendance to sample, and we are very proud to say that we converted a few non-treat-eating dogs! Woot! Woot! Go Monkeypups! Go Monkeypups! Ahem...ok, where were we? Oh yes, along with our own tent there were many vendors, including dog clothes and accessories, photographers, several local shelters and rescue groups, pet waste pick-up services, major chain pet stores, the local doggie boutiqes and so much more!

There were even Police K9 demos along with demos in Agility, Flyball & Rally. The big hit of the day was the Lure Course. People stood in line for the opportunity to run their dog(s). We had to get in on the fun, of course, our own Veda being a HUGE fan of Lure Coursing.

It was a fabulous day and we can't wait until next years' RDO Day!

October Photo Contest Winners

2008-11-03T11:17:00.000-08:00

October was the first month we held a dual-themed photo contest. We received many wonderful entries and are happy to announce the following winners:

Our Halloween Photo Contest Winner, Sprinkles. Sprinkles is dressed up as My Little Pony!

Our Happy Fall Ya'll Photo Contest Winner, Davinia. Davinia is showing her fine hunting skills as she stalks beautiful fall leaves.

For information on this month's Photo Contest and to enter your pet, go here.

Monkeypups Donates 10% of your order to Crest-Care

2008-10-21T09:58:00.000-07:00

Monkeypups is donating 10% of all proceeds from orders referred by Crest Care Chinese Crested Rescue! Please check out their website and all the lovely Chinese Cresteds up for adoption! Ack! Adorable!

Crest Care Chinese Crested Rescue

Seidye's Second Match

2008-10-20T10:02:00.000-07:00

Take away the rain and muddy aftermath at the outdoor showgrounds and Miss Seidye Jayne had a good day. She is getting much better at feeling confident and not having jelly legs when the judge approaches. ;-) She moves like a dream.

Photo of the Week

2008-10-20T09:04:00.000-07:00

Well it's no secret we love photos, and here is one that captured our hearts! One of our Crested friends from the UK took this wonderful photo of her husband and Crested baby taking a snooze. Precious!

More Pinwheels! Pumpkin Spice, Apple Cinnamon & Peanut Butter Crunch!

2008-10-20T08:54:00.000-07:00

As if the Blueberry Pinwheels were scrummy enough, we've now added a few more flavors the Pinwheels biscuits. ((insert drum roll here))

Give it up for Pumpkin Spice, Apple Cinnamon & Peanut Butter Crunch! Woot! Woot! ((applause)) Check 'em out right here and get some for your holiday Bow Wow Buffet today!

Monkeypups Offers Free Banner Ads for New Wholesale Accounts!

2008-10-17T11:07:00.000-07:00

We are now offering free advertising on our website and the blog for new wholesale accounts! Get your pet-related business seen by more eyeballs! Contact us today!

New Biscuit in the house! Blueberry Pinwheels! Yum!

2008-10-15T12:06:00.000-07:00

With the holidays looming, this unique twist on one of our most popular biscuit flavors will keep your Bow Wow Buffet hoppin'! Be the Host With The Most and offer your guests' canine family members some of these delicious Blueberry Pinwheels and have a happy holiday season!

Blueberry Pinwheels

Seidye's First Match!

2008-10-06T06:01:00.000-07:00

We are so proud of our little Seidye! Her confidence has improved greatly over the weeks and despite the showgrounds being a rainy, muddy mess and things being delayed, we had a great day. Seidye came home with 3 ribbons--1st, BOB (Best of Breed) and Group 3. You go, Seidye! Woot! Woot!

New Monkeypups Fall Biscuit Shapes & Flavors!

2008-10-01T10:02:00.000-07:00

Woo hoo! Monkeypups new Fall biscuit shapes and flavors are here! Check out the website for info on the new goodies!

The new shapes include pumpkins, cats, squirrels, bars and of course, turkeys (not pictured)! We will also be offering the new Fall flavors in our standard rolls (Regular and Big Dog sizes) as well as our signature (and popular) Skull & Crossbones shape.

It's smelling super-delish around here with the new flavors bustin' out of the oven to share their sweet, Fall aromas! We are proud to announce:

Pumpkin Spice
Apple Cinnamon
Sweet Potato Molasses
Turkey Dinner

Why shouldn't your pooch enjoy the flavors of Fall, too?

We're baaaaaack!

2008-09-29T08:13:00.000-07:00

We're back from beautiful San Francisco and jumping headlong back into work! Please bear with us as we sort through all our San Fran photos and select the ones that will be posted to the blog.

Thanks to all the wonderful people who bid us welcome and made our visit to CA so enjoyable. We had fun visiting all the fabulous boutiques and talking with other dog people as well as meeting their doggies. Stay tuned for pictures and details but for now we must get back in the kitchen and bake those cookies!

Arrival in the City by the Bay

2008-09-21T14:41:00.000-07:00

We arrived in San Francisco early this am. After catching up on some sleep and breakfast, we hit the jogging trail and enjoyed the cool, breezy day and the California sunshine.

Busy, busy, busy!

2008-09-18T05:47:00.000-07:00

We realize the blog posts have been a little sparse lately, but we have simply been swamped with all sorts of things going on. Exciting new things are afoot in the Monkeypups camp! Hot off the heels of our big move and the much-anticipated arrival of Seidye Jayne, we are busily preparing for our trip to California, gathering marketing materials and product samples, packing up the pups' gear and finalizing our itinerary. It has been posted on the website but we will post it here also--operations are suspended until our return. No one's in the kitchen, folks! If you place an order, you will be placed on the order roster but the order will not be filled until we return. We expect to resume normal operations on Monday, September 29th.

Our Fall prep will begin upon our return also, with new pumpkin goodies being added to the product line, as well as a new round of coupons hitting the streets. All of this will be going on in conjunction with local events and the start of Miss Seidye's show career. Lots going on! Don't miss any of it! Stay tuned!

Preparing for San Francisco

2008-09-14T16:30:00.001-07:00

While we've been busy filling our last orders and making preparations before we head off on our big promotional/marketing trip to San Fran's very dog-friendly streets, the Monkeypups have been busy, er, "helping." :-)

Pedigree Dog Food Recall

2008-09-13T07:30:00.001-07:00

Popular Dog Food Recalled

POSTED: 9:43 pm EDT September 12, 2008
UPDATED: 9:47 pm EDT September 12, 2008

CARLISLE, Pa. -- Pedigree Dog Food is recalling four varieties of its food
because it may be contaminated by salmonella.
Here are the recalled foods:
* Pedigree Large Breed Original (UPC 2310029158)
* Pedigree Mealtime Crunchy Bites Small (UPC 2310005104)
* Pedigree Small Crunchy Bites Beef (UPC 2310031483)
* Pedigree Small Crunchy Bites (UPC 2310014719)
Officials say there have not been any reports of dogs getting sick.
Customers are urged to check for the above-listed UPC numbers on any
packages of Pedigree Dog food in their homes. If you have any of the dog foods
listed above, Giant and Martin's food stores will accept them for a full refund.
Consumers can also call the Mars Consumer Care Line at 866-298-8332 if they
have questions.

Microchip Helps To Get Child And Dog Home

2008-09-08T07:22:00.001-07:00

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (UPI) -- Police in Port St. Lucie, Fla., say a pet chip implanted in a dog accompanying a 2-year-old girl who had wandered off
helped them find the toddler's home.

Officers said they received reports of the child, identified as Annabelle Fabrizio, chasing the dog into traffic at about 7:45 a.m. Sunday, The Palm Beach Post reported Wednesday.

The police report of the incident said officers contacted an animal control
officer who traced the pet back to registered owner Barbie Molina. The woman
told police she had given the pooch to the young girl's mother, Melissa
Fabrizio.

Police said they took the toddler, who was clad only in a diaper, to her
home, where babysitter Nick Westmoreland, 16, told officers he had thought the
young girl was asleep in her room. Officers said the house's sliding door had
been left open.

Seidye's First Yappy Hour

2008-09-06T19:38:00.001-07:00

Seidye Jayne--the newest addition to the Monkeypups family--attended her very first Yappy Hour this evening! The fundraising event this month was to benefit Greyhound Pets of America, Central Florida Chapter and the theme of the night was "The Psychedelic 60's." The evening was filled with groovy 60's tunes and lots of tye dye, peace signs and bell bottoms. Ryan's Pizza sponsored the event and as always, delivered the goods with fabulous pizza, the best garlic knots around and lots of friendly service. They always set out plenty of bowls of ice and water for the dogs, and are always there to refill an empty bowl. We love Ryan's!

For her first time ever at a Yappy Hour event, Seidye did wonderfully. True to her solid temperament, she was unaffected by all the dogs, the smells, the noise. She sailed through the night like she'd been attending Yappy Hour forever! Yay Seidye!

Seidye Jayne settles in

2008-08-31T06:02:00.000-07:00

Today marks Seidye's fifth day here at Chez Monkeypups. Yesterday she met Meemaw and Pawpaw (we do live in the south), her auntie and doggie cousin. Of course everyone thought she was absolutely beautiful. How could they not? :-)

She has adjusted very well, has shown no aversion to dietary changes and has been romping and playing with the others. She will be attending her first public event on September 6th as Monkeypups heads to downtown Cocoa Village for this month's Yappy Hour to benefit Greyhound Rescue.

Deadly Dog Toy

2008-08-29T08:04:00.000-07:00

Photo credit 2008 Chai

A horrific story of a dog's suffering, all caused by a common rubber ball toy. Please read and check your doggie toy baskets.

http://www.thechaistory.blogspot.com/

Recall information can be found here: http://www.fourpaws.com/news/press-room/four-paws-rough-rugged-pimple-ball-with-bell.htm

Seidye's Journey Home

2008-08-28T13:45:00.000-07:00

Since we've gotten so many requests for more pictures of Seidye, we put together a little slideshow of her journey home as well as her first day with us. Hope you enjoy!

Miss Seidye Arrives

2008-08-27T12:50:00.001-07:00

We are very happy to report that Miss Seidye has completed her journey from Ohio to Florida and is resting comfortably after a very tiring day full of delay after delay in the wake of the FAA fiasco yesterday. We were unlucky enough to get caught up in it and instead of being able to enjoy the day with Seidye's breeder, they had to drive to the airport to bring her to me after I was stranded in Atlanta for 6 hours. We had enough time for a quick visit and then we were back inside, going through Security and getting ready to wait again. Flight delayed. Flight delayed again. And again. Eventually we made it back to Florida early this am and we are catching up on our sleep. Many MANY thanks to Gracey Burger of Couture Chinese Cresteds as well as Deb Lacy of Debonair Yorkshire Terriers and Chinese Cresteds. More to come...

Seidye prepares for her trip!

2008-08-24T08:30:00.000-07:00

Miss Seidye Jayne prepares for her first plane flight by getting used to being in the carry bag. She is doing very well and doesn't mind it at all, according to her breeder Gracey. :-)

Help Us Welcome The Newest Monkeypup!

2008-08-23T06:50:00.002-07:00

We are very proud to announce the latest member of the Monkeypups family, Couture's Our Elaborate Plans (Royal Flush N'Co X Stardust From N'CO), call name Seidye (pronounced "Say-dee"). After searching for over a year for just the right puff gal with which to step back into the ring, we found Seidye. Infinite thanks to her breeders, Deb Lacy (Debonair Yorkshire Terriers and Chinese Cresteds) and Gracey Burger (Couture Chinese Cresteds), for entrusting me with this lovely girl.

Many thanks to everyone who assisted me in my search and provided me with information, advice and leads while on the lookout for the perfect puff for me. Special thanks to Chelsey Combs (Klearly Chinese Cresteds), who was of invaluable help to me and answered all my many questions, taking the time out of her busy schedule to answer email after email, assuring and reassuring me despite my concerns about getting back into Conformation after a 13-year absence. Chelsey's good people!

Seidye will be coming home in a few days, and will begin her show career in the fall.

Pedigree Pet Food Recall

2008-08-18T16:50:00.001-07:00

Mars Petcare US Issues Voluntary Recall of Limited Bags of PEDIGREE® Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites at Albertsons in Southern California and Las Vegas due to Potential Salmonella Contamination

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- FRANKLIN, Tenn. – August 08, 2008 – Mars Petcare US today announced a voluntary recall of limited bags of PEDIGREE® Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites sold in Albertsons stores in Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. The pet food is being voluntarily recalled because of potential contamination with Salmonella. There have been no complaints or reports of injury resulting from consumption or handling of the recalled product.

The product should not be sold or fed to pets. Pet owners should dispose of product in a safe manner (example, a securely covered trash receptacle) and return the empty bag to the store where purchased for a full refund.

Salmonella can cause serious infections in dogs and cats, and, if there is cross contamination caused by handling of the pet food, in people as well, especially children, the aged, and people with compromised immune systems. Healthy people potentially infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. On rare occasions, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Animals can be carriers with no visible symptoms and potentially infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

Recalled Pet Food
Product: PEDIGREE® Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites
Size: 20-pound bags
UPC Code: 23100 14719
Lot Code: 830BFCAT02
Best Buy Date: 07/2009
Best Buy Date Location: Back of bag
Affected Stores: Albertsons locations in Southern California and Las Vegas.

In an effort to prevent the transmission of Salmonella from pets to family members and care givers, the FDA recommends that everyone follow appropriate pet food handling guidelines when feeding their pets. A list of safe pet food handling tips can be found at: www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/petfoodtips080307.html

Pet owners who have questions about the recall should call 1-877-568-4463 or visit www.petcare.mars.com.
_________________
From www.fda.gov

Adventures In Moving Multiple Dogs

2008-08-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

[I posted this on a forum I belong to, and it was requested that I post it here as well. ;-)]

Well, as many of you know, we are moving. Oh so much fun, right? Yeah, I hear ya. A resounding "No!" Especially when the animals get all freaked at the sight of boxes swallowing up all their familiar surroundings. I can predict how it's going to go, much to the hubby's chagrin, especially when my prohecies come true and I am moping while cleaning rivers of pee and bathing dogs constantly, all the while listening to a chorus of YIP YIP YOOOOOOWWWWWWLLLL YIP YIP SQUUUUEEEEEEEAAAAAAAK SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK YOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWLLLLLLLLL.

So the dogs are crated as we begin packing and moving things, for their own safety and ours. It began as I figured it would, with a resounding ((insert falling water sound here)). Wolfie lifted his leg (something he has only done 3 times in his whole life) onto the wall behind his crate, while he was in it. So I clean it up, then its back to packing boxes. Then I turn around and Isy has peed in her crate. She has developed quite the dislike for her new crate and for any type of training in general. Her favorite thing to do is her impression of a toddler--she just digs in her feet and refuses to move. If she doesn't want to budge, nothing will move her. No silly voices, no treats, no toys, nothing. Can you say "Diva?"

So we clean up her crate, and of course we now need to get in the tub. After she is squeaky clean and doing her best pitiful face and trying to snuggle into my neck ("Oh Mommy, don't put little cold, shivering me back into that cold, hard, terrible crate! I shall surely die!"), we pass by Wolfie, who is looking up at me quite defiantly, from among a puddle of pee. I SWEAR he looked defiant. So, muttering expletives under my breath, I put Miss Isy back into her crate. Mommy doesn't fall for the pitiful look. Wolfie HATES baths with the hose, so that's precisely where I take him, figuring it might deter him from doing it again. We clean the crate again, come inside, and I SWEAR to everything that is holy Isy was standing in pee. @#$%!&! ("Oh my goodness, I seem to have soiled myself, Mommy! Help me! Help!") Um yeah I think perhaps we need to deal with the unpleasantness of soiling our crate for just a few minutes longer. This displeases Her Royal Highness. She begins barking.

"Hey! Hey! HELLOOOOO! I'm in pee here! Hey!"

Long story short this has been going on since day 1 of the move. Isy and Wolfie are tag-teaming with the pee, and Isy decided she would throw in some poop for good measure. So I grab a newborn Pampers, cut a hole for her tail, and slap one on Little Miss Pottys-A-Lot's little naked heiney, put on some jammies, and shoot her the "Ah ha!" look in triumph. I go off to pack some more boxes. My victory was short-lived. On my next pass her diapers were hanging out from beneath her jammies. @#$%&!

I fix them, put her in some tighter-fitting clothes, and get back to business. Mommy is SO going to win. Of course those diapers are bone dry the next time I check. And the next time, and the next time. Oh and did I mention, Wolfie pees in the crate 2 more times that day and Isy decided to get mouthy while I put her diaper back on her prior to putting her to bed for the night? When a loud "AH!" came out of my mouth she gave me a backward glance as if to say, "But Mommy, I was just kiddding..." Uh-huh. Mommy doesn't play! Little turd!

I will be SO glad when we are done moving and everyone settles down.

((sigh))

Gotta love moving!

Phinn & Veda Lend Their Images For A Good Cause

2008-07-25T16:07:00.000-07:00

Phinn & Veda recently had the honor of being included in a poster from which proceeds will benefit the family of their friend Tessie, whose home was destroyed in the recent flooding in Iowa.

This beautiful poster (designed by thirty-nine design) features members of Chinese Crested Crush , an online community of Chinese Crested lovers from around the world and is suitable for framing. The price for the posters is $23.00 (shipping included!). Please read the entire story here and get your poster today!

Peanut Butter Mini Bones!

2008-07-24T08:03:00.001-07:00

Monkeypups just keeps crankin' 'em out! We now have Peanut Butter Mini Bones! Great for the tiny dog set or as training treats for the larger dogs, these adorable little biscuits pack a lot of flavor in a tiny package. Our most popular-selling flavor, peanut butter is a favorite of dogs and the smell when you open the package is the smell of organic peanutty goodness and a lot of love!

Stay tuned for more flavor options to be added in the future!

Yelp for Kelp!!!

2008-07-22T11:18:00.001-07:00

Monkeypups is at it again, this time capturing the age-old benefits of organic kelp in a delicious new biscuit! Check it out!

Kelp Krunchies

Agility Update

2008-07-14T07:06:00.000-07:00

Veda and her Agility training partner Annie are moving right along with their lessons. They are making great progress, this past weekend successfully navigating a partial course! Woo hoo! Great going, kids!

New at Monkeypups--Sweet Potato Mini Bones!

2008-07-11T20:45:00.000-07:00

Monkeypups is proud to announce Sweet Potato Mini Bones organic vegetable chews! These cute little vegetable chews are made of organic sweet potatoes and shaped like little bones! So cute! Perfectly sized for little dogs or for use as a training treat for big dogs. Crunchy and sweet and a healthy alternative to rawhide chews, your dog will love this whimsical version of our popular-selling Organic Sweet Potato Chews.

Illness, Death Dog Nutro Pet Food

2008-07-01T12:44:00.000-07:00

Company Denies a Link to Scores of Sudden Illnesses

By Lisa Wade McCormick
ConsumerAffairs.com
June 23, 2008

A series of mysterious illness and death dogs Nutro pet food. Scores of pet owners report their animals became ill while eating Nutro products, then recovered when they were switched to another brand. At least six dogs have died in the past two months, according to an analysis of complaints to ConsumerAffairs.com. The company discounts the reports, saying they are isolated and unconfirmed; at least one Nutro employee, sickened by the company's response, told us she resigned.In related developments, ConsumerAffairs.com has learned:

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently investigated the April deaths of two dogs in Indiana. The FDA tested samples of the Nutro food those dogs ate, but did not find any toxins. No one, however, has tested the Nutro food the other dogs ate before they died;

• A pet nutrition specialist for Nutro confirmed she's heard complaints about the company's food making dogs and cats sick. She reported those concerns to her supervisor, but said they were ignored. She recently resigned;

• There is a shortage of some varieties of Nutro dog food. The company says this is a supply problem – not a safety or quality issue;

• Some consumers have sent their pets' food to Nutro for testing. They have not received any results. Other pet owners plan to hire private labs to test their food and report their concerns to the FDA and the Animal Poison Control Center run by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

The six dogs that recently died include two Italian Greyhounds in Indiana, a Beagle/Whippet mix in Pennsylvania, two German Shepherd puppies in North Carolina, and a Doberman Pinscher in Texas. The dogs' owners all say their pets were in good health and they're convinced that Nutro's food is somehow connected to their animals' deaths. Those concerns are echoed by pet owners whose dogs and cats have recently become sick after eating the company's food. Nutro, however, defends its products and says the food is 100 percent safe. But scores of pet owners across the country -- including longtime Nutro customers -- no longer feel safe feeding this brand of food to their dogs and cats.

Max and Sophia

They're consumers like Theresa C. of Indianapolis. Her two healthy Greyhounds -- Max and Sophia -- died within days after eating Nutro's Natural Choice Small Bites Lamb and Rice food. "We bought Nutro for the first time in April," Theresa said. "And within four or five days, both of our dogs were dead. These were healthy dogs that have never been sick. They were extremely housetrained, but before they died, they both were urinating everywhere…we were constantly refilling their water bowl."
Sophia, their four-year-old Italian Greyhound, showed the first signs of illness.
"On Sunday, April 27, she was vomiting, acting dizzy, and she became skittish," Theresa said. "Italian Greyhounds also don't smell, but I noticed Sophia had an unusual smell before she died. It was almost a sickening smell; I've never smelled anything like it before." Sophia's condition quickly deteriorated. "She continued to vomit up liquid and bile into the early hours of Monday, April 28," Theresa said. "And she became dizzy and almost appeared to be drunk." Theresa rushed Sophia to the emergency animal hospital. "By the time I got her there she was comatose and in kidney failure. She had to be euthanized." Max, her three-year-old Italian Greyhound, had started to experience the same problems. "He began vomiting at 2:30 am, but was not as ill as Sophia had been," Theresa said. "When I got him to the vet she found elevated creatinine and BUN (blood urea nitrogen) levels. She administered an IV and retested later in the evening on the 28th. The levels were still rising but, she said he may pull through." Max's condition, however, did not improve. "By the morning of the 29th he had blood in the whites of his eyes, was vomiting again, and showing signs of distress," Theresa said. "We again had his blood checked and the levels were through the roof." Max's kidneys were failing. "Our vet told us there is no hope because he was in renal failure…we decide to euthanize to limit his suffering." Losing both dogs -- in such a short period time -- was heart-wrenching for Theresa, her husband, and their six children. "I don't know who cried more – me, my husband, or my 20-year-old son. I was a mess for a week." Despite her grief, Theresa vowed to find the cause of Max and Sophia's sudden deaths. Her vet suspected antifreeze poisoning. "But we don't have antifreeze around our home," Theresa said. "These dogs were never alone. And we have the same neighbors we've had since Max was a puppy. I didn't see how it could be antifreeze poisoning." Theresa had autopsies done on her dogs at Purdue University. She sent samples of their kidney tissues to Michigan State University for testing. She and her family also contacted the FDA and Nutro. "Our 20-year-old son called Nutro after Sophia died and he asked if there was something wrong with the food. He said we've already had one dog die and another one is sick. "The girl at Nutro said we've had complaints, but nothing that is a known issue right now."

FDA tests
The FDA immediately investigated the dogs' deaths. "An investigator came over to my home before we had the autopsy results back," Theresa said. "He took samples of the food and had me file a complaint." ConsumerAffairs.com confirmed that on May 7, 2008, an FDA investigator took samples of Theresa's Nutro food and had it tested for several contaminants, including melamine, aflatoxins, and ethylene glycol. That's a chemical in antifreeze. Those tests did not find any toxins in the food. "Findings were negative for melamine and its analog, aflatoxins, ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol, and for salmonella," the lab report stated. "No significant filth or foreign material was found."

Antifreeze
Theresa is baffled by the FDA's findings. "I wonder if there's something in the food they're not testing for," she said after reviewing the FDA's report. Theresa is also puzzled by the autopsy results on her dogs – and the tests run on their kidney tissues. Those examinations revealed Max and Sophia had high levels of ethylene glycol in their systems, which indicated the dogs' deaths were consistent with antifreeze poisoning. With Theresa's permission, ConsumerAffairs.com sent copies of her dogs' medical records to veterinary toxicologist, Dr. Steven Hansen. He's the senior vice-president of the ASPCA's Midwest Office, which houses the organization's Animal Poison Control Center. After reviewing the reports with a pathologist in his office, Dr. Hansen said: "The kidney lesions do not fit with melamine but are consistent with ethylene glycol. Since ethylene glycol was confirmed in high concentrations in the kidneys and not in the diet the diagnosis in this case is clear. Unfortunately, the dogs did die of antifreeze poisoning." Theresa, however, still has her doubts. "I know these dogs didn't get near antifreeze…especially in these extreme amounts," said Theresa, who may hire a private lab to test her Nutro food. "Like I said, I wonder if there's something in the food that no one is testing for."

Blue death

Two states away, another grieving pet owner shares Theresa's concerns about Nutro's food. Susi B. of Pittsburgh, Pa., said her healthy ten-year-old Beagle/Whippet mix died on May 30th. She suspects Nutro's Lamb and Rice food is the culprit behind the sudden death of her beloved dog, Blue. "I bought that bag at the end of March, and when I opened it up, it looked like it had little white bugs all over it," said Susi, a longtime Nutro customer. "When I picked up the food, it was like a granular substance. But I didn't think much about it because the food wasn't part of the recall." Blue, she said, gradually started to become sick. "I'd come home and see where he'd thrown up. But I didn't think about the food." When she returned from work on April 18, Susi found Blue collapsed on the floor. "Normally, he'd run to the door and greet me, but when I walked in that day I couldn't find him right away. He was on the floor and breathing heavy." Susi immediately took Blue to the vet. "But the vet couldn't find anything except an elevated white count, a low red blood count (he was anemic), and he had a temperature," Susi said. "They gave him an antibiotic and vitamins." Susi also took Blue off his Nutro food and fed him hamburger and rice. "And he got better. So over the next couple of weeks, I slowly reintroduced the Nutro dog food to him." Blue's condition worsened again. "He got to the point that when I put Nutro in front of him, he refused to eat it," she said. "And he was a dog who would eat everything. He didn't want to eat anything except melted ice cream. His weight went from 26 pounds to 18 pounds. He was skin and bones. He was lethargic. He became so weak he could no longer walk outside to use the bathroom or stand to drink water." That's when Susi launched her own investigation. "I went online and Googled Nutro and found out (on ConsumerAffairs.com) about all these other dogs that had symptoms like mine."

Bare shelves
She also discovered that some of Nutro's pet foods -- including the variety she'd fed Blue -- were no longer on the shelves at her local pet store. "There was a note in the store that said the shortage was due to some manufacturing issues." Susi immediately called Nutro to get some answers. "I was told the reason the food was not on the shelves was because the company that made the bags had a machine break, and the company ran out of chicken. But I was feeding lamb and rice." What about the complaints regarding Nutro's food? "They said they were aware of your Web site and considered it nothing but a blog," Theresa said. "They said when one person posted (a complaint) it caused a panic, and none of those dogs' owner have contacted us." At Nutro's request, Susi sent the company four cups of Blue's food for testing.
That was several weeks ago, but she has not received any results. "I'm trying to find an independent lab to test the food, but some say it would be a conflict of interest to test the food and others say they don't know what to test for."
Susi said she'll keep digging for answers until she finds out what caused Blue to suddenly die in his sleep on May 30th. "I'm convinced Blue's death is tied to that food and I won't stop until I prove it," she said, adding the last test done on her dogs indicated he had a blood tumor. "If I had listened to my dog, he might be alive today." The guilt and pain surrounding Blue's death, she said, is almost unbearable. "It's devastating. He was my best friend for more than ten years. He followed me all over the house. And in a matter of six to eight weeks after we opened that last bag of food, he'd gotten to the point that I had to carry him outside and hold him up to go to the bathroom. I am 100 percent convinced there is something in that food that is affecting these animals," she added. "It's not a coincidence that all these dogs are getting sick."

Dead puppies
A grieving pet owner in North Carolina echoes those suspicions about Nutro's food.
Birgit H. of Franklinville said two of her puppies -- from the same litter of seven -- suddenly died on June 3rd. The healthy six-week-old German Shepherds -- Anna and Anja -- had similar symptoms as the other dogs that died after eating Nutro's food.

Anna and Anja

"They were vomiting, had diarrhea, and were lethargic," Birgit said. What's so alarming to Birgit is the speed at which the puppies' health deteriorated. "We started feeding them Nutro puppy food on June 2 and they died on June 3," she said. "I worked in a vet's office for ten years and I've never seen anything like this before. I've never seen dogs going down so fast, then get back up, then eat again, and crash. They got so weak and died so fast." The veterinarians who treated the puppies couldn't explain their sudden deaths. "They were puzzled because the puppies did fine in the morning, but that afternoon, they just died," Birgit said. "One died at home and one died at the vet's office. Everyone is puzzled by this. The first thing you think of with puppies is Parvo (a viral illness). But there weren't symptoms of Parvo. And if one dog has Parvo, they all have it. There's no way that happened. These puppies were healthy before we put them on Nutro."
The other five puppies in the litter -- and the mother dog -- also showed signs of illness. "All the other puppies had started throwing up," Birgit said. "Then I received a phone call from another breeder and he asked me if I had recently switched to Nutro food. He told me about all the other dogs that had gotten sick on the food. "That night, my husband and I put the dogs back on their old food and everyone is fine again." Her friend's call, she said, saved her dogs' lives.
"I would have killed all my dogs because I would have kept feeding them that food."

Nutro not alarmed
Birgit contacted Nutro, but said the company didn't seem alarmed by the loss of her dogs. "I've been on the phone with Nutro three times and they're blowing me off. I told them they need to take the food off the shelf and test it. But the person I talked to said the company won't do that; they said they have quality food."
In another call to Nutro – in which she waited for an hour to talk to someone -- the company "finally took a report." "But they didn't ask me for a lot number on the bag or the date of purchase," Birgit said. "All they gave me was a customer number. That's it. They really disappointed me." Nutro also wanted the rest of Birgit's puppy food. "I told them 'no. I'm not sending you all my food.' They didn't like that. I'm thinking of getting it tested somewhere else." She also plans to contact the FDA and the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center about her puppies' deaths.
Nutro, however, did offer Birgit an explanation for the sudden deaths of her puppies – and the recent illnesses in pets nationwide that have eaten the company's food. "They said it was a coincidence." Birgit doesn't buy that explanation.
"Maybe one or two cases could be a coincidence. But it can't be a coincidence with so many cases. And it can't be a coincidence that once you take the dogs off the food they're fine. I'm not one to point fingers, but as soon as I took the puppies off the Nutro food, we didn't have any more vomiting, diarrhea, or lethargy. They are now all doing great. So is their mom. Nutro needs to take this food off the shelves and test it." Until that happens, this professional dog breeder will not recommend Nutro to her clients. "I always thought it was a good food, but now, I wouldn't feed Nutro to my worst enemy."

McGee
Neither will a grieving pet owner in Texas. Peter B. of Houston said his nine-year-old Doberman Pinscher, McGee, suddenly died in April. McGee ate Nutro, too. And his symptoms mirror those of the other dogs that have recently died after eating Nutro's food. "He was a healthy Doberman…he was fine before," Peter said. That all changed on April 27. "I came home around 6pm and was outside watering my lawn," Peter said. "I noticed McGee was on the ground and had thrown up. He was also shaking." As the night progressed, McGee's condition took a turn for the worse. He threw up again. And it looked like more food that I'd given him," Peter said. "He was also thirsty. He just wasn't himself." Later that evening, Peter noticed McGee had started breathing heavily. "And he kept getting water. He then started shaking again…he just wasn't right. McGee went back outside at 2 am," Peter continued. "When he came back in, he got some water and then he was sitting in the hallway." A short time later, McGee came back into Peter's bedroom. "He flopped down and he was breathing heavily, he was shaking, and crying." Peter rushed to get McGee immediate medical attention. "We tried to get him in our SUV and all of the sudden, he collapsed. I put him in the back and probably did 100 mph going to the vet." But McGee died on the way. "He was gone when we got there. They tried CPR, but he was gone." The veterinarian wasn't sure what caused McGee's sudden death. "He was pretty generic," Peter said. "But he said it might have been some type of heart arrhythmia. "In hindsight, I wish I would have gotten an autopsy, but it was such a shocker." Peter, however, started researching possible causes for McGee's sudden death. "I put in some of the symptoms he had and Googled them," he said. "And Nutro kept showing up. I thought that was scary because that's what I've always fed him. But I noticed that these problems seemed to be a lot more recent…they were new problems." Peter contacted Nutro about McGee's death. "I've sent them three e-mails, but they haven't responded. I tried the 800-number, but it kept ringing and ringing."

No Nutro
Peter also stopped by the local pet store where he bought McGee's food. "The shelves that contained Nutro Natural Choice were almost bare. That never has happened." He asked a Nutro representative -- who was working in the same aisle -- about the shortage. "He stated that no recall was in effect, and Nutro just happened to shut down a few plants producing what he termed 'not as tasty food,' and the 'quality' was not up to par." That explanation didn't make sense to Peter.
"Seeing that a dog can't talk, I asked him how the company would know if the food was not 'tasty.' It seemed far more plausible that a company whose main product is dog food would not shut down a plant -- and have no product -- unless some very extreme situations were coming to light." Peter then told the Nutro representative about McGee's sudden death. The representative called it a "coincidence."
But Peter is certain something is wrong with Nutro's food. He plans to hire a private lab to test the food and prove his theory. "I'm doing this because something has truly happened. I don't have any evidence now, but based on my dog's symptoms and all the complaints I've read, the logical deduction is the food probably got some dogs sick, and in my case, caused my dog's death." He added, "I will not let this be swept under the rug and hopefully will get the confirmation I am looking for by testing the pet food I still have."

Scores sickened
During our investigation, we found that scores of pets -- primarily dogs -- continue to become seriously ill after eating Nutro's food. Consider what happened to a healthy, three-year-old Chocolate Lab named Choco. His owner, Sharon A., of Cheektowaga, New York, has fed him Nutro Max for the past five months.
He never had any problems eating the food until April. "That's when he suddenly got sick," she said. "He started vomiting, had loose bowel movements (diarrhea) and was very lethargic. It really worried me so I took him to the vet. He even threw up at the vet's office." The veterinarian diagnosed Choco with pancreatitis (an inflammation of the pancreas). "They put him on IV's, gave him some antibiotics and Pepcid, and kept him hospitalized for three days," Sharon said. "When I brought him home, he was much better – almost back to normal." The vet also switched Choco to a prescription dog food. "They told me when he was done with that food he could go back to Nutro. But when I put him back on Nutro, he got sick again – with the same symptoms." Her vet ran additional tests on Choco. "This time, they said he did not have pancreatitis, but they gave him antibiotics anyway." Choco's condition, however, did not improve. "He got sick again and I took him to the vet for a third time," Sharon said. "They said his levels were elevated again for pancreatitis. They put him on IV's and other medications." Like other pet owners, Sharon started to investigate her dog's symptoms. Her search led her to ConsumerAffairs.com.
"I couldn't believe all those people on your Web site whose dogs had the same symptoms as mine," Sharon said. "After I read all those, I stopped feeding Choco the Nutro food. And he's now gotten better." Does she think it's a coincidence that so many pets have become sick after eating Nutro's food? No way. "They get sick when they're eating Nutro – they have vomiting, diarrhea, and they're lethargic," said Sharon. "And they get better when they stop eating the food. I don't think that's a coincidence."

Overseas complaints
Our investigation also found that some dogs overseas are now experiencing similar health problems after eating Nutro's food. We learned that two healthy Italian Greyhounds, who live on a U.S. military base in Italy, recently became sick.
Their owner, Michelle M., purchased their Nutro food at the base's commissary.
"I thought the yard started to smell funny after they had been on Nutro for a couple of weeks," she said. "I noticed that they threw up regularly, particularly the nine-month old." His condition worsened last week. "He woke up and started to whine for no reason," she said. "He was clearly in pain, if he stood up his back legs shook, then he would go lie down. He has been lethargic all day and has passed four bloody/mucus-filled stools." Michelle desperately searched for answers.
She ran an online search of Nutro and was shocked to learn that scores of other dogs -- eating the same brand of food -- had experienced similar problems.
"I am detached from all of the press stateside and am very upset that no effort has been made to alert military families overseas of a possible problem (with the food.)"
Michelle stopped feeding her dogs Nutro and is now cooking chicken and rice for them.
"I'm hoping there will not be any long-term health consequences for my boys. They are both members of my family and my children and I love them immensely."
She added: "I'm glad we caught this in time, unlike some of the others who have reported very serious illnesses or even death associated with this brand of dog food. If the FDA is examining Nutro, they need to move quickly -- it is hard to tell how many people at overseas military bases are feeding this (food) to their dogs and possibly killing them."

Ex-Nutro employee
Michelle's complaint -- and the scores of others we received about Nutro food -- don't surprise a former pet nutrition specialist for the company. "I would say that about 20 people in the last six months came up to me and said their pets were having similar problems with Nutro's food," the former employee told us. "They said their dogs and cats were vomiting, they were lethargic, had diarrhea, and were drinking lots of water." The former employee, who asked not to be identified, reported those complaints to her boss. But her concerns, she said, fell on deaf ears.
"Every time I brought it up the chain, my concerns were brushed off. All I kept hearing about was the wonderful quality controls Nutro has."
Frustrated by the company's lack of response – and worried about the safety of pets nationwide -- the employee left Nutro and agreed to share her concerns with us.
"I do not feel comfortable promoting a product that is currently showing a very strong correlation with causing pet illness or death," said the employee, who is also a certified veterinary technician. "For 82 years Nutro had stood on its own as a leader in pet specialty. This past year, Nutro has lost consumer confidence and shaken my confidence as well. Something is wrong."

News of the recent deaths possibly linked to Nutro's food is especially troubling to this former employee. "On my last day, one of the managers of a store I worked with came to me and reported a very recent death of a young dog. The dog's owner and its vet highly suspect it was caused by Nutro Lamb and Rice (small bites).
"I sure hope that it wasn't the Nutro food, but due to some of these sudden death incidents it makes me fearful that it is," the former employee said.
She wondered if these health problems could be related to the way Nutro's food is stored and transported on trucks. "Are there pesticides on those trucks?" she asked. "The bags are not covered in plastics when they arrive at the stores. They're in paper bags. Could something be leaching into the bags? Is something happening during the transport? It's just a theory. "I think that further testing needs to be done with the food."

'Hearsay'
We contacted Nutro about the complaints we've received regarding its food. A company spokesperson, who resigned last week, directed us to Nutro's Web site.
The company posted new information after we started asking questions about Nutro's food and its possible connection to the illnesses and deaths of pets nationwide.
"All NUTRO products are 100 percent safe and conform to the standards set by the FDA, USDA, and AAFCO," the Web site states. "NUTRO pet foods undergo rigorous quality assurance testing, beginning with raw ingredients and ending with testing all finished products. This includes testing to confirm that no melamine, mold toxins, or pathogenic bacteria are detected in any NUTRO pet foods."
The company said the complaints we've received are "isolated reports of inaccurate information posted online. Many blogs and Internet sites can be a repository for misinformation and hearsay regarding many topics," the company wrote.
Nutro said the recent shortages of some of its foods are supply issues – and have nothing to do with any safety concerns. Over the past several months, suppliers of key ingredients used in select products have been unable to meet Nutro's volume needs," the company stated. "We have secured additional high quality supply sources and while availability will vary by marketplace, we can now say that supply issues are being resolved." The company said its Natural Choice Venison Meal and Brown Rice, and Natural Choice Herring Meal, Rice and Potato foods should arrive in stores later this month. Nutro denied reports that any of its plants are closing.

Formulas changed
The company also confirmed that it recently changed some of its formulas. "MAX Dog and MAX Cat foods have been improved with the addition of more chicken and/or salmon," the company stated. "MAX Large Breed Puppy and MAX Large Breed Adult are now being made with chicken meal rather than beef meal because preference testing has shown that dogs prefer the taste of the chicken product."
The company said it rarely receives complaints about its products, but takes all concerns seriously. Customers can contact Nutro's Consumer Service line at 1-800-833-5330. "In the rare instance when a consumer does have a concern with any of our products, an in-depth review of the consumer-provided samples is performed to determine if an issue does exist," the company stated. We asked Nutro if it had recently tested its foods for possible toxins. The company did not respond to that question. Meanwhile, some loyal Nutro customers warn pet owners not to jump to conclusions based on what they call unsubstantiated claims posted on the Internet.
Veterinarians also told us it's not uncommon for pets to have sudden bouts of vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal problems. They said a number of factors -- pet food, stress, or a viral infection-- could be the culprit.
But Dr. Hansen with the ASPCA agreed that additional testing and research should be done in these cases. He encouraged pet owners to report any problems with Nutro to the FDA, his organization's Poison Control Center, the pet food maker, and their veterinarians.

Still a mystery
For now, the recent illnesses and deaths in many pets that have eaten Nutro remains a mystery. Even to pet owners like Theresa, who still believes that Nutro played a role in the deaths of her Italian Greyhounds. "I have a gut feeling something in that food is making dogs sick and killing others. And I truly believe it is what killed both my dogs…I just wish we could prove it."

Extreme Home Makeover Nomination

2008-06-30T14:16:00.000-07:00

More news on Tessie's family! We received this news from her today via the Chinese Crested Crush forum:

Joined: 27 Dec 2005
Posts: 4886
Location: Iowa
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 8:18 am Post subject: Checking In
I just wanted to check in with everyone and first of all THANK YOU!!! Thank you all so much. Nothing has changed here. My house placard is still red, meaning we cannot enter our house. The basement still can't be shored up because there are no permits allowed. We still don't know if the city is going to let us fix our house or if they are going to tear it down. Just knowing that you guys are here has helped me more than I can explain. Right now I feel very alone in all of this. No one in this city seems interested in helping us or giving us answers that we so desperately need and want. The focus is on the 100 year flood plain and those of us in the 500 year flood plain are just left hanging. I have limited internet access so it isn't that I don't appreciate what you are all doing, I am just not able to log on for very long. It is incredible to me that you are all here and all supporting us.

In addition to the benefit raffle (mentioned in an earlier post), there has been an effort to bring Tessie's Family to the attention of ABC's Extreme Home Makeover. We urge everyone to please join us in this effort to bring The Webster Family to the attention of Ty Pennington and his amazing crew. To nominate this family for the show, please visit

http://abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome/index?pn=apply

Up until July 4th, the form letter at the head of this article is available to those who request it. So far we have over 50 nomination letters from all over the world, from people who have only "met" virtually to share a love for the Chinese Crested Dog and along the way developed lasting friendships. Crush is a family, and as Crush members, we at The Pony Dog Blog are trying to lift up one of our own. Won't you help us?

FDA Requests Seizure of Animal Food Products at PETCO Distribution Center

2008-06-20T17:14:00.000-07:00

FDA News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2008
Media Inquiries:
Kimberly Rawlings, 301-827-6242
Consumer Inquiries:
888-INFO-FDA

Today, at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Marshals seized various animal food products stored under unsanitary conditions at the PETCO Animal Supplies Distribution Center located in Joliet, Ill., pursuant to a warrant issued by the United States District Court in Chicago.

U.S. Marshals seized all FDA-regulated animal food susceptible to rodent and pest contamination. The seized products violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act because it was alleged in a case filed by the United States Attorney that they were being held under unsanitary conditions. (The Act uses the term "insanitary" to describe such conditions).

During an FDA inspection of a PETCO distribution center in April, widespread and active rodent and bird infestation was found. The FDA inspected the facility again in May and found continuing and widespread infestation.

"We simply will not allow a company to store foods under filthy and unsanitary conditions that occur as a direct result of the company's failure to adequately control and prevent pests in its facility," said Margaret O'K. Glavin, associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. "Consumers expect that such safeguards will be in place not only for human food, but for pet food as well."

The distribution center in Joliet, Ill., provides pet food products and supplies to PETCO retail stores in 16 states including Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.

FDA has no reports of pet illness or death associated with consumption of animal food distributed by PETCO, and does not have evidence that the food is unsafe for animals. However, the seized products were in permeable packages and held under conditions that could affect the food's integrity and quality.

As a precaution, consumers who have handled products originating from the PETCO distribution center should thoroughly wash their hands with hot water and soap. Any surfaces that came in contact with the packages should be washed as well. Consumers are further advised as a precaution to thoroughly wash products sold in cans and glass containers from PETCO in the 16 affected states.

If a pet has become ill after eating these food products, pet owners should contact their veterinarian and report illnesses to FDA state consumer complaint coordinators.

ProHeart6 Returns To Market After Four Years

2008-06-18T16:54:00.000-07:00

This is from an editorial from 6/17/2008 USA Today

ProHeart 6 -- a controversial heartworm drug for dogs -- came back on the market last week, almost four years after it was pulled when hundreds of dogs died and thousands more suffered adverse reactions. Ordinarily, this might be of interest mainly to pet owners and veterinarians. But this is much more than a dog story.

During the process that took ProHeart 6 off the market, the drug's maker investigated and denounced a Food and Drug Administration scientist who gathered the damning data. And instead of protecting its scientist, the FDA booted her off the case and tried to have her criminally prosecuted.

It's a disturbing tale for anyone who relies on pharmaceutical companies and the FDA to ensure that medicines for animals and humans are safe, one that raises questions about the conduct of a major corporation and its federal regulator.

The story begins in 2001, when ProHeart 6 came on the U.S. market. It was regarded as a breakthrough. Veterinarians could inject it once every six months, replacing the once-a-month pill people gave -- or often forgot to give -- their dogs to ward off potentially deadly heartworms. Though many dogs did fine on ProHeart 6, others had dangerous complications. Eventually, the FDA says, 500 to 600 dogs died and there were "adverse" reactions, including seizures and uncontrolled bleeding, in 5,500 to 6,000.

In 2004, the FDA pushed ProHeart 6 manufacturer Fort Dodge Animal Health, a subsidiary of pharmaceutical giant Wyeth, to remove the drug from the market. Wyeth argued that the drug was safe but agreed to remove it. Then it fought back.

The company targeted Victoria Hampshire, a veterinarian and FDA safety officer who collected and analyzed the adverse drug reports on ProHeart 6. Wyeth hired investigators who dug up information on Hampshire's home, her tax records and a veterinary website where a handful of her friends and veterinary clients could buy drugs and pet supplies. (It's not uncommon for FDA's vets to practice medicine part-time in their off hours.) Wyeth executives then alleged that Hampshire had a conflict of interest.

Without telling Hampshire what was going on, the FDA took her off the ProHeart 6 case and began an internal investigation that culminated when FDA investigators asked the U.S. attorney in Maryland to criminally prosecute her. It took one day for the U.S. attorney to sort through the flimsy referral and refuse to press charges. The FDA eventually exonerated Hampshire, and she now works at the agency in a different job.

ProHeart 6, meanwhile, is back on the market. The manufacturer and the FDA say the drug is safe, free of the solvent residue thought to have caused the earlier problems. But the drug is being administered under a strict "risk minimization" plan that applies to only a small number of FDA-approved drugs for animals and humans.

We know much of this story not because Wyeth or the FDA disclosed it voluntarily, but because a persistent investigation by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, dragged it out of them. The probe revealed that Wyeth officials had easy, undocumented access to the FDA to lobby for ProHeart 6 and attack Hampshire. FDA managers seemed more interested in placating Wyeth than in dealing fairly with one of its scientists.

The most troubling aspect of this is the effect it will inevitably have on other FDA safety officers. After seeing what can happen when someone gathers evidence that a drug is unsafe, what safety officers wouldn't think twice about risking their careers by antagonizing powerful companies?

That's a terribly dangerous way to run a drug safety process that can ultimately mean life or death to animals and humans alike.

Help Tessie's Family

2008-06-18T08:24:00.000-07:00

Tessie is a sweet little Chinese Crested whose family has lost everything in the terrible flooding in Iowa. Tessie's family has 5 rescued dogs and 3 cats. They foster and take in older dogs and dogs with behavioral or other issues that nobody else wants, that would perhaps otherwise be euthanized.

Tessie's mom Kristie is a self-proclaimed "doggie nurse" and helps on a daily basis to comfort dogs in need. One of Phinn & Veda's online friends for some time, we are all very saddened to hear of her family's unfortunate loss. We thought it would be nice to set up an online raffle to help Tessie's family, as they have helped so many others. We will have so many cool things to auction off, including Gift Certificates, treats, dog clothes, dog carriers and more! Please stay tuned as we are working to get the raffle items organized and work on the formatting of the e-tickets. Please check out the site that's been put together for them and keep checking back for raffle information.

Help Tessie's Family Benefit Website

Phinn & Veda's Naked Dog Product Reviews

2008-06-11T07:19:00.000-07:00

Well, as if Phinn & Veda weren't busy enough testing all the yummy treats coming out of the Monkeypups kitchen, they are now adding Product Testers to their resume!
Sometimes it can be a bit daunting finding a particular product that is geared toward hairless dogs. Ever try to find a harness that doesn't rub red marks onto skin? A training collar that doesn't do the same? How about skin care products? Comfortable yet functional clothing?

Do YOU have a product or service that is geared toward our beloved naked canine friends? If you do, and would like Phinn and Veda to review that product or service, then send us an email to busy_baking@monkeypups.com detailing the product or service and Phinn & Veda may review it on The Pony Dog Blog!

An Interview With Lola's Boutique

2008-06-10T15:48:00.000-07:00

While perusing the plethera of online doggie boutiques for some cold weather wear for my dogs, I came across Lola's Boutique. The first thing that came to my mind was WOW. These aren't your run-of-the-mill, one-size-fits-all dog clothes or your kid's old onesie, or yes, as I have done, a sock (yes, that's right, I said it--a sock) with holes cut into it for doggie legs(I can hear the collective gasps now). I know, I know, the shame. No, this my friends, is canine couture.

The first thing that caught my eye (other than the simply fabulous style and fit of these garments) was the fact that their models are Xolos. Xolos are difficult enough to come across, but dog apparel of this caliber is--in my opinion--even harder. Lola, Charo and Consuelo all live in Montreal with their human Ralf, who was kind enough to consent to this interview.

How/when did you learn about Xolos?

When studying Veterinary Medicine, over 20 years ago, I went to a dog breed exhibition to learn more about breeds. They had a couple of standard Xolos. Their eyes spoke to me. I did about as much research as I could back then but there was very little info to be found and even less Xolos! I never really pursued it further, accepting them almost as a myth more than a reality. I had mentioned how cool I thought they were to an exchange student from Mexico and left it at that. Many years later he tracked me down because he had found Lola, who was in need of a home. The rest is history...

Tell us a little about each of your Xolos.

Lola is the matriarch, extremely intelligent and extremely loving, which makes her a worry wort. Always concerned about where every one is, always alert. She is from authentic old Mexican stock and very cobby...looks exactly like the colima pottery dogs. Charo is my litle goofball, all she wants to do is play, then play and maybe play some more. She is goofy, clumsy, a gluton and a thief. She is also cuddly, gentle, attentive and the worlds best hugger. She even sleeps hugging her toys. Consuelo is, I must admit, Daddy's spoiled little girl. She is very protective of me, jealous, very regal, snobby, a ham in front of a camera, very girly and a velcro dog. If she was human she would be Linda Evangelista or Naomi Campbell!

When did you open Lola’s Boutique?

2002. Necessity became a business idea. Because of Lola's nakedness and odd shape, I could not find anything stylish or even that would fit properly. The stuff you find in stores is more often than not ill fitting, made in cheap, yucky feeling fabrics and embarrassing or uncomfortable for the dog. Most pet clothes are more to amuse the owner than to fill the dogs needs. Mine are not. I vowed when I started Lola's that I would never make something for a pooch that I would not put on my child. I will not make a dress for a Lab or a Tutu for a Jack Russell just as I will not make a coat for a Saint Bernard or put hats on dogs. They just hate it with a passion!

What was your vision for the boutique when you began? Would you say you’ve achieved it?

I wanted to provide a service for people whose pets are truly a family member; that would make available what I could not find out there. I also wanted to create fun, beautiful garments that were for the pet more than for the owner, and that served a true purpose. Warmth for little or hairless dogs, comfortable style for "purse dogs", fitting clothes for barrel-chested Pugs, skinny deep chested sight hounds, short-legged long-bodied Bassets, special garments for dogs with special needs such as alopecia, handicaps, amputations, etc. I'm very proud of my work.

Do you have a storefront or are you online only?

My boutique at the moment is strictly virtual. Several boutiques carried my stuff in Toronto but that was not something I enjoyed. I prefer the custom approach. I will have a boutique/no kill shelter/daycare at some point. It's the plan...

Are your designs available anywhere else?

No.

*Where are you located?

Montreal.

Are all the outfits from Lola’s made-to-order?

Absolutely, I custom design and make to measure each outfit for the individual doggie.

Do you take requests/special orders?

If it is respectful and comfortable for the pooch, imagination is the limit. As most artists, I work better and have better results when I'm am allowed to be creative.

What is your most popular outfit/accessory?

The Roll-up bodysuit. I got a patent for it.

Are your designs conceived by you or do you have a design team?

Just me for now. I'm a bit of a perfectionist and control freak. In the very busy seasons I might have to consider getting help to sew.

What is the most unusual or challenging request you’ve ever received with regard to canine couture?

I would not say it was challenging but I once went above and beyond what the client had requested for my personal pleasure! A young bride-to-be from Vancouver, BC sent me swatches of the fabrics her Bride's Maid dress were going to be made in and a picture of the dress, a pink princess gown. She had requested some kind of an ornament to put around her Shih-Tzu's neck, because she wanted the dog present at the wedding. Much to her surprise, I actually made the same dress for her doggie. I was glad it would be a treasured memory of that day and she will cherish it even more once the doggie passes.

What sets Lola’s Boutique apart from the crowd?

It's a project of love more than a business. A service provided by a true dog lover for other true dog lovers.

Consuelo (main photo top center), Charo (yellow), Lola (brown)

Photos copyright Lola's Boutique & Used With Permission

May 2008 Yappy Hour Pics

2008-06-04T09:39:00.001-07:00

The May 2008 Yappy Hour was loads of fun and rather crowded! Thanks to everyone who showed up to support Coastal Poodle Rescue!

Veda Meets A New Friend

2008-06-04T08:56:00.000-07:00

Veda meets her new friend and Agility training partner Annie:

New Monkeypups Biscuit Flavor!

2008-05-31T12:48:00.000-07:00

Monkeypups is proud to announce the latest addition to their line of organic biscuit flavors!

((drum roll))

Barkarific Blueberry!!!

Packed with plump, delicious organic blueberries, these treats are not only good, they're good for your dog in that blueberries are packed with antioxidants that battle against dangerous cancer-causing "free radicals" in the body. They're yummy, too!

May 2008 Yappy Hour

2008-05-31T12:02:00.000-07:00

The Monkeypups will be out tonight at the May 2008 Yappy Hour to benefit Coastal Poodle Rescue in beautiful downtown Cocoa Village, Florida. This month's host is Ryan's Pizza, a local family-owned dog-friendly restaurant and one of Phinn & Veda's favorite hangouts.

The festivities begin at 5:30 and will continue on until 8:00 pm. This month's theme is "Patriotic Pooches!" Bring your camouflage-clad or red-white-and-blue wrapped pup on down and join in on the fun! There will be contests, a fun auction, a 50/50 raffle and LIVE entertainment! Woo hoo! Or as Veda would say, "Woo wooooooooooo!"

Stylin'

2008-05-25T18:11:00.000-07:00

The Monkeypups are always on the lookout for cool new duds. It's all about the style, baby. These are brand spankin' new, and Phinn thinks they're totally cool. Sister Veda thinks she would look awesome in them, too. You know, the whole pink and black thing...

Bark In The Park May 2008

2008-05-25T06:23:00.000-07:00

The Naked Twins attend lots of fundraising events for animal charities, and a few weekends ago they took part in the local Humane Society's Bark In The Park event to raise money for the care of homeless animals.

Isy (check her out on her blog here and her regular modeling gig here ) came along to support Monkeypups Organic Dog Bakery and to give people the rare opportunity to actually see and handle a Xoloitzcuintli, as most people incorrectly identify them as Chinese Cresteds or hairless chihuahuas. Isy loves to help people learn a little bit more about hairless dog breeds and how cool they are! Ok, ok, she also did it for the free cookies. ;-)

Urgent Drug Recall on heart medicine Digitek Digoxin

2008-05-14T06:55:00.000-07:00

PERMISSION TO CROSS POST
If you have or know of a dog or human family member currently on the heart med Digoxin there is an urgent drug recall.The tabs are double the dose that are supposed to be in the bottle. VERY dangerous. Please read the full story at the link below.http://www.usrecallnews.com/2008/04/urgent-digitek-digoxin-recall.html

Veda Lure Coursing

2008-05-09T04:50:00.000-07:00

Zoom!

Veda has found a new fun activity! Lure coursing is a sport involving dogs chasing an artificial lure around a course, typically 600 and 1000 yards (548 to 914 meters) long. Dogs with a high prey drive are usually fond of this sport, and Veda is no exception! She was so excited she kept trying to leap out of Mom's arms and run the course again and again!

"Lemme go, Mom!"

Phinn is gaining confidence!

2008-05-06T08:22:00.000-07:00

Phinn's first stab at formal obedience in a class environment is going well. He is going through some adolescent funkiness right now and is having a bit of a rough time with some self-confidence while away from Sissy and Mom. He was more relaxed this week and visited nicely with the other dogs and had lovely attention. Go Phinn! Go Phinn! Woot! Woot! Woot!

School Time!

2008-05-01T11:14:00.000-07:00

This week has been very eventful for the Monkeypups. Phinn & Veda began formal obedience work. Yay! Though Mom taught obedience classes for many years and P & V have been very well socialized, there is no substitute for being in a formal class environment. So beginning this week, it got serious!

Phinn is going through a bit of a fear period right now and reacted with a bit of nervousness at the onset of class, but by the end of the hour was very relaxed. He has very nice attention and is very eager to please.

Veda is a bit of a hurricane, so I honestly expected her to mouth off to at least one or two dogs, but she was very bouncy and happy yet focused. Ah, liver is a magical thing. She took a particular liking to the poodle seated next to us. She did very well, and her main thing right now is wiggly butt and her Sit not being straight. I'd rather have super happy than super slow-mo any day of the week, so we'll work with it. ;-)

Veda's Harrowing Day

2008-04-29T18:34:00.000-07:00

One day recently, Miss Veda decided it would be a good idea to eat part of her rope toy, and after her tummy promptly rejected it, she appeared better. For a while. She ran around and played just as she always did. For a while. :-( That evening she refused dinner, and though it was concerning, we didn't think too much of it as she had just thrown up a good chunk of rope toy, and perhaps her tummy still wasn't quite right. However, when in the morning she had diarrhea and refused food or water, it was time to get her to the vet.

We arrived at the Animal Emergncy Clinic at a little after 8 in the morning. Miss Veda was not acting normally. Still having diarrhea and somewhat lethargic, we were afraid she had an intestinal blockage. Even though she was not feeling herself, she was still the hit of the clinic. There must have been 30 photos taken of her that day. She obliged nicely, wagging her tail and giving kisses.

After about 7 hours and several tests, waiting to see if it would move along itself, meds to make her vomit, x-rays, more meds to make her vomit, Miss Veda was holding steadfastly the little blob of something that we could see on her x-rays. If we couldn't get her to move it along or hack it up, they would have to open her up.

Finally, we got it. And it was not the blob of rope toy that we'd all been expecting. It was--of all things--a CAT HAIRBALL. One of the cats had yacked up a nasty hairball and Veda had eaten it. Ewwwwwwwwwwwwww! So NASTY! Never would I have dreamed that a cat hairball (and not a very large one at that) could do that much damage to a dog who honestly would eat tin cans if I let her. But thank goodness, she would not have to have surgery. After a last check-over by the vet, she was sent home to recuperate. Worn out from the exhausting day, poor Veda felt less than stellar on the ride home...

Thank you to all the well wishes we received from friends and strangers alike. We are happy to report that Veda is feeling herself again, terrorizing the other dogs and zipping through the house at breakneck speed. She's back to testing cookies again, but we're leaving the hairballs OFF the menu.

The Monkeypups Turn 1

2008-04-02T18:25:00.001-07:00

The Naked Twins are 1!!!! Woo hoo!!!

...and Bridgette Bardot...

2008-03-31T18:49:00.001-07:00

Veda as Marilyn Monroe...

2008-03-31T18:46:00.000-07:00

Mardi Paws 2008

2008-03-11T18:01:00.000-07:00

We had a good time at Mardi Paws this past weekend! There were lots of other dogs and lots of people who visited and petted us. We helped Mom work the Monkeypups booth. She said we did a good job. There will be pictures up on the Monkeypups site soon!

New Monkeypups Easter Cookies!

2008-03-04T16:12:00.000-08:00

The Easter Bunny is coming! These delightful easter biscuits are sure to look great in your dog's easter basket! Always organic, available in regular and wheat-free peanut butter and mint flavors. Order yours today! http://www.monkeypups.com/

Monkeypups Bakery!!!

2008-01-28T06:10:00.000-08:00

Monkeypups is now a dog bakery! We specialize in organic dog treats, both biscuits and chews! Check out the new website at www.monkeypups.com for all the skinny on our new venture! No unpronounceable chemicals, no hormones, no antibiotics, no GMO's, no pesticides, no artificial colors or flavors! Only organic meats, fruits and veggies used to create yummy dog biscuits and chews for your special dog.

Happy New Year

2007-12-31T20:00:00.000-08:00

Glitter Graphics

Our First Christmas Tree

2007-12-10T13:46:00.001-08:00

Here we are with our first Christmas tree. The people seem to think it's a big deal and won't let us pick at it. We also got a gift box in the mail from our Secret Santa in Mexico and Mom let us open it already. We got some fun stuff! Mom says she has to put up our stockings (what is a stocking?) so we can get goodies from Santa. We keep hearing a lot about this Santa person. Supposedly he'll come into the house while everyone's sleeping and leave presents. He'll have to be pretty good to get past us!

Our foster sister Bianca also got adopted and went to her new family! We will miss her but she lives close by and we can see her a lot. We have a new foster brother now. His name is Einstein and he is hairless like us! He was found wandering the streets and no one claimed him so he is living with us until he gets all fixed up and can go to a new home. He has some skin problems and Mom is working on fixing that. He is a nice dog, though, and doesn't mess with our stuff that much.

Merry Crestie Christmas!!!

2007-11-28T07:15:00.000-08:00

Here are a few of our Christmas pictures for this year! You can find these designs and others on holiday cards, clothing and other gifts as well in our store, Monkeypups. We are very excited about our very first holiday season! We hope you'll keep checking back as we document our first Christmas. Yappy Howl-i-days!

California Dreamin'

2007-11-18T06:40:00.000-08:00

We're back from our trip! It was a lot of fun. We got to ride on a plane for the first time and we did GREAT! No one even knew we were there until we were getting off the plane, and then every body wanted to see us! We got lots of attention in San Francisco, and met lots of nice people and doggies. Mommy seemed surprised that people in San Francisco would think a pink dog was out of the ordinary, but there were a lot of tourists there, too, so...

We walked across the Golden Gate bridge, went to Chinatown, the Palace of Fine Arts and explored the hilly streets of the city. When can we go back? They love doggies there! They were in the malls, the stores, everywhere! Wow! Doggies can't do that here. :-( Mommy says we need to move there. It's our kind of town! Arf! Arf!

The 'Cisco Kids

2007-11-12T06:20:00.000-08:00

We're in San Francisco! Arf! Arf! Woo Wooooooooo! We are California kids for a week! We had our first plane ride and Mom said we were SUPER! We have a lot to do today and lots of cool things to see, so we will be updating the blog later. We just wanted to post this picture because apparently this bridge is a big deal.

Howl-O-Ween Event 2007

2007-10-28T18:10:00.000-07:00

We went to Howl-O-Ween today! It was a special doggie event to raise money for several rescue groups. There were lots of dogs there, and we had a great time!

New Sister

2007-10-28T17:09:00.000-07:00

This is Bianca, our new foster sister. She came to live with us last week. At first she was very shy and didn't feel like talking, but after a day she warmed up and started to play with us a little. She follows Mom around a lot. Mom says she is missing her old home and people, and we have to understand that she might need some time to adjust. Her old family was moving and could only take one dog, so they had to find a home for Bianca. Mom said she was a "foster" sister, and that she would only be staying with us for a while until she found a new home, but lately Mom and Dad are talking about her staying permanently. I sure hope so! I like her! Now there is someone to help me kick the boys' butts!

~Veda

Mommy shaved our ears!

2007-10-24T13:23:00.000-07:00

Mommy shaved our ears! The hair was weighing them down and the cartilage wasn't strong enough to support it so she shaved them and they stand up much better now! Don't we look awesome?

A Blustery Day

2007-10-16T15:21:00.000-07:00

Today it was soooo nice out. It was warm but not super hot like it normally is, and there was a wonderful breeze. Mommy says it is going to get cooler and we need some jammies.

We had to get our ears taped again today 'cuz Mommy says they aren't supposed to be floppy. I don't like the ear tape. Mommy taped my ears a different way this time and it doesn't bug me AS much, but I still don't like it. I managed to help Veda get hers almost torn off, but Mommy just re-did it. She says one day we won't have to wear ear tape anymore, because our ears will stand tall and pretty. I can't wait!

We also went on a long walk today. This new neighborhood is full of all kinds of new smells. There are lots of dogs and some kitties, too. Mommy said she met two rottweilers that live in our neighborhood and that they were very nice, and that there was also a french bulldog that chased she and my big brother Wolfie down the street when they were out running the other day. She said he was barking and barking and ran right out into the road. That dog doesn't sound very nice. If he isn't careful, he might get hit by a car! I hope he doesn't run out at me barking!

~Phinn

Entry #1

2007-10-15T13:48:00.001-07:00

Awesome! We have our own blog! Arf!

Mommy made us our own MySpace pages and now we have our own blog, too! How cool is that?

We go so many places and do so many things, we like to document as much of it as possible for our friends and family. We like to go to Miami, too. South Beach is very dog-friendly. This past summer we went to the mountains and had a great time hiking and hanging out at the cabin. You can check out our MySpace pages for those pictures. It was a lot of fun! We are going to California in a few weeks. Mommy says there is a LOT of cool stuff to see out there! Can't wait! We'll be sure to have Mommy post lots of pictures of our California adventure.

In the meantime, we just moved into a new house. It's nice here. It is always breezy outside and Mommy says that's because the ocean is nearby. We've been around the neighborhood on our walkies and it smells different from our old neighborhood. Everyone has been really nice to us.

Time for a beauty nap now! I'll post more later! Arf! Arf!

~Veda