Page 37 – 2023 Rabies Tags Are Now In Production

February 12, 2013February 19, 2013

Pet Dental Health

February is pet dental health month. Just like people dogs and cats can develop plaque and tartar on their teeth that can lead to gum disease, loose teeth and in some cases heart disease. OK, that’s enough to make me take notice and learn more about taking care of my pets’ teeth.

I’ve read several very informative articles, one at WebMD, and another at www.peteducation.com . These articles explain how the plaque turns to tartar and the build up of tartar causes gum irritation that can lead to serious health problems. While inspecting your pet’s mouth, some signs that there maybe be problems are bad breath, more than the usual dog breath, discolored or loose teeth and bleeding or swollen gums. Lose of appetite may also be caused by problems with the teeth or gums.

I thought I was doing enough to prevent dental problems for my dogs. They always have crunchy kibbles for their meals. I give them chew toys and they get treats, such as DentaStiks and Greenies, products that help remove plaque. At their yearly check up, our veterinarian looks at their teeth and gums to be sure they are healthy. One of my dogs has had a dental cleaning. The animals are put under anesthesia and the tartar is scraped from their teeth in the same manner as the dentist does to human teeth. After the teeth are tartar free they get a nice polish, for a sparkly white smile.

I have decided I’m going to learn how to brush the dogs teeth and make it part of our daily routine. Patience and short, positive sessions seem to be the best advice. I took the first step Today, I pulled their lips back and touched their canine teeth, great success and no wrestling required. I need to get some doggie tooth paste, as human tooth paste is irritating to canine stomachs. I’ll also need a dog tooth brush or finger tooth brush or I could try a piece of gauze wrapped around my finger. I’m leaning toward the tooth brush, it seems much less messy to me. I’ll try to get some action photos, I’m sure our first few sessions will be very entertaining!

As far as the cats’ teeth go, I’m leaving that to the professionals, there is no way I’m even going to try sticking my fingers in their mouths!

Share this:

February 5, 2013October 22, 2013

Chowder Fest 2013

On Saturday, February 2nd, my daughter and I attend our first Chowder Fest, it was so much fun. The City of Saratoga Springs has been hosting Chowder Fest for the past fifteen years. Even with the cold temperatures and snow in the air, downtown Saratoga was teeming with people, all waiting to sample some chowder.

The local restaurants and pubs spend months perfecting their special chowders and make gallons to server to their many fans. Of course, there is competition among the chefs and ballots are provided for the taste testers to vote on their favorite chowder. While many of the chowders were seafood based, some of the chefs made special vegetarian and vegan chowders.

Our favorite “chowders” were the desserts, we had a sundae with a chocolate theme and mini chocolate cupcakes with coconut chum frosting. I really enjoy and admire the creativity of the local chefs.

We saw many dogs all dressed in their winter coats and sweaters walking up and down Broadway. Some of the business had a special chowder for the dogs. I was surprised to see how well behaved the dogs were with so many people and other dogs present. I guess they were all be bribed with the promise of chowder if they behaved! One little black lab puppy was barking up a storm, we thought he was cold and tired and wanted to go home!

Chowder Fest was a great outing. I think everyone was happy to be out in the fresh air, enjoying some awesome food, listening to the music provided by several places and chatting with people. I’m sure will be making plans to attend again next February!

Share this:

February 1, 2013December 10, 2018

Cattle Tags on the Ski Slope

We were so excited to learn that our plastic cattle ear tags are being used to mark the gate positions on the slalom ski course at an area resort.

The ski team requires a reusable tag that is able to withstand cold, snowy weather as well as being durable enough to survive being run over by speeding skies. Our 402 cattle ear tags have been working perfectly. The tags are nailed into the snow for each training session to mark the position of the poles. Often the poles are knocked down and need to be replaced in the same pattern.

After 10 years on the ski slope some of the tags are beginning to break down and need to be replaced. We think the harsh environment of the ski slope is a great testament for the durability and longevity of our plastic tags. We also like to hear about the unusual places our tags are employed!

402 Cattle Ear Tags are molded from urethane, measuring 2-3/8″ x 2-7/8″ ,and are available in green, red, blue, yellow, violet, black, orange, white and neon colors; pink, green and orange. Our plastic ear tags can be ordered in numbered sets, the large numbers are hot stamped into the plastic, creating a permanent, highly visible number.

Our line of plastic ear tags are available in several sizes, one that’s sure to meet your tagging requirements, whether you’re tagging livestock ears or ski slopes! Please check out our full line of products on our website www.ketchummfg.com.

Share this:

January 24, 2013October 22, 2013

Preventing Hypothermia and Frostbite in Dogs

As the temperatures continue to drop into the lowest temperatures of the season, we’ve all started to pull out the warmest of sweaters, socks and any other accessory that will shield us from the cold. Unfortunately for our pets, there’s not much they can do to protect themselves from the freezing temperatures like we can. Hypothermia and frostbite are two of the most common winter problems that your dog can suffer from, which is why it’s important for you to know the facts and how to prevent these problems from happening to your beloved pet!

What causes frostbite?

Frostbite is the name given to tissue damage that’s caused by exposure to extremely cold conditions. In order for dogs to conserve their heat, they reduce the amount of blood flow to the peripheral parts of his body, such as his ears, paws and tail. Without blood in these areas, they lack warmth and oxygen and as a consequence, ice crystals may form in the tissue which can then cause that tissue to die.

Symptoms of frostbite

The difficulty with frostbite in dogs is that because dogs are covered in hair, it’s challenging to find areas that might be impacted by it. The signs to really look out for are very pale skin, usually found on the belly area, which will be very cold to the touch.

You’ll also notice that once the skin starts to warm up, it will become red and swell, which will also prove to be very painful for your pet. After just a few days, the skin will then become dry and will appear to be scaly.

How to treat frostbite

If you notice an area on your dog that you think might be frostbite, bring your pet to a warm area and put heat on the area immediately. Most importantly for frostbite, make sure that you resist the urge to rub or massage the affected area since rather than helping, you’d really be hurting your pet, releasing toxins that can further cause damage to the tissue.

Call your vet and describe the severity of the frostbitten area. The vet can then determine whether it’s better for you to bring your dog into the office or if it’s better for you to stay home and monitor him for the next few days. If you do see your vet, they will likely prescribe your pet pain killers and antibiotics to help ease your dog’s pain and look at removing any dead tissue.

What causes hypothermia?

Hypothermia occurs when your dog’s temperature falls and stays below its normal range of 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. When a dog is suffering from hypothermia, this means that he is losing body heat faster than he can replace it. This can happen when you’re walking your dog outside or even when he’s playing around outside in the backyard during the winter.

Symptoms of hypothermia

shivering;
lethargy;
muscle stiffness;
lack of coordination;
low heart and breathing rates;
fixed and dilated pupils;
collapse;
coma.

How to treat hypothermia

In order to treat your dog for hypothermia, you must focus on warming them up so that their core temperature returns to normal. If you’re walking with your dog and notice he is suffering from the cold temperatures, you need to immediately prevent him from losing any further body heat by picking up your dog and running him into the house (if he’s small enough!) or walk quickly back to the house to warm up.

Once you’re in a warm environment, make sure you’re in a heated room where the floor is well insulated and find a blanket to wrap your dog in. It would be ideal to keep him in this position until his internal temperature returns to normal. If you don’t have a thermometer, don’t fret, as long as you pay close attention to him and get him to the point where he’s no longer shivering and appears to be acting normal again, it’s a pretty good indication that your dog’s temperature is back up.

The next time you’re getting bundled up to take a long walk with your pup, remember that while you might be able to go the distance in the cold weather, they might not be able to go quite as far. By reading the information above and preparing your pet for the cold, you now have the knowledge necessary to keep your furry friend safe from hypothermia and frostbite!

Share this:

January 24, 2013January 24, 2013

The Incredible Edible Egg

It’s January, and in honor of National Egg Month, we’ve decided to talk about the health benefits of the incredible, edible egg. Over the years, eggs have taken a lot of criticism for being high in cholesterol. Turns out, there is actually no link between eggs and either heart attack or stroke. Now that the myth has been laid to rest, read about why eggs rock!

Reduces Your Risk For Cancer

Whole eggs are high in the nutrient choline, which is found mostly in the yolk. According to a recent study, women with a high intake of choline were 24 percent less likely to develop breast cancer. Ladies, feel free to ditch those egg-white omelets and opt for some scrambled eggs instead.

Great For The Eyes

Eggs are great for your peepers. People who eat eggs every day have a lower risk of developing cataracts. Eggs also contain lutein and zeaxanthin, which are two antioxidants that have been shown to prevent muscular degeneration. A diet rich in eggs will help increase muscle strength and eye health.

Natural Metabolism Booster

Eggs are high in protein and all nine essential amino acids. Research has show that obese people who ate eggs for breakfast at least five times a week in substitute of carbohydrates lost 65 percent more weight than those who did not. This is because eggs are a more satisfying than carbs, keeping you fuller longer. Start eating eggs for breakfast and watch your waistline shrink.

Which Eggs Are Best?

All eggs contain the same basic good stuff. However, depending on your own eating habits, you might want to invest in some specialty eggs. For example, chickens that are not fed byproducts, antibiotics or certain additives lay organic eggs. Organic eggs are by far healthier for the body than non-organic. Pasteurized eggs refer to eggs that have been placed in warm water to kill bacteria. And if you’re not into seafood, purchase eggs that are enhanced with Omega-3. This will ensure that you get your heart-healthy fatty acids. Whatever you do, be sure to skip labels that say cage free, free range and pasture raised—they don’t guarantee happy chickens!

As you can see, eggs are packed with a number of essential vitamins and minerals, high-quality protein, unsaturated fats and antioxidants. They are great for weight management, muscle strength, eye health and a number of other health-related benefits. Want to learn more about eggs? Visit incredibleegg.org for recipes, fun facts and much more!

Share this: