Chip In for Freeway to Get His Wheels!

Help Freeway Get His "Wheels"

Quoted directly from the Facebook Page.

"Freeway is a Doxie puppy that Secondhand Snoots pulled from Animal Control on 1-18-13. Syd and Julie with Helping Paws Inc. is fostering him. He has no movement or feeling in his back end, legs or tail. We took him for X-Rays, an ultra sound and a MRI. The MRI has showed he has fluid and swelling around his mid spinal cord. The doctor believes this infection has been there a while and this is what has caused him to be paralyzed. He has pain in his back so he will be on medicine to help with that. Due to the severity of this, there is no surgery that will reverse the damage.

At this time, we are raising money to cover his vet bills and some wheels for him. He will be looking for his furever home with a family who can love him and take care of him with this special needs."

Click Here to go to the Auction

I will also personally be raising money for him with my 'One Dog at a Time' campaign during the same time period of February 6-February 11, 2013.  50% of all profits of the sale of my 'One Dog at a Time' necklaces will go to Freeway. I will also be donating 50% of the profits of the 'Yin and Yang' bunny stepping  stone. Thank you!
Click Here for Laughing Spider Designs to see items for Freeway

Helping Paws has also created a 'chip in' account where you can donate directly.
Click Here for Freeway's Chip In

Free pet safety pack from the ASPCA. Order yours today.

http://www.aspca.org/about-us/free-aspca-stuff/free-pet-safety-pack.aspx

だるまさんが転んにゃ - Stalking Cat -

Feeding Older Cats by the ASPCA - Excellent information

Feeding Older Cats

Cats begin to show visible age-related changes at about seven to twelve years of age. There are metabolic, immunologic and body composition changes, too. Some of these are unavoidable. Others can be managed with diet.

1. Start your cat on a senior diet at about seven years of age.
2. The main objectives in the feeding an older cat should be to maintain health and optimum body weight, slow or prevent the development of chronic disease, and minimize or improve clinical signs of diseases that may already be present.
   
3. As a cat ages, health issues may arise, including:
   - deterioration of skin and coat
   - loss of muscle mass
   - more frequent intestinal problems
   - arthritis
   - obesity
   - dental problems
   - decreased ability to fight off infection
   
4. Older cats have been shown to progressively put on body fat in spite of consuming fewer calories. This change in body composition is inevitable and may be aggravated by either reduced energy expenditure or a change in metabolic rate. Either way, it is important to feed a diet with a lower caloric density to avoid weight gain, but with a normal protein level to help maintain muscle mass.
   
5. Talk to your veterinarian about increasing your senior cat’s vitamin E intake. Antibody response decreases as cats age. Increasing the intake of vitamin E in cats older than seven years of age can increase their antibody levels back to those seen in younger cats! 
   
6. Antioxidants such as vitamin E and beta-carotene help eliminate free radical particles that can damage body tissues and cause signs of aging. Senior diets for cats should contain higher levels of these antioxidant compounds. Antioxidants can also increase the effectiveness of the immune system in senior cats.
   
7. Routine care for geriatric pets should involve a consistent daily routine and periodic veterinary examinations to assess the presence or progress of chronic disease. Stressful situations and abrupt changes in daily routines should be avoided. If a drastic change must be made to an older pet's routine, try to minimize stress and to realize the change in a gradual manner.

Cats Playing Patty-cake, what they were saying...

Cold Weather Tips from the ASPCA

Cold Weather Tips

Brrrr…it’s cold outside!  The following guidelines will help you protect your companion animals when the mercury dips.

1. Keep your cat inside. Outdoors, felines can freeze, become lost or be stolen, injured or killed. Cats who are allowed to stray are exposed to infectious diseases, including rabies, from other cats, dogs and wildlife.
2. During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the cat a chance to escape.
3. Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm—dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure yours always wears ID tags.
4. Thoroughly wipe off your dog's legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.
5. Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog in the colder months, be sure to completely dry him before taking him out for a walk. Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.
6. Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.
7. Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy appears to be sensitive to the weather, you may opt to paper-train him inside. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him outdoors only to relieve himself.
8. Does your dog spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep him—and his fur—in tip-top shape.
9. Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center more information.
10. Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.