by Jenny Parsons
http://herepup.com/can-dogs-eat-bananas-apples-grapes/
Used by permission
Note from Lois: The link above includes photos and much more information.
Dog owners have a lot of responsibilities in their hands when it comes to taking care of their pets. They must be well-versed in different things that are good for their four-legged friends as well as those that could possibly harm them. Apart from providing them with shelter, dogs must also get their daily exercise and get check ups, just like humans do.
It is also important to inform other people in your household about the food items that are safe and not safe for your dog to consume. Too often, pet owners just toss food into the dog’s mouth without being mindful if it is safe for the dog or not. While humans consider it sweet when a dog shares food from their plates, there could be risks to these pets that we are not aware of.
For example, dogs have a hard time eating popcorn. It’s dangerous for their teeth as well as their tummies. If you really want to give your dog popcorn, it is good to know that there’s a special kind of popcorn treats for dogs. Instead, you can try giving your dogs more fruit and vegetables. Carrots, bananas, broccoli, pumpkin are among the recommended food for dogs. These are all easy to chew, digest and metabolize.
On the other hand, fruits like grapes and avocado as well as nuts and garlic are not recommended for your dogs. Interestingly, grapes have an adverse effect on dogs’ renal systems so it would be best not to give your dogs any.
We’ve prepared an infographic detailing some of the most common food that is good, bad, and should be given in moderation to dogs. Do let us know of other items on your list so we can share it to fellow dog owners.
https://herepup.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/DogFood_Infographic-3.jpg
Inspirational Home and Family Blog
Showing posts with label Pets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pets. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Our Parrot Keeps Us Laughing
by Gwen Anderson
Used with permission
Our son, Blake's parrot is insulting me every time I cook. This evening the buzzer went off on the oven, reminding me that it was time to pull dinner out. As I walked over to the oven, to open it, Jasper proceeded to whistle out a perfect imitation of our fire alarm. He does this almost every time I go to open the oven. For your information, I do not routinely burn things.
Awhile back I was caramelizing the BBQ sauce on some ribs and they smoked a little bit - the smoke alarm went off and I KNEW he was going to pick up on that sound. When you live with a grey, you quickly learn the types of sounds they are particularly fond of. Now practically every time I go to open the oven - the Jasper fire alarm goes off. I have shared this previously, so what was the difference this time? He did the fire alarm and then proceeded to laugh, when I said "Really Jasper?" Silly Bird!
Used with permission
Our son, Blake's parrot is insulting me every time I cook. This evening the buzzer went off on the oven, reminding me that it was time to pull dinner out. As I walked over to the oven, to open it, Jasper proceeded to whistle out a perfect imitation of our fire alarm. He does this almost every time I go to open the oven. For your information, I do not routinely burn things.
Awhile back I was caramelizing the BBQ sauce on some ribs and they smoked a little bit - the smoke alarm went off and I KNEW he was going to pick up on that sound. When you live with a grey, you quickly learn the types of sounds they are particularly fond of. Now practically every time I go to open the oven - the Jasper fire alarm goes off. I have shared this previously, so what was the difference this time? He did the fire alarm and then proceeded to laugh, when I said "Really Jasper?" Silly Bird!
By the way, my daughter, Heather's efforts to
teach him a new thing over Christmas paid off. He now says, "Wascully
Wabbit" almost perfectly in Elmer Fudd's voice.
We laugh at this bird all day long. He blows us away with the connections he makes. When I am carrying laundry upstairs, he sees me with the clothes in my arms and makes the washing machine beeps. If you start to take a drink he makes the swallow sound. When we open the back door he calls for the dog. He calls out my name in my husband, Wade's voice, Blake's name in my voice, and Wade's name in my voice. When the phone rings he says, "Hello." He is a neat pet. When the dog starts barking, he calls out, "Sophie, come here."
One time I was walking downstairs and he was out. I didn't know he was above me till he poked his head out between the stair rails and said, "Peek - a p boo."
We laugh at this bird all day long. He blows us away with the connections he makes. When I am carrying laundry upstairs, he sees me with the clothes in my arms and makes the washing machine beeps. If you start to take a drink he makes the swallow sound. When we open the back door he calls for the dog. He calls out my name in my husband, Wade's voice, Blake's name in my voice, and Wade's name in my voice. When the phone rings he says, "Hello." He is a neat pet. When the dog starts barking, he calls out, "Sophie, come here."
One time I was walking downstairs and he was out. I didn't know he was above me till he poked his head out between the stair rails and said, "Peek - a p boo."
Thursday, January 13, 2011
All Natural Stain Removal Guide
by Mary Findley, Copyright @2003, www.GoClean.com, Used by permission
Time is tight, dinner is cooking and the dog just had an accident on the carpet. Let's take a look at some ideas to quickly remove stains using natural products - perhaps with an exception or two.
First a few general rules for removing stains:
1. My number one rule: Give your product time to work. Rubbing alcohol removes ink off most surfaces but not the minute you blot it on. Dab on your cleaner then allow a 30 minute wait. This gives the product time to dissolve the residue eliminating all the rubbing and scrubbing.
Time is tight, dinner is cooking and the dog just had an accident on the carpet. Let's take a look at some ideas to quickly remove stains using natural products - perhaps with an exception or two.
First a few general rules for removing stains:
1. My number one rule: Give your product time to work. Rubbing alcohol removes ink off most surfaces but not the minute you blot it on. Dab on your cleaner then allow a 30 minute wait. This gives the product time to dissolve the residue eliminating all the rubbing and scrubbing.
2. Always get to a spill immediately. The longer a spill sets the worse the stain.
3. Rinse the cleaner out of fabrics especially carpets with one-quarter cup white vinegar in two cups of water. Then repeat with plain water.
4. Blotting properly prevents fraying of fabric. Blot using a damp towel. Form a knuckle with your index finger and push into the towel. Rock you finger back and forth, move the towel then rock your finger left to right. Repeat. Reapply the cleaner if needed. After the second application of cleaner, again make a knuckle with your index finger. Push your knuckle and the towel into the carpet then twist your wrist clockwise. Carpet fibers are twisted clockwise. This removes the stain from between the fibers without leaving them fuzzy.
5. Use heat of any kind even hot water. Heat sets stains. Dryer heat particularly means certain death for easy removal.
6. Put a clean rag under the fabric you are working on to prevent the stain from spreading to another surface.
Most stains land in 4 categories; food, grease etc., dirt and who knows. Throw in easy solutions for wax and gum and most perplexing problems tuck their tails and run.
Washing Clothes
Do your white clothes appear dingy even though you bleach them? Bleach causes the discoloration. Add one-half to 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide per regular washer. The first time allow the clothes to soak in the washer for 30 minutes. Then wash normally only use less detergent. White clothes return to their normal brightness and colored cloths perk up as well. Add one quarter cup of baking soda to your washer for additional freshness.
Back to basics on laundry. Begin filling your washer with water (not for front loading machines.) Add your detergent and peroxide then the clothes. The detergent can?t clean unless it dissolves. Switch to liquid detergents for front loading washers.
Fill your tub only three-quarters full. Clothes clean by the agitating action amongst themselves. Crowd them and this cleaning action comes to a halt. Pretreat most stains with a dab of liquid dish soap. Add a few squirts to a spray bottle filled with water. It's cheaper than prewash sprays, works better too.
Remember heat sets stains. Don't dry clothes unless the stain is gone.
Food:
Food never spills down your front unless you are out in public here it quickly makes a mockery of your front side. Should, that happen, head to the closest restroom. Gently dab a bit of liquid soap on the spot and resist the temptation to rub. Let the soap set. It may look funny until you get home, but the food stain comes right out.
Popsicles, red wine and other red dye stains:
Cherry popsicles are a favorite treat except when they land in your lap. Mix a 50/50 solution of hydrogen peroxide and cool water. Spray on and let it set 30 minutes. Rinse with a vinegar and water solution. It may take a treatment or two but it comes out. Peroxide is bleach, so always test a spot first.
If a favorite shirt has an old stain, soak it in a 50/50 solution of peroxide and water for 30 minutes. It might surprise you and come out, even after going through the dryer.
Coffee, coke, mustard and the likes of whatever your dish soap doesn't remove: First dab on liquid dish soap and let that set several hours. Blot and rinse as above. If the stain insists on being stubborn, try foaming shaving cream. Spray on the spot, no need to rub it in, and wait 30 to 60 minutes. I've had more good luck removing food stains with shaving cream. It contains 2 or 3 kinds of alcohol and they do an excellent job. The gel shaving cream does not work so use foaming.
Food:
Food never spills down your front unless you are out in public here it quickly makes a mockery of your front side. Should, that happen, head to the closest restroom. Gently dab a bit of liquid soap on the spot and resist the temptation to rub. Let the soap set. It may look funny until you get home, but the food stain comes right out.
Popsicles, red wine and other red dye stains:
Cherry popsicles are a favorite treat except when they land in your lap. Mix a 50/50 solution of hydrogen peroxide and cool water. Spray on and let it set 30 minutes. Rinse with a vinegar and water solution. It may take a treatment or two but it comes out. Peroxide is bleach, so always test a spot first.
If a favorite shirt has an old stain, soak it in a 50/50 solution of peroxide and water for 30 minutes. It might surprise you and come out, even after going through the dryer.
Coffee, coke, mustard and the likes of whatever your dish soap doesn't remove: First dab on liquid dish soap and let that set several hours. Blot and rinse as above. If the stain insists on being stubborn, try foaming shaving cream. Spray on the spot, no need to rub it in, and wait 30 to 60 minutes. I've had more good luck removing food stains with shaving cream. It contains 2 or 3 kinds of alcohol and they do an excellent job. The gel shaving cream does not work so use foaming.
Grease, oil, ink and magic marker:
Grease and oil In the driveway or garage: Kitty litter will absorb most of the oil and grease. Apply and use a brush to work it into the concrete. In the evening, pour on concentrated orange cleaner letting it set overnight. It pulls any oil or grease to the surface. Use old towels
to absorb what you can and hose down.
Oil or grease on fabrics or other surfaces: Dab on a bit of a natural orange cleaner and let that set at least an hour. Then blot with a clean cloth. It may take a treatment or two, but it works.
PLEASE follow this advice very carefully. If you spill gasoline on your clothes or in your car, dispose of your clothing properly and replace the carpeting in your car. Gasoline and water don't mix making complete removal impossible. Gas spontaneously combusts especially when the weather turns hot.
Always put a container of gas inside a plastic tub when carrying it in your car. If the tank spills over, the tub keeps the gas contained saving your carpet.
Grease and oil In the driveway or garage: Kitty litter will absorb most of the oil and grease. Apply and use a brush to work it into the concrete. In the evening, pour on concentrated orange cleaner letting it set overnight. It pulls any oil or grease to the surface. Use old towels
to absorb what you can and hose down.
Oil or grease on fabrics or other surfaces: Dab on a bit of a natural orange cleaner and let that set at least an hour. Then blot with a clean cloth. It may take a treatment or two, but it works.
PLEASE follow this advice very carefully. If you spill gasoline on your clothes or in your car, dispose of your clothing properly and replace the carpeting in your car. Gasoline and water don't mix making complete removal impossible. Gas spontaneously combusts especially when the weather turns hot.
Always put a container of gas inside a plastic tub when carrying it in your car. If the tank spills over, the tub keeps the gas contained saving your carpet.
Ink
Rubbing alcohol does a great job every time. Remember to let the alcohol set for 30 minutes. If regular rubbing alcohol doesn't work ask your pharmacist for denatured alcohol.
Magic Marker
Permanent magic markers mean just that. They are nearly impossible to remove. Try dabbing on a bit of concentrated orange cleaner. Let it set even overnight. Rinse to remove. Sometimes toothpaste will help lighten marker stains.
Dirt
Grass stains and knees It's a given, walk across the lawn and they appear from nowhere. Immediately rub in some liquid dish soap, let it set overnight, wash as usual.
Treat dirt or red clay on children?s baseball uniforms in the same manner. For really stubborn spots mix a paste of dishwasher detergent and work in. Don't rub real hard, or you could damage the fabric.
Grass stains and knees It's a given, walk across the lawn and they appear from nowhere. Immediately rub in some liquid dish soap, let it set overnight, wash as usual.
Treat dirt or red clay on children?s baseball uniforms in the same manner. For really stubborn spots mix a paste of dishwasher detergent and work in. Don't rub real hard, or you could damage the fabric.
Baseball Caps
Wash on the top rack of your dishwasher. Remove before the dry cycle and air dry.
Gum and Wax
Freeze gum with an ice cube. Ice hardens it making removal easy.
Oh those dripless candles. They can and do drip, but nobody told you. First freeze the wax with an ice cube in a ziplock plastic bag. Then chip off as much as you can with the blunt side of a knife. Using a hair dryer and a plain white paper towel, heat the wax blotting with the paper towel as it melts. This works just fine for carpets as well as fabrics. Remember to put plastic under a fabric so the wax doesn't transfer to the other surface.
Underarm stains.
Place a white paper towel both on top of the shirt and on the ironing board to protect the ironing board. Set your iron to medium heat and iron the area. The wax melts into the paper towel. Then spray the stain with hydrogen peroxide. Allow it to set 30 minutes and launder. If the shirt has cycled through the dryer, the stain may be more difficult to remove.
Freeze gum with an ice cube. Ice hardens it making removal easy.
Oh those dripless candles. They can and do drip, but nobody told you. First freeze the wax with an ice cube in a ziplock plastic bag. Then chip off as much as you can with the blunt side of a knife. Using a hair dryer and a plain white paper towel, heat the wax blotting with the paper towel as it melts. This works just fine for carpets as well as fabrics. Remember to put plastic under a fabric so the wax doesn't transfer to the other surface.
Underarm stains.
Place a white paper towel both on top of the shirt and on the ironing board to protect the ironing board. Set your iron to medium heat and iron the area. The wax melts into the paper towel. Then spray the stain with hydrogen peroxide. Allow it to set 30 minutes and launder. If the shirt has cycled through the dryer, the stain may be more difficult to remove.
Rust
Squeeze the juice from a lemon on the spot. Sprinkle on some salt and let it set several hours keeping the spot damp with lemon juice.
Who Knows
This is the order of business: 1) Dab on liquid dish soap; 2) Try WD40; 3) follow with hydrogen peroxide/water mixture or club soda and finally; 4) Break cleaner. If all those fail, send in your suggestions.
Pet Problems
So your pet got sick after lunch and your carpet now has red stains. First of all switch food. It's the red dye in the dog or cat food that causes the problem. Dogs and cats are colored blind so they can't tell the difference. They want good tasting food not good looking food. Follow the directions for popsicles above to remove the stain.
Pet accidents.
Always keep a bottle of a live enzyme product handy. Nature's Miracle is an excellent product. Remember when liquid hits the padding it spreads. A stain on the padding is twice as large as the surface stain. Unless the entire area is treated the pet continues to return to that spot. Pour enough enzyme product on the spot to saturate to the padding. Follow bottle directions allowing the enzymes time to eat away the residue. Then rinse with ½ cup white vinegar per quart of water then again with plain water. Vinegar also helps neutralize odors.
Mary Findley spent 12 years professionally cleaning homes. Her book "Whistle While You Work" is the first ever written for the care of RVs. It also covers home cleaning as well. She writes articles for several magazines and conducts informative and humorous seminars. You are welcome to print out her complete stain removal guide from her website at www.GoClean.com.
Mary Findley spent 12 years professionally cleaning homes. Her book "Whistle While You Work" is the first ever written for the care of RVs. It also covers home cleaning as well. She writes articles for several magazines and conducts informative and humorous seminars. You are welcome to print out her complete stain removal guide from her website at www.GoClean.com.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
A Dog Ministry - He Gets Geared Up to Cheer Up!
Thanks to Shelley Camden in Virginia for writing this for Heart to Heart at my request! - 2002
Every week, I take my dog, Trooper, to a local nursing home to do Pet Therapy with the residents/patients there. We call him Trooper, MD". . .the "MD" stands for "Ministry Dog!" Trooper is an 8 year old German Shepherd/Chow mix. With his large size, he is not only protective, but also extremely loving. He can walk up to wheelchairs and hospital beds and people can reach right over and touch him without much effort. Some of the people love to give him treats (Alpo Snaps are his favorite!) that I bring with me. They love to see him sit, shake hands and lie down for his treats. He is very sensitive and gentle with the people there.
It's so funny to hear one or two of the residents yell down the hallways to everyone else "Trooper's here!" when they see us coming! "Trooper" is the word around the nursing home that cheers everyone up!
Trooper is also skilled at working with stroke victims, partially paralyzed people and Alzheimer patients. He shows care and precision when working around IVs, catheters or any other medical equipment. Trooper has been able to get stroke victims to respond when no one else can. People who have lost use of one side of their bodies will try exceptionally hard to touch Trooper with the dysfunctional part of their body when the doctors or nurses cannot get them to move at all for anything else.
There have been a few Alzheimer patients who responded to nothing else, sitting there all day, expressionless. When Trooper approached them, a few have actually turned their heads toward him and a couple have had their eyes fill with tears which began to stream down their faces. The staff cannot believe that a "dog" is what it took to finally get these people to respond and progress a step further.
Many of the residents at nursing homes do not have family that come often to visit them. They are in so much need of attention, and there is no better attention than the unconditional love of an animal.
Trooper wears an ID badge with his name and picture on it when he is at the nursing home. I think it's kind of a neat thing! He even posed to have his picture made for the badge! He is so adorable and such a card! He also has a diploma, having graduated from obedience school! He had 6 weeks of daily, rigorous training in obedience. We still work on his obedience skills often to keep him doing well. Trooper knows that when his regular collar comes off and his training collar goes on that it is time to go to work. Trooper eagerly dons his training collar and gets in his work mode, even with the arthritic pain that causes much suffering in his worn out body! He puts aside his normal dog self and gets geared up to cheer up!
I would encourage anyone with a love of animals and a dog that is proficient in obedience and people-oriented to consider volunteering their time at a local nursing home. It is a great way to show the love of Jesus to lonely, hurting people.
Every week, I take my dog, Trooper, to a local nursing home to do Pet Therapy with the residents/patients there. We call him Trooper, MD". . .the "MD" stands for "Ministry Dog!" Trooper is an 8 year old German Shepherd/Chow mix. With his large size, he is not only protective, but also extremely loving. He can walk up to wheelchairs and hospital beds and people can reach right over and touch him without much effort. Some of the people love to give him treats (Alpo Snaps are his favorite!) that I bring with me. They love to see him sit, shake hands and lie down for his treats. He is very sensitive and gentle with the people there.
It's so funny to hear one or two of the residents yell down the hallways to everyone else "Trooper's here!" when they see us coming! "Trooper" is the word around the nursing home that cheers everyone up!
Trooper is also skilled at working with stroke victims, partially paralyzed people and Alzheimer patients. He shows care and precision when working around IVs, catheters or any other medical equipment. Trooper has been able to get stroke victims to respond when no one else can. People who have lost use of one side of their bodies will try exceptionally hard to touch Trooper with the dysfunctional part of their body when the doctors or nurses cannot get them to move at all for anything else.
There have been a few Alzheimer patients who responded to nothing else, sitting there all day, expressionless. When Trooper approached them, a few have actually turned their heads toward him and a couple have had their eyes fill with tears which began to stream down their faces. The staff cannot believe that a "dog" is what it took to finally get these people to respond and progress a step further.
Many of the residents at nursing homes do not have family that come often to visit them. They are in so much need of attention, and there is no better attention than the unconditional love of an animal.
Trooper wears an ID badge with his name and picture on it when he is at the nursing home. I think it's kind of a neat thing! He even posed to have his picture made for the badge! He is so adorable and such a card! He also has a diploma, having graduated from obedience school! He had 6 weeks of daily, rigorous training in obedience. We still work on his obedience skills often to keep him doing well. Trooper knows that when his regular collar comes off and his training collar goes on that it is time to go to work. Trooper eagerly dons his training collar and gets in his work mode, even with the arthritic pain that causes much suffering in his worn out body! He puts aside his normal dog self and gets geared up to cheer up!
I would encourage anyone with a love of animals and a dog that is proficient in obedience and people-oriented to consider volunteering their time at a local nursing home. It is a great way to show the love of Jesus to lonely, hurting people.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
A Flea Remedy
This is an excerpt from Mary Hunt's article, Five Clever Ways to Cut Pet Costs - found in her Everyday Cheapskates Newsletter - www.DebtProofLiving.com - Used by permission
"For over thirty years, I've treated my dogs for fleas and never had a single flea enter our lives. I use Brewers Yeast with Garlic. You can purchase the pills at any reputable pet store, or stores like Wal-Mart and Petco. I buy the large economy size because it must be consumed daily, and I have three dogs. There are no harsh chemicals and the dogs do not smell of garlic. There are added health benefits to both garlic and yeast, so it is my choice over chemical flea treatments. Barbara, Colorado."
A friend of mine to whom I sent this said: "The Brewer's Yeast with Garlic is interesting. If it works it could save a BUNDLE because Frontline is expensive. I may try it. My doctor just told me the best remedy for preventing bug bites on humans is fresh garlic. So there may be something to this. Hopefully this tip will help many of you save money to use toward other needed purchases!
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