Most of us with pets consider them to be a part of the family… sometimes even our first “babies” (or “fur babies”). It’s quite an adjustment for them when we suddenly have another little bundle that takes up a lot of our time, energy, and affection. Having babies and pets living under the same roof requires some planning, both before you deliver and when you first bring your newborn home. Here are some tips for making sure you all become one big happy family!

Before Delivery:

Research the hazards

Diseases can be transferred from your pet to you, and from you to your unborn baby. You may have heard of the dangers of the cat’s litter box. If you are pregnant and cannot have someone else change the litter, wear rubber gloves.

Prepare your pet

• If your pet has any obedience or training issues, now’s the time to address them. Consider a training class at your local pet store or do some training research to handle it yourself. Be consistent and firm and keep treats on hand! Doing so will ensure your pet will listen to you when your baby is home.
• Make sure you keep their coats washed and nails trimmed to avoid scratching and shedding issues.
• Schedule a vet visit before your due date to make sure they are up to date on vaccinations.
• Familiarize your pet with the smells and sounds of a baby with baby powder and audio of babies crying (you’d be surprised how animals react to new sounds and smells!).

After Delivery:

• Have a family member bring home a blanket or item of clothing the baby has been wrapped in, and let your pet smell it. Some pets will enjoy sleeping with it once they are familiar with it.
• When you come home from the hospital, your pet will likely be excited to see you. Let someone else hold the baby in another room while you greet your pet calmly and show it love. Once they are calm and collected, bring the baby in and carefully let them see and smell him or her. Give them treats for good behavior around the baby.
• Always supervise interactions between your child and your pets. While you may be convinced your pet would never hurt them, it’s important to remember that they sometimes don’t know their own strength or roughness.
• Try to stick to your pets’ routines as best as you can. It may be difficult so enlist your family members to help if necessary. Remember to give them lots of love and affection and involve them in your new baby’s life.
• Sometimes it’s best to wait to introduce your new baby to your pet. Birds, reptiles, rodents and some other caged animals require different care than a cat or dog. Keep them separate until your child is old enough to understand the proper way to hold and care for them.

Did you have any problems introducing your bundle of joy to your pets? Share some of your own tips and tricks!

Winter has just begun and temperatures will continue to drop for a little while.  It’s easy enough for us to survive the harsh season, but make sure you also protect your pet from the colder weather!  Here are a few essential safety tips for your furry friend:

• Never EVER leave your pet alone in the car. You probably already know that summer can turn your car into an oven. Well, winter can turn your car into a refrigerator and be just as deadly to your animal. Also be sure to clean up any antifreeze spills from your car, as antifreeze is a highly poisonous chemical for dogs and cats.
• Bring your animal inside during the colder months and make sure they have a warm place to sleep, such as a blanket that’s away from drafts.  If you live in an area with many outdoor cats, provide a warm shelter for them that’s lined with old blankets and regularly check the bedding to make sure it’s still dry.
• Be sure to wipe your dog’s legs and stomach when he comes in from the snow.  Otherwise, he could be ingesting salt or other dangerous substances while licking his paws.
• Consider outfitting your short-haired pet in a coat or sweater for when they do need to go outside. Some of you may think it silly to put clothes on animals, but your little critter may thank you for it!  PetKaboodle.com has some adorable options!
• Make sure your pet is wearing his ID tags at all times!  More pets are lost during the winter than any other season, so make sure your pet can be easily identified so he can be returned home more quickly.

Pets are our family, so do everything you can to protect them this season!  How do you prepare your critters for the winter?

For many of us, our pets are like furry children. We often let them sleep in our beds, get away with being naughty and spoil them rotten. We also want to make sure they’re healthy and happy, so feeding them delicious and nutritious foods is important. Frequent pet treat/food recalls and common unhealthy ingredients like BHA and BHT make it difficult to find good treats. Making your own from scratch will ensure that your pup is eating safe, healthy foods that they’ll love! Here are a few of our favorite recipes:

 Bacon & Cheddar Dog Treats

 Peanut Butter & Honey Dog Treats

 Apple-Cheddar Dog Biscuits

Have you ever made homemade treats for YOUR pets?

Photo Credit: thescrumptiouspumpkin.com

We have written about Halloween quite a bit over the past few weeks. We have talked about games, parties, apps, costumes, even making a costume out of a Garanimals outfit your son or daughter can wear all season. Halloween would never be complete in our Garanimals community without including the option for your pets!

Here are a few of our favorites:

Every family thinks they have a Superdog, why not have them dress the part?

Is your pooch a little on the devilish side? Let his true colors shine through with this costume.

How about this pirate costume? We are still wondering how they got that dog to sit still for the eye patch!

This one is simply hysterical. We would imagine the cheerleader is dating the quarterback.

Do you dress up your pets for Halloween?

We’ve all read about the obesity epidemic here in the US, and how it affects not only humans, but animals as well.

The good news is that pet ownership can be a great tool for losing weight and improving your health. Pets make great exercise pals: they’re always available on your schedule, hardly ever complain, and are willing to listen to your problems—a free therapist and fitness guru all rolled into one.

The most obvious and easiest pet-related exercise is walking your dog. One 30-minute walk a day or two 15-minute walks will get you both on the path toward a healthier lifestyle. It may take a little time to develop the habit in a sedentary animal. Choose a comfortable time of day for both of you, and you’re more likely to stick with it.

Don’t have a dog, or live in a building that doesn’t allow pets? No problem. Check out programs like Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound, a non-profit organization that pairs homeless dogs with willing walkers.

Lots of exercise facilities are providing classes for pets and their humans, like Doga (yep, that’s dog + yoga = Doga). Check with your local vet or gym for pet-related exercise programs. The ASPCA offers these great kid/pet activities divided into age groups.

Dogs aren’t the only pets that are leash-friendly. Your local pet shop can outfit you with the right kind of harness to walk your rabbit, ferret, or iguana.

Any cat lovers out there? I thought this idea was great: attach a laser light or a string with a pompom to you while you do step aerobics or similar exercise at home to get your kitty moving, too. Our cats can’t resist the laser pen.

This Arthritis Today article encourages cat owners to observe emulate cat stretches to improve health and flexibility. How often do you stretch compared to your cat?

Catch and Frisbee are great games to get both you and your animal more active. Or set up a bubble machine and see who can pop the most bubbles—your pet, your kids, or you. Here are a few more exercises designed to do with your pet.

Things to remember when exercising with animals:

• Be very careful to keep all animals away from mechanized exercise equipment, such as treadmills.
• When out for a walk or run, keep your pet on a short leash.
• Avoid blacktop and concrete on hot days, which can burn your pet’s paws.
• Don’t forget to provide water for your pet, as well as yourself.
• Watch for signs of over-exertion. Start slowly and build endurance.
• Be extremely careful when biking or blading with your dog. A Springer or Walkydog device attached to your bike can make cycling a much safer activity for both of you.

Exercising with your pet is fun and beneficial for both of you. Make a play date today.

Related Books for Kids
Having Fun with Your Dog — ASPCA Books for Kids
You Are a Lion! And Other Fun Yoga Poses by Taeeun Yoo

Susan Bearman also writes at Two Kinds of People, Mike&Ollie: 24-weekers Who Beat the Odds and The Animal Store Blog, as well as being a regular contributor to The Chicago Moms and Technorati.

A good relationship with a veterinarian is important for any family with pets. First and foremost, they get to know your pet and your family, so their advice is specific to you. They provide a valuable check to information you may learn elsewhere (especially from the Internet). In part 1, we learned about the first vet visit. Here are a few more words of wisdom from the wonderful staff of Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital.

Exotic Animal Care

Exotic animals need special care and if you own animals other than cats or dogs, make sure your vet provides that kind of care. Exotic pets include reptiles and amphibians, small mammals (pocket pets), birds, aquatic animals, even rabbits.

Believe it or not, some vets see fish. Imported fish may need to be seen by a vet right away for health certification. Most fish, however, only need vet care when there are signs of trouble. Keeping an aquarium can be very expensive, so maintaining a healthy system is vital to protect both the animals and your investment.

Emergency Pet Care

Not all vets provide 24-hour care. Be sure to ask for an emergency number, and if your vet does not have one, ask for a recommendation for a local clinic or animal hospital. Emergency services are usually very expensive so, just as with people, preventative care is more economical than emergency care.

Vaccinations

In addition to distemper and rabies vaccines (required for cats, dogs, and ferrets) your veterinarian may recommend:

• Leptospirosis Vaccination — for Leptospirosis, an extremely contagious bacterial disease that spreads through contact with urine from infected wildlife; often recommended for animals who spend a lot of time outdoors.
• Bordetella Vaccination — for infectious canine tracheobronchitis (kennel cough), an extremely contagious respiratory infection; often recommended if you plan to board your dog.
• Lyme Disease Vaccination — Lyme disease is spread by ticks, and if you live in a high-risk area, your vet may recommend this vaccine as part of a strategy to protect your pets (and family).

Spaying and Neutering

Unless you plan to breed, most veterinarians recommend neutering (males) or spaying (females). Spaying and neutering prevents unwanted pregnancies, can improve behavior, and often provides added health benefits. Vets recommend spaying/neutering for:

• dogs and cats
• rabbits
• ferrets (almost always spayed or neutered before sale)
• male sugar gliders
• rats

Checkups

Most veterinarians will recommend annual exams for your animals. This is important for cats and dogs, because annual monitoring catches major changes, but it’s not always practical for some exotic animals, for a variety of reasons:

• Costs involved may not be warranted for short-lived, inexpensive pets.
• Certain animals experience extreme stress during transport (especially fish, amphibians, and some reptiles).

Animals require different kinds and frequency of care at different stages of life: as juveniles, adults, and seniors. Be sure to learn how long your pet is likely to live before you make a commitment.

Thanks again to veterinarian Stephanie Moy, DMV, and Lamor Gatenio-Roer, office manager, both of Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital.

Photo credit: Veterinarian by Army Medicine via a Creative Commons License.

Susan Bearman also writes at Two Kinds of People, Mike&Ollie: 24-weekers Who Beat the Odds and The Animal Store Blog, as well as being a regular contributor to The Chicago Moms and Technorati.

Dr. Stephanie Moy and Lamor Gatenio-Roer of Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital.

When you get a new pet, one of the first things you need to do is find a good veterinarian. For pets other than cats and dogs, you may need to find a vet that specializes in exotic pet care.

I had the opportunity to speak with veterinarian Stephanie Moy, DMV, and Lamor Gatenio-Roer, office manager, both of Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital, about what to expect at a first vet visit.

“We want to see you and your new pet as soon as possible,” said Dr. Moy. All pets (with the exception of fish, and some amphibians and reptiles, which can be easily stressed) should visit a vet within the first few days. “That first visit is very important,” said Lamor. “Our doctors want to make sure you have a healthy animal and that you are set up at home to care for it properly.”

“We want pet owners to establish a relationship with their veterinarian right from the start,” said Dr. Moy. “We want to know the owners and their pets, and for them to know us.”

These experts explained that the first visit is primarily about education, and they strongly recommend that you bring your children along. “When one of our staff explains to children how to care for their animal, it makes a big impression, and kids tend to take our advice to heart,” said Lamor. “It seems to mean more coming from an animal authority than it would from mom or dad.”

Bring any paperwork you have, especially vaccination records. The vet will also ask you questions about your pet’s housing and environment (indoor or outdoor, type of cage and bedding), diet (food and treats), and enrichment (such as toys, chews, and exercise equipment).

The first visit always includes a physical examination, fecal testing (for parasites, some of which can be passed to humans), and deworming. Cats, dogs, and ferrets are required by law to get rabies vaccinations, and the vet may recommend other vaccines as well, but most vets will not administer the first vaccine until deworming is complete. Vaccinations are administered one per visit to monitor for adverse reactions. This means, for cats and dogs, you can expect at least 4-6 vet visits in the first six months just to complete the series of vaccinations.

I asked Dr. Moy what one thing pet owners should do before their first visit. “Do your research, even before you buy or adopt an animals,” she said. “Learn everything you can, not just about owning a young pet, but what it will take to care for that animal throughout its life.” The Internet can be a good source of information, but make sure you are looking at reliable research, and don’t forget the library.

Developing a good relationship with your veterinarian will help ensure a healthy, happy life for your animal.

Related Picture Books

What Happens at a Vet’s Office? by Amy Hutchings
Hairy Maclary’s Rumpus at the Vet by Lynley Dodd

Photos:

Susan Bearman also writes at Two Kinds of People, Mike&Ollie: 24-weekers Who Beat the Odds and The Animal Store Blog, as well as being a regular contributor to The Chicago Moms and Technorati.

This time of year, we all have our cameras ready so we don’t miss a single holiday moment. I loved Audrey’s family portraits, and we do something similar, although not as successfully, especially when we try to incorporate our pets —always a disaster. I decided to ask my friend, world-class photographer Matt Dinerstein, for some tips.

“Photographing animals is a lot like working with very little kids,” he said. “You need lots of patience.” Here are some of Matt’s suggestions for photographing pets:

1. Know your animal — pick the time and place where your pet will be most comfortable.
2. Use toys to distract and treats to rewards — ”Dogs will work for their treat,” said Matt. “If trained at all, they will sit and wait, knowing the treat will come. Cats tend to be distracted by treats and will be more agreeable when they have full bellies.”
3. Find a wrangler — “A second person can really help,” said Matt. “You can stay positioned with the camera and the wrangler can bring the animal back into frame. Have your helper stand just behind you to draw the animal’s attention while still keeping it faced toward the camera.”
4. Use a clean background — “A clean, uncluttered background will make your animal the center of attention,” said Matt. “Focus on the eyes. This doesn’t necessarily mean composing around the animal’s eyes. It means setting the focus on they eyes, then moving the camera to compose the shot.”
5. Get down on their level — “Don’t stand above and shoot down at your pet,” said Matt. “Get down on the ground if you have to and put your camera at the animal’s eye level.”

Here are a few more hints from our pro:

• Cats love to look out the window. Follow them to their favorite spot and take advantage of the natural light.
• Visualize what you want your photo to look like, then set your camera and wait for the animal to come into frame. This is especially useful for action shots.
• Don’t try to shoot through the bars of a cage. Bring the animal into the open, or at least open the cage door.

“Just as when photographing people, getting a decent picture of a single subject is relatively easy,” said Matt. “With each animal you add, the difficulty grows exponentially. The beauty of digital cameras is that you can take as many shots as you need to get the right one.”

Matt Dinerstein is a professional photographer based in Chicago. These are all his photos. See more on his Flickr page.

Susan Bearman also writes at Two Kinds of People, Mike&Ollie: 24-weekers Who Beat the Odds and The Animal Store Blog, as well as being a regular contributor to The Chicago Moms and Technorati.

So, your kid(s) want a pet. You’re not so sure. Been there. But I didn’t spend all these years parenting for nothing. I have learned how to use my kids’ desires to my advantage. Some may call that manipulation; I call it effective parenting.

I’m a strong believer in delayed gratification. As soon as you cave into one demand, they want something else. I’ve found if my kids really want something, they’re willing to wait for it. And if I do my job right, I can get something in return.

The time between the first request for a pet and the ultimate acquisition is a great teaching opportunity, a time to let your kids prove they are ready for the responsibility. Here are some suggestions.

Pet need #1: basic care (feeding, walking, grooming, etc.)

Your strategy: Take care of yourself. “Prove to me that you are ready to take care of a living, breathing animal by brushing your teeth; washing your hair and body; washing your hands before and after eating and using the bathroom.”

Pet need #2: clean environment (aquarium, litter box, cage, etc.)

Your strategy: Be responsible. “Prove to me that you are ready to keep a pet safe and healthy by cleaning your your room, picking up your toys, and doing your chores.”

Pet need #3: an owner who knows what to do.

Your strategy: Do some research. “Prove to me that you can take care of a pet by learning what it eats, what kind of supplies it needs, and how to interact with it.”

These strategies can be modified pretty easily according to the age of your kids. Make a job chart — use pictures for very young children. Let them ask you to take them to the library for books about pet care. Help them do a safe Internet search. The key is to expect them to take the lead. This is a great chance to practice the concept of facilitating rather than enabling. Every time they bug you for a new pet, remind them of the things they can do to get ready.

Bonus points for them if they do it without you nagging them.

Bonus points for you if you can make this seem like it was their idea.

If you’re really lucky, by the time they leave for college they will have learned all these valuable skills, and you will have become a master of delaying tactics. Best of luck.

Photo credit: Summer Chore Chart by Mary-Francis Main via Creative Commons.

Susan Bearman also writes at Two Kinds of People, Mike&Ollie: 24-weekers Who Beat the Odds and The Animal Store Blog, as well as being a regular contributor to The Chicago Moms and Technorati.

The saddest day for us as a family was the day our first dog, Roscoe, was hit by a truck and died. As a mom, those hours between the accident and the time the kids got home from school were grueling. I was sad to lose the dog, but sick about having to tell the children he was gone.

We can’t protect our children from certain realities. Life happens, and death is a part of life. The loss of a pet is huge, but it can be a healthy way for children to learn about the life cycle and some other important lessons.

I read a recent article about helping kids deal with the loss of a pet, one I wish I had read before Roscoe died. Sadly, he didn’t die immediately and my husband and I had to make the agonizing decision to put him down several hours later. It turns out that the euphemisms adult use to get us through tough times (“putting him down” or “to sleep” or speaking about his “loss”) are very confusing to children. When we told our children that we had to put Roscoe “to sleep”, it was natural for them to ask when he was going to wake up. The euphemisms didn’t make our conversation any easier. Kids respond best to the truth, even if it is a hard, blunt truth.

My middle son had the hardest time when Roscoe died, but I was surprised to discover what he had learned from the experience. Here’s what he wrote in a school paper last week about life lessons:

“I never really thought about what it meant to be thankful. One day in fifth grade, I was very excited to leave school. It was my dad’s day off and we were going shopping for tools and materials to set up his trains. When I got home, my parents told me that my dog, Roscoe, had died. I was stunned. I burst into tears. After thinking about how I would never see my dog again, I realized how selfish it had seemed to be so excited to go to the store that day. I learned that I should be excited every day to see things like my family, pets, and home. I learned that I should be thankful for every opportunity I get to see those things, because they might disappear overnight or in this case during school.”

That’s a hard, but important lesson for any child to learn. The lesson I learned is that when you bring a new pet into your home, you need to prepare from day one for its inevitable death and how to help children deal with that inevitability.

Susan Bearman also writes at Two Kinds of People, Mike&Ollie: 24-weekers Who Beat the Odds and The Animal Store Blog, as well as being a regular contributor to The Chicago Moms and Technorati.