Beagle Facts: Funny Twitter account you need to follow

Here at Life With Beagle, we post lots of beagle facts:

We've posted on the beagle anatomy from nose to tail.

We've posted on the distinct sounds beagles make.

And we post about all sorts of beagle health problems.

But we've never posted facts like this:

Life is better with a #beagle! Everyone needs a furry companion with silky ears, a sassy arooo, and loving eyes. #beaglefacts 🐶😇😍 pic.twitter.com/kBs02HcPmJ

— Beagle Facts (@beaglefacts) June 22, 2017

7 ways dogs are the prescription for PTSD, heart health, more

May is National Pet Month!

Seems like the perfect month to celebrate the Human-Animal Bond. And why the science says a pet is a great prescription for better human health. They even have a whole commercial for this medication.

Thongs, couches and light bulbs: Crazy things dogs will eat

Lulu once ate (or tried to eat) a burrito full of ants.

I was walking her in my old apartment complex. Now normally, I try to keep a weather eye out to make sure Lulu doesn't get anything she's not supposed to. But I missed this burrito. She grabbed it before I had the chance. And then she dropped it, scrunched up her nose and pawed at her mouth as a million ants poured out of the wrap.

I wish I could say that ended her habit of grabbing things off the sidewalk.

Now, we've all heard of dogs eating crazy things. Lulu and Jasmine have never really strayed from food, and cat poop -- including cat poop left by outdoor cats. SO GROSS!

I remember a story about a beagle in the Tampa area that ate money. 

This dog apparently ate stone -- 109 stones, to be precise! Vets have the Xrays to prove it! 

Sometimes dogs eat strange things because of a mineral deficiency, or pica. But some experts think dogs mouth objects out of curiosity. It may be a behavioral issue too. Here's some more info on that from VetStreet.

I asked our friends on Facebook and Twitter what the weird items their dogs ate were. And here are some of the responses.

Natural Balance's quality: How good ingredients make good dog food #WeBelieveinNB

We've been talking about Natural Balance® for the last few months. We like the food for its Limited Ingredient Diets, its Buy With Confidence™ guarantee and its commitment to making sure you get the right food for your dog through its Nutritional Experts.

But here's another reason we love Natural Balance -- the premium quality ingredients.

This post is sponsored by Natural Balance and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping to share our thoughts about why we believe in Natural Balance as a quality food for our (dog(s) or cat(s), Life With Beagle only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Natural Balance is not responsible for the content of this article. 

Why doesn't my dog like her food? My conversation with a Natural Balance nutrition expert #WeBelieveinNB

What do you do when you know you've bought good quality dog food and your dog just won't eat it?

A couple months ago we started talking about why we like Natural Balance® Limited Ingredient Diet.

But Lulu even after a week of mixing her food, she wouldn't eat the Natural Balance alone.

Not sure what I was doing wrong, I decided to ask an expert. Natural Balance is happy to oblige.

This post is sponsored by Natural Balance® and the BlogPaws® Professional Pet Blogger Network™. I am being compensated for helping to share our thoughts about why we believe in Natural Balance as a quality food for our (dog(s) or cat(s), Life With Beagle only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Natural Balance Pet Foods is not responsible for the content of this article.

6 steps to take before you free a pet from a hot car

Summer approaches, people.

Actually, forget it. If you're in Florida, summer is already here. Temperatures are in the 80s and they will only go up from here. So will that wretched heat index.

We are now in that period where leaving your pets in the car is dangerous, maybe even deadly.

In 2016, Florida lawmakers passed a bill that will protect people who damage a hot vehicle to rescue a human or a pet from criminal liability or lawsuits. But that doesn't mean you should just go charging in, breaking windows.

Find out what steps you need to take if you find yourself in this situation.

5 things to know about dogs and sleep

NOTE: Serta and Branded Pet Beds are proud sponsors of Life With Beagle's Lulu's Favorite Things campaign, benefiting Harbor House of Central Florida. The 2016 Paws for Peace  walk is this April. Join and help fight domestic abuse.

UPDATE: The giveaway ended March 15, 2016.

This week is National Sleep Awareness Week.

So how aware are you of how your dog sleeps?

Here's 5 things to know about dogs and sleep.

Does your dog have garbage breath? Get #Tropicleanfresh dental help

This post is sponsored by TropiClean and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about TropiClean Fresh Breath Drops, but Life With Beagle only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. TropiClean is not responsible for the content of this article.

What horribly gross things does your dog eat?

I asked my Facebook followers that question the other day. The answer overwhelmingly seems to be poop and garbage. Bleh!

Lulu has no problems knocking over a garbage can to get at goodies. She knocked one over just the other day. My mother doesn't seem to remember that Lulu and Jasmine are stronger and have longer legs than her dachshunds. They can get on counters and they can knock over trash cans. But she HAD to put garbage into a small can in Lulu's reach!

Nevertheless, poop, garbage and other gross goodies are no good for your dog's mouth... or breath.

Mystery dog treats can set pet parents on edge

A car trip with the dogs today turned into a serious of deep thoughts.

I went through the bank drive-thru to deposit some money. The teller asked me how many dogs I had in the car.

"Two," I said, suspecting what came next.

As she sent me my receipt, she said "I sent your some treats too."

"Thanks," I replied. But I wasn't grateful.

Sure enough, two beige, nameless mystery dog treats arrive in my bank canister. I grab them and put them in a cubby away from nosy beagles.

Here's the thing: Jasmine is allergic to chicken. I also try not to give Lulu grains. So what are these mysterious treats? Are they ok for my dogs, or will I have to deal with Jasmine itching and Lulu having gross poop?

 Am I being rational, or am I being ridiculous?

Who says dog parents aren't real parents?

I mean lets face it. If we leave dogs to their own devices, they'll eat cat poop and left over chicken bones and half-eaten burritos found on the side of the road (true story -- Lulu got the burrito before I could stop her. Imagine her surprise when an army of ants came out. Did she learn her lesson? NOOOOOOO.).

I'm trying to make sure these dogs don't eat something stupid. I'm not perfect, but I try hard.

I would want the bank tellers to ask before giving cookies. Give me a chance to say no without putting me in a position to throw out the treats. And this goes for other places that keep pet goodies. Ask before you offer, because you never know what problems pets may have. 

Dog parents: Stop shaming people about dog food!

FULL DISCLOSURE: I am not being compensated for this post by Nutro or Merrick, though I have received food or compensation from both in the past.

I got into an argument in a beagle Facebook group.

It was over an article by Reviews.com that claimed only 25 dog food brands were "safe." I disagreed with some of the article's assertions, including regarding certain ingredients and some of their methodologies.

I was basically told (passive-aggressively) that I was knowingly putting my dogs in danger by feeding them "unsafe" dog food.

People, I'm done. I'm over it. 

Eat Your Vegetables! 6 veggies your dogs can eat

Lulu loves her veggies.

And I don't just mean her sweet pea toy. And it's not just because she's a beagle and beagles will eat almost anything. Dogs like veggies in general! And most are really good for them.They're great as treats, and if you need to get your pet to slim down they are great to use as a low calorie replacement if you have to reduce their food.

So in honor of National Eat Your Vegetables Day (which is June 17), here is some food for thought for dog owners every where.

Fat on your dog: Scary new numbers

We skipped E in the A-Z Challenge because we had some technical issues. But we are back on F, with hopefully no more troubles.

F is for fat. And it's a problem, not just because we have an obesity problem among pets, but because pet parents don't seem to realize it!

The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention is a group of vets trying to help parents
keep their dogs healthy.

This latest study was released just last month. The numbers are staggering -- 44 million dogs and 55 million cats are overweight and obesity.

But it's the fat pet gap that is the most disconcerting.

Ninety percent of overweight cat owners and 95 percent -- NINETY-FIVE PERCENT! -- of overweight dog owners say their pet is of normal weight.

Now, we have the same kind of problem with humans as well, I guess, but it's worse with dogs. Just a couple pounds in some animals is dangerous, for all the reasons that being overweight is dangerous in humans -- arthritis, cancer, diabetes (at least directly in cats, indirectly in dogs).

“We’re seeing an increasing number of obese pets and the diseases that accompany excess fat,” reports Dr. Julie Churchill, veterinary nutritionist at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. “Type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, and many forms of cancer are associated with obesity in animals. It is critical pet owners understand an overweight dog or cat is not a healthy pet.”

So, pet parents, here's a handy chart to help you get started on figuring out if your pet is the right weight.

The Association of Pet Obesity Prevention has special charts to help you determine your breed's ideal weight.

They also have an interesting chart that explains the calories in some of the most popular pet treats.

Here are the calorie counts for Milk Bones:

• Original: 10 
• Puppy Biscuits:10 
• Small Biscuits:  20 
• Medium Biscuits: 40 
• Large Biscuits: 115 
• Extra Large Biscuits: 225 

How about Beggin' Strips?

• Bacon: 30
• Cheese and Bacon: 30
• Beef and Bacon: 30

Snausages? 25 calories

Busy bones? A whopping 300 calories for a small/medium bone!

But you could try something else -- veggies for instance are great for dogs. So are fruit.

 There are also some great low-calorie treats out there.

Here's something else. If you are giving your dogs treats, you should also consider how much food you give your dog. If you're going to do a training day, for instance, with lots of high value treats, you might want to give you dog less food.

And don't forget exercise. Not just a brief walk. It's good for you too!

You know your dog's a beagle when... 5 Beagle noises

We all know that wonderful sound, a sound only a beagle lover could love....

We are talking, of course, of ARROOOOOOOOO!

But there's a special name for that sound. What is it, and what are the beagle sounds you should know? Even if your beagle isn't on the talkative side (and not all of them are), when they have something to say they have special ways of doing it.

So... You Know Your Dog Is A Beagle When...

Get in shape with Kale Chips! Challenge helps 85-lb beagle

Photo Courtesy of One Tail At A Time

This is Kale Chips. That wasn't his name when he first came to One Tail At A Time in Chicago earlier this month. It's meant to symbolize the long journey he will have to make back to good health. And it's one you can make with him too.

Kale Chips weighs 85 pounds. He was surrendered by his elderly owner because he could barely walk.

One Tail At A Time is now working out a diet and exercise plan for Kale Chips, who is in a foster home. But they need help.

Photo Courtesy of One Tail At A Time

THE TEAM KALE CHIPS CHALLENGE

One Tail At a Time is hosting a special fitness challenge to help you get in shape, and also raise money to help care for Kale Chips. He will go on a special diet, and also start on hydrotherapy to help him lose weight. These things are not cheap.

Here's how the challenge works:

• Head to the Team Kale Chips Challenge website. 
• Pledge to exercise and log a total number of miles.
• Pledge an amount of money per mile.
• If you fail to make the pledged number of miles, pledge to give a higher amount.

Don't want to take the challenge? You can donate money, or even buy Team Kale Chips merchandise.

Want to help? Head to the Team Kale Chips Facebook page.

5 reasons to get Cherry Eye checked for your pet

Did you know dogs have three eyelids? I knew they had at least two. For some dogs, including beagles, that third eyelid can develop a problem commonly known as cherry eye.

A beagle with cherry eye. Photo courtesy of Snobbig2010 via Flickr.

The third eyelid gives the dog's eyes protection from dust and other debris, and also provides some of the moisture to that eye.

But sometimes the tear gland in that eyelid pops out, leaving what looks like a bubble at the eye. That's cherry eye.

"It is thought to be hereditary, but the exact cause is unknown," said Dr. Angela Chesanek, a veterinarian at SPCA of Central Florida. "Most common in certain breeds (English Bulldog, American cocker spaniel, sharpei, Newfoundland, beagle, and a few others) but any dog can get it." 

Even cats can get it.

Is it a problem? Veterinarians say it can be.

A Tonkinese kitten with cherry eye. Photo courtesy of CarlosTheDwarf via Wikimedia Commons.

So why get it looked at, even fixed? Here are 5 reasons:

1) It means there's an issue with the third eyelid. It is not a cosmetic issue.
2) If cherry eye happens in one eye, it could happen in the other.
3) The gland (now prolapsed) can get dry and irritated. The pet may paw at it.
4) Blood flow to the area is affected.
5) "If the gland ulcerates and becomes infected, replacement may be necessary for tear production -- and to prevent painful dry eye," Dr. Chesanek said.

What is Dry Eye? A form of conjunctivitis. And it requires medication for the rest of your pet's life. The eye will find a way to keep moist any way it can. It could start using mucus. The eye will get gooey, and that could affect the cornea, and eventually vision.  

There are a lot of ways to fix cherry eye for doctors. I found a video on Youtube of a vet literally pushing the gland back in an English bulldog with a Q-tip. It's kind of gross, I won't post it here. Just search cherry eye.

Some cases involve surgery. Dr. Chesanek suggests taking the dog to a vet ophthalmologist, but a vet can perform the surgery too.

"Surgery with a specialist is typically more -- can be up to $1000 for one eye," Dr. Chesanek said. "With a non-specialist veterinarian it typically ranges from $300-$500 -- for one eye.  This charge covers bloodworm, anesthesia, etc.  Charges vary greatly depending on the city." 

As long as you take care of it, you shouldn't have to worry about removing the whole gland.

Of course, there is always a chance that this cherry eye may reappear. Which means you may need surgery again.

Good luck! 
————————————————————
Information from PetMD.com and petinsurance.com also contributed to this report. 

Six signs of food poisoning in pets, and preventing it too

Making sure our pets get good food is tough enough today. There are so many varieties, and there are so many reasons a dog might not want to eat the food you give them.

So when we start hearing about dogs getting sick and dying, and the only common denominator is what they eat, it shakes us to our core. Even worse, it's not like the pet can tell us what's wrong. We're left guessing.

When I saw a tweet about Beneful possibly being tainted, it was late at night. But after reading comment after horrifying comment posted on Consumer Affairs.com, I woke my mother up over the phone to make sure her dog was not eating it any longer.

Lulu stopped eating Beneful a full two months before I saw the website. Mom's dachshund started on Beneful, but was now on something else. And after talking with my brothers, their dog Max is off it now.

We're lucky. Our dogs apparently didn't get bad batches of food. And Purina will not be recalling the product any time soon.

With reports of similar trouble with other pet food and treats, it's up to the pet parent to know how their pet is doing, and if their pet's food is upsetting them.

But how do you know if your pet has food poisoning?

I asked Dr. Angela Chesanek, a veterinarian with SPCA of Central Florida. She said to look for these signs:

1. Lethargy 
2. Diarrhea or bloody diarrhea
3. Fever
4. Vomiting
5. Decreased appetite
6. Abdominal pain

These are all symptoms the dogs who got sick on Beneful showed. Of course, these could be symptoms for any number of illnesses. Dr. Chesanek suggests bringing a stool sample to help in the diagnosis when you can go to the vet.

One simple test you can make: take the food away. 

"Most of these diseases are self limiting (i.e. improve on their own with removal of the contaminated diet), but a veterinarian can provide supportive care to help the pet feel better faster (fluids, antibiotics, anti-diarrhea meds, etc)."

So now the question is: what should you feed your dog?

Dr. Chesanek says raw diets can cause bacterial contamination in pets too. In fact, it's much more common. And if you look at the recall list over on the Food and Drug Administration website, many dog foods have had to issue recalls, from Pedigree to Blue Buffalo.

Dr. Chesanek suggests pet owners look for foods that are trial approved by the Assocation of American Feed Control Officials. You should find the AAFCO statement on the nutrition label.

Chesanek also said that you should buy the right food for your pet's stage in life.

"I do not recommend foods labeled as ‘for all life stages’ or for both ‘growth and maintenance.' For example, a balanced puppy food should carry a label that reads: 'animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that (name of product) provides complete and balanced nutrition for growth and reproduction.'  An adult dog food should carry a label that reads: 'animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that (name of product) provides complete and balanced nutrition for adult maintenance'."

I have three dog food bags in my pantry: one is a Beneful bag, one is Innova and one is Nutro. The Nutro and Innova both had AAFCO labels, but I couldn't find one on the Beneful bag.