- Jan 1, 2021
We can all agree that this last year has been a whirlwind. Every year, I start a new planner (the old-school pen and paper kind). I was looking at the first page from January of last year, at the top of which I had drawn fireworks, a symbol of the New Years celebration and the excitement I felt for the upcoming year. Little did I know that it would be one of the most stress-inducing, fearful, and depressing years in recent history, not just for me but for people all over the globe. There were MANY challenges for me this year, but there were also a lot of lessons learned and time for reflection that I hope can help make my future brighter.
This year, I have felt hopeless and depressed because of many national and world events including the pandemic, racial injustice, dirty politics, small businesses and non-profits closing, and general isolation. On a personal level, the pet care industry was hit really hard and business slowed to less than 10% of pre-pandemic times; friends of mine lost their parents and grandparents to Covid-19; I have not seen my family in over a year; #TheMuttMobile got hit by an Amazon van (no injuries!). I also had to say goodbye to a lot of my clients who decided to move out of the area (mostly to the suburbs) because of the pandemic. This was a really hard thing for me because the animals I take care of really are a part of my family here in Boston, and I cherish the time I get to spend with them -- in some ways they were the only way I stayed sane this year!
So I made a list of positive outcomes that came about in 2020, and I wanted to share them with you and the rest of #TheMindfulMuttSquad.
I moved into a new apartment due to the pandemic... but I had a fabulous garden on my deck this year! I was able to grow my own tomatoes, eggplants, strawberries, cantaloupes, bell peppers, hot peppers, herbs, lettuce, spinach and bok choy!
I made a purposeful effort to shop at local small businesses and promoted my friends' businesses however I could.
Since I had so much free time due to the slowdown of business, I got to do some things I usually don't have the time to do:
I wrote literally hundreds of cards to isolated senior citizens and quarantined nursing home residents since the spring of 2020. I was inspired by the Facebook groups From the Heart and Forget Me Not, and eventually started a card drive for a local nursing home in Brighton!
I read a lot! Books I enjoyed were: The Biggest Bluff (still reading), The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane (still reading), Girl, Wash Your Face, and So You Want to Talk About Race.
Before the pandemic started until September 1st of this year, I volunteered with the Ed Markey campaign for re-election, which was a great way to stay busy.
I learned about the power of friends and social media, and that there are many good people in the world willing to help strangers in need:
After I lost 30 instagram followers for posting a photo of "Little Sammy" the dog next to the words Black Lives Matter, I decided to donate $30 to BLM Boston to represent those 30 people who unfollowed me. I posted about it on my personal Facebook page and Little Sammy's mom said she would match my donation, and more and more friends began to donate, leading to a total of $500 donated!
I requested any donations for care packages that I was making for senior citizens who were quarantined in nursing homes. My friends and clients all joined together and sent me donations, so we were able to make 90 care packages with 10-11 items in each!
I started a book drive for nursing home residents to add to their in-house libraries, and I was able to deliver two huge car loads of books donated from many local Brookline community members! (I posted about this in the Brookline Townwide Discussion Facebook Group.)
Friends and members of my card-writing group sent my step-dad tons of cards because he is elderly and having health problems, and I had to cancel my trip to go visit. This was SO sweet of everyone and it made him smile!
I spent a LOT of time with my pups, Nola and Memphis, taking them to new parks and exploring the outdoors more than we normally can. They were also able to come along to work with me a lot on the slow days, which they LOVED. Giving my pups extra attention always makes me happy.
In October, I adopted my senior kitty, Basil, from The Animal Rescue League who is undergoing treatment for pneumonia and hyperthyroidism. She is 15 years old and an absolute gem! Nola and Memphis also like her! She has been doing well so far but not in the clear yet!
Even though so many of the squad had to move out of my service area, I got to meet a bunch of new puppies (some are calling them pandemic puppies because they were all adopted)! While they don't replace the hole in my heart from so many of the OG squad moving away, they certainly brought a lot of joy to my life this year!
On to 2021...
Now that 2020 is behind us, I am hoping for a safe, healthy, and fun year for everyone I know. Our pets may have loved having us home every day this year, but I'm sure some of you are stir crazy! Let's get back to socializing once this vaccine gets rolled out. I can't wait to have a big doggy play-date and share some drinks with you all once we get passed this! Until then, continue to wear your masks and wash your hands! We can get through this together.
Happy New Year from The Mindful Mutt family to yours!
- Jun 14, 2020
Did you know that cats can suffer from heat stress? Our kitty clients at The Mindful Mutt are indoor cats, but they are susceptible, too, during the summer.
Know the signs of heat stress in your cat:
Restlessness
Drooling, bubbly spit around the mouth
Wobbly on their feet
Collapsing/Fainting
Vomiting
Increased heart rate
Tongue is tinted more red than normal
These factors can compound issues with heat stress:
Obesity
Brachycephalic anatomy (flat-faced breeds) such as Persian, Himalayan and Exotic Shorthair cats
Breathing difficulties/respiratory disease such as laryngeal paralysis, collapsing trachea
Heart problems/Cardiovascular disease
Neurological disease
Young Kittens
Senior Cats
Long haired breeds
Tips for avoiding heat stress/heat stroke in cats:
Keep cats in low-humidity and well-ventilated spaces. Humidity is just as bad as high heat for cats.
Circulate air with a fan, air filter, dehumidifier, and/or air conditioner. Circulating air is an important factor in a cat's ability to cool themselves
Provide ample drinking water: Try a kitty water fountain which may encourage them to drink more water. Cats often get dehydrated in summer time.
Avoid excessive exercise on hot days
When exercising/playing, keep it to mornings and late evenings when it is less hot.
Do you have any tips for helping cats avoid heat stress? Please share them with us and we can add them to the list!
- Jun 14, 2020
We have had some hot days the last couple of weeks. For those of you who have been with The Mindful Mutt for a while, you know that I am EXTRA cautious with heat. "Better safe than sorry"is the motto to live by when it comes to your pups!
Depending on humidity and wind, temperatures in the mid-80's and upward can impact breeds of dogs differently. Some love the heat and will run themselves into a heat stroke without even realizing it, and some would rather sit down and hang out in the shade all day. Your dog will NEVER be forced to walk more than is comfortable and safe.
For dog walks on warmer days (over 75 degrees) the walks become less about the dogs walking fast for exercise, and more about enjoying the walk with their friends, with frequent water breaks and cuddles. On hotter days, we will walk in well-shaded areas, sometimes walking in large circles around a grassy area/park instead of the concrete. We also stop in the shade and hang-out/socialize, practice basic tricks like sit & stay, and usually I put some cool water on the pups' necks and bellies to keep them cooler, which they really love! Some days, we may cut the walks short to 15 minute Quick Let Outs when it is very hot. When this happens, you will be notified via text message. As I said earlier, it's always better to err on the cautious side.
Heat exhaustion & heat stroke in dogs:
The signs of heat exhaustion include:
Excessive panting; often looks like their tongue is hanging really far out of their mouth and they can't pull it back in
Excessive drooling
Aloofness; not following commands (more so than normal, of course)
Rapid heart rate
Dizziness; Wobbly on their feet; Tripping
Fever
Lethargy
Passing out
VERY SERIOUS SIGNS of heat stroke:
Convulsions
Vomitting
Diarrhea
Red or blue tinted gums/tongue
Dogs who are the most susceptible to heat exhaustion:
Flat-nosed breeds ("brachycephalic" breeds) such as Pugs, Boxers, Shih Tzus, Bull Dogs, Bull Mastiffs, Boston Terriers, Lhasa Apsos, Pekingese
Overweight dogs
Long-hair & thick coats
Senior dogs (compounding health problems can exacerbate heat reactions)
Puppies (they will play themselves to heat exhaustion)
Working dogs (their working drive is so strong, they will work/play/fetch/chase/run themselves to heat exhaustion easily because they were bred to work work work work!)
Please follow these guidelines to keep your dog(s) safe during warm weather:
Hot Pavement
If you put the back of your hand on the pavement and it is too hot to hold it there for 10 seconds, then it is too hot for your dogs paws! Even walking on the hot sand at the beach can be dangerous! Your dog can get blisters and will be in pain for several weeks afterwards. PLEASE be careful of this! I have seen this happen with many new dog owners and it is not something that you want to learn the hard way.
Walk in the shade or on grass/dirt
Purchase a pair of warm-weather boots or dog socks for your dog
Plenty of Water
Try not to let your dog gulp down water (or food) too fast, which can lead to bloat especially is deep chested dogs like French Bulldogs.
A running water fountain might be helpful to get your dog to drink more water, unless he wants to play with it instead!!
Frozen Treats
You can freeze dog-friendly treats in ice cube trays, in Kong toys, or spread on a Licki-mat for a warm-weather snack.
My dogs favorite frozen treats are peanut butter, pureed banana, pureed sweet potato, beef broth (low-sodium), frozen wet dog food, frozen yogurt.
Cooling Neck Wraps
Especially helpful when you are outside and not near a body of water (hiking a mountain, for example), or a backyard BBQ.
I like to wrap ice cubes in a towel/light scarf and wrap around my dogs' necks. They really enjoy it!
There are a few options to purchase here: https://www.bustle.com/p/the-4-best-cooling-dog-collars-10137520
Cooling Vests
Especially helpful for very active dogs who don't know how to stop playing/working!
I have no personally used these, but multiple people have told me their dogs love them for hiking. The only downside is they usually leave the dog slightly damp. Here is a list of different options: https://www.mypetneedsthat.com/cooling-vests-for-dogs/
Personal Air Conditioner / Evaporative Cooler
If you want to keep your dogs cool but don't want to run the AC while you're not home, try a personal air conditioner (also known as a "evaporative cooler"). It used significantly less electricity, and some are even battery powered. You just fill it with water, and it will blow out cold air. Just aim it at the area your dog likes to relax. The smaller ones run about $40 and will cool a small area about 4"and last 4-6 hours. There are also larger ones that can cool as much as a regular air conditioner. I actually have a battery-operated one for the back of The Mutt Mobile so that it cools the air while the van is off! Here is an example: https://techxsv.com/coolair/order.php?net=1016&aff=6865&sid=&cid=312176905
Hot Weather Activities
Avoid running with your dog on hot days. If you are running with them, try incorporating a cooling vest or keeping the runs much shorter than normal. Keep runs to mornings or late evenings when the temperature is cooler.
I cannot tell you how many times I have seen people running with their dogs in 90+ degree weather and this simply should NEVER happen. Even if your dog CAN do it, that does not mean they will not suffer damage from heat exhaustion or heat stroke. It can do irreversible damage quickly. PLEASE be careful.
Try these instead:
Swimming
Playing in a sprinkler or hose
Kiddie pool in the yard ($10 at hardware store)
Obedience/Agility Training
Walking around a pond or The Charles River so dogs can cool off
Visit Blue Hills Reservation and hike in the shade
DON'T FORGET SUNSCREEN!
Did you know dogs can get sunburn!?
If your dog will be in the sun for an extended period of time (maybe at a beach or with her head out of the car window on a road trip), make sure to apply dog-friendly sunblock.
The places you should apply are: bridge of the nose, ear flaps, any bare/shaved spots, belly, armpits, under back legs.
Pink-skinned and thin-haired dogs are very susceptible which include the American Staffordshire Terrier, Boxer, Chinese Crested, Dalmatian, Greyhound, Weimaraner, Whippet, and White German Shepherd.
Here are dog-friendly sunscreens: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/pets/g26569527/best-dog-sunscreens/