Newest Addition to the Bigwag Family

Tessa the Weenie Dog (names by my daughter, Olivia)

The Bigwag and VanOrder family has a new member, Tessa the Weenie Dog. We (Brandi and two year old daughter, Olivia) was given this cute little girl last week by our uncle. Unfortunately, our uncle's house sold and had to move and couldn't take this precious little stinker with him. He called up to Bigwag and told me that he couldn't see Tessa in a better place.....and I wasn't too hard to convince. I was a little weary after losing Oliver and Precious, all within a two year period. Olivia has been asking for a puppy friend for awhile now so needless to say, we immediately went and got her and she's now here to stay! Olivia had the privilege to name Tessa when our Uncle first got her and has now added "the Weenie Dog" to her name. Olivia has named every dog in our whole family actually, like Maggie the Ferocious Beast!! Tessa the Weenie Dog loves attention so feel free to come into Bigwag to say hello and see her tricks!

Top Ten Reasons to Take Your Dog to Work

Hey Everyone!

This coming Friday, June 25th, 2010 is Take Your Dog to Work Day.  The event is organized by Pet Sitters International and is intended to promote pet adoptions.  You can find out more about Take Your Dog to Work Day by visiting http://www.takeyourdog.com/

In the meantime, enjoy their fun Top Ten!

A Sticky Situation

Hey Everyone!

Lana Flowers contacted me yesterday morning and told me she'd recently written an article on a local dog who got into some sugar-free gum and nearly died as a result of poisoning from the Xylitol the gum contained.  This is an important warning to all pet owners.  There are many foods which can be toxic to your pets and while most people are aware of chocolate, there are far more dangerous substances out there.  Read Miles' story below or at First Arkansas News.  Most importantly, be sure to protect your pet from similar situations by educating yourself about household dangers!

Dog Chews Ice Breakers Gum, Nearly Dies from Xylitol Poisoning

by Lana Flowers

ROGERS — The plastic shopping bag was left on the floor, with a container of sugar-free gum inside.

Miles, an inquisitive puppy, investigated and consumed part of the bag’s contents.
He spent a Sunday morning through a Wednesday evening at two different veterinarians’ offices, because the Xylitol in the sugar-free, strawberry flavored Ice Breakers gum made Miles deathly ill.

He even went into liver failure.

The Reiser family of Rogers, Ark., discovered Miles and his plight after they came home on a Sunday morning from eating breakfast at a local restaurant.

“When we walked in, his ears were low and he had thrown up once on our bedroom floor and and once on our bed,” said Miles’ owner, Jeni Reiser.

Above: Miles, victim of Xylitol posioning, goes for a car ride after his recovery.

Read the full article at First Arkansas News.  You can also read more facts about Xylitol in Lana's article, Doggie Don'ts: Hold the Xylitol

P.S. If you'd like to contribute to our blog, please e-mail us at sales@bigwag.com !

Pet Food Recall: Iams canned cat food

Iams is recalling Iams ProActive Health canned Cat and Kitten Food due to low levels of thiamine

This recall is limited to only Iams canned cat food distributed in North America. No other Iams pet food is involved.

Early signs of thiamine deficiency may include loss of appetite, salivation, vomiting and weight loss. In advanced cases, signs may include ventroflexion (downward curving) of the neck, wobbly gait, falling, circling and seizures. Contact your veterinarian immediately if your cat is displaying any of these signs. If treated promptly, thiamine deficiency is typically reversible.

Consumers who have purchased canned cat food with these codes should discard it. For further information or a product refund, call P&G toll-free at 877-340-8826 (Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM EST).

The following Iams canned cat foods are included:

Product Name:
Iams ProActive Health canned Cat and Kitten Food – all varieties of 3 oz & 5.5 oz cans

Date on Bottom of Can:
09/2011 to 06/2012

If you want to read the news release on the Iams Recall click here.

Weave Poles and Tunnels and Jumps, Oh My!

Hey Everyone!

This Saturday and Sunday, June 19th and 20th, from 8am-12pm at Marchant Hills Arena in Springdale, Northwest Arkansas is hosting a UKI Sanctioned Agility Trial!  I'm very excited about this event, because it's just further proof that Northwest Arkansas is home to world class events of all kinds.  While Nanette Nance and Karen Valle, who have organized the event, tell me that it's a smaller than they had originally planned for, due to a conflicting event in Springfield, I think it's a fabulous step in the right direction for Northwest Arkansas.  I urge you to come out and see the teams compete, because agility in person is truly breathtaking.  The event is free to the public, so there's really no reason not to come out and watch.  Plus it's a great place to find out about the sport and how you can get your dog involved in the future!

 

Spot of Trouble?

Hey Everyone!

As you know, we carry Frontline Plus in store and we make every attempt to make it as affordable as possible.  (We also carry all natural alternatives, but that's another blog)  Well, recently, I've had a very difficult time getting Frontline in.  It's out of stock, back ordered from the manufacturer, you name it, I've heard it...  Now, I may be the only one experiencing these problems, because as a retail location rather than a veterinarian, I have to go through a distributor.   And I won't order from just any old distributor, because I have to trust them and have guarantees on their products.  I won't sell products that are imported from Australia or wherever else, because, well, if it isn't really Frontline, then it really doesn't matter how cheap it is.

But, I did happen across and interesting article in one of my industry magazines this month, and I'm wondering if there's a connection.  The article addresses the recent EPA report on spot on flea products.  It turns out that the EPA began a review of about 200 spot on products from 19 manufacturers in April 2009 and they released their findings in March of this year.

The reason?  Multitudes of consumer complaints about reactions and fatalities from spot on products.  (Read our experience with spot on reactions)

The results?  They concluded that it's consumer error and that labeling and dosage instructions need to be better.  They will be meeting with the manufacturers individually to discuss those changes.  They also found that inert ingredients will need to be disclosed more fully. Apparently, as it stands currently, the inert ingredients could actually be toxic in their own right, but because they aren't pesticides, they don't have to be enumerated on the label.

Now, I don't know if either of these issues has anything to do with me not being able to get Frontline in the store, but I do have to say that these findings border between ridiculous and frightening in my opinion.  I find it hard to believe that every instance of reaction or death was caused by misuse.  Is the EPA is really saying that every death or reaction was caused because consumers accidentally put dog products on their cats or overdosing their dogs?  That seems a little off when they can't even tell us exactly what the inert ingredients are.  Or that the inert ingredients are even the same from batch to batch.  Call me crazy, but I don't think potentially toxic ingredients should be allowed in a product, period.  Let alone under the label of inert ingredients.  It seems to me that the EPA is taking some much needed action, but it  it took far too many serious complaints to get such a minimal reaction.  And I'm not sure I believe that this action will really provide safer flea products in the end.  And shouldn't that be the ultimate goal?  Or is it really too much to ask for a safe, effective flea treatment?

Three: Company or a Crowd?

Hey Everyone!

Cary and I dropped by the Humane Society on Saturday to take the treats you donated and while we were there we fell in love with a little brindle hound puppy.  Cary and I have both said previously that two is enough, but on occasion we've also seriously considered getting a third dog.  The last time we found one that we were drawn to, Cary had just been laid off and we didn't feel like it was financially responsible to take on another dog.  By the time he'd found a job, she'd found a home, so obviously, it just wasn't meant to be.

This time, we're in a good place.  We have the room in our home and our hearts.  Of course, there are still lots of things to consider before we bring another dog into our family.  For example, Hannah and Sam will have the final say on whether this dog is a good match for our family.  We'll have to take them out to the dog park to meet this little guy and see if they get along.  Plus, we'll have to make sure this puppy would be good with cats as well.

But, the point of this blog is this:  For those of you with three, what is your experience?  Paul Knutson tells me that the adage "one dog is like one dog, two dogs is like two, but three is like six" is true.  I've never had three dogs (my parents drew the line at two!) so I'm curious if that's everyone's experience.  Plus, I'm concerned about someone being left out.  What if Sam takes to the new puppy and doesn't want to play with Hannah anymore?  Has anyone experienced that, or do they all get along well?  And overall, I just want to know what you guys think.  If you have a three dog family, are you glad or do you wish you'd stopped at two?  I'd appreciate any feedback that will help us make an informed decision.  Because, if anyone knows, it's you!