DynaMutts will have a new website up and running soon. We are also walking larger dogs!
Smaller dogs who prefer to walk on leash with other little pups can still enjoy their intimate walks with friends. And now, for the more active dog with good social and recall skills, we offer small, off-leash groups!
On leash. Off leash. Small dogs. Bigger dogs. All dogs are a big deal!
Please check http://www.dynamutts.com in the new year.
OUR NEW CONTACT
Pamela’s phone number & email are:
(415) 819-6934
pamelavdelrio@gmail.com
please put this in your contacts/address book
Now that Pamela del Rio is the new partner with DynaMutts, she has hit the ground running.
So far she has met (and walked) most of your dogs.
We have a few more to meet and she’ll be ready to walk Matt’s dogs for him the week of June 10 while he vacations.
We will arrange for you to meet her, too, once the dust settles.
NEW BEGINNINGS
Beginning in July she will be taking over scheduling and billing, as well as be in charge of the current clients. I will be on the ground with the new clients. In addition to adding more dog walking flexibility, Pam’s boarding will provide our clients with a much needed service.
Go DynaMutts!!
From Pet Lover’s News…
Fruits, Vegetables and Nuts
Grapes and Raisins – Eating as few as 4-5 grapes or raisins can be poisonous to a 20 pound (9 kg) dog, though the exact toxic dose will vary between dogs. Signs of toxicity occur within 24 hours and can start within few hours.
Symptoms: vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, abdominal pain, decreased urine production, weakness and “drunken” walking.
Possible Outcomes: Can cause irreversible damage to the kidneys, possibly resulting in death.
Action: Take your pet to your vet or emergency clinic. The vet may start by inducing vomiting, or the stomach might be pumped (gastric lavage). Treatment involves aggressive supportive care – particularly fluid therapy and medications.
Avocados (entire plant: leaves, fruit, seeds and bark) – contain Persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs, and also trigger difficulty breathing, fluid accumulation in the chest, abdomen and heart, or pancreatitis. It is under debate as to whether or not the actual meat and oils are poisonous to dogs, with no scientific conclusions at this time. Note that avocado meat and oils are used in some dog products and foods.
Symptoms: problems breathing (loss of breath, wheezing), vomiting, diarrhea, nasal congestion, fluid accumulation in the dog heart and chest area.
Possible Outcomes: pancreatitis, oxygen deprivation leading to death.
Action: Take your pet to your vet or emergency clinic. The vet may start by inducing vomiting, or the stomach might be pumped (gastric lavage). Treatment involves aggressive supportive care including fluid therapy and medications.
Onions, Garlic, Chives – can cause the destruction of red blood cells known as Heinz body anemia, a form of hemolytic anemia. No clear quantity has been established as to the onset of the anemia. But for garlic, if your dog consumes the equivalent of 1 teaspoon of garlic for every 10 pounds of their weight (1 teaspoon for a 10 pound dog) it can destroy red blood cells. Poisonous reaction can result from raw, cooked or dried onions, garlic, chives, including those included in powdered or dehydrated forms. Avoid all foods that contain onions or onion variants (such as spagetti sauce).
Symptoms: pale gums, rapid heart rate, weakness and lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and bloody urine.
Possible Outcomes: can cause irreversible damage to the kidneys, death.
Action: Take your pet to the vet or emergency clinic for care. The vet may administer blood transfusions and/or oxygen, followed by fluid therapy.
Tomatoes – contain tomatine, an alkaloid related to solanine. As the fruit ripens, the tomatine is metabolized, therefore ripened, red tomatoes are unlikely to be harmful when eaten. Tomatoes also contain atropine, which can cause dilated pupils, tremors, and heart arrhythmias. Tomato plants (the stems and leaves) are the toxic part and can cause serious symptoms. Green, unripened tomatoes can be potentially harmful as well, but contain less tomatine and atrophine than the plant parts. Red, ripened tomatoes are not likely to be harmful to animals, unless eaten in very high quantities as they contain smaller, trace amounts of the poisonous substances. Tomatine triggers abnormalities with the nervous system, kidneys and digestive tract.
Symptoms: Tremors, seizures, heart arrhythimias. Clinical signs of tomatine poisoning include lethargy, drooling, difficulty breathing, colic, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, widely-dilated pupils, paralysis, cardiac effects, central nervous system signs (e.g., ataxia, muscle weakness, tremors, seizures), resulting from cholinesterase inhibition, coma and death.
Action: Take your pet to the vet or emergency clinic for care.
Raw and Green Potatoes – eating potatoes that are green or have a distinctive green rim between the peel and inside can be toxic because of solanum alkaloids that can cause solanine poisoning. Symptoms of solanine ingestion can include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, cardiac dysrhythmia, headache and dizziness. Therefore green potatoes should not be eaten by human or dog as they may get sick. Raw potatoes also contain oxalates (like tomatoes) which dogs can react to. Oxalates can trigger abnormalities with the nervous system, kidneys and digestive tract.
Note: Cooked potatoes appear to be fine for dogs and can be found in many commercial dog foods.
Symptoms of oxalates: Tremors, seizures, heart arrhythimias.
Action: Take your pet to the vet or emergency clinic for care.
Rhubarb – like tomatoes and raw potatoes, rhubarb contain oxalates, which trigger abnormalities with the nervous system, kidneys and digestive tract.
Symptoms: Tremors, seizures, heart arrhythimias.
Action: Take your pet to the vet or emergency clinic for care.
Mushrooms (especially wild mushrooms) – contain toxins are very dangerous for dogs, and in the worst cases, can result in the death. The majority of fatal cases of poisoning are by the death cap mushroom (Amanita Phalloides). It is best to consider all wild mushrooms potentially toxic. Common white mushrooms appear to be safe and are not considered dangerous foods for dogs.
Symptoms vary dependent on mushroom. They may include: nervous system abnormalities, anxiety, restlessness, slow heart beat, wheezing, urination, salivation, diarrhea, seizure, coma, vomiting.
For death cap mushrooms symptoms include: profuse bloody diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, dehydration, fever, and a rapid heart beat which lasts for approximately 24 hours. The next phase results in death within 3 to 7 days.
Possible Outcomes: organ failures (including kidneys, liver, brain), seizure, coma, vomiting, and death.
Action: Take your dog to the vet immediately. If possible collect a sample of the mushroom your dog has eaten for identification of the species of mushroom. Note: Do not store the mushrooms in a plastic bag. Use a paper bag, moist paper towel, or wax paper.
Fruit Pits and Seeds – Apple seeds, cherry pits, peach pits, and plum pits contain toxic cyanide, which is poisionous to dogs. Additionally, pits and seeds can cause intestinal obstruction. Signs of intestinal obstruction may include: anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, lethargy, no appetite, swollen abdomen, fever, dehydration, and shock. Without treatment, death can occur within 3 to 4 days.
Symptoms of cyanide poisoning include: dilated pupils, apprehension, hyperventilation, shock, vomiting, panting, apnea tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmias, coma, skin irritation.
Possible Outcomes: cardiac arrest, coma, death.
Action: Take your pet to emergency vet care immediately. In some cases, antidotes are available. Other treatments include oxygen therapy, fluids and supportive care.
Persimmon Seeds - can cause inflammation of the dog’s intestine causing enteritis.
Symtpoms: diarrhea and possibly a high temperature.
Action: Take your pet to the vet immediately. In some cases, antidotes are available. Other treatments include oxygen therapy, fluids and supportive care.
Tree nuts, such as walnuts, pecans, pistachios, and Brazil nuts – are often contaminated with very low levels of the poison Aflatoxin, which comes from the Aspergillus mold. Although levels are safe for humans, dogs are acutely sensitive to this poison, and even low levels of Aflatoxin can be extremely toxic and lead to complications such as gastroenteritis. Other varieties of nuts such as walnuts can cause various other dog illnesses and dog poisoning. Nuts also have a high phosphorus content which causes the formation of bladder stones in dogs. Peanut butter (non-salted), in moderation, appear to be non-toxic to dogs, although peanuts themselves may have ill-effects on your dog.
Symptoms of Aflatoxin poisoning include: loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, orange-colored urine and jaundice, liver failure, blood-tinged vomit and bloody or blackened stools.
Possible Outcomes: Aflatoxin causes severe hepatocellular necrosis (acute liver failure) within 72 hours.
Symptoms of gastroenteritis include: persistent vomiting (sometimes bile may be seen in the vomit), dehydration and watery diarrhea. Lethargy, lack of appetite, stomach grumbling, and general listlessness.
Symptoms of bladder stones include: difficulty urinating, frequent “dribbling” urination, bloody urine, painful urination. This results in blockage of urinary tract due to bladder stones.
These episodes can be either acute (short lived), or last for several days.
Action: Take your dog to the vet for immediate treatment.
Macadamia Nuts – generally consumption will not be fatal, but can cause your dog to become extremely ill. The toxin in the nut is not know. Ingestion of just a handful of nuts can cause adverse effects. As few as six macadamia nuts can trigger locomotory difficulties in dogs. Toxicity will typically evince within 6 to 24 hours.
Symptoms: vomiting, weakness, depression, lack of energy, drunken walking, joint/muscle pain, and joint swelling, tremors, ataxia, hyperthermia, abdominal pain.
Possible Outcomes: Severely sick. May require hospitalization.
Action: Take your pet to the vet if symptoms are not abating or large quantity of nuts is consumed. Dogs are typically treated symptomatically and recover uneventfully within 1 to 2 days. In-hospital supportive care may be recommend for dogs that become very sick.
Welcome Pamela del Rio to the family.
Pam had a dog care business in the New Jersey suburbs charging $1 a day to take dogs into her home while families were on vacation. It expanded to going to homes to care for cats, little creatures, fish etc.
After working in corporate marketing for several years and worrying more about her dog than her work…she decided to go back to doing what she really enjoys. It’s that simple but it took a long time to figure out. She knows how important it is to have your animals well-cared for while one is busy, away, distracted. Pam is active with Central Coast Pug Rescue, Muttville, is Pet CPR certified and will be SF DART certified in Fall 2012.
We have been discussing a partnership for sometime. She will be both walker and admin. She will also offer boarding! I look forward to Pam’s wisdom and experience becoming part of Dynamutts story.
(and…if you’re feeding your dog or cat this brand, we need to talk.)
4health Pet Food, sold by Tractor Supply Company, is another one of the foods in the Diamond Pet Food recall. The following foods are being pulled from the Hagerstown, MD and Braselton, GA Tractor Supply distribution centers. I don’t know what stores they may have been sent to, or if they even made it out of the distribution centers. The following list comes from Tractor Supply.
SKU Description
1153018 4HLTH 5LB ALL LIFE STAGE CAT
1027607 4HLTH 5LB C&R
1024379 4HLTH 5LB HEALTHY WEIGHT
1153026 4HLTH 5LB INDOOR CAT
1027576 4HLTH 5LB L&R
1027592 4HLTH 5LB LG BRD
1024376 4HLTH 5LB MATURE ADULT
1024383 4HLTH 5LB SALMON & POTATO
1027615 4HLTH 5LB SM BITES
1027584 4HLTH 5LB PUPPY
1152999 4HLTH 18LB ALL LIFE STAGE CAT
5149574 4HLTH 18LB C&R
1024380 4HLTH 18LB HEALTHY WEIGHT
1153000 4HLTH 18LB INDOOR CAT
5149532 4HLTH 18LB L&R
1024377 4HLTH 18LB MATURE ADULT
5138507 4HLTH 18LB PUPPY
1024384 4HLTH 18LB SALMON & POTATO
5149605 4HLTH 18LB SM BITES
6009468 4HLTH 35LB C&R ADULT
1024381 4HLTH 35LB HEALTHY WEIGHT
5138492 4HLTH 35LB L&R
5138515 4HLTH 35LB LG BRD
5149621 4HLTH 35LB PERFOR
1024385 4HLTH 35LB SALMON & POTATO
5149613 4HLTH 35LB SM BITES
1024378 4HLTH 35LBMATURE ADULT
5149566 4HTH 35LB PUPPY
She passed away Saturday at home, peacefully. Her person rescued Zoe many years ago. Since then, Zoe had a holistic upbringing and lived a long, healthy life. She was a happy, spunky pug, who could manage a run to the pet-store for a treat.
We’ll miss her.
A dear friend, and professional dog walker, has teamed up with DynaMutts to be our boarding facility.
Stay tuned on our “About Us” page for details coming soon!
What I can tell you is that she has a small breed dog, and watches Roxy when I travel. She owns her home, so we can set it up for dog sitting. And, she has an urban farm which is both amazingly interesting, and keeps her working at her homestead.
We will double and triple check her house and yard for safety, dog proofing, and edible plant life, etc. Once that is done, she’ll be open for buisness!
We still have folks who can pet-sit at your home, but having our official boarding place will offer our wonderful clients that extra support you’ve been asking for!!
$45/night for off peak. $50/night for holidays.
This is going to be great!!!
Yesterday, this heartfelt email (below) landed in my inbox. Ginger’s dog walker is helping re-home her. What is amazing about Ginger is how terrific she is! Look at the photos and read the email…then pass this on (if you can pass her up yourself!!!)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MISS GINGER is the sweetest, most docile, mellow, relaxed dog I have ever met! She is incredibly loyal and loving. She is very well trained and seldom needs a leash.She struts the streets of the Castro with pride and doesn’t know that she will be without her parents whom she was adopted from more than two years ago by the end of next month. There isn’t one thing wrong with this dog. She is GUARANTEED to be an unreal addition to any quiet and loving home that gives her lots of love. She is great with dogs and all people including children.I have been providing Monday through Friday playgroup service for Ginger for more than two years and cannot even begin to tell you how famous she is around the parks for her ultra mellow and loving disposition. For more information or questions on how you can help Ginger find her final home, please contact: Ginger@YeeePaw.com OR 415-449-8818QUICK STATS: She is a Chihuahua-Dachshund. Only 3.5 years old. 13 pounds. All health and dental records up to date. Chipped. She is ready to go with clothes, jackets, harnesses, beds, food, heart worm, flea/tic meds.
On August 10, 2010, the following post appeared on the Dynamutts blog. I just re-read it and do you know what? A solid week of relentless rain, a shuffling of employees, some flat tires, and a few dog bites later…and it’s still true! With some minor changes, like the time of year, and the fact that I mostly manage my walking staff (and do much less walking.) I’m lucky to have my walkers, who are a pleasure to work with, and our clients, who are a joy to work with, and their dogs, who are why we exist in the first place. Keep on truckin’!
This Is What I Get To Do
People are mumbling on Facebook again about having to go to work. Monday blahs. Foggy blues. Starting their days in this June Gloom is depressing–at least according to status updates. Weekends are “yay!” but the work week sucks.
I’m happy to report that what I do does not suck. Instead of the daily grind, here’s what I get to do: walk our charming, victorian dotted city, with the cutest little creatures you’ve ever seen. Yes, the air is chilly. But have you seen their faces? (see ‘Daily Journal’.) When I wake up in the morning to The City’s typical June Gloom, I stretch, smile, and grab my best fleece because I’m going for a walk!
No matter how harried, anxious or stressed out I feel, for me, an hour long hike with a dog pal is the best medicine. Throw in some arse kicking hills, and I feel even better. And so do the dogs. They’re happy, I’m happy. Now that is job satisfaction.
Jealous? I don’t blame you. The reality is that, even though I’m not buying myself a new car with the income, I’m not stuck behind a boring desk, banging on my steering wheel in a miserable commute, sitting in traffic, or putting up with an infuriating boss, either.
This is what I get to do.
