Summer Water Safety for your Dog

The heat is on in Massachusetts and now is the time when families are heading to their favorite swimming spots to find relief.  Whether you are heading to the pool, lake, or ocean, if you are bringing your beloved four-legged companion along for some fun, please remember these safety tips offered by the ASPCA:

• If on a boat, use a pet life preserver. Pets can easily slip or fall off a boat. Provide your dog with fresh water.
• Keep your dog from drinking pool water, which contains chlorine and other chemicals that could cause stomach upset. Also keep pets from drinking any stagnant water, which can contain algae or salt water.
• If you and your dog are visiting a river, keep an eye out for snakes. Even if they’re not poisonous, snakes can deliver nasty bites if curious dogs get too close.
• If you’re visiting the beach, supervise your dog closely when venturing into the water. Many dogs aren’t prepared for the motion of the waves.
• Watch out for rip currents, which are most dangerous during high surf conditions. A strong current can quickly carry a swimming dog away from shore.
• Learn about marine life native to the area you’re visiting. Jellyfish, lionfish, stingrays, Portuguese man-of-war and other animals on the shore or in the water can be dangerous to both people and dogs.
• Continually monitor dogs for signs of heat stroke when spending time outside in the heat.

Happy Summer Everyone!

Healthy Dog Treats

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Dollars for Daffy Fundraiser

The Barkers Dozen Launches "Dollars for Daffy" Fundraiser

Portion of profits from the sale of company’s organic pet treats will help a loyal fan get the medical care she needs. April 3, 2012 – CHICOPEE, Mass. – The Barkers Dozen launched the "Dollars for Daffy" fundraiser today, where the organic dog treat baker will donate a portion of the profits from the sale of its products to Daffy Trinka, a 6-year-old Toy Fox/Jack Russell Terrier and loyal fan of the company, who is in need of medical care for an unknown illness.

During the fundraiser, which will run through April 2012, The Barkers Dozen will donate 50% of the profits from the sale of its treats purchased on its online store – shop.thebarkersdozen.com – to Daffy and her owner, Ingrid Trinka. Plus, when customers use the promo code "DAFFY" at checkout, they will receive a special thank you gift from The Barkers Dozen.

"I was just so thrilled to see Daffy chosen as a ‘Barkers Buddy’, the rest took my breath away," said Ingrid. "I am overwhelmed to think that complete strangers would extend such an incredible offer to us. We are so very thankful. We never, in our dreams, expected this."

Daffy, an avid fan of The Barkers Dozen’s Gluten-Free Blueberry Bone-anza Organic Dog Treats, was rescued two years ago by her owner, Ingrid Trinka, in what she calls a twist of divine intervention.Ingrid, who had been praying for years for the right dog to enter her life after her beloved Dachshund BetsyRoss passed away, didn’t adopt Daffy the first time she met the dog because the pup didn’t seem like a good match. The dog appeared to have been abused by previous owners, was in poor health and was found homeless. Eight months later, when Ingrid and the same dog crossed paths again, she realized a greater power had chosen Daffy for her.
Daffy’s whole story can be read on The Barkers Dozen’s blog, The Daily Barker.

While Daffy now has a forever home and has blossomed into a well-mannered dog, she is suffering from what appears to be a neurological disorder that causes violent jerking and tremors when she sleeps. Ingrid and Daffy live in a town without the facilities or equipment to diagnose and treat her, and will need to travel more than 250 miles to Manhattan, Kan., to the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, to have bloodwork and an MRI taken. Ingrid, who is disabled, can’t currently afford the treatment or the travel and lodging costs, which are estimated to total around $2,000.

"When we learned of Daffy’s story, we felt compelled to offer our assistance so that Daffy could get the care she deserves," said President/CEO and Founder of The Barkers Dozen, Shawn Sherry. "This dog has been through more than most, and her second chance at life should be as healthy and happy as possible."

Source: The Barkers Dozen:

3 big brands may be tied to chicken jerky illness in dogs, FDA records show

Stumped by mysterious illnesses in at least 600 dogs in the U.S., federal health officials have turned to consumers for help investigating problems possibly tied to chicken jerky pet treats made in China.

A log of complaints collected from pet owners and veterinarians contains references to at least three popular brands of jerky treats that may be associated with kidney failure and other serious ailments, according to internal Food and Drug Administration documents obtained by msnbc.com.

Read more here  http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/13/10657635-3-big-brands-may-be-tied-to-chicken-jerky-illness-in-dogs-fda-records-show