Dealing with a doggy disability: Happy National Specially-abled Pets Day
May 3rd is a special day for pet owners like me who own a pet with a disability. It's a day to celebrate the reasons that make our pets unique and one of a kind. Today is National Specially-abled Pets Day! My dog Hazel is a 5-year-old Saint Bernese who has been dealing with her disability her entire life. She had a broken femur when she was just a puppy. The injury went undiagnosed and the bone fused together, causing one of her legs to be shorter than the other. She will always walk with a limp as a result. It was the first of many health problems that Hazel has had in her lifetime, but she's taken it in stride. Despite all of her ailments, she is an extremely happy dog.
Hanging with Hazel: What it's like to be a big city dog
You all know me- I'm Hazel. But I'm not the same Hazel I was before. I've changed. I'm a big city dog now. So many things are different for a big city dog, did you know that? I get to meet so many people and they all want to pet me. Mum says I can't let too many people pet me because of the rona. I don't know what a rona is, but mum says we can't do lots of things because of the rona, so I don't like it much.
Paws For Reaction 8th anniversary: What's new and what's next?
This month Paws For Reaction is celebrating 8 years! I'm so excited for the next chapter of my blog and am looking forward to lots more fun and informative content. For many of my longtime readers, you will have noticed a change to the blog. For my newer readers, I'd like to fill you in!
Ruffs on the red carpet: Beverly Hills Dog Show has all of the pawsitive vibes you need
The most glamourous night of the dog year is just around the corner. The 4th Annual Beverly Hills Dog Show will air on Sunday, May 17th and I got the inside scoop from Maria Menounos about the pitter-patter on the red carpet, how she is handling the Covid-19 crisis and how we can get Hazel a job as a canine correspondent.
50th Anniversary of Earth Day: How to celebrate Earth Day from home
Celebrating Earth Day is going to be a little different this year. Unlike previous years, when environmentally conscious folks would take to the streets and march for climate action, COVID-19 has restricted large group events. It's unfortunate because April 22, 2020 is a historical Earth Day- it's the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day, and the first march for environmental justice. On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans took to the streets to protest environmental ignorance and to demand an environmentally conscious future. At that time, 20 million Americans equaled to be about 10% of the U.S. population. It's now recognized to be the planet's largest civic event, and it launched the modern environmental movement- foreshadowing the climate marches we have seen in the past five years.
Hippity-hoppity handmade fun: Easter crafts for kids
Is your family excited to hop down the bunny trail this Easter? COVID-19 is really restricting everyone's holiday plans, and most of us will be spending Easter inside the house. During this difficult time, a great way to relieve stress and forget about worldly troubles is crafting with your family. Check out these easy and affordable Easter craft ideas for children!
Ticks don't follow rules: How to prepare your dog for tick season
With everything going on in the world today, it's easy to get distracted from things we would normally be focused on in Springtime: like your pet's preventative care. We may be in the middle of a global COVID-19 pandemic, but the tick population isn't aware. Ticks are not self-isolating or keeping a 6-foot distance from you or your dog. Ticks will become active when temperatures hit 4°C whether there's a pandemic or not. Your pet's flea and tick prevention is still important- even if they're spending less time outside. On average, about 1 in 5 black-legged ticks (also referred to as deer ticks) in Ontario carry the bacterium that causes Lyme disease- Borrelia burgdorferi. Just because a tick has bitten your dog, doesn't mean that your dog will contract Lyme disease or any other tick-borne illness. However, if your dog is not on tick prevention that kills ticks before disease transmission can take place, then the risk of exposure is higher. There are more tick-borne illnesses than just Lyme disease that can put your dog at risk, these diseases are just less talked about and less common. It's no question that ticks are on the rise in Ontario. The real question is why?
National Crayon Day: Did you know Crayola's best colour is green?
It's the most colourful day in March! National Crayon Day! While your kids may be excited to scribble this day onto the calendar, I have something fun to share with all of the colour wonderful adults! Crayola has been adding colour to kids lives for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid I would get so excited when I opened a new box of Crayola crayons. They always looked so perfect with their sharp, pointed tips, just waiting to glide across the page and add some colour to my creation. Crayola has been encouraging kids artistic creativity for decades. Crayola LOVES colour! But did you know that Crayola's most impressive colour is green?
Forgotten on the front lines: Veterinary clinics fight- and win- to be considered an essential service
Social media has been flooded with inspiring community support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Citizens are showing love to the many essential services that have been on the front lines of the pandemic to better serve the community. Listed in the posts and on the memes are the amazing health care workers and first responders, who of course are on the front line of all of this. Posts are also thanking the incredible grocery store workers, transportation sector, truck drivers, senior services, social workers, military, animal shelters, journalists, factory workers, mail carriers, bank workers and food service workers. All of these amazing people are supporting the country and putting themselves at risk to do so. One service that seems to have been forgotten among all of this: veterinary clinics.
10 best things about puppies for National Puppy Day
COVID-19 and your pet: How to entertain your dog during self-isolation
People and dogs are social creatures, but the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the way we are all living our lives- fur-family included. As of this morning, there are 21 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ottawa, Ontario. Between social distancing and self-isolation, making connections has never been more difficult and there are far fewer butts for our dogs to sniff. Our dogs are overjoyed by the fact that many of us are home more than usual, but like us, they can become restless. Less walks, less sniffing and less social interaction can lead to boredom- and this can sometimes lead to acting out and misbehaving. Before we go barking up the wrong tree, let's get our tails wagging in the right direction when it comes to self-isolation with our pet. Can I still walk my dog during self-isolation? Fur the most part, no. If you are confirmed positive for COVID-19 you should not be walking your dog or taking your dog outside unless absolutely necessary. This would be considered a quarantine situation, and you should be limiting contact with the outside world. Government of Canada also recommends, if you are positive for COVID-19, that you limit the amount of contact you have with your pet- especially if you live with other people. If you touch your pet, and another person touches your pet, there is a risk of exposure. Since there is still much we don't know about COVID-19 and our pets, if you are infected with COVID-19 you should reduce your contact with your pet and touch your pet with clean hands.
PAWS FOR REACTION is celebrating 12 years! Ottawa-based pet care and nutrition, environmental, and lifestyle blog- always searching for the best in pet care, eco-friendly products and fun local events! Come explore with Hazel, the Saint Bernese, as she lives her best, food-driven, outdoor-loving, asymmetrical, #DogLife
ABOUT ME: I have nine years of experience working in veterinary medicine. I'm a Climate Reality Project Leader and have spent years volunteering with organizations including OSPCA, Farley Foundation, Ontario Nature, Future Ground Network, and Girl Guides of Canada.