Absolute Yorkies

I like my safe place, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT: Happy New Year everybody! We had a great holiday and we hope you did too. The weather was really mild but I’m glad we didn’t get too used to it because the chilly air is back!

Over the holidays we enjoyed a couple of roaring fires in our fireplace. But we’re very careful to keep our Yorkies in their safe place FAR AWAY from the fireplace. Woodstoves and fireplaces are lovely but CAN BE DANGEROUS if not treated with care and caution.

Sparks and embers could land on your Yorkie and burn her skin or set her coat on fire. And our little guys are pretty curious and could easily get burned if they touch A VERY HOT wood stove or fireplace.

So enjoy your crackling fire but keep your dogs safe and away from your woodstove or fireplace. See you on Friday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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I love Christmas, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  With all the excitement, hustle and bustle of Christmas we can easily forget some common safety tips when it comes to holiday decorations and food. Judy Wright, RN of Rosehill Yorkies, our guest writer has some very important tips to keep your dog safe this Christmas.  We can never go over these tips too many times!

Holiday Plants
Beautiful holiday plants that often appear at our homes during this time of year can lead to health problems for our pets.  Plants to avoid are: holly, mistletoe, poinsettias and lilies, all of which can cause severe gastric problems. Yew, which is very toxic, can kill a pet with just one mouthful.

Snow Globes
Snow globes often contain antifreeze which is deadly to pets even in very small amounts.

Pine Needles
Pine needles when ingested can puncture holes in your pet’s intestines. Artificial trees are often made of materials that are toxic to our pets.  Flocked trees also pose a problem as the flocking material can cause gastric upset.

Styrofoam
Styrofoam can cause choking. Tinsel can cause choking as well as intestinal blockage requiring surgery to correct.

Ornaments
Keep ornaments out of reach of pets by placing them on the higher branches of your tree. Ingestion of an ornament (pets think ornaments are toys) can result in life threatening emergencies. Broken glass ornaments can injure paws, mouths and internal body parts.

Hooks
Hooks used to hang ornaments can pose life threatening choking issues as well as a punctured stomachs and intestines.

Use Flameless Candles
Lit candles are lovely but DANGEROUS!  A quick swoosh of a tail and next thing you know your dog and half your livingroom are on fire!!!  Many very pretty flameless candles are available in the stores today that even flicker like real candles.

Electrical Cords
Electrical cords and plugs are easily reached by pets and can lead to electrocution.  A chewed electrical cord can lead to fire.

Tree Water
Don’t let your dog drink the tree water.  And do not put aspirin in the water your tree sits in just in case your dog drinks the water from the tree stand.  He can easily sustain life- threatening emergencies from the aspirin laced water.

Chocolate
Holiday treats are everywhere! Chocolate is very toxic, the less sweet the chocolate, the more toxic it is! As little as ¼ ounce of baking chocolate, when ingested by a 10-pound dog, can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, rapid heart rate and increased urination.

Gifts
Keep pets away from the gifts and gift opening area. Ingested string, ribbon, plastic, cloth and even wrapping paper can lead to intestinal blockage requiring surgery.  I advocate surrounding your tree with a screen to keep your pets from getting near the tree.  I use two 24” tall ex-pens, opened and attached together,  to surround the tree, keeping my Yorkies from exploring the gifts and removing decorations from lower branches.

Leftover Goodies
Do not feed pets holiday leftovers.  Chicken and turkey bones can splinter and cause blockages in the dog’s throat and intestines. Greasy, spicy and fatty foods (especially turkey skin and gravy) can cause diarrhea, vomiting and stomach upset. Spoiled or mouldy foods retrieved from the garbage by pets can cause food poisoning, tremors and seizures.

Alcohol
Alcohol and pets do not mix!  Do not leave drink glasses where your pet can polish off that last little swallow.  If ingested alcohol can make your pet very sick, weak and if enough is ingested, coma and death from respiratory failure can result.  

Provide A Safe Area for Your Dog
If you plan to entertain, provide a “safe area” where your pet can be kept, away from all the excitement and open doors, that can lead to escape from your home, perhaps even unnoticed.  Make sure your dog is microchipped.

Donate to Your Local Animal Shelter
Please also remember, while your pet is in a loving caring home, our shelters are full of unwanted pets. Visit and bring treats, even a donation of dog food would be appreciated, not only by the animals housed there, but by the facility as well, as most of these organizations struggle to “put food on the table” for their “residents.”

Thanks, Judy!  These are awesome safety tips!  Don’t forget to join us this Friday for our Annual Christmas Photo Gallery and see all the cutie doggy pics we’ll be posting!  We’re accepting photos until Thursday night!  Send your photo to kathryn@absoluteyorkies.com.  See you on Friday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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No bedbugs under here, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  Certainly not a pleasant topic by any means but if you’re travelling this holiday season and staying in hotels or your kids are coming home for Christmas from college they could be bringing with them some very unpleasant “house guests!”

A bedbug

What Are Bedbugs?
Bedbugs are small reddish-brown parasites about the size of a ladybug that bite people and pets while they’re sleeping.  They don’t fly but walk onto your clothes, into your luggage or backpack and into your dog’s bedding and stuffed toys.  You may bring them with you into your home when you return from your holiday.

Bedbugs Can Bite Your Dog
Bedbugs don’t live on you or your pets but they feed on warm-blooded mammals and then go back into hiding in your mattress seams, headboard, behind the baseboards, in the drapes, on your clothes, behind your pictures and in your dog’s bed.  Clean or dirty places, bedbugs will hide anywhere.

How Do You Get Rid of Bedbugs?
It’s difficult but not impossible to get rid of these pesky critters!  Steam cleaning, using treatments specifically made for bedbugs, changing mattresses and getting rid of anything that bedbugs are living in are the best ways to rid your house of these pests. You want to kill them in the environment, NOT on your pet.

It’s easier to prevent an infestation than ridding your home of bedbugs.  Carefully check your luggage, clothes and dog beds before you leave your hotel or bring in any backpacks that the kids have brought home. 

See you on Friday for TODAY’S TIDBIT. ***Keep those pics of your doggies in their Christmas outfits coming for our Annual Christmas Photo Gallery***

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My costume fits just right, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  Halloween is fast approaching and we thought we’d once again mention some important safety tips for you and your Yorkie!  

Halloween is so much fun with the dress up costumes, candy of all kinds, decorations, goblins, ghouls, screaming banshees, cackling witches and constant door bell rings!  But all this hoopla can be terrifying for your dog!  She may feel dutifully called to security patrol and could assume a defensive mode.

Here are SEVEN GREAT HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS to remember so everyone in the family has a Happy Halloween:

1. Keep all Halloween treats and candy where your pet cannot reach them or climb up and get them!
2. Keep your pet inside where he won’t be terrorized by Trick or Treaters.
3. Halloween parties are no place for your pet.  Keep her in her safe place, away from all the food challenges, as well as the cocktails that may be left within reach!
4. Decorations are a serious hazard – if eaten they can cause gastric upset, chocking, poisoning, obstruction in the intestines or death.  
5. Keep burning candles WELL AWAY from your dog.  Better yet, don’t light any at all.
6. Pet costumes can also be dangerous!  Be sure your pet is comfortable in her costume without any elastic cutting into her or a hood that obstructs her vision. Watch for your pet over heating in the costume or chewing off tiny pieces and swallowing them.  Watch for “fellow doggies” that might help themselves to pieces of your dog’s costume.  And always supervise your pet while he’s wearing his costume.
7. Remember to keep your dog indoors, in her safe place away from the door opening and closing.  To your pet, these goblins and ghouls are nothing but dangerous, threatening intruders and your pet could react aggressively.  You don’t want any children bitten.  And you certainly don’t want your terrified dog bolting out the front door and into the street or out into the darkness!

These tips are reminders from Paw-Nation.  We can never hear them enough!

Thanks, Judy for these very helpful Halloween Safety Tips!  I’m sure all of you at Rosehill Yorkies are getting ready for Halloween.  See you on Friday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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Tinkerbell ~~ July 10, 2007 - October 18, 2011

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  We have some very sad news to share with you today.  Our little miracle Tinkerbell  passed away suddenly last night from a stroke.  We thank God for the wonderful 3 1/2 years Tinkerbell brought us so much love and joy and we love and miss her.

How weary we grow of our present bodies.  That is why we look forward eagerly to the day when we shall have heavenly bodies which we shall put on like new clothes.  ~~ 2 Corinthians 5: 2

Run like the wind, Tinkerbell.

See you on Friday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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In Memory of Sweet Bumper

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  Our guest writer, Judy Wright of Rosehill Yorkies  wrote this lovely memoriam to honour her sweet Bumper who passed away in 2008.  We carry the special memories of our little Yorkies in our hearts forever.

Bumper and the girls were out this morning and they caught the scent of the possum.  Bumper immediately took over the aggressive part of seek and search.  I had to warn the baby possum that if he didn’t come out, I was going to send the dog in.  Bumper absolutely quivered in excitement!!! No possum appeared so I turned the 2 pound, 6 inch tall K-9 loose!!

Bumper feverishly poked all around the old clay pots, bags of mulch and top soil, potting soil, landscape timbers and my plastic garbage cans of smokin’ chips then suddenly, OH MY GOODNESS MOMMA!!! IT’S HERE! IT’S HERE!

The startled possum fled to the left and the startled Bumper screeched and fled to the right.  Then realizing that HE was the K-9 unit sent into this life and death situation, he wheeled around and scrambled up and over a landscape timber, squealing and barking a full four octaves higher in sheer excitement and terror! 

The God-given Terrier instinct completely consumed his tiny body and Bumper realized he was all that stood between his adored mistress and that vicious baby possum.  He dove as far as he possibly could into a short stack of broken clay pots where the “Perp” had taken refuge.

All that was visible of the K-9 was his tiny behind, punctuated by a frenzied wagging stump of a tail and scrambling, digging, clawing, pumping three-inch long muscle bound pistons recognized as his hind legs!

Visible only to me, the possum deftly picked his way through the broken maze of clay pot shards escaping through the “back door.”  Since this was, in effect, Bumpers first “job” and since he actually had not even entered K-9 College of Crime Fighting yet, he was completely unaware of “The Back Door Ploy.”  He had no idea the “perp” had proceeded down the fence and was headed for MY feet!!!

Within 6 inches of my foot I dropped down and placed an open coffee can directly in front of the escapee who had by that point in time realized he was running for his very life! The perp was contained in the coffee can and I left Bumper fervently attempting to struggle into that clay pot maze in blind pursuit of the offending trespasser.

I quietly walked to my gate and dumped the possum out into the grass beside my driveway where he gratefully ambled off. His life had been spared at that moment but the little possum faced a whole world of dangers and challenges, the least of which was a 2 pound K-9 Crime Fighter.

Returning to the pile of clay pots, my hero’s behind was still sticking out from the bottom of the pile with the front end of the attacking avenger wedged firmly into the narrow passages formed by the broken curves of the pots.

I think he was stuck although I would NEVER have voiced that notion in his presence because if you take the situation and analyze it step by step, Bumper had indeed succeeded in his “first job.”  He had found “The Perp”, he had cornered “The Perp” and “The Perp” was no longer a threat. It couldn’t have worked out any better if I had been working alone without my faithful protector, my Bumper!

In loving memory of a faithful devoted companion, BUMPER, July 12, 2002 ~ February 17, 2008

What a lovely tribute, Judy!  I know you must miss Bumper very much.  Take care everybody and see you on Friday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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See you every Wednesday and Friday for TODAY'S TIDBIT!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  Thank you for visiting AbsoluteYorkies.com every Monday, Wednesday and Friday!  I’ve (Kathryn)  started a new wholesale travel business that’s keeping me hopping!  We’ll still be bringing you Yorkie pics and Tidibits but just on Wednesdays and Fridays! 

Thanks so much for reading our blog…and for joining us in helping Yorkies (and all doggies) live safe and happy lives!  See you on Wednesday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.  ***Don’t forget to join us on Wednesday for “Part 5: Shock Can Be Deadly” by Judy Wright, RN.*** 

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We can't wait to visit our friends, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  I’m taking Gideon, Hope and Tinkerbell to visit their friends at Marilyn’s house this week!  No new info today but don’t forget to come back on WEDNESDAY  for Part 4: Stop the Bleeding of our series, “Emergency! Stabilize Your Pet, Rush to theVet!”  by intensive care nurse, Judy Wright, RN of Rosehill Yorkies.

Have a great week everybody and see you on Wednesday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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Can I read with you, mommy?

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  Congratulations to Diana Eaves!  She’s the lucky winner of our Summer GiveAway:  the book, “Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Dog’s Life.”  Diana left her comment on our post on Facebook.  You can read us there too so we included comments left on Facebook too! 

CLICK HERE  if you’d like to join us on Facebook!  Go to “Notes” on my Kathryn Shanley page and you can read all of our posts right there!

Here are the hiding places for Diana’s two Yorkies:

My Yorkie Sweetie Pie hides under a brown pillow on top of her pink bed, you can’t miss the hump. Clementine never hides, she is always ready for daddy to come home.

Thank you to everyone who left their comments!  It’s really important to know where your doggy goes to hide when she’s frightened or feeling anxious because time is critical in an emergency and knowing your dog’s hiding spot could save her life!

Don’t forget to join us on Wednesday for the continuation our “Emergency! Stabilize Your Pet, Rush to the Vet” series by Judy Wright, RN.  Part 2: Heat Exhaustion Can Quickly Lead to Heat Stroke. 

 Enjoy the beautiful weather in the London are and we’ll see you back here on Wednesday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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I love water, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  Today is Part 1 of our new series “Emergency! Stabilize Your Pet, Rush To The Vet!” by Judy Wright, RN of Rosehill Yorkies  in Houston, Texas.

Part 1:  Dehydration is Dangerous:  Fluids Please!!!

What is dehydration? 
Dehydration is excessive loss of body fluids.  Dehydration is an EMERGENCY CONDITION that requires immediate veterinarian attention.  

What are the causes?

• Prolonged vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Decreased fluid intake
• Over exposure to heat

What are the signs to look for?  

• Lack of skin elasticity
• Dry, sticky pale gums
• Sunken eyes
• Listlessness, lethargy
• Increase or decrease in urination

If your pet has been vomiting, having diarrhea, not eating and drinking and lying around, you can do a quick and simple check to gauge your pet’s hydration.  Look at your pet’s gums.  They should be moist and pink.  If she is dehydrated, her gums will be dry, sticky when you press on them and pale or gray.

Is my dog at higher risk if she’s ill?
Yes!  If your pet is ill she is at much higher risk of becoming dehydrated because her appetite and fluid intake are greatly reduced.  If she is running a fever, that increase in her body’s core temperature quickly “evaporates” additional fluid from her system.  

Add vomiting and/or diarrhea and circulating body fluids quickly disappear.  Her electrolytes (minerals in your dog’s body that keep her body functioning properly) begin to unbalance.  In our little Yorkies or any small dog this happens very quickly.  

What should I do?
YOU MUST SEEK EMERGENCY VETERINARIAN CARE.  You will not be able to adequately replace the fluids at home that your dog has lost.  Your vet will give your dogs fluid by IV and will likely prescribe medications to control your dog’s diarrhea and vomiting.

What if my dog is still drinking?
If your dog is still drinking some fluids, you can give her Pedialyte (an electrolyte solution that is primarily manufactured for babies) that contains electrolytes and will serve your pet well.  Be sure to read the dosage chart on the back of the Pedialyte bottle or check with your vet.  If you’re not sure what to do ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR VET FIRST! 

Failure to get medical care for your pet that is dehydrated can lead to organ failure and death.  Remember, STABILIZE your pet, RUSH to your vet!!!

Be here next Wednesday for “Part 2: Heat Exhaustion Can Quickly Lead To Heat Stroke,” an equally dangerous emergency condition that can be lethal to your dog if not treated immediately!

Give your dog plenty of fresh water during these hot days!  See you on Friday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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