Hmmm….a “special” treat that will keep them occupied and not require a trip to the vet for poor digestion? It was worth a shot!

I gave them each a large Pork Chomp with peanut butter flavoring. Athena promptly removed the peanut butter twist and consumed it with relative ease. Vayda spent more time wondering if Athena’s treat was better. They both ended up fighting over the remnants, and by the end of the day we couldn’t find a smidgen of either treat. Even better, Vayda didn’t experience any digestion problems, and Athena actually enjoyed her pork chomp. This product gets an A+ from our gals!

Bobbi Panter’s Gorgeous Dry Dog and Cat is a product all pet owners should be aware of. This sweet smelling concoction is the perfect remedy for the pet owner “on-the-go.” All you have to do is spray it on, and wipe it off, and believe me, a little goes a long way. Recently, I had invited some friends over for a cocktail, and bathing the dog had completely slipped my mind. I decided to test the product out as a last minute resort, and boy was I pleased. My pup’s coat was left clean, fresh, and shiny and the best part was that it only took a minute. That’s right, one minute of my time. Gorgeous Dry Dog and Cat is made with chamomile, aloe vera, rosemary, lavender, and oat protein, and is tear free. Look for it at a pet store near you.

Indestructible Dog Toys Support a Great Cause

We’ve been on the hunt for that “indestructible dog toy” for years here at SavannahBest. Our three chow mix mascots are experts at Squeakectomies, the process of gutting a toy within minutes, removing the heart (otherwise known as a squeaker) and spreading the glorious guts all over our office. We spend a lot of money buying these toys, and a lot of time cleaning up. So when Planet Dog sent a sampling of their “indestructible” Orbee-Tuff toys, I had little faith they would last very long with our powerful pups.

Our package of goodies arrived a few days before Christmas, and the pups knew instantly that the contents of this big brown box were for them. I opened it up and was instantly refreshed by the smell of fresh mint! Dog toys that smell like mint? I wondered, just how long that minty aroma would last after the dogs had been drooling on them for a few days. By this time the dogs had appetite for destruction written all over their faces, so I turned them loose with the toys and started the count-down to see how long they would last.

They quickly established a favorite ball, the Pink Ribbon Ringo. This ball has an unpredictable bounce and they thoroughly enjoyed chasing it all over the place. A close second was the Orbee-Tuff Orbo, also of a peculiar, yet bouncy, and buoyant, shape. They briefly toyed with the Tuff-Tug, but it was a little to heavy for my 24 pound Jack Russell - Chow mix. By the end of day one, all toys were still intact and I decided to bring the Orbee-Tuff Orbo home for the night.

Like any true Jack Russell, my pup is highly energetic, and any toy that I can stuff a treat into buys me some time to get a few things done. She thoroughly enjoyed attempting to retrieve treats from its unique shape, and by the end of the night, I had a tired pup.

It’s now just a week after Christmas, and for the first time EVER at the SavannahBest office, we have toys that are still intact, and smell just as good as the first day we received them. So the next time you are looking to purchase a toy for your pup and want something that will bring weeks of enjoyment instead of hours, Planet Dog is the company for you. Their toys are moderately priced and come in a variety of shapes and colors, including glow-in-the dark varieties, and all come with a rated “chew-o-meter.”

Lastly, a portion of the sales from all Planet Dog toys goes towards the Planet Dog Foundation, which provides funds for service dogs and dogs that “work” to make our world a better place. If your cause lies with helping breast or prostate cancer research, be sure to place an order for the Pink or Blue Ribbon Ringos, and 100% of the proceeds for the Glow For Good Ball, go directly to the Planet Dog Foundation.

Planet Dog products can be found locally at the Canine Palace, 618 Abercorn St.

Foods for Healthier Pets

Emerging scientific evidence indicates that some foods can help treat, and even prevent, certain conditions not only for humans but for our pets as well.

Nutrigenomics is a relatively new science that explores the interplay between genetic make-up and how the nutrients found in certain foods could assist in the prevention of specific disease.

"The science of nutrigenomics gives us great insight into understanding how and why certain canine breeds are predisposed to particular conditions and gives us one more tool in our ongoing quest to treat and prevent illness," said Professor John Innes, University of Liverpool's Dept. of Veterinary Clinical Science

"We know that the progression from a healthy state to a disease state occurs through changes in gene expression, which can be affected through ingestion of dietary factors, and the introduction of pet foods based on these findings is an important step in helping to further explore the concept of nutritional therapy in the treatment of debilitating human and canine diseases," he added.

Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. utilizes the theory of nutrigenomics, combined with clinical studies, to develop a new food for dogs -- Prescription Diet Canine j/d. This unique food contains eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 fatty acid found in high concentrations in fish oil that has been demonstrated to alter the action of a degenerative enzyme that causes cartilage degradation.

"The actions of EPA in Canine j/d help dogs run better, play better, and rise more easily. In addition, dogs experience less stiffness and more ease of movement," said Dru Forrester, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVIM, scientific spokesperson, Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc.

Canine j/d was developed based on more than 10 years of research including several recent clinical trials with more than 500 dogs. In one study, eight out of 10 dogs fed Canine j/d experienced improvement in weight-bearing ability. Conclusions were based upon extensive research from four clinical studies with more than 50 practicing veterinarians, including one university study and three practice-based studies on client-owned dogs. Feeding periods in the studies ranged from three to six months.

If your cat howls at siren pitch all the way to the vet's office, or your dog quakes with terror at thunderstorms, a few drops of perfume just might do the trick.

Animals suffer from anxiety, tension, stress, and depression every bit as much as humans, and like humans, can develop serious illness due to immune system disturbances as a result of emotional upset. But nearly 70 years ago, British physician Edward Bach formulated an effective and safe system to help balance the emotional nature of people, and their animal companions, through the subtlety of flower essences.

Rescue Remedy, based on Dr. Bach's research, is derived from five flower essences, Rock Rose, Star of Bethlehem, Impatiens, Cherry Plum, and Clematis, have the ability to calm agitated emotions, creating an effective remedy for everyday stress.

"Rescue Remedy's use with animals is limitless," says Nancy Buono, national education manager of Nelson Bach USA, Ltd. "It is essential when bringing an animal in for grooming or a check-up and helps calm their jittery nerves quickly. The new spray format is fantastic for animal usage; you can spray in the mouth or on pulse points for large animals. For the feathered set, spray directly under the wing."

Rescue Remedy can be found on the shelves of natural health food stores nationwide. The suggested retail price for the spray is $17.49 and for liquid drops is $10.49 for 20 ml.

Pets say, "Play it again, Sam"

Created by the Laurel Canyon Animal Company in, where else but Los Angeles, Calif., the CD, Songs to Make Dogs Happy, was tested by dogs for dogs for more than a year.

Doggie focus groups in several major cities in the U.S. were assembled and questioned as to their preferences in music and content. Their responses led to the creation of the CD, Songs to Make Dogs Happy.

The music helps ease separation anxiety, and is particularly effective when played in the car on long trips while traveling, according to producers, Skip Haynes and Dana Walden, who created the music company with the help of Dr. Kim Ogden, an intuitive animal communicator.

The lead song of the CD, Squeeky Deeky, is interactive. When a radio or television audience is asked to bring their dogs into the room to listen to this song, the dog’s reactions are amazing.

The Laurel Canyon Animal Company also has a CD for cats, called Cat-A-Tonic, featuring songs such as The Totally Curious Cat and Cat O’Nine Tales.

Songs To Make Dogs Happy is available at www.petcds.com, and www.amazon.com The Laurel Canyon Animal Company has also created a musical CD called "Fine Animal Gorilla" with Koko the signing gorilla and a CD called "I'm A Green Chicken" created utilizing the talents of an Amazon parrot named Carla.

Visit www.petcds.com for more information and to hear sound samples

Tote Your Pet in Style

The Sally Spicer Pet Tote has one outside pocket, a buckle closure and leash attachment. At 11" x 14" x 8," it's large enough to carry a dog or cat weighing 15 pounds or less. $100-110 MSRP

San Francisco's Sally Spicer has been making high quality handbags and totes for baby, evening and everyday since 1999. Her new Pet Line features Polyvinyl, waterproof lining and sealed seams and are available in 20+ fabrics in store and at www.sallyspicer.com.