Marathon Paws to expand

Hello everyone!

Sorry that we haven't posted anything lately. We have been very busy and have some exciting things that are sitting on the horizon.

We are currently in talks with several makers of quality makers of athletic gear and wear and dogs and are considering making a line available for sale very soon. We would love your feed back on the items you would most like to have access to...life vests, first aid kits, books, collars, shoes, collars, etc. Let us know what YOU want.

Also in the beginning stages is a potential partnership with some New England farmers to create a locally harvested, raised and manufactured dog food. Some of you have responded to me personally on this exciting prospect while a few of you answered our poll. Let me assure you that while quality is the most important thing in our minds...if we can't offer this at a price point most can afford then we wont go forward at this time.

Let us hear from you! We are always excited to get feedback, comments, emails, etc on any post

Speaking of posts, what do YOU want to hear about? More medical issues, fitness, nutrition? Feel good stories? Shelter stories? What do you want to know?


Michele and the Marathon Paws Team

Tomorrow is a social doggy's dream!!!! 2 great events!

This Saturday!!!!! Tomorrow!!!!! Today!!!!!!! (depending upon when you read this post!!!!!)

Somerville Arts Council puts on their annual ArtBeat festival in Davis Square...this year dubbed ArtBeast in honor of all things Beasty!!! Not only that but they are throwing a doggie parade at 11:15(walk to start at 11:30) There will be music and over 90 craft and arts vendors!!! Fun for the people and the doggies alike!!!! For those of you new to the city...take the red line to Davis Square (one stop before alewife) While you are in the area grab an iced mocha from Diesel Cafe!!!

Also going on tomorrow is the 3rd annual Bark and Wash at The Hotel Marlowe! Our friends at The Polka Dog Bakery join forces with Hotel Marlowe and The Laundromutt for a fun filled day of clean poochies and doggie snow cones!!!! Event is $15 and runs from 10-2!!! Every year is a hoot! Go and have fun. Directions

Canine First Aid Kit....A Must Have!!!

If you are like me..... you travel everywhere with your pooch. Hiking, swimming, exploring or even a day in the city. Because you never know what you might come across you should always be prepared! Purchasing a Pet First Aid kit can be a life saver. You may choose to put together your own kit and keep it in your car or a mini kit in your bag for those walking or public transportation days! Here are the items that you should definetly have:

1) Pet First Aid, booklet
1) gunshot wound card
2) 3" x 3" gauze pads
1) 5" x 9" trauma pad
1) 4" x 4.1 yd. stretch gauze
1) 2" x 5 yd. co-flex bandage
1) pair latex gloves
1) metal scissors
1) plastic forceps
4) PVP iodine swabs
1) 20 ml bottle eye-skin wash
2) insect swabs
12) 1 g. hydrocortisone cream
4) 1 g. antibiotic cream
5) cotton swabs
2) antiseptic towelettes
1) powdered styptic
2) green soap towelettes
1) handiwipe
1) 2" x 5 yd. adhesive tape
1) 6" x 9" resealable bag
1) pencil
1) content card
1) rubber band

Things to know

		How to recognize common pet ailments in the field. What are some of the most common injuries a dog may sustain during a typical day in the outdoors? Common injuries are paw and pad lacerations, dehydration and heat stroke. These can be avoided by being aware of the climate as well as environmental conditions. If you are wearing protective footwear, consider booties for your dog. If you are thirsty, consider that you dog is most likely in need of water. How do I know if my dog is suffering from the heat or dehydration? Be aware of your daily environment and the conditioning of your dog. If you are hot chances are your dog is hot. If you suspect that your dog is becoming dehydrated pull straight up on the skin on the back of the neck and release the skin. If the skin does not immediately fall back into place, chances are your dog is dehydrated. Can dogs suffer from the effects of altitude? Yes, if the dog has little experience with, or exposure to elevation they can quickly become lethargic and dehydrated. Use common sense, if you are feeling ill chances are your dog is experiencing similar effects. The best way to prevent altitude sickness is to acclimate to the elevation by spending at least one night sleeping at the trailhead. Drinking a lot of water throughout the trip will also reduce the effects of altitude. Take it easy and be aware of your dog's physical condition until you become confident that your pet is suffering no ill effects. Can dogs get hypothermic while out in the cold? Yes, a dog can get hypothermic. This occurs when a dog's body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Most often we see hypothermic pets from exposure to the elements, without proper shelter, protection or a lack of being acclimated to cold weather. Elderly or very young animals are sometimes unable to regulate their body temperature properly. Shock can also contribute to the inability to regulate proper body temperature. Hypothermic symptoms include weak pulse, decreased heart rate, dilated pupils, shivering, blue mucous membranes, stupor, unconsciousness or coma. If frostbite is a concern there will be a discoloration of the skin (blue early on and black in later stages). Areas susceptible to frostbite are the tips of ears, the tail, and pads of the feet. Additionally, there will be a lack of pain or sensation of the affected area or it may be extremely painful when the area begins to warm up. In the event your dog is cold, the first thing it will typically do is try to huddle with humans or other dogs. If your dog is seeking shelter or climbing into your sleeping bag, consider this a good indication that your dog is cold. Make sure the dog is drinking plenty of water as this will help to maintain body temperatures. Protective "clothing" such as Ruff Wear's K-9 Overcoat II (a windproof nylon shell lined with fleece) is a great way to reduce exposure to the elements. Booties are another excellent way to reduce exposure and heat loss. In most cases cold sets in faster when activity is reduced. This is the time to be most aware of the threat of cold. Can a dog contract Giardia or other water-borne illnesses? Yes, always try to make sure my dog drinks from a quality water source (filtered or treated). Also as a courtesy and safety consideration to others make sure your dog is not defecating near the water supply compounding the problem. Administer First Aid while in the field. What do you do if your dog stops breathing? Is CPR an option? Yes, CPR is a very real solution. We know of one dog that was successfully brought back to life after her heart and respiration stopped from smoke inhalation in a house fire. The procedure is different then the procedure used in resuscitating humans and the worst time to learn CPR is when you need to perform it. An excellent source for becoming familiar with the procedure is Ruff Wear's Quick Guide to Animal Emergencies. What do you do if your dog is choking? It is best to learn and know the proper sequence in which to respond to a choking incident before the actual event. Familiarize yourself by reading a quality pet first aid guide to be prepared before the need arises. Performing the Heimlich is a good option but only once you have ruled out the possibility of a foreign object lodged in the throat that may be accessed and removed through the mouth. Again there is no substitute for a good pet first aid guide to provide you with a step-by-step procedure What's the best way to remove a tick from a dog? Wearing gloves you should grasp the entire tick with tweezers and remove the complete tick making certain to remove all the mouthparts. You may want to save the tick for identification by your vet to confirm if the tick carries any diseases. Apply a disinfectant or antibiotic ointment to the bite. How can you calm an injured dog? Even if the dog is your best buddy, always approach an injured dog with caution. Assess the situation and consider a muzzle to restrain a pet that is in pain and possible shock. A traumatized pet will often snap or bite. In more extreme conditions a blanket may be dropped over the animal until a muzzle can be applied. Dogs are very intuitive so any panic or cause for alarm by the caregiver will raise the fear factor for the pet. By remaining calm and being prepared you will be able to reassure the animal and not cause additional anxiety. It's up to you! The best way to reduce the possibility of a pet sustaining an injury is prevention. Be aware of your surroundings and potentially hazardous plants and animals with which your dog may come in contact. Be prepared with a first aid kit that matches the duration of your time away from immediate assistance as well as your exposure to the elements. Remember, the worst time to learn about assisting an injured pet is when your dog sustains an injury. Become familiar with the kit and the information provided so that you will know how you may assist before the need arises.

Have fun out there with your pooch but be safe!!!

What does your food say?

There is a practice within the pet food industry that many consumers are unaware of and it is regarding the use of rendered animals in the manufacturing of the food.

When asked, The President of AAFCO said: "If the ingredient say's meat or bone MEAL, you don't know if it is cattle, or sheep, or horse, . . . or fluffy." then went on to say: ". . . nutritionally, it is still protein." To view the King 5 Television interview with the AAFCO President (Herschel Pendell)click on the link above.

Does the listing on your dog's food use the word MEAL when they advertise it is made from meat?
And can we trust what a pet food company tells us their food is made of in their advertising? . . . Another AFFCO president when asked about the labeling claims of a Purina product stated (in writing): ". . . the large manufacturers are protected by the Constitutionally guaranteed right of speech, which doesn't require that speech to be truthful or with reason."

So, in a climate such as ours, what is the right choice? Do we stop feeding commercial food and only home cook? Do we follow the Bones and Raw Foods diet? Do we source a smaller food manufacturer or an all organic kibble? No one answer is right for everyone. What is right for everyone though is to first make sure that you meet with an experienced nutritionist experienced in canine nutrition who is unaffiliated with any particular food manufacturer. Your dog may have allergies or perhaps is more active for it's age and doesn't require "senior" food yet. Like humans, each individual dog is different.

I do a combination of home cooking and raw with organic wheat free kibble as snacks when on the road. This is much too high maintenance for some individuals and i respect that. I need to make sure that on a weekly basis my dog is getting an optimal level of nutrition... the right amounts of amino acids, fats, protein, vitamins and minerals. This isn't easy but it isn't too terribly hard either. It takes some extra time each day but mostly it costs more. In the long run though, does it? With reduced vet visits due to poor health, does it equal out?

There is a lot of talk about Breed Specific Nutrition and the nutritional differences that carry over from breed to breed. I feel that there is a lot of truth in this because of the athleticism of some breeds versus others, the thinner skeletal structures or the longer gastric tracts; some dogs respond to some foods and don't like others. What I have learned is this. Even if Breed Specific Nutrition states that your dog should eat fish or poultry but it hates fish and poultry.... don't force your dog to do it. It will make meal time a stressful time. Just be sure to supplement for anything that might be missing.

Now,many of you don't have the time or the know how around a kitchen to do as I do... no worries! The best resource for food reviews is the Whole Dog Journal I subscribe for all of the great tips that it provides. It follows my core beliefs of a more holistic style of pet care but isn't preachy and respects that not everyone can or will prepare a home made diet for their dog. For this reason they review the best foods each year and provide the reader with a break down on their findings!

Good luck out there!

Tips in Choosing a Care Giver for Your Pet

Choosing a Dog Walker and/or Sitter for your beloved pooch is a hard decision. There are so many variables to consider and ALL of the people seemed nice. So, do you choose the rigid professional who didn't interact with your dog or who did in a robotic way? The earth child college student who gushes about how much she loves dogs as she rolls around on the ground with your pooch? The neighbors daughter? None of these decisions are necessarily right or wrong. Ask good questions and follow your gut. While it isn't important that you find a new best friend in your care giver you do want to make sure that your dog seems to enjoy him/her and trust them. This will reduce the chances of accidents and injuries later. Dogs listen to those they trust. Get a reference from a vet he/she has brought her own pets to. The standard of care they provide their own will be a good benchmark for you. Get a reference from a current sitting client if this will be a sitting job or a current walking client if it will be walking. Keep in mind that references can be made by friends and family and rarely does one provide contact numbers for bad references. Ask them if they have ever been fired from a care giving position and why. Pay attention to their reactions in addition to their answers. Do you feel like there is something they aren't telling you? If you have asked the question and you still feel there is more...trust your instinct. Find someone else. You are trusting your home and your pet to this person. If you cannot trust them that is a deal breaker.

Below are some questions you should ask all of your care givers. Should anyone reading this want my own answers to this questionnaire, please send me an email and I will forward it along.

QUESTIONNAIRE FOR DOG WALKERS
1. Where will you take my dog?
Does the location make you comfortable? Will the person be driving your pets anywhere? Do they have a comprehensive insurance package that protects you in case something happens to your pet? How is their driving record? Have they been in any accidents in the last 12 months?How many tickets have they received in the last 6 months(parking excluded)? In Boston dogs are allowed on all public transit, regardless of whether they are "working" dogs. If you are comfortable with your dog riding the subway, city bus, or commuter rail to get to a location then let your potential caregiver know. Public transportation can open up a wide range of activities for your dog... if the handler is experienced with working with dogs on the MBTA system.

2. In what types of activities do the dogs engage? Do you walk the dogs off or on leash, or is the outing a supervised playgroup in a designated location?
Some dogs are other dog aggressive or just leash aggressive. Some would rather walk for an hour than spend half an hour in a fenced in dog park. Do you want your dog to socialize or not to? Be specific about what you wish for your dog and if the care giver doesn't provide it in their literature or on their site...ask. They might do it for you. Want hiking in the city at the arboretum... just ask.

3. For how long will you exercise my dog (excluding car time)?
This is very important!!! Read the fine print! Does your hour include pick up or drop off? Some care givers offer an hour and include the arrival outside your home and writing of the note at the end as part of this hour. Others provide a specific amount of actual active play/walking/running as their guideline and provide anything over as a courtesy. Make sure this is clearly defined early on.

4. Do you include obedience during the walk? If so, how?
Does your dog require training to walk well on lease? How does the caregiver work with dogs who are in need of training?

5. What sort of punishments and/or rewards do you use?
Do they use clickers? Treats? Verbal commands? Physical discipline? While their style may not be the same as yours, just make sure you and your pet are comfortable with their technique.

6. What will you do if my dog . . .
Does not come when called?
Does not sit when requested?
Jumps on you?
Jumps on somebody else?
Growls at another dog?
Growls at a person?
Attacks someone or another dog?
Is attacked by another dog?

8. What is the maximum number of dogs you will walk on an outing? Do you separate dogs according to size? Age? Activity level?
This is important because some walkers can handle 5 dogs but some can only handle 3 effectively. If the number sounds high to you, request to shadow them during one of their playgroups and witness them with their dogs. Are they able to effectively handle all of them? Do you have any concerns? They should be able to react quickly and effectively. Are they able to maintain constant supervision over all of the dogs? Accidents can happen quickly. Be comfortable with the number of dogs they handle. Also, fewer dogs means more interaction for the dog. Some dogs are people focused...if your dog loves people and is more focused on the quality human time...choose a care giver with smaller numbers or who is willing to do solo or two dog walks with yours. At the end of the day... is your dog happy, healthy and exhausted?

9. What is the protocol for introducing my dog into the group? For letting my dog off leash? How do you screen dogs for dog friendliness?
This is important. More fights and injuries happen in these initial moments than any other time.

10. Will you provide any reports/updates on my dogs’ behavior either weekly or monthly?
Some owners want daily reports, some weekly, some none. If you are away but have Internet access you could ask for daily emails? Maybe set up a blog for the caregiver to fill out so you can log on and read all about your dog's adventures back home or out on his daily walk.

11. In an emergency, what plan of action do you have in place? Are you trained in pet first aid or CPR?
This is vital! Find out what the plan is if they are at your home, out at the park or on a walk, or an hour away hiking. Minutes are precious in an emergency.

12. Has a dog ever been lost or injured on your walks? What happened?

13. Will walks be delegated to anyone other than yourself (an assistant or associate)? If so, how far in advance of the actual outing with my dog?
If so, ask to meet the assistant so that you are comfortable with who will be in your home and with your dog.

14. How long have you been walking dogs professionally? What is your experience managing multiple dogs? Are you a pet owner yourself?
While this may not be as important to you as the rest of their background it is important to find out what their intentions are. If you require a long term relationship with a care giver you may want to seek someone who has made this their profession as to avoid the problem of school holidays, other jobs, etc. Some professionals have never owned a dog so their 5 years of professional experience is limited to their work experience. Some non professionals have grown up on farms, raised dogs, had at least one, if not two their entire life and are experienced with the good, the bad and the ugly of dogs and know how to handle all types of situations. Mostly, you will find a mix of two. What are you as a pet owner comfortable with?

15. Can you provide references from current and former clients as well as your personal vet? May I contact them?
Keep in mind that no one will offer up a poor reference. Pay most attention to the vet reference. Find out how they care for their own dogs.

16. May I observe/accompany you on a walk?
A professional will not be offended by this request. If you desire it, request it.

17. Will you provide a written service contract spelling out services and fees?
Some do and some don't. Some pet owners want one and some don't. If you want one, ask. This eliminates questions later.

18. If you provide live-in services, what are the specific times you agree to be with my pet(s)? Is this detailed in the contract?

19. Can you provide written proof that you have commercial liability insurance (to cover accidents and negligence)?
Insurance is a deal breaker for many pet owners. Insurance coverages the pet owner. A comprehensive plan will cover many things, including house damages, pet injuries, and even death. Bonding is an optional coverage that some care givers get to cover themselves in case of excused theft. Bonding protects the care giver not the pet owner.

20.What kinds of additional services do you offer in regard to general duties such as bringing in mail, newspaper, watering plants, etc.? Is this detailed in the contract?
Don't assume! Ask and have it written down!

21. Do you provide require a veterinary release form so that you may seek emergency medical care if I cannot be reached? Do you have a back-up veterinarian in case my vet is unavailable?
No one knows when an emergency might arise. Therefore, your dog walker should have an emergency plan for getting medical attention even if your veterinarian is unavailable. Be sure to provide a release form and notify your veterinarian of your arrangement with your dog walker.

My DOG was STOLEN tonight!!!!

Hey everyone,

Tonight, after watching John Cougar perform with the Pops my dog was stolen after I tied her to the fence outside of a Walgreens. I went in for 5 minutes and came out to find her gone. I immediately began to scream her name and tell everyone what happened. I called 911, flagged down a policeman and then while he was driving around I ran to the police station where another policeman drove me around. A gentleman saw Bella being dragged into an apartment and flagged down the police car. She was returned to me.... and seems to have suffered little emotional scarring from the incident. The couple was arrested and I have pressed charges. The important lesson here is to avoid leaving your dog alone outside...even 5 minutes is too long. I am very very lucky. Now, she is asleep on my feet and I no longer have a taste for that popcorn I needed so badly a couple of hours ago and bought at Walgreens. It seems far less important.

Take care of your dogs and be careful out there.

Michele and Bella