It is Passover and I am on Diet

 
TGIF !!

Good morning fur friends,

Happy Passover to those that are celebrating, it is a time when families get together to celebrate freedom, the story we read is from the Haggadah and tells the story of how Moses led the Jews out of Egypt from slavery.

This year it is especially special as we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, freedom for us with the vaccines. We hopefully will be able to go back to a normal life, what a great feeling to be able to hug our friends, see our family and celebrate the holidays together. I am getting my first vaccine today and I am really relieved.

There are many customs and foods we eat on this holiday plus for one week we do not eat bread, cookies or anything that rises when baking. It depends also on what country you come from as to what you can eat or cannot eat which is a long list and can be complicated sometimes.

In the very religious homes the women clean out the kitchen of all non Passover foods which they sell to their neighbors or burn, they have cutlery, crockery and cooking utensils for the Passover only, and before Passover starts they go around the house with a feather to make sure there are no breadcrumbs anywhere. Passover starts at sunset and all cooking is done before then and kept warm, there is no cooking done on Passover evening so that means loads of cooking and preparations beforehand.

The reading of the Haggadah can take up to 4 hours during which you drink 4 glasses of wine, and then when it is over you stuff yourself with food as you are starved.

My favorite food of course is the chicken soup with matzo balls yummm

It is a wonderful holiday as there is a lot of singing also and I remember growing up when my grandfather read the whole Haggadah in Yiddish not Hebrew which was very special.

So it is not easy to be on a diet LOL and I have put Layla on a diet as she is a couple of ounces overweight which I want her to lose. She is not a happy girl at all and stands at her plate moaning for food. Being a Jewish Mom it breaks my heart but her health comes first so have now divided her meals into three tiny ones to keep her happy. Treats have been halved also so the Brat as I call her now makes me feel guilty all the time with her moans LOL.

So Layla and I would love to wish all our friends Chag Sameach (חג שמח) which is Hebrew for Happy Holiday,

Be safe and take care

With a woof and love
from Layla

weekly Woof from Layla

Good Morning Everyone, the months are going so quickly I cannot believe it. Our lives are very much the same, stay at home and wear masks which have become normal as such.
San Francisco is slowly opening but I am still playing safe.

Today we went to the coffee shop around the corner from our dog park where we met up with a good friend who Layla loves and sat had coffee, bagels and chatted. Layla of course got a morsel of what we were eating so she was very happy. The sun was out for about an hour or so which was awesome and although I put a rain jacket on Layla to keep her warm and at this moment it looks like rain again so am pleased we were able to get some fresh air.


With Spring around the corner I am looking forward to the sunny days so that we can get out more especially to the park. I only do the park during the week as it is not full and we do not have to worry about social distancing. I cannot wait for the meet ups to start again so she can see her fluffy friends and go to different parks on weekends.


Layla is aging as we all know, she had her annual check up last week and thank goodness all her vitals are good, no lumps or bumps, and we did a blood test to check her liver and kidneys.
Layla has been put on Denamarin for her liver as some of her enzymes have elevated but am relieved the Vet is not worried so I am relaxed also. He explained to me that it could be from quite a few things including the eye drops she gets which have steroids but we cannot stop these as she is finally without red eyes and not rubbing them.  She has also put on a half a pound LOL but am putting her on diet to lose that as I try to keep her weight perfect. 

I could not believe the size of the tablet, it is one I do not think I could swallow either LOL so vet says I can cut them in half and give them in her favorite treat, smoked salmon cream cheese which she loves. Thank goodness as it is working.


Otherwise she is healthy for her age so I am relieved and feel good knowing I am doing everything right. I am also fortunate that he does not insist on vaccinations anymore but the Rabies which by San Francisco law she has to have especially as she goes to dog parks. So we are up to date with that.


So that is what is happening in the Layla Neighborhood, next week Leopold and Pierre are coming to spend some days with us again which will be good for her and our house will become a fluffy house again.


Stay warm everyone, be safe,

Have a great weekend with love from Layla

March is Pet Poison Prevention Awareness Month

TGIF !!!!!!!!!


Woof to all my paw friends from my neighborhood.


We have been very busy here so Mom is staying out of mischief.


Last weekend I had a fluffy sleep over, Pierre and Leopold came to spend the weekend with us and their Mom was moving. It was fun to have guests although I did sleep a lot BOL.but best part of it was the treats as Mom was giving to our friends so I was getting also. I was hoping for a midnight feast like you have at sleepovers but mom told me that once my teeth are cleaned the treats are over. I do not agree with Mom.


I also went to the park this week and Mom found out that they have a small dog meet every day at 11.30 so she is going to start taking me to meet small dogs. I am really excited.


Now for something very important for all of us : Mach is Pet Poison Prevention Month, something we need to remember especially with spring around the corner and lots of humans will be spring cleaning and working in the garden. Below you can see all the poisons that can mace us sick.

Hazardous Foods :

Chocolate, Coffee, Grapes, Onions, Garlic, Alcohol, Macadania Nuts, Avocados

Hazardous Chemicals

Insecticides ,Pesticides, Cleaning Products, Fertilizer, Anti-Freeze, De-Ices.

Other :

Fabric Softener Sheets, Raw Hide, Plants (see list below), Children Toys

Plants:

Safe Palm, Tomato Plant, Daffodils, Ivy, Gladiolia and many more. Check on line before you plant to make sure they are safe.

Signs of Poisoning

01. Gastrointestinal signs : Vomiting, Diarrhea, Drooling/ hypersalivating, Nausea

02. Internal Bleeding : Coughing of blood, , Vomiting blood, Pale gums, A racing heart rate, Weakness or lethargy

03. Kidney Failure : Halitosis (“uremic” breath), Vomiting, Diarrhea, Excessive thirst or urination, Absence or decreased urination

04. Liver Failure : Jaundice/icterus/yellow discoloration to the gums, Weakness or collapse secondary to a low blood sugar, Dull mentation, acting abnormally, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Black-tarry stool (melena)

If you think your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call (888) 426-4435. A consultation fee may apply.

Have a safe and happy weekend everyone 

With a woof and love from Layla