Tag Archives: #dogpark

Are Mushrooms Magic?

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TGIF !! Another week over and the weekend is starting. I cannot believe how fast this year is going it is scary in a way or maybe I am just aging LOL.

Last Friday we had a picnic in the park with one of my closest friends, it was the first time Layla was in the park in months as she has become afraid of them, but she surprised me and was totally relaxed, wandered around a bit, and then went to sleep. It was relaxing for me to see her that way and not worry so have decided that am going to try it again today for a couple of hours. I think it was because the park was not full.

As you all know Layla is aging, it worries me big time and having lost her sight has made walking hard as I am so scared of her bumping her head, so I got her a halo which is arriving today. I am praying it will make outings less stressful for me as she will be able to walk on a longer leash and I will not have to keep pulling her in before she hurts herself. I think the pulling on the harness is hurting her back poor baby.

I have also been doing research on mushroom supplements for her and now am trying one on her.  She seems to be more energetic with it which is fantastic. What it is a capsule with 5 different mushrooms in.

A breakdown of the mushrooms and benefits below :

Reishi : have antioxidant properties to nourish, detoxify and protect the liver. It can also renew liver cells, strengthen the liver and improve the detox process.

  • Shiitake :
  • High Fiber Content Supports Digestion
  • High in B Vitamins. …
  • Contain Vitamin D. …
  • Protect Oral Health. …
  • Help Immune Function. …
  • Contain Cancer-Fighting Compounds. …
  • Good For Heart Health. …
  • Promote Healthy Coat And Skin.
  • Turkey Tail Mushrooms: Boost The Immune System.
  • Support The Digestive, Urinary And Respiratory Tracts.
  • Provide Phytonutrients.
  • Protect The Liver.
  • Increase Longevity In Dogs With Hemangiosarcoma.
  • Fight Other Forms Of Cancer.
  • Reduce Side Effects of Chemotherapy.

Maitake means “dancing mushroom” in Japanese.

  • Preventing cancer.
  • Supporting the body during chemotherapy and other cancer treatment.
  • Helping manage diabetes.
  • Supporting dogs with liver problems.

Chaga Mushrooms

Some of the earliest uses of chaga mushrooms were for ulcers, stomach pain, and inflammatory bowel disease. It’s believed that the immune-stimulating traits of chaga help balance the gut bacteria and ease ulcers and gastritis. Chaga mushrooms can help regulate blood sugar levels for animals with diabetes

I approached an Organic Mushroom Company – RealMushrooms.com to get a bottle for a review as they have one capsule with all 5 in and I can open the capsule and mix in her food.

I am giving her their 5 Defenders Organic Mushroom Blend Capsules for Pets.

 

 

Their customer service has been fantastic, they have answered all my questions and I would recommend them to any other dog blogger who is interested.

I have not changed Layla’s diet or other supplements but adding the mushrooms have given me peace of mind that I am controlling her body health wise inside and out.

If you are interested in learning more about them this is their website :

https://shop.realmushrooms.com/?ref=488

So, on this note as I pack to go to the park to relax a bit which I need, I want to wish everyone a wonderful safe weekend with lots of fun, stay cool and hydrated,

With a woof and love from Layla

 

Happy Friday the 13th everyone

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Smile, its Friday the 13th everyone be safe. My great granny was very superstitious and would be spitting on her hand and touching her head BOL.

The weekend has arrived and we had a great fun weekend last week till Madam hurt herself but thank goodness she is fine and back to being the sassy Madam.

Last Saturday we went to Stern Grove Dog park which for me is heaven, it is a beautiful park near the city with lots of trees and a lake at one end. For me sitting next to water is the best way to balance myself and watching the ducks and turtles was just awesome. There are Coyote warnings all over the park but there were a lot of dogs and people so felt very safe, plus I kept Madam on leash most of the time. Rather be safe than sorry.

Beautiful Stern Grove

Layla watching the ducks but making sure her paws do not get wet

Walking back to the entrance of the park, Madam started slowing down and then hopping with her back left leg in the air. She has always hopped with that leg up but it was more than usual so I was concerned.

As I have lousy eyes and hardly can see I immediately called my neighbors so that I would have two sets of eyes checking her foot for foxtails or something else. They could not find anything so I emailed my vet and he told me to monitor her and give her gaberpentin. I did that and she was thank goodness eating, drinking, no moaning or yelping so kept an eye on her. When it did not clear up by Wednesday I called her groomer who is not far from me and asked her if she could cut her nails and check her paw for me.

Bingo !!!!!!!!!! She has a burr in the fur of her paw, Tomo, my groomer immediately removed it, and Madam is back to Piss and Vinegar. I am so relieved that we did not have to do a vet visit as I did not want to stress her out too much plus sit outside the vet waiting for our turn.

I am also trying a new Dr Harvey’s flavor with her, the Allergy Turkey flavor and she loves it, gobbling down her food like a little pig LOL. Madam with age has become a little pig and me being the Jewish Mom am loving it, the healthier she eats at her age the better.

It has all the veggies she needs plus turmeric and other supplements and so she is eating a really balanced diet.

You can find it on their website :

https://www.drharveys.com/  

Plus Layla is reminding everyone there is a coupon : Layla10 to get 10% off.

she cannot eat it fast enough

So on this note I am going to eat dinner while watching her slurp her dinner down,

Have a wonderful safe weekend

Layla the Boss

National Senior Pet Month

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Happy Friday everyone !!!


This month is National Senior Pet Month and am going to talk about living with a senior as Layla is 14 years old and aging.


Since she was ill in June I have noticed many changes in her which I am learning to adapt to but there are days that I find it hard as it is taking its toll on me also. 


We have been going through the past month or so her allergies so I against my will as I try not to give her medications put her on Apoquel as she was tearing at herself and thank goodness we have avoided hot spots, phew. I am also bathing her weekly which is helping with the scratching. 
Another issue I am dealing with is her not wanting to sleep. She is up and down all night  and if I can get her to sleep 6 hours without interruption I am happy, she is getting CBD oil to calm her down which seems to be helping. I need sleep at the moment LOL.


She otherwise is acting herself but a new issue is her barking at me when she wants to go out so off we go at all times of day and night, and Madam when she wants to walk we can walk which I do not mind but I do not like doing the side streets at night as it is not safe and that is where the arguments start LOL.


Today she is going to the vet, phew I managed to get an appointment as someone had cancelled as her left eye is very red, we have tried medications but they are not helping so the vet wants to check it out again.


Last Sunday, a good friend of mine took Layla away from me for a couple of hours to give me a break, they went to a different dog park, she took the backpack with her just in case but Layla did not want it. It was hard for me to be without her but on the other hand it gave me a break which was really needed as it helped me relax which I needed to do. She was very happy to see me when we met up again.  Thank you Alice as always.


She also got spoiled this week with a parcel of South African treats by a company called ROAM, they sent her freeze dried venison, Crocodile jerky and Cape Ostrich jerky and she is loving them all. In South Africa you can buy Ostrich or Buck Jerky in all the stores and it is delicious.


And she got a new bed, the reason is she sleeps under the bed LOL so wanted her to sleep on something so I bought her a crate bed which fits under there perfectly so she now has her fourth bed. I am hoping with winter coming she will be warmer and it will help her to sleep.


So that is what is happening here, we are both aging slowly and learning to adapt to it all.


Stay safe everyone 

With a woof and love from Layla 

Pets in Shelters

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Happy Friday to all our friends, the week is over and the weekend is beginning phew.


As most of you know I am doing at the moment a workshop to become a Domestic Violence Advocate and as this month is Domestic Violence Awareness month I want to discuss having a pet in a shelter.


This is a subject that I have seen discussed on many groups on Facebook, and how important it is for a survivor to have her pet with her in the shelter so am going to share my story here.


I was fortunate to be able to take Baby into the shelter with me towards the end of my stay, before I moved over to another shelter and then transitional housing.


It was fantastic having her with me again and I was really blessed but people also need to understand Shelter policies also so I do understand why shelters say no. They are not being selfish but in a way practical and this is why :


01.There are children in shelters who are going through trauma and might be afraid of pets 

02. Allergies from pets

03.  The shelter staff are overloaded already so if you are running around sorting out your life you are adding another burden to the staff as your pet is in your room.

04. Shelters have curfews so if your pet needs to go potty at night you cannot take him/her out.

05. Not all shelters can you give you a single room so you might be sharing with someone who does not like pets.


When I was in the shelter with Baby I took her out just before the curfew started, I had my own room which made it easier but her food and water was in my room, she was not allowed in the public areas because of the reasons I listed above, when we did go out she was on leash and was on leash when we got back till we got to my room.


This is food for thought and that is why in so many ways I feel there should be some kind of program for the pets to ease it for everyone and I do know that some shelters are slowly opening their doors to pets.


Would love to hear your input on this.


Last Friday Layla and I with friends went for a picnic in Golden Gate Park. It was a beautiful evening, relaxing, good food and lots of laughs. It was just what we needed and a beautiful start to a weekend.

What I did for Layla’s food was instead of taking her home made food I took with me Freeze Dried Kibbles which she thinks are treats from Raw Paws Pet Food – she loves them. The flavor I had was Beef and then I had with me as a treat their Freeze Dried Minnows which she cannot get enough of.

You can see their awesome products on their website plus you have a coupon for shopping : Layla15 – Happy Shopping

https://www.rawpawspetfood.com/


This weekend our plans are to go to the Shih Tzu Meetup which I am really looking forward to as it is a different park and I love that park as it is so big you can do social distancing.


Have a wonderful weekend everyone, be safe

With a woof and love from Layla

Quirky Layla’s week

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TGIF !!!! 


Good morning everyone,


The days are getting longer, the weeks are going fast and living in lock down is slowly taking its toll on me.  That is one of the reasons I took a break from blogging last week also.


I lost all my work so am sitting here figuring out daily what to do and like many I think I am driving myself crazy. BUT thank goodness for Layla she is keeping me on my feet and amused especially as she is back to being her funny normal self.

Layla has some new quirks which are amusing but on the other hand not sure where she has picked them up or do they come with age ?
She now sits at the door barking when she wants to go out, telling me to get ready to go and does not let up till she sees the leash. This is a dog that has never barked unless someone knocked on the door and I have to laugh although it can be aggravating also.  She has become a really bossy little girl.


I was very fortunate and a friend of mine, who grooms his dog did Layla for me last week so her fur is short and with the heat I am sure she is a lot more comfortable. It is not perfect but a lot lot better plus she got a bath. 


Last Saturday we did a professional photo shoot in our dog park with a great photographer who took some amazing photos. Unfortunately towards the end some idiot decided to set off fireworks in the neighborhood and she freaked out but thank goodness I had her backpack with me so I put her in it and she started relaxing. As soon as I get the photos I will share with you as some of them are really adorable.

Our adventures have become nothing as such which is sad as I miss them and am sure she does also and like me getting bored of the same walks and dog park so I decided that as they are having a ShiTzhu meetup this Saturday in another park to take her. There will not be many people, the park is enormous so great for social distancing and for both of us it will be mentally good to be somewhere else for a couple of hours.  Yes I will be wearing my mask and have hand sanitizer with me.


So as you can see we have slowed down here, our routine is not exciting and praying for it all to be safer so that we can start out adventures again.

Be safe everyone, have a great weekend 

With a woof and love Layla 

Life is back to normal

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TGIF !!!!!!!!!  


I do not know why I say this lately as every day seems to be Friday and cannot wait to get back to working / dog sitting which hopefully will happen soon.


Thank goodness the 4th of July is over, the fireworks were like a war zone here and I cannot believe how people went crazy, from 7 in the evening till 3 in the morning my studio was shaking from all the booms. It was totally insane and what a waste of money. Thank goodness Layla was on her meds as she slept through them all but on Sunday morning she did not want to go out I think from fear.  They are still setting them off in my area but not as bad but still just insane.


Layla is off her meds, second day now, doing really well and back to being Miss Piss and Vinegar, bossing me around and keeping me on my toes. It is great and I cannot believe how she has healed although I do have meds in the house for an emergency and the hemp oil of course. I am not allowing her to jump on or off anything although have caught her here and there jumping on the bed.  She is eating really well which is good and drinking too. So I am totally relaxing here now. It was a month of hell but I can put it behind me now.


On Monday I took her to the park which is good for both of us. She had a great time and even made a new friend, they followed each other all over the place and it was really cute. I am doing things slowly now she is off her meds plus carrying her backpack just in case I need to use it although she hopes she will be carried all the time LOL.





Our weekend plans are to spend outdoors as much as possible, just relaxing safe distancing in the park with mask on of course plus I go to the park at odd hours when I know there are less people.


So that is what is happening in the Layla Neighborhood at the moment , be safe everyone and have a wonderful quiet weekend,


With a woof and love from Layla 


I have a question

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TGIF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Good Morning friends and how are you doing ?


Summer has arrived and we are still on lock down so unfortunately not being able to be out to enjoy the weather but hopefully will be able to do so soon. 


Layla went back to the vet this week as she was yelping really loudly and another vet looked at her and said the same thing, neck injury so she is still on her pain meds and sleeping most of the time.


I have changed her diet a bit to tempt her to eat, Costco chicken which she loves and Gizzards which she gobbles down. She does not want to eat her regular cooked food and as one of the meds has to be with food am trying everything.  I am also putting pumpkin directly in her mouth before meals for fibre etc and it all seems to be working phew. So lets see how this goes.

She has perky normal times and then she just sleeps LOL. What I can say is she is very smart as she knows when we come in from walks she gets her meds so she runs to hide in her box and that can be a problem. I solved it by  keeping her leash, putting her on the bed and dosing her and then taking off the leash and putting her on the floor. I am winning this fight. The other fight we are having is once she goes out she wants to walk non stop and not allowed so I now take her back pack with me and when she has pottied she is put into it and I carry her home. I wonder who the slave is !!!!!!!!!!!!!


On top of it all at about 9 every night people in our neighborhood have started setting off fireworks grrrrrrr so I am having to give her on top of it all some Hemp Oil as she freaks out. Our schedule has gone down the drain totally but will figure it out again slowly once she is well.


So that is all the news in the Layla Neighborhood at the moment, nothing exciting but at least she is healing slowly.

I would love some input from all of you – the weather is really warm at the moment and I thought of taking Layla to the dog park and putting her in her carrier which she can sleep in and relaxing there, I have to keep her in the bag otherwise she wanders around to visit the neighbors. We would be in the shade only – what do you think ? 

 Your comments would help me make the decision.


Summer is here and we must not forget to keep our pets safe in the heat. 


And Now most important of all, Layla wants to wish all the dog dads Happy Fathers Day and we both hope you have a wonderful fun day.


With woof and Love from Layla


May is nearly over

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TGIF !!!


How are all you of you doing ? 


We are sorry we did not blog last week but I needed a break from social media which was really good for me, plus Layla was in her element as I was with her all the time.


This lock down has taught me a lot, it has not been easy triggering things inside me that I had buried, but worked through them, plus I have also realized how in a funny way I think Layla misses me dog sitting and having the other dogs in the house, although she does not play with them it is more the companionship and I really noticed it when Gidget came to spend a couple of hours with us last weekend and although Layla does not play with her, she was happy to see her, and they were lying and sleeping next to each other, which of course was adorable.

Layla is aging and I am noticing it more and more lately, she does not want to do long walks, I carry her into the park as she is afraid and if a person claps or any other odd sound she tries to run out, and this is worrying me. I now leave her leash on in the park as it is easier to catch her plus sit as far away as possible from others so she will relax. Once relaxed she sleeps LOL.


I also am noticing that she is not eating as much as she did in the past, treats yes, her food no so am trying to figure out what to add to her food to make it more appetizing. She loves her gizzards but needs more than that. 

That is what I am working on at the moment and if anyone has any suggestions am open to them.


With the sun shining today I did take her to the park, but it was good for both of us to be outside for an hour, I do not stay long as it starts filling up and I am really keeping social distancing as much as possible. Plus Layla will this week be getting her own mask, a friend of mine got her one so will post a photo with her wearing it next week, cannot wait.


Nothing else exciting happening in the Layla Neighborhood. Like everyone, we are going day by day and praying life will get back to normal one of these days.

I am happy that groomers are opening and maybe next week will see if I can get her an appointment which she desperately needs as I have been cutting away matts as much as possible.


We hope you have a great long weekend,


With a woof and love from Layla 

Mom is going crazy

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TGIF !!!!!!!!!!!!


Like many Mom is getting confused with dates and days and I actually feel sorry for her as I think she is going nuts with the lock down and not working. I will have to take extra care with her I think. Wondering if treats will help !

The past week I can say there were a couple of beautiful days so I took the opportunity and went and as I call it vegged in the dog park, it was wonderful sitting on a blanket in the sun doing nothing but people / dog watching. It was relaxing and just what the Doctor ordered.


California will be on lock down till the end of May but who knows, I am going day by day and not holding my breath on this.  San Francisco has done some positive and that is they are now closing certain streets to cars so we can go for walks there and not on the side walk which is so much safer especially when you walking a dog as we will have more space. Plus not closing the dog parks has made it a lot easier for them to get proper exercise although everyone is wearing masks and keeping distances.


On Saturday Georgie came to spend the afternoon with us, it was great seeing him again although Madam was not really happy about it. He is still very puppyish whereas she just loves to sleep.


I want to shout out to a friend of mine who makes the most amazing masks, she sent me a couple as a gift and they are beautiful and comfortable to wear, so I have been spoiled with that. Mara has a great online store which you should all check out as her clothes are Bohemian and very comfortable to wear. It is always great to support a small business and she is one I strongly recommend.

This is her link : https://bohemianbutterflysisterhood.com/

So as you can see we are lying low, staying safe and most of all I am enjoying the daily Melissa Etheridge concerts whom I admire for doing them. She has done over 40 free online concerts on Facebook since the lock down and it is a great way to relax with coffee in the afternoons.

How are you all doing ? What are you doing to pass the time ?
Please stay safe and have a great weekend,

With a woof and love from Layla

Earth Day 2020

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Woof to all my friends,


How are you all doing ? Are you keeping your hoomans busy at home and making sure they working and giving you extra hugs and treats ?


Today, April 22 is Earth Day, a very important day and because of the virus and all of us on lock downs the world has changed so much. We can actually learn about this as we see the difference and maybe it is a wake up call to make the earth a healthier better place to live in.


So what has been happening in the world to show it :


01. The air is cleaner and not so polluted so we are finally breathing in clean air which is so much healthier especially for those that suffer from different illnesses.
02. There is less industrial pollution
03. Less litter on the streets and beaches
04. There is less car pollution 
05. There is less noise pollution 

I have been reading articles from different countries to see how the lock down has caused wild animals to start roaming the streets, here are a few examples :

01. The Marine Life in Hawaii is flourishing https://www.kron4.com/news/national/marine-life-in-hawaii-improving-due-to-lack-of-humans-during-pandemic/?fbclid=IwAR3be4GlQqHhhATdGIzZqzJDff3Gf0Xs1KZdZw_uYP5NPSLsv1b5XmL_St8

02. Penguins have been seen wandering the streets in Cape Town South Africa https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=645862186195238

03. Ostriches have been seen wandering the streets in Cape Town South Africa https://www.capetownetc.com/cape-town/ostrich-patrols-cape-point-during-lockdown/?fbclid=IwAR28takqrBhwotDv9Bk4Hyh6rFkY5sNMGymKWJcFjwScFuMQp08bZaKmy8Y

04. Coyotes have been seen in downtown San Francisco and on the beaches https://www.sfgate.com/living-in-sf/article/Incredible-video-of-coyotes-howling-in-SF-15199551.php?utm_campaign=CMS+Sharing+Tools+%28Desktop%29&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&fbclid=IwAR1h_1E0b0G5E6NVagm-LMgkSQnZCEcHaeLswMG1ndcP1HOaAvZySJUgVGc

05. Jackals have been seen in the enormous park in the center of Tel Aviv, Israel https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/Hkw8k7Xd8?utm_source=ynetnews.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=facebook&utm_term=Hkw8k7Xd8&fbclid=IwAR3D2XtFwvSVlLb2-roa93qM2M0C0c4LNyI-OiHHSccmGvxuY5EKeMvizHY

06. A Kudu wandering the streets in South Africa  https://www.sapeople.com/2020/04/18/watch-a-kudu-strolls-through-pretoria-during-lockdown/?fbclid=IwAR3pIaHrHRL5nOLSJqyQR4cZX1qtSoMgpK9Z-RSeevmxG7KioqGnPMLGDDg \

07. The new traffic in Italy  https://www.facebook.com/carlotta.brandi.9/videos/1458490964354497/UzpfSTM0NjUyNzAzODgzMTcxODoxNTgxNzU4Njg1MzA4NTQx/

08. Wild Boars wandering the streets in Haifa Israel  https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/B1IWSoEuU?fbclid=IwAR01aWKkaR0W0gQzIvUcfFXoO0pRer_Bdm8gGLkTIG3f4c1XAwfdGN64moE&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=facebook&utm_term=B1IWSoEuU

09. In Eilat. Israel the Ibex have claimed the beachfront  (This is my hometown) https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/HkrN7IkvU?fbclid=IwAR1ybmtjLXVXZYR24pet8fQcxNsJOFBioH0zla–AWS7vPwaSglvGODxCcg#autoplay

And that is all I have seen but am so sure there is so much more but what an eye opener is all I can say.  It makes me realize how much damage we have done, how much we have messed this earth up and it is time for us to step back and get it right. Who agrees with me ?


I today, to celebrate Earth Day, and the sun shining took Layla for some time in the park, it was beautiful, empty which was even better LOL. I sat there with my coffee relaxing while the Madam did what she does best sleep. A friend then joined us which was great to chat while her lil one joined us also. A great way to spend a couple of hours outdoors.  Layla is now sleeping and relaxed.


So on this note, please stay safe, lets all work towards a better healthier earth as we have the chance now.


Woof and Love fromLayla