Questions About Seizures? Listen in to Dr. Karen Becker Talk About Causes

Supporting Awareness All Year Long!

As part of our "Live Gib Strong K9 Epilepsy Awareness" campaign, Gibson and I continue to share information and resources on seizures and Canine Epilepsy to hopefully help others. This video contains excellent information on the causes of seizures from Dr. Karen Becker of Healthy Pets, presented by Mercola, including the connection between collars and seizures, among so much more, including numerous causes as well as treatments. This is a must add for any pet parent's library! Feel free to share the link to this FiveSibes blog post to help share this valuable information.

Woo! It's Friday! We Have a Question for You!

We are so ready for the weekend...(especially Gibson!)...how about you? Any special plans? Once things settle down here a bit more, we will return to our "Flashback Fridays" and hope you'll all come back and join in again! We just love looking at those pics!

Quick Survey Question: Many of us who blog love to have comments left to our posts (which are always great to read), and sometimes they read posts, but don't comment, and that's okay, too.  Some bloggers do post a "reply" to each of the comments visitors leave, and some bloggers don't. Inquiring minds here at the FiveSibes dog house would like to know what you like...if you could leave a comment with your thoughts, that would be great! Just choose from below and leave it in a comment! Thanks so much!

Let us know by commenting with an A or B, indicated below:

A. - I would love to have a reply to my comment!

 or

B - I don't subscribe to comments, so whatever you like!

Thanks for your time...and Happy Friday! 

Today is National Lost Dog Awareness Day

The Lost Dogs of America announces the first National Lost Dog Awareness Day (NLDAD), which is being held on April 23. According to a statement posted on lostdogsillinois.org and on lostdogsofwisconsin.org, the directors of Lost Dogs Illinois and Lost Dogs of Wisconsin - Susan Taney and Kathy Pobloskie - created the "canine-centric holiday" in order "to bring attention to all dogs that are lost each year. On a happier note, NLDAD also celebrates the thousands of lost dogs successfully reunited with their families."

Their slogan "Not all stray dogs are homeless" is to remind people that the dog they see alone and roaming the street or field may very well be someone's lost dog.

Taney states on lostdogsillinois.org, “When a dog goes missing, many families give up looking for their lost pet. National Lost Dog Awareness Day was created to give hope to the families still looking for their dogs and remind the public that not all stray dogs are homeless” explains Taney. “One of our most recent success stories was finding a beagle named Charlie. He was missing for almost two months in the most brutal winter ever. We never gave up, and neither did Charlie’s foster family. Together, and with the help of our social media following, Charlie was trapped and he was successfully reunited with his foster family. Never doubt a dog’s ability to survive.”

Be sure to check out the WSAW News Channel 7 broadcast featuring Lost Dogs of Wisconsin HERE where they chat about how folks can list a dog and how they go about finding a lost dog, including important tips.  

View News Broadcast Click Here

The Lost Dogs mission is in practice in these states: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, New Jersey, Texas, and Wisconsin and fall under the umbrella Lost Dogs of America organization. You can also find Facebook pages for these under Lost Dogs of (State), as well as Lost Dogs of America. Postings are free, and can then be shared throughout the social media world in an attempt to help find and reunited lost dogs.

21,000 dogs have been REUNITED with their families since 2010!

Through the combined efforts of the Lost Dogs states mentioned above, along with their volunteers and more than 150,000 fans, a reported 21,000 dogs were reunited with their families. That is tremendous! Bravo to the Lost Dogs groups!

Lost Dogs of America share the following poster with tips should you find a dog:

On my FiveSibes: Siberian Husky K9 News & Reviews Facebook page, I have compiled an ever-evolving list of resources available to folks if they have lost or found a dog. You can find the list - and also feel free to send me info to update it - at: Lost & Found Siberian Husky/Pet Listings, which is listed in the "Notes" section on my community Facebook page. *Note: this is a public page. You do not have to have a Facebook page to view it).

Speaking of Siberian Huskies, since this is a Husky blog, I also

want to add that the Lost/found Husky Dogs on Facebook is a valuable resource for folks who have lost or found a Siberian Husky in ANY state. You can share a photo and contact information for free on a lost or found Husky and then that link can also be shared throughout the social media.

There is also a national Lost & Found Siberian Husky Registry through the Siberian Husky Rescue of Florida, where postings are listed for free. Visit the link for info and to see the Huskies that are posted there.

Thank you to all who help find the lost and found dogs!

It's Earth Day! Are You Reducing Your Pet's Carbon Pawprint?

Happy Earth Day!

It's a good day to think about all the ways we can help show that we love our Earth by taking good care of our environment and doing some "Acts of Green." We strive to keep ourselves and our pets healthy, and we need to also keep our planet healthy.

Here's some tips an excerpt from my article published in the Volume 2/Issue 2 of American Pet Magazine to help everyone "think green" when it comes to our pets and their pet care, and help to reduce not only our carbon footprints, but their carbon pawprints as well:

Walk your dog whenever possible instead of going by car.

Use recycle shopping bags when going grocery shopping for your supplies and food.

Feed your pet their food in a stainless steel dish.

Make your pet's snacks whenever possible.

Recycle pet food containers and cans instead of throwing them  in with the trash.

Recycle pet medication containers (check with your vet, pharmacy, and acupuncturist as many happily accept them).

Clean "green" with chemical-free household supplies (we should be anyway for the health and safety of our pets).

Use biodegradable "doggy-do" bags.

Don't use the microwave to warm up their food.

Plant a tree in memory of a pet.

When emptying out a pet pool or water dish, use it to water flowers, shrubs, and trees. 

Recycle old dog beds, blankets, and toys. Stitch em' up, give them a wash, and donate to shelters.

Spay or neuter pets to reduce the epidemic of homeless animals and overpopulated shelters.

Look into reducing energy by installing solar panels, or simply by turning off TVs, computers, lights, iPods, radios, etc. and getting outside more to play with your pets or volunteer at a shelter to play with some homeless animals.  You'll save energy AND have happier furbabies!

 

"Woo! We can play in the pool all day long! Mom reuses the water for her shrubs and lawn!" 

*Please note that this is a copyrighted article and photos. Please request permission to use any portion of this article or any blog posts, with credit and a link back, by Emailing the author at FiveSibes(at)gmail(dot)com. 

You can join the Billion Acts of Green movement like we did by joining the Earth Day movement and  "Pledge an Act of Green" by visiting EarthDay.org. 

Here's our poster for Earth Day featuring our alpha queen "Harley," who as you can tell, just loves running on the Earth! Feel free to share and post our poster on your blog or website, (our copyright info is already on poster) ~ I just ask for a friendly link back over to here. 

 

Let's keep our planet clean, safe, and healthy for all humans an animals for centuries to come simply by doing something green!

Well, it' time for me to turn off the laptop and cell phone and head outside for some fun with our FiveSibes! Have a Happy Earth Day!

Happy Easter!

We want to wish all our furpals and families a very Happy Easter!

In getting ready for the Easter Husky to show up, the silly FiveSibes had a little JibJab fun:

We also had a good time putting out the special personalized handmade Easter egg bunnies created for each of our FiveSibes last year by our good friends Holly & the Huskies. It's a favorite decoration!

Please keep in mind that while we love our Easter treats, especially that chocolate bunny, many of these foods are not safe for our dogs to eat. Please be sure to keep well out of your dog's reach all chocolates, alcohol, sugar-free candy and gum (Xylitol is toxic to dogs), raisins, and nuts. Other dangers include ingestion of: foil wrappers, fake Easter grass, watch batteries for toys, plastic from eggs & toys, Easter lily plants, and onions. Please keep your canine companions safely away from burning candles, hot stoves, and the open flame of BBQ grilles. If you are having company visiting, it's a good idea to keep collars with tags on and have your pet wait safely in another room until all guests have arrived and the doors are close to avoid any escapes. 

Let's all have a happy and safe Easter Sunday!

One of our favorite non-edible holiday treats is this Memory Lane video we did for Easter 2012 featuring so many of our beautiful furpals from across the world, who joined us on hopping down that Bunny Trail!

Q. How do bunnies stay healthy?

A. Egg-xercize!

~Author Unknown

"For I remember it is Easter morn, 

and life and love and peace are all new born." 

~Alice Freeman Palmer

Have a Happy Easter!

Playing Catch Up - A Gibson Update

"Have you missed me? I've missed you all!"

 

My apologies for not being around much in Blogville...it's been a little crazy with rehabbing Gibson from his fall, sudden bouts of his vomiting and overheating, and my meeting the deadline for my next book on Canine Epilepsy. I do miss you guys, and plan to get around and visit your blogs as soon as I can! 

Update on my boy Gibson...

Gib getting comfy for his laser session!

With Gibson being an Epi-Husky (canine epileptic), he is on meds and supplements and we like to say he is "managed." But as any Epi-parent can attest to, it is an emotional roller coaster ride of the unknown. Gibson does go through the occasional setback from the side effects of those meds and supplements that he is on, such as a weak hind and bouts of vomiting and ataxia. Then, this past Christmas Eve, he slipped on a snow-covered patch of ice while playing with is little sister Bandit in the freshly falling snow, and he went down crying and was lame from his injury. He wound up hurting his already weak hind end and blew out his second CCL (last December he blew out his right one). Since we (his vet and I) decided the best route for Gib was the Conservative Care Mangement/Treatment as opposed to surgery, he was put on strict bed rest, anti-inflams, was once again fitted for an A-Trac Stability leg brace that he wore 24/7 for five weeks (until he chewed it off!), and a sling harness to take the weight off his hind legs so he can be walked to go to the bathroom. He is still in the sling harness as he needs assistance walking, and I have started in-home K-LaserUSA therapy with my vet's office and Gibbie just loves the girls coming to visit him! Since starting back on the treatments, I have notice a difference; he is starting to have a bit more strength in his hind end and can push himself up better without assistance.

Here's Gib with Jessica for a treatment:

And here he is with  June:

Oh, how my flirty boy loves his vet tech girls!


The good news is that he is now able to stand up for a few minutes on his own! Wooo! He still needs to be walked with a sling harness and has a limp from from the weakened hind end and healing CCL, but baby steps in the right direction!

 

From what I have learned, it is a very slow recovery process to strengthen his hind end and to heal the CCL via Conservative Care Management/Treatment (which I have done before with him for his CCL on the right side last year), but each baby step each day is a step in the right direction toward healing! The other day, we even managed to start "walking," which consists of my supporting his hind end in a sling harness and walking our backyard for a full minute. Woo! Baby steps...

Then he experienced a bout of vomiting, which he does periodically as a result of all meds and supplements he is on for his Canine Epilepsy. So he went on a bland diet for a few days, and he's back on track once again.

Mother Nature, however, then threw us a real curve ball

Harley kept a close eye on Gib.

the other day. The temps took a sudden jump from the 30s to the low 80s overnight! As many of you know, Gibson is an Epi-dog (canine epileptic) and this sudden spike in heat took a bit of a toll on him...he was panting, drooling, and quite out of it. I spent two days and nights keeping a close eye on him round the clock as he stayed on his cooler water bed. I kept him cool with fresh cool water, chipped ice, cool compresses to the paw pads and cool water wipe downs on his ears, forehead, and belly, and ran the oscillating fans (since it was too early here for A/C units yet). Yesterday, the weather dropped back down almost 50 degrees! Much to his (and my) relief. He is feeling much better! Hopefully, Mother Nature will remember to gradually go from winter temps to spring temps, and no more sudden spikes. I share this so in case any one else has a dog who has epilepsy or who experiences seizures, just be in tune with the weather as overheating can be a seizure trigger for some dogs.
 

 "Woo...where's my vet girls? I'm ready for my next 

laser treatment!"

"Wooo...I LOVE my laser treatments! (And when the vet girls visit me!)"

Both Gibson and I would also like to take a moment to send out a huge "thank woo" to everyone for their well wishes, prayers, power of the paw, positive energies, kind comments on our FiveSibes Facebook page, Twitter, and Emails, as well as your notes and messages of support and encouragement for Gibson. He certainly feels all your love! You have touched our hearts deeply. Thank you!

Until next time...we hope everyone stays healthy and happy and that my boy continues to #LiveGibStrong!

First Donation Check From Buddy the Husky Book is in the Mail! And...It's Been Named "Best in Print" by American Pet Magazine!

Bandit is so excited to send Buddy, the Christmas Husky the first donation check from a portion of sales from my book on him called, Buddy, the Christmas Husky~Based on a True Holiday Miracle. While he is the Christmas Husky (named that because he was found and saved on Christmas Day), his story is for all seasons - how an abused, abandoned, and sick Siberian Husky was saved by a stranger who helped him find a happy home and lots of people across the world who love him! You can read in a previous post all about Buddy HERE. And you can also follow Buddy on his Facebook page of the same name HERE. Be sure to tell him the FiveSibes sent you!

We want to take a moment to say "Thank You" to all

Hey! Easter Bunny, don't forget me!

who ordered my Buddy book, illustrated by the very talented Barbara K. Slocum, and thank you for all the wonderful comments about the book, and for your support of Buddy. We couldn't have made this donation, which we hope is one of many, without you! If you could share the word to others who may like to buy the book, it's a great inspirational story that includes photos of Buddy throughout his journey. No matter what age, this book will bring tears and smiles to your face! If you'd like to order a copy (and it will make a great Easter basket gift!) please visit our indie publishing house store at ArcticHouse Publishing (and please excuse our appearance as we are undergoing a makeover!)You can purchase the book online via PayPal, or if you prefer, you may also pay by charge card, just drop us a line and ask us to send you an invoice via Email at ArcticHousePublishing(at)gmail(dot)com and put "Buddy Book" in the subject line.

We'd also like to send a "Thank You" out to American Pet Magazine for featuring Buddy on the cover of their latest issue (Vol.3/Iss. 1) and including my in-depth interview with Buddy's Hu-mom inside. You can go to the website to download an online version to read, or order a hard copy. They also named my book a "Best in Print" for 2014! How awesome is that? Woo!


And if you'd like to help spread the word about

Buddy's story and his book, we'd love to have you host us for a blog post as part of the Buddy Book Tour! Just drop me an Email! You can write a review, do an interview, feature a Q&A, we love them all! And we will also add your blog's link to our list! Confessions of a Rescue Mom blog was the first to join the tour and we say "thank woo!" You, too, can be part of this fun trip! We'll even supply you with the book tour badge! The more books we sell, the more of a donation we can send to Buddy to go toward his care, and when his bill is paid, it will go into the "Buddy's Buddies" fund to help other dogs in need at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.

Coming Soon! The Next FiveSibes™ Tale "Getting Healthy With Harley"

So excited! Harley is helping me proof the final printer's blueline to my newest soon-to-be-published FiveSibes™ Tale - Getting Healthy With  Harley, illustrated by the talented Michelle Littler! We should have the books available for sale soon via our indie publishing site (that is under construction) at ArcticHouse Publishing. A portion of the book's proceeds, post publication costs, will be donated to the Save Our Siberians Siberspace Rescue Fund. 

Stay tuned for the announcement of our 

book release and Book Blog Tour! If you'd like to get on our mailing and book tour list, drop us a line at ArcticHousePublishing(at)gmail(dot)com and put "Healthy Harley" in the subject line.

Bark Out Loud! It's April Fools' Day and the FiveSibes Have Some Sled Dog Jokes to Share!