The Lab | VetShopOnline Blog

Dogs Playing Poker

2010-03-01T00:52:37Z

I got a chuckle from the recent media reports about a survey from the American Kennel Council about dogs in American culture (read our blog post here). One of the things that made me laugh was that the most popular dogs in art award went to "Dogs Playing Poker" (an old favourite of mine - who would not want this in the pool room")!

When I googled it to find a picture to post on the blog, I laughed out loud at what I found!

]]> wikipedia entry but there is even an entire website devoted to them (called, maybe not surprisingly, "DogsPlayingPoker.org"). Not just that, there is even a video game called Dogs Playing Poker!!!.

The paintings themselves were done by American artist Cassius Coolidge (C.C. Coolidge) and were commissioned in 1903 by a Tobacco company to advertise cigars.

The titles in the "Dogs Playing Poker" series proper are:

A Bold Bluff
A Friend in Need
His Station and Four Aces
Pinched with Four Aces
Poker Sympathy

Post Mortem
Sitting up with a Sick Friend
Stranger in Camp
Waterloo

The original series was joined in 1910 by a similar painting by Coolidge called Looks Like Four of a Kind.

On February 15, 2005, the originals of "A Bold Bluff" and "Waterloo" were auctioned as a pair to an undisclosed buyer for US$590,000!

I am so glad I took the few minutes to do the google search to learn more about the Dog Playing Poker series. I learned so much (honest Dr Mark, it is work!). What did we do before the internet was invented?

Anyway, have to go now, gotta google "Dogs Playing Pool"!

AKC Announces List of Top Dog Breeds

2010-02-21T07:31:00Z

Lots of people like "lists" (I know I do). Lists of top 10 holiday spots, top 10 fastest cars, top 10 best songs, top 10 baby names - many of us just can't help ourselves from stopping and taking a look at a good list.

Sure, we all know that often the lists are subjective, and don't really mean a great deal, but we humans like order in our lives, and lists help us keep things in order.

Recently, the American Kennel Club ( the AKC) released the "Top 10 Most Popular Breeds in the USA 2009". According to the AKC's records, these are the top 10 most popular dog breeds last year:

1. Labrador Retriever
2. German Shepherd Dog
3. Yorkshire Terrier
4. Golden Retriever
5. Beagle
6. Boxer
7. Bulldog
8. Dachshund
9. Poodle
10. Shih Tzu

To those of us that keep track of these sorts of lists, it comes as no surprise that Labrador's come first again! They are a very popular dog, and indeed I had one myself as a kid. They've been "top dog" for the last 20 years in the US.

The AKC have also released some interesting statistics about dog breeds in various US Cities. For example, did you know?: ]]>

Labradors are in fact slowly losing ground in some US Cities - The German Shepherd ranked first in Columbus, Detroit, Honolulu, Memphis, Miami Providence and West Palm Beach; the Yorkshire Terrier triumphed in Oakland, Tampa, NYC, and Philadelphia; the Bulldog rose to the top in L.A.; and the Bull Terrier was a favorite in Newark, NJ.
Californian's love their Bulldogs - including some celebrity owners such as Adam Sandler, Kelly Osborne and John Legend. The breed reached the top spot in Los Angeles, the only city where it currently reigns as number one. In San Diego it came in the 2nd spot.
Providence is the only U.S. city where the Labrador Retriever does not factor into the Top 5. Despite ranking second in 2008, the breed dropped off the list, making room for the German Shepherd in first place, along with the Yorkshire Terrier, Golden Retriever, Boxer and Poodle.
Unusual breeds on local top five lists include the Bull Terrier (1st in Newark), the Mastiff (4th in Des Moines), the Miniature Pinscher and Shetland Sheepdog (3rd and 5th, respectively, in Richmond) and the Chihuahua (3rd in Honolulu).

If you'd like to read more about the list and how it was compiled, click here.

Valentines Day - And they call it Puppy Love!!!!

2010-02-12T22:40:02Z

One quarter of young people would rather spend Valentine's Day with their pet than their partner, according to a recent study by Reuters.

The study surveyed 24,000 people in 23 countries, and found that our love for our pets is a worldwide phenomena, although the French were least likely to choose a furry friend over a human, with only 10% of French respondents taking that option. Over 27% of Americans chose their pet!

Men and women were equally split in their love for their animals - apparently a night on the couch cuddled to our kitten or dog beats date night for both partners! (Takeout food and a nice glass of wine makes the couch a winner every time!)
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And another study (by Purina) shows that a quarter of us say "I love you" at least once a day to our pets - the same percentage that says "I love you" once a day to a spouse or significant other. The study doesn't show if it is the same people declaring love to dog and husband!!

So.....

Tell us why you would rather spend Valentine's Day with your pet!

Win A Year's Supply of Pet Vitamins

2010-02-10T05:40:25Z

Would you like to win a year's supply of pet vitamins from the great Vetalogica range?

Right now VetShopOnline.com and Vetalogica are running a promotion giving away 5 great prizes each comprising a year's supply of one of the cat or dog vitamins or supplements in the Vetalogica range.

Entry is completely free! - For more information on how to enter, click here.

Pfizer Revolution for Cats and Kittens

2010-02-08T06:54:51Z

As promised, here is the latest Revolution for Cats by Pfizer advertisement that is now showing on Australian TV. VetShopOnline.com has stocked Revolution for Cats and Revolution for Kittens for many years, and it has been a consistently popular product for the control of fleas and other parasites in cats and kittens. Revolution for Cats and Kittens at VetShopOnline.com starts from just $28.69 .

Revolution For Dogs TVC

2010-02-01T06:16:05Z

Pfizer is currently running a humorous TV advertising campaign here in Australia for Revolution for Dogs and Revolution for Cats. Here is the TVC for the Dog Revolution.

The ad really focuses on the benefits of Revolution for your dog. It is a good product which is easy to use and gives great coverage, controlling fleas, ear mites, heartworm and most intestinal worms.

There is also a Revolution for Cats TVC currently playing and I will post that on our blog shortly.

VetShopOnline.com sells a full range of Revolution for Dogs and Puppies (and Revolution for Cats and Kittens) at discount prices. Our prices for Revolution for Kittens and Puppies start from just $28.69. To see all our prices on Revolution for Pets, click here.

Who is the coolest dog in history?

2010-01-21T00:22:18Z

Well, according to a survey conducted by the American Kennel Club (AKC), it's good ol' Snoopy!

The survey, conducted in celebration of the AKC's 125th anniversary this year, brings together dogs from diverse backgrounds for a look at how dogs have been woven into every aspect of American culture from film and literature to sports and art.

Here are some of the survey results:

]]> Top 10 Dogs in Pop Culture:

Snoopy
Texas A & M's Mascot Reveille
Scooby Doo
Eddie from the TV show Frasier
Pound Puppy toys
Painting "Dogs Playing Poker"
Song "How Much is that Doggie in the Window"
Georgetown's Jack the Bulldog
The song "Who Let the Dogs Out"
Brian Griffin from the animated TV show Family Guy

Top Dogs in Each Pop Culture Category:

Cartoons: Snoopy
Television:Eddie from Frasier
Movies:Lassie
Literature:Clifford the Big Red Dog
Song: How Much is That Doggie in the Window
College Mascot: Texas A & M's Reveille
Advertising Mascot:Bush's Baked Beans' "Duke"
Art/Fashion: Painting "Dogs Playing Poker"
Toys: Pound Puppies
Famous Dogs: The National Crime Prevention's crime dog McGruff

A press release from the AKC identified certain results that it classed as "surprising" including:

Major Upsets - Pound Puppy toys (No. 5) and "Dogs Playing Poker" (No. 6) received more votes than old-time favorites Toto from the Wizard of Oz (No. 24), Benji (No. 27), and Rin Tin Tin (No. 46).
Political Dogs - Bo Obama captured the spotlight earlier this year but landed in the 42nd spot, yet still received more votes than Bill Clinton's Buddy (No. 44), FDR's Scottish Terrier Fala (No. 55) and even Richard Nixon's Cocker Spaniel Checkers(No. 65).
Dogs Bark to a Different Tune - Patti Page's 1953 song "How Much is That Doggie in the Window" came in at No. 7, while "Who Let the Dogs Out" (No. 9) by the Baha Men outranked Elvis' Hound Dog (No. 22).
Newcomers Beat the Classics - Newcomer Brian Griffin, from the TV show Family Guy, landed in the top 10 (No. 10) while more classic animated dogs such as Huckleberry Hound (No. 38) and Underdog (No. 53) fell deeper down the list.

AKC experts created the initial list of pop culture dogs but then the results where determined by public survye conducted online from September 15 through December 14. In total, nearly 76,000 people voted.

The complete ranking of AKC's Top 125 Dogs in Pop Culture can be found here.

Well Trained Dog Survives Deadly Snake

2010-01-17T23:07:48Z

I know it's cold out in most of the USA, but it's mid-summer here in Australia and we are seeing alot of snakes in some areas! I wanted to share a photo that's in today's local (Australian) papers. Victorian labrador Bronson had a very close call with a deadly snake!.

According to news reports, Bronson, a champion obedience dog returned home from a run on the family property on Jan 4, with a deadly Copperhead locked firmly in his jaws and coiled around his snout.

Bronson's quick thinking owners found a chaff bag and lowered the snake to the ground, pulling the bag up and over the snake while at the same time releasing its body which remained wrapped around Bronson's snout. The well trained dog did not release the snake until commanded to "drop" by his owner.

Blood tests at the near by West Gippsland Veterinary Centre (Victoria) confirmed Bronson had received a bite but thankfully after four days of treatment in hospital Bronson is now happily at home.

Symptoms of snakebite include seizures, vomiting, bleeding around the bite, weakness in the limb and paralysis. The animal may collapse with laboured breathing. In cases of snake bite, urgent treatment is needed but make sure you call ahead to your veterinarian or emergency veterinarian centre, so they have antivenene on standby.

How much does it cost to keep a pet?

2010-01-15T03:09:23Z

How much does it cost to keep a dog? How much does it cost to keep a cat?

According to one survey (American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA) 2008) the average yearly cost of owning a dog is $ 1425 and the yearly cost of owing a cat is $990. Other surveys but the cost even higher!

The annual costs of keeping a dog include: ]]>

food

flea, worm, heartworm and tick control (buy online at VetShopOnline.com - its cheaper :)

vet visits (pet insurance can help) & immunisations

a toy or two

grooming fees

brush & shampoos/conditioners

collar and lead

licence/registration fees

pet sitting/boarding

This is all on top of the initial costs of getting a dog including the price of the dog (consider a shelter dog), vet check, vaccinations, bedding, food and water bowls etc.

If you're thinking of getting a cat, you'll be up for the same sorts of expenses (although generally because cats are smaller than dogs, there are cost savings).

Although USA has a very high proportion of pet ownership (some estimates say that there are more dogs and cats in the USA than humans!) the incidence of pet ownership seems to be declining a little, and cost does appear to be one of the factors. There are ways of saving money owning a pet, but you need to remember to keep these costs in mind.

Of course, there are benefits (including costs benefits) to owning a pet. For example:

pet owners visit the doctor less and get sick less often
pets (especially dogs) deter theft and break ins
exercising your pet at the park saves on gym fees
playing with your pet is cheap fun for you (and the kids!)

Overall, we certainly think that the joy we get every one of our pets is worth the cost!

People prefer to be stranded with pets than humans!

2010-01-02T06:53:26Z

Recently we published the results of a survey we conducted, on who people would rather be shipwrecked with. It turns out most respondents chose their dog!

56 per cent of respondents to our online survey said they would rather be stranded on a desert island with their dog than a human. Spouses were a distant second (16 per cent), followed by cats (12 per cent), moms (11 per cent) and human best friends (5 per cent).

For us the survey was just a bit of a laugh, but we were delighted when the story was picked up by television and radio media nationally.

What really amazed us was that the story was picked up by media all of the world, including the Czech Republic, Holland and India. I guess it just goes to show that people all over the world are the same, and everyone enjoys a good chuckle now and then.

Vetalogica Multivitamins for Cats and Dogs

2009-12-23T01:56:00Z

Check out these new videos by Dr Barry Nielsen on Vetalogica Joint Support and Omegaderm for cats and dogs.

You can now view the whole range of Vetalogica pet multivitamins at VetShopOnline.

Acupuncture and Pets

2009-12-22T06:56:31Z

A lot of vets are now embracing alternative therapies for pets. Treating dogs with acupuncture is not new, and this trend is something we've been watching for some time. I was surprised to read last week just how many vets are accredited with the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society.
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Trauma is the most common cause of back problems in dogs. Causes include car accidents, falling, repeated jumping and twisting during exercise. Some dog breeds such as dachshunds and bulldogs appear to be are more prone to back injury due the lenght of vertebrae. Many vets report significant improvement in dogs treated with acupuncture.

Many of us are familiar or at least aware of the traditional Chinese therapy of acupuncture, which involves placing fine needles into specific points in the body. Health, according to the Chinese, is the life force energy, or chi (also sometimes called qi) flowing freely around the meridians or energy channels of the body. Acupuncture is said to clear any blockages to allow the free flow of chi.

Vets report that most dogs receive acupuncture well. Each treatment generally takes about 20 to 30 minutes and in most cases three or four treatments a few days apart are required.

If you think your pet might benefit from a course of acupuncture, talk to your local vet or the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture.

Our Gift this Christmas

2009-12-17T02:16:24Z

One of the wonderful things about living in the western world is the abundance of "things" that we have the good fortune of having. While we all like getting presents in the holiday time, it's probably safe to say that most of us have more "stuff" than we really need.

Some years ago, the team at VetShopOnline decided that rather than sending presents (more "stuff") to customers and suppliers, we would instead make a gift to a poor or underprivileged community in the name of our staff, customers and suppliers.

We chose the "Smiles" program operated by World Vision (worldvision.com.au), as it is focused on helping the poorest of the poor, with items that are sustainable, and help break the brutal cycle of poverty. As animal lovers, we choose gifts of farm animals, which help the communities by providing not just food, but also wool, milk & eggs to sell and donkeys and cattle to help till the earth and cart goods.

World Vision also provides the communities with animal husbandry training and support, so that we know that these animals will not just be appreciated, but well cared for as well.

Although the economic conditions have been tough this year, we are proud to say that we have been able to maintain our tradition of giving "just a little bit more" each year. This year, our selected gift was a Stable full of animals (click here to view). This gift will go to a community in Australia's close neighbor, East Timor and comprises of two donkeys, two cows, two goats, four ducks, and six chickens with chicken feed.

We hope our contribution will go some way to helping the families in this community. Click here to read more about the work of World Vision in East Timor.

On behalf of everyone here at VetShopOnline, we wish you, your family, friends, and of course pets, a safe and happy holidays!

What do cats do all day when they are home alone?

2009-12-09T04:06:11Z

Sleep? Eat? Play?

Pet food company Purina set out recently to determine exactly what cats do all day when their owners are not home. They fitted tiny cameras to the collars of fifty indoor cats. The digital cameras snapped off a still photo every 15 minutes. By examining the thousands of photos, animal behavior scientist Dr. Jill Villarreal was able to determine just what our kitty friends get up to during the day.

While cats have been known to sleep between 8 and 16 hours a day, when they are awake they are extremely active, seeking out sensory stimulation. Contrary to the belief that cats are solitary animals, cats spent a lot of time seeking out and interacting with other animals in the household. Not just other cats, but also dogs and other pets such as rabbits. The cats in the survey spent 12% of their time in the company of other animals, 6% of the time sleeping and 5% of the time playing with their toys. However the one activity that took up most of their day, in fact 21% of the time, was surprisingly staring out the window! Cats just seemed to love observing what was going on outside! Curious by nature, cats were able to lie in the sun and watch the world go by for hours.

Following on from her research, Dr Villarreal suggests that we make our home stimulating for our feline friends, by providing different toys, such as furry mice, treat-dispensing balls and catnip filled stuffed toys. She suggests hiding small treats around the house, leaving the blinds or curtains open and even leaving the television on during the day.

Every Pet has his Day

2009-12-07T03:52:15Z

They say that every dog has its day, but it seems that now, every pet of every type has his or her day. Check out this list of pet "days" I just found online:

JANUARY
National Bird Day--January 5
National Dress Up Your Pet Day - January 14
Answer Your Cats Questions Day - January 22

FEBRUARY
Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month
National Bird Feeding Month
Pet Dental Health Month
Responsible Pet Owners Month
Petsitters Week - February 1 - 7
National Aminal Poison Prevention Week - February 15 - 21
Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week - February 7-14
Groundhog Day - February 2
Sled Dog Day - February 2
Pet Theft Awareness Day - February 14
National Dog Biscuit Day - February 23
International Polar Bear Day - February 27

]]> Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month
National Pig Day--March 1
National Puppy Day- March 23

APRIL
International Pet First Aid Month
National Pet Month
Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month
Prevention of Lyme Disease in Dogs Month
International Pooper Scooper Week April 1 - 7
National Pet ID Week - April 18-24
National Wildlife Week - April 18 - 26
National Pet Day - April 10
Hairball Awareness Day - April 24
Bulldogs are beautiful Day - April 25
National Kids & Pets Day - April 26

MAY
Go Fetch - Food Drive for Animals month
National Pet Week - 1st week of May
Be Kind to Animals Week - 1st week of May
National Dog Bite Prevention Week May 13-19
Save the Rhino Day--May 1
National Disabled Pets Day - May 3
Respect for chickens Day - May 4
National See Monkey Day - May 16
Frog Jumping Jubilee Day-- May 19
World Turtle Day - May 23
Hug your cat day - May 30

JUNE
Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month
Turkey Lovers Month
Take Your Dog To Work Day - June 26

JULY
Rabbit week - July 15 - 21
Cow Appreciation Day - July 25

AUGUST
Assistance Dog Week - August 9 - 15
National Homeless Animals Day - August 15
National Dog Day - August 26th

SEPTEMBER
World Animal Remembrance Month
National Dog Week - Last week of September
Responsible Dog Ownership Day - September 19
Elephant Appreciation Day - September 22
Fish Tank Floorshow night - September 28

OCTOBER
Adopt-a- Shelter Dog Month
National Animal Safety & Prevention Month
Fire Pup Day - October 1
Mule Day - October 26
National Cat Day October 29

NOVEMBER
National Pet Cancer Awareness Month
Senior Pet Month
National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week - November 5-11
Cat Days - November 20 - 22

DECEMBER
Operation Santa Paws - December 1 - 19
National Mutt Day - December 2
Day of the Horse - December 12