Of course, when I heard about the peanut butter recalls, before I did a mental review of the food we’d been eating, I thought about the two new packages of peanut butter flavor dog treats I’d recently purchased.  Now, I don’t even know if salmonella can be an issue for dogs, but I didn’t want to take any chances.

Luckily, the products I purchased came from wonderful companies who purchase quality ingredients and take the time to respond to customer questions.

Yesterday, I e-mailed Zukes and Newmans Own Organics and both responded within the hour.

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I have to say that we’ve tried a lot of new dog products this year.  Like Argo, our new friend, Stella, comes with a sensitive stomach and itchy skin - typical German Shepherd issues, so we avoid corn and wheat and try new foods and treats with caution.  So when we find something that works, we stick with it.  In that vein, last year’s pet favorites are still this year’s.

I’m constantly on the search for the best pet food I can find/afford, and after reading ingredient lists, reviews, recall reports and customer testimonials, I’ve decided that Newman’s Own Organics is still the best for our dogs and cat.  I supplement the dog food with home-cooked turkey, rice, squash, and other dog-safe veggies when possible.

Stella approves of Sam’s Yams as well, and they are my favorite dog pacifier.  When they’re busy chewing on a dried sweet potato, they are such good, quiet dogs. And we got her an EarthDog Hemp Martingale collar too.  Her’s is the Astrid pattern, and it’s really cute.

But of the new pet products we’ve tried, here are my favorites: Read more…

Hey, I’m guest posting over at Pets for the Environment.  Check it out.

My dog has an ear infection and is on antibiotics again.  Unfortunately, antibiotics upset his stomach and turn him into a stinky dog who needs to spend lots of time outside.  For this week’s Works for Me Wednesday, here’s a trick the vet taught me that has helped a lot.

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The above photograph is of the fur I brushed off of my dog yesterday (shown with cat to illustrate scale). Now, before you worry, this has nothing to do with his recent cancer. This happens twice a year, every year, and it’s just par for the course when you have a 95lb German Shepherd (aptly nicknamed German Shedders) with a long stock coat.

But the sheer magnitude of said sheddings made me think twice about just tossing it in the trash. Apparently, I’m not alone.

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Pets for the Environment just sent around a new e-mail with a very disturbing fact about pet food. Read more…

Pets for the Environment, the new campaign started by the Environmental Working Group is working to test the safety of pet food. Read more…

When I posted my make your own kitty litter recipe a few weeks ago, Sherri asked if there were issues with the ink from the washed newspapers going down the drain.

Janet, a reader from Winnipeg, Canada, did a little research and was kind enough to e-mail me her findings. Read more…

The biopsy report from my dog’s surgery came back this morning and it looks like they got wide enough margins around the tumor to remove all the cancer cells, which is amazing news! Phew!

Thank you so much for all of your good wishes and support. I was having a hard time with the waiting and not knowing. Your comments and e-mails were such a comfort to me.

Now we’ll go back to our regularly scheduled eco-friendly stuff, right after Argo and I take a victory lap around the block.