Happy 7th Blogiversary to Us

 Me: “It is hard to believe that seven years have passed since we began Barking from the Bayou.”

Bentley Basset: “Of course, that is human years which means Pierre and I have been blogging for forty-nine years. Do we need to talk about a retirement plan?”

Pierre Westie: “Hang on there one minute! I am way too young to think about retirement. I have lots of things left to bark about and our readers count on us to give them something to smile about once a week.”

How to Fetch the Perfect Christmas Gift for Pet Lovers

    Last month we wrote about our newest affiliate partner, GetPetPortrait. I can’t tell you how much I love my canvas print of the boys. We hung it in the Barking from the Bayou office so we can show it off. Anyway, I’ve told you my opinion, but Bentley and Pierre wanted to bark about them too.

Bentley Basset: “Thanks, Mom. I don’t want our readers to miss out on being the best Santa Paws ever this Christmas. Here we are just a couple of weeks away from the big day and lots of folks still haven’t ordered their GetPetPortrait. This is SERIOUS!”

“Barking from the Bayou is a participant in the GoAffPro Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to the partner site”

Pierre Westie: “Maybe Mom forgot to tell them they could save 15% off their order with our affiliate code: BFTB. You know how she gets sometimes. (Rotates paw next to his head) I mean, who could resist putting their best friend in a fabulous portrait. We look totally awesome in ours.”

Happy 13th Birthday, Bentley

 Mom, Dad & Pierre: “Bentley! Hey, Bentley!! BENTLEY!!! Wake up!”

Bentley: “What in the world is all the commotion? Why would y’all be hollerin’ at me when I’m clearly not through sleeping? I am not deaf, ya know.”

 Mom, Dad & Pierre: “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! We love you!”

Bentley: “Awww, thanks you guys. That is really sweet of y’all to remember. Now, if you’ll excuse me, nature calls.”

*Bentley has agreed to a sit-down interview for his birthday AFTER he takes care of his "business" and enjoys a hearty breakfast. Teenagers…what are you going to do?

The Bayou Boys Give Thanks

Bentley Basset: “Hello and happy Thanksgiving to those of you celebrating today. We thought it would be a good idea to post the things that we, the Bayou Boys, are grateful for this year.

Help - My Westie has IBD

    Pierre is a nine-year-old West Highland Terrier. He has had stomach issues his entire life. For years, it was the occasional vomit of yellow bile. His stomach would make a gurgling noise, he would whine one time and that was all the warning we usually received. To be honest, we didn’t worry too much about it. He would eat and be perfectly fine. It wasn’t a problem until it was and then it was just scary. You can read about that episode in Our Poor Little Guy.

   Over the past two years, we have been extremely diligent in not allowing Pierre to eat anything other than his prescription food, prescription treats and boiled chicken breast. He has been doing great until a couple of weeks ago. His stomach started making noise around 3:00am and by 3:10 I was in the backyard with him while he threw up and started having diarrhea. His stomach was full to touch and he had gas. We were shocked and disheartened. He had been doing sooooo well! I still had medicine from his previous bout of “gastroenteritis” which stops the two main symptoms. We continued this for another day before deciding to call the vet.

   They did a complete blood workup, x-rayed his stomach and I also brought a stool sample for testing. Pierre was given subcutaneous fluid (under his skin) while he was there. We left him there and picked him up a couple of hours later. He was already feeling better when they brought him to us. We kept him in his kennel in the living room so we could make sure he was okay. If he got sick, we could control the mess to his bedding. (Both the boys love their kennel and will go sleep in it anytime its in the house) He was only sick one more time.

   The vet called the next morning to check on Pierre. He was acting like his normal fun-loving self so she would call back with the test results. The fecal result was negative for parasites, so we were waiting for the test for Inflammatory Bowel Disease. We all were fairly certain it would come back positive. The lab needed more blood, so we had to take Pierre back up for another blood draw.

   We received the news yesterday that Pierre does have IBD. I’ve done some quick research on the subject and this is what I know so far…

What is IBD?

   Inflammatory bowel disease causes the inflammation of the intestines and chronic symptoms that are related to the gastrointestinal system. Veterinarians don’t really know the exact cause and that is one of the reasons Pierre was diagnosed with gastroenteritis. The culprit is believed to be an abnormal immune system response to normal inhabitant bacteria in the intestine causing inflammation. It can affect dogs of any age, but it is seen more often in middle-aged and senior dogs.

What are the Symptoms of IBD?

• Diarrhea

• Weight Loss

• Depression

• Chronic intermittent vomiting

• Gas

• Abdominal pain

• Rumbling and gurgling stomach

• Bright red blood in stool

• Unable to get comfortable

• Panting/rapid breathing

What is the Cause of IBD?

   This is a tough one to answer because there are several factors that could be the cause. Hypersensitivity to bacteria and/or food allergies are thought to be a major influence in this disease. Food sensitivities include meat proteins, food additives, artificial coloring, preservatives, mile proteins, and gluten (wheat). Pierre’s current prescription food and treats both contain wheat which is what probably caused his flare-up.

   Pierre has been dealing with this since he was a pup, so I believe genetics also played a role in his diagnosis.

How to Find Out if Your Dog has IBD

   Your vet needs to know your dog’s history with stomach issues. Pierre has only been seeing our vet for the last two and half years. We are very appreciative that she recommended this test, so we have a diagnosis based on bloodwork.

   A complete physical exam, blood count, biochemistry profile and urinalysis will be needed along with a fecal exam to rule out parasites. X-rays can show any abnormalities. We could see the gas in Pierre’s stomach on his x-ray. There are more in-depth tests that might be needed if a diagnosis is not obvious through the lab work. Your vet will advise you of which would be best for your dog.

Is there a Cure?

   There is really no cure for IBD, but it can be successfully managed. The goal is different for each dog in accordance with the severity of their symptoms.

   For Pierre, we are striving to stop his nausea, gassiness, and diarrhea long term. He is currently taking an 1/8 of a teaspoon of Tylosin sprinkled on his food twice daily. It is amazing how such a small amount of medicine can make such a difference but so far, so good.

   We are also transitioning him to a prescription hydrolyzed food. That means it’s made with hydrolyzed proteins that break down into tiny pieces so the can be easily absorbed. This will have less chance of causing an immune reaction than regular proteins.

   In addition to changing his diet, we are adding probiotics to his meals.

   This will be a lifelong issue but one that we will hopefully be able to control now that we’ve identified the problem. Throughout the entire ordeal, Pierre has still been the happiest little man ever!

Resources: PetMD

Be sure to join us for this week’s Pet Parade blog hop. All pet bloggers are welcome, and you can select your subject or stay totally wordless with just a photo. We’d love to have you join in the fun! 

Visit Dash Kitten and 

Basil & The B Team today.

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Thank You, Veterans!

 

We are so thankful to the veterans who have served and fought for our freedom.

God bless America.

Our Halloween Tricks for Treats Winners!

We can’t thank everyone enough for all of the amazing trick videos we received! There are some incredibly talented pups out there and all of you deserve a round of applause.

After much deliberation from our panel of impartial judges, here are our three winners.

Our third-place winner is the adorable one-year-old Dalmatian, Diva saying her prayers.

Diva will love her bag of Coconut Smiles!

You Need GetPetPortrait in Your Life

    I am so excited for today’s post because I'm going to introduce you to GetPetPortrait and you are going to fall in love with their work just like I did. As a matter of fact, we are now one of their affiliates and that means we can save you 15% off your order. Believe me, you are going to want at least one!

   GetPetPortrait is a U.S. company that makes the most amazing canvas prints of pets. Of course, you can always get a high-quality portrait of your pet from them just as they are in their fur but…

   SQUEEEE!!! Look at the portrait of Bentley and Pierre. It is titled “PetBrothers” from the GetPetPortrait Historical Collection and I think it is absolutely AMAZING!!! You can’t believe how hard it has been to keep this under wraps until today. I want to show it to everyone. It is THAT good.

Tricks for Treats Contest Time

We are joining our friends at

Dr. Harvey’s for a new Halloween contest and it starts today!

Let us see your

BEST TRICKS

 for a chance at winning

SPOOKTACULAR TREATS!

Here's Some New Dog Memes!

We hope your October is starting off

frightfully fun!

Don’t miss next week when we kick off our Halloween contest with Dr. Harvey’s. It will be spooktacular!

We are affiliates for the following companies. If you make a purchase through our links and/or use our discount code, we will receive a commission. Thank you for your support!

Click on any of the ads below to be magically whisked away to online shopping and saving!

Be sure to add my books to your fall reading list!

The Returns & The Returns 2~Showstoppers.

Be sure to join us for this week’s Pet Parade blog hop. All pet bloggers are welcome, and you can select your subject or stay totally wordless with just a photo. We’d love to have you join in the fun! 

Visit Dash Kitten and 

Basil & The B Team today.

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Welcome October & Walk the Dog

    Can you believe that it is already October?! There are so many fun things happening this month. This first week is National Walk Your Dog Week.

   One of the important things throughout your dog’s life is to make sure they get enough exercise. Walking is a great way to help keep your pup peppy. Now that Bentley and Pierre are both senior dogs, keeping active is crucial for helping them stay strong.

Remember Me Thursday 2020 #SeeTheLight

    We are proud to say this is our 7^th year to participate in #RememberMeThursday®. Since it began the eight years ago, it has made over one billion impressions on social media! That is a lot of barking, purring, and tweeting to help shine a light on pet adoptions.

Miss Gitty is my rescue story and she was with me for twenty years. I'm a better person for having her in my life.

Every House Should be a Pet House

    There are a few things that are certainties when you come to my home. The first is Bentley and Pierre will come running to welcome you. The second is our house will smell wonderful thanks to my electric wax warmers. I have loved the smell of scent chips for as long as I can remember. That is why I was thrilled when I was contacted about Pet House’s electric wax warmer!

   PetHouse by One Fur All is well-known for their amazing line of candles but if you would rather not burn candles, the electric wax warmer is the answer. With no open flame to worry about, I can have a delicious scent wafting throughout the house and not have to watch for wagging tails. I have several other scent warmers but this one is special…it is specially designed for pet lovers. The saying around the edge of it reads “A house is not a home without pets.” Isn’t that perfect for all of us pet parents!

September Shenanigans

 One thing we know for certain is that everyone could use a laugh these days.   That is why we are here!

~ APPEARING THIS WEEK ~

The Bayou Boys

Comedy Tour

A Mixed Bag of 2020

    I guess 2020 wouldn’t be complete without a couple of hurricanes in one week. We are keeping a close eye on Laura to see how Houston will be impacted. As of Tuesday night, we are expecting some high winds, rain, and will most likely lose power. Thankfully, we have had plenty of time to prepare.

   In case you need to prepare your pets for possible evacuation due to Hurricane Laura, this link will take you to our Pet Hurricane Preparedness post. This is going to be a fast-moving system unlike Hurricane Harvey but there are still things to keep in mind After the Hurricane (another helpful BFTB post).

Do You Snapchat?

Have you seen all the cartoon looking photos of dogs flooding social media? This aww-inspiring craze to “cartoonize” your pets is just the latest filter from Snapchat. I’ll admit to being an amateur at this particular social media app but find it to be a great way to entertain myself. It is also free so that makes it even better.

 This particular effect is called Cartoon Face and works on humans and pets. It flickers until you get the pet’s face positioned correctly but once you do…Disney-like magic!

Love On the Lamb

There are only a handful of toys that the boys wear out that I replace. *Lambchop is one of those toys. Pierre loves to chase and play tug with it. Bentley, as you can see, enjoys the snuggling aspect of the LambChop. This is probably our fifth or sixth one but since they are less than $10 and last up to a year, I feel it’s a good investment.

Benefits of Rubbing Your Dog's Ears

Dogs’ ears come in all shapes and sizes depending on the breed. Pierre has cute little perky ears while Bentley’s long velvety ears drag the ground. No matter what the size or shape of your dog’s ears, they probably enjoy having them rubbed.

How Much Water Does My Pet Need?

Did you know that July is #NationalPetHydrationAwarenessMonth?

You might be wondering how much water your pet needs to drink each day. That’s a great question!

🐶Dogs usually require 1oz. of water for every pound they weigh. That means a 10lb. dog would need a little over a cup daily.

🐱Cats need 2-4oz. every day.

How to Keep Your Dog Cool this Summer

Summer is here and the heat is set on high. Here deep in the hot of Texas, we are looking for ways to stay cool. Of course, staying inside with the air conditioning is recommended for seniors and senior dogs which we do most afternoons. Temperatures can reach the triple digits by noon, so we ride bikes and let the boys enjoy the outdoors early.

Bentley has always loved to lay out in the sunshine. The hotter, the better. In the past, we have let him get his fill of heat. As a 12 ½ year old, there is a greater concern of heat stroke, so we limit his time in the direct sun. Their backyard horseplay is also discouraged in the afternoon heat.

Due to the coronavirus, we do most of our shopping on Amazon, so I set out to find some products to help us survive the dog days of summer. We are Amazon affiliates so if you purchase through these links, we might receive a tiny commission. (Thanks so much!)

How to Keep Your Dog Cool this Summer

Chillz Cooling Mat

This mat can be used in the car, outdoors or indoors and keeps your dog cool with a pressure activated gel. This lightweight, portable, and puncture resistant mat comes in four sizes. No need to freeze or chill mat to maintain a cool surface. Simply allow air to cool and recharge mat between uses.

The Weight is Over!

   Did you know that obesity is a growing epidemic in the United States? It’s not just a human problem either. Our pets are gaining weight and it is a real cause for concern. Even five extra pounds on a dog can put them at risk of serious health problems. There is good news though. Obesity is a completely treatable problem and thanks to Dr. Harvey’s, it is now delicious!

Introducing Healthy Weight

Dr. Harvey’s Specialty Diets

The Healthy Alternative to Kibble

A 4th of July Declaration for Pets

To our friends north of the border we say

Happy Canada Day!

Here in America we are preparing to celebrate our 244^th birthday. Over the past few years, we have said happy 4^th of July in a variety of ways. As I was looking through my photos, I came across the Pet’s Declaration of Independence from way back in 2014. The boys voted to share it again this year along with one of our favorite photos.

Summer is Here!

Summer is here and we are ready for some fun!

We have had enough of the sad 2020 so we’re ready to start the second half on with a smile.

Let's Discuss Treatibles and Your Pet

   I have been an affiliate of Treatibles Full Spectrum Hemp Oil products since 2017 for one simple reason. The results I have seen in Bentley are nothing short of amazing. Here is the link to our first post about Treatibles.   

   He has gone from panting, pacing, and trying to climb behind our couch to simply wanting to be close to us. He no longer trembles and will actually go to sleep during a storm. That means WE can get some sleep when overnight storms hit. After being awake during overnight storms for years, this was a welcome improvement!

   Here are a few questions that I thought we could answer in case you are still undecided if Treatibles CBD products are for you and your pet.

How can Treatibles benefit my pet?

Pierre's Pooped

We have been staying busy with the grandbabies and Pierre could not be happier. He has dubbed himself their best friend and stays right beside them. They throw his toys, play tug and love to run!

I have a funny feeling these two are going to be a pretty mischievous duo. Audrey calls them “her dogs” and neither of them would deny it.

Be the Good

   Like most of you, I am rather shell-shocked at what has transpired in America over the past few days. To see a video on television showing a man being murdered by a police officer is something none of us should be able to get out of our heads.

   It is important to believe there is more good than bad in the world but sometimes it is difficult. I pray that we can come together as a nation and world to begin the long journey of healing and acceptance. It is past time. 

DIY Dog Bed/Children's Chair

Every child, dog and cat know that there is nothing more fun than an empty box. All it takes is a little imagination for a box to become a rocket to Mars, a school bus, or playhouse. The possibilities are endless!

What if I told you that making a child’s chair or a pet’s bed is one of the simplest handy dandy craft you can make? Well, hold on to your hats because that is exactly what we are making today. 

What's the Deal with My Dog's Anal Glands?

    If you live with enough dogs or cats in your life, sooner or later you are going to have to deal with their anal glands. It is not a pleasant subject but today we are going to “clear the air” so to speak on what’s the deal with anal glands.

What are anal glands?

   Anal glands are basically scent glands located between the layers of muscles that make up the rectum. When they are working properly, the dog expressed these “anal sacs” naturally through a duct that connects the gland each time the dog poops. It is nature’s way for a dog to mark their territory and leave a smell for other dogs to discover. That’s why your dog can ALWAYS find poop that thoughtless owners leave behind.

The Boys Met the Girls

Pierre Westie: “SQUEEEE!! The most exciting thing in our entire universe happened last week! Lemme tell them, Bentley…let meeeeee!”
Bentley Basset: “Okay, you can tell them. Let me give them a little back story before you begin. Take a couple of deep breaths. I’ll be brief.
   We have two little humans called grandchildren that have begun staying at our house a few days each week. We’ve only met them under controlled circumstances because they’ve been tiny and we’re not used to such small creatures. We were social distancing before it was a thing.
   Since they’ve started coming around more often, we’ve gotten to know each other. Mom put us in the master bedroom behind a baby gate. The girls have gotten used to petting our heads and throwing us lots of toys. They understand that Pierre is talking when he barks and we understand that little girls like to sometimes scream and sing loudly.”

Pierre: “Let me tell them! I can’t wait another minute…
WE GOT TO PLAY WITH THE GIRLS!!! NO MORE FENCES!!!

How to Make a Simple & Comfy E-Collar for Your Dog

   There comes a time in most dog’s lives where they are forced to endure the humiliation of the “Cone of Shame” or Elizabethan collar. Whether it is to prevent them from licking their stitches or a hot spot, it has always done its job. They have always looked stupid and extremely uncomfortable to me although the new material ones don’t look quite as bad.
   We’ve been lucky not to have to use an e collar on the boys other than when they were neutered. That was until last week. Pierre started biting at his tail area, but we couldn’t see anything wrong. I didn’t want him to lick or chew a raw spot, so we needed a way to keep him from reaching that area. I didn’t want to go out and buy an e collar, but we did have last year’s pool noodles so…

Cut your pool noodle into sections. I used a 3” noodle and cut my pieces 1” - 2 1/2”. You can buy larger pool noodles and adjust the lengths for your dog’s size.

When Grooming Becomes Essential

   You know the saying that you never miss something until it is gone? I think we have all experienced that over the last few weeks as some people are still searching for toilet paper! It seems like forever since we could run up to the store to pick up a couple of items, go out to dinner, or shop at the mall. I don’t know about y’all but I miss all of those things a lot. I am really happy that Texas is beginning to reopen with health guidelines in place. I know this is a controversial topic but feel that people can make up their own minds as far as their own health status when they should re-enter society. I’m afraid face masks and social distancing will be a new way of life until a vaccine is found. On a positive note, we won’t have to wear lipstick or wonder if we have anything stuck between our teeth in public!

   The Texas COVID-19 shutdown of “non-essential” businesses included dog groomers. As you can tell, Pierre was a hot mess after almost six months without being groomed. Our plan was to take him to his groomer at the first of March because we had family coming to visit and wanted him to look handsome. Their plans were canceled as the country began to self-isolate. Before I had time to regroup and schedule an appointment, our state closed down.

Celebrating Earth Day 2020

It’s the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day and it comes at a time when the earth is actually trying to heal some of the damage it’s endured by mankind. We have certainly learned over the past few weeks what a difference it makes when people stay home. The skies are clear over cities for the first time in years. There are places where residents can see mountain ranges that have been obscured by pollution. Rivers and streams are running clear. Animals are able to repopulate without human interruption. Sea turtles hatched thousands of eggs after many beaches closed.

While it is important that we get back to the business of living, let’s hope that we have learned something from this bizarre time in our lives. 

We need the earth.

🌍

The earth does not need us.

Pierre, This is Your Life!

Welcome to Pierre’s 9^th birthday celebration!

We appreciate you stopping by for the fun.

As a surprise to the birthday boy, we have our version of

This is Your Life, Pierre

Mom: "You entered this world with no idea of the exciting times ahead."

Prepping for Pierre's Paw-ty

Pierre Westie: “Hey, Bentley! What are you doing? That wouldn’t happen to be a list of things for my birthday, would it?”
Bentley Basset: “Don’t be silly. Like I don’t have anything better to do than plan some lame paw-ty for my little brother.” Sighs and rolls eyes dramatically

Pierre: “You can’t fool me, bro! I know you are going to be ready to dive into some delicious birthday cake and ice cream. Are you inviting all of our friends to stop by the blog and visit? It can be a self-isolation paw-ty. They are all the rage these days.”

Pierre's Easter Jokes

At this week’s Barking from the Bayou team meeting, we discussed several different topics including the most obvious…the COVID-19 pandemic. I think it was Pierre who insisted suggested he tell a few jokes instead. After Bentley and I groaned, we agreed it would be more uplifting and we could all use a laugh these days. Of course, with Pierre’s comedy routine, that isn’t something we can guarantee.

Sit...Stay

Bentley Basset: “It’s day 8 of our humans’ government ordered “Stay at Home” mandate which means we have them all to ourselves! It’s the greatest time ever to be a dog or cat.” 

Pierre Westie: “Mom and Dad are retired but our jobs as guard dogs are essential.