Meet Hugo Mars.

He's 82 lbs of love muffin.

Other names include The Weimaroo, Chompy, and Hugo Magoogo (or Mr. Magoogo).

He enjoys going for ocean-side walks and eating an occasional mussel shell. He hangs out with his older brother, a Dalmatian named Porter.

At four years old he's had a history of digestive tract problems. After a year of eliminating all chicken, egg, and fowl products he was still having problems, but about a month ago we switched him to a prescription non-allergen food and he has started to improve. It didn't help that he recently ate a bright red "Cornell Hockey" baseball hat -- but it all passed thru just fine. Lot's of fiber, I guess.

In every other way he is a-okay.

It's summertime, and everyone wants to romp in the sun. Here are a few tips to ensure that your favorite k9 pal gets the most out of the warm weather season.

Heat Stroke is always a danger as the weather turns warmer. Pets left in cars, even for just a few minutes, can become overheated leading to heat storke and even death. Never leave your pet in the car on a warm day.

Be sure to exercise in the cooler part of the day, either in the morning or late afternoon rather than mid-day.

Signs of heat stroke include rapid breathing, loud panting, or staggering. Get your pet o a shaded, well ventlated area and call your vet immediately.

Fleas and Ticks are part of summer, so be on the lookout. Prevention is a primary ingrediant. Talk with your vet about the best course of prevention, either in the form of a topical treatment or a special collar. Be sure to read all instructions and warnings about the product use especially in regard to age and size restrictions.

Check your pet after outdoor excursions, and pick a time of day to check everyday for pesky invaders. A favorite location for ticks is between the toes or on the ears. Small ticks sometimes find their way to lips and eyelids. Dogs can catch Lyme Desiese carried by deer ticks, so be sure to check every day.

Pets and Parades don't always mix very well. If you are bringing your dog to a crowded social event be sure that he is on a short, sturdy leash at all times an that he will have regular access to water. Also bring along bags and paper towels to take care of any waste that may occur. Make sure your dog is good in crowds, and if he's not, get him outta there immediately. And make sure you take him home before any fireworks displays start. His hearing is much more sensitive than yours and the explossions will cause him extreme discomfort and anxiety. It's better to leave him at home in that case.

For more information visit the AVMA online.

More online health tips:
PupLife
HealthyPet

CPR for Dogs on Squidoo

During the dog days if your pet is outside during the daytime be sure there's a shady area with open sides for plenty of ventilation for your dog to get out of the heat.

Use a mister or sprinkler to help keep pets cool.

Have a wading pool that pets can use -- but be sure to supervise your pet in the pool (just like you would your kids). Don't leave your dog unattended in a body of water, even if its shallow.

You'll have to train your pet to jump out of the pool before filling it with water. Many dogs drown each year because they are unable to get out of a pool after they have jumped in.

Remember that long haired breeds will be much heavier trying to exit because their hair soaks up the liquid! Be ready to help them get back out.

Dog Saved by Marine Gets Home in US

By CHELSEA J. CARTER, AP
Posted: 2008-02-22 12:17:29
Filed Under: Iraq News
SAN DIEGO (Feb. 22) - It began with a simple act of kindness to save an abused, injured dog from becoming one more victim in the Iraq war.

But what followed for Marine Maj. Brian Dennis and the mutt was a tale of friendship and loyalty that spanned miles and overcame long odds - one set to take a turn Friday with the anticipated arrival here of the Marine's best friend.

"This dog who had been through a lifetime of fighting, war, abuse ... is going to live the good life," Dennis told his family in an e-mail from Iraq.

The tale unfolded in October, a few months after Dennis deployed to Iraq from San Diego to work as part of the military team building infrastructure along the Syria-Iraq border and training Iraqi forces to take over.
......

Dennis wrote stories home about the reciprocal relationship that desert dogs, strays wandering outside border towns, had with Iraqis.

"The dogs get to eat the Iraqi scraps and have a home in the middle of the desert," he wrote in an e-mail. "The Iraqis get an incredible early warning system; these dogs hear anything approaching from miles away and go nuts and scramble to defend their territory."

While on patrol in the Anbar province, Dennis spotted what appeared to be a gray and white, male German shepherd-border collie mix. He named the dog Nubs after learning someone cut the ears off believing it would make the dog more aggressive and alert.
.....
Dennis thought he had seen the last of the dog days later when his squad headed back to its command post some 65 miles away. He couldn't take the dog with him and watched as it tried to follow the Humvees away from the border.

Two days later, while Dennis and a comrade were working on a Humvee, he looked up and saw the dog staring at him.

"Somehow that crazy damned dog tracked us," he wrote Jan. 9.

But the reunion was short lived. Military policy prohibits having pets in war zones, and Dennis was given four days to get the dog off the base or kill him.
.....
His family and close friends helped raise the $3,500 needed to get the dog from Amman, Jordan, to San Diego, said his mother, Marsha Cargo.

Read he whole story.

Travel tips from the AVMA

If you plan to take your pet with you during holiday visits, make sure that your pet is welcome first (with all the activity, it may be better to board your pet or hire a pet sitter). Holiday treats, such as rich, fatty food scraps, bones from fish, pork, and poultry, alcoholic beverages, and chocolate, can be harmful or toxic to pets. Do not allow friends and relatives to give your pet special treats it could ruin everyone's holiday (including your veterinarian's). Do not allow pets to play with ribbons, yarn, or six-pack beverage holders and don't put ribbons or yarn around your pet's neck. If you want to decorate your pet, invest in a holiday collar. These last for many years, are more attractive, and are a lot safer! Cover or tack down electrical cords.

For international travel check out this.

Hayes Trotter trained in fine arts in North Carolina, where he studied painting, sculpture and art history. After six months of additional study in Paris, he returned to create his first "box painting". These sculpture/paintings are created on recycled cereal and snack boxes, creating unique three dimensional art that incorporates a pop Warhol style. In addition to his dog box painting series, Trotter is now expanding his collection to include oil on canvas works as well.

He has shown his work in galleries in both North Carolina and Colorado. In a post-post modern world, Trotter is clearly inspired by Warhol, yet also pays homage to classic style oil painters. The result - refreshing pieces of art from a completely original perspective.

Because of Trotter's unique method of painting on recognizable food boxes, The Food Channel aired a piece featuring his work for the popular "Unwrapped" series providing national exposure and acclaim.

As is illustrated by Trotter's "Orphan", his style extends beyond box painting to vibrant and intriguing portraits and images.

Check out more of his work at Jordan Art Partners

For contact and commission info go to
Dog on the Wall

Beedogs is the premier online repository for pictures of dogs in bee costumes.

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Note from Kato -- check out this crazy enterprise. A woman who collects photos of dogs in bee costumes. Ahhhhhh -- the magic of the web.

Pet Shop Owner Creates Beer for Dogs

The Associated Press
Jan 22, 2007
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands

After a long day hunting, there's nothing like wrapping your paw around a cold bottle of beer. So Terrie Berenden, a pet shop owner in the southern Dutch town of Zelhem, created a beer for her Weimaraners made from beef extract and malt.

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Note from Kato
As weimaraner owner, I can attest to my dog's curiosity regarding beverges. Hugo's favorite? It would be tie between egg nog and hot cocoa. Not that he gets his own cup, but I have found him with his head jammed into a mug Ive left on a table licking that last bits o' goodness from the edges.

I can understand why someone would want to share a brew with one of these dogs. They seem like they'd make excellent drinking buddies. That's one of the "Why Weimaraners?"