Cici’s recovery

Cici’s surgery and vet care was completely unexpected and a very large expense for my very fixed and tiny income.  Most of it has been paid but there is still about $350 left on the bill that I frankly need assistance with.

Here’s why she needed surgery:

http://celiasue.com/2014/04/18/fleas-fox-tails-and-allergies-oh-my/

Koda’s Legacy put up a chipin for us so that people can donate directly to the vet hospital. I would very much appreciate it if you can donate a few bucks and/or share with others so that Cici can continue to get the vet care that she needs.

Here’s the link: http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/cici-s-surgery/171531

thank you.

my poor little conehead is getting used to the cone AND still smashing into everything

OK, at first, initially Cici was eating well and everything was going smoothly after her ear surgery for the hematoma. But then, last Wed. morning, she threw up three times. And afterwards, I noticed she was also constipated. She kept down her breakfast but not her lunch.

I knew immediately the side effects of the drugs she was taking (an antibiotic and a steroid) and I stopped giving them to her. Did not ask the vet. I knew that i could not give her anymore drugs without food in her belly.

Then I checked her gums to make sure that they were not gray but healthy pink and kept her hydrated, full of water. Did not feed her anymore that day. I googled natural remedies for vomiting and constipation.

Then Thursday morning, she threw up again a tiny bit, there was not much left in her tummy. She went outside and did her business. And then she did not want to eat anymore at all the entire day and evening. I was OK with that because I figured that it would pass.

I had to call the vet for another reason and mentioned what was happening. The vet was not available but I kept on giving Cici lots of water and offering her food from time to time. No food, lots of water. To me, it was a good sign that she was drinking the water.

Finally, at 3 am, Cici decided to start eating again and i gave her a tiny meal of kibble, water and hot dogs, not the healthiest but what I could throw together. Friday morning, I gave her pumpkin and baby food, good for her belly.

The vet tech left a message that i should stop the pills and also to bring her into the office for her drain removal. This seemed earlier than i expected but i took her in. Do not know if the drain being in her ear was affecting her tummy upset but her ear looks good, like it is healing and the sutures will come out next.  I also asked them to look at her anALS and they expressed them.

Although I felt sad and nauseous at times myself, I tried not to panic throughout this ordeal. And i think that served Cici well. I comforted her and kept her hydrated when that was all I could do for her. And I prayed for her tummy upset to be over soon.

I think it is important for pet guardians to keep a cool head, to learn the side effects of the medications their pets are taking and to have and implement a reasonable plan of action. Rushing Cici to the vet would not have helped her. Getting her there when I did made a lot more sense.

Have you ever had problems with your dog’s digestion and what did you do about it?

This is a Blog Hop via Fidose of Reality

http://fidoseofreality.com/pet-bloggers-bookmark-now/

Put the dog in the coconut

Ok, well, I always wanted to be a sleuth… Reading Nancy Drew books when I was a pre-teenager, I imagined what it would be like to solve mysteries. Fast forward to yesterday. I had a chance to figure out (once again) what is going on with Cici’s sensitive skin (why it keeps getting rashy and blotchy and itchy).  First, I realized after slathering her up with cream that she did indeed have fleas. Saw several critters fleeing as I slathered. Been trying different natural remedies for the fleas and the rashes and it seemed last week that the coconut oil plus spraying the bedding with a mixture of water and Oregano oil was working. Cici LOVES the coconut oil, laps it up as well as licks it off her fur but the rashes and itchiness was going away.  It is organic virgin Coconut Oil from Trader Joe’s. Am going to get a few more jars.  They’re about $7 for a jar (16 fl. oz).

Coconut oil has other benefits … skin smells good. weight loss, if that is an issue, keeping your dog slim and trim. Keeps the yeast away. Helps with arthritis / joints.

“the lauric acid in coconut oil has antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties. Capric and caprylic acid have similar properties and are best known for their anti-fungal effects.”

http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/the-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil/

http://www.petside.com/article/coconut-oil-miracle-jar-dogs

Until yesterday it seemed to be working. And it was strange because she had slept with me (as she did last night too) and I took her for a walk and fed her, gave her a few treats and she seemed just fine and dandy. Then I had brought her back to the bedroom for her after breakfast nap and noticed that she was all blotchy and rashy again. What possibly could have happened? I kept going over the events and decided to look up the ingredients of the treats. Voila.  I also found out that I gave her too many of them. (Am not a big follower of instructions but sometimes it is important to do so). It was suggested to give only 1 or 2 a day and I had given her five or six or seven. Oops.  Not only that but one of the ingredients was rosemary.

A few weeks ago when this all had started up again I had sprayed her with an all natural flea spray that ALSO had rosemary as one of the ingredients.  I think I also oversprayed her too. She did NOT have a problem, I don’t think, with the Salmon oil that had rosemary in it but maybe that is not true. All I know is that there is a common denominator here and it seems to be the MISSING LINK.

So there you have it folks.  No more Rosemary for Cici. It is good to be cautious when it comes to herbs, essential oils, and other natural remedies as well as regular treatments. Some may be too strong for you and/or your poochie pals. Tea tree oil, clove, oregano, cinnamon bark, are some oils that can burn when put on the skin (and more). They have beneficial properties but proceed with caution, dilute, dilute, dilute and for some, do not use at all.  Ask your vet (holistic vet). Tis better to be safe than sorry… don’t let the flea bugs bite !!!!

Lickiest tongue in the west

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151540622537545

 

 

Put the dog in the Coconut…

fleas and allergies and bites on dogs, oh my

Cici is still itchy and scratching herself, but after discussing the situation with Dr. Harvey’s office and Dr. Richmond’s office, I’ve been putting coconut oil on her skin and she is loving the taste of it too. I LOVE essential oils but Cici has had strong reactions to them sensitive girl that she is. Coconut oil is supposed to help with itchies and a lot of other situations. Am going to start taking it myself as well. We also got some spirulina. (Read about the health benefits at Dr. Mercola’s website).   I love Dr. Harvey’s herbal protection shampoo, smells yummy and has all good organic ingredients. Cici survived her bath. And she is eating Dr. Harvey’s Canine Health.  Only thing is that yesterday something bit her. And I got bit, too. Do not know what the bites are from. Ugh.

Once she got the hang of it, she LOVED having her belly and chest rubbed with the coconut oil (raw unrefined) and licked it off my fingers, too.  I think we have a winner.

http://www.natural-dog-health-remedies.com/coconut-oil-benefits.html#2

Coconut oil has strong antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal functions. Coconut oil alleviatesskin allergy symptoms (e.g. itching, dry skin and hair coat) and protects the skin against cancerous growths. When used topically, coconut oil can:

• Disinfect cuts and promote wound healing.
• Improve dogs’ skin and hair condition, making the hair coat smooth and shiny. It can also eliminate the dog’s body odor.
• Clear up numerous skin problems, such as warts, eczema, dandruff, precancerous lesions, ringworm, bites and stings.

an interview with Dr. Annette Richmond, holistic vet in Pacific Grove, California

do you have general suggestions for dogs who are itchy?  what do you look for and/or what should pet owners consider if their dog is constantly itchy, scratching and licking their paws?

Of course check for basic things like fleas first. If none, then I am thinking a food or environmental allergy. So then I always start with looking at the diet. A diet that is NO grain, high quality and easily digestible proteins, preferably organic is what I recommend.

Raw food is the best. Home cooking is terrific too. But if those options don’t appeal to the owner, then the brands I recommend include; Taste of the Wild, Orijen, Wellness, just to name a few.

Eliminating any treats that don’t fall in that category too. Supplementing with fish oils is therapeutic for itchy skin as it is a natural anti-inflammatory.

Use shampoo that contains therapeutic quality lavender oil and chamomile on a weekly basis, a high quality shampoo with oil will not dry out the skin. There are a few homeopathic anti-itch remedies as well.

Environmental allergies are tricky to diagnose, but all the above will help with that too. A blood test is easily performed to check for either food or environmental allergies.

are certain breeds more susceptible to fleas or allergies?

Yes, there are certain breeds affected by skin problems. All the breeds with extra skin folds: English bulldogs, Shar-peis, Mastiffs, and Pugs. Other breeds include: Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Boxers, and West Highland Terriers.

are allergies seasonal or get worse during hay fever time? do dogs get hay fever? are there plants/grasses that make dogs sneeze and itch?

Some allergies are definitely seasonal for pets, as there are many environmental grasses and trees that make dogs itchy. So if these are in bloom, or growing well, dogs can be adversely affected by them. Dogs usually don’t sneeze like people, but may have inflamed eyes and discharge from the eyes.

how can pet owners prevent or treat fleas and allergies naturally?

Essential oils are a wonderful flea and tick repellent for dogs. Cats are too sensitive to the oils and I don’t recommend them for cats. One product line I carry is Only Natural Pet, they have an oil that is put along the back of the dog once weekly and also a spray to put on anytime the dog is going out. This product line also carries a flea powder that is made of diatomaceous earth which dries up the flea eggs and larva, and also contains essential oils as a repellent (this powder is safe for cats). These types of essential oils are used by humans for the same effect.

best diet/foods for dogs with allergies, sensitivities, digestive issues?

Organic, no grain, high quality protein. I recommend raw food whenever possible. There are many raw food brands. Starting the dog off slowly with just little bits to get them used to it, and supplementing their diet until they eat only raw food is the purest diet that their digestive tract is designed to handle. Raw meats can also be cooked if owners prefer. I also recommend probiotics and digestive enzymes along with the meat.

what do you think about comfortis and over the counter flea treatments? drugs for allergies (steroids)?

I don’t like to use any of the strong flea medications, they do build up in the environment and because there aren’t any long term studies on these products, I don’t feel comfortable recommending them for ongoing treatment. However, if an owner is dealing with a severe infestation, doing one dose after a good bath may be required once in a while. Many general practitioners will give steroids without trying some of these other treatments first. Only in very severe cases is a steroid warranted.

any other thoughts about itchy dogs esp. during summer?

Baths are wonderful with the right type of shampoo that puts good quality oils back onto the skin and all the other things I mentioned above.

About Dr. Richmond

Dr. Annette Richmond graduated from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1997. She became a certified veterinary acupuncturist through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society which is a world recognized certification program. Dr. Richmond has been integrating acupuncture in to her practice since 1999, and has continued the study of natural medicine, Eastern and Western herbology, homeopathy, flower essences, healthful diets, and nutraceutical support. She incorporates all of these into her natural medicine clinic to treat most common ailments. The clinic also includes a canine and feline physical rehabilitation component helping pets before and after orthopedic and neurologic surgery, pets that suffer from arthritis, hip dysplasia and much more.

www.naturalveterinarytherapy.com

some relevant articles written by Dr. Richmond for Canine Coastal Magazine

http://www.naturalveterinarytherapy.com/coastal_canine_magazine_articles

all natural flea patrol

apparently, the most commonly used flea repellants are actually pesticides. what a great idea NOT… pesticides POISON our plants so now let’s POISON our pets… where do they get these ideas??? oh yeah, the companies that produce this are out for MAKING MONEY and do not care about the health and safety of the consumer and their pets. It is as simple as that.

comfortis, the flea preventative, that the holistic vet gave to cici is organic, how nice, an organic pesticide… meanwhile, i did some research and found out that some dogs have taken this product and had seizures or died. talking about the RISKS far outweighing the benefits, aka OVERKILL… not a risk am willing to take… so I gave the six month supply back to the vet and have found a REAL holistic vet in the area, who I will be interviewing and/or she will be guest blogging soon… sheesh…

anyhow, while I was at the pet store getting CIcI some food, the ladies there also gave me some suggestions… for fleas

there is some kind of zapper, uses electromagnetic force to not kill the fleas but keep them out of the pet’s field, sounds kind of strange to me, it is called Shoo tag

The key to shoo!TAG™ is the three dimensional electromagnetic frequency embedded in the magnetic strip. shoo!TAG combines with the body’s electrical field to produce an expanding barrier effect, keeping targeted pests away.

offers protection for your dogs against Flea, Ticks, Fleas and Mosquitoes.

NO Chemicals, is Odor-Free, Waterproof and is safe for pets, people and the planet.

shoo!TAG™’s magnetic strip is encoded with beneficial frequencies and resonances and an electromagnetic charge bearing a polarized energy signature, which when introduced into the bio-energetic field of the wearer produces results.

shoo!TAG™ is calibrated to specific animals and specific insects to repel targeted pests. This is possible because various insects and pests react to frequencies. These frequencies are introduced into the bio-energetic field of the wearer. These specific frequencies and resonances have proven to disturb targeted pests and create a barrier.

they told me that it works… but I don’t know if I am wanting dazed and confused fleas to fall off cici and onto me and then I’d have to wear one of these tags too

http://shootags.com/

costs $20-30 and lasts 4 months or more

the vet has a flea powder, and a flea bath

Dr. Harvey’s has an organic herbal protection shampoo, and spray, no chemicals, and a concentrated dip (so for far less than I spent at the vet, I could have gotten good food for Cici plus all of these products, dang, but hindsight is 20/20 did not think of this until today). This is what Dr. Harvey says about allergies, too.

http://www.drharveys.com/pages/dog_allergies

Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Olive Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Aloe Vera, Vegetable Glycerine, Organic Chamomile Extract, Organic Stinging Nettles Extract, Organic Sage Extract, Organic Calendula Extract, Organic Hops Extract, St. John’s Wort Extract, Horsetail Extract, Polysorbate 20 (Vegetable Source), Catnip Oil, Erigeron Oil, Neem Oil, Citronella Oil, Cedarwood Oil, Geranium Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, Organic Rosemary Extract

http://www.drharveys.com/products/show/53-herbal-protection-shampoo

http://www.drharveys.com/products/show/55-herbal-defense-concentrate

http://www.drharveys.com/products/show/54-herbal-defense-spray

and then there is this flea powder, nontoxic no chemicals and a flea busting shampoo

http://fleabusters.com/Products/Rx_Plus/index.html

http://fleabusters.com/Products/Rx_Shampoo/flea_shampoo.html

Until recently, the only treatments available to treat fleas contained dangerous insecticides. Even though these products are still available, they can be unsafe for some pets and small children. Fleabusters® Flea Shampoo

is a safe and healthy way to kill the fleas on your dog or cat.

It is also imperative to treat your home, otherwise pets will quickly become infested again. Wash your pet’s bedding in hot water, and let it soak in soapy water for at least fifteen minutes. Thoroughly vacuum or steam clean any furniture, rugs and flooring, and dispose of the vacuum bag in an outside trash receptacle (and the water from the steam cleaner away from your home). When vacuuming, pay special attention to base boards, ventilators, under furniture and anywhere else fur and lint accumulate. Before vacuuming, treat your carpets and upholstery with environmentally safe Fleabusters® Rx for Fleas Plus® which, when used properly, will rid fleas for a year. If you still see fleas 48 hours after using the product, vacuum more frequently.

active ingredients are derived from coconut oil, jojoba and hemp

shampoo is $15 and powder is $40

there are also some essential oils, since cici is so sensitive and allergic, she is not able to deal with them… lemongrass is one of the oils that was suggested at the pet store… purification blend has some oils within the compound which can be too strong for cici and may be for your dog too.

Cedar is a natural flea repellent but not sure about putting it on cici. Making a homemade flea collar by sprinkling a bandana with various essential oils and tying it around her neck for a natural flea repellent collar. Have to reapply the oils to the bandana once a week.

Spraying her with a mixture of water and lemon might work for you. Right now, I have water mixed with raw apple cider vinegar to spray her with. She just gets a warning before I spray her. Cici is a real sissy when it comes to anything like this. She gets scared and starts shaking if I actually spray her, so this is not a great option for her to actually get the water mixture onto her.

Planting Tansy, a fern-like plant, around the perimeter of your outdoor pets environment will also help repel fleas. Do not plant Tansy where your pet can eat the plant, because it does have low levels of toxins.

another method is liquid dish detergents can be very effective in killing off fleas, but we specifically recommend Dawn’s dish detergent for washing pets, as that is what many animal rescue organizations use. Bathing your pet, or even your own hair, with Dawn’s dish detergent can be a safe and effective method for killing off fleas. This approach is most commonly used for dogs, but if you think you can handle washing your cat, just be sure to wash off the soap well afterwards. Do not wash your pet more than once a week or else it may be over drying! It was suggested that first you wash with Dawn and then another shampoo that puts the oils back in the fur. Makes sense to me and am going to do this.

Am also giving Cici a splash of raw apple cider vinegar in her water once a day. The vinegar is also supposed to repel fleas. One teaspoon of cider vinegar to 2 cups of fresh water is recommended.

And not sure about garlic. There are mixed reviews about garlic for pets/dogs.

how about you? do you have an all natural flea / bug repellant that you like to use?

holistic vet for my dog

it was a real fiasco trying to figure out what was wrong with Cici, all the itching and scratching but, after washing Cici in shampoo to wash away the bugs, it made her worse, gave her more bumps and splotches, more itchies, fever, she was a mess, scratching until bleeding, on her face, and I felt terrible. Asked for help to get her to the vet and got advice unlimited instead.

But I was able to get her to this holistic vet late last week and found out that she had a temperature, bugs inside and outside, the vet seemed very thorough and spent time with me unlike the other vet we went to a month ago. And Cici got a shot, some pills, some for me to give her too. She also saw kitty cats and went nutty. And was excited to see all the doggies at the vet plus all the people.

thanks once again to Carie B. for hooking me up with Ashley who drove me to and from, was terrific with Cici, and really helpful in every step of the way.

Am relieved and thankful.  The vet also suggested that I feed Cici a limited grain free diet. She said that no diet, nor topical stuff would solve the issues that she was dealing with. That there are multiple factors going on… diet, rabies shot, seasonal allergies and bugs.

Then on Sunday, she thew up right after I gave her the pills which prompted me to stop the pills until I could talk to the vet. Spoke to the vet hospital and they asked if she was still throwing up. Nope, just that once. I resumed the pills last night with caution. I also read about the anti-flea/bug pill they gave her that lasts once a month. They gave me a six month supply. It’s called Confortis.  After doing research about the potential side effects, seizures and death, am not going to give them to her again.

went to the HOLISTIC Vet because I wanted homeopathic or other non-toxic medicine not drugs with scary side effects. Oh well, she said that she was going to give her a thorough approach to knock the bugs out of her, an antibiotic and an anti-allergy pill. I do not think that she has to have drugs to do that. Garlic has antibiotic naturally, and working on the allergy.

As far as the bugs go, there are a number of essential oils. I just should NOT NOT NOT against MY OWN advice washed her in a people shampoo with peppermint and tea tree oil… duh…

Purification® essential oil blend:  Useful for external parasites, such as fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes.

I found a lot of helpful info on the Young Living Essential Oils blog.

Washing and cleaning wounds:
•    Purification blend is more effective than iodine or hydrogen peroxide.

Allergies to:
•    Environmental-Weed killer, food with chemicals (Effaxaquin very BAD)
•    Apply lavender on the skin if itchy and on the pads of the feet.
•    Cleanse liver with Sulfurzyme, NingXia Red and Power Meal in food.

Calming:
•    Dogs or cats; essential oils can be applied to tips of ears, also on top of head, naval, along with to the bottoms of their feet, petting and diffusing of essential oils.
•    Good oils for calming are:
•    Lavender, Peace and Calming,  RutaVaLa & or Valor.

Calm dog during bath:
•    Put a drop or two of Peace and Calming in the palm of your hands and brush onto the towel, which will be used for drying your pet. Let the pet smell your hands before starting the bath. If needed also add the blend of RutaVala and give your pet a good loving pet right before bathing.

Fear of thunderstorms or 4th of July noise:
•    Use a small amount of Release. followed by Lavender. First rub the oil between hands and let your pet smell it. Gently run hands over the ears, back and legs and with what is left over, rub on pads of feet.

Fleas on family dog allergic reaction causing hot spots:
•    Mix 2 tablespoons carrier oil with 4 to 8 drops of Helichrysum in a spray bottle. Spray the hot spot area twice a day.

May help to get rid of fleas:
•    Use any of the following essential oils and add to the rinse cycle when washing bedding:
•    Peppermint
•    Lemon-Put on collar
•    Purification
•    Eucalyptus
•    Add 2 to 5 drops of any of the above oils to an 8-ounce spray bottle filled with purified water and mist all over their body once a day.
•    Increase to 10 drops in the water after 2 weeks and use as an insect spray.

For more info including how to order, go to essential oils for pets

for summer sunburn, pests, heat, stress relief, for you and your pets, try the essential 7, https://www.facebook.com/note.php?saved&&note_id=209333125769307

are rabies vaccines bad for your pet’s health?

am now thinking that Cici’s itchies may be due to the rabies vaccination she was given by the SPCA Easter Sunday…  I was reading about how rabies vaccinations are a big scam, unnecessary and yet still mandatory although they stay in the pet’s system for years.

http://www.belladogmagazine.com/health-wellness/485-the-big-scam-rabies-vaccination

then tonight it suddenly occurred to me that it is not the food but the rabies vaccination that has made her itchies worse. and I found this online…

http://www.squidoo.com/rabiesvaccine

• The rabies vaccine is the ONLY shot required by law for dogs and cats in the United States. This is primarily to protect humans from getting rabies from their pets.

• The Center for Disease Control declared in 2007 that canine rabies no longer exists in the United States. Your dog will not contract rabies from another dog, but only from wild animals such as bats, coyotes, skunks, raccoons and foxes…

Cici is not going to run into any of those any time soon. Ok, she did get skunked a couple of months ago. But does getting skunked mean she could get rabies from the skunk?  The skunk, I found out later, is a neighbor’s pet skunk not a wild skunk.

My polka dot princess had been a little itchy before, but never had reactions from food and changing her food does not seem to be doing anything to stop the itchies.

http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/2010/12/02/what-to-do-when-your-dog-has-a-vaccine-reaction/

How prevalent are reactions?   The USDA/CVB 2008 Report states that “Rabies vaccines are the most common group of biological products identified in adverse event reports received by the CVB.”  In 2007, 6500 reactions were reported for the canine rabies vaccine alone…. Small and medium-sized dogs are the most likely…

K9Author  Jan Rasmusen

Do you Know What to Do When Your Dog Has a Vaccine Reaction? Go to http://www.truth4dogs.com Also see articles on preventing reactions.

http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/2010/12/15/over-vaccination-of-pets-an-international-scam/

Consequences for not vaccinating against rabies depend on the Animal Control laws in your area. At the very least, you won’t be able to board your pet, participate in training classes or shows, or use a professional groomer. Many vets will insist on vaccination before boarding or treating your pet. And if your dog or cat bites or scratches anyone, or is picked up by Animal Control, there will surely be a stiff fine and your pet will be impounded and vaccinated (or worse).

http://www.kingdomcavaliers.com/vaccinosis.html

there are some homeopathic remedies to give your pet afterwards but most of what I am reading says that you cannot just give any and that you have to bring your pet to a holistic vet… one that I know of is really expensive and i will call the other one, also not cheap.

right now, Cici is acting a little weird and am getting upset.  She also threw up a treat the other morning but she gobbles up stuff all the time without chewing it and eats regularly at the doggie buffet (garbage left on the ground by people).

so now not only did the SPCA charge me $103 to get her back, for not feeding, watering, walking nor tending to her two scratches that could have gotten infected, but also caused the itchies by giving her the vaccine???

please pray for my love bug… thanks.  And if anyone has had experience with this, please let me know too.

 

send this girl to polka dot princess/diva camp

A river in Carmel?

carmel river inn The Carmel River Inn was built in 1934. In 2003 the property was purchased by Moonstone Hotels Properties and plans for renovations and additional cottages are in the making.

95% of the cottages are pet friendly… and have white picket fences, too…

The Cottages

Nestled throughout the 10-acre grounds of the Carmel River Inn, are cottages. Several feature a white-picket fence, others a wood-burning fireplace, and some have a kitchenette. Each of these eclectic cottages is named for a well-known character in California’s colorful history. Among these famous names, you will find such California historical icons as conservationist and photographer Ansel Adams, and controversial author Henry Miller.

we stayed in the newly renovated steinbeck cottage… with its own patio, whirlpool tub, fireplace, coffee maker, came with pet amenities, dog bowl with treats, waste bags and a ball, which cici loved… they also gave me a welcome bottle of wine… no breakfast… nice touches, fresh flowers, cute signs, sign above the bed said smell the roses…

like the other Moonstone property we stayed in Cambria (Cambria Pines Lodge), there were gardens and fountains everywhere… very quiet, peaceful atmosphere…

the location is off of hwy 1 just past Carmel valley road, beyond Rio road, and just down the street from the Barnyard and Crossroads shopping centers, where there is a very pet friendly winery tasting room (A Taste of Morgan), several pet shops, a pet groomer, holistic vet with doggie daycare, SPCA thrift store and other shops…

The Visitor Center for A Taste of Morgan is open from 11-6, EVERYDAY at the Carmel Crossroads Shopping Village, at Rio Road and US 1.
204 Crossroads Blvd, Carmel, CA 93923
Tel: (831) 626-3700

Cici and I dared to go back to Carmel beach one afternoon/evening… She played with two labs chasing balls and pups for about 1-1/2 hours, great fun for her…

dog friendly beaches of monterey bay

asilomar state beach
carmel city beach
carmel river state beach
garrapata state park
monterey recreation trail
monterey state beach

dog friendly restaurants of carmel

allegro gourmet pizzeria at the barnyard
anton and michel
bahama billy’s
bruno’s market and deli
buon giomo bakery cafe
caffe cardinale coffee roasting co.
carmel bistro
casanova
china gourmet
club jalapeno
da giovanni
hog’s breath inn
jack london’s grill
katy’s place
la dolce vita
le coq d’or
nico’s
porta bella
the forge in the forest
tita’s cafe
village corner

doggie etiquette tips at restaurants

leash your 4 legged friend and tie them to a chair not a table.. try to keep them out of walkways… bring your own water bowl, pets are not allowed to drink out of restaurant glasses or dishes, avoid allowing your pet to socialize with other patrons unless welcomed…

Carmel Cafe Dining

I was invited to a meal sans Cici at the Cafe Demetra in Carmel, off Ocean Avenue and Lincoln… Owners/partners Faisel and Bashard have known each other for a long time. They are from Jordan and Syria. I met Faisel at Whole Foods in the Del Monte Shopping Center and he invited me to come on down. The cafe has only been open for nine months and is packed almost every night, so go early. It is a very small place but don’t let that stop you, the atmosphere is warm, homey, friendly and the food is FABULOUS !!!

Mediterranean food, Italian and Greek… I had the huge Greek salad for an appetizer, it was a meal in itself with creamy feta cheese and olives, authentic and divine. Then I ordered the Pasta Demetra with chicken, think Greek pasta… luscious… bread came with the meal with olive oil and I had no room left for dessert. I was tempted to try the Lamb, spanokapita, and other Greek specialty foods (sandwiches), kabobs, and the Italian specialties, various kinds of raviolis, lasagne, pastas and pizza, all in all, there is a lot of delicious sounding food to choose from and I would definitely go back there for another taste sensation. If you go, be sure to let them know that CeliaSue sent you !

http://www.yelp.com/biz/dametra-cafe-carmel-by-the-sea

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