The Golden Retriever
The Benefits Of Leaving Your Cat At A Professional Boarding Facility
If you are going to be away from home for an extended period of time, you want to make sure your cat is safe and secure. It will need to be fed, watered and visited daily. If you are able to have a friend or relative check on your cat often, this would be the best solution since it allows your cat to stay in your home where they feel the safest. However, if you aren’t able to accomplish this, then you want to take your cat to a professional boarding facility. Learn about some of the benefits that come with having your cat professionally boarded below: You know the facility has accountability A professional boarding facility has a license and a professional reputation. They need to adhere to high standards in order to keep their license and their reputation. They will have rules, guidelines and strict criteria to follow regarding how they care for your cat. If you have a stranger off an ad care for your cat, there are no guarantees that they are going to treat your cat with the care you expect. They are set up to care for your cat properly A professional boarding facility will have comfortable and secure kennels, as well as all the accessories needed to take good care of your cat until you come home. The employees will follow a schedule regarding when your cat gets fed and watered, as well as visited. If your cat eats at certain times, you can request the facility to make special considerations so your cat stays comfortable. The employees are trained and educated on the needs of felines While you’re away, you want to know your cat is in good hands. A boarding facility will have employees caring for your cat that know feline behavior and needs well. This lets you know if your cat is stressed out, they will know how to calm them down. Also, if there should be a problem, they will be equipped to determine the seriousness of the situation and take the measures needed to keep your cat as healthy as possible. Some boarding facilities have veterinarians on staff and if they don’t the chances are good that they work closely with one. When you leave your cat at a professional boarding facility you can leave knowing you hired competent people you can count on. Some boarding facilities (such as Academy Of Canine Behavior) even have webcams installed so you can check on your cat even if you are hundreds of miles...
read moreChoosing The Best Boarding Facility For Your Pet
If you’re going out of town and cannot find a trusted friend or family member to watch your pet, you’re probably in need of a boarding facility that can properly care for and watch your beloved friend while you’re away. Before you drop off your dog to the nearest pet boarder, be sure you are leaving them in good hands. There are several different factors that make up a trustworthy boarding facility, so here are some things to keep in mind so you can ensure your pet has a good experience. Do A Walkthrough Before you decide on a boarder for your pet, make a few visits and perform some observations. Here are some things you should be looking for when you visit: Make sure the facility is clean and that each animal has enough room, food, and water. Get a feel for the friendliness of the staff and their willingness to answer your questions. Take note of the areas where pets are kept: is is temperature controlled? Do they have an outdoor area for playing and exercise? Watch how the faculty interacts with other animals. If they’re loving and engaging, then it may be a good fit. Ask if the boarding facility provides references and ask for some more information on where you can find reviews and recommendations from previous customers. Some places now have webcams so that pet owners can watch their beloved dog or cat remotely while they’re away. Ask about this when you go in to do a visit. Get the Right Information Aside from checking the potential boarding facility out in person, there are other factors you should keep in mind when choosing the right place for your pet: Do they allow you to provide food, or will they give your pet healthy food and treats while you’re away? Does the boarding facility ensure all incoming animals have the proper vaccinations and do they ask each pet owner to provide proof? Will they let you bring your pet’s own blanket and toys, or are those items provided? What are their policies on play time, exercise, and interaction with the pets while you’re away? It’s important for animals to stay active and engaged. Will you be charged extra fees for walks, treats, and other options, or is that part of the total charges? Make sure you find out about all fees in advance. Can you call in and check up on your pet? What is done in the event of an emergency, and how will you be notified? Contact a company like Georgetown Veterinary Hospital Inc for more...
read moreKeep Your Dog Safe At The Pool This Summer
Don’t let a day of fun at the pool turn into a medical emergency for your four-legged companions. Thousands of pets drown in pools each year, according to some home insurance carriers, and there are some simple strategies to dramatically decrease this risk for your dog this summer. Keep your dog safe with these tips when swimming or hanging out at the pool: Don’t assume your dog can swim. It is dangerous to assume your dog can swim. Many can not, and are at risk of drowning when left near a pool or left unsupervised. Be sure that the pool has a way for the dog to exit, since they can’t tell you when they are getting tired or struggling in the water. Get your dog a vest. Even dogs that know how to swim should be wearing a life vest when near and in a swimming pool. These are sold for pets of all sizes, and are not very expensive. Also, familiarize yourself with some basic canine CPR, just in case your pet requires medical assistance. Keep your eye on your pet. Don’t ever leave dogs unsupervised around a pool, or any body of water for that matter. Letting the pet run loose, in and out of the water, is not wise, and you may not notice that your pet is having trouble until it is too late to help. Bring water for your dog. If your dog gets thirsty, they will drink pool water, which can make them sick. Chlorine is not good for pets to ingest, and may result in a nasty case of diarrhea. Furthermore, dogs can get hot and dehydrated in the pool and sunshine, which can cause lethargy and vomiting. Wash your dog up after. Be sure to give your dog a scrub after swimming in a pool, especially if it is a pool that contains chemicals such as chlorine. When pets groom themselves, they can ingest these chemicals from their fur. The residue can also cause skin irritation for sensitive pets. Play it safe at the pool this summer. Take time and pay attention to keep your pet safe and free from the risk of drowning. Before taking your pooch to the pool, be sure that you are prepared with a vest, bottled water, and your undivided attention, first. Enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, but keep your eye on your dog to ensure everyone stays safe and comfortable. To learn more, speak with a business like Pet Medical...
read moreImportant Steps To Take For First-Time Dog Owners
Getting a dog for the first time can be stressful, as they are full of energy and require a lot of love and attention. In order to help you out with the process, you can take these steps. Prepare Your Home Before bringing your dog home for the first time, it’s important to get your home ready for the new animal. Start by picking up everything that’s on the ground, such as clothes, toys and electronics. Otherwise, your dog will probably end up chewing on these items. If your dog isn’t fully potty trained, you don’t want to give them access to every room in the house. Put up adjustable gates on the door frames of the rooms you don’t want them entering. Make sure to put a food and water bowl in a location that’s easy for your dog to reach. You want to keep these bowls in the same place, so your dog doesn’t get confused when trying to find them. Monitor Their Nutrition In order to keep your dog as healthy as possible throughout the years, it’s critical to monitor what they eat. Some good whole foods to give your dog every once in a while include apples, brewers and broccoli. Apples contain a lot of potassium, which helps stimulate their immune system and it can also help them digest other foods. If you are going to give your dog human foods, make sure you don’t give them things like grapes, chocolate, avocado and bread dough. Avocado is particularly important to keep your dog from eating, as it contains a toxic ingredient known as persin. This could cause your dog to get extremely sick. Visit a Pet Hospital Sometimes you may not know what’s wrong with your dog physically. If this is the case, it behooves you to take them to a pet hospital. There, your pet will be examined by professional doctors, who offer many useful services. These include blood tests, fecal testing, urinalysis, diabetes management, pain management and parasitic control. Pet hospitals also have in-house pharmacies, laboratories and surgical centers, which all ensure your pet gets the necessary treatment as quickly as possible. Whatever is wrong with your pet, a trained professional will diagnose them and put them on the appropriate treatment plan. Being a first-time dog owner can be stressful, as there are so many things you have to monitor with your pet. Thanks to these steps, owning a dog for the first time won’t be as stressful. Visit a site like http://negolasark.com for more...
read moreBright-Eyed And Bushy-Tailed: The Ongoing Battle Against The Effects Of Squirrel Addiction
The squirrel addiction suffered by our ancestors has led to an epidemic of grey squirrels invading our attics, stealing from our bird feeders, and eating our cars. Here’s what we know right now: Squirrel addiction reached its peak in the 1870s, but no one has told the squirrels. In the mid-19th century, people decided that placing squirrels in public green spaces was a great idea. “People should interact with nature,” they said. They introduced pairs into parks and planted nut trees. The squirrels went forth and multiplied. “How cute,” people said, their eyes glazed over with squirrel addiction. Today, people realize how destructive the perky grey squirrel is. Not content to scurry up and down the trees, the squirrel also wants all of the apples, the corn seedlings, and the wiring in the shed. Even though demand for the squirrel has plummeted, the streets are teeming with squirrels. We can at least be thankful our forebears weren’t addicted to these squirrels. There could be worse battles to fight than the one we fight against the grey squirrel. Imagine, if you will, a squirrel with a 14-inch body length, with an attached 2 feet long tail. That’s 3 feet of furry destruction scrambling back and forth in the attic above your bedroom. The Indian Giant Squirrel lives in India, and is very, very shy, fortunately. Our parks might be abandoned by humans if those squirrels took over. Squirrels may look harmless, but they’re destructive and they carry disease. This isn’t some goody-two-shoes lecture to shame you into “just saying no” to squirrels. Those fuzzy little thieves are rodents, which means they are also mammals. They can be carriers of some nasty maladies, including hantavirus, plague and Lyme disease. If anyone in your home has a weakened immune system, you don’t want grey squirrels anywhere near that family member, whether in your dwelling or in your vehicle. Be sure to close car doors between trips when transporting groceries and other items, and check around your home for access points in siding and along the roof line. Your car’s engine, brake lines and wiring can be damaged by squirrels, as can your home’s wood, insulation and wiring, which may or may not be covered by insurance. Call a squirrel removal professional to deal with any rodents that have become addicted to your property. The squirrels need an intervention before they damage your health or destroy your home. For more information, contact VA Wildlife Removal or a similar...
read moreFlea Medication Alternatives for Pesticide Sensitive Cats
Flea medications use pesticides to kill the fleas. Some cats have pesticide sensitivity and become ill when flea medication is applied. How do you manage to keep your beloved pets flea free when the cure is worse than the affliction? Here are some alternatives and better understanding of pesticide sensitivity. What is Pesticide Sensitivity? Some cats have a bad reaction to the pesticides in flea medication. The first sign is usually when the cat begins to drool excessively. Other symptoms include lethargy, diarrhea, and vomiting. These symptoms can occur within an hour of application of the flea medication. The symptoms will occur even if your cat doesn’t lick the medication. Age isn’t a factor either. No matter how young or old cats with pesticide sensitivity are they will still have these problems after every application. Flea Medication Alternative: Pills Oral flea medication is a good choice for pesticide sensitive cats because it is not topically applied. The greasy topical gel that you dab on a cat’s neck is easily rubbed around. Your cat, or a grooming buddy, can easily lick the medication. Pesticide sensitive cats will have much more dangerous reactions if this happens. Oral flea medication does contain pesticides, but tends to not cause such dangerous reactions in pesticide sensitive cats beyond excessive itching as the fleas die. The problem with oral pills is if your cat does have a bad reaction you can’t just wash up the medicine. Talk to your vet at your local cat clinic before giving your cat oral flea medication. Flea Medication Alternative: Collar Flea collars contain pesticides that release into the cat’s system slowly over time. A flea collar can last up to 8 months. That means you don’t have to apply medication or give your cat a pill every month. The collar doesn’t give off that greasy oil that is so easy to lick, either. Just like with the pill, the chance of extreme adverse reaction to the pesticides is lower than with the liquid flea medication. If your cat does begin to have a bad reaction to the pesticides, you can simply remove the collar. Talk to the vet at your local cat clinic to determine which flea collar is best for your cat. Some flea collar work better than others and some require a certain age or weight. You can still keep your pesticide sensitive cat flea free and happy with these flea medication alternatives. For more information, contact Ad Park Pet...
read moreFinding A Boarding Facility For Your Dog That’s Afraid Of People
You have to go out of town, which means boarding your best friend: your dog. It’s never easy leaving your dog, and it’s especially difficult if your dog is afraid of people. Finding a boarding facility for your fearful dog may take time but will be worth the time spent. Be Honest and Upfront Your first contact with a boarding facility will probably be via email or phone. This is the time to start explaining your situation. Let the people know that you have a dog that is afraid of people and will need special attention. Any hesitation on their part may mean it’s time to move on to the next potential facility. Let the Facility Tell You Their Plan If the person you are in contact with tells you that they have experience with fearful dogs, ask them for some specifics on how they handle these dogs. Do they mention letting the dog adjust to the new environment and people at its own pace? Fearful dogs don’t do well with strangers who want to dote on them. Most fearful dogs will do best with minimal contact with strangers. Will they assign one person to be the one who cares for your dog? More than one person may be too much. Ask them to tell you how a typical day for your dog would go. Make sure you are comfortable with the plan the facility explains. Take Your Dog for a Visit Once you feel you have found a boarding facility that may be suitable for your dog, take your pet for at least one visit. This way you can observe not only how the people respond to your dog, but also how your dog reacts. You know your pet better than anyone. You’ll get a feel for whether or not they will be comfortable in the environment. Here are a few things to watch for: While your dog may be leery of the environment at first, they should start to relax after awhile. If they can’t relax with you present, will they be able to relax while you’re gone? Most dogs will ease up and begin to explore a new place in a relatively short period of time. Your dog probably won’t love, or even like, the caregiver at first. You are going to have to use your intuition to determine if they are right for you and your pet. Is the caregiver giving your dog the space it needs? Is the caregiver speaking kindly to your dog, yet backing off when it appears to be too much? Does the caregiver seem to be at all nervous or frightened? Some fearful dogs, especially large ones, sometimes give off the impression of being mean or aggressive. A professional boarding facility should have employees that can distinguish the dogs fear from anger. Boarding your dog can, and should, be a good experience for you and your pet. Once you have found the right place, your dog will likely end up having a pleasant experience. You, in turn, will have peace of mind while you are away from your best friend. For more information, contact a business such as Marquette Animal...
read moreParvovirus: What It Is And How It Is Treated
When your dog suddenly begins to act strange, you may wonder if there is something severely wrong with it. If the dog begins to act weak or lethargic, it could have a serious illness, and you may want to take it to an animal hospital to find out what is going on. Lethargy, weakness, and stumbling can be signs of many things, including parvovirus. What is parvovirus? Parvovirus is an extremely contagious disease that dogs can get if they are not vaccinated against it. Your dog can get this disease if it comes in contact with feces contaminated with the virus. The feces can be from other dogs, or from other animals. If your dog has parvovirus, it will need immediate medical help for it. Your dog might have parvovirus if it is: Acting unusually weak Not eating Stumbling around Vomiting Parvovirus affects a dog quickly and can be deadly. This virus goes straight to the intestines and begins attacking them. The virus may also begin to actually eat the dog’s intestines, and the dog may end up with other types of problems too. If you suspect that your dog may have parvovirus, take it to an animal hospital like Marcum Road Animal Hospital. A veterinarian will run tests on the dog, which will confirm whether it is parvovirus or not. If it is, your dog will need treatment for it right away. How is it treated? Once the vet confirms that the dog has parvovirus, it is likely that your dog will need to spend a few nights at the animal hospital. The vet will use a variety of different medications to treat the dog, and this generally includes: Giving the dog antibiotics – Antibiotics can help control the infection caused by parvovirus, and these are generally given orally. Putting an IV on the dog – When a dog is suffering from parvovirus, it can easily dehydrate. Attaching an IV is a great way to keep fluids in the dog, and this will prevent dehydration from occurring. Administering vitamins to the dog – The vet may also want to give the dog vitamins to boost its immune system during this time. Selecting a special diet for the dog – The vet may also give the dog rice and boiled chicken. Both of these foods are good sources of protein, which the dog will need during this time. With the right help, a dog with parvovirus can survive, but timing is critical. If your dog begins to act in weird ways, take it to an animal hospital quickly for...
read moreBringing A New Pet Into Your Home
Many people enjoy having more than one pet within their household. If you have recently acquired a new four-legged friend, you will want to take the necessary steps in making sure your old and new pets will both be happy with their new living arrangements. Here are some steps you can take to help in the transitional phase when a new pet joins the family. A Room To Begin When your new pet first comes into the home, you will want to start everything slowly as it will need time to become familiar with new surroundings. Designate one room in your home as the room that the pet will stay in for a few days when getting used to you and other people in your household. Your new pet may be frightened when it first arrives in its new home, and having and area it will feel secure is very important. Baby Steps When the new pets seems comfortable with staying in the designated area, it may be ready to explore other rooms in your home. Open the door and observe your new pet’s reaction to see if it will venture out into new territory. Make sure your old pet is not around at this time, as you are still in the introductory phase in getting your new pet to trust you and to get used to your home. Follow your pet if it decides to explore. Make sure there are a few items belonging to your old pet in the area so the new pet will have a chance to smell them when it comes out into the rest of the home. The scent of your old pet will start to become familiar over the next few days, making it a little easier on the new pet for when they meet. At the same time, you will want to bring an item belonging to the new pet out into the area where the old pet lives so the same process can be done. Introductions At some point, the pets will need to meet each other. This will need to be monitored because there most likely will be some turmoil that both pets will feel. Take your new pet into a room other than the one it was first kept in to make the introductions. That way, you can bring it back to that room if there are problems, making it feel safe. After pets have seen each other, they will most likely seek out each other to have another confrontation. Let the face-to-face confrontations happen several times while monitoring, before allowing the new pet to venture out on its own. Taking Precaution When you have two pets in a home, it is best to make sure that both have been to a veterinarian to make sure there are no diseases that can be spread from one to another. You will also want to talk to your veterinarian (like those at Norwin Veterinary Hospital) about making appointments to have your pets spayed or neutered so you do not end up with any kittens or puppies in the near...
read moreHiking, Your Dog, And Snakes
There are several varieties of poisonous snakes that inhabit the continental United States, and each can pose a threat to you or your dog. If you like to go hiking out in the wilderness with your pet, there are some things you should know. Prevention It may be tempting to let your dog run wild on a secluded trail, but it is rarely ever a good idea. If you want it to have a little leeway, buy a retractable leash. Dogs are curious creatures and like to stand their ground, while barking. With a snake, that’s a recipe for trouble. Not only could your dog be a victim of snake bite, but you could be as well. Don’t let your dog dig under flat rocks, logs, explore holes in the ground, or investigate something hidden in the tall grasses or weeds. If you live in an area with rattlers, it is best to limit your hikes to daytime, since these snakes are mostly nocturnal. Identifying the Snake If your dog is bitten, it would be helpful to your vet if you could identify what type of snake bit your dog. If you heard a rattling sound, it is most likely a rattler. The timber rattlesnake is common in the eastern half of the US, and it can live as far north as the Midwestern states. There are also the diamond back rattlers: an eastern version (the southeastern states), and a western version (California to Arkansas). The copperhead and cottonmouth snakes inhabit the eastern part of the US and also live up north as far as the Midwestern states, like Indiana and Missouri. The copperhead snake can range from tan to copper coloring and has a triangular copper colored head and hourglass markings on its back. The cottonmouth (or water moccasin) is a thick, heavy snake with charcoal, dark olive green, or brown coloring, and the inside of its mouth is light colored. Its venom is much more lethal than the copperhead’s. The colorful coral snake is the most toxic of all the US snakes. It has red, narrow yellow, and black bands and a blunt black snout. There are three similar types, the Eastern, the Western, and the Texas coral snake. Their range goes from North Carolina to Arizona. Pet First Aid If your dog gets loose and gets bit, you will likely find that it will have trouble walking, or it may collapse altogether, since snake venom is a neuro-toxin. Look it over carefully for fang marks — there could be more than one set of wounds. Some snakes have small teeth and the marks may be hard to find. The bite could even be on the dog’s tongue, so it may be missed. If the wounds are on a leg, you should fashion a snug, but not excessively tight, tourniquet or constricting band of some sort above the marks to slow the venom. Do your best to keep your pet calm and quiet. Take your dog immediately to a veterinary hospital, Northwest Animal Hospital And Pet Care Center PC, like for treatment. Emergency Veterinary Treatment Treatment will involve shaving and cleaning the area of the bite. If the animal is having trouble breathing, it will be put on a ventilator. Your pet will also probably need an IV with fluids for a few...
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