Keep Your Pets Safe on the Fourth!

The following tips are for dog (and cat) owners to prepare for Independence Day:

• If you are going to a fireworks display, leave your dog at home where he will be the most safe and comfortable.
• Always keep proper identification securely fastened to your dog's collar in case he gets out. Talk to your local shelter about implanting a universal microchip in your pet, and make sure that your veterinary clinic and animal shelter have your correct contact information in their database.
• Don't leave your dog outside. A dog's sense of hearing is acute--about four times more sensitive than humans'.
• Create a special den-like area in your home where your dog feels safe. A properly introduced crate or kennel can be a calming refuge for them.
• Some dogs become destructive when frightened. If you don't use a crate, remove any items in the room which your dog could destroy or which could hurt them if they chewed them.
• Keep your dog away from the front and back doors. Your dog may be under significant stress, which could result in unnecessary injury to others or cause them to dart out the door.
• Keep windows and curtains closed to reduce noise and bright flashes.
• Turn on a TV or radio at normal volume to distract your dog from loud noises and help him to relax.
• If possible, stay with your pet during the majority of the fireworks. A dog often reacts more intensely to loud sounds and flashes of lights when you are not with him.
• Consider hiring a pet sitter to stay with your dog while you are away from home.

 

Have a Safe and Happy Fourth of July

Cats vs. Covers

Cats are cover hogs.  They don't take up a lot of room, but they definitely try to hog the covers.

Twink always gets the covers to my left.  She gets them all bunched up and then goes into a coma. 

Lillie-Belle does a sly little crawl, nose first, and worms her way beneath the covers and finds the most uncomfortable (for me) position possible.  And then here comes Big Puck.  It's all over now.  The rest of the posse jostles for position ... someone always has to sleep on my pillow (Little Mess) and someone always wants to sleep on top of where Lillie-Belle has burrowed (Darwin).   

Any attempt to roll over, in fact any attempt to change positions at all, is futile.  Pets in the pits, pets in the knee curves, pets on the sides.

If you want a good night's sleep, don't sleep with cats. Or dogs.  Or cats and dogs.  

And that's Tuesday's Tip.

Pet Photos – Not Just For Christmas Cards

Memories - lovely to have them, but better yet when they're accompanied by photos.

How many of us get that "money shot" of our pets for a Christmas card or screen saver, and then put the camera away?  Once satisfied we have taken the perfect photo, do we take candid photos throughout the year?

We should.  Pets, whether they be dogs, cats, bunnies or snakes, are often here today, gone tomorrow.  We don't like to think about it, but it's true.  Make sure you have lots of photos to remember all your loved ones, in all stages of their lives and in all their goofy glory, whether in the precocious puppy or senior stages of life.

Not long ago a friend lost a beloved elderly pet.  She was surprised to find that, although she thought she took many photos over the years, she actually had few photos and the ones that she had were framed in a Christmas card. 

You don't need an expensive camera - just click away with your cell phone if need be.  Make a cheesy on-line photo album or music video.  There are plenty of free websites (see links below) that let you get creative and celebrate your pet at the same time. 

Memories - have them in your heart - and at your fingertips.

Animoto

Smilebox

Flicker

Picasa

Tips for Taking Your Cat to the Vet

Chances are, you have had occasion to take your cat to the vet, and you have used a cat carrier. And chances are your cat absolutely hated the carrier – and fought as you put her in it. Scratch much? Many cats run for cover the minute the carrier appears …. it terrifies them.

But there are steps you can take to familiarize your cat with the carrier, and even get your cat to  (hopefully) like it a little bit.

Here are a few tips that might make trips to the vet a little less stressful:

1.     Start the carrier training process while your cat is still young.

2.     Keep the carrier out and open so your cat can see that the

        carrier is not scary.

3.     Make the carrier comfy and cozy. Make sure the carrier is the

        right size

4.     Occasionally feed your cat inside the carrier. See if your cat

        will go in voluntarily with a favorite delicious dish.

5.     Practice closing the carrier door and picking up the carrier

        with your cat inside. Practice going outside.

6.     Practice walking with the carrier with your cat inside. Go for

        short walks, and then you can go around the block.

And even if your cat never comes to love the carrier, your cat may come to realize that it's a safe place.   And hopefully, your cat will be less likely to stress out about trips to the vet. 

Tips For Taking Your Cat to the Vet

Senior Comfort

Is there anything sadder than watching closely as one of our beloved animal companions succumbs to the inevitable effects of aging?  I think not.  But since there is nothing we can do to stop time from rolling on (last time I checked the Time Machine was several years off), there is plenty we can do to make our companions' journey less painful and more dignified.

Make sure your pets see a vet regularly, including a senior blood panel, upon having reached the age of seven.  A change in diet or dietary supplements may be necessary. 

Think of what you can do to make your beloved companion more comfortable …  Perhaps more bedding, or stairs to better access the beds and furniture.  Is a ramp for the car necessary?  Would your dog be more comfortable in a padded harness, rather than a collar?

 

Pets can experience mental decline as they age, and this mental decline is not considered a normal part of aging (cognitive dysfunction syndrome, or CDS).  Special diets and supplements can help stave off dementia.  Play mental games with your pet to keep the mind sharp (environmental enrichment).

Of course all of these things will cost money, and money is not easy for a lot of people to come by nowadays.  But every effort should be made.  The Senior Dogs Project contains a lot of useful information.

And most important of all, keep your companion animal at home with you and love them to the very end.  Do not  dump them in a shelter to die on a cold slab of concrete, staring out with vacant eyes, hoping to the very end that you will come back for them. 

And if you can adopt a senior pet from your local shelter, do so!  There are many seniors in need.

Know Your Breed, Indeed!

One of the most important things for anyone who is looking for a new four-legged companion - know your breed!  Yes, everyone wants the pretty dog, the dog with blue eyes, or the dog with the curly coat.  But is it the right dog for you?

Do your research!  Know which dogs fit into your lifestyle.  Do you live in a condo?  Which breed is most adaptable to condo living.  Do you have time to walk a dog, take it to a dog park, make sure it gets regular exercise...

If you desire a dog with long luscious locks, can you afford the necessary grooming?  Will you tire of the required brushing?

Do you love the look of the cute smash face?  Then can you afford the medical bills that may be coming your way?

And especially if you are going to adopt from a shelter, please do your research and know your breeds.  You cannot rely on the shelter staff and volunteers to pick your dog for you. 

The internet is full of sites where you can research dog breeds.  Here are just a few:

American Kennel Club

Dog Breeds

Dog Breed Info

You can also consult a trainer or behavoirist. 

Please do adopt from a shelter or rescue group, and please make sure it is an informed choice for your lifestyle. 

5 Reasons to Take Away Your Pet's Toys

Cats hate change, except when it comes to their toys.  Easily bored, always blase, in order to keep things interesting keep a few toys out but hide the majority.  Rotating the cat (or dog) toys can be a very good thing.  Here are five reasons why:

1. Your pet will think you're the most generous mom ever -- after all, you'll always be providing "new" toys.
2. The toys are less likely to end up forgotten under a couch or in a corner somewhere.
3. The toys will last longer (a bonus for your wallet).
4. Your house will be less cluttered and your pet's bed will have more room for him in it.
5. You can "marinate" the toys in a container with treats or catnip to make them extra appealing when you bring them back out.

After all, how boring it must be to lie around on a bed or floor cluttered with the same old toys.

Games for Pets on Petfinder.com

Tags & Chips

Every pet owner needs to tag and microchip their pets.  There are so many stories of long-lost pets reunited with their owners weeks and even years after going missing thanks to tags and microchips.

New pets should be outfitted with collars and tags immediately.  Pet stores such as Petco have quick and inexpensive kiosks where you can make your essential tags, some are quite cute if you want to pay a little more.

Microchipping can be done at your local shelter or veterinarian's office, and is inexpensive and quick as well.  Most microchips cost between $25 to $40.

You never know what can happen that will separate you from your beloved pet.  If he or she is found by a stranger, if your phone number is easily found on a tag, they can readily call you and your pet is soon home.  If not, a microchip is the next best thing.  And best of all, of course, is if your pet is always safe at home.

Microchips

Avid Microchips

Homeagain Microchips