Labor Day Weekend BBQ Guidelines for Furry Friends!

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

Labor Day weekend is here. The summer has come and gone quickly as it usually does. However, there is one weekend left to celebrate another great summer.

Labor Day weekend is one of the most popular weekends of the year for barbeques and picnics!  It is more than likely that you and your family will either be attending a Labor Day BBQ or hosting one. The extended weekend gives families and friends one last opportunity to enjoy the hot sunny days and breezy nights, while making new memories and traditions.

As much fun as barbeques and picnics can be for your family and friends, they can be a dangerous time for pets. Barbeques can be dangerous for your furry friends because they pick up any food scraps they can get their hands on that have been dropped by guests!

Here is a list of common household food items that your pets should be sure to avoid:

• Alcoholic beverages

• Avocados

• Bones (Raw or cooked)

• Chocolate

• Coffee  or any other type of caffeine)

• Garlic

• Macadamia Nus

• Moldy or Spoiled Foods

• Onions

• Onion Powder

• Chives

• Raisins

• Grapes

• Salt

• Yeast Dough

• Tomatoes

• Milk and Dairy Products

• Candy and Gum

• Raw Eggs

• Tuna

If you think you will have any of these foods/ingredients at your Labor Day BBQ, be sure to keep your pets safe from the party area. Many of these food items can cause your pets to become ill. Also, be sure that everything you’re serving at the party is kept out of your pets reach. It’s good idea to advise your guests to throw all plates away and not leave any food lying around!

If you find that your pet is ill from consuming a dangerous type of food this weekend, call The Bregman Veterinary Group immediately!

Today is National Dog Day!

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

Today is National Dog Day! Are you a dog owner? How will you celebrate your furry friends today?

August 26^th marks the official date of National Dog Day, also known as International Dog Day or National Dog Appreciation Day. This is the perfect time to show your pets a little extra love and affection!

If you’re looking for ways you can celebrate National Dog Day, we’ve got you covered. Here is a list of 50 Ways to Celebrate National Dog Day, courtesy of www.NationalDogDay.com.

Let us know how you’ll be celebrating National Dog Day on our Facebook page.

Interested in Teaching Your Pet New Tricks?

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com



Are you tired of teaching your dog the same old boring tricks like sit and give paw? Dogs can be very intelligent, and with the proper training, they can be taught many of the same things that humans can do.  An article on sheknows.com has outlined a few tips on how to teach your furry friend some new and unusual tricks!

Have you ever seen the videos of dogs hopping on skateboards and going for a ride and wished your pup could do it too?  Well this is not an easy trick to learn, but can definitely be taught by taking small steps.  The first thing you want to do is get your dog used to the skateboard by making it stable.  You can use beanbags, weights or even remove the wheels.  Feed him a treat every time he puts a paw on the board to reinforce that this is positive behavior.  Once he become a bit more comfortable you can begin to manually put his paws on the board and eventually get his entire body on it, still giving him positive praise and treats whenever he interacts with the skateboard.  Once he seems secure on his new toy, start to get him moving with small pushes and tugs.  Eventually your pup will be flying around on his skateboard having a great time. 

For more tips on how to teach your dog other unusual tricks like opening and closing doors, salute, shoot hoops and more, click here!

Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter to receive more tips like this & much more! You can also visit us online at www.BregmanVetGroup.com.

Is Your Pet Overweight? Try a Pet Treadmill!

 THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

Whether a pet is overweight, injured or just lacks exercise, taking them on a walk or letting them roam outside is pointless. If your pet doesn't enjoy getting exercise on its own, it should be forced to work out to stay healthy, and that’s what the pet treadmill offers.

Veterinarians are now using a special water treadmill to help cats and dogs rehabilitate and get them back to their proper health. Brittney Barton, a veterinarian who is working on this project states: “It’s kind of like a Cadillac. It’s a very specialized piece of equipment, so it has a very long bed treadmill. We can adjust the speed. We can even kind of mix it up a bit and put some exercise balls in and do some specialized exercises.”

During these sessions, patients can spend anywhere from fifteen to forty minutes on the treadmill, all depending on the health of the pet.

The treadmill seems to be working with most patients; mostly every pet that has been exercising on this treadmill has been getting stronger and fit. One of the patients, “Skinny the cat”, was rescued last year weighing 41 pounds, and since using the treadmill he has shed over 10 pounds of fat!

For more information on how to give your pet a healthy lifestyle, please visit our Facebook page or call any of the Bregman Veterinary Group locations. 

Today is National Check the Chip Day!

 THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

Today is Check the Chip Day, a nationwide event concerning lost or stolen pets. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has teamed up with the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) to make sure that your pets are microchipped and that the registration information is up to date. 

Your pet is a special part of your family. So, the best way to ensure your pet can be found safe if he/she is lost or stolen is a properly registered microchip. 

AVMA wants to remind pet owners this August to renew any information that may have changed on your pet's microchip.

If your pet doesn't have microchip, it's not too late! Make an appointment at any one of the Bregman Veterinary Group locations to ensure your pet will always return home safely to you. 

For more information on National Check the Chip Day, please CLICK HERE.

Have You Heard of Pet Flipping?

 THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

Police fear a new heartless crime is growing throughout the United States. The crime is known as pet flipping. Criminals are continuing to find lost dogs, and instead of returning them to their owners, they are selling these pets for a profit.

One incident occurred in Indianapolis this summer. Leisa Waggoner's dog Rosie, a schnauzer, got lost on the streets of Indianapolis. Desperate, Waggoner posted flyers all over the neighborhood. When she went to a lost dog website the next day, she got great news, Rosie had been found. But there was a twist, a con artist, posing as Rosie's owner, had already claimed the dog off the website. The con artist claimed the dog and listed her on Craiglists for $50.

In Indianapolis, there were 10 such cases of “pet flipping”alone this year. Police say these crooks can make anywhere from $50 to $1000 on any lost pet, it all depends on the breed.

Although it’s a growing problem, pet flipping can be avoided. Never leave your pet unattended for in the front and backyard. If your pet does end up missing, check the pet’s section of Craigslist in your area to see if anyone is trying to sell the same breed. The best way to limit this issue is to get your pet micro chipped.  Micro chipping can help identify a pet and return it to its rightful owner.

For more information on pet flipping and tips to keep your pet safe, visit our website at Bregman Vet Group. Also, if you’re interested in micro chipping your pet, please call any one of the Bregman Veterinary Group locations. 

Would You Bring Your Pet to a Pet Psychic?

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

Recently, ABC News interviewed Melissa Bacelar, an actress turned pet psychic.

Bacelar owns seven dogs and three rabbits and uses her psychic abilities to not only communicate with her pets, but the pets of others as well. Thanks to her telepathic abilities, she is able to understand what the animal is feeling based on messages they send through.

Bacelar couldn't ignore her strong connection to animals so she started taking classes to concentrate more on using her psychic ability properly.

Although dog whispering is Bacelar’s strong point, she holds sessions with both her clients and their pets to help the pair communicate and understand each other better.

While some may not believe her ability, Bacelar's clients know she is capable of communicating with pets because she verifies something only the pet and owner will know.

To read the full article on Melissa Bacelar’s psychic abilities please CLICK HERE

Bregman Veterinary Group wants to keep your pets happy also. For more information on proper care for your pets, please visit us on the web. 

Vacation Tips for Pet Owners

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

As we all know, vacations are costly. If you have pets, housing your pets in pet hotels while you’re vacationing can really add up. The Mineola Patch offers different alternatives to keep your pets entertained, fed and happy while you’re away.

Nation-wide chain pet hotels are not expensive as the super luxury pet hotels but both can put a dent in your wallet. Mineola Patch interviewed Jacqui Linder who owns a dog and a few tropical fish.

Linder says the smartest and least expensive way to make sure your pets are fed while you’re on vacation is to ask trustful neighbors to help out.

There are a few tips Linder gives to make sure both your neighbor and pet are satisfied:

• It is important that you trust your neighbor not only tending to your pets but also being in your home.
• Make sure your neighbors are not allergic to your pets.
• Sometimes pets can be too difficult to care fore. More exotic animals tend to have more needs, which should be best left to a professional.
• Make sure your neighbor is well prepared and trained to take care of your pets. If your pet needs medication show your neighbor the best way to give the medicine.

Other options include keeping your pets at your local vets.

Bregman Veterinary Group provides great medical and boarding services for your pets. For more information please visit www.bregmanvetgroup.com

To read more on Linder’s tips please CLICK HERE

Here's To You, Bonnie.

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

We recently received this letter from a client that we wanted to share. Notes like this are what makes what we do worthwhile. Thank you to Gerry and Bob Durso for your kind words. 

Dear Doctor Bregman and Staff of the Cat Hospital,

Just wanted to let you know how grateful we are to have had your expertise in extending Bonnie's life.

In 2002, after she recovered from kidney failure, you said that it would be impossible to predict how much longer she would live.  The eleven additional years we had her with us were quite a bonus.

Bonnie was the sweetest cat, the most patient and the most eager to do what was needed. Though she did have a good bit of mischief in her when she was young, there was no meanness or anger in her.  She was the compromiser in our group, always waiting for the food or water dish until someone else was finished. She loved snuggling and sleeping on our stomachs and/or chests, and her mastery of the English language, especially the word :"Hello" is something we will never forget.  Wish we could hear her once more from the top of the basement stairs as she tried to gain entry to the family room for some snuggling and treats.

As you can probably tell, we already miss her terribly, but we are grateful for the extra time we had with her which you made possible.

Also, thanks for the beautiful flowers.  Like Bonnie, they are bright and cheerful.

Gerry and Bob Durso