National Pet Dental Health Month

February is National Pet Dental Health Month! It is important to be aware of your pet’s dental health, since gums and teeth that are in tip top shape will prevent your pet from suffering from other serious health risks. Should your pet’s dental health go untreated, your furry friend could have severe internal organ issues which can become very problematic. Keep reading below to find out how you can stay on top of your pet’s dental health!

Brushing Your Cat or Dog’s Teeth:

It may sound silly, but it is just as important to brush your own teeth as it is to brush your four-legged friend’s teeth. You might think it is a difficult task, but in fact, it’s not so hard to do once you get the hang of it. Follow these tips to keep your pet’s teeth and gums healthy and clean.

-       Introduce your dog or cat to pet friendly toothpaste by dabbing some of it onto a treat they are familiar with. If your pet doesn’t have a favorite treat, you can always dab a little of the toothpaste onto your finger and have them sniff it before licking it off. You must do this for a few days before the pet becomes familiar.

-       Once your pet is introduced to the toothpaste, dab a small toothbrush or finger toothbrush with the paste and place it into your pet’s mouth for a few seconds so that they can become familiar with the sensation of the brush.

-       When your pet is comfortable with the sensation of the brush, you can start to slowly brush their teeth starting from the gum line and brushing one tooth at a time.

You should have your pet’s teeth checked at least once a year during their checkup, if you haven’t scheduled a checkup for your cat or dog recently and are due for a visit, be sure to make an appointment soon. If your pet is suffering from bad breath, broken or loose teeth, teeth that are discolored or are covered in tartar you will want to make an appointment so that we can be sure your pet is treated for the problem. Furthermore, if you notice your pet’s eating habits have changed or they are having difficulty chewing, this may be a sign of a dental issue.

Lastly, remember that brushing your pet’s teeth won’t happen overnight – it takes time. After all, they have never had their teeth brushed before so this is unfamiliar to them. If you have better luck brushing for short amounts of time, be sure to focus on the upper and outer molars, as these collect more debris than anything else. If you aren’t sure which toothpaste is best for your pet or you need to make an appointment, give us a call and we’ll be happy to help you!

Keeping Your Pets Warm During Winter

The weather outside sure is frightful! With decreasing temperatures, snow and harsh winds in the atmosphere, we must be mindful of our pets as the weather gets cold- er. Just as we’d advise strongly against leaving your pet in a warm car, cold weather poses just as serious risks to your pet as the risks of increasing temperatures does. A Sphynx cat (obviously) does not have the same coat as a German Shepherd dog. Having said this, you should be mindful that every animal’s cold tolerance will vary. Keep reading for some tips to keep in mind as the weather gets cooler to ensure your furry friends stay safe this Winter season!

Be prepared for the cold: Purchasing a coat that can withstand cooler temperatures and even harsh winds or snow will pay off in the Winter months. If your dog’s fur coat is not protected by the snow or freezing rain by an additional coat you can purchase at a pet store, their fur can get matted and cause their skin to become rough and dry which can cause additional issues. Purchasing a pair of dog booties can significantly help your pet’s paws from becoming blistered, dry or injured on ice or tough snow.

Change your routine: Instead of longer walks, you may want to adjust your routine to include additional walks that are shorter in distance. Older dogs often have difficulty walking in snowy or icy conditions – not to mention it isn’t always the safest for their human parents. Keep in mind that just because your dog has a thick or long coat, they still feel the impacts of cold weather, so shortening their walks is not a bad idea as well.

Put yourself in your pet’s paws: Dogs and cats with diabetes, heart disease, kidney dis- ease, or hormonal imbalances cannot always accurately regulate their body temperature. Because of this, it’s key that you keep in mind what the temperature is outside and ask yourself what you think is in your pet’s best interest. Both dogs and cats are susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia. For cats especially, even if they do go out- doors in other types of weather, it is critical you are mindful of their well being during the cooler temperatures as they cannot always tell what might be too dangerous for them.

Pet proof for winter: You may have had your pet for several Winters, or this might be your first snowfall with your new furry friend. Regardless, be sure to only use a space heater when you’re in the room it is heating. You’d be surprised at how easily pets can knock over space heaters, which can lead to a re. Just like humans, pets get cold and love to snuggle, especially in the winter months. During the day or while you’re not home, pets still want that warmth, so giving them a comfy pet bed to snooze on is a great replacement while you’re out. Additionally, install carbon monoxide detectors throughout your house – they not only protect your pets from lethal chemicals, but they also protect you.

Honk your horn: This sounds silly, but feral cats have been known to make their home within the engine of cars – especially just after it has been running because it’s warm. Obviously, this is very dangerous so be sure to honk your horn so that our feline friends can evacuate before you start on your journey. As always, we are here to answer any questions and suggest that if you haven’t already, give us a call today to schedule your pet’s wellness check-up. Some medical conditions like arthritis are worsened by the cold weather, so in order ensure your pet is as well protected for Winter as possible, it’s best to make sure you understand their health. 

As always, we are here to answer any questions and suggest that if you haven't already, give us a call today to schedule your pet's wellness check-up. Some medical conditions like arthritis are worsened by the cold weather, so in order to ensure your pet is as well protected for Winter as possible, it's best to make sure you understand their health. 

National Train Your Dog Month

 

January is National Train Your Dog Month! Whether you added a furry friend to your family during the holidays or if you have a list of new year’s resolutions you’re hoping to stick to, it’s important to work on your dog’s skills as these improve your pet’s interaction and socialization skills as well as their overall psychological health. Keep reading if you’re in the market for some furry friend themed tips to add to your 2017 list of resolutions!

Benefits of Training Your Dog

You may think training only applies to puppies, but you’d be surprised to hear it applies to dogs of all ages. For adult dogs specially, making the effort to socialize your dog is imperative to their psychological health. Training your dog simple manners for when guests come over, so that they can accompany you on a hike or to an outdoor event improves their quality of life as well as yours. In addition to benefiting your dog, going to class gives you the opportunity to learn how to deal with the common dog behaviors you may not otherwise understand.

Training Tips

1. Start with the favorite or familiar: If your dog already has a favorite behavior that is positive and acceptable, reward it. Creating the understanding that even a minor behavior – such as staying away from the dinner table when the humans are eating, or not barking when people walk through the door, is appreciated, will illustrate to your pet that you value their behavior.

2. Consistency is Key: If there’s more than one person training your dog, be sure you are both on the same page. The worst thing you could do in terms of controlling the training is to not control it. By this, we mean you want to be teaching the trick or behavior to your dog the same way the other person in your household is. If not, you risk confusing your dog and not accomplishing the task at hand.

3. Distraction is Your Biggest Obstacle: Puppies especially get easily distracted. To avoid this, create a routine of putting the toys and other distractions (loud TV’s, kids playing nearby) out of sight. This way your puppy has your full attention and running off isn’t an option. An added tip here would be to train your dog in the same room every time, so that they know when you enter the space it’s not to play or lounge around, and instead they are expecting to focus on you. 

What to Focus on When it Comes to Training

1. Sit and Stay: Perhaps the most common tricks you imagine teaching your four- legged friends when you bring them home, sit and stay are essential to your pet’s safety. The best time to practice learning these skills is in your home, since you do not want to have a test run of these tricks at a busy traffic stop or in a park with other dogs that might distract your animal. When you feel comfortable with your pet’s skills you can slowly venture to traffic stops but be sure to start off on side streets with little traffic. There’s no use in rushing through the training of these or any other skills, since they will have them for life, you want to be sure your dog is grasping what you’re teaching – slow and steady is best.

2. Take Your Dog in the Car: It might sound silly, but getting your dog accustomed to trips in the car will be a crucial trick they’ll need to know their whole lives – plus it will make your trips (whether they be 20 minutes or 2 hours) a lot more enjoyable.

3. Go to Public Places with Your Dog: This might seem like a no-brainer but bringing your dog (when he or she is ready) into populated areas of varying levels is very important. Many stores are dog-friendly and provide you with a great opportunity to practice your dog’s on-leash skills. Additionally, this is a chance for your dog to inter- act with people he or she may not otherwise encounter at home (think small children, groups of people or those in a wheelchair). Teaching obedience in unfamiliar places might be the hardest manner to teach, but it is well worth it as this will essentially prepare them for acting appropriately outside of your home where they’ll meet people and objects they don’t see on a regular basis.

Remember, it isn’t easy to train your furry friend. Don’t become discouraged because you don’t have luck the first time you set out to train them. Skills aren’t learned overnight. Sometimes we get so caught up in how adorable they are that we forget that we also have a responsibility to teach our pets the classic tricks and skills but it is so essential to their well-being – and yours!