|
Essential Oil Before using oils, herbs, or supplements on your dog, make sure to consult with your veterinarian to ensure proper dosage amounts, proper usage, & correct oils to use to keep your pet safe. Also keep in mind that essential oils can be toxic if ingested, particularly for cats. If you are interested in learning more about essential oils & perhaps integrating it into your life, I have attached 2 great resources for you. Since essential oils is a very large field to discuss, & too large of a topic to discuss in detail here, I have included a great book below if interested & also the notes from an online class in a word document to read over if interested. Do not apply essential oils directly to your pet unless you have first spoken to your veterinarian & keep them in a location where your pet cannot access them. 
**Picture is a link for purchase if desired**  Music The next time your pup starts to pant and pace during a thunderstorm or you have to leave for a day & you know separation anxiety is about to ensue, consider turning on some music. Reggae and soft rock aren’t the only genres that can encourage your pooch to relax. Classical music like Mozart and Beethoven has also been shown to reduce stress in dogs, and even encourage them to bark less. The one thing noted about classical music in studies done is after a week or so of listening to classical music, the animals resumed more stress related behavior as they habituated to the music. If you decide to play classical for your pets, consider changing up your playlist every once in a while to avoid this. Compression Wraps Those Thundershirts might make you pup look funny, but they really can make a difference. (And not just during thunderstorms or fireworks.) The wraps work by swaddling your dog and applying gentle, continuous pressure. Think of it similar to swaddling a baby & how that method quickly can calm an infant down. The main manufacturer of compression wraps for dogs is Thundershirt. They have recently expanded their line to include compression wraps for cats as well. I have included a video of theirs below as well as cat & dog wraps available. As with everything there are a variety of options available to you for purchase so make sure you do your research on reviews prior to purchasing. **Pictures are links for purchase if desired**
As always, PLEASE do your own research prior to deciding to purchase or try any of the following methods. Each pet is different & has different needs. If ever in doubt, CONTACT YOUR VETERINARIAN FOR ADVICE. Thank you guys for joining me this month for Lost Pet Prevention month. Keep your furry kids safe!!
I,f you have ever experienced anxiety, you know that stress, anxiety, & the emotions that come along with that can quickly become overwhelming...even debilitating at times. Unfortunately, it’s not unusual for pets to also experience anxiety & just as with humans, there are varying degrees and manifestations of this emotion. It can be extremely difficult for you as a pet parent to watch your beloved pet suffer from anxiety. Over the next 2 weeks, I will be discussing a variety of ways to help soothe & decrease stress in your home & also in different stressful events such as fireworks or when company comes over.  As always, PLEASE do your own research prior to deciding to purchase or try any of the following methods. Each pet is different & has different needs. If ever in doubt, CONTACT YOUR VETERINARIAN FOR ADVICE. Set Up A Routine Having a predictable daily routine that helps your dog anticipate when he’ll get to eat, go outside, & spend time playing with you could help him feel more confident and less nervous. That’s especially true if their stress seems to stem from separation anxiety. Get your family together to come up with a daily routine that works best. Try & include a morning activity, such as a walk or 10 minutes of playing with a tennis ball before work along with another active session once you get home. This helps release energy & can help relax pets prior to being left while you head to work & also helps release energy when you come home in a constructive manner instead of destroying furniture or your home like we can see sometimes with stressed or anxious pets. Set up a "safe space" If your pet tends to be nervous around strangers or new people in your home, or struggles with loud noises like thunderstorms or fireworks, setting up a safe area in the home may be a great option. It can be something as simple as a crate or room in a quiet and dimly lit part of the home where guests do not go into. There are also sound proof kennels that are made specifically for our more anxious furry friends. I have found some & included them below. **Photos are links for purchase if desired**
Pheromone Products Calming pheromone products are available for both dogs and cats in the form of plug-in diffusers, sprays, wipes, and collars. Dog appeasing pheromone contains a version of the hormone nursing mothers produce to calm their puppies while feline facial hormones are secreted by cats when they are greeting one another in a friendly manner and marking their home environment. The pheromone products take these calming hormones in a variety of form to help create a less stressful situation, similar to the relaxation feeling we get with lavender or mint. Whatever product you elect to use in your home pheromone products are a cheaper, less invasive route to start with if you have an anxious pet. These are also great products to try if your pet is inappropriately marking in your house. Cats Pheromone Products **Photos are links for purchase if desired**
Dog Pheromone Products **Photos are links for purchase if desired**
 Massage & Acupunture Anything that makes the body work better will make the brain work better. Some locations on a dog’s or cat’s body like the feet, ears, & the top of the head are natural pressure points where as little as 15 minutes of massage will make a world of difference for your pet’s stress level. This can be a sensitive type of stress relief depending on your pet's behavior or disposition so I have included a beginner video below to consult if you are interested in pursuing this type of natural remedy. PLEASE do your own research prior to deciding to purchase or try any of the following methods. Each pet is different & has different needs. If ever in doubt, CONTACT YOUR VETERINARIAN FOR ADVICE. Stay tuned next week Monday for part II of Keeping Your Pet Calm (Natural Remedies). I will be covering 3 more methods to help keep your pet's anxiety down.
Have you ever seen a dog or cat running loose on a busy street & feared for its safety? You may have tried to get it out of harm’s way or you may have wanted to, but weren’t sure how. Here are some tips that can help next time you see a lost pet. I also strongly suggest keeping a slip lead along with treats & water in your car at all times in case you do run across a loose pet. Catch it If you see a stray cat or dog, try to capture & contain the animal if circumstances permit. Always approach stray animals slowly and cautiously while speaking in a calm, gentle voice. You can also use food to coax a frightened animal into approaching you. Ideally, dogs should be secured using a leash or contained in a fenced yard. A belt or piece of rope can be used as a slip lead in an emergency, but keep in mind that these items are not appropriate as a routine means of controlling a dog. Most cats do not like to be held for any length of time, so stray kitties are best confined inside a cat carrier, or in secure box (with air holes). Never put yourself in danger trying to catch a stray. Call authorities if the situation brings danger to yourself & stay on scene until help arrives. Provide basic care Offer water & food if you have appropriate pet food on hand. Keep any stray/lost animal out of direct heat/sun. If you are outside, find a tree or somewhere shaded to help keep the animal cool. Never keep an animal in a car when its hot! Check for ID Check if the pet has a collar with tags. If the pet as an ID tag, call the number on it if available. Rabies tags will have the vet name on it. Contact the vet if possible & they can look up the owner with the rabies tag number. Check for microchip if no ID on animal All vets, clinics, & rescues have microchip scanners on site. Find the nearest one & have them scan for a microchip. If there is one present, they will assist you in finding the owner's information. Take pet to local animal shelter If you are comfortable keeping the animal in your home while you search for the owner you can, or all shelters have lost/found centers where you can bring found pets. Make sure to provide the shelter with as much information as you can about where you found the pet. Use social media Create a found post & upload to a variety of social media lost/found pet sites. Always include contact information if you are keeping the animal with you, or provide the contact information & name of the shelter if you dropped the found pet off at a rescue or shelter.  If your beloved dog or cat strays from home, it can be a traumatic experience for both of you. Time & speed is key to a quick recovery of your pet to return them safely home. Feel free to review the following steps to help create a plan for your family. Having a plan already in place for a situation like this increases the chances of a reunion with your pet. Contact local shelters & vet clinics File a missing animal report with all shelters, rescues, & vets within a 20 mile radius of your home as quickly as possible. Provide them with an accurate description or photo of your pet along with a good contact name & number to reach you. If you believe your pet has been stolen, you need to be in contact with your local police department as well. Search your neighborhood & let your neighbors know your pet is missing Walk or drive through your neighborhood several times each day. Ask neighbors, letter carriers & any delivery staff if they have seen your pet. Hand out a recent photograph of your pet and information on how you can be reached if your pet is found. Use social media There are a ton of pet recovery website & Facebook pages. Make sure you are regularly checking found pet sites as well as posting your missing pet posts. Be wary of pet recovery scams If someone contacts you claiming to have your pet, make sure they provide you with an accurate description & picture of your pet. This is especially important if someone is requesting your provide reward money in exchange for their return or if you have offered a reward for finding them. Never give up Can you believe it's July already?!? July is National Lost Pet Prevention month. This month I will be focusing the majority of the month about different aspects of keeping your pet safe. Our first article covers micro chipping which is safe & very effective way to be able to help your pet be returned home safely if they run away. A microchip is your pet's ticket home. Does your pet have theirs?  A microchip for your pet can mean the difference between lost and found. Although tags and collars are important, they can tear or slip off. With microchipping, a veterinarian injects a tiny computer chip, about the size of a grain of rice, just under your pet’s skin, between the shoulder blades. The microchip number is entered into an international database, which can be read by a microchip scanner if your pet is lost and picked up by a veterinary hospital or humane society. If your contact information is up-to-date, the hospital or humane society that found your pet can contact you and reunite you with your pet. What is a microchip? How does it work? A microchip is a computer chip enclosed in a small glass cylinder (about the size of a grain of rice) that is injected under your pet’s skin as a means of identification. Each microchip is connected to an online registry with the owner's contact information. In the event that your pet is lost & taken to a shelter or veterinary hospital, he/she will be scanned for a microchip. If the contact information on file is up to date, you can be quickly notified and reunited with your pet. What information of mine is needed for a microchip? Do I need to be concerned about privacy? The only information that will be accessible from your pet’s microchip is the contact information you provide to the manufacturer’s microchip registry, such as your name & a good phone contact number. Most micro chipping registration also has space to add a secondary contact person in the event that you cannot be reached. This information will only be used to contact you in the event that your pet is found and their microchip is scanned. Any other personal information, including your pet’s health record or other medical information, will not be included. Can cats get microchipped? Do they need a microchip?  Cats are excellent escape artists. Even if you keep your cat safe indoors, there’s always a chance that they could escape through a door left ajar by a guest or repair person, or through a window with a loose screen. Since there’s always a chance your cat could get out, it’s best to make sure they are microchipped. Do microchips wear out or need to be replaced? Microchips do not wear out, as they do not have batteries or moving parts. The chip is activated by radiowaves emitted by the scanner as it is passed over the implantation site. They also never need to be replaced & will last the entire life of your pet. Do microchips have any side effects? According to a database maintained by the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA), over 4 million animals have been microchipped since 1996. Of those 4 million animals, only 391 have had adverse reactions. The most common problem reported is migration of the microchip from its original implantation site. **AAHA site on microchipping** Hopefully this article as helped provide more information about microchipping, the process, & benefits. It's a simple service for your vet to provide that has lasting benefits to protect your pet & bring them home safe to your family.  |
Archives
December 2018
Kasey Kent
|
||||||||||||
RSS Feed