A Kenneling Alternative

Pet Safety

Hey! Does Your Dog Bite?

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The answer to that question, I’ve learned the hard way, is always yes! Which isn’t to say that our dogs are out to bite down on any human in sight! Rather, it is something to be especially aware of in the age of pandemic pets.

The second week in April is Dog Bite Prevention Week. So, let’s talk about ways to minimize or prevent a bite wound. 

Dogs have a limited number of mechanisms to communicate to humans when they are uncomfortable. Most of their cues are nonverbal and humans aren’t always well versed in the language. Once they move to growling, the typical follow-up (if that doesn’t work) is a snap or lunge or a bite.  [Read more…] about Hey! Does Your Dog Bite?

Pet Hydration Month

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With the heat of summer bearing down upon us, we are all looking for ways to stay cool. Tall cold drinks look especially refreshing. But have you considered whether your pet is properly hydrating with you?

July is Pet Hydration month. It is the perfect time to take a look at how much water your pet is getting in their day and whether it is enough. We all know that the human body is primarily liquid, but did you realize that a pet has a higher percentage of water in its body than we do?

According to Springbook Animal Care Center in Naperville, even mild dehydration can have serious impact on the health and function of your floofin. They recommend that you watch for the following signs that might indicate dehyrdation:

  • Sunken eyes
  • Lethargy
  • Loss of appetite
  • Dry mouth/gums
  • Depression

Make sure to keep your pet’s water bowls cleaned and constantly filled with fresh water. A pet should have approximately one ounce of water per pound. So, my 40 pound dog would need roughly 40 ounces, or 5 glasses, of water per day. 

Be sure to exercise your pet at a slower pace with as much shade and rest breaks as needed. Consider incorporating wet food into their diet as it has a higher water content than kibble. 

Further, remember to keep your birds, reptiles, or other pets out of direct sunlight and to keep them supplied with fresh water at all times. No one wants to make a trip to the emergency room for a case of dehydration. 

Keep yourself and your pet fully hydrated and remember to slow down as the temperatures go up. Episodes of heat stroke can occur in pets just as easily as in humans. Stay safe and drink up!

Pet Fire Safety

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July 15th is Pet Fire Safety Day. While no one wants to consider being caught in a fire emergency, we can all take steps to be prepared. Prevention and planning will go a long way in making sure that your pet doesn’t cause or get caught in a fire situation.

There are several steps that you can take to be ready in case the worst occurs. Three steps that may save your pets’ lives are practicing, preventing, and locating.

Practice

The American Red Cross  recommends that you include your pet in your family evacuation plan. They suggest that not only should you include them in the plan, but you should practice evacuating with them. Call them by name to be sure that they will come to you in an emergency.

Prevent

According to the National Fire Protection Association, approximately 1,000 fires are accidentally started each year by pets.

The American Kennel Club and ADT Security Services suggest the following tips to prevent an accidentally fire:

  • Extinguish open flames
  • Remove stove knobs
  • Use flameless candles
  • Crate young pets

Locate

Finally, be sure to have some type of identification to alert firefighters to the presence of pets in your home. Window clings with the number and type of pets in a front window is a good option. The Red Cross recommends keeping your pets near an entrance when you are gone and also have them collared up and ready to be leashed and led out.

Being prepared in an emergency means thinking through what you need to do and enacting it. Practicing your plan will not only alert you to potential mishaps, but will decrease the amount of time needed to get out. Be ready, be prepared, and be safe.

Lyme in the Time of COVID

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I confess the title is a little bit cheesy and is an English major homage to a famous work of literature, but the topic of Lyme disease is a serious one if you have pets.

As we enter into warmer weather and remain restricted to social distancing protocols, many folks are finding it easier to separate themselves from other people by spending time walking in nature. And what walk is complete without your furry friend? 
[Read more…] about Lyme in the Time of COVID

National Pet ID Week

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Everyone knows they need to keep ID on their pet. But, we all get lax over time. That’s why it is always good to take the opportunity during National Pet ID Week to be sure all of your information is up-to-date and your pet is properly tagged.

Beginning April 17th, Pet ID Week will begin. Most pets, particularly those you may have obtained from a shelter or rescue group, are microchipped. However, one of the things that we tend to forget are updates to our address or phone numbers. 

One of the things that I personally overlooked after my move last year was making sure that my microchip information was current for Ginger. And guess what? It wasn’t. In all the shuffling and moving around, I had forgotten to take care of that detail. 

Even with a microchip, it might not be enough. You never know when a pet could be lost or how far away they might wander. My parents are in a very rural location and each year they see countless dogs wander onto their property. Some have ID tags on and some do not. The pets may be microchipped, but with a veterinarian at least an hour’s drive away, the better option would be to have an ID tag with phone number on it. The dogs that had that were promptly returned. The ones without, they had to take to the shelter. 

Losing a pet is traumatic and can put your family through a great deal of anxiety and grief. Make sure that your pets have legible tags with current information. And check in with your microchip provider to be sure your current phone and address are on file. We hope you never have to use either, but leashes and collars break. Be safe and make sure your pet has the best chance to be reunited with you in the event they become lost.  [Read more…] about National Pet ID Week