A Kenneling Alternative

exercise

National Pet Week Starts May 1st

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National Pet Week began back in 1981. It is celebrated during the first week of May. The American Veterinarian Medical Association (AVMA) helped create this week that celebrates pets and encourages the best possible care of our companion animals. 

The AVMA  themes each day that you can check out by clicking here.

You probably won’t be surprised by many of the recommendations. But it is always good to see if you can make any improvements. Many of the tips can be applied to the human beings in the household, not just the pet.

For example, the AVMA recommends proper nutrition and exercise for your pet. What better way to improve your own life by being active with your best friend? Finding an exercise routine that both your pet and you can share is an essential joy that has long lasting benefits.

Unsurprisingly, they recommend regular checkups and screenings, particularly as your pet reaches the senior years. Just like humans, the preventive measures you take could extend the quality and longevity of your pet’s life. 

You could also review preparation protocols for travel and review the latest procedures for handling an emergency event. 

Whether you are looking to find a pet or already have one, your veterinarian is a great resource for making sure you understand all the facets required for a healthy, happy pet.

Let us know how you plan to celebrate National Pet Week. 

Walk Your Dog Month Is Here

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January is Walk Your Dog Month. And what better time to get a routine in place that will bring both health and wellness to you and your furry friend?

There are a lot of really good reasons to get out of the house in January. If you’ve made a resolution to be healthier, movement and exercise (no matter the weather conditions), will be paramount. And once you have established a routine, it becomes easier to keep going as the weather improves. 

Here are some benefits to consider: [Read more…] about Walk Your Dog Month Is Here

More Training Options and Online Pack Adventure Walk Scheduling

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Last month we told you about the adventure and educational opportunities Floofins & Co. had added to our service lineup. We are happy to announce that as of December 1st, you can go to the online portal and book your Pack Adventure walk. Walks run every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday morning. And don’t forget that you can book a solo outing, our Adventure Walk option, if your pet is shy and prefers to have a walk with just themselves or their household members.

Pack and Adventure Walks

Remember that Pack Adventure walks are when Floofins & Co. comes to your home, grabs your floofin, takes them to the site of the adventure, walks them, and then returns your tired floofin to your home. It’s 45 minutes of exercise with some friendly floofins companions that each have their own pet care specialist as a handler.

We understand that not everyone needs the same level of pet care service at the moment, so these walks are a great way to keep Floofins & Co. working and get your pet an extended amount of exercise based on their needs. Maybe one adventure a week, maybe three, maybe every other week. You decide. Go online to  book one today!

Training Opportunities

In addition to our Perfect Puppy Prep and Day Training, we’ve added the option of Private Dog Training. Private Dog Training gives you the flexibility to concentrate on anything that you want to work on with your pet. You get to decide what to concentrate on or develop a strategy to address any behavior concerns you might have with a trainer.

To kick off our new Training programs, we are offering 20 percent off all training services through the 20th of March 2021. We are interested in your feedback as we implement these programs. We hope the discount will encourage you to give them a try and take advantage of our introductory pricing through the first day of Spring.

So take a look at the services on our website or reach out to talk to us about what you might want to take part in. We are here to give you all the resources for education and adventure.

New Services, New Adventures

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Everyone is looking for ways to manage life as we are currently experiencing it. Floofins & Co. has options to make things a bit more exciting.

In our expanded lineup, we have added adventure and education for you and your floofins. Let’s talk about adventure first.

Adventure Walks

We are all craving connection. That includes your floofin. Now, you can set up an adventure walk. What does that mean? It means that Floofins & Co. will come to your home, grab your floofin, take them to the site of the adventure, walk them, and then return your tired floofin to your home. It’s 45 minutes of exercise with some friendly floofins companions.

Maybe your floofin isn’t excited about sharing the limelight and just needs the adventure without the pack. Does that mean they can’t participate? Nope. We have a solo adventure walk for just your floofin or just the floofins in your household. So everyone has an opportunity to get out and connect with nature and their floofins pet care specialist. [Read more…] about New Services, New Adventures

Do You Need Pet Insurance For Your Floofin?

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Like people, your faithful pet will most likely need to see a doctor at some point in their life. If you are lucky, it will be for very routine matters. That will make it relatively easy to calculate how much you will likely need to set aside on an annual basis for your pet’s medical expenses.

However, even the most healthy among us can be unexpectedly hit with an unplanned medical emergency that we did not see coming. It could be an accident, a hidden hereditary flaw, or just the realities of a long life and aging.

So, when you consider the cost of having pet insurance against not having pet insurance, how do you decide?

Let me give you an example of a recent experience I had with my senior dog, Ginger.

Senior Pet Experience

When Ginger, who is currently 10 years old and a rescue of unknown origin, began skipping meals (unheard of) and stumbling periodically on walks, I took her to the vet. For roughly $300 I found out that her physical exam and blood work deemed her to be healthy. The stumbling and legs giving out continued.

At the suggestion of a behaviorist that I worked with to transition a new pup into our home, I took Ginger to a specialist to examine her for physical issues that might not have shown up in blood work. This included a gait analysis; telemedicine visit; and a 30 minute in-person evaluation. Total cost: $276. They recommended X-rays of the spine and pelvis. With the X-rays and a pain medication prescription, I chucked nearly $600 on that visit alone.

Final Results

My dog has arthritis and spinal disc disease. I can run her through one month of rehab for nearly $800 that will include exercises, massage, electrical stimulation, etc. While I am still considering that option, I have to say that pet insurance sounds like a pretty good idea right now. I don’t have any for Ginger, but her new roommate – the puppy Jameson – may end up with some type of insurance to avoid this same situation down the road.

I am fortunate to have had an emergency fund saved up that will cover her expenses. Also, I have a credit card that allows zero percent interest on charges at her normal vet’s office (for a certain number of months for charges over a certain dollar amount).

However, I am not the average person. You’ve probably heard the statistics that the average American doesn’t have $500 on hand for an emergency. I don’t have a spouse, children, or other factors that would turn those dollar values into decisions between my pet’s health and feeding my children or making a car payment to get to work. That makes me extremely lucky. I’m fortunate that the pain medication alone seems to have altered the quality of life for Ginger. She is playing and doing things she hasn’t done recently. Will I need to spend additional funds on her down the road? Most likely.

If your pet is healthy and you wondering what choices you would have made if Ginger were your dog, now might be a good time to examine the costs and coverage of a pet insurance policy. September is Pet Insurance Month. I promise I’ll do the same as I consider what is best for my finances and my new puppy.