A Kenneling Alternative
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Maybe your pants have felt a little snug as the pandemic continues. If you’re even putting pants on, that is.
But, what about your pets? Have you noticed them putting on some COVID weight as well?
Chances are that both you and your pet have seen a decrease in the amount of exercise over the last several months, which may account for the uptick on the scale. But as many locations have experienced heat waves and have limited areas to do outdoor activities, what is a person (and pet) to do?
Forbes reports that too little exercise is causing epidemic levels of canine obesity, lethargy and behavioral problems. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reports that one in four dogs is now considered obese. Heart disease and diabetes are spiking upwards in our canine companions as well.
First, as with any good column offering advice, we recommend you consult with your veterinarian first. I was not surprised to find out that my older dog had put on some weight. We both had. What was surprising was that she had gained roughly 13 pounds in less than a year.
WHAT? I exclaimed, baffled, to my pet’s doctor. After some thyroid medication adjustments and a repeat blood test, her weight was holding steady and the answer turned out to be medical.
If, however, your pet has a non-medical reason for weight gain, we offer up the following advice to help curb the gain.
Most entities suggest that you exercise your pet anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour per day. The types of exercise should consider:
A senior may not require high intensity exercise and a puppy may need something vigorous but not taxing on their growing bodies. If you happen to have an adult in good health you’ve hit the sweet spot for exercise.
Another factor to consider are weather related conditions, which make it harder for certain short nose breeds to breathe. And depending on where you workout with your pet, asphalt and concrete temperatures should be considered so as not to damage the pads on your dog’s paws.
As many times as you’ve heard it, we are all in this together. That includes taking the time to make sure both you and your pet find a way to get in enough exercise and the right type. After all, any activity that extends the length and quality of your pet’s life is one worth taking advantage of.
We will see you and your pet outdoors, at a safe distance, soon!