Archive for the ‘Dog Clothing’ Category
Pet Emergencies
We never want to think about an emergency situations with our pets. Sometimes it does happen and we need to think clearly. Here are some tips that may help in the event of an emergency.
Excessive bleeding - for external cuts, the owner can apply pressure or a tourniquet to the wound to control bleeding. If the bleeding is the result of a fight with another dog or cat, get the animal’s rabies vaccine history from its owner. Puncture wounds to the chest cavity or abdomen will need to be X-rayed for possible internal injuries. Bleeding from the mouth or anus could be a sign of internal trauma and requires prompt emergency care.
Poisoning - call your vet and or animal poison control at 888-426-4435 and do your best to describe the toxin that your pet ingested. Do not induce vomiting without speaking to the vet first, since caustic materials can cause even more damage coming up. In the ER, animals will be given something to coat their GI tract before vomiting is induced.
Broken limbs - Move the animal as little as possible. Don’t try to stabilize the animal as you may get bitten. Lay a towel over the animal and try to keep is as calm as possible. Take your dog or cat to your vet for x-rays and treatment. Do not administer any pain or pet medication without consulting your vet first.
Choking - If you can see the object in your dog’s throat, you can try sweeping it out with your figures. If the object is lodged deeper down, rush the animal to a care facility.
Allergic reactions - These can be treated by simply giving the pet a dose of regular Benadryl(only as directed by your vet). The reaction can also be extreme, causing your animal to swell up or break out in hives, in which case a vet will likely administer pet medication such as an anti-inflammatory treatment, (steroids).
Trouble breathing or loss of consciousness - Unless you are trained in animal emergency care, it is best not to try to administer CPR to your dog or cat. Instead, get your pet as quickly as possible to the nearest care facility.
Always consult your vet in a pet emergency regarding the proper pet medication to administer.
Your dogs nails are brittle is there a problem and is pet medication needed?
When you groom your dog, pause and take a good look at his paws. Check your dogs’ nails and make sure that they’re not too long and that they are healthy. If his nails are brittle or break frequently for no reason, it’s a good idea to get this checked out by your veterinarian. The problem could be mange, a fungal disease that may be contagious. It could also indicate a nutritional disorder. Some dog breeds such as Rottweilers and Greyhounds are susceptible to an auto immune disease which can cause brittle nails. If left unattended, brittle nails can break and become painful. Take your dog in for a good physical. If necessary, your veterinarian my draw blood or may prescribe some pet medication or supplements.
Why do cats eat plants? You can buy cat grass for them to nibble on.
If you notice your cat nibbling on your plants, don’t get upset. Move the plant out of the cats reach. They do this as a substitute for eating grass which is perfectly natural behavior for cats. Eating grass for them is like taking medication. It induces vomiting. The reason why cats need to regurgitate is to get rid of those nasty hairballs that accumulate in their digestive system because of grooming. Because cats can’t stick their paw down their throat, they instinctively seek out grass and plants. Since they eat anything green, it’s important that they don’t eat toxic plants. You can make sure that your cat doesn’t eat poisonous plants by buying special cat grass sold at pet supply stores. They also like parsley, sage thyme and lavender.
Do not ever hit or punish your cat if he misbehaves. You will only teach him to fear you. You can train your and keep him out of trouble. Since cats hate to be surprised, you can use water bottles, clapping, hissing or some other sound to discourage bad behavior. You must do it as soon as your cat starts this behavior. I usually clap loudly and this usually stops behavior such as scratching in inappropriate places. If your cat bites, try putting the palm of your hand in the cats face and gently push. Accompany this with a “no.”!!!
Make certain behaviors impossible for a cat. Keep food in containers, keep breakable or dangerous items out of reach and make sure that heavy objects are secure on bookshelves or in closets. You may try looking for childproofing objects and think of how to apply them to your cat. If you’re defrosting meat do not leave it on the counter. Put it in the oven or keep it in the refrigerator. You will have the most success training your cat when he’s young. If he behaves well, give him at cat toy or cat treat!
Knowing when it’s time to let go. When pet medication and medical care will no longer work.
I read an article today about someone who had to euthanize her pet because it was suffering from a serious disease and there was nothing more that could be done for it. She is feeling terribly guilty for having to put her beloved cat down. Her cat was about 18 years old and could no longer breath. There was no pet medication that could have helped and the cat would not have lived much longer.
This is one of the hardest decisions that anyone can make but most of us owning pets will have to do it at some point. The lady in the article said that she made a decision to kill a sweet animal that did nothing but love her for 15 years. This is indeed very sad but the vet said that the disease would have caused the cat a horrible natural death. Trying to extend a pets life at this point becomes an act of personal selfishness. I know, I went through it with one of my pets. I did everything to keep my pet rabbit alive even though she was really suffering. At this point, we are only doing this for ourselves.
We love our pets and never want to let them go. Those of us who love our pet companions have to love them all the way and that means we have to be responsible stewards all the way to the end of their lives. If we’ve done everything we could and we are assured that there is no hope, it’s better not to let them suffer and let them go peacefully.
Helping Dogs Warm Up
When walking your dog in the cold winter months, it’s important to keep in mind that dogs are vulnerable to harsh weather conditions just like humans. Dogs have a natural coat of fur that shields them from the elements, but amongst all dogs, only a few breeds like St. Bernards and Huskies were bred to endure the cold. If your dog is not one of the few cold weather breeds, it’s best to cloth them in a fleece dog sweater during the winter. This will add an additional layer to help keep them warm and prevent frostbite and hypothermia.
It’s also a good idea to avoid walking your dogs for too long outdoors, especially if they’re just walking and not running; a dog’s feet can become cold and their vulnerability to frostbite increases.
Rekindling the Puppy Spirit
For the past 10 years my border terrier, aptly named Terry, has been one of my best friends. When he was a puppy, nothing seemed to faze him. He could go for a 10 mile run or stay outside in the winter weather for hours and never miss a beat.
Now that he is getting on in years, Terry has lost much of his puppy-like exuberance. He rarely will go on jogs with me, and constantly shivers and shakes in the house. I recently picked him up a dog sweat shirt, and not only does Terry seem more comfortable, but it also gives him a younger, edgier appearance.
The Functional Side of Canine Clothes
These days it’s not uncommon to walk down the street and see pets adorned in all manner of human clothing. Paris Hilton helped to popularize the trend; her Chihuahua, Tinkerbell, practically served as a fashion accessory in her own right. Hilton would parade around with the dog peering out of a purse or handbag, and it was almost always decked out in miniature pink apparel.
Dog coats aren’t just stylish statements, however – they have a more practical purpose as well. Now that the air has turned chilly and snow will soon be falling in many parts of the country, a puppy parka or rain slicker is an essential part of any walking routine. Even though dogs’ natural fur is usually enough to keep them warm, it doesn’t always cut it in harsh conditions.
Choosing the right cat for you. Cat toys and accessories can come later.
You’ve decided to apopt a cat. Good for you. Which cat is best for you? While you’re at the animal shelter, stroll past all the cages containing cats. you’ll notice that some of the cats will meow at you for special attention while others will just lie there with a sense of superiority about them. There are so many different personalities to choose from and you have to decide which one is best for you. Here are some tips. Look for a cat who’s playful, active and alert. One of the most important things is to make sure that the cat is comfortable being held and stroked. Make sure you ask the advice of a counselor at the shelter. They know the personalites of each cat better than anyone else. Spend some time with several cats and see how they react to you. After you make a choice, make sure the cat that your are going to adopt has received all of it’s shots and was spayed or neutered. Whatever choice you make, you will be giving your new friend a chance at a wonderful new life. Good luck and pamper him with all the cat toys and accessories that you wish!
Cats Can Be Your Best Friends Just Like Dogs - Reward Him for Being there with a new Cat Toy!
Mollie my best friend!
Sometimes when I feel that friends let me down, or I have a bad day, I come home and my two cats are always there. I don’t have to say anything special or put on any kind of act to please them. It’s crazy, but sometimes I feel like I’d rather have my cats around then humans. They don’t require anything except affection and someone who cares about them. Cats are very intuitive creatures. They can sense when something is wrong without me even uttering a sound! I know this because my older cat, Mollie will not let me out of her sight. She will come around and “guard” me wherever I go. Last night, after a particularly rough day, I got up during the night around 2:00am to get a drink of water. There was Mollie sitting right by the side of my bed. Later after tossing and turning, I got up again around 3:00am and there was Mollie, sitting in the same place I saw her the last time I got up. I got up again around 4:15am and guess what? Yes you guessed it, there was Mollie sitting in the same place beside my bed waiting for me to get up. Cats just as well as dogs are your best friends. They are there for you unconditionally. This is truly a gift! I guess I’ll get both of my cats a new cat toy today!