training tip of the day!
Are you considering getting a dog, or a puppy? First of all, I always recommend visiting the pound, there are wonderful animals there who need to be rescued into a loving family. Once you have your furry new addition, and you have chosen a healthy dry dog food (see my obesity page for more information regarding food tips), its time to consider training! Potty training can come easily to some pets, and can prove very difficult for others. I recommend starting to train as soon as possible, for both potty training and behavioral training. Positive reinforcement while training is what I recommend; training is not code for torturing your pet!! Also, training your pet to have healthy habits, such as tooth brushing, is great to start as early as possible. By doing this, your pet will be used to having their teeth brushed, and their mouth is free of plaque and gingivitis- and later in life you can avoid paying for a dental for your pet. Also, please PLEASE get your doggie toothpaste/toothbrush from a Veterinarian, or trained professional–people toothpaste is a big nono!!As a vet technician, i saw many cases of older pets with really bad plaque, and their health was weakened because they were constantly swallowing unhealthy bacteria from their own mouths. Had their owners started training with tooth brushing at an early age, or using healthy chews recommended by Veterinarians. I know it sounds odd, brushing your pets teeth, but try it! It can be a fun thing to do with your pet, and will establish a routine that will come in handy to you later in life.
Rainy days…
Are you stuck inside with your hyper pet? It seems like we are definately having some May showers these last few days, which can really take a toll on your pet. Here’s some little tips to help you out…
1) For those of you with clean garages (if you are like me, thats a bit of a stretch), you can take a ball and toss it around with your pet in there. That way, your pet is getting exercise, but isn’t out in the cold rain. You’ll be surprised how much energy can be spent just doing this activity.
2) Giving your pet less treats on these days is also a good idea because they aren’t dispensing as much of their energy as they would be on a sunny day where they can get a walk in, if not a park trip. Treats should be given after a walk or activity, to reinforce that healthy habit.
3) If you have more than one pet, a covered dog run may be in order. I have one for two weimaraners, and there is enough room for them on the side of the house to run around for about 50 feet. This comes in handy on rainy days, because two pets can get to be a handful during bad weather.
I hope these little tips were able to help you! Stay dry!
Memorial day weekend!!
Hey everybody! I love 3 day weekends. Hopefully, the good weather will keep up throughout the weekend, so we can get some walks in with our pets! Some things to watch out for….often, people use fireworks to celebrate the holiday. Unfortunately, as beautiful as they are, they REALLY frighten our pets!! My advice is to keep your pet inside, in a calm, safe environment. (my dog hides under the bed….every year.) Its also important to keep your pets away from the fireworks themselves, just like anybody else. And watch for those visiting family members that love to feed table scraps at the kitchen table-your pet will be uber excited right up until he/she gets sick!! Lastly, just as you put on sunscreen, your pet should get some too! For those pets that have lighter color on their snout and on the tips of their ears, it couldn’t hurt! Ask yourveterinarian for a animal safe sunscreen, or check in your local pet store. I hope you all have a fabulous Memorial Day Weekend with your pet!
Finally, cool weather!
Hey guys!I hope that you and your pet are enjoying this great cool weather!finally!!!…….Coming soon: Dog walking hours will be available in the Modesto/Riverbank/Turlock areas! If you are crazy busy with your job, or your family, hit me up!I will soon be offering consulting for overweight patients, as well as flexible walking hours, 7 days a week!Thanks, and keep posted!
want to contact me? kre47@yahoo.com . I will make sure to check my email daily.
Jail time for owners of morbidly obese pets!
Click on this link to learn more about the individuals who were prosecuted for overfeeding their poor pet!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-419560/The-11-frac12-stone-dog-cruelly-overfed.html
Obesity Statistics:
Did you know?
In the United States, about 40% of dogs - around 17 million - are considered overweight (5 percent to 20 percent over ideal weight) or obese (20 percent or more over ideal weight), according to 2002 data from the American Veterinary Medical Association. Research has showed that obesity in pets can lead to a shortened lifespan as well as affecting the pets health overall. Pets being overweight or obese has been associated with increased risk of serious diseases in dogs such as heart disease, respiratory conditions, arthritis, and cancer. Lastly, obesity can affect your dog’s quality of life by making exercise and play much more difficult. These are frightening statistics, but obesity can be overcome with simple life changes for you and your pet.
Wow, what can I do?
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s quite a challenge for many dog owners to find any time at all to make sure their pets are receiving an adequate amount of exercise coupled with a healthy diet. That is totally understandable! But when obesity gets in the way with your dogs quality of life, which is essential to your pets overall happiness and comfortability, it becomes a problem. As a pet owner myself, I know that it can be difficult and even frustrating to find time to get exercise in for yourself, let alone your pet. And those treat givers, or table scrap givers, often complain that its hard to break that treat giving habit already established with their pet. Routines can be healthy in pets, and substituting healthy treats for the bacon treats, perhaps with something like the CET chews found at any local Vet Hospital, or a healthier treat (some dogs love carrots!its worth a try!) can make all the difference with your pet. Sure, you’ll get some sad puppy faces, but by doing this remind yourself that you are increasing the time you with have with your pet! That is a great motivator.
Another thing to try with your pet is to not have the food available 24 hours a day. They may act like their starving, but the reality of it is that they can get fed once in the morning, and once in the evening and get their entire food intake for that day. When feeding your pet, actually read the label and give the pet the exact amount required for their weight class. You may feel silly using a measuring cup to measure your pets food, but again, a healthier pet is the main goal. Overdoing it with the feeding is always an easy way to increase your pets chances in weight gain; so reign it in, and give your pet only what they need. Also, be sure to be feeding your pet healthy food, such as Science Diet, Eukanuba; your veterinarian may have also suggested actual diet food which can be helpful. I hope these tips are helpful, and as always, feel free to contact me with any additional questions you may have.
