Archive for the ‘Pet Health’ Category

24 Apr

Pet Care Tips for Adopting a New Puppy or Kitten

Posted by ahomelikenoother in Cats, Dogs, pet, Pet Health. Tagged: , , , .

Spring is finally here! If you’re like most people, the sudden influx of baby animals has stirred a frenzy within you to scoop up every big-eyed, wobbly-headed little creature in your path. If you’ve contracted cuteness fever this season, just remember that pets are for life, and the animal shelter is always the best place to start your search. With those things in mind, here are some ways to prepare for your new arrival!

1. Make certain you don’t adopt puppies or kittens before they are properly weaned and socialized. Healthypet.com says the optimal period to adopt is 10-16 weeks after birth for kittens and 7-10 weeks for puppies.

2. Keep up on those vaccinations! Kittens and puppies will receive vaccinations every 3-4 weeks until they are at least six months of age, at which point they will start receiving booster shots.

3. Take care to puppy/kitty-proof your home beforehand. Keep toxic plants, chemicals, and any cables out of their reach (see healthypet.com for a list of poisonous plants). To prevent your little adventurer from taking a nasty fall, block off any precarious ledges.

4. Purchase foods that are formulated to meet the developmental needs of kittens and puppies. You can start mixing adult food into their usual blend at about six months of age (or later, for cats).

5. Purina says the key to training a kitten or puppy is mainly to reinforce positive behavior. Ignore or disapprove firmly of bad behavior, but never strike your kitten or puppy.

6. Want to know how to get your kitten or puppy to come when called? Only use its name in pleasurable settings such as meal time. Don’t shout its name to reprimand it, and it will always come running.

When all else fails, and your puppy or kitty is being bad, be sure to have one of the I Love My Pet Plaques on your wall to remind you of all the joy and love that pets give. Each is a striking composite of descriptors that paint life with a kitten or puppy. Each ends with a universal truth: “Loves me no matter what.”

27 Mar

Spring Grooming Tips for Your Pet

Posted by ahomelikenoother in Dogs, Grooming, pet, Pet Furniture Covers, Pet Health, TOC Products, Touch of Class Products. Tagged: , , , , , .

Whether it means fishing winter muck out of the gutters or just finally hefting your Christmas decorations into the garage, spring cleaning is a great way to revitalize your home, syncing your inside world with the freshness of the outside. But did you know that pets need to be spring cleaned too?

Referred to as “blowing the coat,” many pets undergo an intense but completely normal shed as the days grow longer and warmer. Here are some ways to facilitate the process until it’s finally over—and keep your home hair-free in the interim.

1. Shedding is natural, but patchy and excessive hair loss is not. If your pet is scratching or biting aggressively at her coat, get her to a vet to determine the real problem. It could be allergies, stress, fleas, or any other number of things.

2. Grooming should be a year-round occurrence, not just a one-time event to tack onto the spring cleaning list. According to TerrificPets.com, a lack of grooming can lead to mats, which are painful and may cause infection.

3. My Pet Naturally Clean suggests either brushing your pet until the winter coat is completely effaced or bathing first, brushing after, and bathing once more to coax out a stubborn undercoat. Take care not to over-bathe—this can irritate your pet’s skin.

4. Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids can be supplemented into your pet’s diet to create a healthy coat and speed up the shed, suggests TerrificPets.com. A combination of a bristle brush and a slick brush will make quick work of a short-haired dog’s—or cat’s!—coat; use a shedding rake for long-haired dogs.

5. Finally, if your furniture and carpet are to withstand this flurry of fur, you can use a “damp sponge” or “high-density foam” to pick hair up off surfaces. My Pet Naturally Clean praises these mechanisms for being reusable and more effective than costly alternatives.

Cleaning hair off each individual surface can be tedious work, and you no doubt have plenty of other chores on your to-do list. That’s why you should utilize pet accessories like the Microfiber Pet Furniture Cover to keep sofas, chairs, and loveseats hair-and-hassle-free. Pet covers are washable, freeing you to do other things…like finally taking down those Christmas lights.

Pet Sofa Cover Pet Sofa Cover

9 Jan

Pet Vaccinations

Posted by ahomelikenoother in Cats, Dogs, Pet Health. Tagged: , , , , .

More and more, pet vaccinations are being seen as unnecessary. Animals have survived for years without human intervention, so why start now? Aren’t vaccinations just another way to glean money out of owner’s pockets? In these penny-pinching times, these are legitimate concerns. But vaccinating now could mean avoiding costly operations down the road. Moreover, your pet is a domesticated animal, not a feral one, and depends upon you, her human companion, for survival. Here are the basics of feline and canine vaccination (other pets also require vaccinations; consult your veterinarian for a vaccination schedule):

  1. Vaccines introduce a weaker form of a disease into your pet’s immune system, prepping it for stronger forms of the disease it might encounter later.
  2. Side effects are always a possibility but are rarely lethal. Your pet may be experiencing a side effect if he is running a fever, is vomiting, or has diarrhea.
  3. Don’t miss these! “Core” vaccinations are the standard for all cats and dogs.
    Examples: parvovirus vaccine (for dogs), panleukopenia vaccine (for cats)
  4. “Non-core” vaccinations are not always crucial to your pet’s health and can be skipped (just ask your vet first!)
    Examples: Canine Parainfluenza vaccine (for dogs), Bordetella bronciseptica vaccine

Vaccinations aren’t fun for your pet or your wallet, but they go a long way toward keeping her healthy and safe. Check with your vet to see if there are any non-core vaccinations you can shave off the roster. A few less expenses couldn’t be bad for your health either!

19 Jul

Are Fleas Aggravating Your Dog?

Posted by ahomelikenoother in Dogs, Pet Health. Tagged: , .

With summer in full swing, your dog is going to be outside enjoying the weather. Unfortunately, dreaded fleas can put a damper on all that fun time. According to Pet MD, there 10 ways to stop fleas from biting your pooch! These year-round tips can keep your dog from itching and catching serious diseases!

  1. Clear the Yard–Trim your lawn, trees, and bushes on a regular basis.
  2. Flea Traps–You can purchase flea traps, or make homemade versions.
  3. Household Spray & Foggers–These will help keep kill adult fleas, as well as larvae and eggs as they hatch.
  4. Clean House–Clean your house on a regular basis, and if you already have a flea infestation, you will need to clean every day until the fleas are gone.
  5. Powders & Sprays–These are inexpensive ways of repelling fleas, but they need to be applied on a more regular basis than other prevention methods.
  6. Flea Dips–These are used for severe infestations and should not be used on a frequent basis.
  7. Flea Collars–These can be effective if used for the right type of flea. The collar needs to have frequent contact with the dog’s skin.
  8. Flea Shampoo–This is an inexpensive way of protecting your dog year-round, but your dog needs to be bathed every 2 weeks in the shampoo.
  9. Oral Medication–It will work to disrupt the life-cycle of fleas, but does not kill adult fleas on contact.
  10. Spot-On Treatment–This will cover the dog’s entire body, and is effective for several weeks.

28 Jun

Pet Blood Donation

Posted by touchofclasspets in Pet Health. Tagged: , .

Did you know your pet can donate blood to save another pet’s life? Similar to humans, a pet can donate its blood to other pets who have different types of diseases or complications. Most small veterinarian clinics do not offer this service, but large clinics or veterinary schools do. According to PetMD, your pet may be rewarded with free pet food, routine physical examinations, blood work monitoring, and potentially free heartworm preventative. This is a great way to get a “free” routine screening for your pet. However, you may have to commit your pet to donating 4-6 times a year. PetMD contributor, Dr. Justine Lee, has come up with a list for the perfect donor candidate for both dogs and cats.

Perfect Dog Donor:

  • Between 1-7 years of age
  • Good-natured (like greyhounds!)
  • More than 50 pounds (in lean body weight)
  • Healthy
  • Up to date on vaccines
  • Not on any medication (other than flea, tick, and heartworm preventative)
  • Never received a transfusion before

Perfect Cat Donor:

  • Between 2-7 years of age
  • Healthy
  • Current on vaccines
  • More than 10 pounds (in lean body weight!)
  • Not on any medications (other than heartworm, flea, and tick preventative)
  • Indoor only (and that includes all the companion housemate cats, too)
  • Feline leukemia (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) negative
  • Never been previously bred
  • Never been previously transfused

Having your pet be a blood donor can be extremely rewarding and help save the life of someone else’s beloved pet!  

7 Jun

Workout Cool Down for Dogs

Posted by touchofclasspets in Pet Health. Tagged: , , , , , .

An exercise plan for your dog is extremely important.  The plan can consist of a run, a walk, or a game of fetch.  All of these exercises are enjoyable for a dog and also benefit the dog owner.  According to Pet MD, there are a few steps you should take post-workout to cool down and relax your dog.  The steps include the following:

Hydration, Hydration, Hydration: Giving your dog water is critical.  You will need to stop and give your dog water breaks periodically.  Remember not to give it more than it can handle because this will cause an upset stomach.

Cool Down-Toward the end of the exercise regimen, allow your dog to slow down/walk.  This lets its body temperature and heart rate settle back to normal.

Forgo the Food till Later: Feeding your dog right before a workout can cause digestive issues.  You also need to wait until it is rehydrated & cooled down after a workout to feed your dog its normal meal.

Body Check: Check for ticks, or other foreign object on your pet.  Make sure to check inside its ears, in between skin folds, on its belly, and anywhere else little critters can hide.

Foot Care: Pets are constantly on their feet, and they need to be given special care.  If you see anything out of the ordinary, please consult a veterinarian.

These tips will help your pet cool down more quickly and safely after its workouts!

Courtesy of Pet MD

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