When your Dog Needs to Gain Weight

We've just encountered a problem new to us...certainly not one I, myself, have ever dealt with. Ike is a dog who is too skinny. He's a smaller-size golden retriever to begin with-- when we adopted Ike he was 57lbs.

But recently, we'd been thinking Ike looked like he'd lost weight...he looked too skinny. We could feel his ribs and spine easily. So we took him to the vet's today.  And that's when we discovered that he's lost 4 lbs since we got him a month and a half ago.

So we need to work to help him gain weight. He presently gets 4 cups of good quality food--up from the 2 cups/day we started out giving him. We are going to look into different food that may have more calories.

After blood tests, fecal tests, etc there were no parasites found or other factors known that might contribute to the weight loss, except for mild anemia.
One other thing, he has a slow heart rate, but we don't know enough about that yet and he'll be getting more testing.
Lots of hugs for Ike!

Have you had to help a dog gain weight? What worked for you?
Has your dog every been diagnosed with a slow heart rate?
How do you handle the stress/worry when your dog has health issues?

Want more positive pet tips, good news, and special offers? Fetch my free newsletter, Pawsitively Pets. Kelly and Ike hope to see you there!

 

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Taking the Stress out of Vet Visits

Just as we may sometimes be nervous about visiting the doctor, your pet may feel a little apprehensive about a visit to the vet’s office. In choosing a vet that you are comfortable with, you can feel confident in your pet’s comfort, too. When it comes time to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian, there are additional steps you can take to help make the experience a positive one right from the start.

The first step to an easy vet visit is to make your pet comfortable before going anywhere near the office. Animal Planet’s Pets 101 blog suggests developing a calm pre-vet routine, which includes regular at-home check ups to get them used to being handled, practice trips in the car or carrier and plenty of love and affection.

The journey itself can be stressful especially for cats, who often see the car as an unpredictable and unfamiliar place. Try taking them out for short drives around the block, and work your way up to longer trips or even an unscheduled visit to your vet just to say hello to some staff. As the anxiety of uncertainty lessens, so will your cat’s overall concern for car trips.

For dogs, the car trip may be a piece of cake… that is until you pull into the vet’s parking lot. So why not make the vet a place where your dog can have some fun? Pet Trainer Victoria Stilwell of Animal Planet’s It’s Me or the Dog suggests that you spend some time playing with your pet upon arrival, perhaps outside the building, so they can come to associate the vet’s office as a place where fun things happen, too!

Once you’ve entered the lobby, you and your pet might encounter other pets and their waiting humans. It’s important first for you to remain calm, as your pet will feed off your emotions. Although it is impossible to predict who or what you will encounter in a waiting area, you can request to schedule an appointment at your vet’s least busy times to help minimize exposure. While you’re waiting, talk to your pet in a calm voice to help keep them relaxed and focused on you. For a dog, you might also consider bringing a small towel or yoga mat from home for them to sit on, so they have their own familiar-smelling space in which to wait.

Remember, most vets will take the time to break the ice a bit with your pet once the visit begins. A few minutes of casual interaction will make your pet more at ease, as will the continued presence of a towel or toy that they are familiar with. Don’t be afraid to ask your vet for additional recommendations if you feel concerned for your cat or dog’s comfort. Preparation and open communication can lead to a healthy, happy relationship between you, your vet, and your pet.

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What’s Your Pet Thinking? Pet Psychics Aim to Provide Answers

It happens to every pet owner. Your dog pulled the curtains off the window, your cat won’t come out from under the couch, or your new puppy has a thing for eating bugs. All that crazy pet behavior leaves you looking into their innocent eyes and asking yourself, “What on earth are they thinking?”

According to today’s Pet Psychics, we just might be able to find out.

Heidi Schulman is a part of the growing profession of pet psychics, people who work to bring pet owners closer to their animals by communicating directly with their pets. Whether or not this telepathic communication can deliver real answers is a matter of opinion and belief, but the prospect of gaining insight into your pet’s psyche is certainly tempting for many pet owners.

A recent Huffington Post “Weird News” article on the subject explained that for Schulman, the inspiration began with her rescue dog, Bosco. She said that she could sense a nonverbal communication between herself and her dog, and found herself wondering what he would say if he could talk. The result was “The Original Dog Tarot: Divine the Canine Mind,” a guidebook and series of 30 tarot cards for helping pet owners communicate with their dogs.

Pet psychics throughout the country describe their abilities in many different ways, from tarot card readings to, as “The Secret Language of Dogs” author Jocelyn Kessler says, communicating energetically with the canine or feline mind. Sonya Fitzpatrick, another pet psychic who hosts a popular radio show on Sirius XM, says that clients can call for telephone consultations or even reach out to her for help finding a lost pet.

Like many psychic professions, this one has its skeptics. Veterinarian Jeff Nichol, referenced in a Washington Post story on pet psychics, warns against turning to nontraditional methods for treating your pet’s behavior or health problems. 

But what about just for fun? Would you try a tarot reading or pet psychic with your pet? 

We can’t claim to read a dog’s mind, but we can advise pet owners on how to read the nonverbal signals your dog displays. Keep reading “If They Could Talk” for weekly tips on working with your pet, and feel free to explore our previous posts for advice on reading dog body language. 

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Banish the Bites - Tick and Cicada Pet Safety

People and pets alike are all through the roof about the nice weather, but with warmth comes many tiny bugs that can lead to not-so-tiny problems. According to the Montefiore Medical Center in New York, more than 90 percent of Lyme disease cases from tick bites are reported in just ten northeastern states. New Jersey falls in the top half of this list, and tick numbers are expected to hit extreme highs this summer in our state. For a month or more this summer, we can also expect cicadas, allegedly harmless bugs that can actually pose a threat to our pets. What can you do to help protect your pooch?

Dogs are extremely susceptible to tick bites and the resulting illnesses, including Lyme disease. If tick bites are hard to spot on humans, finding out if your dog has been bitten is even more difficult. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that signs of tick-borne illness may not manifest for 7-21 days or more after your dog is bitten. Even then these signs, which include change in behavior or appetite, can be very subtle. The best thing you can do for your dog is to take preventive measures to avoid ticks and tick bites.

The CDC suggests that in order to reduce the chances that your pet will be exposed to ticks and tick-borne diseases, you should:

• Check your pet daily for ticks, especially after spending time outdoors.

• If you do find a tick on your dog, remove it immediately. For tips on how to properly remove a tick that may already be attached to the skin, you can read step by step instructions at the Lyme Research Alliance website or treatthebite.com. 

• Reduce tick habitat in your yard by trimming tall grasses and brush, mowing your lawn regularly and treating with pesticides.

• Have your groomer do a thorough tick check during routine grooming appointments. To schedule your pet for a full groom, call us at Morris Animal Inn at 973-539-0377.

• Most importantly: talk with your veterinarian. Have your vet conduct a tick check every time your pet has an exam, ask about common tick diseases in your area, and talk about tick preventatives for your pet.

The best method of preventing Lyme and other tick related diseases is to prevent the ticks themselves. A pesticide product that will kill ticks that attach to your dog is an important step towards giving your pet the proper protection. Protecting your dog will help keep you and your family safe as well; though you cannot catch Lyme disease from your dog, ticks that attach to your pet and are then carried into your home can put you at risk. Speak with your vet about finding the right product.

But what about those pesky cicadas? These underground nymphs emerge sometimes as infrequently as once every 17 years, and though they will not bite or sting your pet, they may prove dangerous if your pet decides to do the biting. Cicadas will shed their shells, an exoskeleton that can look like a crunchy treat to dogs, but these shells are not digestible.

The Humane Society warns that though cicadas and their shells may be appealing to pets, ingesting too many can cause vomiting, choking or even an allergic reaction. It’s best to watch your dog while outdoors for signs of interest in these bugs, and prevent your pet from munching on them whenever possible. If your dog shows adverse reactions after eating cicadas, consult your vet for proper treatment.

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What to Look for before Leaving your Pet with a Pet Sitter or Lodging Facility

As you plan for your getaway, deciding where your pet will stay is something that should give you peace of mind. The Humane Society writes an informative article about what to consider before choosing your pet's lodging accommodations. Some of their tips mentioned:

•  To have your pets stay where they receive more attention and supervision than if home alone most of the day.
• To find out if the facility requires pets to be current on their vaccinations - including the vaccine for canine cough - this will protect your furry family member from others.

Other important questions to ask before boarding your pet with a pet sitter or lodging facility:

1. Will pets be monitored by trained staff?
2. Are veterinary services available if needed? What are they?
3. Are they veterinarian recommended?
4. Are cats housed away from the dogs?
5. Does the facility look and smell clean?
6. Are other services offered such as training, bathing and grooming?
7. How many years have they been in business?

These are just a few items to consider before choosing a lodging facility. At Morris Animal Inn, we welcome you to ask these questions and more in order to feel comfortable leaving your pet with us. We want to be your pet's home away from home. Please stop in for a tour to see for yourself.  

Source: Humane Society of the United States (http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/choosing_boarding_kennel.html)

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Pet-Friendly Technology

These days, it seems there is an app for EVERYTHING. From apps to help you go green to those addicting games you just can't put down, your smart phone can access information beyond your wildest dreams. It would be pretty impossible to not find an app for whatever it is you are looking for. Fido may begin to feel jealous because he can't play Fruit Ninja on your iPad or send you a text when he's hungry. Well have no fear pet owners, because we found nine apps specifically made for you and your pet!

1. PetMinder

With play dates, vet appointments and of course, Morris Animal Inn Daycare parties, Fido's schedule is pretty packed. With the PetMinder app, you can organize your pup's busy schedule by placing these events into a calender. You receive an email as a reminder prior to the playdate/appointment. It's a great way to keep track of vaccinations and your pup's social engagements.

2. All Pets Radio Player

This radio station allows for all day listening of pet news, facts and stories and more! This app allows you to be 'in the know' of all thing pet-related all the time.

3. Spotlight

This tool is great for those times Fido is a little better at hide and seek than you are! His location is updated every five minutes so you can find him wherever he goes!

4. Pet Acoustics

Does your furry friend run and hide during thunderstorms? Does he get jumpy during car rides? This apps plays soothing music to calm him down during anxious activities. The music is designed specifically for the sensitive hearing of dogs and cats to keep them relaxed.

5. Vet DVM

It's late at night and you have a question about your pet that you'd LOVE an answer to right now. There's an app for that! Use Vet DVM to send audio, text, or video questions to on-call veterinarians. Access answers any time of the day! Of course this app in no way replaces the care, attention and expertise of your trusted veterinarian.

6. Pet First Aid

Jam-packed with videos and illustrations, Pet First Aid gives instruction on how to address cuts, bruises and other health related issues. Also, you can track your pet's vaccinations and vet appointments!

7. PetSnap

We know your phone is filled with pictures of your pets and PetSnap can help when you pup just doesn't want to look at the camera. PetSnap is built with 32 sounds to attract your pet's attention for the picture. You can then pick from seven frames to finish your picture and share with friends!

 

8. iKibble

From investigating the food Fido accidently eats to finding dishes both you and your pet can eat together, iKibble is a great resource for finding the proper and improper foods for your pet!

9. Rate My Puppy

Get your pup using social networks with Rate My Puppy. You can get opinions from others on how cute your pup is and comment on other dogs!

Have a favorite pet-related app you don't see here? Share it with us!

Source: www.AppAdvice.com

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A Messy Job

What is this, you ask?

There's a little spoon inside.  Hint: I was given this at the veterinarian's office.

I'm strangely happy about receiving this because it's designed to contain ...well, poo.
No more collecting samples in tin foil...baggies...margarine tubs.
Now I have just the right tool for the stool!

If you need to collect a stool sample from your dog before her next check up, maybe you can ask your vet for...one of these things (no idea what its called). It might just make a messy job a little easier.

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