Tips to help your pet live a longer and healthier life

Healthy pets are happy pets, and happy pets live longer. Keeping your pet healthy is the key ingredient to having your pet live a long life. There are many aspects to keeping your pet healthy and if you don’t start off in the right way, it can be a lot of work getting back on track. Below are some suggestions you can practice with your pet. By starting at a young age to insure that your pet will live a long and happy life.

• Proper diet – Giving your pet the proper nutrients and amount of food it needs is an integral part of healthy living. Conduct research on the breed and size of your pet to make sure that you are giving it the right food it needs. You can speak with your vet, read books on the breed, or even source the internet for information on your pet.

• Exercise – This can come in a variety of forms, and is different for the type of pet you have. For dogs it can be daily walks, playing ball, or letting them run at the park. Cats can be exercised by playing with them with their favorite cat toys. Getting them to jump and run will help keep them fit. If you have other more exotic types of pets, consult your vet or other owners for exercise routines.

• Training – Taking a trainable animal to obedience school can help keep your pet healthy by keeping them safe. You will be able to teach them the proper behavior to be around other people and pets and to listen to you when needed. In addition, you will be educated on how to handle your pet. A well trained pet is less likely to run off or do something unexpected and if they do, you will know how to react.

• Vet Visits – Annual check ups for your pets will ensure that they are getting the proper attention they need. These annual visits will help discover any illnesses and get your pets the proper vaccinations to stay healthy and prevent other ailments.

Follow these important tips and consult your vet for more to help your pet live a long and happy life.

Pets in Wheelchairs

Disabled pets can live a normal, active life with the assistance of custom-made wheelchairs. Primarily used for dogs that have weakened or paralyzed hind limbs, these wheelchairs can also be used for front limb lameness or paralysis.

Degenerative myelopathy, seen most often in large sporting breeds such as German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers, leads to weakness of the hind limbs and difficulty getting around. Disc disease can lead to weakness of the hind limbs and is often seen in dogs that have long backs and short legs, such as Dachshunds and Corgis. These medical problems often lead to euthanasia, especially for large dogs that can’t be lifted and carried easily. This is a heartbreaking decision, as many of these dogs are otherwise healthy. The purchase of a wheelchair can allow these dogs to continue to live happy and ambulatory lives.

Eddie’s Wheels is a company that was begun by a couple after they fashioned a cart for their own dog, Buddha. Their veterinarian was impressed by their handiwork and began sending other clients to the Grinnell’s to help other dogs (and cats) too. You can read their story on their website and see photos of dogs using these special wheelchairs to get around a live life. (http://www.eddieswheels.com/html/our_story.html)

Cool Tips for Summer Pets

With summer coming, people and pets will be spending more time outside enjoying the sun and heat. With the increased outdoor activity comes some extra care in keeping your pet comfortable and cool. Below is a list of Do’s and Don’ts you can follow to aide in keeping your pet safe.

DO

Provide more water and shade in the summer months. With increased activity comes increased heat. Make sure you provide your pet with plenty of water and shade to keep comfortable and regulate their body temperature. A great treat in the summer can be ice cubes.

Don’t

Leave your pet outside all day. While this can be tempting because of the nice weather, if the pet does not have a place to cool off it can be very dangerous. If you are going to leave your pet outside, provide shade, extra water and DON”T leave them alone. Monitor them often and bring them indoors from time to time.

Don’t

Leave your pet in a car even if for a few moments. In a matter of minutes, the interior heat of the car can skyrocket to over 100 degrees. Even if the windows are down, there will not be sufficient airflow to keep your pet cool. While on the subject of autos, it is also good to note that if you have a pick up, you shouldn’t drive with your pet in the bed. In many states this is illegal. Too many bad things can happen if you leave your pet back there.

Do

Provide exercise, but do it in the morning or late evening. These times of day are cooler and more comfortable for your pet. When exercising your pet, be sure to provide extra water and a way for them to cool off. A good idea is to fill a baby pool or small tub with water. When your pet gets too warm, they can go to the water to cool off.

Do

Be aware of heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Symptoms include: heavy panting, glazed eyes, rapid pulse, unsteadiness, staggering gait, vomiting and a deep read or purple tongue. If you notice any of these symptoms, it is crucial to treat it immediately. Wet your pet with cool (not cold) water in small amounts. It is also good to drape cool, wet towels around the head, neck and body. Provide small amounts of water or ice cubes to lick. Most importantly, seek professional attention from your vet.

For more ways to keep your pet cool in the summer, speak with your vet. They will have the information you need to keep your pet cool and comfortable all summer long.