4th of July Safety

Howdy!

I hope everyone has been enjoying their summer so far! I can’t believe June is almost over! With that happening, you know what comes next, July 4^th celebrations! How fun right?! Well… it is not all fun for your fur babies. Most pets do not enjoy the sound or smell of fireworks and get very stressed out with all of the commotion. So, I thought I would share some tips on ways to keep them safe and worry free!

• Keep all fur babies inside! This is especially important during firework displays. Pets are more likely to jump a fence, break their leash or collar and run off during this high level of stress situation. So help them out and have a quite area in the house they can retreat to for relaxation.

• Never use fireworks around your pets! They can suffer burns or trauma to their face, paws etc. Unused fireworks are just as dangerous as they contain toxic substances. Lighter fluid and matches are also a no go! These can also cause burns and skin irritations. They can cause respiratory issues if inhaled and gastric issues if ingested.

• Insect repellent and citronella insect control substances… Just because these products are safe for humans does not mean they are safe for pets! Be sure to get pet friendly bug spray and keep the human forms away.

If you tuned in last week you would have learned so much about products that help with anxiety (I am such a wonderful teacher)… Remember Feliway and Adaptil products? Well those are great things to consider using during your celebrations to be sure your fur babies are at ease.

Bonus lesson! I have another fabulous product for you! Wahoo! I’m just full of good info! Composure Chews! Yup, these are CHEWABLE TREATS that help with anxiety! How great is that?! So these chews are for dogs and cats during times of stress. Here is a little description for you direct from the makers of Composure…

“The ingredients in Composure™ work synergistically to support relaxation without changing your dog’s personality or energy levels. The C3™ colostrum calming complex supports stress reduction and cognitive function; L-Theanine helps the body produce other amino acids to bring specific neurotransmitters back into balance; and B vitamins (thiamine) affect the central nervous system to help calm anxious animals.” –VetriScience Laboratories

Doesn’t that sound lovely?! It is great to know there are products out there that are safe for us animals and will not alter our ability to function or think! Composure along with Feliway and Adaptil are products that everyone should know about!

Now, it’s not all dangerous and scary, but it is better to be safe than sorry! I for one love the commotion of several humans around with their pets having a good time! But, that’s just the life I live!

Until Next Time

       -Murphy Cat

Anxiety

Does your fur baby get anxious often? Are there certain situations that seem to stress them out more than normal? Not sure what you can do? Well, I have some products that will help!

I will start with the kitties! We carry two wonderful products here at SAH that can help with many unwanted behaviors humans may be experiencing with their cat family members. First we have NurtureCALM collars. These are designed to be worn 24/7 and are activated by body heat. Second, we have Feliway products. Feliway offers a spray and a plug-in diffuser. All of these products constantly release a calming pheromone to help reduce stress and/or bad behaviors. Pheromones are natural chemical signals used for animal communication. What is so great about these products is that they mimic pheromones a nursing mother would release. This will then give your kitty a comforting, calming feel which can help decrease or eliminate stress and poor behavior. Sounds just PUURRfect! Here are some behaviors and situations that indicate one of these products would be a good option for your kitty…

• Stressful situations such as a vet visit (I don’t know why, it’s wonderful at SAH!)

• Traveling, short or long distance (No one likes being in a car especially not a box!)

• New  home

• New member of the family

• Urine marking (Yuck!)

• Scratching (We are all guilty of this one!)
  

Now for the hounds we have similar products. Adaptil offers a collar, spray and plug-in diffuser specifically formulated for dogs. Here are some common situations dogs can come across where they may need some extra help from Adaptil products…

• Home alone

• Separation anxiety

• Loud noises

• Grooming

• Traveling

• Boarding kennels

• Vet visits

• Thunder storms
  

If your fur baby experiences anxiety during any of these situations, Adaptil, Feliway or NurtureCALM may be just what they need! Be sure to discuss this further with any of my girls and the doctors here at SAH. They will be able to guide you in the right direction and give you some tips that might ease some stress for everyone! Tune in next time for some safety tips for the Fourth Of July Weekend!

Until Next Time!

-Murphy Cat

New Pet

Have you recently added to your fur family? Are you considering getting a new pup or kitten but are not sure what it entails? Well, you are in luck! For my blog this week I thought I’d briefly go over what a puppy & kitten schedule looks like. I’d have to say, this is one of the perks of living at an animal hospital! I get to meet a bunch of new babies and watch them grow throughout the years! The bond the doctors and my girls create from day one with the babies grows along with them and they become part of our family here at SAH! It means so much to all of us to be a part of their lives… their humans too!

OK, so where to start… First, it is a great idea to figure out what breed will fit best with you and your family. Remember, each cat and dog is different, some are more active than others, some may be more prone to certain health issues and so forth. Do your research! Purina has a great online tool that can help narrow down your options based on your life style. I have included those links below.

Cat Breed Selector 

Dog Breed Selector 

Second, time to find a breeder or shelter! Adoption is a great way to find a new family member however, it may not be ideal for everyone. Either way, make sure you research the shelter or breeder you are using. If they have references, use them!
So now you have found your new baby… what next?! Depending on their age, they will need to receive a series of vaccines to be sure they are protected. Here is what a schedule would look like;

·         Visit One: 8-10 weeks old- visit with doctor

o    Education on importance of vaccines, parasite prevention, clicker training, feeding schedules and pet insurance. A complimentary puppy/kitten pack will be given to you at this time with additional information!

o    Comprehensive Wellness Exam

o    Intestinal parasite fecal exam

o    Deworming medication

o   Puppy Vaccines: Distemper initial, Bordetella (kennel cough)

o    Kitten Vaccines: Distemper initial and feline Leukemia/FIV blood screening

·         Visit Two: 12-14 weeks old- visit with doctor

o    Education on flea and tick prevention, heartworm prevention, dental care, nail trimming, microchip and importance of spay and neuter

o    Wellness follow up exam

o     Puppy Vaccines: Distemper/Leptosporosis, Lyme, Rabies

o   Kitten Vaccines: Distemper booster, Leukemia, Rabies

·         Visit Three: 15-17 weeks old- visit with technicians

o    Exam with technicians

o   Puppy Vaccines: Leptosporosis, Lyme

o   Kitten Vaccines: Leukemia booster

And there you have it! Now, don’t hold me to these schedules! Like I said earlier, things can change depending on their age and what vaccines they may have received from their previous home. There is a lot of information to go over so take your time and ask all the questions you may have! That is what my girls and the doctors are here for! 

Happy searching! 
   -Murphy Cat