The Holidays may have brought a new furry member to your family. Caring for your new pet will take your patience and time for them to be the pet you have always wanted. To help with this transition, below are some simple guidelines from the American Veterinary Medical Association to help you achieve yours and your pets goals. Guidelines for Responsible Pet Ownership Owning a pet is a privilege and should result in a mutually beneficial relationship. The benefits of pet ownership come with responsibilities. These include: Lifelong care of the pet. This means committing to the relationship for your…

The holiday season is upon us, and many pet parents plan to include their furry companions in the festivities. As you gear up for the holidays, it is important to try to keep your pet’s eating and exercise habits as close to their normal routine as possible. Also, please be sure to steer pets clear of the following unhealthy treats, toxic plants, and dangerous decorations.   Be Careful with Seasonal Plants and Decorations Oh, Christmas Tree: Securely anchor your Christmas tree so it doesn’t tip and fall, causing possible injury to your pet. This will also prevent the tree water—which…

Below are some tips provided by PetMD.com. Schedule regular visits with your veterinarian. Your dog needs to be examined at least yearly if it appears healthy, as many diseases are hidden and not apparent. Remember it is much cheaper to prevent disease than it is to treat it! Ask for a body condition evaluation during each vet visit. Body condition is crucial to determining whether your senior dog is overweight, underweight, or at an ideal body weight. In fact, you should also ask your veterinarian to show you how to evaluate your dog’s body condition at home. Feed your older…

One way to help your cat stay fit and healthy is to make their food into a hunting game. We can hide their food, put it in interactive toys, or even make our own toys to encourage them to ‘hunt’. This is great fun for your cat while helping maintain a healthy body. If your cat has never hunted before, you may need to keep things simple at first. And remember that the best motivation to hunt is a bit of hunger, so don’t expect your cat to want to work for his food if there is a big bowl…

Even though April, May, & June are active months for ticks, September starts up again with the cooler temperatures and deer being active. Ticks seek out their blood hosts by staying in high grass, trees, and bushes, so if you’re in or near these conditions, check yourself and pets closely before you return inside. A good tip to use on your clothes and your pets before entering inside is a lint roller. This can help remove the tick before they nestle down to the skin. Stay protected by continuing the use of a flea and tick product that deters and…