First aid for dogs is a very important for owners to be prepared for. As a dog owner, you may find yourself needing to give your dog first aid. Dogs are curious creatures and sometimes get into dangerous situations. When they get into trouble, it will be your job to help.  Many of the problems a dog faces are similar to those of our own. Until you can get your dog to a vet, he will depend on you. Having the supplies you need on hand will really help you to be effective.

Rolls of gauze and tape are handy to slow or stop bleeding and are necessary in your doggie first aid kit. You can also find some great blood-clotting topical products too. Hydrogen peroxide is important for cleaning wounds. An old clean blanket is essential for wrapping a dog in shock. A first aid kit for dogs  should also include an antihistamine for bee or wasp stings, an antibiotic gel and an eye wash. Also, absorbent cotton, gauze rolls or pads, scissors (preferably with rounded tips), tweezers, a rectal thermometer; syringes (without the needle) for giving oral medications, elastic bandages.

You can get a wonderful list at PetFinder website print it out and make copies for your friends.

Take time to learn the basics of first aid. Keep your vet’s phone number handy in case you need him. If you think your dog may need professional care in the middle of the night or on a weekend, consider calling your vet and advising him. He may have some good advice or instructions to help you reach him.  Many cities now have pet emergency centers.  It is advisable to keep their number in your first aid kit as well.

Here is a video that you can get a few tips from:

Keep in mind that an injured dog is scared and may bite.  If you feel this is possible, a muzzle is another addition to your kit.  Avoid giving your dog Tylenol.  Ask your vet before it is necessary what kind of pain medication is okay and keep some of that with the rest.

The first time I took my dog to the Vet to have her teeth cleaned, which my vet strongly advocated, they gave me a very long tooth brush and tooth paste! I thought they were crazy, there was no way my dog was going to let me come at her with that thing. Well there is more than one way to skin a cat, pardon the phrase.

Teeth cleaning for dogs is very important.  Every single time you walk through the door your dog is so happy to see you that he wags his tail and practically smiles at you.  How can you show your pet how much they mean to you?  Well, one way is to take care of that smile for your pet.  Did you know that your dog’s diet can influence their oral health?

Humans need to brush and floss their teeth regularly to keep their teeth, tongue, and gums in good condition.  Research has recently shown a link between good oral health in humans and a lower risk of heart disease.  If good oral health can have such a profound affect on people, then it only makes sense to consider the impact it can have on man’s best friend.

It is important to brush your dog’s teeth frequently to keep plaque and tartar from becoming an issue.  Even wiping his gums with a clean, damp cloth can be beneficial.

Your dog’s diet also plays a role in your pet’s oral health.  Do you typically feed your dog canned or dry dog food?  What kind of treats and toys do you provide for your pet?  All of these things can affect the likelihood of trouble with your pet’s teeth.

When your dog’s diet is nutritionally sound, containing essential vitamins, nutrients, and enzymes, your pet’s oral health will be at its very best.  Feeding dry dog food rather than a moist canned variety is best for your dog.  The tiny kibbles’ hard surface rubs against the teeth to remove and reduce plaque.  The simple act of moistening the dry dog food with water or gravy eliminates this property from dry dog food.

The treats you give your pet are part of your dog’s diet just like snacks are part of a person’s diet.  As humans, we tend to want to overlook our snacking habits, so it can be easy to overlook the treats you give your dog.  This is not a good idea.  Carefully consider any and all items your dog will consume.

Do you give your dog bones, rawhides, jerky treats, or dog biscuits?  Maybe your pet prefers greenies or corn starch chews.  You may not have considered it, but tossing Spot a rawhide chew is like giving him a candy bar!  The rawhide, for example, contains calories and is often provided between meals.

Many of the treats and snacks you provide in your dog’s diet can be just empty wasted calories.  Some treats, alternatively, provide excellent opportunity to improve oral health.  Greenies, rawhides, bones, and hard dog biscuits all help to keep tartar at bay.  The softer snacks, such as jerky treats, do not provide much relief from plaque.  The healthy treat, on occasion, will also prevent your dog from having bad breath.

Your dog’s diet must be healthy to ensure excellent oral health and prevent your dog having bad teeth.  Dry dog food is best whenever possible.  Don’t forget to select treats for your pet that will enhance your dog’s diet.  Consciously monitoring your dog’s diet will positively influence your  best friend’s oral health.

It doesn’t matter if you have already decided to purchase health insurance for the family pet or if you are still researching. When you are comparing the quote of one health insurance quote to another remember that the base dollar amount is not the only number you have to consider. In addition to the monthly payment make sure you also check out exactly what type of veterinary care and treatments are covered (some basic insurance plans do not include cancer treatment), what kind of deductible you, the pet owner, will be expected to pay, is there a yearly cap on medical expenses, and what type of discounts are available.

At the moment there are only a handful of companies that offer pet health insurance. Five of the most popular companies are Pets Best Pet Insurance, Veterinary Pet Insurance, ShelterCare, Pets Health and PetCare.

An insurance plan through Pets Best Pet Insurance will cost approximately $32.00 a month ($384.00 annually). Pets Best will cover pet sterilization provided the pet owner purchases an additional wellness plan. Pets Best does not cover pre-existing medical conditions a pet has so its best to insure them early in life before problems develop. Pets Best has a life time limit of $99,750 dollars per pet. Pets Best health insurance plans come with a $75.00 deductible. Multiple pet discounts are available. Pet’s Best pet health insurance does cover cancer.

Veterinary Pet Insurance is a company that offers pet owner a $14,000 a year cap on an insurance plan that only costs approximately $20.00 dollars a month. Veterinary Pet Insurance offers plans with a $50.00 deductible (after the deductible they pay ninety percent of the bill) on plans that include pet sterilization and cancer coverage. Veterinary Pet Insurance does not accept pre-existing conditions and does not offer multi-pet discounts.

ShelterCare is a pet insurance that cost pet’s owners approximately $29.95. For that $29.95 there is absolutely no deductible and cancer treatments are covered. ShelterCare will not pay for pet sterilization nor will they cover any pre-existing conditions. ShelterCare does not have a benefit cap. ShelterCare offers premium discounts for multi-pet plans, medical service, and micro-chips.

A pet health insurance policy through PetsHealth insurance company will cost the pet owner approximately $37.17 dollars per month. PetsHealth covers 80% of the pets vet bill after the $100.00 dollar deductible is paid. PetsHealth has a $13,000 dollar cap on each per year. PetHealth does insure pre-existing conditions after ninety days. Multi-pet discounts are available through PetHealth. PetsHealth does offer pet health insurance plans that cover cancer on a case by case basis.

PetCare is a pet health insurance company that estimates the average cost for a policy for a pet is $29.95 a month. This plan includes a fifty dollar deductible. While PetCare is happy to cover the cost your pet’s cancer treatments they will not pay for any pre-existing conditions nor will they pay for pet sterilization. PetCare offers discounts for multi-pet plans and medical service.

None of the estimated monthly prices for these insurance companies include any extra insurances riders.

Any one or all of these companies can change their policies between now and the time you purchase a pet health insurance plan.

Remember to read the fine print before you sign up for a pet health insurance plan.

All five of these pet health insurance companies have their own websites where you can go to get up to date pet health insurance quotes.

There are other pet health insurance companies with different prices, discounts, stipulations, and benefit caps if you are not content with the previous five comparisons.

Any pet owner who has experienced a sick cat or dog knows how quickly the costs add up! As you see, pre-conditions are usually not covered, so while your pet is healthy is the best time to get coverage.

Get a Free Pet Emergency Preparedness Report at www.WhiskerFeathers.com

Queen of My Heart

People have become very germ-phobic especially since the flu pandemic scare of late.  The best advice is nothing new, wash your hands! Although cats can carry diseases and pass them to people, you are not likely to get sick from touching or owning a cat. By following simple health tips, you can be even safe-against cat-related diseases.

Some cat-related diseases that make people sick are common, such as cat scratch disease (or cat scratch fever), and others such as plague (play-g), are rare. Toxoplasmosis (TOX-o-plaz-MO-sis) is a disease that can come from cats, but people are more likely to get it from eating raw meat or from gardening. Cats can also carry rabies, a deadly viral disease.

Some people are more likely than others to get diseases from cats. A person’s age and health status may affect his or her immune system, increasing the chances of getting sick. People who are more likely to get diseases from cats include infants, children younger than 5 years old, organ transplant patients, people with HIV/AIDS, and people being treated for cancer. Special advice is available for people who are at greater risk than others of getting diseases from animals so don’t let that deter you.

To protect yourself from cat-related diseases,

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water after touching cat feces (stool)
• Avoid cat scratches and bites
• If you are scratched or bitten by a cat, wash the area with soap and running water right away
• Vaccinate your cat against rabies.

Follow these very simple suggestions and you’ll be able to enjoy the company of cats:

Cats can decrease your:

• Blood pressure

• Cholesterol levels

• Triglyceride levels

Cats can increase your:

• Feelings of peacefulness

• Opportunities for showing love

• Opportunities for playfulness
• Greatly help reduce the stresses of modern living

Get a Free Pet Emergency Preparedness Report at www.WhiskerFeathers.com

Your Best Friend Is Counting On You!

Pets On A Budget!

Last year I went grocery shopping and as I went up the pet isle to get my cat  food I remember seeing a small crowd in front of the canned goods shelf. By crowd, I mean two obviously senior citizens. They were standing right in front of the brand I always buy. I quickly understood why they were looking so upset, the price had gone up! Previously it had been 50 cents a can and it had gone up to 70 cents. Twenty cents may not seem like a lot to some folks but, depending on how much you buy and your budget, especially if it’s on a fixed  income, it does make a difference.

With all of us having to watch our spending these days, our pet expenses definitely factor in as well. However, with some creative thinking we can find some ways to cut some of our costs without sacrificing quality of life.

Food plays a large and constant part in pet care costs. Have you ever checked out the many websites where you can download printable coupons for pet food? Here are a few:

• http://printable-coupons.blogspot.com/2005/10/pet-coupons.html
• http://www.purina.com/petlover/index.aspx
• http://www.mahalo.com/pet-food-coupons

You may not get hundreds of dollars off but remember that 20 cents increase? If you know someone who does not have access to a computer, print some out for them too. Of course, be sure to check your local weekly newspaper and the fliers that come to your home for coupons.

Medical bills are also a big factor in pet costs. Now is the time to put aside feelings of pride. Hopefully you already have a veterinarian you have come to trust with your pet. Talk to him or her and let them know if money is tight for you right now. If your pet needs medication, they may be able to prescribe a more generic brand or lower cost alternative. At my vets office they have a sign saying Payment Due Upon Service, but you’ll never know if you don’t ask. Maybe your vet would be willing to take payments especially if you have been going to them for years. Today’s economy is not isolated to one group or one region of the country, just be honest and maybe he or she will work with you.

Be sure to pick up a pet newspaper that you might find at the vets office or pet stores, they have a wealth of ongoing information that might help you save some money. Local shelters offer free or no-cost vaccinations as well as spaying and neutering.

Every little bit counts, the money you save will not only help you and your family monetarily but lessens stress and concern.

Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisper suggested in a recent newsletter that if you really can’t afford a pet at this time, consider volunteering at places such as shelters and rescues. Keep “adopting a dog or cat” on your wish list for the time when things turn around for you.

Get a Free Pet Emergency Preparedness Report at www.WhiskerFeathers.com

We’re really into the kitten season this time of year. Many people have taken a look into a sweet little kittens face and fallen in love, that’s what happened to me. You want to have your new kitty for many, many years to come and I always vote on the side of prevention. The best thing you can is to make sure you stay on top of their yearly shots.

These shots can be a little confusing so I’ve simplified them here.

Be sure to have your kitten vaccinated with a combination vaccine (called a 3-in-1) at 2, 3 and 4 months of age and then once a year. This vaccine protects cats from Panleukopenia (also called feline distemper), Calicivirus and Rhinotracheitis (flu-like viruses).

If you have an unvaccinated cat older than four months of age, he needs a series of two vaccinations given two to three weeks apart, followed by a yearly vaccination.

There is a vaccine available for Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV). This is one of two immune system viruses (retroviruses) that infect cats. The other is Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). There is no vaccine available for FIV.

Cats can be infected with either virus for months to years without any indication that they are carrying a fatal virus. You cannot look at cats or kittens and know if they are infected-a blood test is necessary. Infections can be transmitted at birth from the mother or by being bitten by an infected cat. Neither virus can infect humans.

Many outdoor and stray cats and kittens carry this infection. All cats should be tested for these viruses. Because of the fatal nature of these diseases, you should not expose the cats already living in your home by taking in untested cats or kittens.

To be safe, keep your cat indoors, but if your cat does go outside, be should its vaccinated against feline leukemia virus. And remember that no vaccine is 100-percent effective. Vaccines protect your cat from specific viral and bacterial infections. They are not a treatment.

If your cat gets sick because he is not properly vaccinated, the vaccinations should be given after your pet recovers.

Take your cat to see your veterinarian at least once a year for an examination and annual shots, and immediately if he or she is sick or injured.

Your Best Friend Is Counting On You!

Get a Free Pet Emergency Preparedness Report at  www.WhiskerFeathers.com

Dog Getting A Flea Powder Treatment

You Can Do This!

All over the country something is happening. It’s getting warmer, Spring has sprung! For those who have endured some of the coldest weather in years, this is good news. Here in Southern California this week we’ve had temperature in the nineties for Pete’s sake. Along with the flowers blooming, trees budding we hear bird songs and…fleas! Now is the time  to form a plan and have a strategy to prevent a flea infestation, as they say, an ounce of prevention…

What are fleas?

Fleas are tiny insects measuring around 1/16″. They are parasites that live on the blood of their host where they are found most of the time; in this case your cat or dog, but they also bite humans. There are 2,000 species according to WWW.ASPCA.ORG. They are wingless but can jump amazing distances.

How do I know if we have fleas?

Because fleas are so small you have to be very observant:

• If you see your dog or cat scratching more than is usual, check them for fleas. Fleas like dark warm spots so look at their bellies and bottoms for something that looks like dandruff or black specks.
• Bathing your pet it’s a good time to check for them. Put a white towel under them and look for black specks. Press on the specks and if it turns red, that’s blood and thus, fleas.
• Comb your pet regularly with a special flea comb which has small tines and watch for something that looks like dandruff or you may even see fleas running around in the fur.

How Do you Get Rid of Fleas?

There are various ways and means to do this:

• Foggers - Canisters that have chemicals under pressure. When you release the pressure, a fog then penetrates the air killing fleas and other insects. You have follow very carefully follow the instructions to prevent exposure to parts of your house that would be harmful. People and animals have to vacate during the treatment.
• Flea Powder – Flea killer in powder form. They usually contain boric acid as a primary ingredient. The powder kills topically and the benefit is that fleas thus don’t have the chance to build up immunity. Powders can also be used on carpets to kill fleas hidden there;
• Flea Collars – Collars come in all sizes in order to fit any dogs or cats properly. Be sure to read the instructions about handling them; especially be cautious with small children. If your dog goes swimming be sure to take it off. A wet collar will lose the active ingredients and may irritate the skin.
• Monthly Treatments - For people who don’t like the collars, these measured treatments come in small plastic type vials. They are applied by parting the hair on the shoulder blade and squeezing the liquid out. They can last 3-4 months.
• Dips - Typically used for severe infestation, dips are mixed with water and the pet is either dipped, sprayed and has it sponged on. Again, use caution and follow the instructions.
• Sprays - These are generally used outside in the yard. Pay special attention to places where the dog or cat frequent.
• Natural Remedies – Fresh garlic is supposed to make your pet not so tasty and thus a turn off for fleas, lemon juice mixed with water after steeping for a few hours can be sprayed on, flea traps made with dish soap and water in a container are a few methods.
• Flea Comb – If your pet has fleas you need to be hands on and consistently use a flea comb them out.
• Flea Shampoos – Specially formulated shampoos are both soothing to your pet and also helps kill fleas.

For some dogs and cats flea bites are just annoying, for others they can lead to serious skin irritation and other health problems. Take into consideration that by chewing on themselves as a form of scratching, your pet may then swallow fleas which can  cause tapeworms!

By all means enjoy the springtime, go out into the sunshine, just remember to protect your pet from those pesky varmints, you can do it!

Your Best Friend Is Counting On You
Visit us at www.WhiskerFeathers.com

Stupid Reason #3

How can you play a part in saving the lives of thousands of cats and dogs?

Spaying and Neutering has been preached for many years now, but let’s look at the facts. In Los Angeles County fiscal year 2004-2005 alone 40,174 animals were impounded, the largest number in the nation. Of that number 18,804 dogs were euthanized! Someone is not getting the message. For many of us these are numbers, just statistics but imagine the people who work at the shelters and have to carry out these procedures. As an animal lover I really can’t imagine it.

What are the reasons people taken their pets to shelters?

• Owners have to move and can’t take their pet with them.

• People don’t get their pet spayed and wound up with an unwanted litter.
• Can’t afford the pet, didn’t realize what it would cost or unable to because of a current financial situation.
• Sick pet, can’t afford the vet bills.
• Too busy, don’t have the time to spend with the pet

A couple of those reasons are due to circumstance beyond our control. Today’s economy is a good example of that, quite a few people are having to give up their pets because of it. A couple of the reasons however are due to irresponsibility such as not spaying or neutering.

What are the benefits of spaying?

• Better Health. For female dogs and cats spaying reduces uterine, ovarian and breast cancers. For male dogs and cats it reduces the risk of prostate and testicular cancer plus hernias and tumors. And by the way, it does not make them fat, just like us proper exercise and eating will take care of that.
• Better behavior. When your pets are spayed or neutered you won’t have the nervousness and crying in females or the aggression and wandering in males or the spraying of male cats to mark their territory.

What exactly is Spaying and Neutering?

• In the female dog or cat, spaying is the removal of their reproductive organs, the ovaries and uterus. For the male dog or cat it is the removal of their testicles.
• The operations are done under anesthesia, your pet may stay in the Vet’s office for a few hours or days it depends on their age, size and health. There will be some stitches that will need to come out in a few days also.

Check with your own Veterinarian about what age is best for your pet. It is generally recommended that for both female cats and dogs they get spayed before their first heat and male cats between 4-6 months, male dogs between 6-12 months.

Here is a mind blowing statistic; one female cat can have 20,000 kittens in five years! Here’s another set of facts, 70,000 puppies and kittens come into this world every year while only 10,000 humans are born, there just is not enough homes to go around for the animals. For the few people who still believe that it would be a swell thing for their children to see the miracle of birth, I ask you to go visit a local shelter and see for yourself the tragedy of pet overpopulation.

In closing remember, spaying and neutering saves the lives of countless unborn pets. You’ll still have the companion, watchdog, best friend you always wanted only he or she will be happier, healthier and live longer.

Your Best Friend Is Counting On You
Visit us at www.WhiskerFeathers.com

Photo by Shmoomeema Released under Creative Commons

Queen of My Heart

Are Hairballs normal?

The first time you see or hear your cat bring up a hairball can be scary if you’ve never witnessed it before.  They seem to be putting their whole body into these spasms while you stand there feeling pretty helpless. I don’t know why, but it seems to happen in the worse place and at the very worse time! I think those rascals plan it that way.

So what are these “hairballs” all about anyway?  Consider the cat; it’s the nature of a cat to be constantly grooming itself, they are famous for this. This could be traced back to a time back in history when their ancestors were trying to hide their scent from predators. Whatever the reason, cats are very fastidious in their grooming. Herein lies the problem. A cats tongue is very rough and by licking their fur, they remove lose hair or fur. They then swallow the hair and over time it becomes clumped in their stomachs and intestines. It is actually a good thing that they bring it up. The hairballs would other wise cause a serious medical problem for them.

We need to accept that hairballs are a natural occurrence in cats, however it’s best to either eliminate them or keep them down to a minimum. Here are three ways that you can use to help your cats deal with them:

• Prevention - Help your cat remove that lose hair by routinely brushing him or her. It’s the undercoat that is causing the problem so be sure to get a brush that can get down into that undercoat. How often you brush depends on the type of hair or fur you cat has and whether it’s long or short. Certain seasons of the year where you live may also affect hair growth. Start brushing when they are young so that they’ll get used to it.

• Food - Read the labels on your cat food, nowadays many of them, wet and dry will say “Helps Prevent Hairballs“. This is great, but make sure that the food is also nutritious. You’ll then have the best of both worlds coming from one place.
• Hairball Lubricants – These come in the form of gels, usually in tubes. We carry several in our eBay store, they are made especially to help your cat safely bring up the hairball. Some cats will just lick it straight from the tube, others you may need to use their habit of cleaning themselves and put a small amount on their paw for them to lick off. I’ve used both methods on my cats and they both work. Read the directions for how much and how often you need to give it to them.

Be sure to watch your cat for signs that something is wrong. Cats are notorious for hiding it when they don’t feel well, again this goes back to their ancestors. This could be vomiting several times a week and not bringing up a hairball. Lack of appetite and/or lethargy are also indications that you need to see your Veterinarian right away just to be sure what’s going on before the situation gets out of control.

My Medical Records

Your Pets Medical Records

Where do you kept your pet’s health records? Sure, your Veterinarian has them but what if you change Vets or move to another city? Do you take your dog on trips with you? I know a lady who drives from Los Angeles to New Jersey every year and takes her cat with her!

Health care is very big deal in our country today. On January 8, 2009 President Obama said, “To improve the quality of our health care while lowering its cost, we will make the immediate investments necessary to ensure that, within five years, all of America’s medical records are computerized. This will cut waste, eliminate red tape and reduce the need to repeat expensive medical tests. But it just won’t save billions of dollars and thousands of jobs; it will save lives by reducing the deadly but preventable medical errors that pervade our health care system.”

The President was probably talking about people when he said that. We pet owners who consider our pets to be as much a part of the family as the two-legged ones. We need to keep track of their health care records for the same reasons. There is a company that is tackling this problem and including pets in the solution.

MyMedical Records Company also believes with the President that the core of the country’s health care initiative is having medical records available and they have gone a step further. Robert H. Lorsch, Chairman and CEO of MMR Information Systems, Inc. parent company of MyMedical Records is an animal lover and understands how important they are to us. Along with storing, indexing and retrieving Personal Health Records and other important documents for up to 10 family members, including pets, in one account, making it a true pet-friendly Personal Health Record for the entire family.

MyMedical Records has partnered with Natural Products for Pets based in Canoga Park, California and will offer a free Personal Heath Record for up to 10 family members, including pets! Natural Products for Pets will give its retailers a national in-store promotional program offering a free 90-day trial of MMR’s Personal Health Records service with a purchase of any Natural Products for Pets item. If a customer keeps the account after the 90 days, they receive a credit for NPP products worth 100% of the cost of the Personal Health Record for one year.

The age of technology is here like it or not, this company is very forward thinking. This is a great opportunity for people to get on the cutting edge of their health care and they can also include their pets.

Speaking of President Obama,  the companies are offering a free Personal Health Records and year’s supply of Natural Products for Pets products to Sasha and Malia Obama’s new dog. Do you think they’ll take them up on it?

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Photo by LizMarie Released under Creative Commons