Put a spring in your pet’s step
A pedicure isn’t just a spring essential for people preparing their feet for sandals, flip-flops or just going barefoot on the beach. Follow the ASPCA’s top paw-care tips to help keep your dog on all fours:
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Pamper With Pedicures: Your dog’s nails should just about touch the ground when she walks. If her nails are clicking or getting snagged on the floor, it’s time for a pedicure. Ask your veterinarian or a groomer for advice about what types of nail trimmers are best for your dog and how to use them properly.
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Snip and Trim: Trim paw hair regularly to avoid painful matting. Simply comb hair out, especially from between the toes, and trim even with the pads.
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Clean In Between: Foreign objects can become lodged in your dog’s pads. Check regularly between toes for foxtails, pebbles, small bits of broken glass and other debris. These pesky items can usually be removed with a pair of tweezers.
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Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize: A dog’s pads can become cracked and dry. Ask your veterinarian for a good pad moisturizer and use as directed. Avoid human hand moisturizer, as this can soften the pads and lead to injury.
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Deep Paw Massage: Similar to giving a human hand massage, a paw massage will relax your dog and promote better circulation. Start by rubbing between the pads on the bottom of the paw, and then rub between each toe. Your dog will be forever grateful for the extra TLC!
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Slow and Steady: If you’re about to begin a new exercise program with your dog, start off slow. Paws may become sensitive, chaffed or cracked, particularly when starting your dog out on hikes and runs.
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Apply First Aid: It’s not unusual for dogs to suffer cuts or other wounds from accidentally stepping on glass, debris or other objects. Wounds that are smaller than a half inch in diameter can be cleaned with an antibacterial wash and wrapped with a light bandage. For deeper paw cuts, see the vet for treatment.
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Summertime Sores: Imagine stepping barefoot onto hot pavement. Ouch! It is important to remember your dog’s paws feel heat extremes, too. To prevent burns and blisters, avoid walking your dog on hot pavement or sand. Signs include blisters, loose flaps of skin and red, ulcerated patches. For minor burns, apply antibacterial wash and cover the paw with a loose bandage. For serious burns, visit your vet immediately.
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Practice Prevention: To reduce the risk of injury, keep your home and yard clear of pointy bits and pieces. Be conscious to avoid hazards such as broken glass and other debris when walking your dog. And keep this simple tip in mind—if you wouldn’t like to walk on it barefoot, neither will your dog!
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Fun-loving ferrets
Did you know that National Ferret Day was on April 2? What better time to learn all about these lively and gregarious creatures?
Ferrets have become popular household pets, but owning a pet ferret is not always fun and games. They require just as much care and attention as a dog or a cat, as well as proper diet and adequate housing.
Interesting ferret facts:
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An intact male ferret is called a “hob.”
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An intact female ferret is called a “jill.”
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A spayed female is referred to as a “sprite.”
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A neutered male is referred to as a “gib.”
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Young ferrets are called “kits” and a group of ferrets are referred to as a “business.”
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Ferrets are sexually dimorphic animals, meaning the males are substantially larger than the females.
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Ferrets are closely related to weasels and European pole cats.
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Ferrets have been domesticated for more than 2,500 years and were originally used to hunt rabbits and rodents.
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It is illegal in some parts of the world to own ferrets. (Due to the damage they could do to wildlife and plant life.)
Get answers to all your questions about these curious critters and their care!
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Here comes Peter Cottontail…
Hippity, hoppity, Easter’s on its way, but so is potential danger to your pets. Help keep your pets safe by keeping these four items out of your pet’s reach this Easter.
The Easter Lily – While one of the most popular plants this time of the year, it is also one of the most poisonous. This plant is considered highly toxic to cats, as well as the Tiger Lily, Rubrum Lily, Japanese Show Lily and certain species of the Daylily. Avoid any bouquets with lilies and instead opt for a safer option like Easter orchids, roses or daisies.
Chocolate – Easter baskets are often overflowing with chocolate eggs and rabbits. While milk chocolate is not poisonous, it will cause your pet to have an upset stomach. On the other hand, dark chocolate contains high levels of theobromine and caffeine. Animals are extremely sensitive to both and ingesting dark chocolate could be fatal.
Sugar-free gum and candies – These items are often made with xylitol, a sugar substitute that causes a dog’s blood sugar to drop quickly. This poisoning can be treated, but causes liver failure if not treated properly.
Easter basket grass – The springtime version of Christmas tinsel entices both canines and felines alike. Easter basket grass can cause choking or intestinal obstruction in pets if ingested.
A walk in the park?
The warmer weather and longer days have finally arrived! For the sake of all dogs, hopefully that translates into spending more time outside with their beloved owners.
Cara Armour, owner of Active Paws in Watertown, MA and PSI’s newly-crowned Pet Sitter of the Year™, suggests these four tips to help ensure everyone’s safety when out and about with your pets in tow.
Learn all about your dog – Determine if your dog lunges, pulls, likes/dislikes other dogs, likes/dislikes children, is prey driven, spooks easily, etc. This will help you determine the best way to enjoy time outside with your dog.
Be cautious of everything around you – Watch out for all possible hazards including broken glass, vehicles and other dogs running loose.
Keep the weather in mind – Remember that you are wearing shoes and your dog is not. On hotter days, check the ground to see how hot it is…a dog’s pads can burn easily.
Can your dog can be identified – If the unthinkable happens and your dog escapes your grip, make sure your dog can be identified. Place an identification tag, as well as any other tags, on your dog’s collar.
Keeping these tips in mind will help to guarantee that every walk is indeed, a walk in the park!
Paw-ticipate in the 2010 Mutt Census
You’ve been counted, but what about your dog? For the first time, the estimated 38 million mixed-breed dogs in the U.S. will also have the chance to stand up and be counted in the inaugural “2010 National Mutt Census”.
The 2010 National Mutt Census aims to collect valuable data about man’s best friend. It will examine the breed makeup of the American Mutt and determine a variety of insights into our love affair with mixed-breed dogs, including which breeds are most popular, most unusual, feeding habits and their role within the family structure.
Uncovering this information will help dog lovers and owners better understand the four-legged population around them.
Don’t delay, paw-ticpate today!
A shakeup at the top…
For six years in a row, the name Max has ruled the top spot. But in an upset that is sure to have dog owners talking, Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the nation’s oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, has declared Bella the most popular dog name of 2009. VPI crunched the numbers on its more than 475,000 insured pets to determine this year’s most common names, and Bella beat out Max by more than 400 dogs. Fans of Max, however, can rest assured that for cats, that name is still top dog - er, top cat.
DOGS
CATS
Bella
Max
Max
Chloe
Bailey
Bella
Lucy
Oliver
Molly
Tiger
Buddy
Smokey
Maggie
Tigger
Daisy
Lucy
Chloe
Shadow
Sophie
Angel
Does your pet answer to one of the most popular names or did you step outside of the (litter)box when naming your pet? Let us know!
“Come here Doogie Schnauzer M.D., come here?”
Even if you see it, you might not believe it! Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the nation’s oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, compiled a list of the most unusual dog and cat names. Find out where your pet’s name ranks on the wacky scale.
The top 10 most unusual names for dogs and cats:
DOGS
CATS
Doogie Schnauzer M.D.
Snag L. Tooth
Sargent Sausage
Clawed Monet
I Am Sparticua
Velvet Elvis
Lunchbox
Eartha Kitty
Angus Sir Lion
Blue Man Chew
Bam-bam Noodle Butt
Catzilla
Mouse Meat
Thurston Picklesworth III
Fluffernutter
Yardsale
Kayne East
Dishwaher
Inspector Foo Foo
Polly Prissypants
Check out the complete list of wackiest pet names. If you named your pet something even more unusual or if you know of a pet with a far stranger name, let us know in the comments area below!
Top 10 poisons of 2009
Yesterday marked the start of National Poison Prevention Week. What better time to educate pet owners and pet lovers about the importance of poison safety?
According to the ASPCA, their Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) handled more than 140,000 cases of pets exposed to toxic substances last year, many of which included typical household items. When it comes to pet poisonings, prevention is paramount. In addition to the obvious toxic materials, please keep in mind the following items from the ASPCA’s list of the top 10 pet poisons of 2009:
Human Medications
For several years, human medications have been number one on the ASPCA’s list of common hazards, and 2009 was no exception. Last year, the ASPCA managed 45,816 calls involving prescription and over-the-counter drugs such as painkillers, cold medications, antidepressants and dietary supplements. Pets often snatch pill vials from counters and nightstands or gobble up medications accidentally dropped on the floor, so it’s essential to keep meds tucked away in hard-to-reach cabinets.Insecticides
In our effort to battle home invasions by unwelcome pests, we often unwittingly put our furry friends at risk. In 2009, our toxicologists fielded 29,020 calls related to insecticides. One of the most common incidents involved the misuse of flea and tick products—such as applying the wrong topical treatment to the wrong species. Thus, it’s always important to talk to your pet’s veterinarian before beginning any flea and tick control program.People Food
People food like grapes, raisins, avocado and products containing xylitol, like gum, can seriously disable our furry friends, and accounted for more than 17,453 cases in 2009. One of the worst offenders—chocolate—contains large amounts of methylxanthines, which, if ingested in significant amounts, can cause vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst, urination, hyperactivity, and in severe cases, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and seizures.Plants
Common houseplants were the subject of 7,858 calls to APCC in 2009. Varieties such as azalea, rhododendron, sago palm, lilies, kalanchoe and schefflera are often found in homes and can be harmful to pets. Lilies are especially toxic to cats, and can cause life-threatening kidney failure even in small amounts.Veterinary Medications
Even though veterinary medications are intended for pets, they’re often misapplied or improperly dispensed by well-meaning pet parents. In 2009, the ASPCA managed 7,680 cases involving animal-related preparations such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, heartworm preventatives, de-wormers, antibiotics, vaccines and nutritional supplements.Rodenticides
Last year, the ASPCA received 6,639 calls about pets who had accidentally ingested rat and mouse poisons. Many baits used to attract rodents contain inactive ingredients that are attractive to pets as well. Depending on the type of rodenticide, ingestions can lead to potentially life-threatening problems for pets including bleeding, seizures or kidney damage.Household Cleaners
Everybody knows that household cleaning supplies can be toxic to adults and children, but few take precautions to protect their pets from common agents such as bleaches, detergents and disinfectants. Last year, the ASPCA received 4,143 calls related to household cleaners. These products, when inhaled by our furry friends, can cause serious gastrointestinal distress and irritation to the respiratory tract.Heavy Metals
It’s not too much loud music that constitutes our next pet poison offender. Instead, it’s heavy metals such as lead, zinc and mercury, which accounted for 3,304 cases of pet poisonings in 2009. Lead is especially pernicious, and pets are exposed to it through many sources, including consumer products, paint chips, linoleum, and lead dust produced when surfaces in older homes are scraped or sanded.Garden Products
It may keep your grass green, but certain types of fertilizer and garden products can cause problems for outdoor cats and dogs. Last year, the ASPCA fielded 2,329 calls related to fertilizer exposure, which can cause severe gastric upset and possibly gastrointestinal obstruction.Chemical Hazards
In 2009, the ASPCA handled approximately 2,175 cases of pet exposure to chemical hazards. A category on the rise, chemical hazards—found in ethylene glycol antifreeze, paint thinner, drain cleaners and pool/spa chemicals—form a substantial danger to pets. Substances in this group can cause gastrointestinal upset, depression, respiratory difficulties and chemical burns.As always, if you suspect your pet has ingested something poisonous, please contact your vet or the APCC at (888) 426-4435.
Rapping Stay-at-Home Mom to Pet-Sitting Pro
In honor of Professional Pet Sitters Week, we are highlighting PSI members and sharing how they transitioned into their current profession of professional pet sitting. One such member is Heather Quinn, owner of Sitter Stay in Sanford, NC.
Before becoming a pet sitter, Heather was a stay-at-home mom home schooling her two daughters. She’d been out of the workforce for roughly 15 years raising her children. After her oldest daughter left for college, she had more time to work but found the thought of re-entering the workforce a bit daunting.
From Zoo Keeper to Professional Pet Sitter
In honor of Professional Pet Sitters Week, we are highlighting members of Pet Sitters International (PSI) and sharing how they transitioned into their current profession of professional pet sitting. One such member is Vanessa Badger, owner of Zoo Sitters LLC in Cape May, NJ.
After obtaining her degree in psychology with a concentration in Animal Behavior Research, Vanessa worked at a zoo caring for a variety of exotic animals, including monkeys, bats, large cats and bears.
From there, she ultimately decided to pursue a career in “Corporate America,” but felt unfulfilled. Her desire to combine her passions—animals and business—led her to pursue pet sitting.
Learn more about Vanessa and her decision to become a professional pet sitter.
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