Winter Preparations for Your Outdoor Dog

Cold weather is fast approaching and if you have a predominantly outdoor dog, follow these preparation guidelines to ensure a warm, dry space for your dog this winter!

1. Outdoor Dog Runs

If your dog has an outdoor, fenced dog run, here are a few things you can do to make sure your dog can stay sheltered and warm.

• Board up/cover the top and sides of the fencing. Using tarps or plywood and zip ties or wires, secure these to the sides and top of the dog run to block wind, rain, and snow from getting inside your dog's enclosure.
• Make sure your dog has a dog house or retreat with an opening just large enough for them to fit into. Your dog's body heat can help to keep them warm in a dog house. Make sure the opening of the retreat is facing a wall so the wind cannot get into it.
• Replace bedding daily (if needed) so that your dog always has something warm and dry to curl up with.

2. Nutrition in Cold Weather

Outdoor dogs expend more energy to keep their body temperature up in cold climates. Ensure that you are supplementing your dog's diet with a little extra food as needed. It is also important that you are feeding your dog a high-quality food with adequate fats to keep them healthy during the cold.

Adequate fresh water is an absolute necessity. Snow and ice are NOT substitutions for fresh clean water.

3. Things to Avoid

It is NEVER acceptable to keep a dog on a chain or lead in an outdoor environment. Most dogs (especially in the pacific northwest) are not comfortable in extreme cold weather, wind, and rain and you risk injury to your dog by keeping them tethered. Your dog will try to escape the cold and can get themselves wrapped up in their lead causing injury and infection.

If you're going for a walk or playtime for an extended period of time in temperatures below 35 degrees, you'll want to cover your pet's feet with booties. Dogs are susceptible to frostbite so make sure they are protected.

4. When in doubt, bring them inside!

Dogs are almost always happier in the house with you. If you're home, bring them inside in cold weather. Your dog will be happier and healthier inside where it is warm and dry. And you'll stay warmer with a big, warm dog cuddled up next to you!

Dog Parks!

Many behavior problems in dogs are caused by a lack of physical and mental activity. Dogs were born to lead active lives. They’ve worked alongside people for thousands of years, hunting game, herding and protecting livestock, and controlling vermin. Dogs’ wild relatives lead busy lives, too. Their days are full of hunting, scavenging, avoiding predators and complex social interaction. Most pet dogs, on the other hand, spend the majority of their time alone at home, napping on couches and eating food from bowls-no hunting or scavenging required. Many become bored, lonely and overweight. They have excess energy and no way to expend it, so it’s not surprising that they often come up with activities on their own, like unstuffing couches, raiding trash cans and gnawing on shoes.

To keep your dog happy, healthy and out of trouble, you’ll need to find ways to exercise her brain and body. If she enjoys the company of her own kind, visits to your local dog park can greatly enrich her life. Benefits of going to the dog park include:

• Physical and mental exercise for dogs Your dog can zoom around off-leash to her heart’s content, investigate new smells, wrestle with her dog buddies and fetch toys until she happily collapses. Many dogs are so mentally and physically exhausted by a trip to the dog park that they snooze for hours afterwards.
• Opportunities to maintain social skills Dogs are like us, highly social animals, and many enjoy spending time with their own species. At the dog park, your dog gets practice reading a variety of other dogs’ body language and using her own communication skills, and she gets used to meeting unfamiliar dogs on a frequent basis. These valuable experiences can help guard against the development of fear and aggression problems around other dogs.
• Fun for pet parents Dogs aren’t the only ones who enjoy dog parks. People do, too. They can exercise their dogs without much effort, socialize with other dog lovers, bond and play with their dogs, practice their off-leash training skills, and enjoy the entertaining antics of frolicking dogs.

Here are a few of the dog parks in our area:

1. Grandview Park

Grandview at 37 acres boasts grassy fields, an all-weather play area and a long winding trail with fabulous views of Mt. Ranier and the Green River Valley.  Grandview sits on a double plateau.  The parking lot and the two entrances to Grandview sit on the upper plateau – two trails and a stairway lead down to a large grass field and an all-weather play area that used to be a soccer field.  Large logs (former light posts) surround the play area and provide seating for park users.  A paved walking trail circles the play area.  An open-air shelter in the large field provides shade in the summer and protection from rain in the winter.  Grandview Dog Park provides wide open spaces for dogs to romp, play and explore making it a popular destination for regional dog owners!

2. Marymoor Park

Marymoor is an example of a model dog park.  Covering 40 acres, Marymoor Dog Park includes fields, woods and a river, with well maintained access beaches, paths, walkways and bridges.  Over six miles of looping trails offer a variety of dog walking opportunities.  Five river access points are available for dogs that like to swim and water retrieve.  Acres of natural fields are available for dog romping, fetching and exploring.  It is a myth that “dog parks are just for for dogs.”  Rather, Marymoor Dog Park provides recreation for PEOPLE – over 800,000 visitations of people with their canine companions are made to Marymoor Dog Park each year, making it one of the most popular destinations for regional recreation!

3. French Lake Park

This is a large, 10-acre park with lots of trees, a pond, and a lot of space for running around! Make sure you bring your dog's own drinking water and a towel!

As always, if you don't have time to take your dog running or to a dog park, bring 'em on down to Holiday Kennels' Doggy Day Corral! We will exercise your pets for you while you work or do homework. Remember, a tired dog is an obedient dog!

The Best Cat Toys!

Having trouble figuring out how to entertain your cat? Today we have a list of the best cat toys out there! These products are guaranteed to keep your cat busy for hours and entertain you in the process!

1. Laser Pointer

Laser pointers are an awesome way to give your cat some much-needed exercise. Cats will chase the lighted dot for as long as you're willing to play with it. Run it up walls to see how high they can jump, point it on your friend's foot and watch your cat attack! You can find these at any pet store or on sites like Amazon.com.

2. Mouse Chaser

These little contraptions are great for cats of all ages. There are different styles but the main idea is a toy (usually a mouse) on a track that when batted at, goes around the circle. Some may have a scratching-friendly center panel that you can sprinkle with catnip. You can find them at any pet store or online.

3. Catnip

Catnip is a fun treat for cats. It is essentially a "drug" for cats in that they react instantly to it and maintain an altered state of mind for up to two hours. Being a naturally occurring herb, catnip is completely safe for cats. Use of catnip should be limited to once or twice a week in a direct dose, and sparingly when applied as an extract to toys or other items. Cats will roll in it, attack it, and play with it with more intensity than cats would exhibit otherwise. The effect lasts for up to two hours.

4. Interactive Dangling Toys

These types of toys are great for when you don't have the time to sit and play with your kitties. Usually they come with a mounting attachment where you can either hang or mount one end to a wall or piece of furniture, leaving a toy or feather dangling down for your cat to bat at, attack, and bite! Use catnip extract on this type of toy to entice your cat to play with it on his own.

Supplements and Your Dog

This post is dedicated to supplements. There are a lot of different supplements on the market for joint health, digestive health and other integral parts of your dog's daily life. Learn which supplements can be beneficial for your dog and at which life stage you should consider introducing them.

***Always ask your veterinarian before introducing ANY vitamins or supplements to your dog's diet!***

Joint Health

Though more common in older and large-breed dogs, any dog can suffer from joint disease, which is caused by weakening of the connective tissue, muscles, and ligaments around the joint bones. The effects of this can be made worse by overfeeding, injury, or overexercise in puppies. Genetics is often a cause as well.

Symptoms of joint disease include limping, pain during activities such as running or jumping or awkward gait, such as the bunny hop run where dogs appear to jump rather than run with their back legs. Traditional treatments include surgery and pain killers, but many supplements are also available to reduce symptoms.

One of the most common joint supplements is glucosamine, which is often paired with chondroitin to reduce inflammation and repair connective tissue in your dog's joints. Glucosamine is a major sugar that forms and maintains joint cartilage, and chondroitin inhibits enzymes that can damage the joint tissues.

Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements can be found almost anywhere, including your local grocery store. Many owners report results from these supplements, but other owners claim better results from more expensive supplements. The course you choose will largely depend on your dog's response to the supplements.

However, glucosamine and chondroitin supplements aren't always effective, especially if there is significant joint damage. It can also take several weeks to see the effects whereas prescribed painkillers often take effect immediately.

Digestive Health

One of the simplest and most effective remedies for poor digestion is to administer probiotics to your pet. Probiotics are  supplements comprised of different kinds of friendly bacteria. The ingredients in them may vary from brand to brand, as do the methods of delivery. For instance, probiotics may come in capsule, paste, liquid, or tablet form. They may even be included in some brands of commercial pet food, although this is not considered the best source since, according to some studies, certain brands do not contain the amount or even the kind of probiotics that are stated on the labels. For this reason, supplements are considered the more effective way to go.

If your dog suffers from diarrhea, constipation, or other digestive ailments, adding a simple probiotic could be the answer.

Know which common people foods are good AND bad for your pups!

It feels good to treat your pet to human food every once in a while. Those puppy-dog eyes are hard to resist as they watch you eat and try to convince you that they are starving! It makes you want to give them a taste of everything you eat. But beware: Giving in to those eyes and giving dogs human foods can actually harm them.

In 2007, the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center received more than 130,000 calls. Most cases of animal poisoning were caused by common human foods and household items.

Many foods we enjoy can be dangerous to animals. It's best to stick to pet food and a diet recommended by your vet. Here are a few of the most toxic foods that can harm your pet:

Bad news foods

Avocados 
They contain a toxic component called persin, which can damage heart, lung and other tissue in many animals. This fruit is very toxic to dogs, cats and most animals.

Beer 
Alcoholic beverages can cause the same damage to an animal's liver and brain as they cause in humans. But the effects can be deadly on animals since they are much smaller than us. The smaller the animal, the more deadly the effects can be. Even a small amount of alcohol may cause vomiting and damage the liver and brain.

Nuts 
Walnuts and macadamia nuts are especially toxic. Effects can be anything from vomiting to paralysis to death. Within 12 hours of eating the nuts, pets start to develop symptoms such as an inability to stand or walk, vomiting, hyperthermia (elevated body temperature), weakness, and an elevated heart rate. These symptoms can be even worse if your dog eats some chocolate with the nuts. The effect can cause kidney failure, often leading to death.

Chocolate 
Chocolate contains theobromine, which can kill your pet if eaten in large quantities. Dark and unsweetened baking chocolates are especially dangerous. Giving your pup a piece of chocolate cake or even letting him lick the chocolate icing on the cake could cause him to become ill. Theobromine can also cause a dog or cat's heart to beat very rapidly or irregularly, which could result in death if the pet is exercising or overly active.

Candy 
Candy or anything containing Xylitol (a common sweetener found in some diet products) can cause a sudden drop in an animal's blood sugar, loss of coordination and seizures. If left untreated, the animal could die.

Caffeine 
Coffee, tea or any product that contains caffeine stimulates an animal's central nervous and cardiac systems. This can lead to restlessness, heart palpitations and death, depending on how much the animal consumes.

Grapes and Raisins 
Grapes and raisins can lead to kidney failure in dogs. As little as a single serving of raisins can kill them. And the effects are cumulative, which means that even if a dog eats just one or two grapes or raisins regularly, the toxin that builds in his system will eventually kill him.

Onions 
Onions are another common food that can be highly toxic to pets. They can destroy an animal's red blood cells and lead to anemia, weakness and breathing difficulties. Their effects are also cumulative over time.

Medicine 
Hide medicine from your pets just like you would from your children. The most common cause of pet poisoning is from animals ingesting a medicine or drug normally prescribed for humans.

And this is not just because furry pals are getting into their pet parent's medicine cabinets. In many cases, pet owners give their feline and canine friends an over-the-counter medication to ease an animal's pain. But acetaminophen and ibuprofen, the active ingredients in many common pain relievers, are extremely toxic to dogs and cats. They can cause gastric ulcers, liver damage, kidney failure and sometimes death.

Good news foods

There are a few things that you CAN give to your furry pal. However, you should always consult a veterinarian before introducing a new food item to your pet.

Although these foods are normally harmless, some animals have sensitive gastrointestinal tracts. So even these healthy treats should be avoided if they cause gastrointestinal upset for your pet. Keep in mind that these and other "extras" should not make up more than 5 to 10 percent of the pet's daily caloric intake.

Lean meats 
Any cooked lean meat should be fine for most dogs. High-fat meats, chicken skin and fat from steaks or roasts are not recommended. Ingestion may lead to gastrointestinal upset or even pancreatitis. This can be a very painful condition for dogs. In addition, most companion animals do not need extra fat in their diets. Never give your pet meat with the bone in it. Animals can choke on the bones, and they can splinter as well.

Vegetables 
Carrot sticks, green beans, cucumber slices and zucchini slices are all OK.

Fruit 
Apple slices, orange slices, bananas and watermelon are all OK. Make sure the seeds have been taken out; seeds are not good for your pet!

Baked potatoes 
Plain baked potatoes are fine, but make sure they are cooked — no unripe potatoes or potato plants.

Bread 
Plain cooked bread is fine; just make sure there are no nuts or raisins added.

Rice and pasta 
Plain, cooked pasta and white rice are OK. Often veterinarians recommend plain rice with some boiled chicken when gastrointestinal upset is present.


In case of emergency

Despite all the precautions you take to keep your pet pals safe, accidents do happen. That's why the ASPCA, Humane Society and animal advocates advise pet owners to keep the telephone numbers of their local veterinarian and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — (888) 426-4435 — in a prominent location.

Common signs of poisoning include muscle tremors or seizures; vomiting and diarrhea; drooling; redness of skin, ears and eyes; and swelling and bleeding.

If you suspect your pet has consumed, inhaled or come in contact with a toxic substance, stay calm and call for help immediately. If you see your pet consuming anything you think might be toxic, seek emergency help immediately even if she or he is not exhibiting any symptoms.

Keeping Your Dog's Feet Cool

Dog's feet and pads are tough, right? Most people are aware that foot pads can be injured by stepping on something sharp, but what about something hot? Dangerously hot pavement and metal surfaces are hard to avoid in the heat of summer. Running on hard pavement is tough on feet, too. Read this blog to learn about this potential hazard and how to minimize risk.

Pavement, metal or tar-coated asphalt get extremely hot in the summer sun. We remember to wear sandals, walk on the grass and not sit down on these surface in the heat of the day.

Harder to remember is summer heat and our dog's feet. Unlike the obvious wounds such as lacerations or foot infections (fungal, bacterial), burned pads may not be readily apparent to the eye.

Signs of Burned Pads:

• limping or refusing to walk
• licking or chewing at the feet
• pads darker in color
• missing part of pad
• blisters or redness

Burned Pad First Aid

It is important to keep the foot area cool and clean. As soon as you notice the problem (limping along on the road), flush with cool water or a cool compress if available. Get the dog to a grassy area or if possible, carry him.

At first chance, your vet should examine your dog for signs of deeper burns, blisters and possibility of infection. Your vet will determine if antibiotics or pain medication is needed. Washing the feet with a gentle cleanser and keeping them clean is important. Bandaging can be difficult to do and to maintain (monitor and change often), but licking must be kept to a minimum. Some dogs will tolerate a sock to keep the area clean, but caution is advised for dogs that may chew and ingest the sock. Lick deterrents (bitter sprays) may help reduce the damage caused by licking.

Best advice is to be mindful of hot surfaces -- asphalt and metal (i.e. boat dock, car or truck surfaces) -- and walk your dog on the cool side of the street or in the grass. Another tip is to lay down a wet towel for your dog to stand on when grassy areas are not available. Good way to keep cool while loading up the car.

Walking Your Dog!

Hey you, new pooch parent—yeah, you with the cute puppy who can’t stop pulling! Want some tricks to keep Trixie on task? Or perhaps you’re already an old pro but want to make your outdoor excursions more fun for both you and your dog.  Follow our insider tips and your pooch will be eager to get going as soon as you pick up the leash!

Leashes

What’s the best type of leash? “Use whatever you feel most comfortable holding,” recommends the ASPCA Animal Behavior Center’s Kristen Collins, CPDT.

• Flexi-leads are best reserved for walks in the park, when it’s safe for a dog to explore a bit further away from her pet parent. They are NOT a good idea if you’re walking in an area with high foot traffic or off-leash dogs, as the long line may get wrapped around your dog, a person’s leg or another dog.
• Many people think chain leashes look nice, but they are much heavier than nylon or leather, and they can be very hard on the hands. Even so, they sometimes work well for dogs who like to tug or bite the leash. “Metal doesn’t feel nearly as nice in a dog’s mouth,” explains Collins. 
• Leather leashes are a good option because they are easiest on the hands. 
• Nylon leashes can cut into hands or give a pet parent “leash burn” if a dog pulls a lot or unexpectedly lunges forward. But they come in many stylish colors and designs, and they hold up well after repeated exposure to rain and snow.

Pulling

Constant pulling on the leash makes walks stressful for both of you. “It’s a common problem that can happen for a number of reasons,” says Collins.

• If your dog darts after local wildlife, it may help to walk him when critters are less likely to be out and about; avoid dawn and dusk. You can also check out our article Dogs Who Are Reactive on Leash. 
• Try using a head halter to walk a dog who’s excitable on leash. “They provide power steering for dog parents!” says Collins. “The Gentle Leader^® by Premier^® Pet Products is my personal favorite.” 

Grass and Flower Beds

The experts at the ASPCA Poison Control Center want you to keep your walks toxin-free: 

• During the warmer months, it’s important to keep your pet safe from toxic lawn and garden products. Insecticides and certain types of mulch can cause problems for our furry friends—during neighborhood strolls, please be sure to keep your pooch off the lawns of others. 
• Even though popular spring bulb plants like tulips and daffodils add much to our landscape, they can cause significant stomach problems for our furry friends. If your pooch likes to stop and smell—or nibble—the flowers, please keep him on a short leash during your walks.

Greeting

It’s great that your friendly pooch loves meeting people during walks—but not so great that she jumps up on them. “The basic idea is to teach your dog how to sit on cue and then require her to sit to interact with people,” says Collins. “No sitting, no greeting. But if she sits, she gets to enjoy the reward of greeting her friends.” It doesn’t hurt to reward the dog with a treat—or ask the person whom she’s greeting to offer a treat.

Three Things To Bring

• If you’re planning an extended walk, be sure to bring water for your dog—especially if it’s warm outside. 
• Don’t forget the goodies! Walks are great training opportunities. Bring Fido’s fave treats along, and practice tricks and obedience while you’re out in the world. “This will solidify your dog’s skills and convince him that going on walks is fantastic fun!” says Collins. 
• Don’t get caught without extra poop bags, particularly if you’re going on a long walk.  (P.S. This is a great way to recycle all those plastic grocery bags!)

Fleas!

If you notice your dog scratching and chewing at his own skin, you might want to check for fleas! Fleas not only cause bite marks, severe itching, and sometimes allergic reactions; they also are capable of spreading a parasitic tapeworm. Fleas are nothing to mess around with, so if your dog gets fleas, you're going to want to get them taken care of as soon as possible.

First, give us a call (253-872-8015) and set up a grooming appointment. Make sure you mention that you need your dog to have a flea treatment. Our groomer will use a special shampoo treatment to kill the live fleas that are on your dog's body as well as soothe sore, inflamed skin. A preventative flea treatment will then be applied that will keep your dog protected for a whole month.

While your dog is at the salon, make sure you wash and dry on hot all bedding, toys, and clothing that your dog sleeps on, plays with, or comes into contact with. You may also want to pick up a carpet treatment especially for fleas and vacuum all carpeted areas. Also vacuum out your car.

When it is time to pick up your dog, the groomer will explain the severity of the infestation and let you know what you can do at home to make sure your dog stays healthy and doesn't get re-infested!

Does your cat like to chew plastic, paper, or other things?

Domesticated cats have given up most of their wild ways for a cushy life with humans.

One look at their teeth, however, quickly reminds us that felines haven't lost their ability to bite and chew, just like their untamed cousins.

What they do with those teeth can be hazardous to all sorts of household objects -- and even to cats themselves if the nosh item of choice happens to be plastic.

What Could Possibly Cause My Cat to Chew Plastic?

The chewing or eating of any nonfood items -- dirt, electrical cords, carpeting and plastic -- is known as pica. "I occasionally see a cat who likes to chew plastic. Most of them are normal household items, such as milk jug rings, the plastic ends of mini blind cords and straws," explains Dr. Amy Pike, DVM, of Veterinary Behavior Consultations in St. Louis, Mo.

More from Vetstreet.com: 7 Things That Drive Veterinarians Crazy

There are various medical reasons for why a cat would develop pica, including dental disease or gastrointestinal disorders, so Dr. Pike advises cat owners to take their pet to a veterinarian to see if the pica symptoms are related to an underlying medical problem.

"Cats may also chew plastic due to anxiety," says Dr. Pike, noting that it could either be generalized anxiety or a reaction to a lack of environmental enrichment. Other major causes of anxiety that could induce a kitty to chew plastic: Social conflict with other felines in the household or situational stresses, such as storm phobias or separation anxiety.

"If the cat is anxious, there is a benefit to the cat -- it is a coping mechanism that may help to diminish anxiety, much like hair twirling or biting your nails," says Dr. Pike. "If the cause is not anxiety, chewing on plastic may just be something that the cat enjoys doing. However, the dangers include trauma to the gums or other soft tissues in the mouth, as well as obstruction in the GI tract."

How Can I Get My Cat to Stop Munching on Plastic?

If your vet has ruled out medical causes, and determined that anxiety is the root cause of the pica, Dr. Pike suggests enriching your kitty's home life by increasing playtime and adding more visual stimulation with things like cat puzzles and perches.

If the culprit behind the behavior is a social conflict between housemates, talk to your vet about seeing a veterinary behaviorist, who may recommend ways to reduce inter-cat aggression. Pheromones or medications might also help calm an anxious chewer.

Summer Pet Care

When the lazy days of barbecues and swimming pools roll around, you can make them even better by sharing them with your favorite pet. By following a few summer pet safety tips, you can keep your animal friends healthy and enjoy the months of sun and fun.

• Never leave your pet in the car. Though it may seem cool outside, the sun can raise the temperature inside your car to 120 degrees Fahrenheit in a matter of minutes, even with the windows rolled down. If you need to run some errands, leave the furry ones at home.
• As you’re outside enjoying the warm weather, keep your pet leashed. It will keep her from getting lost, fighting other animals, and eating and drinking things that could make her sick. This tip isn't just for dogs--even cats can learn to walk on a leash if you train them.
• Keep them hydrated. Whether you’re indoors or out, both you and your pet need access to lots of fresh water during the summer, so check her water bowl several times a day to be sure it’s full. If you and your furry friend venture forth for the afternoon, bring plenty of water for both of you.
• Pets need sunscreen too. Though all that fur helps protect her, your pet can get sunburned, particularly if she has light skin and hair. Sunburn in animals can cause problems similar to those it can cause in people, including pain, peeling, and skin cancer. So keep your pet out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and when you do go out, rub a bit of sunblock on unprotected areas like the tips of her ears, the skin around her lips, and the tip of her nose.
• Say no to tangles. Keeping your pet well groomed will help her hair do what it was designed to do: protect her from the sun and insulate her from the heat. If she has extremely thick hair or a lot of mats and tangles, her fur may trap too much heat, so you may want to clip her.
• Watch out for antifreeze. Hot weather may tempt your pet to drink from puddles in the street, which can contain antifreeze and other chemicals. Antifreeze has a sweet taste that animals like, but it’s extremely toxic. When you’re walking your pet, make sure she doesn’t sneak a drink from the street.
• Be cautious on humid days. Humidity interferes with animals’ ability to rid themselves of excess body heat. When we overheat we sweat, and when the sweat dries it takes excess heat with it. Our four-legged friends only perspire around their paws, which is not enough to cool the body. To rid themselves of excess heat, animals pant. Air moves through the nasal passages, which picks up excess heat from the body. As it is expelled through the mouth, the extra heat leaves along with it. Although this is a very efficient way to control body heat, it is severely limited in areas of high humidity or when the animal is in close quarters.
• Make sure your pet doesn’t overexert herself. Though exercise is an important part of keeping your dog or cat at a healthy weight, which helps her body stay cool, overdoing it can cause her to overheat. Keep the walks to a gentle pace and make sure she has plenty of water. If she’s panting a lot or seems exhausted, it’s time to stop.
• Take it easy on pets that can’t deal with the heat. Elderly, very young, and ill animals have a hard time regulating their body temperature, so make sure they stay cool and out of the sun on steamy summer days. Dogs with snub noses, such as Pekingese, pugs, and bulldogs, have a hard time staying cool because they can’t pant efficiently, so they also need to stay out of the heat. Overweight dogs are also more prone to overheating, because their extra layers of fat act as insulation, which traps heat in their bodies and restricts their breathing capabilities.
• Bring them inside. Animals shouldn’t be left outside unsupervised on long, hot days, even in the shade. Shade can move throughout the afternoon, and pets can become ill quickly if they overheat, so keep them inside as much as possible. If you must leave your pet in the backyard, keep a close eye on her and bring her in when you can.
• Keep an eye out for heatstroke. Heatstroke is a medical emergency. If you suspect your pet has heatstroke (see "Signs of Heatstroke,"below), you must act quickly and calmly. Have someone call a veterinarian immediately. In the meantime, lower the animal’s body temperature by applying towels soaked in cool water to the hairless areas of the body. Often the pet will respond after only a few minutes of cooling, only to falter again with his temperature soaring back up or falling to well below what is normal. With this in mind, remember that it is imperative to get the animal to a veterinarian immediately. Once your pet is in the veterinarian’s care, treatment may include further cooling techniques, intravenous fluid therapy to counter shock, or medication to prevent or reverse brain damage.
  Even with emergency treatment, heatstroke can be fatal. The best cure is prevention, and Fido and Fluffy are relying on you to keep them out of harm’s way. Summer does not have to be fraught with peril--with ample precaution, both you and your furry friends can enjoy those long, hot dog-days of summer.
  
  Signs of Heatstroke:
  
• Panting
• Staring
• Anxious expression
• Refusal to obey commands
• Warm, dry skin
• High fever
• Rapid heartbeat
• Vomiting
• Collapse

Keeping Your Pets Safe on July 4th

The crash and boom of fireworks are a little scary for pets, especially those that are already a little skittish.

Regional Animal Services of King County is preparing for the 4th of July  by teaching people to help families find their pets. It's called Mission Reunite, and on Saturday they were training volunteers to help facilitate those reunions. Organizers say it's good to prepare for the holiday now by making sure your animals are tagged and microchipped - and plan on keeping them indoors

But even with those things, pets can still get away. The county says this area has a low rate of pet and owner reunions and they want to change that by giving pet owners support and strategies so they can bring dogs and cats home. Boarding your pet during the 4th of July holiday is a good alternative to keeping them locked up at home. Boarding facilities are designed with security in mind so you won't have to worry about your pet getting away because they are scared.

"The information about how to look for a missing dog versus of how to look for a missing cat, giving them posters and tagging their car with lost dog information, just giving them the tools they need to find their missing pet,” said Kat Albrecht, the founder of Missing Pets Partnership.

Albrecht says when they get scared dogs and cats do different things. Cats are more likely to run and hide somewhere near their home, possibly looking for shelter in a neighbors backyard, but dogs can run miles away and they’ll often get picked up by somebody.

The Importance of Training Your Dog

Happy Monday, fans! This week's blog post is all about why it is important to make sure your dog receives adequate training. Dog training is the foundation to having a happy, obedient dog and it is important to start teaching your dog good behavior as soon as they are old enough and mature enough to be able to understand and retain the information you are giving them.

It is important to make sure you find a training center that is reputable and ethical. If you're in Western Washington (this is most of you), our favorites are Jan at Sunstar American Bulldogs and Weimaraners and the crew at Family Dog Training Center. Once you choose a path that applies to your lifestyle and your dogs, the first step is basic manners and obedience.

When you take the time to give your dog the basic obedience training he needs, you develop a healthy, nurturing relationship with him which is the foundation for an easier-to-train dog in the future. Once you've gone through basic obedience with your dog, you can choose to continue to more advanced commands or even agility training if you have the time!

Dog agility is a dog sport in which a handler directs a dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy. Dogs run off-leash with no food or toys as incentives, and the handler can touch neither dog nor obstacles. Agility training is for both dog and handler as the voice commands required can take some time to master. Talk to your dog trainer about if agility training would be right for you and your dog.

Cat Adoption Specials in the Northwest

It's cat and kitten season, and if you're looking to add a new family member to your home, visit the following shelters for deals on cats and kittens!

To start, at the Seattle Animal Shelter, adoption fees for adult cats are being waived and adoption fees for kittens are reduced. It is kitten season, and the shelter is becoming extremely full with adorable cats and kittens that would love a safe home! All adoptions from the Seattle Animal Shelter include initial vaccinations, deworming, feline leukemia testing, a two-year license (if you have a Seattle address) and a certificate for a free health examination at a local vet.

At the King County Animal Shelter, cat adoption fees have been reduced to $30. This package includes all initial vaccinations, deworming, feline leukemia testing, spay/neuter surgery, starter bag of pet food, collar, and cat carrier. 

Pet First Aid - Basic Procedures

Emergency treatment and first aid for pets should never be used as a substitute for veterinary care. But it may save your pet's life before you can get your pet to a veterinarian.

Poisoning and Exposure to Toxins
Poisoning is a pet emergency that causes a great deal of confusion for pet owners. In general, any products that are harmful for people are also harmful for pets. Examples include cleaning products, rodent poisons and antifreeze. But you also need to be aware of common food items that may be harmful to your pet. 

If your pet's skin or eyes are exposed to a toxic product (such as many cleaning products), check the product label for the instructions for people exposed to the product; if the label instructs you to wash your hands with soap and water if you're exposed, then wash your pet's skin with soap and water (don't get any into its eyes, mouth or nose). If the label tells you to flush the skin or eyes with water, do this for your pet as soon as possible (if you can do it safely), and call a veterinarian immediately.

If you know your pet has consumed something that may be harmful, or if the animal is having seizures, losing consciousness, is unconscious or is having difficulty breathing, telephone your veterinarian, emergency veterinary clinic or the Animal Poison Control Center hotline (888.426.4435 – available 365 days/year, 24 hours/day) immediately. There is a fee for the consultation.

If possible, have the following information available:

• Species, breed, age, sex, weight and number of animals involved
• Symptoms
• Name/description of the substance that is in question; the amount the animal was exposed to; and the length of time of the exposure (how long it's been since your pet ate it or was exposed to it).
• Have the product container/packaging available for reference.

Collect any material your pet may have vomited or chewed, and place it in a plastic sealable bag to take with you when you bring your animal in for veterinary treatment.

Seizures

• Keep your pet away from any objects (including furniture) that might hurt it. Do not try to restrain the pet.
• Time the seizure (they usually last 2-3 minutes).
• After the seizure has stopped, keep your pet as warm and quiet as possible and contact your veterinarian.

Fractures

• Muzzle your pet.
• Gently lay your pet on a flat surface for support.
• While transporting your injured pet to a veterinarian, use a stretcher (you can use a board or other firm surface as a stretcher, or use a throw rug or blanket as a sling). If possible, secure the pet to the stretcher (make sure you don't put pressure on the injured area or the animal's chest) for transport—this may be as simple as wrapping a blanket around them.
• You can attempt to set the fracture with a homemade splint, but remember that a badly-placed splint may cause more harm than good. If in doubt, it is always best to leave the bandaging and splinting to a veterinarian.

Bleeding (external)

• Muzzle your pet.
• Press a clean, thick gauze pad over the wound, and keep pressure over the wound with your hand until the blood starts clotting. This will often take several minutes for the clot to be strong enough to stop the bleeding. Instead of checking it every few seconds to see if it has clotted, hold pressure on it for a minimum of 3 minutes and then check it.
• If bleeding is severe and on the legs, apply a tourniquet (using an elastic band or gauze) between the wound and the body, and apply a bandage and pressure over the wound. Loosen the tourniquet for 20 seconds every 15-20 minutes. Severe bleeding can quickly be life-threatening—get your animal to a veterinarian immediately if this occurs.

Bleeding (internal)

• Symptoms: bleeding from nose, mouth, rectum, coughing up blood, blood in urine, pale gums, collapse, weak and rapid pulse.
• Keep animal as warm and quiet as possible and transport immediately to a veterinarian.

Burns

• Chemical
  • Muzzle the animal.
  • Flush burn immediately with large quantities of water.
• Severe
  • Muzzle the animal.
  • Quickly apply ice water compress to burned area.

Choking

• Symptoms: difficulty breathing, excessive pawing at the mouth, choking sounds when breathing or coughing, blue-tinged lips/tongue.
• Use caution – a choking pet is more likely to bite in its panic.
• If the pet can still breathe, keep it calm and get it to a veterinarian.
• Look into the pet's mouth to see if a foreign object is visible. If you see an object, gently try to remove it with pliers or tweezers, but be careful not to push the object further down the throat. Don't spend a lot of time trying to remove it if it's not easy to reach—don't delay, and get your pet to a veterinarian immediately.
• If you can't remove the object or your pet collapses, place both hands on the side of your pet's rib cage and apply firm quick pressure, or lay your pet on its side and strike the rib cage firmly with the palm of your hand 3-4 times. The idea behind this is to sharply push air out of their lungs and push the object out from behind. Keep repeating this until the object is dislodged or until you arrive at the veterinarian's office.

Heatstroke

• Never leave your pet in the car on warm days. The temperature inside a car can rise very quickly to dangerous levels, even on milder days. Pets can succumb to heatstroke very easily and must be treated very quickly to give them the best chance of survival.
• If you cannot immediately get your pet to a veterinarian, move it to a shaded area and out of direct sunlight.
• Place a cool or cold, wet towel around its neck and head (do not cover your pet's eyes, nose or mouth).
• Remove the towel, wring it out, and rewet it and rewrap it every few minutes as you cool the animal.
• Pour or use a hose to keep water running over the animal's body (especially the abdomen and between the hind legs), and use your hands to massage its legs and sweep the water away as it absorbs the body heat.
• Transport the pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Shock

• Symptoms: weak pulse, shallow breathing, nervousness, dazed eyes.
• Usually follows severe injury or extreme fright.
• Keep animal restrained, warm and quiet.
• If animal is unconscious, keep head level with rest of body.
• Transport the pet immediately to a veterinarian.

What to do if your pet is not breathing

• Stay calm
• If possible, have another person call the veterinarian while you help your pet.
• Check to see if your pet is unconscious.
• Open your pet's airway by gently grasping its tongue and pulling it forward (out of the mouth) until it is flat. Check the animal's throat to see if there are any foreign objects blocking the airway.
• Perform rescue breathing by closing your pet's mouth (hold it closed with your hand) and breathing with your mouth directly into its nose until you see the animal's chest expand. Once the chest expands, continue the rescue breathing once every 4 or 5 seconds.

What to do if your pet has no heartbeat
Do not begin chest compressions until you've secured an airway and started rescue breathing.

• Gently lay your pet on its right side on a firm surface. The heart is located in the lower half of the chest on the left side, just behind the elbow of the front left leg. Place one hand underneath the pet's chest for support and place the other hand over the heart.
• For dogs, press down gently on your pet's heart about one inch for medium-sized dogs; press harder for larger animals and with less force for smaller animals.
• To massage the hearts of cats and other tiny pets, cradle your hand around the animal's chest so your thumb is on the left side of the chest and your fingers are on the right side of the chest, and compress the chest by squeezing it between your thumb and fingers.
• Press down 80-120 times per minute for larger animals and 100-150 times per minute for smaller ones.
• Don't perform rescue breathing and chest compressions at the same exact time; alternate the chest compressions with the rescue breaths, or work as a team with another person so one person performs chest compressions for 4-5 seconds and stops long enough to allow the other person to give one rescue breath.
• Continue until you can hear a heartbeat and your pet is breathing regularly, or you have arrived at the veterinary clinic and they can take over the resuscitation attempts.

Please remember that your pet's likelihood of surviving with resuscitation is very low. However, in an emergency it may give your pet its only chance.

This Week's Special

This week's special is: 10% off doggy daycare when you mention Facebook!

Tips for Swimming with your Dog

Swimming with Dogs:
Some breeds are natural water dogs, but most dogs can learn to enjoy a swim now and then.
* Introduce a dog to water as early as possible, and make sure the experience is a positive one. Look for a pleasant, quiet place with shallow water. Keep the dog on leash; you can use a long leash, such as one made of nylon that will dry easily. Start the dog at the water's edge, then him let him trot there awhile. Wade in with the dog. If he inches in a little on his own, praise him.
* Never force a dog into the water, and do not let the dog enter deep water. You can toss a ball a couple of feet to encourage him to venture in a little deeper, but you don't want him to get in literally or figuratively over his head. Belly-deep is deep enough.
* Bring fresh water for your dog. Even freshwater streams and lakes can contain parasites and unhealthy bacteria.
* Do not let your dog swim into currents.
* It may be easy for a dog to jump into deep water, but not easy to get out. A dog can panic and possibly drown. Without an easily accessible ramp, a dog may not be able to get out of a swimming pool or jump back onto a dock. So avoid deep water.
* If you are swimming in lakes or boating, get your dog a well-fitted canine life vest. You can use a long nylon lead to prevent escapes. Keep watch to make sure he does not get tangled in the lead. As always, take fresh water for you and your dog.
* Warning: There are alligators in water bodies in Florida and coastal towns in other southern states.
* Owners who fish should take steps to make sure their pets cannot access their fishing lines, lures, hooks and bait.
* Also keep them away from feces and fish and shellfish washed up on the shore, which can contain toxins.
* In addition to using sunblock (see above), make sure your dog has access to shade. Too much sun can lead to a medical emergency.
* At the beach, sand and salt water can irritate paw pads. Rinse paws immediately after visiting the beach.
* Dry out ears immediately after playing in the water to prevent ear infections.
* If you use a flea collar, remove the flea collar before letting a dog enter water, since wet flea collars can irritate the skin, and the active ingredients will wash off.
* Pools. If you have a pool, keep it securely fenced off and, when not in use, covered with a sturdy pool cover. To enable dogs and children a way to climb out of the water, the pool needs to have graded steps out of the pool. Dogs and toddlers cannot climb ladders. If a dog cannot get out of the water, he will soon tire of paddling and drown. Also, do not assume a dog will automatically know where the steps are and how to exit the pool. You need to teach him.
* For pools secured into the cement around the pool with heavy duty springs and fasteners, the pool cover should be made of nylon mesh to allow drainage. Water cannot drain off solid fabric, so a dog or small child could slip and drown in the water on the pool cover.