Pet Care Services

A Simple, Easy Dog Training Plan For 2012

admin — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:17:08 +0000

You dreamed of bringing home Lassie, but you may have a dog that acts more like Cujo! Fortunately, continuing your training sessions will pay off, with a dog that is well behaved and joy to be around.

Never give up on your dog, no matter how exhausted you are. Without reinforcement, your dog will revert to his old behaviors. The learning process for dogs is a constant one; with reminders and reinforcements needed along the way.

During inappropriate chewing training, set your dog up for success. Even more so, an inappropriately-chewing dog needs to be protected. Items like hairbrushes can cause a dog to choke or could block their airway.

If you have a puppy that likes to chew on everything when you are away from home, the easiest solution is to consider an indoor or outdoor kennel to use in your absence. If this is not an option for you, the simplest way keep him from chewing is to close the doors to rooms that have appealing items and put other tempting items out of his reach.

Interesting dog health tip: Read up on food intolerance in dogs your dog's behavior is directly influenced by their diet.

Accidents will happen sometimes when you house train your pet. Make sure to clean up accidents as soon as they happen. If the accident is left behind, the smell will make your pet think it's okay to eliminate in that spot. It will be difficult to discourage his eliminating in that spot once a habit is formed. Many cleaning products are made just to eliminate this order, you can find them at any pet store.

If you are looking to train your dog to not use the bathroom inside, housebreaking pads are counter productive. Wee-wee pads are prone to leaks, which make your dog think that it is okay to eliminate in that area due to the smell. Housebreaking pads encourage dogs that indoor bathroom use is okay; similar objects the shape and size of the pads may be used by a mistaken puppy. Always teach your pet that he must go outside to use the bathroom.

The most important part of dog training is to ensure that dog know its name. If you want to have control of your dog, you have to teach him to respond to you. Call them to you at least ten times a day. Never call your dog over to you in order to punish it, either.

Get your dog the proper nutrition required for canine health. An unhealthy diet can have several negative effects on your dog. If your dog isn't getting what it needs to stay healthy, it could really struggle to find the energy for training or may act out in other ways. By making small changes to your dog's diet, you can alter their receptiveness to the training.

If your dog has problems with destructive chewing, he may be suffering from anxiety or boredom. Enclosing him in a crate will prevent accidents from occurring and leaving him a chew toy will discourage destruction of your property.

People are often amazed about how easy it can be to train your dog and how quick they see changes. If you are having behavior problems with your dog, read on for some solutions.

Pet Insurance and Obesity

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:42:49 +0000

Pet-lovers know the importance of a healthy diet for their cats and dogs, but many can’t resist the occasional treat. Now animal charity the PDSA warns that pet obesity rates could reach 50% by 2013, which is shocking news for responsible pet owners.*

Obesity in cats and dogs is preventable with a good diet and regular exercise, but it can cause health problems. A good pet health insurance policy will cover vet’s bills, but owners need to do their bit to make sure obesity-related health problems are kept to a minimum.

Once your pet crosses the line from cute and cuddly to obese, it can be at risk from serious health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and cancer. Lack of mobility and carrying extra weight can lead to problems with walking and orthopaedic disease and difficulty breathing.

Older dogs and cats are at risk from obesity, mostly due to their sedentary lifestyle, and certain breeds are more prone than others.

The RSPCA suggests carrying out a few checks to make sure your pet isn’t heading for obesity:

- You should be able to see the outline of your pet’s ribs, and feel them, as they shouldn’t be covered by excess body fat.

- When you look at your pet from above, you should be able to see and feel your pet’s waistline.

- Your pet’s stomach should be tucked up, rather than hanging down, when you look at it from the side.

If you’re in any doubt about whether your pet’s weight is within the acceptable limits, your vet should be able to weigh them and advise you on how to start a weight-loss plan if necessary.

There are many steps you can take to prevent obesity in your cat or dog:

Give them regular exercise:
With dogs, this is as easy as going for more, longer walks. A cat may benefit from having a new toy to chase to get it moving around.

Don’t overfeed:
Cats and dogs can be crafty when it comes to “asking” for food, but controlled portions and regular mealtimes are good for them.

Limit the treats:
You might think you’re being kind giving your pet sweet treats, but they don’t need them in their diet. If you automatically throw your leftovers into the dog or cat bowl, think again as the calories can really add up.

* www.pdsa.org.uk/about-us/media-pr-centre/news/1240_pet-slimming-champs-reveal-their-vital-stats

Company Profile:

John Lewis Insurance offers a range of insurance services selected by the John Lewis Partnership. These include car, home, life, travel, wedding, event and dog and cat insurance policies.

For more information about John Lewis Pet Insurance please visit the website here – www.johnlewis-insurance.com.

John Lewis Insurance is a trading name of John Lewis plc. John Lewis plc is an appointed representative of AXA Insurance UK plc which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and eligibility criteria apply. A full copy of the policy wording and the insurance complaints procedure are available on request.

K9 Magazine’s Christmas Dog Safety Warning

admin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:45:05 +0000

K9 Magazine, the digital dog magazine, has cautioned dog owners to be on their guard during the festive season.

Christmas time presents a series of risks to dog health, according to K9 Magazine.

While home may be the ideal destination this time of year, many pet owners find that there is no place like the vet's office for the holidays. Unfortunately, the most wonderful time of the year is also one of the most dangerous for pets.

K9 Magazine has advised dog owners to be more vigilant and expands on this advice with a short guide entitled 5 Tips To Save Your Dog's Life which includes guidance on issues such as:

- Know the normal temperature for a dog
- Spot symptoms of illness in dogs
- Teach dogs to come back every time

Ryan O'Meara, K9 Magazine editor and publisher:

"Christmas brings with a lot of fun, food and excitement. Unfortunately this break in routine can lead to accidents involving dogs. It's always wise to try and keep your dog's normal routine as close as possible even throughout the seasonal festivities. Too much rich food or access to objects left lying around can be the cause of many vet trips each year."

Every year PDSA vets and nurses treat hundreds of pets that have swallowed 'foreign bodies' such as toys, string and stones. Around Christmas, there are always pets brought into PDSA PetAid hospitals needing emergency treatment after swallowing decorations or getting hurt by falling Christmas trees – such as Charlie the Yorkshire Terrier who swallowed a star shaped decoration last December.

[Distributed by petbuzz]

Festive Pet Eats Entire Advent Calendar

admin — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:51:53 +0000

Christmas cheer nearly turned to tears for a Humberside family after their pet dog ate the treats from an advent calendar – then needed emergency veterinary treatment for chocolate poisoning.

Three-year-old Lhasa Apso, Daisy, helped herself to the goodies when owner Frances Hird (34) left the calendar unattended as she took daughter Holly to school from their home in Spring Bank West, Hull:

“When I got back 15 minutes later, I noticed the house was eerily quiet, and wondered where Daisy was,” recalls Frances. “I ran upstairs and found her sitting among the remains of Holly’s advent calendar. It was in tatters and all the chocolates were gone.”

Daisy became ill as a result of her sweet treats so Frances took her to Hull PDSA PetAid hospital, located on Brunswick Avenue. Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Murtagh McDonnell, recalls the case:

“Daisy came into us suffering from a very painful stomach, as she’d eaten quite a lot of chocolate for a small dog. Human chocolate can be deadly to dogs because it contains theobromine which is highly poisonous. We immediately gave Daisy injections to counteract the side effects of the poisoning and thankfully there appeared to be no serious harm done.”

This was a great relief to Frances, who brought her sweet-toothed pet back to the hospital the next day for a check-up and received the all-clear. “I want to say a big thank you to PDSA for treating Daisy. Within hours she was back to her normal self again. We’ll be making sure that sweets and chocolates are kept out of her way from now on.”

Chocolate poisoning is one of the many Christmas related pet hazards PDSA vets encounter over the festive season. Some people give their pets chocolates as treats, not realising how dangerous it is, or, as in this case, accidentally leave them within easy reach of curious paws.

Murtagh added: “Daisy was very lucky in this instance, but chocolate can be deadly. If you want to treat your pet this Christmas, try a savoury pet treat, new toy, a nice long walk or game of fetch!”

PDSA’s top five Christmas pet hazards:

1. Swallowing objects – accidents have included eating toys, decorations and batteries.

2. Accidental poisoning through chocolate and other human foods, such as raisins and artificial sweeteners.

3. Gastric torsion – a twisted stomach often caused by vigorous exercise immediately after a large meal.

4. Hypothermia – low body temperature from exposure to cold weather.

Snaggle Foot Dog Walks and Pet Care

admin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 23:04:49 +0000

The pets of Powell are brimming with excitement over the neighborhood’s recent opening of Snaggle Foot Dog Walks & Pet Care, an at-home pet care company providing pets with a full lineup of services including the most popular offerings of daily dog walks and pet sitting.

Franchisee Tom Schwieterman heads the Powell location with over 20 years’ of experience in the customer service industry and a lifetime love of animals.

“I’ve lived with pets ever since I was a kid and they’ve always been just another member of our family. Everyone I encounter feels the same way about their pets–which is why I know this service is much welcomed and needed in our community, ” says Schwieterman.

Snaggle Foot’s premise is to provide a high level of professional care for pets at home–the familiar alternative to noisy kennels and facilities. And having been a pet owner all of his life, Schwieterman is very familiar with the dilemma of what to do with pets when traveling. “I know from personal experience that traditional kennels can be an anxiety-inducing experience for our pets. Being that Snaggle Foot’s services can cost less than a boarding facility, especially for households with multiple pets, I feel that we offer the superior option when it comes to pet care.”

As with all Snaggle Foot locations, the Powell franchise is bolstered by a high commitment to customer service and sophistication. Clients are set up with online accounts where they can view their schedules, create health profiles for their pets, and manage account transactions. In addition, clients can take comfort knowing that the staff is drug-screened, bonded, insured, and certified in Pet CPR.

“Tom has such a kind heart for animals–it’s apparent from the instant you meet him, ” says Karen Cockrill, the company’s corporate founder. “The pets of Central Ohio will soon have a new best friend. Tom is a true professional, which is how I know that he will be a great success in this new market.”

Snaggle Foot Dog Walks & Pet Care of Powell serves clients throughout the Northern Columbus market with a full array of customized services including pet sitting, daily dog walks, puppy breaks, senior care, overnight house sitting, pet taxi, backyard clean-ups, and home security checks.