Beware of Tick Time 2012

Due to this year’s extremely mild winter and much warmer spring weather so far, ticks are out and about in record numbers – and will be through spring, summer and fall. Pets and their humans have to take cover and be aware to prevent disease carried by ticks and other parasites. 

Pets and their people have good reason for concern in 2012. Transmission from pets to humans – called “zoonotic” transmission – are almost completely preventable. The most common concerns include fleas and ticks – external parasites that not only cause our pets discomfort, but also pose some risk of transmitting disease to humans. Ticks can transmit serious diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and others.

Have a conversation with your veterinarian about both internal and external parasite control. In addition to administering the necessary preventive treatment, there also are several things you can do to protect your family and pets:

·         Keep the grass cut short in yards, and if you have to overgrown areas wear long clothing to prevent ticks from accessing your skin.

·         After spending time outside in the yard, woods, playing area and/or beach, make sure you check yourself, your children, and your pets for ticks.

·         Encourage everyone in the family – kids in particular – to practice good personal hygiene and prevent exposure to places that may be contaminated.

Dietary Tick Preventatives

·         Garlic – Garlic given as a dietary supplement makes the dog less appealing to ticks, too. The smell is excreted through the skin and repels both ticks and fleas. However, garlic contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia in dogs. A couple of cloves per day is completely safe but don’t overdo it.

·         Apple cider vinegar – Apple cider vinegar adds acidity to your dog’s blood, making it less appealing to ticks and fleas. Add 2 tablespoons of the apple cider vinegar to the dog’s food or water bowl as a preventative.

Please just keep a close eye out and be smart when working to prevent ticks on your pets and in your home.

For pet-sitting with a personal touch, contact Dee Hopkins at 517.546.0439 and visit http://www.ddspetpatrol.com.

Written by Dee Hopkins in collaboration with Ginger Sprinkle @ nine dots branding & marketing company (ginger@ninedotsbranding.com).

Win the Flea Battle This Summer Season

Along with the hot weather come the fleas. It’s important to make sure your dog is protected from these pesky parasites – not just in summer, but year-round. However, summer is when they thrive since these small, dark-brown insects prefer temperatures of 65-80 degrees and humidity levels of 75-85 percent. But do keep in mind for some areas of the country they are more than just a "summer" health annoyance.

Your Fido doesn’t have to venture far to pick up fleas; he can come into contact with them anywhere from your yard to the park, or even by coming into contact with another dog that is carrying them. Fleas will not only latch on to a dog, but tend to spread to infest a home, other animals that live there, and even humans; flea bites are no fun for anyone.

While there are more than 2,000 types of fleas on the planet, the dog flea thrives specifically on canine blood. Once female fleas taste blood, they begin to reproduce with eggs that will hatch anywhere from two days to two weeks later. This period is the trouble zone: the delay is one of the things that make fleas so difficult to eradicate. Be sure the product you buy will kill live fleas and eggs or you will be fighting a losing battle.

Signs of Fleas on Your Dog

If your dog is scratching and itching, particularly around the base of the tail and along the belly, there are most likely fleas already attached. A severe infestation can result in your dog scratching so badly he can draw blood or begin to lose fur. While you may not be able to see the tiny fleas, you most likely can see dried blood that has already passed through the flea's system that will be on the skin and around the dog's bed space; eggs can sometimes also be seen, showing up as tiny white nodules.

Beat Pests to the Punch

The best approach to this horrific attack on your dog is to stop the fleas before they start. With these parasites, it is so much easier to prevent an infestation than it will be to fight one. Ask your veterinarian to recommend the most effective kind of pest repellent for your dog. For many, that means administering a monthly dose of a strong-smelling liquid that will get rid of fleas, ticks and other small pests.

Don’t forget other pets in the home when using a prevention method. Some flea medications are safe only for dogs and can be dangerous to other pets, such as cats; this includes felines who are not only around dogs but also share sleeping arrangements or toys with their canine siblings. Cats who ingest some dog-only flea medications can become very ill, so be sure to be specific about other pets when determining the best treatment.

Mosquitoes Love Heat, Too

Along with the fleas that crave warm weather, expect mosquitoes to be right by their side. Mosquito bites can lead to the fatal heartworm disease, so it’s vital to make sure your pet is up-to-date on worming medications as well as flea prevention. While the highly effective and recommended products might be a bit costly, they are well worth every penny to keep your dog – and your household – flea free and healthy year-round.

There’s no other way dogs get heartworms than from an infected mosquito; there’s no way to tell if a mosquito is infected. That’s why prevention can be a lifesaver for your pet. The bite of one mosquito infected with the heartworm larvae will give your dog heartworm disease. The problem: it takes approximately seven months after a dog is bitten by an infected mosquito for larvae to become adult heartworms, which then lodge in the heart, lungs, and surrounding blood vessels and begin reproducing. Adult worms can grow up to 12 inches in length and can live 5 to 7 years.

Heartworm Complications Can Be Heartbreaking

A dog can have as many as 250 worms in its system. Simply put, heartworm is a horrible disease that can lead to a dog’s death if left untreated. Again, go the prevention method instead of the expense and heartbreak that will certainly occur if your dog contracts this disease.

In warmer climates, these flea and heartworm prevention treatments are typically year-round, but in cooler areas treatment should begin in early Spring before the danger season starts. Your veterinarian will be your best source for current information. Keep your pets safe!

For pet-sitting with a personal touch, contact Dee Hopkins at 517.546.0439 and visit http://www.ddspetpatrol.com.

Written by Dee Hopkins in collaboration with Ginger Sprinkle @ nine dots branding & marketing company (ginger@ninedotsbranding.com).

Healthy Pet Food Will Mean the World to Your Dog or Cat

As more pet owners became aware of -- and more diligent about -- the importance of nutritious diets for humans, doesn’t it make sense to think the same way about your dogs and cats? Would you be running on full and healthy gears if you started the day with a breakfast of -- let’s say -- doughnuts and a pot of coffee? Most likely you would not be at your best, even if you think you are due to the sugar and caffeine rush.

Proper pet nutrition -- quite simply put -- results in a healthier pet. An optimal coat, stronger bones and muscles, and healthy vital organs are just a few benefits. Pet foods with healthy ingredients result in fewer digestive and allergy complications along with less intestinal gas and firmer and fewer stools. Don’t think your pet’s mood and behavior is not also affected by food intake either; the better the food, the better the behavior. The real bottom line is twofold: the healthier your pet, the less you pay in veterinarian bills over the long run and most important is the fact your pet can enjoy a longer -- and higher quality -- life.

How to Choose?

Many of today’s products are labeled natural or organic and include ingredients said to promote health such as blueberries and salmon oil. This advertising makes it even more challenging to determine what is high-quality food and what is the canine or feline equivalent of junk food. Ideally, you will reach the right diet decision for your dog or cat through a combination of research combined with your veterinarian’s recommendation.

The most important thing to remember when shopping for healthy dog and cat diets is they are meant to eat meat. If you question this, look at your pet's teeth! Animals that are meant to eat primarily herbivorous diets do not have pronounced canines but flat teeth well suited for grinding. Any diet for your dog or cat should have high meat content. Ideally, meats should be listed as the first three or four ingredients on the label.

Despite the economy, US pet owners spent $51 billion on their pets in 2011. Dog and cat nutrition is a major business arena and companies know this, producing a virtual smorgasbord of options with big differences in quality from one brand to the next. It may take some research and experimentation to find the right food for your dog or cat, but you will be repaid for these efforts by many happy, healthy years with your beloved pets.

Separating the Good from the Bad

The first five ingredients on the label are the most important as they comprise the bulk of the recipe; the first 10 ingredients typically make up 90% of the recipe.

The first ingredient in the food should always be a specifically named protein, such as chicken or salmon. Meat by-products (also known as meat or bone meal, by-product meal, animal by-product, chicken by-product, etc.) are not equal to meat; they are the slaughter leftovers once the meat has been removed and can include some awful things.

Healthy whole grains should be in the top five ingredients. These supply carbohydrates your pet needs for energy. Try to avoid processed or altered grains such as brewers rice, wheat glutens, wheat flour, shorts, or middlings. These are inexpensive fillers, which are hard to digest and offer little nutritional value.

Try to avoid foods that list corn, in any formulation, within the top five ingredients. Corn is an economical carbohydrate for manufacturers to use but it is virtually indigestible and offers little nutritional value.

Whole vegetables are nutrient-rich and easy to digest. Vegetables are important because they are a great source of antioxidants, which are essential to your pet's good health. Whole fruits are healthy but experts agree they are not necessary in a pet’s diet. Also, if they are listed after the fifth ingredient, the portion is too small to impact the pet's health.

Two particular preservatives to avoid are "BHA" (Butylated Hydroxyanisole) and "BHT" (Butylated Hydroxytoluene). Research shows these chemicals have caused cancer in laboratory animals. Natural preservatives such as vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and vitamin E (tocopherols) are much safer and healthier.

The highest quality food will not be beneficial if your pet won't eat it. Don't be afraid to try more than one brand and see how they work out. Nearly all manufacturers allow you to return unused portions to the place of purchase if your pet turns his or her nose up at it.

When you’re tempted to buy a cheaper brand of perhaps a well-known, commercial food, remember: your pet will need less food if it's high-quality and contains top-notch ingredients, so don't think you're saving money by buying the cheapest choice or whatever is on sale. Pet food manufacturers spend millions of dollars a year in advertising campaigns to make their brand known to you. When you hear "Pedigree" or "Science Diet" or "Purina," do you instantly trust the name because you hear it so often? It's a natural human inclination to automatically trust someone or something we know; it's what you don't know that can be harmful for your dog or cat.

The Bottom Line for the Bowl

Finally, to summarize, remember to make certain the pet food you buy is high in protein, not grain-based, and AAFCO-tested. The AAFCO -- the American Association of Feed Control Officials -- is a watchdog group that sets food-testing and labeling standards.

Bone appetite to you and yours!

For pet-sitting with a personal touch, contact Dee Hopkins at 517.546.0439 and visit http://www.ddspetpatrol.com.

Written by Dee Hopkins in collaboration with Ginger Sprinkle @ nine dots branding & marketing company (ginger@ninedotsbranding.com).

How to Find a Lost Pet and Block Their Exit Strategy

I covered the importance of pet micro-chipping in December but keep in mind that’s just one way to keep your dog or cat safely at home. I’d like to share a few other tips to help prevent a pet from getting lost and to direct you on how to find your fur baby if the unimaginable happens.

Keeping your Pet Safe

• Keep your personal information and your alternate contact information up to date.
• Always keep a collar on your pet and be sure it is securely attached.
• Look around your house and garden for ways your pet can get out; check for loose fencing or gaps keeping an eye out for new “escape routes.”
• Keep fence gates securely locked.
• Never allow pets to roam freely in the neighborhood; leash them at all times.
• Always transport a dog or cat in a proper carrier.
• Regularly take clear, up-to-date photos of your pet. Take close-up shots that show details well; you want your pet to be unmistakable.
• Train your pet to associate a "dog whistle" with pleasant things. Blow the whistle each time before you feed them and they will be more likely to respond to the whistle when they are lost if they associate the sound with feeding time.
• Make sure you can always be located when your pet is found.

         

How to Find a Pet Faster

• Search your property thoroughly.
• Walk the neighborhood, talk to everybody, and leave your phone number.
• Make noise, like calling your pet’s name, while you walk the neighborhood. Animals respond to sound.
• Bring a flashlight -- even in daylight hours -- for checking dark spaces.
• Place strong-scented personal articles outside your home; animals find their way home by scent along with sound.
• Visit your local dog warden and all rescue centers in surrounding areas; calling is not enough.
• Post tons of posters within a one-mile radius of where your pet was lost.
• Place an ad in your local newspaper; check "found" ads daily.
• Post on Facebook and other social media and ask everyone to please share the post.

Stay Safe When Collecting a Found Pet

• NEVER respond to a "found" pet contact alone; take a friend with you and arrange to meet in a public place.
• NEVER invite the person to your home unless you know the person well.
• Beware of scams. A common swindle is a person calling and claiming to have your pet in a different town; they then ask for the money to ship your pet to you. This person does not have your pet; they are simply trying to swindle your money.
• Don't look for your pet alone, during the day or night; ALWAYS bring a friend, especially in unfamiliar neighborhoods.

If a beloved pet does get lost, remember: don’t give up. Pets have been known to find their way back home after being lost for many months, and even years in some cases – at times across hundreds of miles!

         

For pet-sitting with a personal touch, contact Dee Hopkins at 517.546.0439 and visit http://www.ddspetpatrol.com.

Written by Dee Hopkins in collaboration with Ginger Sprinkle @ nine dots branding & marketing company (ginger@ninedotsbranding.com).

Microchips Prevent Heartache for You and Danger for Your Pet

One of the first questions a vet will ask when you bring in a new pet is whether or not your furry family member is microchipped -- and for good reason. Every year, millions of animals -- both cats and dogs -- are euthanized in shelters faced with overpopulation. Microchipping allows shelters to scan an incoming animal for a chip and identification. The database can be accessed from anywhere, so this is also an invaluable way to ensure safety when traveling with your pet.

Tags on collars should be used in tandem with microchipping but are not a sufficient method on their own since they can be easily lost by a dog that slips off a lead or out of a collar. Also, with dog abductions on the rise thanks to thieves looking to resell stolen pets for a tidy profit, microchipping can help in these scenarios. Tags can be removed, but a veterinarian or shelter employee can find a microchip with a scanner; this increases the likelihood officials will be alerted that something isn't right.

How Does the Process Work?

The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is implanted using a needle similar to those used to give routine shots beneath the dog's skin, usually in the neck or shoulder area. The pain or discomfort is no different than that with a rabies shot or other vaccinations.

While there are various manufacturers, the process is similar across the board. Once the microchip is implanted into your pet, the identification number encoded at the factory is linked to vital information in case of an emergency; this comprises your name and contact info as well as your vet’s info to ensure someone familiar with the animal will be contacted.

Most vets charge between $25 and $75 to implant the chip and register the information. Puppies can be microchipped when they are between 6 and 8 weeks old; the process is usually done when they are getting a round of booster shots.

In summary, here are four very good reasons to microchip your pet:

• Only true permanent method of pet identification.
• Best chance of your pet returning to you after going missing.
• Quick and painless procedure, similar to vaccination.
• Lasts for the lifetime of your pet.

Be a savvy pet owner! Don’t wait and regret not microchipping your pet when it’s too late. Taking this simple precaution now will save potential heartache down the road.

For pet-sitting with a personal touch, contact Dee Hopkins at 517.546.0439 and visit http://www.ddspetpatrol.com.

Written by Dee Hopkins in collaboration with Ginger Sprinkle @ nine dots branding & marketing company (ginger@ninedotsbranding.com).

Holiday Pet Photo Time: Smile and Say “Treat”

Are you hoping for an adorable photo of your pet to put on a holiday card, perhaps? Or would you just like to have a beautiful memory of a treasured moment to display in your home? All pet owners know our furry babies often aren't the best at – or fond of – posing.

Thank goodness for digital cameras so we don’t waste film and development costs these days just to discover endless shots of closed eyes or animals in motion as they attempt to escape the frame. Here are some tips we’d like to share to make the photo session both fun and bearable – for you and your pet.

Familiarize yourself with your camera and explore shutter speeds if you are photographing a pet in motion – particularly a dog. The faster the shutter-speed setting, the more success you will have at capturing a clearer photo. Often, with one push of the button, you can capture a stream of photos of your dog at play. Then simply edit digitally and only keep your favorites.

Zoom is your friend. Don’t let your pet know you are photographing him/her and then zoom in for some delightful candids. Using this method you don’t have to invade their space, but can use the zoom to focus in on eyes or a nose for an upclose and personal – and very sweet – look at your dog or cat. This is also a great way to play around with angles and approaches, especially if you can get some close-up shots of your pet looking over his/her shoulder or with his/her head resting on paws.

Consider the lighting and ambiance such as that provided by natural light. Often a flash can ruin the picture and make your dog run away; due to this they also develop a dread of seeing the camera in the future. Why? Dogs have tapetum – a layer of eye cells –, which causes the colored reflection when exposed to painful bright lights such as a camera flash or headlights. Reflections run the gamut from red and green to yellow or orange, dependent on the dog's eye color. For example, a blue-eyed husky will often have red eye shine, while a brown-eyed lab will shine yellow.

Have “assistants” available – preferably two. If you are seeking a posed shot, while you take charge of the camera perhaps have one person handle the dog such as getting him/her to sit and stay. Have another person behind you who can catch the dog’s eye by saying “treat,”“cookie,” or a word your dog recognizes as an attention-getter at the right moment. Assistants are particularly useful if you are attempting to photograph two or more pets together!

Capture attention with favorite toys and goodies. Put a treat in a glass, mug, or Kong to get him/her to be still long enough for a shot. Hide a cherished toy behind a couch pillow or outside in flowers to keep him/her inquisitive and in position. These tricks lead to adorable personality photos.

Have fun, good luck, and happy shooting – both for the holidays and forever!

For pet-sitting with a personal touch, contact Dee Hopkins at 517.546.0439 and visit http://www.ddspetpatrol.com.

Written by Dee Hopkins in collaboration with Ginger Sprinkle @ nine dots branding & marketing company (ginger@ninedotsbranding.com).

Keep Your Pets Safe During Autumn

With fall upon us, we should be especially careful and watchful regarding our pet’s safety from seasonal hazards. Autumn brings some potentially fatal situations. Knowing what these hazards are and taking simple precautions will keep your pet healthy through the fall and holiday months.

Here are a few key concerns to keep an eye out for both inside and outside your home:

• Antifreeze: Many people change their car’s engine coolant in fall. Ethylene glycol-based coolants are highly toxic, so spills should be cleaned up immediately. It has a sweet taste and is readily consumed by children and animals. Five teaspoons can kill a 10-pound dog; less will kill a cat. Antifreeze is very fast acting and results in kidney failure and death in as little as four to eight hours. Dispose of old coolant in a sealed container; don't hose it down the driveway. Always have plenty of fresh water available for your pet. A thirsty pet may relieve its thirst with antifreeze that a neighbor left out or hosed down the driveway. Consider switching to propylene glycol-based coolants – though they aren’t completely nontoxic, they are much less toxic than other engine coolants. If you think your pet has consumed antifreeze, call your veterinarian right away.

• Rodenticides: Formulas used to kill rodents hoping to spend winter in your house will also kill your pet. They cause severe bleeding, kidney failure, and death. There are no safe rodenticides. Whether out of hunger, boredom, or curiosity, pets will consume these products. If rodenticides are used in your home, put them in places inaccessible to pets and children. Keep a record of the product used and in case of accidental poisoning, contact your veterinarian immediately.

• Chocolate: A favorite at Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, chocolate is toxic to dogs, cats, and birds. The initial signs of poisoning are those of stomach upset, vomiting, and diarrhea. If sufficient chocolate is consumed, an animal will become restless and uncoordinated and can suffer heart failure and/or respiratory failure. As little as one ounce of baking chocolate or eight ounces of milk chocolate can kill a 10-pound dog. Like other poisonings, chocolate poisoning requires emergency medical treatment.

• Thanksgiving dinner: Holiday meals can also cause medical emergencies for pets. Chicken and turkey bones can get stuck or can pierce holes in any portion of the digestive tract. Rich foods can cause sudden pancreatitis or bloat. Keep holiday meals, leftovers, and table scraps out of reach of your pet. If your pet insists on participating in the feast, cooked vegetables (without the butter and salt) or commercial dog treats are safe in small amounts.

• Cold weather: Indoor pets not acclimated to winter temperatures should not be left outside in cold weather for long periods. Frankly, we advocate that no pets be kept outdoors but if you must, pets left outside can withstand fairly cold temperatures if they have shelter from wind and rain with adequate bedding to insulate them from the cold ground. Avoid electrical heating devices that could electrocute your pet if they got wet or were chewed. Outdoor pets need extra food in cold weather to generate body heat, and they need access to water that is not frozen. Keep your pet's feet clean and dry. Ice or salt will cause severe irritation when caught between your pet's toes. Frostbite is a winter hazard to pets as well as people. Frostbitten areas are fragile and should be wrapped snugly for protection from abrasion and from sudden temperature change. Severe frostbite requires emergency treatment.

• Novelty items: With guests coming and going amid decorations going up and down, you must keep small, novel items away from your pet. Dogs and cats, especially puppies and kittens, will eat anything. Non-food items lodged in your pet's digestive tract is yet another emergency condition. Don't let curiosity kill your furry family member.

·         Mushrooms: Remember fall and spring are mushroom seasons and while 99% have little or no toxicity, the 1% that are highly toxic can cause life-threatening problems in pets. Unfortunately, most of the highly toxic mushrooms are difficult to distinguish from the nontoxic ones, so the best way to keep pets from ingesting poisonous mushrooms is to keep them away from areas where any mushrooms are growing. Contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center immediately if you witness your pet eating a wild mushroom.

·         Snake bites: Snakes who are preparing for autumn hibernation may be particularly agitated, increasing the possibility of severe bites to dogs and cats who find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. Pet owners should know what kinds of venomous snakes exist in their environment – and avoid where these snakes are most likely to be found.

Actually, another holiday-season annoyance for Fido or Fluffy comes in the form of children. When visitors in your home bring their little humans, make sure your dog or cat has a safe place to stay to avoid pokes and pulls from children they are not used to having in their home. Also, be careful when feeding your pets around these children, making sure the kids do not disrupt your pet when dining. Otherwise, this might fall under tips for keeping unfamiliar children safe!

For pet-sitting with a personal touch, contact Dee Hopkins at 517.546.0439 and visit http://www.ddspetpatrol.com.

Written by Dee Hopkins in collaboration with Ginger Sprinkle @ nine dots branding & marketing company (ginger@ninedotsbranding.com).