Why you should spay and neuter your pet?

There are a variety of reasons why you should spay or neuter your precious pet:

Your female pet will live a much longer, healthier life. 

Spaying helps prevent uterine infections and breast cancer, which is fatal in about 50% of dogs and 90% of cats. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases.

Neutering provides major health benefits for your male pet. 

Besides preventing unwanted litters, neutering your male companion prevents testicular cancer.

Your spayed female won't go into heat and be utterly annoying. 

While cycles can vary, female felines usually go into heat four to five days every three weeks during breeding season. In an effort to advertise for mates, they'll become super lovable but also yowl and urinate more frequently-sometimes all over the house!

Your male dog won't want to roam away from home to find a mate. 

An intact male will do just about anything to find a mate! That includes digging his way under the fence and do whatever it takes to escape from the house. And once he's free to roam, he risks injury in traffic and fights with other males.

Your neutered male will be oh so much better behaved. 

Neutered cats and dogs focus their attention on their human families. On the other hand, dogs and cats that are not neutered may mark their territory by spraying intense-smelling urine all over the house. Many aggression problems can be avoided simply by neutering early.

Spaying or neutering will NOT make your pet overweight and/or obese. 

Do not use that old excuse! Lack of exercise and overfeeding will cause your pet to pack on the extra pounds-not neutering. Your pet will remain fit and trim as long as you continue to provide exercise and monitor food intake.

It is highly cost-effective compared to raising a litter of young-ins. 

The cost of your pet's spay/neuter surgery is a lot less than the cost of having and caring for a litter. It also beats the cost of treatment when your male pet escapes and gets into fights with the neighborhood stray!

Spaying and neutering your pet is good for the local community. 

Stray animals pose a real problem in many parts of the country. They can prey on wildlife, cause car accidents, damage the local fauna and frighten or hurt children. Spaying and neutering has a strong impact on reducing the number of animals on the streets.

Your pet does not need to have a litter for your children to learn about the miracle of birth, their are other ways. 

Letting your pet produce offspring you have no intention of keeping is not a good lesson for your children-especially when so many unwanted animals end up in shelters. There are tons of books and videos available to teach your children about birth in a more responsible way.

Spaying and neutering helps fight pet overpopulation and pet homelessness. 

Every year, millions of cats and dogs of all ages and breeds are euthanized or suffer as strays. These high numbers are the result of unplanned litters that could have been prevented by spaying or neutering.

Get Rid of Fleas for GOOD!

Every summer its the same thing.....the pets get invested with those annoying, jumpy tiny external parasites we all know and hate....FLEAS.It seems like its always a battle when it gets warm out.They are everywhere and infest  everything not to mention they can give your pets worms as well since they are hosts for worm eggs . Your poor precious pet, the carpets, the furniture, the yard...will it never end?! Well there is a way or ways of sorts to keep those tiny blood sucking heathens at bay......here we go:

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First treat your yard!

Ensure your yard is always mowed and manicured...do not let it get overgrown! Fleas love hiding in long grass that goes for ticks too!

Treat your yard with pesticides if necessary. Read the directions on the chemical treatment and do not let your pets or children out in the yard for at least a good week (solid 7 days) as a precautionary measure so your pet/child does not get exposed to poisonous chemicals.

Treat your home!

The vacuum cleaner is your best friend...use it daily..no ifs, ands or buts...just do it! Try to use a canister vacuum where you can dump the contents directly in the outside garbage can. Do not dump in inside garbage cans this just defeats the purpose of getting the icky critters out of the house.

If you have rugs vacuum all of those thoroughly too!

Hard wood floors? Sweep or mop daily.

If you are remodeling your house avoid thick, shag carpet at all costs.

Have your carpets, rugs and cloth furniture cleaned professionally once or twice a year.

Vacuum your cloth furniture (couches, chairs, pillows, pet beds etc) daily.

Launder pet blankets and beds 2-3 times weekly. Reduces the fleas and any smelly pet odors.

Do not let clothing of any kind lay on the floor....put in a basket and please do your laundry at least weekly! 

Use a chemical treatment i.e a flea bomb in every room. Ensure food and anything you do not want chemicals on is sealed or encased in plastic. Once again for precautionary measures try to wait 6-12 hours before entering house. Make sure windows stay open for at least 24 hours to air out the house.

Use natural methods like baking soda, salt or food-grade diatomaceous earth on the carpets. Sprinkle liberally let sit for 1-2 hours and vacuum as normal.

Keep a clean home in general! No bug likes a clean home.

Treat your pet!

Use a flea comb to comb out the buggers daily.

Give your pet a chemical flea dip/bath, do it yourself or have your veterinarian do it maybe once once or twice a month. Make sure you read the label and rinse your pet thoroughly!

You can wash your pet with a more natural-ish method via Dawn dish washing soap. 

Put a chemical flea collar or chemical flea drops (goes on neck and along back) on your pet. Read labels carefully, use and replace as needed.

You can try a natural flea repellent collar as well most have a citrus scent or homeopathic drops externally.

Give your pet a flea pill regularly. Get from a pet store or your veterinarian. As always read directions carefully for proper dosage.

Give you pet a natural flea pill like brewers yeast or homeopathic drops internally.

Give your pet a well-balanced diet, exercise them regularly and keep them up to date on vaccinations. A healthy pet has a better chance of fighting off those pesky things.

Keep your pet indoors, if they don't venture outside, no bug infestations. Simple enough?

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Well there you have it. Hopefully you will be flea free this summer! Know any other tips and tricks? Feel free to post in comments.

The Strange Thing Dogs Do

Humping....Irritating but normal

As long as it’s not done to excess, humping is actually completely normal, but there are ways you can curb the behavior. Humping can also be a dominating behavior.

Utter Destruction....Burn out that pup's energy first and foremost! 

There are as many ways that dogs can engage in destructive behavior as there are reasons why. Anything from anxiety to not getting enough exercise If you find that your dog is destructive, the first step toward curbing the behavior is to consult with a vet or dog trainer.

Butt Dragging....Take your pup to the vet asap!

Butt dragging is not normal and is usually a sign that something is medically wrong with your dog. It could be something simple, such as needing to have her anal glands expressed, or it might be something more serious. If you can’t tell anything from a visual inspection, a vet is the next stop.

Falling and Leg-paddling....Seizure?

Twitching in their sleep is one thing but your dog suddenly falling over and starts to twitch or paddling her legs, there’s a good chance that it’s a seizure. Other signs include appearing worried or clinging to you beforehand, and walking in circles afterward. It is incredibly important that you take your dog to a vet if you suspect she had a seizure, because symptoms almost always worsen without help.

Bathroom Audience...The toilet stare-down....

It can be unsettling to have your dog stare at you as you sit on the toilet (especially if you suffer from bathroom “shyness”!) but there’s nothing particularly “wrong” with the behavior. Dogs just aren’t as hung up on privacy as we are. Still, if the idea of a canine audience truly bothers you, there’s nothing wrong with closing the door or teaching your pooch to stay when you need to do something personal.

Poop Eating.....Gross but possibly normal?

Two primary reasons. First, he may be trying to keep his space clean. That’s right. Some dogs eat their feces as an act of cleanliness. This is an instinctive behavior that female dogs engage in when they’re with their young litter in order to keep the den clean. Gross right?! Second, his food might not be meeting his nutritional needs. Eating poop can be a dog’s attempt to bolster his diet. Either way, it’s not something you want to continue (nor is it healthy). Take your dog to a vet or get a trainer

Reverse Sneezing...Scary!

All of a sudden your dog starts making a horrifying sound that seems like a cross between snorting and choking, and she looks like she’s trying to vomit but is also really self-conscious about it. What’s going on? It’s a “respiratory event” that can be caused either by over-excitement or as an attempt to get rid of mucus. Though it looks awful, if you just let it run its course for 30 seconds or so, your dog will go right back to normal.

Easter Pet Precautions

It's almost Easter! Here are some tips to keep your pet(s) safe during Easter.

*Keep chocolate and candy treats far away from pets. 

*Just say no to giving Easter meal food scraps to your pet. To much fatty foods and spices can wreak havoc on pets' digestive systems. Do you really want to clean puke or runny poo on Easter? 

*Keep fake Easter "grass" away from your pets.

*Have pretty Easter lilies? Make sure you pets can't get to them (poisonous to pets if ingested!) 

*If you have a traditional Easter egg hunt, just keep pets inside so they don't get trampled or trample people from all the excitement. 

*If you are doing some gardening on Easter weekend keep pets away from pesticides and fertilizers.

*Try to avoid purchasing rabbits and chicks for children during this time. Although cute and fuzzy they do need proper time and care. Pets are forever and not just a fad.

*If you think that your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately.

How to Calm a Stressed Out Cat or Dog

• Always think of your and pet's safety first before ever approaching a anxiety-ridden or scared animal.

• Use a calm voice and calm behavior. Do not yell or make quick movements!

• Lure the pet toward you slowly with a toy or food.

• Isolate anxiety-ridden pets temporarily to calm down. 

• Never lock pets up in a cage or tiny room for 24/7!

• Figure out what maybe agitating or causing stress to your pet.

• Use pheromones to calm your pet, which comes in a spray or plugin form.

• Use other non-medication aids like body wraps or pet-safe herbal liquids, chews or tablets. Always ask a veterinarian before using any type of herbal aids!

• Consider using short-term medication from your veterinarian.

• Consider sedatives that could help your anxiety ridden pet. Always ask your veterinarian as well as get a second or third opinion to be on the safe side.

• Explore options for long-term medications from your veterinarian.

Keep Your Pet Safe During a Snowstorm

•  Store up activities for dogs and cats to do while you're together indoors. Kongs, catnip toys, treadmill, scratching posts, etc.

•  Stock up ahead of time on all pet food and medicine your animals may need over the weekend—travel may be much more difficult or impossible in the event of a snowstorm

•  Prepare for a power outage, especially if your family includes fish, reptiles, pocket pets or exotic pets.

•  Have a coat and booties ready for any dog who needs them. Be ready to protect your pets from very strong wind and cold.

• If possible keep your pets indoors! If your pets must be outside provide them adequate covered, draft-free, dry shelter.

•  Make sure your pets wear identification at all times (even better: have them micro-chipped as well) to dramatically increase your chances of reunification should one become lost.

•  Keep your dog on a leash after heavy snowfall. Dogs are much more likely to get lost during winter, especially during and after a blizzard.

•  Watch out for ice melts! Snow-melting salt and liquid de-icer can be very painful to dogs’ feet and can make pups ill if ingested, so make sure to clean off your dog’s paws with a moist washcloth after a walk. This goes for antifreeze as well!

• Tap your car hood before starting your vehicle to ensure there are not strays or wild critters.

New Year Resolutions for You and Your Pet

*Always measure your pet's food! Use a 8 oz measuring cup and follow the recommended feeding guideline on your pets dry food or ask and follow your veterinarians advice.

*Choose an age appropriate pet food: puppy/kitten, adult, senior. Also consider your pet's lifestyle: indoor or outdoor? Sedentary, active, or hyper?

*Try a new activity with your pet. Hiking, swimming, new/longer walking route, new game, etc.

*Incorporate more playtime/exercise time especially if you have a very hyperactive pet.

*Schedule annual well-checkup trips to the veterinarian. Also follow vaccination, flea/tick prevention and/or medication schedule as prescribed by your veterinarian.

*Groom your pet daily Short hair or long hair, your pet will benefit from a good brushing. Also gives you some bonding time with you lovely pet.

*Start brushing your pets teeth. Good oral hygiene is a must especially when pets get older.

*Teach new tricks to your pet. Works especially well on active breeds who need constant stimulation.

*Keep your pets collar/tag/ID/microchip information up to date. Ensure you have your correct, updated name, phone and address inputted. That way if your pet gets lost there will be no issues in finding you as the rightful owner.

*Consider adopting or fostering another pet. If not animal shelters can always use donations and volunteers. Contact your local animal shelter/rescue and ask what they need the most.

Pick one or all of these New Year resolution for a happy, healthy life for you and your pet!