Taking Your Pet To The Veterinarian

So time for a visit to the veterinarian with your pet? Here are some things you need to know:

1. First visit with your pet to the veterinarian? Try to make it fun and stress-free for your pet for that first visit. Bring treats if necessary! Introduce your pet to the veterinarian and at the very least a basic wellness exam so your pet gets use to being handled by a stranger. After all do you really want a pet that dreads the veterinarian because of a bad experience? I think not. Take it nice and easy.

2. When waiting in the waiting room keep your pet close. You may have the friendliest pet ever but some pets and their owners may not be and it really is bad pet etiquette to let your pet wander around pestering people and other animals. Keep your pet on a leash or in a pet carrier.

3. Tell the truth about your dog's health. If he/she got into something that maybe poisonous let the veterinarian know exactly what  your pet got into. Your child/someone else's child play a little rough with your pet let your veterinarian know. You won't be judged the vet just wants to treat your pet in the best way possible if they have all the facts.

4. Make sure your pet has regular check-ups. Be it a annual physical examination, to update your pet's shots, or external and internal parasite/pest prevention are investments to your pet's health to prevent any serious and costly diseases. The more regular you are at your veterinarian the more likely they are able to keep a close eye on your pet's overall health.

5. If your pet has unusual behaviors please let the veterinarian no matter how minor it may seem. Any change in your pet's normal routine may mean something serious so let your veterinarian know as soon as possible.

6. Never play doctor your self! Never give people medications to your pets ever! Be careful with home remedies as well without proper guidance from a holistic veterinarian because your pet could have bad side affects or could interact with a current pet medication you are giving your pet. Always get a veterinarian's referral or prescription before trying any pet medication on your pet.

7. Be detailed and precise about your pet's symptoms. It will help your vet determine if what your pet has is a contagious disease in which case your pet would have to be isolated immediately and more then likely would have to be taken in at a time or place where no other animals are present. Otherwise you could cause a pet disease epidemic if your not specific enough on your pet's symptoms.

8. Have a number for your local 24-hour animal hospital handy. Since most veterinarians have 9-5 office hours it would be wise to get a referral for a after-hours clinic is case you have concerns or a emergency for your pet late at night.

Starting and Maintaining A Animal Rescue

So lately I've been reading about the horrible news updates and accusations surrounding Olympic Animal Sanctuary, a animal rescue based in Forks, WA  supposedly helping dogs with severe behavior problems. However from all the updates I have seen so far this place is sadly failing as a rescue and its reputation tainted by improper care of and basically "hoarding" of their dogs. Here are some links if you would like to read more and get updates on the subject of Olympic Animal Sanctuary or help the protest efforts:

https://www.facebook.com/dogsdeservebetter

http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/sonny.html

https://www.facebook.com/pages/OAS-life-inside-the-sanctuary/396180077155674

http://freesonny.wordpress.com/2013/12/11/the-ploy-to-silence-protestors-has-backfired/

http://www.seattledogspot.com/blog/dog-blog/post/olympic-animal-sanctuary-just-a-jail-for-dogs

http://www.examiner.com/article/arrest-made-at-olympic-animal-sanctuary

http://www.seattledogspot.com/blog/dog-blog/post/former-donor-who-gave-50000-to-olympic-animal-sanctuary-says-money-wasnt-used-as-intended

http://www.examiner.com/article/owner-of-olympic-animal-sanctuary-agrees-to-release-dogs?CID=examiner_alerts_article

This sort of news really made me think. Do people really know how much work, resources and money it takes to run a animal rescue? It's not as simple as being a avid animal lover and starting a animal rescue and expecting people to support your efforts with private donations. Each individual animal needs individual care for its basic needs. Every animal is different but every animal needs proper shelter/containment, proper nutrition/nourishment, appropriate amount of exercise/training daily and enough daily attentiveness to be happy and healthy.

It dumbfounds me when people think they can just keep animals in crates, throw them some food and water down, clean their living quarters every so often and maybe let them out for a romp around the yard and that is what operating a animal rescue consists of. Wrong!

And what about those special needs pets like those with medical conditions, special diets or behavioral problems? Expenses from veterinarian visits or certified dog trainers can make those numbers add up even more by the thousands. You can't expect to run a animal rescue and not incur these expenses. Not every person can be their own veterinarian or their own dog trainer. It is not possible and highly NOT recommended. Animals need PROPER care and training!

If you want to start a animal rescue please do your research and please have a support network. You cannot run a animal rescue by yourself. You need a very supportive family, group of friends or even a group of reliable volunteers to help you be it a small-scale or large-scale animal rescue . You need to network with fellow animal rescues so you never get overwhelmed and possibly have a place to transfer a animal your rescue maybe not be able to support for whatever reason. 

Think before taking action. No matter how much you love animals, you cannot keep or save every animal that comes through your rescue. You need to find homes for the animals or unfortunately euthanize animals whom are in severe, constant pain with no relief in site, have extreme aggression issues that cannot be resolved with proper training (attacking humans on more then one occasion or killing animals ruthlessly) or dying. 

If you want to start a rescue be my guest but please know what your getting yourself into. You cannot be a one man/woman army taking on the world to save animals. If starting a animal rescue sounds to much to handle there are plenty of others out there that would be more then happy to take you in as a volunteer =) 

Spaying Or Neutering Your Pet

Why spay or neuter your pet?

Reduce the number of homeless pets euthanized.

Improve your pet's health.

Reduce unruly behavior.

Save on the cost of pet care.

When can I spay or neuter my pet?

The procedure can be performed safely as early as 8 weeks of age. No excuse about waiting.

But fixing my animal cost to much!

Most towns have animal shelters/rescues that provide low-cost under $100 maybe even free spay and neuter clinics. No excuse.

Can't I allow my purebred or mixed breed have at least one litter? My pet has a wonderful personality or a lovely  appearance! 

No. There simply are not enough homes for the puppies or kittens you produce. Even if you have homes planned there is no guarantee those puppies or kittens will keep those homes after all people can change their minds because the puppy/kitten is too much work or peoples's lifestyle or financial situation changes. You and your pet will be much happier not producing litters and adding to the problem of homeless pet overpopulation.

I don't have a pet. So not my problem!

It is your problem ."All of us are affected by animal overpopulation. Millions of tax dollars are spent annually to shelter and care for stray, abandoned and unwanted pets. Much of that money is spent to euthanize these animals when homes cannot be found. Human health is threatened by the danger of transmittable diseases (including rabies), animal bites and attacks. Property may be damaged and livestock killed when pets roam in search of food. Animal waste is proving to be a serious environment hazard, fouling yards and parks. It is only when all of us assume the responsibility for pet overpopulation that we will see any decrease in the problem." -American Humane Association

So do yourself, the world and your pet a favor SPAY OR NEUTER . Thank You.

How to Help Homeless Animals During the Holidays

Tis the Season To Be Giving ^_^

Things to do help homeless animals in need during the holidays.

1. Donate to your local shelter. Be it food, pet items, blankets or money. Most shelters have a wish list so look that up and see what the shelter needs the most.

2. Adopt a pet! Instead of buying a expensive puppy from a breeder check out the shelter first.

3. Have a pet food drive or start a pet food bank so there are no hungry pets this season.

4. Help a neighbor in need. Know someone on a fixed low-income that needs help caring for their pet? Give them a helping hand if you can.

5. Volunteer at a shelter and play with the dogs and cats. They sure would appreciate it.

6. Give a gift to a needy pet.

7. Donate online to larger, more extensive pet charities.

8. Buy items where part of the proceeds are donated to pet charities, shelters and rescues.

9. See a stray animal? Pick them up and take them to a no-kill shelter. It's better then leaving them out in the cold and in the streets.

10. Foster a pet. Shelters run out of room and often need foster homes for remaining pets. Also it's good for shelter pets to be in a home atmosphere.

Veterinarian Care For Less

So you want to cut down on your pet's medical costs without going for broke? Here are some tips:

1. Prevention is key. Keep your pet well-fed, up-to-date on shots, spayed/neutered, flea/tick free, well exercised and out of dangerous situations will help reduce literally a lifetime of expensive medical bills 

2. Develop a relationship with your veterinarian. Go in for routine care and your veterinarian will have a overall health picture of your pet hence diagnosing and treating illnesses will make it easier for your veterinarian which in turn means big savings for you with a quicker diagnosis. If you have a good relationship with your veterinarian and their staff, the financial people will more likely help you with making pay arrangements or refer you to someone who may help you with financial burdens from expensive surgeries or other major treatments.

3. If you live near a veterinary school you could possibly get free or low-cost care for your pet there especially if your pet has a serious health problem.

4. Keep your pet away from poisonous things!

5.  Pet insurance. Yes it's out there but please do your research and always read the fine print. Pet insurance can cover things such as x-rays, surgery, hospital stays and lab fees. For additional premiums and the such routine car such as annual physical checkups, vaccinations, heartworm and flea/tick control medications, spay or neuter surgery and teeth cleaning can even get coverage.

http://www.petinsurance.com/

6. Your local pet shelter/rescue may offer low-cost or even free spay/neuter clinics and routine vaccinations and even micro-chipping. So definitely check them out!

7.  Check out Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine Websites if interested in low-cost, homeopathic and herbal remedies pet healthcare:

http://www.altvetmed.org/

https://www.avma.org/Pages/home.aspx

Always check with your veterinarian or a registered/licensed holistic veterinarian before trying any sort of home remedy or alternative treatment!