Be calm and control your dog. Doggy etiquette.

Leash train your dog.
 Do not allow your dog to jump on people.
Always supervise your dog especially around children and other animals.
Do not let your dog injure or kill neighbors livestock or pets.
Don't assume your dog and another dog will be friendly to one another.
Never allow aggression especially when playing or feeding.
Pick up after your dog I.e their poo please.
Keep you dog up to date on vaccinations. Do not bring a sick dog to places other dogs will be.
Make sure you have a secure fence or kennel area for your dog when left alone.
Do not let your pet run loose in public areas other the dog parks and even then remain in control of your dog.
Make sure your dog knows "recall" and "stay".

It's hot outside..

Tips and tricks to keep your pets happy and healthy during the summer months.
Make sure water is available at all times.
Wading pools are a good way to keep cool.
Some ice cubes or frozen treats are always a cool delight.
Fans, open windows, air conditions anything that creates air flow is awesome.
Long fur? How about a hair cut?
Please no car rides that result in sitting in the hot sun for any period of time.
Stay clear from hot asphalt and cement, does not do your pets poor feet any good. Maybe booties?
Fleas and ticks maybe rampant so keep your pet parasite free with flea/tick treatment and prevention. Contact a local veterinarian.
Also if your in a area known for mosquitos watch out for heartworm, treat and prevent if needed. Contact a local veterinarian.
Keep your pets vaccinations updated to prevent spread of disease. Contact your local veterinarian.
Know the signs of heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Ask your veterinarian.
Have fun and be safe this summer with your pets.

Oh the Uber fleas.....

Got fleas? See a couple skurrying around on your let? Or at all out war with a uncontrollable infestation. No worries here are some quick prevention and control  tips and tricks to keep your sanity and utter annoyance of being flea bitten.

Keep it clean. Vacuum at least once daily if not twice or thrice times daily. If you feel like throwing some baking soda, salt, borax or food grade diatomaceousous earth go right ahead, might just help annihilate the little biters.

Use poison lots of poison! Okay if you have kids and pets eh not so much. Always read the directions thoroughly before using flea bombs, carpet powders, sprays, etc.

Treat the outside too not just the inside. Keep your grass short. Use pesticides if you wish but once again always read the directions thoroughly. Oh and let your neighbor know your yard will be a toxic playground temporarily as a courtesy.

Treat your pets. Flea collars, flea dips and flea treatments are awesome just make sure you always read the directions thoroughly before applying any sort of toxic poison to your pet.

Is your pet a indoor/ outdoor pet? Consider keeping them as strictly indoor pets, this mainly applies to cats.

Home remedies yay or nay......

Wash your pet with some Dawn's dish liquid and use a flea comb to groom the fleas out of your pets fur.

Use salt, borax or diatomaceous earth when vacuuming. Leave on for a hour or so and vacuum the crud out of the carpet....throw the bag or empty the container of your vacuum cleaner immediately to prevent re- infestation.

Vacuum and treat your furniture same way as carpets.

Cedar chips in your pets bedding and in your yard seem to help deter the little buggers.

Light, piece of white paper and shallow bowl of water (maybe thrown a drop of dawn in there) in the middle of your carpet....fleas seem to be attracted to the setup

Keep clothes off the floor and wash your pets bedding weekly if not daily.

If nothing seems to be working consult with a veterinarian and a pest control person. Consult both. I say consult with a vet first because frankly they know all about fleas and if anything can recommend a flea treatment plan least likely to harm your pet. If your veterinarian does not have the answer you want then by all means get a professional bug killer to assassinate and annihilate the little intruders.

Common pet emergencies and pet first aid tips

Choking

• If your pet’s airway is totally blocked, you must take immediate action, as there is no time to go to the veterinarian for help.
• Open the mouth and look for a foreign object. If the dog is unconscious and an object is blocking the airway, grab the tongue and pull it outward to try to dislodge the object.
• Regardless of consciousness, sweep your finger through the dog's mouth in an effort to feel or dislodge any object. Use caution to avoid being bitten. CPR or the Heimlich maneuver may be required.

Seizures

• Make sure your pet is in a safe place, but do not try to restrain her. She may be scared during a seizure and not recognize her owner, so keep your hands away from her mouth.
• Seizures can occur for a variety of reasons. It is urgent that you take your pet to a veterinary hospital immediately.

 

Heatstroke

• If your pet has been exposed to the heat and has a bright red tongue, red or pale gums, thick or sticky saliva, diarrhea, is panting rapidly, weak, depressed, dizzy, or vomiting, he may be suffering from heatstroke.
• In the case of heatstroke, immediately remove the dog from heat and lower his temperature by wetting him thoroughly with cool or lukewarm water (NOT ice cold) and increase air movement with a fan. Then take him to the vet as soon as possible.
• As the weather continues to heat up here in Austin, we’ll go more in depth about symptoms and prevention of heatstroke and other heat-induced emergencies. 

 

Poisoning

• Signs of poisoning include bleeding, both internally and externally, dilated pupils, drooling or foaming at the mouth, seizures or abnormal behavior and mental state.
• Some of the obvious culprits might be rat poison or cleaning products, which should be kept out of reach, but pets can also be poisoned by unassuming household items. 

 

Animal Bites 

• Keep an eye out for one or more small puncture wounds, tremors, nausea, vomiting, weakness, difficulty breathing, bleeding and bruising at the site of the wound.
• If you think your pet has been bitten by a snake, seek immediate medical attention.
• Sometimes, injuries from being bitten by another animal seem minor; however, your pet should still see a vet to prevent infection and check for internal wounds.
• If bleeding, apply gauze to the wound. Should the bleeding continue, apply new gauze without removing soaked gauze until you reach the veterinary hospital.

  . .  

OTHER PET EMERGENCY TIPS

• Stay calm! Pets are keen. They can very easily sense when you are nervous, scared, or stressed and may mirror your emotions.
• During an emergency, a relaxed, confident and educated guardian can help save an animal’s life.
• Use your best judgement when deciding if it is something that can be handled at home or if you should call the vet.
• Download a pet emergency app. 
• Buy a pet first aid book. There are numerous resources available to educate pet parents on first aid plans. 
• Take a pet first aid class. 
• Create your own pet first aid kit.

What constitutes as animal cruelty?

what constitutes as animal cruelty?

ASPCA NATIONAL SHELTER OUTREACH

Acts of violence or neglect perpetrated against animals are considered animal cruelty. Examples include overt animal abuse, dog and cock fighting and companion animal neglect where the animal is denied basic necessities of care such as fresh water and food or shelter.

Thinkstock

Many people who witness or hear about cruelty are not aware that legal action can be taken to help stop the problem. Companion animals are primarily covered by state animal cruelty laws, which vary from state to state and county to county. Animal welfare organizations across the country work daily to educate people about the proper care of animals and how to prevent animal cruelty.

Animal cruelty can be divided into two general categories: neglect and intentional cruelty.

Neglect

• Neglect is the failure to provide an animal with the most basic of requirements of food, water, shelter and veterinary care.
• Neglect may be due to ignorance on the animal owner’s part and is usually handled by requiring the owner to correct the situation. If the problem is not corrected, the animal may be removed from the neglectful person by law enforcement authorities.

Intentional Cruelty

• Intentional cruelty is often more shocking than neglect and is frequently an indicator of a serious human behavior problem.
• Intentional cruelty is when an individual purposely inflicts physical harm or injury on an animal. (The ASPCA and other organizations with cruelty investigation authority have arrested individuals who have deliberately maimed, tortured or even killed animals.)
• Although many individuals are arrested for intentional cruelty, people who commit even the most heinous crimes against animals are often not prosecuted to the full extent of the law. In states where animal cruelty is considered a misdemeanor, individuals who commit intentional cruelty crimes against animals can receive, at most, one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Often, perpetrators receive no more than probation.
• Someone who is violent towards animals may be violent towards family members or others.

Animal Cruelty Laws (State-to-State)

• 33 states and the District of Columbia currently have laws that make intentional cruelty a felony charge, while the remaining states treat animal cruelty as a misdemeanor.
• Many animal cruelty laws specifically exclude accepted animal husbandry practices involving farm animals, animals used in research, and lawful hunting and trapping of wildlife.
• Many states now require the person convicted of cruelty to undergo psychological evaluation and counseling, in addition to paying a fine or serving a prison sentence.
• An increasing number of states are instituting cross training and reporting programs that involve social service workers who are likely to see cases of animal abuse during the course of their work in domestic violence and child abuse cases.
• A number of states provide civil and criminal immunity to veterinarians who report suspected cases of animal abuse to law enforcement authorities, as veterinarians are likely to be the first to come in contact with an abused animal.
• Enforcement of animal cruelty laws can be carried out by local police or by humane or municipal agencies that are granted power from the state or local government.

Advice from the ASPCA

• If you witness or hear about animal cruelty taking place, report it to your local humane organization or call your local police.
• Learn about animal-friendly legislation pending in your state – visit the ASPCA’s online Advocacy Center.
• Become a member of the ASPCA Legislative Action Team and take an active part in passing legislation. E-mail all inquiries to government@aspca.org or call the Government Affairs & Public Policy department at 212-876-7700 ext. 4550.
• Teaching future generations to respect animal life will make our society more humane. Make sure schools in your town include humane education as part of their curriculum. E-mail the ASPCA at education@aspca.org for classroom resources.
• If you own a pet, be responsible and provide him with annual veterinary check-ups and preventative medical care; spay or neuter your cat or dog to reduce pet overpopulation and urge your friends to do the same.
• Support your local animal rescue organization or shelter with donations of money, food or supplies. Volunteering your time or fostering a shelter animal is a good way to make a difference. Fostering helps socialize abused or frightened animals before they are adopted.

Courtesy of
ASPCA
424 East 92nd St.
New York, NY 10128-6804
(212) 876-7700
www.aspca.org

Contact: Media Relations (212) 876-7700 ext. 4655