Local Value Veterinary

Category: Tips

  • Useful Tips for Managing your Pets This Memorial Day

    Useful Tips for Managing your Pets This Memorial Day

    The long anticipated Memorial Day Weekend is just a few days away. Often seen by most people as the unofficial start of the fun-filled summer months after enduring the long cold wintry season, the Memorial Day Weekend is the perfect excuse for spending quality time outdoors with your loved ones. And what’s a better a way of doing that than also tagging your cherished four-legged companions along? Whether you’re barbecuing, partying or just up-and-about soaking in those glorious sun rays, your pet will also love to be there too! Nonetheless, it is still important to stay safe as much as you’re having a ball in your backyard. Here is a quick primer of a collection of useful tips that could come in handy in preventing mishaps during this year’s ‘Dog Days’ weekend.

    1. Protect your Pets from Potentially Toxic Foods
    Remind your guests to refrain from feeding your pets table scraps or party snacks. Chocolate, raisins, chocolate, avocado, grapes, and onions are examples of barbecue additives that are considered potentially toxic to certain breeds of dogs.

    2. Don’t Leave Pets Unsupervised
    Pets, like toddlers, should never be left unsupervised while in the presence of potentially hazardous areas. Contrary to the common misconception, not all dogs and cats are good swimmers. Avoid leaving your pets near large pools of water/lakes/waterfalls. Speaking of which, make sure that your four-pawed companion has proper identification on them ( ID tag or an embedded microchip ) before you venture outdoors.

    3. Be Mindful of the Heat Levels
    Pets also get dehydrated quickly especially after spending endless hours outdoors. Ensure you have enough packed clean, fresh water for them and encourage them to take intermittent breaks from direct sunlight in a cool, shaded place. To add on this, discourage nibbling around by packing a few hearty snacks for them in addition to their water ration. Party smart.

    SOURCES: Pet 360, Dog Time, Dog Tipper
    COPYRIGHT: Local Value

  • Dog Bite Prevention

    Dog Bite Prevention

    It is estimated that more than 5 million people in the U.S are bitten by their four-pawed companions every year. To make matters more upsetting, cases involving young children make up more than 50% of these highly injurious incidents. In response to this, the AMVA ( American Veterinary Medical Association ) dedicated the third week of May every year to combat this distressing crisis and raise awareness of issues revolving around the dangers of dog bites. This year, 15th to 19th May has been set aside as the annual National Dog Bite Prevention Week, and as dog devotees, we’re all expected to stand in solidarity for a healthier and friendlier society for both our pets and kids.

    Join the Movement

    Preventing and combating the numerous cases of canine bites that have been on a worrying rise in the last four years requires the input of both pet owners and their immediate neighbors, friends, and family. As a responsible pet owner, it is your duty to caution who might want to approach or pet your dog without your consent. Also, cultivate the culture of walking your dog on a leash whenever in a public park or crowded place and teach your children/siblings the same. And when you get a new puppy, it is your responsibility to impart in them healthy socialization skills as early as possible to promote harmonious living with other pets and peoples.

    Protecting Our Children

    On the other end of the spectrum, children ought to be taught to never provoke a dog through pulling, pinching, kicking, poking or teasing. If anything, young children below five years shouldn’t be allowed to pet aggressive breeds of dogs until they are old enough to decipher an animal’s temperament and body language. Lastly but not least, ensure that you bring in Rover for a comprehensive check-up at least four times every year to protect them from common dog illnesses that might trigger unexplained hostility.

    SOURCES: AVMA, Dog Tipper

    COPYRIGHT: Local Value