What to Ask When Choosing to Board Your Dog

Pet boarding services are an excellent way to prevent your dog's inherent stress from being confined on an airplane or in a car for long hours. Before you board your dog, make a personal visit to the pet boarding facility. A personal visit is essential to determine whether or not the facility will be to you and your pet's satisfaction. During your visit, observe or ask about the following:

If your dog has special needs (special medication, diet or feeding schedule) ask up front if the pet boarding facility can accommodate these needs.

The general appearance of the pet boarding facility should look neat and smell clean.

Observe the space where your dog will be boarding. It should be free of dirt, fecal accumulation and odors. There should be a strict schedule of disinfecting with effective chemicals.

Ask about the credentials of the people who work at the boarding facility. Are they trained to recognize signs of illness and distress? What steps are in place should a pet become ill while being boarded? How does the facility obtain veterinary help when needed?

Inquire about feeding procedures.

Ensure the facility has immunization requirements and flea and tick control policies to ensure your pet will be safe from infections from other dogs while boarded.

Find out what kind of exercise and playtime opportunities exist for your dog. Most dogs will enjoy some time to run, stretch and socialize. Inquire about the supervision provided during these outings. Ask how frequently during the day your dog will be checked on.




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Brushing Your Dog: Key To Getting That Beautiful Coat

Brushing removes dead hair from the coat before it mats, stimulates the skin and evenly distributes the natural oils over the coat. This allows the individual hairs to lie more smoothly, look shinier and repel dirt. Try to spend just a few minutes every day or so brushing the coat instead of waiting until the coat is tangled then trying to demat it. You and your pet will be happier for it.

Puppies and brushes:

Puppies, are constantly shedding their puppy coat. They should get used to being groomed and handled as soon as they come into the home. If your puppy just "won't hold still long enough" to be brushed, groom in short sessions and just brush a small section at a time until the puppy gets used to being brushed. Talk to him softly and treat him gently. And as with all pets, remember to praise him quietly if he's still. End the brushing session on a positive note, like when he's being still. What should your grooming session consist of?

Remove all mats before bathing your pet:

Getting a tangled, matted coat wet will cause the coat to mat up even more. Water tends to tighten the mat, shampoo gets caught in the mat and is hard to rinse out, drying shrinks it into an even tighter knot. You can make the brushing and dematting process easier on yourself and your pet if you dampen the coat before brushing with a coat conditioner or tangle remover.

Brushing a dry coat will cause static electricity that will damage and break off the ends of the hair. Spray the coat well with the conditioner and allow it to sit on the dog for several minutes or apply it to each layer as you brush. These are especially helpful when working with dogs with long, flowing coats, such as the Maltese, Lhasa Apso, Shih Tzu, Silky Terrier and Yorkshire Terrier.

Brush your pet's hair layer by layer so that it pulls the least on the skin.
Hold the unbrushed hair down, just above the section of hair you want to brush. This allows you to brush layer by layer, working in the direction of the hair growth. If you find a knot of hair, hold the hair at the base of the mat so that it doesn't pull on the pet's skin as much.

Watch your pet's body language as you brush and demat: No pet enjoys having their skin tugged at. Try to brush a little more gently if your pet shows discomfort. Brush burn is the result of applying excessive force when brushing the coat, and can be caused when hair is tugged too aggressively, or from brush bristles harshly scraping the skin. This abrasiveness causes the skin of the pet to become irritated, and could lead to dermatitis. So be firm, yet gentle, when brushing your pet.

Brush the head last:

Pets tend to object less to those things they can't see. The head is a sensitive area for many pets, and you want to keep the pet comfortable as long as possible. Therefore, starting at the rear is less stressful on the pet.

Combing: The final step in brushing.
The final step in brushing is to go through the coat using a fine/medium toothed comb, checking for any mats that may still be in the coat.

Poodles and other non-shedding breeds:

Most people believe that Poodles do not shed. This, however, is a myth, because Poodles do shed their dead hair just as most breeds do. Poodles have a dense undercoat that is course and curly. The dead hair actually gets caught in the undercoat and is unable to fall out through the coat. This causes the coat to mat easily if dead hair is not removed frequently by brushing.



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Supplements

Supplements are available to address a number of health needs including:

Skin & Coat:

If you've ruled out fleas as a cause of your dog's excessive itching, the most likely culprit is dry skin. A supplement rich in essential fatty acids will help with dry skin, plus make his coat extra-shiny.

Joint Pain & Stiffness:

Your dog's age, size and breed may all be factors contributing to painful, stiff joints. Look for supplements that contain ingredients like glucosamine, chondroitin or cosequin to help ease pain and stiffness.

Anxiety:

Being left home alone, thunderstorms or unfamiliar guests can all leave your dog feeling a little anxious. Look for natural supplements with ingredients like chamomile or valerian to help ease anxiety.

Please talk with your vet before starting your dog on a vitamin or supplement program. The desired effects may not be apparent for a period of weeks or months depending on the type of supplement being used. Ongoing supplementation may be necessary to maintain desired effects once achieved.



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Winning The War Against Fleas

Fleas are one of your pet's greatest enemies. These tiny, wingless insects jump onto cats, dogs, and people and ingest their blood. Fleas flourish worldwide in moderate humidity and temperatures. Only extreme, prolonged cold weather kills them. Their complex life cycle includes several microscopic stages including egg, larvae, and pupae. Fleas can live for several months.

What are the Dangers to My Pet from Fleas?

Fleas aren't just a nuisance for you and your pet; these pests can cause the following medical problems:

Tapeworms: If your pet eats a flea, which is likely during self-grooming, he could become infected with the immature tapeworms fleas can carry. These long, flat parasites can cause weight loss and diarrhea, and can be contagious to you and your family. One sure sign of tapeworms is the "white rice" you may find on your pet's coat underneath the tail. These are tapeworm segments, and they also can be found on your pet's bedding. If you see them, take your pet to your veterinarian right away to get rid of these pests. Fleas often bite humans when other food sources aren't available, but they do not thrive on human blood. Their bite leaves a red, itchy spot on the skin.

What are the signs that a pet has fleas?

The obvious sign is seeing adult fleas on the body. A flea-bitten pet will scratch a lot because fleas bite the pet leaving behind saliva that is an irritant to many pets. A pet that is infested with fleas will scratch persistently, which could result in a case of dermatitis.

How can I find out if my pet has fleas?

Place your pet on a white sheet and comb the coat with a flea comb. Now look at the sheet. If you see small black specks, it could be flea dirt. Flea dirt is actually flea feces, made up mostly of blood sucked from the pet that is eliminated through the flea's digestive system as dried blood. Flea dirt turns bloody when water is applied. So if you want to make sure, add a drop of water to the specks and see if it turns a reddish color. If it doesn't, odds are that your pet just needs a good bath.

When can pets become infested with fleas?

Pets can become infested with parasites at any time of the year. However, flea infestation is more prevalent in the spring when cold temperatures turn warmer, making it a more hospitable climate for parasites. You are more apt to encounter fleas in warm, humid areas. Flea populations generally don't develop in dry climates.

I've been using insecticides, but I'm still seeing fleas. What am I doing wrong?

You may see some fleas for 10 days to several weeks following treatment. These are newly hatched fleas which were unaffected by your earlier treatments because of their chemically resistant cocoons. You'll need to re-treat the home and yard 7 to 10 days after the initial treatment to kill the next wave of fleas, and continue your treatments until all existing fleas have completed their life cycle.

Are flea control products safe?

Flea control products can be dangerous if not used properly. Always read the label and instructions carefully. And make sure you use the product only for the prescribed pets. Some products are not appropriate for use with cats. If you have any question regarding the safety of any flea control product with your pet, consult your veterinarian before you use the product.

What are the steps needed to stop a flea infestation?
Your pet isn't the only one at risk. People can get irritating flea bites too. Ridding your home and yard of these pests takes time, several steps and a strong commitment to success.

Here's what you need to do:

Shampoo and dip your pet. The best place to start in eliminating fleas is to make sure you have eliminated them from your pet. Start with a good bath using a flea shampoo. These special shampoos contain ingredients that will kill all adult fleas in your pet's coat. You may also want to consider having your pet dipped to insure you get all the adult fleas. If you want your pet dipped, we recommend that you use a professional groomer or your veterinarian. Use the store locator to find a PetSmart groomer or veterinarian near you.

Remember, a good bath with flea shampoo as a dip will not keep fleas from coming back. After your pet is washed free of existing fleas and debris you should consider one of the on-animal or oral products available from your veterinarian or through PetSmart.com. These products prevent flea eggs from hatching and when used in conjunction with home and yard control can help eliminate fleas from your pets.

Take back your home. You can't conquer a flea problem by treating only your pets; you also must treat your house. Fleas can live for months without food, and every female flea can lay several thousand eggs, which can survive in carpeted areas, wood floors, and furniture until it's time to hatch and re-infest your pet.

One simple way to clean the flea eggs out of your house is to vacuum several times a week, tape the bags shut, and throw them away. Also clean your pet's favorite hangouts and launder its bed regularly. Use a professional fogger in each room and sprays for hard-to-reach spots. Contact your veterinarian for professional advice and the best products, and make sure you use only foggers and sprays that combine insect growth regulators with an insecticide. Don't undertake this project uninformed - flea products can be hazardous!

Re-conquer your yard. Use professional, concentrated yard sprays, many of which attach easily to the end of a garden hose for application. It's especially important to spray moist and shaded areas of your yard. Spray dog houses and kennels with an indoor premise spray, and allow all areas to dry before allowing your pet access to them. Fleas are tough! Be sure to start these procedures simultaneously and treat all of your pets - the best time is now.

Prevention through continued maintenance.

Pets will continue to pick up new fleas emerging from their cocoons. Once the infestation is gone, pets can pick up new fleas when they go to untreated areas or when an untreated pet comes into your yard or home.



Obinna Heche: Los Angeles- California

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