Posts in Category: The Great Outdoors

Pets need plenty of water to drink any time of year, but more so when the weather gets hot. 

Without adequate hydration, a number of health conditions can arise and cause serious harm. This is why the team at Long Animal Hospital and Emergency Center wants to stress the necessity of keeping your pet hydrated by offering some suggestions in getting your pet to drink more water. Read on to learn more!

Pet owners have a lot of important responsibilities. Aside from training and socialization opportunities, they must maintain excellent nutrition and provide mental and physical stimulation every single day.

Chief among all the essential pet care tasks is picking up pet waste. Not only is your life less smelly when you scoop the poop, but cleaning up after your pet is a matter of public safety, too.

The Macro View

In general, life is much more pleasant without piles of poop everywhere. No one likes to be surprised by feces left behind by irresponsible or negligent pet owners.

Whether it winds up on our shoes, inside our own pet’s mouth, or simply offends us with the smell, pet waste is a major deal breaker for communities around the world.

It may just be October, but Old Man Winter is right around the corner. And when the weather becomes frightful, it can put pets at risk for a number of problems and injuries.  All pets are affected differently by the climate, and winter pet care can be more involved this time of year in spite of our traditionally mild winters.

Whether your pet loves to be out in the cold and occasional snow, or prefers to snuggle up by the fire, sold weather safety is critical for the health and well being of your pet. 

According to the website www.petsandparasites.org, there were over 300,000 dogs tested for Lyme disease in North Carolina last year. Of these, more than 7,000 tested positive.

Those results might not be shocking in our hot, humid state, but the general trend of ticks across the country shows an increase in areas that were previously not known for tick-borne illnesses. That means more pets and people are increasingly at risk.

This begs the question: if you find a tick on your pet, do you know what to do?

It’s estimated that roughly 10 million pets become lost in the U.S. each year, and the vast majority never return home. Unfortunately, this is also the time of year when shelters fill up even more with lost pets who escape during summer festivities. However, with our pet loss prevention strategies, you and your companion can avoid a heartbreaking situation.

Effective Pet Loss Prevention Tips

There are some things you can do in your home and yard to make sure your pet remains safe and secure.

Survey boundaries – Every so often, walk the perimeter of your property, and check for any points your pet could escape. Repair fences and gates and take any other precautions to make sure your yard is secure. Continue…

If your dog truly loves the water, it’s okay to allow them to swim unsupervised as much as they want, right? No way! Sure, there are dogs you probably don’t have to worry about as much as others around the water’s edge, but all pets deserve close observation any time they’re close to a pool, lake, river, or ocean.

This summer, don’t allow dog swimming safety to drift away. Be prepared, stay aware, and prevent water-related accidents or injuries.

No Unrestricted Access

Even dogs with significant skills can find trouble in the water. If you have a pool, pond, or other type of water feature on your property, do not allow your dog to have unrestricted access to it. A fence around it is ideal, and some even have alarm systems that alert you if trespassed.

Similarly, pool or hot tub covers are critical when sharing the backyard with a curious canine. Ramps can come in handy if/when a dog goes in the water and needs help getting out. Train your dog to always exit the water the same way every time, so they can easily remember how to get out. Continue…

Modern day living has a lot going for it, but possibly the leading attributes have to do with advances in medical arts. Disease has always been one of our greatest foes, but via timely and routine vaccinations, education, and preventive practices, we can live a relatively healthy life. This goes for our pets, too.

Lyme disease in dogs remains a formidable threat, but there are several ways to counteract possible exposure to this serious illness.

Continue…

There is nothing quite so wonderful as relaxing on the water with your dog by your side. Lakes, pools, and oceans are a great way to pass the time during the dog days of summer. However, before you head out, let’s take a careful look at water safety and your pets.

Swimming with Pets

There’s an assumption that all animals are adept at swimming, but nothing could be further from the truth. Some animals, such as brachycephalic breeds, are not suited for swimming, while other pets just really don’t like it.

Continue…

Sirius is a star that Roman and Greek astrology associate with high heat, drought, thunderstorms, and “mad” dogs. In short, the “dog days” of summer relate to the stickiest, most sultry, hazy days all year, and we’re currently in the thick of it. Despite the heat and humidity, many pets still find themselves outside. Unless they’re protected using summer pet safety guidelines, these pets could be in serious trouble.

A Way Home

Summer is the perfect time to up the ante in regards to outdoor fun. Whether it’s water recreation, camping, or simply hanging out downtown, make sure your pet is easily identifiable. His or her collar should sport clearly legible ID tags and your pet should have updated microchip information, if applicable.

Continue…

In a consumer-driven market, we’re always comparing the cost of something versus its value. In the case of microchipping your pet, it’s easy to determine that the price is worth every single penny. Indeed, this simple procedure is not only relatively inexpensive, it also has the amazing power to reunite lost pets and owners. It’s a choice that all pet owners can make in their own time, but it can save a pet’s life and bring them back home safely – which is the ultimate goal for a lost pet.

The Agony

Thinking of your pet far away from home, lost, hungry, scared, and tired could be a reality. Many pets – even strictly indoor ones – can find themselves outside alone. Sure, there are those pets that take the opportunity to run wild through the neighborhood and do return home, but sometimes pets can get out accidentally when a door or gate is left open, or during times of extreme stress such as noise anxiety.

Continue…