Posts in Category: Pet Safety

Cats prefer early evening and morning hours for hunting and exploring, but the great outside welcomes kitties with lots of risk. If your cats are outside cats, there are things you can do to minimize their risk of injury or disease. Before you let your cat outside to roam, weigh the risks.

Life Happens; and there will be times our pets need emergency care, just like people. 

No matter what is happening, Long Animal Hospital is here to help in your time of need. Even though we have your back on the medicine part of things, your pet still needs your to recognize and act, though, when something is awry. Do you know how to help in the event of a cat emergency?

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!

Leaving a pet in the car for “just a few minutes” occurs to many. After all, there are places our pets cannot be and the long list of errands often has us running from one place to the next. But leaving a  pet in the car can spell trouble, especially during the winter and summer months. What would seem to be harmless causes hundreds of deaths in pets each year. 

The team at Long Animal Hospital and Emergency Center is here to explain why both hot and cold weather outside are risky times to take your pet in the car and should absolutely be avoided.

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. 

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…

If you were able to ask any pet, particularly the family dog, what sort of treats they’d like, you’d probably expect to hear, “All of them!” Unfortunately for our hungry pets, there are certain treats that may not be well-suited for their health and overall well-being. And the fact of the matter is, treats, while a great reward, should be used judiciously.

Since all pet treats are not created equal, what treats are better for our furry friends? Your team at Long Animal Hospital and Emergency Center is here to take the bite out of choosing the right pet treats.

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Like every other veterinary establishment, we encounter pet poisoning situations on a regular basis here at Long Animal Hospital. March is Pet Poison Awareness Month, and what better opportunity to shed some light on the very real risk that many of our foods and household items pose to our pets.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common pet poisoning threats and what we can do to keep our beloved pets safe and healthy.

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The holidays are a wonderful time of year, and having a four-legged family member to celebrate with makes it even more special. It would be hard to include your pet in the family traditions without wrapping a gift (or two, or three) for them, but with so many incredible pet products to choose from, where should the discerning pet owner begin?

Your team at Long Animal Hospital and Emergency Center has done the research for you. Our list of our favorite tried-and-true gifts for pets will make shopping for your best pal a breeze!

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