Tech Tips

APRIL TECH TIPS by Jenn Smith, AHT

DIGGING DOGS AND YOUR YARD

Along with summer and warmer weather comes the return of green grass and for many home owners this means grooming their lawns to the desired effect. Some dogs, however, like to dig, and this can be detrimental to all the hard efforts of the home owner.

If your dog likes to dig, there can be several reasons for this. Most often, it is due to boredom. Dogs may also dig if they want to escape the yard, cool off, or if they smell something interesting under the grass.

To start with, provide your dog with an area that he or she can dig in. Make a sandbox and hide different toys or treats in it daily that your dog can dig up and enjoy. This will also provide an alternative if your dog is digging to cool off. Place the sandbox in a cool, shaded area of your yard and your pooch will use it as needed.

If you like to fertilize your lawn, check the ingredients in your fertilizer. The first thing you should do is check to make sure the fertilizer is pet friendly, and then check the ingredients in the fertilizer. Avoid using anything that contains bone meal, animal feces, or old compost for fertilization if your dog is a digger. This smells irresistible to dogs and can be mistaken for a bone or something equally tasty hidden under the soil.

If you are still unsuccessful at preventing your dog from digging, there are products that you can apply to your grass which will help to deter your dog. Check at a local greenhouse for products that are safe for both your lawn and your pet.

MARCH TECH TIPS by Jenn Smith, AHT

With the weather fast becoming warmer and warmer, many pet owners are finding that walking and playing with your pets outside can bring in a lot of mud. Here are some tips to help you avoid getting your floors dirty as much as possible.

Avoid walking your pet while it is very warm outside. Try to go very early in the morning or late in the evening when it is cooler outside. At these times it is more likely that there will be frost on the ground, so that if your pet does walk into the mud it won’t stick to the bottom of their feet. Alternatively, try going on a walk without your pet one day and map out areas that are less muddy.
Place a floor mat both outside and inside your doorway, so that your pet’s feet have a chance to wipe off as they pass over these spots.
Leave a towel in your entrance way, and have your pet sit while you gently and thoroughly wipe its feet. You could even have a dipping dish ready when you get home either outside or inside your doorway that you can dip each paw into and then gently dry them before releasing your pet.
Another thing that you may find needs to be done on a more frequent basis during this spring season is bathing.
Most pets cannot tolerate being bathed every day. It leaves their skin dry and itchy, and that can lead to other skin problems. Talk to your veterinarian about how often your particular pet can be bathed.
Be sure to use only pet specific shampoo to bathe your pet, as your pet has skin that is very different from yours and it cannot tolerate your shampoo.
When you do bathe your pet, try using an oatmeal based shampoo, as long as your pet does not have any special skin considerations. Oatmeal based shampoos leave the skin moisturized and feeling good.
Consider combining a pet specific conditioner with your shampoo. Conditioners help to leave the skin hydrated and the coat looking its best. Make sure to rinse the coat very well. Any left over product can be very irritating.
Lastly, be sure to dry your pet completely or almost completely once you are finished shampooing and conditioning. Moisture combined with warmth from your pet can cause problems under the fur that go unnoticed for some time.

ENJOY YOUR SPRING AND WATCH FOR NEXT MONTHS TECH TIPS

_____________________________________

Tech tip archives below

FEBRUARY TECH TIPS

Licensing your pet

Many of our clients come in and ask us how they go about licensing their pets. Here are some tips to make things easier for you in the process.

Animals less than six months of age do not need a license, but if you do choose to get one, it is free under 6 months of age. I recommend getting the licensing done at the time of the spay or neuter or your pet. For a spayed or neutered animal, the license is free for the first year. You will be required to update the license, with fees, for each year after that. All cats and dogs must wear a collar when outside. Licensing fees go towards Edmonton’s found pets that are sheltered, treated for any injuries, and returned home. The fees also go towards many other animal control and licensing fees.

For a spayed or neutered cat, the yearly fee is $14. For a dog, the fee is $30. For any intact (not spayed or neutered) pet, the yearly fee is $64. This does not include restricted dog fees. If you think your dog may be a restricted breed, call Edmonton Animal Services.

If you have access to the internet, you can apply for a license online. Go to www.edmonton.ca, click on permits and licenses, and look under pet licenses. If you do not have online access, you can pick up a mail brochure at your nearby vet clinic, and fill it out to be mailed. All the information is included. You may also apply in person. To apply in person you may also use the brochure to find the address.

Spaying or Neutering Your Pet

You may be wondering why the city of Edmonton charges less to license a spayed or neutered animal.

If is beneficial in many ways to sterilize, or “fix” your pet. Thousands of animals each year are born and are unwanted. This creates overflow at the humane society and at the city pound, resulting in hundreds of euthanasias that could have been avoided. There is an ongoing need for homes for animals that are living in foster homes, and various rescue organizations throughout the province.

Above this, there are also many medical reasons that spaying or neutering can be beneficial for your pet. Talk to your veterinarian about why this is a great step in your pet’s future health.

JANUARY TECH TIPS

Hello to all of our website visitors, and welcome to the New Year! We hope you enjoyed reading December’s Tech Tips. We have two subjects for you in January 2008.

Wintertime Cold! How to protect your pet from getting chilled.

If your pet likes to be outdoors in the winter, please keep in mind the following things:

Feet, ears, tails and noses easily get cold, just like ours, and even can become frostbitten in cold enough temperatures.
Cats and dogs should only be let outdoors for short periods of time when the temperature is below -10. Keep an eye on your pet as it sits outside and watch for signs of coldness. They may shiver or hunch to retain warmth, and often will come and sit back by the door to be let in.
If you have a pet that is strictly outdoors, take care to provide them with a warm house to sleep in. An insulated house with entry opposite to the wind is best, with extra cozy blankets for warmth inside. All pets can get cold, even when they have thick coats of fur.
Most importantly, in very severe weather such as storms or -25 or worse, please bring your pet indoors to keep them protected from the cold.

Kicking off the New Year with a weight loss program….and not one for you!

One of the biggest problems we are seeing in Veterinary Medicine today is obesity. Every New Year, we resolve to make our own lives better and healthier, why not extend that to include our pets too? After all, they are part of the family.

Unfortunately, pets suffer from a lot of the same side effects that we do when they have excessive weight. Just like us, they can develop heart problems, joint problems, unhealthy levels of enzymes in their blood, and more.

If you think your pet may be carrying extra weight, stop by the clinic to put your pet on the scale, and take a look at our body condition chart on the wall. If your pet can stand to lose a few pounds, then ask to set up a consult with one of our technicians, and we can develop a weight loss program specific for your pet.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Thanks for checking out our website, and see you again next month.