Pet Auto Safety

When owning a pet it is seen as an addition to the family. This said the most important reason why pet insurance is vital is because it is impossible to predict whether at some point your pet will fall ill or have a serious accident. You simply wouldn’t take that chance when considering health insurance for any other family member but people don’t value pet insurance as highly. For these reasons alone getting pet insurance is one of the most important things to do when getting a domesticated animal, nearly as important as getting the animal itself.

One of the greatest benefits of pet insurance is that it doesn’t just cover your pet when it becomes seriously ill, it covers it for a wide range of other problems as well. Pet insurance covers everything from regular check-ups to advertising if your pet ever becomes lost or stolen. Some plans even cover bereavement counselling. These are just some of the benefits that are covered by policies and it genuinely shows how much the policies have progressed through the years to give you and your pet the best plan possible. Pet insurance therefore provides peace of mind and financial assurance.

Find cheap pet and cheap rabbit insurance quotes at PetsAtHome.com.

Happy Memorial Day from Sephi and Maya.  Remember to keep your dog safe when you travel this holiday season.  Travel safe and be safe wherever you and your dog go.

Pet Travel Safety
Keep your dog in the back seat with a pet net or pet barrier, have him wear his dog car seatbelt, or put him in a pet car seat.

Provide Water and Shade
If you are traveling a long distance, make sure your dog has plenty of water and do not leave him in alone in the car.  Just because it is cool outside this time of year does not mean that it won’t get as hot as an oven in your car.  If outdoors, be sure you dog has a shaded place to rest.  You may also want to consider sunscreen for you dog - especially short-haired breeds.

Identification and Restraint
Before traveling with your dog, make sure all his id tags and/or microchipping have your current contact information.  Your dog should be on a leash at all times when outside unless you are sure the area of a yard or enclosed dog park has secured fencing.  If your dog is boating, he should have his own dog life jacket.

Barbeque Dangers
If barbequing, keep foodstuff away from your dog.  Food like chicken have bones and should not be given to your dog.  Dogs should not have onions, chocolate, nuts (except peanuts), or grapes.  Fattening food should be avoided or it may make your dog’s tummy upset.  Also, keep your dog away from the barbeque pit.  A wagging tail can be dangerous around fire.  And over excited dog may accidentally run into the barbeque pit, knocking it down or knocking out hot coals.Be Aware of the Surroundings

Keep a close eye on your dog whenever he is around a lot of people, and especially small children.  Some dogs are uncomfortable around a lot of people and kids and he may react negatively if he feels cornered.  Your dog may be good around children and other people, but children and other people may not be good with your dog.  Protect your dog’s comfort as well as his safety.  Also, be aware of any loud noises which may disturb your dog.  Will there be a military memorial service in the area where shots will be fired?  Your dog will most likely be terrified of these types of sound and may try to escape them.

If you are like me, your dog is your family and you want to take him wherever you go.  You also want him safe and happy.  Pet travel safety and other pet safety is important.  Enjoy the holiday weekend and every day with your family.

It’s almost spring.  Time to be outdoors again.  Your dog misses the dog park and other fun travel destinations.  But with warm weather and more travel, your dog is likely to encounter parasites like fleas and ticks.

Ticks are small parasites that can cause a variety of big problems for your dog. Aside from their nasty habit of sucking your dog’s blood, ticks can carry disease and even cause anemia and paralysis. One of the best ways to avoid the hassles and hazards of a tick infestation is to use a topical preventative like K9 Advantix. It’s also a good idea to get to know ticks so you can learn to identify and avoid them.

Ticks often lurk in tall grass or thick vegetation, waiting to attach to a host. Heat and movement attract ticks, so your warm, active pup is in need of extra protection against them. Once a tick finds a host to feed on, it will attach itself and drink the host’s blood for a few hours to several days. Ticks can live for a few months and some even live for years. An adult female tick can lay hundreds of eggs at a time. Ticks develop from eggs to larvae, nymphs then adults. Once out of the egg, ticks of any stage of life will attach to a host body. For this reason, ticks can range in size from the size of a pen point to the size of a bean.

To check your dog for ticks, feel over his body for bumps, especially around his ears, neck and other areas where the fur may be thinner. If you feel any bumps, part your pup’s fur and use a flashlight to see if you can identify a tick. Should you spot a tick, your veterinarian can assist you in removing it quickly and cleanly. Never squeeze a tick as doing so can cause bacteria and disease to be injected into your dog. Keep in mind that if your dog may be exposed to ticks, prevention and early detection are key to keeping your four-legged friend tick-free.

Spring is here and it’s time to go to the lake or the beach again. And if you are like me, you are probably going to want to take your dog. The lake or the beach is a fun place to visit, but it can also be dangerous. The American Dog Blog has some great safety tips for every member of your family. Read the bulleted points below, then visit the American Dog Blog for more details.

* Wear Life Jackets

* Beware of Water Anomalies - such as sneaker waves, rip currents, and underwater debris.

* Beware of Other Animals - both animals on the water’s edge and in the water.

* Wear Sunscreen

* Keep an Emergency Kit Handy

* Keep Fresh Water Available

* Beware of Heat Exhaustion

* Watch for Fatigue

* Protect Your Dog’s Feet from Glass, Hot Sand, Sharp Rocks

* Rinse Off Ocean Salt Water

Have you ever considered rain gear for your dog? I smile every time I see a dog wearing clothes and sometimes think it is silly. But having your dog wear a rain coat has a great benefit. You can take your dog for a walk in the rain and don’t have to worry too much about that “wet-dog” smell when you get home. Sure, the dog will get a little wet, but not as wet. You can minimize how wet your dog gets even more by having them wear dog rain boots. But personally, I think that is a bit too much. It is easier to get your dog used to wearing a rain coat than it is to get them used to wearing rain boots. Most dogs just don’t like things on their feet.

For great rain gear for your dog, I find that the best place to shop is at Amazon.com. It is safe, secure, and easy.

A visitor to our site recently asked us, “Do you have any suggestions on how to get dog hair out of a pet car hammock without having to wash it?” That was a difficult question and I am sorry to say that unless you have a super powered vacuum cleaner, there is no perfect answer. If you have a lot of time on your hands, you can use a lint roller brush and a pair of tweezers. But most of us don’t have that kind of time - or patience. So here are a few quick tips which may not get rid of all the hair but will certainly help.

Bounce fabric softener claims to repel pet hair. Try putting a few Bounce sheets in your dryer along with your dog car seat cover or pet car hammock. Do this before you put the dog car seat cover or pet car hammock in the car and do it again in a few weeks or months, depending on how often your dog rides in the car.

Try spraying the dog car seat cover or pet car hammock with a static guard spray. This type of spray not only reduces static, but it also helps to repel pet hair. Obviously, with your dog sitting on the car seat cover or pet car hammock, hairs are still going to get forced into the fabric. But perhaps not as much.

Try using a material lint brush rather than the tape ones. I have a red glove-like lint brush which resembles an ovenmit without the thumb-piece. I believe I got it at PetsMart or possibly even Walmart. It is very easy to use and you can do a few swipes with it every time your dogs get out of the car. Again, it won’t remove all the hair, but it will help keep it at a minimum.

The visitor to our site told us that she has heard of using rubber gloves. I have never tried that but from what I have read elsewhere, it sounds like it might work. The next time I need to clean my dog car seat cover, I will give that a try.

If you have any suggestions, please share!

Make sure the airline as comprehensive information and guidelines for traveling pets. They should have a phone number specifically dedicated to owners with flying pets. Continental, for example, has a dedicated phone line for pet travelers.

Get an appropriately sized, airline approved dog carrier. Dog carrier specifications include proper ventilation; no wire kennels; a dog carrier large enough for the dog to sit, stand, turn around and lie down comfortably; no wheels on the dog carrier; two empty food dishes in the dog carrier; absorbent material on bottom of the dog carrier, such as a blanket; properly closing dog carrier (no locks).

Consider weather conditions - You need a backup for in case the airline determines that weather conditions are too extreme for pet travel.

Your dog’s veterinarian will need to issue a Health Certificate within ten days of departure.

Flying can be very stressful to your pet. You have probably considered tranquilizers for your pet, but I have found that veterinarians do not recommend this except in extreme circumstances. A tranquilized pet can not pant in hot weather (panting helps cool them down) or shiver in cold weather (shivering helps warm the body). If you think your dog will be too stressed for flying, try to find an alternative.

Although there are very strict regulations about animals flying, bad things can still happen. I heard a story on the Bonnie Hunt Show, where the dog in the kennel was left exposed to the pouring rain as the luggage was being put in. As a result, the dog was wet, the blanket was wet, everything was wet for the entire plane ride as the dog rode in cold terror in the baggage compartment of the plane. Thankfully, the dog was okay, but very very stressed.

While we love to spoil our dogs while we are spoiling ourselves this Thanksgiving Holiday, let’s be a little careful about the kind of food we give our dogs. Some Thanksgiving food can be high in fat. And while a little bit may be okay, it could still upset your dog’s tummy. Dogs who are used to eating dog food with no salt, seasonings, preservatives, or other additives, might have very upset stomachs from eating our Thanksgiving food. An upset stomach can be painful for a dog. And it could cause unpleasant diarrhea or vomiting.

Some fatty foods include the skin from the turkey, gravy, candy and other sweets, or anything buttered. Foods which can be harmful for your dog include raisins or grapes, macadamia nuts, onions, potatoes, and dark chocolate. Be sure to ask your veterinarian for a list of more foods which are not good for your dog. Some of these foods could even be deadly.

Another important thing to remember is to not give your dog turkey bones - not even the big and thick drumstick. The bones of the turkey splinter easily and can get caught in your dog’s throat or puncture their intestines. The damage of a turkey bone could cause a lot of pain for your dog, and possibly even death. And it could cost you a lot of money and heartbreak.

Be safe this Thanksgiving Holiday. Give your dog lots of dog treats if you wish to spoil them over the holidays. If you think about it, most dogs don’t even take the time to taste their food, so they probably won’t even know the difference!

When you travel, you have an emergency first aid kit for yourself, but what about one for your dog?

First and foremost, when traveling with your dog this summer, be sure your dog has access to plenty of water. Also be sure to keep the phone number of your dog’s veterinarian and a 24 hour number to a pet emergency hospital.

The other contents of an emergency dog first aid kit are similar to that of an emergency first aid kit for people. Your emergency dog first aid kit will need bandages, gauze, adhesive tape, antibiotic ointment, and tweezers. The emergency dog first aid kit will also need, sterile saline for the eyes (contact lens solution), latex gloves, and a blanket (especially when travelling in cold weather).

An additional item your emergency dog first aid kit will need, which is not needed in an emergency first aid kit for people, is a nylon leash. Oftentimes when a dog is injured, they will not want you to touch them. In order to help them, you may need the nylon leash to wrap around your dog’s muzzle and to restrain the dog while you tend to them.

Never give your dog Tylenol, aspirin, Advil, or any other medication without first checking with your veterinarian. Before you go traveling with your dog, you may want to ask your veterinarian what sort of emergency medications you can keep in your emergency dog first aid kit. When traveling with your dog, it is always best to be prepared.

Audrey Frederick has the benefit of experience and wisdom when it comes to taking care of pets. She has written a wonderful article which can help you help your dog overcome separation anxiety. Please read this wonderful article below.

Separation Anxiety in Dogs!
By: Audrey Frederick

Also check out her cat and dog website at http://www.cats-and-dogs-on-the-web.com.