Tick Season!

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Most people don't know that tick season can be at different times of the year depending where you live. Because some of us travel to several areas on a regular basis dragging our beloved pets with us, it is important to protect the pets from ticks. Not everyone thinks it is a good idea to use a preventive on cats and dogs as they are concerned about the side-effects and what will happen years from now because you protected you pet.

Ask your veterinarian about the products on the market now if you are not sure. Some pet insurance may help pay for these items. One vet in a state I spend a lot of time in promotes one product, while a vet in another area sells something else. Everyone has to choose what will work for them. If you are in an area such as Dixie County in Florida where there is a lot of tall grass, and it seems it is always hunting season, you will be able to find some kind of tick year round.

Colder climates seem to be spared at times. The woods of North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Europe, etc. will have ticks on a regular basis. If you live in the woods and have pets, protect them! Grooming on a regular basis is important. We have had to remove ticks when we least expected a dog had one. In addition to professional grooming pets need to be brushed daily. If you don't think it is important for your pet, think about yourself. If you dog or cat has ticks (or fleas) you will too!

If you have a pet you think has been bitten by a tick, and the pet seems ill, get it to the veterinarian. What would you look for? I could list a host of things, but to keep it simple-if a pet suddenly seems tired, doesn't eat, isn't urinating, or doesn't play with a favorite toy, you should suspect something is wrong. Pets can't tell you what they feel, but don't wait more than a day if something does not seem right. I don't like paying vet bills either (another reason to have pet insurance?) but I am not the expert when it comes to such things, so I do go when it is this important.



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Training older dogs.

What do you do when you have to train an adult dog? Many people think if you do not get a dog trained when it is a puppy, it will never be trained. Others disagree, feeling you really can train an old dog new tricks.

If you have ever had to do this, we would love to hear your method. We have done this and found we were following the same steps as we did with a puppy. Why would we do anything different?

Being sure a dog is house broken, or able to alert you to the fact it needs to go outside to potty, is a big step. Some breeds are more stubborn than others, but it can be done. You will need to have patience.

If you have an older dog that has suddenly been breaking the house rules, there may be a medical issue, and a veterinarian may need to be consulted. This may be a time when you should have pet insurance! If there is a medical issue it can get expensive.

If the dog is really resistant to outdoor training, you may have to start with a training pad. Many dogs will cooperate with these potty pads, and eventually be able to be fully trained outside.

Keep your dog well groomed and it's sleeping area clean. Always be sure it has clean water and fresh food!



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Dogs with allergies: What's a human to do?

Dogs bring so much fun into the lives of humans! Too bad they aren't easier to figure out when it comes to their needs, such as allergy relief.

For the most part, taking care of a dog is simple. Dogs should be kept clean, fed properly, and offered plenty of fresh water.

Aside from exercise and attention, most dogs are fairly easy to figure out. However, a problem can arise when your dog develops an allergy. How exactly do you know if your dog has an allergy? Unfortunately, a dog with an allergy will soon make the problem known.

It's 2 o'clock in the morning. You are awakened by the sound of your dog scratching, and scratching, until you think you will go over the deep end. If you think it's a problem for you, what about the dog? Dogs will scratch to get relief to the point of making an area bleed. This isn't good for either one of you.

The first thing you may want to do is think about any dietary changes. If your dog is on a strict regimen of dog food only, and you are sure no one has been able to give your pooch anything unusual, think about the next question. Have you made any changes in the products used to groom your dog? No to that, too? What about the areas where you walk your pet? Is anything blooming, or has anything changed?

If a day or two pass, and your dog is still scratching, go to the veterinarians. Only the dog's veterinarian can say if your dog has something more serious than a seasonal allergy.

What if the dog does have an allergy? You might be given medication, such as prednisone, to offer some relief. This won't cure the problem, but will give some relief to the dog.

Now what? It is very difficult to determine at times what a dog is allergic to-even with a veterinarians help. Some insist no corn products should be included in the dog's food. Others claim the itching is from fleas. But, what if you have your dog on a monthly flea preventative? Unfortunately, some dogs are allergic to these products, and the only way to find out might be to stop using the product.

Although there is a lot of information on the Internet about dogs and allergy issues, there are no simple allergy tests for pets that are not extremely expensive. Be sure to follow the guidelines of the veterinarian you bring your dog to, as this is where expert information will be found.

Most likely it will be suggested that you begin a trial and error period for your dog. You will eliminate some things, change some things, and hopefully, your dog will soon be itch and allergy free.









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