• Summer is a time when people tend to fertilize their lawns and work in their gardens more often, but beware.  Plant food, fertilizer, and insecticides can be fatal if your pet ingests them.  In addition, more than 700 plants can produce toxic substances in sufficient amounts to cause harmful effects in animals.

• With people and dogs spending more time outside, dog bites are likely to increase in the summer months.  Spaying or neutering your dog will make them less agressive and reduce the likelihood that he or she will bite.  It also provides many other health benefits.

• Make sure your pet is always wearing a collar and identification tag.  If you are separated from your pet, an ID tag may very well be his or her ticket home.  Browse through all the different tags available at TagsforPets.com.

• Check with your veterinarian to see if your pets should be taking heartworm prevention medication.  Heartworm disease, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, can be fatal in both dogs and cats. 

 ~ Staff at TagsforPets.com

Getting a new pet is a very big responsibility. There are many things to take into consideration before bringing a new pet into your home. A pet is like a child; it will require a lot of attention and care.  Make sure you are absolutely ready for a commitment before deciding to adopt a pet.  

Once you have made the decision to get a pet, you can begin to prepare for it.  Before bringing your new pet home, you should purchase all of the necessary supplies.  You will need the basic items, such as food, food and water bowls, pet bedding, leashes, collars, litter boxes, litter, etc.  It is also a good idea to get some toys and treats for the new member of your family, since you will want them to feel comfortable and loved.  

Another crucial item to have for your pet is identification.  All pets should have a collar with a tag on it.  The tag should have your phone number and your pet’s name on it.  This is very important because if your pet ever gets out and gets lost, there is a much better chance of being reunited with your pet if he or she can be easily identified.  There are many colors, shapes, and sizes of tags to choose from on TagsForPets.com.   

Also, make sure to safety-proof your home before bringing in your new pet.  Remember, a pet is like a baby.  There are many precautions that should be taken.  Small items should be kept out of reach to avoid choking or swallowing.  Electrical cords should be neatly tied away so that pets cannot chew on them.  Household chemicals should be locked away in cabinets, and indoor plants should be kept out of reach of pets since they can sometimes be harmful or poisonous to pets.  

After you have made all of these preparations, you will be ready to give your new pet a safe and loving home!

One of the most common questions among new pet owners is, “Should I spay/neuter my pet?”  This is an issue of great debate.  Many people feel that you should not change what is natural.  However, there are actually many reasons why you should spay or neuter your pet.  For one thing, it reduces overpopulation.  It also has many health benefits for the pet.

Pet overpopulation is a very big problem nowadays.  There are already too many cats and dogs being born that will not be able to have a proper home.  When no one can take care of them, they end up either in the wild left to their own defenses, or in shelters where they may eventually be put down for lack of space. According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are over three million pets euthanized each year because there are just not enough homes for them.  Everyone can help prevent this from happening by “fixing” their pets.

 Another important reason to spay or neuter your pet are for the health benefits. Many pets face reproductive health issues that can be prevented by spaying and neutering them.  The risk of testicular cancer in male pets is greatly reduced by neutering.  Also, female pets often face complications from pregnancy and labor that can be harmful and fatal.  In addition, when pets are spayed and neutered, you will not have to worry about having them suffer while they are in heat.  Your pets will not be distracted or uncomfortable, and therefore they will be be happier.

If you are thinking about getting a new pet, you should discuss the option of spaying and neutering with your veterinarian.  Spaying and neutering pets can keep them healthy and happy.

Tip #1 – Keep up with your pet’s annual examination

 While at first this may seem like an unnecessary expenditure, a thorough physical examination by your veterinarian can save you money in the long run. Your vet can identify diseases and conditions before they cause serious illness and suffering. For most conditions, the earlier it is diagnosed the better – and less expensive – the treatment will be. Don’t wait until your pet is sick to visit your vet. By the time most pets show clinical signs the condition may have become advanced and costly to correct. An annual physical exam for all pets age 1 to 6 and examination plus simple blood and urine tests for pets over age 7 are typically recommended. In addition to identifying potential problems, your veterinarian can advise you on how to maintain and improve your pet’s health. A visit to the vet is certainly a good investment.

Tip #2 – Keep your pet thin

A 2007 Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (PetObesityPrevention.com) found that 45% of all US dogs and 54% of all cats were overweight or obese. That’s roughly 70 million dogs and cats at increased risk for type 2 diabetes, crippling arthritis, high blood pressure and many forms of cancer. Worse yet, all of these conditions are debilitating and expensive to treat. The great news is that it’s relatively simple to help your pet maintain a healthy weight. Visit the pet obesity website and talk to your veterinarian to calculate your pet’s ideal weight and learn how many calories you should be feeding your pet per day. The next time you feel the urge to give your pet a treat, try substituting a walk, grabbing a favorite toy or simply petting them. Many times we misinterpret a cry for affection as a plea for food. If you want to give goodies, try healthy choices such as carrots, celery stalks, or ice cubes. Avoid breads and meats unless you’re cooking a meal for your pet. Keeping excess pounds off your pet will not only help them live longer, it will dramatically decrease your pet’s medical bills.

Tip #3 – Supplements for optimal health

Proper nutritional support is truly one of the most important elements of human and pet health. What we eat helps determine how we feel, how well our immune system functions and what diseases we may develop. Most pets and people benefit from adding the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA to their diet. I recommend combining a fish oil source such as Welactin with a flaxseed source such as Missing Link. Other supplements that have been proven beneficial include glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate/avocado-soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) such as Dasuquin, and a potent antioxidant such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) contained in Oxstrin. I have had tremendous success over many years by using high-dose DHA/EPA combined with Dasuquin to treat patients suffering from arthritis prior to initiating sometimes costly prescription drug therapy. Talk with your veterinarian to find out what supplements you can give your pet to keep them healthier and save money on vet bills.

BONUS TIP – Get pet insurance

Insurance is primarily for two things: the unexpected and the expensive. Too often I see clients confronted with the dilemma of whether or not they can afford a specialist for a serious and unexpected medical condition. If only they had insurance! Many of the newer pet insurance companies offer complete coverage of all breeds and conditions. The key is to get insurance before your pet develops a medical condition. At that point, once a pet develops a pre-existing condition, you can’t get coverage for it. It’s a bit like wrecking your car and then trying to get accident insurance for it. Consider some of the new major medical coverage plans with low annual premiums and higher deductibles to help you out if your pet has a serious medical emergency.