Pat, Cat & Dog

Posts Tagged ‘pet plans’

Not taking your pet with you on holiday can compromise what should otherwise be unmitigated fun. These tips might help ease any worries you may have.

Now we are in June, impending summer holidays finally feel as though they are becoming a reality. However, some owners may be preoccupied with worries over pet health care for their furry friends while they are jetting off somewhere hot.

During your absence your pet can be left with a friend, left at home with a sitter or left to board at a kennel or cattery.

Whichever method you choose, following the tips below could help ease any worries you may have.

How to select a kennel or cattery.

Before choosing the place that will look after your pet make sure you know all about how it operates. Before you entrust your beloved pet to an establishment you should visit the place several times so that you learn about its staff and procedures. Getting to know the people who will be caring for your pet, asking them about emergency protocol and the sort of food, exercise and attention your animal will receive on a daily basis is also advisable. If you have any misgivings about where you are about to leave your pet, don’t leave him there. Some facilities even have special pet webcams which allow you to see your pooch or moggy playing and relaxing, so why not enquire about this?

Finding a sitter?

Before you go you should spend some time with your pet and its carer, whether the carer is just a friend or a hired professional. This should help reassure you about how your pet and its would-be carer interact together, as well as allowing the babysitter to get to know the animal and its quirks.

Things to leave behind.

Whilst you are away it’s reassuring if you know that the carer knows about your pet’s habits, preferences and peculiarities as well as its medical history and who to contact in the event of an emergency. Ensure that your pet insurance details are within the documents supplied. Make sure that the carer is made familiar with all your pet’s habits – often things that you might consider typical of all such pets but actually things that might be peculiar to yours. Your pet can be reassured during your absence if he has a favourite toy or some clothing whose scent reminds him of home.

How to leave without mutual distress.

The American cat and dog rescue organisation ASPCA has pointed out that many animals, especially pet dogs, suffer distress and nervous issues when their owner leaves. Everyone concerned with your dog will be disturbed and upset if the dog’s distress displays itself in the form of physical symptoms or destructive behaviour. Pet health care experts at the association recommend getting any tics – such as nervous urination – checked out at the vets before leaving to rule out any biological issues. Take the professionals’ advice and avoid upsetting your pet by subjecting him to an emotional and dramatic greeting or farewell. Your pet will accept your departure far more readily if you suppress your emotions and leave quietly.

You should be prepared for your pet becoming ill or injured; your pet is, after all, an important part of your family. Being prepared for an unexpected emergency can be of benefit to your pet in the period before seeing the vet. As well as being informed and educated on what to do in the event of a pet emergency, it’s wise to ensure that you keep up to date with your pet insurance payments – just in case.

Choking.

Choking is a common problem and knowing the signs of choking can help you be prepared.Choking occurs because of some sort of obstruction in the pet’s mouth. All sorts of things can get stuck in a cat’s or dog’s mouth because both classes of animals show great curiosity. There are all kinds of things they will try to swallow including bones, balls and wood.

Choking can result not only from a rope or collar being too tight but also from a swollen throat caused by an allergic reaction to something. Some of the signs to look for include gagging, difficulty swallowing or breathing or pawing at their face. Before anything else make sure that there’s nothing, perhaps a collar, that’s constricting the neck.

Look inside the animal’s mouth and remove any foreign object you see. If this doesn’t work, you can lift and suspend a small pet with its head pointed down. For larger animals you can lift the rear legs up so the head is tilted down. The obstruction can sometimes be moved by means of a sharp slap between the shoulder blades, but attempt this only if you know what you are doing. Even if you have successfully removed the item, you should have your pet examined by your vet. By doing this you can eliminate the possibility of any internal injury.

Bleeding.

It’s vital that you apply and maintain pressure over the site of the bleeding injury. By putting a towel, a clean one, over the wound and applying gentle pressure, the blood flow can be contained. By raising the area you can limit the loss of blood. Use tape to secure a towel around the area. You should then seek vet treatment and advice immediately.

Pet Collapses.

It is essential that you stay calm. Make sure you have carefully observed your pet before you take them to the vet. You need to remember the course of events that led to the collapse, its duration, and its effects upon your pet. Such observations will enable the vet to make a diagnosis.

If your dog is no longer conscious, try to detect a heartbeat on the left side of the chest. Never forget the importance of handling your pet very cautiously. They may be confused, aggressive or disoriented. They may strike out or bite you unintentionally because of fear or pain. As soon as you can, you must seek medical assistance for your pet.

Fractures.

Fractures or broken bones are usually the result of some sort of trauma. Falling heavily or being hit by a car are amongst the causes. Rest and reassurance are required if you think your pet may have a broken or fractured bone. Use a clean cloth to cover any open wound you might see.

To avoid being bitten or scratched by an injured pet in pain, take appropriate precautions. Put your pet into a box or crate and go to the vet immediately. Don’t try to splint or fix the fracture yourself because if the limb is not placed properly it could cause additional injury to your pet.

Limping or Lameness.

Your pet’s limping could be the result of many causes. A broken bone or a slight sprain could be amongst these causes. The first thing to do is to examine your pet to see if the limping is caused by something in their paw such as a thorn or a splinter. If the limping comes and goes, make sure that your pet is kept inactive and indoors.

If the lameness lasts more than one day, you should take your pet to see the vet. Only after consulting the vet should you ever administer any medication to your pet. The kinds of medicines that can be bought over the counter for human use can be very dangerous for pets.

These are just a few of the common pet health emergencies that can occur. Unfortunately there are many situations such as these where you may need to check the terms of your pet insurance policy carefully. You must not forget that it’s essential to remain calm. A calm and rational consideration of the situation will enable the correct treatment to be provided. Unless you are confident about what to do, you should always call your vet so that your companion can be helped.

Abusive households are not the sole preserve of abusive behaviour towards pets; studies show that it happens too in ordinary non-abusive households.We learn from this that children imitate the behaviour they witness, do not outgrow it, but pass it down to the next generation. Your children will learn how to treat pets and people by watching how you treat the pets and the people in your life.

Kids Notice Everything.

Kids are extremely observant. They will carefully watch how you feed, care for and love your pet. Close attention will be paid to the way in which you react when your pet scratches furniture, creates a noisy disturbance or has an accident. Such behaviour is liable to become irksome to adults. How you react to these problems will teach your children how to handle similar problems with their own pets as they get older. If your reaction to a puppy that’s misbehaving is not constructive, you will be providing a bad example to your child. This could impact on your child’s personality and their relationship with animals as they grow older.

There’s a Right Way and There’s a Wrong Way.

If your pet is exhibiting undesirable behaviour, then you need to handle it in a constructive manner. Your children and your pet will be confused and frightened if you simply lapse into fury. Your pets are sensitive beings who have feelings and emotions. There are not so many differences between animals and people. Usually there is a reason why they are behaving badly. If your dog’s toilet habits are unacceptable, you should find out why rather than just yelling at it.Unless you consider the following questions, you won’t be able to discover what’s causing your pet to misbehave.

Do they spend too much time lying about doing nothing?
Are they being neglected?
Are they left unaccompanied at home for long periods?
Are they getting enough food?
Are they ill?

Some quite simple reason could be the cause of their actions. All possible items have to be considered before you arrive at the true reason. The cause of the misbehaviour might be discovered by carrying out a careful analysis. Advice from an animal training facility or providing obedience training classes can often be of help.

If your pet’s health appears to have deteriorated as well, don’t hesitate to consult your veterinarian. Check the terms of your pet insurance policy too – if your pet has developed a condition for which they will need ongoing treatment, you want to make sure that your pet plan has full lifetime cover.

Giving Up Is Not the Answer- Don’t Take the Easy Way Out.

If your pet is misbehaving, do not give up and do not even think about getting rid of your pet.Taking the easy way out by just giving up is no solution at all and is unfair to both the pet and the children. Thousands of pets end up in rescue shelters every year because their owners have decided that caring for them is simply too much like hard work. The attachment we feel towards our pets is reciprocated, especially by cats and dogs. Do not give up on your pet if it is in need of your help. Once you have discovered the cause of the misbehaviour you will be in a position to put things right.

Your child will get the wrong idea about commitment, trust, and responsibility if you get rid of a pet because it misbehaves. No child should be given the idea that running away from a problem is the way to handle it. Caring for a pet has proven links to a mature and responsible attitude in children, as well as promoting feelings of security, increased self-esteem and enhanced social skills.

The Answer.

If problems occur with your pets, then it is your responsibility as a pet owner to get to the core of the problem. Usually a veterinarian, animal shelter professional or animal trainer can help you put an end to the pet behavioural issues you are experiencing by using their knowledge of animal care to create a logical solution.

Your child will learn how to behave by copying you. Your child looks up to you, and will follow your example.Thus, your child has to learn the correct way of looking after a pet by following your example. Your child must learn, for example, that the pet must be disciplined without resorting to emotional or physical abuse. You should treat your pet in exactly the same way that you would treat your best friend. They love you and you should show them love in return. Any disciplinary measures following misbehaviour must be constructive. Children must learn that unacceptable behaviour to other children is equally unacceptable to pets. A pet deserves to be treated with as much respect as a person. The correct way of treating a pet should always be explained to a child who has treated a pet badly.

Providing the basics of food, shelter, pet health care and love need not be difficult or expensive. All the family will benefit emotionally and physically, at the time and later, by having a pet.