Labor Day Safety Tips for Pets

1. Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use on animals.

2. Always assign a dog guardian. No matter where you're celebrating, be sure to assign a friend or member of the family to keep an eye on your pooch-especially if you're not in a fenced-in yard or other secure area.

3. Made in the shade. Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water, and make sure they have a shady place to escape the sun.

4. Always keep matches and lighter fluid out of paws' reach. Certain types of matches contain chlorates, which could potentially damage blood cells and result in difficulty breathing-or even kidney disease in severe cases.

5. Keep your pet on his normal diet. Any change, even for one meal, can give your pet severe indigestion and diarrhea.

6. Keep citronella candles, insect coils and oil products out of reach. Ingesting any of these items can produce stomach irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression in your pets, and if inhaled, the oils could cause aspiration pneumonia.

7. Never leave your dog alone in the car. Traveling with your dog means occasionally you'll make stops in places where he's not permitted. Be sure to rotate dog walking duties between family members, and never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle.

8. Make a safe splash. Don't leave pets unsupervised around a pool-not all dogs are good swimmers.

Source: http://www.dogster.com/the-scoop/labor-day-pet-safety-tips

It’s Pet Appreciation Week!

Our pets appreciate us every single day as they depend on us for food, water, shelter, and love. Let’s show our pets some extra appreciation this week!

Today is Love Your Pet Day!

Today is Love Your Pet Day. What special thing are you doing for your pet to show them how much you care?

National Pet Preparedness Month

This month is National Pet Preparedness Month. In order to be sure your pet is prepared for a disaster, make sure your safety kit includes food, water, leash and collar, bowls, pet ID, medications, immunization records, pet carrier, first aid kit, and a contact list for all pet emergency contacts.

Pets & Pools

Playing catch, chewing on squeaky toys, and playing tug-of-war are all exciting and fun things for dogs to do. There is no need to throw away and replace dog toys just because they are dirty. Man's best friends have their favorite toys, and some tend to wear out more quickly than others. Keeping toys clean and well-maintained will ensure that they are around for a long time.

National Pet Fire Safety Day - July 15

July 15th is National Pet Fire Safety Day. When a disaster strikes, it’s important to be prepared! We’ve all been told that it’s important to prepare an evacuation plan in advance. In the event of a house fire, make sure your family prepared for escape. It’s also important to make sure that your pet is included in your family’s plan!

Pet Appreciation Week

It's Pet Appreciation Week! Of course we let our pets know every day just how special they are to us, but this week is about going the extra mile (on that nightly walk) and really showing our furry family members how much we love and cherish them. What can you do to show your pet appreciation this week?

Pets In Cars

You’re on your way out the door, your keys are jingling, and your dog is looking up at you with “please take me with you” painted on their face. Unless your destination allows pets, it’s best to leave your dog at home because the last thing you want to do is leave them in a steamy car. Even if you park out of the sun, the temperature inside a car can soar to 120 degrees or higher in just a few minutes, even if your windows are cracked open! Such high temperatures can lead to heatstroke or worse for your dog. So regardless of how much your dog begs to come with you for the ride, it’s best not to take any chances. Leave your dog at home, where they can be safe.

June is Social PETworking Month

June is Social PETworking Month! This is a month designated to help pair families with homeless pets. The campaign allows Facebook, MySpace and Twitter addicts to put their hours online to good use by advertising adoptable pets to their networks to help get them seen and into loving homes. So if you know of any pets in need of good homes, take to Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and get the word out this June!

June National Pet Preparedness Month Reminds Owners to Include Pets in Emergency Plans

As June’s National Pet Preparedness Month nears, ensure pets are included in emergency evacuation plans and safety procedures. With owners caring for pets as true family members, the majority of owners stated they would take their pets with them in the event of a disaster including 76 percent of dog owners and 67 percent of cat owners, according to the American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2011 / 2012 National Pet Owners Survey. The following are helpful preparation tips and products manufactured by APPA members to keep in mind for the whole family should disaster strike.

Stock Food & Water
Ensure pets have a vast supply of food and water to last for at least three days if needed. Non-perishable canned or freeze-dried foods are great to pack up and easy for storing at room temperature. Visit http://stewartpet.com/our-products/freeze-dried-food/for a selection of easy-to-store freeze-dried foods by Stewart^®.

Provide Fido with Float Gear
In the case of a hurricane or flood, ensure pets remain safe, afloat and visible at all times. Click Fido into a floatation vest and check out http://www.kurgostore.com/products/Surf%252dn%252dTurf-.html for dog life vests, coats and more.

Pack First Aid Essentials
Prepare for any situation with essential first aid items for pets including bandages, antiseptics, and other proper tools. Should a pet need minor wound treatment or stabilizing, be ready to go with a packed first aid kit. Visit www.PawFlex.com for disposable, tough and fur-friendly bandages.

Ensure Pets are Identifiable
Should a pet get lost in a crowd or separated during the hustle and bustle of an evacuation, ALWAYS ensure pets are easily identifiable and able to be tracked down no matter where you end up. Double check pets are secure with identification tags and all emergency contact information is up-to-date including alternate contact information in case you are forced to evacuate your house. Visit www.PetHub.com for tags with GPS and scanning capabilities.

National Pet Preparedness Month, created by the American Humane Association and Red Star AnimalEmergency Services™, is designed to encourage pet owners to prepare for disasters including pet first aid kits and safety tips. Visit http://www.americanhumane.org/animals/programs/emergency-services/pet-preparedness-month.htmlfor more information. 

Boarding/Bathing at Gregg Animal Hospital

If you’re planning a vacation for yourself…plan a vacation for your pet with us. Gregg Animal Hospital proudly offers boarding services for your pet. To minimize disease potential, our kennels have stainless steel walls, quartz epoxy floors, natural light, and excellent ventilation. Cats that stay with us have a dedicated room with a window for natural lighting, stainless steel cages, and a separate ventilation system to minimize disease transmission and ensure comfort. Although we are not primarily a grooming salon, we do offer bathing services by appointment Monday through Friday. Click HERE for more information about our boarding and bathing services. 

Pets & Cookouts

School lets out soon and that means graduation parties and gatherings! Remember to keep your backyard barbecues pet-friendly by keeping snacks and dangerous barbecue equipment out of reach. Grills can get extremely hot and easily knocked over, so keep your pet supervised at all times when there is food around. And don’t forget! Keep that garbage can lid on tight. We want your spring celebrations to be a safe and happy one for you and your pets!