By: Tonia Jordan
Adopting from the local ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) or animal rescue shelter is an excellent idea. In doing so, you are saving the life of an animal, giving it love and a new home.
There are many great pets out there in need of homes and families, and rather than purchasing a pet from a breeder, adopting is a way to give love and life to an animal in need.
Some tips before you adopt: Be sure everyone in your family is prepared for the responsibilities that go along with owning a pet. Be sure every member agrees on the type of animal. Including small children in the tasks of taking care of a pet is a great way to teach responsibility; but, as a parent you should always supervise and assist in taking care of the pet.
With many holidays being celebrated in the November through January, family traditions and rituals lead to decorations, and lots of new objects for your loving pets to get their teeth into. Following are Pets911.com’s “Holiday Do’s and Don’ts”. We hope these tips will help keep everyone safe and merry during the most wonderful time of year.
1. If a Christmas tree is a part of our families’ celebrations, beware of all the tantalizing opportunities it can bring for your pets. Tree water, shiny objects, hanging tinsel or blinking lights can be beckons in the night for our four legged friends. Placing the tree in an area your pets can’t get to will help to preserve the beauty of your tree and the health of your little ones. If not, try to create barriers around the tree and always supervise your pets when they are near it.
2. If the Festival of Lights fills your house, make sure to keep your pets away from your menorah. A waging tail or jumping cat can knock over candles and easily start a fire during your Hanukkah or Kwanzaa celebrations. (more…)
Are you having a hard time thinking of how to keep your pets away from restricted areas? Good thing, there is already a wireless and underground pet fence you can install in your own safe zone. It is the latest technology in the pet fence system these days. And surprisingly, more and more pet owners have this system because it is both practical and convenient. Why? Because you would not have to think about putting up a wooden or steel fence around your house just to keep your pet from roaming around the neighborhood.
Just like humans, dogs and pets alike need breathing space. Pets do not have to be locked up in a cage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They should also have some form of exercise and play time once in a while. You should not deprive your dog the need for walking or playing outside the house. Remember, pets should be treated with proper care so do not cage him all day long. On the other hand, you do not want your pet to go rummaging around the community without you. (more…)
New Year’s Eve is a great time for everyone to celebrate the coming of a new year and the memories of the old. Thought filled with celebration and fun for humans, it can often be a rough night for a lot of animals. Below are some things to keep in mind while you celebrate this wonderful event!
1. Be observant of your animal’s response to loud noises. Thunderstorms and fireworks are the best known causes for pet anxiety, but celebration party favors and popping champagne corks can be just as traumatizing. If you are hosting a New Years Party, make sure your pets are placed in a comfortable area that is separate from the activities. Make sure they have plenty of water and are comfortable. When possible, refrain from keeping them outside, as fireworks and other neighbors celebrating can lead to the same ruckus and worry.
2. Always keep your pet’s tags on. In the case they do get spooked and bolt for an open door or gate, an ID tag will be imperative to getting them home safely.
3. Beware of alcohol! Many pets can be drawn to glasses of beer or liquor that have been left behind after the celebration is over. Consumption of alcohol can be highly dangerous for animals, and even deadly. Make sure to thoroughly clean up the area before you allow your pets to enter. Always keep a close eye on your pets, and make sure you never give them any alcohol as a treat or joke.
4. Be aware of party decorations. Balloons, streamers, party hats or confetti can be unhealthy for an animal if ingested. While decorating for your party, keep the animals in a separate area where they do not have access to the decorations. If they do get into them, consult a veterinarian immediately.
Information provided by Pets911.com.
By: Clark Tran
Fleas are small wingless parasitic insects that live off the blood of mammals and birds. Frequently, fleas just bother our furry friends, but sometimes they develop allergic reactions to the fleas’ saliva. This leads to the development of rashes and even loss of fur from excessive scratching or biting. This is called flea allergy dermatitis, and when present can lead to secondary skin infections from the biting and scratching done to alleviate the itching.
Even if your pet doesn’t have allergic reactions to fleas, you should beware. Fleas can carry diseases such as tapeworms and Lyme disease. Although tapeworms are not actually transmitted through flea bites, the fleas often carry tapeworm eggs. When your pet bites to relieve itching, he may ingest the parasite and become infected. (more…)
By: Lisa Albanese
Chances are that you have your pet for companionship reasons, or simply because you like animals and having them in your home brings you happiness. It is not uncommon for people to seek companionship in animals, and more people do so than you would probably think.
Just as many people as there are out there that have dogs for safety and security reasons there are people that have them simply for love and companionship. For those out there that fall into this latter category, you will be happy to know that pets have been scientifically proven to help add to the quality and longevity of a person’s life as well. (more…)
Janet Tobiassen Crosby, DVM, has been writing about veterinary medicine topics since 1998.
“Most people are aware that leaving a pet in a locked car on a 100F degree day would be dangerous. However, it is the seemingly mild days of spring (and fall) that pose great danger, too. Driving around, parking, and leaving your pet in the car for “just a minute” can be deadly. Cars heat up fast—even with the windows cracked,” states Janet Tobiassen Crosby, DVM. Dr. Crosby alerts everyone, “If you see pets or children in cars on warm days, please take action and call the police or fire department – time is critical.” According to Dr. Crosby, jogging is also dangerous this time of year for your pet. “So your dog jogs everyday with you and is in excellent shape – why alter the routine? As the weather warms, humans alter the type and amount of clothing worn, and we sweat more. Dogs are still jogging in their winter coat (or a slightly lighter version) and can only cool themselves by panting and a small amount of sweating through the foot pads. Not enough! Many dogs, especially the ‘athletes’ will keep running, no matter what, to stay up with their owner. Change the routine to early morning or late evening to prevent heat stroke.”
Also during the upcoming warmer weather, consider your pet’s housing. Dr. Crosby says that if they are kept outdoors, you pet needs shade and fresh water access at all times. Dr. Crosby suggests that if you live in a warm climate, it is a good idea to hose down the dog before work, at lunch or whenever you can to provide extra cooling (if you dog is not over heated in the first place). Although normally accepted, not all dogs are excellent swimmers by nature. “If Fido has underlying health problems, such as heart disease or obesity to contend with, consider protecting your pet just as your human family—with a life preserver. If your pet is knocked off of the boat (perhaps getting injured in the process), or is tired/ cold from choppy water or sudden storm, a life jacket could be what saves your pet’s life.”
A single female flea can lay 30-40 eggs in just one day, that’s 280 eggs a week! They will hatch in 4-12 days. Flea eggs hatch into larvae which move away from light and downwards. This means that they are usually found deep in the carpet pile, bedding and/or beds. Fleas are one of the most common parasites to hop onto your cat or dog but they are easy to control if you follow a few simple rules. But you may not see any actual fleas as your pet can groom them out before you get the chance to find them.
The easiest way to check is to collect some “Flea dirt”, check their necks or perhaps the base of their tail. If you see little specs of “dirt” get some damp cotton wool and dab the area. Check the cotton wool; has it got a some red color on it? If yes, you can be certain that your pet has been in recent contact with fleas. The Flea dirt is actually dry blood!
Prevention is the key. As with most things, prevention is better than cure. It can take months to obliterate fleas once they get into your home. There are various products you can use. The choice is yours. Whatever you chose, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
If your dog or cat is already scratching and you see one flea, then you will need to treat EVERY cat and dog in the house. It doesn’t matter what you use, or whether you can actually see fleas on all your pets, ALWAYS treat every cat and dog in the house. Once that is done move onto the house. Treat ALL areas of the house making sure you also treat the pets bedding and beds. There are various products on the market for this.
Normally, flea infestations should clear within a few days. However, flea eggs laid around your home can survive in the carpet, bedding and/or beds for up to 9 months. During this time, they can hatch and jump back aboard the pet no matter what treatment you used. If this happens, then you need to de-flea again as before.
Pet trusts are becoming more and more commonplace due to the love and concern Americans have for their pets. After all, pets are considered family members, and it only makes sense to provide for your family member in the event of your disability or death.
A pet trust is a legal document that can be monitored by the courts and allows you to entrust money or property to a “trustee” who will be responsible for managing it and distributing it to your designated caregiver for the duration of your pet’s life. There are several steps involved in creating a pet trust—follow these steps and you’ll have your trust set up in no time.
1. Review the laws of the state you reside regarding pet trusts. West Virginia and Ohio are both “pet trust” states.
2. You will need to identify the designated trustee and designated caregiver for you pet; as well as, a successor trustee and successor caregiver who will take over in the event that the primary trustee or caregiver can no longer fulfill their obligation to care for your pet. You will need to the name, address, and telephone numbers of those designated in the trust.
3. You will need to have a way to positively identify your pet, such as photos, x-rays, dental records or microchips. DNA samples are becoming more prominent.
4. Accurately and with as much detail as you can, describe your pet’s lifestyle including play habits and specific care instructions. Specify any health problems and/or current medications along with the name, address, and telephone number of your vet. Request that your trustee and/or caregiver provide regular veterinary check ups for your pet.
5. Determine, to the best of your ability, the cost of providing care for your pet for the rest of its life; including additional money as the pet gets older.
You will also need to be specific about how the money is distributed to the caregiver and what kind of ‘check and balance’ you want your trustee to obtain. You will also need to include the cost of administrating your pet’s trust.
6. Name a beneficiary to receive any remaining money if they are not totally used during your pet’s lifetime. Again, make sure to specify the name, address and telephone number of the named beneficiary.
7. And lastly, you will need to provide detailed instructions on how you want your pet to be handled at the time of its death. For example, burial or cremation. Where you want the pet buried or how you want the ashes handled.
You will also need to specify how you want “end of life” issues dealt with if your pet is in extreme pain or is no longer able to function at a good capacity. The Humane Society of the United States publishes a free estate planning kit, titled, “Providing for Your Pet’s Future Without You” and encourages every pet owner to establish a trust to ensure your pet is cared for in the event of your severe disability (in which case a will would not be valid).
For more information or to order a kit, visit the HSUS Web site: www.hsus.org/petsinwills.
A good source for information on estate planning for pets is the book “All My Children Wear Fur Coats” by Peggy R. Hoyt, J.D., M.B.A.
Women are well known for their love of horses. Once a young girl has experienced the love of a horse, the bond goes on forever. It is a bond like no other bond you will experience in life with an animal. Horses are beautiful animals. They are graceful, elegant and athletic. There is no other feeling in the world like riding a horse. If you’ve never had the pleasure of riding a horse you don’t know what you’re missing. It is an absolute feeling of freedom. People the world over love horses. Today there are more than 350 breeds of horses and there are approximately 75 million horses in the world.
Columbus, Ohio has one of the largest horse events in the United States. Called the Equine Affair, the event is scheduled in April of each year. People travel from all over the United States to attend this event. Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia are “big” horse states. The horse industry in Kentucky is one of its major businesses. Tennessee is becoming well known for its community developments for horse lovers; complete with stables, acreage, and everything the horse lover wants. These plantation style homes with acreage are for all age groups as the common denominator is the horses. Spring is the start of the horse circuit season and is also when new foals are being born. Horse lovers cannot wait until spring! New foals, training, riding, trail riding adventures, horse shows, sporting events, are the upcoming activities that horse lover’s think about constantly.
In this part of the country there is a vast majority of breeds, but the American Quarter Horse is the most popular. However, one of the most colorful breeds is the Appaloosa. The Appaloosa’s heritage is as colorful and unique as its coat pattern. Usually noticed and recognized because of its spots and splashes of color; although the abilities and beauty of this breed are more than skin deep. Appaloosas has very distinctive characteristics. The four identifiable characteristics are: coat pattern, mottled skin, white sclera, and striped hooves. Mottled skin is a basic and decisive indicator of an Appaloosa. This is a speckled or blotchy pattern of pigmented and nonpigmented skin. The sclera is the area of the eye which encircles the iris – the colored or pigmented portion. The white of the human eye is an example. All horses have sclera but the Appaloosa’s is white and usually more readily visible than other breeds. All horses can show white around the eye if it is rolled back, up or down or if the eyelid is lifted. Readily visible white sclera is a distinctive Appaloosa characteristic. Appaloosas have bold and clearly defined vertically light or dark striped hooves.
One of the most exciting things about an Appaloosa is how it changes color. It is not always easy to predict the color of a grown horse. Most foals are born with lighter colored coats than they will have when they shed their baby hair; with the exception of gray horses, which are born dark and progressively become lighter. Most often, a black horse is born mousy gray. Appaloosas that are born with a solid color may change color over time.
The Nez Perce Indians of Washington, Oregon and Idaho became especially sophisticated horsemen and their mounts, which included many spotted individuals, were prized and envied by other tribes. Historians believe they were the first tribe to breed selectively for specific traits – intelligence and speed – keeping the best, and trading away those that were less desirable. The Nez Perce’ tribes inhabited the Palouse River country of central Idaho and Eastern Washington. When white settlers came to the Northwest Palouse region, they called the spotted horses “Palouse horses” or “a Palouse horse.” Over time the name was shortened and slurred to “Appalousey” and finally “Appaloosa.”
Now an international breed registry, the ApHC – along with the Appaloosa Museum and Heritage Center – is located in Moscow, Idaho. More than half a million Appaloosas are on record, with about 10,000 new horses registered and with 26,000 members annually.
Appaloosas are found in nearly every discipline. Setting speed records on the race track, excelling at advanced levels of dressage, jumping, games, reining, roping, pleasure, endurance and as gentle family horses – any of these roles can be filled by the versatile Appaloosa. Their eagerto-please attitudes and gentle dispositions make them a pleasure to work with in any area.
Did you know that Secretariat’s first foal was an Appaloosa? First Secretary, a 17 hand chestnut with a white blanket, socks and a blaze, was foaled November 15, 1974.