Monthly Archives: December 2020

Basic Cat First-Aid

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When I decided to turn my love and passion for animals into a full-time career, I sat down and thought about some ways I could set myself apart from your “average” pet sitter. That thought process lead me to become a Certified Pet Sitter. While I learned many important aspects of cat and dog health, the most valuable knowledge I became aware of was general First-Aid.

If you are a pet owner and are not familiar with First-Aid for your pet, there are a few simple things you can do that could save your pets life until you can get them treated by your veterinarian.

Because this is such vital topic I am going to discuss this in two separate articles. We’ll start with basic cat First-Aid.

My first piece of advise is to try and stay calm.

Take some deep breaths and try to focus on the situation and what you can do immediately to help your cat. I know, easier said than done, right? Trust me, I’ve been in emergency situations with pets myself and it can be very hard to keep your emotions in check and not let your personal feelings take over the situation. Your cat will sense your alarm and that may make it impossible for you to administer the proper aid she needs.

My second piece of advise is to carry a basic First-Aid kit in your car. 

You may already have one but here are some items you may not have thought of including in case of emergency for your pet:

  • Tweezers with a sharp point
  • Rectal Thermometor
  • Scissors with a small-blunt point
  • A roll of sterile gauze
  • Eye dropper
  • Any medical conditions and a list of your pet’s medicines including dosage (This will be critical if you have to take your cat to an emergency hospital that is not familiar with your cat’s medical history.)
  • Also have the ASPCA’s 24/7/365 poison control center number taped to the inside of the lid of the kit: 888-426-4435

If you are able to get a reading on your cat’s vital signs, the normal ranges are:

Temperature: 100.4-102.5 F
Pulse: 160-240 per minute
Respiration: 20-30 per minute

I think it is a great idea, if you can, to take measurements when your cat is healthy and relaxed and keep those numbers in your First-Aid kit. Even when your cat is perfectly home and at ease, getting a rectal temperature may be challenging. So just keep the above numbers in mind, or even jot them down and keep them in the kit as well.

If you do take your cats temperature, you will need a helper to complete the
process. Always use KY jelly or other water-soluble lubricant on the tip of the
thermometer.

The person helping you needs to gently grab the scruff of your cat’s neck and
hold her front legs still. After you have lifted your cat’s tail, insert the thermometer slowly and carefully into the rectum.

Don’t force it! Insert the thermometer slowly and carefully into the rectum about one inch and hold it in place until it beeps.

You should not attempt to take your cat’s temperature if she is having
difficulty breathing.

To take your cats pulse, find her femoral artery. Press your two first fingers against the inside of her upper hind leg. However, the pulse may not be able to be found on a obese cat. Count the pulse for 15 seconds, then multiply by four to get the beats-per-minute.

For breathing rate, count either inhalations or exhalations for 15 seconds, and multiply by four to calculate the breaths per minute. Rapid, labored, shallow or irregular breathing can help to determine how serious the situation may be:

Shock or lack of oxygen can be indicated by rapid breathing. Obstruction or severe chest injury may be indicated by shallow breathing. The most serious respiratory sign is irregular breathing, and may indicate the need for immediate veterinary attention.

Here are some helpful reminders if you ever find yourself in an emergency situation:

Due to pain and fright, injured animals may lash out.

If possible, wear gloves and protect your face. Approach your cat slowly and
softly.To prevent and struggling, wrap her in a blanket or towel. Place her in her carrier and take her to the veterinarian immediately. If at all possible, call your veterinarian before you arrive so they are aware of the situation.

In closing, if possible, practice basic first aid before your cat’s life depends
on it. If you’re prepared for an emergency, you’ll be in a much better position
to save your cat’s life.

Peace and Love are present in my world now,

Lovin Pet Care

Melanie Lovett

Caring For a Senior Dog

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In a previous post I discussed how to care for your senior cat. Now let’s look at ways to care for a senior dog.

At approximately six years of age, large breed dogs are considered geriatric and tend to have shorter life spans.

A 7 year old small dog is equivalent to a human aged 44-47, and for a large breed dog that age is 50-56.

At 20 years those numbers are 96-105 and 120 years, respectively, for small and medium breed dogs.

Senior dogs can become afflicted with many of the same problems as you and I in our older years. Some of which are:

  • Cancer
  • Heart disease
  • Kidney and/or urinary tract diseases
  • Liver disease
  • Diabetes
  • Joint or bone disease
  • Senility

Here are some things to consider when caring for an older pet:

To detect and treat signs of illness or other problems, geriatric pets should have semi-annual visits. They are more in depth than the annual visits for younger pets.

Geriatric pets should have foods that are more easily digested. The diet should also consist of different calorie levels, ingredients, and anti-aging nutrients more than is necessary for a non-senior pet.

The health risks increase when geriatric dogs gain weight. However with cats, the bigger concern is weight loss.

Because older pets may show signs of senility, stimulating them through interactions can help keep them mentally active.

Senior pets may need adjustments to their daily lifestyle. Changing sleeping areas to avoid stairs is one thing to keep in mind.

In the local area where I live, if you adopt a pet from a local shelter they must be spayed/neutered before you are allowed to take them home. If you rescue a pet that has not been altered please have the procedure done immediately. There are many low cost local clinics that provide the service and non-spayed/neutered dogs and cats are at a higher risk for several types of cancers. Breast and testicular cancers are largely preventable by spaying and neutering. Approximately half the deaths of pets over 10 years of age are caused by cancer.

Common Signs of Cancer in Pets are:

  • Persistent, abnormal swellings that continue to grow
  • Sores that are not healing
  • Weight loss
  • Loss of appetite
  • Any body opening that has discharge or is bleeding
  • Offensive mouth odor
  • Difficulty with eating or swallowing
  • Difficulty with breathing, urinating or defecating

Behavior changes can serve as an important indicator that something is changing in an older pet, sometimes before any medical signs are apparent.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the following are possible behavior changes in older pets:

  • Increased vocalization
  • Confusion
  • Disorientation
  • Decreased interaction with humans
  • Increased irritability
  • Increased anxiety
  • House soiling
  • Decrease in self-hygiene/grooming
  • Increased wandering
  • Change in sleep cycles

In the early 1990s studies conducted were the first to identify brain changes in older dogs that were similar to brain changes seen in humans with Alzheimer’s. There is a chance your pet may be experiencing cognitive dysfunction so it is important to have your veterinarian rule out any underlying diseases or causes.

If your pet seems to be in pain and isn’t as active as you think they should be have your veterinarian examine him for the possibility of arthritis. You may see one or more of the following signs if your pet has arthritis:

  • Favoring a limb
  • Difficulty sitting or standing
  • Sleeping more often than usual
  • Joints that appear to be stiff or sore
  • Not as eager to jump, run or climb stairs
  • Weight gain
  • Loss of interest in playing or general decreased activity
  • Increased irritability or other behavior changes
  • Being less alert

If your pet seems to have any of these symptoms for more than two weeks, it is best to have your veterinarian examine them, because signs of arthritis are often similar to signs of normal aging. Arthritis treatments for pets is similar to those for humans.

Some over-the-counter medications can be fatal for pets, so please do not give human medications to your pet without first consulting your veterinarian.

Peace and Love are present in my world now,

Lovin Pet Care
Melanie Lovett

How Clicker Training Can Be Effective

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When you are trying to teach your family pet basic commands, clicker dog training is one of the most effective tools that you can use for controlling a dog’s behavior. It can be used to reinforce those behaviors that you want your pet to repeat…and to help stop them from doing things that you are not happy about.

Clicker training takes very little time to master and you can use it to teach your dog nearly anything you desire.

How Clicker Training Works

Your dog can hear the sound of a clicker from 20 plus yards away. The idea is that you are teaching your dog to associate the sound of the clicker with a specific command you give. The goal of the training is to reward desirable behavior with the sound of the clicker.

Obviously clicker dog training does not start with a clicker. Your dog must first be taught that the clicker is a reward for good behavior. This can be done with a bag of treats and a simple, two dollar clicker you can purchase from your local pet store.

It is important that you use a clicker in this instance and to reinforce to the dog that he will never hear that clicker other than to tell him that he did a good job and that a treat is on the way.

How To Be Successful at Clicker Training

There are three basic steps to get your dog to respond to training via a clicker. First, you will get the desired behavior – convincing your dog to do something that you want. It may be sitting, speaking, or whatever other commands you are trying to get him to learn. Once you’ve gotten them to perform the desired behavior, mark it with the clicker and a reward.

It usually only takes a couple of markings before a dog learns what the correct behavior was and he will start repeating it whenever you use the clicker. Clicker dog training works well because he will immediately respond, allowing you to reward him and immediately reinforce the positive behavior in his mind. A verbal command will take some time to get through.

Once your dog has performed the desired command and received his reward, continue to reinforce the positive behavior you want from them as much as possible. Treats do not have to be used every time. Praise works just as well.

Whenever you are about to use the clicker, say the command and then click, followed by the reward. The dog will quickly learn the command you are trying to get him to perform.

Transitioning to a Command

Once the dog has learned the behavior, clicker dog training will allow you to be able to transition to a spoken command that can be used anywhere, even when a clicker is not available.

Eventually, with successful clicker training, a dog will respond to a verbal cue and at that moment you need to praise him for the action and then they will learn it. Treats or praise will no longer be necessary and the dog will simply know that the action has pleased you, his owner.

With a simple, sharp command, you can mark and reinforce nearly any behavior with clicker training.

Peace and Love are present in my world now,

Lovin Pet Care
Melanie Lovett

Diagnosing and Treating Dog Health Problems

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When it comes to health problems for your dog, there are many potential issues that can catch you off guard. If not dealt with quickly and effectively the results can be both emotionally devastating and expensive.

If you learn to avoid potential health problems as they occur, you can take the proper steps to avoid them altogether.

Potential Dog Health Problems

Dogs can suffer from any number of health issues. Animals are very good as masking pain and illness and usually by the time the symptoms appear veterinarian care is necessary. Therefore, it is important to pay close attention to your dog if he starts acting “off.”

Infections – Dogs can suffer from a number of potential infections. Most common are ear infections and these often occur due to bacteria or a foreign object getting lodged in the ear. Carefully check your dog’s ears for any foreign substances, redness, swelling, sores, etc.

Allergies – Dogs can have many types of allergies. Flea allergies are by far the most common and they can cause hot spots which may lead to infections. For this reason, it is vital you give your dog flea medication every month. Hot spots could be indicative of a food allergy.

Diabetes – To reduce the risk of diabetes, keep your dog on a strict diet of dog food only and no table scraps. If your dog is diagnosed with diabetes, you will need to change his diet, and possibly need to give him insulin injections. This would be something you and your veterinarian would discuss

Arthritis –Pure breeds have a long history of arthritis problems. Make sure your dog receives daily vitamins and minerals and have your veterinarian check for joint degeneration at least once a year.

Obesity – Obesity is a common problem with dogs. In and of itself it does not lead to mortality, but the higher rates of heart failure, tumors, and liver disease can all be very dangerous if not dealt with immediately. Obesity can be treated with a strict diet and an increase in your dog’s activity levels.

If your dog gets plenty of exercise, eats well every day, and is kept clean and well groomed you may not have to deal with the above issues. Still, you should make sure you visit your veterinarian annually (every six months for a senior dog) to check for any potential issues. As with people, early detection is the best prevention!

Peace and Love are present in my world now,

Lovin Pet Care
Melanie Lovett

Effective Crate Training for Your Puppy

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You just adopted a dog and now you’re wondering how to train him. That’s a great question. Dog owners everywhere have figured out how to keep their dogs in a crate or separate room when they leave the house so they can help reduce the dog’s anxiety, destructive behavior and barking.

The Value of a Crate to a Dog

Most dogs love their crates. When dogs are in the wild, they will seek out a small space to burrow in that will keep them warm and safe. A crate gives them these options that are theirs alone.

How to Crate Train a Dog

It is usually best to crate train your dog as a puppy. A full grown dog may grow anxious if he has never been in a crate and may have a harder time adjusting. A puppy may be upset but will probably adapt much quicker.

The best place to crate your puppy is in a room that will be occupied by members of your family, such as living room or family room. At bedtime, you should put the crate in the same room as you to help alleviate anxiety. After several weeks you should be able to keep the puppy in one room but initially keep them close to you so he can remain calm and feel safe.

Make sure he has a comfortable place to sleep, clean water, and one or two of his favorite toys nearby. The crate only need be big enough for him to sleep in because if he has too much space to wander around he may make a mess. For purposes of crate training, he doesn’t need too much extra space.

 

When you are learning how to crate train your dog, make sure to leave him in there if he gets upset. Otherwise he will learn that if he cries and makes a fuss, you’ll give him attention. It is suggested not let him out until he has been quiet for at least 5 minutes. At that point, you can greet him with a lot of attention and even a treat to reinforce his good behavior.

When you first begin crate training, try to leave the puppy in the crate for an hour or two at a time. Once he is older, you should be able to increase that time for a full night of sleep.

As long as you learn how to crate train a dog properly, you can have peace of mind knowing your dog will never get too loud, destructive, or anxious when you have to be away from home. A puppy will adapt quicker too, which will make the process much easier for everyone in your family.

Peace and Love are present in my world now,

Lovin Pet Care
Melanie Lovett