Tag Archive for: pet care

How to Choose A Dog Food

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Choosing a brand and type of dog food can be really overwhelming. There are hundreds of types on the market, all with various claims.

First, think about what you need. 

-Does your dog need grain free, or specific allergy food?

-What type of lifestyle does your dog have? Is he very active or does he loaf around all day? Ask your vet about this.

-Does your dog need a certain life-stage food?Is your dog a puppy,or an older adult dog? Puppies need higher calorie diets while they grow. An adult on puppy food will gain a lot of weight.

Some things to look for when looking at dog foods:

Single ingredient:This means that the food contains 95% or more of that ingredient.Anything else means that the food only needs to contain 25% of the advertised meat.

Ingredients list:Dog food ingredients are listed by weight.So if the first ingredient is chicken, then there is more chicken(by weight) than any other ingredient.Keep in mind some of the things you want more of may be farther down the list.Foods are weighed after the water is removed.

Grain Free: While some dogs have grain/gluten allergies, most can metabolize them. Grain free foods are often higher in protein, so this may be a better option for dogs who need a high protein diet.

Price point:Depending of what type and how many dogs you have, you could be buying 2 or more bags of food a month.Do not choose a food that you cannot afford to feed your dog long term. There are many high quality foods on the market that will not break the bank.

While choosing a dog food can be very confusing, doing your research and considering what your dog needs will make it much easier.Always consult your vet on diet changes, and transition foods slowly.

What is Microchipping?

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According to a study from the American Veterinary Medical Association, microchipped dogs found as strays are returned to their owners 52.2% of the time. This number is 21.9% for non- microchipped dogs.

For cats, only 1.8% of non-microchipped cats are returned to their owners. For microchipped cats,they get returned to their owners 38.5% of the time.

So what is a microchip?

The microchip is a small, electronic chip in a glass container. When a scanner is run over the area where the microchip is placed a number appears. This number is linked to your pet and you.

How is the microchip placed?

The microchip comes in a needle that is inserted under the skin, generally between the shoulders. This can be done during a normal vet visit, but it can also be done while your pet is getting spayed or neutered.

What happens if my pet gets lost?

If your pet is found as a stray and taken into a shelter or vet, your pet will be scanned for a microchip. They will then look up the microchip number and contact you with the contract information you provide.

What can you do to maximize your chances of being reunited with your pet? 

  1. Talk to your vet about getting your pet microchipped.
  2. Keep your contact information current, with multiple phone numbers that are current.
  3. Set a back up contact,this can be a friend or family member who will be contacted if you cannot be reached.
  4. Have your vet check that your pets microchip is in place, there is the (very small) possibility that it may have moved, once a year.

Fun Fact: August 15th is Check The Chip Day

So this upcoming month, consider getting your pet microchipped or checking that your information is current.

 

 

4 Reasons We DON’T Go to The Dog Park

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Can you take my dog to the park?

This is a question we get all the time. We are happy to walk your dog through any park near your home, on leash. We will not take your dog to the neighborhood park and let him off leash, or to the fenced dog park.

First off, we are not dog park haters. At Wet Noses Pet Sitting we believe the dog park is a great place in the right situation, for the right dog. Most of our sitters take our their dogs to dog parks and off-leash areas, but those are their own dogs. This is not the same as taking your dog to the park.

In order to make sure our clients are receiving the best and safest care, it is our policy to not to let your dog off leash at a park or go to the dog park.

1. We will never let dogs off leash in a regular, unfenced park, ever.

No matter how great your dog is about not running away from you, we are not you! We form great bonds with the dogs we watch and love them as much as our own pets but that does not make us have the same weight of importance with your dog when they see a cat run across the street. Besides, how often do you see a dog owner calling and chasing their dog, saying they never run off like that. We don’t want that to be us, and neither do you.

2. Dogs (and owners) are unpredictable.

So you live right next to the fenced dog park? Still no way. I cannot count the number of times I have collected my dog and left the dog park because another dog showed up that made me uncomfortable. We cannot predict how your pup is going to react in a variety of situations, nor can we predict how the other dogs are going to respond to your dog. We prefer not to take the risk.

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3. Dog parks can be a vector for diseases.

 

Yeah, so why do you take your dog to dog parks? I make an educated risk based on the conditions of the park before I take my dog. I do not allow my dog to go swimming in the park because Giardia is highly transmittable via water. Same with any park that has large puddles that are frequented by dogs. If we take your dog to the park and he gets sick, even if we went at your request, we are still liable and we have a sick dog on our hands!

4. There are lower risk ways to exercise your dog.

At Wet Noses Pet Sitting we chose to take the lower risk path and during the time your dog is in our care we play it safe. We go on lots of walks, play in the yard, play inside, make up fun games and more! We know we are providing the safest way for your dog to have fun.

What do you think about dog parks? Let us know your feelings and experiences in the comments below!