Should I Give My Cat Supplements?

Nutrients and enhancements found at wellbeing stores and drug stores are extremely popular nowadays — from multivitamins to claim to fame supplements that are intended to help explicit substantial capacities. So does that mean you ought to likewise add an enhancement to your pet's day by day proportion of nourishment to keep the person in question solid? Not exclusively is this not really valid for most felines, sometimes it tends to be unsafe.

Business pet sustenances are planned to meet all the supplement necessities a feline needs to flourish. In contrast to our weight control plans, which differ everyday, most felines eat a similar sustenance all day every day. Pet sustenance makers make their weight control plans with this supposition, making any kind of every day multi-nutrient pointless. This isn't to imply that that every single pet nourishment are made equivalent, in light of the fact that there is incredible assortment among each brand of sustenance, which is critical to realize while picking an eating regimen for your feline.

The best pet sustenance organizations will figure their eating regimens utilizing bolstering preliminaries. This implies they make a nourishment dependent on a plan, at that point really feed it to felines and screen their reaction to the eating routine by means of an assortment of symptomatic testing. This gives a total picture with respect to how every fixing in the eating routine meets up in the last item. There are not very many organizations that really do this and it is a basic procedure in building up a total and adjusted eating regimen. The pet nourishment organizations that don't perform sustaining preliminaries basically build up their eating routine dependent on an equation, and bundle it and pitch it while never encouraging it to a real feline.

Furthermore, the better pet nourishment producers will make an eating regimen dependent on the existence stage and way of life of the felines they are showcasing to. One can envision that a developing little cat has altogether different healthful necessities than a grown-up feline. Many pet sustenance organizations just produce nourishments intended to meet the wholesome prerequisites for "all life stages," which implies that sustenance is planned to meet the dietary needs of a little dog and is in this way wrong for grown-up and senior felines.

When you have picked an eating routine that was created utilizing encouraging preliminaries and that is perfect for your feline's life stage and way of life, there are a few enhancements that you can consider including based the specific wellbeing needs of your feline. You should in every case initially examine with your veterinarian any enhancements that you are thinking about providing for your feline. This will guarantee there are no complexities or wellbeing worries with different meds you are giving or ailments your feline has. In the event that you pick a multi-nutrient or explicit single supplement, if it's not too much trouble know that adding these to a total and adjusted feline nourishment could consolidate with the supplements as of now in the sustenance and make harmfulness.

Glucosamine and chondroitin are usually offered together to help ensure the joints to avert or moderate movement of joint inflammation. These work to expand grease inside the joint just as fix ligament. They won't wipe out joint pain or right any basic anomalies yet they can help bolster the joint capacity. There are incalculable joint enhancements out there to look over so make sure to talk about with your veterinarian which one is best for your feline.

Another broadly utilized dietary enhancement that has numerous capacities and is an extraordinary added substance to numerous nourishments is omega-3 unsaturated fats, for example, those found in fish oil. Omega-3 unsaturated fats are a ground-breaking calming for the skin and joints and can help bolster the capacity of different organs. You ought to address your veterinarian to check whether your feline needs extra Omega-3 unsaturated fats and the amount to give.

In the event that you have a senior feline that is by all accounts not exactly as sharp rationally you could think about an enhancement to help intellectual brokenness, likewise know as dementia. There have been numerous examinations that show cancer prevention agents, for example, nutrients E and C will ensure and fix cerebrum cells. There are likewise supplements containing mixes focused at keeping up cerebrum work in felines. A helpful veterinary nourishment explicitly planned with large amounts of cell reinforcements to secure a feline's maturing cerebrum would likewise be a decent decision in the event that you see your senior feline backing off. Amid your yearly senior test examine any worries you have with your veterinarian and whether there are supplements that may enable your senior feline to remain rationally sharp.

A high caliber, complete and adjusted nourishment defined for your feline's particular life stage and way of life will meet all the fundamental supplements to keep up ideal wellbeing. There are some extra enhancements that address certain therapeutic issues and could improve the soundness of your feline. It is in every case best to initially examine any therapeutic concerns you have with your veterinarian and get his or her suggestion for enhancements your feline may profit by.

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Ten Things to Do Before You Buy a Pet Insurance Plan

There are a few things you ought to do before purchasing a pet protection plan. By teaching and setting yourself up, you will have considerably more accomplishment amid your pet protection mission.

1. Ensure you have a decent comprehension of how to best utilize pet protection.

Pet protection, similar to some other kind of protection, is best used to help oversee budgetary hazard. It ought not be taken a gander at as an approach to set aside some cash, as you will pay more in premiums than you get as repayments if your pet remains generally solid.

Pet protection is utilized to help diminish a cataclysmic monetary hit. Ensure you are getting extraordinary restorative and money related inclusion for the episodes that will in general be sudden and fiscally cataclysmic.

2. Discover what the "Most dire outcome imaginable Costs" are for your region.

Veterinary expenses differ the nation over. All in all, costs in urban regions will in general be more than the expenses in country territories. To decide these costs where you live, request that your veterinarian give you the "Most dire outcome imaginable Costs" for the accompanying circumstances (these are the circumstances that are the most expensive in veterinary drug):

Crises (for example Breaks, Foreign Body Ingestion, Accidental Poisonings, Bloat, Urinary Blockage)

Incessant illnesses (for example Unending Renal Failure, Heart Disease, Liver Disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Cancer).

Sudden, Severe maladies (for example Intense Renal Failure, Acute Pancreatitis)

Fill your veterinarian in as to whether you will exploit top of the line methodology to analyze and treat your pet (for example X-ray, dialysis), as this will expand your "Most dire outcome imaginable Costs."

In the event that you find, in the wake of talking with your veterinarian, that you can't bear the cost of these expenses or if paying these expenses would be a cataclysmic monetary hit for you, you might need to think about pet protection.

3. Ensure you don't pick pet protection exclusively dependent on the expense of the premium.

On the off chance that you do, you won't get the correct medicinal and money related inclusion for your individual circumstance.

4. Do your very own exploration.

While other individuals can give you their proposals, it is critical that you inquire about the choices. Discover which pet insurance agencies and plans meet your therapeutic inclusion necessities, most extreme payout prerequisites, and other vital prerequisites as expressed in articles: "Things to ask When Choosing a Pet Health Insurance Provider" and "Things to ask When Choosing a Pet Health Insurance Plan"

5. Peruse the terms and states of the arrangement you are wanting to purchase.

The prerequisites and rejections to the protection approach are particularly essential data.

6. Approach the pet insurance agency for a rundown of rejections dependent on your pet's past therapeutic history and breed.

A medicinal survey will give you a rundown of the prohibitions you can anticipate dependent on your pet's earlier history. In the event that you don't care for what is on this rundown, you can drop the approach inside the unconditional promise time frame. Ensure that the pet insurance agency will have this survey done well before the unconditional promise lapses so you have sufficient time to audit it.

7. All deductibles are NOT the equivalent (this is essential!)

Contingent upon the pet insurance agency, the deductible will either be yearly, per condition/episode, or per visit. The best choice is yearly — when you achieve the deductible, you are set for the year, regardless of how often your canine goes to the vet. "Per condition/episode" signifies you just pay the deductible once in a date-book year for a similar issue.

For example, if your canine has sensitivities and goes to the vet multiple times in a year for his hypersensitivities, you just need to achieve the deductible once and afterward all future consideration is secured. "Per visit" is your most noticeably bad choice. It implies that each time your puppy goes to the vet, you should pay the deductible before anything will be secured.

8. A few things are NOT secured

Prior to buying a pet protection approach, cautiously audit it so you recognize what is secured and what isn't. In the event that you are indistinct about what is secured, call the organization and request that they illuminate. A few strategies avoid serious issues like disease or hip dysplasia; others spread these sorts of occasions. Some protection designs bar or farthest point the advantages for malignancy treatment, yet offer disease riders you can add on to your strategy for an extra charge.

9. Thoroughbred pooches might be liable to rejections

In the event that you claim a thoroughbred puppy, tune in up. Various pet protection approaches bar ailments and conditions that are hereditarily connected to specific breeds, for example, hip dysplasia in a goliath breed, or malignancy in a Golden Retriever. On the off chance that you claim a thoroughbred puppy, pick a pet protection supplier that does not reject genetic conditions in thoroughbreds.

10. Client administration matters

This is a regularly disregarded yet imperative territory to think about while picking a supplier. Ask your companions, family, and veterinarian about the suppliers you're keen on. Hunt out surveys via web-based networking media and different destinations to perceive how individuals like the client administration. Does the organization survey and pay asserts in a convenient way? Do they reasonably repay for secured conditions? An organization with a decent notoriety for client administration is better than one with poor audits.

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Can Dogs Get High? The Dangerous Effects of Marijuana on Dogs

As maryjane is being legitimized all through the nation, it implies that veterinarians will presumably observe an expansion in pets unintentionally ingesting the medication. So what should pet proprietors do if their canine eats maryjane? Could canines get high? Does maryjane effectsly affect pooches?

Discover what to do, why you shouldn't treat your pet at home, and why you ought to never be hesitant to convey your canine to the vet on the off chance that you think they've eaten pot.

CBD Oil and Dogs

In the first place, it is essential to influence the refinement between CBD to oil and pot. You may have found out about CBD oil being utilized to treat certain diseases in canines. Cannabidiol (CBD) oil is separated from pot or hemp plants, yet it has next to no to no measures of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)— the psychoactive fixing in maryjane that makes you high. So if a canine ingests CBD oil, they won't experience the ill effects of a similar symptoms that they would on the off chance that they ingest weed.

Will Dogs Eat Weed?

Truly. The two vets we addressed said they've seen puppies eat both crude leaf weed and "edibles," or sustenances injected with weed. Can pooches get high from eating maryjane? The appropriate response is truly, also. In any case, while puppies can get high, it doesn't imply that it's alright or that they discover the impacts of weed agreeable.

Dr. Carly Fox, DVM, staff specialist at Animal Medical Center's Emergency and Critical Care Service in New York City, clarifies that, "It's once in a while lethal." But to repeat, when a human ingests maryjane, they realize what they agreed to accept. That isn't the situation with puppies, and they can wind up ending up exceptionally wiped out.

What Does Marijuana Exposure Look Like in Dogs?

Dr. Fox says that a portion of the weed impacts that a puppy may display incorporate ataxia (loss of coordination that can appear as a clumsy or "intoxicated" walk), incontinence and excessive touchiness to contact. They can likewise be particularly excessively touchy to sounds. Amid a physical exam, a vet may likewise see a slower pulse and lower temperature than ordinary, Dr. Fox tells says.

Ordinarily, your puppy will recoup inside 12-24 hours. In the event that your puppy's side effects continue longer than that, it's most likely not maryjane, says Dr. Fox.

"In the event that your canine ingests pot, there's no chance to get for you to know how influenced they'll be except if you look for restorative consideration," clarifies Dr. Fox. She additionally says that pet guardians ought not endeavor to oversee meds or actuate heaving at home. "Spewing could be hazardous to them since it could result in goal [when sustenance or other remote bodies progress toward becoming stopped in the throat]," says Dr. Fox.

With edibles, you'll likewise must be watchful of alternate fixings like chocolate or sugar, which can be unsafe to canines.

"On the off chance that they get into a gigantic compartment of brownies, they will get a truly monstrous measurements of weed, but at the same time they will get a huge amount of margarine and oil and fat and a huge amount of other stuff that is terrible for them," says Dr. Tim Hackett, board-guaranteed crisis and basic veterinarian and break chief of the Colorado State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital. He says that edibles tend to take a ton longer to leave a creature's framework since the THC in edibles is very thought and dosed for a grown-up human, not a creature.

Try not to Be Afraid To Take Your Dog to the Vet

Since cannabis is as yet unlawful in numerous spots and others may judge you for having the medication, it's justifiable that many pet proprietors may feel embarrassed or even anxious that there will be lawful outcomes. In any case, the two vets we addressed guaranteed us this wasn't the situation.

"I've seen many cases and not one has ever gone a legitimate way, ever," says Dr. Fox. "Our greatest worry as veterinarians is treating the canine."

The more fair a proprietor is about conceivable ingestion of weed, the less demonstrative testing should be raced to preclude a neurologic or metabolic reason, and treatment can begin all the more rapidly.

How Vets May Treat Your Dog

In the event that you get your pooch to the vet inside one to two long stretches of them eating cannabis, the vet may incite heaving, however just if the pot hasn't been consumed yet. In the event that the canine is displaying the indications specified over, the THC has just been processed, and it's past the point where it is possible to actuate retching, says Dr. Hackett.

The vet will likely offer steady care and give intravenous liquids to help weaken the poisons and reduction the rate of assimilation, clarifies Dr. Hackett. Your vet may likewise run a blood test or other demonstrative tests to discount different poisons or notwithstanding hidden metabolic or neurologic ailments, says Dr. Fox.

On the off chance that your pooch can't stand up, he or she will most likely must be admitted to the doctor's facility, says Dr. Fox. On the off chance that the puppy is not doing so good, the vet may give an IV lipid or fat. Pot is exceptionally fat solvent, and the hypothesis is that a lipid infusion will encourage trap or retain the weed in the fat, clarifies Dr. Fox.

Since THC is a depressant that can stifle the stifler reflex, the pooch can't upchuck and remove the regurgitation, prompting respiratory disappointment, says Dr. Hackett. On the off chance that the lungs are physically harmed because of suctioning or breathing in upchuck, it can take days to a long time for them to recuperate, and can likewise be lethal. This can happen auxiliary to pretty much any harming and is an inconvenience of medical procedure in any species, including individuals. In serious cases, a puppy might be put into an oxygen case to help breath, says Dr. Hackett.

The two vets proposed letting your pet remain medium-term so they can be watched. In the event that you bring them home, simply give careful consideration to your canine and take after your vet's directions.

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20 Critical Signs Your Pet Needs an Immediate Veterinary Attention

Having a pet is a commitment. Most people misunderstand the most common pet emergencies, and don’t call for help until it’s too late. Understanding and keeping a list of the most common emergencies that require a veterinarian’s attention will help keep a pet healthy for a long time.

1. Severe Bleeding
This is the number one emergency because too many people believe an animal’s first aid can be done at home. If bleeding is severe or lasts more than five minutes, it must be checked by a vet. The fur could be hiding a bigger problem, or the animal might need stitches to heal without infection. The cut could be deeper than it appears, or there could be internal bleeding that needs surgery.

2. Choking and Difficulty Breathing
As with humans, it’s never a good idea to “wait and see” when an animal cannot breathe. Never try to clear the airway, and learn animal CPR to keep the animal safe. Take the vet to emergency care, even if CPR helps the animal breathe again, to make sure the animal is safe. A vet is the best trained person to make sure the animal does not have internal damage that caused the breathing issues.

3. Blood from Extremities
If there is blood in sputum, vomit, excrement, nose, ears, eyes, or mouth, it’s important to find out why. Perhaps the animal was injured while out of your sight, and needs emergency procedures to live. Blood should never be taken lightly. Seek emergency care immediately if blood is found coming from an animal. There could be unseen internal injuries.

4. Inability to Toilet
If the animal has pain in urination or defecation, or can do neither, it’s important to find out why. The animal could have an issue larger than you can handle, and may need a doctor’s care. Animals often do not express pain, so an ongoing issue can progress to a life threatening problem without your knowledge.

5. Injury to Eyes
An animal’s eyes are structured differently than a human’s eyes. If the eye is injured, there could be internal damage to structures close to the brain. Asking a vet for help will save your pet further harm.

6. Eating Poison
Many things that are fine for humans are toxic for animals. Items such as antifreeze, multivitamins, chocolate, pest poison, and more are very dangerous. They are also items an animal will ingest willingly. Learn what items are poisonous to your pet and call a vet emergency service immediately if you suspect your animal has ingested any poisonous substance.

7. Seizures
If an animal seizes, vet attention is required immediately. Staggering also falls under this category. These activities indicate a problem with the brain, and the animal needs immediate help. A vet can assess the situation, and might require more tests to find out how to best help the animal.

8. Lameness and Broken Bones
It’s never a good idea to allow an animal to “heal” when he or she displays leg issues. Allowing this to happen will cause the animal unnecessary pain later in life. Avoid these issues by taking the animal to the vet and help him or her live a longer, healthier, happier life.

9. Pain and Anxiety
As stated above, pets will not tell their humans when there is pain. If an animal is exhibiting signs of pain, it has progressed to a severe state and the animal must see a vet right away. Another method of expressing pain or illness is anxiety. If your normally happy dog suddenly snaps at your hand or does not welcome visitors, there might be a physical issue. Call a vet right away to have the animal evaluated to check for any possible pain. If you can pinpoint the area of the pain, it will help the vet’s diagnosis. Note the animal’s change in behavior and anxiety activities as well, as these notes will also help the vet.

10. Heat Stroke
As more stories of animals left in cars surface, so does the awareness of heat stroke. If an animal is suffering from heat stroke, he or she must see a vet immediately. Some signs of heat stroke are:

• panting excessively
• dark or bright red gums
• dry tongue
• staggering, stupor or seizures
• bloody diarrhea and/or vomiting

11. Severe Vomiting/Diarrhea
Many people like to wait these out, but either of these items in their severity will cause dehydration and death quickly. It’s important to find out why the animal is having this reaction. Take the animal to the vet, and try to remember what the animal has eaten. Consider any poisons the animal may have encountered using the poison list mentioned above. The information you can provide about your pet’s most recent activities will help the vet find out what’s wrong.

12. Refusal to Drink
An animal will drink consistently. If the animal has had nothing to drink in the past 24 hours, despite available water, take the animal to the vet. It’s important to understand your animal and keep the water dish clean, but even if the dish is dirty, an animal will eventually drink from it. Any refusal to do so over 24 hours is an indication of an emergency situation.

13. Unconsciousness
This item seems obvious, but some pet owners may think their animal is simply sleeping. If the animal cannot be roused from a sleep, contact a vet right away. The animal may have passed out. The vet will need to evaluate the animal to find out what could be happening to make the animal lose consciousness.

14. General Weakness and Difficulty with Mobility
Weakness and mobility problems are some of the most common signs of disease in pets. Of course, dogs and cats are known to suddenly start limping without apparent cause. But chronic cases of mobility issues should raise a red flag.

If your pet has been limping or has refused to move at all for several hours, it’s best to take them to the vet immediately in order to preempt any possible complications.

15. Struggling to Urinate
According to experts, dogs should urinate 3-5 times a day, and cats 2-4 times a day. Of course, there is no magic number as certain factors might affect the amount or frequency of urination. In instances of illness, however, your pet might not urinate at all.

If you notice that your cat or dog positions themselves to urinate but fails to let anything out, then be sure to see your veterinarian as soon as possible. It takes a while before conditions like UTI become apparent to pet owners. So your furry friend may have already been struggling with it for a while before it became noticeable.

16. Heavy Breathing and Coughing
If you’ve ever had a pet – dog or cat – you’ll know they let out hairballs every so often. So deep heaving and consequent vomiting might not seem like cause for alarm.

But be mindful of your pet whenever they do start to breathe heavily or cough. If they’ve been doing it for a few days without relief, then it’s high time you visit your vet. It could be a sign of a lung infection or a lower respiratory tract disease.

17. Various Seizures
Cats and dogs can have certain types of epilepsy. But be sure to visit your vet to determine whether or not your pet has a seizure disorder earlier on.

There are three phases to a seizure – the prodromal stage, critical stage, and the postictal stage. The first is a warning phase and will tell you that a seizure is about to occur. During the prodromal stage, your pet might seem tense, agitated, and anxious, and will likely start to pace, pant, and tremble.

On the first sign of a seizure, take your pet to the hospital immediately. While there’s nothing your vet can do to prevent it from happening, they can break the seizure by providing your pet with valium.

18. Troubles with Vomiting
Sick Cat Vomiting

Vomiting can sometimes be an everyday occurrence for pets, so pet owners usually take the issue lightly. But there are instances when vomiting should be a cause for concern.

Inspect your pet’s vomit for strange or foreign substances and blood. You might also want to consider logging how much and how often your pet vomits throughout the day. Three or more episodes of vomiting in a single day should warrant a trip to the vet.

It’s also ideal to keep an eye out for other tell-tale signs. For instance, some pets will refuse to lie down when they feel nauseated. If you suspect your pet is trying to prevent vomiting by maintaining a standing position, then seek the advice of a professional as soon as possible.

19. Serious Trauma and Severe Pain
In cases when your pet is involved in a seriously injurious accident or event, it’s imperative that you visit the vet immediately. The injury might not be apparent on the surface, but organs and other internal structures may have been seriously hurt, requiring urgent medical care and attention.

In these instances, you may want to inspect your pet’s body and their behavior. Signs of severe pain such as compensatory postures, refusal to move, and whimpering should tell you that there’s something wrong on the inside.

20. Refusing Food and Water
Sometimes your pet will have an appetite, other times, they might not eat at all. And that’s absolutely normal. However, if your pet has been refusing both food and water for a while now, and they seem weak, dull, and unwell, there might be more to it than the usual lack of appetite.

Often, a pet will refuse to take any food or water as a symptom of an existing condition or infection. Taking them to a veterinarian as soon as possible should help pinpoint the issue, resolve it, and restore your pet’s appetite.

Conclusion
Your pet’s health is your responsibility. Because these beloved creatures might not be able to express themselves in times of illness and injury, it’s up to you to determine when it’s time to visit the vet.

So at the first signs of problem, make sure you act by bringing your furry friend to the best veterinary specialist in your area for prompt and proper medical care and attention.

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How to Become a Dog or Pet Groomer

Pet groomers, more than any other group of pet health care professionals, fill a very unique niche in enhancing pet health. In fact, it requires certain attributes not required by veterinarians, trainers, breeders, pet shop owners, kennel operators and pet food retail salespeople.

HOW TO BECOME A DOG OR PET GROOMER
The first step to becoming a dog or pet groomer is to research. You should research the different styles of grooming for different breeds as well as programs in your area that offer certifications in pet grooming. While certification is not always required, these programs can help you learn the basics of pet grooming and will make you stand out when looking for jobs.

The real learning comes from experience, however. Getting an internship with a groomer or working as a groomer's assistant will give you the hands-on experience you need to hone your grooming skills.

To be a successful pet grooming professional you must be hands-on, observant and effective, all while patiently controlling the pet. Of course there's a huge responsibility you must bear not only to be the best groomer you can be but also to be a healthcare advocate on behalf of the pets with whom you work. The time you spend with the animal will also enable you to judge their physical and mental attitude.

TEAMING UP WITH A VETERINARIAN
Every day in my small animal practice the groomer (she happened to be an independent contractor, not my employee, so I refrained from calling her "my" groomer!) would call me in to the grooming room to point out something on the pet that needed attention. Often she had discovered some subtle health problem that had evolved since the last time I saw the pet.


In addition, because many veterinarians are pressed for time due to a busy schedule, their observation of the pet may be hurried. The average office call lasts about twelve minutes. So here's where the groomer really has an advantage because you are forced to concentrate on this one subject while you pick at it, scrub it, pluck it and shave it with that old faithful clippers that sounds like a lawn-mower ... then you blast a tornado of warm air over it until it's dry so you can then scissor, shape and brush it and then confine it and hope it doesn't urinate in the cage and soil itself before the owner shows up three hours late! Did I forget the bows?

If you are fortunate to be working in an animal hospital, you and the attending veterinarian should have open and cooperative dialogue regarding the pets in your care. If your grooming business is in a kennel, home or pet boutique and there is no veterinarian close at hand, there are a few things you should consider.

First of all set aside some time where you and a nearby veterinarian can spend a moment discussing your grooming philosophy. Explore the fact that sometime in the future you will be needing the veterinarian's advice and may even need to rush in with a grooming subject that needs immediate care. The time to set up this mutual cooperative relationship is before a crisis occurs! On your customers' chart you will always have recorded the pet's usual veterinarian; however, that veterinarian may not always be available, so you need a backup you can be comfortable calling when the need arises.

I'll try to give you some hints and clues about what to look for when assessing the pet's state of physical and emotional health. Hopefully you will be able to fine tune your already good sense of observation. Do not be reluctant or shy about relaying your thoughts or observations about the pet's health to the owner or veterinarian. You might not know it but I believe the pet will thank you somehow! Oh, yes ... so should the owner and veterinarian!

KEEPING GOOD RECORDS
Taking a few minutes to write down what you have seen and done with every pet, every time you groom it, will be the best time investment you can make. It simply makes your job easier and your clients will be impressed with your organized and professional manner.

I would suggest that on the pet's chart you make a note about the pet's general physical and emotional status. It might look something like this:

Health notes for Mrs. Jones' Dog Skippy, a 4 year old Sheltie
Date:

Subject Normal Abnormal Notes See the Veterinarian
Skin/coat
Anal sacs
Teeth
Ears
Nails
Lumps
Attitude
Comments:


In your comments section you could put any of your observations, such as if the dog seemed in pain when you picked it up, or if it seemed not to hear well, or appeared to have lost or gained significant weight. Under mental notes write down what your impression is of this pet's reaction to the experience of being groomed. After you get to know a pet well, you will be tuned in to it's personality and can so note any changes from what you've come to expect from its previous visits with you.

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Why Do Dogs Shred Paper Products?

Dogs have a way of getting into things they shouldn’t, and one thing many pups seem to love playing with is paper. Used tissues, napkins, paper towels, toilet paper—countless pet parents have come home to find these products shredded all over the floor. 

But why is shredding paper so irresistible to dogs?

It often comes down to odor, says Scott Sheaffer, a certified animal behavior consultant and owner of USA Dog Behavior in Dallas, Texas.

“If you’ve used it to wipe your mouth or even wipe your nose or your hands, there’s a scent on it that’s appealing to them,” he says.

Boredom or anxiety could also drive dogs to rip up paper products, if they don’t have enough other enrichment available. Or, if dogs are actually ingesting the paper, it could be a sign of pica, a medical condition that drives animals to eat non-food items (humans can also suffer from pica).

“It can become a compulsion, where they obsessively and compulsively eat paper products,” Sheaffer says. “That’s much more of a behavioral issue than…appetite driven.”

More often, though, dogs shred tissues and towels simply because it’s fun, says Erin Jones, a certified dog behaviorist and owner of Merit Professional Dog Training in Halifax, Nova Scotia.


“The number one reason is probably just because they enjoy the sensation of ripping stuff up,” she says.

Puppies and adult dogs are equally likely to enjoy playing with paper, Jones says, and it’s a common behavior regardless of breed.


ARE PAPER PRODUCTS DANGEROUS FOR DOGS?
Many dogs don’t eat the paper they play with—the joy is in the ripping up—but if pups do ingest napkins or tissues, there could be serious health consequences.

 “Small amounts of paper will just pass through a dog’s digestive tract,” says Dr. Jennifer Coates, veterinarian and author of the Dictionary of Veterinary Terms, Vet-Speak Deciphered for the Non-Veterinarian. “But if a large amount is eaten or some of it gets stuck somewhere along the digestive tract, it can cause a blockage that requires surgery to correct.”

Also, eating a paper towel that’s coated with a cleaning product or other potentially toxic substance could be dangerous, Jones says.

“It is always best to err on the side of caution, in my opinion, and avoid using harsh or toxic chemicals and discard any used paper products immediately,” she recommends. “Particularly if there is a history of ripping up paper products and there is any chance they might have access to it.”

Coates agrees, “Toss any paper products that are contaminated with potentially dangerous chemicals directly into a covered trash can in a location where your pets can’t gain access.”


DISCOURAGING THE BEHAVIOR
The best way to prevent dogs from ripping up paper is to keep it out of reach in the first place.

“Don’t leave these items around,” Jones says. “If we can manage their environment and prevent this unwanted behavior from happening in the first place, then that’s really the key to any training protocol.”

Dogs often pull paper products out of the garbage, so using trash cans with secure, automatically closing lids can nip the problem in the bud.

Not all paper products can go in the trash can, though (how many YouTube videos have we seen of dogs gleefully unspooling toilet paper from the roll?), so a more foolproof solution is to train dogs not to go near paper products in the first place.

Jones often uses impulse control training with her clients to discourage destructive behavior.


“[Dogs] get rewarded for staying away from the item,” she says. “That way, they learn to wait for direction from you instead of just impulsively going after everything that they want.”

Teaching your dog a “drop it” cue can also be helpful, she says.

In a pinch, your dog can rest comfortably in a crate when you’re not around, or you can close doors or use baby gates to block off access to certain parts of your home.

To let your dog play with paper in an appropriate way, consider turning his instincts into an enriching game. This could mean “putting treats into a cardboard box and taping it up and poking holes and allowing them to rip that apart,” Jones says. “It allows them an outlet for that behavior.”

If your dog gets hold of a tissue or napkin and won’t let go, there’s one thing you definitely shouldn’t do: chase him around and try to get it back. That makes your pup think it’s all a fun game.

“Owners…yell, ‘Give me that napkin back!’ and they go running after the dog,” Sheaffer says. “What you’ve done by those actions is you’ve just increased the value of the item to the dog.”

Instead, it’s better to ignore the behavior (unless your dog is ingesting the paper, or if the paper is covered with a dangerous substance), then quietly remove it when your pet is distracted.

Bottom line, dogs will probably always love ripping up paper, but there are plenty of ways to manage the behavior and keep your dog out of harm’s way.

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Wild Animals That Can Give Your Dog Fleas and Ticks

While you may be diligent about preventing fleas and ticks in your home, your dog could pick up parasites from wild or feral animals living nearby. Here are a few creatures that can give your dog fleas and ticks.

DEER

Deer ticks get their name because they like to feed on deer as adults. So if there are deer in the neighborhood, deer ticks may be close by.  Ticks can’t jump or fly, but they wait for a deer, or your dog, to pass and then attach and crawl upwards. Deer ticks are generally found in wooded areas and are active year round.

RACCOONS AND OPOSSUMS

Not only do raccoons and opossums make a meal out of your garbage, they too can bring fleas into your yard and home. And because they are most active at night, you may not even see these critters.  Keep raccoons and opossums out of your dog’s space by securing all outdoor garbage and trash bins.

FERAL CATS

Feral cats left to roam around neighborhoods also carry fleas and ticks. Fleas cannot fly, but they have quite a jumping distance and can jump on your pet from outdoor shaded areas where flea-infested pets or wildlife have been.

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