I cannot speak for all my furry friends out there, but I love the cold!  There is nothing better than a cold wind blowing on my face.  Well, at least if it isn’t like -10 out there, I mean I have my limits too.  What I mean to say is, your pets get cold just like you do, and shouldn’t be outside for extended times when the temperatures drop below freezing.  We have fur, but it can’t keep us warm in severe temperatures.  So, you have permission to dress us up in cute coats; though we hate to admit it, we need those too.

For any furry friends that live outside, please make sure they have a wind proof dog house to shelter them from the bitter cold.  When the temperature drops to 27 degrees during the day and 10 degrees at night, bring your pets into a garage or shelter with a higher temperature. Their food dishes should be plastic, and water checked regularly to make sure it didn’t freeze.  And since staying warm takes energy, they will need slightly more food during the colder months. 

One more thing, watch out for the salt and other chemicals used to melt the ice.  It can irritate our paws and if we lick it, it could make us sick. So, be sure to wipe your pet’s paws when coming in from outside.  And from personal experience, I know there are boots out there you can put on us to protect our paws too.  My mom just laughed at me when I first got mine, but the joke was on her to have to put them on me all time.

For any other winter weather tips, be sure to go to libertyvet.net. And from all of us here at LVH, have a safe and happy holiday! Next week, crossword fun with winter tips.

 

A lot of you travel over the holidays, and unfortunately, many of us do not get to go with you. Pets, though loved, cannot always go where the rest of the family is going. At those times Liberty Veterinary Hospital wants to let you know your pets are safe with them. They have friendly and caring staff ready to love your baby while you are away. For dogs like me, they have cages or runs to accommodate all sizes. And the nice folks there will walk us three times a day so we can stretch our legs and do our business. For my feline friends out there, Kitty City, as they call it, is waiting for you.   It is a place with cages to sleep in and window ledges to look out during the day. You can even bring your pet’s food and treats, and even a toy or two to help make their stay easier. Please leave your bedding at home so it doesn’t get mixed up in the wash. LVH has plenty of comfy soft things for us to lie on. And to make things easier for you, LVH will provide any needed treatment or vaccines during your pet’s stay. But you’d better call soon because they fill up quickly.

Need more information? Be sure to call LVH or go to libertyvet.net for a virtual tour or checklists, such as how to prepare for travel with your pet or boarding preparations. Join me next week as I discuss winter weather safety, because like it or not, winter is coming.

Well I am glad to be home! I love visiting Grammy’s house, but with all those people around it’s a little too much. How did your Thanksgiving go? Smoothly I hope, and hopefully no emergency calls to Liberty Veterinary Hospital for sick pets. When there are no pets that have experienced loss of appetite or lethargy, diarrhea or vomiting, then it was a good holiday indeed.

So, one holiday down, and another to go. Just think more food, more decorations (trees, lights, ornaments) and more opportunities for your pet to get into mischief and possible get sick. I hope you remember what I’ve said about bones, rich foods and chocolate, all of which should be kept out of our reach.

Come back next week as I go over cold weather safety, because like it or not, the cold and snow is coming! Until then, be sure to check out libertyvet.net for more holiday and cold weather tips.

Only a few more days until turkey time!  I hope I get a few bites this year, but my mom is pretty good about not feeding me all the really good stuff.  She reads this blog on libertyvet.net so she knows all about the dangers of turkey skin and rich foods.  She is even careful with the leftovers too.  Guess she doesn’t trust me to stay out of that either, or she knows that the foil or plastic wrap they are usually in could cause intestinal obstructions for us.  And yeah, alright, we aren’t that clever to unwrap and eat only the food.  We’ll eat the wrapping too, so she is smart to keep that out of reach.  But if your pet is sneakier than you think, be sure to call Liberty Veterinary Hospital if your pet displays a swollen stomach, is vomiting or has diarrhea after the holiday.

Besides the food, be sure to keep any decorations out of your pet’s reach too.  We are curious creatures and find that the best way to investigate new things is to taste them.  So plastic or glass decorations that look like a new toy for us should be carefully placed.  And don’t forget about lit candles.  Those can be knocked over by happy tails or moody paws (you know which pet is which), so keep those in places out of our range too.

A few last things to be mindful of is the family and friends you have over.  Don’t assume your guests won’t share a tasty treat with us, so be sure and have a conversation with them. A crowded home can cause stress for your furry family members and besides hiding, we could easily escape through an open door.  So, keep your fur babies in a safe, comfortable room if they are too skittish or keep an eye on where they are throughout the night.

Come back next week so we can see how your Thanksgiving went and start preparing for next holiday.  Until then, have a safe and happy turkey day!

As we get closer to the holidays, we all know there is nothing better than moist turkey, mashed potatoes, buttery rolls, and sweet pumpkin pie. Or is that just me? Anyway, the point is whatever food you fancy, your pet will too, but it is not be wise to let them have it. Liberty Veterinary Hospital sees several pets each year for holiday mishaps. Bones, for example, can lodge in our throat, stomach or intestines causing great distress. There is also turkey skin which is difficult for us to digest and can cause vomiting or diarrhea. Any rich foods or foods that are too sugary should not be given to your pet. If you want to share some food with your pet (I know love turkey), then please give it to them in moderation. Too much of any food can cause upset stomachs and diarrhea for us. And that could ruin everyone’s holiday.

You should make sure you are aware of where your food is so we don’t just help ourselves to it because we all will if given the chance. Keep food out of reach (jumping reach too), and make sure your garbage is tied up or closed up so we aren’t tempted to dive into that as well. You know how good your food is, can you blame us for trying to get some? Remember this isn’t just for Thanksgiving which will be here real soon, but Christmas or any family feast.

Join me next week as I go over some household items and decorations that we need to be mindful of at this time of year as well. Until then, be sure to check out libertyvet.net for other holiday tips.

Happy turkey month! It’s the beginning of two of the busiest months for you humans. Just don’t forget about your furry friends! If you’re traveling for the holidays make sure to plan ahead for your pets. If they are lucky enough to go with you, be sure they are current on their vaccines and that you have enough of their medication for the trip if they are on any. Always make sure your family and friends can accommodate your pet upon arrival, and if flying, be sure to check out any restrictions or requirements ahead of time.

If you are unable to take your fur baby with you (L), Liberty Veterinary Hospital has your back! They have boarding for cats, dogs, and even exotics. They have runs and cages for our canine friends and a nice grassy area where they are taken for some exercise and relief. Our feline friends live in Kitty City where they get to enjoy a window view while they are in boarding.

If your pet needs any vaccines or treatments, LVH can take care of that during their stay. Jane can even groom your pet or give them a bath. Why not pamper them while they are here?! Speaking of pampering, don’t forget to ask about their VIP (very important pet) services for a small extra fee.

If you need any other tips on traveling with pets or boarding them at Liberty Vet, go to libertyvet.net for some do’s and don’ts and check lists to help you plan. Until next week, bundle up and get out and play in the leaves.

Thanks for joining me again this week. I want to review some of the things you can do to keep your cat happy and healthy. Just unscramble the underlined words. Good luck!

1. Cats hide when they are feeling desserts, trentahed, or are in apni.
2. Behaviors to watch out for are changes in their trainuion, sleeping habits, clavoziation, or odof/twetar
3. Call Blityer Yearnvetir Pathiols with any concerns you have about your cat.
4. Keep up on vainces, exams, and blood work to help diagnose problems before they become serious.
5. Make sure they get plenty of exercise.
6. Brush their teeth and fur

How did you do? Great, I am sure. J Please join me next week as I discuss holiday safety for your pets (yes, it is that time again). And as always check out libertyvet.net for all your pet questions.

Answers:

1. stressed, threatened, pain
2. urination, sleeping, vocalization, food/water
3. Liberty Veterinary Hospital
4. vaccines, exams
5. exercise
6. teeth, fur
7. stressed, threatened, pain
8. urination, sleeping, vocalization, food/water
9. Liberty Veterinary Hospital
10. vaccines, exams
11. exercise
12. teeth, fur

Ok, we’ve talked about preventative care, what about some things you can do at home? Cats need to eat a healthy diet and get exercise. If you’re not sure what type of food to get or how much you should be feeding your cat, give the fine folks at Liberty Veterinary Hospital a call. Cats love to chase prey, so give them toys they must chase or bat around. Supply them with cat trees and empty shelves. They are natural hunters and climbers, so give them something to assist with this or they’ll find a way to do it on their own. They like to be up high, scouting out below them.

Be sure to brush your cat’s fur and teeth often. Brushing their fur prevents tangles and helps with shedding. Clean their teeth for the same reasons you clean yours. And when you are brushing their fur take a few minutes to examine them for any new lumps, fur changes etc. This also helps them get used to being more comfortable when they go to the vet and they are touched in a similar manner during an exam.

We only have one more week to talk about cat health, so be sure to come back for a review of the best ways to keep your cat healthy. Until then, check out libertyvet.net for more information on your pet’s needs.

Ah, my feline friends. They are loving one minute, then scratching at you the next. The way they pounce and play around can be entertaining for sure, so we know they are social animals. Yet, they love to hide as well in closets or under beds. But they are hidden when they feel threatened, stressed, or are in pain. It’s the latter reason we need to watch out for, and our friends at Liberty Veterinary Hospital want to make sure you know what to look for.

Cats are masters at hiding pain, so owners need to be observant of changes in their pet’s behavior.   Hiding for longer periods than usual, change in urination (stops using the litter box), change in activity or sleeping habits, eating more or less than usual with unexplained weight loss/gain, or vocalizing; these are all subtle signs that something more is going on with your cat. So, be mindful of your pet’s behavior, so when changes occur you can monitor it and seek advice or care from LVH if needed. We want to get our felines help sooner rather than later in order to keep them healthy and around as long as we can.

Please come back next week when I go over the most dangerous illnesses for cats and some preventative actions you can take. Until then, be sure to check out libertyvet.net for more cat healthy tips.

I am so glad you came back! Ready to work your brain? Let’s see how much you’ve learned this month on senior wellness for cats and dogs.

True or False

1. Dogs and cats age more quickly, so 6 months is more like 3.5 to 5 years in human life. T F
2. Senior Wellness plans are for canines only.   T F
3. Blood tests are not included in the senior wellness plans. T F
4. Periodontal disease is the most common disease among dogs and cats. T F

Multiple Choice

5. Some signs to watch for in your senior pet are
6. loss of house training, confusion or disorientation, and playfulness.
7. increased thirst, skin changes, and confusion or disorientation.
8. skin changes, sleeping on the floor, and loss of house training.
9. The following exams can help detect problems before they advance:
10. blood tests and food allergy tests.
11. dental exams and breathing tests.
12. eye exams and blood tests.

Fill in

7. Liberty Veterinary Hospital recommends _____ exams a year for senior pets.
8. ___________ can destroy gums, tissue and bones in teeth.
9. Dogs and cats need their teeth brushed ________.
10. LVH wellness exams are there to help ___________ problems before they become serious.

Answers: