1). Learn the shortest route to your nearest 24-hour Emergency Center. Putting the address on the refrigerator isn’t good enough. Actually drive there so that when you need them, you know where they are located. If you frequently take your pet hiking or to a park, you should also learn where the nearest emergency center is to that location. We can’t predict that our dog won’t be bitten by a snake, sprain or break a leg on treacherous terrain or encounter an aggressive animal. Just in case…YOU must know what to do!
2). ID your pet. In addition to tags, it is important to get your pet micro-chipped so that he can be quickly identified in case tags are lost. As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” so carry one of your dog or cat with you at all times so that you’ll be prepared to make a flyer or show a photo of your precious pet.
3). Observe your pet. Knowing what is normal for your dog or cat will help you identify something abnormal. Be aware of how many times a day you fill water bowls and let pets outside. If suddenly your pet is asking you to perform these tasks more or less frequently than usual, they may need a check-up. Notice how your pet sits and stands. Are they suddenly leaning on one hip or seeming to labor getting up off the ground? Periodically feel for lumps and bumps (a woman in class located cancerous tumors after going home from one of my classes and saved her dog’s life by doing so), and always check for fleas, ticks and foxtails when your animals come in from the yard or a hike.
4). Always keep dogs on leash or in a fenced yard so that you can keep them safe from traffic (the #1 most preventable injury to animals), other animals, pesticides that might be on your neighbors lawn, poisons in garbage cans and more. It's also a great to observe his bathroom habits so that you can be alerted to when something isn't normal.
5). Establish a good relationship with your veterinarian and take your pets for annual check-ups and special tests for seniors. Brush their teeth regularly with toothpaste designed for pets (never human toothpaste which contains detergents) and check for “bubble-gum” pink gums, white teeth and no odor which are signs of good health. Also have your pet’s teeth cleaned professionally twice annually. If you are concerned about anesthesia, there are great anesthesia-free clinics – no excuses!
6). Feed High Quality Food. Please read the labels and know what you are feeding your dog or cat. Discuss his diet with your Veterinarian or Nutrition Expert.
7). Supplement your pet's diet with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants! There are many on the market these days and many are composed of mainly SUGAR! Read the labels and do your research. One I've had success with is NUVET (see my Pet Care & Nutrition Tips Page). Antioxidants protect your pet -- they combat free radicals (unstable oxygen molecules/unpaired electrons) that strike every cell in your pets body more than 10,000 times per day until they break down and weaken the cells. This leads to allergies, skin and coat problems, tumors, cancer, heat & vessel disease, cataracts, arthritis, digestive problems and low energy. If your pet is healthy, you may not notice any change using supplements, HOWEVER...they are doing their job on the inside of your pets body to keep the cells from breaking down and being weakened by these notorious free radicals.
8). Train your Pet! A well-behaved pet obeys commands and stays out of trouble. A well-behaved pet also makes for a happier Dog Mom or Dad.
9). Sign up TODAY for a Pet First Aid & CPR Class to prepare yourself to handle the unexpected. A comprehensive class should include Rescue Breathing and CPR, restraining & muzzling, choking management, bleeding protocols (how to stop bleeding, bandaging & splinting), shock, burns, heatstroke, frostbite, drowning, seizures, how to induce vomiting (or not) if your pet is poisoned, snakebites and stomach & intestinal upsets. The class should also teach you how to do a home check, how to find your pet’s pulse, check respiration, capillary refill and temperature as well as teach you how to do a snout-to-tail assessment of your pet. Finally, the instructor should explain how to put together your own Pet First Aid kit and must open your eyes to the vast number of things you can do every day to provide a safer environment for your dog or cat. Check out my Sign Up For A Class Page.
As your pet’s guardian, it is your responsibility to keep your dog or cat safe, healthy and loved. One of the best ways to do this is to BE PREPARED. I think student Kate Ahrens sums it up best when she said, “The last thing you want is to wish you HAD taken Denise’s [Pet First Aid & CPR] Class.”
Your pets are counting on you!
