Paw Prints
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A blog by the friendly folks at Midland Humane Coalition
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Identify Fleas Fleas come in four forms: eggs, larvae, pupae and adults. Flea eggs are extremely small. They are covered with a soft, white shell called chorion. These will be very hard to identify if you’re not looking for them and often slip into hairs, carpets and cracks in sofas. Larvae hatch from the eggs. They look like tiny white worms, ranging from 2 to 5 mm in length. Larvae build up their nutrition and then transition into pupae. Pupae form after the larvae spin cocoons. The forming fleas lie dormant as they transition from larvae to pupae and finally to adult fleas inside their cocoons. Adult fleas shed their cocoon and emerge ready to eat. Since they’re between 1.5 - 3.3 mm long, adult fleas are still relatively hard to see; however, it’s much easier to identify fleas during the adult stage of their lifestyle than the other three stages. If you see small, dark brown pests crawling in your pet’s fur, you probably have a flea problem. Steps to Rid Your Pet of Fleas
After cleaning, the home needs to be treated with flea extermination products. This can be an intensive process. Products you find at the store may not do the job. It’s best to have professionals with experience, like Fox Pest Control’s Pest Pros, service the home. They will perform an extensive treatment and answer any questions you have. If a follow-up visit is needed, they’ll let you know.
No Fleas, No Worries By following this advice, you can get your flea situation under control. Your cat or dog will be back to normal in no time. It just takes a little hard work, consistency and trust in the professionals. Now’s the time to enjoy your pet.  Fox Pest Control. No Bugs, Simply Better.
The hunt for Dog Food When it comes to dogs, choosing a healthy dog food can be confusing when you go into a pet store and see the hoard of pet foods and brands available today. Then, to complicate matters, there are differing opinions on what is best. Some say grain free is the way to go, others say include grain. Once dry food was suggested as better than canned, but now processed kibble, fed exclusively, is in question. Breeders say raw is the way to feed and nutritionists say cook human-grade food and vegetables. And then there is the internet that will sell you the priciest pet food, loaded with promises of healthy coat, long-life and regular, to your door, delivery. Oh, my! So how do you decide what to feed? There are some basics to consider when choosing a dog food.
Some people don’t have the luxury of cooking fresh food for their dog every day. If feeding raw, you must be careful and know what you are doing. You can’t feed spoiled food to a dog any more so than to a human. Although the human quality premium pet foods may be an excellent choice, not everyone can afford them, (animals, like humans, need regular medical care to keep them healthy, as well as a nutritious diet). And always remember that marketing is directed at the pet owner, not the pet. Also, when selecting a food, consider that your dog goes through different stages in his or her lifetime including puppy, senior and pregnancy that require different nutritional needs. Assuming you have a healthy dog that does not require a special diet for medical reasons, here are some tips you might consider when choosing a pet food. 1. Talk to your vet for suggestions. In fact, always talk to your vet for advice regarding your pet (we can't stress this enough). 2. Consult an informed person at your pet store. But remember, they got their information from the vendor selling the product, and premium and price are not always a good gauge of quality. 3. When shopping for dog food, check out the ingredients:
4. When you have selected a food, store it in a proper container at home and keep bowls clean. 5. Monitor how your dog responds to the food. If your dog is gaining too much weight or losing weight, having stomach issues or not eating, talk to your vet and go back to square one if necessary. The search for Cat Food
Here are some tips you might consider when choosing a food for your feline: 1. As always, the first step is to consult with your vet for suggestions on what to feed your cat. Your vet will know the best food for your cat's age, size, as well as specific nutritional requirements for any medical conditions they might have. 2. Do you research and keep an eye on ingredients. Also, like dogs, cats go through various stages in their lifetime that require different nutritional needs. Be sure they're getting the right type of food for their age. Commercial Cat Food
3. Once you've decided on cat food that works, store their food properly, keep their bowls of food and water clean and in a low traffic area where they feel comfortable. 4. As always, look for signs from your four-legged family member. We know they communicate with us! Canine or Feline, your pet deserves to thrive and enjoy his or her meals. Bon appetit!
Other items your pet will need include: Food and water bowls. You can find everything from Fiesta ware to Waterford dog and cat bowls. Nothing wrong with fun and folly, but remember, that is for you and your home décor; your pet doesn’t care about the brand or pattern of the dish, only what’s in it. Make sure that the bowls you choose are the right size for easy reach and comfortable eating and made of safe materials. Litter box, kitty litter and poop bags. Decide where you want to place the litter box so that it is convenient for your cat and out of the way. People usually choose a mudroom or utility room. You will also need a scoop for keeping it clean between litter changes. A pooper-scooper is handy for the backyard and poop bags are a necessity for walks in the neighborhood or the park with your dog. Comfy bed. Unless you have a pet with special needs such as arthritis, simply select a soft, warm bed from the many cat and dog beds on-line or at the pet store. Make sure it is the right size for your dog or cat for cozy snuggling. Grooming tools. Shampoo, brush, toothbrush, dog safe toothpaste are a few items you will need to keep your pup looking and feeling its best. Cats are excellent self-groomers. However, they still may require some brushing. A crate is a great option for keeping your pup safe and confined when you are not around, especially necessary for a puppy whose curiosity can cause it harm. Even cats may feel more secure in a cat carrier during a ride to the vet. A crate is an ideal space if you have workers in the house, a social gathering where someone may leave an exterior door open, or whenever you need to confine your animal. Never to be used as punishment, dogs often find solace in their crate. It is their space, their den. Make sure your selection is the right size so that your animal can stand and move around within the confine. Leash and collar. Unless you are working on special training and need a certain-type lead, a standard 4-ft. leash is what you need for your dog, (please forgo the retractable ones as they can be a danger to your dog and to others), a comfortable collar with enough room for two-fingers as a checkpoint, and an identification tag with your information, including your cell phone number. Cats, on the other hand, climb and get into spaces that dogs probably would not. That said, collars can get caught posing the risk of a collar related injury such as strangulation or chocking. Be sure you provide your cat with a break-away cat collar. Toys are not just a luxury; they both stimulate and reassure your pet. Look at the fun toys on-line or at the pet store. Make sure that the toy is large enough that they can’t swallow it or pieces of it. If the dog is successful in retrieving the “squeaky” from inside the toy (and probably will be) take it away as it could be swallowed. Don’t toss it though, put it in your camera bag as it becomes an excellent attention getter (ears up) for photos ops. Cats love catnip and toys designed for them, especially the mobile types that they can bat back and forth. Plus watching can give you hours of entertainment. Keep everyone happy! Can’t say enough about the virtues of baby gates. These portable gates are handy for blocking off rooms that are not puppy-proof, like the one with the oriental rug while you are house training. Provide your kitten or cat with scratching posts—better for their instinctive scratching activity than the arm of a chair or sofa. To quote Nobel Prize winner, Anatole France, “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.” For many of us, a home without a furry friend is simply not complete. Enjoy your new family member.
Bringing a new pet - whether adopted or fostered - into your home is more than just fun and games. Of course there will be plenty of time for that later, but first things first, you’ll need to prepare your home to ensure the safety and comfort of your new cat or dog. Pet proofing your home for a new pet, regardless of their age, is similar to baby proofing your household. Pets are inquisitive by nature and will be inclined to explore every corner of your house upon their arrival. It will be up to you as a responsible pet parent to ensure that every room in your house is a safe environment. Prior to welcoming your new pet, go through all the rooms in the house to get rid of potential hazards and danger zones. You may have to rearrange your home for a while, but this is temporary until your pet gets more acclimated to the new environment. Here are a few tips for pet proofing your entire house.
Living Room
Garage
One last thing, when you're bringing a new pet home, especially a younger dog or cat, know that they will inevitably make mistakes or have accidents. Please be patient -- your new pet needs time to learn the ropes. To avoid unfortunate incidents, make sure they have a safe, secure and comfortable space to call their own - like a play pen or a crate - where you can be certain that they are out of harm's way and unable to cause mischief around the house whenever you're not around to keep an eye on them. Once you’ve inspected your whole house and eliminated all potential threats, you can now relax and focus your time and energy on making your new pet feel right at home. And, yes, you can certainly bring out all the pet-safe toys and treats! |
WelcomeHello! Welcome to our blog, pet lovers! We hope to share some helpful information regarding pet care, health and wellness here. Stay tuned for updates! Archives
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