Taking the Stress Out of Vet Visits

Spring is here and for many pet parents that means taking their family cats and dogs for their annual veterinary check-up to ensure they are in good health and prepared for the upcoming flea and tick season. As most people with pets have experienced, leaving home and going to the veterinarian can be stressful for both pets and pet parents due to many new sights, smells, sounds and sensations. By preparing your pet for their annual visit in advance and keeping them calm during the process, the experience can be made less stressful for all.
“It is important to help your pet adjust to traveling and the new environment of a veterinary clinic,” says Debra Nickelson, D.V.M. at Central Life Sciences. “Using pheromone-based products such as Comfort Zone can be a tremendous aid in helping dogs and cats remain calm in stressful situations.”
To make the trip to the veterinarian as easy as a walk in the park, try these simple solutions:
Crate comfort: Many pets, especially cats, should be placed into a crate when traveling in the car. Pet parents can make the crated car ride to the veterinarian less stressful by allowing their pet to become familiar and comfortable around the crate a week prior to the scheduled vet visit. Keep the crate out for your pet to investigate or place him in the crate for short periods of time. This will condition them to feel more at ease and will reduce his reluctance to enter and exit it on their own. Pets that are apprehensive toward riding in cars will also benefit from taking a few short rides around the neighborhood prior to a vet visit.
Preparation for the car ride: Preparing in advance is the best way to ensure the ride to the veterinarian office goes smoothly. Pets may become carsick as a result of motion sickness or stress caused by being removed from their home environment. To decrease the likelihood of your pet becoming anxious or ill while traveling, pet parents should be sure their pet has recently gone to the bathroom before entering the car and has been fed at least five hours prior to the car ride. Dogs and cats should be restrained in either a travel crate or approved harness to keep pet and driver safe. Pheromone based products, such as Comfort Zone will help to calm and soothe pets having trouble coping with the stress of the car ride.
“Usually my dog is a nightmare when she goes for a car ride,” says Paul Peterson, pet parent to golden retriever Bella. “I used Comfort Zone with D.A.P. spray on her collar before we left for the vet and sprayed it in my car 30 minutes before we left and I found it helped reduce her stress significantly during the car ride.”
In the waiting room: Upon entering most veterinary offices, pet and pet parents must wait in an area filled with not only other pets, but a plethora of unfamiliar smells and noises. Some pets may find this situation stressful which is why it’s a good idea to keep them crated if that is how they traveled. Provide plenty of attention and praise to help them remain calm and distract them from their surroundings. To keep pets safe from other animals in the waiting room, pet parents should always make sure their dog is on a leash.
During the exam: Once in the exam room, pets will likely be placed on a table to be assessed by the veterinarian. The combination of being in a foreign environment, isolated up on a table and touched by an unknown person can cause extreme levels of stress in dogs and cats. It is important to comfort your pet with petting and verbal praise to help alleviate any stress. Having a few treats on hand will also help your pet remain calm and forget about his current surroundings.
Follow-up: Despite returning your pet to the comfort of their home and normal environment, many pets may continue to show signs of stress in the hours after a vet visit. If they seem anxious and whine excessively, be sure to act normal and do not to provide excessive attention as this will only reinforce their stress. If your pet is having a difficult time calming down several hours after the vet visit, provide them with plenty of exercise such as a trip to the dog park, their favorite special treat or a new fun toy. It is also important to stay home with your pet for several hours following a vet visit to help reassure him that life has returned to normal.

Dogs and Digging - What can you do?

Digging - Has your Backyard been excavated by your dog?
It's important to understand why dogs love to dig. Dogs dig for several reasons including to find or bury food, to make a cool spot to lie in, for enjoyment and in some cases when anxious.
Here's some tips on how you can stop your dog or puppy digging.
Freshly turned garden beds and new plants are often an attractive place for dogs to dig. Protect these areas with fencing or a barrier if possible.
Repellant sprays can be used to deter digging in certain spots.
Dogs often dig to make a cool spot to lie in, make sure your backyard provides a shady place at all times during the day. If they love playing in water, provide a splash pool which will keep him/her cool during the warmer months and occupied for hours.
If you catch them in the act, use a command such as "off" and praise them when they move away from the garden bed. Never punish him/her if you find a hole after it has been dug. They will not understand why you are punishing them.
If your dog is digging because he/she is bored, provide them with some alternatives such as toys. Implement a regular exercise program incorporating a walk at least once a day.
If all else fails, you can compromise. Incorporate a children's sandpit into your back yard. To encourage him/her to use this area try burying their favourite toy or treats in the pit. If you have limited space, you can purchase a plastic sandpit (usually shell shaped) from a toy or discount store. Additionally if there are sections of your garden which are prize winning, install permanent barriers to keep your dog out.

TAKING THE BITE OUT OF FLEAS AND TICKS
Taking the Bite out of Fleas and Ticksby Linda BrenFleas are truly devoted to their work. In one day, a single flea can bite your cat or dog more than 400 times. During that same day, the flea can consume more than its body weight of your pet's blood. And before it's through, a female flea can lay hundreds of eggs on your pet, ensuring that its work will be carried on by generations to come.Fleabites may be merely a nuisance to some pets, but to others, they can be dangerous. They can cause flea allergy dermatitis--an allergic reaction to proteins in flea saliva. A pet's constant scratching to rid itself of fleas can cause permanent hair loss and other skin problems. A pet can get a tapeworm if it eats a flea that has one. And flea feasts on your pet's blood can lead to anemia and, in rare cases, death.

READ ON...http://www.mypethaven.com/pet_articles_by_dawn.htm

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Commercial Pet Food Video

Although you may think all pet food manufacturers have your pet’s best interests in mind, this is not always the case. Current pet food regulations allow manufacturers to use ingredients that you would never knowingly give to your pet. In fact, you may be shocked to learn what some brands of pet food really contain. For example: the use of by-products (feet, bones and intestines, etc.), chemical preservatives (BHA and BHT) and grains that are often difficult to digest (corn, wheat, gluten and soy), which are often used as a protein source instead of meat.

View our educational video. You are going to learn a lot about commercial pet foods:

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PET FOOD - A DANGER?

If you continue to feed commercial pet food, death-by-disease is practically guaranteed! The major petfood companies fill their processed food with preservatives to increase it's shelf life and maximize their profits.

"They know these preservatives kill millions of pets every single year but without them, their profits would not be as large... and that is the bottom line..

It's scary. People don't know which pet foods are safe anymore. When it comes to commercial pet foods, there is NONE that are safe.

Sadly, it is not known how many dogs and cats have been sickened or died as a result of eating contaminated food, but it is estimated that thousands have now died as a result. And it isn't over. Not by a long shot.

This is a tragic event, and our hearts go out to the families who are dealing with the heartache of the situation.

We at My Pet Haven are here to help put your mind at ease. We have collected all of our All Natural, Safe Alternatives to one page and none of our products are affiliated with Menu Foods or the Recall. At My Pet Haven - Your Pets are Safe with us.

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