Miller Animal Hospital

11/06/2024

Welcoming Home Your Rescue Pet: Using the 3-3-3 Rule.
3 Days: The first days of adjustment-
In the first three days, your new rescue pet may feel overwhelmed and stressed. It's in a new environment, new faces, and new routines. During this time, keep things calm and let your pet explore at their own pace. Establish a quiet, comfortable space where they can retreat when needed. A quiet room or an open kennel is recommended. Some pets need a safe space that is reliable.
3 Weeks: Building Trust-
As your pet begins to settle, the next three weeks are crucial for building trust. Establish routines, create a consistent feeding schedule, and gradually introduce new experiences. Spend quality time bonding through gentle play & positive interactions. Patience is key for your new family member as they learn to trust you and their new surroundings.
3 Months: Unveiling the True Personality-
It takes around 3 months for your rescue pet to fully adjust and reveal their true personality. During this period, you'll witness increased comfort, improved confidence, and a deeper bond. Continue reinforcing positive behaviors, offer training, and celebrate small victories.
Remember the 3-3-3 Rule isn't a strict timeline; It needs to be a flexible guideline. Every pet is different, and some may need more or less time to adjust. If your new pet is a k-9 enroll in a local obedience class. Spending time with your new pet and brushing up on obedience skills is always helpful.

11/04/2024

National Senior Pet Month is a meaningful time to reflect on the love and companionship that older pets bring into our lives.
As we celebrate and care for our senior animals, we also raise awareness about the importance of adopting and nurturing senior pets in our communities.
Whether you’re spending extra time with your senior pet, adopting a new older animal, or simply learning more about their unique needs, National Senior Pet Month is a reminder that age only deepens the bond we share with our furry friends.
https://outofthepits.org/
https://mohawkhumane.org/
https://www.orangestreetcats.org/
http://www.homewardbounddogrescue.com/
https://petshelters.org/shelter/orange_street_cats_inc_albany_ny
peppertree.org/category/available-for-adoption

11/01/2024

FACT FRIDAY:
November is Senior Pet Health Month-
There are many good reasons to consider adopting a senior pet in November or any time of the year. First, most seniors are just as cute and cuddly as younger animals. They love to snuggle and are just as willing to bond. Here are other good reasons:
• Senior pets do not require constant supervision and don’t need as much training to learn how to get along in a household setting.
• Most senior pets are already housetrained, whether that means using the bathroom in a litter box or asking to go outdoors.
• Senior pets readily display their personalities and grooming requirements, and these will not change, unlike what can happen with younger animals.
• Most senior pets already know the basics of leash walking and living with other animals.
• Senior pets have a way of helping us slow down and enjoy the small things in life.
• Senior pets are less likely to be destructive inside the home, saving your furniture and personal belongings.
• Senior pets appreciate their new home more because they are out of the shelter

10/31/2024

10/30/2024

Halloween is just around the corner!
While it’s a fun and festive time for humans, it can be a bit scary for our furry friends. From toxic treats to costume mishaps, there are plenty of potential hazards for pets on Halloween.
Guide on creating a pet-safe Halloween!
- Protect pets from harmful treats like chocolate and xylitol
-Prevent accidental escapes
-Manage stress and anxiety
- Ensure pet costumes are safe
-Watch out for dangerous decorations

10/28/2024

How can we make Halloween safer for pets?
Costumes and masks, lights and decorations, and a constant parade of strangers coming to your door— Halloween can be a downright spooky experience for pets. You can protect your pets by taking these steps to reduce the risk of them being hurt, poisoned, or lost.
• Don't feed pets Halloween treats. Raisins can cause your pet’s kidneys to fail, and candy may contain substances toxic to pets, such as chocolate or xylitol (a common sugar substitute found in sugar-free candies and gum). Often, you won’t be able to tell what a treat or piece of candy contains just by looking at it.
• Make sure your pets have identification (microchip, collar, and ID tag) that will make it easy for someone to contact you and return them home in case they escape through an open door while you're distracted with trick-or-treaters.
• Keep lit candles, jack-o-lanterns, and other Halloween decorations out of reach of pets.
• Keep all human costume pieces away from pets, along with glow sticks, decorations, batteries, and other holiday items. When chewed, glow stick items can release liquid that tastes really bad and can make pets drool excessively or act strangely (though it isn’t likely to be harmful). Other costume parts and decorations might cause choking, internal injury, or illness.
• If you plan to put a costume on your pet, make sure it follows these guidelines:
• Fits properly and is comfortable
• Doesn't have any pieces that easily can be chewed off or cause choking
• Doesn't block your pet's sight, hearing, breathing, mouth, or movement
• Take time before Halloween to get your pet accustomed to the costume, and never leave a costumed pet unsupervised.
• If your pet is wary of strangers or has a tendency to bite, put them in a room away from the front door during trick-or-treating hours, or provide them with a safe hiding place.
• Keep your pet indoors.

10/25/2024

JUST FOR FUN TODAY.
Please help us by voting for your favorite Pumpkin this year. All creatively made by our staff. Please leave your vote in the comments below 1,2, or 3. 🎃

10/23/2024

Microchipped Pets are THREE TIMES More Likely to Get Home

Will a microchip really make it more likely for me to get my pet back if it is lost?
A: Definitely! In fact, a study of more than 7,700 stray animals at animal shelters in 23 states showed that microchipped animals are far more likely to be returned to their owners. In that study, microchipped stray dogs were returned to their owners at more than double the overall rate for all stray dogs. For stray cats, the difference in return rates was even more dramatic.
For microchipped animals that weren't returned to their owners, the most common reason was an incorrect or disconnected owner telephone number in the microchip registry database. So don't forget to register your pet’s microchip and keep your contact information up to date.
Does a microchip replace identification tags and rabies tags?
A: Absolutely not. Microchips are great for permanent identification that is tamper-proof, but nothing replaces a collar with up-to-date identification tags. If a pet is wearing a collar with tags when it's lost, it's often a very quick process to read the tag and contact the owner—if the information on the tag is accurate. But if a pet is not wearing a collar and tags, or if the collar is lost or removed, then the presence of a microchip might be the only way the pet's owner can be found.
Your pet's rabies tag should always be on its collar, so people can quickly see that your pet has been vaccinated for this deadly disease. Rabies tag numbers also allow tracing of animals and identification of a lost animal's owner, but it can be hard to have a rabies number traced after veterinary clinics or county offices are closed for the day. The microchip databases are online or accessed by telephone, and are available 24/7/365.
Q: I just adopted a pet from the animal shelter. Is it microchipped? How can I find out?
A: If the shelter scanned the animal, they should be able to tell you if it is microchipped. Some shelters implant microchips into every animal they adopt out, so check with the shelter and find out your new pet's microchip number so you can get it registered in your name.

10/21/2024

Fall Toxins Poisonous to Dogs & Cats
The start of fall brings new seasonal household items that pose a threat to the safety of our pets. These common household items can cause serious problems if ingested by animals. https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com

10/15/2024

Celebrating Veterinary Technician Week: Honoring the Heroes Behind Pet Care:
Veterinary technicians play a crucial role in the veterinary healthcare team, constantly working on the front lines. These professionals provide dedicated care to animals and offer compassionate support to clients. They use their broad professional and personal skills, as well as their technical and scientific knowledge to work in exam rooms, laboratories, and operating rooms. Celebrate with us. 🐶🐹

10/11/2024

Fun Fact Friday 🐾
Let Them Scratch
Cats love to scratch! It’s important to provide them with a scratching post or other type of scratching object to help satisfy this natural behavior. Not only will it save your furniture from being ruined, but it will also provide mental stimulation for your cat. Scratching is a great way for cats to stretch their muscles and relieve stress.

10/08/2024

Ways to Provide Mental Stimulation for Cats:

Give Them a View-
Indoor cats love to watch the world outside and providing a window perch will allow your cat to watch birds, squirrels, and other wildlife in the safety of the home. Window perches also help relieve stress and anxiety for cats, providing a safe and secure place to hang out. After watching all the action, your cat can take a snooze.
Window perches are an excellent way to provide your cat with mental and physical stimulation while you’re away at work; however, for your cat’s safety, ensure blind cords are out of reach from your cat to avoid possible injury. Also, please ensure the window isn’t directly in strong sunlight, as cats can get sunburned. Exposure to high amounts of sunlight can also be a risk factor for some cancers in cats. Cats with sparse or no hair, such as the Sphynx, can easily burn in the sun.