Koolkats and Hotdogs Inc

07/12/2019

Please take a look

(WHDH) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has released a list of pet food brands that they say could cause congestive heart failure in...

22/07/2019

The U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) is expanding its investigation into an outbreak of Salmonella in 27 states due to contaminated pig ear dog treats.

26/03/2019

Hello everybody in doggy and kitty and animal land. Please take note and read this...

19/02/2019

Reports keep coming in about dogs dying due to toxic levels of vitamin D in dog food.

In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alerted pet owners about potentially toxic levels of vitamin D in some dry pet foods on Dec. 3, 2018.

And the list of brands recalling their foods just keeps on growing.

So what’s the deal with vitamin D in dogs and why are pet foods facing a recall?

Vitamin D In Dogs
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for dogs.

Dogs need vitamin D to regulate calcium and phosphorus absorption. It’s also crucial for the health of your dog’s bones and heart.

However, too much of a good thing is really bad.

And that’s why these foods are all being taken from shelves.

The Recalls So Far
“Testing found that samples of the dog food contained excessive, potentially toxic amounts of vitamin D. Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for dogs, but very high amounts can cause serious health problems like kidney failure or death.”

-FDA Vitamin D Alert
There have been several updates to the list of brands. It currently includes:

Sunshine Mills, Inc. (Old Glory, Evolve, Sportsman’s Pride, Triumph)
Ahold Delhaize (Nature’s Promise, Nature’s Place)
Kroger (Abound)
King Soopers (Abound)
ELM Pet Foods, Inc., ANF, Inc., Lidl (Orlando)
Natural Life Pet Products and Nutrisca
*NOTE: We will continue to update this list as we hear of more recalls. 

These foods were available nationwide.

“After receiving complaints from pet owners about dogs with vitamin D toxicity, one of the firms reported to the FDA that it was recalling dry pet food due to potentially toxic levels of vitamin D. Many other brands with a common contract manufacturer have also been recalled. … FDA scientists have evaluated samples of some of these products, and state and private lab test results indicate that the food contained as much as approximately 70 times the intended amount of vitamin D.”

But It Gets Worse …
Sadly, that’s not the end of it.

More recently, Hill’s Pet Nutrition voluntarily recalled some canned dog food products because of potentially elevated levels of vitamin D. The recall includes several Prescription Diet and Science Diet canned dog foods distributed through retail pet stores and veterinary clinics nationwide.

Since the recall, countless grieving pet owners have taken to social media to say the recall is “too little, too late.”

vitamin d for dogs
As The Washington Post notes, “the Hill’s Pet Nutrition Facebook and Twitter pages last week were overwhelmed with replies from distressed pet owners, many of whom claimed their dogs had gotten extremely sick or died after consuming the food.”

vitamin d for dogsvitamin d for dogsvitamin d for dogs
And earlier this week, a Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. got hit with a lawsuit because of this exact issue.

According to PR Newswire, “Although Hill’s advertises that its dog food contains precisely balanced nutrition and is subject to stringent quality control standards, on January 31, 2019, the company recalled certain of its canned dog food, which contained excessive and dangerous amounts of Vitamin D.”

The FDA says pet owners should stop feeding the products to pets immediately. Take a photo of the label, including lot number information, contact the pet food company and if your dog is having any symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.

**The DNM team thought this was so important that they did a Facebook Live about it. Check it out:

According to the FDA, symptoms of vitamin D toxicity include:

vomiting
loss of appetite
increased thirst
increased urination
excessive drooling
weight loss
More severe symptoms include kidney failure and death.

Initial clinical signs of vitamin D poisoning can occur from 8 to 48 hours after ingestion. These first signs can include depression, weakness and appetite loss. After that, you might see vomiting, increased drinking and urination, constipation and dehydration. Dark, tar-like stools and breathing difficulty, which could mean bleeding in the gut and lungs, may appear in severe and advanced cases.

Other symptoms can include slow heart rate, abnormal heart rhythm and mineralization of the soft tissues around the body.

Keeping Your Dog Safe
The best way to protect your dog from the never-ending recalls and risks of commercial pet food is by taking control of what you feed. Here are some quick tips to get you going:

Stop feeding kibble and canned foods. Feed a natural, homemade, whole food diet instead. A raw food diet is ideal, but lightly cooking your dog’s food is still a huge improvement over dry food from a bag.
If you continue buying your pet’s food, look for smaller (not mass-produced) brands that sell raw food. Do your research on the brand and have a direct relationship with the owner of the brand. Ask as many questions as you can think of and make sure the owner is open to answering all of them.
Look for organic ingredients and grass-fed meats, no synthetics or chemicals and no antibiotics, hormones or pesticides/herbicides used in formulating the food.
Don’t let raw meat scare you. For humans, raw meat is a bad idea, but our pets’ bodies are different. Feeding dogs a properly-balanced raw diet often simply means giving them more of what they need.
As pet owners, we want to keep our pets safe. We can’t control what mass-produced brands and their suppliers are doing with the foods they sell. But we can control what we feed our pets. When we as humans eat local, organic and homemade, we are the healthier for it. The same goes for our pets.

Jessica Peralta
Jessica Peralta has been a journalist for over 15 years and an animal lover all her life. She has had dogs, cats, birds, turtles, fish, frogs, and rabbits. Her current children are a German shepherd named Guinness and a black domestic cat called Derby. It’s because of them that she decided to become a pet nutritionist and focus her journalistic career on the world of holistic animal care. She loves spending time with them and also learning about all the ways she can make them healthier, the natural way.

20/01/2019

Definitely going to try this on Miss Daisy

09/01/2019

There’s something very curious that I’ve noticed in my work as a vet over the last 23 years. I see it again and again. I have a dog come in for a consult, take the history, find out what’s going on and make a diagnosis. Then I ask the human in the room if they or anyone else in the family has a similar health issue.

More than half the time it turns out that someone in the family has the same sort of health problems as the dog (usually the person they’re most strongly bonded with). I find this deeply fascinating. And there are some very important implications of this to consider when it comes to getting your dog well, especially when treating chronic health problems.

There’s a very clear link between the health of the human and the health of the dog. The scientific orthodoxy can’t even see this, usually because it’s too far outside the box of their belief systems.

Why Does Your Health Impact Your Dog?

Before we dig into this, it’s important not to feel guilty or to blame yourself for your dog’s issues. It’s no-one’s fault. It’s a simple consequence of how you and your dog are connected and interact in relationship to each other on several levels. Your dog isn’t ‘taking on’ your stuff. You’re not causing your dog harm.

So how does this happen?

Our dogs are supremely empathic beings. I define empathy as the natural sensory phenomenon whereby one being experiences the feelings of another in their own sensory awareness. To simplify, a dog will feel in their body what the human is feeling.

If you have anxiety, your dog will feel your anxiety in their body, and over time this may push your dog into an anxious state of being.
Our dogs’ bodies are exquisitely sensitive antennae. (Humans can be too, though most have had the natural empathetic sensitivity shut down on a conscious level thanks to socialization.)

I know this happens, because I experience it when I’m treating dogs with the Whole Energy Body Balance method. I’ll connect hands-on with a dog, and suddenly I’ll feel a strong feeling of perhaps fear or sadness that I know isn’t mine.

For example, just the other day I was kneeling down beside my lovely Whippet, Pearl, when there was an unexpected (and very loud) crack of thunder. Pearl has a thunder phobia, and as the sound crashed into our awareness, I felt her sudden jolt of fear right through my body.

This connection of feeling, this empathetic bond between you and your dog, is profound and deep. If you have anxiety, your dog will feel your anxiety in their body, and over time this may push your dog into an anxious state of being.

[RELATED] If your dog gets anxious, there are a few ways to help, naturally. These will also help your own anxiety. Find them here.

Entrainment Is Another Important Key

I believe it goes even deeper than empathy, due to another well studied phenomenon: entrainment. This is when any two systems with patterns of vibration will tend to synchronize with each other.

The classic example of this is to place any number of mechanical pendulum clocks on the same table. They will all be ticking at different times at first. Within a short space of time, all of these clocks will all come into harmony, ticking in unison.

The healthier you become emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically, the healthier your dog will become too.
There is a wealth of evidence looking at something called Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Synchronization. This is where changes in heart rate can sync up. The effect is much stronger between people who are bonded more deeply (eg family members). The same thing happens with you and your dogs.

A key aspect of strong social bonding is shared biological states. I believe this is driven by a combination of empathetic connection and electromagnetic entrainment. The heart is the primary driver of our (and our dogs’) electromagnetic field. This energy field expands quite some distance beyond the physical body.

And we haven’t even touched on the research that shows that dogs somehow know when their humans decide that it’s time to head home. So your dog can sense or feel things without any physical connection that science can yet understand.

This reminds me of a story I read many years ago. An Australian soldier in the second world war was sent home for a short break. He told no one that he was coming home, but his dog met him at the train station, 5 miles from his home.

The take home message here is that physiological synchronization is an inevitable result of a close, loving, trusting relationship with another being.

What this means, to put it a bit more simply, is that there’s a spontaneous synchronization of a whole lot of body rhythms when you connect with your dog in a long-term, loving relationship. These can be healthy and unhealthy patterns.

I believe this is why and how our dogs and us often share common health issues – and of course also why having a relationship with our dogs has important health benefits as well.

To Heal Your Dog, Heal Yourself!
To heal your dog, you have to start by healing yourself. This is why I always encourage dog owners to work on their health and well-being. I believe that in many cases, the only way to truly heal a dog with chronic health issues is to support the human involved to connect with themselves and to heal.

This can be emotionally challenging, and you may need the support of a skilled therapist, a naturopath, energy healer and so on in addition to taking your dog to a holistic vet, feeding them well, etc. It’s often a long-term project, too, so be kind to yourself. The healthier you become emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically, the healthier your dog will become too.

You and your dog are so deeply connected. To be aware of this can open up new ways to support a healthy, happy, long life for all the family.

07/12/2018

CAUTION — ONGOING SITUATION
Last Updated December 7, 2018
December 7, 2018 — The FDA is alerting pet owners and veterinary professionals about recalls of several dry dog foods after receiving complaints that dogs eating the food experienced vitamin D toxicity.
Testing found that samples of the affected foods contained as much as 70 times the intended amount of vitamin D.
Very high levels of vitamin D can cause serious health problems in dogs, such as kidney failure or death.
Veterinarians should be aware that vitamin D toxicity may present as hypercalcemia, similar to dogs that have consumed a rodent killer.
At this time, the only pet products that are affected by this recall are foods made for dogs.
About Vitamin D Toxicity
Excess vitamin D in the diet can cause vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling and weight loss.
Vitamin D at toxic levels can cause kidney failure and death.
Pet owners whose dogs have been eating the recalled brands and are showing these symptoms should contact their veterinarians.
What Caused the Recalls?
The FDA has become aware of reports of vitamin D toxicity in dogs that ate dry dog food produced by the same manufacturer and marketed under several different brand names.
The FDA is working with the manufacturer to provide a comprehensive list of affected brands.
Important Warning
This is a developing situation. Additional recalls may be announced.
The Dog Food Advisor will update this page as the FDA makes further information available.
What Brands Are Recalled?
This is a developing situation and this list may not be complete.
The list of recalled dry dog food products provided to the FDA include:
Ahold Delhaize (company has not issued press release)
Ahold Delhaize (company has not issued recall bulletin)
Nature’s Promise Chicken & Brown Rice Dog Food
Size: 14-lb bag
UPC: 068826718472
All lot codes
Nature’s Promise Chicken & Brown Rice Dog Food
Size: 28-lb bag
UPC: 068826718471 – 28 lb. bag
All lot codes
Nature’s Promise Chicken & Brown Rice Dog Food
Size: 4-lb bag
UPC: 068826718473
All lot codes
Nature’s Place Real Country Chicken and Brown Rice Dog Food
Size: 5-lb bag
UPC: 72543998959
All lot codes
Nature’s Place Real Country Chicken and Brown Rice Dog Food
Size: 15-lb bag
UPC: 72543998960
All lot codes
Kroger (12/5/18)
Abound Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dog Food
Size: 4-lb bag
UPC: 11110-83556
All lot codes
King Soopers (12/5/18)
Abound Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dog Food
Size: 4-lb bag
UPC 11110-83556
All lot codes
Abound Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dog Food
Size: 14-lb bag
UPC 11110-83573
All lot codes
Abound Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dog Food
Size: 24-lb bag
UPC 11110-89076
All lot codes
ELM Pet Foods, Inc. (11/29/18)
ELM Chicken and Chickpea Recipe
Size: 3-lb bag
UPC 0-70155-22507-8
D2 26 FEB 2019
TE1 30 APR 2019
TD1 5 SEP 2019
TD2 5 SEP 2019
ELM Chicken and Chickpea Recipe
Size: 28-lb bag
UPC 0-70155-22513-9
TB3 6 APR 2019
TA1 2 JULY 2019
TI1 2 JULY 2019
ELM K9 Naturals Chicken Recipe
Size: 40-lb bag
UPC 0-70155-22522-9
TB3 14 Sep 2019
TA2 22 Sep 2019
TB2 11 Oct 2019
ANF, Inc. (11/28/18)
ANF Lamb and Rice Dry Dog Food
Size: 3-kg bag
UPC 9097231622
Best by Nov 23 2019
ANF Lamb and Rice Dry Dog Food
Size: 7.5 kg bag
UPC 9097203300 – 7.5 kg bag
Best by Nov 20 2019
Sunshine Mills, Inc. (11/27/18)
Evolve Chicken & Rice Puppy Dry Dog Food
Size: 14-lb bag
UPC 0-73657-00862-0
Evolve Chicken & Rice Puppy Dry Dog Food
Size: 28-lb bag
UPC 0-73657-00863-7
Sportsman’s Pride Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food
Size: 40-lb bag
UPC 0-70155-10566-0
Sportsman’s Pride Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food
Size: 40-lb bag
UPC 0-70155-10564-0
Triumph Chicken & Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
Size: 3.5 lb bag
UPC 0-73657-00873-6
Triumph Chicken & Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
Size: 16-lb bag
UPC 0-73657-00874-3
Triumph Chicken & Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
Size: 30-lb bag
UPC 0-73657-00875-0
Lidl (Orlando brand) (11/6/18)
Orlando Grain-Free Chicken & Chickpea Superfood Recipe Dog Food
Lidl product number 215662
TI1 3 Mar 2019
TB2 21 Mar 2019
TB3 21 Mar 2019
TA2 19 Apr 2019
TB1 15 May 2019
TB2 15 May 2019
Natural Life Pet Products (11/2/18 expanded 11/9/18)
Chicken & Potato Dry Dog Food
Size: 17.5-lb bag
UPC 0-12344-08175-1
Best by dates: December 4, 2019 thru August 10, 2020
Nutrisca (11/2/18)
Chicken and Chickpea Dry Dog Food
Size: 4-lb bag
UPC 8-84244-12495-7
Best by dates: February 25, 2020 thru September 13, 2020
Chicken and Chickpea Dry Dog Food
Size: 15-lb bag
UPC 8-84244-12795-8
Best by dates: February 25, 2020 thru September 13, 2020
Chicken and Chickpea Dry Dog Food
Size:
UPC 8-84244-12895-5 – 28 lb. bag
Best by dates: February 25, 2020 thru September 13, 2020
What to Do?
Pet owners should stop feeding the recalled products.
The FDA is asking veterinarians who suspect vitamin D toxicity in their patients to report them through the Safety Reporting Portal or by calling their local FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators.
Pet owners can also report suspected cases to the FDA.
U.S. citizens can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.
Or go to http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.
Canadians can report any health or safety incidents related to the use of this product by filling out the Consumer Product Incident Report Form.
Get Dog Food Recall Alerts by Email
Get free dog food recall alerts sent to you by email. Subscribe to The Dog Food Advisor’s emergency recall notification system.

You can report complaints about a pet food product electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal or you can call your state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators.

15/10/2018

15/10/2018

07/07/2018

13/05/2017

06/11/2016

https://www.facebook.com/debrah.bergman/posts/1327738790578069

What four-letter word is the foulest of all? Without a doubt: F-L-E-A.

25/11/2014

Natural Dog Care Monthly Newsletter
November, 2014

Dr. Tillman Shares...
35 Years of Pet Vaccine Experience

Vaccines have been an important part of the discussion with my patients' owners since I started practicing veterinary medicine 35 years ago. But as the years have progressed, I continue to get more and more concerned pet owners coming to me during their initial visit specifically inquiring about vaccines.

Here are a few of the most common questions...

1. What effect do vaccinations have on a dog's natural immune system? Do they help it or hurt it?

Vaccines cause an alteration in the natural immune system that leads to chronic illness in many dogs (and cats and humans), meaning they seem to be more susceptible to disease as a direct result of any vaccination.

Dr. Richard Pitcairn, a renowned veterinary homeopath, refers to Dr. J. Compton Burnett, M.D.'s book Vaccinosis and Its Cure by Thuja with Remarks on Homeoprophylaxis, written in 1884 on human illness: "it is here, that Dr Burnett, explains vaccination as it is first clearly described as a chronic disease. The effect of vaccination, besides the physical effects of stimulating an antibody response, is to establish a chronic disease - one that is long-lasting, indeed, in some cases a life-long, condition." This applies to both animal and human.

In his book, Dr. Burnett refers to the chronic disease that results from vaccination by the name 'Vaccinosis'.

Dr. Burnett's definition of Vaccinosis is as follows: "the disturbance of the Vital Force (or the immune system), by vaccination that results in mental, emotional, and physical changes that can, in some cases, be a permanent condition."

For some interesting reading, and my source for the above, review this article by Dr Richard Pitcairn: A New Look at the Vaccine Question (click the link to view paper)

2. Are all dogs created equal when it comes to vaccinations? Should certain dogs be excluded from vaccinations? (Small vs. Big, Young vs. Old, Healthy and Strong vs. Weak)

No, all dogs (or cats or humans) are NOT created equal when it comes to vaccinations. Each individual has their own constitutional 'make-up', or susceptibility to disease. In holistic medicine, this is called the Vital Force of the patient (called the immune system in conventional medicine).

Some have a weaker vital force, meaning they are more susceptible than others. This is determined by genetics/heredity, environment, and diet. For example, a puppy may have a very weak vital force compared to an older dog with a fully developed immune system.

Therefore, one dog may receive a vaccination every year or every three years for 10 years without any problems, but another dog may only receive one vaccine and have an adverse reaction that is seen within 3 days. The more susceptible dog may also develop the above-mentioned 'vaccinosis' that becomes a chronic illness, such as irritable bowel disease, warts, otitis externa, cystitis, allergies, etc.

Regarding size of dog, in a study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (source), it was found that small breed dogs (spayed or neutered) had increased risk of a vaccine reaction, which especially increased as more vaccines were given at one time.

Dr. Ron Ford, in his 2013 Canine Vaccination Guidelines, specifically discusses the pros and cons of giving too many vaccinations at one time.

3. What are the most common long-term side effects of Vaccinations in animals?

In my opinion, any illness that an individual cannot clear up within 1 to 2 weeks or that continues to relapse and becomes chronic is a side effect of vaccination. For example, ear infections, allergies, cystitis, IBD (Irritable or Inflammatory Bowel disease), feline or canine asthma or warts. It will vary according to that individual's constitution.

4. But Aren't Standard Vaccination Schedules Evidence-Based?

Unfortunately, vaccines are NOT supported by unbiased evidence-based medicine.

For example, independent veterinary research (research NOT sponsored by pharmaceutical companies who profit from additional vaccines per animal) has found that the duration of immunity following a vaccination extends for several years and perhaps for the LIFE of the animal.

The justification behind more frequent vaccinations comes directly from how long vaccine companies keep animals in their labs, which is 3 years. As a result, vaccines all state that their impact only lasts 3 years even though vaccine companies do not keep the animals long enough to test actual duration.

Research by Dr. Ron Schultz and Dr. Jean Dodds has shown that duration of immunity to almost ALL vaccines lasts much longer. In fact, they are currently working on a 7 year and a 10 year Rabies vaccine! The Amercian Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) vaccination protocols state that vaccines do not have to be repeated more often than every 3 years.

Be very careful in putting all your belief in conventional medicine, supposedly 'evidence-based'. Make sure the source is from an independent researcher and not a pharmaceutical/vaccine company with an inherent conflict of interest.

23/11/2014

10/08/2014

well its been a while since i have been on here... still have been grooming... here are some pix

11/03/2014

HAPPY EASTER …. LOL

11/03/2014

Easter is coming!!

31/12/2013

Now this dog… Miss Laudi Da will have a banging New Years Eve in florida! great grooming miss nancy

30/12/2013

As we get ready to ring in the new year,

keep in mind that many people insist on celebrating with random, skyward gunfire. Not only is this illegal practice horribly unsafe, it's also extremely unsettling to dogs who are noise-sensitive.

To help your pet stay safe throughout the Jan. 1 celebration, consider the following tips:

If you don't know how your dog will react to the sound of gunfire, it's recommended that you take extra precaution to keep him safe. Dogs with phobic reactions to certain sounds can easily panic and injure themselves in the process. Many panicked dogs find ways to escape from their yards or homes - including crashing through plate-glass windows - and can be further injured or killed while running loose. Be sure your dog is wearing a properly fitting collar with current contact information.

If your dog will be home alone and has been confinement-trained keep him confined in an escape-proof area like a crate or baby-gated in a laundry room or other small, dog-proofed area. Use the area where you think he'll be most comfortable, based on where he chooses to spend time under normal circumstances. Keep windows closed and turn up the radio or television to help insulate your home from exterior sounds. Leave him with something wonderful to do -- like extract his entire dinner from a stuffed KONG or similar food-delivery device.

If your dog will be celebrating with you, consider withholding some or all of his dinner to keep him hungry as the clock approaches midnight. Arm yourself with wonderful treats (cooked meat, cheese, etc.) and let him begin to gobble up treats (you can hand-feed or toss individually on the floor) starting several seconds before the clock strikes twelve and for however long the law-breaking community members continue the gunfire. Don't spend too much time coddling him if he seems worried. Calm petting and reassurance is fine, but if he'll eat a treat, it's better to spend your energy reinforcing his desire to eat rather than focusing on how pitiful he looks when worried.

For multiple dog families, if one dog already exhibits a fearful of phobic response to the sound of gunfire, be sure to separate the dogs so that the non-fearful dog doesn't "catch" the fear. In dogs, fear and aggression can be very contagious. This is especially important for young dogs who frequently look to older dogs in the household for information.

If you discover your dog does exhibit a fearful response to gunfire, he may also be equally fearful of fireworks and thunderstorms. Working with a qualified trainer can help. Systematic desensitization and counter-conditioning throughout the year can often improve a fearful dog's response to certain noises. If you already know your dog reacts fearfully to certain noises such as gunfire, over-the-counter calming remedies such as Rescue Remedy or melatonin can help, along with T-Touch massage or an anxiety wrap. In extreme cases, you may need to treat the phobia pharmaceutically with the help of a vet or veterinary behaviorist.

With a little pre-planning, you and your dog can enjoy ringing in the new year.

20/12/2013

Fa la la la la la….. Merry Christmas from our dog house to yours…. :)

12/12/2013

Koolkat and hotdogs christmas

12/12/2013

Here are some great winter tips for our furry friends….

TIP #1:

Keep all pets indoors. It may be hard to coax an animal that’s kept outdoors to come in so you can provide them with some sort of shelter from the elements and find a way to provide them with heat as well.

TIP #2:

Some animals, especially outdoor cats will climb under the hood of your car to find warmth after you get home. Make sure you bang the hood of your car before you start it to ensure that you’ve scared any animals out so you don’t injure them.

TIP #3:

Dogs can easily loose scent in the snow so it’s a good idea to keep them on a leash when you’re outdoors so they don’t get lost or are unable to find their way back home.

TIP #4:

When your dog or cat comes in from the snow make sure to dry them off, especially the pads on their paws as these are prone to drying out and cracking which can cause a multitude of problems later on for your pet.

TIP #5:

Try to avoid any drastic haircuts for your pets during the winter months. The extra fur will help protect them from the cold. If you do have to have their fur cut, or even if you don’t cut their fur, put some clothes on them. Yes some might think it’s silly but if they’re going to be outside for longer than a few minutes you’ll need to make sure they have their winter gear on just as you would yourself.

TIP #6:

Don’t keep your animals in the car during the winter. If you shut the car off you’re shutting off the heat which then makes the car one giant refrigerator. If you leave the car running you risk getting locked out if your pet pushes the wrong button, jumping out the window if they push the wrong button again, or possibly knocking the car out of park.

TIP #7:

Did you get a new puppy for Christmas? It might be a good idea to paper train him during the winter. Puppies and older animals are more sensitive to the cold which could make potty training your puppy even harder.

TIP #8:

If you do send your animals outside for some play time remember to increase the amount of food and water they are allotted each day. They will need more protein since their bodies are working harder to stay warm outside and more water so they don’t dehydrate.

TIP #9:

Check for any spilled chemicals outside that animals might go to for a drink. Chemicals should be cleaned up and disposed of properly.

TIP #10:

Make sure your pets have somewhere warm to sleep even in your house. Keep them off the floor and away from any drafty places. Pet beds are perfect but not required.

02/12/2013

A bunch of furry friends at KOOLKATS AND HOTDOGS for the holidays :) pet sitting and grooming