July Edition 2012
New Clients
We wanted to take the time to welcome the following new patients to our practice:
Haole Wilson Chavo Parris Ranger & Wolfie Dahlman
Teddy Gosselin Muggle Michalczyk Juice Douglas
Buddy Dayton Tigger Rogers Silas & Collins Caddell
Aura Uzokwe Bailey Kee JD & Lucy Bates
Cocoa Lynch LuLu Gillis Justice Miller
Tess Chase Patton Harless Jake Steadman
Isabella Mercer Bebo White Mr. Moffett Joseph
Harley Phillips Rascal Baltzley Lola Barnes
Coal Charneco Oreo DeWitt Drake & Holly Carlile
Jessie Smart
Summer travel plans often include our furry family members. For some animals, travel can be lots of fun, but for many it can be a stressful event. Fortunately, there are ways to make the trip go smoother—for both people and pets.
Having a doggone good time
Before you head out on a road trip, or even a flight, it’s important to do a few basic things:
1.) Have a safe, well ventilated crate for your pet to stay in.
Even if you are traveling in the car, a crate is the most secure way to transport your pet. The crate should be large enough for your pet to sit, stand, and turn around in. Place the crate in a secure place within the vehicle so it doesn’t shift around too much during your trip.
2.) Practice makes perfect.
Get your pet used to travel by taking frequent, short trips prior to a long trip. The more your pet travels with you, the more comfortable he/she will be in the carrier and in the car.
3.) Identification.
Not only should your pet’s crate be properly marked and identified, but you should also be sure your pet has identification on him/her as well. The most surefire way to positively identify your pet is through a microchip. Make sure you have your microchip registered to your current address and cell phone number. Collars and tags are helpful as well. Remember that collars should be flat and secure so they don’t get caught on anything.
4.) Meals and treats.
A good idea for traveling is to offer your pet a small meal three to four hours prior to departure. A large meal or too much food during travel may make your pet nauseas.
5.) What else to pack.
Other important items to bring include; vaccination and health paperwork (including health certificates), food, bowls, leashes, a potty scoopers, plastic bags, absorbent towels or pads, grooming supplies, medication, and your pet’s favorite toys and bedding.
Kitties, carriers, and cars
Most cats dread the carrier, and seem to disappear as soon as you get it out. Trying to get your unwilling kitty into a carrier can be a frustrating and difficult process. However, with time and patience, you can teach your cat that the carrier is not always a bad place to be. Here are some tips on how to get your cat adjusted to being in his/her carrier.
· Rather than only taking the carrier out when you’re ready to go on a trip, leave the carrier out in the open for a few days where your cat can see it. Keep the door open, and periodically entice your cat in with food, treats, or toys. Don’t try to shut the door—instead, allow your cat to get used to going in and out at will.
· When your cat accepts the carrier being out and will enter for a treat or toy, try closing the door for short periods of time.
· As soon as your cat is used to being in the carrier with door closed, try picking up the carrier and walking with it. Slowly work up to bringing the carrier to the car, and finally to turning on the engine and driving. It may be a slow process, but the rewards of having a calmer kitty in the car are worth it.
Technology to the rescue!
There are numerous phone apps and websites that can help you plan your trip with your pet. Listed are a few examples of ones that we have found useful.
· The PawTrotter travel app is available for Apple iphone and ipad. This app lists pet-friendly locations and reviews. You can find dog parks, beaches, hotels, vets, boarding, and grooming facilities. The app allows you to search for places, but also has a GPS function that can find nearby places for you.
· Off Leash is an iphone app created by Eukanuba. It uses GPS support to find the five closest dog parks, and then gives you directions on how to get there.
· Pet Vet Records works on the iphone as well as Safari and Firefox browsers. It allows you to organize your pet’s medical records and transport them with you in a safe and convenient manner.
Leaving your pet at home? Try our boarding services!
Your feline friend can stay with us in a “Kitty condo” that offers a window view and a shelf to jump up on as well as a separate compartment for their litter box. They can also participate in Kitty Play Park for an additional fee. Play Park offers a cat tree, shelves to jump up on, scratching post, and toys. They go to Play Park by themselves or with family members for a few hours a day.
Your playful pup can stay with us also. They can stay and play. Play Park is offered for an additional fee and allows them to go outside and play with other dogs off leash for a couple of hours each day. We have pools, ramps, tunnels, sprinklers, and lots of room to run. Baths are optional (but strongly recommended after Play Park because playing can be messy).
We offer tours of our boarding areas any time during open hours. Feel free to contact us to get more information about any of our services.
For the month of August, receive $15 off “Senior Blood Work” Since a lot of problems cannot always be detected by a physical exam alone, we recommend monitoring blood work in older patients of all species. Senior blood work not only helps us find underlying disease, but also helps us obtain a baseline of what values are typical for your pet. This information is useful if your pet becomes sick later in life.
And, for the month of September, receive$20 off dentals.
More pets = more savings: $50 off two pets!
Please remember to give monthly
Heartworm prevention.
Plantation Animal Hospital
7165 Highway 17
Fleming Island, FL 32003
www.plantationanimalhospital.net
904-284-0087