Before You Buy or Adopt

There is no doubt that foals, puppies, kittens and other baby animals are adorable and tug at our heartstrings. But before jumping into the temptation, consider a few suggestions.

The price to buy or adopt an animal is only the beginning of a long term commitment. First, you need basic accessories. Like food, shelter, collars or halters etc. Those needs can turn into monthly expenses.

Then you have healthcare expenses. Veterinary bills will be on an annual, semi annual and emergency basis, such as vaccines, de-worming and blood tests etc. Other healthcare may include a chiropractor or other specialists like dermatologists or for eye issues.

Horses will have the need for a blacksmith or farrier every 4-6 weeks. With or without horseshoes.

Dogs, and sometimes cats, will need grooming every one to two months depending on the breed. Besides coat concerns, they will need their nails trimmed, ears cleaned and teeth brushed. Some things owners can do themselves with the right tools and supplies. Often you need a professional groomer.

Professional training may also be needed, and can be short or long term.

Insurance is another possibility as well as large purchases such as a truck and trailer to haul the horse to events. Then, add horse show fees, and special clothes and tack. Dog shows and events have their own expenses.

Don't give up on your dream to own an equine or pet. Just prepare in advance and plan how you will pay all its bills.

And adopt whenever possible rather than buying.

Shedding Info and Tips

     Some of my clients request that I shave down their Labs and other shedding dogs or cats. I give them a # 5F or 7F blade shave, and others I use a clip-on comb that leaves 3/8" to 5/8" of hair left on the dog or cat. It all depends on why they want them shaved and how long between grooms.

Some have their dogs shaved because the dog swims or gets dirty often, and short hair on a Lab or Retriever is easier to maintain and dry out.

Others, the dog's skin as allergy issues and shaving the hair is the best way to treat the hot spots.

I also suggest shaving the pet if there is a flea infestation.

And I shave cats to a Lion Cut to reduce matts and hair balls.

Usually, a bath every 6 weeks with specialty shampoo and conditioner for controlling undercoats is all that is needed to reduce the amount of hair floating around the house.

Here's a good article from Groomer to Groomer magazine on shedding.

https://www.groomertogroomer.com/its-hair-not-warfare-a-primer-on-shedding/

Care for Senior Dogs

I specialize in grooming older dogs and cats. I'm a mobile groomer in Tampa area. Mobile groomers go to your house, making it less stressful on the pet. I pull a trailer with a 6' tub and an extra large hydraulic lift table - perfect for big, old dogs! See my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Sharonsgrooming/

General Care for your Senior Dog

Shared with permission from https://pawfriction.com/

It is a fact of life, all of us are getting older and that includes our pets. We all want our four-legged family members to live long and health lives so this blog will discuss a few general things that you can do to help your dog be healthy and happy for as long as possible.

1. Diet: We have a lot of people ask us if you should switch to a senior diet. Senior pet foods typically have a bit more protein to keep muscle healthy and tend to have more fiber to keep your dog regular. Should you switch? Possibly, but the ultimate diet should be the one that keeps your dog happy and active.

2. Weight Management: This goes without saying but a thinner dog is a healthier dog. Keeping your dog in good weight is paramount for health and combating some of the common older dog issues like arthritis.

3. Mobility: Keep your dog mobile; even a little bit of exercise a day can help with weight management, emotional health, and keeping muscle mass intact.

4. Veterinary Visits: Just like us, as a dog ages, your veterinary visits should become a lot more frequent. We recommend at least twice a year visits and blood work at least one a year. As veterinarians, we are getting better at recognizing diseases and treating them but early detection is the key.

5. Vigilance: No one knows your dog better than you do. We can tell when our pets are a little off. Don’t ignore your intuition. If you think your senior dog is having an issue or a problem, I strongly encourage you to have your pet looked at by a professional veterinarian.

6. Support: With aging comes a myriad of normal problems: mobility issues, vision issues, hearing issues, cognitive issues, etc. Many of these conditions can be helped with simple, over-the counter products and supplements including PawFriction. I recommend that you speak with your vet if you have any of these issues and they can point you in the direction with products that should be able to help.

So, that is a brief overview of things that you can do to help you senior pet live a better life. Unfortunately, one thing none of us can change is genetics, and that plays a big role in the health of our senior pets. Fortunately, medicine and diets are improving all the time and we hope that the years ahead will create many new therapies that improve our ability to fight the problems of aging.  

Keeping Pets out of Your Garden!

At our RV Park, like many others, we have several feral cats. I'm an animal lover but HATE that they use the sand under my RV as their personal litter box!

So I researched ideas!

From https://www.gardenguides.com/112108-home-remedies-keeping-pets-out-gardens.html

Home Remedies for Keeping Pets Out of Gardens

By Cindy Hill; Updated September 21, 2017 

People love their pets, but our furry friends can be devastating to a vegetable or flower garden. Dogs love to dig and barrel through garden plots, oblivious to the plants they are bowling over. Cats like to use the nice light fluffy soil of a freshly dug garden as a litter box. Commercial animal repellents may be harmful to pets' health, so use safe homemade remedies to keep pets out of your garden.

Cayenne Mix and Tea

The North Dakota State University Extension Service advises that a mixture of two parts cayenne pepper, three parts powdered mustard and five parts flour, sprinkled copiously around garden areas, will keep away nearly every four-footed creature. Store the mixture in a large jug with a lid. Use gloves when applying it, and avoid applying it on a windy day so as not to inhale the mixture or get it on your skin. The North Dakota Extension also suggests that keeping your used tea bags, then tearing them open and sprinkling the tea leaves around your garden plants, will deter cats from using the area as a little box because they do not like the scent of tea.

Rocks and Diversions

One way to discourage cats from inhabiting your garden beds is to plant them a bed of their own. The North Dakota Extension suggests planting an area of catnip to divert cats away from your garden. Wheatgrass is also attractive to cats and will distract them from your flowers and vegetables. Laying large, flat river stones between vegetable garden rows or around your perennials can also deter cats, since they are seeking out a large area of soft accessible dirt for a litter box. Strong scented culinary herbs like lavender and rue may also deter cats from your garden beds.

Fencing and Wire

The University of Vermont Extension advises that fencing is nearly the only sure way to prevent dogs from running through your gardens. They suggest trying invisible fencing for your own dogs and having a serious talk with neighbors if unleashed pets from other households are damaging your gardens. Chicken wire laid flat on the ground and staked down over new plantings will prevent dogs from digging in them. The North Dakota Extension suggests laying concrete reinforcing wire down flat around your garden area because cats don't like stepping through the wires. Spraying the wire with eucalyptus oil acts as an added deterrent.




Here's an article with great ideas from HGTV. I'll keep you posted on what worked for me :)

How to Pet-Proof Your Garden

Learn how to keep the peace between your garden and pets with these 9 simple tips.

Master gardener Marianne Binetti shares ideas for keeping your pets from becoming pests in the garden.

• To keep dogs from lying down in flower beds, simply drive some short stakes into the ground throughout the bed.
• Keep pets out of freshly mulched or seeded beds, or soft soil, by setting some thorny branches in the ground at regular intervals.
• Make a chicken-wire fence to protect entire beds. To keep it from being an eyesore, drive several tall stakes in the ground around the bed's perimeter. Slip a roll of chicken wire over an end stake. Unroll the wire and prop it up against the rest of the stakes when in use, and roll it up to when you don't want it visible.
• Plant pungent herbs such as rosemary and sage to keep cats out of a garden bed.
• An annual plant named Coleus canina was developed with a very pungent smell that drives away cats. Plant it under birdfeeders or wherever you want to discourage your cat from going.
• Spread a layer of coffee grounds in beds to keep out the cats.
• To keep cats from digging in bare soil spots (edges to narrow to plant seeds, for example) plant a brick in the soil. When they run into it, they will look for a different place to dig.
• To keep dogs from digging in the garden, create their own play area in a bare spot of soil. Dig a large shallow hole and fill it with sand. Add some toys and your dog has his own sandbox.
• And here's a gardening tip to help your pets: use cedar chips for pathways and in beds to help protect your pets from fleas.

Thanksgiving and Pets

Summer Health Care Tips

The heat of the summer months can bring extra concerns to dog, cat and horse owners. Mainly, keep the furry friends hydrated with always available fresh, clean water and provide shelter from the hot sun. For horses, fly repellent in the form of a spray or apparel is a must.

Bugs are also a problem for dogs and cats, especially fleas and ticks. There are new types of monthly treatments including a new flea collar that works for several months. See your vet for what will work best for your pet in your state.

Allergies here in Florida cause multiple problems especially to dogs. You may find scabs on their skin or see them licking paws and scratching more than usual. Here are a few tips to help relieve the itching:

• Bathe your dog with Oatmeal shampoo every 2-4 weeks, either by a groomer or do it yourself at home. Use an aloe conditioner after shampoo to help soothe the skin.
• Keep your dog's hair short; depending on the breed, have a groomer shave the coat or keep it at 3/8 to 1/2 inch so you can see the condition of the skin.
• Brushing the coat will help, but make sure you reach the scalp. Use a plastic men's comb for small breeds with hair that grows, and a rubber curry for short haired dogs. For long-haired large dogs, a rubber curry followed by a furminator comb or rake type comb will also remove the shedding hair.
• After walking outside to take care of business, wipe your dog's paws with washcloth or wet wipes to prevent invisible allergens from spreading to belly and the rest of the body. When they lick and scratch, they will spread allergens possibly causing crusty flakes or scabs. This usually occurs when dogs reach age 9 or so and their immune system is not as strong.
• Treat the scabby areas by removing hair (shave the area) and applying petroleum jelly or natural ointment (see The HealingCompanyStore,com - tell them Groomer Sharon sent you!). Don't use antibiotic ointment like Neosporin as the dog will get sick when he licks the area.
• Ask your vet for an anti-itch spray.

Emergency Care for Your Pet

Credit: http://www.tampabayvets.net/news/emergency-care-tips-pet-owners/

13 animal emergencies that should receive immediate veterinary consultation and/or care

1. Severe bleeding or bleeding that doesn’t stop within 5 minutes
2. Choking, difficulty breathing or nonstop coughing and gagging
3. Bleeding from nose, mouth, rectum, coughing up blood, or blood in urine
4. Inability to urinate or pass feces (stool), or obvious pain associated with urinating or passing stool
5. Injuries to your pet’s eye(s)
6. You suspect or know your pet has eaten something poisonous (such as antifreeze, xylitol, chocolate, rodent poison, etc.)
7. Seizures and/or staggering
8. Fractured bones, severe lameness or inability to move leg(s)
9. Obvious signs of pain or extreme anxiety
10. Heat stress or heatstroke
11. Severe vomiting or diarrhea – more than 2 episodes in a 24-hour period, or either of these combined with obvious illness or any of the other problems listed here
12. Refusal to drink for 24 hours or more
13. Unconsciousness

The bottom line is that ANY concern about your pet’s health warrants, at minimum, a call to your veterinarian.

7 things you should know in case of an emergency with your pet

If you have an animal emergency, contact your vet immediately.
If you suspect or know that your pet has eaten or been exposed to a toxic substance or product, contact your veterinarian, emergency veterinary clinic, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center [888-426-4435*] immediately.

* a fee may apply

1. Your vet’s emergency phone number;
2. The local emergency clinic number;
3. How to get to the emergency clinic;
4. Poison Control number (888-426-4435)
5. How to perform basic CPR on your pet;
6. How to stop bleeding/apply a basic pressure wrap;
7. How to muzzle your pet (to keep an injured pet from biting you)

​In addition to these seven things, you should also be prepared with methods of payment for your pet’s emergency care. Emergency care is often more expensive than routine care due to the intensity of diagnostics, monitoring and treatment required, and it is your responsibility as a pet owner to pay for that care. Many clinics are unable to bill you for the services, or may require a deposit or payment in full at the time of service. Delaying emergency care to avoid emergency fees could put your pet’s life at risk. Planning ahead for financial coverage of emergencies – perhaps by having a separate account or credit card for emergency use only, or pet insurance – can save you a lot of stress when they do happen.

First Aid Tips for Pet Owners

Always remember that any first aid administered to your pet should be followed by immediate veterinary care. First aid care is not a substitute for veterinary care, but it may save your pet's life until it receives veterinary treatment.

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First aid supplies
Our handy checklist tells you all the supplies you should have on hand for pet first aid. Print out a copy to use for shopping, and keep a copy on your refrigerator or next to the first aid kit for your family, for quick reference in emergencies.
How to handle an injured pet
Knowing how to comfort an injured pet can help minimize your pet's anxiety and also protect you and your family from injury.
Basic pet first aid procedures
Read our simple instructions for providing emergency first aid if your pet is suffering from poisoning, seizures, broken bones, bleeding, burns, shock, heatstroke, choking or other urgent medical problems. Print out a copy to keep with your pet emergency kit.
First aid when traveling with your pet
A few simple steps can better prepare you to help your pet in first aid situations while you are traveling. Remember: pet medical emergencies don't just happen at home.
Pets and disasters
Whether confronted by natural disasters such as hurricanes, or unexpected catastrophes such as a house fire, you need to be prepared to take care of your animals. A pre-determined disaster plan will help you remain calm and think clearly.

Additional pet first aid links

• American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)/Healthy Pet: Pet First Aid
• The University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine: Basic First Aid for Your Pet
• American Red Cross: First Aid for Pets
• VeterinaryPartner.com: First Aid and Emergency Care