A survivor!

Rattlesnake bite!  This happened to one of our patients just playing in the backyard.  If you have an active pet that likes to roam around and is very mischievous in its surroundings, you may want to consider the rattlesnake vaccine.  “Rayli” survived, but it was a painful healing process.

So, what's on your mind? Swimming or eating?

The Heat is On!

Here are some tips to keep your pet safe during these hot summer days

• Have plenty of fresh water available
• Make sure there is plenty of shade for your pet when outside
• Do not leave your pets in the car during a trip to the store – windows down or up – it still gets very hot in the car
• For dogs, do shorter walks midday and longer walks early mornings and late evenings (when it’s much cooler)
• Hot sidewalks/pavements can burn the pads on a dog’s paws, so walk on grass
• Have a small paddling pool for your pets to loll in after a long hot day
• Watch out for those BBQ parties – pets should avoid raisins, grapes, onions, and chocolate
• Not all dogs are good swimmers. Make sure they wear flotation devices when on boats
• Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively

Pretty..... but scary to pets!

Fireworks

We all love to bring in Independence Day with a bang!

Unfortunately, for some of our dog and cat friends fireworks are scary stuff. The easy way to help a skittish pet is to move them into the quietest room in the house before the fireworks start. Let them get comfortable, turn on some easy listening music at mid-level, then close the door for them to be alone.

If you have a couple of weeks before a celebration, there are new plug-in products to comfort and reassure dogs and cats. When you plug this product into the wall it releases an aroma that mimics a natural pheromone. Pheromones are an odorless chemical substance used by animals to communicate between their species. The mother releases this particular pheromone during her first 3-5 days of lactation. It gives the puppy or kitten a sense of well-being and reassurance. This same pheromone around adult pets has a calming effect on the majority of the animals that would normally be stressed by fireworks, thunder, changes in the house, boarding, or being separated from their owner.

The most distinguishing physical feature of the Irish Wolfhound is its great size. Built like a very muscular greyhound, the Irish wolfhound male can attain the stature of a small pony. Its large, long head tapers to a medium point and is held high.

Ears are small and stay close to the head except during moments of intensity. Strong shoulders, a muscular neck, a deep chest and a retracted abdomen give the dog its characteristic body shape. Paws are large and round. The tail is carried between the legs, curving slightly upward. The coat is rough, shaggy, wiry and especially bushy over the eyes and under the jaw. The Irish Wolfhound is graceful with an easy yet powerful gait. Historically these dogs had to not only possess speed but endurance, allowing them to follow their prey and hunt it down. They had to be hardy enough to withstand being injured whilst using their own brute force to bring the prey down.

The modern representation of the breed appears to be a dog capable of doing just that. Generally breeders aim for a height range of 34 to 38 inches at the withers in males,  30 to 35 inches for females. Generally acceptable weight 101–154lbs.

Read more at Wikipedia.com

Domesticated cats have been a part of our human culture for centuries. So I decided to make this song tell the story of cats as a part of the human experience, but with heavenly beginnings that will never end.

I pounced in the morning when the world was begun.
I pounced on the moon and the stars all for fun.
I leaped down from heaven, and I pounced on the earth.
When I pounced my first mouse, I had my birth.

Pounce, pounce, wherever you may be
I am lord of the pounce, said he.
I’ll run under feet, wherever you may be.
And I’ll leap on you in the pounce, said he.

I pounced on the papyrus of the Egyptians
They wouldn’t play so I stole their feather pens
I pounced on the fish caught by James and John
They fed me fish then the pounce went on.

I pounced on the Sabbath, rubbed my head against the lame.
Many people shook their head, said this feline was insane.
I may nap after pouncing, do not think I am gone.
For I just saw a rat, so the pounce goes on.

I and my lady meowed a song across the plain
The birds came down, and we pounced on each of them.
On the bedchamber floor, I laid my carrion.
Then I raced out the door and I pounced again.

I dog jumped down, so I leapt up high.
I have nine lives that will never, never die.
I’ll pounce on you though you bark at me
I am the Lord of the Pounce, said he.

Please visit Marc Gunn’s website to purchase his CD.