Take Me Home: How to Prepare to Adopt a Puppy

Few things can generate excitement like the idea of adopting a new puppy into your home and welcomed into your family. However, that excitement should come with a good amount of preparation. Keeping a new puppy safe, healthy and happy can be a challenge. By following these tips, you should be well on your way to making sure that everything is ready to go for the big day and after.

Financially

The first thing to consider with a new puppy is cost. This can be a little tough to pin down as costs can have a wide variance across the board. A designer puppy from an established breeder will be far more expensive than a shelter pet adoption for instance. Beware of “too good to be true” breeder pricing, however – that may be the telltale sign of a puppy mill. Beyond the dog itself, you will need to account for your initial vet visit – including vaccines, supplies, food, a crate or dog carrier, a spay or neuter, and all the other ongoing costs. A dog is a big commitment, and you should be ready financially, both immediately and down the road, before you make a commitment.

Choosing a Vet

It is generally a good idea to choose a vet and have a trip scheduled for shortly after puppy arrival before you even bring home the puppy. Puppies can catch diseases such as parvo or distemper very easily, which can be rapidly fatal. Getting a vet check and vaccination quickly is vital. There are many considerations to mull over in regard to the care of your new puppy. For instance, you may want a vet that also has boarding facilities, a full-time hospital, addresses breed-specific concerns or that operates between certain hours you will have available.

Preparation

Before adopting a furry friend, it’s important to prepare your home for a new puppy in order to make an easier transition. Making sure you have the right supplies and toys is important, as well as ensuring your home is ready for a puppy that may chew, scratch, pee and poop in the wrong spot until they are trained. However, it is also worth considering making sure your own family is ready for the new addition, especially children. Go over ground rules with them about how to care for and handle the puppy, and ensure they are not overactive during the transition period, which may cause the puppy stress and anxiety. A calm and happy interaction will promote a bond between the dog and children that can last a lifetime.

The Right Toys

Having the right toys is also a great way to ease the transition. Puppies are bundles of energy and put to the wrong use this can be destructive. Having toys available encourages them to use their energy properly, gives them stimulation and can alleviate boredom during times when people are not home or during crate training. It also gives children a safer way to interact with the puppy. Solid KONG or Nylabone style chew toys give jaws a workout, while flappy or flossy toys generate interest and allow tugging and interaction. Just be wary of promoting tug instincts in larger breeds.

The Right Supplies

A new puppy means stocking up on essential supplies. The more you can obtain beforehand, the less the likelihood of an inconvenient run to the pet store. A new puppy will need a collar of appropriate size and leash immediately to help safely get them home. A crate or baby gates to corral the puppy and assist with training is important, especially if you will need to leave them alone at any point. Food, bowls, treats and grooming products should also be on hand and ready.

Plan the Trip Home

This can, of course, vary between situations. It’s not quite as difficult to plan a trip to the shelter just down the road than one across town, or even several hours away to visit a breeder. However, many of the same principles apply. Bringing kids can increase the difficulty, but as puppies start bonding immediately it can be worth the hassle. Collar and leash are important and bring pads or towels to keep under the puppy in case of accidents. A few treats and toys to help ease the transition and excitement is good, as is food and water for a longer trip. A final note, if your puppy has not received all vaccinations prior to pick up, avoid areas where dogs may have been such as pet stores or rest stops where canine diseases may proliferate.

Choose a Safe Spot

The changes to a puppy’s life during this period can be exhausting and overwhelming. They can feel both the joy of the new adventure and bonding with their new family while also being distressed about their removal from the familiar and their parents and siblings. To avoid this, give the puppy a safe space they can spend time in and unwind. As a den animal, many puppies enjoy crates or travel carriers, which can be especially useful for crate training later on. This lets them escape from the noise or hustle and bustle of the family when they feel overwhelmed and lets them calm down naturally. Ensure that your children know not to follow the puppy into their safe space.

Puppy Proof Your Home

As with children, puppies like to try and get into everything. This makes it important to puppy proof your home. With their advanced smell, dogs are attracted to things like the trash, so make sure your cans are inaccessible. As chewers, cords are a natural target for puppies and should be moved out of reach and away from their safe spot. Double-check that your houseplants are non-toxic and keep food or products that contain dog-specific toxins such as xylitol – an increasingly common human ingredient – secured away. Antifreeze and pest poisons are especially enticing and should be carefully stored. It is easy to overlook or forget important things during times of great excitement. However, this can have tragic consequences when dealing with living creatures such as a puppy. 

By planning ahead and taking the proper precautions, your new pup will be safe and happy as they adapt to their new life with your family. This in turn will bring years of joy and happiness as your new dog becomes a loyal companion and lovable staple of your family life.

Dogs need regular exercise. If you’re not prepared to provide daily walks with your pet yourself, it’s a good idea to hire someone else to do it so your pet doesn’t get bored and suffer. Learn more here!

Health Issues That Can Affect Both You and Your Dog

Nothing can compare to the love of a dog. Through thick and thin, your dog is there for you. You may even think of your dog as if he or she is your child. As such, keeping your beloved pet healthy matters most. But even when you feed your dog high-quality food and make sure he exercises regularly, illness can occur. In fact, there are several conditions that you can catch as well.

Worms

It’s not uncommon for puppies to have worms. In fact, they’re born with them, so it’s important to start deworming as soon as the vet gives the okay. However, if your dog does develop a parasite that leads to worms, you can catch it as well. According to Petful, roundworms are highly contagious and easily transmitted via dog excrement. Always make sure you clean up after your dog goes to the bathroom, and wash your hands thoroughly.

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease, or Borrelia burgdorferi, is transmitted by tick bites. Symptoms of Lyme disease can vary. It’s not always easy to diagnose the condition in dogs. In fact, it’s usually only diagnosed via blood tests after the pet exhibits lethargy, lack of appetite or has a history of tick removal. Humans infected with Lyme disease suffer from a variety of symptoms. According to Darras Law, aside from the well-known bulls-eye rash, symptoms include fever, head and body aches, fatigue, meningitis, migraines, muscle impairment, and joint pain.

Rabies

While not nearly as prevalent as before, rabies can still affect both you and your dog. Rabies is contracted when your dog is bitten by another animal carrying the disease. According to PetCareRX, dogs infected with rabies may exhibit a change in bark, seizures, lethargy, and drooling. In humans, the symptoms often include fever, drooling, confusion, headaches, and body aches. When it comes to treating rabies, it’s important to get your dog’s initial vaccination and then follow up with routine booster shots. In addition, even with inoculation, always inform the vet if you suspect your dog has been bitten by an infected animal. If you get bitten or scratched by an animal you think might be rabid, you should also make sure to visit your doctor to make sure you haven’t been infected as well.

Just like children, having a dog is an enormous responsibility. If you’ve been thinking of getting a dog, make sure you are prepared and able to give her the love, time and routine medical care she needs to thrive. Also, take time to educate yourself on the signs and symptoms of the aforementioned conditions and what to do if you suspect infection.

Here’s another article you might like: How to Cope with Unexpected Vet Bills

How to Keep Yourself and Others Safe Around Dogs

Dogs are usually friendly, but in some situations, they can feel threatened and attack as a result. Some dog owners have had originally calm dogs start to develop aggression. It’s important to learn about what causes dogs to feel threatened in order to prevent those situations from happening and to handle them correctly when they do. Three other keys to ways to keep yourself and others safe around dogs are training them, vaccinating them and leashing them outside.

Train Your Dogs

The most important thing you can do to keep yourself and others safe is training your dogs. Simple commands like stay, sit and lie down make a huge difference in keeping your dog under control. You may need the help of a dog trainer to do this correctly. If a dog doesn’t consistently obey the command, then it isn’t trained.

Vaccinate Them

According to the Atlanta Humane Society, vaccinating your dogs is important not only for your safety and others’ safety but for the dogs too. Puppies are prone to illnesses like parvo that can kill them if they aren’t vaccinated when they should be. Untreated parvo, a highly contagious illness among dogs, has a mortality rate of 91 percent.

Be Especially Careful Around Children

According to Boohoff Law, many of the worst pet-related injuries involve small children that don’t understand how to avoid dogs displaying potentially dangerous behavior. You need to keep a close eye on children when they are around dogs, even your own dogs. Your dog doesn’t intend to hurt your child, but accidents happen. The reverse is also true. Young children sometimes accidentally hurt the dog because they still don’t understand the correct way of handling them. You’ll keep both your children and your dog safe by supervising their interactions. Babies should never be left unattended around dogs either because dogs might not realize the difference in strength.

Leash Them Outside

Even the most well-behaved dog can get distracted by another dog or chase after a squirrel if you take them outside off of a leash. They may jump on other people or become aggressive toward others who don’t understand dog psychology. Dogs also don’t know to watch for traffic, so they could be hit by a car when you don’t have them on a leash. You will also decrease the chance your dog becomes exposed to life-threatening illnesses like parvo and distemper because you can prevent them from interfering with feces they find.

Dogs provide wonderful companionship when you know how to properly take care of them. Part of taking care of your dogs involves being aware of safety tips and understanding dog psychology. All dogs should be trained, monitored around small children and babies and leashed when outside.

Mouthing, Nipping, and Biting in Pet Dogs: What’s Normal & What’s Not

Anyone who’s ever welcomed a pet dog into the family—especially a puppy or a rescue—has likely had to deal with the issues of mouthing, nipping, and biting. Since puppies communicate with one another using their mouths, it stands to reason that they’d want to continue this behavior with their human “pack.” However, it’s nowhere near as much fun for humans and can easily escalate into a serious problem if it isn’t corrected early. Here’s how to tell whether your dog’s mouthing and biting are representative of normal development, or a deeper behavioral issue.

Mouthing

Dogs use their mouths to explore their surroundings, and certain breeds are programmed to use them for specific jobs—for example, a sheepdog will often guide her charges by gently tugging on their wool with her mouth. This exploratory gnawing behavior is called mouthing, and it’s an essential aspect of puppy development. However, you don’t want your dog practicing on your fingers, so be sure to provide lots of indestructible chew toys for her to bite instead.

Nipping

Nipping is different from mouthing in that it involves a small, sudden bite—not hard enough to break the skin, but enough to puncture your clothing. While it can be annoying and sometimes painful, nipping is not an aggressive behavior and can usually be corrected. If your dog nips, make a high-pitched yip or “ouch!” sound when he puts his teeth on you, then withdraw and ignore him for at least 15 seconds. This will teach him that he loses your attention when the teeth come out, and your attention is what he craves.

Biting

If your dog hasn’t learned to control her mouthing behavior by adulthood, the nipping could escalate into biting—hard, painful bites that draw blood. These types of injuries can require costly medical attention, surgery, pain medication, and cause scarring and disfigurement. Many states hold animal owners strictly liable if their pet attacks another person, unless the attack was provoked. Learn to read your dog’s body language. If she remains loose and relaxed while she’s attempting to nip you, she’s only playing. Conversely, if her body is stiff and her ears are drawn back, she’s warning you to stay away. Should your dog display this type of frightened or aggressive behavior, it’s best to enlist the aid of a trainer.

Mouthing, nipping, and biting are all common behaviors for dogs. Recognizing the difference between normal play and aggression is the key to raising a well-behaved, well-adjusted dog. If you begin bite inhibition at an early age, this goal will be achieved sooner rather than later. 

If you need a sitter for your dog, I’m your guy. I have lots of experience with lots of different kinds of dogs. Contact me today to set up an appointment!

3 Tips to Make Sure Your Dog Is Always Taken Care Of

Your dog is a member of your family, and it can’t take care of itself. Emergencies happen when we least expect it. Here are three tips to make sure that your dog will be taken care of if something were to happen to you. 

Keep Pet Information in Your Wallet

If you find yourself incapacitated, you may not be able to communicate that you have a dog at home. In the same way that you should keep emergency contact information in your wallet, you can also keep pet information in the same place. With this information, people will know to send a friend or family member to your house to take care of your furry companion. Include your dog’s name, if it’s friendly to other people, its size, and other essential information.

Set Up a Trust Fund

Pets can be expensive, and you can take steps to make sure that your dog is taken care of financially in case the worst happens. You can’t use life insurance directly for your pet, but there are a few ways you can still have it be paid out to them. Setting up a trust fund for your pet is like setting up any other trust. Through a pet trust fund, you can specify how you want your dog taken care of. This includes the level of care you expect for your pet, who the caregiver will be, and even the brand of food you want your pet to eat. 

Make sure you consider how much these things could cost for the rest of your dog’s life and invest the appropriate dollar amount in the trust. Then, you’ll never need to worry that your dog won’t be taken care of if you can’t take care of it yourself.

Give Instructions to a Trusted Friend

A pet trust is a great thing to have for when you are no longer around, but what if you’re out of commission for a period of time? Find a trusted friend who could take care of your dog for you temporarily. This person shouldn’t be someone who would also be taking care of you. Meet with your friend and discuss how to take care of your dog in case of an emergency. Create a pet care binder so all the necessary information will be written down and accessible.

The bottom line in making sure that your dog is taken care of is being proactive. If you wait until something bad happens, you might not get the chance to supply instructions. Start taking these steps now so that the people around you will know what your pet needs.

If you need a little extra help with your dog, check out our services! We offer dog walking, poop scooping, and pet sitting to help you out.

Are Paint Fumes Bad for Pets?

If you’re going to paint at home, it’s important to know how paint fumes can affect your pets. Even though dogs and cats may be able to move away from a smell they don’t like easily, other pets, such as ferrets and guinea pigs, are contained to where you leave them.

Paint Fumes Can Be Very Bad for Pets

Any kind of house paint can be dangerous for pets. You may open a gallon of paint inside of a room with the intention of going to get supplies. Animals are naturally curious, and that can get them into trouble, especially free-roaming pets like cats and dogs. These pets may sniff or even lick an open can of paint, which can make them very sick. Be sure that you keep pets out of the room when you’re painting, if at all possible. Otherwise, place the paint higher than they can reach.

Paint can be extremely toxic. How much is too much is dependent on the size and weight of the pet. This means that smaller animals, such as reptiles and hamsters, can be affected by even a tiny amount of paint.

As for paint fumes, these, too, can be toxic. Fumes are not only bad for dogs and cats, but they can be lethal for birds, hamsters and other small animals. Snakes and other reptiles only have one lung, making them considerably more vulnerable to fumes, too. Remember that just because you can’t smell the paint fumes any more doesn’t mean that your pet can’t still get sick from inhaling them.

What You Can Do

There are a lot of ways that you can protect your pets when you decide to take on a painting project in the house. The first thing to do is to use non-VOC paints. Low and zero VOC paints will promote a healthier indoor air quality when you’re painting. The fumes will be minimal.

It’s also important to offer a significant amount of ventilation. Open all of the windows in the area that you’re working in. Turn on fans so that the air continually circulates while you paint.

Curious free-roaming pets and smaller animals may need to be boarded as a precaution. Removing them from the house while you paint can make it easier for you to get the work done without wondering if your pets are staying safe.

You can be a good pet parent by knowing about the dangers of pet fumes. If you decide to paint while your pets are in the home, be sure that you take the necessary precautions. That way, you can make sure that they’re kept safe throughout your home renovation project.

Sometimes life gets busy, and it can be tough to keep up with the needs of your pets. That’s where Paternal Pet Care comes in! Get in contact with us, and see how we can help!

Read This Before You Sneak Your Pup That Snack!

It might seem harmless to share food with your pet, but feeding your pup even a small amount of treats from your dinner table is not the way to go. Sharing food will encourage begging behaviors, and possibly cause them to gain unhealthy weight. Table food is generally too fatty for your pets digestive system. Foods high in fat could lead to severe stomach upset and danger to your pet’s overall health. There are many human foods and ingredients like garlic, milk, and chocolate that are toxic and trigger severe reactions in your pet.  

Why Avoid Feeding Table Scraps

Oily and fatty foods that humans tend to consume frequently can cause diarrhea, pancreatitis, and vomiting in your dog. Pets who are fed table scraps tend to become dependent on them. Dogs that eat them will likely refuse their food. If you must include them in your family dinner time, remember these critical considerations. Never feed your dog junk food including pizza, candy, potato chips, and French fries. Only offer them healthier options like plain rice, small amounts of fully cooked chicken, baked potatoes, or finely chopped vegetables. Calories matter with dogs the same as with people. Moderation is essential, and if you’re feeding them table food, you’ll need to feed them less of their regular dog food. Avoid foods that are poisonous to animals including onions, raisins, cooked bones, grapes, walnuts, and fruit pits.

What Is Animal Biome?

Good and bad bacteria are within all of our bodies including our pets. The majority of the bacteria is harmless and even helpful. Scientists are discovering that bacteria play critical roles in many aspects of our health. All animals have a unique collection of microbes which are fungi, viruses, and bacteria in their digestive tracts. The microbiome inside your pet can get upset by the food they eat. Bacteria in the microbiome is crucial for your dog to obtain nutrients from the food they eat. When this bacteria becomes out of balance, your pet could experience inflammatory bowel disease. Unhealthy gut bacteria will have an impact on your dog’s allergies, depression, diabetes, and anxiety.

Digestion is a process that begins in the mouth and ends in the intestine. Bacteria found in the gut microbiome are in the large intestine to help your dog break down and digest food. This bacteria also produce vitamin B, K, and other vital nutrients. Your dog’s immune system is significant in preventing them from infection. Pets that are raised in sterile environments with an underactive immune system and no gut bacteria will have poorly developed organs vital to their immune system. They also have fewer white blood cells making them more susceptible to disease. However, when their immune system is over-reactive, it could trigger inflammation at inappropriate times. Same as humans, the long-term inflammation when left unchecked, will lead to chronic disorders including asthma, cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Gut bacteria can also affect your dog’s mental health. Microbiomes affect over half of the serotonin in animals bodies. The Lactobacillus rhamnosus bacteria found in yogurt has an anti-anxiety effect. Most bacteria found in your dog’s microbiome came from its mother after birth. Other bacteria came from other animals and environments they were exposed to as a puppy. Your dog’s different bacteria microbiome and how you take care of them will have a powerful impact on their overall health.

Surprising Foods That Are Dangerous to Your Pet

There is a long list of foods that could kill your pet. Some seem common sense while others may surprise you. The following are human foods that are not only horrible for your dog’s weight, but they’re downright dangerous such as:

Xylitol

Sweetened foods such as candy, baked goods, gum, and even toothpaste can cause your dog’s blood sugar to drop and liver failure. Early symptoms are lethargy, vomiting, and seizures.

Avocados

Avocados contain persin which in large amounts, can be fatal in dogs. Persin is found in the bark, seed, leaves, and the fruit. Also, the pit is small enough for bigger dogs to swallow it and choke accidentally. If you grow an avocado tree at home, keep an obstruction or fence around it to prevent your pet access to harmful avocados. Even consumption in small amounts will lead to excessive diarrhea and vomiting.

Onions And Garlic

Garlic and onions whether it be raw, cooked, powdered, or dehydrated, should always be kept away from your dog. They cause anemia by killing red blood cells. Eating large amounts in one dose could cause fatal poisoning. Vomiting, weakness, and respiratory problems are signs your pet may have had too much garlic or onions.

Grapes

According to veterinarians, grapes and raisins cause acute kidney failure with lack of urine production in dogs. Dogs of any breed, gender, or age can be affected. Grape and raisin poisoning will cause dogs to develop some of these symptoms such as dehydration, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, tremors, and oral ulcers. Even when ingested in small amounts, grapes or raisins are toxic due to the flesh of the fruit.

Milk

Stick to strictly cold water when it comes to giving your dog liquids. Milk and other dairy products cause many pets to have digestive problems and diarrhea. Some may only experience slight GI problems or gas. Milk can also trigger food allergies causing skin irritation and itching.

Chocolate

Chocolate isn’t much of a surprise as many pet owners know that chocolate is a forbidden dog food. Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and white chocolate contain theobromine that causes dogs to have heart problems, diarrhea, vomiting, seizures, and death.

Dog lovers consider their pet as a part of the family. It’s hard for most to leave them out during dinner time. There are ways to include your pet without compromising their health. Cooking homemade meals for them is an excellent way to incorporate healthy human foods into their diet. Certain table scraps that won’t cause them harm are cheese, peanut butter, chicken, rice, green beans, cooked eggs, carrots, bananas, and seedless watermelon. This list of foods is doubly important if you’re leaving your dog alone for any amount of time at home while these foods are presents. To prevent any accidental consumption of this food, be sure to either hire a knowledgeable pet sitter or store the food in areas where you dog absolutely cannot reach.

Fleas: What to Do, What Not to Do

Fleas are an annoying parasite that will bite both humans and their pets. They can be found in the grass and will jump onto cats or dogs while they’re spending time outdoors. Once your pet has fleas, it doesn’t take long for the problem to spread to other pets or even to areas of your home. Flea infestations can be very difficult to deal with. It’s important to take care of the flea problem early as this can make it much easier to control it before it gets out of hand. The following do’s and don’ts can help you take care of flea problems early and deal with infestations.

Do Protect Your Pets

Many vets recommended keeping your pets on flea prevention medication year-round, especially if you live in a mild climate. You should make sure that if you use pesticides in your yard or garden that they are pet safe. Some other flea preventative measures include: collars, topical skin treatments, and oral medications. You can find these treatments through your vet’s office, online, or in a pet supply store.

Don’t Wait

The time to take action is when you see that first flea. If your pets are bringing in fleas from your yard, you will need to get rid of the beginning of the problem. A useful tip for areas that commonly have flea issues is to flood the yard with water every so often. Flea experts explain, “this disrupts the fleas life cycle since larvae and eggs can’t survive it. Be sure to flood the whole area, especially around trees, fences, and garden furniture.” If that doesn’t help you may need to call a professional exterminator. They can find the areas where fleas live and breed to eradicate them quickly and efficiently.

Do Vacuum Frequently

When fleas start to infest your house, they will hide in carpets, cracks, furniture, and nearly any small space. According to pest control experts, “it is essential to have peace of mind in your home, and sharing your space with any type of pest, especially one that is actively harming your family members, doesn’t allow for that peace of mind. Even more so when that pest can go anywhere in your home like your bed, clothes, and closets.” Vacuuming daily will help remove the adult fleas from your floors and can also pick up the eggs, larvae, and pupae. Empty your vacuum after each use into a bag you can seal to prevent fleas from re-infesting your space.

Don’t Forget to Wash Bedding

Be sure to frequently wash your pet’s bedding during the flea removal process. Use hot water and dry on high heat. You may also need to clean your own bedding if your pets spend time on your bed.

When fleas infest your yard it can prove difficult to keep them off your pets. These parasites will get on any dog or cat while they spend time outdoors in your yard. It should be your first priority to help and protect your pet and home. You can do this by using preventative measures on your pets. Fleas can easily be spread from dog to dog. A cheap vinyl fence can easily be set up in a day and provides protection for your dog from strays.You can also call in a professional pest removal service to remove fleas from your yard or home. Taking care of the problem sooner, rather than later, will help your yard, pets, and house remain flea-free.

How to Cope with Unexpected Vet Bills

Many pet owners are keenly aware of the pain of having a sick or injured pet is in need of veterinary care. There is obviously the fear and worry for the well-being of a beloved family member, but there is also anxiety related to paying for unexpected (and often large) bills. Veterinary care for pets is not inexpensive. When these costs arrive unexpectedly, it can be disheartening. Pet owners faced with paying for unexpected bills for veterinary services can benefit from the following tips.

Sign Up for an Installment Plan

Many veterinarians are willing to establish payment plans for their patients and their owners. This will involve making regular payments for treatment rendered to the pet. It is important to note that there is no typical industry standard for these installment plans. Terms that are negotiated between customers and veterinarians are on a case-by-case basis, so these may vary widely.

Use a Credit Card

Many pet owners will finance the services of a veterinarian with credit cards like CareCredit. Pet owners should realize that this option does not have the fixed repayment terms that are present with installment plans. This means that credit card debt can be carried over a longer period of time and the resulting interest could cost the debt to become more expensive. Pet owners that use credit cards to pay for veterinarian services should impose payment deadlines for themselves to avoid excess interest.

Source: https://www.carecredit.com/vetmed

Take Out a Personal Loan

Personal loans can be another option to pay for pet care. Pet owners with good credit histories may be able to get better terms on a personal loan than they would repay if using credit cards. Pet owners that consider the use of personal loans to pay for veterinary services should pay close attention to fees that could raise the overall cost of the loan.

Source: https://www.powerfinancetexas.com/loans/short-term

Look For Help

Some animal shelters provide loans and grants to pay for veterinary services. Also, many schools for veterinarians provide low-cost care for animals. There are also clinics for pets in many areas that operate as nonprofits. These clinics offer low-cost treatment options. Pet owners should examine these options when faced with paying unexpected costs for veterinary services.

Don’t Panic

An injured or sick pet can be the source of much fear and anxiety in the minds of pet owners. These pets are a beloved part of many families that are emotionally invested in the well-being of the pet. The cost of suddenly paying veterinary bills for pets can become an additional cause of stress for the pet owner. The four tips above can make the cost of pet care more affordable for pet owners.

Paternal Pet Care wants the absolute best for your pets in terms of health and safety. Safety is always of the utmost importance. Michael always wants to bring the best to his clients and ensures that their pets are being taken care of by a professional, educated pet sitter!

The #1 Pest That Annoys Your Dog Most

Pests such as fleas, mosquitos, and ticks often bite dogs. This can lead to itching, scratching, infections and disease. Keeping dogs safe from these pests is an important aspect of owning a dog. Some of the best ways to accomplish this are described below.

Flea Treatments

Fleas are very small and will hide in the coats of dogs. There are several ways to get rid of these pests, with the most common being a flea and tick shampoo. This kills fleas on contact and stops the dog from scratching themselves. The shampoo must be lathered into the coat of the dog then rinsed well. Repeat treatments may be necessary.

A veterinarian can recommend a flea treatment for dogs to be used monthly. These products can be purchased from the vet, pet supply stores, online and retail locations. When the instructions are followed, any fleas on the dog will be killed. Using the treatment monthly helps ensure the fleas will not return.

A flea collar is a good way to help prevent fleas. It is important to get a recommendation from the vet because some collars have toxic and harmful ingredients and can disrupt the nervous system of the dog.

Natural oils are another way to protect a dog from fleas. The best sprays contain citronella, eucalyptus, lavender, lemongrass, or cedar. This will naturally repel the fleas and can be purchased at health or natural food stores.

Professional Pest Control

When pests invade the home, pest control can be an all-in-one solution. Exterminators rid the home of pests effectively and efficiently. The exterminator will explain how to prepare the home such as removing the contents from cupboards, pantries and under the sinks.

You need to keep your dog safe while the exterminator is working. The dog should be kept in a carrier, at a kennel, at the home of a friend or family member, or in a room in the home that can be closed off and is not scheduled for treatment. There may be special preparation necessary for the dog for a period of time after the treatment for safety.  

Caring for the Lawn

To help prevent outdoor pests, gardens should be well maintained, and the lawns should be cut short. This will help eliminate the breeding grounds for pests. Tall grass is often the home for fleas and ticks.

Most people with dogs consider them members of the family. By following the tips above, they can be kept safe, happy and pest free.

For more helpful dog tips, check out more articles from our blog.