If temperatures are dropping and snow is in the forecast,the ASPCA recommends the following tips to keep your animal companions safe and sound:

• Never let your dog off leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm. Canines may lose their scent in winter weather, and can easily become lost.
• Provide your companion animal with a warm place to sleep, far away from drafts and off the floor. Dog and cat beds with a warm blanket or pillow are especially cozy.
• Please keep cats inside! Felines who spend time outside can freeze, or become lost or injured. And some outdoor cats seek the warmth under the hoods of cars — so if there are any such kitties in your neighborhood, remember to bang loudly on the hood and wait a few seconds before starting your vehicle.
  
• Wipe off your dog’s legs and belly when she comes in out of the elements. This will remove any salt, antifreeze or other harmful chemicals that could hurt your dog should she ingest them when licking her paws.
• Puppies can’t handle the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be more difficult to housebreak during the winter.
• Electrically-heated pet beds are great, but only with human supervision. Animals will chew on cords, leading to electrocution and house fires.
• Remember exercise for your pets; it is too easy for everyone to stay inside, but they still need to walk and run.
• If your pet is outdoors, provide a warm place to shelter, and ensure unfrozen water to drink.

They creep, they jump — they’re even carried through the air. The enemy? Parasites. And they are a threat to your dog’s health. Parasites feed on “hosts,” such as wildlife, people, and pets. Even well-cared-for pets can contract parasites. Prevention is the best defense for your dog against potentially dangerous parasites.

Trifexis monthly chewable tablet that protects your dog from five dangerous parasites: fleas, heartworm and three kinds of intestinal parasites — roundworm, hookworm, and whipworm. Trifexis is beef-flavored, so you can offer it as a treat. And, because Trifexis is given orally, you don’t have to isolate your dog from other pets or children.

The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) recommends treating dogs year-round with a broad-spectrum parasite preventive.1 CAPC, an independent group of veterinarians established to create guidelines for the optimal control of parasites, says that year-round protection can help ensure both the health of your pet and the well-being of your family – some of the intestinal parasites this controls can make your family sick, and can cause permanent blindness in children.

How is Trifexis different?

Trifexis prevents heartworms and intestinal parasites in the same way as Sentinel, and similarly to Heartgard. The approach to fleas, however, is different. Topical products are poisons you are putting on your dog. Do you really want to pet your dog after application, then touch your face? Sentinel (and Program) sterilize the adult fleas, but leave them alive to make your pet itch. Trifexis kills the fleas. Faster and more completely than any other flea product we have seen.

How we can help
Your veterinarian is the best source of information regarding your pet’s health. When talking with one of the doctors about parasite protection, your visit might include:

·         A thorough examination of your pet to determine:

• the severity and possible sources of flea infestation and intestinal parasite infection
• diagnostics to ensure your dog is free from heartworm infection before starting on a heartworm preventive
• Fecal diagnostics (stool samples and tests)
• An assessment of your lifestyle and that of your pet’s to determine which parasites are of concern and which parasite protection products are best suited for your specific needs
• A review of flea control options, including immediate remedies as well as a long-term parasite protection program
• A discussion of the need for year-round parasite protection

Trifexis is a prescription medication, requiring a current examination by us, and may require a heartworm test to start if your dog is not already on monthly heartworm prevention.

Help your overweight feline maintain a healthy mind and body by encouraging him to play. Cat play with appropriate toys promotes exercise, hones natural skills, alleviates boredom and stress — and is just good fun for both you and your kitty. So when purchasing toys, think about those that promote independent play and animal-human relationship building.

Whether your pet is overweight or not, feline experts strongly recommend selecting toys that enhance your feline’s natural instincts to hide, run, chase, bat, scoop, pounce and jump — the same skills that make cats great hunters.

According to author and certified animal behavior consultant, Pamela Johnson-Bennett, “as predators, cats need to hunt. But, as an indoor cat matures, he can lose his desire to hunt because he can easily leave the couch and walk over to the food bowl.”

Furthermore, Johnson-Bennett notes that far too many times her clients tell her that their cats refuse to play with their basket full of toys. Johnson-Bennett advises owners to make their cats’ toys come alive by using foraging toys, such as the Funkitty toys from Premier. “Have your pet work for food by hiding foraging toys, around the house. Allow him to do the job he was born to do,” advises Bennett.

This Door Dangli, by Funkitty video shows a cat playing with the Door Dangli and how it keeps the cat entertained and somewhat active.

This Twist ‘n Treat Teaser is another great toy by Funkitty that keeps cats moving and will provide hours of activity for them as well as entertainment for you!

After “Tiger” McDowell was diagnosed as being extremely obese, his veterinarian prescribed a change of diet and more play. His owner, James McDowell, slowly increased their playtime to three or four times daily. James McDowell uses a laser toy to keep Tiger running around the house and catnip spray to freshen up fishing poles and other toys to make them more appealing.

“He lost a good amount of weight, is energetic and seems happier. Now, I am challenged coming up with activities that keep his interest,” says his owner. “I think I am going to introduce him to walking on a leash.”

Before buying any toy, also make sure that toy is age and activity appropriate. A soothing toy like a tunnel is a better choice for an older pet while an activity center is an ideal purchase for a younger cat.

Also, when considering cat toys, buy toys that are well made and safe. Make sure the toys have no easily breakable parts. Rotate them weekly to keep a cat’s interest. And last but certainly not least — always follow all directions, including those providing for supervision.

Planned feline play will contribute to your cat’s health and longevity as well as creating a stronger bond between you and your cat.

What toys do you use to keep your cat active? Tell us below!

Article By: Charlotte Reed

As kids head back to school, many pet parents may wonder if their four-legged family members could also benefit from mental stimulation.

Fortunately, many products now feature interactive elements, giving pets the chance to enhance their curiosity and imagination during playtime.<

Here are some of our favorites:

The Leo Dog Toy from Canine Genius sharpens your pooch’s problem-solving skills through its unique treat-release system. Shaped like a bowling pin and made of rubber, your dog will enjoy teasing out the treat locked inside. As a bonus, you can combine multiple Leo toys to create a maze of puzzles for your dog. The toy is also available in miniature versions for smaller breeds or younger dogs.

Indulge your cat’s mousing instinct without worrying about rodents in your home–courtesy of the Playables cat toy by Toy Shoppe. These catnip-scented toys mirror the look and feel of real mice, including a rattling sound to entice and satisfy cats even further. Cat owners will also appreciate the handy packs of multiples, ensuring that your felines won’t completely rid the house of these “mice.”

The Busy Buddy Bouncy Bone, by Premier, combines three elements that stimulate a dog’s natural hunting and retrieving instincts — a mobile ball, a bone shape, and a rawhide taste. As with similar interactive toys, the parts of the bone can be replaced, providing lasting entertainment for your pooch.

Felines show natural curiosity about almost anything — even an empty cardboard box! — but cat owners looking for more engaging toys should investigate the Turbo Track for cats. Like the Leo dog toy, the pieces of the Turbo Track can be combined into different shapes to give cats new racetrack variations on which to chase the toy’s ball. To excite your cats even further, try switching the ball with a catnip toy, guaranteeing that they will stay focused on the track longer.

By Zootoo Pet News Staff

In dogs and cats, chips are usually inserted below the skin at the back of the neck, between the shoulder blades on the dorsal midline. It is completely harmless and safe for the animal.

This implanted chip helps us return 10-12 of our patients/year back to their owners. Maybe more, that don’t have our involvement; if the client registers directly with the chip company, a shelter scanning for a chip never contacts us.

We are dedicated to the health and welfare of your pet and highly recommend Microchip ID for all the animals we see.

Skeptical? Read this article – Microchip Implant Brings Lost Kitten Home

For example, you want to teach your puppy to look at you when you say his name. When your puppy turns his head or eyes toward you, click the clicker, and immediately give a treat. The “click” of the clicker tells your dog “That’s what I want!” and “A reward is coming!” The pairing of looking at you with positive reinforcement makes that behavior occur more often. After your pup reliably glances at you in anticipation of a click, you can add the verbal cue of his name, and click and treat his looking at you. The name will become paired with the puppy’s behavior of looking at you. A click is much better than saying “good dog” because the click doesn’t carry emotion or vary as our voices can. The clicker is a precise way to communicate with your dog and will speed up learning

Punishment is not used in clicker training. Punishment may stop a behavior that is occurring, but does not help your dog to learn. Positive reinforcement delivered by you after the desired behavior is the most powerful tool in training. The reinforcement can be food, an opportunity to play, or access to other activities the dog enjoys.

The benefits of clicker training include fast and long-lasting learning and a strengthened relationship with your dogs. Training becomes a game that you and your dogs will love to play. You will have fun teaching your dog new tricks as well as useful life skills like staying still and calm for a vet exam or a nail trimming. And you don’t need to carry a clicker around with you all the time – it is for teaching new things and is not needed to maintain learned behaviors.

This is just a brief overview of clicker training. For more information, go to www.clickertraining.com.

© Dawn Gilkison

Positive Solutions Dog Training LLC www.trainpositivedog.com

Added bonus! Receive $10 off 12-tablets with mail-in-rebate.

One tablet. Total Protection. Against the most important parasites:

• Fleas
• Heartworms
• Roundworms
• Whipworms
• Hookworms

Prevent fleas without using pesticides

The BEST and SAFEST way to protect your family from fleas is through PREVENTION.  For dogs, we recommend Sentinel, a monthly tablet protecting against fleas, heartworm disease, hookworm, whipworm, and  roundworm. For cats, we recommend Program, an injections given twice yearly.

Does your pet have fleas?

If your pet has fleas, we recommend using Advantage or Frontline. Not crazy about the idea of pesticides? Although Advantage and Frontline are pesticides, they are the safest and most effective pesticide on the market.  AVOID grocery store flea topical products, powders, and shampoos. They often do not work and many contain toxic chemicals making your pet sick.

Troutdale Police Department, 141 SE Dora St , Troutdale, OR

Turn in your unused or expired pet and human medication for safe disposal this weekend at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Prescription Take Back Day. This is a free event.

Do you have unused pet medications and would like to help pets in need? At Dogwood, we support PAW Team through staff volunteerism and donation of drugs and supplies. Please help by bringing any unused pet medications and pet foods (open packages OK, but MUST be in original bags).