Month: April 2021

April is Pet Fitness Month so we’re sharing some helpful tips for keeping your pets in shape! Pet obesity is an increasingly common ailment amongst cats and dogs and the best remedy (along with a vet-approved weight loss diet) is exercise! While many of us love our chubby cats and dogs, obesity can cause pain, lack of mobility, and lethargy in pets. Overweight and obese pets are also more at risk to develop cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and osteoarthritis. With this in mind, here are our top tips for getting your pet moving this month and beyond!

Make It A Game!

While many dogs love to fetch for hours on end, others are a tougher sell. Toys and other rewards like treats can motivate pets to play and exercise. Try out different toys with your cat or dog to see what they like and match games to their interest. For instance, terriers may prefer tug of war while border collies or Australian shepherds may be inclined towards frisbee fetch. Cats can be even more variable in their interests, so rewarding play with a gentle massage or a treat can be a great motivator.

Explore the Outdoors

The spring and summer months are the perfect time to take your dog (or cat!) outdoors to explore. Try out any of the numerous hiking and walking trails around the Maryland capital region with your pet. Not only will it help them stay in shape, it offers an enriching experience for their mind. Pets who spend a lot of time indoors can become bored or anxious if not provided with enough stimulation. Hiking is a great way to eliminate boredom and encourage exercise, while creating a bonding experience between you and your pet.

Dog Daycare

Going back to work soon? Try sending your canine to doggy daycare. Not only will they make new friends and get all-day attention from loving caretakers, daycare is a great way to get your pup outside and running around all day. Give us a call at (301) PET – CARE to hear more about our pawsome daycare and dog taxi service. For the busy pet parent we also offer walk and in-home visits!

 

Over the last year, pet adoption rates have skyrocketed across Maryland, D.C., and the entire United States. Animal companionship has helped many of us get through the isolating lockdowns and quarantines brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the number of new puppy owners has also gone up significantly! Here are our best puppy care tips and words of advice.

Start Training Early On

Reward good behavior and discourage behavior that will become troublesome as your pup grows. Don’t wait for your puppy to misbehave before giving them attention. Jumping may be cute when they’re a small puppy, but as a fully-grown dog, it can become a difficult habit to break. Similarly, teaching good leash behavior early in your puppy’s life can save you from pulling and tugging later on.

Socialize, Socialize, Socialize!

Acquainting your puppy with different people and dogs can be a major boon to you and your pup. Visiting the dog park, meeting up with friends and their pets, or sending your puppy to daycare are all great options for socialization. Be sure to introduce new experiences slowly and don’t let your puppy get overwhelmed. High-stress situations can cause dogs to lash out or become traumatized, which can make future experiences difficult. Always be mindful of your dog’s body language.

Stick To A Routine

Pets love to have a daily routine. Routines allow your puppy to know what to expect throughout the day. This can encourage good behavior and facilitate housetraining while alleviating pet anxiety that can lead to destructive or harmful behaviors. Good things to include in your daily routine are regular feeding times, walks, and playtime.

Set Realistic Expectations

With all that being said, don’t expect too much from your puppy. Teaching the basics is more than enough to prevent bad habits. There will be plenty of time to teach your dog to sit, stay, high-five, and roll over as they get a bit older. Focus on socializing your puppy and having fun with them in a safe way. Lastly, make sure to take lots of pictures of your pooch. Puppyhood goes by so fast!

For puppy training, doggy daycare, pet sitting, and walks, we’ve got you covered! Our team of pet care experts is always available to make your life (and your dog’s) easier! Give us a call at (301) PET – CARE to learn more or visit us online petandhomecare.com

Along with the blooming flowers and gorgeous weather, springtime allergies have also been making a comeback recently. Did you know pets can experience seasonal allergies? Dogs and cats can have a variety of different symptoms that can cause pain and irritation during the warmer months. Read on to learn how to correctly identify and treat your pet’s allergies.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of seasonal allergies in dogs and cats is itchy skin. Your pet may be biting, scratching, or rubbing their skin which can cause painful lesions, scabbing, hot spots, and hair loss. Dogs may also be prone to recurring ear infections caused by seasonal allergies. Your dog may have an ear infection if they are shaking their head, rubbing their ears on the ground, or showing signs of pain. Dogs and cats may also experience symptoms like red, swollen eyes, a runny nose, and fits of sneezing. Take your pet to their veterinarian for a formal diagnosis.

Treating Allergies

Vets can prescribe supplements and medications to ease your pet’s worst allergy symptoms. Dogs with moderate to severe allergies may do best with allergen injections over a period of time. If your pet only experiences mild symptoms, they may be fine with over-the-counter antihistamines. Some pets can be prescribed food specially formulated for managing skin allergies. Always talk to your vet before starting your pet on a new medication.

Limiting Exposure to Allergens

Although medication can be a big relief to pets that are suffering from an allergic reaction, there are also ways to prevent or mitigate an allergic response in the first place. After coming inside from a walk or playtime, wipe your dog’s paws to remove allergens from the skin. Weekly baths in lukewarm water with an oatmeal shampoo can soothe your dog’s skin as well. Prescription lotions and sprays can also be helpful.

For more helpful tips on preventing springtime pet hazards, click HERE!

Give us a call at (301) PET – CARE to hear about our pet care services including walks, doggy daycare, and overnight boarding. In the springtime and beyond, we’ve got your back!

While the winter season and all of its weather-related hazards are finally behind us, springtime also brings with it a host of potential dangers for your pet. Keep an eye out for these springtime hazards to keep your pet safe and happy.

Insects

Bugs like bees and ticks start to become a concern again in the spring. If your dog is stung by a bee, scrape away the stinger rather than attempting to pinch it with fingers or tweezers. Use ice if the area swells. Applying a veterinary-approved flea and tick preventative is the best way to keep pests at bay.

Rising Temperatures

As the weather heats up in the coming weeks, be mindful of your pet’s hydration, and don’t leave them in the sun for too long. Dogs left outside should always have a shaded area. On particularly hot days, feel the pavement with your hand before taking your dog for a walk. If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for them. Never leave your dog in a car unattended unless the air conditioner has been left on. Temperatures can skyrocket in cars within just a few minutes.

Plants

There are many common plants and flowers that are poisonous to pets. Azaleas, daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, and lilies can potentially be life-threatening to your pet if ingested. Along with poisonous plants, weed killers and insecticides are extremely dangerous for pets. Keep all gardening and landscaping tools and chemicals out of reach of children and animals. Even if your pet does not consume them directly, pesticides and weed killers can be absorbed through paws or ingested while grooming. We recommend you use this pet and human-friendly weed-killer recipe by pet safety expert Denise Fleck:

After a harsh winter, it’s time to get your pets back outside! Don’t have time to take your pooch for a walk? Let us handle it! Our pet care professionals can help your pet get the extra love and exercise they need. Book care now at www.petandhomecare.com or give us a call at (301) PET – CARE.

Hemp Oil is a natural medication that is becoming increasingly popular amongst pet owners for its many health benefits. Derived from the leaves, and flowers of the hemp plant, hemp oil can remarkably improve chronic pain, anxiety, and other ailments in pets.

Administering Hemp Oil

Most hemp oils are mild in odor and flavor, making them an easy sell to dogs and their pickier feline counterparts. While it can be administered directly into your pet’s mouth, drizzling the oil over their food or on a treat is the easiest method for most pet owners. If your pet is still able to detect the oil, it can be mixed into peanut butter or pumpkin puree to more completely mask the flavor.

Storing and Shelf Life

It’s important to keep Hemp oil stored in a cool, dark place. Light and heat have been shown to degrade the quality of the oil and reduce its potency. Don’t refrigerate the oil, as it may coagulate. Properly stored oil can last between 1-2 years. You can tell if your oil has gone bad if it has a funky odor or rancid taste. High-quality oils with high-quality plants, ingredients, and growing process generally last much longer than low-quality products.

How to Choose A High-Quality Hemp Oil Brand

Make sure the hemp oil is:

• Free of pesticides
• Made in the USA or locally in your home state
• Organic
• Stored in a dark-colored, airtight glass container
• Not hemp seed oil
• Only a few ingredients

If you’re the parent to a fur baby, you know that your pets feel pain just like we do. Senior dogs, overweight dogs, and dogs with medical conditions are especially prone to chronic pain. Here are our best tips for identifying chronic pain and our #1 secret for managing it!

Signs Your Pet May Be in Pain

One of the signs your pet may be in pain is heavy breathing. While it’s normal for a dog to breath heavily after exerting themselves, respiratory distress should be monitored. Excessive grooming and sudden aggression can also be signs of stress or pain. Perhaps the most obvious of all, if your pet appears to be limping or has trouble getting around, they may be experiencing chronic pain.

Managing Pain With Hemp Oil

Our #1 secret for managing pet pain is with hemp oil supplementation. Hemp oil contains compounds known as cannabinoids, anti-inflammatory properties that ease pain in the body. Many pet owners have seen improvements in their dog or cat’s well-being with hemp oil supplementation. Hemp oil can also stimulate appetite, aid sleep, and ease anxiety and nausea.

Hemp For Dogs in Pain

One of the greatest benefits of hemp oil is its potential to minimize the need for pharmaceutical drugs. Veterinary pain relievers can damage a pets’ liver and kidneys, and cause issues with digestion and overall behavior. However, it’s important to consult your vet before forgoing traditional medications. Hemp oil can show great results in dogs of any age, but senior pets, in particular, may benefit greatly from it. Senior pets are more likely to suffer from ailments including arthritis, obesity, and cancer, and joint pain. Large breeds or overweight dogs are especially prone to developing joint pain. Hemp oil and its natural pain and anxiety-relieving properties may be a great choice for your pet! Obese dogs of any age can experience joint pain which should be relieved with weight loss. If you’re in the process of helping your dog lose weight, or they have started to develop joint pain, try hemp oil to put some spring back in their step. Studies have also shown that hemp oil supplementation can mitigate or even eliminate convulsions and seizures in pets.

For information on how you can choose the best hemp oil for your pet, click HERE!