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Name: DogWatch of North Alabama
Address: Huntsville, Alabama
Telephone: 256-880-1888

November 14, 2019

Thanksgiving: What You Need to Know About How It Relates to Your Pet

Thanksgiving is just two weeks away. Can you believe we are so close to the end of 2019? Where did this year go? As we are entering possibly the busiest season for most people, I want to leave you with a few reminders to make sure you keep your pets safe this Thanksgiving.

Picture this: you’re gathered around the table with all of your favorite family members—and maybe some you could have stood to go another year without seeing—whatever your situation may be, and your sweet fur baby sticks his or her head on the table and shamelessly stares at the turkey, dressing, sweet potato casserole – the list goes on and on. What can he or she safely eat and what do you need to make sure is out of reach?

What are the no-nos of thanksgiving foods for my pet?

You need to avoid bread dough or dessert mixes, especially if they contain raw eggs due to the risk of salmonella. It’s best to avoid dessert altogether since many desserts contain things that are poisonous to pets, such as grapes, raisins, and chocolate. Also, artificial sweeteners such as xylitol can be toxic to pets. For the full list of foods to avoid for your pets, click here.

What’s Safe?

There’s no need for your pet to miss out on the feast you get to enjoy. You just want to make sure you’re giving them food that’s prepared for their system to be able to handle. Turkey is probably the safest bet BUT only in small amounts. You also want to make sure the pieces you’re giving your pet are free of bones and skin. The skin on turkey is very fattening and can cause pancreatitis in pets, and bones present a choking risk. Consider pulling some plain sweet potatoes out before making your famous sweet potato casserole or plain mashed potatoes before adding butter, milk, and whatever else you add to make them the way you like them.

Other Concerns

There are other concerns for any pet surrounding the holidays. Some decorations and plants can be toxic to both cats and dogs. The ASPCA offers lists of plants that are toxic to both dogs and cats, but the safest route is simply to keep your pets away from all plants and table decorations.

Remember to keep a close eye on your pets while guests are at your home. Many pets can easily slip out of an opened door unnoticed. – And while we are on that, make sure your pets have identification tags or they’re microchipped. And make sure your yard is properly secured, ideally, with a DogWatch Hidden Fence. —You also want to make sure your guests understand not to feed your animals table scraps. Don’t allow anyone other than yourself to give them what you choose and deem is appropriate for their system.

If you do find yourself in an emergency this thanksgiving (or anytime for that matter), you can call the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline at 888-426-4435. There are also multiple pet emergency facilities for days just like this. You can find the one closest to you by searching online for “24/7 pet emergency”.

Remember, your pets can enjoy the holidays just as you can. By following a few simple steps and taking the time to prepare yourself and your home for the festivities, you can ensure that you and your furbaby are able to enjoy the day with everyone else.

Sources:

https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/thanksgiving-pet-safety.aspx

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/thanksgiving-safety-tips

August 22, 2019

August is National Immunization Month

Hello August! Some of our favorite things begin in August, things such as football and cooler weather. August is also National Immunization Month. There’s a lot of hype surrounding immunizations in our children. Although we aren’t going to weigh in on that topic, immunizations in pets are important and should be taken seriously. Immunizations help prevent diseases that in the long run can cost you a lot of money and your pet his or her life or quality of life.

What immunizations does my pet need?

According to the American Association of Feline Practitioners, cats should be given immunizations, every three years, for core diseases such as:
• Rhinotracheitis
• Calivirus
• Rabies
• distemper

Dogs should be given immunizations for core diseases every one to three years:
• distemper
• rabies
• adenovirus
• Bordetella (parvovirus)

There are other vaccines that can be given and recommended depending on the pet.

Why does my pet need these immunizations?

Of course, the biggest concern that prompts one to give immunizations is to keep your pet (and your family) healthy, but there are other reasons to take into consideration.

One reason it’s important to keep immunizations up to date is boarding. Most, if not all, boarders are going to require you to provide proof of immunizations. They want to know that the pets they are keeping aren’t going to get each other sick.

Another reason is if for any reason you come in contact with animal control, you want those vaccinations up to date. No one ever thinks their pet will be one that animal control is called on. But it happens. For example, if someone’s dog bites someone else and animal control is contacted, the dog is typically put into quarantine for a number of days. The owner must show proof that the dog is up to date on their rabies shot. If not, the owner of the dog can be cited. If so and the dog checks out ok during quarantine, typically you’re able to go back to your everyday life.

Immunizations in pets can keep them healthy and keep your family healthy. They can also help the owner avoid high vet bills for preventable diseases. They can help avoid not being able to board his or her dog and help avoid costly fines if his or her dog encounters animal control for any reason. Take note and remember that vaccines are a lot less costly than the ramifications that can come from not having your pet vaccinated.

July 22, 2019

BarkCollar: Is This Barking Normal or Can I Do Something About It?

Any dog owner knows that barking is inevitable. Some dogs bark at strangers. Others bark at squirrels or other wildlife they see while walking or gazing outside. I’m convinced my dog barked when a blade of grass blew in the wind. Or a speck of dust landed on a leaf. When she would bark, my other dog would bark. Try taking a phone call with two barking dogs. So I gave the BarkCollar a try on her and boy did it work.

Just to give you a bit of a background on her – Darby is a twenty-pound Cavachon. She typically has long hair unless we keep it cut short. She stands as tall as a dachshund. After about 2 days on the collar, she finally got the hang of it. One thing that got her going was the cows in our backyard. Now, she just stares at them if she even notices them.

Once Darby was trained, I gave it a go on our outdoor black lab, Tucker. With both dogs being nuisance barkers, we had to do something. We had the same experience with him. The barking stopped, aside from the occasional barking that dogs just do. We were happier. I’m sure our neighbors were as well.

Tell me about this BarkCollar

I’m glad you asked. DogWatch’s BarkCollar is revolutionary. It’s able to distinguish the difference between normal barking and excessive barking. When excessive barking is the issue, the BarkCollar delivers a vibration or correction to distract the dog from barking. With 7 adjustable settings, the BarkCollar can be suitable for any dog. As you can see in our situation, it worked perfectly on two different types, sizes, and hair lengths. As your dog continues to bark, the correct level increases until the dog ceases. Once the dog stops, the collar resets.

How can I get my hands on the BarkCollar?

The DogWatch BarkCollar can be purchased directly from us. You can contact our office at 256-880-1888 or contact us through our website here. You can also read more about the BarkCollar on our website. We would love to answer any questions you have.

June 3, 2019

June Is National Microchipping Month

For any pet owner, the fear of losing your pet is a real fear. But thankfully, there is technology that can help ease that fear: microchipping. June is National Microchipping Month. Studies have shown that there are more lost pets during the month of June. My guess is that this would be because we are spending more time outdoors so our pets are too. Of course, your DogWatch fence keeps your pets contained when you’re home, and we have several training products, like the SideWalker, that can aid in keeping your pet from wandering away. But what if it does happen? Is your pet prepared?

What is Microchipping?

Microchipping can be a huge help if your pet does get lost. The chip is about the size of a grain of rice and contains contact information (which you will need to keep updated in case your contact information changes). Once a lost pet has been taken to a vet office or animal shelter, they are scanned for a chip. If a chip is found, the owner is contacted per the contact information on the chip. This can help ensure a safe return to the pets’ owner.

How is a Microchip Inserted?

The microchip is inserted under the skin with a needle and is usually placed between the shoulder blades.

What Information is available through the microchip?

The microchip only contains identification numbers. The only thing the information will be used for is to track you down in the event that your pet is found.

You can check with your vet on pricing, but microchipping is usually pretty inexpensive and some offices may offer specials throughout the year.