If your dog breaks his leg, get him to a vet right away. Obviously, he’s in a lot of pain and the leg has to be taken care of  in order for it to heal properly.  If treatment is delayed, an infection could develop. Make sure that you stabilize the leg before attempting to take your dog to the vet.  The easiest way to do this is to take a dish towel, pillow case an old sheet and wrap it around the limb. Tie it as you would a sling and keep it close to the body.Tie it around the hip area if it’s the back leg and around the neck or shoulder if it’s the front limb. Use the sling only if the dog’s leg is straight. Do not try to set the bone yourself. Try to keep your dog as calm as possible.  Sometimes a break just looks swollen other times the bone actually breaks through the skin.  You should try to make a simple splint if this is the case.  The best splint is something rigid but padded such as a board wrapped in a towel. Only do this if you are far from a vet and the bone is poking through the skin. Tape the splint above and below the break. Keep your dog on a flat surface while transporting him. Sometimes a board or ironing board can help. Once at the vet, the bone will be set properly and your vet will tell you how to proceed with treatment.

Remember your pets count!

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I must admit, my cats are spoiled and I should really abide by my own rules regarding giving them snacks. If you give them  too many treats, they can develop weight problems. Are cat treats good for your cat? Well as with anything we eat, moderation is key.  Cat treats should be a very small part of your cat’s diet. Many experts recommend cat treats make up no more than 10% of the total calories a cat eats. Most treats don’t add anything but calories to a cat’s diet.  The remaining 90% of your cat’s calories should come from a high-quality, nutritionally complete cat food.  You should also look at the labels and make sure that the treat is approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). This group sets pet food manufacturing standards . Now I have to abide by my own rules and cut down on the amount of treats that I feed my cats!

Remember, your pets count!

• If you’re thinking of moving to Shanghai and have two dogs, forget about it. They have  one dog pet household policy because they have a population of 20 million and limited living space.
• Puppies sleep 90 percent of the time their first few weeks of life.
• Dogs love to chew on bones. It strengthens and cleans their teeth however, never give your dog cooked bones.
• The average dog has 42 permanent teeth in it’s mouth.
• It’s a myth that dogs are color blind. Dogs can actually see in color but not as vividly as humans. It’s similar to our vision at dusk. The ydo have better low-light vision than humans because of a special light reflecting layer behind their retinas.

Remember your pets count!

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I’m spending two weeks at my mobile home in southern Delaware. I always take my cats down. Yesterday morning, my central air conditioning broke. The temperature inside my home slowly climbed to ninety degrees. I began to worry about my cats. Even though I have lots of fans, my cats are not used to the extreme heat.  They were sprawled across the living room floor trying to catch a breeze from anywhere. I became concerned. Cats can get heatstroke just as dogs can. Here’s what I did and you should do if you think that your cat may be overheated.

• keep plenty of water available and place some ice cubes in the water.
• wipe you cat down with a cool cloth. Cats only sweat through their paws so it’s a good idea to wipe the paws with a cool cloth.
• Use a bag of frozen peas and place it around a soft blanket or towel. Then put it in your cats bed.
• Repeat wiping her down and make sure that she is not panting or breathing very fast.

If there are any signs such as panting, bright red tongue, vomiting, diarrhea or bleeding from the nose, get your cat to a vet right away, she is probably suffering from heat stroke.

My air conditioning froze and will be repaired tomorrow but I did get it to work. I have the temperature set to 79 degrees to prevent it from freezing until the repair service checks it out. The cats are fine but this situation is something that you should be aware of because air conditioning units are strained in this extreme heat.

Remember, your pets count!

When you visit an animal shelter, you could tell by the little eyes peering our of a cage that the animals are sad and would love to be adopted. That’s why I have a very difficult time visiting them. This scenario is replayed millions  of times each year . Pets that are either lost or dropped off by owners who no longer want them  are housed and cared for at least temporarily. Sadly shelters are the last stop for more that half the pets that end up there. All of the pets are on death row unless they get adopted.  That is why it’s important to visit an animal shelter when adopting a pet. This is much better than buying a pet from the pet store at the mall. I know that all of those dogs and cats look so cute when your at the mall, but think of the millions that are in shelters in need of adoption and awaiting their fate. Make the right choice!

Remember, your pets count!

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One of the most frustrating jobs a cat owner faces is trying to get your cat to lie still while you trim it’s claws.  Get your cat used to you touching his paws before you attempt to trim them. Stroke them often.  Your cat should be resting comfortably on your lap, floor or table.  Hold the paw in your hand and press the paw pad gently to extend the claw. You’ll notice the pink tissue inside the claw. It’s called the quick. You’ll want to avoid cutting that so be careful!  Cutting into it will cause pain and bleeding.  Cut only the sharp tip away from the quick.  You’ll clip about halfway between the tip and the claw and the beginning of the “quick.”  If your cat becomes impatient and take a break. This process make take a few days, trimming a few claws at a time. After each trimming, offer your cat a special treat, one that he only gets after is claws get trimmed.

Remember, your pets count!