Every time I have to take my cat to the vet, fear comes over me. I know that going to the vet can be a very stressful situation for a cat who is used to her own home and her own people.  Here are some tips to make the situation a little easier. It’s always better to start t when your cat is a kitten if possible.

1. Get your cat used to different people and environments early on.
2. Use a cat leash and harness when she first goes out, even if it’s only going to the vet. Offer her treats when she gets there. Make the experience as positive as possible for her.
3. Make sure that you get her used to her carrier ahead of time. Keep it open in the house and put a soft blanket inside for her to sleep on.
4. Make a few practice trips to the vet with your cat. She won’t be examined but offer her treats when she gets there anyway.
5. Get your cat used to being handled the way a vet may handle her. While you’re at home and for just a few seconds to start, get your cat used to being scruffed, having her hindquarters handled and lying on her back, so those won’t feel scary during a vet visit.

Despite all of these efforts, your cat may never get used to going to the vet. Even if the stress is reduced a little, is a big help. Most of all be patient with your cat.

Remember, pets are family!

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Our  cat Millie, is receiving an oral dose of high potency Omega three each morning and giving her this medication is not an easy task. She squirms, scratches and even yells.  VCA Animal Hospitals.com has outlined detailed instructions on how to get this difficult task done.

The easiest way to give your cat liquid medication is to mix it in with some canned food. To ensure that your cat swallows all of the medication, it is best to mix it into a small amount of canned food that you feed by hand, rather than mixing it into a full bowl of food that the cat may not completely eat.

Some cats may be unwilling to eat the food or may have dietary restrictions that prevent you from using this technique. If this is the case, you will need to administer the medication directly into the cat’s mouth.

Before you give the medication, make sure that you have carefully read the prescription label and understand the dosing instructions. Gently shake or mix the liquid medication prior to drawing it into the dosing syringe. If the medication was refrigerated, you may want to warm it up by holding the syringe tightly in your hand for a minute or two, or by placing it in a warm water bath. DO NOT MICROWAVE THE MEDICATION.

Prepare an area where you can safely handle your cat. Have the medication ready and in a place where it will be easily accessible. If you are administering the medication by yourself, you may find it easiest to place your cat in your lap. It may be advisable to restrain the cat by wrapping it in a blanket or towel with only its head exposed. The first few times, it may also be helpful to have someone else hold the wrapped cat while you administer the medication.

Hold the syringe or dropper containing the medication with your dominant hand. First, allow the cat to lick the medication from the tip of the syringe as you slowly depress the plunger (many cats accept medication more readily if it is warmed up as mentioned above).

If your cat is not interested in licking the liquid, gently take the cat by the scruff of the neck and gently pull the head back. The mouth will then open slightly.

Place the tip of the syringe in the mouth, just behind one of the canine teeth (“fangs”), and advance the tip so that it is in the slight gap between the canine tooth and the pre-molars behind the canine tooth. Be sure to angle the syringe slightly to the side so that the tip of the syringe deposits the medication onto the tongue.You do not want to forcefully inject the liquid straight into the back of the throat. This can increase the risk of the cat inhaling or aspirating the liquid into its lungs.

Slowly squeeze the syringe to dispense the liquid medication. Make sure to do this slowly so the cat has time to swallow the liquid and breathe.

Most cats will spit out some of the medication. DO NOT re-medicate unless you are certain that NONE of the medication was swallowed. Your veterinarian will have accounted for a small amount of loss when calculating the required dose of medication for your cat.

Make sure you give your cat plenty of praise throughout the procedure and offer a special treat after giving the medication. This will make the experience more positive and may make it easier to give the medication the next time.

After each use, rinse the dropper or syringe thoroughly with water and refrigerate the remaining medication if necessary.

Remember, pets are family!

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Hounds are the original hunting dogs.  Their size can be tall and lanky like the Irish Wolfhound to the small, short legged dachshund.  He’s a hound by origin but is more like a terrier. The dachshund likes to chase foxes and badgers. They assisted hunters in the field because of their speed and excellent scenting abilities. Scent hounds such as bloodhounds, beagles and foxhounds have historically aided hunters by following the scent trails left by their prey. Today the bloodhound is used  by law enforcement to track fugitives or missing persons.

Hounds makes excellent pets despite their excellent hunting skills. They have excellent stamina and are very reliable and sturdy. They make great companions for both adults and children.  Even the famous racer, the greyhound makes an excellent family pet. Just a reminder, a retired race dog should be tested around small children and other pets first. The reason for this is that may chase them as they chased mechanical rabbits while they were being trained early in their career.

Love, patience and lots of dog treats and toys are always part of the mix when you’re adopting a new pet.

Remember, pets are family!

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The holidays are here and we are preparing big meals, decorating and gathering with family and friends. We must remember our pets during the holiday season and make sure they are safe. If you are expecting guests and your dog gets excited when the door bell rings, make sure that he doesn’t run out. Keep him in another room or in the basement until the guests have arrived.

Keep a current ID tag on your pet at all times in the event that he does escape during a holiday party.

There are certain substances that must be kept away from dogs. They are: apple seeds, onions, raisins, grapes, chocolate, macadamia nuts and pear seeds. These are all toxic to dogs.  Remind your guests not to give your dog anything except his dog treats.  Do not leave food unattended, dogs love to snatch treats from the table and it just could be something that is toxic to them.

Some common plants are toxic. They are  azaleas, rhododendron, and foxglove and can all cause heart failure if ingested.

Make sure that you dispose of all of the trash right away. You don’t want your dog to get a hold of a bone and possibly choke on it.

It’s a good idea to keep your dog in a separate room during a party. Make them comfortable with some of his favorite toys and some soft music.

Christmas tree lights can be a problems if you have a puppy who likes to chew. Make sure that there are no hanging wires from the tree. A puppy would love to grab them, chew on them and possibly even pull the tree down! Try not to use tinsel. I almost lost a cat years back who chewed on the tinsel which got logged in his digestive track. It was really a close call.

Follow some of these simple instructions and have a great holiday!

Remember, pets are family!

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Holiday party’s and gatherings are in full swing. There are many food that you should keep away from your day. Two of them are alcohol and guacamole.

There are some foods that your dog should never have and some of them may surprise you! If you give your dog a chip with guacamole on it, there will be severe stomach problems for your best friend. For instance, the reason why guacamole should never be given to your dog is because avocados contain persin which is harmless to humans but can be very toxic to your dog. If you happen to be growing avocados at home, keep your dog away from the plants. Persin is in the leaves, seed and bark as well as the fruit.

Alcohol is also very dangerous for your dog. That’s because alcohol has the same effect on a dog’s liver and brain that it has on humans but it takes far less time to do a lot of damage. Web Md says that just a little can cause vomiting, diarrhea, central nervous system depression, problems with coordination, difficulty breathing, coma, even death, and the smaller the dog, the greater the effect.

Remember, pets are family!

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The holidays are here and there will be lots of gatherings, lots of food and lots of dogs begging at dining room tables. Only a very rare dog will turn down a delicious, juicy table scrap but should you really feed your dog things that you can’t eat?  Lets consider some of the problems with feeding your dog table scraps.  You may say that you’ll watch for bones right? Well maybe. Lots of small bones can get mixed into table scraps. You’ll also watch for things that dogs can’t eat like chocolate. You may know this but does a friend that might be coming for dinner?  If you do feed your dog table scraps, they should be a small, measured amount along with a balanced diet of regular dog food. It all adds up and you don’t want an overweight dog begging at the table. If given sparingly, a nutritious table scrap every now and then is probably OK, it could even be a reward in your training routine. So this time of year you should advise your guests not to give in to that sweet dog going from person to person begging for people food!  Sit, stay, good dog and enjoy that great tasting piece of chicken as a reward for good behavior is ok when given by the dog owner only. Have a great holiday!

Remember, pets are family.

Turn on your oldies and holiday favorites today on Edgewater Gold Radio. Ask Alexa to “play Edgewater Gold Radio” or listen from our website; Edgewater Gold Radio.com.

Cushing’s disease is  a chronically  debilitating hormone imbalance that can affect many species, humans included. This disease results   from excessive cortisol in the bloodstream. The symptoms are a result from a long term over-exposure to this hormone.  In Dogs, there are many signs to look for, The signs come on slowly and because of it’s gradual onset, the symptoms are written off as part of the aging process.  Here are some symptoms that you should be aware of and report to your veterinarian.

• Drinking excessively
• Urinating excessively
• Incontinence
• Muscle weakness
• Skin conditions and hair loss

You’ll first notice that the water bowl must be filled more frequently than in the past. Some dogs can’t hold their bladder in the night and start crying to go outside.

All of these symptoms should be reported to your vet right away and he will give your dog the proper exam and recommend the best treatment.

Remember, pets are family!

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Our cat Millie has been with us for almost 17 years and has never had any health issues…..until now. A few weeks ago, she developed an abscess on the side of her face. I contacted her new vet and we set up an appointment which took place yesterday, 12/10/21. In the meantime, we treated her with antibiotics which seemed to really help the abscess. Our vet felt that it was related to her teeth.   It was confirmed at her appointment that it was a dental issue so I left her there for the day. She was scheduled for dental surgery to remove the infected tooth and perform a cleaning.

I was happy that this would solve the problem but when I returned to pick her up, the situation changed. The doctor found that Millie had a heart murmur and her blood work showed that she had moderate stage 3 kidney disease. I was very surprised because Millie exhibits none of the traditional signs of kidney disease. The surgery couldn’t be performed because the doctor felt that the anesthesia could affect her kidneys and make the situation worse.

So here’s the current situation. Physically Millie is doing well. I was given more antibiotics in case the abscess returns and we’ll just have to keep treating it with antibiotics. As far as the kidney disease goes, unfortunately it takes down many cats. There is no cure but we can work to prolong her kidney usage. Both of our previous cats, Molly and Atlantis had kidney disease and I gave them a high potency omega oil called Astros Oil. I started Millie on it this morning.

Going forward we will enjoy the remaining time that we have left with our little Millie. Owning pets not only brings lots of love but also brings much sorrow at the end of their lives.

Remember, treasure your pets as they are family!

Listen to the greatest oldies of all time! It’s a classic oldies weekend on Edgewater Gold Radio. Lots of holiday favorites enjoy on Alexa “alexa, play Edgewater Gold Radio” or listen on the many apps including Live 365, Tunein, Apple music etc. Listen from our website; Edgewater Gold Radio.com.

All  dogs are energetic but some are more energetic than others. Dogs need physical and mental stimulation just like us.  When we’re at work, we forget that our dogs are at home bored. That’s when the destruction begins. Here are some simple things you can do to clam an energetic dog.

• Play with your dog everyday.  Play with a frisbee, catch etc . This will make your dog more obedient and establish a stronger bond between the two of you.
• Walk your dog about three times a day. One of those walks should be at least 30 minutes.
• Train your dog everyday. This could be as asking him for an obedience command before giving him a treat.
• Make your dog work for all of his food through training, grooming or dog toys.
• Provide your dog with safe chew toys and food toys when he’s home alone.

Remember, pets are family.

Your favorite oldies and holiday music is playing right now on Edgewater Gold Radio! Turn on those memories. Ask Alexa to “play Edgewater Gold Radio” and listen from our website; Edgewater Gold Radio.com.

A healthy cat usually has a healthy appetite. If your cat suddenly stops eating, these are the things that you should look for. Is he still drinking water?  Is he lethargic? Is he vomiting or have diarrhea? If he appears fine and is drinking, he may be having a couple of “off” days. Try moving his food to a quiet place, or adding some wet food to his diet. Try giving his some cat treats. If  he does not start eating normally in two days, contact your vet. If he is vomiting, or has diarrhea, get him to the vet immediately! If you wait too long, it may be too late.  Cat illnesses come on very fast and can really take it’s toll on your cat.

Remember, pets are family!

Enjoy great oldies and holiday favorites on Edgewater Gold Radio! Your holiday station! Ask Alexa to “play Edgewater Gold Radio” or listen from our website: Edgewater Gold Radio.com.