Winter Pet Care Tips

The rude awakening of the arrival of winter might disrupt your pet if you happen to have a cat that whiles away on the front porch’s sunny patch or a dog that romps around the entire day in the yard. Of course, you might argue that your pet is covered in fur anyway, so winter should not be too disruptive. On the other hand, many pets are just not equipped to out for prolonged periods in temperatures that are frigid.

How can you care well for your furry friends and make sure they are warm this winter? There are a few safety tips you can put into effect that will help ensure the safety of your pet this winter.

Plush Coats

The plush coats of your pet may be something you admire. As gorgeous as it is, however, when the weather turns frigid, it is not exactly an insulator that is perfect. In the wintertime, your pet dog or cat could suffer from the extremes of weather conditions. This is in the same way that hypothermia is something that mountain climbers tend to get no matter how many layers of clothing they wear. The cold fact is that excess cold temperatures can overwhelm regulation and retention of heat in mammals. Fur also loses much of its ability to insulate if the coat of your animal gets moist. For dogs and cats with fur that is short, there is even less protection.

Winter Shelter

In the wintertime, your pet will need to be protected from temperatures that are extreme. This includes shelter free from drafts and which is dry and warm. It also includes lots of water and food. Any time the temperature starts to drop below zero, take caution. If you feel very cold, your pet may also feel the same way.

Winter Clothing

Human beings use coats to deal with cold temperatures, so doesn’t it follow that pets should too? For cats, using a coat to protect your pet may not be a good idea as these won’t be tolerated by your feline. Usually, your dog will be able to tolerate a coat, but not your cat. When you dress your pet, make sure they are supervised at all times and not left to wander around outside in frigid temperatures.

Mark Perry is a dedicated veterinarian for Canada Vet with over 20 years experience. A farm boy born and breed, Dr Perry loves all animals but he has a special place in his heart for working animals, particularly working dogs and horses.

Pet Gift Ideas for Christmas

Christmas is just around the corner and this is the perfect time to show your pet just how much they mean to you. Many pet owners treat their pets like members of the family and do go the extra mile to keep their cat, dog or fish comfortable and healthy. There are a few things you can do to show your  pet appreciation and love for the holiday season. 

Pet Mailbox

One gift you can give your pet this holiday season is to get a mailbox and have the pet's picture pasted or painted on it. Outside the front door, put a welcoming mat with images of the dog just outside, showing that both human and canine guests are welcome. Find kitchenware and coffee mugs where you can have the dog's picture printed on. Water bowls and dog food with the name of your dog stenciled on it are other great ideas. 

Bed Covers and Treats

You might also want to consider giving your pet a new bed cover or a pet store gift card. Dog treats are a favorite among dogs and tying these up with a red ribbon in a basket is a good idea. Look for doggie Christmas stockings and tree ornaments to help celebrate the holidays with your pet. 

Apparel

For dogs and cats, apparel can also be given this Christmas. Knitting booties or sweaters for pets that happen to be in colder climates will truly be appreciated. On the other hand, waterproof fabric such as neoprene are also going to be great to use for creating apparel. For a unique pet gift this Christmas, you might want to attach metal or red and green crystal studs to the collar of your dog or cat.

Gifts for Show Pets

Many show dog and cat lovers love bringing their pets on the road to be part of pet shows. One gift this Christmas would be to put personalized license plates or a license plate holder on the car with a message that caters to the breed or name of your dog. A first aid kit you can bring with you on the road is another Christmas gift that will benefit both pet and owner. In addition, a portable grooming kit and novelty scoops for poop are going to be convenient for traveling away from home. 

Mark Perry is a dedicated veterinarian for Canada Vet with over 20 years experience. A farm boy born and breed, Dr Perry loves all animals but he has a special place in his heart for working animals, particularly working dogs and horses.

4 Pet Care Tips You Can't Ignore

It is not easy to care for your own well-being and health, so it can be confusing to know what your pet needs as well. To keep your canine and feline pals happy and healthy, there are a few tips from pros about caring for your pet in the proper way. 

Balanced Weight

In countries that are more developed, there are many cats and dogs that happen to be obese or overweight. In pets, obesity comes with risks in health that include cancer, arthritis and diabetes. One leading overfeeding cause of obesity is overfeeding. Trimming down the waistlines of your pets can add years to their lifespan. Since pets need a lot less calories that many pet owners think, talking to your vet to find out how much your pet really needs based on your pet's lifestyle, weight and age is a good idea. 

Parasite Prevention

For pets, the most common parasite on their external physique are fleas. These can lead to infection, hot spots, hair loss and skin that is irritated. In your dog or cat, fleas can also be the reason that other parasites are introduced. All it takes is for your puppy or kitten to swallow 1 single flea and tapeworm is the result. Tapeworm happens to be the internal parasite most common in cats and dogs. 

The Issue of Neutering Pets

Each year, up to ten million pets end up in a shelter. Some are homeless while others are abandoned or lost. There is one way to avoid this and this is to neuter and spay your dogs and cats. This is one of the procedures that you can have done as early as puppies or kittens aged 6-8 weeks. Not only does this cut down on pets that are not wanted, it also shows that certain cancer risks are lower and there is less tendencies to roam. 

The Importance of Getting Routine Exams

Just like people, pets can get toothaches, develop arthritis and heart problems along the way. Regular exams are one method that keeps pets healthy for the long term. Annual visits to the vets need to touch on weight control and nutrition. It can also cover recommended health screening, dental exams and parasite control aside from vaccinations. 

Mark Perry is a dedicated veterinarian for Canada Vet with over 20 years experience. A farm boy born and breed, Dr Perry loves all animals but he has a special place in his heart for working animals, particularly working dogs and horses.

Always Faithful - moving memorial pic for Veterans Day

A customer sent us this this image of two present day soldiers paying respect to their fallen comrades in front of a memorial statue called "Always Faithful" by artist Susan Bahary. 

The work is a war monument commemorating 25 Marine war dogs who gave their lives helping to liberate Guam in 1944. These dogs served as sentries, messengers, scouts and mine detectors in World War II. A Marine medic who tried unsuccessfully to save Kurt, the Doberman pinscher on this monument, insisted that he be buried with other fallen soldiers. Twenty-four other canine soldiers joined their human comrades in a common burial ground on Guam in recognition of their service.

Pets and their Supplements

Supplements have already become very popular among people who want to improve their health and to avoid diseases. These days, pet owners are also looking for ways to improve their pet’s health by trying out various supplements. But the thing that’s stopping some pet owners is the cost of regularly providing pets with supplements. However, if cost isn’t an issue, should your pet be provided with supplements?

The following are some helpful tips for finding the best deals for the right kinds of supplements for your pets, as well as some reasons as to why pets may also need supplements.

Why pets may also need supplements

These days, there are a wide variety of pet supplements available out there, and knowing which one to buy and where could be a daunting task. Some supplements are designed for pets that are exposed to pollution. What these types of supplements do is that they help pets eliminate the toxins that they have ingested, whether it is from the surroundings of from the foods that they eat.

Choosing the organic way

As with humans, organic supplements provide pets with the optimum amount of nutrients. Some synthetic supplements may provide some of the nutrients that your pets need, but organic ones are best for digestion. Organic supplements may contain herbs that provide essential nutrients that may pet foods are not able to sufficiently provide your pets.

Naturally, pets have a natural sense of what their body needs. That’s why some pets nib on grasses to feed their body’s need for natural nutrients.

Choosing the organic types of supplements is essential not only for the nutrients that they contain, but also for the compounds that the pet’s body needs. Most synthetic supplements may not contain compounds that are present in natural foods, which are crucial for the pet’s overall health.

If you are faced with tons of choices that actually choosing seems to be a daunting task for you, ask your vet for which ones you should choose.

Mark Perry is a dedicated veterinarian for Canada Vet with over 20 years experience. A farm boy born and breed, Dr Perry loves all animals but he has a special place in his heart for working animals, particularly working dogs and horses.

This Winter Get a Free dog collar light LED

This winter, Canadavet.com is giving away a great LED flashing dog light when you spend over $150.

Pets can be difficult to see  during winter’s darker days and that's why an LED Flashing Dog Light is a must for dogs who are out of doors after dark.  Designed to keep your dog visible and safe, and easily clipping onto the D-ring of your dogs collar, the battery powered flashing dog lights emit a bright, ambient glow, so you’ll be able to see your pet on the darkest of nights; and so will everyone else.  

Click here to read more on how to get this FREE dog collar light.

* offer ends Nov 31, 2013.