| 920 Lawrence Road • Kemah, Texas 77565 | Phone: 281.334.2273 • Fax:281.334.9669 |
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| CHOOSING THE
PERFECT PET TAKES MORE THAN LUCK |
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| Choosing a pet carries responsibility along with pleasure.
This means that you should take the time to become aware of what’s
involved. |
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Ask yourself some questions about any pet you are
considering:
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Whatever you do, it’s important to do everything possible to make sure you wind up enjoying the results of your decision. In some cases, you can wind up disappointed or in a terrible fix if the decision you make turns out to be wrong. For example, a longhaired cat that requires lots of daily brushing may be hard to fit into your hectic day-to-day schedule. Or a dog that turns destructive or isn’t housebroken can be even more disastrous if you live alone in a small apartment and work long hours. Or do you have small children? Some pets can be moody and irritable around youngsters.Or a child can unintentionally hurt some small breeds by squeezing them too hard. For help in answering these questions, you may want to start by checking out books on pet care and characteristics at a local library. Also, there are plenty of books, including inexpensive paperbacks, at bookstores, which can be very helpful. For that matter, you should feel free to ask us any questions that are on your mind. Once you’ve decided what kind of pet you want, check the potential pet (cat or dog) for the following points: • Eye brightness • Clean ears • Clean, shiny hair coat and healthy-looking skin • Good state of nutrition • Nasal discharge • Coughing If you're selecting a cat or dog from a litter, ask to see the entire litter and the mother. The most active and curious are the ones that make the best pets. One that growls or resists your handling is not a good prospect. Don’t let sympathy sway your judgement. Also, remember that veterinarians make good, friendly advisors. We’ll be glad to help you make the best possible decision In fact, if you wind up buying a pet, ask to bring the pet in for a complete check-up before buying a trip that can save you lots of money and sorrow later. |
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Pet Proofing Your Home |
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| Kittens and puppies are lively and curious, which can get
them into serious trouble. Remember that your young pet sees everything
from a much lower vantage point than you—like a baby who has begun
to crawl—and may be attracted to things you do not see while standing
up. It’s impossible to totally “pet-proof” your home against accidents, but here are some recommendations: • Securely screen all windows to help prevent falls, and keep your pet off of balconies, upper porches, and high decks. • Securely store cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, bleach, paint, paint thinner, pesticides, fertilizer, disinfectants, mothballs, roach & rat poisons, medications, and antifreeze. Make sure you keep these in tightly closed areas to which your pet cannot gain access. Keep all cabinet doors closed securely. • Remove poisonous house- plants, or place them in hanging baskets completely out of reach of all pets. Some plants that are poisonous include amaryllis, English ivy, narcissus, dieffenbachia, mistletoe, poinsettia, holly, philodendron, azalea, rhododendron, daffodil daphne, foxglove, bleeding heart, potato, iris, ivy, oleander, rubber plant, tobacco, tulip, clematis, morning glory, and weeping fig. • Keep toilet lids down. Young pets may decide to play in the water, and the lid could close and trap them; also, toilet bowl cleansers are harmful if swallowed. • Store plastic bags where the young pet cannot get inside them and suffocate or chew/tear them and swallow bits of plastic. Plastic six-pack holders used for packaging beverages should be cut apart. • Keep exposed electrical cords as short as possible, or tack them against a baseboard so the pet cannot play with or chew on them. • Never give your pet any medication without first consulting with your veterinarian. Never use over-the-counter products on pets without first checking with your veterinarian. Veterinarians are the true pet experts. Guard against potential exposure to human medications. Even in small doses, aspirin, acetaminophen, diet pills, sleeping pills, and tranquilizers can all be fatal to your pet. • Keep all dresser drawers, trunks, and closets closed. Always check to see where the pet is before closing refrigerator doors, the oven, washer, or dryer. • Always be sure your pet is secure before leaving the pet alone. We strongly recommend the pet be confined in a plastic travel crate for at least the first few months. • If the pet is allowed outdoors, always be sure to blow your horn and hang on the hood before starting and moving your vehicle. Kittens especially like to crawl up under the hood to keep warm. • Keep sewing supplies out of your pet’s reach. Buttons, needles, pins, and thread can hurt his mouth or cause intestinal obstructions if swallowed. The same goes for nails, staples, screws, brads, earplugs, and aluminum can tabs. • Do not use electric blankets for the pet’s bedding. • Never put anything other than the appropriate collar around a pet’s neck. Ribbons can easily choke the pet if they should get caught on anything. |
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| Introducing a
new puppy |
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| A new puppy is a source of cheer and warmth everywhere. It is well documented that the companionship of a puppy has positive benefits for people. Even older dogs and cats seem to perk up when a pup is introduced into the household. Puppies give unqualified love, affection, and devotion. | ||||||||||
| The following are suggested
as “essential” items for the new puppy: • Health records including dates of vaccinations and dewormings. • High quality food. • Food and water bowls that can be sanitized easily. • Shipping crate for a bed. • Shampoo, proper grooming tools. • A collar, leash, and “Nyla-Bone” chew toys. The change of environment can cause many stress-related problems: • Coccidiosis (a type of intestinal infection) • Tracheobronchitis (a relatively minor upper respiratory problem). • Hypoglycemia (low blood-sugar from a poor appetite or poor diet). • Dehydration (usually from not drinking enough water). |
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These physical problems are often brought on by unavoidable stress, and are similar to problems you might have if you were moving to a new area. Just like you, the puppy may not sleep or eat as regularly as it would in more familiar surroundings. Some puppies ease through the transition to their new homes, while others may have a harder time. If stress-related problems are ignored, secondary problems can become serious, even life-threatening. Call us for advice anytime the puppy seems lethargic, or loses its appetite. The most important objective is to get the puppy to eat. Small breeds are more susceptible to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and may need additional feedings in small quantities. Some puppies require privacy, coaxing, or companionship to eat. Every puppy is different. The puppy’s diet should never be changed rapidly. The puppy might not eat the strange new food, or if it does eat, develop diarrhea leading to dehydration and other complications. Diet changes should be made over a 1-2 week period to prevent digestive upsets. WATER IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN FOOD IN THE PUPPY’S EXCITED FIRST FEW HOURS IN ITS NEW HOME. To encourage the pup to drink and reduce the risk of low blood sugar, you might put some honey in its mouth or on a dish. (Too much honey, however, will depress the appetite.) If the puppy does not eat after these methods have been tried, you might try: Warming the food. Many foods are coated with an outside “flavor” layer that enhances its appeal when warmed. Most foods can be warmed in the microwave, oven, or by adding warm water or broth and soaking the food for a few minutes. Notify the clinic if your puppy does not eat within 8-12 hours. Rest is very important to the puppy. Puppies generally sleep throughout the day, waking only to play for a short time, eat, and eliminate waste. Do not expect the puppy to run and play all day. A human baby does not play all day either. Treat your puppy just the same as if it was a newborn infant being brought home from the hospital, and you won’t go wrong. |
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Introducing a new kitty |
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| By selecting a kitten as your pet,
you have chosen an extremely clean pet with legendary skills for Hunting
and one that usually needs little housetraining because its mother usually
has already taught it to use the litter box. All these advantages come
in one furry package that requires little care but provides excellent
companionship. Cats, however, demand that their love and loyalty be earned.
Cats must have regular meals, clean litter, grooming, and attention in the form of play. A cat will be quite content to live its entire life indoors provided that its owner offers companionship. Male or female, kittens and cats are affectionate, intelligent, and playful. However, unless you plan to breed your cat, neutering is recommended to keep males from spraying, and females from producing unwanted litters. Neutering and spaying should be performed at 6-7 months of age. Needed supplies for a new kitten include a proper health record with dates of vaccinations and dewormings, high quality food, bowl for water and food, a litter pan with litter and scoop, kitten shampoo, grooming tools, a pet carrier, and of course, toys. |
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The kitten will find one that suits its need for privacy within 24 hours. Remember, cats are extremely clean pets. It is surprisingly easy for kittens and even dogs to adapt to each other—if they are gradually and gently. Unlike most pets, cats remain true to their “meat-eater” heritage, and have special food requirements. Cats cannot process vitamins directly from vegetables, so a cat must eat the meat of animals that can convert vegetable vitamins to a digestible form. That’s why, in the wild, a cat must eat ALL of its prey’s carcass to derive essential proteins, minerals, and vitamins. Taurine, for example, is an amino acid that is vital to eyesight. Non-meat eaters can make taurine in their body, but cats cannot. Therefore, they must eat foods that contain taurine. Commercial diets for cats must be balanced and nutritional, specialized, and concentrated in small portions. Therefore feline foods are slightly more expensive than dog foods. Wet or dry food for a cat should contain 30-40% protein. We highly recommend High Quality Kitten Food for all kittens. It can be fed free-choice. Only put out what the kitten will probably eat in the one day period. We prefer to put fresh food out every day. Some canned food should be fed for the first couple of weeks if the kitten is small or does not eat well. Water is extremely important to the cat. Insufficient fluid intake can cause the urine to become too concentrated leading to urinary stone problems. It is interesting to note that cats do not have a “thirst” reflex. This makes it easy for the cat not to drink sufficient water each day, since they do not sense the need to drink since they are not thirsty. Grown cats should drink a cup of water daily. If the kitten does not eat well within the first 36 hours in the new home, it may be that it misses familiar surroundings. It may be necessary to force feed the kitten to stimulate appetite. We also recommend feeding some strong smelling canned foods during the early growing months. The major appetite stimulant for the cat is SMELL!! Since dry foods do not have as strong a smell as canned foods, some cats are more reluctant to eat dry food. Make diet changes slowly. Any abrupt change can cause digestive upsets resulting in vomiting and/or diarrhea. Milk is NOT necessary in the diet. Never feed milk without first diluting it at least half with water. Allow the kitten plenty of REST TIME. Cats sleep about 22 hours each day. Adequate rest is necessary for optimum growth and development. Shaking when sleeping is “mother nature’s way” of exercising the muscles. Guard against the kitten swallowing foreign objects. Quite often, we must perform surgery to remove foreign objects from the stomach and intestinal tract. These objects include string, fishing line, marbles, needles, or just about any other small object you can think of. By reducing stress and allowing the kitten to feel comfortable on its own terms, you will enjoy many years of affection, love, and loyal companionship. |
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