Protect Your Pets from Fleas and Ticks in the Fall

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Fleas and ticks are often seen as a summer problem, but both can show up all year round and it is just as important to keep your pets “visitor free” in the fall. In fact, early fall is one of the worst times for fleas.

Good flea and tick prevention is, thus, a year-round concern. One specific fall concern is leaf piles. Dogs (and cats that are allowed outdoor time) love to play in leaf piles. However, these piles can also be a haven for all kinds of insects, including fleas and ticks. It’s best to sweep them up right away and dispose of them properly. Other garden debris can also attract fleas and ticks. Ticks are also found in tall grasses, so keep mowing your lawn until the grass has become completely dormant. Also, remove dead annuals and other brush debris from around your home.

Throughout the fall, you should check your dog for signs of fleas such as obsessive scratching. The growth of the winter coat can provide a better environment for fleas to hide in. Regular brushing can help deal with fleas and also reduce the amount of itching caused by shedding. If your dog likes to sleep outside in the pleasant fall weather, then make sure to clean their “den” regularly. Remove food and water bowls after use, otherwise, they might attract raccoons and opossums. Wash pillows and upholstery regularly, and resist the temptation to boot an elderly couch out onto the porch for the dogs, as it is likely a perfect flea nest. Check for ticks as soon as the animal comes inside.

Don’t forget your indoor cat either. Indoor cats can get fleas as well, generally hitch-hiking in on other people’s clothes, your dog, or that mouse they helpfully killed for you.

Fall is a time when many owners think the risk of their pets getting fleas goes down. However, that is not necessarily the case. Flea and tick prevention is a year-round thing, and responsible owners make sure to keep their pets safe.

Perpetual Well automatic dog water bowl

protect you pets from fleas and ticks in the fall

Six Tips to Help Your Dog to Lose Weight

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Six Tips to Help Your Dog to Lose Weight

When you love your furry friend, it can be easy to spoil them to the point where they start to get a little pudgy. Of course, when your dog carries extra weight, it can damage their overall health. As such, you will no doubt be keen to help them lose their extra pounds.

During your dog’s weight loss journey, you may find these tips to be helpful:

1. Go easy on the treats

Giving your dog too many treats is a sure-fire way to make them gain weight. Many dog treats are high in fat and calories, so giving your dog too many of them will make them pack on the pounds. According to most veterinarians, treats should make up no more than 10 percent of your dog’s calorific intake. If you want to help your dog lose weight, reduce this percentage to 5 percent or less to create a calorie deficit.

2. Bring out the leash

Gradually increase the intensity and duration of your daily walk to help your dog lose weight. As with humans, exercise helps your dog cut calories – in addition to helping them become stronger and fitter. Start by adding a few minutes to each day’s walk and slowly build this up to an hour walk per day. For even quicker weight loss, increase your speed to a brisk walk or even a run. These longer and quicker walks will help to make you a little fitter as well.

3. Change up their diet

The internet is a great resource for weight management tools for your pet. Among these are nutritional calculators that show you how much your pet should be eating on a daily basis. There are also daily meal plans for both maintenance and weight loss diets for your dog. Use these to calculate how much you should be feeding your dog to ensure weight loss and to determine what foods are best for this purpose.

4. Stock up on supplements

There are a number of supplements that are both safe and effective to help your dog lose weight. These include L-carnitine, omega three fatty acids and white kidney bean extract. They help by blocking the breakdown and absorption of carbohydrates and moving more fatty acids to the cells so that they can be burned faster. As always, consult your vet before using supplements on your pet in order to avoid overdosing them.

5. Plenty of Fresh Water

A well-hydrated dog will eat less,  using an Automatic Dog Waterer like the Perpetual Well will ensure your dog has access to fresh water all the time.  Being well-hydrated will also help with the circulation of blood, digestion, and removal of waste.

6. Check for underlying health conditions

Certain health conditions such as hyperthyroidism and Cushing’s disease can cause weight gain in dogs. Getting these diagnosed and treated properly will help your dog lose and maintain a healthy weight.

In Closing

Helping your dog lose weight can be a bit challenging at times. However, as long as you carefully follow the advice contained in this article, your dog will soon lose those unwanted pounds.

 

automatic dog waterer

The Top 5 Most Dangerous Foods For Your Dog

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Every owner has had an instance of their dog suddenly becoming ill with GI upset. Vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and more make your dog look and feel pitiful and make you feel guilty as an owner. While most cases of GI upset are minor from overeating too rich of foods, there are some cases where eating a particular food could be extremely dangerous. Read about the following top 5 foods to avoid feeding your dog and save yourself a trip to the emergency vet.

Chocolate

Chocolate is probably the most well-known toxic food to dogs. This is due to methylxanthines, a substance found in the cocoa plant. When eaten by dogs, the substance causes problems such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, changes in energy levels, tremors and more. As methylxanthine amount increases with higher cocoa content, darker chocolates are more toxic than lower cocoa products such as milk or white chocolate. However, chocolate should be avoided at all costs to be on the safe side.

Grapes

Grapes and raisins caused a big scare in the media a few years back, and for good reason. Grapes and raisins can cause devastating effects in dogs, leading to kidney damage and failure. Just one or two grapes can be enough to cause problems in extremely sensitive dogs. While it is still unknown just why this may be, it is best to avoid these foods completely.

Xylitol

Xylitol is an artificial sugar often found in sugar-free gums and other sugar-free products. Xylitol contains compounds in it that cause an overload of insulin dogs and can cause toxicity when ingested. In addition to vomiting and diarrhea, dogs may have other symptoms, such as seizures or tremors. Xylitol can cause liver damage that may be permanent or fatal, so keeping sugar-free products and gums out of reach is best.

Onions/Garlic

There are mixed results about whether or not onions and garlic are truly toxic, but they have been known to cause some serious side effects in dogs. Most dogs will only experience GI upset such as vomiting and diarrhea, however, in some dogs, there may be damage to the red blood cells (the ones that carry oxygen to different parts of your body) if enough garlic or onions are consumed. It is best to limit or avoid these foods.

Certain Nuts

Certain nuts such as macadamia nuts can cause tremors, depression, anxiety, vomiting, and diarrhea within hours of eating. While not outwardly toxic, other nuts can cause problems due to their high-fat content and high salt content when commercially prepared. Excessive vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration easily, which can become a big problem.

Sticking to dog-safe foods is the best option, and if you really want to give your dog a special treat, a piece of boiled chicken or turkey is a great way to entice him or her without danger. Dogs have sensitive GI tracts, so sticking to a healthy, balanced, and safe diet will help minimize any digestive upset. If your dog does eat a potentially toxic substance, it is best to contact Animal Poison Control or your local veterinarian immediately.

The Top 5 Most Dangerous Foods For Your Dog

Perpetual Well Is Veterinarian Approved

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I have been a practicing Veterinarian and practice owner for 27 years and I see thousands of clients per year. I’ve known Dave Dinger for 20 of those years and I can honestly say that I have never met anyone with as much drive for perfection in his work as Dave. This is why I’m excited and honored to endorse his revolutionary pet watering product, the Perpetual Well. This product is perfect for any home owner that has a pet cat or dog. Dave’s Perpetual Well fills a basic need of a pet owner to always have fresh clean water available for their family member 24 hours per day whether they are home or not and it achieves this through quality, thoughtful engineering and exacting craftsmanship. The Perpetual Well Is a high quality pet watering system that will look great in your home, will last a lifetime and you’ll wonder how you ever went without one so long.

David Mitzelfeldt DVM
LaCrosse Veterinary Clinic
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