Pet Care Tips

Blue Sky Newsletter

Every season, flip through Blue Sky's newest newsletter to learn new pet care tips, participate in contests, and find the latest specials.

• Summer 2010 (PDF)
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Ten ways to protect your pet and save money at the vet

1. Keep your pet current on vacciations
2. Insurance
3. Keep your cat inside
4. Never let your dog ride in the bed of your pickup
5. Spay or neuter your pet
6. Annual health exams
7. Feed your pet a healthy diet
8. Regular excercise
9. Confine your dog
10. Take care of your pet's teeth

Keep your pet current on vaccinations

Every day, your pet is exposed to viruses in the environment; some of them, like distemper, feline leukemia virus, and parvovirus, are often fatal once your pet becomes infected. These viruses can live in the environment for many years. Keeping your pet up-to-date on vaccinations can save both you and your pet a lot of money and a lot of pain.

Insurance

Taking out an accident policy on your pet can help prepare you for those unexpected emergencies. For as little as $10.95 a month, your pet can be covered for the following:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Dog fights
• Abscesses
• Bone fractures
• Poisoning
• Foreign body ingestion
• Wounds and lacerations
• Broken toenails
• Wild animal attacks

Check out www.quickcarepetinsurance.com. This policy pays up to $2000 per incident after a $50 deductible, and it's available for any dog or cat, regardless of age or breed. Just think how good you will feel knowing both you and your pet are protected in an emergency!

Keep your cat inside

Indoor cats are proven to have longer, healthier lives. Infectious diseases, such as feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIP), and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), are all contracted through exposure to infected cats. Removing any possible contact with infected cats will keep your kitty safe from these potentially life-threatening viruses. Your indoor cat will also be protected from many poisons, wild animals (such as coyotes and owls), and even neighborhood dogs. And remember, few cats ever survive being hit by a car!

Never let your dog ride in the bed of your pickup

It's cold, it's hot, it's windy, and it's definitely dangerous! Any pet can fall from a truck, no matter how agile they might be, and dogs that fall are frequently run over by their own vehicle. Even tying your dog in the bed of the truck is no guarantee of safety—when they fall, tied dogs may be hung or dragged from the vehicle. If you must transport your dog in the bed of your pickup, always use a kennel that is securely fastened to the vehicle.

Spay or neuter your pet

Every year, nearly 7 million pets are surrendered to animal shelters across the country, and most of these beautiful animals are eventually put to sleep because there simply aren't enough homes for all of them. You can help stop this tragic practice by sterilizing your pet. Allowing your pet to have puppies or kittens can also be very expensive, and altered pets are less likely to become aggressive, wander off, or urinate in your home. Altering your pets will protect them from potentially fatal conditions such as mammary cancer, testicular cancer, and uterine infections.

Annual health exams

Having your pet thoroughly examined by a veterinarian can help identify underlying problems that can be serious concerns. Catching the following problems early can prolong your pet's life and even potentially save you a trip to the emergency clinic.

• Eye problems
• Skin problems
• Obesity issues
• Dental disease
• Ear infections
• Cancers
• Thyroid conditions
• Kidney disease
• Diabetes

Your pet can't tell you where it hurts, and many health issues can be easily managed once they are identified. Your veterinarian will also your pet's risk of parasite infection and prescribe preventatives that will help keep your human family members safe as well. Remember, pets age more quickly than people, and a lot can change in a year.

Feed your pet a healthy diet

Your pet should only eat a diet specifically designed for their needs. So many great diets today are made specifically for pets. Feeding people food to your pet is rarely good for them, and it can cause numerous health problems. With such a large number of pet foods and treats available, there is no reason to feed anything else. Some of the treats available can even help clean your pet's teeth! Avoid cheaper diets that often contain large quantities of indigestible filler and can vary in consistency from batch to batch. Feeding a high quality pet food in appropriate amounts can actually increase your pet's longevity and improve their overall health.

Regular Exercise

We all know that a daily walk is good for the body and the soul, and your pet will thank you too! Regular exercise means a leaner, healthier pet. Central Oregon is a great place to hike with your dog, and Bend now has several dog parks that allow your pet to run and play in fenced off-leash areas.

Confine your dog

Always keep your pet contained, whether in a fenced yard or on a leash. Loose dogs are likely to be hit by cars, wounded, poisoned, or even shot, and keeping them safely confined means they are less likely to become injured.

Take care of your pet's teeth

Brushing your pet's teeth frequently can help prevent serious dental disease. But if, like many people, you simply don't have the time to brush, you can still make a difference in your pet's dental health by giving them dental diets or an enzymatic rawhide, such as C.E.T. Chews, on a daily basis. Home dental care can help prevent infected teeth that may require surgical extraction, and having a thorough dental cleaning performed by your veterinarian on your older pet can help prevent diseases, such as heart and gastric conditions, caused by chronically infected teeth.