Tips for Owners

September 25, 2016 By bhsadmin

Disaster Preparedness with Pets

Don’t get separated from your pets in the event of an emergency!

dogfirstaid It’s no secret that Butte County is prone to wildfires. Every year homes are lost and even more families are evacuated. Emotions escalate, you can’t think straight, you’re not sure what to grab.

You always hear about the importance of having an evacuation plan, but you always put it off. Well now is the time to set it in place. Whatever you do, don’t forget to include your pets in the plan.

Have a travel crate for each of your animals, know where they are, and make sure they are accessible. Do you have livestock or horses? You’ll need a trailer and a place to shelter them for awhile. And of course you’re going to want to have a disaster kit ready to go.

Here is a list of basic items to include in your pets’ disaster kits:

Food & Water: Enough to last your pet at least a week. Travel size feeding dishes.
Proof of ownership: Include pictures and documents/records in case you are separated. This you may want to keep in your fire safe.
Vaccines and meds: Proof of vaccinations and supply of meds and/or copy of prescription if you need to board your pet.
First aid kit: Gauze, disinfecting wipes, tweezers, ice packs, and a pet first-aid book.
Leash/crates: Big enough for them to turn around, sit down, and stand up in case they need to be enclosed for long hours. Extra blankets and wipes for cleanup.
Comforting toys or objects: Having familiar objects around is a good way to keep your pet calm during a stressful time.
Treats: Your pet feels stress too so some of his or her favorite treats may help get their mind off of the stress of the situation.

pet-hitch-hiking

If you see a fire near your home, don’t wait until an officer in uniform comes knocking on your door, telling you to leave immediately. Grab your ready-made checklist of items for both you and your pets, and get everything ready to grab at the first sign of danger.

September 27, 2016 By bhsadmin

Train a Replacement Behavior to Get Rid of Annoying Behaviors

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The trick with annoying behaviors is to train and reward an opposite or competing behavior. Whatever bothersome behavior the dog is engaging in, think of something that would preclude it, and train that behavior consistently.

Patience and consistency are always key in behavioral training. It can take a while for the dog to give up strategies that have worked for him consistently, but if he is no longer rewarded for them and is instead consistently reinforced for an alternative behavior, he will soon choose that new response every time.

Here’s some additional quick tips for training alternate behaviors:

To replace door dashing, train to sit or down before opening the door.
To replace eating trash off the ground, train to carry a toy or keep eye contact with you.
To replace barking at the doorbell, train to get a toy.
To replace digging up the roses, train to fetch or hide-and-seek with dog toys.
To replace pawing at you, train to put pawing on a cue – so he uses his paw for a “high five” or “wave” when asked.

Happy training, pet owners!

September 20, 2016 By bhsadmin

Back to School Stress in Pets

Dogs and cats both thrive on routine, so during the transition from summer to school, pets may feel a little stressed. However, knowing the signs of anxiety in pets can let you know how to help them so they’ll be back to normal in no time!

dogstress

Signs of a stressed dog:

pacing
carrying a clothing item around the house
whining
house soiling

Signs of a stressed cat:

frequent meowing
avoiding the litter box
knocking items off the shelves
having spats with other house cats

What to do:

maintain walks, feeding time, and play time as usual
talk to your vet because he or she will be able to detect any health issues that may be affecting your pet
watch and see what exactly it is that is stressing out your pet, if anything specific

There’s nothing a little love (and advice from your vet) can’t fix!

August 11, 2016 By bhsadmin

Tips for Camping with Pets

camping-with-dog-tips There’s nothing quite like sleeping under the stars, roasting marshmallows and going on hiking adventures with friends and your dog. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when camping with your canine companion.

Before leaving for your trip, be sure your dog is up-to-date with his/her flea/tick and heartworm prevention. Also consider getting a rattlesnake vaccination or a microchip inserted, both of which are offered at BHS. Your dog’s ID tag information should also be current, and make sure to include a cell phone number on the tag to be contacted as soon as your animal is found.

Here are some items to bring along on the next camping adventure that will make for a smoother trip:

Collapsible food and water bowls
- Plus some extra food
Animal life vests for swimming
High value treats to keep dogs from wandering
Poop bags
A lengthy tie-down cable or rope that can connect to a harness
- A harness is much more comfortable for dogs, especially if they chase something while tied down, they are less likely to hurt themselves in a harness like they would in a collar
Health and vaccination records if you happen to cross state lines on your way to your camping destination
Pet first-aid kit

During your camping experience there will most likely be a lot of exercise so make sure your dog is not being overexerted and is staying well hydrated. Always check your dog’s coat for ticks, burs, and fox tails. Most importantly, have fun adventuring with your animals – camping is a vacation for the both of you so make it a safe and relaxing one!

July 6, 2016 By bhsadmin

Tips for Walking in the Heat

lox We all love spending time outdoors with our furry friends, especially during the summer. However, it is extremely important in the summer months to be aware of how the hot pavement can affect your dog.

When getting ready to go for a stroll, be sure to check the hot pavement. First, feel the pavement you’re planning on walking on. Can you place your hand on it comfortably for 10 seconds? If you can’t, the pavement is too hot for your pets to be walking on. Hot pavement can burn dog’s paw pads, causing blisters and peeling. This would put them in pain and make it hard for them to walk. Early morning or late evening walks would be more comfortable for both you and your furry friend.

Always be sure to carry water with you when walking, and take stops to cool down and rehydrate. Harnesses are also suggested when walking dogs because they are not as tight as collars and they make it easier to control your dog. If you do not have a harness, make sure your dog’s collar is loose enough to be able to fit two fingers in between the collar and the dog’s neck.

Disaster Preparedness with Pets

Train a Replacement Behavior to Get Rid of Annoying Behaviors

Back to School Stress in Pets

Tips for Camping with Pets

Tips for Walking in the Heat

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