Dog-Friendly Holiday Treat Recipe

Here is a dog-friendly treat recipe that your canine companion is sure to love.
Holiday Dog-Friendly Treat Recipe:
ingredients
1 cup shredded roasted turkey meat
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 sweet potato--baked, skin discarded and potato coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons cranberry sauce

directions
In a medium bowl, combine the turkey and breadcrumbs. Mix gently with your hands, then mix in the egg and sweet potato. Shape into two 1/2-inch-thick patties.
In a medium skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the patties and cook, turning once, until golden-brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Top with the cranberry sauce and let your canine enjoy!

Cat-Friendly Treat Recipe

Ingredients:

½ cup of hamburger

½ teaspoon shrimp paste (see Asian food section of your local grocery store)

¼ cup shelled shrimp, washed in hot water, and minced

½ teaspoon catnip

Directions:

Mix shrimp paste with the catnip and then hand work it into the hamburger.

Add minced shrimp to the hamburger mix and make into little meatballs.

These can be fed raw, or baked at 425° F for 10 minutes.

Holiday Foods

During the holiday season, it’s important to make sure that your pet doesn't consume dangerous foods. Sugary treats, turkey, and bones are all things that could injure your pet or make them ill if they’re consumed. We recommend warning your guests about the danger of handouts for your pet and keeping your pet in a separate area of the house during holiday festivities, for their own safety.

Cats & Car Engines

Have you heard about the danger of car engines for outdoor cats? Our car engines often stay warm for hours after our cars have been shut off, making the perfect warm place for an outdoor cat to sleep. If a car is started while a cat is lying on the engine, the cat could be injured or killed! Always knock on the hood of your car before you start it…you could save a life!

Saturday is Responsible Dog Ownership Day

Saturday is the American Kennel Club’s “Responsible Dog Ownership Day,” designed to remind us to take excellent care of our four-legged friends. We encourage all pet owners to do something good for your pet today, whether that means scheduling their next physical, getting them microchipped, brushing their teeth, or just taking them outside to get some exercise. Remember, our pets depend on us for everything, so it’s our job to give them a good life.

Autumn Safety Tips

Ah, fall—there's nothing like crisp, cool air, the first months of school and luscious foliage to get you excited for the changing seasons. Your pet, too, is probably welcoming the break from hot, sticky weather. But pet parents, beware—fall is also a time of lurking dangers for our furry friends. From household poisons to cold weather hazards, the season is a minefield! Here are some tips to keep your pet snug and healthy during the autumn months.

• The use of rodenticides increases in the fall as rodents seek shelter from the cooler temperatures by attempting to move indoors. Rodenticides are highly toxic to pets—if ingested, the results could be fatal. If you must use these products, do so with extreme caution and put them in places inaccessible to your pets. 
• It's back-to-school time, and those of you with young children know that means stocking up on fun items like glue sticks, pencils and magic markers. These items are considered “low toxicity” to pets, which means they're unlikely to cause serious problems unless large amounts are ingested. However, since gastrointestinal upset and blockages certainly are possible, be sure your children keep their school supplies out of paw's reach. 
• Training tip: If you and your pooch haven't been active outdoors in a while because of the summer heat, do some remedial recall training. Dogs, like people, get rusty on their skills if they aren't using them. 
• Fall and spring and are mushroom seasons. While 99% of mushrooms have little or no toxicity, the 1% that are highly toxic (PDF) can cause life-threatening problems in pets. Unfortunately, most of the highly toxic mushrooms are difficult to distinguish from the nontoxic ones, so the best way to keep pets from ingesting poisonous mushrooms is to keep them away from areas where any mushrooms are growing. Contact your veterinarian or theASPCA Animal Poison Control Center immediately if you witness your pet eating a wild mushroom. 
• In order to generate body heat, pets who exercise heavily outdoors, or who live outdoors, should be given more food during colder seasons. Make sure horses and other outdoor animals have access to clean, fresh water that is not frozen. 
• Autumn is the season when snakes who are preparing for hibernation may be particularly “grumpy,” increasing the possibility of severe bites to those unlucky pups who find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. Pet owners should know what kinds of venomous snakes may be in their environment—and where these snakes are most likely to be found—so they can keep pets out of those areas. 
• Many people choose fall as the time to change their car's engine coolant. Ethylene glycol-based coolants are highly toxic, so spills should be cleaned up immediately. Consider switching to propylene glycol-based coolants—though they aren't completely nontoxic, they are much less toxic than other engine coolants.

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/autumn-safety-tips.aspx

Fall Football Gatherings & Pets

Do you like to go to football games or tailgate parties in the fall? If you’re planning on bringing your pet, it’s important to make sure that they’re safe. Picnic foods –such as greasy burgers, sugary desserts, ribs, chicken with bones, and shish-kabob sticks—can be extremely dangerous for your pet if they’re consumed! Also charcoal grills can be easily knocked over by excited or skittish pets, causing injuries. Remember to keep your pet safe and secure while you’re engaging in activities that could be dangerous for them.

Autumn Road Trip with Pets

Taking a pet on a road trip with you this fall? We can help you choose products for use on the road, from seat-covers and pet-friendly seat belts, to comfortable travel crates. If you need recommendations, be sure to ask. What do you use to make car travel safe and comfortable for your pet?

Pets & Hot Pavement

You wouldn't walk on hot pavement without shoes, so think about your pet when you go outside. The black asphalt of streets, parking lots, and some driveways can be so hot that it can burn your pet’s tender footpads. Try to limit your walks to early morning, or always walk where your dog can keep their feet on the grass.

Pets & Truck Beds

You may sometimes see dogs riding in the beds of pick-up trucks, and it may look like they’re having fun, but it’s extremely dangerous. As pet owners, it’s our job to set boundaries for our pets to ensure their safety. We advise all pet owners to NEVER allow their pet to ride in the back of a pick of truck, as the result could be seriously injury or even death. Be safe! Let your pet ride in the cab with you.

Pets & Camping Safety

Camping with your pet can be a fun adventure, but also a dangerous one! It’s important to be fully prepared for bringing a pet with you into the woods BEFORE you go. Make sure your pet is up-to-date on all parasite prevention, and be sure to pack plenty of food and water. If you’re filtering your water, don’t forget your pet needs filtered water too! And most importantly, check campground rules where you’ll be staying, because some campgrounds don’t allow pets because of the danger of large wild animals, like bears! Make sure you keep your pets and family safe, and have a great trip!

Cleaning Pet Toys

Your dog's favorite toy doesn't have to be thrown away when it's dirty. Make sure that the toy is still safe to play with and then try cleaning it. Never use bleach or harsh cleaning chemicals. If the toy has a foul smell or does not get clean after washing, it IS time to throw away. Nylon and rubber toys can be cleaned by hand with soap and water and can even go in your dishwasher for cleaning, but run them through on the hot cycle with no detergent. Softer toys, like ropes, can become breeding grounds for bacteria, so consider sanitizing them by wetting the toy and microwaving it for a full minute. For stuffed animal toys, try throwing them in the washing machine when they are dirty. Throw away any toys with dangling parts, stuffed animal eyes, etc. and any toys that your pet is actually eating...unless it is a treat toy, your dog should not be eating it.

Dog Rescue Story: Lucky

We are proud to share Lucky's dog rescue story!

Here is what Lucky's mom Melania has to say about Lucky:

I came home late in the day on Tuesday, and walked into the backyard to take care of the animals. I saw a beige blur moving in the wildflower garden and thought the chickens were out again. I checked the coop, saw they were all locked in, then got busy gathering eggs, filling water and food, and forgot all about the beige blur.

The next morning I had an early meeting, so I put our five dogs into their yard and went to open the greenhouse for the day. This time of year we leave the door open a foot or so, and as I walked toward it I saw a bundle of yarn piled on top of my plant blankets. "What the...," I thought as I walked closer. The bundle jumped off the blankets and cowered under a table. It was a very matted little dog, clearly scared. I had found my beige blur.

I brought him a bowl of food, opened the greenhouse, made sure he had water, and rushed to my meeting. I called Fred and updated him on my morning. Neither one of us could figure out how a little dog found its way into our quite secure yard. That afternoon we met in the backyard and searched for the little dog. No dog anywhere. Fred went inside (I assume thinking I had lost my mind), and I went through the gate into our garden area, even though I really didn't think a dog could fit between the gate and fence. He was curled in the soft dirt under a juniper tree and wouldn't come out. I retrieved Fred and some sliced ham from the kitchen and went back to the dog. He would eat my ham, but not let me touch him , and when I moved too fast he ran in the other direction. Fred waited until he stopped then crawled on his belly until he could pet the dog. The dog let Fred pick him up. I held the little dog, more matted smelly shaking fur than dog, while Fred made a bed in the garage.

Once the little dog stopped trembling, I held him on my lap while Fred trimmed the worst of his mats from around a very runny eye. We settled him into a bundle of blankets, with food and water nearby, and checked on him off and on throughout the evening. He became more used to us, until he didn't even jump up when we entered the garage. Neither one of us know much about toy breeds, so we kept running Google searches on every toy breed name trying to guess what he was. Pekingese? Pomeranian? some sort of toy terrier?

Fred took him to San Juan Vet in the morning, where he had a thorough exam, blood and stool tests, vaccinations, and a gentle shave. He appeared to be a four to five year old Yorkshire Terrier, had heartworm (luckily heart looked normal on X-ray), Giardia, fleas, an infected eye, sore spots on his skin, and a rotten tooth. He came home with a bright red bandana, lots of pills, and eye drops. He met our seven cats, five dogs, and two ducks, then took a nap on the couch.

He still needs a full dental with extractions and a neuter, but can't have them until he finishes his heartworm treatment. I think this story will have a happy ending! One of the ladies in my office has a young daughter who has been asking for a little dog that can come into the house. Once they get their yard little dog proof, and we make sure they are ready for his medical needs, he will move in with his own family.

Thanks for taking such good care of him.

-Melania

World Pet Memorial Day

Today is World Pet Memorial Day. The benefits of having pets are too numerous to count. They are our companions, our friends, and to some they are even considered family, but the one downfall of being a pet owner is that a vast majority of pets have a much shorter lifespan than their human companions. Today is a day to remember those departed pets and celebrate the time you had with them. What is the happiest memory you have of a departed pet?

Top 10 Things To Do Before Bringing Home Your New Cat

Congratulations, the cat's out of the bag! You've just entered into a wonderful relationship that's bound to be filled with fun and affection. By starting off on the right foot—that is, by being well-prepared for your new arrival—you can move through that rocky adjustment period most new relationships go through and get right down to the lovin'!

1. Make Sure Everyone In The House Is Prepared To Have A Cat

Talk to your family members before bringing a new cat home. Make sure everyone knows that the fun begins only after kitty feels safe and her needs are met. Once you're sure everyone is ready for feeding, litter changing and grooming, you can divvy up chores among family members so everyone is prepared to care for kitty before she arrives.

2. Do You Know What Your Cat Is Trying To Tell You?

The average cat has a vocabulary of more than 16 different sounds, including purring, howling, hissing and meowing—not to mention a wide-range of playful and serious body language. Taking a glance at our Cat Care section will help you understand your cat's behavior before you're faced with her mysterious cat calls, pouncing and nocturnal romps.

3. Stock Up On Supplies Before Kitty Arrives

Have all of your cat's needs ready so she can get right down to the business of making herself at home. Kitty will need:

• A litter box and the brand of litter she's been using
• Food and water bowls and the food she's used to eating
• A sturdy, rough-textured scratching post—at least three feet high—that allows her to stretch completely while scratching
• Safe, stimulating toys. Hint: If you give her toys that make noises, you'll know when she's playing.
• A bed lined with a soft, warm blanket or towel
• Grooming tools: a high-quality brush and nail clipper are a good start

4. Identity Is Key

Proper identification is a necessity. If your kitty is indoors-only, an ID tag or implanted microchip will help ensure she'll be returned to you if she gets out and can't find her way home. A safety collar with an elastic panel will allow your cat to break loose if the collar gets caught on something. We caution against letting cats outdoors, but if you do—or if a window or door is left open—a safety collar and an ID tag may be what bring your missing cat home.

5. A Room Of One's Own

Choose a low-traffic room your kids and other pets don't frequent—this will be your cat's safe space to sniff, eat, scratch and play while she gets her bearings. Arrange her food and water bowls, bed and litter box—and scatter her toys around. You can even clean off a windowsill for her and have soft music playing. She'll appreciate the chance to feel out her new family from inside her haven.

6. Routine Behavior

Give your cat a little structure to lean on. For the first few weeks, provide him with the same kind of food and feeding schedule he had before living with you—and give him the same brand of litter, too, for a familiar scent and feel on his paws. Later on, if you wish to switch to different products, you can make a slow transition.

7. What's New, Pussycat?

With a whole new life in store for her, Kitty will need some time and space to check out her surroundings and all of her new play things. Give her time alone in her room to get comfortable before you come in to play with her. If you have other pets, it's a good idea to leave your new cat in her own room for a few days will allow the other animals in the house to get used to her sounds and scent. (Hint: Watch from the door to see how she leaves her carrier. Whether she pussyfoots into a dark corner or zooms out into the room, you'll know how she feels about her new surroundings.)

8. Introducing Kitty To The Pack

Go slow at first. A cat may need seven to fourteen days to relax into her new environment. If you have kids, let them introduce themselves one at a time. Hold up on the meet-and-greets with friends, neighbors and relatives until your kitty is eating and eliminating on a normal schedule. If you have other pets, don't let your new addition have free run of the house. This is the territory of the animals who have lived with you already. Allow all of your pets to meet in the new cat's territory—and make sure you're there to supervise.

9. Cat-Proof Your Home

When your cat is ready to explore the rest of her new home (for short excursions at first), be sure to get rid of stray items she might chew on or swallow, like toilet paper, tissues and paper towels. Pens and pencils may need to be kept in drawers. You may also have to tape wires to baseboards and put caps on outlets.
Put away harsh cleaning products, human medications and household poisons, and rehome any houseplants that might be toxic to her. Make sure foods that aren't healthy for a cat's tummy are placed securely out of reach.

10. Visit The Vet Within Her First Week

Last but not least, bring your new feline to a caring veterinarian for a wellness exam within one week after adoption. Make this appointment even before you bring your kitty home.

Pet Highlight: Andrew

We saw Andrew at the Farmington Animal Shelter on June 11, 2009. Since he had been picked up as a stray 3 times, the shelter said they would give his family until Saturday June 13 to come and pick him up. We were at the shelter when it opened that Saturday and since his family never came we filled out the adoption forms but couldn't take him home until Monday since he had to be neutered. 

 

On Monday, June 15th, Dr. Garcia neutered him and attached a note to him saying he had some abscesses and we needed to stop by for some medicine. When we got him home and cut off the layer of mats that totally covered his little body we found 2 abscesses, 7 chit grass stuck in his body and a cyst on the top of his head! 

 

Andrew quickly recovered from all his physical problems but it took a bit longer to get him over the fear of tall men in hats, fly swatters and people walking behind him. After 2 1/2 years he is both physically and mentally healthy. He is also the smartest dog we have ever had. He is working in the top level of Obedience, only needs one more qualifying trial to complete the top level of Rally and is working at the top level of Agility. In addition to his work in competition he is also an active Therapy Dog. Each week he (along with his 2 sisters) visits Childhaven and Cedar Ridge Inn where he gives the residents lots of love and does his tricks.

 

We were at the Good Sam International RV Rally in Phoenix and Andrew took part in the Doggie Musical Chairs competition. There were the same number of empty bowls as dogs and when the music stopped each dog had to sit by a bowl. The slowest dog was eliminated in each round. Andrew beat out 29 other dogs to be the last dog standing--therefore the fastest sitter. He won a wonderful gold cup for his efforts.

We are so fortunate to have such a wonderful little dog, He says , "Thank You," every day.

 

 

Pets & Potting Soil

If your indoor cat likes to play in potting soil – be sure to put them on a parasite preventative because 15% of potting soils harbor round worm! Roundworms can be a health risk for humans so bring in a fresh fecal sample to be tested and get your pet is on a parasite preventative today!

Heartworm & Pets

Warm weather means the return of mosquitoes and the heartworm disease that they carry. Because a single bite from a mosquito could transmit the deadly heartworm parasite to your pet, it’s important that your pet stay on a heartworm preventative at all times. We can’t prevent the mosquitoes from biting, but we can prevent their harmful effects. We would love to discuss heartworm prevention for your pet!

Farm Calls

Did you know that we travel to farms to provide care to large animals? We want to ensure your horse receives the best care possible. For more information regarding our large animal services, please call us at 505-326-2205

Pets & Lawn Fertilizer

Did you know that lawn fertilizer can be toxic to your pet if consumed? If your dog likes to roll in the grass, dig holes, or lick their feet after coming inside, you should use caution when choosing your lawn fertilizer. Always read all packages carefully before purchasing, as most manufacturers have specific recommendations about how long your pets should remain off the grass after application. When possible, use products specifically labeled as "pet-safe", to lessen the danger.