Pet Vaccinations

Protect Your Pet: Vaccinate Before Boarding

Boarding facilities place animals from different households in close proximity, increasing the risk of passing on infections. This makes vaccinations an essential part of preparing your pet for boarding.

Vaccinations help protect your pet by stimulating their body to produce antibodies to specific contagious and often lethal diseases. If your pet should later come in to contact with a disease they are vaccinated against the antibodies will protect them. Vaccinations may be given over a 2-3 week course and immunity may take days or weeks to develop afterwards. You should consult with the boarding facility and your vet in advance to find out the requirements and timescale involved for vaccinations.


Vaccinations for Dogs

Routine vaccinations for dogs usually protect against Parvovirus, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis and Distemper. Many dogs receive these vaccinations as puppies and then further booster vaccinations throughout their lives. Some vaccinations need annual boosters others have a three-year life. You should check with your vet when your dog’s boosters are due. If your dog has not been vaccinated before, then they cannot be boarded in kennels until 7-14 days after vaccination.

Vaccines against Kennel Cough are often not part of a routine vaccination programme unless you plan to place your dog in boarding kennels. Kennel Cough can have several causes but the main culprits are Bordetella Bronchiseptica and Canine Parainfluenza. There are two vaccines available, Nobivac KC which protects against both forms and Intrac which is a nasal spray and protects against Bordetella Bronchiseptica. Dogs cannot be boarded until 3-5 days after vaccination and preferably at least two weeks. Nobivac KC provides immunity for one year and Intrac for six months.


Vaccinations for Cats

Different combinations of vaccinations are available for cats, so you will need to check with your vet what diseases your cat is protected against. Most vaccine combinations protect against Cat Flu (Feline Herpes and Feline Calicivirus) and Feline Infectious Enteritis (Feline Panleucopenia). Your cat may also be protected against Chlamydia and Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV), otherwise you can arrange these vaccinations separately. A vaccination is also available for Bordetella Bronchiseptica another respiratory infection. As this is a common cause of Kennel Cough in dogs, it is particularly relevant if you board your cat at a cattery that also boards dogs. All vaccinations require annual boosters and cats should not be boarded until two weeks after vaccination.


Vaccinations for Rabbits

Rabbits should be vaccinated routinely, but particularly before boarding, against Myxomatosis and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD). The two vaccinations should be given at least two weeks apart, with the last vaccine at least two weeks prior to boarding. The Myxomatosis requires six monthly boosters and VHD annual boosters.

Help us adopt Sunny to a good home!

My name is Sunny. I was given the name because of my friendly, intelligent, outgoing, playful and enthusiastic personality. I am very unique, I love being with people. People say that I believe I am a human, rather than a kitten. I love to be held and I love to cuddle. I am a baby kitten of 3 months old who needs a loving home.

My best quality is that I make humans laugh when I do summersaults, chase little balls, or jump up in the air. I am a little gymnast at heart. Humans tell me I am very entertaining and lovable! Anyone who wants to laugh or to receive unconditional love would make an ideal family for me.

I am healthy (I have been to the vet three times now) and I use the litter box. I am ready for someone to adopt me to a good home. If you have any questions about me, call Susan at 949-472-9059 or email: susandlp@dslextreme.com

Dog Daycare: Benefits and Considerations

Daycare for dogs is becoming more and more popular across the nation. The daycare
facilities range from very small 1,200 sq ft facilities to expansive warehouse facilities, to
indoor/outdoor facilities, some of which have multiple acres for the dogs to run. Fees range
according to the size of the facility, the services offered, and geography. Orange County,
California has an average per day fee of $35.00, while Orange County, FL has an average
of $18.00 per day.

Read More about Doggy Daycare Benefits in our website.

Seasonal Allergies in Cats: Do You Know the Signs?

Dr. Jon's Advice For Your Cat

We Love Our Cats

Is your cat prepared for Allergy Season? Warm weather is finally here and our indoor-outdoor cats can once again spend more time outdoors. But as winter melts away and spring comes into full bloom, so do seasonal allergens - and they can affect all cats, even those that live indoors. Allergies aren't just a problem for people.  “Our cats can suffer from allergies, too.” This is the time of year when your cat will come into contact with seasonal allergens every single day. There's simply no way to avoid it.

Allergies can be irritating and uncomfortable for your cat, but if you know what signs to watch for, and what treatments can help ease your cat's symptoms, you can keep your cat's allergy-related problems under control.

Learn: Which Pets are Most at Risk for Allergies? »

What's An Allergy?

Allergies occur when your cat's immune system overreacts to something (an “antigen” or “allergen”) that really isn't a bodily threat.

While your cat's immune system is designed to protect against real threats like bacteria, it should not have the same reaction to substances like dust mites, grass or pollen. When cats are first exposed to an allergen, they may develop an immune reaction.

With continued exposure, the reaction increases and your cat will develop a hypersensitivity to the allergen. That's when itching and inflammation develop. The more antigens your cat is exposed to, the more severe the reaction will be.

What Causes Allergies in Cats?

Your cat's allergies can be caused by food, or they can be environmental. Since this is the height of allergy season, let's talk about seasonal environmental allergies today.

The #1 cause of seasonal allergies in cats may surprise you...it's fleas.

This is the worst time of year for fleas. Flea bites are annoying to all pets, but if your cat is allergic to flea saliva, all it takes is one little flea bite to cause a full-blown allergic reaction. Most cats with flea allergies actually have very few fleas. That's because they're so itchy, they excessively groom themselves, eliminating evidence of fleas. But for a cat with a flea allergy, all it takes is a couple of bites every two weeks and the cat will be constantly itchy. Flea bites are very annoying for cats, and they often lead to secondary skin infections.

Your cat may suffer from “Allergic Inhaled Dermatitis” also known as atopic allergies. They are caused by environmental allergens that your cat can inhale, absorb through the skin or pads of the feet, or ingest. Some of the most common atopic allergens are ragweed, pollen, mold, feathers, grass, trees, shrubs, animal dander, house dust and dust mites. This condition makes cats very itchy, particularly on the paws. The skin may be red and irritated from scratching or the ears may be inflamed. But atopy can be hard to diagnose in cats, so the problem often goes undiagnosed.

Symptoms:

Unlike humans who suffer from sneezing, stuffy noses and watery eyes, cats with allergiestend to suffer from dermatitis and skin skin disorders. In fact, allergies are one of the top causes of skin disease in cats.

When your cat's immune system detects an allergen, histamine is released causing allergy symptoms to appear. Areas of the body will become hot, swollen, puffy and very itchy. Some typical symptoms include:

		Scratching
		Licking of paws
		Head shaking
		Red, raised, scaly areas on the skin
		Salivary staining (brown color)
		Increased skin pigmentation
		Thickened skin
		Loss of hair

If your cat is suffering from an atopic allergy, the face, feet and armpits are the most likely to be affected. But as the condition progresses, the symptoms may spread to the entire body.

The more your cat scratches, the greater the risk for skin infections. Continued scratching breaks the skin allowing bacteria to enter and begin multiplying. Some bacteria can cause serious infections that require antibiotics to clear up your cat's skin infection. But the allergy still remains and cycles of recurring skin and ear infections are likely to continue.

An Allergy Catastrophe:

Last spring we treated a four-year-old cat that was allergic to feathers. The cat had all the symptoms of a full-blown allergy attack when he came to the clinic. When we questioned his owners, we found that the symptoms began about two weeks earlier. The cat had never had allergy symptoms before.

What was this cat allergic to?

We began asking the owners some questions to determine what had changed during the last two weeks. We learned that their cat had a new bed. It was a zippered duvet cover that could be stuffed with clothing, pillows and the like. The cat's owners had stuffed the new bed with an old feather pillow - that's when the cat's symptoms began! We prescribed some medications to ease the cat's symptoms and told the owners to get rid of the feather pillow bed.

The cat's owners had stuffed the new bed with an old feather pillow - that's when the cat's symptoms began!

Most environmental allergies are not so easy to pin down and the cat may require extensive testing to determine the cause of the allergy. But in this case, we were lucky. After the pillow was gone, the cat's allergy symptoms disappeared.

How to Reduce Your Cat's Exposure to Allergens:

This is a real challenge. Inside your home, it may help to run air filters, keep windows closed, vacuum frequently with a HEPA-filtered vacuum and dust with a damp cloth. Carpeting is much worse for your cat than tile and linoleum. Never keep a cat with allergies in the garage, basement or in a dusty area.

All cats will be exposed to many environmental allergens, especially at this time of year. Pollen counts are highest during early morning and late evening, so cats with allergies should be kept inside during these hours. Try to keep windows and doors closed during this time as well.

Prevention and Treatment:

Allergies have no cure. But you can take steps to reduce your cat's exposure to allergens. Treatment of your cat's allergic symptoms is a must. It will make your cat more comfortable and prevent the condition from getting worseâ?¦ but the underlying allergy problem will still be there.

CATS:

Immunosuppressant prescription drugs like Atopica For Cats,or Cyclosporine (Modified) Generic To Atopica can soothe your cat's allergic skin condition by stopping the itch and preventing white blood cells from responding to the infection.

Antihistamines help many cats. Common antihistamines include Hydroxyzine Pamoate,Hydroxyzine HCl, and Diphenhydramine (Generic Benadryl).

Steroids such as Prednisone are also used to treat allergic reactions, control inflammation and reduce pain. But steroids can have negative side effects, like stomach ulcers and high blood sugar. To make steroid use safer, try adding an Omega 3 Fatty Acid supplement likeSuper Pure Omega 3 or Be Well for Cats. It will reduce inflammation so your cat will need fewer steroids to recover.

Topical treatments and shampoos can also help relieve itching and allergy symptoms. Some popular ones include Excel Hydrocortisone Spray and Excel Hydrocortisone Shampoo.

If your cat has an allergy to flea saliva, it's important to use a good preventative flea treatment year-round, like Advantage II®, Flea3X, Frontline Plus and more. They're safe and very easy to use. Just apply once a month to the back of your cat's neck. It is equally important to treat your cat's environment for fleas, indoors and out.

I hope this information helps you to identify possible allergy problems in your cat and take the necessary steps to treat them.

Until next time,

P.S.: If your cat undergoes allergy testing and the source of the allergy is identified, you might want to consider immunotherapy. These are allergy injections that are custom-designed for your cat's specific allergies. With continued injections of the allergen in low doses over a long period of time, cats often become less sensitive to the allergen. But this treatment could take a year or more, it can be very expensive, and is sometimes ineffective.

P.P.S. Remember to inspect your cat regularly for allergic reactions and fleas. Catching the problem early will help keep the symptoms under control.

10 tips for dog park safety

Local dog parks offer recreation and socialization for canines and their owners. These facilities, often fenced for safety, allow dogs to run free and play rough-and-tumble games together. Although most dogs romp and play pleasantly, a dog park can quickly turn dangerous for humans and hounds. How can dog lovers prevent such hazards?

Practical precautions prevail, when it comes to dog park safety. Here are 10 basic tips for diminishing dangers at the pet park.

1. Check out the dog park before your dog's first trip.

Pet owners may be familiar with dog parks in their hometowns, but it pays to stop by before taking pets to play. This advance security step is particularly important while traveling, when human handlers may visit a pet park for the first time.

This initial inspection offers an opportunity to check fence lines, drinking water availability, parking options, and other facility features.

2. Keep your dog current medically.

No pet should be allowed to interact with other canines at the dog park without up-to-date immunizations and vaccinations. Worming, flea, and tick treatments are also prudent. A sick or parasite-infested dog can easily spread his condition to others during play.

3. Train your dog first.

Basic training in voice commands and simple hand signals must precede the first trip to the dog park. A dog should come when called before he is turned loose among others of his kind.

Many pet owners use remote-controlled collars as added insurance for dog park excursions.

4. Leave toys, treats, and tots out.

Balls, flying disks, and other dog biscuits can incite fighting among excited canines. Smart pet owners keep playthings and picnics out of the dog park.

Little kids may not be strong or savvy enough to steer clear of rough dog play. It's safer to reserve dog park trips for pets only, rather than trying to babysit at the same time.

5. Avoid peak dog park times.

Dogs grow rowdiest in herds. Wise human handlers visit dog parks during less crowded times, at least for their first trips. Weekdays are ideal, as dog parks are popular on weekends, holidays, and evenings.

6. Observe the dogs at the park as you arrive.

A watchful pet owner sizes up the tone of the dog park quickly, even before stepping through the gate. Do any dogs appear aggressive? Are suspicious-looking people lurking about? For personal and pet safety, it pays to peek at the park and the parking lot before entering.

7. Watch your dog vigilantly.

Although dog lovers tend to socialize at the park, the shrewd master keeps an eye on her own pet. Dogs telegraph their intents by barking and body language, and a keen handler can spot a fight brewing.

Ideally, the dog park user takes one canine per visit, unless she takes human assistants or no other dogs are present.

8. Know the difference between dog play and fighting.

Not all growling, tumbling and nipping are outright aggression. Dogs may play rough. Still, educated canine handlers spot trouble before it escalates into danger.

Still, for safety's sake, young puppies don't belong at dog parks, These fragile tykes are particularly vulnerable to larger, aggressive canines. It's better to wait until puppies are several months old and have completed early immunization series before taking them to the dog park.

9. Don't jump into a dog fight.

The most affectionate dog can become fierce when instincts kick in during a fight. Many well-meaning dog lovers have suffered critical injuries, simply trying to break up dog fights.

Experienced dog trainers work in pairs, grabbing the hind legs of fighting dogs to separate them. A safer method for most is to blow bike horns or spray battling dogs with water misters.

If injuries occur, dog handlers must exchange names and phone numbers, in case follow-up is needed after medical attention is sought. Bite-and-run injuries should be reported.

10. Be flexible.

Caring pet handlers are willing to leave the dog park early, if the scene becomes unsafe for animals or people.

These simple steps can keep humans and dogs safer at the park. Of course, one final reminder is in order. Any dog park visitor does well to watch her step!

Source: Yahoo

NC shelter kills 99 percent of animals, records show

Troy, N.C. — For dogs and cats that end up at the Montgomery County Animal Shelter, the journey is like being sent to death row. The shelter, which has the highest kill rate in the state, euthanized nearly 1,200 animals – 100 percent of cats and 98 percent of dogs – brought there last year, according to state records.


“It's like going to your mother's funeral every time you do it. You never get over it,” said animal control officer Leon Everett, who euthanizes the animals by lethal injection.

North Carolina does not regulate euthanasia rates at county animal shelters. The state only began inspecting county shelters in 2006. Montgomery County’s animal shelter has failed 11 of its 14 inspections, according to public records the WRAL Investigates team examined.

Inspectors called the shelter’s conditions “deplorable” and noted that it did not have any walls to protect the animals from the weather, the dogs and cats weren’t being fed and cages weren't cleaned for an entire weekend.
The shelter abides by the 72-hour state minimum to hold animals before they are euthanized, but there's no formal adoption process, no regular shelter hours and no website to advertise available animals.

Montgomery County manager Matt Woodard said he isn’t surprised by his county’s high kill rate, which he attributes to funding problems and a different mentality about animals among people in his county. Less than 1 percent of the county's $29 million budget goes to the shelter. It receives about $95,000 a year, which pays for two full-time workers, trucks, fuel, power and equipment.

On the day the WRAL Investigates team visited, animal control officers found a Labrador mix dumped at the shelter with its legs wrapped in duct tape.

“There are cruel people in the world,” Woodard said.

Woodard has helped bring the shelter’s concrete and cages closer to state standards over the past year, but he would like to do more.

“Yes, we all would like to build a new facility to make it perfectly climate controlled, but we’re not able to do that,” he said.

Pushed by state inspectors, Montgomery County commissioners voted to spend $30,000 to put in a new septic system, a portable building for lethal injections, retractable windows and walls in the shelter. Before those changes, “the air in the winter would come through here and the animals would shiver,” Woodward said.

Lee Hunter, director of animal welfare with the N.C. Department of Agriculture, acknowledged that Montgomery County's shelter was "one of the worst" in the state. However, he chose not to shut it down.

"When shelters have gone so long without oversight, you can't turn around as soon as they come under and just say, 'We're shutting you down.' The animals have to go somewhere," Hunter said, noting that the shelter needs more financial help and public involvement.

While Montgomery County faces criticism for its high kill rate, other county shelters with much lower euthanization rates have come under intense scrutiny from animal rights groups. The Wake County animal shelter was the focus of public outrage last year when its euthanasia rate climbed above 40 percent.
“The shelter system in North Carolina is pretty much broken,” said Lisa Brockmeier, a blogger with the shelter pet advocacy group FixNC. She says Montgomery County’s money struggles are no excuse for a history of shoddy conditions and a high kill rate.

“My reaction is, they're not even trying,” she said.

Money can be a factor, but not always. Some of the poorest counties in the state have the highest kill rates. State records show Anson, Edgecombe, Surry and Washington are all above 90 percent. But other poor counties are making it work, such as Alleghany and Bladen, which have kill rates of 27 percent and 33 percent, respectively.

Nearly 225,000 dogs and cats were euthanized at public shelters in North Carolina last year.

• Find out how many animals were euthanized in your county last year
• Read shelter inspection reports from all 100 counties

Tom Hicks is president of the Montgomery County Humane Society, which consists of a few dog runs in a volunteer's backyard. With limited space, they work with animal control on rescues. Those adoptions are not reflected in the state numbers.

Montgomery County cleared some land next to the shelter for a Humane Society adoption center. Volunteers have raised about $21,000 so far, but hope to raise more so they can build the center.

“We'd like to get it where at least the social animals have a chance of being adopted,” Hicks said.

Until then, the chances are high that most animals won't make it out alive.
“If I were a stray dog in Montgomery County, I would think, ‘Gosh, my chances of staying alive are better out here in the woods,’” Brockmeier said.

---

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Word of WRAL’s story has stirred up tremendous emotional reaction from the public. WRAL reached out to Montgomery County’s manager and offered to help promote an adoption clinic for the animals. Instead, Woodard asked that people who want to help should coordinate through the Montgomery County Humane Society, either by donating money or adopting animals.

To help Montgomery County build an adoption center, make check payable to:

Montgomery County Humane Society
1150 Okeewemee Road
Troy, N.C. 27371

To learn more about spay and neuter programs:

Contact Penny Page with the veterinary division of the N.C. Department of Agriculture
919-715-7111
www.ncspayneuter.com

To learn more about organizing and volunteer efforts:
Contact Kim Alboum with the Humane Society of the United States-North Carolina Chapter
kalboum@hsus.org

Source: WRAL.COM

What do you know about Doggy Daycare?

Thousands of pet owners work all day, and this requires leaving your dog home while you work. Often these owners come home to a stressed out dog, and rampant destruction, either of the house, or the yard, and neighbors who complain of barking and howling, due to separation anxiety. 
One of the top ten reasons given at an animal shelter for owner turn-ins is "he destroys my things when I'm not home". This could be prevented so easily with either crate-training, exhaustive exercise, or daycare. 

About Doggy Daycare
It works just like Daycare for human babies. Dropping your dog off in the morning on the way to work, and while you slave away, your pampered pooch is pampered indeed! Depending on both your dog's activity level, and the curriculum set out by the Daycare owners, he may enjoy his day by playing with other dogs, playing with people, inside or outside, or he may be the type to while away the hours ensconced on somebody's couch, getting loving attention. 

Cost of Doggie Daycare
You can check our prices here. And for more information about our services of Doggy Day Care and Pet Boarding check here.

We're serving in areas like:

• Laguna Niguel
• Mission Viejo
• Aliso Viejo
• Laguna Hills
• Laguna woods
• San Juan Capistrano
• Rancho Santa Margarita
• Dana Point
• San Clemente
• Ladera Ranch
• Las Flores
• Lake Forest
• Coto de Caza
• Foothill Ranch
• Trabuco Canyon
• Irvine

Source: myparkapet.com & about.com