A New Year’s Start
Somehow 2014 went by in a flash and here we are in a brand new year. Hopefully all survived the holidays with cheer and are ready for a new start.
I’m a list maker and always make a list of goals for the New Year. I used to call them resolutions, but then felt too depressed when one fell off unrealized. However, we can always use new goals and I’ve found a few that are good ones for your furry friends.
Is more exercise or better health on your personal list for 2015? What about for Fido, or for Luna or Raoul?
Many had or received for Christmas a Fit Bit or the like. Would you like an equivalent for your dog? Check out the Pettag+. This high tech collar tag measures and tracks your list of pet targets – exercise, food, play and even TLC through an app (Apple and Android). The goal is to keep you the owner or other pet caretakers a bit more accountable, while your pet benefits from improved exercise and more. You can find out more at www.pettagplus.com.
Does your cat or dog hover and hoover over the food bowl? Eating quickly for your pet is just as unhealthy for them and for humans. Eat too fast and your satiation center in the brain is not stimulated to turn off and you’ll overeat. And, of course, cats who eat too fast will frequently reflexively regurgitate what they just ate – yuck. Try a slow feed bowl. There is a whole new pet food bowl marketplace for bowls that force a pet to eat more slowly and there are even food game toys to engage the mind. To find, visit your pet supply stores or Google slow feed pet bowls.
Attaching a leash to a moving target can be difficult on a normal day, but if you’re impacted by arthritis or just have difficulty with leash clips, how about a Magic Latch? This new leash connection system debuted summer 2014. The two part patented systems has a Dangle that attaches to the pet’s collar and a Grabber placed on the leash with a magnet strong enough to hold a dog up to 85 pounds. Learn more at www.magiclatch.com.
And, what will be happening new in the hospital? We’re going to focus even further on fear-free, stress-free veterinary visits for our canine and feline patients. Think about it – does a doctor’s appointment make you nervous? And, those nerves raise your heart rate and your blood pressure. Coming to the veterinarian similarly makes many pets very anxious and we want to help lessen that stress response where we can.
You’ll be hearing and seeing more to this point in the upcoming months, but if any questions or you have a very nervous patient, please ask what things we can put into play to make their veterinary visits less scary – from the simple like happy visits or lots of treats to supplements or medications to take away the anxiety.
Dr. Margot can be reached at parkhillvet.com