How long is it safe to go away and just “leave” a cat?

Our question this week was:

Dear Dr. Jon – we are getting ready to go away for vacation. We will be gone for 4 days. I generally just leave a bowl of food and water out and the cats do fine. Is that okay in your opinion? 

For Dr. Jon's answer:
Hover over this web link for Pet Place article...........

http://www.petplace.com/cats/how-long-is-it-safe-to-go-away-and-just-leave-a-cat/page1.aspx#!

DOG T.V. A special channel just for dogs!

Direct t.v. offers Dog T.V. a channel just for dogs! There are other outlets, check
your local companies. You can also stream dog t.v. online:

http://dogtv.com/Page/whatisdogtv

There is a cost of course, but if you have a dog like one of ours who actually
pays attention to our television, and is left home sometimes, this may be a good option for fido! Woof!

R.I.P. Bean

R.I.P. 

Little girl Bean 

"No heaven will not ever Heaven be. Unless my cats are there to welcome me."

(Anonymous) 

P&G Voluntarily Recalls Iams And Eukanuba Dog And Cat Food Due To Potential Salmonella

What to look for:

P&G said on its website:

"Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian."

http://health4uandpets.typepad.com/healthproducts/2013/08/pg-voluntarily-recalls-iams-and-eukanuba-dog-and-cat-food-due-to-potential-salmonella.html

How Not to Be a Jerk to Working Dogs.......

My favorite lesson is " Never, ever, fake a service dog with your own per dog. Seriously. Don’t impersonate a service dog team so that you can fly your dog in the cabin or take them into Target with you to shop for sassy t-shirts. It’s ruining things for real service dogs and their people. Don’t exploit someone else’s hardship. It’s just not o.k.".



Notes from a dog walker.com
Worth a read.......

http://notesfromadogwalker.com/2013/08/06/assistance-dog-week/

DREAM Dog Park in Florida!

Dog Wood Park in Jacksonville, Fla.: It’s worth the price of admission — yes it’s true, a dog park that charges $11 per pup. This is what you get: 42 acres of open space, closed space, agility courses, 10 acres of nature trails, three lighted acres for use until 10 p.m., and Lake Bow Wow, a two-acre swimming lake with fountain.

http://www.jaxdogs.com/

Check out more top rated U.S. dog parks at www.dogtime.com

Please don't overlook homeless black dogs and cats in the shadows!

Several Ways to Save on Veterinary Costs

1. 
   
2. A few tips from Nancy Kay Veterinarian from the bay area, Calif.
3. 
   
4. Request a written cost estimate for veterinary services before they are provided. How else can you possibly know if your bill will be $200 or $2000? With an estimate in hand, you will avoid the element of surprise and won’t end up paying for things you deem to be unnecessary. In no way does requesting an estimate reflect how much you love your pet; you are simply being fiscally responsible.
5. Avoid over-vaccinating your dog. We used to think that distemper and parvovirus vaccines had to be given annually. We now know that these vaccinations provide a minimum of three year’s worth of protection (once the puppy series has been completed). Kick the once a year vaccine habit. If your vaccine reminder card suggests otherwise, have a heart-to-heart conversation with your veterinarian.
6. Be a savvy consumer of supplements for your dog. Some supplement suppliers would like you to believe that your dog’s good health, from puppyhood on, is dependent on their products. Avoid being seduced by such ads. Talk with your veterinarian about which supplements are worthy expenditures for your dog. Then utilize only the ones that are recommended, rather than paying for three or four others that might be found in combined supplement products.
7. Price shop for your dog’s prescriptions. If the medication prescribed is a human drug, compare the human pharmacy price to what your veterinary hospital would charge. Big box or chain pharmacies purchase medications in bulk and can pass the savings onto you. Costco prices are usually some of the lowest, and some human pharmacies offer substantial AAA discounts for pet prescriptions. For veterinary prescription items your dog receives on a regular basis (heartworm preventive, flea and tick control products, prescription diets), you might find the best savings via online pharmacies (bear in mind, not all such pharmacies are reputable — it pays to do some research). Yes, you still need your veterinarian’s authorization. You can ask your vet for a written prescription and use it as you would for your own prescriptions. Another option is to contact an online pharmacy with your request and they will request authorization from your veterinarian via a fax transmission. These days, veterinarians are certainly used to receiving such requests.

Nancy Kay is a veterinarian in Rohnert Park, California, and the author of Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life.

R.I.P. Chuck

 

I lived a long life, well into my teens, with great owners that loved me unconditionally.

 You will be missed dear boy!

Pet loss grief help link:............http://www.helpguide.org/mental/grieving_pets.htm

    "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains un-awakened."

                                                                                                                          Anatole France