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Please release the fleas!
Bo: Do I see you scracthing over there, Jessie?
Jessie: Nah. It’s just a litle itch. No big deal. (Continues to scratch rather feverishly)
Bo: Looks like more than just a little itch to me! Sure hope you don’t have fleas!
Jessie: No, not really. I am just itching to get away from the likes of you!
Ah, fleas! A pet’s and its owner’s worst nightmare! These small dark brown insects prefer temperatures of 65-80 degrees and humidity levels of 75-85%. Depending upon where you live, fleas can become a year-round problem. A dog or cat can come into contact with fleas through interactions with other animals or simply through their enviornment. Since fleas do not have wings, they cannot fly. However, their strong back legs enable them to jump from one thing (or pet!) to another. Once the flea has bitten its host, it can cause itching. For animals with sensitive skin or for those who have flea allergies, the bite can be much more severe. In such cases, it can lead to hair-loss, inflammation and skin infections. For those pets who are highly sensitive to the flea’s bite, they can feel itchy from head to tail from just one tiny bite!
Fleas can be seen frantically moving along the surface of the skin. They are dark copper colored and are about the size of a pin head. Fleas do not like light, so you should tailor the search of your bet to the furrier areas or on the inner thighs. You may find evidence of flea dirt, too, which consists of dark specks of a pepper-like substance on the skin’s surface. According to www.thepetcenter.com, “If you see flea dirt, which is actually flea feces and is composed of digested blood, pick some off the pet and place on a wet paper towel. If after a few minutes the tiny specks spread out like a small blood stain… it’s definitely flea dirt and your pet has fleas! Flea dirt may be your only evidence of a flea infestation but believe the evidence! If there is flea dirt there are surely fleas present. You need to begin your war on the pests.” (In other words: seek advice and treatment from your veterinarian right away!)
Bo: Oh, dear! We now have a battle to wage here, dear Jessie. I say we banish you to the backyard immediately!
Jessie: (Still scratching a bit) I tell you…it is not fleas! I simply think I am having an allergic reaction to your annoying presence!
The pet sitting experts at My Joy of Living in Kansas City can help you to determine if your pet has fleas. My Joy of Living pet sitting services want to help you and all of Kansas City’s pets stay flea-free for life! We have plenty of other things that “bug” us on a daily basis!
Go grab a breath mint, dude!
Bo: You know, Jessie, I have been meaning to tell you this in some diplomatic way, but I don’t know how to say it other than, “Do you need some mouthwash or something? Your breath is kind of foul at times!” There is no Joy of Living in that, my friend!
Jessie: How dare you! I maintain proper oral health care! Perhaps I have just been breathing in some of your aroma and spewing it back out.
We often joke about bad breath in dogs, but it truly is not a laughing matter. Those breath mints for dogs only serve to cover it up, and it is of greater importance to discover the reason behind the foul odor. Some factors could include excess build up of tartar on the teeth, infected gums, or loose and diseased teeth. Other larger problems could be an oral tumor or some systemic disease at play, such as kidney problems or even diabetes. All of these can cause a change in the smell of your dog’s breath.
The most common culprit, however, rests in tooth and gum problems. (Jessie: Yes…like if I was ever so insane at to snack in Bo’s litter box, I would possess very foul breath.) If your pet’s bad breath is raising a concern with you, make it a point to get him or her to the vet so that a proper diagnosis can be made. If it is simply the teeth and gums causing the odor, then most likely the vet will recommend a good dental cleaning and provide you with some home-care guidelines to keep up the maintenance.
Bo: For now, I intend to sit as far away from Jessie as possible. I just threw a box of Altoids in her general direction. Hint! Ah…now I have My Joy of Living in Kansas City!
(Information for this entry provided by http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/caninehealthdogs/f/FAQ_badbreath.htm)
Do you have a first aid kit for your dog or cat?
Just like the old Boy Scout motto goes, it is best to “be prepared.” When it comes to the health and safety of your pet, this is no exception. When you are prepared to handle any sudden illness or injury to your pet, you can act quickly and with the correct action if you are prepared to respond. This could mean the difference between life and death. The pet sitting experts at My Joy of Living in Kansas City want to ensure the health and safety of your dog or cat is first and foremost on your mind.
In a nutshell, here are some items you should have in your Doggie (or Kitty!) first aid kit:
Use a water proof container. In indelible ink, write the phone number for your vet, for the nearest animal emergency hospital, and any poison control hotlines on the box. Be sure to include your own contact information.
Put an animal first aid book in the kit, such as “The First Aid Companion for Dogs and Cats.”
Have CPR instructions in the kit.
Place a copy of your pet’s vaccination records in the kit. Plus, it is wise to have a photo of each pet in there for identification purposes. (Bo will autograph his!)
Other essential items to place in the kit include, but are not limited to, scissors, a tweezer, sterile needle, turkey baster or bulb syringe, eye dropper, 10cc syringe with no needle, tongue depressor, rubber gloves, nail clippers, comb, a rectal thermometer, disposable safety razor, a couple of towels, paper towels, a blanket, a bandana or a nylon stocking, strips of cloth, dog booties or small socks, flashlight , matches, sterile guaze pads, cotton balls, bandages, anti-bacterial wipes, hot/cold pack, ice pack, hydrogen peroxide 3% USP, activated charcoal tablets, antibiotic ointment, rubbing alcohol, betadine solution, petroleum jelly, baking soda, styptic powder, Milk of Magnesia, Benadryl, bottled water, spare leash, muzzle, and bowl.
Information on this entry was obtained from http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_FirstAid.php. For a complete pet first aid kit listing, please refer to this web site. It could be a lifesaver!
With a pet first aid kit, you can guarantee you will continue to find the Joy of Living a new motto for your pet.
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