Education & Resources
Preparing Livestock and Pets for Wildfire: A Guide to Safety
Wildfire season is upon us, it's crucial to ensure the safety of our beloved animals. We hope this guide to help you prepare your livestock and pets:
1. Create an Emergency Plan
Evacuation Routes: Know safe routes for quick evacuation.
Safe Havens: Identify safe locations where you can take your animals, such as barns, fairgrounds, or animal shelters.
Transport Readiness: Keep vehicles and trailers ready for transportation.
2. Prepare Emergency Kits
For Pets:
Leashes, collars, and carriers
Food, water, and bowls
Medications and first aid supplies
Comfort items like blankets or toys
Copies of medical records and microchip information
For Livestock:
Halters and lead ropes
Food, water, and buckets
Medications and veterinary records
Identification tags or markers
3. Create a Defensible Space
Around Livestock Areas: Clear brush and flammable materials from barns and corrals.
For Pets: Keep pet enclosures and areas clear of debris.
4. Stay Informed
Monitor Weather and Fire Updates: Keep an eye on local news and weather channels.
Sign Up for Alerts: Enroll in local alert systems for timely notifications.
5. Have a Backup Plan
Neighbor Assistance: Coordinate with neighbors for help with evacuation if you're not home.
Alternative Shelters: Know alternative locations where you can temporarily house your animals.
Remember, your animals depend on you for their safety. Being prepared can make all the difference. Stay safe, and take action now to protect your furry and feathered friends. Stay safe!
Understanding Raw Food Diet for Pets
A raw food diet for pets typically includes uncooked meat, bones, organs, fruits, and vegetables. The goal is to mimic what animals might eat in the wild.
1. Types of Raw Diets
BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food): Includes raw meat, bones, fruits, and vegetables.
Prey Model Raw: Focuses on whole prey animals and omits fruits and vegetables.
2. Perceived Benefits
Natural Diet: Mimics the natural diet of wild animals.
Dental Health: Chewing on raw bones can help clean teeth.
Improved Digestion: Some owners report better digestion and smaller stools.
Healthy Coat and Skin: Can lead to a shinier coat and healthier skin.
Increased Energy Levels: Pets may show increased vitality and energy.
3. Potential Risks
Increased Risk of Antibiotic Resistance: Exposure to bacteria in raw food can contribute to development of antibiotic-resistant infections, which can affect both pets and humans.
Nutritional Imbalance: Without proper knowledge, diets can be unbalanced and lack essential nutrients. This is especially important in growing animals, where an appropriate calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is critical for healthy bone development.
Bacterial Contamination: Raw food can carry bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli or Listeria, which can be harmful to pets and humans.
Bone Hazards: Bones can cause choking, blockages, and/or fractured teeth.
4. Safety Tips
Consult a Veterinarian: Always consult with your vet, or a veterinary nutritionist, before starting a raw diet.
Balanced Diet: Ensure the diet includes all necessary nutrients and supplements. Resources of supplements are listed below, to be used in combination with a veterinary nutritionist.
Hygiene: Practice good hygiene, such as washing and disinfecting hands, surfaces, and dishes thoroughly after each meal. Clean the muzzle of your pet after meal time.
Immune compromised: Do not feed if there are any people or animals in the household with a compromised immune system. This includes the young and old, as well as anyone on immune suppressants.
5. Monitoring Your Pet
Regular Check-ups: Schedule regular vet visits to monitor your pet’s health and dietary needs.
Observation: Keep an eye on your pet’s weight, coat condition, energy levels, and stool quality.
6. Common Myths
Bones are Always Safe: Bones are so hard they can cause fractured teeth and may have sharp edges which irritate or perforate the gastrointestinal system.
Raw Diets are Always Healthier: A raw diet isn't automatically healthier; it must be well-balanced and appropriate for the pet and household.
All Pets Thrive on Raw Food: Not all pets may benefit from a raw diet; individual needs vary.
7. Resources for Further Reading
CVMA Position
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) finds there is compelling evidence for health risks to pets fed raw meat-based (RMB) pet food products, including raw meat-based diets (RMBD), and to humans who are in contact with such products or in contact with pets that consume them. The CVMA holds that the scientific evidence of animal and human health risks in feeding RMB pet food products outweighs any purported benefits.
Disclaimer
Always consult with your veterinarian before making significant changes to your pet’s diet. This information sheet is for educational purposes and not a substitute for professional veterinary advice.
How to Safely Give Your Pet Pills
Administering pills to pets can be a bit of a challenging task, but with the right approach, you can make the process smooth and stress-free for both you and your pet. Here are some tips to help you safely give your pet pills:
1. Consult Your Veterinarian
Dosage and Instructions: Ensure you understand the correct dosage and whether the medication should be given with food or on an empty stomach.
Special Instructions: Some pills cannot be crushed or split, so always check with your vet.
2. Use Treats
Hiding Pills in Food: You can also hide the pill in a small amount of food like cheese, peanut butter, or wet food. Make sure the entire pill is consumed.
Trick for Smart Pets: Give a treat first, then a treat with the pill, followed quickly by another treat. This encourages your pet to swallow the pill to get the next reward.
3. Manual Pill Administration
Hold Your Pet Securely: If your pet is small, wrap them in a towel to prevent movement. For larger pets, have someone help hold them still.
Open the Mouth: Gently tilt your pet's head back and open their mouth by pressing down on the lower jaw or gently squeezing behind the upper canine teeth.
Place the Pill: Place the pill as far back on the tongue as possible, then close the mouth immediately.
Encourage Swallowing: Gently stroke your pet’s throat or blow on their nose to encourage swallowing. You can also offer a small amount of water using a syringe (without a needle) to help the pill go down.
4. Be Positive and Calm
Use a Calm Tone: Speak softly and calmly to your pet to reduce their anxiety.
Reward Your Pet: After successfully administering the pill, give your pet a treat or praise to create a positive experience.
5. Observe Your Pet
Check for Compliance: Make sure your pet has swallowed the pill and hasn't spat it out. Watch for a few minutes after administration.
Monitor for Side Effects: Watch for any unusual reactions and contact your veterinarian if needed.
Additional Tips
Timing: Stick to a consistent schedule for giving medication.
Practice: If you're new to giving pills, practice with a small treat to get comfortable with the technique.
Pill Crushers and Splitters: If your vet approves, these tools can help make pills easier to administer, especially for pets that resist whole pills.
Pet Pillers/Poppers: This tool can be useful to help place the pill at the back of the throat with manual pill administration.
Always consult your veterinarian if you're having trouble administering medication or if you have any concerns about your pet's health.
How to Clean Your Pet's Ears Safely
Regular ear cleaning is essential for your pet's health and comfort. We hope this simple guide will help you clean your pet's ears safely:
1. Gather Your Supplies
Ear Cleaner: Use a vet-approved ear cleaning solution.
TrizEDTA Aqueous Flush
Non-stinging formula, making it gentle on sensitive ears.
Ideal for inflamed or ulcerated ears.
Safe for ruptured eardrums.
Effective for Pseudomonas infections.
MalAcetic Otic Cleaner
Great for preventing yeast infections in dogs prone to them.
Helps with greasy, waxy, or moist ears by cleansing and drying.
May be irritating in severely inflamed or ulcerated ears, so avoid in these cases.
Epiklean
Designed for maintenance of healthy ears.
Helpful for moist ears thanks to its gentle drying agent.
Suitable for routine ear care to keep ears clean and comfortable.
Cotton Balls or Pads: Can use cotton swabs for cleaning out cartilage grooves.
Towel: To keep your pet steady and clean up any mess.
2. Prepare Your Pet
Create a Calm Environment: Choose a quiet space and keep your pet relaxed.
Restraint: Gently hold your pet or have someone help you if needed.
3. Apply the Ear Cleaner
Lift the Ear Flap: Hold your pet’s ear flap upright and carefully squeeze the ear cleaner into the ear canal until it begins to pool.
Massage the Base: Gently massage the base of the ear to loosen debris and wax. You should hear a soft squishing sound—this means the solution is working.
4. Clean the Ear
Wipe Away Debris: Let your pet shake their head, then use a cotton ball or pad to remove any visible dirt or wax from the ear flap and outer ear canal.
Repeat if Necessary: If your pet's ears are very dirty, you may need to repeat the process.
5. Check for Signs of Infection
Check your pet’s ears regularly and look for:
Redness
Odor
Unusual discharge
If you notice any of these signs, contact your veterinarian, as they may indicate an ear infection or another underlying issue.
Tip: If discharge persists or builds up over the next day or two, this is a strong sign of an ear infection and warrants veterinary attention.
Chronic or recurrent ear infections may indicate an underlying condition, such as:
Allergies – to food or environmental factors
Hormonal diseases – like Cushing’s disease or hypothyroidism
Anatomical abnormalities – for example:
Thickened ear canals due to chronic inflammation
Narrow ear canals, as seen in breeds like Shar Peis
6. Reward Your Pet
Give Treats and Praise: Reward your pet with treats and praise to create a positive association with ear cleaning.
Important Tips
Frequency: Clean your pet's ears as recommended by your vet, usually once a month or as needed.
Avoid Over-Cleaning: Over-cleaning can irritate your pet's ears, so only clean them when necessary.
Consult Your Vet: Always consult your vet before using any new ear-cleaning product.
Regular ear cleaning can help prevent infections and keep your pet comfortable. Remember, if you're unsure about how to clean your pet's ears or if they have chronic ear issues, please give us a call to book an appointment with one of our team.
A Little Squish, A Little Swish: Ear Cleaning 101 Video
How to Remove a Tick
Ticks can carry diseases that affect your dog’s health, so it’s important to remove them safely and monitor your pet afterward. Follow these steps to ensure proper removal and care.
Preparation
Before you begin, gather the following supplies:
Tweezers or a tick removal tool
Rubbing alcohol
A Ziploc bag
Rubber gloves
Disinfectant or antibiotic cream (available from your veterinarian)
Removal
Put on your rubber gloves.
If using tweezers:
Grasp the tick as close to your dog’s skin as possible.
If using a tick removal tool:
Gently press the tool against your dog’s skin near the tick.
Slide the notch of the tool underneath the tick.
Slowly and steadily pull the tick out of your dog’s skin.
Avoid twisting, squeezing, or crushing the tick, as this can leave the head embedded in the skin.
After Care
Place the tick in a Ziploc bag with rubbing alcohol and leave it for 24 hours to ensure it is killed.
Wash your hands thoroughly.
Note the location and date you found the tick.
Apply disinfectant or antibiotic cream to the bite site.
Clean your tweezers or tick removal tool with rubbing alcohol.
Consider submitting the tick for identification through eTick to help track tick-borne disease risks in your area.
Watch for symptoms of tick-borne illnesses
Contact your veterinarian immediately if your dog develops any of the following symptoms after a tick bite:
Joint pain or stiffness
Lethargy or weakness
Weight loss
Decreased appetite or thirst
Redness or inflammation at the bite site
Neurological issues (e.g., tremors, incoordination)
Prevention
Preventing tick bites is the best way to keep your animal healthy. Your veterinarian can recommend effective tick prevention products such as:
Bravecto – protects against ticks and fleas for several months
Other approved topical or oral tick preventatives
Additional prevention tips:
Avoid areas with tall grass, heavy brush, or dense wooded areas where ticks are common.
Check your pet regularly for ticks, especially after walks in high-risk areas.
Keep your yard maintained by trimming grass and removing leaf litter where ticks may hide.
Using a combination of preventative products and regular tick checks greatly reduces your pet’s risk of tick-borne illness.
Tips and Tricks to Apply Eye Medication
Eye medications are commonly prescribed to treat conditions such as infections, inflammation, injuries, or dry eye. Applying eye medication can sometimes feel challenging, but with a few simple techniques, it can become much easier and less stressful for both you and your pet.
1. Preparation
Before starting, gather all the supplies you will need:
Your pet’s eye medication
Clean tissues or cotton pads
Treats or rewards for your pet
A calm, well-lit area
Always wash your hands before and after applying medication to prevent introducing bacteria to the eye.
2. Applying the eye drops
Gently wipe away any debris around the eye using a warm, damp washcloth before applying the medication.
Hold the eye drop bottle between your thumb and index finger. For better control, you can rest the side of your hand on the top of your pet’s head for stability.
With your other hand, gently pull down the lower eyelid using your thumb. This will create a small pocket or pouch to hold the drops.
Hold the bottle close to the eye without touching the eye or eyelids.
Squeeze the prescribed number of drops into the eye, aiming for the center.
Release your pet’s head and allow them to blink naturally.
Blinking will spread the medication across the surface of the eye.
For horses: A 1 mL syringe with the needle removed can sometimes be used to administer eye drops from a short distance. Please contact your veterinarian for guidance before using this method.
3. Applying the eye ointment
Gently wipe away any debris around the eye using a warm, damp washcloth before applying the medication.
Apply a thin strip of the ointment onto your clean finger or a cotton swab (Q-tip).
With your other hand, gently pull down your pet’s lower eyelid using your thumb. This will create a small pouch to hold the ointment.
Carefully roll or place the ointment from your finger or cotton swab into the lower eyelid pouch.
Release the eyelid and allow your pet to blink, which will help spread the ointment across the surface of the eye.
Tips
If your pet’s eye is painful or sensitive, you may need an extra person to help gently hold them still.
Large dogs can be positioned in a corner for support.
Small dogs or cats can be swaddled in a blanket to keep them calm and secure.
Always keep the applicator tip clean. Avoid touching the eye, eyelid, or any other surface with the tip to prevent contamination.
If the applicator does accidentally touch the eye or another surface, wipe it clean with a clean cloth. For specific cleaning instructions, check with your veterinarian.
In the Blink of an Eye: How to Give Eye Drops