How to Keep Your Pet Safe Around Wildlife

Here in Colorado, we all know that we're lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world with nature at our doorsteps. However, having nature so nearby also means that wildlife and potential dangers are close, too. As a result, it's necessary for pet owners to take some precautions to keep their pets safe from wild animals in our area

How to Keep Your Pet Safe Around Wildlife

Here in Colorado, we all know that we’re lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world with nature at our doorsteps. However, having nature so nearby also means that wildlife and potential dangers are close, too. As a result, it’s necessary for pet owners to take some precautions to keep their pets safe from wild animals in our area.

8 Tips for Protecting Pets from Wildlife

keep-your-pet-safe-around-wildlife-strip2

1. Vaccines

Keep your pet’s vaccines current. Vaccines protect pets from diseases that wildlife spread like rabies and leptospirosis.

2. Minimize Risk

Garbage bins, food and water bowls, and pet waste all attract wildlife to your yard. Keep stinky skunks, hungry bears, and other predators at bay by eliminating these attractants.

3. Don't Leave Pets Unattended

If you live in an area where wildlife roams free, don’t leave your pets unattended. They could become a coyote’s, mountain lion’s, or even an eagle’s prey. (Especially true for small dogs and cats.)

4. Use Your Pet's Leash

When hiking or camping with your pet, be sure to use a leash — especially if your pet has a strong scent or prey drive. Without a leash, your pet could be walking beside you on the trail one moment, and sprinting off in pursuit of a small critter the next.

5. Consider Rattlesnake Avoidance Training

This special training helps teach dogs to avoid snakes by training them not to dig or stick their noses into the kinds of places where dangerous rattlesnakes like to sleep.

6. Avoid High-Risk Times and Areas

Predatory wildlife is most active at dusk and dawn. It’s safest to keep your pets indoors or close by during these times of the day.
keep-your-pet-safe-around-wildlife-strip3

7. Prevent Parasites

When you think of wildlife, you probably don’t think about fleas and ticks, but where wildlife roam, these parasites also run rampant. Avoid brushy areas and protect your pet with parasite preventatives.

8. Be Prepared

When you’re out for a walk or in nature for a hike, be prepared to defend yourself against an unexpected attack from an aggressive dog or a wild animal. Be sure to carry bear spray at all times and make plenty of noise while you walk so that you avoid surprising any bears that might be just around the corner on a trail.
keep-your-pet-safe-around-wildlife-strip4

Update Vaccines and Parasite Prevention

Before you go exploring with your pet, schedule an appointment at Compassion Animal Hospital in Woodland Park. We’ll update your pet’s vaccines and recommend a thorough parasite prevention routine to keep your pet safe in the great outdoors.

It’s National Pet Dental Awareness Month: Why Does Your Pet Need Dental Care?

pet-dental-awareness-month-strip1

It's National Pet Dental Awareness Month: Why Does Your Pet Need Dental Care?

We know that we have to care for our own teeth or face major health problems. Many of us, however, don’t realize that our pets’ teeth require the same level of care. February is National Pet Dental Month, and Compassion Animal Hospital is celebrating by spreading awareness about the importance of caring for your pet’s teeth.

Why Is Dental Care Important for Pets?

Dogs and cats are at risk of dental disease just like people. In fact, by the time dogs and cats are three years old, they’re highly likely to have already developed some form of gum disease.
Gum disease (periodontal disease) is a bacterial infection of the gums that occurs when plaque hardens, turns into tartar, and accumulates along the surface of the teeth. This buildup creates pockets where harmful bacteria thrive.
Periodontal disease causes persistent bad breath and painful, red, swollen, receding, and bleeding gums in addition to eventual tooth loss. Left untreated, the bacteria from a gum infection can enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body, causing organ damage and eventually leading to premature death.

How to Care for Your Pet's Teeth

Pets with the healthiest teeth and gums have a combination of at-home and professional dental care.
pet-dental-awareness-month-strip3

At-Home Pet Dental Care

We strongly encourage pet owners to brush their pets’ teeth using special pet-friendly toothbrushes and toothpaste. If your pet simply won’t tolerate brushing, we recommend trying dental wipes that’ll help you remove some of the plaque from your pet’s teeth.
You can also provide your pet with daily dental treats, chew toys designed to promote dental health, and a dental-friendly diet.

Professional Pet Dental Appointments

While every wellness exam includes a quick look at your pet’s teeth and gums, regular pet dental appointments are essential to maintaining their oral health. During a pet dental appointment, our veterinarian will scale and polish your pet’s teeth, removing all plaque and tartar buildup. We’ll then perform a thorough examination and might also take a set of dental x-rays to determine whether there are any problems occurring below the gum line or inside the patient’s teeth.
Pet dental exams are similar to human dental appointments – except that they occur with a pet under general anesthesia for their safety and comfort. To learn more about the importance of dental care for pets or to schedule an appointment for your dog or cat, contact Compassion Animal Hospital today.

How to Entertain Your Pet Indoors with These 5 Cold Weather Pet Activities

Cold_Weather_Activities_Blog_Strip_1

How to Entertain Your Pet Indoors with These 5 Cold Weather Pet Activities

The weather outside is frightful, but your pet still has the same amount of energy to burn. What are you supposed to do when it’s too cold and snowy to head outside for a romp around the neighborhood? Although it might be tricky to play outside, there are plenty of activities you and your pet can enjoy inside to keep them entertained and busy through the worst of the winter.

5 Indoor Activities for Pets

1. Puzzle Games

Puzzle games engage pets by having them solve a puzzle to get rewarded with a treat. Pets love to solve a good puzzle, and you’ll be happy that they’re busy during the day. You can purchase puzzle toys from the pet store or make your own by stuffing treats in a slit tennis ball.

2. Training

When you’re stuck inside on a cold day, take advantage of the opportunity to bond with your pet and keep them entertained by working on their manners and tricks with positive reinforcement training.

3. Hide and Seek

You can play hide and seek with your pets by hiding treats and/or their favorite toys in new spots around your house. Then ask them to go find their ball, monkey, or duck.

4. Visit an Indoor Class

If your dog needs to run and burn off some serious energy, look for an indoor agility class or indoor dog park and schedule your pet for regular visits. Just be sure your dog’s vaccinations are completely up-to-date before you arrive. These types of dog clinics usually require similar vaccines as groomers and boarding facilities. So, you might need to bring a health record or health certificate from the veterinarian. This ensures your dog will be safe and so will all of his new buddies.

5. Exercise Inside

Dogs can get some indoor exercise by playing tug-o-war with you, working on chew toys, and even by playing shorter games of fetch. Cats enjoy plenty of indoor games like cat teaser, chase, and even peek-a-boo.
cold-weather-activities-strip3

Take a Winter Outing to See Our Woodland Park Veterinarian

A great way to get out of the house with your pet is to schedule your pet’s wellness exam and preventative care appointment at Compassion Animal Hospital. Your pet will enjoy seeing our friendly staff and getting a change of scenery. Plus, your pet will be happy to have another year of good health!

Could Your Pet Be in Pain?

Animal Pain

Learn to Recognize the Signs During Animal Pain Awareness Month

During September, Compassion Animal Hospital recognizes Animal Pain Awareness Month by teaching pet parents how to recognize signs of pain in cats and dogs. Recognizing when a pet is in pain can be extremely difficult. In the wild, predators choose to target animals that appear sick or weak. Our pets evolved to instinctively mask signs of illness and injury, including pain. Although it’s difficult to spot, you can learn to detect subtle signs.

Learn to Recognize Pain in Your Pet

Signs of Pain in Cats & Dogs

  • Behavior Changes - Behavior changes, like unusual aggression or appetite loss, are the most common indicators of pain. You might also notice changes that occur in their daily routine, thirst, energy level, playfulness, bathroom habits, or other behaviors.
  • Appearance - Your pet's appearance might change. Look for swelling, redness, lumps, bumps, and changes to their skin or coat.
  • Mobility - Limping, lameness, or reluctance to move about and play indicate pain.
  • Isolation - Cats and dogs who are in pain might attempt to isolate themselves, become less social with people and other household pets, and exhibit a reluctance to be touched.
  • Heart Rate - When in pain, pets will have an elevated heart rate.
  • Vocalization - Whimpering, howling, yowling, or other excessive vocalization might also occur as a result of pain.
  • Eyes - Look for squinting and/or pupil dilation or contraction.
Pain in Your Pet
Pain Unique to Cats

Signs of Pain Unique to Cats

  • Grooming Changes - An overall decrease in grooming can indicate general illness, pain, or discomfort, but cats that are injured tend to groom their wounds excessively.
  • Purring - Although cats sometimes when they're comfortable, they also purr in order to comfort themselves. If your cat purrs more than usually, this could indicate discomfort.

Signs of Pain Unique to Dogs

  • Panting - Excessive panting or fast, shallow breathing can indicate pain and other discomforts in dogs.
  • Posture/Gait Change - A change in posture or in the way a dog walks might indicate pain.
  • Trembling - Dogs experiencing significant pain often tremble.
Pain Unique to Dogs
Health Screening for Your Woodland Park Pet

Schedule a Preventative Care Appointment and Health Screening for Your Woodland Park Pet

The best way to deal with pain in pets is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. With a strong focus on wellness and preventative care, our veterinarian at Compassion Animal Hospital recommends scheduling pets for regular checkups. This will help us detect signs of illness, age-related disease, or other health problems and begin treatment before they progress far enough to cause your pet any pain. If your pet already has an acute or chronic condition, we’ll work with you to establish a safe and effective pain management plan. To learn more, contact our Woodland Park veterinarian today.