Are there dangers lurking in your yard that could hurt your pet?  The best way to know and prevent harm to your pet is to do a little research ahead of time and know what to look for. 

Everywhere you turn you see digging, whether it is people or your family dog, planting that garden, burying a bone, and relaxing in the yard.  According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Animal Control Center, experts field thousands of calls about pets that have had potentially hazardous contact with insecticides, weed killer and pet-toxic plants. (Lucas, 2014).

            Here are some things to think about. 

1. Cocoa mulch has become very popular in landscaping over the past few years.  It is made with the cocoa bean shells, which makes it smell wonderful to people and dogs alike.  It also has the same ingredient that is in chocolate that causes toxicity in dogs.  If your dog eats some of this, call your vet right away.
2. The plant that is the most popular when it comes to toxicity in dogs is the sago palm, which is popular on patios and        in gardens.  Everything about this plant is toxic.  Other plants that can make pets sick include: aloe, amaryllis, African daisies, and alocasia.
3. Compost piles are great for going green, but not so much for the family pooch.  If your dog gets sick from ingesting your compost pile, you will know it pretty fast, as in within 30 minutes.  Call your vet.  Also, don’t dump grease in your yard or compost pile.

Fertilizers and insecticides are poison to animals.  While most of them are not toxic in small doses, it is recommended that the family dog stays off the lawn for a while after treating with fertilizers and insecticides.  If the dog can be kept off the lawn for a few days, even better.  Again, if you spot any symptoms of illness, call the vet immediately.


Call Terry Today @ 706-714-1100

Source:
Delaware Online

A wild fox had been found and tested positive for rabies in Henry County, south of Atlanta.  The fox had attacked at least three pets and also a man and a woman before the man was able to kill it.  Both people that were bitten were treated with the vaccine.  Vince Farah, the rabies control officer in Henry County has informed everyone that their outdoor pets must have their rabies vaccinations renewed and up-to-date and must also  be kept in an enclosure and monitored for 45 days.

            One of the first signs of rabies in animals is a change in behavior such as not wanting to eat or drink or wanting to be left alone.  Other signs are fever and also chewing at the spot where the animal was bitten. 

Later in the illness, what is called the “mad dog phase,” the animal could experience symptoms such as wanting to eat anything, even things that are inedible, erratic behavior, aggression, seizures, roaming around, dilated pupils, no fear of natural enemies (for example, wild animals not being afraid of people).

In the final phase of rabies, animals can experience paralysis, an appearance of choking, inability to swallow, or even going into a coma and dying.

The most important points are to make sure that the pet’s vaccinations are up to date at all times.  If you see a wild animal or stray dog or cat, do no try to determine if an animal is sick on your own.  Call the local animal control or the police department.

Call Terry Now @ 706-714-1100

Source:
Athens Banner Herald

When you adopt your new fur-baby, training is a crucial element for both you and your dog.  There are many ways to train your new pup, as a matter of fact, it is a lot like parenting a child in many ways.  Dogs crave love and attention, and they also crave boundaries and consistency.  Past that, simple training is essential to your dog’s safety.  Commands such as sit, stay, lay down, and heel are all crucial for your pup to know.  If his favorite toy mistakenly goes out into the road and he is chasing it at full speed, he needs to have been trained that when you call, he stops.  This literally could be a life and death situation for him. 

Another important element in training for your dog is for him to have his own place.  Crate training is highly recommended for dogs, especially puppies.  This is their safe zone.  They don’t get punished in their crate.  They can sleep there, relax if they are too hyper, sit there to learn their lesson that they shouldn’t have chewed on something that isn’t their toy, but no chastising while they are in their crate.  Again, it is their safe zone. 

Dogs also need their own space outside.  They need their place to run and their place to use the bathroom.  Dogs don’t like to mix those two spots, if at all possible.  If you do not have a physical above ground fence for the dog to run around in, keep him leashed at all times or another option is a pet containment system.  Show your pup the general area where he can go to the bathroom and then let him pick his spot.  Don’t be surprised if he sniffs around for a while.  Dogs like to have their own spot that is “just right.”

Above all, be consistent but loving with your new fur-baby.  At full maturity dogs will have the emotional and mental capacity of approximately a three year old child.  They can learn to understand some words, but will understand your tone more than anything.  Love your pup because all he wants to do is to love you.

Call Terry Now @ 706-714-1100

When you own a dog, you won’t want it to bother neighbors or cause havoc in your town. To prevent this, you can train it to obey your commands and treat people with respect. While true, you will often need to take it further by installing a dog fence. With this in mind, here are three reasons why an electric dog fence can help.

Training your dog: First and foremost, once your pooch wears the collar and receives a few shocks, it won’t run out of the yard. This takes a little time but you need to remain patient, especially if your dog is full of excitement and energy. However, in the long run, an invisible fence is perfect as your dog will behave and learn how to live in the yard.

Humane: All-too-often, pet owners will beat their animals or treat them inhumanely. When this happens, it is possible to train the animal, but in the long run this is not fair as your animal doesn’t deserve physical or psychological punishment. Fortunately, with a well-placed electric dog fence, you can minimize the pain and ensure your dog learns the first time, all without any issues.

Easiest solution: With punishment or bark suppression collars, you may teach your dog to behave. This will probably backfire, and it’s not an easy solution as you will struggle in the long run. On the other hand, with an electric dog fence, you will watch as he or she learns how to behave quickly. Remember, with an invisible fence, your dog will not wreak havoc and make a mess in the neighborhood.

If you own a dog, you will want to do your best to control him or her. If not, you can experience serious problems and anger your neighbors when the dog runs around the street knocking down trash cans and harasses other animals. Luckily, with an electric dog fence, you can fix the issue immediately.