October Pet Holidays
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Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
National Pit Bull Awareness Month
National Pet Wellness Month
National Animal Safety and Protection Month
October 1-7:
October 12:
October 15-21:
October 16:
Natioanal Feral Cat Day
October 29:
National Cat Day
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3 QUICK TIPS TO KEEP YOUR PETS SAFE THIS HALLOWEEN
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TIP 1: Candy Out-of-Reach Keep your candy for trick-or-treaters in candy dishes that are not accessible to your climbing cats. The colorful foil can cut your pet's mouth and pose a choking hazard.
TIP 2: Don't Let Your Pet Eat Candy Found in candies, gum, baked goods, and toothpaste, the sweetener xylitol can cause an insulin surge, lowering blood sugar enough to cause weakness, vomiting, and loss of coordination in pets. It could even lead to liver failure. Any exposure can cause problems, but the more your pet consumes, the more severe the issues will be.
TIP 3: Make sure Halloween decorations are safe for your pet. Keep wires, cords, and lit jack-o-lanterns out of reach. It is not toxic if your pet eats decorative corn or pumpkins but they can cause a very upset tummy.Pet and stray cats are socialized to people.
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I am an 11 year old DSH (domestic short haired) Cat rescued from an animal shelter in Dover, New Hampshire. I am both sweet and mischievous. I love to cuddle my crocheted mouse but I divebomb mom from high places. I am embarrassed to admit that one time there was a snake in the house and I played with it instead of killing it! Shhh...don't tell Dr. Daniels but my favorite treats are good old "Friskies" treats. I am so spoiled that I even get to sleep in mom's bed sometimes under the covers when I'm cold.
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| BUY A 6 MONTH SUPPLY WITH A HEARTWORM TEST & RECEIVE A $35 REBATE
BUY A 6 MONTH SUPPLY WITHOUT A HEARTWORM TEST & RECEIVE A $20 REBATE
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We offer boarding at
Largo Veterinary Hospital!
Click here to fill out our boarding release form and plan now for the holidays.
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DO YOU HAVE A PUDGY POOCH
OR A CHUBBY KITTY?
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October 12th is National Pet Obesity Awareness Day. An  estimated 59% of Cats and 54% of Dogs in the US are overweight or obese. So if you break a sweat when picking your dog up or you notice your cat cleans the floors with his stomach—there is a problem! Joking aside, health risks of obesity are real. It contributes to many medical conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, heart and lung disease, high blood pressure, compromised immune function and can even predispose to certain types of cancer.
There is proof that pets maintaining an ideal body weight live 15% longer, and with less disease, than overweight pets. It is a fact that pets will live shorter lives if obesity is not addressed.
While most pet owners realize that their pet may be “a little heavy”, they often don’t recognize when their dog is truly obese. When Dr. Daniels says “Fido” should lose 5 pounds, it often goes in one ear and right out the other. Really…who doesn’t have 5 pounds to lose? But this is us thinking in human weight terms. Did you know….
- 5 extra pounds on a (should-be) 12 pound Shih Tzu is like 58 extra pounds on a 140 pound woman.
- 5 extra pounds on a (should-be) 25 pound Beagle is like 28 extra pounds on a 140 pound woman.
- 5 extra pounds on a (should-be) 70 pound Lab Retriever is like 10 extra pounds on a 140 pound woman.
What causes obesity? While some pets do indeed have a medical condition that predisposes them to obesity, most often it is a result of simple overfeeding. While pets are frequently overfed their food, treats are also a major source of hidden calories. Here's an example: A premium pig ear on average has about 230 calories. If you give this pig ear as a treat to a 40 pound dog (who should be eating around 620 calories each day), it is the same as a person (on a 2300 calorie diet) eating 2 double cheeseburgers as a treat in addition to their normal meals. This pig ear represents close to 40% of that dog’s daily calorie requirement.
Most commercial pet treats are filled with calories, sugar, and other potentially unhealthy ingredients that do nothing to satisfy hunger and just contribute to our pet’s ever expanding waistlines. Most pets, when it comes right down to it, would rather have your attention than a treat. Spending extra time playing or grooming your pet will probably give you both much more satisfaction than the treat, which is gobbled up in three seconds and then forgotten.
What can you do?
It sounds cliche but the first step is to admit there is a problem. Then get motivated on your pet’s behalf! Talk to Dr Daniels and create a weight loss plan together. Get your pet a full medical checkup. Find out what their ideal body weight is and how many calories they should eat each day. Choose the best food for weight loss in your pet. Exercise your pet for at least 20 minutes every day! Monitor your pet’s progress and stay on track.
Check out the chart to the left and compare your pet. If you think you need to start a weightloss plan with your pet start with an appointment with Dr. Daniels. 727-584-8370
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Feral Cat vs. Stray Cat
What are the differences?
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 Feral: A feral cat is a cat who has either never had any contact with humans or her contact with humans has diminished over time. She is fearful of people and survives on her own outdoors. A feral cat is not likely to ever become a lap cat or enjoy living indoors.
Kittens born to feral cats can be socialized at an early age and adopted into homes.
Stray: A stray cat is a cat who has been socialized to people at some point in her life, but has left or lost her domestic home, as well as most human contact and dependence. Over time, a stray cat can become feral as her contact with humans dwindles.
Under the right circumstances, however, a stray cat can also become a pet cat once again.
Why does it matter?
Stray cats can readjust to living with people and can be adopted as companions.
Adult feral cats are not socialized to people, which means they cannot be adopted. As a result, they are likely to be killed if picked up by animal control or brought to shelters, so it is in their best interest to continue living outdoors.
Stray and feral cats can be difficult to tell apart, especially when they are trapped or frightened. Scared stray cats often need time to relax and show their level of socialization.
If you want to help reduce the Feral Population in your neighborhood look into TNR or Trap-Neuter-Return. TNR takes into account each cat’s level (or degree) of socialization to determine the best environment for them. Feral cats are returned to their outdoor home after being trapped and neutered. Socialized cats and kittens can be adopted into homes.
How do I tell the difference when the cats are outdoors?
Since it is difficult to determine each cat’s socialization during a stressful event such as trapping, it’s a good idea to observe cats on their own outdoors using the guidelines below.
Bottom line: If a cat you don’t know approaches you or if you can touch her, she is most likely not feral. Not all stray cats will do this though, especially at first—each cat will act differently in a variety of situations. Pet and stray cats are socialized to people. Feral cats are not socialized to people. While they are socialized to their colony members and bonded to each other, they do not have that same relationship with people.
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