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Your October 2018 Newsletter from Largo Veterinary Hospital
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| | National Pit Bull Awareness &
Animal Safety and Protection Month
1st-7th: National Walk Your Dog Week
10th: National Pet Obesity Awareness Day
14th-20th: National Veterinary
Technician Week
16th: Global Cat Day
28th: National Pitbull Awareness Day
30: National Black Cat Day
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Meet Binky Crawford Our October 2018 Pet of the Month
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|  I am a 7-year-old DSH feline who was once abandoned but then my mom adopted me and now I have my forever home. My favorite toy is a stuffed toy mouse but someday I may catch a real one. I love to curl up in mom’s shoe boxes when I’m not snuggled up with her. One of my most embarrassing moments happens when I’m sleeping too hard on mom’s bed and I roll over and fall off. It’s very alarming and makes me run like heck out of the room from embarrassment! I make healthy snack choices; and my favorite treat really is my cat food.
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| | "Back up" is a fun dog trick that can come in quite handy. It's useful if you need your dog to back away from an open door, back away from you when he's crowding you, or if you simply want to impress your friends.
What You Need
You don't need any special equipment to train your dog to back up. As long as you have your dog and a handful of treats, you are ready to go. If you are clicker training, you should also have your clicker on hand.
How to Train Your Dog to Back Up
- Start off by giving your dog the stay command. If your dog doesn't know how to stay yet, it would help if you went back and worked on that before moving on to the next step.
- Take a few steps away from your dog, and then turn and face him.
- Begin moving towards your dog. Some dogs will take a few steps back the minute you start moving in their direction.
- If your dog doesn't start stepping back as you move toward him, keep going forward, and try to lean your body forward slightly.
- As soon as your dog takes a few steps back, tell him "good" or "yes!" or click your clicker, then give him a treat.
- Once your dog seems to understand the action, add in the words back up." Continue to reward your dog when he backs up on cue.
Most dogs learn to back up quickly. Practice the steps above for a few minutes each day, and your dog will soon be responding to the back up command.
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| Why is my pet sometimes taken out of the room for vaccines and to have blood drawn?
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| Please don't feel uneasy if your pet is taken to "the back" for some regular procedures like vaccines or a blood draw. “The back” is not a scary place at all.
Typically, “the back” simply refers to a portion of the hospital designed for treatments and procedures. As an example, “the back” of our hospital consists of a large room with multiple exam tables and several additional pieces of equipment. The back tends to be a place to find additional staff members available to hold onto a leash or run a sample or fill out a form.
You should know too, that some pets are actually calmer when they are away from their owners, which makes it easier to perform exams or draw blood or administer a treatment. This allows the Dr. Daniels to accomplish tasks more efficiently and safely, reducing stress for the pets. Especially if your human children are with you in the exam room it's simply safer for your pet to go "the back" for these procedures.
Email your questions to: info@largovet.com
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8 Benefits of Walking Your Dog
Research shows that walking just 20 minutes every day can increase your lifespan by 3-7 years.The first week of October is "National Walk Your Dog Week", we shouldn't need a holiday week to practice this healthy habit. Regardless of size or breed, every dog requires daily exercise to stay healthy. Here are 8 benefits of walking your dog daily:
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- A healthier weight for your pet: Going on light to moderate walks helps to keep your dog’s body at a healthy weight. Walking also helps improve flexibility, strengthen bones and muscles, and improve digestive system. It has also been shown to enhance the dog’s immune system, so he’s better able to fight off infection and disease. Walking is also a great way to help prevent and ease arthritis in older dogs.
- Physical Health for you: We're supposed to have daily physical activity too so if you have a dog it should be a no brainer! Throw on your sneakers and get exercise without having to go to the gym.
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Burns Energy: Many dogs have a ton of energy. If they don’t get enough physical activity during the day, they’ll release that energy in the house by hyperactivity, biting, eating clothes, anxiety, poor behavior, and more.In most cases, when a dog has behavioral issues, he isn’t getting the appropriate exercise for his size, breed, or requirements. His need to expel energy comes out as hyperactivity and attention-grabbing behaviors.
- Training time: Throw a few small treats in your pocket and at the end of your walk when your dog is calmer conduct a short training session. The exercise should have been positive for both of your minds and you'll be more likely to have patience in training as will your dog happily respond to training. Try commands, like “sit,” “stay,” or “heel.”
- Socialization box checked: Reminder...dogs are “pack animals” by nature and humans aren't meant to be alone either. This means that most dogs are naturally social with other dogs. Walks provide the opportunity for your dog to meet other pups, socialize, and play. If your dog struggles with this try walking side by side with another dog owner and their dog on a longer walk. The two dogs will redirect their energy into the walk. This is one of the best ways to introduce two dogs.
- Less poop in your yard: Silly but true, when you walk your dog regularly and he gets in the habit of doing this business on a walk it's not in your yard to clean up. You should absolutely bring a bag to clean up the poo off your neighbors yard or common neighborhood areas but your taking care of it right then and not procrastinating picking it up in your own yard!
- Good for both the pet and human soul: Getting outside is great for health and wellness for both you and your pup. Dogs are naturally curious creatures. Going on walks can spark their adventurous side, giving them the opportunity to explore new sights and smells. This improves your dog’s confidence and independence.Plus, connecting with nature has been shown to increase a human's sense of wellbeing and promote relaxation and life satisfaction.
- Strengthens your bond: Going for a walk provides a set time to bond with your pooch. This helps provide a strong foundation for your relationship and shows your dog you love them. This is important for your dog’s behavioral and social development, especially as a puppy.
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Have You Activated Your VetScene ProActive Portal?
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What can you do with your VetScene ProActive Portal?
- Manage your pets’ health schedules, view upcoming appointments, or follow up on healthcare recommendations.
- Receive appointment reminders, newsletters, vaccination reminders via email and/or text messages.
- Gain 24/7 access to your pets’ information.
- Request appointments, make boarding reservations, refill medications, or ask general questions.
- Upload your pet's best photo, contact your clinic, and subscribe to Text Messaging.
- This service is available 24/7, which makes communication with your clinic convenient, quick, and easy.
- It's a rewards program too! Each dollar you spend at LVH equals a point. You also earn points for uploading pictures, signing up for text messaging, reviewing us online, and more. When you earn 1000 points you get a $25 credit or a free nail trim for your pet.
Get started now:
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9 Signs Your Cat Loves You
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- Kneading Your Legs: Kneading is when your cat uses their paws to push in and out against a soft surface, such as your lap. If your cat is curled up and kneading your lap while you’re petting him, he’s returning the affection and telling you he loves you right back. Unfortunately, this can be quite painful for us since the happier he is, the harder he’ll dig in.
- Bringing You a Present: You may be familiar with your cat bringing you presents, such as toys or small, dead animals. This is your cat’s way of showing love. Cats love with gifting.
- Head-Butting You: Head-butting may seem like an aggressive way to show love, but it actually shows that your cat truly cares about you. Cats have secret glands concentrated on certain parts of their bodies, including their cheeks and heads. When your kitty rubs her head or face against you, she’s marking you with her scent and claiming you as part of her family group.
- Staring Into Your Eyes: Staring at you and slowly blinking is a way in which your cat shows you great affection. If your kitty first stares at you, then blinks, then opens his eyes wide, then slowly blinks a second time, he’s telling you he loves and trusts you. Some may say this is the equivalent of being kissed.
- Showing You Their Belly: The flashing of the stomach is one way that your cat is saying “I love you.” Cats do not show their stomachs to just anyone. If your cat rolls over on its back to give you a flash of that fuzzy belly, this is an indication that they feel comfortable around you.
- Curving the Tip of Their Tail: The tail can actually be an incredible barometer into how your cat feels about you. Cats express happiness and warm feelings by fluffing out the base of their tails while subtly quivering them. Simultaneously, they hold their tails upright with a slight curve at the top.
- Nipping You: Gentle nipping at your finger is another way your cat is saying that they love you. Kitties nip each other affectionately but their skin is tougher than ours so we don't always appreciate this sign of love.
- Purring: You’ve heard your cat purr before, but you may not have realized that this was a love purr. Cats love with purrs. Kitty purrs range from soft and subtle to annoyingly loud. Honestly though, when your cat purrs in your presence, you can be sure she’s expressing her love for you.
- Following You Around: If your cat can’t seem to get enough of your company, you know you have a loving connection. If your feline friend follows you from room to room, jumps onto tables and counters to be near you, and always seems to be right where you step, she clearly enjoys your company.
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