We have all probably heard a story about the seemingly unexplainable bond between humans and animals.  The human-animal bond has been an extensively studied topic among veterinarians, animal welfare groups, universities, human health medical practitioners, and biologists.  Perdue University, for example, created a centre in 1982 with the sole mission to study these unique relationships and covey their findings to scientists and the greater public.  The human-animal bond is something to celebrate and take into great considerations, especially when considering animal welfare issues.

The human-animal bond is generally known as a mutually beneficial relationship between human and animal and the influence this has on the psychological and physiological condition of each other, and although scientists can describe the ability of dogs, horses, and other animals’ ability to perceive our emotions and even bodily conditions (such as an oncoming seizure), the extent of what we have described through the centuries can’t quite be explained.

To study the human-animal bond, experts have studied the benefits that animals bring in our lives.

Horses and dogs, for example, have been used as therapeutic treatments for many medical and behavioural human rehabilitation or recovery cases.  Dogs have been used everywhere from assistance roles for humans with various disabilities, in war, in search and rescue, in rehabilitation centres for recovering wildlife, alongside police officers and in other public arenas.   In our culture, we almost depend on our pets for their emotional connection, but in a bigger perspective, animals use their inborn skills and their connection with us on psychological levels in a number of human-assistive outlets.

For a very interesting scientific based study on the benefits of companion animals for human mental and physical health from the RSPCA, click HERE.

Speaking of curious bond connections, want to know what headline has made it on major news channels like MSNBC, Discovery News, and pet resource websites all over the web?

Dogs understand gestures as well as toddlers (and better than chimpanzees)

Dogs are not only intuitive of inner emotions and issues within us, but scientific evidence now proves that dogs possess a 2-year-old child’s capability to understand our gestures.  Two studies proved that dogs require almost no learning time to be able to interpret our visual signals such as head-turning, gazing, and pointing.  This could easily explain why when our eyes change from normal to worried or scared though we don’t say anything verbally, our dogs can still pick up on that and mirror the uneasiness themselves or come to comfort.

The studies even found that when compared to chimpanzees, dogs were found to understand pointing gestures better.  The studies, shared with the Discovery News Network, said that dogs are often more willing and eager to cooperate with humans.    In their studies, they used a combo of finger, elbow, leg, and knee pointing gestures pointed in the direction of a hidden treat, a child, or their favourite toy, and the dogs succeeded.  However, the dogs were stumped when a human raised their arm to point in one direction, but their pointer index finger was pointed in the opposite direction.  This is the same type of trick that may confuse a 2-year-old apart from a 3-year-old.

To see the video demonstrating the gesture experiments from the Discovery Channel, click HERE.

Photo credits: doggyblurb.com,

Kids love their cool looks, but what is there to consider when keeping reptiles as pets in Australia?

What is it about geckos and salamanders that our kids just LOVE? Their colours and patterns, bright bulging eyes, giant heads, seemingly slippery or scaly bodies, exotic appeal, and ability to impress any friend are great starting points. Face it,

they’re no plain Jane brown lizard. Actually, only geckos are lizards. Salamanders belong to a whole other class…literally! Geckos belong to the Reptilia class (reptiles) and salamanders belong to the Amphibia class (amphibians). Though they may seem to look a lot alike with their brightly coloured spots and neat unique lizardy appearances, teaching your children what makes them different is a valuable lesson in science.

Although both animals are very different in origin, they can be cared for much in the same way. If you are considering a gecko or salamander for a pet, we can help with information to get you started.

GECKOS

Both geckos and salamanders are pretty docile and easy to manage. In Australia, strict rules apply to what reptiles can be kept as pets, and some research may have to be done to find the right choice for you and your family. The Thick Tailed Gecko is a great first timer gecko, and approved as a gecko choice in Australia. They normally price between $80-100. All your gecko will need is a clean cage, live food, water, a light source, and a place to hide. A thick tailed gecko has sticky padded feet that allow him to run up the walls of his home, and across the ceiling if he so desired. He should stay in a ten gallon or larger terrarium lined in sand or a sand/peat/moss mixture, and adequately heated with a light source.

As with any reptile, heat is a source of energy. Males, being aggressive towards one another, should never be kept in the same terrarium. It would be alright to allow two female geckos to be together. Geckos eat insects, and crickets and roaches are the most easily obtained. Your kids may get a kick out of watching him catch his dinner. Geckos drink and even bathe in their water dish, so it will be important to have a shallow dish for your gecko to drink out of. Other than that, constant handling of your gecko (younger children may need supervision) is another recommendation for developing tameness and a sense of security between human and gecko, and will allow your kids to experience a reptile outside of his habitat—a unique experience that may not be able to experience with wild reptiles of that nature.

SALAMANDERS

Currently in Australia, the axolotl, a species of the tiger salamander, is one of the only exotic salamanders approved as a pet. You may have heard it referred to as the Mexican Walking Fish, Mexican neotenic mole salamander or the wooper looper. This salamander is so very unique in appearance—the adults skip a metamorphosis step, and so the adults will stay aquatic unlike other tiger salamanders. This means that they keep their gills for life. This salamander has astounding abilities to reproduce limbs, and so they are kept under constant research in animal laboratories. They can also live up to 10-15 years when properly cared for. Handling is not recommended since, like all amphibians and unlike reptiles, they need to keep their skin wet at all times. Their skin is actually quite sensitive.

Aquariums should start at 10 gallons, and contain a coarse gravel just large enough not to be eaten mistakenly.  Axolotls should have a combine aquarium/terrarium in that they do need enough water in the bottom to cover their entire body, but you can add quite a bit of plant life that extends out of the water. A light is just as important for the salamander as gecko, because as another cold-blooded creature, they need the light as a source of heat (and therefore energy). The axolotl eats blood worms, axolotl feeding pellets, and a few other approved diet supplements.

Geckos and salamanders can be very educational and rewarding creature-pets that inspire us of the unique creations this world brings. They are fairly easy and inexpensive to take care of; however, they may require a significant time and attention investment. If the glee your child has for a pet of this nature may be fleeting, this pet may not be for you. If you think you are ready for a rewarding and educational experience, this pet is great for the beginner to the reptile and amphibian world.

Photo Credits

Top Left: Fire Salamander from My Animal Blog, www.myanimalblog.wordpress.com

Mid Right: Gekko Gecko from Nature Fotoz-CZ.EU, http://www.naturephoto-cz.eu/gekko-gecko-picture-1753.html

Mid Left: Thick Tailed Gecko from Lonely Planet Images, www.lonelyplanetimages.com

Bottom Right: Axolotl Salamander from Bounty Fisher, www.bountyfishing.com

When a child sprints up to a strange dog in the park, and immediately grab their ears or reaches out to hug a strange dog’s face, I can’t help but cringe at the thought of what a dog in their perfectly right mind could do out of fear and defense. Children are quick, and animals could accidentally harm a child before the owner or parent can react. Unfortunately, a friend of ours had a two year old little boy end up in the hospital recently from a very scary accident that had the same prelude as the children in the park.  The dog was a very sweet and gentle-natured dog, but she acted without reason under intimidation for some odd reason.

I have to commend parents who have taught pet safety from the earliest age, and I see many more kids than not approach an owner and their dog slowly, ask the owner politely if they may pet the dog, and then reaches to pet the dog behind its head. Children see so many different animals on tv, and the animals are always friendly, but even a friendly dog, cat, horse are perfectly within their rights to feel frightened or threatened when a well-meaning child runs up to them, and the animal may not resemble polite obedience during a sudden lack of judgment.

In the same manner, animals don’t have to be scary. Instead, check out these ideas for fun pet education! These ideas are based on an article written by ASPCA Fun Activities for Kids and Pets.

Play Dates:

Schedule moments when the pets and children can come together for a time to build trust and establish bonds. Pets can be very loving and very protective of the children in their family, and these supervised dates can help the children and pets to become acquainted. Take this opportunity to teach animal kindness, and curve any aggressive behaviors a child may show towards an animal. It will be a learning experience for a little while.

Youngest Kiddos (6 months to 2 years)

1. You and the child hide somewhere, and call the pet to come look for you.

2. Play peek-a-boo with the pet by putting a cloth between you both and the animal,and then pull it away. This will really entertain your pet!

3.  If you have a very gentle pet, smear cheese or peanut butter on fingers and toes, and let the pet lick it off.

Young Kids (3 to 8 years old)

1. Let your child and pet race each other to a finish line. If your small child is racing a Great Dane, it may be best for you to run the dog on a leash.

2.  Play fetch!

3.  Hide and seek, but this time let your child hide on their own with a treat, and while  supervising your pet, let your pet find your child, and earn a treat for the accomplishment.

4. A fun dog game for those dogs that just LOVE water, let your child use a water gun to play ‘water fetch’!

5. Your child and pet can both team up to find human treats that you have hidden throughout the house. Easter egg hunt with yummy treats.

6.  Under your supervision, your child can make their own creative dog toys, especially with pre-exisent dog toys (combining ropes with fetch toys), and then the child gets to enjoy the experience of watching his or her dog play with something they made.

Older Kiddos (9 to 13 years old)

1.  Attend an obedience class together.

2.  Your children can play rougher sports like soccer and Frisbee (carefully with  supervision).

3.  Dog-Kid Competition! Who has the better agility? Test it out!

4.  Learning how to teach dog tricks. Dog tricks are normally pretty simple, but require repetition and positive reward. For a child who has time and needs an activity outlet, this would be a perfect way to get time in with a pet and show off with all their friends.

Basic Obedience with Children and Strange Animals:

• Teach your child that they must NEVER run up to an animal. A head on challenge may be met by the animal with fear and uncertainty.

• A child should ALWAYS ask if they may pet a stranger’s dog. Many pet owners can forsee any aggressive or fearful behavior that may occur and could politely decline if it is not a safe situation.

• Most dogs do not like being patted from nose to neck, and may see an approaching hand as threatening. Teach a child to pet from the side along the back, just to be on the safe side.

• Cats, ferrets, rabbits, and other small mammals may bite suddenly if in a compromising situation. It is harder to socially train these animals, so close supervision is necessary.

References:

1 “Fun Activities for Kids and Pets.” American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. ASPCA, 2010. Web. 4 Mar. 2010. <http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/kids-and-pets/fun-activities-for-kids-and-pets.html>.

Photo Credit:

Baby and Dog: The Cleveland Leader, www.clevelandleader.com/node/10738

Child and Cat: Pet University, www.petuniversity.com

Young Girl and Dog: ASPCA.org, www,aspca.org

Birds of Many Colors

Lories and lorikeets are beautiful parrots that thrive in Australia. They are small to medium in size, and characterized by their rainbow of bold colors. Like most parrots, they are intelligent, playful, and energetic creatures that will live to be very old. 65 years, in fact, is the average life span of a lorie! Lorikeets seem more like a painted work of art than a live bird, and why do they make great pets? The reasons seem to be too many to mention. They also require a huge commitment. If you are considering a lorikeet, we’re here to tell you what they are all about!

There are two types of lorikeets commonly kept as pets. Tropical lorikeets are large birds, and the Australian lorikeet is a smaller bird. Australian lorikeets may make better pets, because they have a soft bite and are very gentle birds, but the large tropical lorikeet are wonderful talkers! BOTH types LOVE to dance!! There is no question that your lorie will be an entertaining animal. Lorikeets are also like dogs or cats in that they will develop an intimate bond with their family, and as a result, will require a lot of time and attention.

Lorikeets want to be with their family, not in only a cage. They are not a decoration, they are children with feathers. If you cannot spend at least an hour with them per day, this may not be a good pet. The time spent with them will be rewarding, because these birds are incredibly affectionate can be easily trained to do neat tricks or copy your voice tones. When looking for a lorikeet, you would ideally look for a male bird carefully hand reared from an aviary.

Lorikeets, particularly large tropical lorikeets, need a large bird cage for plenty of movement when the bird is not out to mingle with the family. They need a special wet diet of nectar mix, and fruits and veggies. You can find lorie diet here on our website! Watch out! Lories are very messy birds, untidy eaters, and may accidentally spill droppings outside of the cage. It is important to be willing to clean out a cage every day to prevent bacterial infections. Other than that, routine vet care will assure that they are in good health!

Photo Credits

Top: AbFab Blog, www.abbfab.wordpress.com

Bottom: INE Tours

A Pet First Aid Kit?

Most of us should have a first aid kit in our house in case of a scraped knee, bee sting, minor burn, or any other small injury.  The whole purpose of a first aid kit is to prepare for any incidents before they occur, and if you have pets in your home, you should definitely take the same precaution.

Pets are like younger children regarding their adventurous natures, and minor accidents do tend to happen.  When our wiemaraner accidentally broke a toenail (ahem…running into headfirst into a wall failing to look where he was going) causing his toe to bleed, we didn’t have a first aid kit handy and that was the first and last situation that needed to happen before we made our own first aid kit with a dog of his adventurous sort.  If he ran into a wall, goodness knows what actual life threatening situation he may be in next where a first aid kit could mean saving a life.

At Peninsula Pet Supplies we have the main ingredients to your own first aid kit.  Be wary of buying premade kits at other stores, because they may not contain everything you will need.  Many of the simpler things can be picked up at your local pharmacy letting you save some money for a kit that better represents your pets’ needs.  You can keep this kit in a bathroom sink cabinet and in your car when you go on holiday with your pet.

Contents

Start off with a durable waterproof container that can open and close.  A sealable plastic pencil box will probably be too small, but a 5x”x8″x12″ standard container with lid should definitely suffice.  Remember to stick a copy of your pet’s medical history in this box for a quick easy grab in case you will need to run your pet to an emergency vet after you sustain the wounds or injuries.  Also be sure to include a complete list of veterinarians aside from your own in case your vet can’t be reached.

List of Pharmacy Items

Make sure to pick up the following things from your pharmacy or home shopping center.

• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Rubber Gloves
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Eye Dropper
• Gauze
• Medical Tape
• Small thin blanket or emergency blanket

Pet Specific Items from Peninsula Pet Supplies

• Chloromide Spray- A pet safe antiseptic spray used in the treatment of topical infections, bacterial skin disease, wounds, cuts and abrasions.
• Cohesive Bandage: Bandages in an array of colours that adheres to itself.  This is better for pets than the typical cloth bandages humans use since pets won’t likely keep even a hurting appendage still for long.
• Digital Thermometer: Fevers can become deadly in our hot summers when a pet becomes overheated.  Taking a pet’s temperature will alert you to how severe a fever is.
• Easy Feeder Syringe- Many pets may need immediate forms of medication administered in emergency situations.
• Antiseptic cream with insecticide-  This cream will repel or kill insects while healing minor wounds in dogs and horses and preventing future infection from getting into the wound.

Tips to Remember

Remember that when a pet is hurt, stay calm.  Pets are super sensitive to the emotions that we emit, and stress is one of the key feelings that a pet can read and mirror in their own emotions.  The best treatment you could give your pet is constant observation and attention so you’re alerted to anything amiss.  If you have any reservations concerning whether or not your pet should be taken to the vet, they should probably be taken to the vet.  Any severe temperature changes or blood loss should be treated immediately wherever you happen to be, or the situation could be life-threatening.  That’s why it’s important to keep your first aid kit handy and access to a helpful vet over the phone.

Be safe and healthy!

Photo Credits:

First Aid Logo: Learn Pet First Aid Wesbsite

Hound with Kit: Women’s Day Magazine Website

Is your guinea pig showing signs of old age?

A guinea pig is undoubtedly one of the most beloved and cherished pets that families could adopt into their home.  Their cute gurgles, chirps, and purrs entertain us for years; about five to seven years on average.  As with any companion animal, we must learn to recognize when their golden years approach and begin to prepare ours and our children’s hearts in understanding that our friend will one day pass away.

Physical Characteristics of the Senior Guinea Pig

Like us, one of the first signs of a guinea pig approaching his or her senior years will be the sign of grey or white hairs peppering your piggy’s face and body.

You guinea pig may not be as strong as he used to be.

Another common symptom is cataracts, which will cause a guinea pig’s eyes to become cloudy.  Hearing loss and decreased activity are also very common symptoms.  These things can occur as early as four years old, and do not necessarily mean that your guinea pig has a short life left any more than we do when our hair turns grey and hearing decreases.  On the contrary, many will show no other symptom than hair turning colours.

Behavioral Changes

Remember when you brought your guinea pig home for the first time?  She was a sprite little thing wasn’t she?  She probably ran around her cage chirping non-stop for the first few months in excitement!  When a guinea pig reaches their senior year, they may start slowing down, chirping less, and eating less.  They may sleep more often dreaming of younger days.

Common Health Concerns and Tips on Caring for your Senior

Be aware of some of the more common concerns that are associated with guinea pigs.  These conditions often occur with any aging animal: heart attack, stroke, cancer (lymphsarcoma), kidney or liver disease, hair loss, discharge from nose or eyes, decreased urine or wastes, and significant inactivity or appetite loss.  These could be signs of pretty severe problems.

Care Check List

1. Look over your guinea pig’s home.  Is food, water, and a bed area easily accessible?  If you have a multi-story house, it may be better for your guinea pig to be limited to just one level based on your own evaluation of your guinea pig’s abilities.  If he seems to be staying put on one level, you should definitely limit his climbing requirements.

2. Keep a sign on your guinea pig’s faeces.  As guinea pigs grow older, one big sign of health problems will be faeces appearing pink or runny.  This symptom and urine discolouration could be a sign of kidney problems.

3. It would be better for your piggy rid of any exercise equipment to make room for walking space.  Like humans, senior citizens may limit their sprinted laps for a nice leisurely walk.

4. Make sure your guinea pig is eating ALL of his food and not just the little fruit or veggie treats mixed in.  Lucerne based pellets contain important vitamins that he needs to stay as healthy as possible.

5. Look for any signs of significantly decreased activity or metabolism.  If his eyes become dull and he appears less lively, losing fur, or obviously sick, consult a vet.

Some guinea pigs have lived up to ten years, and so your guinea pig may live to be a ripe old age.  Constant care and love is the most your guinea pig would ever wish from you.  They definitely have given you many memories to cherish forever.

Photo Credit:

First Guinea Pig Pet Talk Australia

Do more for your pet, and consider a diet that nurtures every life stage with proper nutrition.

Pro Plan’s trademark, doing more for your pet signifies Purina’s efforts to provide superior nutrition for pets at every life stage.  Many pet foods boast that they have the highest quality and at least somewhat palatable blend of ingredients, and so how can Purina set apart their premium diet from others?  This article introduces the Pro Plan brand, and why this food is definitely worth pet owner consideration.  If dogs could read, they should be panting with hungry anticipation.

Purina has conducted extensive studies on what one diet kept consistent lifelong can do for the life of a pet.  By feeding our pets a diet considerate of age and condition, pet owners may definitely be able to extend the life of their pets just as humans who eat perfectly balanced and nutritious meals typically live longer and healthier lives.  The Pro Plan brand pet food is packed with nutritional extras from vitamins to delectable and desirable ingredients that our pets deserve.

All of the Pro Plan brands contain wholesome, natural ingredients including real meat like poultry and fish.  For pets that need little red meat, such as Dalmatians where studies have shown that red meat may lead to kidney stones prone to that breed, healthy non-beef alternatives such as poultry, salmon, and lamb paired with ingredients like potatoes, white or brown rice, and barley blended with antioxidants are healthy options that promote the best health considering age and particular condition.

Purina’s Pro Plan product line contain a scientifically perfected blend of vitamins, proteins, and fibres that promote strong muscles, proper digestive system, glimmering coat, strong teeth and bones, and an overall healthy immune system.  Part of Pro Plan’s line is even devoted to exceptional health considerations for pets that may have over-sensitive skin, sensitive stomachs, or who are overweight.

Peninsula Pets in sharing this information with you wants to assure pet owners that we have made this premium diet available to you through the website.  When browsing, please take care to note that different diets are available based on age, breed size, ingredient choice, special health considerations, and activity levels.  If you have any further questions about this line of pet food, we encourage you to leave us a comment or send us an email to info@peninsulapetsupplies.com.au.

Do More—the campaign by Purina and their Pro Plan pet foods ask pet owners how they can make their pet’s life as beautiful as it can be just as Purina has set out to do with their Pro Plan pet foods.  In asking this question, Purina has felt the response of hundreds to thousands of pet owners who have come together to share stories of what their pets have meant to them and how these special animals have brought beauty into their life in a way that deserves a special thanks in gratitude offered in the form of love and the best care we can give them.

Leaving a Dog Home Alone

Gone are the days when all dogs stayed outside in blistering heat, rain or snow.  Our dogs have now claimed a part of our own bed, the best spot on the couch, a nice plush dog bed by the fireplace, and possibly even the remote if they begged enough.  For the working dog parents, as most of us are, leaving this family member behind at home for many hours may seem difficult for some dogs.  We may have been able to change our ways by letting our dogs come into the house, but we still have to work.  For a single dog household, there may be little around to occupy time, especially day after day after day.

According to Pet Place Online, a veterinarian informational resource centre, dogs can be as different in personalities as children.  They describe dogs as having either a ‘Type-A’ personality or ‘Type-B’.  The Type-B dog will probably lay down and go to sleep during their owners’ absence only to get up and stretch or chew on a toy for a minute before falling back asleep.  The Type-A dog, on the other hand, will suffer from extreme boredom and stress.  The signs will be visible all over the house.  Take this picture for example.

Does your dog have a Type-A Personality?

Other signs will be rubbish bins strewn everywhere, cupboards opened, paper or pillows shredded and possibly a good shoe discovered and destroyed.  These dogs don’t need to visit a vet for treatment of separation anxiety, which is a totally different anxiety, this is THE REALLY BORED DOG syndrome.  To make certain you can tell the difference between the two, we’ve borrowed the questionnaire from Pet Place.

According to the vet expertise at Pet Place, a score of five or more ‘yes’ answers may be suggestive of separation anxiety.  These dogs may be out of their mind unsettled while you are away, and the best way to tell is by leaving a small camera or Nanny Cam to watch your dog’s behaviour.  These dogs will be visibly anxious, panting, whining, crying, pacing, barking non-stop.  A bored dog will just be pacing trying to find something to entertain himself.  A dog with separation anxiety may benefit from a prescription calming aid from a vet.  Either a bored dog or a dog with clinical separation anxiety may benefit from these ideas for the home alone dog.

1. Enroll your dog in a day care.  They have certified staff who will play with your pooch all day long, and most are flexible enough to work between your hours.  There will be other dogs there that they will grow to know and socialise with everyday you come. You can save money by only going 2-3 times a week if you can’t afford everyday.  The dog may be so tired from the romps that they could use a day’s rest.
2. Adopt another dog.  Getting another dog is a major decision and may not be the cure for any bad behaviours; however, dogs that get along can entertain themselves with one another for many hours.  One TIP: if the reason you are getting another dog is to provide a companion while you are away, a puppy really may not be the best idea. A puppy needs constant care, feedings, and will be more likely to cause mischief than an equally sweet dog from a shelter or rescue about the same age as your dog.
3. Try home-alone resources.  Check your local bookstore or bookstores like AMAZON for actual music cd’s and dvd’s that are made just to entertain your dog while you are gone.  They come in many varieties, and they all feature dog noises and other noises dogs just eat up.  Some even talk to your dog directly “Oh what a pretty boy you are…so pretty, yes you are a happy dog!”  The DVD’s will all feature other dogs or animals they may like to see.  There are also cat versions where birds and fish are featured.  If not this, leave the radio or tv on for them to listen to.
4. Crates are wonderful in calming a dog.  A crate covered with a blanket or situated near a window will keep a dog contained.  A food puzzle will be a good petsitter while they are awake.  Also consider hiring a dog walker to come take the dog out once a day for 30 minutes or so.
5. Take the dog for a walk or run before you leave.  This way they will have some of their early morning energy worked out before you leave.

These are just a few ideas, and there is a great possibility that just one of these ideas is good enough for your dog.  Dogs are such social animals, and no comparison to cats who seem content to birdwatch all day while we are gone.  A full-time working person can definitely still keep a dog, and with a little creativity, you may find a less anxious pet at home!

References

Pet Place Website: Vet Resources, 2010.

Photo Credits:

Top: Doggy Blurb Blog

Middle: Wagging Tails Dog Day Care

A great video on intestinal worms in cats – All cat owners should watch this!

Internal Parasites (Worms) in Cats

What a Vet is for, What to Expect, What to Do

Reasons to Go, Costs to Consider, Communicating with a Vet

A healthy pet requires teamwork; everyone in the family must pitch in and take some responsibility in the pet’s health, and this definitely includes your veterinarian.  Sometimes finding a new vet, like a new family doctor, can be intimidating.  Sometimes visiting the vet makes us nervous.  This post will look into some important considerations regarding vet care.

Reasons to Visit Your Vet

All of your pets: dogs, cats, horses, rabbits etc should have an annual exam with a vet even in perfect health.  Weight, temperature, dental checks, fur, skin, and ears are a number of things that doctors like to assess every year.  Vaccinations are also administered at this time, and heart worm and flea/tick prevention plans are discussed during this time.

If your pet is sick or injured, you should definitely see a vet, but the appointment may go a little differently than the routine check-up.  Be sure to convey all symptoms.  Blood tests, x-rays, urinalysis, ultrasounds, and faecal exams are just some of the extra diagnostic tests that you should be prepared for.

Surgery: only a vet can perform surgery, and this includes spaying and neutering.

If your pet has a behavioural problem (aggression, obsessive behaviours, nervous habits, barking, etc) then you should go see a vet.  They are educated in neurology to assess and treat these behaviours.

Expected Costs

This is a primary concern with many pet owners.  Veterinary care does not compare in costs with human care for similar concerns and treatments.  Costs have varied very little in the past twenty years and not forecasted to increase dramatically anytime soon.  Also consider that a vet isn’t only a primary care physician, but a surgeon, dentist, dermatologist, cardiologist, neurologist, pharmacist, and the list keeps going.  They are a one-stop shop for your pet’s health care normally.  Vets guide you in product and service choices, but will not force anything on you that you are not financially capable of paying for.

Communication

Communication with a vet is key.  For the owner that brings in a sick pet to the vet, they must communicate the symptoms effectively, and leave understanding what the vet explained and all of the procedures.

Veterinarians exist to provide the same amount of care and concern as you have for your pet, and they are equipped with the knowledge and expertise to take on an almost innumerable array of issues and treatments, so don’t feel like you are burdening a vet with all of your questions and concerns.  You are getting the most out of your money by taking your time with the doctor and talking things through. Just because they know the technical medical school jargon doesn’t mean that you are expected to know what they mean.

Tips before you go:

• Schedule an appointment and be on time
• Bring in a fresh stool / urine sample if requested
• Arrive 15 minutes early
• Bring past records if this is a first-time visit
• Write down questions ahead of time
• Bring a list of current medications and note your pet’s diet
• Don’t let your pet toilet before they walk in. The vet may need a sample.