Bridging the Gap Between Veterinary Hospitals and Pet Owners

Many pet owners have found themselves in a situation where their dog or cat required veterinary hospital care. Later, when being discharged from the hospital, medications and nursing instructions are discussed and then the owner and their recovering pet are sent on their way. The owner gets home and realizes they don't quite understand the nursing care needed or are not comfortable providing the nursing care their dog or cat needs. At this point the owner calls their veterinary hospital to clarify nursing instructions or asks friends or family to help them. If the owner is still not comfortable providing the care their pet needs then they may decide that it is too much for them and bring their pet back to board at the veterinary hospital for the duration of recovery.

Wouldn't it be a huge relief if there were a service that provided in-home veterinary nursing care? In-home pet care isn't a new idea, many pet owners have pet sitters or dog walkers, but in-home veterinary nursing care is a newer idea and such services are relatively rare, but they can be found.

There are many advantages of in-home pet care. Pets are often afraid in unfamiliar environments. The sounds and smells are unfamiliar and can be frightening, especially to cats. With in-home services pets can stay in the comfort of their own homes. This also means that pet's, and owner's, routines and schedules are not interrupted. Also, owners do not have to worry about having to transport their cat or dog for boarding or veterinary appointments. Many boarding facilities now offer cage free boarding and group play. This greatly increases the cat or dogs chances of acquiring an illness. This also greatly increases their chance of being injured by another cat or dog.

If veterinary professionals were being honest, especially those working in emergency hospitals, they would tell every pet owner they come across not to take their pets anywhere cage free or with open play. This is because they have seen first hand the horrors that have occurred at such places. These illnesses and injuries can result in death of a pet and severe heart ache for their owners. Lengthy legal battles between owners and boarding facilities have also occurred in these situations. I recommend finding an in-home pet care service the next time a pet owner is in need of a boarding facility or pet care. In-home care will result in a much more comfortable and happy pet and will be much less stress for the owners too.

Kristen Gaul, RVT, VTS(ECC) is the founder of My Pet's Care, LLC and is an experienced Registered Veterinary Technician and a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Emergency and Critical Care. Kristen is also currently enrolled in the Masters of Entrepreneurship Degree Program at Western Carolina University. Webmasters and other article publishers are hereby granted article reproduction permission as long as the article in its entirety, author's information, and any links remain intact.

Pet Cremation or Pet Burial? Which Is Best?

This is something we all put to one side. We rescue a loved one from the pound or from someone

who neglected to realise they were signing up for at least a 15 year commitment. Or we pick

the puppy of our dreams, the small ball of fluff we absolutely adore. All the time knowing a

human will live for 80 years on average if they have good health and most dogs and some cats

will average a 15 year span. We can have up to 5 beautiful souls in our lifetime if we commit

and we reach our own personal health goals.

So we need to address the issue a few times during our stay on the planet. What do we do once

our babies pass away? Should we bury or cremate our beautiful pet who has been a part of our

family for so many years. This is such a personal question that no matter what you read here

in this article you will make your own mind up. I don't know if either decision is correct or

incorrect, I think the most important decision is how you dispose (what a dreadful word) of

your loved one once their time here has ended. The only real answer to this is obvious, with a

whole lot of love and an abundance of respect.

Some families are lucky and have a farm in the family and have developed their own pet

cemetery over the years. In other rural areas compassionate families have opened up their land

and created formal Pet Cemeteries. Others in suburbia are not so lucky, there are rules and

regulations depending on which state, county or country you live in to whether you are allowed

to have your loved one buried in your yard. For years none of this mattered and little

cemeteries were in everyone's back yard, with the obligatory funeral service and the family

gathering to say their goodbyes.

So with all of the restrictions being put into place I guess this is where the cremation

business started. So you now have this option as well. This is a convenient option as you can

take your loved one with you where ever you go (their ashes). They can travel the country with

you like they did when they were fit, young and healthy. If you don't have anywhere to bury

your loved one you can also choose this option. Then you have another dilemma to deal with.

You now have to somehow find a receptacle to place the ashes in that somehow depicts your

loved ones soul and personality.

We have a gorgeous collection of urns at the Cremation Urn Emporium and we specialize in Pet

Cremation Urns. We have started the business to try and help alleviate the decisions and give

you some beautiful options covering the whole gamut of breeds from Persians, Chihuahuas to

Great Danes. If you find yourself at this sad stage of life and have chosen cremation as your

option we may have something beautiful for your loved one. please visit our site and see if we

can assist you.

Whether to Euthanize Your Pet or Let Nature Take Its Course

The dilemma of being in control of someone else's life is one of the biggest situations and major responsibilities you will have to address whilst here on this planet. Having the love and loyalty of a cat or dog is one of the biggest gifts you will ever receive in return. As they age or become injured it is up to us to become their carer and make all the decisions in relation to their longevity, health and the best course of action to be taken.

As their owner (I truly dislike this term) you are responsible for them as they are unable to speak and let you know how much pain they are in and this is one of the many challenges you will face when it comes time. My personal opinion is irrelevant as you yourself will see and know when and what to do once the situation starts to deteriorate. If you are looking for some guidelines I have taken the time to put some pointers together for you.

Signs it is time to think about making a decisions

Is your pet unable to walk?
Is your pet incontinent?
Has your pet stopped eating?
Has your pet stopped drinking?
Is he or she just not themselves?
Are they uncomfortable and restless?
These are all the questions you will receive from your Veterinary professional along with others depending on the condition your loved is suffering from. These are the things you need to think about if you are considering euthanasia.

Whether you choose euthanasia or let life take its course is your own personal decision. But my own personal theory is if you can alleviate some suffering, why would you not. Our own selfishness gets in the way sometimes as we know it is the last time we will hold them or see them so we hold on just that little bit longer. If you have the strength to alleviate some of their suffering I believe it is a gift. Being with them whilst they pass is also a gift you can give them, the comfort of your hand and voice as they slip away would I believe have a calming and soothing effect. This also takes strength on our behalf, all this strength is sometimes hard to muster but if we can I think it is our final gift to them.

Once your loved one has passed you may wonder where they go next? You are able to have your pet cremated or buried. This is also a personal choice and one only you and your family can decide. Pet cremation urns are available and some are stunning and there are also some beautiful, peaceful Pet cemeteries that you are able to choose from. This means more decisions for the family to make at a very emotional time, once again on behalf of your loyal and loving fur baby.

Having to decide whether to let a love one pass away naturally or to intervene is one of the most challenging questions you will ask yourself. The next big question is where do they go once they have passed. If you choose cremation we do hope some of our beautiful cremation urns will help alleviate some of the pain and make a difficult time a little easier.

For our full range visit

Are You Making Any of These Bath-Time Mistakes As a Pet Owner?

For the majority of human beings, going for a shower or bath is a calming experience. But for our pets it can be anything but unwinding. They always sprint around in the other direction of the tub when hearing the noise, the cleansing and suds. Grooming your pet is a necessity which not only keeps their coat healthy, but also reduces allergies and possibility of infection and lessens the spread of dirt and germs throughout your house. While your furry pal may resist to the idea of the bath, as a pet owner it is your task to make it as positive and easy-going as possible for your pet.

But never make these bath-time mistakes while bathing your pet:

Wrong Water Temperature

Pet owners make the mistake of either bathing their pet with too hot or too cold water. Instead, you should bath your pet with lukewarm water. As too hot or too cold water can create a negative stimulus that can make them resist taking a bath. So, how would you know it is the right temperature? Just spray the nozzle on your forearm and if you are fine with the temperature of the water, give bath to your fur baby. Remember, the pet's skin is more sensitive to temperature than your hand.

Rough Spray

Use a hand-held spray or a nozzle in a tub or sink to bathe your furry pal. If you do not have one, spray the water jet directly on his fur since the loud noise of running water coupled with water pressure can frighten and upset your pet. First, let the water hit the back of your hand and then move the nozzle across the body of the pet. Once the pet is at ease wet the entire coat of the furry companion.

Selection Of The Wrong Shampoo

Never use human shampoo on your pet even if it is all natural solution or a mild baby shampoo. Remember, a pet's skin has a distinct pH balance than humans, which would dry their skin. Hence, ask for a recommendation from your veterinarian and select the brands that are specifically formulated for dogs or cats. It has been observed that oatmeal-based shampoo is one of the smoother options. If your pet is undergoing any skin condition, then medicated shampoo is the best. Ask your veterinarian to help you choose the best fit for your pet according to his/her needs. If your pet has a sensitive skin then first run the trial of the shampoo on a spot on the back of the leg at first and then observe if the pet feels irritated after a couple of days before the bath.

Poor Application Of Soap

Apply soap on the fur of the pet and then let it soak in for a couple of minutes. But this will not get rid of all the dirt and oil. You need to actively knead the soap on the pet's fur with your hands and fingers for four minutes. Commence from the legs of the pet and then move to their face. Clean their face with a cotton ball or wash-cloth, but be careful that the eyes are not disturbed.

Clean the outside part of the ear with a small bit of shampoo on your fingers, a bath linen or a cotton ball. Tilt the pet's head down before rinsing so that the water does not go into their ear canal. It will also aid in preventing ear infections. Rinse the shampoo with shower nozzle by reversing the order in which you shampooed. Commence from the head of the pet this time and then move to their legs. This way, even if the soap gets into the eyes of the pet, it will get rinsed first. Ensure that the water runs clear of the studs before you finish.

Bathing Too Frequently

Dogs and cats naturally groom themselves. Hence, there is no need to bathe your furry pal more than once on a monthly basis. In fact, too many baths can actually strip off the natural oils from the coat of the pet which can result in skin irritation. Consult with your veterinarian about the best grooming schedule for your pet. Also ask them about the best shampoo according to the breed and activity level of your pet.

I own two dogs and a cat and regularly purchase pet shampoo for regular grooming purposes. I was researching on the topic of the different bath-time mistakes that pet owners make and came across some interesting pointers which I have discussed in this write-up.