November, 2014 | Aspen Park Vet Hospital

I posted this a few weeks ago, but think it is important enough to mention again. As the holidays approach, our lives tend to be even more hectic than usual. But just as now is the time to check those batteries in your smoke detectors, it’s also a great time to ensure your personal Pet Safety Plan, is in place. Maybe you recently moved, changed names, or forgot to post that list behind the door for emergency personnel (if they ever need to enter your home, and quickly rescue all your animals). Confidently face the holidays knowing you have done everything you can to ensure your animal’s health and safety in the exciting New Year, 2015!

I challenge YOU to have these 8 ESSENTIAL tasks every animal guardian needs, complete, before January 1, 2015! Join me in taking THE PLEDGE to complete these small steps, that each of us knows we need to do, but have yet chosen to make a priority (or maybe you already have, you super star)!

Thank you for taking good care of me!

And as an added incentive, to show how important I really think this is, everyone who helps spread the word, and joins me, to complete their plan before the end of the year, will receive a $10 Coupon from me! Use the coupon anytime in 2015 towards services, or tickets to one of my events!

Come on, what do you have to lose? It is all things we animal lovers have to do anyway, so take a minute, go through the items below, and agree to join me to take the Pledge. Help me, help you, make 2015 the best and brightest year yet with you and your animal friends!

The 8 Step Essential Animal Safety Plan by DrQ:

Have a current name tag for every animal in your care, affixed to a collar, halter, carrier, or other appropriate place.
Post a sign in an obvious location with a complete list of all animals, including their name, description, location of their leash, halter, carrier, and most likely place to find them, if they are hiding in an emergency.
Make sure you animals are taught well enough to travel. Ensure that they can be found, handled, and safely transported, in an emergency. Join a training class if necessary.
Have a personalized Disaster Preparedness Plan, that describes what should happen with each pet in any and all emergencies, most likely to affect you. Discuss it with each member of your family.
Make preparations in your Will for what will happen to each one of your animals, if something should happen to you, first.
Have a first aid kit for your animals, which contains at the very least 1) some bandage material, and 2) some pain medication appropriate for the species.
Ensure each one of your animals is seen by a veterinarian at least once in the next 12 months, to ensure their good health and maximize longevity. Have them spayed or neutered, if not already.
Ensure your animal is a good citizen! Read about Dog Bite Prevention. Address any and all issues which may compromise the ability of someone to provide care for your animal, or which might cause annoyance, or even harm , to someone else.

Questions or problems with completing any of these tasks? We are here to help! Call us TODAY and schedule your consultation!

Edit this entry.

This “test” is the number one most important thing I recommend every animal lover should HAVE to do At LEAST once a week, to keep your animal healthy, and happy to be with you!

Imagine this, your lovable, reliable, friendly animal, suddenly acts out and shuns you. It can happen at any time, for many reasons. How big of a deal is it, really, if something like this happens once in a while?
Everyone has a bad day, right?

WRONG!

For example, one family’s beloved pet dog, suddenly snapped at their small child. With heavy hearts, the family reluctantly agreed that this was a ‘deal breaker”, as they could just not risk a dangerous pet around their child. They made the gut wrenching decision to bring the dog to the local shelter. While there, a kind person noticed the dog was experiencing a severe ear infection, and was suffering in a huge amount of silent pain! Sounds like it could never happen on your watch? Don’t be so sure, in reality, I have seen this happen more than once, just in my own practice, with all different species of animals.

Animals are much less complicated emotionally than we humans are, so if something so completely out of the ordinary occurs, it is DEFINITELY your animal conveying some kind of message to you. And it’s up to us, the mammal with the bigger brain, to figure out what that something, is!

It could be something very serious, and a sudden change in behavior, should NEVER be ignored.

So what is the one thing you MUST do, at LEAST once every week, to connect with your animals emotionally, and thereby, be more likely to notice problems like this long before they happen?

Do this at your animal’s next meal,play, or snack time. Have them wait, and make eye contact with you, for at least 5 full seconds, freely and without any restraint, before they proceed. It’s sort of like saying ‘grace’ before enjoying dinner, or asking politely “please may I”, before proceeding. Just a quick ‘check in’ conversation between you, and your loved one, at a time when you are in the best position to likely have their full attention.

If you can’t do this with any of your animals, then there is a trust issue. Notice, I did not say a dominance, issue, there is a very BIG and IMPORTANT difference!

Training and bonding with your animal’s is not about a lot of learning theory, rules, video’s, gadgets, or worst of all, “showing who is BOSS”! It’s about a peaceful coexistence, in safety and trust, with all the animals in your care. Through a few simple little interactions, or changes in your current routine, you too can reap huge benefits in the emotional connection, and subsequent ability to note and address physical issues, long before they become a ‘deal breaker”.

This is how you know, they trust you. This is how you know, you can trust them.

If you can’t do it, start making changes, today, in how you interact with your animal, to be able to accomplish this small 5 second check in. If you have tried, and failed, give me a call, I can help you help make it happen, no matter what animal your’s happens to be. Doesn’t make sense, or need more clarification? Likely someone else does too, so do us all a favor and leave comments below.

5 seconds of stillness

Have you had your 5 seconds of stillness with your animal, today?

Want more quick and easy life hacks like this?

Join us at http://www.stealmoreyears.com.

DrQ the Life Coach for People with Pets, helping you both live happier and healthier, longer!

Posts made in November 2014

Are your animals as safe as you think? Join the Pledge!

The 8 Step Essential Animal Safety Plan by DrQ:

Have a current name tag for every animal in your care, affixed to a collar, halter, carrier, or other appropriate place.

Post a sign in an obvious location with a complete list of all animals, including their name, description, location of their leash, halter, carrier, and most likely place to find them, if they are hiding in an emergency.

Make sure you animals are taught well enough to travel. Ensure that they can be found, handled, and safely transported, in an emergency. Join a training class if necessary.

Have a personalized Disaster Preparedness Plan, that describes what should happen with each pet in any and all emergencies, most likely to affect you. Discuss it with each member of your family.

Make preparations in your Will for what will happen to each one of your animals, if something should happen to you, first.

Have a first aid kit for your animals, which contains at the very least 1) some bandage material, and 2) some pain medication appropriate for the species.

Ensure each one of your animals is seen by a veterinarian at least once in the next 12 months, to ensure their good health and maximize longevity. Have them spayed or neutered, if not already.

Ensure your animal is a good citizen! Read about Dog Bite Prevention. Address any and all issues which may compromise the ability of someone to provide care for your animal, or which might cause annoyance, or even harm , to someone else.

Questions or problems with completing any of these tasks? We are here to help! Call us TODAY and schedule your consultation!

Thinking of a new pet for the holidays?

Have You Had Your 5 Second’s of Stillness Today?