Therapy Animals

A therapy animal is used to provide mental and physical stimulation for those in healthcare facilities and other treatment centers. In a typical situation, a therapy animal will “visit” patients in these facilities to assist in their physical or mental treatment program. Therapy animals have also been known to visit assisted living homes to keep the spirits of the tenants up. In many assisted living facilities there may even be a resident therapy animal, most likely a cat.

A therapy animal can help a patient to feel less depressed, be more open to strangers and even be an ice breaker for conversation. When an animal visits a facility it can be the break in routine a patient needs to progress treatment. Patients often become more interactive during the therapy animal visit and the days following. While the therapy animal is visiting, patients will often talk to the animal, sharing memories of past pets which can be a welcomed distraction to day to day life. The therapy animal can also be a conversation starter between the handler and the patient. Many times the patient will ask questions about the animal.

Picture taken from: www.thankdogs.com/Animal_Assisted_Therapy.htm

In many cases, a patient has had to give up pet ownership and welcomes the therapy pet on a routine basis. This gives patients something to look forward to.

If you have a pet that you think is right for a therapy program or are just interested in the Pet therapy programs, please visit the following resource sites.

http://www.petsandpeople.org/cat-ther.htm

http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/program.cfm?page=3

Is Pet Health Insurance Right for You?

If you have an exotic pet, visit the vet often or are apprehensive about an emergency vet bill, pet insurance might be something to consider. With advanced techniques in veterinary science and care, come bigger bills and more expensive care. In the last few years pet insurance has become popular among pet owners. While it can be a good option there are some things to consider before buying a policy.

One consideration is how often you visit the vet or emergency vet? Pet insurance helps to reduce the cost of routine visits and emergency vet visits. It works much the same way as human healthcare insurance. With special pets comes special care, so pet insurance can help if you have to take your exotic to the vet more often.

Another consideration is the cost. For a dog the range can be $22-$28 per month. This is just an average so there are companies that offer coverage for more or less depending on the level of coverage you prefer. Cat pet insurance is cheaper with an average price of $15-$18 a month.

If you decide to purchase pet insurance, do some research and find the right policy for you and your pet. Different policies can cover vet visits, emergency surgery and even prescriptions. A good tip is to check with your veterinary office to see if they accept or recommend a certain policy or company over another. If you ask the right questions and do your homework, you can find the best option for you and your pet.

Top Reasons to Neuter Your Male Pet or Spay Your Female Pet

Each year nearly 4 million pets are euthanized in the United States. This number is staggering when you consider how many options there are available to spay or neuter your pet. In most cases if you get a puppy from a shelter, the animal will be required to be spayed or neutered before it leaves. It’s easy for the owners of female pets to realize when they are contributing to pet overpopulation, but the owners of male dogs need to understand the impact that their dog is having on the unwanted pet population as well.

1. For male pets, eliminate the risk of testicular cancer. The testicles are removed during the neutering surgery so without testicles, there is no chance for testicular cancer. If you have a male pet that has only one descended testicle, it is especially important that both testicles are removed. Retained testicles are much more likely to develop cancer.

2. For female pets, greatly reduce the risk of breast or mammary cancer. If a female dog is spayed prior to her first heat, she is very unlikely to ever develop breast cancer.

3. For males, reduce the risk of prostate enlargement or abscesses. Without the influence of testosterone from the testicles, prostatic problems are much less likely. Enlarged prostates can cause difficulty in urinating and also can lead to constipation.

4. Keep your pets at home – Intact pets are much more likely to wander. Males will wander off in search of a mate and are much more likely to become injured by other dogs or hit by a car. In rural areas, it is not unheard of for dogs to be shot when they wander onto someone’s property and pick fights with other dogs or bother female dogs.

5. Reduces aggressiveness and undesirable behavior – It’s embarrassing when your puppy mounts a leg. While this is just play behavior, adult intact males will mount legs as a sexual behavior and this is pretty undesirable, especially at a dinner party! Neutered dogs are also less likely to be aggressive to people or other dogs, especially important if you live in a neighborhood or have people to your home frequently. Neutered cats are less likely to get into fights and cat fights usually result in unwanted veterinary bills.

6. Decrease odors in your home – Neutered pets are unlikely to have any marking behavior, which can leave unwanted stains or smells in your house.

7. Don’t spread bad genes. Professional breeders are responsible and work hard to ensure the integrity of their lines. Many pets are sold as “pet” quality, which means that there is something about them that makes them undesirable as a show animal. Don’t risk passing this undesirable trait on or making it worse. Your pet can be a wonderful pet without having puppies or kittens.

Remember, your pet does not feel that he or she is missing out by not contributing to the pet population of the world. Please have your pet spayed or neutered to control the pet population.

New Year’s Resolutions for You and Your Pet

The New Year is right around the corner, and with that brings the chance to make changes for the better! This year, why not get your pet involved? In many ways your pet mimics your personality – even when it comes to health and fitness. If you tend to be a couch potato, your pet may be the same way. If you are a fitness buff, chances are your pet is too. For those who see themselves and their pets as not in the best of shape, take a look at the next few tips to help get a jump start on a healthy New Year.

Healthy Treats

Instead of table scraps, which can be harmful to your pet, find a healthier snack. These healthy treats can be found in many pet stores and even grocery stores. If you are unsure about the nutritional value of treats, talk to your vet or ask a specialist at your local pet store to advise you. They will give you helpful advice so you can find the right treat for your pet. This goes for you too. Skip the cookies and grab some carrots. If you happen to drop one, it isn’t a bad thing. Carrots are actually good for dogs with stomach problems.

Get in Shape

If you, like many of us, have overindulged during the holiday season, then the New Year is an excellent chance to get back in shape. Make a resolution to get off the couch and be more active with your pet. Take walks, play ball, or start jogging. Not only will these activities help get you and your pet in better shape, but you will have more fun together as well. At this point you may be reading and saying, “I have a cat, and I am not jogging with my cat!” No problem. Look for a cat jungle gym, or some different indoor toys that will help keep your cat active. While this may not be the best option for getting yourself in shape, you’re sure to get a laugh out of watching your cat jump around.

If all this sounds like too much work for you, you can still get your pets in shape with these neat toys. For dogs: http://www.buygodoggo.com/seemovie.html . For cats: http://www.thecatconnection.com/Da-Bird-Cat-Teaser.html . With that, enjoy the year and good luck with your healthy efforts.