Low Cost Vaccinations

Are you having trouble affording your vet bills? Petco offers low-cost vaccinations at certain times of the month. All services are conducted by a licensed veterinarian.  I took my dog, Zoe, to the petco in New Orleans for her annual vaccinations.  It was so much easier than I had anticipated!  We went into Petco, filled out a form, stood in line, and when it was her turn, they put her on a table, gave her the shots, and viola! a fully vaccinated dog for a FRACTION of what it costs to go to the vet.  They also sell discounted heartworm and flea prevention.

You can take part in this low-cost vaccination program at the Petco in: New Orleans, Houma, Monroe, Metairie, Shreveport South, Kenner, Baton Rouge, Denham Springs, Lake Charles, and Lafayette.  Please visit the website for scheduled dates and times or email:  drajhall@lowcostvaccination.com or call: 1-800-978-3910 for more information.

Vaccinations available for cats, dogs, and ferrets.

Wow! Super Smart Dog!!

it’s been a little while since we posted a great video.  We at Nola Pet Source know that  you  need some awesome pet videos to get you through the day. And so, for your health and mine, I have undertaken the arduous task of, once again, searching YouTube for the best pet videos.  I know, I know- I’m something of a hero.  But I don’t do it for the fame, the glory, or the praise.  I do it for the people.  And the pets.   Without further ado,  here it is.  Your amazing pet video.  This dog is amazing.

Mardi Paws on the Northshore!

Don’t forget to check out Mardi Paws 2010 along Lakeshore Dr. in Mandeville.  It’s sure to be tons of fun!  All dogs are required to be in costume or at least heavily adorned with beads, feathers, etc.  It’s always fun to watch dogs who have been dressed up in costume.  Really, I don’t think anything can beat it.  It is, perhaps, the reason we live.  The reason we get up in the morning.  The reason we carry on in this cruel, cruel world.  Dogs in costume- they save us from ourselves.

The parade is on Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 12:30 pm.  Same day registration – $15 for one dog, $45 for 3 or more dogs from the same household.  Or just come and watch the festivities!  Please visit Mardi Paws.com for all the details and contact info for the parade!

Don’t miss it, or you’ll be kicking yourself later!!

XX

Home-made litter scoop

Check out this neat little idea!

A litter scoop made out an old soda bottle!  I am in the process of making one for myself (I am using a large Simply Orange bottle)!  The reason I am making one is because I had to bring in one of my feral cats.  He is in a back room, so as not to infect my house cat if he is sick.  I need to scoop his litter box but do not want to transfer worms to my house cat, if the feral has worms.  Didn’t feel like going to the store and spending money on a new scoop, so I looked around and found this little gem.  Enjoy!

Full instructions at MessyBeast.com

Purr-ty cool!!

Repost from Dodai at Jezebel.com

Popovich’s Cat Circus

There are some who may say this is cruel, but I don’t see why rescuing cats from the shelter and training them is a bad thing. Plus, this guy lets his cat eat from the dinner table, his pets are definitely part of his family, so I don’t think there’s any cruelty to animals going on here. Anyway, enjoy!

The Mean Kitty Song

I love this song!

Flying Pets! (Part 1)

Air travel with your pet can be a stressful experience, especially for your pet. The following information should help you in making an informed decision on whether or not traveling by air with your pet is feasible, or if kenneling or another form of travel is a better idea.

Pet Health and Well-being

First thing’s first, it’s a good idea to get a health certificate before you take off with your pet. A health certificate can be obtained from your vet and should be issued no more than 10 days before your date of departure if your pet will be traveling in cargo, and no more than 30 days before your date of departure if your pet will be traveling in the cabin with you. Even if an airline does not require it, some states do require you to have a health certificate to travel with your pet. To find out if the state you’re traveling to requires a health certificate, go here:

State Regulations

I would recommend getting a health certificate even if it’s not required so you can discuss your pet’s health with your vet before you depart. Because traveling is so stressful for pets, you want to be sure that your pet is healthy enough to be able to handle it.

A few rules to fly by:

1) Pets under 8 weeks of age should not travel with you by air.
2) Pets 12 weeks of age or older, particularly dogs, should have proof of rabies vaccination in order to fly.
3) Kennels and pet carriers should be big enough to allow your pet to turn all the way around and stand up without their head touching the top of the kennel or carrier.
4) Familiarize your pet with the kennel or carrier a few days before traveling to help minimize its stress.
5) Your pet should not be given sedatives or tranquilizers before flying. If your vet recommends sedation for your pet, be sure to obtain written consent from your vet so you can provide this documentation to the airline you’re traveling with.

Carry-on

Keeping your pet with you in the cabin is probably how you would prefer to fly if you have to bring your little buddy along. Your pet will only be able to fly in the cabin with you if it is small enough to fit under the seat in front of you while in its carrier. I recommend using a soft-sided carrier if you plan on taking your pet in the cabin with you. There are FAA regulations regarding how many carry-on pets are in the cabin per flight, so it is important that you book your flight in advance and the let the airline know you will be taking your pet in the cabin with you. Reconfirm 48 hours before your departure, and arrive early to check in. Airlines tend to overbook, and pets in the cabin are first come, first serve.

Your pet carrier will be considered your carry on item, so pack accordingly. That leads to the obvious statement that you are only allowed to carry on one pet carrier with you. Two pets of the same species and around the same age can be in the same carrier (think puppies or kittens) but their weight cannot exceed 20lbs and they have to fit comfortably together in the carrier.

The following is some info on the different airlines and their policies for carrying your pets on board with you.

American Airlines:
Cost to fly with pet – $100 one way
Types of pets – small cats and dogs
Max number of carry-on pets in cabin – 7
Reservations – (800) 433-7300

Continental:
Cost to fly with pet – $125 one way
Types of pets – small dogs, cats, household birds*, rabbits
Max number of carry-on pets in cabin – 5
Reservations – (800) 525-0280

Delta:
Cost to fly with pet – $100 one way
Types of pets – small dogs, cats, household birds*
Max number of carry-on pets in cabin – 8
Reservations – (800) 221-1212

Northwest:
Cost to fly with pet – $100 one way
Types of pets – small dogs, cats, household birds*
Max number of carry-on pets in cabin – 6
Reservations – (800) 225-2525

Southwest:
Cost to fly with pet – $75 one way
Types of pets – small dogs and cats
Max number of carry-on pets in cabin – 5
Reservations – (800) 435-9792

USAirways:
Cost to fly with pet – $100 one way
Types of pets – small dogs, cats, household birds*
Max number of carry-on pets in cabin – not listed but will be limited
Reservations – (800) 428-4322

United:
Cost of fly with pet – $125 one way
Types of pets – small dogs, cats, household birds*
Max number of carry-on pets in cabin – not listed but will be limited
Reservations – (800) 864-8331

* Generally household birds include canaries, finches, and parakeets

Service animals can almost always travel in the cabin with you, and typically it is free.

Stay tuned for additional posts on flying with your pet as checked baggage and as cargo.

The art of tick removal

Here’s an unpleasant task that almost every pet owner will have to do at some point: removing a tick from their beloved cat or dog (or any animal that goes outdoors and plays in trees, grass, and underbrush). I remember the first time my dog, Zoe, got a tick. My husband and I cornered her on her bed and came at her with a match and some tweezers. We had no idea what we were doing. Luckily, there is the internet, and I have now fully studied and mastered the art of tick removal. By the way, apparently, the match trick can actually cause quite a bit of harm, as it often causes the tick to regurgitate all that nasty stuff inside it, which is not a great thing since ticks can carry Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Fever, and many other illnesses.

From my studies in the art of tick removal at the prestigious Internet University, I have learned that it is best to remove the tick without trying to cause it any major discomfort. When a tick gets mad (ie: burned with the hot end of a match, smothered in petroleum jelly, etc.), it tends to release extra saliva and possibly even to vomit. Not too appealing to either me or my dogs.

So, there is no easy way to make that little sucker (no pun intended) let go of his own accord. He is on and he is not going anywhere without a fight. The most important thing is to remove the FULL tick. You do not want to leave his head or mandibles lodged in your pets flesh. And how does one go about this? There are several tools available to aid you in this crusade. We will discuss a few of them.

Tweezers. Good, old-fashioned tweezers. Everybody’s got them and they are occasionally easy to find. So grab a pair of tweezers, grasp the tick by his head, and pull up in one smooth and straight motion. Do not grasp him by the body, or you risk leaving the head/mandibles behind. Also, do not twist as you are pulling. Sounds simple enough, but to complicate matters, allow me to point out that tweezers can sometimes squeeze our little tick buddy, causing him to, you guessed it- vomit. Dang. I thought we were trying to avoid that.

Enter the Tick Twister and Ticked Off. These are two products made specifically for removing ticks.

Both of these products are placed under the tick such that it can be removed without squeezing it. They also remove the tick without leaving the head or mandibles lodged inside your pet’s skin.

Watch this video about using the Tick Twister:

The tick twister comes in two sizes- one for small ticks and one for large ticks. Ticks, however, can be QUITE small, and many users have commented that it was difficult to get very small ticks caught between the tines. Thus, Ticked off can be a good option for smaller ticks.

Ticks can be very dangerous, so be sure to check your pets frequently. Be sure to check between your pet’s toes and in and on their ears. If you do find a tick, it is important to remove it immediately, using one of the safe methods described above. You may want to consider a tick prevention product, as well. Also, if your pet has lots of ticks, you might want to try a tick bath, as opposed to removing them all individually. Additionally, it is not a bad idea to keep the tick in a plastic bag so that if your dog begins showing any signs of illness, you can have the tick tested for Lyme disease or other diseases.

Are male or female cats more vocal?