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In my opinion, there’s one word/item that can cause panic and confusion at the same time: Insurance.
There are insurance policies for healthcare, life, vehicles, renting an apartment, and owning a home – and many other options. Many times we don't read our policies in full, or even update our policies when we have life changes, do some renovations to our home, purchase or are gifted valuables (electronics, jewelry, equipment) or when we welcome a dog into the family. The other day on a Facebook group for dog adoptions, I noticed a post from a rescue that told home owners (not renters) that they would need to check with their homeowners insurance company before they adopted one of the pups available from their rescue. That’s right. Companies offering homeowners and renters insurance are being quite picky about which types of dogs that they will insurance, and which types of dogs that they will not insure. Then, a Fur Kids Foundation board members shared a May 2012 Forbes article with me, 11 Riskiest Dog Breeds for Homeowners and Renters, and I was surprised to see what pooches were in the dog house, so to speak:
Fur Kids Foundation is not condoning these dogs, nor are we saying that you shouldn’t get that Rottweiler puppy. But before you do, consider contacting your homeowners/renters insurance agent to find out whether they cover the breed, and if not, what it will cost to get a homeowners or renters with a company that does.
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Recently, Fur Kids Foundation has helped a couple of families who faced some pricey vet bills because of urinary tract infections in their cats. What we've learned about these issues, we've decided to share with you.
Cats who may have urinary tract infections generally show similar symptoms. These signs can include:
Frequent urinary tract infections can also indicate that the cat may have lower urinary tract disease, which can be difficult to diagnose. This disease can cause urinary stones, urethral plugs, and cancer, among others. If your cat is showing any of these symptoms, it's best to contact a veterinarian. Based on your cat's signs, your vet will perform a physical examination and request to collect urine so that they can run a urinalysis. Other testing may also be needed such as bloodwork, x-rays and a urine culture. There are also other steps you can take to reduce the chances of the cat developing urinary tract issues.
Again, if your cat is showing any of these symptoms, please contact a veterinarian. The earlier, the better. Want more information? Check out:
Source: Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Feline Health Center Do you ever ask yourself, "What's in my pet's treats? Is this safe for them to eat?"
With all of the recalls that we've been hearing about for the past two years, it can be somewhat disconcerting to purchase your pets' treats or food in the store, or heaven forbid purchase something new for them to eat. I was speaking with my stylist the other day, the talented Brooke at the newly opened Siren Salon in Gillette, when she mentioned to me that her beautiful pup Abbey had died from contaminated treats sold at Wal-mart. We only touched on it lightly, but the treats she gave her Airedale Terrier caused kidney failure in only one day. What a frightening thing to go through. To help you not experience what Brooke went through, we felt it was important to share where you can find information on recalled dog treats and food from a credible source. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Pet & Veterinary page lists the date of which the recall was listed as well as the brand and product that is recalled. You can click into any alert for more information on the recalled item. Or, if you'd rather see a table of all of the recalled products, please check out the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Animal Food Recalls and Alerts page. The information is based on the reports from the FDA, but is laid out in a better fashion. If your pet's food or treats are recalled, please immediately stop feeding your pet the product and you may want to reach out to your veterinarian if they are showing any worrisome side-effects. Also know that you can return recalled products to the store where you purchased them for a full refund or dispose of them in a secure area not accessible to animals. The Humane Society Society of the United States has more information available on their Pet Food Safety page. We hope to provide more information about pet food and treats in upcoming blogs. But, if you have specific questions, please ask them in the comments section below, or contact the Foundation. Thanks for reading! At the start of the new year, my rescued beagle, Cooper started settling into his surroundings. This made me happy, as I had rescued him in November and he was starting to show me that he was trusting me and even enjoying his new home. However, his settling in quickly turned into some bad behaviors. One day, I came home at lunch to find my trash dug out from under the sink. There wasn't much in it, but there was some red velvet cake that I had tossed out and some old chicken I hadn't finished for the week. (While I'm sure this was delish to this hound while he was gobbling it down, it sure made his tummy upset that night.) I decided he would spend the rest of the day in my bedroom until I could get some child locks for the sink cupboard. Unfortunately, Cooper has already marked on my bed, and he showed me that he's not done with that yet either. After installing the child locks I picked up at The Home Depot, I came home to my trash dug out once again, the cupboard door chewed up and the child lock broken. There wasn't much in the trash, but it was clear to me he knew there were goodies located under the kitchen sink. We went to Petco that night to pick up some dog food and when I came home to put it away, I noticed that digging the trash out from under the sink wasn't the only way Cooper was passing his time while I was at work; he was also digging at my food pantry door.
This was no good. I had crate trained my dog Lucy, and decided that this pup would be safer in one as well.
I live by a few rules when I crate train:
Now, there are other tips and tricks to crate training, and I felt it best to send you to some reputable organizations to learn more about it; you can find them below. But, if you have questions, feel free to ask in the comments. Or, contact a pet trainer in the area.
Is your dog’s breathe worse than the smell coming from your trash can? Does your cat’s kiss on the nose every morning make you want to gag? That odor might signify a serious health risk, with the potential to damage not only your pet's teeth and gums, but its internal organs. Bad breath is a sign of oral and dental diseases in dogs and cats, but it’s not the only sign. Other signs include: • Loose teeth or teeth that are discolored or covered in tartar. • Your pet shies away from you when you touch the mouth area. • Drooling or dropping food from the mouth. • Bleeding from the mouth. • Loss of appetite or loss of weight (this combination can result from diseases of many organs, and early veterinary examination is important). If your pet is exhibiting some of these symptoms, they may need some dental work done. Please make an appointment with your veterinarian. Prevention Periodontal disease is the most common clinical condition in cats and dogs, yet it's completely preventable. So, how do you keep your breath fresh and teeth pearly white? Why, you brush them of course! And, you should be brushing your pet’s teeth as well. Dr. Sheldon Rubin, speaking for the American Veterinary Medical Association, gives easy, step-by-step instructions on how to teach a dog or cat to accept a daily tooth brushing. You can watch it in this YouTube video. You can also watch this video from Dr. Cindy Charlier, who explains what periodontal disease is, and how we can prevent our pets from getting it. Where to get more info?
Below are some additional resources to help you with your pet’s oral health.
Fur Kids Foundation is the only nonprofit in Northeastern Wyoming that helps Campbell County residents with their veterinary bills, and we're seeing quite a need. Since 2014 began, we have helped six families, granting more than $750 in aid. And, we just received four new applications in February. We believe we are on track to double our assistance this year. If you would like to help us continue our mission, consider donating to our cause. The money you donate stays in Campbell County, so you're helping friends, neighbors and maybe even family when you give to the Foundation.
Or, if you'd rather give your time and talents, we do have an upcoming volunteer opportunity you may be interested in. On February 14-15, we are cleaning the CAM-PLEX bleachers after the Winter Western Rodeo (pick up trash, sweep and mop). This job takes us roughly two hours to complete each night, and the money made can help up to four families who need assistance with their pet's veterinary bills. If you are interested in helping the Foundation with this, please contact us, or send a note to volunteerfkf@gmail.com. Thanks for supporting the Fur Kids Foundation! And, if you know of others outside of Campbell County, or even outside of Wyoming, who are struggling to pay veterinary fees or other expenses to care for their pets, please visit our web page, Help outside Campbell County, Wyoming. |
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Created in November 2011, the Fur Kids Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides education and aid to promote the well-being of animals in Campbell County.
Your donation saves lives. It goes to work helping animals in Campbell County receive adequate veterinary care during a time when their family may not be able to afford it. Please contact the Foundation to learn more or donate now using PayPal.
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