August 2013                                                                                        Volume 4, Issue 10


Month Year Vol 1, Issue 1
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The Carolina
Dog Times        
Information You Need about the Dogs You Love
News and Views from the Front of the Pack
                 
                   

So much is happening this summer! Folks are spending time outdoors with friends and family and looking for ways to get away and beat the heat. 

 

If you you can't take your 4-legged companions along with you, then check out the awesome options in this edition that Peak City Puppy has to offer. And, be sure to have your furry family members up-to-date on flea & tick medications and check ups by your veterinarians. Dr. Rachel Goodnight shares Vet CSI part 2 below!

 

If the hot dog in your life is a reluctant drinker and you're looking for ways to encourage Fido to hydrate try putting a few high ticket treats in the water dish and watch his nose dive in for it as he drinks plenty of water!

 

Another great enticement for those canine princes or princesses who  hold out for fresh cold water is a fantastic product by FroBo. This bowl uses a removable non-toxic liner that keeps the water cold all day long! : FroBo Bowl

 

Woof!

Elaine   

 

p.s. Pass the word on...Carolina Dog Training is currently taking applications for one dog to participate with owner/trainer Elaine in a 7-day training workshop opportunity beginning October 26th that include top international dog behaviorists trained by Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan. For more information and an application, please contact elaine directly at 919-349-0000 or email elaine@carolinadogtraining.com

   
In This Issue
VET CSI Pt. 2
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 VETERINARIAN CSI - Part 2

  

                                   by Dr. Rachel Goodknight, D.V.M 

Rachel Goodknight, DVM is from Florida but journeyed across the pond to attend veterinary school in Glasgow, Scotland. She is currently living in Salisbury, NC and practicing at the Animal Care Center of Salisbury. She is thrilled to have been chosen to contribute articles to Carolina Dog Times because it allows her to combine two great loves - companion animal medicine and writing. She has special interests in oncology, preventative care, and surgery. When she is not working, she prefers to be outdoors enjoying NC's beautiful nature spots or whipping up new concoctions in the kitchen.She adores caring for her canine and feline patients and is beyond ecstatic that she will never again have to insert her arm into another cow!
  
How to get the most out of your dog's vet visit (cont. from last month)
  
4) "We want YOU!" Much of a diagnosis relies on a detailed history, and the best person to provide that is always you! Some clients are tempted to send their dog to the vet with their second cousin/former roommate/pool guy, but they won't know nearly as much about Lucky's individual idiosyncrasies as you will. If you absolutely can't accompany your dog, please do write down as many details as possible regarding his feeding, exercise habits, symptoms (minor or worrying), medications, etc., especially any changes in the above.
  
5) "Conversation is key" Some clinics offer "drop-offs" for vaccines and heartworm tests. If Lucky is having ANY kind of medical issue, please refrain from this convenient, but second-rate option, because you'll miss out on valuable one-on-one time with the doc. I have seen dogs dropped off for a bath, vaccines, and a request to "check skin" or similar... who then turn out to have a raging hotspot or severe pyoderma. Essential to the best treatment plan for most problems is a conversation with the owner about the duration of the condition, seasonality, apparent itchiness, use of flea preventatives, recurrent or new issue, etc. The result is a more targeted solution.
  
 6)   "Clear as.. mud?" Finally, we very much enjoy communicating with you regarding your dog's well-being, which is why we chose our profession! But after your dog leaves us, his care is in your hands, so we want everything to be clear. Let us know if we need to explain something more fully. I always end my appointments by asking if the client has any questions, and your vet hopefully does the same.
  
I hope that these pointers have been useful to help us take the best care possible of your four-legged family member!
Thanks for reading!Rachel Goodknight, DVM                                          
 
A+ for PEAK CITY PUPPY
    
  
As summer vacation planning begins, many pet owners find it challenging to secure reliable and affordable care for their pets. Boarding kennels may be an option for healthy, adult dogs who are well-socialized. For young puppies, senior dogs and most dogs prone to anxiety or easily affected by environmental stressors, kennel boarding may be out. That's where we come in...literally.

PEAK CITY PUPPY - Professional Pet Care offers pet sitting and dog walking services so you can head out of town for a day or the entire week with peace of mind that your pet is safe and comfortable in her own home. But what exactly is professional pet sitting and how does it work? If you've ever asked a neighbor or family member to 'check-in' on the dog....we promise, that's not it.

As with most home services, there is a wide range of options in pet sitting and you will want to do some homework before selecting a provider:

TRUST: Seek out small teams or individuals with a long list of Happy Clients and testimonials. Look for BBB accreditation and positive reviews from reliable independent consumer sites like Angie's List. An initial "Meet & Greet" should be complimentary and ideally occur well before you need service to begin.

AVAILABILITY: A pet sitter / pet sitting service may be great with your pets, but if he is unavailable when you need him most (i.e. summer vacation); what good is that to you? Choose a smaller team that has adequate staffing for busy months and back-up measures in place should an emergency arise where you need to extend a trip or cancel last-minute.

TRAINING: Professional pet sitters should have experience with hundreds of pets, including their own. Accident and emergencies can be avoided by ensuring your pet sitter has been well-trained in dog handling and proper dog walking skills. If you have a mischievous puppy, an older dog or one with health issues; ensure the pet sitter / company is certified in pet First Aid & CPR.  All team members at PEAK CITY PUPPY go through an extensive new-hire training class including how to handle unexpected situations to keep your pet(s) and home safe while you're away.

COMMUNICATION: Perhaps the greatest benefit of a pet sitter is the opportunity to receive daily text, email or picture updates of your pet while you're away. A professional service should maintain communication with you at every step: from emailing you a reminder before you leave, to writing out a final pet report detailing your pet's health, behavior, feeding and activity during the visits.  Our company even staffs a Manager on Duty 7 days a week for all emergencies to be handled the same-day.

Summer vacation and travel should be a carefree, relaxing time to enjoy with your family. If taking your dog or cat along with you is not an option, contact the team at PEAK CITY PUPPY to discuss the many benefits of securing reliable in-home pet care for one of the most important members of your family.

Lesley Lovelace co-founded PEAK CITY PUPPY in 2008.  The team has provided service to over 500 families in Apex, Cary, Holly Springs and Morrisville.

She may be reached by calling 919-367-7387 (FOR-PETS) or at www.PeakCityPuppy.com