Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms of both human and fur-bearing kids! And if you have a female pet, please do the kind, responsible thing by having her spayed at your earliest opportunity.

If you plan to breed the pet, do so in the first few years and then spay.

They deserve nothing less.

Buy 6 Advantix or Frontline and get 2 Free – cheaper than Internet Prices! Keep your dog and outdoor cat protected!

Caution: Not for the faint of heart!

FLEA FACTS

• A flea can bite up to 400 times a day
• A flea can jump 30,000 times in a row without stopping and can jump in an opposite direction with each jump!
• A female flea can lay 2,000 eggs

This is a photo taken of the coat of a dog with a very minor flea burden. The fur of this dog contains tiny black dots or specks that look like small bits of black dirt in the fur. This is not real dirt: this is flea droppings (flea excreta). The droppings are generally situated at the base of the host’s hairs because the flea moves across the skin at the base of the hairs and tends to poop where it runs.

This is the flea dirt image that most owners would expect to see in a very mildly infested dog or cat. Thankfully, this dog had white fur (easy to photograph) – owners of darker furred animals will need to look very closely to see this dirt in their pet’s coat. Brushing the darker-haired pet with a fine-toothed comb and examining the brushed-out particles on a white paper background can be a useful way of spotting small amounts of flea excreta.

TICK FACTS:

• Ticks are related to spiders and scorpions

• Ticks can live as long as 200 days without food or water and they can live from 2 months to 2 years, depending on the species.
• It is estimated that 70% of all human Lyme Disease cases are caused by tick bites, often via unprotected pets.

Did you know that cats during tense and traumatic times, just like when they are content and happy?  Even at moments near death, a cat will often purr. Theories include that sound frequency of a purr can stimulate bone growth and healing and that purring releases endorphins – natural analgesics that reduce pain while healing proceeds.

And where does the sound come from anyway? Apparently, activation of nerves or vibrating blood vessels within the voice box cause vibration of the vocal cords while the diaphragm serves as a piston pump, pushing air in and out of the vibrating cords, thus creating a musical hum.

The end result for us is that cat owners have lower blood pressure, especially for older people. The human-feline bond is never quite so close as when holding and petting a purring, vibrating bundle of fur on your lap and all is well with the world.

Cat Carriers 101

• If your cat is stressed by the sight of the carrier,
  leave the carrier out in your house in plain view.   Let it become “art of the furniture” .
• Fill it with favorite blankets, towels, toys and  throw a favored treat in once in awhile.  Use items in the carrier that have a familiar scent,  e.g. a cat bed/blanket or clothing.
• Some cats might resist being put into a carrier, so carriers with removable tops make getting cats into — and out of — the carrier asier. This eliminates the need to force the cat inside, which makes the cat — and you — more relaxed.
• Always put your cat in a carrier when going places. Cats are often startled by loud noises and fast-moving objects and may escape your grip and become injured. 

Here’s an alternative if you don’t yet have a cat that will go into a carrier on their own:

1) Place the carrier on its end, so that the opening is facing the ceiling. Place a soft towel in the carrier, so if the cat urinates, the towel will absorb the wet instead of the cat’s tail and legs.