Four Things you Might not have Known about Microchipping your Cat

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Posted by admin on March 14, 2012 – 8:36 am
Filed under 1800petmeds

The following is a guest post from Gayle Bentham from SureFlap Ltd:

If your cat is microchipped, it can use the SureFlap Microchip Cat Door

1.  Microchips can be more effective than collars

A collar and tag can be a great visual way to instantly identify your cat if he becomes lost. But what happens if your cat loses its collar? If your cat doesn’t have a microchip as a back-up, it is very unlikely that your beloved pet can be returned to you if it loses its collar. A cat’s microchip cannot get lost and will work as a permanent form of identification for your cat for its entire lifetime. If you prefer your cat to wear a collar, make sure he also has a microchip as a back-up.

2.  Your cat won’t need to be sedated to be microchipped

A microchip is small, about the size of a grain of rice. Your cat can be microchipped at your local veterinary surgery in a quick and simple procedure that doesn’t require your cat to be sedated. The microchip is inserted by a veterinarian into the loose skin behind your cat’s neck using a syringe. The whole procedure is over quickly, and often painlessly. If your cat finds visits to the vets distressing, why not take him to be microchipped the next time he needs his booster jab?

3.  Microchipping your cat could be the cheapest way to identify your pet

The cost to microchip your cat varies greatly, but in many countries it’s cheaper than you might think. A collar and tag might appear to be the cheaper form of pet identification, but it could be more expensive than microchipping if your cat loses its collar regularly. The cost of replacement collars soon adds up and you might end up spending more money on them than you would to microchip your cat. You will only need to pay to microchip your cat once.

4.  If your cat is microchipped, it can use a SureFlap Microchip Cat Door

Many cat owners have experienced the problem of neighbourhood cats terrorising their pet by entering their home through an ordinary cat door. Such an intrusion can cause considerable stress to the resident cat. If your cat has a microchip, he can benefit from a SureFlap Microchip Cat Door, which reads your cat’s unique microchip number and only unlocks for your pet. Only your cat has access through the SureFlap, stopping other cats and wildlife at the door! The SureFlap can also be used internally in multi-cat households to create separate feeding areas for cats on different diets.

Gayle Bentham is the Marketing Assistant for SureFlap Ltd, who manufacture and sell the SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap. For more information about SureFlap, visit www.sureflap.com.

Traveling With A Pet

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Posted by admin on August 4, 2011 – 8:24 am
Filed under 1800petmeds
Flying with your pet can be stressful - using a service like PetAirways can give you peace of mind Traveling with your pet can sometimes be cumbersome for not only you, but your pet as well. Some pets feel anxious and restless in unfamiliar surroundings, and may whimper or bark to let you know they are feeling uneasy. Keeping your pet with you during the flight is the best way to quell your pet’s anxieties. Luckily, most airlines allow a small carry-on for pets as long as the carrier fits underneath the seat in front of you, such as the Airline Pet Carrier or the Under Seat Pet Carrier, both of which were specifically designed to fit underneath airline seats.

Carriers need to make your pet feel at ease and allow him or her to turn around, stand up and lie down comfortably. Unfortunately, it can be a tall order to find a carrier large enough for your pet, small enough to fit under the seat in front of you and easy for you to carry. If you are traveling with multiple bags, having a carrier with a shoulder strap like the 3-in-1 Soft-Sided Pet Carrier, can be helpful for keeping your pet cozy while also keeping you comfortable.

While the airlines pet policy is fine for small pets, unfortunately it is not helpful for larger animals, or certain breeds – because recently airlines have not been accepting certain breeds onboard. Therefore, it’s customary to board certain breeds and larger animals along with cargo; however, it’s not the most comfortable way for your pet to fly. When your pet is flying in cargo, air quality may be compromised and subjected to a frightening area.  Read our Click and Learn on additional important facts you should know before flying with your pet.

If you don’t want your pet to fly in cargo, there is another option for you — Pet Airways. Your pet can benefit from Pet Airways, because instead of being in the cargo hold, he or she will actually fly in the main cabin – which means proper air circulation, monitoring by a trained pet attendant, no breed restrictions and a potty break.

Keeping your pet safe and comfortable during airline travel is necessary for a successful trip. Carrying your pet onboard with you is the safest and most comfortable way for your pet to travel; however, if you have a larger pet or a breed that your airline won’t allow to fly with you, you can consider using Pet Airways to get your pet where he or she needs to go.

*When bringing your pet onboard, we recommend you check with your commercial airline at least two weeks in advance for their specific rules and requirements on pet travel.

PetMeds® Is Catnip Safe?

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Posted by Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian on July 13, 2011 – 11:33 am
Filed under Dr. Dym's Vet Blog
There is nothing more pleasurable than watching a playful feline roll around on the floor in ecstasy over a catnip toy. The main ingredient in catnip is an herb of the mint family that acts like a feline pheromone, meaning that it chemically stimulates the olfactory system involved in the sense of smell in cats. About 25 percent of cats do not react to catnip because they lack the receptor that triggers stimulation

Interestingly, 25% of cats do not react to catnip because they lack the receptor in their nervous system involved in stimulation, while some kittens also seem unaffected. Those cats that do react to catnip will eat it or lick it, while some others will even roll in it. Yet others just sniff it. The psychostimulatory effect on many felines will typically last 20 to 30 minutes.

Many cat owners often love giving catnip to their cats, but some worry if it is safe. In most cases I have found catnip very safe in most cats. On rare occasions I have seen cats seizure, so I always recommend supervision when giving this herb to our feline friends.

Does your cat love catnip? What are some of the amusing things your cat has done with his or her catnip toy? Share your stories in the comments!

PetMeds® Summertime Tips for Pets

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Posted by Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian on May 26, 2011 – 8:35 am
Filed under Dr. Dym's Vet Blog
It’s almost that time: Summer! As you and your family make plans to get out and enjoy warmer temperatures, the pool or beach, make sure to include your pet’s safety in your summer plans. Not all dogs are natural swimmers - Life vests are a great pet accessory to purchase if your pet will be swimming

Although for many pet parents, this may seem like an obvious tip, it is always worth mentioning: Never leave pets alone in the car – not even for a minute to make a quick run even to the grocery store. Pets don’t sweat for the most part and only dispel heat through panting and/or their pads. In addition, pets are very susceptible to the rapidly rising temperatures in a vehicle, which can often reach 120 plus degrees under a summer sun. Heat stroke/exhaustion and/or brain damage can occur in a matter of minutes.  Pets should have access to fresh cold water at all times, even in air conditioned cars.

One of the worst driving distractions are pets who are not restrained, such as a car seat, during travel.  There are a variety of safety harnesses and accessories now available for traveling pets to help reduce the risk while you are driving and to ensure your pet’s safety.

For those pets who suffer from motion sickness or vomiting during summer travel, over the counter medicines such as Benadryl or dramamine can sometimes help. Natural remedies such as Be Serene can also naturally ease nervous traveling pets.

For outdoor activities, Doggles are flexible eyeglasses that offer protection from ultraviolet rays, and protects your dog’s eyes from air borne irritants.  If you are planning a day in the sun with your pet, remember that pets can get sunburns and even skin cancer too with prolonged exposure. There are pet specific products with SPF of typically 15 (sun protection factor) that can be applied to thinly haired areas like the nose, inside ear tips, paw pads and light colored abdomens.  Light T-shirts or protective vests can also help keep exposure down. To cut down on the damage sand and/or hot side walks can do on our pets’ paws, paw balm or aloe vera gel can be applied to the paw pads to lessen the likelihood of cracking and injury.

Since not all pets are good swimmers, it is often a good idea to provide specially designed life jackets now available. After an outing in the ocean or woods, I usually recommend a careful tick and flea check, as well as a quick shower to remove allergens, parasites, etc.

Hot summer weather does bring out fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and other pests.  Make sure your pet is on monthly heartworm preventative medication such as Heartgard Plus or Interceptor, as well as topical external parasite control products like Frontline Plus or Advantage II.

In case your pet likes to wander, it is also a good idea to look into microchipping as a means of permanently identifying pets in case they are lost and picked up by shelters, humane societies, or other animal guardians.