Is it time for a nail trim for your pet?

Your pet’s nails are a vital part of their anatomy. They help your pet walk and run, explore and play. And if they aren’t taken care of properly, their nails can cause a host of problems ranging from mild discomfort to punctures or even joint and bone problems.

This can easily be prevented by keeping your pet’s nails trimmed. The question is, how frequently do you need to do it? The answer depends on multiple factors. The average range of time for trimming a pet’s nails is anywhere between three to even eight weeks.

Two things that affect your pet’s nail trimming schedule are their location and their breed. The more active that a dog is, the less frequent their nail trims might be. Walking on rough surfaces can grind down the nail so city dogs and dogs that frequently walk on sidewalks and asphalt often need less frequent trimming. Dogs who spend little time outside typically need more frequent trims.

In addition, some breeds and individuals have nails which grow faster than the average; for example, Dachshunds and Bassets may need to have their nails trimmed more often.

A good rule of thumb is that if you can hear your pet’s nails “click” when he walks, they need to be trimmed. You should also keep an eye out for any changes in your pet’s walk as this might also indicate foot pain from lengthy nails.

Trimming your pet’s nails is important to his comfort and good health. Overgrown nails can cause problems like:

•  Ingrown nails

•  Torn bleeding nails

•  Splayed toes (deformed feet)

•  Bone and joint problems

•  Hip and back problems

Trimming your pet’s nails is a must. But often, it is a stressful and unpleasant task for both you and your pet. We asked pet owners to tell us what they dislike most about trimming their dog’s nails. Here’s what we learned.

•  Most people said their pet makes it difficult. Whether the pet is scared or simply uncooperative, it was hard to safely trim their nails while struggling to restrain them.

•  Pain and bleeding are a common complaint. There is a blood vessel running through your pet’s nails called the quick. It is easy to see on light-colored nails  and somewhat harder on dark-colored ones. When you cut into the quick, the nail bleeds. This is painful for your pet and it can also be a little scary for the pet owner.

•  Painful cuts make pets fearful of nail trimming. Just one bad experience can make a pet struggle and resist, turning a tough job even tougher. Some pets hate having their nails trimmed so much that they actually bite their owners.

It’s not surprising that most pet owners would rather not cut their pet’s nails and prefer visiting a groomer.  Print out this message and receive $5.00 off your pet’s nail trim!  Call us today at 614-888-4050 to schedule an appointment for your pet’s nail trim!

 

Our pets LOVE their toys!

Why do we give dogs toys? Because toys make them happy! But they’re also necessary for your dog’s mental health. What kind of toys does your dog like to play with?  Squeaker toys are by far some of the most popular. But here’s the question on most dog owners’ minds:  If my dog loves playing with squeaker toys so much, why does he destroy them in a matter of minutes?

Dogs attacking their squeaker toys is a common complaint. It’s not unusual for a dog to go after a squeaker toy like crazy until he finally “kills” it by ripping the squeaker out.  The dog loves the toy – why would he destroy it and not be able to play with it anymore? The truth is that this kind of play behavior is based on instinct. “Killing” a squeaker toy is the dog’s objective – that’s the real fun of it for them. The squeaking noises remind your dog of the natural squeals and chirps made by live prey as they are caught, injured and killed.  So the more the toy squeaks, the more excited your dog gets. Toys that squeak a lot can make your dog feel like an expert hunter, the king or queen of the pack. The process of ripping out a squeaker can be VERY satisfying to a dog, which is why squeaker toys are quite often a dog’s favorite.

If you are in the market for some fun toys for your furry friend, stop by the Animal Hospital of Polaris and check out the selection of fun and safe toys that will keep your pet happy and entertained.

Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is never easy…

…but we can help ease the pain.

We know that your pet has become a member of your family and we realize that end-of-life care is difficult, personal and heart-wrenching.  Our veterinarians will travel to your home to help you evaluate the quality of life your pet is experiencing, explore the ways we can provide comforting care and discuss how you would like to plan for your companion’s passing.  As much as we understand the lifespan of our pets, we never imagine the day when we must say goodbye to them.

Our home euthanasia will help you care for your entire family as we plan and deliver a peaceful end-of-life transition for your pet with compassion, love and dignity. When the time does come for your pet, being able to say goodbye in a way that honors the relationship, the commitment and the amazing bond you have often makes the loss easier and provides space to grieve. We will help you to experience a gentle goodbye – at home, when you and your family are ready.  With the support and remembrances that will help you through the difficult process of letting your friend go.

If you are ready to discuss your pet’s end of life needs, we are here to help. Please call us at (614)888-4050 to speak with one of our veterinarians. Together, we’ll create a plan to care for and preserve your pet’s comfort and dignity as we celebrate the bond between family members.

Enjoy a FREE 30 day Trial of Trupanion Pet Insurance!

Similar to human health insurance, pet health insurance helps provide peace of mind in case the unfortunate should happen. Its purpose is to help cover the costs of unexpected accidents and illnesses that may occur in the future. Unfortunately, it will not cover any current conditions your pet may have which are known as pre-existing conditions. This means that the ideal time to insure your pet is as early as possible so that anything that happens in the future will be covered. We value pet insurance in general and have seen it save many pets lives by allowing pet owners to do the best for their pet.

Recently, we’ve discovered a Pet Insurance provider that is simple to understand and utilize.  We wanted to share some information with you about their products and extend a special offer to try Trupanion.  If you have an exam scheduled in the near future, be sure to ask your veterinarian about a FREE 30 day trial of Trupanion Pet Insurance.

Some of the things we like about Trupanion:
*Trupanion offers an easy, simple, customizable pet insurance policy and the best value in the industry with 90% coverage for the actual costs of diagnostic tests, surgeries, medications, hospital stays, and alternative and physical therapies for the treatment of accidents or illnesses.

*Pet owners can choose any veterinarian, including emergency veterinary clinics and veterinary specialists.

*Trupanion offers unlimited coverage with no payout limits per claim, per year, or over the lifetime of your pet. This protects hard-earned savings and takes the stress and concern for cost out of the decision when confirming best care treatments with your veterinarian.

*Trupanion covers dogs and cats between the age of 8 weeks and 14 years old.
Coverage for therapeutic pet foods, nutritional supplements, orthotics, and mobility devices is also included under Trupanion’s core policy.

*Trupanion covers congenital and hereditary conditions, or those conditions that are inherited genetically. Most pet insurance providers put limits on, or completely exclude these conditions.

*Trupanion customers are reimbursed based on the actual veterinary bill.  You don’t get tangled up in a complex benefits schedule or run up against fixed payout limits when making claims.

Do your travel plans this summer include taking your furry friend along?

Dog In Car (Photo credit: FurLined)

Traveling with your pet doesn’t have to be stressful if you take steps to plan ahead.  Be certain to keep the following tips in mind as you head out on your family vacation:

1.  Make sure that whatever accommodations you have made permit pets.  Many hotels welcome small pets but you may have to pay an extra deposit or fee.

2.  If you are traveling by car, be sure to provide adequate conditions for your pet.  Never leave your pet unattended in your vehicle when taking a break from driving, especially in hot climates.  Even a short time in a hot car can be fatal.  Your pet will need plenty of water and a chance to move around and exercise, so plan for frequent stops.

3.  A pet that is free to roam in the passenger compartment of a vehicle is at risk from sudden stops or a car accident.  Pets are also at risk of loss if you open the car door before restraining your pet.  Consider the use of a pet carrier in your vehicle and secure it with a seat belt or cargo straps!

If your plans don’t permit you to take along your furry family member, remember that we are always here to love and care for your pet as you travel! Enjoy the rest of your summer and we hope to see you soon!

Meet the Trainer: Ami Jones, MS, KPA-CPT

Ami always had an affinity working with animals from the time she was young.  In college, she diversified her studies (psychology, biology, ecology, anthropology) so that she could have a more well-rounded approach to understanding animal behavior.  She worked with various species and even served as the director of research for an advanced tropical ecology field school in Costa Rica.  There, she was able to release three rehabilitated black handed spider monkeys into their native habitat. In graduate school, Ami wanted to continue this multi-faceted approach and therefore earned a Masters in Evolution, Ecology and Behavior.  Her Masters project & thesis focused on the types of bonds exhibited between group members of social species.  She studied how these bonds are formed and maintained over time, and even examined how triadic interactions affect dyadic dynamics.

Well over 50% of the animals surrendered to shelters are there because of behavioral problems.  Knowing this, Ami further diversified her studies and earned national certification as a dog trainer.  Ami wanted to utilize her knowledge about the behavior of social species, bonds and how animals learn best in order to help pet owners obtain the healthiest relationship possible with their pets.  Her ultimate goal is to help bridge the human/pet communication gap.  She wants to help owners and their pets create and maintain a strong, secure and healthy bond throughout the duration of their lives.  This is why Ami only uses force-free methods and positive reinforcement training.  On the plus side, it has also been shown to be the most effective method of training that exists!  She offers puppy and adult classes, private lessons and more.

Learn more about our exciting new dog/puppy training courses on this blog or give us a call at (614) 888-4050.

Behavior Training Courses are coming to Animal Hospital of Polaris in June!

At Animal Hospital of Polaris, we’re thrilled to introduce our new puppy/dog behavior courses, lead by the very talented Ami Jones!  You may have seen her smiling face greeting you as you enter the clinic, but did you know she is highly educated in the areas of evolution, ecology, and animal behavior?  She also holds a national certification as a dog trainer.  Stop by our blog next week as we’ll be putting the spotlight on Ami!

Our various training options are carefully developed to assure positive, lasting results and help to bridge the human/pet communication gap.

• For puppies under 6 mo. only.  $150/6 wk course.   Most generic dog training classes will teach your dog to sit, stay, and come, but these do nothing to teach your dog how to acclimate to his new home environment and why manners are important.  In this course you will learn to understand your puppy’s emotional signals and body language so you can understand him better, while at the same time teaching him to speak your language.  We will discuss topics such as housetraining, proper teething management, how to keep your kids safe, how to handle resource guarding, crate training issues and proper socialization. Additionally, you will teach your dog to respond and come when called, stay, how to walk politely on a leash and “mine” versus “take it.”  We will also spend time teaching you how to prepare your puppy for trips to the veterinarian and groomer, along with basic puppy care that you should do at home.  All puppies will receive a free fitting for a gentle leader or harness.  The first course will be a 2 hour orientation for people only—no dogs.  The remaining 5 classes will be 1 hour long and will involve training your pet to do all of these behaviors.
• Puppy version (<6 mo.) and Adult version (>6 mo.).  $150/6 wk course.  In this class Ami will teach you the tools to be your own trainer…skills you will be able to take with you and use to help train your dog anything you want throughout his/her lifetime.  You can use these skills on all of your animals, so rather than paying for training for every pet you obtain in the future, all you need is to apply the materials you will learn in this one course!  We will teach Sit v. Stand, Lie Down, How to Settle on a Mat, Target/Touch Training, How to Follow a Target, “Watch Me,” and various fun shaping games.   You will learn to speak your dog’s language so you can understand him better, while at the same time teaching him to speak your language.  The first course will be a 2 hour orientation for people only—no dogs.  The remaining 5 classes will be one hour long and will involve training your pet to do all of these behaviors.
• Private lessons are $80/hr, $375 for a package of 5 (save $25), or $750 for a package of 10 (save $50).  Would you rather work one-on-one?  Do you have the “basics” down but need help with one particular issue you are having?  Ami is happy to work with you and will create a training plan to fit your own personal goals and needs.  Private lessons are also great fun for the whole family to do together in order to ensure everyone is on the same page and training consistently!  For those who have nervous and anxious dogs, this could also be a better option than a class setting.

Call (614) 888-4050 now for more information and to register your pet before spaces fill up!  Our 2012 training schedule is as follows:

June 24^th-July 29^th: 

Sun, June 24^th:  Orientation 12:00-2:00pm.  People only, no dogs. (Basic and Intermediate Classes will join as one large class during Orientation).

Sun, July 1^st, 8^th, 15^th, 22^nd, 29th:

Basic Puppy-10:30-11:30am

Intermediate Puppy: 12-1pm

Intermediate Adult 1:30-2:30pm

August 5-September 16^th:

Sun, Aug 5th:  Orientation 12:00-2:00pm.  People only, no dogs. (Basic and Intermediate Classes will join as one large class during Orientation).

Sun, Aug 12^th, 19^th, 26^th, Sept 9^th, 16^th:

Basic Puppy: 10:30-11:30am

Intermediate Puppy: 12-1pm

Intermediate Adult: 1:30-2:30pm

**Note:  There will be NO CLASS September 2^nd (Labor Day Weekend)

September 23^rd-November 4^th:

Sun, Sept 23rd:  Orientation 12:00-2:00pm.  People only, no dogs. (Basic and Intermediate Classes will join as one large class during Orientation).

Sun, Oct 7th, Oct 14^th, 21^st, 28^th, Nov 4^th

Basic Puppy: 10:30-11:30am

Intermediate Puppy: 12-1pm

Intermediate Adult: 1:30-2:30pm

**Note:  There will be NO CLASS Sept. 30th (Ami out of town)

November 11^th-Dec 30^th:

Sun, Nov 11th:  Orientation 12:00-2:00pm.  People only, no dogs. (Basic and Intermediate Classes will join as one large class during Orientation).

Sun, Nov 18^th, Dec 2^nd, 9^th, 16^th, 30^th

Basic Puppy: 10:30-11:30am

Intermediate Puppy: 12-1pm

Intermediate Adult: 1:30-2:30pm

**Note:  There will be NO CLASS Nov 25^th (Thanksgiving) or Dec 23^rd (Christmas)

Related articles

• Puppy Training and Socialization (clancyaussiedoodles.wordpress.com)
• Correctly Training A Family Dog Is Certainly No Simple Endeavor (mypetkingdom.info)
• 5 Mistakes New Puppy Owners Make (lyncrestcavalierkingcharlesspanielpuppies.com)

While driving north on 23 on Saturday…

I noticed that yet another “pet resort” was under construction.  Although this new facility may be close in geographic proximity, they are far removed in what they offer in comparison to the pet resort at the Animal Hospital of Polaris.  Here are some things to consider when selecting a kennel or resort for your pet while you are away from home:

• Make certain that your kennel/resort facility has a veterinarian on staff AND on site! The health and safety of your pet depends on it.

• Don’t pay extra for walks…. at the Animal Hospital of Polaris, our nightly rate includes 6-7 walks with your pet.  At other pet resorts, they charge $1.75 per walk!

• Don’t pay extra for administering medication to your pet.  Our nightly rate includes ALL care for your pet, including the administration of their needed medication.  Other facilities charge an average of $6.00 per dose of medication administered.

• Not only can the Animal Hospital of Polaris care for your canine companion while you are away, we have a designated resort just for your furry feline or even your exotic pet.

Don’t be fooled by a large warehouse that calls itself a “pet resort”…they have neither the staff nor the knowledge of how to best care for your pet.

If you are planning a trip for Easter or for this upcoming summer, give us a call and make a reservation at a facility that you know and trust.  Call us today @ 614-888-4050  to make your pet’s reservation.

We love our furry feline friends…

We even like to say that we cater to our cat lovers.  Recently, we’ve made some operational changes to make our clients and their cats more comfortable while at the Animal Hospital of Polaris.  We’ve now dedicated a quiet, isolated waiting area just for our feline friends and also utilize certain exam rooms just for cats…all in an effort to decrease the anxiety for both the pet and for the owner.  We know that when you worry less, your pet can sense that!

In addition, did you know…??

1. That we have a special boarding area as part of our extended stay resort that is allocated just for caring for cats who are staying at the clinic while their owners are away!

2.  Even in our clinical treatment facility, we have a specialized boarding area for cats that separates them from our canine clients, further reducing anxiety and stress on your pet!

3.  Our facility offers a large selection of specialty and prescription cat food and cat treats.  In addition, we even have a unique selection of cat toys to engage your pet!

4.  That our grooming department offers pampering for your pet, including the ever popular “lion cut” for those cats cool enough to sport such a look!

Call us today at (614)888-4050 to schedule a time to tour our facility, schedule your cat’s next wellness exam or pamper your pet in our spa!

Extended hours, convenient location, friendly staff and experienced Veterinarians…

These elements are what make the Animal Hospital of Polaris an ideal “urgent care” for your pet when your pet is feeling under the weather!  We can’t always tell what is wrong with our pet but we know, as their owner, that something is wrong.

Whether your pet seems lethargic, has diarrhea or continues to vomit…we know you feel uncomfortable and worried about their health.  That’s why our extended hours (and reasonable cost) are ideal when you need treatment for your pet.

Did you know?
That our facility is open from 7:30 AM – 10 PM Monday through Friday, 8 AM – 8 PM on Saturdays and 10 AM – 8 PM on Sundays!

Did you know?
That our veterinarians have all worked in emergency clinics prior to working for Animal Hospital of Polaris so they know just how to respond to your pet’s health concern at the time you need us.

Did you know?
That we are open and available to see any animal, regardless of whether they are a regular client, on an urgent care basis.  We wanted to be available to your friends and neighbors as a cost effective alternative to traditional emergency care when pets are not feeling well.

If you are ever concerned or worried about your pet’s health, always call us at 614-888-4050… better to be safe!