Etiquette at the Vets

By Julia Williams

If we are lucky, our mothers teach us all about good manners when we’re young. Hopefully, as adults we have a pretty good idea of what is acceptable behavior and what isn’t. Sometimes we slip up, not because we want to be discourteous, but more often because we just weren’t thinking. Then again, we don’t always know what’s expected of us in certain situations. That’s why I decided to write these tips on what to do – and what not to do – in your vet’s waiting room.

Contain your cat!

One of the biggest blunders pet owners make, in my opinion, is bringing their cat into a vet’s waiting room without a carrier. I see this nearly every time I take one of my cats in. You may think you have a really calm feline who isn’t afraid of anything, and they will just sit blithely on your lap until it’s your turn to be seen by the vet. That may well be true. But do you realize what could happen when a cat-aggressive dog comes out of the exam room or through the front door, and charges straight for your beloved kitty? At best, you’ll create chaos as you try to catch your frightened cat that just ran for cover. At worst, your cat will dart out the open door never to be seen again. Responsible pet owners contain their cats in carriers because it’s infinitely safer for the cat, and much less stressful to boot.

Don’t give dogs free rein

While in the veterinary waiting room, you should keep your dog close to you and under control at all times. If you can’t, then you should ask the receptionist if there’s a better place to wait, or take your dog outside until he’s ready to be seen by the vet. Also, use a regular leash instead of the retractable kind, so you’ll have better control over your dog’s movement. If you’re bringing in multiple dogs, make sure you can handle them and if not, have another adult come with you.

“Pet-iquette”

Don’t pet other people’s dogs unless you ask them first. This is a rule you should follow no matter where you are, but especially at the vets. Even normally friendly animals may react aggressively in this strange and stressful environment. And please don’t let your dog approach other people unless they tell you they want them to. Some people are afraid of dogs, and some just plain don’t like them. As hard as that might be for dog owners to believe, it’s true. I like dogs myself, but I don’t like being jumped on, licked or sniffed in private places.

Socialize at the dog park, not the vets

The veterinary waiting room is not the place to let your dog do the “meet and greet” with other dogs. No matter how well you think you know your dog, this unfamiliar environment could cause them to act unpredictably. Moreover, you have no idea how other dogs will react, and you could find yourself needing to break up a dog fight. Incidentally, it’s always a good idea to know ahead of time how to break up dog fights – read this article to get some great tips.

Don't feed other people’s pets

Many vets keep a container of dog treats at the front desk for their clients to give to their pet. This doesn’t mean you should feel free to take one and give it to someone else’s dog, no matter how well intentioned you might be. You have no idea if a stranger’s pet has dietary issues, and giving them treats could actually cause them harm.

Leave the kids at home

A busy animal hospital is no place for children. You’ll have your hands full trying to control your dog or carry your cat. Who needs the added stress of trying to keep children from petting other people’s dogs or running amok in the waiting room? Plus, having kids in tow will make it more difficult to attend to your pet’s needs in the exam room and communicate with your vet about your pet’s problem or treatment.

Respect other people’s privacy

Most doctors’ offices have signs asking you to wait behind a certain line before approaching the front desk. This is to give the other patients some privacy as they pay their bills or discuss medications and treatments. Vet clinics don’t usually have similar signs; however, veterinary clients are entitled to the same privacy considerations. If there are other people at the front desk, give them some room to conduct their business privately.

Vet visits may not be one of your “favorite things,” but they are a necessary part of responsible pet ownership. Observing a few simple etiquette rules while you’re there can help your vet visit go a lot smoother, for all concerned.

Read more articles by Julia Williams

Shedding's a Mess But Dog Hair Can Be Useful

Is spring time also known as shedding time in your household? We're trying to keep up with the hairy mess around here. Some of the things you can do:

1. Cover up. It may seem obvious, but instead of spending hours cleaning up after the dog hair, you can just protect your furniture by covering it up...toss a sheet or throw over your couch, armchair or sleeper sofa to keep it safe, then whisk it off for laundering. I figure our couch is lasting longer (even if I can't see it under that throw blanket!)

2. Protect the car too. We need to put a mat over the car seat too, or else the car is covered with Kelly hair. I didn't know there were so many different products made specifically to protect car seats. CSN Stores.com has offered to send me a beautiful quilted dog mat to review, and I'll be trying that out and posting a review in a week or so. Check back soon.

3. Vacuum often. That pet hair really accumulates fast. Sometimes I need to vacuum twice a day.

4. Keep one of those lint brushes or sticky picker upper things by the front door. Nothing worse than attending that important business meeting with furry pants.

5. Most importantly, brush your dog or cat often. Or possibly have him or her shaved down for the summer, if you like.

And what can you do with all that dog hair you've collected? There is a great answer: Send it to Matter of Trust. They are collecting dog hair (and cats, alpaca, llamas, horse and even human) to help clean up the oil spill in the Gulf Coast. They make "boons" by stuffing old nylons with hair that absorbs the oil. Wow, there's a benefit to shedding!

Why Do Cats Have Whiskers?

By Ruthie Bently

I have three stepchildren, and the oldest one was on a whisker clipping kick when he was still a pre-teen. He clipped off the whiskers of several cats at his grandmother’s until I caught him one day. Being a responsible pet owner I tried to reason with him. I asked him if he knew why cats had whiskers. He looked at me as if I had grown another head, and said no. I said I had read an article that mentioned cats need their whiskers for their sense of balance and to determine the spatial dimensions around them. He asked me if the cat would still be able to balance without whiskers.

I told him that cats measure a space with their whiskers; if their whiskers brush the sides of the space or will not fit into where they want to go a cat will not enter because they know their body won’t fit either. That is why the whiskers on a larger or more obese cat are so long. Whiskers can help a cat be more able footed than we might give them credit for. Cutting a cat’s whiskers disables this ability and can be dangerous for the cat if it is attempting to flee.

A cat’s whiskers are actually connected to nerves through the muscles they are connected to. This is why a cat will yowl if you tug on its whiskers – it hurts! Liken it to someone tugging on your fingernail. The attachment to muscles is also what makes a cat’s whiskers mobile. A cat can actually sense the changes in the air currents. In a room of the house, this enables them to maneuver around and through furniture as they feel the air flow around the furniture. This may be why blind cats are able to get around a house so well.

Cats also use their whiskers to display their emotions. An angry cat will lay back their whiskers until they are flat against the body. A cat that is frightened will flatten its whiskers so they are lying next to the body in order to make themselves look less like a threat. A curious cat will extend their whiskers either partially or fully in front of them toward the direction of their interest. A contented cat’s whiskers will be held out to the sides in a relaxed mode.

Cats don’t just have whiskers on either side of their nose. They also have whiskers on the back of their front legs, as well as their jaw line and eyebrows. Whiskers are stiffer and longer than the rest of a cat’s hair and they do shed them, though less frequently than they shed regular hair. Kittens are born with whiskers that stiffen up with time and get larger as the kitten grows. Most cats have between ten and fifteen whiskers on either side of their nose. Whiskers are also known as tactile hairs or vibrissae.

Outside, a cat can judge the air currents and get away from something chasing them, because they feel the change in the air around them. Cats also use their whiskers to feel temperature changes in their environment. This is probably how mine know when there is an open door they can scoot through when I am advancing with the nail clippers. Cats use their whiskers when hunting as they sense subtle changes in vibration around them. They use the whiskers on the backs of their legs to judge where the prey they’re hunting is and how large it is.

After I told my stepson why cats have whiskers, he apologized to all the cats whose whiskers he had clipped. While some of the cats had to deal with shorter whiskers for a bit, the majority were spared the indignity of having their whiskers cut. And when he caught his little brother with scissors and a gleam in his eye, he taught him why it isn’t good to clip the whiskers on a cat.

Read more articles by Ruthie Bently

The End of Our Pepsi Challenge

Today, we officially end our participation in the Pepsi Challenge Project. This has been an incredible opportunity to spread the word about our program that keeps hospice patients and their pets together, Pet Peace of Mind. We have been humbled and honored by your daily voting support, your willingness to encourage family and friends to vote for us and the wonderful, uplifting comments about Pet Peace of Mind that you posted online and sent in your emails. We are also grateful to those of you who shared stories about how your loved ones cared so deeply for the pets in their lives. All of these things motivate us, inspire us and keep us focused on the work we do at Banfield Charitable Trust. Thank you for believing in us and believing in Pet Peace of Mind! Stay tuned for more updates and news about the program on our Facebook page, Pet Peace of Mind! And, of course, there will be more stories here on the blog--thank you for reading!

Hobby or Obsession?

In most cases, having a fish tank starts out as a hobby. However, I can understand how it can become an obsession. Sometimes, I feel as if I'm starting to become obsessed.

Fish are relatively inexpensive when compared to the costs of many other animals, and with so many varieties and types, it is easy to become obsessive about the hobby. At first, a 20 gallon tank is great, but then you want to keep more fish, so you look to purchase a bigger tank. Maybe a 30, or 55 gallon tank. But after a while, as your fish get bigger, and you get bored of the species you own, and you want to get a bigger, newer tank. With more fish. Or perhaps you want to keep the fish you own, but you want to try a different species that isn't compatible with your current fish.

So you start a second tank with a different species. But maybe you want to try your hand at breeding fish, which then of course may require some type of breeding tank. And then you want to keep some of the fish you bred, so you need a bigger tank to keep those fish, and the cycle starts all over again.

I know a person who loves the hobby and has his own fish room. He built it in his basement and now has over 50 tanks with all kinds of species. He breeds many of them and sells some to fellow hobbyists. To many people, this can be considered some what obsessive. To him, this is what he enjoys doing and this is what brings him joy.

I've also gone to fish auctions. These are usually sponsored by aquarium fish clubs and it features hobbyists who breed their own fish and bring them to auction off to other aquarium enthusiasts. Again, you see people who have several fish tanks, perhaps obsessed by them, but also bring tons of knowledge to share with others.

In my opinion, it's a matter of how it effects your life. If it is something you enjoy, and it doesn't interfere with the rest of your life too much, then enjoy!