Fourth of July Pet Safety Tips

The Fourth of July is the perfect summer celebration - warm weather, a day off work, delicious barbecued food, plus friends, family, and fireworks! It's hard to find a more winning combination which is why it is not a surprise that the Fourth of July is a favorite holiday for many people; for our pets, however, it is a different story. All the excitement, activity, tempting foods, and loud noises can cause stress, sickness, and fear in our furry companions.  Here are some tips on how to help your pet stay safe and stress-free on the Fourth of July.

• Set your pet up in a safe and secure room. This is especially important if you are having a party. This room should be off-limits to guests. Set it up so that it is quiet and escape proof with plenty of fresh water. Place their favorite things in the room such as toys and a bed and if you have a cat, make sure to include a litter box. This should be a place for your pet to feel secure when things get noisy as the night goes on. Some people like to leave a TV or radio on to provide familiar sounds for their pet and to help drown out the noise of the fireworks. 

• One way to potentially counteract the anxiety a pet may feel during fireworks is to make sure you exercise them and tire them out just before the activities start. Take your dog to a park to run around (as long as it's not too hot) or for a swim in the pool. Use a laser pointer to encourage your kitty to play and run throughout the house. A tired pet is often more relaxed and may be less stressed by the loud noise of fireworks. 

• Speaking of fireworks, do not take your dog to a firework display or use street fireworks around them.

• Make sure your pet has a collar with a current ID and is micropchipped! Many pets get scared during fireworks and end up running away. Every year, a large number of lost pets are reported on the Fourth of July. It is common for indoor cats and dogs to slip out an open door during a backyard barbecue or cookout. Collars with current ID tags and a microchip give you that extra layer of protection and ups the odds of a missing pet returning to your loving arms. Microchip placement is a quick and easy procedure done with a technician - call us today to schedule and give yourself peace of mind.

• Beware of barbecue and party food for your pet! Dogs are especially inclined to want to eat people food. There are plenty of dangers that come from pets eating greasy, sugary, and fatty human food  - including pancreatitis, a dangerous illness that can lead to several days of hospitalization. Bones present choking hazards as well as possible gastrointestinal obstruction. If you notice your pet acting lethargic and/or vomiting please call us right away. Some human food such as grapes, raisins, onions, alcohol, and anything containing xylitol are toxic to pets. Make sure you let your guests know they are not to feed table scraps to your pets. (Better yet, keep your pets in the aforementioned safe room!)

• Plan ahead and call your veterinarian this week if you are concerned about your pet's well being during fireworks. They may recommend a mild sedative. Talking with your vet ahead of time allows you to perform a trial run to make sure you know the correct dosage for your pet.

Remember - we are here when you need us! We will be open on the  July 4th from 8am to 8pm for emergencies and regularly scheduled appointments. Call us at 925.866.8387 or email us at info@webvets.com to schedule an appointment. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns about the upcoming holiday - being prepared is always the best form of prevention!

Happy New Year: Holiday Hours & Pet Safety Tips

We here at Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care would like to wish all of our wonderful clients and their families a safe and happy New Year! We truly believe we have the most loyal, caring clients in the Bay Area. Thank you for always inspiring us to do the best we can do! We hope that 2012 brings health, love, and happiness to you and your pets.

As a reminder Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care will be open on Saturday December 31st from 8am to 8pm. However, we will be closed this Sunday, January 1st for the holiday. Normal business hours will resume on Monday January 2nd at 7am. If your pet is in need of emergency care on New Year's Day, please call Contra Costa Veterinary Emergency Center at 925-798-2900. If you need to check on a pet that is staying with us, we will be checking our voice mail so please feel free to call anytime at 925-866-8387!

Also, if your pet is on medication and you are running low, call and order your refill today or before 4pm tomorrow! We will not be filling medications on New Year's Day, and all requests made after 4pm on Saturday December 31st will not be ready until after 12 noon on Monday January 2nd.

Last, but certainly not least, here is a list of New Year's Eve pet safety tips:

1. Make sure all of your pets are wearing collars with proper ID tags. Make sure the information is current. You can also have them microchipped, it is a quick technician appointment that usually takes less than half an hour. But even with a microchip, ID tags are essential.
2. Give your pets plenty of exercise before the festivities begin. Make sure they are fed and have had a potty break too. This may help them sleep through a party instead of being stressed.
3. Prepare a safe room in your house for your pet. Provide a blanket and bed for them to burrow in, along with food, water, and a litter box if appropriate. You may want to leave a TV on or some music to help block out stress inducing noises. KEEP THIS DOOR CLOSED AT ALL TIMES. Put a sign on the door so that guests know not to open it.
4. Check that all fences and gates in the back yard are closed and securely locked.
5. Keep garbage cans securely closed to prevent your pet from eating anything it shouldn't.
6. Try to avoid coddling or comforting your pet when its agitated since this can reinforce the behavior. It is best to give them a safe room full of comforting items where they can hide from the activities.

Once again, happy New Year and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for choosing us to treat your beloved pets!