START YOUR FLEA CONTROL NOW

Spring has just about sprung at least as far as the fleas are concerned. This means that if you stopped your flea control for the winter, it is time you restarted it lest you find yourself overrun once the really warm weather hits. Don't let fleas have a chance at sneaking in. Need help picking a product? Call or text us at 310-391-6741 Or check out our Flea Product Comparison Chart: www.marvistavet.com/flea-product-comparison.pml

 

MANY PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE A FLEA INFESTATION CAN BE LETHAL. Keep in mind that fleas are basically tiny vampires drinking your pet's blood. Outdoor pets are especially vulnerable especially the very small, the very young, and the very elderly.

  

Very young kittens being raised outdoors or by a mother cat who goes outdoors. Young kittens are very small and do not have blood to spare. Further, they are growing and trying to expand their blood volume; they are too young to effectively groom themselves and remove their own fleas. Flea anemia is probably the #1 cause of death in open household kittens. (Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

Elderly cats that go outdoors. The elderly cat is often debilitated from other metabolic problems. Grooming is less efficient plus the older cat is just not strong enough to withstand much blood loss. (Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

Outdoor puppies. Their situation is similar to that of the kittens’: too small to effectively groom and trying to grow in the face of on going blood loss. (Photocredit: Morguefile.com)

  

We have a library page on Flea Anemia, in case this is new information.

www.marvistavet.com/flea-anemia.pml

 

INTERESTING EXTERNAL LINK

 

ARE THERE TOXIC PLANTS IN YOUR GARDEN?

Get to know National Animal Poison Control:

• You can have a consultation 24 hours a day by phone (and if you have a HomeAgain microchip full service membership, poison control consultations are free).
  
  
• There's an app to help look up poison information on your phone. Including a chocolate toxicity calculator to help determine if your pet is in trouble or not.
  
  
• Get info on toxic plants, human foods, household cleaners and more!

www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control

And when it comes to toxic household plants, did you know there are plant identification apps for your phone where you can click an image of the plant in question and find out what the plant is so you can look up toxicity information? There are numerous apps available and widely used in landscaping.

See your app store for the choices. Popular apps include: FlowerChecker, Google Goggles, and PlantSnapp.

We also feature safe plants as well as toxic ones at:

https://www.marvistavet.com/safe-gardening.pml

   

DID YOU KNOW....

...APRIL 11-17 IS NATIONAL DOG BITE PREVENTION WEEK?

Dog bites are serious, especially to children, so education becomes paramount in the prevention of dog bites.

Dog Etiquette is Vital

The dog in question can be a dog you know or a dog you don't know. Either way, there is a way to treat a dog with courtesy.

• Always ask the attending human for permission to pet a dog.
  
  
• Always ask the dog for permission to be petted. Use the Pat-Pet-Pause method. If you aren't sure how to do this, here is a video made for kids but useful for everyone:

  

• Don't wake a sleeping dog (or if you must, be prepared for teeth - do so at a distance).
  
  
• Don't disturb a dog in active possession of food or a treat.
  
  
• Don't leave small children unattended with a dog.
  
  
• Leash your dog in public.

Learn dog body language. A dog will tell you when he's uncomfortable with what is happening but he will do it with posture and expression.
Here is a video from TheFamilyDog.com:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bstvG_SUzMo

In 43.6% of dog bites on children, there was a parent present.
77% of dog bites on children are from familiar dogs.
These statistics underscore the importance of teaching dog safety not only to children but to those who care for children as well.

  

TheFamilyDog.com has an excellent program as does FearFreeHappyHomes.com

  

And here is one final treat from Jimmy The Dog's YouTube channel reminding us about the yellow ribbon on the leash:

 

   

DON'T FORGET TO "LIKE" US ON FACEBOOK SO YOU CAN GET TIPS AND LINKS
TO HELP BRING YOUR PET THE BEST POSSIBLY CARE.