Dog Home Alone

You ever wonder what your pets are doing when you’re not home? This owner decided to find out.

World's Smartest Dog Jesse performs Amazing Dog Tricks

Today is Love Your Pet Day

The month of February, seems to be all about love, and our pets are no exceptions. Today is Love Your Pet Day!  Give a special treat for your pet or just some extra cuddle time today.  We also share in your love for your pets! 

What do you think your dog does when you leave them home alone?

Dog House Repairs Month

Does your dog have his or her own house? It's Dog House Repairs Month! Make sure that it’s in good shape this summer! Check the interior corners for beehives, and make sure to repair leaks and splinters in the wood.

Pet First Aid Program TOMORROW

The Pleasant Hills Library on Old Clairton Rd. is holding a "Pet First Aid Program" TOMORROW June 18th from 6:30 to 8:000 p.m. It will be presented by Karen Sable, Pet Emergency Training LLC. Please register by calling Deb Chebatoris at 412-220-7800.

National Pet Preparedness Month

This month is National Pet Preparedness Month. In order to be sure your pet is prepared for a disaster, make sure your safety kit includes food, water, leash and collar, bowls, pet ID, medications, immunization records, pet carrier, first aid kit, and a contact list for all pet emergency contacts.

Dog-Friendly Treat Recipe

ingredients

1 cup shredded roasted turkey meat

1/4 cup breadcrumbs

1 large egg, beaten

1/2 sweet potato--baked, skin discarded and potato coarsely chopped

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons cranberry sauce

directions

In a medium bowl, combine the turkey and breadcrumbs. Mix gently with your hands, then mix in the egg and sweet potato. Shape into two 1/2-inch-thick patties.

In a medium skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the patties and cook, turning once, until golden-brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Top with the cranberry sauce and let your canine enjoy!

Holiday Cat-Friendly Treat Recipe

Ingredients:

½ cup of hamburger

½ teaspoon shrimp paste (see Asian food section of your local grocery store)

¼ cup shelled shrimp, washed in hot water, and minced

½ teaspoon catnip

Directions:

Mix shrimp paste with the catnip and then hand work it into the hamburger.

Add minced shrimp to the hamburger mix and make into little meatballs.

Baked at 425° F for 10 minutes.

Cats & Car Engines

Have you heard about the danger of car engines for outdoor cats? Our car engines often stay warm for hours after our cars have been shut off, making the perfect warm place for an outdoor cat to sleep. If a car is started while a cat is lying on the engine, the cat could be injured or killed! Always knock on the hood of your car before you start it…you could save a life!

Halloween Safety

Is your pet dressed in their costume and ready to go trick-or-treating? Before you go, be sure to consider a few safety tips. First, ensure that your pet is dressed in a costume that they can comfortably walk in. Second, make sure your pet is wearing something reflective on their costume, or a lighted pet collar. Third, bring pet-safe treats and make sure your kids and neighbors know NOT to give your pet any candy!

This is Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month

This is Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month…have you considered adding a new dog to your family? If you have, there are many options, including adoption. Adopting a pet that’s been given up can be a great way to find a wonderful pet that’s just waiting for a caring owner like you! We recommend checking out local shelters to find out about available, adoptable pets. 

National Pet Obesity Awareness Day

Today is National Pet Obesity Awareness Day: a day set aside to educate pet owners about the danger of obesity in pets, and a day for pet owners to look at their options when it comes to their pet’s health. We encourage all pet owners to co

ntact us if they’re concerned about their overweight pets. If you have questions, we can help determine a diet and exercise plan that will improve your pet’s health and increase their life-expectancy. Just ask!

Sharon's Little Helpers: Dexter

SHARON'S LITTLE HELPERS: We love seeing new babies here at Always Compassionate Veterinary Care. It's one of the highlights of our day. If you have been in with a new baby, keep an eye out. Your baby may show up as one of Sharon's Little Helpers. Be sure to keep an eye on Sharon....she has been known to try to put a baby in her pocket so she can take it home, hoping you won't notice...

First Annual Pet Memorial Walk

Come out this Sunday to Jefferson Memorial Cemetery for the First Annual Pet Memorial Walk! Walkers and their pets will meet at the cemetery Administrative parking lot at noon and walk the roads of the park to honor our faithful friends. There will also be games and raffles, too. Bring your family and your pet for this beautiful 2 Mile Walk!

Pets & Hiking

Looking to escape your hometown haunts for a wilderness hike? Don't forget your pooch! Dogs love to explore our country's vast natural resources as much their two-legged counterparts—not to mention, hiking is great exercise for all. But remember, a hiking trail isn't your average walk around the block. The ASPCA offers some helpful tips for keeping you and your pet safe and sound on your outdoor adventures.  

• Extending leashes are great for wide open spaces, but if your romp is taking you through wooded areas, it's best to leave the flexi-leads at home. Otherwise, you'll probably spend more time untangling your dog's leash from trees and brush than you will enjoying your walk! 
• If your pup is the trustworthy sort and you want to give him the opportunity to enjoy some untethered time on your hike, first make sure that dogs are allowed to be off-leash in the area you're exploring. Second, be sure that he responds reliably to your recall command—even the most obedient dog might bolt after some fascinating new critter. 
• Hard to believe, but not everyone is as enamored with dogs as we are! Some people get very nervous around unleashed dogs. As a courtesy, have a leash on standby to clip to your dog when encountering other hikers. 
• Whether you're using a leash or not, don't forget IDs, please! Always make sure that your current contact information, including your cell phone number, is attached to your dog's collar or body harness. If for any reason your pet gets lost, a collar and tags and a microchip will increase the likelihood that he or she will be returned to you. 
• You never know what you may encounter on a hike—so before setting out into the wilderness, check your pet's veterinary records and make sure his vaccinations are up-to-date. 
• Training tip: Teach your dog to come to you for treats whenever you pass by other hikers, especially if they have dogs, too. Your dog will learn to not interfere with passersby, and at the same time, you're ensuring he associates new people and dogs with good things, like tasty treats from you. 
• If a poop falls in the woods and no one else sees it, do you get a free pass? NO! There's no such thing as a victimless poop. Please have respect for your surroundings, native wildlife and fellow hikers by scooping up after your dog and toting the baggie back to civilization if there are no trash cans around. 
• Both of you need to stay hydrated, so bring enough water for two. Don't allow your pup to drink from puddles, ponds, lakes or streams—in other words, "nature's dog bowls"—as they may contain nasty parasites or toxins that could cause her harm.

When your hike is finished, give your pooch a thorough once-over for ticks and other creepy-crawlies. Pay special attention to her belly, ears, and any skin folds and crevices. If you do spot a tick, treat the area with rubbing alcohol and remove the parasite immediately by slowly pulling it off with tweezers. Be careful when removing a tick, as any contact with its blood can potentially transmit infection to your dog or even to you. Wash the bite area and keep an eye on it for the next few days—if irritation persists, contact your vet.

Pets & Truck Beds

Did you know that letting your pet ride in the bed of your truck can be extremely dangerous, even if you’re traveling at low speeds? Dogs are known to jump and run after things or animals that appeal to them, and jumping from a moving vehicle can cause serious injury. We ask that you NEVER let your pet ride in the back of a truck, but always inside where they are safely secured.

Pets & Pool Safety

Does your pet love to swim? It’s important to remember that some pets are interested in water, even excited by it, but still may not know how to keep themselves afloat. It’s important to never let your pet go swimming unsupervised!

Pets & Camping Safety

Are you taking your dog with you on a family camping trip this summer? Don’t forget to be prepared for pet care! It’s important that your pet is up-to-date on parasite prevention and has plenty of food and fresh, filtered or sanitized water to drink at the campground. Also, be prepared for safety by ensuring that your campground of choice allows dogs to visit, and that your dog has a place to sleep, preferably inside the tent where they won’t be bitten by insects or pestered by wild animals! Be safe, and the trip will be that much more fun!

Hiking & Pets

Hiking is a great summertime activity for you and your dog, but don’t forget to take every precaution for your pet’s safety before you go! Besides for flea and tick preventative, a comfortable collar or harness, and bringing plenty of drinking water for your pet, it’s also important to research your hiking destination. Make sure the trails you are hiking on are dog-friendly. Also, check to see what kind of wildlife you can expect to see on the trail. The best way to have a good time with you dog is to be sure they’re safe.