We are THRILLED to announce that we have been chosen to receive the Distinguished Service Award at this year’s Top Hats and Cocktails Gala for the SPCA of Westchester. Clearly the welfare of animals is inherently important to us, and it is meaningful to be recognized for the work we love so much.

Here is a quote from the SPCA (we are blushing!):

“We are so thrilled to honor Pets A Go Go™ and Nicole and Dan for all that they have done to support the SPCA over the years, personally and through their company,” said Lisa Bonnano Spence of the SPCA of Westchester.  “In addition to helping with fundraising, they are consistently boarding and grooming our animals (as well as adopting a few!).  These are just some of the reasons they are so very deserving of the Distinguished Service Award.”

The annual evening of delicious food and cocktails will take place at the Ritz-Carlton in White Plains to celebrate and raise funds for the animals at the SPCA. (spca914.org for more info).

We hope you will join us on the 16th, and always, in supporting this important cause.

It’s August…and millions will hit the road this month. Whether cross country or around the corner, vacations with your pup can be extra fun! However, if you do plan to take your dog along for the ride, some simple precautions can pave the way for a smooth trip.

• Use restraint! You would never let a child ride in the car without a seatbelt, and the same holds true for our furbabies. It’s a lot safer for everyone if your dog is securely fastened and/or confined to the back seat during car trips.

• Don’t forget to attach an ID tag with your cell phone number to his collar or better yet get a collar with the number stitched in.  Most folks make the mistake of listing their home numbers; it won’t be helpful if no one’s home.

• Keep them busy! Bring Kongs, chew toys and other busy treats to keep your dog both calm and entertained.

• Make sure the hotel, bed-and-breakfast or campsite where you plan to stay allows dogs. A great resource is com or bringfido.com.

• Be sure to bring extras of all pet supplies: collars, leashes, food, medication and bowls and blankets.

• It is always a good idea to travel with vaccination records and a photo of your pet.

• Beware of the temperature – hot days feel even hotter to your pup. Keep him hydrated and never EVER leave a dog in a hot car even for a moment.

HAPPY AND SAFE TRAVELS!

There are many reasons not to give our furry friends table food. But perhaps the most important reason is that many tasty treats that we enjoy are extremely toxic to our pets. Chocolate and grapes are well known dangers, but did you know that avocados can be very poisonous to your furbaby? So secure that guac and check out the handy chart here for a quick reference to other foods that should pose a red flag.

Now what to do if your pup happens to eat one of these foods, it is very important to take the proper steps for getting the right care for your pet.  Depending on what they may have ingested and how much, every minute may count.

1. Collect Evidence – quickly gather any packaging or remnants of what was eaten as well as try to determine how much and when;
2. Look for symptoms – is your dog vomiting? Breathing heavily? Lethargic?
3. Call for help – call your vet or the International Animal Poison Control Center Hotline at 1-888-232-8870(available 24 hours a day).  It’s always a good idea to always have these phone numbers posted somewhere conspicuous in case of an emergency.

ALWAYS seek veterinary help immediately if you know, or even suspect, your pup has ingested something toxic or potentially dangerous — sometimes the effects aren’t immediately obvious and some symptoms may take longer to appear.

While no one enjoys obtaining or even transporting the sample, the information from a good fecal exam can reveal a lot of information (good and bad) about your dog and his/her health.

Getting and Testing the Sample

Please remember, the fresher the better.  While tempting, please understand that the poops in the back yard that are dried and hard are not useful.  If at all possible, bring the sample in the day you get it.  If your furbaby is a late night pooper then it is acceptable to refrigerate (NOT FREEZE) the sample and bring it to the vet in the morning.  Although solid samples are best, diarrhea is important too so please make sure to get the entire pile.  There are interesting things that hide in any form of poop that will help your doctor assess what the true problem is.  They can include hair, toys, clothes, bones or other items that could be contributing to an intestinal problem.  If you see a worm in your dog’s poop, please do everyone a favour and bring it along as well.  And don’t hesitate to ask about your veterinarian going and ‘getting’ a sample with a swab if you couldn’t collect one, many have the capacity to do so.

There are a wide variety of tests available from direct smears to detailed cultures; however, the most common conducted in an annual exam is a fecal flotation.  This is where the poop is placed in a special device and a solution is added.  Since the solution is heavier than any of the items being tested, the good (really bad) stuff floats to the top leaving the useless parts at the bottom.  What floats can include immature worms, worm eggs, protozoal parasites as well as other abnormal organisms that can then be placed on a microscope slide.  Each of the potential offenders can then be identified by their size, shape and other features under microscopic examination.

Worms and Parasites and Eggs … Oh My!

Now what happens if your previous furbaby’s fecal sample is positive?  There could be a variety of reasons and treatment options but ALWAYS get a repeat fecal examination to make sure the treatment was successful and your pet(s) didn’t re-infect themselves or each other.  Below I will outline the most common calls you might get from your vet.

Hookworms, Roundworms and Whipworms.  Each of these is a distinctly shaped worm that lives in the large or small intestine; and if left untreated can give your pup a potbelly sort of appearance.  If your furbaby is on a monthly worm protectant such as Interceptor or Sentinel then he/she should be protected; however, if your pup does test positive for these critters then the maker of these products will pay for the treatment since they are guaranteed to prevent these worms if used appropriately.  These worms are quite contagious and are spread by dog on dog contact and many can be passed along to the humans in your household.

Tapeworms.  Unlike the above worms that are one piece, tapeworms are segmented and give off sticky egg packets that resemble grains of rice.  They’ll most often be found in the hair underneath the tail.  Tapeworms are not contagious but they come from ingesting fleas so addressing the tapeworm issue ahead of or simultaneous with dealing with the flea outbreak is imperative.

Giardia and Coccidia.  These are single cell parasites (aka protozoal) that are generally caught via stagnant or stale water.  Very often puppies will come from their mom’s with this diagnosis.  Primarily parasites are limited to the small intestine and often cause diarrhea.  Giardia is one of the most challenging items to catch on a fecal exam.  Therefore, Giardia often goes undetected and all that alerts a pet owner is a positive Giardia ELISA (antibodies that remain after the Giardia itself has cleared) result.  This tells the veterinarian that your furbaby probably had Giardia at some point but only the antibodies remain.  Most veterinarians will treat a positive ELISA and a fecal exam should be repeated in about six weeks.  In contrast, Coccidia strains exist in many species and a positive result for a bird or small mammal won’t affect your pup but may still cause a positive result (albeit one that doesn’t require treatment) in their fecal exam.

It’s Negative!

Hopefully, your pet’s fecal sample will be negative, meaning no abnormal organisms were detected. This means either your pet is free of parasites, or the parasites are not shedding into the stool in detectable numbers. If your vet feels your pet has signs of parasites in spite of a negative test, other tests may be recommended.  And remember, if at any time you suspect your pet has been exposed to a worm or parasite, please pass the poop along to your local veterinarian.

Every Summer, we see a long line of clients asking about or looking to shave their long haired or double coated dogs.  When we hesitate, we’re often asked immediately “but isn’t he/she hot?”  While an important question, there are many further implications to the decision to shave your long-haired or double coated dog and not all of them have to do with weather.  Double coated dogs are identifiable by their two types of coats.  The first, also known as down hairs, ground hairs or undercoat, are the super fine, fluffy hairs that lay closest to the skin.  These hairs are most often shorter and more crimped than the longer hairs and have the effect of insulating the pup to keep them warm in the winter as well as cool in the summer.  But this lighter, softer coat generally does not need to be shaved unless irreparably matted.  However, a good undercoat raking with the appropriate shampoos and conditions and/or special tools is imperative.  The result of this methodical undercoat removal will be a dog who feels cooler.  The ‘top’ coat is comprised of the guard hairs that lie on top of the undercoat and the guard hairs typically do not shed.  They provide most of the protection from the sun as well as additional insulation from the heat/cold.  As a compromise, we will sometimes shave a strip on the belly so laying on cool surfaces can provide maximum relief.

There are many double coated breeds and they include Pomeranians, Chow Chows, Huskies, Akitas, German Shepherds, Malamutes, Samoyed and some (but not all) Golden Retrievers.  And as much as we love these breeds, shedding is a never ending battle to be waged by their owners.  Be aware that the decision to shave will not end your shedding problem.  The hairs will be shorter, true; but your pup will continue to shed without the use of de-shedding shampoos, conditions and ongoing regularly scheduled maintenance.  The most important thing to remember is that the decision to shave (not trim) a long haired dog is also a long-term decision.  Once shaved, not only does the texture and growth pattern of the hair often change; but the older your furbaby is, the less likely it is for the guard hairs to grow back adequately.  This leaves your older pup susceptible to sunburn which is both painful and can take a long time from which to heal.  Ongoing issues from sunburn can also be dandruff and scaling even after the hair has regrown.  Remember dogs like poodles, maltese, Yorkshire terriers, shih-tzus and many others require regular grooming and haircuts.  And even dogs with undercoats can benefit from a good trim.  To shave or not to shave?  As it turns out this is a question not easily answered…

We will begin our “Ask the Expert” series with Rosemary, Pets A GoGo groomer. If you have a question for one of our experts, please email us anytime at thepawsquad@petsagogo.com.

What made you become a groomer?

My love for animals, since I was a kid, especially dogs.  My mom loved animals and we took in many strays. We had a total of nine dogs at one time.  I used to brush and bathe them. My twin brother and I used to find animals and we tried to find owners.  Can’t begin to tell you how many strays we found homes for.  If not, we kept them.

What kinds of animals can you groom? 

I groom dogs and cats.
Whats your favorite breed to groom? 

My favorite  breed is Shih Tzu.
Should you shave your dog for the summer? 

No, trim yes.  Their hair is there to protect their skin in the winter and to protect them from sunburn in the summer.
Can you tell if a dog will shed? 

All dogs shed!
How often should you bathe your dog? 

Every six to eight weeks.
How can you prevent or cut down on shedding? 

Use furminating products and BRUSH their hair often, at least once a week.
What kinds of products do you suggest for bathing and grooming at home? 

Depends on dog coat.  Grimeinator is my best for all for all fur types.

Canine Kennel cough (aka tracheobronchitis) is akin to a cold in a human.  While no one wants to see any pup ill, it is quite common; and unfortunately, also quite contagious.  How can you avoid it?  Vaccination and being selective about the environments in which you pup is exposed to other dogs.  Most kennels will require proof of vaccination; but given that the current vaccine only covers less than half of the known stains of the virus, it is quite possible for your pup to still contract the disease.

One of the most common causes is the bacteria Bordetella bronchiseptica. Unfortunately, dogs infected with Bordetella will have at least a temporarily compromised immune system so they can also be infected with something else they may or may not have been vaccinated for, which can include canine distemper, canine herpes virus or parainfluenza.  Your best defense is to prevent kennel cough by keeping all vaccines up to date (or perform a titer where possible).  Keeping pups away from environments where there is less than fresh air and large groups of dogs is also important.  This means indoor kennel runs and shelters can be a hotbed or transmission.  But it is best to remember that just like the flu shot for humans cannot protect anyone from mutated strains of a virus, neither can the bordatella drops or vaccine.  The good news is that even if your vaccinated pup does come down with kennel cough, it means that he/she should have a less severe version of the disease.  If your furbaby does display a persistent cough after being around any other dog, it is important to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to rule out both kennel cough and the less prevalent canine influenza strains.

The sound is usual quite obvious in that it is more like a hacking cough and can often mimic a choking sound and typically arises after a 3-4 day incubation period.  It is most likely that kennel cough will not be an occasional but a persistent, dry (not wet) sounding and can be quite forceful.  It is often accompanied by sneezing, a runny nose or eye discharge.  Changes in appetite or energy level are rare; but dogs who are excited or undergoing significant exercise can cough up a white, frothy phlegm.  Only your veterinarian can diagnose kennel cough and treatment options vary from cough suppressants to antibiotics.  While many dogs recover without treatment, it is important to follow through for treatment not only to speed your furbaby’s recovery and minimize discomfort but also because he/she will be highly contagious to other dogs.  And remember if your pup has not recovered within the expected time frame, schedule a follow-up appointment with your veterinarian.  This is the best way to ensure that the case of kennel cough did not progress to something more serious like pneumonia.  For most, all symptoms will disappear slowly over the course of three weeks but geriatrics, puppies and furbabies with other illnesses can take up to six weeks to fully recover.

As with most infections, prevention is key.  Choose facilities that have plenty of open air along with maintaining a sanitary environment and take a long sniff when you walk in.  Something that smells clean, generally is; and there is no excuse for a dirty or smelly environment.  Keep your furbaby vaccinated appropriately and/or titered.  Keep your dog away from environments where you cannot guarantee a dog’s vaccination status who is coming in direct contact with your dog (a dog park is a perfect example).  And of course, see your veterinarian immediately if something seems wrong with your pup.

Of course, I always want to support business and organizations that help animals both through my business and personally. But this is especially so when there is a business started by bright, motivated and compassionate people that are JUST 14 YEARS OLD!

LAB Soaps is a new Natural Soap Company, started by a group of 14 year old Chappaqua girls who simply love animals and want to help those in need. 100% of their profits go to the SPCA of Westchester in Briarcliff Manor, NY.

Their soaps and scrubs are a great and meaningful gift (in addition to being YUMMY) and a reminder that we can all do our part to help our furry friends in need! Check out their website: http://labsoaps.tictail.com/

Barbecues.  Swimming. Fireworks…all summer staples for us humans…but can be hazardous for your furbaby.  Here are some tips to have a great summer for everyone in the family.

POOLS

On steamy summer days, the lure of cooling off in the pool can be fun for you and your pets. But it is important to note that pool safety issues for pets are almost synonymous with those for children. It only takes a few minutes of distraction for either one to fly out the door and into the pool.

Here are just a few of the issues to keep in mind:

• DON’T assume your dog can swim naturally.
• Make sure your dog knows a safe way to exit the pool (stairs)
• Swimming is strenuous exercise- proceed with caution as senior dogs could slip and fall into a pool or may not have the stamina to make it back to safety
• Heat and sunlight are more intense around a pool, so watch for signs of overheating.
• Don’t let your dog drink from the pool; the chlorine will make him sick.

FIREWORKS

The excitement of a fireworks show in the summer night sky is a delight for the whole family. But the noise and energy may be too much for your dog to handle. Before taking Fido to see the fireworks, please consider:

• loud noises and bright lights can easily frighten your pet, which can cause him to run away. If you must bring your dog along, make sure they are securely on a leash before the fireworks start
• If the fireworks are set off near your pet, beware of impact injury or burns from setting off the fireworks as well as the ashes afterwards

BBQs

As pet owners fire up the grill for a fun-filled  barbeque, there are many seemingly harmless dangers to their pets.

• Traditional BBQ foods such as corn on the cob and bones from meat can be deadly or cause serious gastrointestinal problems in pets
• Discarded objects attached to flavorful foods (skewers, string, foil, etc.) can also be tempting (and dangerous)
• If you are hosting a party at your home, be aware that a dog may feel territorial; don’t assume a normally friendly dog will not be overwhelmed by having strangers in their space

Wishing you a happy, fun, and SAFE summer!

Join Pets a Go Go this Saturday (or Sunday if it rains) at the annual Ossining Village Fair!  We’ll be located by the Village Square and we will have loads of great doggie treats for you to sample including our Doggie Frozen Yogurt, treats and some USA made and sourced treats and toys for sale.

https://patch.com/new-york/ossining/dont-miss-34th-annual-ossining-village-fair