{"id":284,"date":"2017-09-25T17:18:10","date_gmt":"2017-09-25T17:18:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/?p=284"},"modified":"2017-09-25T17:18:10","modified_gmt":"2017-09-25T17:18:10","slug":"october-2017-newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/october-2017-newsletter\/","title":{"rendered":"October 2017 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to Create a Happy, Safe Halloween for You and Your Pets<\/a>
\nLet the Dogs Out for Safe, Outdoor Fun in Cooler Weather<\/a>
\nUnderbelly Cat \u2018Sack:\u2019 Does Your Cat Have One and What Should You Do?<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nHow to Create a Happy, Safe Halloween for You and Your Pets<\/strong><\/p>\n

Halloween is around the corner promising fun, tricks, treats and costumes. Have your pet in on the fun, but ensure she is safe at all times.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s really no trick to your pet\u2019s safety. The ASPCA\u2019s article, \u201cHalloween Safety Tips,\u201d offers common sense advice:
\n\u2022 Keep treats away: Many Halloween treats are dangerous for pets, so make sure to keep the candy bowl out of your pet\u2019s reach. All forms of chocolate can be dangerous for dogs and cats, and candy with xylitol is harmful, too. If your pet eats anything toxic, call your vet or the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
\n\u2022 Wires and decorations: A flame in a jack-o-lantern can be deadly and start a fire if knocked over, so place in a safe area. Keep wires out of pets\u2019 reach.
\n\u2022 Costumes: \u201cFor some pets, wearing a costume may cause undue stress,\u201d the article said. \u201cThe ASPCA recommends that you don\u2019t put your dog or cat in a costume unless you know he or she loves it.\u201d Ensure the costume fits well and that she can move. Check for choking hazards. If your pet is \u201cdistressed or shows abnormal behavior,\u201d ditch the costume.
\n\u2022 If you expect lots of trick-or-treaters, keep your pet safe in a separate room because \u201ctoo many strangers can often be scary and stressful for pets,\u201d the article said, and you don\u2019t want your pet escaping out the door. Ensure your pet is microchipped and wearing a collar with tags.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also important to keep your pet safe from the unknown outdoors, according to The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) article, \u201cHow to Give Your Pets a Safe and Happy Halloween.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the HSUS, \u201cCats are always safest inside with you, but on Halloween it\u2019s especially important to secure all pets inside.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nLet the Dogs Out for Safe, Outdoor Fun in Cooler Weather<\/strong><\/p>\n

When the temperature finally cools down in Arizona, all paws are up for fun in the fall weather. During the hot summer months it can be difficult to find things to do for dogs. The mid-fall weather is the perfect time to get outside so both of you can explore, exercise and have a ball — no pun intended!<\/p>\n

Get out with your dog for some usual things such as extra-long walks, jogging and longer car rides ending up at the dog park.<\/p>\n

Here are other fun ideas to try as suggested in Vetstreet\u2019s article, \u201c11 Fun Activities to Do With Your Dog This Fall:\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2022 Pumpkin patch pooches. With Halloween and Thanksgiving just around the corner, it\u2019s pumpkin time! \u201cMany pumpkin patches allow dogs \u2014 provided they are on leashes and their owners clean up after them,\u201d the article said. Check the rules first.
\n\u2022 Off-season travel. Get out of town for a long weekend and stay at a pet-friendly hotel. Also, \u201cMany beaches allow dogs during the off-season \u2014 and as a bonus, travel prices are often lower,\u201d the article said.
\n\u2022 When all else fails, go camping! Rough it up with your pooch on a nature-loving camping trip. \u201cJust make sure that in addition to packing the necessities for yourself, your dog is well-equipped as well,\u201d the article said. \u201cThat means bringing a leash, dog food, treats, food and water bowls and a bed. And don’t forget the first aid kit!\u201d<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget football season. Your dog is sure to have a favorite team, so make sure your tailgating pup is ready for a touchdown.<\/p>\n

According to the article, \u201c6 Great Fall Activities for Dogs,\u201d at Pawculture.com, \u201cGridiron season has an ongoing love affair with canines: From mascots to dog apparel, there are so many ways to get your favorite pooch involved.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nUnderbelly Cat \u2018Sack:\u2019 Does Your Cat Have One and What Should You Do?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Is your cat a sad \u201csack?\u201d If your cat has a \u201csack\u201d under his belly, you might wonder what it is and why it\u2019s there, especially if your cat is not overweight.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, \u201cthis pouch of saggy skin just in front of the rear legs is common in cats and can often be seen swinging merrily from side to side as the cat trots along,\u201d according to the article
\n\u201cWhy do many cats have a saggy belly?\u201d at PetMeds.com. \u201cWhile some people mistakenly assume the cat develops this excess flesh as a result of being spayed or neutered, it\u2019s actually a normal part of your cat\u2019s anatomy.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the article, the flap of skin and fat, \u201cwhich often feels like a half-full water balloon\u201d actually has a technical name called a \u201cprimordial pouch\u201d that also can be seen in lions and tigers.<\/p>\n

The \u201csack\u201d is there for a variety of reasons, according to the article:<\/p>\n

\u2022 It provides additional protection to your cat during fights. Additionally, \u201ccats have excess skin covering the entire body which helps them squirm out of the grasp of other predators,\u201d the article said.
\n\u2022 It allows the cat to move more freely \u201cto fully stretch and extend the back legs when in full stride.\u201d
\n\u2022 A primordial pouch that is visible \u201cis actually a part of the breed standard\u201d for breeds including the Bengal and Pixie Bob.
\n\u2022 Although the pouch or \u201csack\u201d is normal, keep your cat at a normal, \u201chealthy weight so excess fat isn\u2019t stored in your cat\u2019s abdominal flap,\u201d the article said.<\/p>\n

Since a cat\u2019s metabolism slows down with age, the pouch\u2019s size may increase and may store additional fat, according to the article, \u201cWhy Does My Cat Have a Flabby Belly?\u201d at Pawsome Cats.<\/p>\n

Speak with your veterinarian if you have any concerns.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How to Create a Happy, Safe Halloween for You and Your Pets Let the Dogs Out for Safe, Outdoor Fun in Cooler Weather Underbelly Cat \u2018Sack:\u2019 Does Your Cat Have One and What Should You Do? How to Create a Happy, Safe Halloween for You and Your Pets Halloween is around the corner promising fun,… Read more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=284"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":286,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284\/revisions\/286"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=284"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=284"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=284"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}