{"id":381,"date":"2019-12-31T20:10:31","date_gmt":"2019-12-31T20:10:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/?p=381"},"modified":"2019-12-31T20:10:31","modified_gmt":"2019-12-31T20:10:31","slug":"january-2020-newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/january-2020-newsletter\/","title":{"rendered":"January 2020 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to Feed a Starving Dog Or Cat<\/a>
\nWhat to Do with The New Pet You Adopted Over the Holidays<\/a>
\nThe Importance of Vaccinating Your Pet<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>How to Feed a Starving Dog Or Cat<\/strong>
\nMany people in the animal rescue world come upon dogs and cats who were rescued from truly bad conditions leaving the animals emaciated and starving. These people often know or learn about how to bring a dog or cat back to health and that includes not providing too much food.<\/p>\n

According to the article, \u201cFeeding the Starving Dog,\u201d at petMD.com, \u201cWhen dogs that have essentially been starved suddenly have free access to large amounts of food, they can become very sick and even die.\u201d<\/p>\n

First try to get to a veterinarian so that the animal can be assessed and prescribed a feeding plan, the article said. If that\u2019s not immediately possible, take the following into consideration if you are entrusted with a starving dog or cat.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy to want to overfeed the animal because he is starving, but don\u2019t do it. \u201cIf an emaciated and starved dog is suddenly overfed serious consequences, such as refeeding syndrome, await,\u201d according to the article, \u201cCaring for an Emaciated Dog,\u201d at petMD.com. \u201cThis is because a sudden load of carbohydrates in a large meal can create serious shifts in potassium and phosphorus concentrations in all body cells.\u201d<\/p>\n

The signs of refeeding syndrome include:<\/p>\n

\u2022\tMuscle weakness
\n\u2022\tMuscle cramps
\n\u2022\tSeizures
\n\u2022\tRed blood cell rupture
\n\u2022\tHeart muscle damage and rhythm irregularities
\n\u2022\tRespiratory failure<\/p>\n

Serve the dog small meals every six hours (four times a day) and the food \u201cshould have adequate mineral composition, especially phosphorous, potassium and magnesium,\u201d the \u201cCaring for an Emaciated Dog\u201d article said. \u201cBy feeding a highly digestible, meat-based \u2018Puppy\u2019 or \u2018Growth\u2019 food, along with certain supplements, recovery and weight gain should be evident in a short period of time–that is, as long as the dog has a normal appetite.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/a>What to Do with The New Pet You Adopted Over the Holidays<\/strong>
\nAfter adopting and bringing home a new pet for the holidays, what do you do? First ensure that your pet has everything needed to fit in with your family.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe key to adding a new pet to your life the right way, is by being prepared\u2014not just on the day you bring your new animal home, but for every day after,\u201d according to the article, \u201cWhat to Consider Before Getting a Pet for the Holidays (or Ever)\u201d at PreventiveVet.com. \u201cA pet is truly the gift that keeps on giving.\u201d<\/p>\n

During the holidays, family members are either home from school or take time off. This makes it the perfect time to buy all the things your new pet needs while also spending time together.<\/p>\n

According to the article, \u201c10 Tips to Prepare for Adopting a Dog,\u201d at Hillspet.com, the following things can help you prepare for your new dog (and it can go for cats, too!):<\/p>\n

\u2022\tBuy everything needed, including collar, leash, food, bowls, bed, gate, treats, toys and grooming supplies.
\n\u2022\tMake your home safe. Keep dangerous items out of reach or hide them. Decide who will walk, train and feed your pet.
\n\u2022\tDesignate a safe, private place.
\n\u2022\tGive your pet the tour of the home to show him where everything is, including either the litter box or the yard.
\n\u2022\tIntroduce the family to your new pet. \u201cThe Animal Rescue League of Boston recommends bringing family members and other dogs outside one at a time to meet the new canine,\u201d the Hillspet article said.
\n\u2022\tSlowly switch your pet\u2019s food.
\n\u2022\tStart any training.
\n\u2022\tMake sure you set up an appointment with your veterinarian for a checkup right away.<\/p>\n

When you prepare your home and your family for the new pet, it will be an easier transition for everyone.<\/p>\n

<\/a>The Importance of Vaccinating Your Pet<\/strong>
\nThere are many things to do for your pet to keep her healthy. It begins with veterinary checkups, healthy food, exercise, and lots of bonding and playtime, too. There are also important vaccinations that keep your dog protected against various diseases that can cause extreme harm to your pet and even death. <\/p>\n

According to the article, \u201cVaccinations\u201d at American Veterinary Medication Association (AVMA), \u201cVaccinations protect your pet from highly contagious and deadly diseases and improve your pet’s overall quality of life.\u201d<\/p>\n

The AVMA article points to five reasons to vaccinate your pet:<\/p>\n

1.\tThey prevent various pet illnesses.
\n2.\tFor preventable diseases, vaccinations help avoid expensive treatments.
\n3.\tNot only do vaccinations prevent diseases that are passed among animals, they also prevent those they are passed from animals to humans.
\n4.\tUnvaccinated pets can be infected by diseases such as rabies and distemper that are often seen in wildlife.
\n5.\tThere are many local or state ordinances that require some vaccinations, such as rabies.<\/p>\n

Vaccinations help your pet from contracting contagious diseases when in a public place. \u201cMany contagious diseases are airborne and your pet could easily be exposed through an open window,\u201d according to the article, \u201cVaccinating Your Pet\u201d at AmericanHumane.org. Unfortunately, your pet could get out the door and encounter a contagious animal. Additionally, your pet could be exposed at boarding facilities, dog parks or at the groomer. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to speak with your veterinarian before taking your pet to any place he could be exposed. \u201cIt is also important to keep in mind that vaccinations take a few days to a few weeks to become effective,\u201d the American Humane article said.<\/p>\n

So, speak to your veterinarian to ensure your pet is on track with vaccinations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How to Feed a Starving Dog Or Cat What to Do with The New Pet You Adopted Over the Holidays The Importance of Vaccinating Your Pet How to Feed a Starving Dog Or Cat Many people in the animal rescue world come upon dogs and cats who were rescued from truly bad conditions leaving the… 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\/381"}],"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=381"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/381\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":382,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/381\/revisions\/382"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=381"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}