{"id":411,"date":"2020-09-29T10:35:34","date_gmt":"2020-09-29T10:35:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/?p=411"},"modified":"2020-10-29T13:54:22","modified_gmt":"2020-10-29T13:54:22","slug":"october-2020-newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/october-2020-newsletter\/","title":{"rendered":"October 2020 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts for Dressing Up Pets for Halloween<\/a>
\nWhat Is Bloat In Dogs and Why Is It A Serious Emergency?<\/a>
\nOutdoor Activities You Can Do with Your Pet In Cooler Weather<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nDo\u2019s and Don\u2019ts for Dressing Up Pets for Halloween<\/strong>
\nHalloween is just around the corner. After a tough year, it\u2019s a fun holiday we all can use and get excited about.<\/p>\n

What about pets and costumes? Is dressing up your pet even a good idea? Does your pet even like it?<\/p>\n

Pets are cute no matter what, and an adorable costume may make your pet look festive but there are some things to keep in mind.<\/p>\n

According to the article, \u201c10 Halloween Safety Tips for Pets\u201d at PetMD.com, \u201cIf you do decide that Fido or Kitty needs a costume, make sure it isn\u2019t dangerous or simply annoying to your pet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Try the costume on your pet before Halloween, introducing the outfit slowly, even one piece at time and for short periods at a time. \u201cIf at any time, your pet seems distressed or develops skin problems from contact with a costume, consider letting him go in his \u2018birthday suit,\u2019\u201d the article said. Or just have your pet wear a fun bandana.<\/p>\n

For pets who don\u2019t enjoy wearing a costume, don\u2019t force it. \u201cIf you do dress up your pet for Halloween, make sure the costume does not limit his or her movement, sight or ability to breathe, bark or meow,\u201d according to the article, \u201cHalloween Safety Tips\u201d at the ASPCA.org. \u201cCheck the costume carefully for small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that could present a choking hazard. Ill-fitting outfits can get twisted on external objects or your pet, leading to injury.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ensure the costume your pet wears is safe and that it fits but is not too tight or too loose. Check for any pieces that can pose a choking hazard as well. Safety is always No. 1 for your pet.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nWhat Is Bloat In Dogs and Why Is It A Serious Emergency?<\/strong>
\nWhat is bloat in dogs and why should you know?<\/p>\n

Bloat, also called gastric dilation and volvulus syndrome (GDV), \u201cis a disease in dogs in which the animal\u2019s stomach dilates and then rotates, or twists, around its short axis,\u201d according to the article, \u201cBloat or Stomach Dilatation in Dogs\u201d at PetMD.com. Other emergency conditions can occur including \u201cprogressive distension of the stomach, increased pressure within the abdomen, damage to the cardiovascular system, and decreased perfusion.\u201d<\/p>\n

With bloat, there is no time to waste and getting your dog to a vet is of the utmost concern because it can be fatal.<\/p>\n

Bloat can happen to any type or size of dog, but it usually occurs in larger breeds and more so in older males, according to the article, \u201cSigns and Symptoms of Bloat in Dogs\u201d at PetMD.com.<\/p>\n

Signs of bloat include:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Swollen stomach
\n\u2022 Excessive drooling
\n\u2022 Panting
\n\u2022 Walking around\/pacing
\n\u2022 Trying to vomit without success<\/p>\n

Even though vets don\u2019t know the causes of bloat, the following can put your dog at risk, according to the article, \u201cDog Bloat: How to Protect Your Pup\u201d at WebMD.com:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Using a raised food bowl
\n\u2022 Eating one large meal a day
\n\u2022 Eating too fast
\n\u2022 Playing or running after your dog eats<\/p>\n

If X-rays show a twisted stomach, \u201cyour dog will have emergency surgery to untwist it and put it back in its normal position,\u201d according to the WebMD article. \u201cThe vet also will fix the stomach in the right place to keep your dog from getting bloat again.\u201d<\/p>\n

There are some things you can try to help prevent bloat, according to the \u201cSigns and Symptoms of Bloat in Dogs\u201d article. They include feeding small meals during the day, not using an elevated bowl, avoiding dry dog food, reducing stress, and having readily available water all the time.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nOutdoor Activities You Can Do with Your Pet In Cooler Weather<\/strong>
\nLet\u2019s hear it for cooler weather! Who doesn\u2019t love a dip in temperatures after a long, hot summer, especially after having been cooped up inside for months. Getting outdoors for fun activities will be good for you and your pet.<\/p>\n

Start with longer walks for exercise and then contemplate other fun fall things to do together.<\/p>\n

Here are fun activities, according to the article, \u201c11 Fun Activities to Do With Your Dog This Fall\u201d at Vetstreet.com:<\/p>\n

\u2022 If your dog is OK with Halloween costumes, enter a contest.
\n\u2022 Apple picking. Keep your dog on a leash and check the orchard\u2019s dog policy. \u201cYou can share a bite of apple with your dog, just make sure he doesn\u2019t eat the seeds, which can be toxic,\u201d the article said.
\n\u2022 Take a mini vacation to an off-season destination.
\n\u2022 Go hiking. Speak to your vet first to ensure your dog is healthy enough for the exercise routine. You\u2019ll see fall foliage but avoid poison ivy. Ensure your dog has tick prevention but also check for ticks while you\u2019re out there.
\n\u2022 Find a pile of leaves for your dog to jump into, but ensure there\u2019s nothing sharp in the pile.<\/p>\n

According to the article, \u201c6 Great Fall Activities for Dogs\u201d at Pet Central, you can start with pumpkin picking, which is perfect for the fall. \u201cMany pumpkin patches allow well-behaved, leashed dogs to accompany their parents on pumpkin picking excursions,\u201d the article said. Before you head over, call and find out if they welcome dogs. If so, make sure to bring cleanup bags, fresh water, and ensure your dog is always on a leash. Also, ensure your dog is on flea and tick prevention medicine.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s so many things you can do with your pet in the crisp, fall weather. So, get out there and enjoy!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts for Dressing Up Pets for Halloween What Is Bloat In Dogs and Why Is It A Serious Emergency? Outdoor Activities You Can Do with Your Pet In Cooler Weather Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts for Dressing Up Pets for Halloween Halloween is just around the corner. After a tough year, it\u2019s a fun holiday… 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\/411"}],"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=411"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/411\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":417,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/411\/revisions\/417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}