{"id":427,"date":"2021-03-01T20:57:19","date_gmt":"2021-03-01T20:57:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/?p=427"},"modified":"2021-03-01T20:58:45","modified_gmt":"2021-03-01T20:58:45","slug":"march-2021-newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/march-2021-newsletter\/","title":{"rendered":"March 2021 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"

New Puppy or Kitten? Tips to Raise Them Right<\/a>
\nPet Health Insurance: Do You Need It and Is it Worth It?<\/a>
\nThe Benefits of Giving Your Cat Catnip<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nNew Puppy or Kitten? Tips to Raise Them Right<\/strong>
\nSpring is a perfect time to adopt and bring home a puppy or kitten. But with puppies and kittens come some challenges, and you have new responsibilities to raise your puppy or kitten right.<\/p>\n

According to the article, \u201cTips for Adopting a New Puppy or Kitten\u201d at Friendship Hospital for Animals, there are three things to keep him mind:<\/p>\n

1.\tMake an appointment with your vet for an initial checkup and bring any paperwork that you received upon adoption. Discuss the vaccines your pet received and plan a schedule for remaining ones. \u201cIn addition, a poo sample is helpful so your veterinarian can make sure your new buddy didn\u2019t bring home any unwanted friends (internal parasites) with him,\u201d the article said. Ensure you get your pet started on preventatives, e.g. heartworm, etc.
\n2.\tTry enrolling your puppy in basic training classes and start socializing him.
\n3.\tEnsure your puppy or kitten is spayed or neutered.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll want to puppy-proof your home. \u201cRemove anything he might be tempted to chew or swallow, and close off vents, pet doors or any other openings that might allow him to become lost or stuck,\u201d according to the article, \u201cRaising a Puppy: What You Need to Know\u201d at Hillspet.com. Buy supplies including food, collar and ID, leash, dog bed, and bowls.<\/p>\n

For kittens, it\u2019s important they \u201cfeel comfortable with you as soon as possible,\u201d according to the article, \u201cBringing Home Your New Kitten\u201d at VCAHospitals.com. When you bring your kitten home, place him and his carrier in a room where it\u2019s quiet and allow him to explore at his own pace.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a lot involved when bringing home a new puppy or kitten, but do your research and some work, add a little patience, and an amazing friendship will bloom.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nPet Health Insurance: Do You Need It and Is it Worth It?<\/strong>
\nPet insurance is becoming more popular and more companies are offering it. Is it a good idea? What does it cost and what does it cover?<\/p>\n

The answers vary depending on many factors, including the company you choose, the type of pet, the breed, the age, and then the plan you choose.<\/p>\n

Pets are living longer these days. \u201cAs veterinary medicine becomes more technologically advanced, the cost of care increases,\u201d according to the article, \u201cDo you need pet insurance?\u201d at the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Pet insurance can help with some of the costs when your pet is sick or has an injury.<\/p>\n

The AVMA first recommends speaking with your vet and doing research to find out if pet insurance is right for you and your pet.<\/p>\n

According to the AVMA, consider the following:<\/p>\n

\u2022\tInsurance plans should include the details and limitations and exclusions for routine and emergency care and if your premiums will increase as your pet ages.
\n\u2022\tAsk about additional options including dental.
\n\u2022\tAsk about pre-existing conditions and if they are covered.
\n\u2022\tIs there a breed restriction?
\n\u2022\tFind out about co-pays, deductibles, and other fees.<\/p>\n

Do your research about monthly premiums and deductibles as well as the reimbursement plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you compare pet insurance plans, you should also remember to check out the exclusions in each covered category,\u201d according to the article, \u201cGetting Pet Insurance: What You Need to Know,\u201d at be.chewy.com. \u201cFor instance, if a plan covers alternative therapies, it might not cover certain treatments like physical therapy or acupuncture.\u201d<\/p>\n

The be.chewy.com article suggested finding out what\u2019s covered, including:<\/p>\n

\u2022\tVet exams
\n\u2022\tHereditary conditions
\n\u2022\tSurgery
\n\u2022\tEmergency care
\n\u2022\tCancer treatments<\/p>\n

Along with your research, speak to others who have pet insurance, and ask lots of questions before you decide what\u2019s best for you and your pet.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nThe Benefits of Giving Your Cat Catnip<\/strong>
\nCatnip. It\u2019s what most felines go wild about. So, what is catnip and what are the benefits for your cat?<\/p>\n

A member of the mint family, catnip is from Europe and Asia. Nepeta cataria is its actual name and has also been called catmint or catwort, according to the article, \u201cTruth About Catnip\u201d at Fetch by WebMD. From lions and tigers to house cats, most felines love catnip.<\/p>\n

\u201cCatnip\u2019s allure is in its volatile oil, specifically one chemical in that oil \u2014 nepetalactone,\u201d according to the Fetch by WebMD article. \u201cFound in catnip\u2019s leaves, stems, and seeds, it only takes one or two sniffs of that wondrous oil before susceptible felines are licking, chewing, and rolling head-over-tail in kitty bliss.\u201d<\/p>\n

It typically only lasts 10 minutes and makes some cats calm while others aggressively playful. When the feeling subsides cats won\u2019t respond to it again for about two hours.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause cats do respond to catnip again and again, the herb can be a powerful training aid,\u201d the article said. It can be used to deter cats from clawing on furniture or to create catnip toys for enrichment purposes.<\/p>\n

Catnip works best on cats 6 months and older and is safe to ingest but not in large amounts because digestive issues can occur, according to the article, \u201cWhat Does Catnip Do to Cats?\u201d at PetMD.com. \u201cUse just a little at a time, and you can always discuss the correct amount for your cat with your veterinarian.\u201d<\/p>\n

Store catnip in a container that is airtight as it can lose its effectiveness. According to the PetMD article, it comes in a variety of forms including:
\n\u2022\tFresh catnip
\n\u2022\tDry catnip
\n\u2022\tSprays or bubbles
\n\u2022\tStuffed toys with dried catnip<\/p>\n

Determine which type of catnip is best for your feline and ensure a happy cat.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

New Puppy or Kitten? Tips to Raise Them Right Pet Health Insurance: Do You Need It and Is it Worth It? The Benefits of Giving Your Cat Catnip New Puppy or Kitten? Tips to Raise Them Right Spring is a perfect time to adopt and bring home a puppy or kitten. But with puppies and… 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\/427"}],"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=427"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/427\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":429,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/427\/revisions\/429"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=427"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=427"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=427"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}