Posts in Category: ZimmVet News & Events

By Michaela Tallant, ZimmVet Professional Pet Groomer

Bringing a new baby home may be exciting for you and your spouse but this transition can be confusing and startling for your pet. If you think about it, this new baby seems “human” to your pet, but smells, makes sounds, and moves nothing like your pet has ever experienced before. Plus, suddenly this strange and noisy creature is taking up all of their owner’s time and attention.

By planning ahead and taking simple steps before your baby arrives and in the first couple of weeks of your baby’s arrival, you can help your pet and new baby create a special bond!

Getting your pet ready before the arrival

• Start by having your pet take basic obedience classes.  This will help make sure they know not to jump, understand sit and stay, and have a strong recall.
• Make slow changes to your pet’s routine. If you’re going to be changing where your pet sleeps when the baby arrives or when they are fed and walked, then you will want to change that slowly over the next couple of months.
• Play baby noises. This will help your pets get used to all the different noises your baby is going to make. Desensitizing them to this will help keep their anxiety and stress levels down when the time comes.
• Teaching your pet to go to their kennel, bed, mat or “safe space” will be highly rewarding for you and your pet. This will allow for you to send your pet to a designated area and out of the way when you’re feeding or having snuggle time with your baby and need space. This will also allow for your pet to have a quiet, calm place to retreat to if they become overwhelmed.
• Getting a baby doll and teaching your pet the new boundaries with it ahead of time will also help them adjust more quickly once the baby arrives. You can use the baby doll to teach your pet the new seating order on furniture (pet, human, then baby) and get them used to not jumping on or cuddling with you while you’re holding the baby.

By: Ari Alvarez, Zimmvet Daycare Staff

1. Pets Relieve Stress

Having pets in the office reduces stress and makes employees feel more relaxed. Studies have been done that found individuals who brought their dogs to work had decreased stress levels when compared with those who did not bring any pets to work. Those who did not bring pets to work showed increasing levels of stress throughout the workday.

2. Pets in the Workplace Benefit Work-Life Balance

Companies have been open to pets in the workplace due to their effect on work-life balance. Both employers and employees stated it helps them pass long work hours happily, and the pets remind them to take necessary breaks.

3. Pets Improve Your Company Image

Allowing pets in the office can boost a customer’s view of the business. Most customers have a positive response when they are offered a chance to interact with an employee’s pet, and it can help them to relax and enjoy their visit to the business. Having pets in the office also tends to soften the company’s image and makes a business seem more progressive and forward thinking.

4. Pets Attract Workers

Employee turnover is costly, and companies are always looking for perks and benefits that will draw loyal employees. A pet-friendly policy will keep workers happy and encouraging new hires to stay loyal.

Implementing a pet policy will not always be a walk in the park. Not all workers are pet lovers, pet-friendly policies just aren’t suitable for certain businesses.

If bringing your pet to work is something that interests you and you believe your workplace would benefit from allowing pets and is a suitable environment, work with your leadership team to start implementing a pet policy and what it would take to make your workplace pet friendly.

By: Monica Bock, ZimmVet Daycare Staff

Proper Play in Puppies

Puppies, like children, love to play.  However, without the use for apposable appendages, they tend to use their mouths.  This is a natural occurrence in dog language and plays an important role in their development.

Just because your puppy “bites” does not mean that they are showing aggressive behaviors or will become aggressive in the future.  It is their way of playing, communicating, teething, or experiencing stress.  Because our language is vastly different from that of our furry friends, we need to curve this behavior towards humans.  To have a well-rounded and a behaviorally healthy pet, it is important as pet parents to teach our puppies to play well with not just other animals, but people as well.

Don’ts of Play

Don’t Leave Children with a Puppy Unattended

Small children do not know any better, and so it not wise to leave a small child and your puppy unsupervised.  A child will not be able to pick up on a dog’s stress warnings, which can lead to the child getting hurt.  A small child may even pull or fall on the puppy, which in turn can cause them to act out against the child when they normally may not.  It is important to remember that even the friendliest puppy can bite if provoked.  Play it safe and keep watch, showing the puppy and child to properly interact with each other.

Don’t allow Play with Your Hands

When playing with a puppy, it is almost a natural instinct to play with your hands; however, this can be potentially hazardous later in life and should be avoided to ensure the puppy knows your hands are not toys.

Don’t Play with Objects you do not wish the Puppy to Chew on Later

Do you have an old sock or shoe you no longer want?  It may seem fun to give it to your pup as a toy, but keep in mind that this tells your dog that any shoe and sock is okay to play with in the future.

By: Monica Bock, ZimmVet Daycare Staff

We love our pets and always want them to be safe.  One of our common worries when owning a pet is how temperature affects them and at what point it’s too hot for our pets. Keep reading if you want to know the signs of heat stress, dangerous temperatures and how to keep your pet safe in this hot summer weather! 

An overly hot or warm climate can cause serious medical implications in our furry friends and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Heat exhaustion in dogs can lead to problems such as heat stroke and cardiac arrest. Dogs regulate heat differently than humans. While we sweat to regulate our temperature, a dog has very few sweat glands located in their paw pads.  These sweat glands do little to help regulate the dog’s body temperature. Most often you may see your pup panting away when it’s hot out because this is how they cool themselves down.  However, sometimes this is not enough to cool them down to a “safe” temperature. A safe internal temperature for our furry friends shouldn’t overgo a temp of 102 degrees Fahrenheit and if it exceeds this, can become potentially dangerous for them.

How can you tell if it’s too hot, however, without taking your pet’s temperature constantly?

This is simple! There are a couple signs you can keep an eye on when enjoying the summer weather with your pet.

Things to look for:

• Excessive panting
• Lack of responsiveness
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Collapsing
• Convulsion/ seizure
• Gum and tongue discoloration-May turn red or purple

By Dr. Abby Soderberg, DVM – ZimmVet-763-856-4848

Whether you are driving to grandma’s cabin in Wisconsin or flying to your cousin’s condo in New York, planning ahead for pet travel is crucial for everyone’s comfort during the busy holiday season.

FLYING

• Your pet has two options for airline travel: cabin or cargo.  Most airlines require pets weighing 15 pounds or less to fly in the cabin with their owners.
• Check with your airline about the required carrier size and dimensions.
• Confirm with the airline the day before travel that your pet is coming with you.
• Airline regulations regarding Emotional Support Animals are changing rapidly, due to the number of incidents from false ESAs.  Check with your specific airline for their ESA requirements.
• When flying, a USDA health certificate is usually required.  Check with the airline as to how many days before travel the certificate must be issued.

CAR

• Many hotels accept pets. However, most have a limited number of dog-friendly rooms, so make reservations ahead of time.   
• Most federal and state rest areas have designated-doggy restroom areas. Cat boxes can be placed in a carrier with a cat. Do not forget to bring plastic bags for used litter.
• Pets need to be restrained while traveling for the safety of the pet and owner. It is best for pets to travel in a plastic sided carrier that has good ventilation and allows pets to sit, stand, and lie down.

Dog Bite Prevention – Adapted from AVMA Dog Bite Prevention

Dog bites pose a serious health risk to our communities and society. More than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the United States, including more than 800,000 who receive medical attention for their injuries. More than half of those bitten are children. 

Dogs bite for a variety of reasons, but most commonly as a reaction to something. If the dog finds itself in a stressful situation, it may bite to defend itself or its territory. Dogs can bite because they are scared or have been startled. They can bite because they feel threatened. They can bite to protect something that is valuable to them, like their puppies, their food or a toy.

Dogs might bite because they aren’t feeling well. They could be sick or sore due to injury or illness and might want to be left alone. Dogs also might nip and bite during play. Even though nipping during play might be fun for the dog, it can be dangerous for people. It’s a good idea to avoid wrestling or playing tug-of-war with your dog. These types of activities can make your dog overly excited, which may lead to a nip or a bite.

Warm Weather Toxins – Adapted from “Summer Pet Toxins” from pet poison helpline\

As summer approaches, and you are outside more with your furry companions, there are a variety of toxic products your pets can come into contact with.  Outside pets should be confined to a safe location and all containers should be tightly closed and locked away in the garage or basement. As with all poisonings, early recognition and decontamination are key to a successful outcome. Here is some basic information for you to know about when dealing with these warm weather toxin exposures.

SLUG & SNAIL BAIT

Slug and snail baits are available in a variety of forms (pellets, granular, powder, and liquid). The active ingredient is typically metaldehyde, which is toxic to all species (particularly dogs). Within 1 to 2 hours of ingestion, clinical signs of salivation, restlessness, vomiting, and incoordination are seen, which then progress to tremors, seizures, and secondary severe hyperthermia. Generally, the prognosis is favorable if treatment is quickly and aggressively implemented.

Blue-Green Algae – Adapted from Wisconsin Bureau of Environmental & Occupational Health

Cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, naturally grows in bodies of water around Minnesota and around the world.  50% of states report a harmful algae bloom every year in freshwater.  It thrives on warm, sunny weather and usually form during the summer in Minnesota (May–September).  This bacteria is so important because it can be deadly. 

WHAT DOES BLUE-GREEN ALGAE LOOK LIKE?

Blue-green algae blooms are often smelly, look like spilled paint or pea soup, and can change the color of the water to green, blue, turquoise, purple, tan, or white. Some blooms form a layer of scum or mats on the surface of the water. While some blooms can stay in the same location for a long time, others can quickly come and go with changing currents and wind patterns. 

By: Lena Hansen, ZimmVet Daycare Assistant Manager

Here at ZimmVet’s Dog Daycare and Pet Hotel, we know just how important enrichment is for the dogs that stay with us.  It’s one thing for the dogs to be able to interact with other canines, but it is essential for them to receive mental enrichment as well so that their confidence and social skills can build.

Different enrichment activities can be beneficial in multiple ways.  Do you ever walk into a different room and then come back to discover that your pooch ripped apart the garbage can?  Although this type of behavior might have different causes, one of the possible reasons why your dog is could simply just be bored. Mental and physical stimulation through enrichment can help promote a well-behaved, happy dog.

Some of the enrichment activities that we offer during play at ZimmVet are ball pits, pools, bubbles, puzzle toys, basic obedience practice, and obstacle courses.  These activities help stimulate the mind, build confidence, and promote problem-solving.  But these don’t have to only be done at a doggy daycare.  Try incorporating some of these enrichment activities at home.  Puppies especially thrive when able to participate in different engaging activities because it not only helps them get used to new objects, sights, and smells, but helps their brain grow too. Contact ZimmVet to discuss enrichment activities available during daycare and how they would benefit your dog 763-846-4848.

By Kaytie Wildman ZimmVet Veterinary Assistant   

So you’ve decided to adopt a giant breed puppy!  Here are some tips on bringing your puppy home and giving them the basic care.  Initially before deciding on adopting a giant breed puppy, self education is essential to starting them off on the right paw.

Health is one of the most important aspects for giant breeds. With giant breeds, come giant responsibilities. That includes researching and seeking out a veterinarian that is knowledgeable in giant breeds and that can help guide you and your new pup to a healthy life. Staying up to date on a flea and tick preventative, heartworm prevention, and age appropriate vaccines are some of the many important things you will discuss with your veterinarian.

Feeding your new puppy may seem daunting, but with research and following the advice from your veterinarian, you can start them on the right food and feel at ease that Fido will receive all the nutrition he needs. For puppies under the age of 6 months, it is recommended that their feedings be divided into 3 meals throughout the day; morning, midday, and evening. Free feeding is not recommended; over eating can result in rapid growth, stress on joints and bones, overweight, skeletal malformation, and other health issues. The type of food is just as important as how frequent they are fed. Not all puppy foods are created equal. Dogs that will be over 50 pounds as their adult weight should be fed a large breed puppy food until at least 12 months of age. Keep human food and treats to under10% of their total diet to help prevent unbalancing of the food. Monitoring weight, measuring out food, and keeping track of how much they consume is important. If your puppy is eager and inhales their food, look into getting a slow-feeder bowl. It is recommended that giant breeds have an hour of rest one hour before and after every feeding. Talk to your veterinarian about a surgery called gastropexy. This is usually done around 1.5 years of age and prevents twisting of the stomach.