Could Your Pooch Have Food Allergies? Here's Some Helpful Information!

Noticed any changes in your dog lately? More scratching, perhaps, or maybe a persistent ear infection?

These and other symptoms could be signs of a food allergy. With all the different brands and ingredients on the market, it pays to understand how those products could be affecting your four-legged pal.

Well, the folks at moderndogmagazine.com have published a great article that explains in detail how food allergies in dogs can have an adverse affect on them...and on you. Click here to read the article. It's a little technical in parts, but if you've been concerned and your dog's symptoms have been ongoing, it's worth a read. And, as the article points out, it may be worth a visit to your veterinarian, too.

We're continuing to make improvements at Hubbard Pet Resort & Spa with your pet in mind. With the end of school and vacation season in full swing, please give us a call at 330-534-1200 and let us know how we can help care for your pet while you're away.

For more details on our facility, services and prices, visit our website at www.hubbardpetresort.com.

We Help Your Pets Beat the Heat -- Here's How You Can, Too!

Imagine wearing a coat outside in the intense, hot temperatures we’ve been experiencing.

Well, your dog or cat doesn’t have to imagine it—they deal with it on a daily basis, due to the fur nature gave them. And that’s why it’s important to consider ways to keep your pets cool during the aptly named “dog days of summer.”

Here are some things to keep in mind to help your pets beat the heat:

• Make sure your pet has plenty of fresh, cool water. Change the water daily. Occasionally drop in a few ice cubes for an added touch of refreshment on particularly hot days.
• Even air conditioned homes can get muggy when the outdoor temperature soars above 90 or 100 degrees. Make sure your pet has access to the cooler parts of the home, like the basement. If you don’t have air conditioning, ceiling fans help circulate air, or you can run a floor fan with a solid base. Low speeds are fine, as long as the air is moving.
• If you have an outdoor dog, make sure they have a place to lie in the shade, and take extra precautions to make sure they have plenty of water to drink. Remember, too, that as the sun moves overhead, so does the shade—so what appears to be a cool, comfortable spot when you leave for work in the morning may be scorching hot while you’re away in the afternoon.
• If yours is an indoor dog, choose early morning or evening hours to take them for a walk, avoiding the hottest hours in the middle of the day.
• Do not leave your pet unattended in a vehicle! Temperatures in a parked vehicle can soar as high as 150 degrees or more in a matter of minutes. Leaving windows partially open is no solution; studies have shown it barely makes a difference in the inside temperature of the vehicle. If you’re traveling to a vacation destination with your pet, stay only in pet-friendly lodging. Stop at roadside parks or get your food to go while you’re on the road, and let your pet out of the vehicle when you get out. As always, provide plenty of fresh water.

These are just a few of the things you can do to keep your dog or cat cool in the summer. Since they pant to relieve heat instead of perspiring, they are more susceptible to heat stroke—which can occur in as little as 15 minutes. Watch for things like excessive panting, disorientation, breathing difficulties, or thick saliva. Don’t be afraid to give your pet a gentle, cooling bath if they’ve been exposed to heat too long. It can help lower their temperature and speed their recovery.

At Hubbard Pet Resort & Spa, we keep our guests in comfortable, climate controlled suites, and care for them during play time and potty trips. We also make sure they have plenty of fresh water so they remain hydrated and happy throughout their stay.

Take Care of Your Furry Friends in Winter

Those of us in the colder climates may enjoy the change of seasons, but there’s nothing enjoyable for animals when they’re left out in the cold too long.
If you’re like most people and have a dog or cat that lives indoor with you, it’s important to limit their outdoor time in extremely cold conditions.

If you own a cat that you occasionally allow to go outside, it’s not advisable to do so in freezing temperatures. Their natural tendency to explore, even if they customarily stay close to home, may be overcome by their need to seek warmth. This can lead them to dryer vents on homes, or worse, to climb into a nearby vehicle’s engine compartment—and such locations can lead to tragedy. Keep your cat indoors until the weather warms up again.

If you own an indoor dog, you’ll naturally let it go outside for potty times and some exercise. However, whether it’s on a leash or able to roam free in a fenced or invisible-fenced area, your dog can be overcome by freezing temperatures more rapidly than you may think. If their coat becomes damp from snow or ice, hypothermia can set in.

In particular, keep an eye on the pads of their feet. Snow and ice can become packed between their pads, and cause severe discomfort even after they’ve come back inside.

If you have a dog or cat that typically lives outside, or perhaps in a garage, take precautions to make them more comfortable in the winter. Make sure their houses are lined with cardboard or a piece of carpet to add extra warmth, and turn the opening away from the wind. In a garage, try to seal up any air leaks that may cause an unnecessary draft, and make sure there is something—cardboard, an old blanket, or carpet scraps—that they can snuggle up on other than the concrete floor.

Again, take precautions to keep them away from your car’s engine. Clean up any antifreeze spills, which are hazardous, and from time to time check your pet’s coat for ice-melting salt or chemicals, which they’ll try to lick from their fur.

Winter can be a wonderful and invigorating time of year, but it can be perilous, too. Take precautions to make sure you and your pet remain happy and healthy until the first signs of spring!

Exercise Is Vital -- At Home and When Boarding

Just like people, animals benefit from physical activity and stimulation. It's been said that boredom and lack of activity are major reasons that dogs develop behavior problems. Cats need playtime, too.

Walking is the favorite among dog owners, and with good reason. It's an activity that owner and pet do together, and it's good for both. Safety is a factor -- it's best to stay on sidewalks and off of streets whenever possible -- and it's good to allow dogs ample "sniffing time" to satisfy that instinct here and there along the walk.

If you have a fence, invisible fence or have otherwise trained your dog to remain within outdoor boundaries, a game of fetch with a ball, frisbee or other favorite toy results in excellent exercise for your pet. Indoor, they can chase a ball or a balled up sock. For variety, throw the toy up a staircase a few times. Dogs love the change of pace, and it can actually benefit them physically.

Cats enjoy stimulation, too. Lightweight toys that they can chase or bat with their paws can provide hours of enjoyment. Remember, too, that cats like to perch on high places, so try to provide places they can climb.

At Hubbard Pet Resort, we know how important play time is. That's why, in addition to regular potty trips throughout the day, we provide dogs with two daily play sessions. And cats get to spend time in our cat condo, built especially for them, with platforms, tunnels and other features designed to stimulate their curiosity and instinct for mischief and fun.

We say we'll love your pet like our own, and we mean it. You like to see them play, and so do we. So keep your pet active; and, when you need to be away, you can trust that we'll do the same when you trust them to our care.

Turkey on Turkey Day -- Is It OK for Your Dog?

Ah, Thanksgiving! It's the start of the holiday season and one of the most popular holidays of the year.

We love gathering with family and friends and simply reflecting on our many blessings -- including our pets! While we're enjoying our delicious meal, it can't hurt to share some of that delicious turkey with our dogs, can it?

Well, that depends. As a rule, turkey itself is not necessarily harmful. As we all know, there is turkey in many dog foods. Still, if shared, it should only be done in moderation. And, as the Fun Times Guide points out, place the meat in your dog's bowl, and make sure all bones have been removed.

And remove the skin! Both Fun Times Guide and Dog Topics address the dangers of feeding the skin (or other fatty portions) to your dog -- chief of those being pancreatitis. That's an inflammation of the pancreas that can be fatal. And rich, fatty foods can result in vomiting and diarrhea in your dog.

Remember, any major disruption in your dog's diet -- even for a holiday we humans enjoy -- can be traumatic. It's best to feed them their normal diet and keep them on their regular routine. It will make for a happier holiday, for you and your dog.