Parents want their kids to be healthy and protected from illness—and pet parents no exception. Vaccinations are important for protecting your loved ones from health threats, but understanding what’s involved (and required) can be challenging.

Regulations regarding pet vaccinations vary by municipality (see Nassau County’s requirements), but you can generally assume that a rabies vaccine will be required for dogs, cats, and some other pets (like ferrets). A license may also be required, and you should provide documentation of both to your groomer/boarder to ensure that all pets are protected, and no one’s pet will be exposed to another animal that may have been exposed.

But rabies is not the only ailment pets can be vaccinated against, nor is it the only one recommended by professionals.

Dog Vaccinations

Essential vaccines

• Distemper
• Hepatitis
• Parvovirus
• Rabies

Recommended (depending on dog’s exposure)

• Leptospirosis
• Bordetella (often called “kennel cough”)
• Lyme Disease
• Canine Influenza
• Corona Virus

Many of these are particularly important if your dog spends time at dog parks, in the woods, and/or at a kennel.

Cat Vaccinations

Essential vaccines

• Panleukopenia (feline distemper)
• Calicivirus
• Herpes type I (rhinotracheitis)
• Rabies

Recommended (depending on cat’s exposure)

• Chlamydia
• Feline Leukemia (Felv)
• Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
• Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)
• Bordetella

Many of the recommended vaccines are particularly important if your cat spends any time outdoors.

Other Pets

Inquire with your vet regarding vaccinating other pets, including exotics like ferrets, rabbits, small mammals, and even livestock. Also check with your municipality regarding what is required by law.

How Often Should I Vaccinate?

Many vaccines are administered annually or every three years. For multiyear vaccines, your vet may recommend a schedule where your pet receives a booster annually, but not all medications at once, to reduce reactions or side-effects. Consult your trusted vet for the right plan for your dog, cat, or other pet.

Are vaccines safe?

The risk associated with vaccinations has been widely discussed both in humans and in pets. Veterinary professionals widely support pet vaccinations for the safety of the pet population and (in cases where disease can cross the species barrier) their guardians. To prevent problems, vaccinating early and then less often with age is recommended. And pet parents can look for these signs of a reaction and alert your vet:

• Fever
• Crankiness, expressed as biting or growling
• Loss of appetite
• Sluggishness
• Redness or swelling around the injection site
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Vaccinations help reduce both the risk of disease for your pet, but also the spread of these diseases throughout pet populations. With a safe administration plan from your trusted vet, you can keep your beloved dog or cat healthy and thriving, and reduce worry of socializing your pet with others.

If you’re an avid exerciser, or even just getting started, you know that working out with a friend is a great motivator. Friends help keep you accountable, challenge you to give your best effort, and make the activity more enjoyable. If you’re also a pet parent, your dog can fill that role perfectly, and be an ideal fitness buddy.

Keeping You Accountable

Some days it can be hard to motivate yourself to hit the gym. But when your tail-wagging pooch is doing the potty dance by the door, you have to oblige. Even if you have an enclosed yard where you can safely let your dog out to run, why not make the most of your pet’s natural needs and make a daily walking appointment?

Challenging You

Medium-sized and larger breeds can match your energy and even push you to the next level. Your Golden Retriever can be not only a great walking buddy, but even a running partner. And that retired Greyhound? Well, what better way to improve your form than to learn from a pro!

Making It Fun

Many avid exercisers claim that the best part of a workout is when it’s over. But the workouts that keep you coming back are the ones that are fun when you’re doing them. So playing with your dog and sharing aerobic activity can be a workout date that you’ll look forward to again and again!

Considerations

Size

All dogs need appropriate exercise, but don’t plan a 5-mile run with a tiny Yorkshire Terrier. Also, don’t expect all your Great Dane’s energy to be expended on a stroll around the block. Smaller dogs can motivate your workout but may need shorter excursions or to be excused after a lap or two. And larger dogs may need more run time than what you can join them in. If you’re planning to adopt a pet, consider a breed that will match your activity level. But if you are already a pet parent, be mindful of your dog’s size and what activity level is appropriate for them.

Age

Activity levels should match the age of your pet. Puppies need lots of rest but also have lots of energy to expend. As they grow and become adolescents (around a year), they have a ton more energy to burn and need increased activity. Senior dogs still need activity to stay limber and fit, but may need less impact and shorter distances.

Health

Beyond age considerations, the health of your pet is a critical consideration in the energy you can expect (and demand). Are there joint issues? A heart condition? Diabetes? All of these diagnoses could both be improved or worsened by activity, so consult your vet for recommendations that make activity great for both you and your dog.

Logging the Miles

So get ready to pound the pavement with your new favorite fitness buddy! Your dog, and your waistline, will benefit—and what’s better than sharing your fitness activities with your furry friend?

The Importance of Grooming Your Dog

I can’t do a thing with my hair—playing outside, being in the house, I’m itchy and it’s hot and ocean was fun-but… I need to get to the salon and get there fast… Where is the number for Hot Paws… here it is 904-277-3075.

Regular grooming is so very important for your best buddy-be they a small and fluffy dog or a strong and large dog… all dogs need to be groomed and taken care of in this area of caring and loving.

Brushing promotes good hair condition and growth as well as getting the blood circulating. Indoor dog’s fur can become matted and form into wads of knotted hair which are annoying and can be itchy. Notice when your dog seems to be biting or scratching the same area over and over-could be a wad there. Spending some quality time brushing your dog allows you to do a quick assessment of skin and fur and don’t forget his/her paws-can become uncomfortable with built up dirt and grease. This can be an awkward task for you and your pet and this points you into the direction of a professional groomer.

There are many benefits to visiting a good groomer at Hot Paws. Experience, high level tools and equipment, the best dog shampoos and the eye to see something that mom or dad did not see or even realize this could be important. Going out to a professional groomer also provides an opportunity for socialization with other dogs and people. Grooming requires time, effort, knowledge and the best setting and supplies available. You can find all of this and more-love and affection-at Hot Paws!

Today, January 15, 2015 Hot Paws unites with Boogies’ family in Mourning his passing from this side of the rainbow to the other side. Let us all take solace in realizing Boogie will be restored to health and happiness. He will be content, playful, making new friends, but, they all have something in common:.. each one misses the special humans who had to be left behind….this is temporary and one day you will be together again and most importantly-never to be parted again.

A noun-euthanasia-easy to say and easy to read the definition:  It is to humanely end a life filled with suffering and pain. Hot Paws and the staff  know the definition all too well and know the  ramifications of making the humane choice to  put the pet to sleep.

Yes, the black and white scenario is clear and obvious: your vet works with you, explains the procedure to you and assures you it is painless…this writer can assure you it was a serene procedure for the pets. It is then the ‘gray’ area that takes over with its profound sadness, it’s questioning of the choice made and the pain in your heart.

Hot Paws wants you to realize they are there for you and understand the stages of grief that must now be experienced…The anger-why Boogie-he was wonderful, I can’t believe he’s gone—he’ll be there when I get home and it’s all a bad dream. I’m numb- I cannot deal with this.. I don’t understand why this happened-I would have given up anything to have Boogie here and I tried to bargain that every night on my knees. We are all sad– Boogie’s family and Hot Paws and we are all depressed with the loss. Don’t and can’t talk about it now-going home… hate it and it hurts to not have Boogie there. We will always have this hole in our hearts for Boogie and his specialness-it will be accepted when we think about the illness and the  what a good parent we really were to end the pain and send him to a happy place- sent him to angel school for furry friends!

Hot Paws will also feel the loss on the days when Boogie came to play and for a while-keep looking out into the play yard and then the acceptance will come. It was the best thing to do and the pain is gone and we will always have a special memory of Boogie and his family.

Hot Paws recommends doing something special to preserve the memory of Boogie—a collage, a poem written from your heart, save a special toy, if choosing to cremate-a place of honor for the receptacle, talking about the fun days and knowing the door is always open for you at Hot Paws to be nourished with love and respect: most importantly-providing a place to talk, cry and to heal.

Love is in the air and chocolate is everywhere!

It’s out there–from your local pharmacy to department stores, at the grocery store and at the convenience store and one package is dressed prettier than the next for this day of love-called Valentine’s Day. Sweets for my sweetheart from Victorian Days to the present. Sweets for myself and those I love!!! It’s almost a legal chocolate holiday.

However-for the one we may love the very most, the one with four legs and a tail that has been with us thru thick and thin…..Danger is dressed in pink and red and looking so yummy and calming and mouth-watering and isn’t it said that some chocolate is good for you????

NOT for your dog and remember that dogs have incredible sniffing skills to find the chocolate hiding spot!

Chocolate is derived from roasted seeds of-Theobroma Cacao which contains certain properties that can be toxic to animals. If ingested can lead to severe medical complications.

Symptoms range from vomiting, diarrhea, elevated temp., increased reflexes with muscle rigidity, rapid breathing with increased heart rate, low blood pressure, seizures and cardiac failure. This is a range of the symptoms from a one to a ten pending the size of the dog and the amount eaten. Milk chocolate-mild toxicity when 0.7 ounces per pound of body weight is ingested. Dark and Semi-sweet-mild signs of toxicity when 0.3 ounces per pound of body weight is eaten. Baking Chocolate-this type of chocolate has the highest concentration of being potentially toxic …..As little as two ounces of chocolate or 0.1 ounce per 20 lb dog. You may see animal treats out there made with carob-a chocolate like substance and edible for dogs.

So, fellow pet lovers, enjoy your chocolate during this chocolate season… but remember, NO CHOCOLATE FOR DOGS! Think milk bones and other safe dog treats for your ‘best’ furry friend and happily sing: I love you-you love me-we are a happy family, especially at Hot Paws Pet Resort!