Winter can be an enjoyable time for our pets, especially our dogs! However, just as in people, the cold can impact our pets in negative ways if we aren’t careful!

So what precautions can you take?

Cats in Winter

Let’s start with our cats! First of all, it is recommended to try to keep your cats indoors during the winter months. In some situations, this isn’t always possible! So, if your cat does go outside, make sure they have access to a warm, dry shelter. On that note, several cats have been known to hide in cars- whether it’s on a tire, under the hood, or elsewhere- try to remember to check your vehicle before driving if you have outdoor cats in your area!

The Importance of Hydration

While it is important to keep your pets hydrated during the hot months of summer, hydration during the winter is important as well! To put it simply, good hydration leads to good circulation, which in turn leads to more efficient temperature regulation. Blood is able to reach paws more efficiently, which means warmer paws!

Many animals enjoy eating snow, which can help hydration, however it is important that your pet have access to fresh, clean water at all times. If your pet does enjoy eating snow, use caution and make sure they aren’t getting into salty, or otherwise “dirty” snow.

Dogs in Winter

Many dogs LOVE the snow. Breeds such as huskies, malamutes, and several others can happily sit in the snow all day long, they were made for the snow, and tend to thrive in it! On the other paw, several breeds don’t do well in the cold. Even if they do enjoy the snow and cold, many short-haired breeds may need some assistance staying warm, such as a coat or sweater. Some dogs even tend to have more sensitive paws, and may benefit from dog booties.
Just as in people, it’s important to use caution to avoid hypothermia, frostbite, and other cold-induced conditions.

Winter Walks

When walking your dog, do the best you can to avoid salty areas. Most salt and ice melt is not only dangerous if ingested, but can hurt the paws as well. There is pet friendly ice melt available at many pet stores and supermarkets. While using caution with salty areas is necessary, it is just as important to use caution and be aware of icy areas.
Try to check your dogs’ paws regularly, especially after winter walks, for cuts, scrapes, and other injuries. And don’t forget to look between the toes! Big dogs, especially giant breeds such as Great Danes and Mastiffs, tend to have “snow smuggling paws,” meaning that snow gets stuck between the toes and paw pads, packs together into small snowballs, and of course, end up being smuggled into the house- which is not ideal!

If you regularly walk or hike with your dog at night or during hunting seasons, it’s always a good idea to dress your dog in bright colors, reflective material, or both! This way they will be highly visible, and will be spotted easier. This is especially important if your dog goes off-leash!

Colder months and snowy weather does not have to mean staying cooped up inside. As long as proper precautions are taken, and everybody is staying safe – enjoying the snowy days can be a great way to bond with your dog.

Although, taking the time for cozy winter cuddles with your pet inside is just as important, and most cats prefer it that way!

Veterinary Medicine is currently in crisis. We do not say this to garner sympathy or pity, but simply to make you aware of the current state of this industry. The crisis stems from 2 major sources; one, it is understaffed, and two, it is overwhelmed and overbooked. These problems do not seem to be specific to our industry but are debilitating and demoralizing all the same.

Over the course of the last 18 months, pet ownership in the United States (and likely the world) has skyrocketed as people have been spending more time at home and are looking for companionship and oftentimes a distraction from the state of the world. At times, many animal shelters have been empty as all pets have been adopted to new homes. This is fantastic for all these wonderful animals that now have loving families and for all the people that have come to experience the joys of owning a pet. But the downside is there are simply too many pets for veterinarians to see in a day. This problem is compounded by the shortage of veterinarians and veterinary support staff.

This area in particular has always been short veterinarians. It can take years to find a new veterinarian to add to your staff. Recently, the problem of finding new veterinarians has become even more critical as many currently practicing veterinarians are leaving the industry due to the stress, emotional toll, and financial toll this job can have on you. We have been lucky to not only have a wonderful team of veterinarians, we have also hired 2 new veterinarians since January. But this does not mean that the shortage of veterinarians and veterinary support staff has not affected us deeply. Despite multiple rounds of interviews, hiring, and training, we have struggled to have a full schedule of support staff for over a year. This has put extra stress on the staff that we do have as they have had to work overtime, do the job of multiple people, and generally shoulder a much heavier burden than they should have to. The veterinarian shortage means that other clinics in the area are unable to see as many patients. The local emergency clinics are struggling so much to find staff that many of them have had 6-8 hour wait times, are unable to stay open 24 hours, and are turning people away because they are unable to see them. So, if we are unable to see a patient, in many cases there is nowhere else for them to seek care.

This job is difficult. We know it’s difficult and we can handle difficult, but lately, it has been getting so much more difficult. And the single most difficult part of this job is the abuse that we receive on a daily basis. We are regularly yelled at, cussed at, threatened, insulted, and disrespected by clients that are unhappy with our wait times, our COVID policies, our costs, their pet’s illness, and anything else you can imagine – we’ve heard it all. This abuse is the main reason that veterinarians and support staff are leaving the industry in droves. And it has to stop. So, what can you do to help?

First, BE PATIENT! If your pet does not have a life-threatening emergency and will not be suffering if it waits until our next available appointment, we are booking out about 5-6 weeks. Please plan accordingly if you need vaccines for boarding or travel. Once you have actually arrived for your appointment, you may be waiting 45 minutes to an hour plus to be seen. We are inundated all day with calls for animals that cannot wait 5-6 weeks and we have to squeeze them into our already busy schedule since like previously mentioned, if we don’t see them, there is no one else that can. This means we are struggling to stay on top of our schedule and can easily get behind. If you have any significant time constraints, please schedule your appointment on a different day or time when you will be more available. We cannot make any guarantees about how long your wait will be and we cannot start letting people jump the line because they need to be somewhere.

Secondly, be upfront about financial constraints. Everything that we recommend, we recommend for a reason. But that does not mean that every diagnostic procedure and treatment protocol is absolutely necessary. We can tailor our plan to your personal preferences and requirements. If you are not upfront about financial concerns, we cannot make these adjustments.

Lastly, BE KIND. We understand that you may be stressed or upset that your beloved pet is not feeling well, and our first priority is to help them. But there is absolutely no reason to yell, swear, threaten, or insult any of our staff members. Doing so will result in your termination as a client at this practice. If you are unhappy with any of our services, please remain calm while expressing your unhappiness and we will do our best to resolve the issue.

We appreciate your kindness and understanding during this difficult time, and we look forward to many more years serving you and your pets.

Did you know that roughly 1 in 3 household pets will be lost at some point in their lifetime? Maybe it’s happened with one of your four-legged family members – your cat slips out while you’re bringing in groceries, or your dog digs under the fence. All of a sudden they’re nowhere to be found and you don’t know what to do. It is a scary scenario for both human and pet. Let’s talk a little bit about how to prevent a missing pet, and what to do if your pet is lost.

Prevention

• Training can significantly reduce the risk of a missing pet. Not only do most training programs work on recall commands, but training leads to a better overall relationship between you and your pet. If you are working on training at home. Practice the sit, stay, and come commands. You can read more about working on those commands at home HERE.
• Secure your home and yard. If you have a fenced yard for your dog to romp in, regularly check the fence line for weakness. This could be where rain has washed out the ground, or a fence post has come loose. Check to be sure all gate latches are in good working order.  Inside the house be sure that all exterior doors latch, and make sure your family knows the importance of keeping them closed tightly. If you have open windows, make sure that the screens are not ripped or loose.
• Monitor your pet when they are outside.  Be sure to keep an eye on your pet and bring them inside whenever you are not home.
• Spaying or neutering your pet has many health benefits and can prevent them from wandering off. A spayed or neutered bet is less likely to go looking for a mate.
• While getting your pet microchipped or getting them a collar with tags won’t prevent them from roaming, it is something you should do as soon as you bring your pet home. Microchipping is a simple procedure that can be done at the veterinary office. Just be sure to keep the information with the company up-to-date. If you are getting your pet a collar and tag be sure to check the tags regularly for wear and make sure the collar is secure. Both a good tag and microchip can significantly increase the likelihood of recovering a missing pet.
• Bonus: Take lots of photos of your pet! Again, this won’t help prevent a lost pet, but it will help with getting them home. If you are in the unfortunate situation of not knowing where your pet is, having a recent photo will help get the word out. Which brings us to…

Recovery

• If your pet has gone missing, the first thing you should do is put out food, water, and a comfort item. This can be a dog bed, a toy, or a blanket. There is a chance your pet will return on its own.
• Call your local veterinary clinics, animal shelters, and police departments to report your pet as missing. It may be a good idea to curate a list of these phone numbers in advance of a missing pet so that you do not waste precious time looking them up. Many places will ask you to send in a recent photo of your pet.
• Create lost pet posters to hand out and hang up in the area where your pet was last seen. Be sure to include a good photo of your pet and your contact information. You can also share the flyer as an image on social media. Ask friends and family in the area to share the photo. You may be able to find local Facebook pages or websites for lost pets that will spread the word in your area as well. Once you have posted your flyer online, check back often.

Losing a pet can be a distressing and heartbreaking experience. It is our sincere hope that all of our clients and patients never experience it. Hopefully, these tips help to keep your pet at home, with you, where they belong.

Training Tips

1. Use small treats during training sessions. Small treats can be eaten faster, which means more training in a shorter time. Small treats are also healthier for your pet. During training your dog will eat a lot of treats, smaller treats keep the calorie count down. Cheerios make great training treats. You can also find small training treats at the pet store.
2. Keep your training sessions short and sweet, especially with young dogs. It is easy for puppies to lose focus. If you notice your dog losing interest, stop and do something else, you can come back to it later!
3. Try to end your training sessions on a positive note. This helps your dog be ready the next time you train.

Basic Obedience Tricks

1. Sit – Teaching a dog to sit is the first basic obedience skill. Many other skills, like “stay”, are built on learning “sit”. Sitting can be your dog’s way of saying “please” for a treat, or a toy. It can also curb hyper out of control behavior. To teach your dog to sit start facing your dog and holding a treat over their nose. Once they are watching the treat, move it up slightly then push it toward them. Their head will move up and back to follow the treat, and their bottom will move down. As soon as their bottom hits the ground say sit and give the treat and affection. Practice, Practice, Practice! After a while, your pet may be able to complete the skill with just the hand motion or just the command.
2. Come – Come is an important skill for your pet’s safety. If the leash slips from your hand during a walk, or your dog slips out the front door while it’s open, being able to say “come” and have your dog listen immediately. To teach your dog to come, start with your pet on a leash. Holding the leash, take a step away from your pet. Get down at your dog’s level and say “come”, while pulling gently on the leash. Once your pet gets to you give them the treat and affection. Repeat this practice increasing the space between you, and eventually do it without the leash. Once your pet has mastered the skill during training sessions, test it out when they are distracted doing other things. Be sure to have a treat ready when they respond!
3. Stay – Before starting with “stay”, be sure your dog has mastered the “sit” command. “Stay” can be a very difficult skill for dogs to learn, especially high energy dogs. However, it can be very useful when you need to answer the ringing doorbell or you need your dog to be still for putting on a leash. To teach your dog to stay, start in an environment free of distractions. Get your dog’s attention and ask them to sit. Once they are sitting put your arm up, palm out toward your dog and say “stay”. Then take one or two steps back. Reward your dog with the treat and affection. Repeat this practice regularly, increasing the number of steps once they are ready. 

Looking for more training for your pet? Or do you have a dog with some behavior concerns? The doctors and staff at the Boght and Oakwood Veterinary Clinics recommend Tom Davis and the training staff at Upstate Canine Academy in Clifton Park. Dr. Brandilyn Wagoner brought her dog, ‘Bentley’, to them for behavior training. Over the course of their training sessions, ‘Bentley’ worked on obedience and curbing his aggression. ‘Bentley’ enjoys his training sessions and is a much happier dog who loves wearing his jammies!

Gift Ideas for Cozy Animal Lovers

Do you have a friend or family member who would prefer to spend the day snuggled on the couch with their furry companion?  Well then maybe they’d like a pair of socks with cute dogs or cats. You can even get them personalized with their pet’s face! If they’re feet are really cold you may be able to find some slippers with an animal theme like these silly dog slippers or subtle cat slippers. You could also warm up their upper halves with a fun sweatshirt with a cute saying. How many of your friends would rather stay home with their dogs like this sweatshirt says? And if your cat sweatshirt has cat ears – even better! You can also help them get comfy on the couch with a warm throw. A fleece puppy blanket will be great for them to share, and a blanket with cat breeds will be educational and cozy.  There are also companies that will personalize blankets for you. Add in a fun pet themed pillow, with a fun saying or in a cat shape, and they’ll never want to leave the house!

Gift Ideas for Crafty Animal Lovers

Do you know someone who will spend hours hand-crafting the perfect gift with their faithful pet curled up nearby? You might want to look for a gift that will appeal to their creative side.  For example a paint-by-number kit for cats or a color-by-number of dogs. A cute cross-stitch project might be the perfect gift. If your friend has a sense of humor, look for one with a giggle-inducing pun. Have you noticed your friend constantly posting photos of their furry friend online? They may like a scrapbooking kit and a gift certificate for printing photos. A really dedicated crafter may enjoy a quilting kit. There are patterns ranging from simple straight-line patterns and more complex multi-block patterns.

Gift Ideas for Crafty Animal Lovers

Is there an animal lover in your life who is never far away from their favorite beverage?  Here are some gift ideas for them. If coffee is their beverage of choice then a mug may be a great gift.  A mug with a fun saying or in a cute shape could be just the right gift. Mugs can also be personalized with a photo of their pet. If they already have an overflowing mug cupboard you may want to hunt up a set of coasters. From the ridiculous to the sleek, you are sure to be able to find just the right coaster. If you know an animal lover who also loves wine you can find pet themed wine glass charms, wine bottle holders, and wine bottle stoppers. Water bottles are always an appreciated gift.  You can find straw tumblers or stainless steel bottles for keeping water cold.

Gift Ideas for Hungry Animal Lovers

Do you know an animal lover who spends lots of time cooking in the kitchen with their furry friend waiting for scraps to fall? Maybe they’d appreciate an apron.  You can find one with a favorite breed prominent or a cute pattern. If an apron isn’t the right thing you could find some oven mitts.  Traditional cotton oven mitts can have quotes or patterns or even realistic pictures. There are also silicone oven mitts shaped like dogs and cats. If they have a sweet tooth you may want to find them some dog or cat shaped cookie cutters. There are always the traditional outline cookie cutters.  Or you can get fancy cookie cutters that not only cut out fun shapes, but also stamp inner designs. For serious chefs you can find dog and cat themed measuring spoons and cups. For the animal lover who enjoys serving hot meals to guests you can gift a cat or dog trivet.

Gift Ideas for Productive Animal Lovers

Have you ever met an animal lover who is admirably productive?  They never miss a deadline, or forget a to-do. Then, maybe they’d like a calendar.  You can find so many different calendars in both monthly and page-a-day options. You may also want to consider a set of animal themed pens with a cute notebook. Everyone loves a fun pen! If you are looking for a small stocking stuffer for a productive friend you can find some very cute shaped paper clips.  If those wouldn’t be just right, they might like a magnetic paperclip holder shaped like their favorite animal. Sticky notes come in all different shapes and sizes. You can find sticky note holders in fun animal shapes too! For the productive animal lover always at work you can get cute desk accessories to remind them of their furry friends.  Staplers and tape dispensers come in all sorts of shapes and sizes

Gift Ideas for Young Animal Lovers

Are you scratching your head over what to get your favorite young animal lover? Pillow Pets are a traditional favorite. Pillow pets come in all different shapes and sizes and some even light up to help young kiddos get to sleep. For their waking hours a chair shaped like their favorite animal would be a great place to sit and read or play games. You can find more structured animal chairs with a back and arms, or bean bag chairs with animal faces. If your animal lover is an aspiring veterinarian you can find veterinarian pretend play sets.  If your young friend loves to get mail and learn new things about their favorite animals a magazine subscription might be just the right thing. Nat Geo Kids is a great magazine, and they also have books about many different animals.

We recently asked our staff why they were thankful for their pets.  The reasons range from the silly, to the practical, to the sentimental.  However, there is no doubt that our pets bring endless joy to our lives.  Take a look at our fur-family and why we are so glad they’re ours.

I am thankful for my animals because they snuggle with me on the couch. -Casey

I’m thankful for Steven for never getting mad at me when I make him wear things like trench coats and parading him around. -Shawna

Payton and Ginger warm my heart. Also thankful for the daughters who brought them to me! -Sarah

I’m thankful for my dogs keeping the couch warm for me. – Dr. Brandilyn Wagoner

I’m thankful for Storm. My first pet I got when I moved back home and has given unlimited snuggles for the past 8 years. -Cassie

I am thankful for my pets and they all truly enrich my life. This is a picture of Sage. She is always a ray of sunshine  and waves hello at me every time I come home. -Dr. Ellis

I’m thankful for Emma and how hard she works to be a rockstar in the competition ring. -Jess D

I’m thankful for my pups Diesel and Princess for always making me smile! Everyday I come home to happy dogs, greeting me at the door with excitement and wagging tails. -Danielle

I’m thankful for Fergus, for being my right hand man day in and day out. -Jess D

I’m thankful for my cat Selia because she is a good snuggler and she’s always there for me when I’m down. -Kayla