This year the Amazing Holiday that is Easter falls in March! AGA thinks your pet should have the best possible Bunny day ever! Also that old Irish Holiday of St. Patrick’s Day will soon be upon us! Why leave your pet out because he can not drink green beer? Here are American Grooming Academy’s tips and tricks to make this month even more joyous!
Easter Basket Beware!
Millions of children and adults will be preparing Easter Baskets for the one they love this March. Filled with plastic eggs, marshmallow bunnies, and that favorite snack that only comes around once a year. Most American Easter Baskets are filled with things that can be potentially dangerous or even deadly to your pet so here are some tips to convert your basket to one that is Pup friendly!
Remove the colorful grass! This can cause major obstructions to your pets bowls if ingested, so change it to a colorful fabric or towel to make sure your pet is safe.
Leave out the plastic eggs. No good can come from small plastic pieces and your pet, don’t worry he won’t mind.
Replace candy with toys and treats! No need to spend a fortune, dollar stores, and many clearance items at big box stores are targeted for pets. Also you can get a variety of pet will love. Rope toys, tennis balls, squeaky toys! They are all so much fun for your pet!
Add something you both will use! Make the Easter gift a snazzy new leash, a hiking water bottle your pet can drink from, or a doggie back pack! Remember Spring is fast approaching!
Saint Patrick’s Day fun treats!
St Patrick’s Day in the United States is fun for many ages, but our furry friends Sometimes don’t get to celebrate as they should make the St. Patrick’s Day fun for the whole family with these great st. Patrick’s Day pet treats.
St. Patty’s Day Patties Recipe
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 4 strips bacon, cut into small pieces
- 4 cups green peas, drained (about two cans)
- 2 tablespoons water
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix dry ingredients. Fry bacon and reserve drippings; cool. Put peas in blender or food processor and blend. Mix blended peas and bacon with drippings; add dry ingredients and mix well. Knead dough and pat out or roll to under 1/2 inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters to desired shape and place on lightly oiled cookie sheet. Bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes or until browned. Cool and serve.
No need to serve green beer with your pet shamrock treats, but it might be fun to partake of some yourself!
Canine Influenza
What are the facts? Canine influenza better known as the dog flu, is a sickness of the respiratory tract of your pet, and is highly contagious. Understanding the symptoms of the dog flu will help you prepare if your pet becomes infected.
Symptoms are categorized into two broad classifications – mild or severe.
Mild symptoms – these symptoms are categorized by a dry cough and nasal discharge that will last anywhere from 10 to 30 days. Most of the time the mild symptoms of the canine flu will alleviate from your pet on their own. Supportive care through cough medicines and decongestants will help your dog heal on his own.
Severe symptoms – These symptoms are categorized by heavy cough, nasal discharge, and generally high fever. Most of the time severe symptoms result in pneumonia, causing the pet to cough and expel blood. Supportive care as well as possible veterinarian hospitalization is the best choice for pets suffering from severe canine influenza. If you suspect your pet may have contracted this highly contagious disease, a trip to your veterinarian’s office is the first thing you should do. Also remember canine flu can be mild or severe depending on the bacterial infection, so any sign of the diseases should be addressed with great care! We all want our pets to be healthy and happy for the spring season!