Safe Chew Toys For Dogs

February is Pet Dental Health Month - and your friendly, neighborhood pet store knows it.  Retailers and marketers have been known to pull out all the stops promoting chew toys as an essential part of  canine home dental care. Yet some of these products can cause a dog's teeth to wear down, become abscessed, or break.

When selecting safe chew toys, a good rule of thumb is to literally use your thumb.  Press your thumbnail into the toy. If it does not leave an indentation, the toy is too hard for your pet to chew without risk of breaking or wearing down his teeth. That said, a toy needs to be hard enough to prevent small pieces from breaking loose and presenting a choking hazard. Since every pet is different in terms of both dentition and behavior, it's always a good idea to ask your veterinary team for ideas on how to best satisfy your pet's specific chewing needs.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Meet Trey, Our February Pet Of The Month!

World, meet Trey, our February Pet Of The Month!

Trey is a two-year-old Siamese cat who puts the household dachshunds in their place. When he's not melting hearts with those fabulous eyes, Trey likes to catch some rays and hang out near his scratching post. All in all, it's a sweet life for a sweet boy.

Congratulations Trey, and share with all your friends - you're our Pet Of The Month!

It's National Train Your Dog Month!

January is National Train Your Dog Month - and the beginning of a new year is a great time to address any behaviors that might be making life with your four-legged friend more challenging. Contrary to popular belief, older dogs can reasonably be expected to learn new tricks. And it's never too late to reassess any basic obedience commands that may be in need of fine tuning.

Start your assessment by asking yourself how your dog responds to basic obedience commands. Generally speaking, your dog should have good recall (meaning he will come when called, the first time he is called, even in the presence of distractions), should be able to walk politely on a loose leash, and be able to respond to verbal commands such as sit, down, stay and wait. At Casa Kupkee, Zohan is getting a refresher course on recall - because chasing squirrels is apparently

way more fun than coming when called! So get out there and train your dog! You're in good company. 

Meet Java, Our January Pet Of The Month!

World, meet Java, our January Pet of the Month!

Java is an eight-month-old cutie pie whose humble beginnings are about as humble as beginnings get - he was found in a garbage can. When his family was given the opportunity to adopt him, they couldn't resist his wide eyes and non-stop snuggles. During his recent boarding visit, he spent far more time in laps than in his kennel. It was not easy for our team to give him back!

Congratulations, Java and share with all your friends - you're our Pet of the Month!

What's a kennel?

Pets as Presents? Bah, Humbug!

Every January, South Florida's animal shelters and rescue organizations take in hundreds of unwanted puppies and kittens. Sadly, these young souls who looked so cute under the Christmas tree are often deemed too much for their new families to handle. Pets should never be given as gifts, especially to children who may be too young to understand the nature of a long-term responsibility such as pet ownership.

Pet stores do a brisk business during the holiday shopping season, and many of the puppies sold at such establishments are products of puppy mills. Puppy mill dogs are mass produced for profit, and are often plagued with medical and behavioral problems. If someone on your gift list genuinely wants a pet, and is mature and responsible enough to handle caring for one, consider adopting from one of our many shelters and rescue organizations. Contrary to popular belief, these pets are not necessarily "projects", and nearly 30% of them are purebreds. There are also numerous breed-specific rescues for families who may wish to adopt a purpose-bred dog.

Meet Shallow Water, Our December Pet Of The Month!

World, meet Shallow Water, our December Pet of The Month!

Shallow Water is an 11-year-old yellow Lab who loves nothing more than a weekend of fishing the flats of South Florida.  When he's not out on the water, you'll find Shallow playing with his ball or relaxing with his human family.

Congratulations, Shallow Water and share with all your friends at the dock - you're our Pet Of The Month!

November Is Pet Cancer Awareness Month

Pet Cancer Awareness Month
By Dr. Ian Kupkee

November is Pet Cancer Awareness Month. Cancer is one of the most common conditions diagnosed by veterinarians, affecting nearly one in four dogs at some point in their lives. While cancer is less common in cats, our feline companions are more likely to suffer from aggressive, and less treatable forms of the disease.

One of the more commonly seen forms of cancer in pets is breast cancer. Fortunately, it is also one of the easiest forms of cancer to prevent. A female dog who is spayed before her first heat cycle has a .6% chance of developing breast cancer later in life. A dog spayed after her first heat cycle has an 8% chance of developing breast cancer. And the breast cancer risk for dogs who are spayed after their third heat cycle is a whopping 65%.

Recent research suggests delaying spay/neuter procedures on large-breed dogs until they are fully grown can reduce their chances of developing orthopedic problems later in life. Since both threats are very real concerns, the pros and cons of each decision should be discussed with your veterinarian.  That said, the best prevention against canine and feline breast cancer is to have your pet spayed in accordance with your veterinarian's recommendation.