When walking through wooded areas it is important to keep your dog on good quality monthly tick prevention. Ticks wait patiently on the ends of vegetation and when an unsuspecting animal (or person) walks by the tick attaches itself. Baby ticks, nymphs, are very small, less than 2mm, and difficult to see.  They are more likely to spread disease than other larger stages of ticks. You won't even be able to detect the bite because they sneakily use a local numbing agent.

There are several diseases that can be spread by ticks such as Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and more. Lyme disease is the fastest spreading tick borne disease. It can infect dogs but illness is usually worse in people. 

Make sure to do a thorough tick check on your pet and yourself after walking through a wooded area. Prevention is key.

There is a large overpopulation of cats in our world.  Unfortunatly many are susceptible to disease and trauma. It is common for stray cats to get attacked by other animals or get hit by a car. 

Targeted spay/neuter can reduced the population of a geographic area. At least 75% of the cats within a certain location must be sterilized to have an impact on reducing cat numbers. There are many dedicated trappers that have a mission to help stray cats in the TNR programs (Feline Trap Neuter and Return).  This program is the best method to ensure cats are treated well and returned to a safe location. 

Pet Doctor at Home, has a mobile surgery unit that can go to the areas in need. Dr. Lugo is equipped to do 30 cat surgeries per day. We want to help reduce the overpopulation.

The loss of a pet is unexpectedly difficult to cope with. The bond we share with our companion animals is so strong that the emotions of loss rival that of human loss. Not everyone sees it that way and may say to you, it is just a dog or cat, get over it. But no, they are a family member and you should be sad and take your time to grieve. Grieving goes on for a long time. Only time will heal.

There are different stages and emotions that you will experience: denial, sadness, anger. At some point acceptance but this will not occur overnight. 

People may say, just get a new pet.  There is not replacement though. Trying to coverup your emotions of loss with the excitement of a new pet will give your brain mixed signals. I do not recommend that. You have to be ready emotionally to get a new pet.

Memorializing your pet can preserve your memories and can help with closure. Some do it by a with a funeral, a gravestone, an urn with ashes, a photo album, paw prints. You are welcome to post your memorial to our facebook site  so your pet can live on and be shared with our community of pet lovers.

If your friends or family are not understanding and supportive of your grief, there are several resources to reach out to.

​For bereavement resources you can visit: 
http://www.petlosshelp.org/bereavementresources.html

We will be thinking of your pet.