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Pet
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VETERINARY
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
Are You a Responsible Pet Guardian?
Many
emergency visits to the veterinarian are avoidable. The first
step to ensuring your pet’s continued well-being is being
a responsible pet guardian.
All
of us abhor animal cruelty. Unknowingly, though, we may cause
unintentional discomfort or injury to our animals simply by
a lack of information. Your companion animal not only needs
proper care, but also understanding. Your pet’s welfare
is a big responsibility. A good checklist to follow:
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Your
pet has the right to expect a clean shelter, a balanced diet,
clean water, proper grooming, ample exercise, routine and
emergency medical care, including flea and tick prevention
and immunizations, and, above, all, love and respect.
- Your
pet should be spayed/neutered for its own health and to
do your part to end pet overpopulation.
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Pets are
lost and stolen every day. Besides the anxiety and grief
such a loss will cause, many lost or stolen dogs are sold
to research laboratories. So be sure your pet always wears
a collar with an identity tag securely fastened. An even
better way to identify your pet would be to have it microchipped.
The City of Los Angeles offers this service for $25.00. Check
with your local City Shelter for more information.
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"Sandy"
At approx. 6 mos.
Hit
by a car on 9-25-97,
photo taken 9-26-97.
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- Never
leave your pet in a parked car on a hot day, even if you feel
you have provided proper ventilation. The car will still be
too hot, and your pet may die of heatstroke.
- It’s
hard to believe that people do not realize the danger of letting
dogs (and people) ride untethered in the back of pick-up trucks.
In addition to the possibility of the dog falling or jumping
out of the truck, think of the discomfort to the animal’s
paws having to stand on the hot metal
bed of the truck. (This practice
is also illegal
in
the State of California.) The same
is true for concrete. You should
not take your pet for a walk on hot
days when the
temperature
of the concrete can burn the
pads of your companion.
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- When walking
your dog, you should always use a leash. Dogs are prone to
reacting to other animals or stimuli it may encounter and
could easily be hit by a car or injured by another dog.
- Cats should
be kept indoors at all times. A cat’s lifespan is dramatically
increased by making sure they are safely confined to your
home and not subjected to cars, coyotes, and other dangers
in the great outdoors.
- Make sure
your yard is secure. All gates should be the appropriate
height and properly latched to avoid escape. Besides the
possibility that your dog could become lost and frightened,
it could easily dart out in traffic and be injured or killed.
- The
life cycle of pets parallel our own lives. Babies require
almost constant care, and senior citizens experience greater
health problems which may mean frequent trips to the veterinarian
and increased care. And, like children, pets need to be
taught good manners with a determined but always loving
hand. Be flexible and understanding.
- Please
always remember that your pet is an important member
of your family
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