Posts in Category: Seasonal Pet Care

The holiday season is full of hustle and bustle here at Godspeed Animal Care, and we know how easy it is to get lost in everything. It is important, though, to take some time to remember those who are most precious to us. For many of us, at the top of our list are our pets. Read on to get some festive ideas for including your furry family in the season with our ideas for holiday events for pets.

There are few things worse than feeling like your skin is crawling, even for our furry loved ones. Constant itchiness or dry skin is something that many pets live with. It’s difficult for everyone, really. Many pet owners feel equally helpless and frustrated that their pet can’t stop scratching. What causes these highly specific problems, and what can we do about it?

Despite the fact that most pets detest change, they have surprise capabilities when it comes to adapting to changing environments. 

Your pet’s body is highly skilled at coping with hot weather by shedding the thick undercoat, panting, and sweating through their paw pads. However, pets do reach a point where it becomes far too dangerous to withstand overexposure to the heat.

An essential component of summer pet safety is managing risk, increasing comfort, and being extra careful between the hours or 10 am and 4 pm.

It’s Elemental

Water is part of a pet’s natural defense against the heat.

How can you be sure that your pet drinks enough each day? For starters, cats should generally drink 5-10 ounces every day. Dogs need one ounce per pound of body weight daily.

The long cold days of winter can throw everyone off their game. Through the busy holidays and cold weather, you and your pet may have chucked the usual exercise regiment in favor of sleep and snuggles. That’s okay to a certain point, but daily exercise and socialization are important to good health and well-being for your fur friend. 

Godspeed Animal Care came up with these exercises and fun inspired activities you can do to burn off some of your pet’s pen- up energy. These will surely inspire the two of you to maintain those games, activities, and daily walks, even if you have to do them indoors. 

We may only get a thin dusting of snow in our neck of the woods, but winter pet safety is still at the top of our minds at the moment. Each pet is an individual, and the colder months affect them all differently. 

Whether your pet doesn’t mind a romp outside in the colder months, or prefers to snuggle up by the fire, these winter pet safety tips from Godspeed Animal Care are worth keeping in mind.

As pets age, their paw pads thicken up and harden, but they still experience pain after consistent exposure to the elements. Without a doubt, paw pads are very sensitive to heat, but special care is also needed during sub-freezing temperatures. Traditional salts and deicers can be extremely harsh and can even lead to GI upset if swallowed.

Luckily, with a little extra attention to pet paw care this season, your best friend will be ready to go.

Most of us have heard that the average adult should drink at least 64 ounces of water each day. It’s also understood that the warmer the weather, the thirstier we become since we lose water through perspiration. But what about our pets?

Dehydration in pets can be a real problem, especially when it’s hot outside. Learn more about the signs of dehydration and ways to encourage water consumption, so you never need to ask yourself, “Is my pet drinking enough water?”

Dehydration in Pets

Dehydration in pets can occur for a number of different reasons. Although pets don’t sweat as effectively or in the same way as humans, moisture loss is the basis of dehydration. Many animals sweat through their paw pads (dogs and cats) as well as by panting, which releases moisture from the lungs in order to cool down the body.

Animals will also seek respite during the heat of the day to avoid losing moisture. For very active animals, replenishing water loss from exercise and play is crucial, yet sometimes, it’s easy to forget to bring water along on those journeys to the park.

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