July Pet of the Month

 

Our Pet Of The Month for July, 2011 is an adorable 6-month old female Tea Cup Pomeranian named “Juicy.”  Her loving owner is Bonnie Brecher of Randolph.  Ms. Brecher was referred to a breeder in Long Island by a friend who knew she was looking for a special little Pomeranian.  Born January 5th, 2011, Juicy soon became the pride and joy of the Brecher family and adapted well to her new home.

When asked where she got her name,  Ms. Brecher said the breeder started calling her “Juicy” and her sister  “Chiclet” which kind of goes with “Juicy,”  so it seemed right to keep that name.  Her formal name is Juicy Boo Couture.  As a result, Ms. Brecher was actually inspired to write a song for Juicy.  It’s sung to the tune of “The Barbie Song” and depicts her quite well, Ms. Brecher claims.
  
Juicy’s one and only food is Vets Choice little bites, dry.  Her favorite treats are kongs filled with something that looks like “cheeze whiz.”  She also gets some other special gourmet treats.

Juicy loves to play ball, especially with other dogs in the neighborhood while on a walk with her mom.  Sometimes the ball looks bigger than she is!  She also loves to dance like a circus bear on her hind legs.  She likes to cuddle -- with anybody, she’s not fussy, as long as she’s getting attention, she’s a happy pup!

She also likes to “announce” herself by a short bark when she is taken outside, as if to let everyone within earshot know she’s outside and available for attention!

She often sleeps in her pink donut bed but may also be found relaxing in her crate!

Everyone who meets her falls in love with her and wants to “get one just like her” so she may be helping to increase the Pomeranian population!

What a wonderful little dog, so very loved by her mom.  We at AMERICAN ANIMAL HOSPITAL are so pleased to celebrate “Juicy” Brecher as our Pet Of The Month for July, 2011.  Congratulations Juicy!

Top tips for boarding your pet this summer!!

It’s official! Summer is finally here, and with it comes road trips, vacations with the family and long weekends with friends.  Unfortunately, your best friend isn’t always invited. There are several dangersWhile you’re looking for a trusting source to leave your furry friend, (or scaly sidekick) here are some points to look for when selecting a facility to board at.

What kind of exercise will my pet get?

So admittedly this will vary with the type of pet you have (it’s rare that a cat enjoys a leash walk, but it’s always available) but you exercise your pet when you’re around, why should it be a couch potato while you’re away?  We include four outdoor walks a day at our hospital for all dog’s boarding (large dog’s stay exclusively in large runs), and cat’s have the option of condo’s to stretch and jump from level to level.  It’s important to maintain your pets active lifestyle, outdoor bathroom habits, keep them in the fresh air and sunshine and interacting with people on a daily basis!

What monitoring services are available?

We know your pet get’s a lot of attention at home, why should it stop while you’re away?  By monitoring your pet’s daily actions, they can see if there is any abnormality in their daily behavior.  In our experience it isn’t usual, however once we received a dog from an outside kennel that hadn’t been urinating for an extended period of time (more than two days before it was noticed!).  It turned out that this Dalmatian was suffering from bladder stones, and actually ended up with a tear in it’s bladder.  Fortunately, our very own Dr. Stockmal was able to accurately diagnose and perform the life saving surgery before the dog suffered septic poisoning.  Without proper constant monitoring, this best friend may not have been around to greet it’s owner when they came home.

What kind of environment do they stay in?

Many pet’s can be anxious when they’re away from their owner.  You should check to make sure that the facility is playing calming music, supplies toys to keep your pet’s mind active and that they have plenty of fresh blankets to sleep with. 

What access is there to a veterinarian?

Most facilities will not have a veterinarian on hand 24/7, but they should at least have a standing relationship with a local veterinarian or emergency veterinary clinic!  At American Animal Hospital we’re fortunate to be an animal hospital first, so there are multiple doctors on hand six days a week and a veterinarian on call, and it makes a difference when we have a boarder that may need regular shots or has medical conditions that require more attention during its stay.  Be sure to check your pet’s needs with the facilities abilities.

And of course, how does your pet relate with the staff?

You wouldn’t stay at a hotel where you constantly think the staff is inattentive, so why would your pet?  A loving and gentle kennel attendant can make a huge difference.  Our borders occasionally join us for lunch or spend some time with our receptionists in addition to their daily walks; and you may notice this comment on your pet’s report card! Keeping a personal relationship between the facility and your pet makes it easier for them to adjust when you’re forced to say goodbye.


Hopefully these tips will help your pet have just as much fun as you do this summer!