May is National Chip Your Pet Month.  We all know we should microchip our pets.  But do we actually understand why?

Over 10 million pets are reported missing each year.  TEN MILLION!  That’s a lot of missing animals.  Only one in five dogs and one in fifty cats will be reunited with their family.  While ID tags are definitely a good idea, tags (or the whole collar) can fall off, and once they’re gone, they are no longer going to help get your pet home. 

A pet microchip is small, about the size of a grain of rice and is implanted with a wide-bore needle just under the skin between the shoulders.  Although not painless, it’s just slightly more painful than getting annual vaccinations, and may be just as life-saving.

There are numerous benefits to microchipping…..

• A microchip is permanent and won’t be separated from your pet. They also last a lifetime.  No need to replace due to loss or rubbed off information, and no batteries required!
• A microchip greatly increases the likelihood that your pet will be returned to you if they are lost. Studies show that cats with microchips are 20 times more likely to be returned to their owner and chipped dogs are 2.5 times more likely to be returned.
• If your dog or cat is lost or stolen, the chip and its registration is absolute proof of ownership. This is particularly helpful in the case of stolen pets when ownership might be in dispute.
• In the city of Dallas microchipping is required by law!  You can be fined for having an unchipped pet.

The only maintenance a microchip requires is that you keep your information up to date in the registry.  Sadly, this is a problem in far too many lost pet situations.  It’s heartbreaking for that vet staff member to scan a dog or cat, discover that it’s chipped, then discover that the information has never been updated so that pet is not going to get back home.

During the month of May if you email us, we will make sure your pet’s information is updated in your chip registry!  That’s right, give us the chip number/company, pet info and your contact info and we will do the work of making sure it’s updated!  Zero work for you, and your pet will have a much better chance of returning home if lost.  If you don’t know your pet’s chip number or which company it’s registered with, you can take him/her to any vet or animal shelter and they can scan the chip and give you that information free of charge.

If your pet is not microchipped, you can find low cost microchipping clinics each weekend.  Just Google “low cost microchip near me” or, if you live in Dallas, your pet can be microchipped for just $15 at Dallas Animal Services.

Now is the time to take action and make sure your pet is protected!

Other Pet Holidays this month/week:

• National Pet Month.
• Responsible Animal Guardian Month.
• Lyme Disease Prevention Month.
• Pet Cancer Awareness Month. 
• Chip Your Pet Month.
• May 1, 2019: National Purebred Dog Day.
• May 3, 2019: National Specially-Abled Pets Day.
• May 5, 2019: Mayday for Mutts.

With so many recalls on pet treats these days it’s tempting to stop giving your pets any treats at all. But, you don’t have to take it that far. You can make your own dog and cat treats and know they are fresh, wholesome and not tainted like those ‘made in China’ varieties.Basic Dog Treat
These can be made in several flavors and customized to avoid allergy triggers like wheat by using rice or potato flour in place of wheat & spelt flours. Additionally, check your broth to make sure corn is not an ingredient if your pet is allergic to corn.



2 teaspoons dry yeast
1/2 cup lukewarm water
2 tablespoons dry parsley
3 tablespoons honey
1 egg
5-6 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups chicken, beef or vegetable broth

Preheat oven to 350°
In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in the parsley, garlic, broth, honey, and egg. Gradually blend in flour, adding enough to form a stiff dough.
Transfer to a floured surface and knead until smooth (about 3-5 minutes). Shape the dough into a ball, and roll to 1/4-inch (6 mm) thick. Using small bone-shaped cookie cutters, make biscuits! Transfer to ungreased baking sheets, spacing them about 1/4 inch (6 mm) apart. Gather up the scraps, roll out again, and cut additional biscuits.
Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and turn over. Bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until lightly browned on both sides. Let cool overnight.

Basic Cat Treats
Like the dog treats, these too can be made in many flavors. Experiment with things like the liquid in canned sardines or clam juice.

1 1/2 Cup Rolled Oats
1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil
1/2 Cup Flour
1/2 Cup Tuna Oil, Chicken broth, or Beef Bouillon

Preheat oven to 350°.
Mix all ingredients into a dough. Roll dough to ¼” – ½” thickness and cut in small squares or diamonds using a pizza cutter. Set on greased cookie sheet. Bake 30 minutes or until slightly browned.
Cool overnight.

Yes, making them yourself does require a little extra effort, but keeping your pet safe, healthy and happy is more than worth it

While dog walking is a perfectly simple thing, it takes on some new challenges in the summer months. In order to keep your pet and yourself safe and healthy while walking in the summer there are a few tips you should follow.

Avoid peak daytime heat
While mid-day potty breaks are necessary, extended walks should take place during the earlier morning hours or late evening hours. By avoiding the really hot mid-day heat, you can prevent overheating and sunburn for both you and your dog.

Avoid walking on concrete or pavement
On a low-humidity 90° day in direct sun, asphalt can reach temperatures over 140°. An egg will fry in 5 minutes at 131°. If you can’t comfortably press the back of your hand against the pavement for 10 seconds then your dog can’t walk on it without burns! Stay in shady and grassy areas as often as possible to prevent burns. The pavement also holds heat so it can still be too hot in the evening when the air temperature has gone down.

Always carry water on walks
Unless you’re walking in a park that has doggy water fountains, make sure you have a bottle of cool water and something for your dog to drink it out of. Dogs suffer dehydration just like people and need regular water breaks. Since dogs can’t sweat, they pant and panting causes the mouth to dry out and the dog to get thirsty faster than humans do.

Know the signs of heat exhaustion
Loud or labored panting, drooling, increased heart rate, red tongue with pale gums, walking like they’re drunk. These are all signs of heat exhaustion and possibly heat stroke. If you witness any of these symptoms take action immediately!

• Get the dog inside or to a shady spot
• Pour cool (not cold) water over the dog’s head. NEVER immerse an overheated dog in water or use cold water for cooling as this can cause blood vessel constriction and make the overheating worse.
• Rubbing alcohol on the foot pads will kick-start the cooling process
• A little bit of honey rubbed on the dog’s gums can counteract the onset of hypoglycemia brought on by overheating.
• Get to a veterinarian ASAP!

If you regularly practice these first three tips you and your dog will be safely walking and sure to avoid overheating or burns. So get out there and walk, but keep it safe!