The following post comes to us from guest blogger, Hyde, a kennel lead who has worked with animals for much of her life.

I have worked at numerous kennels throughout my career, and I have seen pets kept in conditions that their owners might not always be happy with, if they were aware. Once you leave your dog in the care of a day care or kennel, you are giving up control, so it is important to find a facility that you can feel confident in. Here are some tips for a safe, positive boarding experience:

• If you have to board, try to board at a reputable veterinary hospital.

Often, they are more likely to care about the animals and are able to provide good care for your pet while there.

• Become informed about bloat, especially if you have a large breed.

Stress can often bring on this condition, which has been known to kill dogs in kennels.

• Check out the facilities before you leave your dog or cat.

Go in the back areas where your pet will be, and meet the people who will be looking after them.

• Go on your instinct.

If something seems wrong, it probably is.

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This week we asked you to send in your best photos of your pets in costume, and boy did we get some adorable submissions! In fact, this time we have two pets of the week; after all, how could we choose between Buddy and Willy, the two little hot dogs?

Buddy came to his mom from a local pet store, but researching his background led her to learn about the plight of puppy mills, and she is now a volunteer for Coast to Coast Dachshund Rescue. This is where she found her other little boy, Willy. Prior to rescue, Willy was actually supposed to be euthanized because he had an underbite. But his new mom fell in love with him immediately, and she adopted him shortly before Christmas in 2002.

These two dachshunds have very different personalities: Buddy being very mellow and laid back, while Willy is feisty and loves to play. Willy enjoys playing with his kitty sister and has also been known to terrorize the local toad population – he likes to bark at those that cross his path while outside!

Buddy and Willy are all ready for Halloween, and these two hams just love to show off their costumes. Their mom says they love attention and will do pretty much anything – as long as someone is telling them how adorable they are!

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Q: My cat, Cal, is 10-years-old and for the past two years has lost patches of fur on his head and neck when the weather gets colder. Last year our vet (without blood testing) said it was feline endocrine alopecia and gave him a cortisone injection. The fur grew back shortly after. I, on the other hand, now believe it is some sort of seasonal allergy since it only happens around this time of year.

We have replaced all of our air filters with ones for allergies and two weeks ago I started him on Halo Dream Coat and he has not lost anymore fur. I also just ordered Spot’s Stew Lamb canned food to go along with the dry cat food he already eats. I would like to try something natural and try not to use steroids. Can you recommend any supplements to help him with this condition?

A: Sounds like Cal may indeed be experiencing seasonal allergies and you are on the right track! The air filter system will remove as many offending airborne allergens as possible to minimize Cal’s overall exposure.

The addition of Halo’s all natural pet supplement, Dream Coat, provides the ideal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids and helps give cats relief from itchy skin. The Dream Coat can take several weeks to reach full potential so don’t become discouraged. If Cal becomes very itchy again, ask your veterinarian for an anti-histamine (such as benadryl, hydroxyzine or claritin) first before reaching for the steroids. Good luck with Cal!

Dr. Donna Spector, DVM, DACVIM

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Candy, costumes, caramel apples and pumpkins…what’s not to love about Halloween? It is definitely one of my favorite holidays (likely because I’m a self-professed chocoholic). Unfortunately, it can be a scary holiday for pets. After all, there are ghosts and goblins knocking on the door to their homes! To keep your pets safe and happy during Halloween, here are some important safety tips:

1. Black cats should be kept inside. Unfortunately, during Halloween black cats are often the targets of pranks or something even worse that may result in the cat’s death. Most humane societies will not adopt out black cats around Halloween because of the threat of malicious attacks on them. Be sure to keep your cat inside to keep them safe and alive.

2. Trick-or-Treaters can be scary! Your pet doesn’t understand that it is a human under that mask and may become frightened or aggressive. Unfortunately, many pets have run away from their own homes because they were scared of people in costumes continuously coming up to the house. Your always very friendly dog may snap or try to bite the scary zombie that is trying to come into his house because he thinks he is protecting you. Keep your pet in a safe and quiet place until the trick-or-treaters are gone. Poor Fido may really think that scary Frankenstein is there to hurt him.

3. Candy is dangerous for your pet, especially chocolate! It’s easy to get distracted with kids in costumes and trick-or-treaters knocking on your door. It only takes a spilt second for you to look away from the candy dish and your pet can gobble up all the goodies…wrappers and all! Chocolate is toxic and can kill them, sugar candy can cause major vomiting and wrappers can become obstructed requiring surgery for your pet. Keep the candy away from your pet. (more…)

According to a recent survey of 3,000 pet owners, some everyday gadgets have proven dangerous for our furry friends. Over a third of those responding to the Petplan insurance company’s survey said that injuries have occurred when their pets ate small pieces of various items. Other injuries reported include dogs getting tangled in wires from televisions and video game consoles.

Top gadgets involved in pet injuries, according to Petplan:₁

• MP3 players

• Laptops

• Remote controls

• Plasma TVs

• Video game consoles

• Mobile phones

• Karaoke machines

Obviously, there’s nothing wrong with having both pets and these gadgets in our homes. However, it is important to remember that pets are not unlike small children, and we need to keep wires and items with small pieces out of their reach.

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1 Moore, Matthew. Nintendo Wiis and iPods on pet danger list. [Online] Available http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3219651/Nintendo-Wiis-and-iPods-on-pet-danger-list.html, October 17, 2008.