Did you know that July is Lost Pet Prevention Month? No one wants to think of their beloved pets getting lost. Unfortunately, it does happen. In fact, as many as one in three pets will get lost at some point during their lives. Fortunately, taking some simple precautions will greatly reduce the chances of this happening to your beloved pet. Read on for some tips from me, your Marion, IA area veterinarian, on keeping your pet safe and sound at home
Finish Training Fido
Does your dog obey simple commands, like Sit, Stay, and Come ? If not, work with Fido every day until he does. This is very important! You want to be sure your canine pal will return to you if you drop the leash or he jerks it out of your hand lunging for a cat or squirrel.
ID Tags
Microchips are great, but they don’t eliminate—or even reduce—the need for ID tags. In fact, those tags are still the easiest way for someone to contact you if they were to find your pet. Make sure your pet is wearing current tags.
Don’t Let Pets Roam
Many of us have been sticking close to home this year. There’s something to be said for that! Dogs of course need daily walks. Keep Fido leashed whenever you take him off your property. I recommend keeping cats indoors. This will almost entirely eliminate the risk of your feline buddy getting lost. (I say ‘almost’ because some cats are quite determined to get out, and occasionally succeed. Also, someone could leave a door or window open.)
Fencing
Do you have a yard for Fido to chase squirrels around in? Make sure that your fencing is secure, and that your pup can’t jump over it or dig under it. We also recommend getting a self-latching gate. Many pets have been lost because of gates being left open!
Microchip
If your furry friend hasn’t been microchipped yet, I recommend getting that done ASAP. If your pet has been chipped, make sure your records are up to date in the chipmaker’s database. That microchip will only help if your contact information is correct! Try using the AAHA Pet Microchip Lookup Tool here to check your records.
Please contact me, your Marion, IA area veterinarian, anytime. I am dedicated to helping you keep your beloved pet happy, healthy, and safe.
