While road tripping with your dog, their safety should be a top priority. Whether you’re driving a couple of kilometres or taking a long road trip, it’s important to have safety precautions in place at all times for your pet’s safety. Check out our tips to road trip safety for your dog. These tips will help keep your furry friends safe, secure and comfortable during your road trips so you both can enjoy the drive!
Keep them Buckled!
In order to keep your pup safe while on the road, the best thing to do is keep them properly restrained. Accidents can’t be foreseen, so it’s crucial to keep them protected at all times. Vehicles, unfortunately, don’t come with doggy seat belts, so during your next visit to your local Feeds’n Needs, ask our Experts what equipment is available and would be best for you and your furry friend. These are necessary to secure your dog and restrict them from harmful movement in the event of an accident. Prepare your pup for a safe road trip by taking them on short trips to town to get used to the safety equipment.
Pack the Essentials!
You never know what may happen on the road, so it’s good to have a first aid kit for you and your dog. Packing your pet’s food, water, treats, medicine, toys, and feeding bowls is also a good idea when going on a long drive. It’s a good idea to have something to keep your dog entertained and engaged, such as their favourite chew toy helping to keep them calm during the ride.
Wear your Dog Out!
A tired pup is often a more well-behaved one, so right before you plan to head out on your trip, take your pet for a long run or a visit to the dog park. This should help your dog feel more rested and calm. They may even sleep a portion of the drive. During long trips, it’s important to stop anywhere from 2 to 3 hours so your dog has some time to play and get some more energy out.
Don’t Let Them Overheat!
You should never leave your dog unattended in your car for any reason. Especially during the warmer weather, this can lead to heat stroke and even death. Be sure to pack water to keep your dog hydrated during your trip. Grab a portable dog water bottle from one of our stores before your next trip, making it simple to keep your pup hydrated during the drive!
These are just simple tips, but following them will help you have a safe road trip with your dog and one that you can both enjoy. If you ever have any questions, reach out to the Experts are your local Feeds’n Needs.
How often do you brush your cat’s teeth? It is suggested that owners should brush their companion’s teeth after every meal, or at least once a day to keep their dental health in check. Did you know that once a cat reaches the age of three, they’re more likely to experience issues related to their dental health? Check for signs of bad breath, drooling, lack of appetite or repetitive shaking and pawing at their mouth for signs of a potential issue. If left untreated, poor dental hygiene can lead to more serious conditions, including kidney and heart disease. Many owners find that putting anything in a cat’s mouth to be a tricky, squirmy process, so here are a few tips to keep in mind when thinking about your furry friend’s dental health.
It is important to get into a habit of checking your cat’s teeth and gums for problems – the sooner you start, or earlier in your cat’s life you establish these habits, the better and more cooperative and patient they’ll be during teeth brushing and check-ups. Start by gently lifting their upper lip to check for red, swollen gums, or tartar build up on their teeth for indications that it’s time for a check in at the vet.
Use a pet-safe, cat-friendly toothpaste. Let one of our experts help you find a toothpaste in-store that will keep your cat interested and distracting during the brushing and cleaning process.
When it comes to selecting a toothbrush for your cat, opt for a human baby-sized or pet toothbrush, or a rubber finger slip that goes over your finger that allows you to graze over their teeth.
Reward with some catnip throughout the process to make it a pleasant experience for your kitty. We carry many great brands that are specifically formulated and coated to clean your pet’s teeth while chewing. Greenies Dental Treats are a great option for this, as they freshen breath while the treats’ textured surface helps remove tartar buildup. Ask our Experts in-store which treats they recommend!
We know the importance of brushing our teeth, but what about our pets? Did you know that dogs can get cavities, gum disease and plaque build up? Yep, just like humans! Your dog’s teeth should ideally be brushed after every meal to prevent tartar build up and protect against periodontal disease. If you haven’t gotten your dog accustomed to teeth brushing as a puppy, it’s not too late to start. Here are a few helpful dental health tips for your dog.
It is important to keep bird feeders clean and maintained. In the Atlantic provinces, a parasite called Trichomonas Gallinae can infect birds, especially purple and gold finches. Bird droppings and other contaminants may also spread infectious bird diseases. A dirty feeder can harbor bacteria, mold, and other disease agents that can quickly contaminate hungry birds and spread to other wild populations. Fortunately, it is easy to clean bird feeders to ensure birds enjoy safe, clean feeding stations.
Clean your feeders about once every week or two, more often during times of heavy use, wet weather, if there have been reports of salmonella in your area, or you notice sick birds in your yard.
Clean feeders attract more wild birds as fresh, clean seed is more appealing. For the cleanest, healthiest, and most attractive feeders:
It is essential to clean all nearby feeding areas where birds perch and congregate.
Despite taking necessary steps to protect feeders, they can still accumulate snow and ice in the worst weather. This also happens to be when birds rely on feeders the most. To maintain winter bird feeders:
Winter Backyard Bird Enthusiasts
Feeding Wild Birds in Winter
Best Winter Bird Feeders
Best Winter Bird Seed
How To Properly Store Bird Seed
Keep Backyard Birds Healthy in Winter
We were fortunate to have Dr. Nicoletta Faraone, PHD. join us for a tick webinar to teach us all about tick safety and prevention! Dr. Nicoletta Faraone is an assistant professor at the Chemistry Department, Acadia University, Wolfville (NS). She teaches Biochemistry and Natural Product Chemistry. Her research focuses on studying tick chemosensory system, how ticks detect odours from hosts and how they respond to repellents. She designs and develops novel essential oil-based tick repellent products. In this one hour long webinar, customers had the chance to learn from Dr. Faraone and ask their questions. If you missed the live webinar, you can watch the recording below!
For more Expert Advice on products we carry to protect your pets, click here.
Its spring, which mean it is tick season here in the Maritimes. As the weather warms up, it’s important to remember that ticks will be more present within our communities and the places we love to adventure with our pets. Whether you are letting your dogs out in your yard, or heading to a local trail to get some exercise, you will need to be diligent about checking for ticks on both you, and your pet. Here are a few Tick Tips to ensure you and your pet’s safety this season!
Where ticks are present:
Ticks are small so it can be difficult to spot them not just on your pets, but where you are outside that they could be hiding. The most popular ticks in our area are called Blacklegged ticks, or commonly known as deer ticks. Ticks can be as small as the size of a poppy seed, so be vigilant! Typically, ticks can be found in tall grass, woods, shrubs, walkways and trails.
Ticks can also be found in your own backyard. In fact, most people contact Lyme disease from ticks within 100 yards of their own homes in areas with woods or tall grass. If you are doing some spring cleaning around your yard, be careful of the shrubs, sticks and trees when you are doing your chores in preparation for the summer.
Pet owner tip: if you are doing yard work, wear long pants and boots and wear clothing that is light in colour so you can easily identify a tick. Spray yourself with repellent and remember to take a hot shower once your yardwork is complete.
Where to check your pet for ticks:
The more frequently you check your pet, the more likely you are to locate ticks before they fully latch onto your cat or dog. Here are a few places they like to hide on your animals.
Ears: In and around the ears are popular places for ticks to hide. They could even be inside your pet’s ears! If your dog has floppy ears, be extra vigilant of this area.
Between the toes: Check in between each toe of your pet, on each paw. Ticks like to burrow in between these areas as they are drawn to dark, warm places.
The tail: Naturally your pet is going to be happy when they are out adventuring, but this makes for some extra wagging in areas where ticks hide. Check at the base of the tail and your pets groin for ticks.
Under the collar: Your pet’s neck is another likely place for ticks to latch onto. It can be extra difficult to spot ticks in this area, especially with pets who have lots of fur or scuff on their neck area. When it’s safe, remove your pet’s collar and check for ticks underneath it where they might be burrowed.
Under back and front legs: while this may seems standard, it’s important that this area is checked as carefully as other furry areas on your pet!
How to prepare for tick season and protect your pet:
Preparing your tick season means beginning with preventatives for your pet. It’s important to talk to your vet before choosing a treatment to best suit your pet’s needs. At Feeds’n Needs, we carry many preventatives, topical treatments (Infestop, Advantix, and Advantage products), oral preventatives, sprays (Zodiac and Atlantick) and many tick accessories (tick removing tools, shampoos, etc.) in-store! Ask our Experts for help regarding tick safety on your next visit, and remember to always check your pet for ticks!
A hens’ optimal temperature is between 18-24 degrees, and when temperatures start to drop below and rise above these, it can affect them in different ways. Keeping them warm and healthy is important to your hens health and egg production.
As the sunlight hours begin lessen through the winter months, this will affect your hens’ production schedule. By providing a light or heat lamp during times that used to be daylight hours this will keep her on her regular laying cycle.
Heating sources are not always necessary, however. If your coop is well enough insulated to keep their water from freezing, and/or you have a small flock that is large enough to huddle with one another, then you may not require a heating source. Chickens are very adaptable and can tolerate colder temperatures!
Providing infinite above freezing temperature water and clean, dry bedding will keep your chickens comfortable and healthy all winter long. Deeper bedding can keep their feet from being too cold. Dampness and draft will affect your chickens more than the plummeting temperature, and these factors of winter can quickly start the onset of frostbite. Ventilating your coop properly and ensuring it is always dry will keep your hens healthy through the winter months.
As the temperatures start to rise in summer months this can affect your hens differently. Heat stress can be fatal to your chickens so it is imperative to find ways to keep them cool. Providing good ventilation in their coop, and perhaps with the addition of a fan to circulate air can help keep temperatures from rising. Providing shady areas in their run can help them regulate their body temperatures on a hot, sunny day. If your coop doesn’t have a shaded area for most of the day, it is easy to set up something that can provide a bit of shade for them.
Having an area where they are able to scratch into the dirt to lay on cool ground can also help them regulate their body temperatures. As always, providing clean fresh water is of the utmost importance. Sometimes in extreme temperatures if you notice your hens are distressed by the heat, adding an electrolyte can help to prevent dehydration which can be detrimental. If your hens become too hot for a prolonged period of time, the stress can inhibit their laying production and therefore it will sometimes slow down or even stop. Keeping them cool and preventing heat stress can avoid this cease in their cycle!
Feel free to visit us and ask us any questions you may have about your hens health!
Yearly veterinarian checkups are highly recommended for every species of animal, horses included. Your vet can administer vaccinations to prevent illness, assess and provide insight on your horses’ condition and overall health, and evaluate their teeth condition and float your horses’ teeth when needed. Here are a few subject areas that are crucial to maintaining your horses health.
Floating Teeth
Floating the teeth is important for the overall health of your horse and to ensure its comfort. The process of floating the teeth is done to remove any sharp hooks made in the teeth by the horses’ way of chewing. These sharp hooks can cause sores within the mouth tissue. Signs that your horses’ teeth need floated can be that he is losing weight unexplainably or dropping food while eating.
Hooves
Horses hooves require trims every 6-8 weeks to maintain healthy feet. Hoof trimming can be done by a professional farrier or blacksmith, or can be learned by horse owners through hoof care courses or through the teachings of a professional. Healthy and cared for feet keep horses sound and happy. For most horses, when they are travelling over different surfaces or being used for sport, will require horseshoes to protect their feet from damage. Your veterinarian will have the best recommendations for local hoof care providers.
Deworming
It is important to deworm your horse regularly to prevent the accumulation of internal parasites. Rotating deworming products helps to provide full coverage for every species of worms. It is usually recommended to deworm your horse once per season, unless your horse develops symptoms of worms such as weight loss, rubbing of tail, diarrhea or constipation, rough hair coat or trouble shedding winter coat, and more. Talk to your veterinarian about your horses’ personal deworming schedule, or if you suspect your horse has a severe infestation.
A consistent feed program that provides maximum forage feeding options will have the best impact on your horse’s overall health. Your horses’ digestive health and general ability to meet his performance demands depend on the quality and quantity of feed provided for him. A diet of at least 1% of his body weight in hay or grass, with additionally a complete balanced feed supplementing his vitamins, minerals – and requirements of protein, fat, and fiber, will ensure he is at the top of his condition and capabilities.
Providing your horse with the best maintenance to support his health will ensure he stays healthy, sound, and happily performs his job properly for years to come!
When it comes to providing your livestock with bedding, making sure it’s clean, absorbent and comfortable is a must. There are several options for materials that you can use to place under your animals in their enclosure to ensure overall well-being. Organic materials are usually best, as they contain lower levels of bacteria counts, resulting in better air quality and less discomfort (and will consequently result in less sores and other harmful ailments). While the type of flooring, animal breed and population density of animals in the enclosure matter when choosing the right bedding, here are a few good organic options to consider when making an informed decision for your furry friends.
Plant litter is arguable the least harmful option for the environment, as it’s ecological and biodegradable and can be a great solution for your poultry flock! It’s mainly composed of natural elements, like wood chips, hay or pellets and is mainly used for animal enclosures.
If you opt for a wood-based litter, it’s recommended to use soft wood that’s specially treated for composting purposes if you want better absorption quality. Like wood shavings, which are both absorbent and comfortable for farm animals. An interesting aspect of plant litter is that it doesn’t produce much dust, which benefits the respiratory health of the animals.
Hay or straw are also materials used to create bedding for farm animals. Hay is cut and dried legumes and or grasses and is commonly used for feed, but lower qualities of hay are great for bedding purposes. Ensuring the quality of the hay is not palatable so animals don’t consume it.
If you’re considering using hay or straw, it’s important to know that there’s a bit more upkeep required due to the lower levels of absorbency than some other litter options. Another thing to consider is to ensure the quality of the hay or straw is older and dry when you are spreading it, as old hay may give off dust, resulting in potential respiratory damage in animals. When they have a high level of humidity, the risk of mold increases which rapidly grows bacteria that can be harmful to your animals.
Within the vegetable little category, you can also find peat moss as an option. This type of litter is becoming increasingly popular, as it tends to be more absorbent than wood or hay and it helps eliminate the amount of flies in facilities. Peat moss has a controlled PH, which helps to reduce odors and the amount of ammonia in the litter. This bedding has even been known to help improve areas of animal health, including udders, legs and airways.
Sources:
https://monvet.com/fr/fiche-informative/85/differentes-sortes-de-litieres
https://www.zoomalia.com/blog/article/quelle-litiere-choisir-pour-mon-chat.html
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liti%C3%A8re
https://ag.umass.edu/sites/ag.umass.edu/files/fact-sheets/pdf/Bedding%2008-05.pdf
https://www.meunerievicto.com/fr/
https://www.meunerieacadienne.com/quoi-mettre-dans-les-enclos/
On hot days, it’s important to think about our four legged friends because chances are, they are probably hotter than you are. This article offers a few tips and solutions to help you keep your animals comfortable and cool during hot weather. Be sure to think about animal welfare during a heat wave!
No surprise here! Like their owner, animals must stay hydrated at all times and even more during hot periods. Make sure to give your pets water as often as possible during the day. The same goes for animals on farm. Think, for example, of cows, pigs or even horses, who drink large amounts of water on a normal day. Add a heat wave or drought in there and their water needs significantly amplify. Offer several areas on your property that allow for animals to have easy access to water, either on the ground, around the building or in your home.
Place ice cubes in the water to keep it cool. One trick to encourage your pet to drink more frequently: put bowls of water throughout your house, instead of having one spot they can go to drink. When going out with your pet, bring more water than you think is enough for yourself and your companion. Also, try to avoid going out in peak heat times (afternoon) and aim instead to go in the morning or the evening when the weather cools down.
If the pavement is too hot, consider putting booties on your pet so they don’t injure or burn their pads. If the weather is too hot, indoor activities are best. Consider playing games to develop the animal’s mental faculties, to allow them to burn energy while avoiding the hot sun.
Close curtains and blinds to prevent the sun’s rays from entering and heating the house. For bird owners, try as much as possible to keep them away from the windows. If allowed, installing a small shaded kiddie pool can prove to be the perfect refreshment tool for dogs who love the water and swimming.
If you are on a farm, try to have a few places on land where animals can shade, like a shelter.
It is crucial to know how to recognize heat stroke in a pet! In case of heatstroke, the animal should see a veterinarian without delay. Here are some important symptoms to watch out for:
When transporting your animal to the vet, cool it with a cold towel over their body. Do not use ice cubes.
Also, watch out for dogs with flat noses, older animals and young people. They are more at risk of having difficulty breathing during heat waves!
Here are some additional hips to keep your pets cool at all times:
During periods of extreme heat, get in the habit of observing the behavior of your animals and make sure they don’t lack any water or shade. Thanks to these tips, you now have some handy tools up your sleeve to make the hot days more pleasant and much safer for your animals!
