Choosing the Right Pet for Your Family

Terry Johnson, CVT

AAHA.org

Thinking about adding a pet to your family? A pet can be a wonderful addition, whether you’re a single person looking for a best friend, part of a family looking for a furry kid, or a senior looking for companionship. Start your search by doing some research, planning ahead, and asking yourself some questions about what kind of pet will work best for your situation.

Making a lifetime commitment
Begin by asking this question: Is this a good time in my (or my family’s) life to get a pet? Before you commit to bringing a pet into your home, consider your future plans and make sure you are ready to care for a pet for the rest of his or her life. If you’re considering a dog or cat, this could be up to 20 years. A bird’s lifespan can range from 3 to 60 years, depending on the species.

Things to consider when choosing a pet

Cost – Be aware of the costs associated with different kinds of pets. Smaller doesn’t always equal less expensive. Setting up a budget to meet the needs of your pet, and planning for possible emergency expenses, will help you be financially prepared.

Activity level – Are you active and looking for a pet who can be active with you? Or do you just want a companion to spend time with at home? Ask yourself some questions about how much time and energy you have to devote to your pet each day. This is one of the most important things to keep in mind when choosing a new pet.

Housing – All pets need safe, comfortable, and temperature-appropriate housing, which, for almost every species, will include being inside your home for at least part of the time. Where will your pet sleep during the winter? Are you willing to have a dedicated place in your home for her? Where will she be while you are at work or traveling?

Diet – Beyond your love, what you feed your pet will have the biggest effect on his quality of life.  Feed him a high-quality diet consisting of species-appropriate foods to meet his unique needs. It is also important to be aware of what your pet should not eat and what can be toxic and/or fatal.

General care – Keeping your pet clean and comfortable will require some commitment on your part.  Know and understand the special grooming requirements that different pets have, such as grooming, baths, nail trims, exercise, attention needs, and more.

Veterinary care – Plan on (and budget for) visiting your veterinarian at least annually for preventive care visits to keep your pet happy and healthy. Your veterinary health care team is a great resource when you’re considering a pet. They know and understand the unique health, breed, and behavior aspects of many species and can provide valuable insight and information. Also, consider pet insurance if you’re thinking about a dog or cat.

Training – You’ll find that committing to training your pet is well-worth the time and money. Whether you choose a group setting, individual training, or book training, a well-trained pet will lead to a much happier relationship for both of you.

Finding the perfect match
Once you’ve thought about these things and have begun to determine what kind of pet you’re looking for, consider adopting from a shelter. The ASPCA created a unique program to help people who are interested in adopting find the perfect pet for them. Originally developed for the Kansas Humane Society, the Meet Your Match (MYM) Canine-ality™, Puppy-ality™, and Feline-ality™ are fun, color-coded programs designed to increase the likelihood that puppies, as well as dogs and cats six months and older, are matched with compatible people.

The MYM method evaluates an animal’s behavior and interests and matches them to a person’s, or family’s, preferences. The program includes two parts: an assessment the shelter staff uses to evaluate puppies, dogs, and cats; and a survey the prospective adopter completes. After the assessment and survey are complete, both animals and prospective adopters are placed into one of three color categories: purple, orange, or green. Each of these categories are then divided into three additional categories.

The Puppy-ality assessment surveys a puppy’s:

Comfort level in a new environment
Social responses
Interest in play
Ease of handling
Tendency to guard food

The Canine-ality assessment focuses on a dog’s:

Friendliness and sociability
Playfulness
Energy level and ability to focus
Motivation (food, people, toys, internal motivations, etc.)
“People manners”

The Feline-ality assessment focuses on a cat’s:

Enjoyment of being pet and held
Playfulness
Responses to new people and things
The people version of the survey focuses on the individual’s or family’s lifestyles, helps narrow the options, and provides some information on what to expect once they’ve chosen a pet. After completing the survey, potential adoptors are given a color-coded guest pass and instructions to look for color-coded cage cards.

Shelters using the MYM programs have seen increases in adoptions and decreases in return rates.  Everyone wants to be successful matching the right pet with the right person. Asking questions, doing some homework before you begin your search, and using tools like the MYM program can make the process a fun and positive win-win experience for all.

 

BEST OF THE BEST 2014

If you are a fan of Riverview Animal Hospital and 
 think we are the “cat's meow,” please cast your vote for Chattanooga’s Best of the Best 2014.

Help us win 5 years in a row!!

Go to contests.timesfreepress.com and click on Best of the Best.

You must submit 25 votes to have a valid ballot.

Please choose Riverview Animal Hospital for best veterinarian.

Voting ends July 4, 2014

 

Thank You!!

Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats tackles obesity in pets

By Kate Spencer

It’s a battle for so many of us, and it’s affecting more and more people every year: the battle of the bulge. And now, many of us are finding that our pets are facing weight issues as well. While obesity is on the rise for both humans and their pets, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) hopes to do something about the problem (for pets, anyway).

Why did AAHA develop the Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats?
AAHA developed the weight management guidelines to better combat the rise in pet obesity. Just like with people, maintaining an optimal weight for our pets contributes to a healthier life. This means our pets have more energy, live longer, and participate more fully in the activities they enjoy with you. The guidelines are a resource for veterinarians to raise awareness, educate pet owners, and make it easier to address weight management with patients.

Does my veterinarian follow the weight management guidelines?
Ask him or her! Most AAHA-accredited veterinary hospitals use AAHA’s guidelines when treating pets. AAHA guidelines are designed by experts for use by veterinary professionals—they are recognized as the cutting edge of veterinary medicine, keeping veterinary professionals up to date with the latest practices.

How do the weight management guidelines impact me and my pet?
Your veterinarian may follow the weight management guidelines when treating your pet. This means your veterinarian will likely rely on you to take an active role in helping to keep your pet at a healthy weight. Weight management can be very challenging for both veterinarians and clients because it is such a complex condition, which requires individualized and lifelong treatment. There is no simple cause or straight-forward treatment, so it is a situation where veterinarians and pet owners have to work together.

My pet isn’t fat—do I need to worry about his weight?
Actually, up to 59 percent of dogs and cats are overweight, making it the most common nutritional disorder identified in veterinary practice. Your pet may be overweight, but you may not realize it. In one study of pet owners with dogs clinically defined as “overweight,” 30 percent of pet owners thought that their dogs were at an acceptable weight. Carrying a few extra pounds may not sound like a big deal, but it has been shown to be associated with skin and respiratory disorders, as well as renal dysfunction. It also increases the risk of orthopedic disease, some types of cancer, and metabolic and endocrine disorders, such as diabetes.

What can I do to help control my pet’s weight?
Weight management starts with you! The guidelines offer suggestions to help both pet owners and veterinarians manage pets’ weight:

• Ask your veterinarian for a nutritional recommendation on what type of food is best for your pet given his lifestage and lifestyle considerations.
• Use interactive rewards (such as chasing a ball, tugging with a toy, etc.) rather than food rewards when training your pet.
• Your veterinarian should evaluate your pet’s body condition score (BCS) and recommend feeding adjustments as appropriate to your pet’s BCS.
• Maintain exercise and activity for your pet.
• Understand the limitations of pet food labels and feeding recommendations.
• Weight management is a key part of your pet’s health. Ask your veterinarian how you can work together to keep your pet healthy.

Time to be thankful!

As we approach Thanksgiving and the holiday season, let's remember all of the things for which we are thankful!

Give a hug and a kiss to your furry/fuzzy/scaly/feathery friend to show them how thankful you are for them and then share a cute pic on our facebook page :)

We are thankful for all of our wonderful clients and patients!  We couldn't do what we do without you...

Chattanooga's "Paws in the Park" remembers late Guy Bilyeu

Chatt Times Free Press, Jeff LaFave

Meghan Scanlon Roach tries to get Dixie, a 13 yr old mutt, to give

her a kiss as they participate in the kissing contest during Paws in the

Park at Baylor School on Sunday.

Photo by Maura Friedman

Guy Bilyeu was the face of "Paws in the Park" for its first 11 years, but Sunday's installment was about him.

The late executive director of the Humane Educational Society was the beacon of hope for countless animals in the area, advocating adoption and foster homes at a time when euthanasia was Chattanooga's standard.

After he died in a September bicycle accident, dogs, their owners and loyal animal advocates gathered at the Baylor School with tennis balls, shaved ice, rawhide bones and smiles to ensure his legacy sticks with the program.

"Before he came, the city was just euthanasia, euthanasia, euthanasia," said Jeanine Cloyd, a volunteer who contributes to the HES rescue and foster programs.

When Bilyeu started, Chattanooga's shelters were forced to euthanize 90 percent of its dogs because overpopulation. His "Getting to Zero" campaign worked to create awareness about adoption and foster-adopting benefits around town.

Right now, only 30 percent of local dogs face that grim possibility, Cloyd says.

"He changed Chattanooga," Cloyd said. "Right now, we have empty kennels. We've never experienced that, ever."

In addition to the plethora of pups owners brought to the event, volunteers in blue T-shirts walked dogs available for adoption. Two residents approached the HES about wanting to take home a dog that same day.

By the end of the year, they would be two of the estimated 1,000 families the HES connects with an at-risk animal.

"It's a celebration of people and their pets," interim executive director Tai Federico said. "It's a chance for the animal-loving community to get together and celebrate what Guy stood for."

The HES exists as a "hybrid organization," providing animal protective services to Hamilton County. The $30,000 raised Sunday will go toward additional costs like its adoption programs and improvements to local shelters.

"It started as a little something, but now it's our largest fundraising event," Federico said.

Individual families were finding their own ways to celebrate their canine companions by sharing stories: The dog that showed up on family property unexpectedly. The pup that stuck around after a loss in the family. The boxer with a special trick.

Preston Dean of "Georgia Disc Dogs" showcased his dogs' love for Frisbee tricks. He takes the hot-dogging so seriously that he must wear a scuba vest in order to avoid injury -- he has the chest scars to prove it.

"I got bit in the arm so badly I needed stitches," Dean said. "They don't mean to. They never mean to. They're just going for the Frisbee."

The club-music-fueled performance saw Dean's dogs jump over him, crawl under him and leap for Frisbees like they were in the Olympics. Occasionally, he would get nipped, but the 100 dog-lovers in attendance -- and the dogs themselves -- barked on in approval.

"I'm just used to the pain of dog bites," he said. "I've been doing it for so long, I wouldn't change it for nothing."

Contact staff writer Jeff LaFave at jlafave@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592.

Tai Federico, interim executive director of the Humane Educational

Society, pets Noxy during Paws in the Park at Baylor School on Sunday.

World Rabies Day

September 28, 2013

Join us in celebrating World Rabies Day this year!

World Rabies Day is an initiative of GARC. We started it in 2007 to create a global opportunity for people to focus on rabies prevention.

Since then, it has grown year on year, with hundreds of thousands of people participating in events on or around September 28 - and at other times of year too.

The organizers and participants are people like you, whether you live in a rabies endemic area and at risk of the disease or, just care deeply about the devastating impact of the disease and want to do some thing about it.

And we're here to support, advise, celebrate and share.

Together we can end rabies.

Please check out the Global Alliance for Rabies Control website for more information about this important day.

The TN Dept of Health is heading up the program to help control rabies in the wild animal population. From Sept. 29 through Oct. 17, they will be distributing oral rabies vaccines.

Visit our facebook page for information about the local oral rabies vaccine drop.

Please join us in keeping Guy Bilyeu, the Humane Educational Society director, in our thoughts and prayers.

It's that time of the year again...

Best of the Best 2013

Every year, the Chattanooga Times Free Press hosts the Best of the Best competition for local businesses.

We have been the recipient of this award for the past three years!

Please help us keep this tradition going by voting for us on the Times Free Press voting website.

Thank you to all of our wonderful clients and patients for truly making our clinic great!

Did you know that we are a LEED certified building, making a positive impact on our environment?  

From our geothermal heating system, to our green building practices, to the solar panels covering the roof, we have attained our LEED silver certification.

What exactly is LEED, you may ask? 

LEED is driving the green building industry.


LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is transforming the way we think about how our buildings and communities are designed, constructed, maintained and operated across the globe. Comprehensive and flexible, LEED is a green building tool that addresses the entire building lifecycle recognizing best-in-class building strategies.

At its core, LEED is a program that provides third-party verification of green buildings. Building projects satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve different levels of certification. Prerequisites and credits differ for each rating system, and teams choose the best fit for the project. Learn more about LEED, the facts, and the LEED rating systems.

Pet Identification

April 14th through the 20th is National Pet Identification Week! Has one of your beloved pets ever gotten away from you? Have they ever slipped out of their collar? It can happen! Please consider the peace of mind that comes with permanently identifying your pet! One of our amazing clients found two dogs wandering the streets without any collars on and brought them into the clinic. We scanned them for microchips, and lo and behold, both dogs were chipped! We were able to contact the owner right away, who was very grateful to have his babies back with him. Our client was so impressed with the success that she came right back in to get her own pets microchipped :) This is the perfect opportunity for you to microchip your own pet. Check out this link for Home Again Microchips. Visit our facebook page for a special money saving microchip deal!  

Riverview Special On Teeth Cleaning

February is national pet dental health month! In honor of this, we are offering, 25% off of routine dental cleaning (includes anesthesia, dental cleaning, mandatory pre-anesthetic bloodwork). All other services performed at regular price. Offer available between February 1st and March 8th. For an estimate, email info@riverviewanimalhospital.com. 

Someone take me home!

Can you resist this face? A caring soul found this beautiful boy in the Chattanooga area yesterday 12.11.12. He's going for his shots and needs a loving family to be a part of. He's already had a trip to the vet for a checkup and shots. If you're interested, send an email to marybethcampeau@gmail.com

6 Puppies Lost Their Mother / Need Homes

There are 6, 2 week old lab mix puppies that lost their mom in an accident. They need a foster family or forever home pronto. If you can help one or all of these puppies make it they are at the Walker Co. shelter right now and the phone number is 706-375-2100 - Thanks for your help :) Spread the word about these babies. Maybe we can find them a home by Christmas.

These pets need forever homes!

Charlotte needs a loving, permanent home. She's a pit mix and has been spayed and is very healthy. She's loyal, very sweet and very smart. Call (423) 756-6011 for more info.

Nyx – 6 month old, black female

Nyx, a rare, exotic, solid black Tennessee long tail kitty(ok, ...she's a regular black cat, but we wanted her to feel fancy) is a rambunctious youngster who loves to wrestle and climb with her litter mate, Polaris, a cute as pie chubby tabby who is also a rare Tennessee long tail kitty. Nyx and her brother Polaris were born at The Humane Educational Society in Chattanooga, where their mother was staying. Very sweet and loving, and enjoys curling up in a warm lap for nap time. Nyx is good with other cats, has been spayed, and is current on FVRCP and rabies vaccinations. She has also been microchipped, which will help her get back home safely if she is ever lost and brought to a shelter or vet clinic who will scan her. If you are interested in adopting Nyx, please contact her foster mom, Erin, directly at erin.felty@gmail.com.

Polaris – 6 month old, gray tabby male

Remember Vern Tessio, the endearingly chubby kid in the movie Stand By Me? Yep...this is the feline version of the character played by the young Jerry O'Connell. Yeah, you know Jerry O'Connell (if you are a female)...he is...um...kinda cute...real cute. That is what our little man Polaris is headed for- grown up cuteness- inside & out. This 16 week old kitten is a chubby, adorable tabby who loves to cuddle and eat (who doesn't!). He is active and playful, and loves to wrestle with his litter mate, Nyx (a rare, black Tennessee Long Tail – just kidding...she's just a sweet, plain old black cat). Polaris and his sister, Nyx, were born at The Humane Educational Society in Chattanooga, where their mother was staying. A well mannered, yet sometime mischeivious, Polaris is good with other cats, has been neutered, and is current on FVRCP and rabies vaccinations. He has also been microchipped, which will help him get back home safely if he is ever lost and brought to a shelter or vet clinic who will scan him. If you are interested in adopting Polaris, please contact his foster mom, Erin, directly at erin.felty@gmail.com.

Mamma Ki (Becca) – 2 yr old, gray tabby female

Mamma Ki is very outgoing and talkative, but is also a very skilled listener. A very social girl, she is great with other cats and children. Originally a resident of our local Humane Educational Society home for unwed pregnant cats, Mamma Ki was spayed soon after she delivered her loving bundles of joy, Nyx and Polaris. She and the kits (Polaris and Nyx, who are also available for adoption here on Petfinder.com) were soon placed in a loving multi-cat foster home, where they have resided until they were available for adoption. We think that she is between 1-2 years old. Her youthfulness is apparent, as she loves to play with her stuffed toy and wrestle with the other cats with whom she resides. As part of Now I'm Home Animal Rescue's vaccination protocol, Mamma Ki has been tested and found negative for Feline Aids/Feline Leukemia/heartworms, is current on her FVRCP and rabies vaccinations as well. She has also been microchipped, which will help her get back home safely if she is ever lost and brought to a shelter or vet clinic who will scan her. If you are interested in adopting Mamma Ki, please contact her foster mom, Erin, directly at erin.felty@gmail.com.

We are excited to share that we have just become accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association!

http://www.healthypet.com Please check out the above website to learn more about what AAHA stands for and what this means to Riverview Animal Hospital!

Best of the Best 2011!!!!

Thank you again, Chattanooga, for voting Riverview Animal Hospital Best of the Best for the second year in a row!! None of this would be possible without you!

Fast as Molasses!

The 2011 Mud Run was a great success! There were over 300 teams that came out to support Chattanooga's Habitat for Humanity ... Our team (Fast as Molasses) finished in good form and had a blast getting muddy. We can't wait until next year!