You see them riding in cars – with their head out the window, going for walks, or running around the backyard and enjoying the sunshine.

If your dog is doing any of the above, you may not realize it, but your dog needs to be protected from the sun, just like you.

Many pet owners don’t realize that there is actually sunscreen for dogs, just like there is for humans.

When should you use sunscreen, though?

If your dog is losing hair or has bald spots, these areas should have sunscreen first.

If your dog loves to just lie out in the sun all day long, then you should use sunscreen – particularly on their nose and the area between their back legs.

If you are headed to the beach or to the campground for the day or weekend, they should have the protection of sunscreen here too.

If you are just taking a quick walk, then they should be fine.

Try your best to have a shaded area available for your dog to escape to if it is getting too hot out.

When you make the decision to apply sunscreen on your dog, you should follow a few tips when doing so.

You want to make sure that you use a vet approved sunscreen that is specifically designed for dogs.

Make sure you apply it to just a small area first, before covering their bodies.

This way you can check for any sort of reaction, especially if your dog has sensitive skin. You want to read the label and avoid zinc oxide which can be toxic to them. If your dog has a reaction to the sunscreen, another option is to buy them sun protective clothing – make sure to buy lighter colors to reflect the rays and keep your dog cool.

Most importantly, make sure your dog has plenty of water available so he does not get dehydrated while you are out.

If you have questions about sunscreen and would like a recommendation, or are in need of specialized veterinary care and services, please feel free to give Powell Veterinary Service a call today at 970-352-9164.

The post Keeping Fun In The Sun Safe For Your Dog first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.

Their teeth have to last a lifetime just like ours will.

With this being said, it is necessary to establish a routine and train your pets for teeth brushing.

There are a few different things to consider before beginning brushing your dog or cat’s teeth.

The first being the size of their mouths; you cannot pull out a regular toothbrush from your drawer and begin using that on your cat or dog.

You should use a brush that will be able to get to the back teeth easily without hurting them at all.

To start training your dog for teeth brushing you should begin by putting your hand near their mouth, and rewarding them when they don’t bite or pull away.

Once you are able to touch your dog without any negative reaction from him or her, you should be able to begin the teeth brushing process.

Some things that you need to work on with your dog to get them ready for teeth brushing would be lifting the upper lips, being able to open their mouth, and holding their head in place for the brushing to actually happen.

For puppies, this training process may take a bit longer than older dogs that may be easier to work with because the trust factor has already been established.

If your puppy has gotten over the bad habit of wanting to nibble at your fingers when they go towards his mouth, licking doesn’t count here; you may be able to get away with using finger brushes.

Next, pick out a great flavor of toothpaste that your dog will enjoy, there are so many available from chicken to peanut butter, to mint.

Make sure to check the labels for anything that your dog may be allergic to, and check with your vet for brands that they may recommend.

Once you get started brushing, make it into a daily routine with lots of praise and rewards. You can then reward yourself with the next visit to the vet when you can save some money on pet dental visits or surgery.

At Powell Veterinary Service, we are here to help keep your pet healthy and happy. If your pet is in need of specialized or common veterinary care, contact us at 970-352-9164 today!

The post Tips For Training Your Pets For Teeth Brushing first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.

They lay by your feet, provide the power of healing purrs and greet you every day at the door when you come home from a long day at work.

But what happens when your pet doesn’t greet you at 5 p.m. tonight?

You automatically think that there could be something wrong.

Here are a few signs to look out for if you think your pet has any type of illness:

Decreased Appetite or Activity Level – This is one of the most common tell-tale signs that your pet may be ill. They don’t run to their bowl when they hear the sound of kibble pouring into it or they don’t want to go for a walk in the park like you do every night after dinner.

Dogs and cats tend to stop eating for a variety of reasons; they could have a fever, be stressed out or in pain.

Vomiting or Diarrhea – dogs and cats can vomit from time to time without any cause for concern. A dog could have overplayed outside and eaten some leaves or grass and that may cause some vomit on the carpet.

But, if you notice that your pet is vomiting or has diarrhea several times over the course of a day could be signs of illness.

Cats may have diarrhea outside of the litterbox as well. If you notice that there is blood in the stool or vomit, you should contact your veterinarian.

Hair Loss or Itching Constantly – There are plenty of reasons for a dog or cat to itch themselves on a regular basis, but if you notice that they are scratching more than usual they may have fleas, ticks, or ear mites.

There are also other illnesses that can cause these same symptoms such as staph infections, fungal or yeast infections and other diseases.

You are your pet’s best advocate, and if you are concerned about symptoms that you are seeing, please contact your local veterinarian.

At Powell Veterinary Service, we are the best resource when it comes to your pet’s health.

Worried your pet might have an illness; contact us at 970-352-9164 today!

The post Signs That Your Pet May Have An Illness first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.

Sometimes fleas are unstoppable from getting into your yard, but whether your dog or cat actually gets bitten by one, can be up to you.

Fleas can enter your yard by a multitude of different wildlife such as skunks, coyotes, raccoons and untreated cats and dogs.

Some nurseries in your area may sell products to discourage these animals from entering into your yard to reduce the risk of your animals having a flea jump on them.

Fleas and ticks love yards that are full of brush and are not maintained.

By keeping your bushes trimmed, cutting your lawn and making sure your lawn is not overgrown you can deter these pests from having a negative impact on your life.

Most pet owners like to rely on a method of flea prevention products. With these products they are typically applied on a regular basis, it is incredibly important to not miss a dose, because if you do, your pet is not protected.

It goes without saying that you should keep a tidy house to avoid flea infestations, but if a pesky flea makes its way inside you can buy household foggers or sprays that will kill adult fleas as well as their larvae and eggs as they hatch.

Proceed with caution; these products can be toxic to pets and children.

If your cats or dogs don’t mind taking a dip in the tub every two weeks, you can buy flea prevention shampoos.

It is an inexpensive option that many pet owners choose to take.

However, these shampoos do not provide long lasting protection, so bath times will be something you will regularly need to do especially in the height of flea season.

For more tips or if you need veterinary treatment in Kersey, CO, contact Powell Veterinary Service at (970) 352-9164 today.

Do you have any tips that you try on your own that you would like to share? Let us know in the comments below!

The post How To Protect Your Pets From Fleas This Spring first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.

Thankfully, the country as a whole is making sure that the laws reflect this, as animal protection laws are getting better. Since it is 2016, many of us are concentrating on resolutions in hopes of becoming better, healthier people, but the truth is that to become a better person you have to treat the world around you with the utmost kindness, and that includes all the animals in it.

According to Arin Greenwood of Huffpost Green, “The United States is a country of pet lovers – and state lawmakers are taking notice. More and more states are making animal cruelty a felony. States increasingly allow pets to be included in domestic violence protection orders. And as of this year, 19 states now forbid cities and counties from imposing pit bull bans. The Animal Legal Defense Fund’s 2015 U.S. Animal Protection Laws Rankings Report finds the country on an upward trend.”

That is great news, particularly for animal lovers everywhere. It is nice to see that lawmakers are recognizing that a HUGE majority of Americans love animals, have pets, and want to see them protected under the law. We can weigh the heart of any civilization by how it treats its animals. By reflecting this good-naturedness in laws, society is setting a great precedent for future generations: Treat animals with care and respect; it is the same as treating your fellow man with care and respect.

At Powell Veterinary Service, that is something we can get behind, a wonderful way to start the New Year.

The post Improving Animal Welfare in America first appeared on Powell Veterinary Service.