TUNE UP TIPS

Jet, my foster mom, was talking about tune-ups the other day. She seemed a little frustrated so I asked her what the problem was in hopes that my dog wisdom might be of help.

She’s frustrated because humans are good about getting their cars tuned-up but forget to do the same for their dogs and cats. Jet explained that car care is almost sacrosanct (word of the day) to Americans. They fuss over the finish (washing and waxing the outside), check the fluids on the inside, rotate the tires… you get the idea. All these steps ensure the car runs safely and at peak.

So why don’t humans do the same for their dogs and cats? I can see the checklist now:
Shots? – Check!
Eyes? – Check!
Teeth? – Check!

Pet Depot has a cool, 7-point Doggie Tuneup service (see list below) for dogs to make it easy for you. Combine this list with an annual veterinary visit and your dog’s body runs well and at peak.

(1) Your pet is bathed in premium shampoo, blow-dried, thoroughly brushed and checked for ticks.

(2) Eyes checked for clarity and infection.

(3) Exterior ear canals cleaned and treated with either oil-based mite killer or anti-bacterial powder.

(4) Nails trimmed and paws checked for infection and foxtails.

(5) Your pet's teeth brushed with special pet toothpaste (you keep the brush!).

(6) Very important - Anal glands expressed to keep clear and prevent infection.

(7) Cologne. A wonderful fragrance applied to keep your pet smelling fresh for days!*

*Advantage® or Frontline® Flea control is available for an extra charge. Please request in advance if you want us to apply it. All services preventative only. Medical conditions noted for you to follow up with your regular veterinarian. Willing, non-matted pets only. Long hair extra. Hair cutting available for extra fee.

So, here’s my lesson of the day… Humans need to keep their priorities in order. Making time for car tune-ups but not for pet tune-ups is just wrong. If the car runs down and dies it would be inconvenient but the loss of a pet is… Put our tune-up on your calendar and we’ll run for you and with you for a very long time.

Okay, here’s the question of the day from Fluffy who asked: Where should my humans go to find out if a food is safe for me to eat?

Hi Fluffy:

It’s usually recommended that you don’t eat food unless it is AAFCO certified. Their name should be on the label. AAFCO oversees the entire pet food industry. They don’t endorse any particular food but will certify that the food meets the minimum requirements for nutrition. If you are in Canada, go to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA).

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