Lost Pet Prevention Month

Did you know that July is Lost Pet Prevention Month? While no one likes to think of their furry friends getting lost, unfortunately it does happen. This is one area where an ounce of prevention can be worth several pounds of cure! In this article from Arapahoe Animal Hospital, your Boulder, CO vet, serving Louisville and surrounding areas, a local vet offers tips on keeping your pet safe at home.

If your furry friend hasn’t been microchipped yet, we strongly advise that you get this done ASAP. A microchip is very small, really only about the size of a grain of rice, but it could one day save your pet’s life. The process is very quick and simple, and will only take a few minutes. It can be worked into any veterinary appointment. Once your pet has been microchipped, you’ll need to keep the records updated in the chipmaker’s database. (Tip: try checking the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup to check your information.)

Microchipping is great, but regular ID tags are also very important. They’re also required by law in many places! If your four-legged pal does get lost, tags are still the easiest way for someone to contact you.

Do you have a yard for your canine buddy to run around in? Make sure that your fencing is secure, and is too high for your dog to jump over. You’ll also want to check the bottom of the fence, and look for gaps that Fido could dig under or crawl through. You can make the fence more secure by burying chicken wire beneath it, and weighting that down with rocks. We also highly recommend getting self-latching gates.

Keeping your feline pal inside will greatly reduce the chances of her getting lost. If your kitty has a habit of trying to run out the door, work on making her nervous of the door. Don’t punish your cat for trying to get out: this will only make her even more determined to escape. Instead, squirt her with water or make a loud noise when she approaches the door. This will annoy her without hurting her. Cats hate being annoyed!

Do you have questions about your pet’s health or care? Call us at Arapahoe Animal Hospital, your Boulder, CO vet, serving Louisville and surrounding areas, today!