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Do you travel for business and hate having to ask a friend or neighbor to stop by and feed and exercise your pet? Or, maybe you work long hours, too long for your Burlington area dog to stay indoors? Beattie Animal Hospital in Burlington offers both pet boarding and doggie day care, so you know that your pet is being well cared for while you’re away.

Benefits of pet daycare and boarding

Burlington pet boarding gives your pet the security of having someone around while you’re not able to be there with them. They do not have to wait until you get home to eat or go to the bathroom. They also will not get bored and lonely and do things like shred newspaper or chew on your shoes. What’s more: if you pet happens to fall ill, you know there’s an experienced vet right on the premises, 24 hours a day.

Burlington doggie day care gives your dog a place to socialize with other dogs, exercise and play while you are at work or tied up with other obligations. Our Burlington pet boarding provides comfortable heated and air conditioned accommodations that are sized for your pet. We also provide separate, specially-designed quarters for cats out of earshot of those scary and sometimes intimidating dogs. All of our Burlington doggie day care and pet boarding areas are equipped with video monitoring and surveillance. We can even give your pet their annual wellness checkup while they stay with us.

To avoid disappointment, the staff at Beattie Animal Hospital recommends that you reserve your pet’s boarding accommodations well in advance. For the health and well-being of all of the pets in our care, we also require that your pet’s core vaccinations be up to date before he boards with us.

Have you used pet boarding or doggie daycare facilities recently?

Most pet owners already know that the summer heat can be deadly for pets left in cars. Never leave your pet in your car. That’s a great start – but you still need to come up with a variety of ways to keep your pet cool at home when the temperature soars. Heatstroke and dehydration are big problems for pets in the hot weather months, even those that don’t leave home.

These tips from our Burlington veterinarians will help you keep your dog or cat safe all summer long:

Reduce or Limit Activities During hot Hours

Cut down on playtime during the hottest part of the day and the hours just beforehand. Playing outdoors can cause your dog’s temperature to rise, and his fluffy coat will make it hard to cool back down again. Play or do some vigorous activity in the morning and your pet will be ready to rest – not run – during the hottest part of the day. Beattie Animal Hospital vets can give you an idea of how much exercise your pet needs.

Grooming

Good grooming is always helpful for your pet’s health – but it is absolutely essential in the spring and summer. Less hair means less heat and lower temperatures. Consider getting a grooming or haircut for longer haired breeds, and brush all furry pets well to remove excess fur. Burlington can get hot enough for your pet to need one or more summer grooming sessions.

Offer Tempting Shade

Most animals will seek out a cool spot on their own – but if your home or yard doesn’t have a ready- made spot, offer some shade. You can buy a pet house for this purpose, but you may find your cat is just as happy with a cardboard box or other vessel.

As always, your Beattie Animal Hospital staff is here for you if you have any questions or concerns about keeping your pet cool.

We’d love to know — what’s your favorite stay cool tip for summer?

If you think that professional pet grooming is only for show-dogs, think again. Professional grooming offers a number of important health benefits for all types of dogs and cats.

4 Professional Pet Grooming Benefits

Here are four reasons why our Burlington animal hospital recommends professional cat and dog grooming services for all our pets:

#1: Keep skin and coats healthy. Regular pet grooming is important for all pets, especially if your dog likes to play outside or roll in the mud. Dirt, allergens and dander can build up in your pet’s fur. Not only is matted fur unhygienic and smelly, but matted fur is also an invitation for fleas and other parasites. Regular baths keep your pet clean and smelling fresh.

#2: Help nervous pets relax. Bathing an anxious dog can be quite a challenge! Trimming nails on a nervous pet can be even more difficult. Anxious pets may squirm or try to escape. This increases the risk for cutting the nail quick, which is incredibly painful and causes bleeding. Professional groomers are fully experienced with nervous or anxious pets. These groomers can help pets relax and enjoy their grooming experience. Pets will be happier and safer, thanks to a reduced risk for escape or injury.

#3: Manage allergies. Are you or a family member allergic to dogs or cats? Individuals with mild allergies can still happily share their homes with pets as long as these pets are regularly groomed. Regular grooming also helps to combat pollen and ragweed allergies. When pets play outside, these allergens can attach to their fur. The allergens are then deposited on the carpet, bedding and furniture when pets come back inside. Regular baths cuts down on allergens so everyone can breathe easy.

#4: Professionally trim fur. It’s easy to “over-trim” while giving your pet a do-it-yourself haircut. This exposes your pet’s skin and increases the risk for a burn. Whether you prefer your pet with a fancy haircut or simply a summer trim, professional dog grooming is safer than cutting your pet’s fur at home.

When was the last time that your pet was professional groomed?

Is your pet’s breath anything but a bed of roses? A bad or foul smelling odor is not just unpleasant – it may also by symptomatic of an undiagnosed oral health problem like gum disease. Regular pet dentistry appointments are the best way to protect your pet’s oral health and reduce the risk for gingivitis, periodontal disease, bacterial infections and tooth loss.

3 At-Home Pet Dental Care Tips

Worried about your pet’s dental health? Keep reading to brush up on your pet dentistry knowledge and learn how to keep you pet healthy:

#1: Brush your pet’s teeth.

Good oral health is important at all stages of your pet’s life, and should start with puppy and kitten care. Once your pet has his permanent teeth, you should begin weekly brushings. Help your pet acclimate to the brushings by putting a small dollop of toothpaste on your finger and running it over your pet’s gums. Once your pet is comfortable with this, you can progress to using a toothbrush. Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle; this is the best angle to remove plaque buildup and food debris from the gum line. Brush your pet’s teeth at least once per week.

#2: Choose dental-friendly food and treats.

Wet foods are more likely to stick to the gum line or become caught in the teeth. If your pet eats a wet food diet, you may need to brush more regularly than a dry food diet. Stickier treats like Kong peanut butter are more likely to become stuck along the gum line. Choose natural pet dental health treats that freshen breath and help “floss” the teeth by removing plaque. Remember, however, that even the best dental treats are no substitute for regular brushing.

#3: Schedule regular cleanings at an animal hospital.

While at-home care provides a strong foundation for your pet’s oral health, only a professional cleaning can remove tartar. Our veterinarian recommends annual cleanings at our Burlington animal hospital. During a cleaning we will scrape away tartar from the gum line and polish your pet’s teeth.

Do you include pet dentistry as part of your puppy and kitten care?