Resources
Client Education
- Information on Diagnoses: VeterinaryPartner.com has excellent information in easy-to-understand terminology. Cornell Feline Health Center is a great resource for cat health topics.
- Pet Care: Colorado State University‘s general practice website, the website for the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA), and Cornell University’s Partners in Animal Health website are great resources. The ASPCA also has a great Cat Care and Dog Care page. Many of these sites include helpful tips on how to pill a cat!
- Diabetes Information: AVMA site
- Breeding Information: see the University of Prince Edward Island’s Canine Inherited Disorders Database for what your pet could pass along!
- Getting Your Cat to the Vet: see this De-Stressing Feline Vet Visits article (published in 406bark) for information on crate training and more.
How-To Videos
Support and Pet Loss Resources
The Argus Institute at Colorado State University has excellent resources for pet loss and grief support at this page.
Pet Insurance
Pet health insurance makes it easier to get your pet taken care of with less stress. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) endorses this concept (see website). The following is a list (not comprehensive) of providers so you can research the best option for you and your pet:
Emergency and First Aid Information
- Poisons: visit the ASPCA Poison Control webpage (especially for plants and respective pictures) or Pet Poison Helpline to get reliable information on pet toxicities.
- Xylitol is incredibly toxic to pets. See a list of products which include xylitol to be sure you keep it away from your pets at this website.
- Emergency Preparedness: see the AVMA’s First Aid Tips for Pet Owners webpage.
- If you hike or backpack with your pet, here are some resources for making your own first aid kit:
- See this ASPCA handout
- See this AKC website
Parasite, Disease, and Rabies Information
- Parasite Prevention and Information: see the Companion Animal Parasite Council’s parasite maps (use menu top left of map) and owner-friendly parasite information. The University of Guelph’s Worms and Germs Blog also has excellent, up-to-date information on parasites and disease outbreaks.
- Heartworm Disease: see the American Heartworm Society (AHS) website for information on transmission, life cycle, prevention, and treatment, as heartworm disease becomes more of an issue in Montana.
- Rabies in Montana: stay up-to-date with the Montana Department of Livestock website.
- County License: visit Flathead County Animal Shelter’s website to get a lifetime rabies license – just $45 (or $70 with smart tag)!
Behavioral and Training Resources
- Training and Behavior: visit the Indoor Pet Initiative website for environmental enrichment ideas, as well as general training information.
- Training Methods: check out the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) website for their positions on training methods and behavioral correction.
- Behavior: are you experiencing behavioral issues with your dog or cat? Working with a behaviorist tends to be the biggest help, however there are not any certified in Montana. Two on-line consultation options below:
- Dr. Betsy Challen (based in CA): AVSAB site or practice site
- Landmark Behaviour (Canadian)
- Dogs and Children: visit the ASPCA’s website on dogs and children to protect children from possible dog attacks.
- Crate Training: see the Humane Society site for tips to make it work for your dog.
Pet Food and Nutrition Information
- Overview: download Dr. Carsyn Beach’s handout on Choosing Your Pet’s Food, which also has additional resources at the end for more information.
- Raw Diets: the American Veterinary Medicine Association discourages feeding raw diets due to the risk of Salmonella contamination and because it is not a balanced diet. See the handout above for more information. The CDC website also has information.
- Grain-Free: grain-free diets and ’boutique’ diets may be linked with causing heart disease in some dogs (specifically dilated cardiomyopathy). See more at the AVMA website.
- Treats: see Dr. Beach’s handout on You Are What You Treat for more information, as well as some healthy home-made treat recipes. (previously published in 406bark magazine)
- Reading Pet Food Labels: see AAFCO’s website to understand the key components of the label.
- Food/Treat Recalls: see the respective FDA‘s recall website.
- The Ohio State University has an excellent Nutrition Support Service with information on body condition, myths, choosing food, home-made diets, and more.
- Tufts University’s Clinical Nutrition Service has information on reading pet food labels, choosing your pet’s food, and more.
- The Pet Nutrition Alliance has a great FAQ page, calorie calculator, and a wealth of other nutritional information.
- How many calories should your pet get per day? Use Purina’s handy calculator for cats or dogs.
Dogs and Cars (or Trucks)
- Car Safety: the Center for Pet Safety researched safety with dogs loose, in crates, or in harness. SleepyPod harnesses did best in their studies.
- Truck Safety: the AVMA has reviewed an article regarding truck bed safety for dog transport. Summary: Keep inside the cab and use a seatbelt harness for best safety for you and your pet.
Don’t Buy, Adopt!
- We work closely with the Humane Society of Northwest Montana. They have a great selection of dogs and cats needing loving new homes. Visit their website for information on their pets or to make a donation.
- Flathead County Animal Shelter is another adoption option – see their website.
- Expand your search for other shelter pets by visiting PetFinder.com.