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.
- 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.
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.
- Emergency Preparedness: see the AVMA’s First Aid Tips for Pet Owners webpage.
Parasite 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.
- 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!
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.
- Dogs and Children: visit the ASPCA’s website on dogs and children and the webpage by Dr. Sophia Yin (behaviorist) to protect children from possible dog attacks.
- Crate Training: see Cesar’s Way 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 have been linked with causing heart disease in some dogs (specifically dilated cardiomyopathy). See more at Tuft’s clinical nutrition 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.
- Reading Pet Food Labels: see the FDA‘s website to understand the key components of the label.
- Food/Treat Recalls: see the respective FDA‘s recall website.
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.