Happy Birthday!

The Seeing Eye is 88 years old today! Visit the website www.seeingeye.org for more informstion. The Seeing Eye is based out of Morristown NJ

Colonial Park Dog Park ~ Somerset , NJ

Somerset County Park Commission has created a leash-free dog area in Colonial Park. Dogs and their owners may visit the three acre (530' by 250') fenced area, in which dogs are free to roam and play. The leash-free dog area is located off of Mettlers Road and is accessed via the same driveway as the Spooky Brook Golf Maintenance area.

Cat Food Recall

The J.M. Smucker Company announced a voluntary recall on certain lots of 9LivesTM, EverPetTM, and Special KittyTM canned cat food due to possible low levels of thiamine. The problem was discovered by the Quality Assurance team during review of production records at the manufacturing facility. No illnesses have been reported in relation to this issue. The product is being recalled out of caution. Cats fed diets low in thiamine for longer periods of time may be at risk for developing a thiamine deficiency. Thiamine is very essential for cats. Symptoms of deficiency displayed by an affected cat can be displayed by gastrointestinal or neurological in nature. Early signs of thiamine deficiency can include decreased appetite, salivation, vomiting, and weight loss. In some advanced cases, neurological signs can develop, which include ventroflexion (bending towards the floor) of the neck, wobbly walking, circling, falling, and seizures. Customers are urged to contact their veterinarian immediately if their cat is displaying any of these symptoms. If treated promptly, thiamine deficiency is typically reversible. The affected product was distributed to a limited number of retail customers from December 20 through January 3, 2017. Customers who have cans of affected cat food should stop feeding it to their cats and call the company at 1-800-828-9980 Monday through Friday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM EST or contact us at consumer.relations@jmsmucker.com.

Happy New Year!

Thank you for making my 13 years in pet services so wonderful! Wishing Blessings for the year ahead. ~ Julie

Cold Weather Pet Safety

I posted this helpful informstion last January. With below freezing temperstures heading our way, its good to review again. The American Veterinary Medical Association offers Cold Weather Pet Safety Tips. Make some noise: A warm vehicle engine can be an appealing heat source for outdoor and feral cats, but it’s deadly. Check underneath your car, bang on the hood, and honk the horn before starting the engine to encourage feline hitchhikers to abandon their roost under the hood. Check the paws: Check your dog’s paws frequently for signs of cold-weather injury or damage, such as cracked paw pads or bleeding. During a walk, a sudden lameness may be due to an injury or may be due to ice accumulation between his/her toes. You may be able to reduce the chance of iceball accumulation by clipping the hair between your dog’s toes. Play dress-up: If your dog has a short coat or seems bothered by the cold weather, consider a sweater or dog coat. Have several on hand, so you can use a dry sweater or coat each time your dog goes outside. Wet sweaters or coats can actually make your dog colder. Some pet owners also use booties to protect their dog’s feet; if you choose to use them, make sure they fit properly. Wipe down: During walks, your dog’s feet, legs and belly may pick up deicers, antifreeze, or other chemicals that could be toxic. When you get back inside, wipe down (or wash) your pet’s feet, legs and belly to remove these chemicals and reduce the risk that your dog will be poisoned after (s)he licks them off of his/her feet or fur. Consider using pet-safe deicers on your property to protect your pets and the others in your neighborhood.