Why You Should Microchip Your Pet

There are many situations that can separate a pet from their owner and odds are it will happen at least once in your time together. Collars and tags can be physically removed when a pet gets lost or stolen, but a microchip is tamper-proof and makes it nearly impossible to permanently lose a pet.

Inserting a microchip is as easy as giving your pet a shot. It’s a small electronic chip in a glass cylinder that is injected by a hypodermic needle. Once inserted by your veterinarian— under the skin and between the shoulder blades—it is registered with the manufacturer and your pet is assigned a unique identification number.

If your pet gets found and taken to a clinic or shelter, their microchip will be matched to you through a database and you will be contacted according to the information you have provided at registration. Don’t worry— random people won’t have access to your information. The chip only provides the registration number and manufacturer’s registry phone number; the registry will then contact the owner. Microchips last a lifetime and only need to be updated with your current contact information whenever it changes.

Microchipping gives the greatest possibility of getting your pet back should they get lost or stolen. It’s such a simple, inexpensive process and with the registration company we use there is no maintenance beyond registration and providing your contact information. It offers endless peace of mind if the unthinkable were to happen and you couldn’t find your pet. Call us today to ask about microchipping your family’s pet!
If you've visited us recently, you've probably noticed that we've been updating our resort. From the pet play yards to the suites and condos, everything is getting a fresh look with a relaxing, resort feel. Our Cat Playroom has new life with new features sure to entertain all of our feline guests. Click here t o reserve your pet's stay-cation or call 337-984-7611.
Employee Of The Month

Our May Employee of the Month is Meagan from our nursing team. Her commitment to care and attention to detail makes her such a valuable part of our team. We appreciate her and love how she loves our patients.

Thank you for all you do, Meagan!
Homemade Cat Food Can Be
Hazardous To Your Cats’ Health 

Advice to clients who are thinking about feeding their cats a homemade diet: think twice before downloading that cat food recipe—even if a veterinarian wrote it. A new  study  from researchers at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) found that most cat food recipes found online are unlikely to provide cats all their essential nutrients. Some even call for ingredients potentially toxic to cats. One classic repeated example was an inadequate amount of taurine- an essential nutrient cats cannot live without. 

This is not to advise that all homemade cat food diets are bad. Many great diets do exist, however, the ingredient list and process is intensive to ensure all nutritional needs are met and done safely. If you’re considering this, we’d like to discuss the recipe you’ve chosen and review your cat’s individual health to ensure no deficits or health hazards are created. For example, some recipes called for onions, leeks, garlic, or garlic powder which are toxic to cats, while others failed to mention risks of bacterial contamination or bone grinding to prevent gastrointestinal tears. 

Conversation over diet usually begins with the question of ‘why’ you’re considering a diet change for your cat. Not to pry, but most cat parents make this switch because their cat suddenly changes preferences or stops eating premade diets. This flags us to then look deeper at the cause of this before settling on a homemade diet change. Reasons to consider or proceed with a homemade diet include lifestyle or allergies for the pet owner, but don’t usually include cost savings as the cost of an adequate homemade diet is usually 2-3 times greater than nutritionally balanced, pre-made diets. 
Tips To Prepare Your Pup for
Fear Free Grooming:

1.      Play with those paws
Desensitize your pup to hair or nail clipping by playing with their paws daily. For added fun, throw in some treats. This will help so much during grooming as this is where about 20% of our time is spent.

2.      Splash them, or let them walk in water
So many dogs really struggle with the bathing part of a grooming session, especially small dogs. Help them through this by teaching them that standing in water is safe and comfortable. Try just an inch of water in the bathtub while they lick peanut butter or cheese from the side of your tub!

3.      Brush your pet between grooms
We get it, this isn’t fun and it takes time. Try keeping a brush for your dog by their food. Whenever you’re getting ready to feed them, run the brush over their ears 2-3 times and down each leg. This will take no more than a minute or two but will help them to not see threat when we do it during their grooming sessions. This is a great way to recognize areas that are beginning to mat also. When you notice these, you’ll know you need to spend a bit more time combing through them…. or calling for a sooner appointment.

4.      Come often
Maybe your pet's coat needs less maintenance than other breeds, but you like to have them professionally bathed vs. doing it yourself. This is great! All the above rules still apply and we’ll add one more- come in often! This helps your dog to recall the routine and feel secure about their time with us. Also, while many believe frequent shampooing dries their skin out, it’s quite the opposite!

5.      Don’t be nervous yourself- fear travels down the leash
Make a conscious effort to not be nervous that your pet will struggle or be afraid during their session. Instead, call us ahead of time to ask us anything about the process until you’re comfortable. Feeling confident about grooming is what you AND your pup deserve!
Don't forget your pet's flea and heartworm prevention!
L afayette Veterinary Care Center
337-984-7611
info@LafayetteVets.com