The Pet Expo in Orange County has become a staple event for many animal lovers in the Costa Mesa area, and we hope to make Puyallup’s Expo a fixture in your yearly calendar as well! With this Expo, we strive to bring you family-friendly pet entertainment with the purpose of providing education to pet enthusiasts and owners in regards to responsible pet care.

Some of the highlights:

• Pet Shopping – local and national pet companies will be at the expo showcasing their best and latest products (often at special show prices!!)
• Pet Interaction – Thousands of animals will be on site, and there will be various opportunities to pet and play with these loveable creatures!
• Pet Entertainment – There will be a variety of different fan-favorite shows and demonstrations that people of all ages will enjoy!  Stay tuned for more details…
• Pet Adoptions – If you’re thinking of getting a new pet, the Adoption area at America’s Family Pet Expo will feature animals from many local rescues and shelters looking for a new forever home!

If you like animals, America’s Family Pet Expo is an event you can’t help but love! So mark your calendars, November 2-4!  We can’t wait to see you at the Puyallup Fair & Event Center!

If you are looking to hire your pet-sitter for an extended vacation you have planned for the future, you may want to hire him or her to care for your pet during a short trip first.  This will allow you to work out any problems and give you comfort in knowing how things are being cared for on the home front before you leave for longer period of time.

Before you leave your pet in your pet-sitter’s hands, provide him or her with your pet’s medical and behavioral history.  Include your veterinarian and other emergency contact information.  You may also want to include written verification that your pet is up-to-date on its shots and affix current identification tags to your pet’s collar.  In addition, provide your pet-sitter with an outline or schedule of your pet’s daily activities including walks, playtime, feedings, etc.  Review the schedule with the sitter and make sure he or she understands what you expect and how he or she can accommodate your pet’s needs.

Make sure your pet sitter is aware of your pet’s quirky habits so he or she is not caught off guard and does not have to worry.  For example, does your pet eat less when you are away?  Does your cat hide in strange places where your pet sitter will have a hard time finding it?  Does your dog tend to tear up magazines and newspapers when left in reach?  What do certain actions mean? By informing your pet-sitter, he or she can be pro-active in preventing certain behaviors and equipped when other behaviors occur.

While you may like having your pet food in your pantry, the toys in your living area, cleaning supplies hidden in the laundry room, and medications stored in a cupboard, it will be easier for your pet-sitter if you put everything in one general area.  Just be sure that these items will be safe from your pet while you and your pet sitter are away! Also, provide extra food and supplies just in case something unexpected happens.

When you do leave, be sure to let your pet sitter know of anyone who will be coming into your home or on the premise and vice versa to avoid any confusion.  You may also want to let your neighbors know and give a trustworthy neighbor a spare key as a backup, as well as your pet sitter’s phone number.

We at America’s Family Pet Expo hope you find this information helpful!  If you have your own tips to provide on how to prepare for a pet-sitter, please share them with us on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/FamilyPetExpoWA.

There are many avenues available to find a credible pet sitter.  Ask your local vet or pet store for recommendations, inquire through the Better Business Bureau, search online review sites, or look into pet sitter organizations like National Association of Professional Pet Sitters or Pet Sitters International.

Once you have some prospects for a pet sitter, call and schedule an appointment to get to know them better.  Create a list of questions to ask ahead of time.  Some things to consider asking include:

• How much experience do you have? Do you have any type of certification?
• Are you bonded and insured?
• Do you have references (be sure to follow up on them too!)?
• Are you familiar with pet illnesses?  What are your action steps if you see signs of illness in my pet?
• What are the exact services you provide?  Will you be willing to do things like dog walking, grooming and play time?
• Do you have a backup plan if there is an emergency or sickness that prevents you from tending to my pet?

If you are satisfied with the phone interview, schedule a time for the pet sitter to come and meet with your pet.  See how they interact together.  Does your pet seem frightened or uncomfortable (and will not warm up to the person)?  If so, you may want to reconsider.

We at America’s Family Pet Expo hope this blog post helps you find a pet sitter you will feel comfortable leaving your animal family members with.  And if you already of have a great pet-sitter, be sure to let show your appreciation this week!

Chances are your pet is not going to be thrilled with getting its teeth brushed.  But, by easing into the routine, you (and your pet) may find the process a little less stressful.   Find a time that will consistently work for you.  Try just before a walk or a treat to give your pet something to look forward to after the task is completed.  Start by dipping your finger into beef bouillon for dogs or tuna water for cats.  Gently rub your finger over your pet’s teeth.  Focus on the gum line as this is where bacteria and food mix and form plaque.  Try to make the experience as positive as possible by not over-restraining your pet and keeping the session short.  Be sure to stay calm and talk positively to your pet throughout the experience.

When your pet has become accustomed to your finger, wrap gauze around your finger and let it become accustomed to it.  Increase the range of motion and the pressure as your pet becomes familiar to the gauze.  You should be able to gentry scrub the teeth in a circular motion before moving on to the toothbrush.

Once your pet is comfortable with the pressure and circular motion of the gauze, introduce a soft toothbrush.  The bristles should be held at a 45 degree angle to the tooth’s surface for the best results.   Again, move in a circular motion and scrub along the gum line.  Eventually add pet toothpaste.  Be sure you do not use human toothpaste as it can cause stomach problems for your pet.

With a little patience, a little effort, and a lot of love, you can make brushing your pet’s teeth into a positive experience.  Remember that brushing your pet’s teeth is not only good for their breath, but will go a long ways in keeping its teeth and gums healthy, as well as maintaining its overall health.  Join America’s Family Pet Expo in promoting good pet care by brushing your pet’s teeth!

Nobody likes to travel when they are sick, including your pet.  If you haven’t taken your pet to the vet recently, you may want to go in for a check-up and make sure all of its vaccinations are up-to-date.  If you are traveling out of state or out of country, be sure to ask your vet to issue a health certificate for your pet, which you should need when traveling over state and country borders.  While there, you may also want to snag an extra business card to carry with you, just in case your pet experiences a medical issue while you are traveling and you or another vet needs to get a hold of your regular vet.

No matter how well we train our pets, there is always a chance that they will somehow get away from us. This is especially scary when traveling in unfamiliar areas.  Micro-chip or no micro-chip, you should attach a temporary ID tag to your pet’s collar that lists your cell phone number, email address, and any other contact information that will allow someone to track you down if they find your pet.  It is also wise to take a recent photo of your pet along on the trip so you can show it to people if you and your pet get separated.

Plan your trip out ahead of time.  If you plan in staying in a hotel or resort at any point on your trip, you probably should book your accommodations before you leave.  Not all accommodations are pet-friendly and it can be very frustrating trying to find a suitable place to stay that meets your criteria while traveling on the road.

Equally frustrating can be trying to track down an item if you run out.  Be sure to bring along a generous supply of pet food and treats, as well as anything else your pet is picky about.  You may have a hard time tracking down your puppy’s specific dog food or kitty’s favorite cat treat along the way, and changing a diet on the road is probably not the best idea.

If you do not yet have something that will keep your pet restrained while you travel, you better hurry and get something before you leave!  Traveling with an unrestrained pet is not only dangerous for your pet, but also for you!  Many accidents occur because the driver gets distracted by a pet jumping on his lap or misbehaving somehow.  Travel crates, vehicle barriers, car seats, and seat belts are some of the options that are available specifically for pets.

We hope that you found the advice from America’s Family Pet Expo useful!  Safe travels to you and your pet!

When assessing your pet’s dental health, a visit with your veterinarian is important.  Your veterinarian will know the best routine to implement after assessing your pet’s dental needs. Also, be sure that when your pet gets its yearly check-up, the vet does a dental exam as well.  Prevention is an important part to keeping your pet healthy and your pet’s teeth and gums in good condition.

If humans need to brush their teeth, why not pets?  Brushing your pets teeth is a great way to keep its teeth and gums healthy.  Your local pet store or your vet should have toothpaste and toothbrushes for pets you can purchase.  Using human toothpaste is not recommended as it can upset your pet’s stomach.   If you try a human toothbrush, be sure to use one with ultra-soft bristles to avoid hurting the gums.

There are numerous types of pet food and treats available that retard plaque and tartar on the teeth of animals.  Chew toys are another great option that help with your pets dental health.  Your pet can have some fun and work on its dental health at the same time!

These are just a few ideas on how to improve your pet’s dental health from America’s Family Pet Expo. How do you keep your preserve your pet’s dental hygiene?  Visit our Facebook page and let us know!

• Studies show that pets can help lower the cholesterol, blood pressure and triglyceride levels in their pet owners.
• People with pets tend to exercise more, and children who have pets are said to get 20 more minutes of physical activity than those who do not have pets.
• Children who grow up with pets are less likely to develop allergies and have a better immune system.
• Having a pet can decrease heart attack mortality by 3%
• Owning a pet can decrease stress. One study done by Dr. Karen Allen studied 48 stockbrokers with hypertension.  Half of the stockbrokers adopted a dog or cat, and when the study concluded, the other half without a pet were twice as stressed.
• Kids who have aquariums typically score higher on SATs.
• Companion pets help children adjust better to serious illness or death in the family.
• Children who grow up with pets learn responsibility and nurturing skills.
• Kids who have family pets have higher self-esteem.  One study from the University of Kansas followed children ages seven to 14 and found that if they lived with a pet, their self-esteem and competence increased.

There are so many benefits to owning a pet and so much research that supports it!  Please click on the following links for more facts and research on the benefits of pet ownership:

www.petsintheclassroom.org

http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/health_benefits.htm

http://www.deltasociety.org/Page.aspx?pid=315

America’s Family pet Expo encourages you to carefully consider adding a pet to your family.  If you are ready to make the commitment, the benefits of responsible pet care await you!

America’s Family Pet Expo Blog – If you are reading this, you are already aware of our blog.  Please continue to check in for pet tips, expo news, Puyallup pet news, and more!

Flickr – Check out our Flickr page to see great photos of America’s Family Pet Expo.

Twitter – Want updates of what is going on at America’s Family Pet Expo? Follow us here!

Facebook – We love to engage with our attendees on our Facebook page. Be sure to like us to get all of our updates.

Google Plus – We are now on Google Plus!  Please “+1” us to recommend us to Google and your friends.  Also add us to your circle to get in on the communication and conversations.

We love to hear from you, so please follow on the above listed sites and feel free to give us your feedback! We at America’s Family Pet Expo appreciate your support and hope you will find the information we post useful!

When decorating for Halloween, pumpkins are of course very popular.  While pumpkins (as well as decorative corn, gourds, and other fall vegetables) are considered to be nontoxic, they can cause upset stomachs if your pets eat them.  Also, Jack-O-Lanterns or any other décor with candles should not be places where pets can reach them.  A pet can easily knock them over and start a fire or even burn itself.

We all know that chocolate is bad for pets, but you should also  keep your pet away from candies and baked goods containing the sugar free sweetener called xylitol as it has been known to cause liver failure and low blood pressure.  Candy wrappers can also cause problems as they can get stuck in your pet’s digestive track and make it sick.  By keeping the candy out of reach of your pet, you can avoid any complications that could arise if your pet decided to help itself to a little snack.

Trick-or-treaters can be stressful for some pets.  If your animal scares easily by loud noises and groups of people, it may be wise to find a place in your home to keeps your pet while you give out candy to trick-or-treaters. Also, be sure that your pet has identification (collar and tags or a microchip) in case it escapes outside when the door gets opened for the trick-or-treaters.

We at America’s Family Pet Expo wish you and your pet a Happy Halloween!  Be sure to visit the America’s Family Pet Expo Facebook page and post pictures of you and your animal family member enjoying the fun festivities!

To celebrate the last long weekend of the summer, many pet owners will hit the great outdoors with their four-legged friends. To make sure that you and your pets have a safe, fun-filled Labor Day weekend, keep these quick tips in mind:

Stock up your pet’s beach bag! If you’re enjoying the sand and surf this weekend, make sure to pack some protective eyewear and a doggy life jacket to keep your pet safe. Check out some suggestions for summer pet products, and be sure to review our beach safety tips for a refresher course before you hit the dunes.

Keep the grill “humans-only.” Although it’s tempting to slip pets a few goodies from the grill, animals can experience a bad case of an upset stomach if owners indulge them in their own BBQ feast.

Louise Murray, DVM, Director of Medicine for the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital in New York City, says after all major holidays centered on sit-down meals and lots of food, like Thanksgiving and Christmas, she always sees a sharp increase in patients being treated for pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas.
“Make sure your dog doesn’t have any treats, like pork chops or hot dogs. As much as you feel like having the dog or cat partake in the activities, they might be better off in a cool room by themselves,” Murray said. “There’s no need for someone to get sick.”

Use pet-friendly sunscreen and insect repellent — on both your pets and yourself. Yes, pets can get sunburns, too! Be sure to apply a pet-friendly sunscreen, or baby sunscreen if you can’t find pet sunscreen at your local pet store.

And don’t forget the insect repellent, as heartworm is contracted by mosquitoes. Make sure to use a pet-friendly repellent as well — products containing DEET can lead to vomiting and even neurological problems in animals.

Be mindful of human products, too. If you’re using human sunscreen containing PABA or zinc, or insect repellent containing DEET, make sure that your pets don’t lick your skin, as these substances can be toxic to animals.

Stay cool as cucumbers! Your pet may be suffering from heatstroke if he exhibits the following symptoms: excessive panting, profuse salivation, glazed eyes or staring, anxiety or restlessness, gums and tongue that appear bright red or purple, confusion, trouble standing or walking, collapse, and vomiting.

If you suspect that your pet is suffering from heatstroke, try to cool him down by soaking him with towels and water and placing him in front of a fan, if possible. Then contact your veterinarian immediately.