The Pet Experts of Elmhurst, IL

At Elmhurst Animal Care Center, we take great pride in being your trusted source of knowledge and information when it comes to your pet. Our educational pet care blogs is one way we extend our service to you outside of regular business hours, and we’re thrilled that so many of you are reading it!

Changing and growing is important to us, and we know that in order to do that, we must pause and reflect on what we’ve done in the past year. We hope you enjoy this list of our most popular pet care blogs of 2018!

Most of us are aware of the dangers of our pets overheating in warm weather, but what about their safety in the cold? It’s a mistake to think that a pet’s fur can protect them from winter wind, rain, snow, and wind. A good rule of thumb is, if it’s too cold outside for you, it’s too cold for your pet.

It’s true that some Northern breeds are better equipped to handle cold conditions than short haired, thin skinned breeds (like a chihuahua). But even these dogs need protection from the elements. What are your ideas for keeping pets warm in the winter? Stay tuned as The Pet Experts take you through some best practices to keep everyone in your pack safe and comfortable.

Cancer is one of the most common diseases diagnosed in pets, especially as they age. Unfortunately, this doesn’t make it any easier for those of us who love and care for pets with cancer. Depending on how sick the pet is, daily care can take up a good deal of time and energy, and the emotional turmoil of the whole experience can be overwhelming.

Even though you may be caring for a sick pet, life must still go on. In some cases, this means traveling with a pet who has a compromised immune system. With the holidays right around the corner, The Pet Experts are here with some helpful tips to support your pet every step of the way.

Both children and animals have a way of bringing people together and making our hearts melt. The Pet Experts at Elmhurst Animal Care Center know that when these forces unite, it can be quite powerful! We love to share in and celebrate the incredible teams made between children and pets.

Children and Pets: Mutual Benefits

Of course as an animal lover you probably know that spending time with your pet makes you feel great, but did you know that there is real and scientific evidence that pets have positive effect on us all? In fact, HABRI (the Human Animal Bond Research Institute) keeps a database of all the research being produced about the positive effects of animals on people. It is amazing to look at.

With a 24-hour news cycle filling our collective hearts and minds, we could all benefit from something fun, right? An event that all but guarantees smiles, giggles, and probably a belly rub or two. We’re talking about planning a pet birthday party, of course! It might sound frivolous to some, but The Pet Experts can assure you, there are few things as wonderful and memorable as a gathering to celebrate one’s best furry friend.

The Exact Day?

Many pet owners don’t know when their pet was born. That’s Okay! You can celebrate the day you adopted them, or any other date that holds meaning for you. Once you set the date, you’ll have to hone in on several tiers of pet party planning elements.

X Marks the Spot

Choosing the location of your pet birthday party is a huge puzzle piece. Once you kind of have an idea of the general numbers of humans and pets in attendance you can decide between:

• Your house (do you have enough inside/outside space to accommodate your guest list?)
• Favorite park (you may need permission from the city)
• Doggie daycare facility (like our’s at Elmhurst Animal Care Center)
• Family or friend’s house or property

Protection from the elements is important. Animal guests must be able to go outside to the bathroom, as well.

Who’s Coming?

Are you going to include your friends and family, or just people you know that share your affinity for animals? There’s something to be said for inclusivity, but some pets may need to sit this one out if their behavior and socialization isn’t up to par.

Kids can also add a great deal of fun to your event, but their unpredictability can set some pet’s nerves on edge. No matter who is coming to your pet birthday party, close supervision is key.

Other Considerations

To get the most of your pet birthday party, plan a coordinated activity or two. If the weather is nice and your gathering is outside, any of the following can work:

• Fetch
• Hide and seek
• Water games
• Photo booth
• Frisbee

Your Own Pet Birthday Party

You’ll probably want to serve your guests food, and pets are famous for indulging in homemade treats like these:

• Doggy or Kitty birthday cake (little or no sugar, and nutritious)
• Homemade biscuits
• Freezer pup-sicles or frozen tuna cubes for cats
• Yogurt treats
• Fresh, bite-sized apples, carrots (steamed), blueberries, roasted sweet potato and more

Please let the Pet Experts know if you have any questions or concerns about your pet birthday. Better yet, share a picture on our Facebook from your pet’s special day. Enjoy!

When you come to The Pet Experts, you’ve probably talked to one of our veterinary technicians about your pet’s health. Whether it’s for a preventive care exam, a dental cleaning, or if your pet is sick, you know it is a great comfort to have a caring, experienced, and knowledgeable veterinary technician helping to care for your pet.

But what, exactly, do these team members do? Far from simply fetching a vaccine or counting out pills, veterinary technician duties and talents range far and wide. And, with October 14 – 20th, 2018 designated National Veterinary Technician Appreciation Week, there’s no better time to shine a spotlight on these caring and skilled professionals.

If your pet were critically injured tomorrow, and needed to be hospitalized, could you afford the bill?

We all strive to take the very best care of our pets. They’re members of our family, after all! Luckily, we now have access to advanced veterinary care for our pets. From cancer treatment, to life saving critical care, to treatment for hyperthyroidism, we are fortunate to have many choices when it comes to treating major illness and injury. However, that advanced care does not come without cost. According to Canine Journal, the annual cost of pet care is now topping $1800 per pet. So it’s no wonder that veterinary care is becoming a significant financial strain on many families.

That’s where pet insurance comes in. Just as human health insurance is meant to bridge the gap between cost and needed health care, pet insurance can ease the financial burden of unexpected illness or injury in our pets. But is it worth it? Continue…

Dog lovers everywhere know how wonderful it can be to share life with a canine companion; the bond we share with dogs is truly unique, and their ability to detect and respond to our feelings and concerns is nothing short of incredible.

For the thousands of men, women, and children living with a physical or mental disability, the bond with a dog can actually be life changing. Service dogs offer their handlers the chance to live independently, move freely, and can even save lives.

What is a Service Dog?

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service dog is not a pet. A service dog is defined as one that has been “individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability.” Some of the ways in which a dog can be of service to a human handler include: Continue…

Anyone who enjoys the great outdoors knows to bring along certain supplies “just in case.” Indeed, it’s always better to have something and not need it, instead of the other way around. So it goes with disaster preparedness. When thinking about evacuation plans, medical needs, and more, it’s good to have a general understanding of how to protect and provide for your pet should an emergency situation arise.

Better Safe than Sorry

One of the best defenses against separation is to microchip your pet. This is important for general pet care, of course, but in the event of a natural disaster or emergency, it provides the best chance at a happy reunion. While microchipping isn’t a replacement for a collar and ID tags, microchips definitely add an extra layer of protection. Continue…

Welcome home! You step inside your house after a few hours out expecting a warm welcome from your pet. Instead, you find that your dog has chewed your rug, or your cat has eliminated on your bed! Are your pets angry at you for leaving? Likely not.

It’s possible that feelings of anxiety and fear at being left alone are at the root of your pet’s behavior. Separation anxiety is a one of the top contributing factors for behavior problems in pets.

The Pet Experts have some tips on how to recognize and resolve separation anxiety in pets.   Continue…