​Today’s #TuesdayTips we wanted to get the word out about the amazing local shelters and rescues in our community. Soon it will be “kitten season”, a time when many of these rescues are overwhelmed with an abundance of kittens for various reasons and will be in need of your support. There are many rescues out there, and each has their own policies and protocols so be sure to research each rescue yourself to ensure it aligns with your own beliefs.
 
Oxford County Animal Rescue
Located in Woodstock, they are a foster-based pet rescue with the exception of the kitties housed at the Woodstock PetsMart adoption centre. Founded in 2013, the volunteer organization’s mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and re-home neglected, abused, and abandoned domestic animals in Oxford County and Surrounding areas. They can be contacted through their Facebook page or their website www.oxfordcountyanimalrescue.com/.
 
Wellington Animal Rescue
Located within Wellington Animal Hospital in Woodstock, they work with the local pounds to provide emergency medical services for the dogs and cats brought into care. For cases that need extra help they have the Wellington Animal Rescue Fund to provide financial assistance for extra medical and behavioural services. They can be contacted through their Facebook page or you can call the Wellington Animal Hospital for details or check out their website www.wellingtonanimalhospital.ca/.
 
Simba’s Cat and Kitten Rescue
Located in Woodstock, this volunteer-run foster based rescue focuses on helping the cats and kittens of Oxford County. They can be contacted through their Facebook page and their current animals available on their website simbasadoptables.home.blog.
 
Tiny Paws
Founded in 2007, Tiny Paws Dog Rescue is a Registered Canadian Charity dedicated to rescuing and finding new homes for pure and mixed breed dogs (weighing 22 lbs /10 kg and under) in need. You can contact them through Facebook and their website http://www.tpdr.ca/.
 
If you are thinking of adopting a new member of your family, an amazing resource to look into is the Ontario SPCA Meet Your Match quizzes at https://ontariospca.ca/adopt/meet-your-match/ . Fill out the short quiz about what you’re looking for in a pet and they will match you to a specific “colour” of animal that will match your family. Some rescues include this common colour guide and others don’t. See below for the common colours and the personalities associated. 
 
If you are considering bringing a new pet into your home feel free to contact us about their medical needs. If you are fostering to adopt we are available for behavioural consultations to help your family during the adjustment period. 

​Our #TuesdayTips are a little late this week, maybe we can make Wednesday the new Tuesday for this week only?
 
Today we will cover some basics about pet insurance. Pet insurance or pet health insurance helps cover the cost of medical expenses should your pet become ill or have an accident. Some pet insurance companies also offer routine and wellness coverage (vaccinations, annual wellness exams, spaying/neutering, heartworm testing/medications, etc) for an additional fee.
If you can cover the worst case scenario costs out of your own pocket, then you may not need pet insurance. Most people, however, cannot cover a surprise $3,000 bill if their pet needs emergency care or surgery so we highly suggest getting pet insurance as early in your pet’s life as possible.
 
Pet insurance is similar to human health insurance in that it:

• Has premiums, deductibles, co-pays and maximum payouts. (not all)
• Has waiting periods that define when coverage starts. Companies can also have different waiting periods for different medical conditions.

 
Pet insurance differs from human health insurance in that:

• Your pet’s pre-existing conditions are not covered
• Some plans offer specialty food coverage, i.e. if your pet is on a hypoallergenic or urinary diet they may cover a percentage of the cost of the specialty food
• There may be breed- specific exclusions
• Most use a reimbursement program. This means you pay the vet bill, and then you file the claim with the pet insurance company for reimbursement. It is very different from human medical insurance where the doctor files the claim and receives the payment directly from the insurance company. This means you will have to have some means to pay the veterinary bill while you wait for reimbursement. Most companies are quick to process claims.
• Pet insurance companies do not use networks. You are able to visit any licensed veterinarian. Some plans also allow you to visit a licensed veterinarian in another country while traveling.

 
We here at IVS work with Trupanion as they offer a one month free trial for all new puppies and kittens who come into the office and we have found them to offer the best rates for their packages. There are many different companies available and they all offer different plans. If you are thinking of getting some insurance for your pet it’s best to do your research to ensure you are getting the best fit for your individual needs. 
 
We are here for you on your insurance journey. If you need us to send files or give some generalized advice we are only a phone call or e-mail away. No one knows everything about all the companies or plans, but we will do our best to give you the best information we know. 

Happy Tuesday! Today’s #TuesdaysTips is about microchipping! Everyday many pets go missing by either slipping out of the house unnoticed, getting out of the backyard, getting spooked by something and running off.
You may think a collar with a tag with all your information will be good enough but what happens if the collar comes off? What if someone takes the collar off? There’s no way for anyone to know whose pet it is. A microchip is a permanent form of identification that can be traced back to you!
The microchip is small (about the size and shape as a grain of rice) which is implanted by a veterinary professional under the skin between the shoulder blades. Each microchip has a specific number that will show up when scanned at any veterinary office or animal shelter. They will then take this number and contact the appropriate microchip company to find out the dog and owner’s information. Once the information is collected the owner will be contacted and advised their pet has been found!
It’s important if you move or change your phone number to update your information with the microchip company! If you are unsure of which company you’re with contact your veterinarian to get the microchip scanned and let you know which company to contact and their contact information.
We here at IVS fully support and encourage microchipping BOTH cats and dogs. Call us if you have any questions or if you are interested in your pet getting one.

​Today's #TuesdayTips we want to go over some details about dog boots.
 
Hilarious to watch dogs trying them on, they are an excellent way to protect your pooch's paws. It takes time to get used to them, and there are a few different types depending on your individual needs.

• Rubber booties that stretch like a balloon over your dog's foot
• Hard soled booties that are like a shoe
• Soft soled booties that are more like a slipper, usually with leather soles

Any of them will protect your pet's feet from ice, snow melt, salt, and street chemicals. Remember to remove boots when you get indoors and always supervise to make sure they aren’t chewing on the boots. If they eat the boots they may pass in the pool but if they get stuck this may mean an expensive veterinary visit.
 
Always check the boots you are looking at purchasing for their size so you can ensure that it is the best fit. Most pet stores will let you bring in your dog and you can try on the boots in the store. Another option for sizing is to have your pet stand on a piece of paper and trace their foot at home- do both the front and back feet as sometimes they are different sizes - that way you don't have to struggle with them in the store. The strap of the boot should fall at the narrow spot on the leg - just above the dew claw - at the ankle of the front legs.
 
Putting boots on dogs

1. Stand over your dog with dog between your legs
2. Slide boot over the paw
3. Ensure boot is all the way on
4. Fasten boots Securely (if have a strap)
5. Tug the end of the boot:

• If boot slips down it may be too large or fastened too loosely
• If boot stay in place, it is the correct size and fastened correctly

 
It may take awhile before your dog gets used to new boots! Check out the video below to see how some dogs might react to boots.