Pets Choice Veterinary Hospital

For Sitka Cats and Dogs

Dogs:

Training: We encourage all dogs to attend puppy and obedience classes. Sitka is very lucky to have two outstanding trainers. We have found that both puppies and owners benefit from the education. Research shows that puppies who attend puppy class are less likely to develop some phobias as adults!
Leash: Sitka does have a leash law. Always keep your pet on a leash when you are near a road. Even though Sitka does not have the traffic of other communities, we still see far too many dogs hit by cars.
Bumpers: Never, ever tie your dog to your car. If you must, then shut the leash in the driver's door. That way, you cannot accidentally forget your dog, drive away, and drag it.
Truck Beds: It is the law in Sitka to tie your dog in the back of the truck so it can't jump/fall out. Remember to tie it in a manner such that he/she can not be dragged or hung. This usually means a fairly short lead attached to the center of the truck.
Exercising next to the car: While it is great to provide your pet with exercise, we do not recommend driving with your pet running alongside. We have seen far too many pets maimed or killed from this practice.
Poisons: Never feed your dog chocolate, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, Xylitol sweetener(found in gum or sugar-free peanut butter) or onions. Avoid exposure to cigarette smoke. Keep him/her away from antifreeze, rat poison and human medications, especially Tylenol/Ibuprofen.

Return to: Choose Wellness Plan

Cats:

Indoor/Outdoor: The most important thing you can do for your cat's health is to keep it inside with only supervised or caged visits outside. Cats face multiple dangers outside every time they roam. Many are hit by cars. We have seen cats injured/killed by eagles, otter, mink, and dogs. Most cats encounter other cats while roaming. A fight could lead to skin abscesses or exposure to a deadly disease. Fleas and worms can be brought home and shared with their owner. We have often seen cats who have been shot either with a BB gun, pellet gun, or worse. If your cat needs a little fresh air, there are many safe alternatives. Harness/leash combinations have been developed specifically for cats. Some owners screen in a porch or build an outdoor cage for their cats. There are even strollers on the market so you can take your cat for a walk!
Litter Box: This is an important issue. Many cats are abandoned at the shelter for eliminating outside the box. You can reduce the chance of inappropriate elimination by following these rules. Provide one litter box per cat plus 1. For example, if you have 2 cats, you should have 3 litter boxes in various locations. Use unscented clumping litter and scoop it daily. Make sure older, arthritic cats can easily access the box. In other words you may need to remove the hood or eliminate any required jumping to access the box. Some cats are sensitive to certain litter material so try changing it up a bit if that is an issue.
Poisons: Never feed your cat chocolate or onions. All parts of the lily plant are extremely toxic to cats and can kill them. Avoid exposure to cigarette smoke. Keep him/her away from antifreeze, rat poison and human medications expecially Tylenol/Ibuprofen. Cats are also very sensitive to Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning, but usually survive.