1. 1. Check the screens…. There’s nothing like opening the windows and letting that fresh spring air in! But before you do, make sure all window screens are properly fitted. Both cats and dogs have been known to fall out through unsecured screens.
   2. Think twice before planning your spring garden. Make sure you’ve looked into which plants can be toxic to pets before planting. If your pets have access to your garden, you may want to stay away from common varietals such as birds-of-paradise, irises, or buttercups.  (Here’s a list of toxic plants and foods.)
   3. Hot cars = Hurt pets. Don’t leave your pets in the car during warm weather. Even with the windows down, temperatures inside your car can shoot up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit within just a few minutes! If you’re going to be out and about, just leave your buddies at home where it’s cool.
   4. Water duty. This goes without saying, but we’re saying it anyway: Don’t let that water bowl dry up! Make sure your pet has access to fresh water 24/7.
   5. Lock up the gardening supplies. Many fertilizers and pesticides that are helpful to your garden are harmful to your pet…so if you use them, be sure to stow them away out of pets’ reach.
   6. Watch out for bees and wasps. If your pet gets stung by a bee, carefully remove the stinger and apply an ice pack. If the sting is around the head, mouth, or nose keep a close look to make sure there aren’t issues with breathing or swallowing. As always, contact your veterinarian with any concerns.
   7. Protect the paws! On hotter days, take the temperature by putting your palm on the ground before you head out for a walk with your pet. If it burns your hand, it will likely burn a paw!
   8. Get serious with fleas. Flea and tick populations are at their peak during warmer seasons, so make sure your pet is protected! We recommend flea and tick control year-round, but spring and summer coverage should be the absolute minimum.
   9. Brush off the winter coat. Warmer temperatures typically translate to shedding, and sometimes our pets need a little help ditching that winter coat. Groom your pets at home, or use a professional groomer to lighten the load!
   10. Check the chip. Great spring weather means many pets are spending more time outdoors – which means a higher risk of them getting loose or running away. Make sure your pets are microchipped and that the microchip information is up to date. A microchip and collar identification are your pet’s best chance at being returned to you.

The post A Guide to Springtime Pet Safety: 10 Must-Know Tips appeared first on Napa Humane.

• Dogs can hear four times stronger than we can, meaning the sound of thunder and pouring rain is much louder to them. This increase in noise can cause some dogs to become nervous and overwhelmed. If your dog pants, paces, barks, or hides, they are afraid and need comfort.
• Like many other animals, cats are also sensitive to and detect subtle changes in the atmosphere’s pressure from rainstorms. Cats will react by finding shelter and may hide indoors.
• If you have an outdoor kitty, the tendency for cats to hide out of the rain is dangerous because, typically, the most common place for a cat to hide is under cars, which can be dangerous.
• Don’t let your pets drink rainwater. Rainwater is often swimming with dirt and bacteria that can harm your pet. Especially in urban areas where chemicals are also common.
• The moisture in the air causes smells to be amplified. The water vapor holds onto the scent molecules longer, causing the smells to be stronger and last longer. So be aware that pets might have more stimulus from all angles during a rainstorm.
• If your dog runs around the house looking for a place to hide as soon as it starts to storm, it may be experiencing static electricity in its coat. Dogs will run for places that are grounded, like the bathtub, to stop the shock feeling.

If your pet shows signs of anxiety and fear when it rains, there are many treatments to try outside of medication, including pheromone-based calming diffusers and compression vests. But the best medicine for you and your pet is to snuggle up and keep each other cozy until the storm passes.

The post Does Rain Affect Your Pets? appeared first on Napa Humane.

Our protocols and plans have bent and flexed with the circumstances in California and our region. Initially, we re-opened our doors only to local animal shelters and rescues, since animals in our State legally must be altered before they can be adopted. We know that providing low-cost spay/neuter to these organizations keeps adoption fees low, and helps get pets into homes. That phased re-opening allowed our team to hone new safety guidelines, and find the best ways of maintaining social distance at each stage of a spay/neuter surgery.

Today, dogs, cats and rabbits checking in at our Clinic wait comfortably in their cars, while their human notifies our staff via text that they have arrived. Once it’s their turn, our staff texts their humans to invite them into the building (which is wiped down completely after every client). Only one family unit is allowed inside at a time, and all humans wear masks throughout to help minimize the spread of the virus.

In addition to contactless check-in, we also now have a tablet for signing forms, and a portable credit card terminal. Our systems allow clients to sign and return forms ahead of time, and allows us to email all records and forms to the client post-surgery. It takes a little more time to get post-surgery information out to clients, since we now call each individual with aftercare instructions, but the old way of delivering these instructions en masse to a crowd of clients was so 2019. 

We frequently survey our recent clients to learn if we could be doing anything else to make them feel comfortable in the Covid era, and the feedback from everyone is that they have felt very safe.

Unfortunately, we have had to suspend our weekly drop-in vaccine clinic and our wellness clinics due to social distancing concerns. We often saw 80 patients in four hours at vaccine clinics, and even more at our weekend quarterly wellness clinics – which obviously couldn’t work under current guidelines. However, we can and do still offer our low-cost vaccines by appointment (rabies for $6, all other vaccines for $10 and microchips for just $11). Clients can also schedule appointments to pick up flea medication, as we carry Frontline Gold and Advantage. We hope to be able to bring our wellness clinics back later this year, but we’re not there yet.

Despite the challenges of shutdowns, strict safety protocols and appointment-only operation in 2020, Napa Humane still provided 4,431 pets with spay/neuter surgery, 1,808 pets with vaccines, and 2,011 with microchips last year. Way to go!

I am so proud of our team for finding creative new ways to deliver our lifesaving services and keep you and your pets safe, without compromising our high standards.

The post COVID Update: How Has the Pandemic Changed Us? appeared first on Napa Humane.

Earlier this month, experts in our field provided guidelines on how to re-open spay/neuter clinics once local governments permit non-essential businesses to resume operations. As with other businesses, it’s a tiered approach that ensures social distancing practices can be maintained at each stage. This includes implementing procedures like curbside drop-off, requiring employees and clients to wear masks, limiting the number of people in the clinic at one time, offering appointments for vaccinations (rather than the drop-in clinic we used to have), and more intensive cleaning regiments. 

As Napa County starts to lift restrictions, our team has been meeting regularly to discuss our protocols and plans as the order evolves. Though we’ve had to remain closed to the public, we were able to resume spay/neuter surgeries for area shelters and rescue groups to catch up with that backlog. This week, we started contacting individuals who’d had appointments with us when we had to close – prioritizing individuals who had multiple different-sex animals. 

Our next phase will be to start offering first-time vaccinations for puppies and kittens, since they are most vulnerable to disease. These will be done by appointment only, and we are keeping appointments light to make sure our new preventative protocols are working as intended. As Napa continues to ratchet down the lockdown orders, Napa Humane will continue to expand our services.

Our donation-subsidized, less-than-cost services are needed now more than ever, as many pet owners in our community face new financial hardships. And we have some serious catch-up work to do, after suspending services for more than seven weeks!

The way we used to be able to offer some of our public services (particularly our drop-in vaccination clinics, walk-in availability of Advantage or Frontline, and ability to make appointments in person) probably won’t look the same in this post-coronavirus world. Safety is our number one priority – for the animals, our employees and the public –  and as we find our way forward, we’ll make adjustments as needed to keep everybody safe, healthy, and humanely treated.

If you can spare a few dollars to support our efforts, we (and Napa’s neediest pets) would very much appreciate the help. 

The post What’s Up with Napa Humane? appeared first on Napa Humane.

1. Keep the Water Coming. Make sure your pet has access to plenty of fresh, clean water at all times. They’ll need it to stay hydrated in hot weather. (Don’t let your dog drink from the pool, though! The chlorine and other chemicals used to keep the water clean are not good to ingest.)
2. Avoid the Asphalt. Minimize walks on paved surfaces when it’s hot out. Their sensitive paw pads can burn on hot pavement — plus, since your pups are closer to the ground, they’ll have to contend with the extra heat radiating up from the pavement.
3. No Parking. Never leave your pet alone in a parked car when it’s warm out! Temperatures inside can spike quickly — and California law prohibits endangering animals this way.
4. Check Your Windows. For those of us without A/C, it’s tempting to open up all the windows to get a breeze! Make sure any unscreened windows or doors in your home are kept closed, though, and check that all adjustable screens are tightly secured to prevent a breakout.
5. Go Easy on Grooming. It’s fine to trim longer hair, but never shave your pet. The multiple layers of animals’ coats protect them from overheating and sunburn. (And if you use sunscreen or insect repellent on your pets, make sure it’s specifically intended for use on animals.) Don’t start brushing your cat more frequently, either, as changing their coats can cause heat-related problems.
6. Protect the Vulnerable. Some pets can’t pant as effectively as others because of their face shape (Pugs and Persian kitties, we’re talking about you). These flat-faced breeds, (along with older or overweight pets and those with heart/lung conditions) are more susceptible to heat stroke and should be kept cool in air-conditioned places as much as possible.
7. Watch for Overheating! Overheated pets typically will show symptoms like excessive panting or difficulty breathing, higher heart and respiratory rates, vomiting with body temperature over 104 degrees, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. Some might also have seizures, or bloody diarrhea.

Don’t forget to keep your pets away from rodenticides, lawn and garden insecticides, and other insect coils that might be getting used this time of year.

Stay cool, stay safe, and have a great summer!

The post Beat the Heat! appeared first on Napa Humane.

These Halloween safety tips can help you and your pup to enjoy a safe and spooktacular holiday this year!

Keep all candy out of your dog’s reach — especially chocolate, which is toxic to dogs. Consumption of even small amounts can cause seizures, muscle tremors and vomiting while larger doses can be fatal. Stick to his own treats and he’ll be just as happy.

Be careful with your candles. Wagging tails can easily knock them over, spilling hot wax onto your carpet and furniture, or – even worse – seriously burning your pet and/or starting a fire. Even a pet standing too close to a candle flame can end up with singed fur or whiskers.

Keep your pet away from potentially hazardous decorations. Hanging decorations, like streamers, light strings, and fake spider webbing can easily become tangled around your pet. If swallowed, they could cause serious digestive problems. Small decorations can also cause choking, so keep these far from your pet’s reach.

Tack down or cover electric cords! If your pet bites through an electrical cord, it could result in a severe tongue burn. This could cause respiratory distress, because the burn will make the pet’s lungs fill with fluid.

If you decide to dress up your pet, make sure your pet’s costume is safe. Never leave a pet in a costume unsupervised. Costumes shouldn’t constrict movement or obstruct your pet’s vision, hearing, or ability to breathe or bark. Reflective tape on a costume may be for visibility, especially if your pet will be wearing his costume after dark. Also, make sure the costume doesn’t have any small, dangling, or easily chewed-off pieces that could hurt or choke your pet.

Some pets can be frightened of people in costume.  On Halloween, keep your pets securely inside, away from trick-or-treaters and other Halloween activities. They will be less frightened, and won’t feel threatened by exuberant costumed children. Keeping your pet securely in a bedroom or bathroom will also diminish any chance of your pet escaping through an open door. If your dog seems unaffected by all of the festivities and you choose to walk your dog around the neighborhood while children are trick-or-treating, be sure to use a sturdy collar, or harness and leash, and be careful around unfamiliar children and adults. Again, the costumes and masks may make your dog uncomfortable and frightened.

Holidays tend to involve a lot of visitors, who may accidentally leave a door or window open. It is important to make sure that your pet is wearing current identification.  If your pet is microchipped, please make sure that your contact information is current.

The post Keeping Pets Safe This Halloween appeared first on Napa Humane.

Photo: Well Pet Coach

Springtime, here we come! The following tips will help keep pets safe as the sunny season shifts into high gear.

1. Check the screens…. There’s nothing like opening the windows and letting that fresh spring air in! But before you do, make sure all window screens are properly fitted. Both cats and dogs have been known to fall out through unsecured screens.
2. Plant smart. Before you put in this year’s garden, be sure you know what’s safe to have around your pets, and what’s not. (Here’s a list of toxic plants and foods.)
3. Lock up the gardening supplies. Many fertilizers and pesticides that are helpful to your garden are harmful to your pet…so if you use them, be sure to stow them away  out of pets’ reach.
4. Protect the paws! On hotter days, take the temperature by putting your palm on the ground before you head out for a walk with your pet. If it burns your hand, it will likely burn a paw!
5. Get serious with fleas. Flea and tick populations are at their peak during warmer seasons, so make sure your pet is protected! We recommend flea and tick control year-round, but spring and summer coverage should be the absolute minimum.
6. Hot cars = Hurt pets. Don’t leave your pets in the car during warm weather. Even with the windows down, temperatures inside your car can shoot up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit within just a few minutes! If you’re going to be out and about, just leave your buddies at home where it’s cool.
7. Check the chip. Great spring weather means many pets are spending more time outdoors – which means a higher risk of them getting loose or running away. Make sure your pets are microchipped and that the microchip information is up to date. A microchip and collar identification are your pet’s best chance at being returned to you.
8. Water duty. This goes without saying, but we’re saying it anyway: Don’t let that water bowl dry up! Make sure your pet has access to fresh water 24/7.
9. Brush off the winter coat. Warmer temperatures typically translate to shedding, and sometimes our pets need a little help ditching that winter coat. Groom your pets at home, or use a professional groomer to lighten the load!
10. Bonus tip – Most importantly, stay cool. Keep your pets in the coolest and most comfortable shady spot you can find…inside the house is really best. Don’t leave them outside for too long in warm weather, and exercise your pup responsibly!

The post 10 Tips for a Safer Spring appeared first on Napa Humane.

1. Pets should not be kept outside during the cold months. However, if you absolutely must leave them outdoors for a limited amount of time, create a shelter for them to retreat to. It should be dry, clean, and well-insulated (straw works well to trap heat), and protect them from the wind and elements. And be sure to frequently check their water bowl to be sure they have plenty of fresh water.
2. Where climate is concerned, age is more than a number. Like humans, very young and very old dogs have a hard time regulating body temperature, so they have more extreme reactions to changes in weather. Keep the oldsters and the puppies indoors as much as possible.
3. During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or worse by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the cat a chance to escape.
4. Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog in the colder months, be sure to completely dry him before taking him out for a walk. Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.
5. Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.
6. Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol.
7. Heading to the snow? Don’t let your dog off leash. Dogs can lose their scent easily and become lost in the snow. Don’t forget to make sure your pet wears an ID tag and has a microchip (with up-to-date owner information linked to it).

Special consideration for rabbits:

1. If possible, bring your rabbits indoors for the winter, or move their hutch to an unused garage or shed. Do not put the hutch in the garage if you park your cars in there as the exhaust fumes are dangerous to them. If you have no shed or garage, move the hutch to somewhere sheltered such as by some trees, facing away from the wind.
2. Check there are no gaps through which rain and wind can get in. Make sure the wood isn’t damp or rotting, and reapply a rabbit-safe wood protecting coating every few years. You can also line the inside walls with newspaper.
3. Make the inside of the rabbit hutch warm and cozy. Line the floor with layers of newspaper and add lots of extra hay and straw for your rabbits to bury themselves into. Blankets and fleeces are also useful for them to snuggle into or to line the floor with.Get a cardboard box, close all 4 sides and cut a hole big enough for your rabbits to get through, and fill the box with hay. This will give them somewhere a bit more insulated to sit. If you have 2 rabbits make sure the box fits 2 rabbits in at once. Make sure they still have enough room in the rest of the hutch to stretch out.
4. Raise your hutch by placing bricks underneath, or by attaching long legs. This will help to prevent damp from the ground affecting the bottom of the hutch, and also stop ground frost freezing the base. It will also protect a hutch in an area that is likely to flood a little (obviously won’t protect from severe flooding). Ideally rabbit hutches should be on long legs all the time to make it hard for predators to get near.
5. On days when it is freezing, check to make sure your rabbits’ water bottle hasn’t frozen over.
6. Be sure to continue allowing your rabbit to get daily exercise. Do this during the warmest part of the day, or inside the house.

The post Winter Tips For Pets appeared first on Napa Humane.

• Beware of Plants. Mistletoe berries and poinsettia leaves, stems & flowers can be poisonous to pets. Keep these firmly out of reach in your home, and be sure to pick up any leaves and berries that may fall to the floor – or just use artificial versions to be safe!
• Killer Feasts. Lots of delicious celebratory foods can actually cause serious harm to your pets. Alcoholic beverages, walnuts, chocolate, meat bones, and seeds and pits from many fruits are dangerous if swallowed by cats and dogs. (Click here for more detail on poisonous foods.)
• Shield the Flames. If you’ve got a fireplace, always make sure there’s a screen in place to catch popping wood or sparks. When not using the fireplace, always shut the door securely to keep your pets from romping in the ashes.
• No Low Stuff. Keep candles, tinsel, and any potentially harmful decoration high enough off the floor that wagging tails and curious mouths can’t reach them. Decorations can cause choking or intestinal problems if swallowed.
• Watch the Cords. Tack down or cover electrical cords! If your pet bites through one, it can cause a severe tongue burn and respiratory distress, because the burn will make your pet’s lungs fill with fluid.

For more advice on holiday safety with pets, visit our website, here.

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