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End of our Dog Days of Summer Reminders
This month on Aug 1st is DOGust! The universal birthday for shelter and
rescue dogs whose actual birthdates are unknown, so today is a wondeRUFFul
opportunity to celebrate every rescue dog and the second chances they receive through
adoption.
Ways to celebrate:
- Treat your dog to an extra walk or special toy.
- Donate supplies to a local shelter.
- Volunteer your time.
- Consider fostering or adopting.
- Learn pet first aid so you are prepared to protect your best friend.
Every rescued dog deserves not only love—but a family prepared to keep them safe.
❤️ Happy Birthday to every shelter dog!
Itchy Skin
Is your pet scratching more than usual? August is Itchy Pet Awareness
Month, making it the perfect time to pay attention to your pets skin’s and coat.
Excessive scratching, licking, chewing, or rubbing may be signs of:
✔ Allergies
✔ Fleas or mites
✔ Skin infections
✔ Dry skin
✔ Food sensitivities
Don’t ignore persistent itching—it can quickly lead to painful skin infections and hot
spots. Regular grooming, parasite prevention, quality nutrition, and veterinary care all
help keep skin healthy.
Scratching is a symptom—not a diagnosis. If the itching continues, schedule
veterinary examination.
Heat
If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for their paws! Summer heat doesn’t
just affect people—it can quickly become dangerous for pets.
Protect your furry family members by:
- Walking early morning or after sunset
- Testing pavement with the back of your hand for 7 seconds
- Providing plenty of fresh water
- Taking frequent shade breaks
- Never leaving pets in parked vehicles—even with windows cracked
Watch for signs of heat stress:
⚠ Excessive panting
⚠ Weakness
⚠ Bright red gums
⚠ Vomiting
⚠ Collapse
Heatstroke is a medical emergency. When in doubt, cool first with cool (not ice-cold)
water and head to your veterinarian immediately.
Snake Safety
While not a problem right here without little garter snakes, if you travel… Warm weather means snakes are active! Whether hiking, camping, or simply enjoying the outdoors, pets can accidentally encounter snakes.
Help reduce the risk:
- Keep dogs leashed on trails.
- Stay on marked paths.
- Avoid tall grass and rock piles.
- Keep your yard trimmed and free of debris.
- Watch where curious noses investigate.
If your pet is bitten:
❌ Don’t cut the wound.
❌ Don’t try to suck out venom.
❌ Don’t apply a tourniquet.
❌ Don’t attempt to capture the snake.
✅ Keep your pet as calm and quiet as possible.
✅ Carry them if you can.
✅ Seek emergency veterinary care immediately.
Quick action can save a life.
Common Causes of Behavior Issues in Cats
Did you know the most common reason for seeking out a cat trainer is to solve an existing problem rather than for prevention or to train a new behavior. Here are two of the most common places many behavior issues come from.
Not Spaying and Neutering
Spaying and neutering is the best way to alleviate, and sometimes completely solve, many behavior issues in cats. Male cats, in particular, who are neutered at a young age are much less likely to show aggression, sexual behavior, and urine marking. Spaying and neutering can reduce excessive vocalization, roaming, and aggressive behaviors.
In both male and female cats, spaying and neutering removes the risk of reproductive cancers. There can be serious uterine infections in female cats which are prevented by spaying. Spaying and neutering not only solves many behavior issues, but promotes the wellbeing of cats in general through better health, longer life, as well as by helping to reduce the population resulting in fewer homeless cats.
Declawing
This actually involves the amputation of the last bone on each toe of a cat’s paws. This changes the structure of the cat’s foot and walking can become permanently painful. Declawed cats can also develop joint problems, have trouble grooming themselves, have obesity issues due to lack of movement, and other physical problems. There are a whole host of behavior problems that can come from declawing as well. Litterbox aversion can be caused by the tenderness of paws. Anxiety disorders arise from removing a cat’s first line of defense. Biting then becomes a way to defend without the ability to extend claws as a warning. An alternative to declawing are claw caps that can be glued onto a cat’s nails to prevent scratching while working behavior modification for scratching issues. Claw caps are not recommended for cats who have access to the outdoors.
Prevention is the best way to manage behavior problems. Giving your cat ways to express normal cat behaviors in ways that work in our human world is the best prevention. Cats need to scratch, play (hunt), climb, have stimulation, nap, feel safe, enjoy a regular routine, and have your companionship. All of these can happen in non-destructive and cooperative ways that do fit your lifestyle.
June Highlights the Importance of Pet Safety, Preparedness & Compassion for Animals
I want to encourage pet lovers to use June’s pet-related observances as a reminder that preparedness can save lives.
From honoring devoted Dog Dads and appreciating veterinary professionals to encouraging shelter cat adoption, June offers multiple opportunities to focus on the health, safety, and well-being of companion animals.
National Dog Dad’s Day – June 14
National Dog Dad’s Day celebrates the special bond between dogs and the people who love and care for them. Pet safety experts encourage Dog Dads to go beyond treats and toys by learning essential life-saving skills such as recognizing heatstroke, choking, poisoning, and how to safely transport an injured pet.
Summer months can bring increased risks for pets due to rising temperatures, travel, outdoor activities, and backyard gatherings.
Veterinary Appreciation Day – June 18
Veterinary Appreciation Day recognizes the veterinarians, veterinary technicians, assistants, receptionists, and support teams who dedicate themselves to animal health.
Emergency preparedness works hand-in-hand with veterinary medicine.
Pet First Aid is never intended to replace veterinary care. Its purpose is to help pet parents recognize emergencies sooner, provide safe temporary care, and seek veterinary attention quickly.
Adopt a Shelter Cat Month
June is also Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, encouraging families to open their hearts and homes to cats in need.
New adopters are encouraged to create a safe home and take simple preparedness measures — such as keeping emergency contacts accessible, recognizing signs of distress, having pet-safe first-aid supplies available, and knowing when immediate veterinary care is needed can make a difference during an emergency.
Creature Comforts Pet Services offers Pet CPCR and First Aid classes. Please contact me for more information.
Back to School Safety Tips
As the school year begins, new routines can affect pets, too! Keep them happy and safe with these simple tips:
Around the Bus & Carpool Lane
- Always keep dogs on leash near school buses and drop-off zones.
- Teach children never to let pets dart out the door when buses arrive.
- Remind bus drivers and carpoolers that pets may be nearby.
Managing New Routines
- Pets may feel anxious when kids suddenly disappear during the day.
- Ease transitions with extra morning walks and engaging toys while you’re gone.
- Stick to a consistent feeding and exercise schedule.
Watch for School Supplies
- Keep backpacks, lunchboxes, crayons, and glue sticks out of reach—many items can be harmful if chewed or swallowed.
- Remind kids to put away snacks (especially grapes, raisins, chocolate, and sugar-free gum).
After-School Greetings
- Pets may get overexcited when kids return home.
- Encourage calm greetings: have kids kneel to pet the dog or wait until paws are on the ground.
Teach & Remind Kids
- Never tease pets with backpacks, bikes, or lunchboxes.
- Walk, don’t run, near pets to avoid startling them.
- Always ask an adult before giving pets food or treats.
Target Train your Cat
Training can be excellent mental stimulation for any cat and it is really simple to get started. Cats are prey as well as predator, because of this they do not respond well to punishment based training. Positive reinforcement training with cats can improve your relationship with your cat, create a common communication between you, and prevent many behavior problems. Clicker training uses a marker (the click) to let your cat know the exact moment they have done something that earns a treat. It makes the communication clear and precise which helps to reduce any confusion or frustration on the part of your cat. It also requires very little time, but results in huge benefits.
Charge the Clicker
The first step in clicker training is to make a positive connection between the click and reinforcement. This may take a little investigation on your part to discover what your cat considers reinforcing. It can be treats, play with a favorite toy, or even brushing.
Once you know what they like, spend a few minutes with your cat just click and then reinforce a few times in a row. It really doesn’t take long before your cat makes the connection then you are ready to click for your first behavior.
Troubleshooting
Some cats are afraid of the clicker. No problem, use a ball point pen, which is quieter, or you can click with your mouth.
If your cat loses interest after just a few attempts, that is ok. Remember that they don’t yet know what you are up to. You may have to try a treat or reinforcement that is more exciting to your cat to get their interest.
And, keep in mind, a training session for a cat should really only last 2-3 minutes.
If you feel frustrated at all there is nothing wrong with stopping and trying again another time.
Target Training
A good first behavior is to teach your cat to touch a target with their nose. This can be later used in all sorts of other ways, such as to lead your cat into doing a spin.
You will need:
-A clicker
-a stick with a target on the end (think pencil or chopstick with a ping pong ball)
-reinforcements
Hold the target about 1 inch in front of your cat’s nose, most cats will reach forward to sniff the target, when they do click as they touch it and give them a treat. If your cat does not sniff the target, move it slightly closer so he almost has to touch it, then click and treat. Even if you only get a small glance toward the target you can click and treat for that. You are giving him the idea that you want him to do something with the target and any interaction with it will earn him a treat.
Give him an opportunity to touch the target right away again, then click and treat.
Between each time put the target behind you back, so you get a new opportunity to present the target to your cat each time as the cue to touch the target.
Once he is touching the target consistently, try moving it a few inches to allow him to move forward toward it. You can progress slowly to larger distances or even teaching him to follow the target little by little.
And there you have it! Congratulations! You have just trained your first behavior!