The Importance of Microchipping Your Pet
How to Know When It’s Too Hot to Walk Your Dog
What is That Pouch on a Cat’s Stomach?
The Importance of Microchipping Your Pet
No matter how careful you are with keeping your pet safe, anything can happen. Dogs can get loose, cats can run out the front door, a dog can dig under your backyard fence. What would you do if your pet got lost and how could you get your pet back home?
Pets should wear collars with ID tags, but collars can slip off, so it is also important that your pet is microchipped. “Microchips are a good back-up option for pet identification, but should never be the main one,” according to the article, “High tech: Identifying lost pets with microchips,” at The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Microchips carry a pet’s ID, and the chip is implanted in the pet.
“Microchips are tiny transponders, about the size of a grain of rice, that can be implanted in your pet’s skin by many veterinarians and animal shelters; some shelters implant one in all pets they place,” the HSUS article said. A special scanner can read the chip, but it’s not something most people have. Shelters, many animal rescues, and animal control officers have them to check for microchips on animals.
Even if you microchip your pet, you must be sure to register the microchip. According to the article, “The Importance of Microchipping Your Pet,” at Today’s Veterinary Nurse, “Without registering the microchip, it won’t have any information on it and is essentially useless.” When the microchip is registered, your pet will receive a “unique identification number,” and you fill in all you and your pet’s information on the manufacturer’s online recovery database, the Today’s Veterinary Nurse article said.
Microchips are a great way to get your pet back if your pet becomes lost or stolen. They have helped reunite many pets over the years.
How to Know When It’s Too Hot to Walk Your Dog
When the summer heats up it can be too hot to take your dog for a walk. The pavement becomes hot to touch. If you can’t keep your hand on the pavement, then it’s too hot for your dog to walk on it. So how do you know when it is too hot for a walk with your dog?
If temperatures rise above 85°F, it can pose a real danger to your dog, according to the article, “What Temperature Is Too Hot for Dogs, and When Is It Too Cold?” at GoodRx Health. “At that temperature, pavement and asphalt can register as high as 140° F. The heat can damage your pup’s paws.”
According to the article, the following are some tips about walking your dog when the weather is too hot:
• Walk your dog either early morning or later in the evening.
• If you touch the pavement with the back of your hand and it’s too hot after five seconds, then it’s too hot for your dog to walk on.
• Bring water for your dog.
• Try dog booties.
• Take shorter walks.
There are other things you can do to protect your dog on hot summer day walks. According to the article, “7 Tips for Walking Your Dog in the Summer” at be.chewy.com, “Plan to take frequent breaks and enjoy the shade and cool grass together,” and also choose shady routes for those walks.
According to the be.chewy article, it’s also very important to keep your dog cool on walks and is extra important for flat-faced breeds including Pugs, English Bulldogs, Boxers, and French Bulldogs. “Their shortened muzzles can make breathing and panting more difficult, especially in hot weather, which makes it more challenging for these dogs to stay cool,” the article said.
What is That Pouch on a Cat’s Stomach?
Do you ever wonder what that pouch is on your cat’s stomach? You may have felt the area and thought your cat was gaining weight. However, that layer of skin is likely the primordial pouch. But what is it?
“Most cats have one toward the rear of their body, with this low-hanging belly being an essential part of the feline anatomy,” according to the article, “Why Do Cats Have a Hanging Belly? (Primordial Pouch Meaning),” at Senior Cat Wellness.
Located along the length of the stomach and in front of the back legs, the primordial pouch actually swings while your cat walks, according to the article. The pouch happens in males and females and is more common in adult cats.
“The primordial pouch has evolved for many reasons, and without one, cats would find it difficult to survive in the wild,” according to the article. “While the precise reasons for the primordial pouch are still unknown, many scientists agree that it’s an essential part of a cat’s genetic makeup.”
There are many theories about the primordial pouch and why it’s there. According to the article, “The Primordial Pouch: All About Your Cat’s Adorable Belly Flap,” at be.chewy.com, the pouch typically develops when a cat is 6 months old, and not just in house cats. They can occur in lions and tigers too.
Some theories of why the pouch happened, include the following, according to the be.chewy.com article:
• If offers “protection to the cat’s internal abdominal organs, which would be especially beneficial for wild cats,” the be.chewy article said.
• It provides flexibility when a cat runs.
• Energy. “It’s also possible the primordial pouch comes in handy when food is scarce,” the be.chewy.com article said.
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