+ TIPS
TipS to Tails Quick Facts About Pets
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Turtle Power According to petmd.com, the most popular pet turtle types in America are:
+African aquatic sideneck +Caspian pond turtle +Central American wood turtle +Painted turtle +Red-eared sliders (petmd.com)
Quarantine and Quality Time
DOG REGISTRATION IN PENNSYLVANIA All dogs aged three months or older must be licensed by January 1st of the new year. An annual license fee is $8.50 and a lifetime license is $51.50. For spayed or neutered dogs, the annual fee is $6.40, lifetime is $31.50. Licenses are available from your local county treasurer and other local licensing agents. NO LICENSE = $300.00 FINE + COURT COST / PER DOG. Visit padoglicense.com for more information about licenses. (agriculture.pa.gov)
While your cat throws you menacing looks from her window perch at two in the afternoon, your dog can’t wait for his next walk and circles your desk for attention. 2020 has been a challenging year, with disruptions in routines and for many, an adjustment from working at an office to working in a home office. Pets have picked up on the changes happening at home. Their own routines and safe spots in the house have shifted, leaving them curious and seeking comfort. Now that some restrictions have lifted and some employees have returned to work, be mindful of your furry friend’s movements, vocalizations, and atypical behavior. Gradually reintroduce routines, feeding and sleep schedules. Patience and flexibility for both you and your pet are important during this difficult time.
Canines and Covid-19 The University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) has started a pilot program with the aid of scent detection dogs to sniff out positive Covid-19 patient samples. After a training period involving being exposed to Covid-19 positive odor, urine and saliva samples in a monitored laboratory environment, the dogs will be able to determine positive virus samples. While humans have about six million scent receptors, dogs can have up to 300 million, making their ability to sniff out medical conditions such as seizures, low blood sugar, migraines and anxiety a help to their human friends. One more reason dog is man’s best friend. (vet.upenn.edu)
Water Fountain Biofilm We all enjoy fresh, clean water, including our pets! Sometimes a slime called biofilm can build on plastic water fountains. With regular use, the bowl can get scratched, leaving it susceptible for bacteria to grow. Cleaning the unit with hot, soapy water or bleach and a thorough rinse can kill most biofilm, but without regular cleaning, the biofilm will continue to grow. Pet parents have been replacing their plastic fountains with a ceramic or stainless steel one. Both are made of non-porous material which is easier to keep clean. So go ahead, lap it up! (thirstycatfountains.com)
4 LANCASTER COUNTY PET
