Ticks are an epidemic in Nova Scotia, Canada. The numbers are on the rise, making the risk of tick bites an unfortunate part of spending time outdoors. Ticks are small, but they can carry very serious diseases, such as Lyme Disease that can be passed from the tick to both you and your pet if bitten. These diseases can be transmitted within approximately 48 hours of the tick being attached. Because of this, you must remove ticks as quickly as possible if you notice one on your pet. Before removing a tick from your pet, you will need a few supplies: Rubber gloves A tick twister Rubbing alcohol A ..read more

I always knew I wanted to add a furry best friend into my life but never knew when the right time was. In February I decided to email the breeder in hopes they were planning to have puppies, lucky for me they were expecting their arrival in late March. I finally receive the most exciting email with the title “Puppy”. I was excited, proud and nervous all at the same time. Weeks went by as I tried to prepare myself for my new puppy and make sure I had absolutely everything he would need. After many emails and picture updates May finally comes around and I get the chance to meet him. That was w ..read more

Here are some tips and tricks to help keep your pet cool this summer! Exercise – With this hot weather, the best time to walk your animals is during the early morning and the evening. The afternoon is the hottest time of the day and pets can go into heatstroke very quickly! Swimming is a great form of exercise for your pet during the summer, tires them out while keeping cool! Hot Paws – Do you plan to take your pets on walks this summer? To the beach? Having booties for your pet to wear is a way to keep those paws safe! Both pavement and sand can become very hot during the warm weather and c ..read more

Twelve and a half years ago a bouncy, ridiculously friendly Golden Retriever bounded into my life. She was my first dog, and I know I made my fair share of mistakes over her lifetime, but she never lacked for anything, never missed an adventure and never missed a meal. When this beautiful girl came to me at ten months old, she had hip dysplasia already. It meant I had to keep her active and keep her slim. I can’t count how many times people thought she might be ill due to her teeny tiny waist, but I can assure you, she was as healthy as healthy could be. We walked every day; she played with he ..read more

Having a new pet in the family can be an exciting time. There are certain expenses that we expect to pay as pet owners, like food, toys, obedience classes, grooming and apparel. Often pet owners don’t think about the unforeseen costs of owning a pet, and that is the expense of unexpected illnesses or accidents. They can be costly and often overwhelming. When you’re not expecting a large vet bill, how do you cope? Did you know that the average price of owning a dog in its first year can be estimated upwards of $3000, and for a cat almost $2000? It isn’t including illness or unexpected visits to ..read more

Ticks are all the rage this season, with many reports saying ticks are coming back with a bang. In previous years about 50 percent of Nova Scotia was at high risk for Lyme Disease, this year’s statement has 95 percent of Nova Scotia at high risk for Lyme disease. What’s important to know? The biggest issue for most people when they hear “tick” is Lyme disease. There is only one known Lyme carrying tick as of right now in Nova Scotia, the Ixodes Scapularis, or the black-legged deer tick. Lyme is an issue for everyone, those on four legs and those on two. Lyme disease can be transmitted to both ..read more

Do you have a high energy dog? Or maybe your four-legged companion needs some help with obedience? Agility may be the solution! Agility is a fun sport that you can do with your four-legged friend. It involves directing your dog through a set obstacle course within a certain time limit. The courses are designed to fulfill the hunting and chasing desires of dogs. They usually have between 14-20 obstacles that consist of tunnels, weave poles, tire jumps, seesaws and more. Any breed of dog can participate in agility, but energetic breeds tend to excel. Common breeds that you will see on the agilit ..read more