Education

We are looking for new ways to treat dogs with aggression behavior, brain trauma or obsessive-compulsive disorder to post-traumatic stress. There is a new breakthrough in the medical community and it’s called neurofeedback therapy. These electrodes are attached to the dog head and after treatment helped to improve a dogs behavior and for better physical and mental health as well as greater emotional balance, cognitive ability, and optimal performance.

Treatment in neurofeedback therapy began in 2002 and it was to provide pet owners an alternative way to help with their pets with either mental or emotional problems and provides veterinary offices with more options to their patients. Dogs with numerous injuries, abuse or concussions neurofeedback therapy has shown immense improvement in the dog.

After several treatments dogs have higher functioning behavior and are calmer and more social including many more positive changes within the dog such as walking straighter after a concussion. Dogs after treatment respond better to there owner and listen to commands. Neurofeedback therapy have been used on grumpy animals who refuse to get along with others and after treatment show signs to be calmer and easier to handle after treatment.

General Information:

Before adopting a pet into your home, we encourage you to evaluate your lifestyle, finances and where you live prior to adoption. Dogs and cats are a family member and require constant attention: Here are just some of the expenses to consider.

• The cost of owning a dog can be estimated at about $1400-4300 per year (see the chart at the bottom of this page).
• There are ways to save money depending on the choices you make. Contributing factors include your dog’s size and age, the region in which you live, your own lifestyle, and your dog’s individual needs.

Initial Investment

Consider costs when choosing a dog. Any new dog or puppy will come with substantial expenses. If you decide to adopt a dog expect to spend around $500+. The very first thing you should do is get that dog to a good veterinarian.

• Depending on the need for vaccines, preventive medications, and special treatments, that first visit will likely cost you anywhere from $50-300, so be prepared.
• Vet bills for a young puppy will likely range from $100-300 depending on the puppy’s health and the region in which you live.
• Puppies need to visit the vet every few week until about 16 weeks of age, and each visit can run you $100-300 depending on your pup’s needs.
• Your next major expense will be dog supplies. These include dog food, leashes, collars, beds, toys and so on. You also need to think about obedience classes and/or training
• When the time comes to have your puppy spayed or neutered, expect to spend anywhere from $150 to $700. Bottom line, the first year with your new dog can cost twice the typical annual cost of subsequent years, so be prepared.

Food and Treats

It is important to feed your dog a high-quality dog food and healthy dog treats.

• This typically costs somewhere from $20-60 per month ($250-700 per year). Food expenses vary based on the size and energy level of your dog as well as the quality of the food.
• Be aware that special foods, like veterinary therapeutic diets or freshly-made special-order food, may cost $100 or more a month.

Toys

Dog toys are an important part of your dog’s mental stimulation and exercise. Though some of us may indulge, you can probably plan on spending $25-150 per year.

• If you are like those of us who cannot resist a cute toy, this figure can become several hundred dollars higher.
• Another reason you may spend more on toys: a very destructive dogmay go through toys faster, so if you have one of these dogs, invest in the toys designed for “tough chewers”.

Beds I Blankets

Every dog deserves a cozy bed and keeping one or two around the house will cost you $50-200 a year.

• Prices go up in relation to size and quality.
• Getting durable, high-quality and easy-to-clean dog beds can extend the life of the beds and keep costs down in the long run.

Leashes and Collars

Your dog must have at least one leash and one collar (with ID tags).

• Depending on the size and quality, most dog owners spend $20-50 per year on leashes and collars. However, you may be able to make one leash and collar set last for several years.

Grooming

Your dog’s grooming needs are largely based on the type of hair coat he has. Smooth coated, short-haired dogs require little more than basic grooming while dogs with constantly growing hair will need to visit the groomer on a routine basis.

• Between the cost of grooming tools and visits to the groomer, you can plan on spending anywhere from $30-500 a year.

Routine Veterinary Care

Routine veterinary care is a huge part of keeping your dog healthy. Families should plan on going to the vet for wellness checkups once or twice a year at a cost of about $200-300 yearly.

• Annual lab work can add about $100-300 and should not be skipped as it’s an important part of preventive health care.
• Dental cleanings may be recommended as often as once a year and generally range from about $300-800. Of course, vet costs will be higher if your dog develops a health problem. This is more likely to happen as your dog grows older.
• Consider purchasing pet insurance for your dog, which will cover a percentage of vet expenses.

Overall, you should budget about $700-1500 per year for veterinary costs, and that does not include emergencies. It also excludes preventive medications and supplements.

Preventive Medications and Supplements

All dogs need medications to prevent heartworms, fleas, ticks and other parasites. Your veterinarian will guide you towards the best products based on your climate and your dog’s needs.

• Some dogs will also benefit from vitamins and supplements. In general, you will probably spend $100-500 per year for these items depending on the size of your dog and his specific needs.

Obedience Classes or Training Resources

Though most dogs will only go to obedience school in their first year or two, training is something that should be ongoing throughout your dog’s life.

• Whether you are buying books and DVDs for at-home training or you enroll your dog in obedience classes, budget at least $100-300+ per year for training needs.

Pet Sitters or Boarding

Most people will need to leave their dogs behind once or twice a year. Typically, this will cost about $200-$400 a year. However, if you travel frequently, expect to spend much more.

• Boarding tends to cost less than hiring a pet sitter, but many dog owners prefer the individual attention a pet sitter can offer and think it is worth the extra expense.
• Alternatively, if you decide to travel with your dog, you can expect your travel fees to increase.

Emergencies and Other Unexpected Expenses

No one can predict the future; the unexpected occurs in life all the time. As a good dog owner, you should do your best to be ready for life’s little surprises. Emergencies, chronic illnesses, disasters and other unplanned expenses can amount to hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year.

• The cost of an emergency vet hospital visit can start around $500 to $1000 and go well beyond $2000 to $5000.
• Advanced surgery is anywhere from $2000 to $5000 or more. If you’re sick pet needs to stay in the ICU, you could be looking at $200-500 per day and up.
• The best way to stay prepared is to set aside extra money in savings, if possible. In addition to savings, some people keep a credit card or line of credit set aside specifically for emergencies.
• Some veterinary practices offer third party healthcare financing or heath care credit cards, such as Care Credit. You may even qualify for an introductory zero interest plans.

In a perfect world, dog owners would never have to make choices for their dogs based on money alone, Instead, it should be about what is best for their dogs. With proper planning (and a little luck) you can provide for your own dog and live a long and happy life together.

Basic Cost of Owning a Dog:

Tuck is a great site to check out to learn more about your pets! Here are some of our favorite articles:

• How much do dogs sleep?
• How Much Do Cats Sleep?
• Best Dog Beds
• How Do Animals Sleep?

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http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2013/07/21/new-dog-tethering-law-in-illinois/

Perfectly Posh Paws believes no dog should ever be tethered or left outside, no matter what the situation. Every dog should be given the same care and love as you would your child or a family member. They give us their trust, loyalty and comfort us when we are sad. They love us unconditionally each and every day and we should do the same. We believe every dog should be given the respect, love and care they deserve.

I have seen dogs tethered outside for long periods of time and the owner has no regard for their needs and their dog is left alone for hours. Dogs are scared, confused and only want us to love them. They look to us for all their basic necessities in life. How can someone just do that to their pet? We need to take a stand and speak up for them, since they have no voice.

We believe they should be treated with warm, loving attention and all the affection they are worthy of. We want every dog to have all the comforts of home with the proper training, exercise and the right necessities to live a full and healthy, happy life.