Dog care: Choosing a vet your dog will approve of

By Nicole Pajer

Next to you, the most important person in your dog’s life is their veterinarian. Do your 4-legged friend a favor and put his best interests at heart when selecting one.

Here are 10 things to look for in a good vet.

Related: Vet's checklist for your pup

1. Reputation:

Ask around. Get referrals. Does anyone you know go to that particular vet? Check out Yelp.com and read reviews on similar sites. Have people had positive experiences with the veterinarian’s services? What did they like/dislike about the vet?

2. Credentials:

It is crucial that you double check that your veterinarian attended an accredited school and earned a Veterinary Medicine degree. A framed diploma should be displayed prominently in the office. Look for a vet that is established and not a recent grad. For vets with 20+ years experience, inquire about what types of continuing education they have completed.

3. Service:

Select a vet that is able to spend quality time with you during your appointment so that you leave the office feeling comfortable that all of your questions and concerns were addressed. Avoid vets that overbook appointments and dedicate a measly 5 minutes to your needs.

4. Accessibility:

Make sure that you are able to pop in as an emergency walk-in should your dog happen to have an unexpected accident. Is the vet available to take phone calls if you have any questions? If you call and asked to be considered for a cancellation does the office attempt to fit you in?

5. Cost:

Depending on location, clientele (celebrity vs. lower income), size of facility, etc. veterinarian offices can mark up the prices of standard procedures such as vaccinations and spay/neuter surgeries. Check to make sure that your vet offers a fair and standard market price. Ask if the veterinary office accepts pet insurance and whether or not flexible payment plans are available for expensive emergency procedures.

6. Clean & sanitary facilities:

This should be a no brainer. You don’t want to set foot into an animal care center unless it is clean, tidy, and most importantly, sanitary. If you are waiting for your appointment and notice urine and blood on the floor, it’s time to take your dog elsewhere.

7. Knowledge:

Is the vet familiar with your particular breed of dog and the issues associated with them (ex: small dogs Luxating Patella, Hip Dysplasia in German Shepherds, etc.). Do they have a team of credible specialists ready to refer you to if something isn’t within their area of expertise?

8. Personality:

It’s important to find a vet that is compassionate and genuine. You’ll be spending a lot of time with this person and will want someone who is understanding and sympathetic when helping you face difficult decisions like having to put your dog down.

9. Proactive:

A good veterinarian should go above and beyond to make sure that your dog is healthy. You want a vet that will run additional tests and check for all of those “highly unlikely but could be possible” scenarios.

10. Organized:

Between work and family life, remembering to keep up with things like your dog’s vaccination schedule is tough. Many vet offices will send out reminder letters and give you a phone call to let you know that your dog is due to come in for a shot or an annual check up. An organized veterinarian office will also follow up to see how your dog is healing after his latest surgery or if his latest ailment going away after finishing prescribed medication.

From :https://www.cesarsway.com/about-dogs

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8 ways to save money on vet care

By Juliana Weiss-Roessler

An important part of responsible dog care is providing them with medical care — unfortunately, doing so can also be costly. But before you balk at the high price of a procedure or treatment, take a look at these cost-saving tips.

1. Get pet insurance
   Understand what the coverage you are buying includes — and what it excludes. You can also get a discount for multiple pets. If insurance doesn’t seem like the right match for your pet’s medical needs because of exclusions or other reasons, create your own “insurance plan” by setting up a savings account dedicated to your pet’s medical costs and automatically depositing money monthly.
2. Shop around
   If your dog requires a particularly high-cost treatment or procedure, don’t settle with the first quote you get. Different facilities may charge vastly different amounts. For example, you may be quoted anywhere from $450 to $1,350 for an abdominal ultrasound — for the exact same reason and the exact same dog. You can choose the facility for the procedure and then have the results forwarded on to your vet of choice.
3. Stay on top of preventative care
   By taking your dog in regularly for wellness checks, you can catch an issue early — before it develops into a more dangerous (and more expensive) problem. For most dogs, an annual check-up is enough, but for those with ongoing health issues and seniors, every 6 months is recommended. Although it varies by breed, a dog is generally considered a senior at 7 years old. Also, having your dog spayed or neutered and keeping your dog up-to-date on vaccinations are both important parts of effective preventative care.
4. Try a veterinary college
   The students need training, so they often offer basic services at a discount for those in financial need. Services may include check-ups, vaccinations, and basic procedures, such as spaying and neutering.
5. Contact your local rescue group, ASPCA, or Humane Society
   They may offer discounted services as well, or they may be able to direct you to resources in your area.
6. Reach out to animal welfare charities
   There are many organizations, particularly breed-specific groups, that may help pay for emergency veterinary treatments. There are also other organizations that assist with general vet bills, as well as fund treatment for specific diseases.
7. Sign up for a plan with your vet
   Some veterinarians offer payment plans to help you cover high-cost procedures slowly over time. Others may offer preventative plans that include a number of services, such as office visits, vaccines, diagnostic tests, and even dental cleaning, for a set monthly fee, as well as discounts on all other procedures required. Also find out if your vet accepts a medical-care specific credit card, like CareCredit — which can be used for human medical bills as well. In many cases, your vet can process your application on the spot.
8. Maintain a healthy lifestyle for your pup
   Dogs that are obese or overweight are at a higher risk for many medical issues. You can help prevent these by feeding your dog a healthy diet, avoiding high-fat treats, and providing regular exercise. At the ideal weight, you should be able to see your dog’s waistline from above, but not be able to see her ribs from the side. As a bonus, those regular walks can help you stay fit, potentially reducing your medical costs as well!

*Tell us some of the ways you save money on dog care.

From https://www.cesarsway.com/about-dogs

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The Alaskan Malamute is a large breed of domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) originally bred for hauling heavy freight because of their strength and endurance, and later an Alaskan sled dog. They are similar to other arctic breeds, like the Greenland dog, Canadian Eskimo Dog, the Siberian Husky and the Samoyed.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) breed standard describes a natural range of size, with a desired size of 23 inches (58 cm) tall and 75 pounds (34 kg) for females, 25 inches (64 cm) tall and 85 pounds (39 kg) for males.^[1] Heavier individuals (90 lb (41 kg)) and dogs smaller than 75 pounds (34 kg) are commonly seen. There is often a marked size difference between males and females. Weights upwards of 100 pounds (45 kg) are also seen.^[1]

The coat of the Alaskan Malamute is a double coat. The undercoat has an oily and woolly texture and can be as thick as two inches.^[1] The outer guard coat is coarse and stands off the body—longer at the withers but not more than one inch off the sides of the body. Ears are small in proportion to the head and stand firmly erect when at attention. The Alaskan Malamute is a heavy dog, with a more formidable nature and structure than the Siberian Husky, which is bred for speed. The Alaskan Malamute is bred for power and endurance, which is its original function and what the standard of the breed requires of Alaskan Malamute breeders.

The usual colors are various shades of gray and white, sable and white, black and white, seal and white, red and white, or solid white.^[2] There are a wide range of markings in the breed including face markings, blazes, a splash at the nape of the neck, and a collar or half collar. In terms of color variants, some Malamutes exhibit a dark grey to buff-colored undertone around their trimmings and white areas, presenting with a color-linked gene known as 'Agouti'. The eyes of the Alaskan Malamute are almond-shaped and are varied shades of brown; however, the darker eye is preferred. The physical build of the Malamute is compact and strong with substance, bone and snowshoe feet.

According to the AKC breed standard, the Malamute's tail is well furred and is carried over the back like a "waving plume". Corkscrew tails are occasionally seen but are faulted in the AKC breed standard (a corkscrew tail is commonly seen in the Akita). The Malamutes' well-furred tails aid in keeping them warm when they curl up in the snow. They are often seen wrapping the tail around their nose and face, which presumably helps protect them against harsh weather such as blowing snow. Their ears are generally upright, wedge-shaped, small in proportion to the head and set to the side of the skull. The muzzle is deep and broad, tapering slightly from the skull to the nose. Nose and gums are black but some Malamutes have a snow nose, which is black with a pink undertone that can get darker or lighter, depending on the season.

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"Pitbull" redirects here. For the Cuban-American rapper and entertainer, see Pitbull (rapper). For 

other uses, see Pitbull (disambiguation).

Pit bull is the common name for a type of dog. Formal breeds often considered in North America to be of the pit bull type include the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.^[1] The American Bulldog and the Bull Terrier (standard andminiature) are also sometimes included. Many of these breeds were originally developed as fighting dogs from cross breeding bull-baiting dogs (used to hold the faces and heads of larger animals such as bulls) and terriers.^[2] After the use of dogs in blood sports was banned, such dogs were used as catch dogs in the United States for semi-wild cattle and hogs, to hunt and drive livestock, and as family companions,^[3] although some owners still bred and used them for illegal dog fighting.^[4] This practice continues to this day, but is illegal in many nations.^[5]

The term pit bull is often used loosely to describe dogs with similar physical characteristics, and the morphological (physical) variation amongst "bully breed" dogs makes it difficult for anyone, even experts, to visually identify them as distinct from "non-pit bulls".^[6][7][8] While mixed breed dogs are often labeled as "pit bulls" if they have certain physical characteristics such as a square shaped head or bulky body type,^[9] visual identification of mixed breed dogs is not recommended by the scholarly community.^[6]

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I have a 5 year old fawn Boxer. He has a great personality. He is a proven stud. I am asking $600 stud fee with out the papers or $1000 with the papers or pick of the litter for certain dams who must be AKC registered with a deposit fee and contract. We are located in Landenberg PA 19350 just a few miles north of Elkton Md. 21921 and Just north of Newark DE

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