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Hot Weather Reminders for Our Furry Friends

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Summer is right around the corner, and The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa wants to remind you to protect our furry friends during the hot weather. Whether you’re at home, traveling, or driving, it’s important to remember that our pets can’t cool off like we can.

Tips to Keep Your Dogs and Cats Cool During Hot Weather

Dogs pant to cool off and cats cool off by grooming themselves and releasing heat through their paw pads. We can help our pets cool off with some planning and preparation.

Here are some tips to keep your dogs and cats cool during hot weather:

  • Always provide fresh, cool drinking water
  • Only exercise your pets during cooler weather
  • Never leave your pet in a car even if you think it is not hot outside; the weather inside a car can heat up quickly in a short amount of time
  • Close blinds, shades, and curtains to cool down a room
  • Provide a cooling towel, mat, or pad for your pet to rest on or near
  • Use a fan inside but allow your dog to get relief from its cooling breeze
  • Place ice cubes or ice treats in your dog’s water or dish; these also provide fun toys for cats to play with. Since their paws absorb heat, playing with ice treats can keep your cat cool
  • Fill a shallow pool with water to play or splash around in
  • Use a mister or sprinkler for outside, cooling fun
  • Bring dogs and cats inside with air conditioning, fans, or open windows; animals can easily overheat just by lying in the sun

Signs of Heatstroke in a Dog or Cat

In the event that you think your dog or cat is overheated, be aware of these symptoms:

  • Panting in cats-cats don’t pant naturally like dogs do. In the event your cat is panting, this may be a sign that your cat has heatstroke.
  • Glazed eyes
  • Lethargy
  • Lack of appetite
  • Loss of balance or wobbly walking
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Rapidly beating heart
  • Vomiting
  • Seizures
  • Gums or tongue being exceptionally red
  • Collapsing

If you see any of these signs in your dog or cat, please contact your vet immediately. Take your pet to a cooler location, or place in front of a fan, place a cool towel on your pet, and give your dog or cat cool water but not ice water. Cool the pet slowly, not quickly, as that can be more dangerous.

For a Fun Summer Getaway for Your Dog or Cat, Consider The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa

If you are looking to get away for the summer, consider sending your dog or cat to The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa. Our dog suits and cat condos are temperature-controlled to keep your pet safe, cool, and happy.

Our state-of-the-art water park offers a fun time for dogs to splash in water and stay cool. Even dogs who didn’t like water have a great time running and splashing in the pool. It’s like summer camp for your dog or cat at The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa.

Contact us today for a stay and play for your dog or cat as we are filling up quickly!

Have a safe and fun summer and remember to keep cool!

How to Protect Yourself and Your Dog from Coyotes

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Summer is upon us and it’s not uncommon for many of us to want to take evening strolls or early morning walks with our dogs to avoid the heat of the day.

The East Bay, especially Livermore, offers so many beautiful hiking trails right in our own backyard! Between the warm summer breezes and beautiful views, it’s only natural to want to explore our area. When we explore with our best dog pal, the adventure is even better!

But let’s remember that we are sharing this beautiful area with Mother Nature, and it’s important to protect ourselves and our dogs from coyotes.

Coyotes are native to California and sitings of these animals are becoming more common especially on hiking trails where coyotes can be found hunting for food and protecting their dens.

Most of the time, coyotes will run when they come in contact with a human, but in areas where coyotes are becoming accustomed to humans, it’s important to take precautions to protect yourself and your dog when out and about.

Coyote Safety Precautions

The East Bay Regional Park District offers these coyote safety precaution tips:

  • Avoid hiking alone. In the case of emergency, you will have someone there to help you.
  • Be aware of surroundings and keep all senses on high alert.
  • Keep children within arm’s reach and dogs on leash.
  • Stay on trails and paths.
  • Never feed wildlife.

What To Do If You See a Coyote

It’s not uncommon for anyone enjoying Livermore trails to see a coyote. In the event you do, take the following measures:

  • Do not approach or engage with the coyote.
  • Maintain your distance.
  • Watch from afar and keep an eye on the coyote’s location and actions.
  • Remain calm.
  • Walk quickly, but do not run, from the area.

What to Do if a Coyote Approaches You

In most instances, a coyote will not approach you; if it does, keep yourself and your dog safe with the following tips:

  • Make yourself as big a possible and use loud and aggressive tones to scare away the coyote.
  • Wave your arms in constant motion.
  • Stare down the coyote. Maintaining eye contact can make coyotes uncomfortable and timid.
  • Slowly back away, but never turn your back on the coyote.

Sharing Our East Bay Hiking Trails with Wildlife

We are lucky to be able to share East Bay hiking trails with wildlife. Make sure to respect all wildlife while keeping yourself and your pet safe!

In the event of an emergency at a regional park, call 911 or the East Bay Regional Park District Public Safety line at 510- 881-1833 which is available 24/7.

For more information, visit Ebparks.org/safety.

Happy Mother’s Day from the Cats of The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa

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Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 13, 2024, and the Cats of The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa want to wish you all a very happy Mother’s Day!

In the spirit of the Mother’s Day holiday, the cats of The Ranch wanted to share some fun and interesting Motherly Information about their species.

Motherly Facts About Cats

Cat mothers like to consider themselves high in the running for Mom Species of the year. With kitten season upon us, the Ranch cats thought you might enjoying learning the following information about them:

  • Mother cats are called Queens and really, are we surprised? These dainty paw licking creatures certainly deserve the title.
  • Kittens in one litter can come from different fathers. A cat in heat can be fertile for a week and can mate with more than one cat during this time. This gives sense to the saying, “A sister from another mister.” This act of nature is one reason kittens from the same litter can look so very different.
  • Kittens can be born days apart. Since Momma Cat can mate at different days during her fertile season, it makes sense that kittens will develop at different times and be born days apart.
  • Queens can deliver between 1-9 kittens each time they give birth.
  • An unspayed cat can have as many as 100 kittens in a lifetime (source) which is why it is so important to spay and neuter your cats.
  • Queens purr during birth. This noise is their way of relaxing during labor. But given the choice, we are most certain Queens would prefer an epidural.
  • Kittens are born with placenta covering them which the mom eats after delivery.
  • Kittens have belly buttons since each kitten has its placenta attached to it. How cute is a kitten belly button?
  • Cats can have between 4 and 10 nipples, including males, but the average number is six.
  • Mother cats have a distinct noise to call their kittens. This noise is call a chirrup, and kittens can distinguish their mom from other moms based upon this noise.
  • Queens hide their babies in nests to keep them safe from predators. You may find your cat has had its kittens in a closet, under your bed, or nesting in your bedding. Feral or stray cats hide their kittens anywhere away from predators and away from where they pee or poop. Common places include under porches, in bushes, and even in peoples’ garages.
  • Kittens who are found alone are often not abandoned. Mother Queen may be out hunting. If you come across a nest of kittens, the best advice is to leave them alone. Chances are, Mom will come back. If she doesn’t return in 4-6 hours, it may be time to intervene.
  • Around 8 weeks, Momma Queen is done raising her kittens and happy to get back to the life she once lived without her babies! (source)

Help Prevent Unwanted Pregnancies for Your Cat, Spay and Neuter Your Pets!

How Do I Introduce a New Dog into my Home?

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Considering adding a new dog into your home? Whether this is your first dog, an addition to your canine family, or you are a seasoned dog owner, adding a new dog into your home can be rewarding and fun as long as you are prepared!

The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa wants to help you introduce your new dog into your home with our tried-and-true tips.

Make Use of the 3-3-3 Rule Bringing a new dog home is exciting for everyone but can be an overwhelming experience for the dog. If you practice the 3-3-3 rule, you are more likely to set yourself and the dog up for success.

When a new dog first enters your home, it’s important to understand what to expect from the dog. New smells, surroundings, people, animals, and routines will confuse, excite, and overwhelm any new dog. Its true personality won’t shine through for the first three days or longer.

Give the dog time to adjust to your routine and expectations. Give it a few days to acclimate to its new environment and family by keeping it at the home and avoiding stimulating situations like the dog park, other dogs, parks, coffee shops, and pet stores.

There will be a lifetime of opportunities for you to take your dog to fun places and meet all of the neighborhood doggy friends. But for the first three days at least, allow the dog to decompress and get used to your home and routine.

After three or so weeks, your dog will feel more comfortable, confident, and at ease. At the same time, it may start to display some behavior issues that you need to be prepared for.

Like any child, a dog will test its boundaries and will rely on you to direct it to the appropriate behaviors and set it up for success. Training the dog to sit, stay, get off the counters, lie down, go in its crate, stop jumping on you, and relieve itself in a designated area will make the transition for you and your dog a better one.

By three months, your new dog will gain the confidence it deserves to feel right at home. It will have gained your trust enough to understand it is staying with you and will start to form a stronger bond.

At this point, you will have reinforced positive behaviors and instilled in your dog the confidence to know how to behave at home and in public.

Then, when you bring your new dog to The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa for doggie daycare or dog boarding, he can feel more confident.

Contact The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa for all of your Dog Daycare or Boarding Needs

The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa offers the latest in doggie daycare and dog boarding. Situated in the heart of the wine country, The Ranch offers a one-of-a-kind experience where you dog can get the love and attention it deserves.

Sign your dog up to play in our state-of-the-art water park and play structure or spend a night in our heat and air-conditioned suites. At The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa, your dog is treated with royalty just like you treat him at home.

It’s National Hug Your Dog Day! But Does Your Dog Really Like to Be Hugged?

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April 10 is National Hug Your Dog Day, but those of us at The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa know most dogs don’t like being hugged and can, in fact, stress them out. Hugging a dog is not a natural action for a dog, an in fact, it can cause a dog to feel tense, anxious, and trapped. Dogs show affection by loose body moves and by leaning into you.

The best way to show your dog you love him or her on National Hug Your Dog Day is to pet your dog on the chest, pat her on the head, or give her a good ol’ fashion belly rub!

At The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa, our dogs in doggie daycare or boarding are loved every day! For a list of fees or services, please click here. Pats and affection given daily!

National Dog Bite Prevention Week

The second week in April is also delegated as National Dog Bite Prevention Week. A great way to prevent being bitten is to be educated and aware of a dog’s propensity to bite with these tips:

  • Don’t hug a dog for the reasons mentioned above
  • Never approach an unfamiliar dog
  • Ask permission before petting someone’s dog
  • Watch the body language of a dog-avoid dogs that are tense or growling
  • Never run from a dog-whether in chase or on a “hunt,” the risk of being bitten goes up
  • Avoid touching dogs that are sleeping, eating, or protecting something
  • If a strange dog approaches, stand still with your hands to your side until it goes away
  • When meeting a dog, allow it to approach you, and offer a clenched fist
  • Avoid the face and mouth of a dog
  • Do not tug on a dog or allow children to crawl or climb on a dog. Even the most well-meaning dog is capable of biting
  • Avoid looking a dog straight in the eye
  • Never tease a dog
  • Socialize your dog
  • Spay and neuter your dog
  • Train your dog
  • Supervise children when near dogs and teach them to respect dogs and their bodies
  • Avoid moving quickly around a dog who may be startled and reactive
  • If possible, ignore a barking dog until it stops barking at you. Either remove yourself from the situation if it is not your dog or wait for the behavior to stop before interacting with the dog.
  • Never pin down, hit, or punish a dog for a natural behavior that you see as “aggressive” as doing so may cause the dog to become aggressive

Any Dog Can Bite

No one wants to believe their dog is capable of biting or causing harm or injury to anyone. But the fact remains, a dog who feel threatened, scared, trapped, or is under socialized and untrained is capable of biting.

Avoid the consequences of a biting dog by reading our tips, clicking on the links for more information, or enrolling in our behavioral training programs.

“Dogs don’t bit out of the blue. So stay safe and know the signs.”





Hoppy Easter from The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa

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It’s Easter weekend, and dogs and cats around town are gearing up for a rip-roaring good time! Some of us get to partake in the fun of running around with the kids while they hunt for these plastic bundles of candy-filled fun that we are not allowed to eat, chew on, or steal.

Some of us are looking forward to seeing people and their pets we haven’t seen since the time our people brought trees in from the wild, threw balls and strings on them and told us not to touch them. Um, hello?! We are dogs and cats! We chase balls and strings! Sigh.

If you are hosting a jolly good time or having friends over, The Ranch Pet Resort and Spa has some tips to keep us safe!

Tips to Keep Your Dogs and Cats Safe this Easter

If you are hosting an Easter celebration, you may want to keep these tips in mind for a safe, healthy, happy, and enjoyable Easter for your pets and your company.

  1. Consider putting your pets in a room or crate while you have company over. While The Ranch understands your love for your amazing pets, Uncle Henry and Cousin Linda may not enjoy LeRoy, the Rottweilers, excitement over seeing new guests. Some people may not like dogs or cats (we know, we don’t understand either), may have had a bad experience with them, or be allergic to them. If your pets are locked up in your room or crate, they will be safe from knocking into or over your guests, causing a fear-bite reaction, getting out of an open door, or being fed food or treats from a well-meaning guest.
  2. Do not feed chocolate, candy items, food with bones, hot cross buns or any food with currants or raisins in them, any foods with garlic or onions, or any foods whose ingredients may be hidden, or alcohol. These people foods can cause dogs to vomit, have an upset stomach or diarrhea, choke, or have to go to the ER for a very, very expensive treatment.
  3. Keep all tulips and daffodils away from curious pets. The bulbs and even the water in the vases can cause upset stomachs, mouth irritations, difficulty breathing, or heart problems. While these plants and flowers are gorgeous, it’s best for everyone to admire them up and away from pets.
  4. Synthetic easter grass. All of that stringy “grass” is colored with dyes and is non-digestible and can block the intestines leading to illness, surgery, or in the worst cases, death.
  5. In the event your dog does ingest something or acts ill, please contact your vet or emergency vet immediately.

Healthy Treats You Can Feed Your Pets

If you want to indulge your dog or cat this Easter season, here are some tasty, healthy treats you can feed your pet. Just do so in moderation to avoid an upset tummy.

Foods we recommend and even encourage you to feed your pets in moderation any day:

  • Cooked lean meat, fish, eggs
  • Broccoli cut into small pieces
  • Peas
  • Bananas
  • Apples
  • Watermelon
  • Blueberries
  • Rice
  • Oatmeal
  • Spinach

A healthy diet is optimal for both pets and humans. When we choose to indulge in clean eating, we look and feel better! But it’s ok to indulge every now and then!

Wishing Your Family and Pets a Happy, Healthy Easter Weekend!