8 Things We Are Thankful For

1. Our Staff. We are thankful for our staff who come to work every day with smiles on their faces. Despite inclement weather, our staff is here every day of the year to care for our guests. They are so passionate and always go above and beyond.  Thank you for being enthusiastic and working so hard to give each of our guests the best experience possible.

2. Our Clients. We are thankful for so many families who trust us to care for their pets. Thank you for following our days on social media and letting us celebrate your furry children’s birthdays. Thank you for referring others into our family and allowing us to be your pet’s home away from home. We appreciate that you voted us one of the best in Morris County. We are so humbled.

3. Local Veterinarians. We are thankful for the local veterinarians for always being there to make sure all pets are happy and healthy, and able to live such enriched lives. Thank you to the veterinarians who have supported and referred us over the years.

4. Being Part of a Vibrant Local Community. We are thankful to be part of the Harding Township and Morristown community. The amount of support from other local businesses over the years has been truly heartwarming. We are proud to be a family owned, local business. We are grateful you believe in the services we provide.

5. Local Charities and Fundraisers. We are thankful for the local charities and fundraisers that serve our community, and for giving us the opportunity to participate and give back, making our extended communities a better place.

6. Local Shelters and Rescue Groups. We are thankful for those who endlessly give to pets in need. Thank you for opening your hearts and your homes and donate your time. The work you do is truly amazing. Thank you for all the pets you save.

7. Our Internationally Recognized Fitness Programs. We are thankful that our fitness programs have received more attention than we could have ever imagined. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to play a part in bringing awareness to the wide spread issue of pet obesity and allowing us to help pets toward a healthier life.

8. Our pet guests. We are thankful for the wonderful dogs and cats that bring joy to us each and every day. They are the reason we come to work with smiles and leave feeling grateful. We are constantly reminded how fortunate we are to love what we do. Thank you for making us laugh, brightening our day, and warming our hearts. 

Last but not least, we are thankful for you. Every single one of you. Thank you for being part of our extended family. We are most grateful. Best wishes for a happy and healthy Thanksgiving! What are you thankful for?

Can Your Cat's Eyes Change Color?

If you’ve had your pet from the time they were young, it’s always fun to compare pictures of them as they age. Our pets grow so quickly in their early years, sometimes a year later they are nearly unrecognizable! In cats, however, you may notice an even bigger change than physical growth. A cat’s eye color often changes as they get older, meaning it is important to recognize the difference between an expected color change and one that may indicate health problems. Vetinfo.com helps us learn what to look for.

Kittens. A majority of kittens are born with blue eyes. As their sight develops, a kitten’s eyes will begin to change and take on a range of different colors, from browns and yellows to greens, oranges and ambers. This change will likely begin somewhere between three to eight weeks of age, and be complete by the time your kitten turns three months old.

Potential Complications in Adult Life. Eye color changes after "kittenhood" could be cause for concern. Watch especially for sudden color changes over a short period of time. Changing color is commonly an indicator of an eye infection, but could also be a sign of a more serious condition. One common eye condition in cats is an eyeball inflammation known as uveitis, which can do permanent damage if left untreated. Symptoms include abnormally yellow, red or orange colored eyes. If recognized, these symptoms should be shown to your vet for proper treatment.

Lost Vision. An older cat whose eyes return to their original blue color may have experienced eye damage or be going blind. Blue eyes are not a definite indication of blindness, but you should always consult your vet if the color change occurs as your cat appears to have any trouble moving around normally.

Kitten eye color changes can be gorgeous to watch occur, but don't forget to be wary of eye color changes later in life!  If you notice any abnormal changes, please contact your veterinarian! In this case, taking pictures of your pet can be a good thing for two reasons: to make it easy to look for color changes and to hang in your office for a daily dose of cuteness!

Sources: VetInfo

Diabetes Awareness in Pets

November is National Pet Diabetes Month, and we’d like to share fundamental information about diabetes in dogs and cats. The condition is very similar in pets and humans, and is believed to affect anywhere between 1 in 100 to 1 in 500 canines and felines.

Over recent years, experts have seen a rise in pet diabetes, so we've compiled a list of symptoms and risk factors to help you stay informed! 

Common Diabetes Symptoms:

• Excessive thirst
• Excessive urination—your pet produces more urine per day and may have “accidents” in the house (dogs) or outside the litter box (cats)
• Excessive hunger while losing weight
• Lethargy (less active/sleeps more)
• Cloudy eyes (dogs)
• Doesn’t groom (cats)
• Thinning, dry, and dull hair

Risk Factors in Dogs:

• Age (middle-aged to older dogs are more affected)
• Unspayed females
• Genetics
• Obesity
• Breed—these breeds have a higher risk of developing diabetes: Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Pomeranians, Terriers, Toy Poodles

Risk Factors in Cats:

• Age (older cats are more susceptible)
• Neutered males
• Genetics
• Other disorders or diseases, such as chronic pancreatitis or hyperthyroidism, which can cause insulin reduction or resistance 
• Obesity
• Physical inactivity

If you notice any of the warning signs in your dog or cat, please consult your veterinarian. Thanks to modern medicine, a diabetic pet can have the same life expectancy as a non-diabetic pet!Staying informed, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment help diabetic pets maintain a happy and healthy life!

Source: Pet Diabetes Month

Should Dogs Play All Day in Daycare?

We’ve collected some information from the experts regarding choosing a daycare for your furry friend, and why we value our exceptional standards as a leading facility in the pet care industry.

There are many factors involved when considering doggy daycare, but we’ve boiled it down to three: Your dog, the facility and the staff.

Your dog.  Just like people, dogs have different personalities and have had different experiences while growing up. With a wide spectrum of who each dog might enjoy spending time with, it’s important to understand whether your dog would enjoy playing in a large group, or perhaps may enjoy some quiet alone time with a staff member.

Morris Animal Inn offers private daycare for dogs who prefer spending one-on-one time rather than being part of a group.

The Facility.  There are many amenities that go into providing a great and safe environment:

• A dog’s play area needs lots of room and places for dogs to opt out of interaction if they want to go off by themselves and rest.
• The facility must be clean, sanitary, and safe, outdoors and in. All daycares should have a plan to respond to a fire or other emergencies.
• A separate play are for smaller dogs and for young pups – Morris Animal Inn’s play groups are based on size and play style. We also offer a puppy daycare for pups 8 to 20 weeks old!
• There should be a place for the dogs to nap

It is important to understand that dogs need to sleep during the day. There must be a quiet secure place where the dogs rest for at least two hours each day.

According to trainer Kathy Sdao, businesses that brag that they never have the dogs off the play-floor misunderstand their responsibility to provide a balance of activities and rest.  It's unhealthy for dogs to play with each other, uninterrupted, for eight or more hours a day. It can create problems such as bullying, barking or impulsiveness. At Morris Animal Inn, each daycare guest has a luxury enclosure where they can rest comfortably during the day in between play times.

The Staff. A great daycare facility must have:

• A high staff:dog ratio (at least one person for every 10 or 15 dogs)
• Staff should be well-versed in reading dogs for signs of stress, discriminating between appropriate versus inappropriate play, and how to effectively but kindly manage the behavior of both individual dogs and a group of dogs
• The best dog daycares conduct a thorough behavioral assessment of all new dogs
• A policy should be in place if a dog bullies others, or initiates a fight 
• Staff should be conscious of size differences and separate the dogs into different play groups if necessary

At Morris Animal Inn we have an average 1:5 staff to dog ratio.  Each of our staff members are well-versed and trained in dog dynamics and body language. Each staff member is trained through a series of courses, including courses by The Dog Gurus. We assess all dogs, and group dogs into separate play groups based on size, temperament and play style. 

We are proud to offer an exceptional daycare facility for your pet. So...should dogs play all day in daycare?  We believe the rest is fundamental for a happy and healthy pet!

Source: Patricia McConnell & Kathy Sdao