Once again, it’s that time of year when Creative Loafing looks to it’s fellow Atlantans for their top picks of the city. Spot for Dogs wants you to go to the Creative Loafing website and vote for us as “Best Doggie Daycare”. It’s on the last page of the survey…so after voting for Spot for Dogs, feel free to go back 4 pages and fill in lots of other things you love around the city. Click HERE for the survey.

We’re hoping that you’ll spread the word too….  bribe your friends and family to get them to vote. We don’t mind at all. Happy voting Spot friends!

Now that summer is officially here (yes, it’s June 21st!) we Atlantans begin a long hot summer, and the age-old tradition of seeking out air-conditioning.

Fortunately we are not covered in thick layers of fur, have sweat glands and don’t have to pant and drink water to cool off- THANKFULLY!! Our fine furry friends however can’t say as much for themselves- they have to rely on us to get them somewhere nice and cool with a chilly concrete floor. Good thing Spot for Dogs has stepped up to become your dogs #1 “go to” air-conditioned stop this summer. We’d actually ask y’all to come stay too…but the airstream only sleeps 2.

Does rover have the itchy-scratchies again? Well, maybe it’s time to brush up on the flea-control issue. Check out these tips below, and make sure your dog is enjoying his summer vacation too. (Plus, we really like your dogs, and don’t want them to have fleas).

(eHow.com provides instructions)

Step 1: Run your fingers briskly through your dog’s fur, moving against the flow of hair. If any little black flecks are jumping out, your dog is infested with fleas. To make sure they are fleas, watch what one fleck does after it lands on the ground – is it moving?

Step 2: Nothing jumping around? Go to the base of your dog’s tail, around the last two or three vertebrae before the tail begins, and part the fur so you can see the skin. You can also run a flea comb (WITH the flow of hair) from the base of your dog’s neck down to the base of the tail. Do you see any little dark flecks that look like granules of dirt? If so, move on to step 3. If not, congratulations, your dog is flea free!

Step 3: Isolate a few of these grains of “dirt” onto a damp paper towel or tissue. Pinch the paper towel or tissue around the “dirt” and smear it between your fingers. If the smudged area appears red, your dog has fleas. If the smudged area is still a dark brown or black, it’s just dirt, and your dog probably could use a bath, but you do not need to worry about fleas.

Step 4: If at any time you give your dog a bath and the water rinses red, there is a good chance that your dog has a bad flea problem.

Remember to consult your vet if you think your dog has fleas, and as always… you can schedule your appt. with Dr. Smith and The Clairmont Animal Hospital’s Mobile Care Unit @ Spot For Dogs on the 1st and 3rd Wed. of every month.

Happy flea hunting!

Since the nice weather is finally here, and everyone is hitting the park, pools and nature trails…we can all take a few seconds to think about fluffy, sparky and rex. Pay attention and care to your dog if it tends to stay out long in the hot weather, and look out for signs that show that it may be suffering from heat conditions.

-When your dog staggers instead of walking properly.

-When he pants more than usual, with a slight rasp.

-When he looks overtly anxious with a delirious expression.

-Warm skin as well as dry.

-Weak and restless behavior.

-Having a temperature of over 104°F.

-Watch for inappropriate salivation in his mouth.

-Diarrhea and vomiting symptoms.

If you need a quick reference guide for summer fun tips and tricks for your pets, check here. http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/

Take the time to think ahead about your special furry friend, and enjoy the weather!

Catching teeth problems early will help avoid severe dental disease. The simplest way to keep track of your dog’s teeth is to look at them on a regular basis and be aware of signs that may indicate a problem. To inspect your dog’s teeth, lift the lips all around the mouth, looking at the front and back teeth as closely as possible. Be gentle and use caution so you do not accidentally get nipped! Your veterinarian will also take a look at your dog’s teeth during routine examinations, so make sure you keep up with these – visit your vet every 6-12 months for wellness check-ups. Contact your vet if any problems arise. Watch for the following signs:

• Halitosis (bad breath)
• Reluctance to chew / crying out when chewing
• Increased salivation
• Red and/or puffy gums
• Bleeding gums
• Tartar / Calculus (hard coating on teeth that is usually brown or yellow; results from plaque build-up)
• Missing and/or loose teeth
• Anything else about the mouth that appears unusual

The Dangers of Dental Disease

Plaque builds up on the teeth and turns into tartar, or calculus. These areas grow bacteria and eat away at the teeth and gums. Halitosis, periodontal disease, oral pain and tooth loss can occur. However, the bacteria not only cause disease in the mouth – they can also affect other parts of the body, like the heart and kidneys. The most important thing to do is address dental disease as soon as it is detected, no matter how minor. Better yet, work hard to prevent it!

Dr. Smith and The Mobile Care Unit can clean your dog’s teeth as easy as 1,2,3… They are at Spot For Dogs on the first and third Wednesday of each and every month.

Call Spot For Dogs to make your appointment, cuz ‘When yer smilin’…the whole world smiles with you.’

Everyone is getting fresh and clean now that the weather is breaking…

Check out this cool faux hawk!

Get your doggie into Spot for Dogs. All the kids are doing it!

And, send us your pics..we’ll post ‘em up here for all to see.

If you are asking yourself who we are wishing a happy birthday to, the answer is, well, ourselves.
You see, something magical and miraculous happened 3 years ago today:
750 Ponce de Leon Place, Suite 1 went from this-

to this-

So today we not only wanted to say Happy Birthday to us, but also a big Thank You to all of you guys who support us and make what we do possible. All of us here at Spot for Dogs have the best jobs, and we know it.

And while you’re here, check out some pictures from our birthday party today!

There’s some things in life you can always count on….

1. Your dog’s sweet  kisses  

2. Spot employees waiting at the front door to greet you

3. Your dog’s vet care being taken care of- while your dog is at Spot!

 That’s right! Dr. Smith and the Clairmont Animal Hospital’s Mobile Unit will be at Spot the first and third Wed. of every month! So, all you have to do is the exact same thing you’ve always done… just bring your dog to Spot.  Rover, Rex and Sparky can all bee seen and treated before you pick them up for the day.

Just make your appointment with the front office staff when you drop off or pick up. It’s just that easy.

It’s like a dream come true… one LESS thing to think about. One MORE thing to count on. Ahhhhhh…….isn’t life grand? 

Here’s some pics from his last visit…

Spot for Dogs wishes you all a Happy New Year and hopes everyone had a wonderful holiday season.  We would like to thank each and every one of you for your generous support during our Atlanta Humane Society donation drive.  We delivered a huge load of goods to them last week and they were extremely grateful for your generosity!  We raised over $500 in cash donations and over $1,000 in WISH LIST ITEMS.

On a separate note, Dr. Smith will be at Spot on Wed, January 20th, so please sign up right away if your pooch needs any services.

So, since we are still accepting your Atlanta Humane Society donations, and are giving away free Spot baths with a donation of $15 or more…this is your LAST CHANCE to rack up some good animal karma!!

The Atlanta Humane Society needs your help, so swing by and donate what you can. See our front office staff to make cash or check donations.

Let’s all have a great 2010… and help The Atlanta Humane Society!