A Water Fountain for Your Dog

By Ted D  |  2012/01/07 18:14 Posted in Dog Supplies  |  Comments Off

Most dogs love to drink running water, but in the past, this has been a difficult thing to supply your pet with.  Recently however, a company by the name of Drinkwell has introduced a running water pet fountain that delivers running water throughout the day with the use of an electric motor.  Drinkwell has a handful of different fountain models on the market today, but as a dog owner, you should only really consider two of the options.

First, there is the Drinkwell Platinum fountain, which is a good option for those owners of a small or medium sized dog.  The Platinum is a revised version of Drinkwell’s first pet fountain, which is named the Original pet fountain.  The Platinum model improved on two of the Original’s deficiencies, a lack of water capacity and troublesome cleaning issues.  The Platinum model holds 168 ounces of water compared to only fifty ounces from the Original model.  This is a huge improvement and makes the newer model a great fit for dogs.  Since the pet fountains need to be cleaned frequently, Drinkwell also simplified the Platinum fountain for cleaning purposes.  This will save you time and frustration with the fountain.

For larger dogs, Drinkwell has recently introduced the model they call the Drinkwell Big Dog fountain.  It looks much like the Original and Platinum models, but is definitely super sized.  With 2.25 gallons of water capacity (288 ounces), it’s a much better fit for large dogs.  The bigger construction is also nice for large dogs because it means they don’t have to bend down quite as far to drink from the running water stream.  You can expect to pay about ten dollars more for the Big Dog fountain compared to the Platinum model.  If you have a medium or large dog in your household, it makes sense to opt for the bigger fountain considering the small price increase between the two.

Ant Repellent For Pets

By R Wareham  |  2012/01/04 15:13 Posted in Animal Care  |  Comments Off

There are many different types of ants that can enter the home. Ants are pesky and bold by nature and will infest honey, sugar and other sweet substances; therefore it is important to get rid of them using a natural ant repellent. When using repellents, pet owners have to be extra careful to use something that is a safe ant killer for dog and cat. Some good options for a natural ant repellent are as follows:

Black Pepper Or Vinegar As A Natural Ant Repellent

Ants have an extremely strong sense of smell. They have millions of receptors on their antennae with which they can take in the aromas of food. Vinegar and black pepper both have a very strong smell. A few crushed pepper corns give off a strong aroma which is too concentrated for the ant and this is sure to repel then. A few teaspoons of vinegar used to wipe the counters in the kitchen clean also give off an aroma which is way too strong for an ant to bear. Ants who find food, leave pheromone trails behind them so that the others from the colony can get to the food source by following this trail. Strong smelling substances like pepper and vinegar interfere with this activity by wiping out pheromone trails. Pets keep away from pepper and even if ingested, it is not harmful, which makes pepper a safe ant killer for dog and cat.

Clove Oil As A Natural ant repellent

Anyone who has used clove oil as a toothache remedy will know how strong the smell of clove oil is. It won’t leave your fingers for days. This natural ant repellent works a lot like pepper and repels ants with the intense smell. Drawing a line of clove oil on all entry points will keep the pests at bay. Clove oil will destroy their pheromone trails and will also drive the ants crazy. Clove oil is a safe ant killer for dog and cat.

Using a Treadmill to Get Your Dog in Shape

By Clinton H  |  2011/12/28 00:45 Posted in Dog Training  |  Comments Off

One very common theme in today’s society is people being out of shape and overweight.  Unfortunately it’s not just people anymore but their dogs as well. 

Every year the same people make a promise to get in shape.  They go grab a brand new iPod, some nice sports headphones, and download a new workout plan, and for some people that works.  Unfortunately your dogs can’t do the same thing.  Often times people aren’t comfortable running with their dogs or maybe they complain they don’t have time after their own time at the gym.  Well, we have a solution: get a treadmill for your dog.

That’s right, one of the best ways to get your dog in shape is by walking them, but if you can’t even find the time to do that then maybe it’s time to get them their own treadmill.  Buying them the best sports headphones won’t do anything to help, but buying them the best treadmill might.  Just set it up right next to yours and instead of worrying about having time to walk them just spend a few minutes to train them to walk themselves!

You can turn it on while you cook dinner and that’s an easy 15-20 minutes of exercise a day if not more.  How much easier can it get?  Check out this short video that shows you just how to get your dog walking on a treadmill and back in shape in no time.

One for Me One for the Dogs

By JPolack  |  2011/12/13 13:43 Posted in Dog Clothing  |  Comments Off

I am a dog lover. Our family life has been enhanced by our two dogs. They are cherished family members who provide unconditional love and loyalty to us all. Around the holidays, we like to give our children (they are like children!) a little something too.  This year is no exception. I went scouring the internet to try to find items that would be appropriate. I scouted dog behavior sites and blogs as well as websites dedicated to dog supplies.

I found many informative articles that gave me many pointers about dog care as well as ways to further build the bond between our family pets and our family members. Dogs have always been a part of our family. My children have grown up with dogs which taught them a sense of responsibility and caring for another living being. I had a similar upbringing. Dogs just provide so much joy to our lives.

In addition to the posts I found relating to family pets, I was able to get some really good ideas for gifts for my dogs. We live in the north and the weather gets real cold in the winter. I settled on purchasing a nice thermal coat for each of our dogs. Now they can be comfy warm when we take them on long winter walks in the woods.

As you have probably found, browsing the internet often brings you to places where you don’t expect to go. While seeking doggie information and gift ideas, I came across animal prints available through The Tory Burch Outlet. And, in addition to the invaluable information I found relating to my dogs, I found a lovely animal print scarf at The Tory Burch Outlet that I certainly hinted at as the perfect holiday gift for me! So, I accomplished two goals when I was only attempting to accomplish one. A gift for me, a gift for my dogs – sounds like a nice trade off doesn’t it?

Ferrets as Pets: A Cautionary Tale

By Clayton  |  2011/11/30 11:12 Posted in Family Pets  |  Comments Off

I’m a dog lover at heart.  Always have been.  A couple of months ago however, I almost succumbed to family pressure to add a ferret to our family dynamic.  I think they are cute and all, but it just didn’t seem like a good idea for us.  My brother however, did get a pet ferret at that time.  It seems that our kids had been in cahoots.  What follows is a bit of a cautionary tale that I hope some people will learn from before casually bringing home a new pet.

My brother John is also a dog lover, and his family includes a small terrier mix named “Sparky”.  When John said that they were going to go ahead with the idea of getting a ferret, warning bells went off in my head, but I kept my mouth shut.  To keep a long story a little bit shorter, when they brought the ferret home from the pet store, Sparky took one sniff and started  going nuts.  Now, some dogs do just fine with new pets being brought home.  Sparky, however, was filled with instincts that told him he should be getting his jaws on the fluffy new addition.

John and his family tried to deal with the situation rationally.  They put their new ferret in a separate room, safely in a cage.  Sparky wasn’t fooled however.  All he could think about was getting at the ferret.  Eventually, to keep Sparky sane, John gave the ferret to a friend who already had two ferrets as pets.  The furball seems to be living happily ever after.

The lesson to be learned here is that some pets just don’t mix.  Perhaps John could have had his friend visit with one of his ferrets to see how Sparky reacted.  At the very least, he might have thought about the fact that Sparky has a history of chasing almost anything that moves.  This isn’t meant to be an indictment of ferrets as pets.  Rather, it should serve as a warning to potential owners of these animals that they might be seen as prey by some existing pets.  Do a bit of research before getting a new pet.  You will be glad that you did and it will help to ensure a more peaceful existence for both of you.

How Do You Choose A Family Pet?

By Clinton H  |  2011/11/29 18:44 Posted in Family Pets  |  Comments Off

There comes a time when you are so fed up of the kids asking if they can have a real pet, instead of Fluffy go walkies, when you will eventually give in, and say yes. Then you have to consider what type of pet you are going to choose, after all if you are going to have a family pet, then it has to be one that all the family agree on, right?

Unfortunately this is always easier said than done. You will wan to get a fish, easy to keep and not very expensive. Your daughter will want a kitten, you know sweet, cuddly and fluffy. Then your son will want a puppy, after all boys do love dogs. You know that it will take some major negotiation for everyone to come out of this happy with the choice. After all, like top Christmas gifts, when do you agree on anything?

Now, depending on the age of your children, the things that will have to be taken into consideration before the choice is made are:

  • Who is going to feed it every day.
  • How much does the pet cost to buy?
  • Who is going to exercise it, especially important if you are getting a dog.
  • Which one of you gets to clean it out, perhaps a rota would work best.
  • Grooming may also be something that needs to be thought of.

Then comes the biggest argument of all, who gets to name it?

So if you can answer all these questions, you will have come some way to narrowing down your choice. Be firm though, because the chances are it will be Mum and Dad that end up doing most of the care and feeding. So get a family pet that you can both deal with equally, this should mean that you are all happy.

 

Being A Responsible Pet Owner

By Carmella W  |  2011/11/21 20:59 Posted in Animal Care  |  Comments Off

Taking your dog, cat or other pet to the Vet on a regular basis is all part of being a responsible animal owner. The animal may not be able to tell you that they don’t feel well but when you love your pet, you should be able to spot the signs.

Taking him or her to the Vet can be a daunting experience particularly if you suspect there is something seriously wrong.   The vet is the expert but he often has other members of staff he calls upon for certain procedures.  One such person is the ultrasound technician.

While most people find employment working as an ultrasound technician in a clinical environment for people, some technicians put their love of animals together with their technical skills and work in a veterinarian practice.  If you are interested finding out more about how to become an ultrasound technician but treating animals not humans, it would be worth speaking to your local vet. He can put you in touch with people already doing this job.

The diagnostic imaging services are used in a similar way to those used for human beings. This form of imaging is less intrusive than other types such as bombarding the body with potentially harmful, but sometimes necessary x-rays.

Ultrasound is better for viewing soft tissue damage, cancerous and benign growths, and in the case of viewing a pregnancy is by far the preferred method since it does no harm to the unborn animal or person. Another advantage is the instant nature of the results. Vets, can get a real time view of whatever is happening which helps with treatment options and also to keep the vet bills down. 

 

 

Why I wish I had a Baby Annabell Doll instead of a Real Pet

By Clayton  |  2011/11/16 10:58 Posted in Animal Care  |  Comments Off

When it comes to owning pets I’ve got to admit that I sometimes think about what life would be like to live without responsibility for an animal.  At the moment we normally have two cats but we are looking after an extra two and two of the cats don’t get on very well.  They are usually fighting, hissing and clawing at each other and it really makes for a stressful time.

When I go and visit my little niece she’s got one of these baby annabell doll toys and all she has to do is tend to the little baby doll if it cries, feed it some pretend milk and that’s only when it is switched on. They say a pet is for life not just for xmas, but they aren’t even mine they are my partners and to be honest I have just about hit the wall, my own ceiling if you like.

The zapf creation baby Annabell doll that my little niece has is looking very, very appealing to me right now.  It’s the worst thing to have to keep playing referee to 2 cats who don’t like each other and i’m also feeling really sorry for the one that gets picked on and it makes me sad. 

All i’ll say is make sure you make the right decision before you go ahead and commit to getting a full-time pet, it’s a real responsibility and not something to be taken lightly!

Arthritis In Dogs

By Christian Gladding  |  2011/11/15 07:06 Posted in Animal Care  |  Comments Off

You might think that arthritis is a condition that only strikes humans. Most of the time people think that only those who are of advanced age develop this condition. Unfortunately, arthritis strikes individuals of all ages and is even common in household pets.

Unfortunately, most pet owners simply fail to consider that their dog may be suffering from a degenerative disease of the joints. Many of the symptoms can resemble depression or normal aging, and so go untreated. It is much preferable if you can recognize the signs and symptoms of dog arthritis (or of cat arthritis, for that matter) early on, so that a veterinarian can advise you in an appropriate course of treatment to minimize your pet’s discomfort.

The most common and easily recognized symptom is unexplained limping. If it appears to be uncomfortable for your dog to sit, stand, or move about, you should have a veterinarian investigate promptly. A further result of the increasing discomfort associated with movement during the onset of arthritis is a general change in lifestyle and behavior. Dogs suffering from arthritis tend to sleep more, and remain stationary for substantial periods of time in order to avoid the discomfort caused by movement.

You Cat Deserves Her Own Cat Furniture

By Clayton  |  2011/11/14 10:28 Posted in Animal Care  |  Comments Off

Cats are special members of the family and can benefit from having their own cat furniture. What is cat furniture, you ask? It can be anything from the lowly litter box to a simple thing like a scratching post, or even one of the sophisticated large cat towers with multiple rooms attached to a central post. Depending upon your budget and space availability, cat furniture can be chosen in many shapes and sizes.

A simple scratching post can save your furniture from your cat’s need to scratch. If you decide to get him or her a scratching post, choose one covered with rope if you afford it. It’s stronger and will last longer than some of the cheaper ones with carpet covering.

If you have room, a cat tower can be an amazingly entertaining piece of cat furniture. It’s great fun to watch as they climb on them. They like to observe their world from a height, and if it affords them a little hidey hole up there from which to do it, then so much the better.

Your cat will love having a place to do her climbing, watching and scratching where she won’t get in trouble. Providing a cat with cat furniture is a real act of love