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Showing posts from 2017

5 Tips to Make Back to School and Pet Care Fun!

Quite often parents end up taking full responsibility for pet care when school starts back.  It doesn’t have to be that way.  There is a great way to teach your child responsibility. Make it fun, and not something to feel guilty about or have it become a chore.  Make it a family affair by pitching in and teaching that it will make life easier. Below are 5 tips you can do to make it a family affair.  Parents can start with negotiating simple short tasks: If getting ready for school on-time is a problem, then the parent can feed the dog breakfast and the children can feed the dog at dinner. As a parent what better way to find out how your child’s day was by walking the dog after school.  What a great way to bond more with your children, as well as getting some exercise in for the day. Try something fun like, first down the stairs puts the dog out. Since it is August it will be warm outside so make sure your dog has plenty of fresh water for the day, and has a cool place to sp

Flea-repelling plants: The good, the bad, and the ugly

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Ever heard of the popular phone game Plants vs. Zombies? It’s a strangely addictive game where you use different types of plants to keep hoards of zombies away from your house. Using flea-repelling plants to keep those tiny pests away from your house and pets seems to work on the same principle. Plants are your friends! If you are embarking on a new landscaping plan, or if you’d just like to brighten up your yard with some new potted plants, you can use some of these popular flea-deterring plants to add another level of protection to your home and your pets. It’s important to know that while some plants may be effective at repelling fleas, they may also pose a threat to your pet if your pet ingests them. For example, the appropriately named Fleabane (or Pennyroyal) plant is no friend to fleas, but it is actually also toxic to cats and dogs. Other plants that are commonly cited as flea repellents but that are also dangerous to pets include: Fleawort Tansy Rue Citronella Sweet

Let’s Talk Toys for Cats

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Let’s face it, if you know cats you know that they can make a toy out of just about anything. A simple piece of string holds hours and hours of entertainment alone. Add a pet owner who will hold the piece of string and make it jump and flip about, and you’ve increased the entertainment factor exponentially. The best cat toys will play to your cat’s natural interests, affinities, and instincts. Cats love to hunt. They love to creep and sneak up on unsuspecting prey. They love the chase. We once had a cat that made a game of stalking us. Whenever we walked through the room, she’d come streaking out from under the couch and would spring at us. A moment before contact, she’d drop to the ground and walk away as if to say, “I won’t, but I just wanted you to know that I’m perfectly capable of taking out your knees.” After one too many surprises like that, we figured it was time to get her another toy to chase instead of us. Another habit of cats is to hide or rest in s

Treat Your Dog to an Excellent Home Meal

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Forget the canned food which may be tainted with chemicals and who knows what else. These days it is all about making food at home with the best ingredients so that you will be able to know that the animals are getting the best nourishment. That means there are many owners that are taking this into their own hands and are cooking gourmet meals at home for their dogs with the best ingredients. There is a lot of confusion currently about what dogs should eat; there are many foods out there with vegetables as well as different combinations of meat. It is very confusing for most owners as they do not have any idea what they should be feeding their dogs with a large amount of the confusion coming from advertising campaigns as to what the appropriate diet should be. But where does all of the wrong information come from and how is it possible that so many people have no idea what they should be doing to ensure that their dogs are happy and healthy? Since the ancestor of the dog is the

Why Do Cats Urinate in the House?

I have been asked this question on more than one occasion as to why are my cats are urinating in the house.  I decided to look for an article on “Why do cats urinate in the house instead of in their cat box?”  Is it separation anxiety or are they having a health issue?  This article addresses the health aspect as to perhaps why your kitties are not properly using their cat boxes.  I hope you enjoy the article as well as find it informative.  I would love to hear your comments about the article or what you have found out about your own cats and their reason for urinating in the house. Why Do Cats Urinate in the House? There are many reasons why your cat might be peeing in the house, anything from cleanliness, change of territory and the scent of another cat. Let’s look at why cats urinate in the house and what you can do to make it stop. Making your cat stop urinating on the carpet is easier than it seems. Many cat owners cannot keep an eye on their pet 24 hours a day, 7 days a

Is My Cat’s Hair Loss Normal?

Cats love to be brushed. Have you brushed your cat today? One thing that most cat lovers can agree on is that although they adore their furry friend, they are significantly less fond of the inevitable hair on clothes. Often cat hair loss is nothing to be concerned about as cat hair shedding is completely normal. Shedding is the physiological process of pushing out dead hair. Some cats will shed more than others; however, there are factors that can lead to your cat shedding more excessively. You may notice that your cat will lose more hair in the spring and fall while its fur may grow thicker in the winter. It is important to understand that cats often shed despite whatever season they are in. Is this shedding or should I be concerned? However, if your cat’s hair loss is significant, coming out in clumps, if your cat is exhibiting bald patches, or showing signs of noticeable skin discomfort – these signs could be indicative of underlying health problems. Alopecia is a common p

Checklist To Help Prepare For Your Dog Walker

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Dog walking adventures are just the cure for canine boredom! Do you worry about your dog getting bored or lonely during the day when you’re gone? Have you considered having one of our certified, and trained dog walkers to take your “mans or moms best friend” on a dog walking adventure? We’re flexible! This service is available to you 7-days a week. You can choose the number of days per week that will fit into your busy lifestyle. Dog Walking Adventures This is perfect for you and your dog(s)! We have adventures that are perfect for all shapes and sizes of dogs. We also don’t mind if the owner wants to come along too. Maybe you have a mother or father that you worry is not getting out and walking their dog(s) like they should and you would just feel better if someone was there to help. Dog Walking adventures are perfect for all dogs. They especially benefit high energy, overweight or dogs who suffer from boredom or separation anxiety, and destructive behaviors. Dog

Pros and Cons of Using a Dog Walking App Service

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Did you know that you can download an app and have a dog walker come to your home sight unseen at any time? Wow, that is so cool! We often hear “anyone can walk a dog.” So why not try a “UBER” dog walker? Why Not? STOP …let’s think about this for a minute. Do you want anyone walking your dog? Do they have the skills and training in subjects such as dog body language, managing reactivity, and proper leash handling skills? Can they handle your puller? Dogs are not just pets; they are our fur-children. Would you use a phone app to hire a babysitter for your children? Give them access to your home not having met them first the way you order a car ride from your phone? I would believe most would say no. So why would you use a service like “Uber” on demand to book a dog walker to walk your fur-children? Trust, Security, and Safety I would worry about trust, security, and safety issues using an on-demand dog walker. Most have us have cameras, and yes, this is a wonder