Kyjen Invicibles Dog Toy

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Kyjen is a major manufacturer in the pet industry, with cool, innovative products.  It seems they’re always trying to come up with fresh new ideas, and ways to make the old toys better.  How tough can a plush toy get? Some dogs can’t have plush toys. Ever. I’ve had those dogs. Others need a tough one, and those are the dogs that these toys are made for.  The newest versions of Invincibles contain reinforced, double-layered seams and Dura Tuff lining material. On the inside, the toys are stuffing-less, filled only with their patented squeakers that continue to squeak even after being punctured. Sure, no toy is tough enough to endure the most aggressive chewer. Some dogs just can’t have plush toys. But some dogs can have Invincibles, even if they can’t have regular plush toys. And that’s good news for enthusiastic or big dogs.  Even when dogs manage to tear through the double-layered seams and Dura-Tuff™ liner, the mess is minimal thanks to their stuffing-free design. Invincibles® squeakers are specially designed to continue to squeak even after being punctured—a feature that prolongs the fun for furry friends. They are available in a variety of snake and gecko characters, and range in size from two to six squeakers.  Kyjen’s line of Invincibles retails between $10 and $20. Not cheap for a dog toy. But not expensive, either, especially when you consider how long they last.  After researching this product, I cannot wait to try it out on my own dogs.  Update on that coming soon!

Pet Boutique and Bakery in Suwanee

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Has anyone been to Pooch N Paws Pet Boutique and Bakery in the Suwanee?  It is located in the Suwanee Town Center Square.  It is a fun place for pets and their owners to shop that is personalized and unique while supporting and giving back to the community.  They have a wide variety of premium pet food and treats.  I have shopped there before and they have a huge selection of bakery items that all of my dogs thoroughly enjoyed.  They also offer spa services including baths, haircuts, nail trimming, and polish.  Another cool feature of this place is that they have a self serve dog wash where you can bring your dog in and do it yourself, without the clean up.  They are also dog friendly, of course, so you can bring your pooch shopping with you so they can pick out their own treats!  It is a family owned business that has been open since 2010, so they are very knowledgeable and well established.  I highly recommend checking this place out.  I give it four paws up!!!

Choosing the right dog bone

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Whether you have a brand new puppy or a loyal senior dog, it is very important to provide him with the right bone.  Not only are bones a blast, but they also provide many important benefits for your companion.  Bones are a great way to support dental health by helping to scrape away plaque, control tartar buildup, and maintain gum health. This diminishes bad breath, keeps teeth whiter, and reduces the risk of potentially serious dental problems.  Bones also stimulate the mind.  This entertainment is especially important for older dogs who may not be as active.  Bones can also help deter destructive behavior in dogs of all ages.  They relieve the pain of teething in puppies and stimulate the growth of adult teeth.  Choose a bone that matches your dog’s chewing rate and chewing habits. If your dog chews for short periods of time with a soft bite, a smaller bone that softens easily will be enjoyable. Harder bones such as natural bones will last longer and be more satisfying to the aggressive chewer. Keep in mind that dogs may be choosy about their bones. If at first you don’t succeed, try other bones until you find the perfect one. Your dog will thank you with a healthy mouth, constructive chewing behavior, and near constant interest in the bone you’ve chosen.  A dog walk would not hurt either!

A Social Puppy

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Well socialized puppies develop into more enjoyable, safer, and more relaxed pets.  Socializing your dog makes them more comfortable in a wide variety of situations and they are less likely to behave fearfully or aggressively to new people, dogs, or experiences.  Socialization is a big project. It requires exposure to the types of people, animals, places, sounds and experiences that you expect your dog to be comfortable in later in life. Depending on the lifestyle you have planned for your dog, this might include the sight and sound of trains, garbage trucks, schoolyards of screaming children, crowds, cats, livestock or crying infants.  The rule of thumb with puppy socialization is to keep a close eye on your puppy’s reaction to whatever you expose him to so that you can tone things down if your pup seems at all frightened. Always follow up a socialization experience with praise, petting, a fun game or a special treat.  Most young animals, including dogs, are naturally made to be able to get used to the everyday things they encounter in their environment—until they reach a certain age. When they reach that age, they are naturally made to become much more suspicious of things they haven’t yet experienced. Mother Nature is smart! This age-specific natural development lets a young puppy get comfortable with the everyday sights, sounds, people and animals that will be a part of his life. It ensures that he doesn’t spend his life jumping in fright at every blowing leaf or bird song. The later suspicion they develop in later puppyhood also ensures that he does react with a healthy dose of caution to new things that could truly be dangerous.  Great ways to socialize your pet are going to the dog park, taking your dog to a pet friendly store where they can be exposed to many things, and group training classes.  Even a walk in the neighborhood is great.  Just remember, start slowly and see what is best for your individual pet.

All About Cat Toys

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There are two types of cat toys, interactive and solo.  The interactive toys are typically based on a fishing pole design or they may have a wand with a long piece of fabric on the end. These toys require the owner’s participation to provide movement. Solo toys are the typical fuzzy mice, squeaky balls, puzzle feeders, milk jug rings and other small play objects that the cat usually bats around on her own.  For safety reasons, the fishing pole toys should never be left alone with you feline  because the cat could chew on the strings or get tangled up in them. In addition to the safety factor, you also want to keep them put away in-between play sessions in order to maximize their appeal. If the cat knows her time with them is limited, they will be much more enticing. When an interactive toy is special to the cat, it gives you the added opportunity to use that play session for not only fun, but for behavior modification as well. Through an interactive play session you can help diffuse tension in a multicat home, redirect a cat away from an unwanted behavior, ease boredom, provide much needed environmental stimulation and so much more.  If you want to have toys last longer mentally and physically, rotate the toys out instead of having a million of them lying all over the house.  Placement is also important in keeping toys exciting. Instead of tossing a few toys out into the center of the room, strategically place them where they will spark your cat’s play drive. Place a fuzzy mouse on the edge of a cat perch with its tail dangling over the side. Put a crinkly ball inside an open paper bag or in an empty tissue box. Put a straw on the kitchen floor where it’ll be easy to bat around whenever the cat comes in to get a drink from his water bowl. Fill some puzzle feeders and place them around your cat’s play area.  A combination of these thing will keep your cats happy all day!

Fun for your dog on a rainy day

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Is your pooch used to running his little heart out in the backyard on a daily basis?  What happens when you get up, Fido is all excited to go out, you open the door and a torrential down pour is taking place?  Fido puts the brakes on and looks at you like you are crazy for thinking he wants to go out in that weather.  He does, however, want to run around the house like a maniac instead.  There are a few indoor activities that you may both appreciate for days like these.

1. Take the stairs.  If you have a flight of stairs in your home, consider going up and down rapidly to wear Fido out.  Warning: This may wear you out as well!

2. Hallway Fetch.  If you have a long hallway or basement with a lot of extra space, tossing the ball in these areas can be great fun.  It’s even better if you have another person who can join in at the opposite end of the hallway for a rousing game of keep-away.  You can also make it extra interesting by setting up an indoor agility course while your pup is going for a toy or ball.

3. Hide the snacks.  This is a favorite among canines.  Take a handful of small treats and hide them all around the house in various areas.  Your pooch will go crazy sniffing them out and will get rewarded each time that he does.

With these things, Fido is sure to be kept busy on a rainy day.  You may find the day goes by for yourself a little faster too!

New Year’s Resolutions For Your Pet

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Now that we have all began our own New Year’s Resolutions for 2015, it may be time to think about things that we can start doing for our pets.  Here are ten suggestions that you may want to work in to your pet’s routine to start the year off right.

1. Identification: Make sure your pet’s tag has your current address and phone number and get your pet microchipped for extra identification.  This makes the chances of finding your pet much more likely, should something happen.

2. Love your pet: Tell your pet you love them.  Play calming and soothing music.  Bond with your pet and show them love; they will give it back to you tenfold.

3. A new trick: Teach your pet something new.  Play new games.  Try a puzzle feeder.  Stimulate their minds!

4. Foster a pet:  Do something good while providing a playmate for your baby.  Perhaps, you may fall in love and end up with a new addition!

5. Vet visit: Make sure you keep up with regular vet visits to keep your pet happy and healthy.

6. Smile: Get your pet’s teeth clean and healthy by having them checked and cleaned regularly to prevent oral disease and provide a bright smile.

7. Walk walk walk: Walk your pet daily to provide entertainment and prevent boredom.  Besides, what dog doesn’t love to go on walks?!

8. Grooming: Brush your pet regularly and bathe when needed to save yourself from a pet that is matted, itchy, and stinky.

9. Playtime: Your pet loves spending quality time with you, so give them an extra 10=30 minutes per day of your time.  They will love you forever.

10. Diet: With all of the new exercise you and your pet will be doing, they will certainly need a nutritious food regimen.  Lay off the table scraps and feed your pet a well-balanced, age appropriate diet.

Following these tips, along with your own New Year’s Resolutions, will make you and your pet a whole new you!

Tips for a Happy and Healthy Holiday

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No one in their right mind wants to spend Christmas or other holidays at the vet’s office.  Here are some helpful tips to keep your pets safe and happy during the holidays.  First, try to adhere to your pet’s regular routine as much as possible.  The holidays can be stressful with people coming and going.  If you try to keep some normalcy to your pet’s daily activities, this alone, can relieve some stress.  If you have a nervous animal, it may be best to keep him alone in a quiet room with food and water, instead of in the mix of all the activities.  Also, try not to let your pet indulge in the same holiday goodies as yourself.  Foods that contain chocolate, dried fruits, peanuts, and alcohol may be readily available, but often toxic to pets.  Also, some decorations are also harmful to pets.  Things like lillies and poinsettias can be toxic.  Ornamental bulbs and turkey bones can be a choking hazard.  Supervise pets with their Christmas presents.  Just because a toy is sold for a pet to play with, does not mean it is safe to chew or swallow!  For the most part, have fun with your pet during the holidays.  Make the most of your time off and all will surely benefit.

Ingredients you should know about in pet food

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Do you know what you are really feeding your pets?  Here are a few advertisement myths that you may want to take a closer look into:

AAFCO ensures that pet food is safe: The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is a nonprofit organization responsible for making sure that every pet food sold in America adheres to a set of acceptable standards.  This is supposed to ensure that all pet food that goes on sale in the market is safe for pet consumption. However, pet food recalls are a clear indication that its existence is not an assurance that pet foods are cleared of toxic contaminants prior to sale.

Foods labeled “Natural” are best for my pet: According to AAFCO, a product is considered natural if its ingredients are free from chemical alterations.  This leaves a broad spectrum of ingredients that can be used, and the list in not pretty.  Many of the ingredients come from other countries where there is very low quality control.

Raw foods are not good for your pet:  In a study conducted in young animals that were fed raw food and another group fed cooked food, the animals fed cooked food appeared healthy.  As they matured, the animals that were fed raw food aged much less rapidly than the animals who were fed cooked food and showed less degenerative diseases.

Always look at the label on the back of your pet food and avoid these ingredients: carcinogens, preservatives, protein extenders, heavy metals, and excessive metals.  As earlier stated, an alternative to commercial foods is a raw diet.  Other options are home cooked food, and organic products.  These diets could help prevent health problems and extend your pet’s life.

 

 

Trimming your dog’s nails

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Nail trimming is an important part of your dog’s regular care and should be done every three to four weeks.  You can have your vet or groomer trim the nails or do it yourself.  Most vets or groomers will be happy to show you how it is done.  If you have a dog that puts up a major struggle or is a biter, you may want to leave it for the experts to do.  It is important to start your dog off with regular nail trims as a puppy, so that this behavior can be avoided.  Not cutting your dog’s nails can result in a few different consequences.  Your dog’s nails may grow too long and curl under, puncturing the paw pad, causing pain and infection.  It can also cause your dog to walk off kilter, causing joint pain and general discomfort.  If you can hear a click clack as your dog walks across the room, that is a sign that it is time for a nail trim.  You want to be sure not to cut the quick, a vein inside your dog’s nails, or the nails will bleed.  It is easy to see the quick on dog’s that have light colored nails. but in a dog with black nails, you cannot see it at all.  If you are unsure of where to begin on your dog’s nail trimming, be sure to ask a qualified expert to show you how it is done.  If you are still not comfortable trimming the nails yourself, then a regular trip to the vet or groomer is in order to keep your pet’s nails healthy.