A Tasty Fall Treat

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Since we are in the first week of fall for the year, I find it very appropriate to share a recipe for a fun, fall dog treat that your pets will love.  It contains six ingredients: 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup canned pumpkin, 2 tablespoons peanut butter, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon,  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Whisk together all of the ingredients in a bowl.  You may add some water for the dough to be workable, but the dough should remain dry and stiff.  Roll the dough in to a half inch thick flat roll.  Use cookie cutters to cut pieced from the roll.  I prefer the shape of dog bones, but any shape will do.  Bake for around forty minutes or until the treats are hard.  Your dog will love the combination of the taste of peanut butter and pumpkin flavors.  I have tested this recipe on my dogs and not only is it very easy, they loved the treats!  I may even start testing them on my Gwinnett Pet Watchers clients, and I am pretty sure that they won’t mind.  If they were a hit in my house, I am sure that everyone’s pups will love them.  It is nice to give your pets a little variety sometimes, rather than purchasing store bought treats all the time.

An Upcoming Event at Lenora Park in Snellville

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This Saturday, August 16th, there will be a pet friendly event in Snellville at Lenora Park in Gwinnett County, Georgia.  Milo’s Kitchen will be sponsoring a truck treat stop with their own food truck to serve your pooches.  We, Gwinnett Pet Watchers, have the details for the event on our website Events page.  The event will be held from 2-4pm and will be giving free samples out of Milo’s Kitchen home style treats to your pups.  All of their products are made in the USA.  They will also have family portraits, personalized give aways, and information on their products.  Lenora Park is located at 4515 Lenora Park Road in Snellville, GA.  The truck will also be at Bark in the Park on Sunday August 17th at 755 Hank Aaron Drive with the Atlanta Braves.  The truck has been touring the United States all summer promoting their treats.  You can follow their schedule www.MKTreattruck.com.

When you see a dog left in a hot car…

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During the summer months, some people seem to think it is ok to leave their dog in the car when they run in the store, bank, etc.  Even in the shade, the temperature inside a vehicle can climb to a very dangerous level.  Sadly, dogs and children die in hot cars every single year and this is totally preventable.  Some tips for what you can do if you see an animal left inside a vehicle are to approach the owner (if they are around) and let them know that it is simply too hot for anyone to be left in a car.  Animals do not tolerate hot cars any better than people do, contrary to what some people believe.  If the owner is not around, you can go into the store and speak to the manager to possibly make an announcement.  If that fails, the next thing to do would be to call animal control.  In my opinion, I would do that immediately for the dog’s own safety.  I have even heard of people breaking a window if the dog is in immediate distress.  That is a more drastic measure, but when it is a matter of life and death, it is definitely an option.  If you want to take your pet for a ride during the summer months, go to a pet friendly store where the dog can come in with you or use the drive thru.  We at Gwinnett Pet Watchers love to take our dogs for a doggie ice cream in the drive thru and our dogs are equally as happy to receive the gift!

Laser Pointers-A great way to exercise your pets on a rainy day

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Laser pointers can be a great way for dogs and cats to get exercise on days of inclement weather.  Many dogs and cats love to chase the little red dot around the room.  Even the laziest animals will get up for the laser pointer.  There are a few things to remember when using safety practices with the laser around your pets.  First, make sure the laser is not too powerful and can accidentally damage your pet.  According to the FDA, the highest power acceptable to use around animals is 10 milliwatts.  Also, never shine the laser in your pets eyes.  Another idea to think about during play is to use a real toy that can be caught in conjunction with the laser pointer.  Animals may get frustrated because they cannot physically ever catch the laser, so it is important to give them something that is real and they can have as a prize at the end of the game.  Also, you may hide treats in nooks and crannies and end the laser in those locations and your pet ends up with a goodie as well.  Some dogs may get overstimulated and laser pointers may not be such a great idea for them, while other pets may not care a lick in the world about it.  Each pet is different and all you can do is see what your individual animal likes.  As a pet sitter, I have several clients with Gwinnett Pet Watchers that love the laser pointer.  Not only is it entertainment for the pets, but it is fun for us to watch as well!

Is your dog overweight?

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dogweightchart

Recent surveys indicate that about 50% of America’s dog population is overweight.  Recent surveys also suggest that way less than 50% of Americans think that their pets are overweight.  There are several tell tale signs that your pup may be a little pudgy.  One way is to stand your dog up and view over the top of him or her.  There should be an inward curve just behind the rib cage.  If there is a straight line from head to tail, then you may need to put your pooch on a diet.  Also, if you view your pet from the side, there should be an upward curve right behind the rib cage.  If there is no curve or there is sagginess in the belly, your dog is more than likely in need of losing a few pounds.  When you run your fingers over the dog’s rib cage, you should be able to feel each individual rib. If you feel sheets of fat and your hand doesn’t easily slide across the rib cage, there is too much fat!  I have found that most people think that you should not be able to see ribs on their dog, but that is actually not the case.  One of the perks of having a pet sitter is your dog will be walked regularly and that keeps them healthy and exercised.

Doge Glow

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So, I was browsing online for dog products and came across a product called Doge Glow that seemed pretty cool.  The product comes in collars, harnesses, and leashes and feature LED lights that can be set on a steady or flashing mode.  These lights are very useful for safety reasons and the lights can be seen from 1000 feet away.  During the day, the gear can be turned off and the patterns still look fashionable without being lit up.  The products are weather resistant, so are perfect for people that get outside in rain or shine.  They run on batteries, so there are no cords or tangle to deal with.  I think this would be a great product for us at Gwinnett Pet Watchers to use at night or in the wee hours of the morning when we are doing our dog walks.  You wouldn’t be able to miss us!

Holiday Pet Safety

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With Memorial Day and the Fourth of July right around the corner, I wanted to suggest some safety tips for keeping pets safe.  A lot of pets are scared of loud noises such as fireworks, and some are even petrified and can really hurt themselves if we don’t protect them.  One suggestion I have is to desensitize your pets.  You can do this by playing a cd with loud noises and sounds or even actual fireworks through out the weeks leading up to the holiday and most pets will get used to these noises and not be affected during the holiday.  I had to desensitize my dogs when I was pregnant because they had never been around children.  There is a wonderful cd out called “Preparing Fido” and I have also recommended it to several Gwinnett Pet Watchers clients who are bringing a new bundle in to their family.  These cds can also work for pets that are scared of thunder storms as well.  Another suggestion I have is to keep your pets in a safe, indoor place during the holidays.  Pets that are outdoors can really hurt themselves by trying to “get away” from the noises and can also end up very far from home.  It is very important to keep them contained in a safe place where they cannot get hurt.  Lastly, I would suggest if at all possible to be with your pet during these times.  Your pet needs you to comfort him and if you are there, their anxiety level is usually a lot more under control.  The next best thing to you, would be us!  You can also hire a pet sitter to stay with your pet so you can have some holiday fun!

Spring is here! Time for flea and tick prevention

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Now that spring has arrived, it is time to break out the flea and tick prevention before infestations in your pet occur.  Personally, I do not like to over medicate my animals, so during winter months when fleas are less prevalent, I hold off on using prevention.  Now that the weather is getting warmer, these pesty bugs will be back uninvited.  Using flea and tick prevention will keep your pet healthy and they will not pick up tape worms or get flea bites, which leads to miserable itching.  Ticks can also can cause some nasty and even fatal diseases, so a combination  prevention is very important.  They also have medicines that repel mosquitoes.  If you live in wooded areas or near water, this could be beneficial to have for your pet.  The best medications are found at your vet’s office.  I tend to stay away from the brands that are sold at retailers such as Wal-Mart or grocery chains.  Some of these medicines have been documented to be harmful to pets and I would not recommend them or use them on my personal pets.

Does your dog scarf down his food?

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Sometimes dogs so things very fast…puppies grow up fast, dogs run fast, play fast, and wag their tails fast.  Some dogs even eat fast, which is not something that we, as pet owners, want them to do.  The risk of eating too fast is that they can suffer from bloat.  Bloat is when speedy eating and gulping cause excessive amounts of air, food, and liquid to fill the stomach and it blows up like a balloon.  The result is a trip to the vet and about 25-40% of dogs do not survive.  Luckily, pet owners have an easy solution for their pets ravenous eating.  It’s called the slow feeder dog bowl.  There are many different brands, but they all do the trick.  We, at Gwinnett Pet Watchers, have many clients that use these bowls for their dogs and they work great and save lives.  Do not take any chances if your dog is a rapid eater.  Go get yourself (and your pet) the slow feeder dog bowl!

What Are We Feeding Our Pets?

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Do You Realize What Harmful Ingredients Are In A Popular Dog Food Brand? 

 

I used to feed my dogs Iams food. Thirty years ago when I first started training dogs, Iams and Eukanuba were considered  very good dog food .  Did you know that Iams and Eukanuba yep, Proctor and gamble. Back then I was training dogs for an organization called  Bad Dogs Inc. The owner Bob Moorefield, was a big believer in good nutrition.  Bob also  feeding a good food meant cleaning up less waste.

Over the years the formula for both Iams and Eukenuba has changed. I know that I don’t know everything there is to know about dog food but I do know enough that I no longer put  Iams no longer  on my list of good dog foods.

Both Iams and Eukanuba contain Ethoxyquin. Ethoxyquin is a fat preservative used in some dog foods that is controversial. Some of these fears are linked with the product also being used as a pesticide and in making rubber. Most experts agree that when use properly the  additive is not toxic. For this reason after repeated investigations the United States FDA has ruled the additive may be safely used in animal feeds when used according to regulations.

 

Read more about Ethoxyguin later …