- Don’t impulse buy. When shopping for your pet, go to the store with a list and determine ahead of time how much you plan to spend. Be sure to stick to it!
- Watch for deals. Check the Sunday paper for coupons on treats and food. Discounts are also available online from pet deal sites like doggyloot.com, which sends weekly emails offering discounts on treats and other dog supplies. Amazon.com has a large selection of pet food and supplies, often at a lesser rate than you’d pay elsewhere.
- Brush your pet’s teeth. Taking care of your pet’s dental health will go a long way to keeping vet expenses in check.
- Watch your pet’s weight. Keeping your pet at a healthy weight can help reduce health problems such as diabetes. Don’t overfeed or over treat pets. It’s not good for weight control and will cost more to keep food stocked.
- Talk to your vet. Many vet offices offer discounts at different times of the year such as discounted dental services this month (Pet Dental Month).
Archive for the ‘ Pet Wellness ’ Category
5 Ways To Save Money On Pet Expenses
Thursday, February 9th, 20125 Signs of Tooth Resorption In Cats
Monday, February 6th, 2012
It’s the #1 Cause of Tooth Loss In Cats, & 50-75% of Cats Suffer From This Dental Problem
We’re all familiar with tooth decay, when bacteria destroy the tooth’s enamel but tooth resorption is degenerative, starting at the gum line and eventually destroying the tooth’s structure. Here are some symptoms of tooth resorption:
- Pawing at the mouth
- Bad breath
- Head shaking or tilting of head
- Decreased grooming
- Not wanting to be touched around head
If your cat is exhibiting these symptoms, make an appointment with his vet from a check-up.
Reference: Cat Fancy, February 2012
Winter Skin Care for Pets
Thursday, January 12th, 2012
Winter wreaks havoc on our hair and skin, causing dryness and the dreaded static electricity. We aren’t alone in needing to take special care of our hair and skin in winter, our pets have special needs too.
Here are some tips to help pets look and feel their best during winter:
- The air inside can become quite dry, depleting moisture from pet’s skin and hair, causing dander to increase. To improve your pets skin and coat, brush them regularly and vigorously.
- Give your pet fatty acid supplements to help skin and coat.
- When grooming your dog in the winter, be sure not to cut your dog’s coat too short. The longer coat provides extra warmth.
- If your dog engages in a lot of outdoor activities in winter, be sure to increase his food supply to help keep his coat thick and healthy.
- When bathing your dog in winter, be sure to dry him thoroughly before heading out for a walk.
Second-hand Smoke and Pets
Tuesday, January 10th, 2012
Jessie, the conservative dog with the right attitude: I have to confess. I am not a fan of cigarettes. They smell. They look disgusting. They are hazardous to one’s health…even mine…and I don’t smoke. But if you are pet owner who does smoke, you can be making your dog or cat sick.
As the number of pets in America outweighs the number of people, it’s pretty obvious that folks love their pets, and those who truly do love them would never consider abusing them in any way, right? If you smoke, however, you are hurting them….possibly even killing them.
Oral and nasal cancers claim the lives of hundreds upon thousands of animals unnecessarily every year. Take cats, for instance. With the exception of our own Party Marty, they are quite particular about their overall hygiene and bathe frequently by licking their fur and their skin. When doing this, however, they can ingest the toxins from cigarette smoke. Gross! As such, a high number of cats are developing squamous cell carcinoma, also known as oral cancer.
Dogs are also at risk to secondhand smoke, especially long-snouted dogs that can develop sinus and nose cancer simply because they have a much bigger surface area of exposure to the toxins from cigarette smoke. Dogs with medium snouts are at an increased risk for lung cancer because their sinus passages cannot effectively cleanse the smoke from all of the nasty carcinogens before they reach the lungs.
My advice? Quit smoking if you own a pet that you adore. They will love you for it, and they will be around a lot longer to do just that – LOVE YOU!
Thanks to smokingkills.com for this helpful information. Some days, I just have to speak my mind, you know?
Book Review: Pampered Pets On A Budget
Sunday, January 8th, 2012Pampered Pets On A Budget: Caring For Your Pet Without Losing Your Tail was written by Jeffrey Barnes, a pet vet expert and Kristen Levine, an expert in the field of pet lifestyle.
This book is a quick read at 74 pages, but contains a lot of good information for pet owners. Topics covered include: Choosing Pet Health Insurance, Online Pet Resources and Veterinary Terms and Definitions.
The book is written in laymen’s terms, which is especially valuable in the chapter that covers vet definitions and terms. There is also a highlights section at the end of each chapter.
I would recommend this as a good overall guide for pet owners that want to provide their pets with good care without breaking the budget. The book is available through Amazon.com in either paperback or Kindle version.
A copy of the book was provided for review but there was no compensation given that influenced this review in any way.
Vinegar-Natural Solution of All Sorts of Things
Thursday, January 5th, 2012
I received my January 2012 issue of Whole Dog Journal the other day and found a great article about vinegar, the apple cider variety in particular, and how many different ways it can be put to use. Following are some of the suggestions from the article:
- If your dog is suffering with fleas, spray, pour or dab apple cider vinegar on him, being sure to avoid eyes, nose and mouth. Work it into his coat and leave on for a few minutes, then bathe him with a gentle shampoo.
- To reduce dander, try massaging full strength cider vinegar into his coat before bathing him.
- Did you know vinegar can help with muscle sprains, abrasions, or sore paw pads? Apply apple cider vinegar to the affected area with cotton or a sponge and reapply as needed.
- Some people give their dog a daily dose of cider vinegar and have reported very positive results such as elimination of tear stains, reduced amount of fleas, and increased mobility in older dogs. The recommended dosage is 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon per 50 pounds of body weight. Experiment to be sure your dog doesn’t suffer side effects, if so, discontinue the daily dosage.
- Vinegar is great for deodorizing and refreshing pet bedding. Spray bedding with vinegar prior to washing or add to laundry once in washer.
These are just a few of the many uses for this natural ingredient. For more information, check out The Vinegar Institute website, versatilevinegar.org or the Whole Dog Journal, January, 2012 “Sour Greats”.
Don’t Let the Winter Weather Deter You from Walking Your Dog!
Monday, December 26th, 2011Jessie the lovable dog with all the news! So…the winter winds are beginning to blow. It’s cold outside. The last thing you probably want to do is go outside just to get the mail, let alone take a walk. However, just as physical fitness is good for you, it is also good for your dog. Just take a few things into consideration before heading outdoors with your pet, and you can still add some fun and fitness into your life during these dark and cold months.
If you have a medium or large-size dog, they are usually more tolerant of colder weather and can stay outside a bit longer than their smaller counterparts. However, do limit their time outdoors in the bitter cold, as, just like you humans, they can suffer from frostbite and hypothermia.
Longer-haired and double-haired dogs can stay outdoors longer than the short-haired ones. Make sure to put a sweater or jacket on your short-haired dogs, and if you want to protect your pet’s feet from the snow, ice, and salt, put some booties on him. They will love you for it.
Even though you will probably not be able to go for the long walks you enjoy in warmer weather, it is still important to get out and get the blood moving for at least a few minutes. Just be sure to gently wipe your dog’s paws upon coming home, especially if he has walked in snow and ice. That can hurt, and so can any salt used to melt the ice if it gets stuck in his paws.
Just simply take a few precautions. If it is too cold for you, then it is too cold for your dog, but if you can tolerate the cold air briefly, then by all means, let your dog go out with you! Who knows? He may enjoy a romp in the snow!
Happy Holidays! Stay warm! Stay fit! Stay tuned for more fun information in 2012!
Helping Your Pet Maintain Weight Through the Holiday Season
Sunday, December 18th, 2011
With the holiday season, we and our pets can tend to eat more and exercise less, leading to weight gain. Obesity is not good for anyone, human or animal. When it affects a pet, it can be quite unhealthy and dangerous.
What are the reasons for a pudgy pet? The answer rests in too much food intake and too little exercise. Pet owners can be too eager to please and often cannot resist that cute little face that is begging for more food or treats. The food intake of a dog is seldom accurately monitored.
What the human counterparts need to do is to control the pet’s unsatiable appetite in an effort to reduce its girth. The pet also needs to engage in some extra exercise. (It probably would be of equal benefit to the human to get out and take a brisk walk with the dog, too!)
For dogs, a steady weight loss of 15% over a two to three month period is good. Aim for a loss of one ot one and a half pounds per week for the dog.
Encourage more playtime with your pet. Stick to a fun routine that while take his mind off of food. Just like humans need a diversion from their weaknesses, so do pets!
When your pet’s weight is at a normal level, he will feel better, have more energy, and be happier. Life will certainly be more enjoyable to him.
Think Twice Before Giving a Pet as Gift
Sunday, December 11th, 2011
Jessie, the sweet, adorable, and sensitive dog, always in the holiday spirit, is here to share some season’s greetings and gift-giving insights for the pet lover today:
Thinking of giving a pet to someone this holiday season? While your heart may be in the right place, giving someone a pet as a gift is not such a great idea! For starters, you just never know IF someone really wants a pet and, if he or she does, exactly what kind of pet is desired. Plus, you can’t just give someone a new pet and expect it to fit right into the new home environment right away. You may not be aware of any allergies certain family members might have or if their lifestyle is compatible with the breed of cat or dog you may be giving them. Plus, introducing a new pet to the family during this stressful time of year can really stress out that special dog or cat, too!
So, in the spirit of maintaining the excitement of pet lovers everywhere who wish to spread the joy of pet ownership to others, here are a couple of alternative ideas that can still make this holiday season a joyous one:
1.) Instead of buying someone a cat or a dog for the holidays, give him or her a gift certificate for one, from you, so that he or she can go out at a convenient time (preferably AFTER the busy holiday season!) and make a selection. Encourage that person to go to a local shelter or rescue to find that perfect companion.
2.) If someone you know loves animals but is not in a position to own a pet, why not make a donation to a local pet shelter or rescue in that person’s name? Shelters can always use monetary donations, cleaning supplies, pet food, etc.
(P.S. – If you are seriously looking for a cat, I know where you can get one. Contact me and we’ll talk! He’s asleep right now, so the timing could not be better!)
Pancreatitis in Dogs
Tuesday, November 29th, 2011
Long time client Riley hadn’t been feeling well for a few days, so his mom took him to the vet. After a few tests, it was determined Riley was suffering from pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas.
This illness can either be mild or severe. The cause is not really known, but pancreatitis seems to occur most often in middle-aged overweight dogs.
Symptoms to look for include sudden intermittent diarrhea or vomiting, weakness, reluctance to walk, and loss of appetite. In Riley’s case, he stopped eating, became very weak and lost weight.
Once pancreatitis has been diagnosed, dogs are not given solid food, but are given electrolytes and fluids for maintenance and to give the pancreas a break. Antibiotics are also given to prevent infection and inflammation.
A dog diagnosed with pancreatitis can have subsequent attacks. To minimize the chances of this, feed your dog 3-5 small meals a day to prevent overworking the pancreas. Feed food at room temperature to further help with digestion. Walking your dog can also help aid with digestion and help with weight loss or maintenance. If your dog is overweight, consult your veterinarian to determine the best weight loss program.
If your dog is showing symptoms like those mentioned above, please take them to your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Source: Dog Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook, Fourth Edition
Overland Park Pet Care
Joy of Living provides pet sitting, dog walking, pet taxi and matchmaking services in Overland Park, KS and surrounding areas. This is also the blog of Karen Harrison, owner of Joy of Living and her pets, Bo and Jessie. We blog about pet care and the special bond between people and their pets.
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