How to Show Your Pet You Love Them

Your social media friends know you love your pet because nine out of ten posts that you share include a picture of your furry friend. At home, your family knows that your role as a pet parent comes first each time you stay on the couch longer than planned in an attempt to avoid disturbing your fur baby.

Whether it’s the vet bills added to your budget each month or the treats and toys that you bring home every time you head to the store, your love for your pet is clear. One question remains, though—how can you make sure your pet recognizes the love you have for them?

Prioritize their well-being

As a pet owner, you’re presumably taking care of your pet as well as possible anyway. By making a purposeful effort to ensure you’re taking care of them, though, you‘ll be making your love for them even more clear. Of course, your dog, cat, or other pet won’t realize that you’re taking time to find the best pet insurance in Canada or paying your monthly premium to the pet insurers that you settle on. However, they’ll know that you’re caring for them when you take them to the vet to treat an illness or injury.

Give them space around the house

Since the moment your furry friend came into your life, your home has been their home, too. When you find tennis balls in your living room or a catnip mouse under the couch, you’re reminded that this is your pet’s home as well. To make this all the more obvious, though, you’ll want to make sure your pet can share a majority of the space, not just stick to a certain corner with their food dish and pet bed.

For example, are the houseplants adorning your living room safe for your cat? Seeking out cat-safe house plants is a small step, but one that makes a big difference. So much so that it could save your pet’s life!

Learn their preferences

No matter how low-maintenance your pet is, they’re sure to have a few particular preferences. Perhaps your dog seems to love lolling amidst the flowers in your garden. You might decide to add some indoor plants, too, so that they can enjoy a similar sensation inside. If your cat has severe anxiety around veterinarian visits, look into what routine care necessities can be taken care of in one appointment, rather than putting Fluffy through the process repeatedly.

Does your pet love to lay down in the bright light of the afternoon sun? Make sure that this favorite warm spot of theirs is clear from other family member’s belongings. Even something as simple as knowing their preferred spot for scratches or types of treats that are sure to get their tail wagging can be a subtle way of showing them how much you love them.

When in doubt, appeal to their stomach

Out of all your pet’s needs, the one that’s sure to garner excitement is food. If you’re not sure of how you can make your love for Fido obvious, focus on the kibble, wet foods, treats, and other edible tidbits to toss their way. For some pet owners, this might mean choosing a vet-prescribed brand of food. If this is the case for you, be sure to find a pet insurance provider that covers prescription cat or dog food, or that has a coverage option.

For others, this may be as simple as tossing your favorite feline a few extra nibbles for no reason besides the fact that it will make them happy. Of course, be sure to talk to your veterinarian and ensure you’re offering the right food at the right frequency for your pet’s age, breed, weight, etc.

From the insurers that you choose for a pet insurance policy to the pet-friendly decor that you add to your home, you might be surprised to find just how many elements of your day-to-day life can help show your fur baby just how much you love them. After all, everyone else in your life knows that your furry friend is the love of your life—with some special attention and a whole lot of care, your pet themself can know that, too.

Got Pets? Check Out These Dental Bites for Dogs & Cats

Our pets mean a lot to us- they are definitely on the spoiled side, as anyone who reads the blog or follows on social media will know.  Another thing you probably know- one area that I’m very fussy about with every living thing in the house (human and non) is oral healthcare.

If you’ve ever read any of my other posts, you know I’m more then a little neurotic about teeth and dental hygiene. It matters so much! Not only things like first impression and keeping away foul odors (no one wants to be the guy with halitosis), but also for comfort, ease of eating, and general health. If your teeth go bad, there are so many other problems that typically follow. Not to mention- how awful is tooth pain? Agony.

Anything to keep it at bay or prevent it. Back to the topic! Along with brushing their teeth, and adding drops to their water, we just discovered these amazing treats that help reduce plaque in your pet.

dog treats

More About SwedencareUSA ProDen PlaqueOff® Crunchy Dental Bites for Dogs & Cats 

  • ProDen PlaqueOff® Dental Bites provide an easy complement to ordinary oral hygiene
  • Only treats on the market containing the ProDen PlaqueOff® System, which helps reduce plaque accumulation by the natural chewing action, resulting in visibly whiter, cleaner teeth
  • Formulated with an algae that is clinically proven to help support normal oral hygiene
  • Highly palatable, fuss-free treats
  • Helps eliminate bad breath, fight plaque and keep tartar build up at bay
  • Grain-free, gluten-free, soy-free – contain 100% natural and sustainably harvested sea kelp, harvested along the North Atlantic coast
  • Suitable for dogs and cats of all sizes, PlaqueOff Dental Care Bites™ are available in 3oz and 6oz bags
  • Chicken flavor for dogs and Salmon flavor for cats
  • Available at independent pet stores and online at www.swedencareusa.com.
  • MSRP $7.99 – $8.99

Not the best picture in the world, but let me tell you, it’s not easy getting that many dogs to sit still and look at you at the same time! LOL.

Check out PlaqueOff Dental Care Bites for your pet- see what size they need, and get what works. You’ll be glad you did. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as they say, which is true enough.

Love Your Pup? Try SquarePet #DogFood

Got a dog you love? Us too. In addition to our own pack, we constantly rotating pups as we are involved in rescue and fostercare. You can definitely call us “dog people”. Our pets and our foster pups are a huge part of our lives, even traveling with us at times. If you are followers on Instagram or Twitter, you’ll know that we are always out and about with them, and the dogs are always into something interesting, haha. (Not to mention, I think both Shayna and Cooper have a nicer wardrobe then I do!)

We recently got to try out this new dog food, and they really liked it. We were send the low fat variety, and while none of our fur babies are hefty, they still really enjoyed the food. I tend to cook for the dogs since that horrible dog food scare a few years ago, but I always keep a bag of dry food on hand for the days that I run out. Which I do, not irregularly. But I won’t give them just any dog food- it has to be good quality, and I won’t give them anything I can’t pronounce or know what it is. Some people make fun and say they are “just dogs”, but really- your dog is family. Mine are. And I think they should be treated as such.

They really loved the food, and I think your pups will as well. If you are looking for something to try out, or to upgrade your current dog food, I would definitely give SquarePet a try. Your pups will thank you.

cute puppy

More About SquarePet Veterinarian Formulated Low-Fat Solution Dog Food 

  • VFS Low Fat Formula contains two key protein sources from Pacific cod and ocean whitefish meal which are certified by the MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) to be sustainable and wild caught.  These lean and high-quality fish are combined with highly digestible sources of carbohydrates including USA grown non-GMO rice, and vitamins and minerals for complete and balanced feeding to help support gastrointestinal health.
  • Providing precisely balanced nutrition that has been developed by a veterinarian and a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, SquarePet VFS Low Fat Formula leverages the inherent nutrition found within natural high-quality ingredients to create veterinary inspired solutions-based diets.
  • Its proprietary soluble and insoluble fiber blend supports a healthy gut microbiome and is fortified with antioxidant vitamins and minerals to help defend against free radicals.  In addition, the diet is packed with crucial Omega-3 essential fatty acids, including DHA and EPA which support the immune system and cognitive health
  • VFS Low Fat Formula from SquarePet is free of artificial flavors, artificial colors, and preservatives.
  • It is proudly made in the USA with no ingredients from China.
  • SquarePet’s VFS Low Fat Formula dog food can be purchased online and at local pet specialty retailers nationwide.
  • Available online and at independent pet retailers throughout North America.
  • MSRP of $71.99 for a 22-pound bag

Everything You Need to Know About Traveling with Your Pet

Everything You Need to Know About Traveling with Your Pet 

There is nothing better than going on for a vacation. It becomes more joyful if you bring your pet alongside with you also. What could be better than going on vacation? Bring your baby in fur for fun, of course. But before planning your trip with your pet, keep in mind that having an animal by your side can complicate matters. Here’s what you need to know about traveling with pets.

Take your pet on a trip.

It would be best if you made your pet habitual for the road trip, and it is better to take your pet on short car trips to assess how well they drive the car. If they better get used to the car, take them frequently for short distances.

Once you are on the road, it is essential to take breaks. You should always wear a harness and strap before exiting the car for safety reasons. Put a litter box on the floor behind the seats instead of risking getting them out of the car if you travel with a cat.

Always keep windows and sunroof closed when traveling with animals to prevent them from escaping. There is a need for pet seat belts in their vehicles, as some states require pet owners to keep their pets safe in vehicles.

Room with your pet in a hotel

If you are staying at a hotel with your pet, it is essential to book with a pet-friendly hotel that is also affordable. Not all hotels accept pets and those that generally charge extra per night and pet. These charges will depend on the particular hotel.

Even if your hotel accepts pets, pets will not run like they would at home. Understand and follow the rules for pets at your hotel. Pets are often not allowed to be left unattended in the room or must be packed if so.

Keep your pet calm and safe while traveling.

Whichever method you use to travel, you can take a few safety precautions to make sure your pet is always safe.

You should also identify the closest emergency veterinary clinics to your hotel if there is a medical problem that you cannot handle by yourself. You can also contact the hotel concierge for recommendations about identifying a clinic.

To keep your pet relatively calm, there are a few things you can try. Items like a favourite blanket or t-shirt you recently wore can ease travel stress by bringing the scent home for the trip. However, please note that you should only bring these items in the car; Toys, blankets, and other items in your pet’s baby carrier can pose a safety risk during air travel. Heavy jackets provide comfort, like wrapping a baby in blankets. You can also divert the attention of your pet and keep them calm by giving delicious pet treats during the trip. Treats that have health benefits and also suit the palate of your pet are guaranteed to keep him happily busy for some time.

How to prepare your pet for the trip

You need to check in advance for the immigration rules for the countries you are traveling to. If you want to know about the immigration of pets, you can easily find it on Google.

Traveling with a pet by plane

Please note that the Transportation Control Administration has special pet control rules when you arrive at the airport. You will have to remove them from their support just before starting the control process and take them with you,

Traveling with Your Pet: What to Consider

Traveling with an animal is a lot like traveling with a child – perhaps even more difficult! Not all places allow animals, so if you can’t bring them with you, you have to find alternative care, which is expensive. While we love our fluffy companions, navigating how to travel with them can be tough. 

Here are some tips on how to travel with (or leave behind) your precious fur baby.

One Way to Bring Your Pet Everywhere

Getting a registered Emotional Support Animal is a sure-fire way for your pet to be allowed access everywhere with you. However, not just any pet can be registered as one. You’ll need to  prove why you need one. 

We’ve all heard of service animals, which are meant to help the disabled population function easier in society and aid with daily tasks. But Emotional Support Animals are different. These are animals that are meant to provide comfort from a symptom or disability, primarily of the mental health variety. 

They are not trained to deal with or help with any disability. Emotional Support Animals are allowed on airlines and no-pet housing. Emotional support animal registration is fairly easy: you will need a letter from a licensed mental health professional saying that you could benefit from an ESA. If you’re granted it, your pooch (or other smaller animal) will be allowed into hotels, restaurants, and planes with you. 

How to Keep You and Your Animal Safe

If you’re traveling by car, it’s not safe to leave your pet free to roam about. If you were to get into an accident (Heaven forbid), their tiny bodies would likely not be able to withstand the impact. Keep your pet in a carrier for two reasons: 1) they’ll have protection if you crash, and 2) they won’t be a distraction to you and potentially cause you to crash. 

Don’t Forget About Rest Stops

When you’re not at home and in your regular routine, it’s easy to forget things like letting your pet go to the bathroom. Make sure every time you stop for yourself, you stop for your fur baby too. They also need to stretch their legs! Let your animal walk around for a few minutes at every rest stop as well. 

Flying with Your Pet

If your pet has a “flat” face, found in some dog breeds like Pugs, they may be more prone to oxygen deprivation. Be careful when choosing to fly, and try to see if the airline will allow you to keep the animal in the cabin with you (for an additional fee). You will have to call the airline in advance to make sure this is possible. 

Hotels and AirBnBs

Some hotels and AirBnB listings will allow pets, but most of them will not. You have to do your due diligence in specifically calling or looking at the listing to see if they allow pets. Even if the website says they do, it’s still a good idea to call and make sure, or ask if there are any additional fees for bringing a pet. 

Is it Better to Bring Them or Leave Them?

Traveling isn’t always comfortable for pets: being stuck in a crate for hours with limited visibility and not understanding what’s going on is enough to make any animal anxious and uncomfortable. This is truer if your trip involves flying. If you’re driving cross-country, having your pet with you might be a fun ride!

If figuring out logistics for bringing your pet along is starting to become a huge hassle, it may be time to consider either leaving them at home and hiring a pet walker, asking a friend to check in on them, or boarding them for a few days. 

While it might be fun and less expensive to take your pet with you on a trip, it will also take a lot of planning their meals, water, bathroom breaks, etc. If you’re only going out of town for a few days, it might be better in the long run to leave them behind. If you’re going to be gone for quite some time, like 2 weeks or more, then it would make more sense to bring your pet with you. 

 

Can Probiotics Supplements Help Your Cat?

The rising popularity of probiotics in the past two decades has raised a question, can your cat or other pets get benefits from it? You may have seen so many varieties of probiotic supplement jars in the mart stacked one over the other in the mart shelves. That clearly indicates there are so many people across the world that use probiotics for better health and well-being. 

 

We always want to think about our cats perceiving human habits. That being said, it is rational to think cats being mammals also might be benefitted from probiotics. The short answer is, yes, probiotics can help cats. But probiotics for cats are different than that for humans. I’ll tell you everything you will need to know about cat probiotic supplements. 

What Are Cat Probiotics?

Like humans, cats have a bacterial environment in intestines, also known as, flora. This environment has a good balance between good bacteria and bad bacteria. This balance is crucial for your cat to remain healthy. 

 

When there’s an imbalance, your cat might suffer from diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues and also alleviate the immunity. That said, it is important to maintain the balance of flora. 

 

Probiotics are a combination of one or more strains of bacteria present in the guts which when ingested creates a favorable environment for good bacteria and benefits the host. This microorganism can treat a variety of diseases, especially gastrointestinal ones.

 

Generally, choosing the right supplement for your cat is important while there are too many available. Well, scientists suggest that the probiotics containing the strain of the bacteria that reside in a cat’s intestine are good ones. You can always check the label of the product and check the strains present in the supplement. In any case of confusion, you can seek your vet’s help.

Benefits of Probiotics

There’s been some research done on human probiotics that proves the benefits of probiotics. But for cats, there are some studies which suggest, probiotics also work for cats.

 

Probiotics improve digestive health which often eases up some clinical signs like low appetite, stomach upset, diarrhea, vomiting, and it makes bowel movements consistent. As we all know, better gut health keeps away many other diseases, probiotics, in general, give your cat’s immune system a boost. All in all, probiotics contribute massively to your cat’s health and well-being.

 

One of the diseases, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), is caused if the balance of flora is thrown out. Probiotics can maintain a healthy balance of bacteria and can save your kitty form IBD. The disease is common in cats and can be seen in adult and senior cats often.

 

However, sometimes the cause of IBD becomes a mystery for us. We feed kibbles to our cats and in fact, kibbles are the form of food that’s unnatural. Eating kibbles for a long period of time may cause certain gastrointestinal problems, including IBD. That said, probiotics also may help to keep away some other GI diseases. 

 

One veterinarian has also claimed that probiotics can reduce the duration or shorten the reoccurrence of gastroenteritis.

Can You Give Your Cat Human Probiotics?

Veterinarians and feline nutritional experts suggest going with probiotics specially tailored for cats. As I said, good probiotics for cats contain the strains of bacteria present in the guts of a cat. So when you consider human probiotics, that won’t contain those strains. 

 

Moreover, there is no research available that proves how human probiotics can affect a cat. It may be beneficial but also can be dangerous. In a nutshell, only use probiotics available for cats. 

Risks Associated With Cat Probiotics

There are no evident side effects of probiotics in cats. Also, it’s rare to see any adverse effects in felines. But you should always be selective when choosing the right probiotic supplement for cats. Most supplements or food industries work on meager regulations. So it is important that you know how to read the label of the product.

 

Moreover, there are no institutions that require manufacturers to prove the presence of the amount of CFUs (Colony Forming Units) of bacteria and their strain as mentioned on the label. Considering this, there is one institution that has oversight on cat probiotics, National Animal Supplement Council. So always prefer to buy the product which has the NASC label.

 

Nevertheless, there is not enough research available to see how exactly probiotics can improve the flora environment. So it is better to go with ‘common sense’. Not all probiotics work for all cats. If you see significant improvement in your cat’s overall health, that’s the right probiotic for your kitty.

The EndNote

Like human probiotics, there’s a rise in popularity and trend to provide your cat with probiotic supplements. As we have discussed, probiotics in humans are different than those for cats. There are many benefits of probiotics but in a nutshell, they boost immunity and make health better. Studies have shown that probiotics are helping your cat but there is a lot of research yet to be done that can say how exactly it works.

Our New Additions To The Family #DontShopAdopt #RescueMe

So, as any followers on Instagram my have noticed, we have added to the family. We recently added two adorable pups to the pack. We went for one, but ended up with two. You know how that goes. We just couldn’t stop thinking about that adorable little face, so we had to go back.

Welcome home, Shayna and Kofi!

rescue puppy

And tiny Shayna, my first “little dog” ever (foster or personal pet).

 

rescue chiweenie

We are so excited to have new bundles of love around here. They have made the pandemic more adventurous, that’s for sure!

I post a lot of photos on Twitter and Instagram, so if you aren’t following and like to see puppy photos, link up 🙂

Happy Monday, all.

How to Travel with a Bird

One of the most difficult tasks one has to do as a bird owner is taking his/her pet on a family outing or a trip. To avoid causing any discomfort to the bird, you must prepare ahead of time. So, there is a list of steps you should take.

 

Get your pet used to traveling by car

The first thing you have to do to ensure that your pet is ready for traveling is to get it used to the car. Fellow bird owners recommend that you gradually introduce the pet to the actual vehicle that you are using. The best place that you can put its cage is the backseat. This is a safe space, as the pet will be protected in case of an accident

Once you get your pet in the car, you have to remember to secure the cage with a seatbelt. This step is essential as it will help keep your beloved bird safe in transit. Plus, if the cage is stable, your feathered companion will feel more comfortable. If you want to invest in new large cages, there are many online models you can check out.

 

Control the irritating factors

If you are traveling during the summer, make sure that the air conditioning is not blowing directly into the cage, as this might cause discomfort to the pet. Also, during the colder seasons, you should control the heat inside the car so that the bird is not too cold, nor too hot.

There are also a couple of extra factors you should take into account. For instance, the bird might feel a certain level of discomfort if the music is too loud or if the air fresheners that you are using are too powerful.

 

Flying with a pet bird

As expected, not all pet birds are allowed on flights. The good thing is that each airline has a list of internal rules that you can read to see what types of pets they allow onboard. In general, airlines allow owners to travel with pet birds that are odorless and harmless. Wild birds are often not permitted on flights.

Some of these airlines also allow birds to fly in the cabin, provided that their cages fit in the space in front of the owner’s seat. However, keep in mind that most companies only accept these pets as checked baggage. 

Also, you might not be able to travel with your pet bird when temperatures are above 85 and below 45 degrees. Because of overcrowding, many airlines do not allow pets to be transported during the holidays. 

 

Supplies

Before you leave the house, you have to pack all the supplies that you might need on the trip, such as bird food, water, and toys. To avoid making a mess in the backseat of your car, you should provide the bird with a sufficient amount of food and water. 

Packing its favorite toy or your pet’s favorite treats might also help make the trip more bearable for the bird as it will make it feel more secure.

 

Accommodation

Not all hotels allow pets on their premises. So, a smart thing that you can do before you leave for your trip is checking to make sure that the accommodation that you have selected allows for pet birds. 

 

Traveling to another country

If you plan on going on a trip outside of the US, you have to take the time to do some research on whether or not you can bring your pet bird with you on your trip.

Once again, if you travel by plane, you have to go on the web page of the air company that you are using and search for additional information on the topic. To be allowed to enter a country with a bird, you have to be able to provide a list of documents