Mail for your Pup #BarkBoxDay

June 25, 2015 by Samantha 8 Comments

This post is sponsored by BarkBox, and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping to share our experience with BarkBox, but Have Sippy Will Travel only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. BarkBox is not responsible for the content of this article.

Bark Box is the new subscription service where your pooch gets a box full of hand picked toys and treats every month for a low fee. Subscription based services like this are quite fun, you never know exactly what you are going to get but the only thing you do know is its going to be lots of fun for your dog. Our dog Cooper is a curious little guy and he knew as soon as the delivery man brought us the box there were treats inside. Now you may be thinking, what happens if my dog doesn’t like anything in the barkbox? Well that’s easy, simply let the Happy Team, happy@barkbox.com about your issue and they will quickly replace the damages or disliked items.

Barkbox is full of enriching toys to keep your dog happy and healthy by stimulating their mind and creativity as well as their health with gnawing toys and bones. What I liked about the Barkbox is that Cooper knew it was here. Normally he doesn’t react to boxes being delivered, but this one he made a b-line to, it was quite funny. While opening the box up Cooper was very interested in what he got in the mail, nose poking and sniffing trying to figure out what his new treat will be. As you can tell from the photos, the dog was pretty interested.

Barkbox also makes a great gift for dog owner who seems to have everything, because you can never have enough toys for your dog, especially if they are chewers.

If you check out Barkbox now, I have a special link to use to help you save 10% on a new subscription as well as free shipping to the US. Keep in mind that the longer your subscription period, the more savings you get, one month at a time will cost $29 per Barkbox, while a full year subscription will cost only $19 per Barkbox.

Filed Under: animals, review Tagged With: dogs, pets

Canine Flu Spreading in New Jersey

June 12, 2015 by Samantha Leave a Comment

image via guardianlv.com

The Canine Influenza has been spreading throughout the continental United States, including New Jersey, so the American Veterinary Medical Association(AVMA) has some information and tips to help dog owners better understand the virus. “What we need to keep in mind is that humans can physically transmit the virus – which can stay on our clothes for up to 24 hours- so it is important to be careful about interacting with any unknown dogs,” says AVMA spokesperson Dr. Aspros “With proper education, we can do our best to minimize the spread.”

What is canine influenza?

Canine influenza (CI), or dog flu, is a highly contagious infection caused by an influenza A subtype H3N8 virus first discovered in 2004.

What are common symptoms of the infection in dogs?

In the mild form, the most common sign is a cough that persists for 2-3 weeks. However, some dogs can develop signs of severe pneumonia, such as a high-grade fever (104°F-106°F) and faster breathing. Other signs in infected dogs include nasal and/or ocular discharge, sneezing, fatigue, and refusing food.

Is every dog at risk of infection?

All dogs, regardless of breed or age, are susceptible to infection.

How does it spread?

Canine influenza is spread from dog to dog through the air, contaminated objects (kennel surfaces, food and water bowls, collars and leashes), and people interacting with infected and uninfected dogs. On surfaces, the virus is alive and can infect dogs for up to 48 hours, on clothing for 24 hours, and on hands for 12 hours.

Can veterinarians test for canine influenza?

The most reliable and sensitive method for confirmation is serologic testing. Antibodies to canine influenza virus can appear in blood as early as 7 days after symptoms begin, and the virus may be identified in nasal or pharyngeal swabs during the first 4 days of illness.

Any treatment options?

In May 2009, the USDA approved the first influenza vaccine for dogs. Trials have shown that it can significantly reduce the duration of illness, including the incidence and severity of damage to the lungs. Dog owners should consult with their vet to determine whether the vaccine is appropriate for their dog.

Can canine influenza infect people?

There is no evidence that the virus can be transmitted from dogs to humans.

For more information about canine influenza virus, visit https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/Reference/Pages/Canine-Influenza-Backgrounder.aspx

Filed Under: animals Tagged With: dogs, pets

Hill’s Ideal Balance Crafted’s Carefully Selected Creation Process #InspiredbyCrafted

May 11, 2015 by Samantha 7 Comments

This post is sponsored by Hill’s. I am being compensated for helping spread the
word about Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ Crafted™, but Have Sippy Will Travel only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.

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The new Hill’s Ideal Balance Crafted pet food is made in an interesting new/old school way. It is made by hand, in small batches by people who care. By using human grade ingredients which are used in regular “people food” like trout, salmon, tuna, roasted beef, and slow cooked chicken, you and your pet will have some great meals ahead of you. For a moment, Iask you to step into a dog’s paws. You live in this awesome house where it doesn’t rain and when no one is looking, you can sleep on the couch. (Like mine is doing in the above photo- he’s ON ME- thinking I don’t know it, lol). The only issue is the food, well… the food is good, but there is other food that smells a whole lot better then what you have to eat. Imagine a slow cooker day where you set it and forget it as the smell of dinner permeates the entire house, changing and becoming more complex but is never for you. This is the torture of being a dog sometimes.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: animals, review Tagged With: dogs, pets

Crafted Line of Cat and Dog Food #InspiredByCrafted

April 21, 2015 by Samantha 6 Comments

The more you look at pet food labels the more you realize dog food is just as much a science as it is an art form. With the proper ingredients, vitamins and nutrients(science), some delicious sounding food is made for our four legged friends(art). With this in mind, we are looking at Hill’s new Crafted pet food line for dogs and cats.

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Crafted is made in small batches, so attention to detail is evident. Ingredients are all natural and flavorful. Some of these ingredients include quinoa, buckwheat, chickpeas, natural trout, and mixed vegetables. Everything is slow cooked to perfection, locking in the flavors and vitamins.
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Filed Under: animals, review Tagged With: dogs, pets

Show Your Support of The Shelter Pet Project #shelterpetlove

February 3, 2015 by Samantha 6 Comments

As many of you know, we recently got a new addition to the house a 2.5 year old dog named “Cooper”. Rescued from a shelter in NYC, he has been a good fit for our household, and we are enjoying him. Many of you know that we are also avid animal “foster parents”, and usually have a critter or two (or more) that we are fostering for a local shelter or rescue organization. There just aren’t enough homes to go around, and too many animals are over-bred. Cooper was in a high kill shelter, where his days were numbered. As a matter of fact, there is a group that is pretty active trying to get pets out of there as fast as possible, and I’m sorry to say that many of the dogs we met while we were there adopting Cooper were put to sleep that same week, due to running out of room. It broke my heart- sweet dogs, whose lives were cut short because no one took the time to find them good homes and just dumped them at a high kill shelter, or in the street where they were found wandering, or a million other sad stories. The worst part is that it just didn’t need to happen. As the bumper sticker on my car says, “Don’t Buy Love- Rescue It!”

The Shelter Pet Project

Get true, unconditional, fierce, unforgettable love through shelter pet adoption!

Each year approximately 3-4 million pets are adopted from shelter and rescue groups, but 2.4 million healthy and treatable pets still need our help to find a home each year. The Shelter Pet Project is a collaborative effort between The Humane Society of the United States, Maddie’s Fund^®, and the Ad Council.

The goal of The Shelter Pet Project is to make shelters and rescue groups the first place people turn when looking to get a new pet.
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Filed Under: animals, review Tagged With: dogs, pets

A Dog’s Life

December 30, 2014 by Samantha Leave a Comment

Say hello to my little friend! No, really.

This is Cooper Cthulhu– can you guess who named him? You got it. Not me.

He’s a 2.5 year old boy who hails from NYC. He seems pretty chill so far, and really, really likes toys. Like, a lot a lot a lot. He thinks he needs to be in my lap when I’m typing, which can be a challenge for both of us. Don’t tell him he’s not a lap-dog, he won’t believe you.
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Filed Under: animals, review Tagged With: dog, dogs, pets

Animal Planet Dog Pampering

March 26, 2013 by Samantha 4 Comments

Animal Planet has released a line of some great new pet products, including beds, shampoos, dog toys, and even blankets.

First up is the Animal Planet Ultra- Suede Pet Bed. This pet bed is soft enough to roll into a ball in and fall asleep yourself. The bed is super soft and very comfy. We gave the medium size a try and it fit our dog perfectly. She is a husky mix so no need to go larger unless your fluffy one likes to circle around in order to pick their favorite sleep spot. Our previous dog used to circle at least three times before laying down. Our current pooch is more of a cat [Read more…]

Filed Under: animals Tagged With: animal planet, animal planet dog bed, Animal Planet Dog Pampering, animal planet dog toys, animal planet products, dog beds, dog shampoo, dog toys, dogs, pets

Loving Pet’s Healthy Treats

September 24, 2012 by Samantha 2 Comments

There’s nothing better than to treat your favorite pet with something they’d love! Loving Pets is a company devoted to keeping your pet happy and healthy and is coming up with tasty ways to treat your four legged family members. While there are tons of treats to choose from at Loving Pet’s we were happy to try out the Grill-icious treats.

We tried out the All Natural Beef and Turkey Treats. They’re called Grill-icious and if my dogs could talk, they’d probably say just that. My kids find the name adorable and helped wrangle the dogs up for treats!