As more folks find themselves isolated at home during this challenging time, many are turning to animal shelters for furry companionship, or to find a way to give back to their community. More people are fostering pets, which gives prospective adopters more information about how a pet will behave in a home, and increases the chances the pet will be adopted. These positive trends are leading to animal shelters finding themselves empty – GREAT news! It is telling that animal shelters
Remote working has been on the rise for years as technology allows us to connect without ever leaving our homes, but now, many folks are quickly transitioning to working from home by necessity. Studies have shown that working around animals can lower stress levels and increase worker happiness. Simply spending some quality time with your pet can decrease loneliness, and increase physical activity, for both of you! Sharing office space and hours with your pets SOUNDS terrific in theory, but
The key to training your pet to eliminate where you want them to is to prevent accidents, and reward success. Never punish, yell, or rub a pet’s nose in an accident. This doesn’t teach them anything, and may make them afraid of eliminating in front of you at all. Positive reinforcement works best for pets. Dogs Young puppies can be particularly difficult to train, as they have small bladders and lack bowel control. To encourage good habits, take your pet’s age in months and
Food Transitioning If you’ve decided to change your pets’ food today, be sure to take the time to properly transition your pet(s) from the old food to the new food to avoid upset stomach and bowel issues. This is especially important if you’re making a drastic change, such as from a conventional food to a raw diet. The transition period should last up to ten days. Start with mixing 75% old food with 25% of the new food for 2-3 days.If this
Ugh, fleas. They make pets’ lives miserable, and their human parents begin to itch just at the thought of them. Pet consultants are often asked what method of treatment works best to eradicate a flea problem. The true answer is that there is no “magic bullet” that will make your entire problem go away overnight. However, the good news is that with a little understanding of your foe and their characteristics, along with carefully following a few key steps, your
Pet owners: have you heard the term “BARF”? This acronym stands for Bones And Raw Food, and is a feeding method that is highly recommended by many veterinarians and pet care professionals. This diet is supposed to mimic how an animal would consume food in the wild, providing pets with a diet that closely resembles their natural eating habits. Raw food formulas are species-appropriate, and highly digestible, which allows for easy absorption of essential nutrients. Believe it or not, raw foods are easy to feed! Many come ready-to-serve,
If you’re on social media, brace yourselves: it’s time for “new year, new me” messages to take over your feed. A New Year is a nice, clean slate that can be used as a catalyst to adopt some major modifications into your family’s life. Don’t forget about your pet – they can also benefit from some fresh, positive changes, too! Here are some easy ways to incorporate your pet into your resolutions: Exercising more – together!Walking your pet is one of
If you’re an online shopper, you’ve likely noticed that in recent years the major e-retailers have been utilizing third-party sellers to increase their offerings without increasing their inventory or staffing needs. While this seems like a good idea for the retail giants, what many consumers don’t know is that there is real danger in ordering from third-party sellers: counterfeit goods. According to the Government Accountability Office’s WatchBlog, Customs and the Postal Service are having a hard time keeping up with inspections
Unbelievably, it’s that time of year again. While you’re making your holiday list, and checking it twice, don’t forget your furry friends! There are so many options for cute and useful gifts for pets. Fill their stockings with things they’ll love! Dogs Our most faithful companions are usually fairly easy to shop for, since we know the way to their hearts is through food, and fun! Mini treats can be given throughout the day without disrupting a balanced diet, and can also
We hear of this scenario often: a pet owner returns home from work or an errand to find that their bed has been “mistaken” for a litter box, or there are scratch marks on the door, or their favorite shoes have been destroyed. What’s going on with your pet? When it comes to behaviors like these, anxiety is often the most common denominator. Pets express these feelings in different ways, including destruction, vocalization, eliminating in the wrong places, and aggression.
