September 3rd, 2010 by Jessica

Anyone who likes to dress up enjoys having options. It’s the same for pet owners who are big on pet fashion. Sometimes we might even go a bit overboard when it comes to dressing up our pets. Whether you go all out or choose simple pet accessories, where to buy is always a big question. High end pet fashion boutiques tend to carry the luxury brands many pet owners like, but there are also options for those with smaller budgets.

Getting Quality For Less

First of all, remember that high cost does not always indicate quality. Conversely, a cheaper product could last a long time and withstand everyday wear and tear. So the pet owner who seeks pet fashion they can afford should first look for product reviews. You may be surprised to learn about cheap items that could serve your pet wear needs.

Company reviews are also important. There are forums online dedicated to customer opinions on various issues. You can find reviews on vet clinics, pet fashion boutiques and pet wear. You might be able to get some items cheaper if you buy from online shop. If you sign up for some pet stores’ newsletters you are generally notified of sales or special offers.

Shopping around for pet fashion is important. Using the Internet is the easiest way to quickly compare prices. You might see something in a pet fashion boutique and get it for less in an online store. People tend to like high end pet fashion boutiques because they have pet products from different countries. Therefore they have a greater variety to choose from.

Remember that although the idea is to pamper your pet, you don’t have to break the bank doing so. Always keep in mind that for each pet product seen in one of these stores you can get something of comparable quality elsewhere. Sure you may not always be able to get the brand names you want, but I’m sure your beloved pet won’t care.

September 2nd, 2010 by Jessica

This is a sore point for many pet owners and animals often seem quite capable of getting by on whatever they eat. Many types of pet food, for cats and dogs particularly, are fortified with important vitamins and minerals. They help to promote growth, digestive health and other functions. But how do you know if you pet is getting enough?

Important Vitamins for Pets

For owners of exotic pets like ferrets vitamins are generally unnecessary, unless the animal shows a clear sign of deficiency. As long as feeding guidelines are followed they are generally OK. Since most of us own cats, dogs or both, there are other issues to consider. Some of these are:

• Some animals are fed scraps or leftovers from family meals. Is this enough to meet their dietary needs?
• Different brands of pet food vary in nutrient content.
• Your pet’s activity levels may influence its nutritional needs.

Knowing Your Pet’s Needs

For starters the breed and size of the animal largely influences how much of certain nutrient they need. Be guided by your vet’s advice, as they usually have much information in this area. You will find however that most brands of pet food do not provide all the vitamins your animal needs. Many such products provide the animal with the minimum daily requirements, despite what the ads may say.

Try adding liver to your pet’s diet as this will provide many of the nutrients it needs including Vitamins A, D, E and K. This is especially important for those people who simply give their pets whatever they have handy. Vitamin supplements for pets should definitely be considered in these cases as well. Pet vitamins can also be looked at for animals on bagged or canned food. This will ensure that they get their daily requirements of nutrients they need to keep being healthy.

Remember also that your pet will need adequate amounts of protein. Table scraps simply won’t cut it. Check the labels on pet food to ensure that enough protein is provided. Naturally larger animals will require more protein, especially if they are very active.

Understanding the signs of nutrient deficiency is also important for your pet’s long term health. That is exactly what we will look at next week.

August 30th, 2010 by Jessica

Some people would argue that cats are more difficult to train than dogs. There are probably quite a few who would disagree with this however. The fact is that cats do pose a bigger challenge with the issue of obedience, and it has nothing to do with smarts. Cats are by nature a bit more solitary, and sometimes may not show any interest in playing by rules. They simply want to love you and be loved in return. Like any other pet however they may display behavior that needs correction.

Why Train Your Cat

Do you simply like the idea of teaching your cat to follow your commands? Or do you want to establish a bit more control so as to curtail a few bad habits? The idea is to get the cat to stop doing what it considers natural, and to do what you want it to do. This is not always easy, but these pointers might help:

• Reward them for good behavior, maybe even more than usual. Make sure to withhold rewards when they do the wrong thing. So never feed the cat just to get it out of the way or to make it settle down. This will send the wrong message.
• Don’t punish the cat as this may instill fear instead of good behavior. Punishment will have the opposite effect and cause your tabby to pull away when you reach for it.
• Try buying a clicker to help reinforce positive behavior. Of course, a reward should generally follow the clicks.
• Combine action with strong words to limit negative activities. Clawing at the fish tank or scratching your good speakers for example, should be met with a stern ‘no!’ and a removal from that area. And of course, don’t give them a treat just to distract them from what they were doing.
• Always be ready to reinforce good behavior as it is easy for them to fall back on bad habits.

Repetition will work in your favor, especially for really stubborn cats. And remember the idea is to make it clear that good behavior will make their lives more pleasant. Teaching your cat to do things like sit or stay are unnecessary and usually not within their nature. While it can be done with some cats you may find it an exercise in frustration.