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New Year’s Petsolution: Portion Control

PetSugar — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 10:45:49 -0800

Just because your pet eats it, doesn't mean he's hungry! Many vets will recommend feeding a cat or dog at least twice a day and checking with the label on the packaging for portion guidelines based on your pet's weight. Although my pup scarfs down all his food in seconds, my vet did mention that I should remove any unfinished portions after 20 minutes to prevent him from overeating from the trough.

Now, you usually have a clue if you have an overweight pet (rounded belly, bulging in the back, etc.), but you may not know what to do about it. Check with your vet about weight-loss and fitness regimes to get a healthy start to our final 2008 petsolution. An easy first step is to limit those treats! Consider it like the difference between you eating a slice of pizza . . . and a whole pizza. If the doggie treat is large, break it up to make several different rewards instead of feeding all at once. Or, when training a pet, considering rewarding with a piece of pet food instead. Coupled with a fitness routine and your vet's recommendations, you can have a slim, trim pet by '09!

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New Year’s Petsolution: Get in Shape

PetSugar — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 07:00:04 -0800

If you're like me, getting more active is high up on your to-do list! Many dog owners underestimate the amount of exercise each pooch needs. Even with a fenced-in area for your pup to frolic in, you both can still benefit from a nice walk. Now city pooches will need more exercise than this to simply do their business, their country cousins should also get at least one 20 minute walk a day. It's a good way to guarantee you'll stick to those resolutions because the pooch reinforces your commitment – he's depending on you and adding that doggone variable can make the difference between getting up and going, and skipping it for just one more day. Hopefully over time, walking will become a habit and you'll start choosing to walk places for daily errands . . . with or without the dog.

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New Year’s Petsolution: Improve Manners

PetSugar — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 08:00:19 -0800

Try to get a new start to '08 by focusing on obedience. Having a well-trained pet makes you (and your pet) look good even to those non-animal lovers, and it's always fun to bond with your pal. Oftentimes, manners issues can be helped with proper socialization – if pooch doesn't play well with others yet, consider bringing him to a playgroup to get him used to the sights, smells, and sounds of other dogs and, if he's timid around people, try introducing him to friends in individual and small group settings on his turf. If need be, take it one step further and enlist outside help. For a pet still working through naughty habits like pulling on the leash or jumping on strangers, take the time to enroll him in an obedience class. For those pups already earning gold stars in the manners department, consider an advanced obedience or agility class. It's a great way to learn to work with each other better!

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New Year’s Petsolution: Get a Healthy Start

PetSugar — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 11:00:07 -0800

Nothing begins a new year better than a fresh, healthy start! First off, make sure pets are up-to-date with all their health care needs.

Shots. While rabies vaccinations tend to last longer (North's lasts for three years), other shots need to be administered yearly. If your pooch will be around other dogs a lot (at playgroup or boarding), many locations require their bordatella shot (or nasal spray) to be given every six months to protect pup from kennel cough.
Medications. Be consistent and give pets their prescribed medication as directed. Pets should be on year-round, monthly heartworm preventative – if they aren't, a vet can do a blood test to make sure they are not already infected. Also, all pets (even indoor ones) should still be on flea/tick prevention. Do your part, and make sure you get started (or keep up the good work).
Vet Visits. Like you, doggies and kitties should see a doctor at least once a year for annual checkups, with older pets benefiting from biannual exams. Veterinarians can check for things that you may not notice at home – lumps, bumps, murmurs, and other ailments. They also, of course, make sure you stay on top of your pets' shots and medications, too!

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New Year’s Petsolution: Donate the Clutter

PetSugar — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 11:00:58 -0800

To kick off our week of New Year's Petsolutions, I'm ready to tackle the clutter. Although I like my home to appear clutter-free, at some point along the way, I caught a bug of the just-in-cases. Behind the closed doors of my closet are a myriad of perfectly usable items that I simply don't use. So, as I am ready to ring in the new year, I've decided to tackle my linen closet. In an effort to free up space for more useful items that I'll actually use, I gathered my old sheets, blankets, and towels – sadly enough to open a B&B in my apartment building – and brought these extra linens to my local humane society. Animal shelters can always do with these types of things and check with your local establishment for any additional needs. Now go and let go!

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6 Petsolutions For a Fresh, Fun New Year

PetSugar — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 06:00:35 -0800

I'm surely ready to say good-bye to '09 and welcome in 2010! To honor the upcoming decade change, check out some petsolutions and party tips to end this year and then start the new one off right.

Donate the Clutter	Get a Healthy Start	Improve Manners
Get in Shape	Throw a Pet-Safe NYE Party	Portion Control

Pampered Pals: Perfect Petfeeder

PetSugar — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:00:20 -0700

Since one of our New Year's Petsolutions for this year was to take off the pounds, this automatic pet feeder seems like just the thing to help us along with our healthy goals. Since stats say that even humans give up their New Year's resolutions by April, we can use all the help we can get, especially for our four-legged pals that rely on us to keep them fit and trim. Besides, proper diet and exercise is the way to go vs. taking shortcuts with doggie diet pills! To see why I like the Perfect Petfeeder, just read more.

The awesome and sleek Perfect Petfeeder ($499) dispenses just the right portions for up to two hungry pets. Plus, its paw, power outage, and dishwasher safe design can be programmed on a timer so, even if you're late, your pet's meal will be served up on time. Although it shouldn't take the place of bonding time, it might be nice to sleep in a little later on weekends if you have a whimpering beggar on your hands!

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Who Gets More QT With a Doc?

PetSugar — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:00:11 -0800

Now I've already shared some petsolutions to get your pooch off to a healthy new year . . . but I'm curious to know how you're doing, too! Excluding trips to specialists like dentists or optometrists, are you like clockwork setting appointments for yourself or does a pet have you beat with checkups, shots, and general mishaps?

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What Happened on PetSugar This Week (12/30-1/4)?

PetSugar — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 10:00:23 -0800

Our busy week on PetSugar involved naming and renaming pets, checking out some must-have items for the month, and, oh yeah, Happy New Year! I'm obviously celebrating with my tips, gifts, and petsolutions that I shared with you. However, I'm even more excited to welcome back our Out and About feature after its holiday break. But, before we move forward, we've gotta look back. All of the answers to the quiz can be found in this past week's posts, so let's find out how well you've been paying attention!

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New Year of Gifts: Doggie Driver

PetSugar — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 10:15:18 -0800

If getting fit is a petsolution in your family, and someone else has already clamored for doggie walk duties, let another family member get doggie driver responsibilities. Brookstone's new Doggie Driver ($29.95) works like a golf club, while also throwing a tennis ball up to 300 feet. Have pooch sit and wait at a safe distance while you work on your follow through, his doggie instincts take over as he fetches it back, and then the modified golf club even snaps up the ball for you, saving your swing hand from slobber.