How can a Psychiatric Service Dog Help You?

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Service dogs are dogs that act as aides or companions to people with a disability. This traditionally includes people with visual, hearing, or mobility impairments. However, service dogs can also assist people who have a condition that is not visible, e.g. diabetes, as well as mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Service dogs are very different from regular pets. To obtain legal recognition as a service animal, these dogs undergo training to perform tasks that can be of assistance to someone with a disability. Depending on the unique needs of the person, this can mean anything from finding help during a medical emergency to… Read More Continue Reading
Nelson Automatic Dog Fence Watering System

How Much Dog Food Should I Feed My Dog?

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Wondering what is the right amount of dog food to feed your precious pooch? There are several things to take into consideration. It depends on his age, size, activity level, and the type of food he is eating. In general, puppies and younger dogs burn more calories. This means they need a greater quantity of dog food that has more fat and protein in it. Dogs that are older or less active will remain healthy on fewer calories. If you are feeding your dog a commercial pet food, watch out for the “feeding guidelines” printed on the bag. They should only be used as a rough guideline. Many labels suggest… Read More Continue Reading

Pet Food Recall: Blue Ridge Beef

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As of December 8, 2006 a pet food recall was voluntarily announced by the company, Blue Ridge Beef of Eaton, GA. The affected products were distributed to retail stores in the following states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Arizona and Texas. This recall was initiated by the FDA, after they received 2 complaints associated with these products. One involved the illnesses of 2 kittens, and the other resulted in the death of a puppy. Subsequent testing by the FDA showed the presence of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. Two of their frozen products are being recalled because they are potentially contaminated with Salmonella and/or Listeria monocytogenes. Here are the details… Read More Continue Reading
PetSafe 5-meal Automatic Feeder

Puppy Proofing Your Home

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Did Santa bring your family a new puppy this Christmas? Puppies are naturally curious creatures. Although this makes them a lot of fun, they can also easily get into harmful situations. Before your puppy gets into any danger, be sure to survey your home for potential problems. Electrical Cords When a puppy is playing, he or she may try chewing on an electrical cord. This can cause their mouth to be burned, they can suffer from electrical shock, or they can even be electrocuted and die. You can simply run your electrical cords through a special spiral cable wrap, cord concealer, or even PVC piping to keep your puppy safe.… Read More Continue Reading
PetSafe 5-meal Automatic Feeder

Emotional Support Dogs

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An emotional support dog is one that provides support and comfort to a disabled person. Emotional support dogs provide affection and companionship to someone suffering from various emotional or mental conditions. Technically, emotional support dogs are not the same as service dogs, because they are not required to perform specific tasks for a disability like service dogs are. According to the United States Dog Registry, an emotional support dog is used to provide emotional stability and unconditional love to a person with certain conditions. These conditions include anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder/mood disorder, fears and phobias, panic attacks and other emotional or psychological conditions. The Law Protected under federal law, emotional… Read More Continue Reading

Separation Anxiety in Dogs

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When a dog has separation anxiety, it becomes troublesome for the pet and the pet owner. Separation anxiety in dogs can also cause problems with neighbors and landlords, and become a stressful situation for everyone involved. This disorder happens when a dog is left by themselves, or can even happen when the owner is home but the dog doesn’t have access to them. Be aware that in serious cases of separation anxiety, your dog may need help from a veterinary behaviorist or a trainer that has experience in this area. In some cases, medication may be prescribed in order for the dog to overcome this disorder. Signs of Separation Anxiety… Read More Continue Reading

Holiday Safety Tips for Pets

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The holiday season is here, and many pet parents enjoy including their furry family members in the festivities. As you get ready to celebrate the holiday season, it is important to maintain your pet’s normal routine as much as possible. In addition to this, be sure to keep your pets away from the following foods, plants and dangerous holiday decorations. Christmas Tree Be sure to anchor your Christmas tree, to make sure it doesn’t accidentally tip over and hurt your pet. Anchoring your tree will also prevent the water in the dish from spilling over. Don’t let your pets drink this stagnant water, as it is a breeding ground for… Read More Continue Reading

Probiotics for Dogs

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You may have heard about probiotics for people, but have you heard about probiotics for dogs? Yes, it is true. Probiotics are just as beneficial for dogs. Probiotics are helpful bacteria, which are responsible for maintaining and restoring the normal balance of microflora in your dog’s intestinal tract. These “friendly bacteria” are helpful in combatting the harmful types of bacteria that live there. Here are a few ways that your dog’s intestinal tract can get out of balance in the first place. Common Causes of Digestive Imbalance Antibiotics, NSAIDS, steroids or other drugs can cause a disruption A poor diet or changes in the diet Being exposed to a pathogenic… Read More Continue Reading
Home Pet Spa

Giving Pets as Gifts: A Good Idea?

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You have likely seen it glorified in the movies- a sweet little girl comes running down to the Christmas tree. Lo and behold, a brand new puppy is sitting there with a big red bow around his neck, just waiting to be loved. The little is super excited. She runs and hugs her new puppy, who gives her a big kiss. The two grow up together and become best friends forever. Wouldn’t it be great if life always worked out this way? But unfortunately this isn’t always the case. Here is what really can happen when you give a pet as a gift. The little girl or boy is too… Read More Continue Reading

Giving Your Cat a Bath

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Wild cats may actually enjoy being in the water, but housecats notoriously aren’t keen for being bathed. Housecats have coats that absorb water, rather than deflect moisture. This means that it is harder for housecats to dry off when they become soaked. It is a good thing that cats self-groom, since most housecats avoid water at all costs. So the question is, why would a cat need a bath? Truth be told, many cats don’t need to be washed with water. Because they naturally groom themselves, regular brushing is all they need for them to stay clean and comfortable. With that being said, there are situations where a good bath… Read More Continue Reading