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Taking Care of Pets During the Winter

DSCN4097 thumb Taking Care of Pets During the Winter

The winter season is upon us. Gone are the long, warm sun-soaked days. In their place are cooler temperatures, crisp winds and in some parts of the country, snow. The winter season is one of adjustment for everyone and not just those of the human variety. It’s also a time of adjustment for pets. The winter can be tough on domesticated animals. If pet owners are not properly educated about winter safety, their animals are at risk of developing diseases or worst yet, death. Fortunately, taking care of pets during the winter is something that can be quickly learned.

Animals that have pre-existing health conditions may be more susceptible to the effects of cold weather. It is thus a good idea to take them to a vet for a check-up so that any problems can be detected and addressed prior to the winter season.

Pets should spend as much time as possible indoors during the winter. When it is necessary for them to be outside for long stretches of time, they should have a warm, well-built structure to go into, complete with proper bedding and water. Owners need to be sure to check their pet’s water to make sure it hasn’t become frozen.

Keeping an eye out for ones pet is especially important during the winter. During this time of year, unique dangers await pets, including bodies of water which may be partially frozen and easy to fall into. Cats, who are often attracted to warm, car engines, are more susceptible to injury and death this type of year, while animals with certain pre-existing conditions have a more difficult time regulating their body temperature. Being mindful of these things is extremely important. At the first sign of a problem, owners will need to be prepared to act. A pet’s life could hang in the balance.

Individuals that find that their pets need medical care during the winter months can order medications and supplies from Petmeds. Click here for a petmeds coupon or check out this 1800petmeds coupon code. Those who shop at Pet Care Rx, will find that using Petcarerx coupons is a great way to save money. Who couldn’t benefit from doing so in this economy? Have a great winter and keep those pets safe!

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Pets, Dog, Cats: 2011 Holiday Gift Guides

holidayguidebanner Pets, Dog, Cats: 2011 Holiday Gift Guides

That’s all she wrote!  Are you prepared to do your shopping on Friday?  I am not. LOL!

Curvations Pet Carrier

image thumb19 Pets, Dog, Cats: 2011 Holiday Gift Guides

Your pet will travel in style with the sleek, luxurious Curvations® kennel. Featuring easy-to-assemble and stowaway zipper construction, and 360 degrees of ventilation to promote healthy air flow. Each Curvations kennel comes with a machine washable plush bed for added comfort and a durable, metal door clasp for added security. Available in a variety of fashionable designs perfect for the most fashion forward, small sized dogs.

Petmate Balance Ball for Cats

image thumb20 Pets, Dog, Cats: 2011 Holiday Gift Guides

There’s nothing cats love more than swatting at a moving target! That’s why cats love the Booda® Balancing Ball. This fascinating toy features a rod and feather extending from a weighted ball that pops back upright after it’s knocked down. The jingling bell attached to the feather adds even more excitement to the game! The transparent ball is made of extremely strong polycarbonate material that can handle dropping off the coffee table or getting knocked across the room like a hockey puck! Available in 2 fun color combinations – Yellow/Pink and Green/Purple.

Booda SqueakBottles

image thumb21 Pets, Dog, Cats: 2011 Holiday Gift Guides

A smiling dog is generally making noise and chewing at the same time. And that’s exactly what Booda® SqueakBottles™ are designed to do. Each fun, plush sea-life character covers a crunchy water bottle topped with an enticing, squeaking bottle cap that makes noises at the slightest provocation. When the bottle won’t crunch any more, screw in another garden variety water bottle and your pup is ready to squeak some more! Available in a variety of characters.

See the entire list of Holiday Gift Guides AND Black Friday Deals!

*Disclaimer:  What you will see throughout the month of November are my top picks based on customer service, quality, uniqueness, and value for your buck.  If they are kid toys then they also have to be kid-approved by my children and nieces!  Any opinions stated are strictly my own!  No money changed hands, although the items were sent to me to help facilitate my reviews.*

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Review: Zooborn Cats

I love animals and my kids love animals, so this was a “Must-have!”

Zooborn Cats book 150x150 Review:  Zooborn CatsAbout the Book (from the webpage)

From the guys who brought you the smash hit ZooBorns: The Newest, Cutest Animals from the World’s Zoos and Aquariums, which DiscoverMagazine.com called “hands down the cutest books ever to grace my shelf” comes ZooBorns CATS! The Newest, Cutest Kittens and Cubs from the World’s Zoos featuring adorable pictures of newborn felines from accredited zoos and conservation programs around the world. ZooBorns: Cats! is the largest and most complete collection of kittens of different feline species ever published! Every sale of ZooBorns Cats! supports the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Conservation Endowment Fund.  Look out for exclusive giveaways and excerpts on our Facebook page in the coming weeks!

About the Author

Andrew Bleiman 150x150 Review:  Zooborn Cats

Andrew Bleiman is a lifelong animal nerd who serves on the Auxiliary Boards of the Lincoln Park Zoo and Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. He also runs Zooillogix.com, a bizarre zoology news blog on the ScienceBlogs Network (a division of Seed Media). In his day job he develops new media strategy for the Bradford Group.

Chris Eastland 150x150 Review:  Zooborn Cats

Chris Eastland is a classically trained artist and photographer, who studied and taught at the Charles H. Cecil Studios in Florence, Italy, and now lives in Brooklyn. Chris was formerly the Photography Editor for Quest Magazine.

DSC 0007 150x150 Review:  Zooborn Cats

My Thoughts

I only glanced through the book before my son took it!  He even showed it to his baby sister, telling her about the cats in the book!  Seriously cute pictures, even for people who may be (GASP) not cat-lovers!  A great book for parents and teachers, because kiddos LOVE it!

Buy it!

With the official release on November 1st, you can pre-order ZooBorns CATS! now at Amazon and Barnes & Noble for under $11.99!  This would be a fantastic Christmas present…

*Disclaimer:  I received this book from Simon and Schuster in order to review it.  I received no money and my thoughts are my own!*

 

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Using Training Aids to Train Your Dog

image thumb1 Using Training Aids to Train Your Dog

In order to successfully train a dog, the use of training aids is sometimes necessary. An individual that owns a dog that barks excessively and/or inappropriately may find that a dog bark collar is exactly what is needed to effectively curb the behavior.

A dog bark collar is a training aid that delivers instantaneous correction, whenever a dog is exhibiting behavior that is undesirable, in this case, it the behavior would be excessive or inopportune barking.

There are three primary types of dog bark collars. They are the electronic, citronella and ultrasonic bark collar. An electric dog bark collar is one that emits static electricity to the dog when it barks. Contrary to popular belief, an electric dog bark collars doesn’t hurt the dog. It is an admittedly, unpleasant, but it isn’t harmful. This type of bark collar is the most popular and oft used by dog owners.

Citronella bark collars are aromatic. When a dog barks when it is not supposed to, a foul smelling odor is emitted. This odor is supposed to discourage the dog from barking. The jury is still out on this type of dog bark collar. Though in theory, this form of correction seems like it would be effective, it hasn’t proven to be so over the long run. Some people prefer citronella bark collars because they don’t cause the dog any type of physical discomfort. It is much gentler than an electric dog bark collar.

Ultrasonic bark collars are another option for dog owners looking to discourage barking. When a dog barks when it is not supposed to, the collar emits a high pitched sound. This is another off-shoot of the electric dog bark collar, the standard in dog bark collars. Unfortunately, it is one of the least effective. These collars don’t work well for dogs that are persistent in their desire to bark. They, may, however, help curb barking in dogs that don’t have a lot of fight in them (those that tend to have a more submissive nature).

Combining the use of a dog bark collar with good, old-fashioned, positive reinforcement, can be a very effective way to discourage barking. When a dog remains quiet, suppressing its urge to bark, when it normally wouldn’t, rewarding it with treats is recommended. This helps to reinforce the desired behavior. A dog bark collar, conversely, punishes and thus discourages undesirable behavior. When used in concert this can be a very effective strategy.

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9 Costumes to Help Fido Celebrate Halloween

halloween pets 300x188 9 Costumes to Help Fido Celebrate HalloweenCats loathe costumes, but some dogs positively revel in dressing up for Halloween. Strap on a pair of fairy wings and they begin to strut their stuff, eager to trick-or-treat like a little kid.

Dressing up your dachshund can get pretty pricey, however, without sewing skills or a big budget. Here’s a list of easy and frugal ideas to keep Toto happy come Oct. 31. And before you costume your canine, be sure to check out “Dog Halloween Safety Tips” from PuppyinTraining.com.

1. Octopus
This works best with taller dogs. Stuff pantyhose with a light material, sew eight of them together in a cluster, and pin to your dog’s harness.

2. Chippendale Dancer
Cut the collar and cuffs from a disposable white shirt and secure to to a large dog’s neck and front paws. Create a bow tie out of a strip of black cloth. Encourage donations by tucking a few $1 bills into their collar. This works really well if you have a dog able to dance on their hind legs.

3. Little Red Riding Hood
A good costume for a small dog, this one is also easy on the sewing impaired. Hit Joann Fabrics for a yard of red material with some starch to it, like felt or flannel, and a length of red ribbon. Cut the material into a hood and cape shape then baste the ribbon to the neck of the hood.

4. Gangsta Pup
Let your street-wise hound go gangsta style with a hoodie and gold medallions. Make the bling out of Yoplait yogurt lids and pick up a hoodie on the cheapside with a Petsmart coupon from sites like CouponSherpa.com.

5. Vampire
Those canine teeth will come in handy when your dog takes on the most popular costume of the decade. Simply cut a swath of black silk into a cape shape and attach it to the collar. If you have sewing skills or a glue gun, create a stand-up collar by melding red silk to a cardboard frame.

6. Winged Fairy
Teacup pups might be too tiny to handle wings, but a small dog should be able to pull off this low-cost outfit. Read how to create this look with directions from instructables.com.

7. Rescue Dog
This one’s a natural for St. Bernards, but even funnier on a small dog. Strap an empty beer or pop can to their collar and use a long piece of red felt to create a waistband painted with a white cross. For a humorous twist, larger dogs might be able to handle an empty coffee can instead of the expected beer barrel.

8. Pillow Camel
From all reports, dachshunds enjoy a bit of dress up now and then. Turn your weiner dog into a camel by attaching an old sofa pillow in a caramel shade to a center harness. For a lumpier look, wrap a belt around the middle to give them two humps.

9. Go Pre-made
Walmart has added to their online costume section with an entire line of outfits for dogs. Here you’ll find everything from maid to sheriff costumes for various size dogsand all at bargain-friendly prices. And with so many other online Halloween stores selling pet costumes, you’ll likely find something fitting for Fido, whether freaky, festive or funny. Just remember to search for promo codes to score savings and free shipping before checking out.

Guest article provided by Andrea Woroch who is a consumer and money-saving expert for Kinoli Inc.
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