We love sharing tips and tricks we have learned through the years. Got an idea that you think is worthy of adding? Reach out to our team.
One of the most valuable tools a dog and/or cat owner needs is lick mats! Not only are they a great way to feed canned/moist food, but they are also a great way to create a beneficial distraction so you can get some grooming done. Stick the lick mat to a wall and sneak in and clip their nails, remove mats, and maybe get a bath in!
Lick mats come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and colors, so you’ll have lots of options to choose from.
You can put canned cat food on them and have your kitty take their time with their meal. You can do the same with canned dog food as well.
By now, most of us know that bone broth is a wonderful additive to your pet’s diet. Some pets experience improved joint health, gut health, and it has been especially helpful for enticing finnicky eaters to consume their food. The vitamins and minerals contained in bone broth are a bonus since the parts used to make bone broth are usually discarded.
Bone broth is usually used as a topper during meal time, but this life hack is about the frozen version. Small cups of frozen bone broth can be extremely helpful if you have a nervous pet, especially if their nervousness causes tummy upset.
The simple act of holding the small cup between their paws and repeatedly licking the delicious treat creates a soothing rhythm that calms the nervous system. In this case, bone broth is a better choice than ice cream, even those made for dogs since ice cream is usually sweeter and can worsen an upset stomach. Next time you have a long car ride or a loud celebration, try frozen bone broth for your pets!
Playing games with your dog can tire them out just as much, if not more than physical activity. High-energy dogs need frequent and regular exercise to live their best life, but sometimes time and/or weather gets in the way of the ideal routine. And as the temperatures continue to drop in the Northeast, there are a lot of dogs and pet owners going absolutely stir crazy.
Pet enrichment games don’t have to be complicated or expensive in order to get the desired result. Playing a 5 minute game of tug not only exerts physical energy, but is mentally stimulating to your dog as well. And if you’ve ever thought hard about how to solve a problem, you know how tiring it can be.
It can be overwhelming to add yet another thing into your already long day of such limited sunlight and free time, so don’t let yourself get overwhelmed with all the possibilities for what you can do to play with your dog. You’d be surprised just how far a short period of intentional play and bonding will go. If you ever need help deciding on a new enrichment toy, come see us. We would love to help.
Cats have scent glands all over their bodies (chin, lower ears, forehead, cheeks, rear, and paw pads) that they use to mark their territory. So, when your cat rubs their head against your leg or hand, they’re getting the petting sensation in addition to marking you as theirs. You can use this habit to your advantage and save some time on grooming with various grooming products that attach to corners or doors. Especially if you notice your kitty rubbing their face on the same thing all the time.
The Kong Kitty Comber is a neat option and becomes even more attractive when you rub some catnip on it. Your cat will be compelled to rub as much of themselves against the comber to mark it, and they’ll be grooming themselves in the process.
Glucosamine is like an oil can for the joints of dogs, cats, and humans. It is a natural compound found in cartilage, the tough tissue that cushions joints. Over time, cartilage can break down and cause painful inflammation of the joints. This is especially true in large breed dogs, those genetically predisposed to joining issues, and those that are overweight. Starting to supplement your pet’s diet with glucosamine as they head into their senior years can be extremely helpful.
Glucosamine is available in a variety of ways. Liquid and powder forms can be mixed in with food, while the treat options are a sneaky way of rewarding your pet with a treat that’s more like a vitamin. Kind of like gummy vitamins available for humans! Speaking of humans, glucosamine works the same way for pet owners as it does for pets, so if you’re suffering from joint issues, glucosamine could be beneficial for you too!
As Always, consult your veterinarian if you have concerns about your pet’s health and before starting a new supplement regimen. Glucosamine is a relatively safe supplement but could interact with medications or allergies. (Most glucosamine supplements are made from shellfish, though there are plant-based options available as well.)
For many of us, our beloved companion animals are more than “just pets”. They are our source of acceptance, love, and devotion like no other. And when we lose them it can feel like an all-consuming grief we won’t ever come out of. Thankfully, The Animal Protective Foundation and Mohawk Hudson Humane Society have partnered to host a free pet bereavement support group every third Wednesday of the month at 6pm via Google Meet.
Death is an unavoidable part of life, and is often left to the pet guardian to decide when it’s time with the advice of a veterinarian. Ease the burden of that choice and get support from others going through the same thing.
Visit https://www.animalprotective.org/dev/end-of-life-services/ and click on the pet bereavement tab to find the Google Meet link.
If you take a look at some of the cat toys on the market, they look a lot like some of the things you throw away without thinking twice. The plastic ring you take off of a gallon jug, the top of a plastic bottle, bottle caps, cotton balls, and cotton swabs can all provide quite a bit of entertainment without much effort at all.
To make it even more fun, save your next pizza box! Once the contents are gone, cut out a series of holes in the top and place the aforementioned items inside. Toss in a few treats or even some dry kibble and watch them hunt down all the things you put in there. It’s not a toy that will last forever but can be a fun activity to do for your kitty, especially if you have little ones to help with putting it all together.
There is a common mistake that a lot of pet owners make with food storage, and that is to empty the bag of dry food directly into the storage container. There are few reasons why this isn’t the most ideal way to store dry food.
First, storage containers are typically made of plastic. Plastic is somewhat absorbent and has microscopic pores that can hold onto particles of food and become rancid. Also, the original bag of food should be kept so that you have the expiration date and lot number of that batch in the case that there is a recall, and/or that the food doesn’t get consumed before it’s expiration.
And while we are on the topic of food and feeding, did you know that you are supposed to wash your pet’s dish after every meal? Whether using a plastic, metal, or ceramic dish, bacteria is left behind from the food and your dog’s mouth. Ew. You wouldn’t want a resued dish for your food would you?
We love natural and uncomplicated products as much as our customers do, so when we find something we love for our pets that can also be used on ourselves we just have to share!
Local soap company, Rad Soap Co. makes the most delightful, effective, and pesticide-free insect repellant that actually works! Not only does their proprietary blend of 100% pure essential oils work on pets, it works wonders on people too! So ditch the chemical, support a local business, and say goodbye to bug bites!
Retractable leads are great for dogs in their own backyard with no other dogs around. That way they can explore to end of the length of the lead in a safe space. However, in public at a gathering where there may be other dogs or children, a traditional unchanging length lead is best. That way the dog can be kept close, and avoid unwanted interactions.
A traditional leash made of nylon or leather is the safest way to walk and train your dog to stay where you want them. A close leash will also prevent tripping, tangling, and unwanted interaction with other dogs and/or children. And when it comes to your precious pet, safety is very important to us.
The average vet office fee is more than $66 for 1 pet just to walk in the door. Vaccinations and microchips cost a ton, plus the registration for the microchip is an additional cost.
VIP Pet Care Clinics come to each of our locations once per month for well checks, low cost vaccinations, microchips, and testing all for $0 office fee! Care clinics last 90 minutes and are first come, first served.
Check our event schedule to see when the next one is at your preferred location.