Summer Time Care!

Now that spring is here the warmer weather will be arriving.  Our pets can’t tell us what they need so please try to remember a few things.

1. Always mae sure your pets have fresh and clean water.

2. Proctect your dog on hot days by walking in shaded areas ( on really hot days you might want to shorten the walk times and add an extra couple of walks so you dog burns off some energy. 

3.  If you are gone for a long time fill up the water bowls with half water and half ice this way your dog wont over drink because it is bored and also keep the water cool.

4. Although we think of dog boots for only the snow they are also good when the ground is hot.

5.  Fish tanks should have proper water temps. If the water is to hot you can kill your fish.

6. Chinchillas are not warm weather animals they like the cooler weather try to keep your room around 70 degrees.

7.  Water should be changed atleast 2 times aday  and checked on as needed.

 

For more tips leave a comment and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

Cat Grooming Idea For The Difficult Cat!

At work today a customer came to be and said everytime I try to brush my cat it tries to bite me. The advice I gave to the customer was to use a plastic cone. Make sure the cone is big enough to protect you from cat bites. Also it is important to have the right brush to meet your cat’s needs. If your cat seems to be stressed you can give it a calming treat. Many kinds can be found at your local Petco store.

Dog needs a home

This dog’s name is Rocky! He is 7yrs old and is around 20lbs. He needs a good home with a good owner. If you are interested please contact city critters or leave me a message with your info and i will forward it. This dog is in NYC and needs a good home. So if you have a good heart and home please help.

Best Wishes!

Prepare Now, Relax later!

It is september! We all know winter is around the corner. Now is a good time to go to your local Petco and start getting the supplies you need to get through the winter. Don’t wait till an emergency happens because your petstore might be out of the the products you need. things you might want to get to help you through the winter:

1. A new cat or dog bed ( so they wont sleep on a cold floor ).
2. Tender Paw – ( this will help protect your dogs paws from street salt and chapping ).
3. Some extra can foods with a long expiration date.
4. Dog jackets or sweaters for those breeds that feel the cold more.
5. Dog boots
6. Water Conditioner for fish
7. Heaters for aquariums.
8. If you are thinking of upgrading to a larger tank Petco has $1 per gallon sale till Sept 17th.
9. Heat lamps and bulbs for Reptiles.

These are just some ideas to think about. Being proactive helps you in the long run when it comes to protecting our pets.

Did you know!

1. The older a cat get the more picky it gets when it comes to food and liter boxes
2. Using tender paw will help protect your dogs paws from snow salt.
3. Natural oatmeal and aloe shampoo will help protect your dogs skin from drying out.
4. Guinea pigs need extra vitamin C supplements.
5. Cats main meals should be wet food 2 times a day with dry food left in between meals.
6. Natural foods may cost more but your pet will absorb more nutrients so you can feed them less food.
7. Omega 3 and 6 will help protect your pets skin, coat and contribute to brain development.
8. For every inch of fish you should have one gallon of water.
9. Using foot odor eaters will help with a smelly cat box ( You should be shoveling cat boxes twice a day ).
10. To help encourage your bird to eat you can sprinkle in some spray mullet.
11. Mircowaving your dog or cat food damages the quality of the food.

If you have some questions leave a comment if I dont know the answer I will try to find out.
** Side note ** Fall and Winter will be here soon don’t wait for the last minute to stock up on all your pet supplies go to a local Petco store or www.petco.com for all your pets cold weather needs.
Be pro-active and not re-active and you will keep your pets happier and healthier.

Fetch Doggie!

Many times I see people go to dog runs and forget to bring a tennis ball with them. Playing fetch with your dog is a great way for your dog to burn up some stored energy and give him some much needed excercise. Fetch is also a good way to bond with your dog. Every time your dog returns the ball to you remember to praise it.

Tips for a good time
1. make sure you teach your dog come when called this way once the ball is in it mouth it will return to you.
2. teach a drop it command so it will let go of the ball
3. teach it to retrieve the ball by using a fetch command.

When training your dog remember they only have about a 15 min attention span on average. Make sure you mix in praises and treats as rewards. Mostly use praises because as we all know dog treat should not exceed more than 15% of total diet.
To hsve a fun time playing fetch make sure your dog is trained.

I will be making a tennis ball donation at one of my local dog runs just incase you someone in my area forgets to bring a tennis ball to the dog run =)

Saftey tip if there are many dogs around it might not be a good idea to play fetch….sometimes dogs can become aggressive and protective make sure you are alone with your dog or know the behavior of the dogs near you.
Also remember to bring water with you especially on a hot day think of it like this if you are hot and thursty imagine how your dog feels after running around. In extremely hot weather Fetch is not advisable.

News Bulletin!

Come to Kipsbay Petco On July 31 Between 2:30 PM and 4:00 for Cat and Dog Vaccinations… and while you are there stock up on some treats and toys. They have all kinds of supplies for all kinds of animals.

Changing Fish Water and Adding New Fish

Many People I have spoken to feel that since they have a filter they don’t need to change the water in the fish tank. This is not correct. You should change 20% to 25% of the water once a week. Not Changing the water can lead to illness. Make sure you are using water conditioner when adding tap water.

When adding new fish to ones you already have make you do the following things.
1. Make sure your new fish and old are compatible.
2. Let your fish float in a bag inside your water for 15 mins. this way the water in the bag and your tank are at the same temps. For most fish water should be between 72 and 80 degrees. This can vary depending on fish.
3. Just before releasing the fish in your tank i would recommend moving the gravel around some fish can become defensive about Thier places in the tank.
4. I would also add just a small pinch of food to distract the old fish from the new ones.

Key Point ** for every inch of fish you should have a gallon of water. Plan ahead and know how big your fish will grow.
Good Sale ** Every now and than check out Petco Circular to see what fish are going on sale and always keep an eye out for Tank Sales incase you need to upgrade the size of your tank.

Keeping Your Dog Cool For Summer!

Just a few ideas for you to keep in mind while you are outside with your dog during the summer.

1. On really hot days do not keep your dog out long shorten walk time but add in an extra walk

2. Take a bottle of water with you make sure to give your dor some water on your walk and you can also rub some on his back and paws.

3. Try to walk in shaded areas the ground might be hot if you walk in the sun. You can also buy Pawz Pet protectors. They come is many sizes.

4. If you see your dog panting alot bring it into a cool area… like a store that will allow you to bring in dogs.

If your dog runs free in your apartment or house make sure windows are open…..dogs can die if they get locked in a room without air it is called heat stroke. Please don’t leave your dog in your car alone either.

I know most of you already know this but I thought I would share this with you. Please make sure you always have fresh water for your pets. In the summer make sure you are changing the water more. If you are gone for long periods, you can add ice cubes in the water to keep it cooler longer.

Frontline and Zodiac Shampoo

The wheather is warming up and the animals want to play. We all know the risk of our pets getting fleas and ticks. Frontline is the best product in my opinion. I have used it on my pets and have seen great results. It is on the pricey side but it is worth it. Dealing with fleas is really annoying and can cause health issues for your pet. Frontline is a great preventive.
** Side note: Your dog or cat can not get wet for 72 hours after applying ** When applying you should make a T formation starting at the base of the back side neck.

Sometimes our pets will get fleas and ticks. If this happens, I recommend Zodiac Shampoo. Follow instructions and also clean areas your pet spends lots of time like dog beds and blankets. Don’t forget to also buy a flea comb. If problem persists and dog’s behavior changes or eating habits you should bring it to a vet.

Help take care of our fury friends!