It is heart breaking to lose a pet. Most people say it’s like losing a close family member or a best friend.  Coping with the grief is not easy,  but there are many ways to ease the pain.

First you need to accept that not everyone understand the bond between a pet and their parent. You have the right to grief, to feel pain, to cry, to miss your pet. It’s totally normal to go through these emotions and it helps to handle the loss. Sharing memories can be very helpful for some, while other  prefer writing a poem in the memory of their beloved dog or cat.

You can talk with friends, family members or you can search the internet for pet loss support group, where all members feel and understand what you are going through. Sharing brings relief and helps with the healing process. One site that i found is petloss.com where you can chat, read articles, light a memory candle and do a lot more.

Another wonderful option is building an online page in memory of your beloved pet. You’ll find websites on the internet that will offer you this option without any charge. Post photos, share your pet’s story and how wonderful he or she were.

Some people cremate their pets and keep cremation in urn. Some keep them close to their heart in a memorial locket  where they can add photos, cremation,  hair lock or even a tooth. Many choose to place an engraved memorial stone in the yard or keep a framed photo in the house.

Don’t let your emotions rule you, find a way to assist you heal.

Although none of the Taste of the Wild products have tested positive for Salmonella, the company is issuing the recall as a precaution.

How can I tell if my product is affected?
If your production code has a “2” or “3” in the 9th position AND an “X” in the 10th or 11th position, your product is affected by the recall. The best-before dates for the recalled brands listed above are December 9, 2012 through April 7, 2013. The following graphic illustrates how to read the production code and best-before date:

What do I do if my product is affected by the recall?
Pet owners who are unsure if the product they purchased is included in the recall, or who would like replacement product or a refund, may contact Diamond Pet Foods via a toll free call at 1-866-918-8756, Monday through Sunday, 8 am – 6pm EST. Consumers may also go to www.diamondpetrecall.com for more information. The company is working with distributors and retailers to ensure all affected product is removed from shelves.

Are all of the products contaminated with Salmonella?
No. Only 4 bags of food have tested positive for Salmonella out of nearly 6 million bags produced during the recall time period. Out of an abundance of caution, Diamond Pet Food voluntarily recalled a broad amount of product to be sure their customers and pets are safe. Only samples of the following three products manufactured by Diamond in Gaston, South Carolina, between December 9, 2011 and April 7, 2012 have tested positive for Salmonella:

- Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice dry dog food
- Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula dry dog food
- Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food

The company has voluntarily recalled all formulas of the following brands of food manufactured at its Gaston, South Carolina, plant during this same timeframe. With the exception of the formulas listed above, none of these foods have tested positive for Salmonella, but the company is taking this broad action as a precautionary measure.

More Information
Diamond Pet Food has set up a special website at www.diamondpetrecall.com which provides updates, press releases, questions and answers and safety tips.

If your dog food is safe, why not using safe food bowls for healthy posture

the UK too)

The German shepherd dog in second place, as it was on 2010, but the Yorkshire Terrier knocked  from 3rd to 5th place, by the Beagle – now on 3rd place from 4th on 20102, and the Golden  Retriever on place 4 moved up from the 5th place.

Ranked 6 is the Bulldog,

7 Boxer

8 Poodle

9 Dachshund

10 Rottweiler.

The Shin Tzu was ranking 10 but not anymore, the new comer is the Rottweiler.

Read the do and don’t for your dog safety in the coming summer.

Some good ideas to keep them cool happy and healthy

Fashion is no longer humans only trend.  The colors and prints that are in for the ladies are going to the dogs too.  Some time from just looking on an image you can’t really guess that this cute or luxury dress is actually a doggie dress.  Materials used are faux fur, cotton, lace, velour with wild, skulls, flowers and other prints and genuine Swarovski crystals. Pink is still the preferred color with light blue somewhat behind.

Here are just some of the new collection from 3 different designers.

The latest and cutest (my opinion only) is the frill dresses with hat.  It reminds me the  moviesfrom the 40-50′s when any dress came with a matching had. How elegant all the ladies looked!!  Soft colors with attention to details. Great for sunny days to keep doggie head in hat shade. The good thing is that they come in 8 sizes to fit any breed and body shape. It is easy to imagine doggie walking near owner  and hearing “SHE IS SO CUTE” DHA….:) ( $34 )

The spaghetti strap dog dresses come in variety of colors and shapes and are great for hot days with the light material they have been created from. ($32) More colors and prints available on our boutique

Summer colors adding joy and so are flowers. Daisy flowers on this  pink gingham doggie dress with White lace and hand crocheted Yellow and White daisies on bottom ($42).
Daisy hair barrette ($15.50).

And if we are talking flowers what can be more feminine then  PINK ROSES. Dresses and hair barrettes Soft Pink rosebuds, lace trim and pearl buttons ($44). Barrette ($15.90) matches other rose dresses too.

These dresses are only some of the new spring and summer collection. More new coming soon. Check all dresses here and all hair bows / barrettes

The hot weather is almost here and the fight with the fleas and ticks starts all over again. During winter ticks are in a wait mode for spring, when temperature rise they attracted to the dogs body heat and survive on his blood.  One female tick can have about 6000 eggs.

Before treating your dog you can do some cleaning in your yard and reduce the chance for the parasite from stick to your pet. They love dense and tall grass and low overhanging vegetation, so keep the grass short and create a barrier between the lawn and the surrounding vegetation.

There are few tick types but the biggest concern is the deer tick that is responsible for transmitting Lyme disease to people.  Most ticks are so small that we can not see them. A bite can cause muscle weakness or even paralysis. Lyme disease symptoms are swelling and pain around the bitten area, fever, lack of energy and loss of appetite.  Other ticks can present reddening of the eyes, fever and headaches in humans as with dogs.

In order to remove a tick you’ll need fine-tipped tweezers so you can remove it without squeezing and letting the bacteria he carries to leave the tick and enter your pet’s bloodstream. Grab it in his head and pull outward with steady hand (do not twist).  Kill it with alcohol!! Wash your hands thoroughly to prevent any possible infection.

Preventing ticks on your dog starts with keeping him groomed, that way you can see bite or tick and  chances for ticks to be on your dog are much less. Brush and examine your dog daily for ticks.  Common areas ticks love are near the eyes, nose or (inside and outside the ears but they can be found just about anywhere on your dog’s body.

Fleas and my dog

The fleas prefer temperatures of 65-80 degrees and humidity levels of 75-85 percent. In some areas in the country the condition is perfect not only during summer but all year round. In other climates treatment should begin in early spring before the flea season starts.

Flea infestation occurs through contact with other animals or contact with fleas in the outside.

Flea’s bites usually cause itching. For sensitive and allergic animal, itching can be quite severe and leads to hair-loss, inflammation and skin infections. Some hypersensitive pets to the flea’s saliva will have severe reaction and will itch all over even from a single flea bite.

Fleas need warm-blooded animal or human to host them. Female flea lives for a few weeks. While on a dog or cat she will suck the animal’s blood few times and lay about eggs every day. She may lay several hundred eggs over her life span. These eggs fall off of the wherever he spends time – In the yard, at home on the carpets, beds, clothing and so on. The eggs will go several stages to its life and will wait until the optimal condition reached to jump on a warm-blooded host.

Understanding the above is important for fully controlling and treating both the animal and the indoor and outdoor. Sprinkling flea powder on your pet, vacuuming the home, or placing a flea collar on your pet will not work. You need to treat the inside, outside and all animals at home, all at once in order to get rid of the fleas.

Getting rid of the parasites

In the market we find lot of products but there is a controversial regarding safety and effectiveness.

Holistic way to help prevent ticks and fleas are giving them yeast and garlic chewable pills. When it’s in their bloodstream it distances the parasites.  In addition there are natural sprays, shampoos, and relief for dog and for the home and yard that are safe for dogs and humans that fight ticks, fleas and flea’s eggs. The main ingredients in these products are Peppermint Oil and Clove Extract.  Spray the crate and home and yard. Remember that it is important to treat the in and out the house as well as all the pets. It is recommended to check with your vet before starting a treatment.

While browsing the internet for a good pet food store especially for my older dog – Tong  and Tara my 19 years young cat,  i came across Mr. Chewy an online pet food and supply retailer.I was impressed with the variety they have.  The clear description, ingredients and reviews from other pet owners  allowed me to make a good and easy decision. Mr.Chewy has an entire selection of food & treats perfect for senior dogs. I found this by simply entering “senior” into the search field on their homepage. In addition, they ship anywhere in the continental US and provide free shipping for order over $49. With over 80 brands to choose from, it was difficult to turn them down.

I ordered dry food for my cats and dogs, no shipping charge (the total was $51.96 for 4 bags) and it arrived promptly at my door within 3 days. The grain free dry food did not last long in their pet bowls,   they LOVED the food, i loved the selection and service.

I ordered

You need to have enough patience, don’t rush things and don’t get frustrated.

So… first thing is to  place the pet carrier in the living area, where the cat can find it. Leave the entrance open, and let her check the new object. Put in little treats that she likes, catnip toy and soft pillow. Cats, from their nature are very curious animals, and it works for your favor. Leave it for a week or so, and from time to time put in another treat.

I am sure you’ll find her getting in and out, smelling, looking for her treat, and even snoozing inside.

When she is comfortable enough it’s time for the next step. If you find her inside the carrier, close the window for a few minutes and leave the room.  Come back and open it. Do it few times a day for few days. If she is ok with staying in it’s time to go one step forward. Start carrying  her, while in carrier, around the house,  increase the time and go around the blog. It all depends on how stress free and comfortable she is.

Last place to introduce her to is your car. Again, with treat or two in her pet carrier, put her in your car and drive around.

The importance of this training is to let kitty understand that the pet carrier or pet crate is not a trap, but a cozy place. That going into it does not mean she’s only visiting the vet, but there are other places too. So use it for other occasions too.

Leave  her carrier always open in sight, make it one of her “furniture” and from time to time put in the treats.

That’s it. You and kitty are ready now without frustration and stress.

GOOD JOB!!!

Ok.  So before you buy the Hot Pink pet carrier, here are a few points to consider:

* Is it for a dog or a cat

* Is it for short visits to the vet or for long trips

* Is the carrier is for air-line travel

* What are my pet measurements, and how should i measure him.

* Am i a designer person or i do not care

There are no CAT CARRIERS only PET CARRIERS. You can browse all pet carriers for your cat,  just don’t fall in love with the big sizes. If you have a small dog and a cat, you can use the same bag for both. that way you can save some money.

The first difference between dog and cat carriers is the open top option and the entry opening. Cats obviously won’t be  satisfied with just peeking out to the world. Good chanced are he’ll jump out to tour the world, with you running after him, calling his name, crying and oops,,,he’s no longer in eyesight. So rule # one – cats need closed carrier.

Have you tried lately putting your cat into his carrier?  If you did, then you know how frustrating it can be, not to mention the scratches on your hands. Now imagine a tiny opening, frightened cat and scheduled  vet appointment in the next 10 minutes, Hmm..well, rule # two – a  wide enough opening is a must. Big enough for your hand to grab kitty and insert her in.

Please, please measure kitty before ordering. Measure height, length (don’t forget to add the head and add few inches for the tail) and width. Rule # three – not all cats created equal, some cats are small and skinny, others big and fat. Be sure to choose a size where kitty feels conformable to lie, turn, and if it’s a long trip – sitting and standing would be greatly appreciated by any cat. Soft cushion is a plus.

With long travels it would be wise to have water and some food inside the carrier, and you’ll have to think about litter too.

Cats are very curious creatures, so when it comes to my cats, i am always looking for a carrier with nice big mesh windows, to let then explore the world while in bag. Rule # four -large window makes cats less stressed and less vocal.

From the big selection of pet carriers you’re sure to find the one that fits your cat and your taste.

Now that you know what type of cat carrier you need, it’s only the beginning of the journey. Next post i’ll give few tips on how to get the cat into the carrier without a struggle… Meow