PetLvr.com - [The Blog]

We’ve talked about keeping a pet’s coat healthy at home, but let’s face it: Some breeds’ grooming needs just can’t be realistically met by most owners. For example, Poodles of all sizes need regular grooming to remove dead hair and trim the coat. Spaniels, terriers, and toy dogs also often require professional grooming. While an owner can learn to groom any breed at home, most pet parents don’t have the time or the desire to learn to do so. That brings us to today’s subject: Choosing a professional groomer.

The Shop

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Raw feeding is healthful, frugal when done right, and fun– but it’s also time-consuming and difficult at times. Most raw feeders know the frustration of being ten minutes late in the morning, reaching into the meat drawer for their pet’s breakfast, and coming up empty-handed. Forgetting to thaw happens to everyone who feeds raw, and it’s among the most aggravating experiences one can have! Fortunately, there are several alternatives that can replace a single raw meal for dogs and cats.

Vegetable Meals

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One of the most frequent complaints by cat owners is that the cat won’t stay off the counters dining table. Even my own kitty, Monster, has been guilty! Luckily, there are several ways to discourage cats from getting onto surfaces where they don’t belong. Let’s take a look.

Water Bottle

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Every pet owner should know by now that dogs and cats can’t have chocolate and shouldn’t eat any sort of candy. However, that doesn’t mean they have to miss out entirely on Halloween! Some fall treats are great for pets.

Pumpkin

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The first time a stray found me, I was completely unprepared for the situation. A Cocker Spaniel turned up in the courtyard outside my apartment and proceeded to evade me for nearly two hours before finally permitting himself to be captured. He snarled and snapped as I slipped a loop of leash around his neck, but as soon as he realized he’d been caught but not harmed, he turned from a growling feral into a wiggly, fearful puppy. My plan to simply capture him in order to keep him out of the road and then call Animal Control evaporated when he put his head on my knee and sighed.
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We just talked about why you should never buy a pet at a pet store, but why should you adopt instead? Well, setting aside that you’ll save a life and give a wonderful animal a second chance, thriftiness also comes into play when you choose the adoption option. There are many reasons adoption is the best financial choice. Here are a few.

Initial Cost

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This post was submitted to heighten awareness about animal shelter adoption. Adopt a pet today!

During my time as a foster home for kittens, I often got a telephone call 24 hours or less before my newest foster kittens would be delivered. I worked with a rescue that often saved kittens literally minutes before euthanasia time at crowded municipal shelters, so short notice was the status quo as a foster Mom. Having spent nearly a year on the foster list already, I didn’t think much of it when I got a phone call telling me three kittens, four and a half weeks old, were in need of placement and could be picked up the same afternoon in a particular Petsmart parking lot.

I expected the usual: A dirty, scraggly, slightly underweight batch of mewing kittens upset at being separated from Momma and stuffed into a carrier, who would gain weight and confidence within a few days of coming home with me and starting on a weaning formula mixed with dry kitten food. What I got was something I don’t think any foster pawrent is ever completely prepared for. The carrier had, as advertised, three very young kittens inside, but one was fading quickly.

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Yes, the title of this post probably has you calling, “BS!” if you’re a kibble feeder and have shopped for meat for your human family recently. However, it’s true: If you’re feeding a premium kibble, a whole prey model raw diet might be less expensive, not to mention better for your pet! When I fed kibble, I gave my dog Innova Evo Red Meat Small Bites, at a cost of nearly $2.50 per pound. With raw, I average $2.00 or less per pound and feed a diet that’s mostly red meat and game meat. Here’s how I do it:

Co-Ops and Group Buys

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I think most pet lovers, especially those who read this blog, know why it’s a bad idea to buy a cat or dog at a pet store. Even Oprah has taken up the cause of raising puppymill awareness. But did you know that if you buy a pair of rats or even fish for your aquarium at a pet store, you could be contributing to animal cruelty, unbalanced ecosystems, and the proliferation of antibiotic resistant bacteria, among other social woes?

Large pet stores acquire live animals from a variety of sources, including local mill-style breeders, huge warehouses where pets are bred, and importers who capture wild animals and sell them. All of these options are socially irresponsible and, in most cases, highly inhumane. Unfortunately, to keep up with demand, pet stores must make use of suppliers who can provide a continuous supply of large quantities of live pets. This means that more responsible means of animal breeding, like hobby breeding, aren’t compatible with pet stores’ needs — and besides, reputable, responsible hobby breeders wouldn’t dream of selling to retail stores.

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Halloween’s coming, and that means pet owners should be thinking about their pets’ safety as well as holiday fun. Treats like chocolate and caramel can be harmful or even fatal to some types of pets. In addition, excitement and activities surrounding Halloween may frighten pets or place them in harm’s way. For a safe and fun Halloween with your pets, follow these simple suggestions.

Keep Pets Safe from Candy

Put all Halloween candy on a high shelf that pets can’t access until it’s time to start handing out sweets to trick-or-treaters. When it’s time to give out candy at the door, put dogs in their crates or a safe room, and shut cats in a safe room with food and water. Caged pets should remain securely caged. This will ensure that the pets don’t snatch a treat while you’re not looking. It’ll also prevent them from dashing out the door or frightening a child.

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