Safeguard Your Furry Friend From The Ingestion Of Foreign Objects

Many pet owners have an especially curious dog or cat that will try to eat anything that's left out in the open. This can be a scary prospect for pet parents, as this can lead to thousands of dollars in veterinary costs and potential discomfort for your furry friend. According to CatChannel.com, Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. policyholders spent almost $5.2 million at the vet's office from January to November of this year treating their pets after they've ingested everything from cell phone cases to dental floss to a wedding ring!

The insurance company estimates that owners spent on average nearly $1,472 for surgery to remove these items from a pet's stomach, and even more if it made its way to the intestine. Luckily, you can prevent your pet from eating some of these household objects with a combination of animal wellness techniques and behavioral training.

First and foremost, eating foreign objects can be traced to sheer boredom as well as a lack of proper nutrition. If you own a pet, be sure to play with him at least a half hour a day to help him break out of the doldrums of being inside all day. Additionally, consider looking into a pet food that offers well-rounded nutrition. If your pet isn't receiving the right amount of nutrients in his diet, he will be more inclined to sample some of the random objects around your home. Look for products that use natural ingredients - they may cost a bit more, but they will ensure that your four-legged friend's needs are met.

Another tip is to invest in a few more pet toys for your companion and make a concerted effort to hide some of the small objects that may be lying around. For instance, give your cat a new scratching post or give your dog a new uncooked bone to munch on. This will help to give them something to do during the day when you're off at work, and they'll be less inclined to eat objects that are lying around.

Finally, it's important to train yourself to keep a close eye on your pet. Be mindful of the signs that your pet is interested in a certain object and make sure to hide it as soon as possible. With a little behavior modification, you and your pet can avoid an embarrassing trip to the vet's office!

Hartz Flea Control offers pet parents many solutions to protect their pets and their homes from fleas. Hartz Flea Control provides comprehensive products to help you get rid of fleas. From flea drops to flea treatments for the home and yard, Hartz has the solution for you.

Top 3 Tips To Become A Green Dog Owner

Sustainability is a huge concern for many individuals around the country, and dog owners in particular have a number of lifestyle changes they can practice that will improve dog wellness and reduce their carbon footprints. If you've been concerned about your canine's impact on the environment, there are many ways that you can help improve your environment and take tons of needless trash out of the waste stream, according to PetSide.com. With New Year's on the horizon, use the following tips to fulfill your resolution of becoming a sustainable dog owner.

1. Use biodegradable waste bags. The doggy waste problem in public places has become a huge problem, and municipalities are doing more than ever to encourage pet parents to do their part to reduce a potential health hazard. A solid investment that can help to remove tons of potential waste each year is to use a biodegradable waste bag. While many owners simply use a plastic bag to pick up their pooch's business, this will stay in a landfill for years. A biodegradable bag will help you do your part to clean up your community, while limiting your environmental impact.

2. Buy food in bulk. You can save money and reduce the amount of packaging that ends up in a local landfill by buying your canine's food in bulk. If you're worried about the freshness of your companion's food, consider putting it inside of a resealable plastic bin. When you're done with your dog's bag of food, don't throw it in the trash can, put it in the recycling bin! Since most communities now embrace single-stream recycling, you can probably include this bag with your regular recyclables to remove unneeded trash from your local landfills.

3. Durable toys. You probably don't think twice when you bring home a new toy for your pooch and he rips it to shreds in a few days, but this is inevitably going to end up in the trash can as well! When you buy toys, consider investing in uncooked bones or rawhide chews that can last a lot longer.

These eco-friendly tips can help to foster animal wellness in your home and give you peace of mind that your furry friend is making a minimal impact on the environment.

For more information on Hartz Flea Control products for cats and dogs, logon to http://hartzfleacontroltreatment.wordpress.com/

Northeastern Pet Groomers Seeing Continual Flea Problems Among Clients

December in Maine is traditionally one of the coldest months of the year, but the balmy weather this year has posed a significant problem to dog and cat owners alike. In Bethel, Maine, dog groomers and veterinarians have been experiencing a rash of flea infestations and they are encouraging pet parents to keep up with their monthly flea treatments throughout the winter to avoid parasite problems down the road, according to The Bethel Citizen.

Dog groomer Lauretta Varo who works at the Doggy and Kitty Salon in Bethel, Maine, has experienced plenty of problems early in the season ranging from flea infestations to tick issues.

"Fleas have been out of control, even with dogs who have been treated," Varo told the news source. "Normally fleas are gone from dogs by now."

While groomers recommend topical drops as a means of eliminating these pesky insects, a whole home solution is needed to fully protect your dog from the risk of an infestation. After all, the mild weather has allowed these bugs to hang around much longer than usual, and there's an increased risk that they could come indoors. If you're going to be spending a good amount of time in the great outdoors, give your furry friend a bath with flea shampoo such as Hartz UltraGuard Plus Flea and Tick Dog Shampoo. This is the ideal way to mitigate the problem at the first sight of fleas. Hartz Flea Control products will kill fleas, ticks and their larvae and keep them from coming back for up to a month. As an added bonus, the product is formulated with coconut extract which can nourish your dog's skin and coat, so you won't have to worry about harsh ingredients harming his skin.

A home flea spray is also a wise purchase for this extended flea season, and it can help to eliminate fleas in your home before it becomes a full-blown infestation. Hartz UltraGuard Flea and Tick Home Spray will kill these parasites on contact and keep them from coming back for up to seven months using an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR). This will inhibit the insect's life cycle and prevent it from reproducing and becoming a larger problem. Use it on pet beds, pillows and curtains to protect your entire home from an infestation.

This is one of the worst flea seasons in years, so make sure you and your companion are protected from the discomfort and exasperation of a potential flea problem.

Dog Groomers Can Help Spot Flea Problems Before They Spread

In the warmer parts of the United States and even in the milder areas of the country, fleas are still a huge problem. As the winter frost sets in, many of these pesky critters move indoors and are much more aggressive at this time of year. While keeping up with your flea prevention products is wise during the winter, taking a regular trip to the dog groomer can improve your dog's overall well-being, and he may be able to spot the initial signs of a flea infestation, so you can act accordingly.

Many dog groomers know the tell-tale signs of an infestation, and can spot fleas, eggs, larvae and their leftover filth as soon as they begin washing your pooch. Additionally, a groomer may also be able to notice flea bites, which can only be found at the skin level and could be a sign of a bigger problem in your household. Most professionals also have flea shampoo and other anti-flea products that will begin the process of eliminating these insects, so making an appointment is a wise choice for any pet owner during the winter.

A groomer's helpful eye could also come in handy to find any hot spots or signs of dry skin that may be apparent. This could be an indicator of allergies, poor nutrition and countless other factors that a trained eye can pick out. Simply put, grooming is a necessary factor in your canine's overall health, and it comes with its own unique benefits.

Of course, you don't want to deal with the embarrassment of bringing a flea-ridden pooch to your local groomer, so be sure to keep up with your monthly flea treatments. Hartz UltraGuard Pro Flea and Tick Drops are applied at the skin level in between your dog's shoulder blades and dispensed down the length of his back to the tail. This will kill fleas at any stage of their life cycle, as well as ticks and mosquitoes on contact for up to 30 days. This simple procedure will spare your four-legged friend and your home from the risk of a flea infestation.

Visiting your groomer can be a worthy complement to your flea care, and it could be a crucial step in spotting and eliminating fleas and their larvae before they have a chance to spread to the rest of your home.

For more information on Hartz Flea Control products for cats and dogs, logon to http://hartzfleacontroltreatment.wordpress.com/