Holiday Foods Your Pooch Should Avoid At All Costs

While Christmas may be over, you still probably have your fair share of holiday guests coming through and it can be easy to let your dog wellness preparations fall by the wayside during this time of year. After all, with friends and family coming and going, your pooch may get lost in the shuffle as you try and get dinner on the table and make sure your guests are comfortable. Worse yet, your loved ones may not know what kinds of foods are hazardous to canines, so be sure to keep your eye out for the following foods and keep them away from your pet.

1. Sugarfree gum. Many of today's most popular brands of sugarfree gum contain an artificial sweetener called xylitol, which can be poisonous if ingested in large amounts, according to PetEducation.com. It may cause a marked drop in blood sugar which can lead to vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy. While your friends and family probably won't be feeding your pooch sticks of gum, be sure to ask guests politely to close up their belongings and keep these sorts of products out of reach of your canine.

2. Cooked bones. While it may seem tempting to throw the leftover ham bone from your holiday dinner to the dog, this could cause a rash of health problems and may have to be removed surgically. A cooked bone has the chance of splintering during digestion, which can cause blockage or puncture his intestinal lining. Educate your guests about proper bone etiquette and encourage them to throw them away after eating. A good idea is to give your companion an uncooked bone before dinner so he'll have something to chew on and won't be inclined to beg for scraps.

3. Macadamia nuts. If you've whipped up a batch of delectable cooking, be absolutely sure that your pooch doesn't eat some of the leftover macadamia nuts. These nuts are known to cause muscle and central nervous system problems if ingested in large numbers, so be sure to keep them out of reach of your canine.

You have enough things to worry about during the holiday season, and a sick dog shouldn't be one of them! By educating yourself and your family with these simple pet care tips, you can ensure that your four-legged friend makes it through the holiday season without incident.

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Ticks Becoming An Increasing Problem In Northern States As Populations Continue To Thrive

While many dog owners are preparing for the winter weather and taking seasonal precautions, many of the bugs that you safeguard your dog against during the fall are hanging around much longer. Ticks have become an increasing problem for northern states which have experienced a rash of warm weather that has allowed the pets to linger. According to the Nashua Telegraph, there are a number of factors that play into the rise in fleas, further illustrating the need to use flea and tick products to prevent the spread of these parasites and the diseases they may carry.

In northern states, many of the animals that carry ticks, such as deer, moose, rodents and other fauna, have lost many of their natural predators. With the rising populations of these animals, it has lead to an increase in carriers for these insects, which allows them to disperse over a wider area. Of course, the warm weather has also contributed to the rise in tick populations, as the lack of cold weather that would normally eliminate their ranks has been hard to come by throughout much of the autumn.

With this in mind, fall is no time to fall behind on your tick prevention methods, and using topical drops is a fabulous way to provide a full spectrum of protection. Hartz UltraGuard Pro Flea and Tick Drops are the ideal choice that is placed at the skin level between your canine's shoulder blades and down the length of his back to the tail. This will kill fleas and ticks on contact for up to 30 days and is a quick and easy monthly regimen that can give you peace of mind during any season.

Treating your yard against ticks is also a wise option during a wet and mild autumn. Hartz UltraGuard Yard and Kennel Spray attaches directly to your hose to treat the areas where ticks flourish, as well as the outdoor spaces where your pet spends the majority of his time. These simple regimens can be valuable tools in preventing the spread of fleas and ticks and improving your companion's overall well-being.

Dog-Proofing Your House For The Arrival Of Valentine's Day

After New Year's Day, the next biggest holiday on the calendar is Valentine's Day, which is quite possibly the most dangerous time of the year for dog owners. With the copious amounts of chocolates, decorations and other small items that are strewn about your home during this time of year, your canine could get curious and decide to investigate. Since many of these materials can cause a range of health problems, it's best that you take a few dog wellness preventative steps to eliminate any risk that can be cause by objects that are left out. Keep the following tips in mind to protect your pooch when Valentine's Day rolls around.

2. Store chocolate in a safe place. Chocolates are a common sight around Valentine's Day, and ingesting even a few of these tasty treats can cause severe digestive pain and side effects and can even lead to nervous system damage, according to PetEducation.com. If you receive candy or if you're planning on giving it to a loved one, be sure to keep it in a high cabinet or anywhere outside the prying eyes of your canine.

2. Be mindful of sugar-free sweets. Even if you're going the healthy route for the holiday, foods with artificial sweeteners could be even worse for your canine. Xylitol is an sweetener that is found in many gums and candies, and it could cause your dog's blood sugar to drop drastically as well as cause myriad digestive symptoms. In high enough doses, it can even cause liver failure, so these items should never be left out where your companion can get to them.

3. Glue and paper products. If you're going to be making some homemade Valentine's cards for your friends and family, be sure to clean up everything afterwards to ensure that nothing is potentially ingested by your furry friend. Dogs won't think twice about chowing down on a piece of construction paper or chewing on a glue stick, so be sure to thoroughly clean up and give him an uncooked bone to work on while you're making holiday preparations.

Valentine's Day should be a time of spending time with your significant other, not worrying about your dog. Taking these steps will ensure that your pooch is happy and healthy throughout the holiday.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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