The Best Year-Around Pet Care Tips

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Personalizing Spaces

Pets enjoy a comfy home just like we do!  It’s a great idea to personalize your home space taking their interest in mind too so that they actually feel loved and at home. How to personalize your pets home might provide some interesting ideas.

Prepare Well For Travel

Traveling seems such a task during summers. I am sure when traveling with pets it becomes all the more bothersome for oneself and dear animals. How to Move with your Pet might provide some precious insights and give you some invaluable tips to follow during long trips and journeys.

Happy pets translate into happy us, for don’t they follow the same rule. There is nothing more satisfying than a happy and cheerful pet. Do share your thoughts on our Best Summer Pet Care Tips Roundup post.

Looking for more Pet Care Tips on Stagetecture? Take a look through our pet archives.

Homemade Dog Treat Recipe

Image via: Food 52

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Total time: 30 minutes preparation + 30 minutes cooking

Yields: 4 dozens

Ingredients

1 cup rolled oats

1/3 cup margarine

1 cup boiling water

¾ cup cornmeal

2 teaspoons white sugar

2 teaspoons beef bouillon granules

½ cup milk

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1 beaten egg

3 cups whole wheat flour

Procedure

Image via: Me and the Mountains

1. Preheat oven to 165 degrees Celsius (325 degrees F). In a large bowl, mix rolled oats, margarine, and boiling water. Let it stand for 10 minutes. Properly grease cookie sheets.
2. Thoroughly stir in cornmeal, bouillon granules, sugar, milk, Cheddar cheese, and egg. Add in flour (1 cup at a time), until a stiff dough has formed.
3. On a lightly floured surface, knead dough; mix in additional flour if necessary until the dough is smooth and no longer sticky. Pat or roll out the dough to ½ inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutter such as a bone shape, and place 1 inch apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.
4. In a pre heated oven bake 35 to 45 minutes until golden brown. Cool before serving. Store in a loosely covered container.

Baking homemade dog treats is a fun way to show that your care for your pet. Follow this simple recipe and be sure about what your furry friend is eating. Do you like making treats for your pets at home? Or do you prefer store bought food?

Fall Pet Care Tips

Make Them Active

The harsh summer heat can prevent many pets from enjoying the outdoors. If your pet spent a lot of time indoors, it is important to ensure he gets some exercise before winter rolls around. Take him out for a run, visit the local park together, or toss a Frisbee. Increased exercise helps prevent injury. Autumn is also a good time to resume training. Go through the essential commands to ensure your pet hasn’t gotten rusty during summer.

Image via: Funny Cute Pics

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Prevent Allergies

You aren’t the only one who suffers from fall allergies. Your pet is also prone to allergies. If you notice that he is itching more than usual, take him to the vet who will tell you if he’s having an allergic reaction. Cut grass and rake leaves regularly as they can irritate your pet’s skin.

Image via: Barnorama

Feed Your Pet More as Needed

As it gets colder, pets need more energy to stay warm. Food generates body heat. During fall and winter, feed your pet more food to ensure he doesn’t get cold. But also make sure he gets enough exercise so he doesn’t become overweight. You should also provide clean, fresh water for him.

Keep Him away From Pests and Snakes

During fall, some snakes prepare for hibernation. They can be very grumpy and bite any pets they come across. Learn about the snakes in your region and know where they are likely to be found so you can keep your pets from those areas. Fall months are also popular for pests like ticks and fleas. Each time your pet comes indoors, check him to ensure he isn’t carrying any undesirable guests.

Image via: My Pet Source

As the weather becomes colder and foliage begins to change, your pet should begin transitioning with the changing season. Use these pet care tips to ensure your pet is not affected by the cold season. Afterwards, you can enjoy the weather with him.

Which tip would you add to this list?

Pet Care: Traveling Safe With your Pet this Season

Image Via: Date My Pet

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First Things First

Now that you own a pet, he or she is just like your child, no different. So in case your pet isn’t well, most likely you will have to cancel your trip, just like you would if your child was sick. Traveling is an absolute no for pregnant, sick or injured animals. There might be a case when your pet isn’t well  and the trip cannot be missed either. In that case, you might have to depend on a trusted friend, neighbor or a relative, who you know is an animal lover. It is here that the training of your pet will show!

Image Via: World View Partnership

Prepare Well For The Trip

When you know that your pet is all set to accompany you on the trip, there are a few things that you will need to double check. First, call up the vet and get a go ahead from him. Ask your vet if any vaccination is required before the trip. Make a list of emergency medication that you must carry for your pet. You will also need to carry along all your pet’s papers, so put that on your check list. Your vet might suggest inserting a microchip to keep a track on your pets movements and it is a good practice to follow.

Image Via: Central Jet Charter

Next you need to check up with your hotel staff if your pet is permitted in their premises. You will also have to do that with the airlines if you plan on taking the air route. Some airlines are very particular about the cages used for dogs, cats and birds so make sure you adhere to the rules to avoid last minute embarrassment. Pets traveling along with the cargo have a hard time, so avoid that as much as possible.

Road Travel

When traveling by road, never leave your pets in your car unattended. Temperatures rise quickly inside the car and could be fatal for your pet. Have your car’s air conditioner working fine before the trip as pets feel more heat than us. Take frequent breaks if traveling with dogs and cats, so that they can ease themselves midway. Also it’s a good idea to keep the windows up if your pets aren’t chained.

Image Via: Orvis

Keep Up The Routine

Change of place doesn’t mean that you can change your pets routine as per your whims and fancies. Adhere to their walk, food and sleep timings. Carry your pets bowls and dishes so that they have a sense of familiarity even when out of home. Most importantly stick by the instructions meant for your pets when staying in hotels or resorts.

Image Via: Pets 4 Homes

Make sure to ask your vet if he knows another good vet in the area that you will be traveling to, just in case your pet falls sick. If he doesn’t know, then checkout a few vets over the internet and have a few numbers stored in your phone. If you do love your pet, these pet care tips are something that you would follow instinctively. Do share with us, what all you take care of while traveling along with your pets. It would be good to know.

Click here for more Pet Care Ideas on Stagetecture!

Pet Care: Taking Care Of Your Older Dog

It’s Time For Diet Care

Aging dogs need a tailor made diet to meet their needs. Every dog and his needs are different. It would be a good idea to meet up with your vet and understand your dogs changing diet. Based on his assessment the vet will suggest foods, brands and quantities to meet your pets needs.

Image Via: Pet Care Facts

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Don’t Forget About Proper Exercise

This doesn’t mean you need to take your older dog on mountain hikes or long runs but it is important to understand that proper exercise for an aging pet is very important to his well being and an integral part of the pet care agenda. You should take your dog for short refreshing walks and maintain a less strenuous  playtime regime. Keeping your dog active is very important for his well-being.

Image Via: Pet Health Care

Keep Their Weight In Check

Dogs tend to become obese as they age. Obesity leads to an increased pressure on their bone joints & internal organs and might ultimately lead to irreparable damage. This is what one actually needs to avoid. A tailor-made diet chart and a befitting exercise regime will ensure that your little Fiddo is as fit as a fiddle, even in his aging years.

The Clues Lie In Their Teeth

Apart from those mentioned above, the best way to keep your dogs health fit and fine is keeping a check on their teeth. Growth of tartar on teeth can lead to severe problems and ultimately result in letting dangerous bacteria get into their bloodstream and attack internal organs. Keep your dogs teeth and gums clean and sparkling by at home cleaning regime and regular professional clean-ups.

Image Via: Pet Life

Aging dogs need much more attention from you. You need to be patient, understand their changing needs and respond accordingly. One thing that you absolutely cannot miss in this entire pet care endeavor is visiting your vet regularly. After all it is the vet who will guide you on right diet, proper exercise and health care routine for your dear pet. Take these few simple measures to ascertain that your dogs lifestyle is not compromised due to his growing age. Do write to us if you would like to make some suggestions on ‘Aging dogs Pet Care Regime’.

Click here for more Pet Care ideas on Stagetecture!

One of the common problems that affect our pets and especially dogs is dental disease. Sad to say, this issue is often overlooked. You have to remember that our pets also need proper hygiene in order to stay healthy and comfortable. With proper dental care for our dogs, you can definitely avoid discomforts that come from dental disease that your dogs can acquire.

Helping your dogs to perform dental care is a kind gesture of a responsible pet owner. It doesn’t need to be expensive nor will take a lot of your time and effort to do so. All you need are proper tools and knowledge to take care of your dogs dental concerns. Here are some of the tips to perform painless teeth cleaning for your pets:

Choose the right timing

As a pet owner, you have to know when your dogs are sleepy or just woken up from a regular nap. These are the best times when you can perform the dental cleaning procedure. Dogs are usually not aggressive and active at these times. Also, it is advisable to have it before their meal time. This way, your dogs will take it as a reward after a cleaning their teeth.

Use the right tools and solutions

This is very important to effectively clean your dog’s teeth with hurting their gums or any part of their mouth. Make sure to have a toothpaste that is made for dogs. Be aware that human toothpaste has a high level of fluoride that is not good for dogs. Also, use a toothbrush designed for dogs to prevent damage of their gum tissues.

Ask for veterinarian’s advise

This is probably the most important thing to do first. Consulting your veterinarian will help you choose the right tool and other essentials for your dogs. These experts can also assess the dental health of your dogs, hence, giving you the best method to address the problem.

Studies show that keeping your dog’s teeth clean and healthy can increase their lives from 3 to five years. Well, that’s a great reward for a simple effort!

Image sources: 1, 2

For more home wellness for your pet, click here.

I have this love for anything well designed. It can be for your home, your car, office, and yes even for your pets. Today I ran across this beautifully designed Dog Pod from Vurv Design. Made from maple veneer, any small pet would enjoy sitting in this one of a kind piece of art.

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‘This piece is more of a recliner than a pet bed, It’s like an Eames chair for your best friend.  This day bed looks great in any living room.  Not only does it look cool, dogs like the sense of security from this this cosy little niche.  Bent ply with a choice of 5 veneers. Removable, washable, and ultimately replaceable pad. Suitable for small dogs.’.. Vurv Design

Priced at $598.00 your small pet’s bed will blend seamlessly with the rest of your modern decor!

For more pet ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

I always marvel at how many people love dressing their pets up for Halloween, after all they are part of the family too! Enjoy this Halloween post from last year showing great ideas for your furry friends.

Halloween Pet Costume Ideas

Image via: Halloween Pet Costumes

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Original Entry #312, October 26, 2010

For the last few weeks Stagetecture has shown you Halloween ideas for:

• Children’s Halloween Costumes & Home Decor
• Ways to Save Money on Halloween Candy
• Guest Blogger: Safe Halloween Walkway Lighting
• DIY Saturday – Decorating your Haunted Mansion on a Budget

So what else is missing? Your pets of course! Today’s pet inspiration photographs come from Martha Stewart’s – 2010 Halloween Pets Photo Contest. Check her site to see all 55, here are my favorites below. Who said Halloween is only for the kids?

For more Halloween costume inspiration visit here!

For the last few weeks Stagetecture has shown you Halloween ideas for:

• Children’s Halloween Costumes & Home Decor
• Ways to Save Money on Halloween Candy
• Guest Blogger: Safe Halloween Walkway Lighting
• DIY Saturday – Decorating your Haunted Mansion on a Budget

So what else is missing? Your pets of course! Today’s pet inspiration photographs come from Martha Stewart’s – 2010 Halloween Pets Photo Contest.  Check her site to see all 55, here are my favorites below. Who said Halloween is only for the kids?

For more Halloween costume inspiration visit here!

When most people move to another home, the number one concern is the family and how they’ll adjust to the new home. What about your furry family members who have to make the move too?

When we moved on Christmas Eve last year, the worst thing happened when we had to hand our house over to the Realtor – I couldn’t find

our cat, Meow Meow. (Cute name, yes?) The house was completely clear of all furniture, boxes, everything, and I looked in every cabinet and closet, and Meow Meow was nowhere to be found.  Fortunately, the Realtor said I could keep the key and come back later that night, to look for her again.  Christmas Eve night, we returned back to the home, and Meow Meow was at the front door, ready to go!

In hindsight, we should have moved her before all the moving people, the loud hammering, and everything else associated with moving out on the last day.

Apartment Therapy has a wonderful article on keeping your pets happy during a move.  I should have read this article 5 months ago!

I included some of the comments from their reader’s too, to show you how many great ideas you need to think about when moving with your pet.

We didn’t move far (just to a new unit in our same condo association), so lots of things about her life stayed the same, but our new space is very different in layout and scale – the ceiling height is much higher – and all of us (humans included) felt the effects of the general pandemonium that is part and parcel of packing, moving and unpacking on the other end.

She’s been a trooper, but we’ve noticed a few things: she is barking a bit more when she hears passersby, she’s eating a bit less and she’s essentially been stuck to us like glue at all times. All understandable, and all getting closer to “back to normal” each day.

To help out in the process of her getting back to her relaxed self, we did a few very basic things to make her feel at home as quickly as possible:

1. Her food and water bowls were unpacked and set out first thing.
2. Ditto with her bin of toys.
3. We walked her a few extra times each day as we settled in to help acclimate her to the new route in and out of the building.
4. We’ve been bringing her along on any errands where dogs are welcome to reduce the amount of time alone at home.
5. We set up a favorite “naughty” spot for her to claim right away – she LOVED hopping in and sitting in the knitting basket shown in the top photo whenever it was left on the floor in our old place, which was a bit of a no-no. So, to help make her happy in this new home, we put a cushy towel inside and left it out in a prominent spot for her to claim, which has worked out really well. It’s quickly become her spot in a new and unfamiliar space.

Please share any tips you have for keeping pets happy during a move with us in the comments below – both Beatrix and I thank you!

Reader’s comments:

1.) I recommend having at least one room clear of boxes/moving debris for pups to just hang out in, best if it is the room they sleep in. They really hate the disorder of unpacking and maneuvering through the mess.