Best Pet Supplies

Checking and cleaning your dog’s or cat’s ears is very important to their overall health.  Prevention of ear wax buildup and mites in their ears can mean the difference between a very happy healthy pet or expensive trips to the vet.

When checking your dog or cat’s ears, make sure they are calm and in a quiet environment.  Most pets don’t like their ears messed with.  Look for wax buildup, any kind of discharge, and a brownish substance which may indicate your pet has ear mites.

There are several good products that can be used safely on your pet’s ears whether you have a cat or dog (or both).  Powders are great for keeping your pet’s ears dry which will inhibite the growth of bacteria and will keep mites out of the ear.  Liquid cleaners will remove excess ear wax and dirt.  Combined they will help you keep your pet’s ears clean and healthy.  You can find a large selection of ear care products at First Rate Pets that will help you maintain the health of your pet.

Be sure to check out our blog Friday as I will publish a more in depth article on how to clean your dog or cats ears using the helpful ear products available.

Thanksgiving is only a couple of weeks away and soon your house will be full of tempting wonderful smells of pies baking, turkey roasting and lots of other aromas that tempt not only you, but your pet, too!  People usually give in to that sad puppy face or the persistant cat but it can be dangerous for your pet if you give them certain foods.  Giving them a bite or two of cooked turkey won’t hurt them, but please don’t give them turkey bones or raw turkey.  They are very bad for them.  Stuffing with sage and/or onion  is also very bad for pets as it can cause stomache upset and affect their central nervous system and cats are especially sensitive to alot of the ingredients in stuffing.  In order to keep your pets happy and safe this Thanksgiving, why not spoil your dogs with rawhide treats made especially with them in mind or kitty treats that you can make quickly and easily!  You can find recipes and great dog treats at First Rate Pets and keep your peace of mind in knowing you aren’t putting your pets at risk this Thanksgiving and you and your guests can give them a “guilt-free treat” that they will love!

While short haired dogs will only require a quick brush now and then, long haired dogs require regular attention when it comes to grooming.  Dogs not groomed regularly can develop serious skin problems, particularly due to matting of their fur.  Mats can pull against the skin causing irritation, and also cause infections if left alone for some time.  To prevent matting, you will need to groom your dog about twice a month.  Using a dog grooming kit is advised, as this will give you all the necessary tools to prevent matting and remove existing mats. 

To remove mats, you should first cut out the mat with scissors, and then gently loosen the fur with a rake or brush to prevent further matting.

With Christmas time approaching, most people have their hands full figuring out what to buy (and what they want!) for everyone on their shopping list.  Though people come first, it’s nice to remember your beloved cat at Christmas time too.  Here are a few fun ideas for small presents or stocking stuffers for kitties.

~Remote Control Mouse; these are fun for people to drive, and for cats and even dogs to chase around the house. 

~Catnip; the classic hyperactive drug for all cats… fun for any occasion. 

~Ropes and Danglers; these fun toys often have a feather or a mouse attached to them, and are great for slinking along the ground to have your cat give chase.

Halloween is over and now it’s time to concentrate on the upcoming holidays!

Shopping for and finding the perfect gifts for your loved ones can be fun but it can also be a hassle fighting the traffic and the crowded stores and sometimes rude and unhelpful store employees!  I have two dogs and a cat and when I shop for them and the other pet owners in my life, I can never find exactly what I’m looking for at regular retail stores or pet stores so I usually end up settling for something I really didn’t want and paying too much for it!

Well, not this year!  I found the perfect place to find lots of Christmas gifts for my dogs and cat and for my friends and relatives who also love pets! They also have Christmas decorations, stockings, ornaments, and the cutest Christmas dog sweaters I’ve ever seen!   I can shop online at my convenience worry free and I don’t have to fight the crowds! My order is delivered fast right to my door, so all I have to do is wrap or decorate which are two most favorite things, anyway!

Check First Rate Pets out and you’ll be amazed at all of the great pet supplies they have for Christmas and any time of the year!

Cold weather is here and most of us have already had to turn the heater on and get our winter coats out of our closets.

Pet owners need to think about their pets when they go outside in the cold weather, too!  It’s so important to make sure our pets are just as warm and cozy as we are and there are so many different styles, colors, and sizes of jackets, sweaters,  and coats for your dog, there’s just no reason why we shouldn’t consider getting them a warm comfortable coat for them, too.

Whether you have a very little dog or a big dog or in between, you can find affordable dog coats and jackets and sweaters to fit any dog’s life style from classy to rugged outdoors type at First Rate Pets!  Be sure to check them out and I’m sure you’ll find the one that is just perfect for your dog!

If you have hardwood floors you’re looking to salvage, cutting your dog’s nails can be a big priority in your life. But it isn’t always an easy proposition. Dogs like to howl and wiggle their way out of the process, so it is important to follow some of the following tips to make the endeavor a bit easier (on everyone involved).

-Start young. If your dog is used to the process from puppyhood, he is likely to put up with some nail clipping with minimal complaint.

-Use the proper equipment. Dog nail clippers are not the place to scrimp in your budget. Invest in a quality pair of clippers that will cut quickly and cleanly.

-Be conservative. Don’t cut too much. This is the most important rule! If you hit the “quick,” it will cause your dog a lot of pain. Cutting a little bit at a time more often is a far better plan than cutting a bunch at once and risking that painful snip.

Safety should always be the number one concern of any pet owner, and this includes making sure everything a pet consumes is healthy and safe. For that reason, many owners spend a lot of time and energy picking out just the right pet food to match the age, type, and taste of their pets. But some people overlook the fact that the dishes themselves need to be cleaned regularly and thoroughly. After all, you wouldn’t eat off a dirty plate yourself, so why should your dog?

With that in mind, remember to wash your dog dish after every use. Remaining food can breed harmful bacteria that can only be killed with hot water and soap. Make sure to thoroughly rinse the dish after washing, however, as leftover soap residue will make your pet averse to eating. Of course, use a gentle, nontoxic soap. And don’t neglect the water dish either. Make sure the water is refilled every day and the dish itself is washed at least weekly.

Dogs just naturally love to chew, especially on plush toys.  Although plush toys are great for smaller dogs or dogs that don’t chew alot, bigger dogs will literaly chew all of the stuffing out of plush toys and it ends up making a big mess for you!

Now there are plush toys that dogs just love to chew on, but there is no stuffing in them to make that big fluffy mess!  These plush dog toys are great for all dogs and will give them something soft to chew on and play with without making a mess for you.  I highly recommend them for any size dog that just loves to chew alot.  Check out all of the great dog toys at First Rate Pets  and I’m sure you’ll find the perfect one for your dog!

Many people believe that since dogs have fur, they don’t get cold.  This is not true!  Especially for short haired dogs, dogs that have had their fur cut short, or for dogs who are young or older.  Sweaters are a necessity for taking your dog of any age out for walks in chilly weather or when he or she needs to go out for just a little while.  Dogs don’t have hair on their bellies, either, and that also makes them susceptable to the winter elements.  With so many styles of sweaters and the big variety of heavy and light sweaters, it makes it easy to find just the right kind of sweater your dog needs to keep him or her warm!  Youll be amazed at the many styles of sweaters and cold weather apparel for your dog at First Rate Pets and they are so affordable you’ll want to get more than one!