Best Pet Supplies

Most people make sure they have first aid kits available at home in case a family member accidently gets cut or burned.  But how many pet owners have taken into consideration that a first aid kit is just as important for their pets?  There are many different types of pet first aid kits with the essentials needed in case your pet gets injured whether at home or while travelling.  Whether you have a dog, cat, rabbit, ferret, or bird, or any other kind of pet, it’s important to have a first aid kit ready and available just in case because you never know!  Most first aid kits have instruction cards included so you’ll know what to do before taking your pet to the vet if they have sustained a serious injury.  Show your pets how much you love them by being prepared with a first aid kit that may save their life.

Harnesses are the best choice for small dogs or puppies and for big dogs who like to tug on their leash.  Harnesses are safe for these dogs and puppies because when they pull away from their owner, there is no pressure on their necks or throats which could cause injury to the pet.  Harnesses also give better control if the pet should try to pull away and go where they aren’t supposed to. Using a harness, the owner can quickly and safely pull the pet back to them.  Harnesses also offer the security that the pet cannot pull out of the harness and run away, unlike regular collars where they can manuever their way out and run free.  Doggles has a very comfortable and adustable harness that is super durable with heavy duty stitiching and ranging in sizes from XX-Small  to X-Large and your favorite colors and you can find them at First Rate Pet Supplies at the best prices anywhere!

My friend Stacey adopted a rescue dog, the cutest little English bulldog you’ve ever seen, a few months ago. The poor thing had been found on the side of I-315 in a half rotted cardboard box. It just breaks my heart to think about. Anyway, her new four-legged friend, whom she named Sandy, is quite adorable, yet stubborn. Because Sandy was about 2 years old when she found him, he had unfortunately grown up with a few bad habits of his own.

Sandy was a shoe chewer and he loved to go dashing off into the woods whenever she’d take him to the dog park. A little frustrated and concerned for Sandy’s safety, Stacey was desperate for a way to tech her pooch how to respect her commands. She turned to her friend Molly, who owned three dogs of her own, and she lent Stacey one of her retractable dog leashes. She told Stacey it was the best way to teach her dog to respect your authority.

Most all dogs love to go for rides in the car with their owners. Car restraint harnesses made especially for dogs are not only stylish but will keep your beloved dog safe by keeping him safely in the seat and preventing him from trying to get on your lap while you are driving which is very dangerous and could cause an accident.  It also keeps him from sliding around in the vehicle if you should have to make a sudden stop or turn.  Many harnesses are made for either taking your dog for a walk and can also be used in most vehicles using the seatbelt which is very economical and smart!  You should also keep in mind that  you shouldn’t leave your pet in a vehicle during hot weather as it can get over 120 degress inside very fast which could cause heat exhaustion and even death. 

When it comes to dog toys, you can’t be too careful with those purchased for your dog.  Despite the manufacturer’s best intentions, some dog toys can be more dangerous than others.  While most people think dogs love to eat bones, it’s important to remember that most bones become quite sharp at a certain point.  Eventually the dog will eat away at the bone and it will become a small object with numerous sharp edges.  When this happens, it’s best to take the bone away to prevent the dog from swallowing it and hurting their stomach.  Instead of bones, consider a soft rubber dog toy.  While dogs might not have as much fun chewing on rubber, these dog toys are safe and are also great for catch and fetch.  Herding breeds will love soccer balls and other large balls which they can herd around in open spaces. 

Dogs do need to chew on bones now and then to strengthen their teeth and fulfill their dental needs, and there are numerous bones that will dissolve in the stomach even when swallowed.  For those times when your dog does need to chew, make sure to purchase safe bones. 

A collar and leash are the two most important things you should buy  for your dog or puppy.  The collar is most important so that if the puppy or dog should run off, people will recognize that the dog or puppy belongs to someone and tags also help to identify the dog and it’s owner.  There are all kinds of collars and leashes for every type of dog.  Buckle collars are the most popular and best for puppies and smaller dogs.  If your dog loves the water, the nylon collars are best since they are very durable and washable and come in a wide variety of colors, styles, and sizes.  Leather collars are usually the best for the bigger dog because of their durability.  Don’t forget the dressy collars!   You can find just about any dressy collar that fits your personality and that of your pet.  Harnesses are also great for very active dogs and puppies as they virtually eliminate the possibility of your pet gettting choked by tugging hard on the leash and it gives the owner better control if the dog decides to go in a direction you don’t want them to.  Harnesses also come in a wide variety of colors, styles, and sizes.  Basically, the collar is so important for many reasons and when selecting the proper size, place two fingers between the dog’s neck and the collar.  There should be no more than the width of those two fingers between the neck and collar or the collar could slip over our dog’s head.  Make sure you check the fit of your dog’s collar and check for any redness or hair loss under the collar.  You should check puppies frequently to make sure they aren’t growing out of their collar causing undue tightness around their neck.

Do you love to cook and try new recipes or do you know someone who does?  Are you or someone you know concerned about what treats are given to your dog or cat?  If you answered yes to both of these questions have I found the greatest gift!  What could be more practical and safe than to make your own treats  for your beloved friend?  Most pet treats are full of fillers and by-products that your pet defintely does not need!  Not only are they unhealthy, but they can cause all kinds of health issues for your pet.  When you make homemade treats, you know exactly what goes into them and you can feel good about giving them to your pets.  Check out these great pet treat recipe books and they even come with FREE treat cutters to make it even more simple!

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!

Halloween is fast approaching!  I love Halloween because it’s so much fun to decorate my house inside and out with spooky lights and decorations!  On Halloween night you’ve got to turn out all the lights, put a scarey movie on (not too scarey!), and light some scented candles to get everyone in the mood!  The kids especially love it because they get to dress up in funny or scarey costumes and go out and get as much candy as they can while “Trick or Treating”.  I like to dress up my dogs in their favorite dog Halloween costumes, too,  and take them out for a short walk before all of the trick or treaters start coming out. Yep, Halloween has to be one of my favorite holidays, but it can also be very stressing and/or frightening for your pet.

Here are a few tips that I’ve tried with my dogs and cats and they seem to work pretty well:

• If at all possible, keep your pets confined to a room they are familiar with so they won’t be in the middle of all of the excitement when trick or treaters come calling. (I put my cats in one room and the dogs in another.)
• Please ensure that no candy is within their reach!  Candy is very bad and sometimes extremely toxic to cats and dogs and can cause serious illness and sometimes even death.
• Be sure to praise your cat or dog endlessly and give them their own treats so they don’t think they are in trouble for anything.
• Be sure to check on them often and reassure them that nothing bad is going on and that they are safe.

Once all of the excitement is over for the evening, invite them back into the living room to watch the scarey movies with you.

 

Rabies is a serious disease caused by a virus.  Each year it kills more than 50,000 people and millions of animals around the world.  Rabies has been reported in every state except Hawaii. Wild animals are the primary source of this terrible disease.  Fortunately, rabies is preventable through yearly vaccinations for your pet.  Unfortunately, there is no cure if a pet should be infected by this horrible disease.  Affordable rabies vaccinations (and all vaccinations) is something your pet cannot go without!  Do you know the signs of rabies?  Some of the signs that an animal may have rabies are:  

• changes in the animal’s behavior
• general sickness
• problems swallowing
• increased drooling
• aggression or fearfulness
• staggering or seizures

Rabies in animals always leads to a painful and cruel death.  Please make sure your pets (all mammals including dogs, cats and ferrets) receive their yearly rabies vaccine to prevent them from becoming another statistic!

Taking your pet to the veterinarian to receive all of their vaccinations is not only the most important thing you can do for your pet, but can minimize the chance that your pet may become seriously ill or may even die from a preventable disease. The old saying “prevention is worth of pound of cure” has never been truer.

This message was brought to you by the fine folks at  First Rate Pets where they really believe that you and your pet are truly First Rate!