Best Pet Supplies

Everyone at First Rate Pets would like to wish everyone and their friends and family a wonderful and happy Thanksgiving! 

We also would like to invite you to browse our ever growing pages of pet supplies We have many wonderful items that will make great Christmas gifts for your beloved four legged friend or a two legged friend that has a four legged friend!

The other day we covered why it’s important to check and clean your dog’s or cat’s ears.  Today, I’m going to give some tipes on how to clean your pet’s ears.

First off, I definitely do not recommend using cotton swabs or Q-tips as they are usually called.  It makes it too easy to go too deep into a pet’s ears and possibly causing damage to the ear drum.  Cotton balls are the best to use as long as you don’t push them too deep into the ear canal as this can actually push the ear wax and debris further into the ear.

Pull your pet’s ear back and place approximately 5-8 drops of ear cleaner into the ear.  Massage the base of the ear to loosen ear wax and debris.  You should hear a “squishing” sound which means you’ve gotten the cleaner down where it needs to be.  Your pet will want to shake his head.  This is definitely okay because it helps in removing all that foreign stuff.  Using a cotton ball, you can remove excess cleaner from the outer part of the ear canal so it won’t go everywhere when your pet shakes his or her head!  After you are finished cleaning the ear canal, there are powders that you can also use to keep the ear dry which will keep ear mites out and will also prevent any bacterial infection that can be a problem in your pet’s ears if they remain dampened.

Cleaning your pet’s ears should be done at least once a month.  There are a lot of good products to clean your pet’s ears including liquid cleaners, ear powders, and even pre moistened cloths.  They all work well and it really depends on your personal choice of which is easiest for you and your pet!  You can find everything you need to keep your pets ears clean at First Rate Pets and they are very affordable!  Check out all of their grooming supplies and you’ll find keeping your pet clean, happy, and healthy is easier than you thought!

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!