Pets

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Add years to your pet's life with expert tips

(BPT) - Few things in life are as special as the unconditional love and loyalty a pet provides. With 78.2 million owned dogs and 86.4 million owned cats in the United States, according to The Humane Society, it’s obvious Americans enjoy having pets. What might not be so apparent is how best to care for them. When it comes to making sure your pet stays healthy and lives as long as possible, what steps can you take?

Updated: 3:32 am

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Recent Headlines

Thursday 05/30/2013

Keeping Pets Safe In Hurricane Season

Updated: June 01, 2013 - 3:32 am

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(NAPSI)—Warmer weather means more than the start of vacation season. It’s also when extreme weather—such as tornadoes and hurricanes—is more likely to occur.

Thursday 05/23/2013

Keeping Your Pets Safe In An Emergency

Updated: May 24, 2013 - 3:32 am

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(NAPSI)—The best way to protect your family during an emergency situation is to have a disaster plan in place. If you are a pet owner, that plan must include your pets. A little preparation can save their lives.

Monday 05/20/2013

Birdfeeder basics: Bring on backyard birds with the right feeders

Updated: May 28, 2013 - 3:32 am

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(BPT) - When you dine, do you prefer clean and attractive tableware? Does ambiance enhance your enjoyment of your food? Birds feel the same way about their dining habits – the type and cleanliness of your bird feeders directly affects the number and species of birds that will visit your backyard this season.

Housetraining your puppy: Tips for keeping your dog behaved and your home clean

Updated: May 28, 2013 - 3:32 am

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(BPT) - Few things are as exciting as bringing home a new puppy. Whether Chihuahua or Great Dane, a pup’s playful antics delight people of all ages. Having a dog can bring many years of companionship and precious memories, but before you ask, “How much is that doggie in the window?” consider a few expert tips for positive housetraining.

Wednesday 05/15/2013

Help your pet shed unhealthy weight

Updated: May 23, 2013 - 3:32 am

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(BPT) - Are you killing your pet with kindness? We’re not talking about the compassion that motivates us to vaccinate our pets, or keep them warm in cold weather. Kindness that can be harmful to pets comes in the form of an overabundance of food and treats. The all-too-common result is a pet that becomes overweight or even obese.

Thursday 05/09/2013

Helping Cats And Dogs Have Healthy Joints

Updated: May 11, 2013 - 3:32 am

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(NAPSI)—Your four-footed friends could benefit from your taking four important steps to keep your pets in peak condition.

Bedding: A Big Choice For Small Pets

Updated: May 11, 2013 - 3:32 am

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(NAPSI)—The next time you consider expanding your family to include a hamster, Guinea pig, bunny or other small pet, you won’t be alone. Some 16 million U.S. families currently co-habitate with small pets, according to the American Pet Products Association National Pet Owners Survey.

Thursday 05/02/2013

Understanding Your Dog's Ancestry

Updated: May 03, 2013 - 3:32 am

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(NAPSI)If youre like most people with a mixed-breed dog, you may sometimes be surprised at certain behaviors and wonder just what breeds make up his ancestry. After all, experts on genetics contend that the dog is, at this point, the most diverse species of mammal. The many breeds recognized today are the result of careful selective breeding for functional attributes deemed beneficial to their human owners including hunting, guarding and herding, and desirable physical characteristics such as skull shape, size, and coat variation.

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Thursday 04/18/2013

Summer Pest Protection for Your Pets

Updated: April 19, 2013 - 3:32 am

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(NewsUSA) - While the season's warmer weather offers great opportunity for games of fetch with Fido, it also brings increased risk from exposure to pests, particularly ticks, fleas, mosquitoes and stinging insects. Safeguarding dogs and cats begins with discussions with your veterinarian, but in addition to prescribed healthcare repellents and preventatives, there are several things that can be done to make your yard inhospitable to the stinging, biting troublemakers.

Monday 04/15/2013

Scratching the right itch: Does your pet have seasonal allergies?

Updated: April 22, 2013 - 3:32 am

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(BPT) - Humans may sneeze and sniffle when trees and flowers start to bud in the spring, but many pet owners wouldn’t know if their pet was suffering from treatable allergy symptoms, which are likely to occur at the same time of year.

Thursday 04/11/2013

Omega-3 Fatty Acids For Your Pet's Health

Updated: April 13, 2013 - 3:32 am

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(NAPSI)—For many years, pet owners have given omega-3 fatty acids to their dogs to change a dull, dry coat into a more glossy one.

How to Avoid Ticks and Fleas This Season

Updated: April 11, 2013 - 3:31 am

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(StatePoint) Warm weather means barbeques, baseball and trips to the park with family and pets. But for pet owners, warm weather can also mean fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and other disease-carrying bugs.

Friday 04/05/2013

Busted: The top 4 most common pet myths

Updated: April 12, 2013 - 3:31 am

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(BPT) - It’s no secret that Americans love their pets. When it comes to U.S. pet ownership, 39 percent of households own at least one dog, and 33 percent own at least one cat, according to the Humane Society of the United States. Furry family members bring joy and excitement to a household, and providing the best care possible helps ensure pets have a long, healthy life.

Wednesday 03/20/2013

Anticipating Household Dangers Can Save Your Pet's Life

Updated: March 21, 2013 - 3:32 am

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(StatePoint) Household pets are adorably curious, but they can’t read labels or plant their own gardens.

Friday 02/15/2013

Boarding your four-legged family member

Updated: February 22, 2013 - 3:31 am

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(BPT) - Whether traveling for business or fun, it’s not always practical to take along a four-legged family member. Arranging care of a beloved pet for an extended absence can be daunting. Knowing what to look for in a kennel, and what to look out for, can help you choose wisely.

Thursday 02/14/2013

Cat Litter Offers A New Combination With Natural Ingredients and A Humorous Approach

Updated: February 16, 2013 - 3:31 am

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(NAPSI)Theres good news for cat owners who want to get back to nature. Tidy Cats recently introduced Pure Nature, a new cat litter designed to win the approval of both your cat and your inner nature lover.

Thursday 02/07/2013

Keeping Pets Safe, Healthy And Happy

Updated: February 08, 2013 - 3:31 am

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(NAPSI)—To help raise children's awareness about the best ways to keep pets safe, healthy and happy, TV's No. 1 show for preschoolers is airing a special shelter animal episode throughout February.

Tuesday 02/05/2013

How to find the right vet for your pet

Updated: February 12, 2013 - 3:31 am

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(BPT) - Pet owners have many responsibilities, and keeping your pet healthy with veterinary care is a significant one. To help make sure your pet receives high quality medical care, several veterinarians offer advice on how to find the right vet for your pet.

Monday 02/04/2013

Dental Health Matters for Pets Too

Updated: March 06, 2013 - 3:31 am

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(StatePoint) There’s a good reason that one of the first things we teach children is proper tooth brushing technique. Dental health is crucial for overall health. And you may not think about it as often, but pets also require regular dental care.

Wednesday 01/23/2013

Dogged by pricey pet care? Cost-cutting tips for pet owners

Updated: January 30, 2013 - 3:31 am

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(BPT) - These days, everyone is searching for ways to save money and stretch budgets. Consumer experts advise people to sniff out deeper discounts, saving opportunities and additional ways to cut costs. For pet owners, it can feel challenging to cut costs without compromising on care.

Thursday 01/10/2013

Keeping Your Pets Safe When Traveling

Updated: January 12, 2013 - 3:32 am

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(NAPSI)&@8212;Theres good news for pet owners who want to take their pet along on their next trip.

Friday 12/28/2012

Doggy parenting: tips for guiding your dog through the 'teen' years

Updated: January 15, 2013 - 3:34 am

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(BPT) - Most pet owners can tell you that the first few days with a puppy in the house can be a handful, but the job of being a good pet parent does not stop when your new pal sleeps through the night for the first time. After you finish guiding your pup through his earliest life stages, it is important to keep in mind that he will be going through his own version of the “teen” years and will rely on a guiding hand.

Friday 11/30/2012

Creating a dog-friendly meal experience

Updated: January 15, 2013 - 3:34 am

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(BPT) - Mealtime is going...well, to the dogs - literally. Dumping kibble into a bowl and walking away has become less and less the norm. Feeding the family dog has evolved into new territory. For example, have you ever warmed your dog’s food in the microwave before serving it to him? You wouldn’t be alone if you have. Maybe you and your dog have a mealtime ritual? Again, you would be in good company.

Thursday 11/15/2012

Protect Your Pets from Holiday Hazards

Updated: December 19, 2012 - 3:37 am

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(StatePoint) You can bet that during the holiday season your pet is bound to sniff out leftovers, dig into the presents and have fun with all of your decorations. And while these holiday effects can spread cheer and joy amongst your human family members, they can be a real hazard to pets. This season, keep your holiday celebration safe, happy and healthy for pets by taking these key measures:

Wednesday 11/14/2012

How to Get Your Pets Into the Holiday Spirit

Updated: December 19, 2012 - 3:37 am

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(StatePoint) The holidays are all about spending time with your family and friends. If you’re a pet owner, you’ll want to include dogs and cats in the celebration.

Monday 11/12/2012

The psychology of grieving for your pet

Updated: January 15, 2013 - 3:34 am

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(BPT) - As any pet lover will readily admit, the greatest attribute that pets have is unconditional love for their owners. Perhaps that is why it is so difficult when we must say goodbye to our pets.

Monday 10/29/2012

How to Make Your Home Pet-Friendly

Updated: December 19, 2012 - 3:37 am

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(StatePoint) Whether you’re a new dog owner or you and your pooch have been best pals for years, there’s always room to make your home more pet friendly. Doing so will not only keep your dog safer and happier, but can also help protect your belongings and furniture from canine destruction.

Thursday 10/25/2012

Tips To Keep Pets Happy and Healthy

Updated: December 19, 2012 - 3:37 am

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(StatePoint) Just as you can become tense and stressed out by your daily life, so too can your dog or cat. And pet anxiety is not only unpleasant for your pet and potentially damaging to your home and belongings; it can also lead to a host of other health and wellness problems.

With some simple lifestyle tweaks however, you can make scratching, digging, clawing, whining and crying a thing of the past. Here are some tips to reduce your dog or cat’s anxiety and make their life, and yours, a bit more comfortable:

Keep Pets Active

“Often, the source of a pet’s anxiety is lack of activity,” says Brian Atkinson, Director of Pet Training at Invisible Fence Brand. “Whether you have a dog or cat, regular exercise is crucial for a happy, anxiety-free pet.”

Be sure to give pets plenty of opportunities for outdoor exercise. Play games with your cat or dog that are both mentally and physically stimulating.

Grant More Freedom

If you’re like many pet owners, your schedule means leaving your dog or cat alone for long stretches of time. Granting safe access to your yard while you’re busy can alleviate this burden. Consider installing a pet door combined with a pet containment system.

“With proper training, dogs and cats can safely learn to understand and respect the boundaries of the yard,” says Atkinson.

Highly recommended by veterinarians, professional dog trainers, behaviorists and other pet experts, a pet door can reduce accidents inside the home, increase exercise, stimulate a pet’s senses and provide a change of scenery.

Opt for a programmable electronic pet door that’s customizable. For instance, the Invisible Fence Brand Doorman, which is completely secure against unwanted visitors with an automatic locking device, allows you to set different schedules, boundaries and rules for each pet. More information about such devices is available at www.invisiblefence.com.

Make Separation Easier

If your pet cries or misbehaves when you leave the house, you may need to take steps to reduce his or her separation anxiety. Desensitize your pet to anxiety-inducing pre-departure cues like putting your shoes on or packing your bag, by regularly doing these actions and staying put.

When you do leave, keep the radio on to keep your pet company throughout the day. Keep your absences short initially, gradually building up the length of time you’re away. And try to avoid making grand entrances and exits. The act of leaving and returning home should be as much of a non-event as possible.

Maintain their Space

Be sure to regularly clean litter boxes and keep your pet well-hydrated. Automatic litter systems, pet feeders and drinking fountains can help you maintain your pet’s living conditions, even when you aren’t there to do it yourself.

Don’t ignore your pet’s anxiety. A few household changes can take the stress out of being a pet, giving you peace of mind that your furry friend is happy and healthy.

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