Natura And New Worries

Our concerns with this company run very deep due to recalls and drastic shifts in quality in once good foods. Our dedication to our guiding principle does not mean clearing our shelves of Natura products was an easy decision to make. Natura products have been on our shelves since we had first opened at our original location over 3 years ago. Recommending the various lines we carried from this once family owned business was never unusual. Innova was a wonderful all around food, Evo a high protein grain free diet being our first of such a food, and California Natural which seemed like a miracle to many animals suffering from allergies or sensitive stomachs. We quickly shifted a majority of our customers off the foods, advising them in the direction of the foods we’ve placed on the shelves as alternatives.

Making The Switch

Still we have customers not sure on the switch, many owners have concerns on how a food switch will affect their animals in various ways. From stomach issues, to allergies, to plain not liking the food. We all hate to say it but it seems that trial and error will be our best bet at this point. From a first hand view my pet ferret Lily has been on Evo Ferret food since she was a baby. Finding food to take its place has been quite the task for the stubborn ferret, and I’m sure this is very much the case with other pets.

Being persistent with foods and trial and error can be time consuming, but in many scenarios is well worth the trouble. We’re sad to say we are already having mention of itchy skin from dogs who, as before mentioned, were on their ‘miracle food’ California Natural. We hope in the end all will be settled with our beloved pets’ foods, their bowls filled with a kibble, wet food, or raw food they adore and leaving us as owners assured that our pets remain healthy and happy.

Keep in mind we are here to give you a hand at finding the best foods and treats for your pets. We are happy to answer questions and help you with your pet needs. Always feel free to leave comments, toss us an e-mail, or ask us questions in the shop.

Featured adoptable pet of the week:

If there was such a thing as an “Arkansas Water Dog” Jazz would be the breed standard! Jazz arrived at the shelter as an abandoned stray and decided that as long as she’s there she’s going to have a good time! This girl is the life of the party, happily playing with the other dogs and engaging the attention of all the volunteers at the shelter! Jazz is all puppy – bouncy, happy and goofy! But she’s also very smart and will thrive in a home that will put her intelligence to good use. She absolutely LOVES the water and will be happy to be your boating and/or swimming buddy this summer! We guess she’s just under a year old, she’s healthy and already spayed. We can’t be certain she’s pure (even though she looks it), but she’s 100% pure fun!

For more information on this week’s adoptable pet, please click this link.

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We had a close encounter with a skunk in our backyard the other night. It reminded me of a great antidote to the foul odor emitted by these cute, yet stinky little guys.

When our first dog Dylan was a puppy he came face-to-face (or rather face-to-butt) with a skunk in the backyard. I ran over the the scene of the confrontation, careful to not get in the line of fire, but it was too late. He reared up on his front paws and sprayed a healthy load of natural “pepper spray” right in our curious puppy’s face.

It was awful. Dylan fled back into the house crying, rolling around and rubbing his eyes. We tried to clean it off best we could with a towel soaked in warm water. It seemed to sooth the burning a little but the stench was unbearable. We tried the commonly spread “tomato juice bath” solution, which was basically useless. It didn’t seem to do anything for the odor.

Having no clue what to do for the poor guy, we called our local 24 hr emergency vet. They informed us that although it is uncomfortable for him, the irritation will not last too long. They also gave us a recipe for a natural skunk odor reducing concoction using common household items. We followed their instructions and were amazed with the results. We now keep this recipe on our refrigerator door.

Thankfully we haven’t had to use it again, hopefully you won’t either. But just in case:

The Ultimate Skunk Odor Reducing Potion:

• 1 bottle of hydrogen peroxide
• 1 cup of white vinegar
• 2 tablespoons of baking soda
• 1 tablespoon of liquid soap
• 1 gallon of warm water

Mix ingredients. Sponge bath. Air dry.

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Tips:

There are many whistles which have different tones and silent tones. Purchase a tone that motivates your dog. If your dog does not like a particular tone than don’t give up, try a different tone. Purchase a whistle that can be heard over noises, distance and wind. Good luck and Happy Dog Tones.

This training tip was prodived by Mae Charron or K9 Attitudes.


Mae is an IACP (International Association of Canine Professionals) certified trainer and CGC (Canine Good Citizen) Evaluator. K9 Attitudes is a wonderful positive reinforcement based dog training company which provides in home one-on-one training with pets and their families around Fairfield County.


Mae Charron
K9 Attitudes, LLC
203-283-4878
www.k9attitudes.com

Related posts:

1. Picking a Dog Daycare
2. The Importance of Exercise for your Dog
3. Adopting a New Dog or Cat

Pet dental disease or periodontal disease is a big risk for all pets. However, it can be prevented through regular home care (brushing your pets teeth) and oral exams at your routine vet visits. Here are some tips on how to protect your pet.

How do I brush my pets teeth?

If you have a puppy or kitten the best thing to do is get them used to teeth brushing at a young age.


If you have an older dog, it’s never too late… it may just take a little extra effort. Here are some tips for brushing your pet’s teeth.

• Start slowly – As with any training exercise it’s best to introduce this gradually working your way up to actually brushing the teeth.




• Use positive reinforcement – Encourage your pet to enjoy the experience with lots of treats and praise. Playing ball after the exercise is a good reward.




• Control their head – Gently grasp your animal’s muzzle from the top with your non-dominant hand, never applying too much pressure.




• Gently Rub – the sides of their face with your finger, lifting the lips and touching their gums and teeth. Repeat this using a gauze pad after they’ve adjusted to your finger, eventually working up to a soft tooth brush. Short repeated intervals of this followed by praise and treats will help them adjust pretty quickly.




• Use a pet specific toothbrush and toothpaste – Human tooth brushes are not soft enough for pets. Human toothpaste is not good for pets. It contains high levels of fluoride which can upset their stomach. We sell a dental kit which includes a pet toothbrush and toothpaste specifically made for your pets.




• Dental chews are no substitute for brushing – While there are some very beneficial “dental” products on the market like dental chews, treats, etc… These are no complete substitute for actual brushing.

Click here to watch a video on brushing your dog’s teeth.

How often should I brush?

Decorative dog imageJust like humans, many veterinarians recommended daily brushing. Realistically we know this is very hard, so 2-3 times a week is a good goal to shoot for.


Ultimately any home brushing is better than none, but it is important to remember that our animals teeth are a lot like ours. Just imagine if you went 4 years without brushing. It would be pretty safe to say you’d have some dental issues.

What about veterinary oral exams?

Ask your vet to do an oral exam at every routine visit to make sure you catch any potential problems before they get bad.

If your vet recommends professional cleaning it’s a good idea to follow their advice and have the procedure done. Professional cleaning is an important part of the preventative process. It will save your pet from future discomfort and health issues if left untreated.

How do I know if my pet has dental disease?

You can check your pet’s mouth for any signs of dental disease.


Symptoms include:
Brownish colored teeth; swollen, red, or bleeding gums; persistent bad breath; loose teeth or loss of teeth; pus between the gums and teeth; broken teeth and any unusual growth in the mouth. Reluctance to eat, play with chew toys, or drink cold water are warning signs of periodontal or gum disease.


If you suspect your pet has dental disease consult your veterinarian for an exam.

What about cats? How do I brush my cats teeth?

Feline pets are also susceptible to periodontal disease. It’s often harder to detect in cats because most cats don’t like us sticking our fingers in their mouths. They frequently don’t show any outward signs of dental discomfort.


Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine has several extremely informative videos on the subject. Particularly helpful is the Brushing Your Cats Teeth video.

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