Baby it’s (getting) cold outside!

Colder temperatures are arriving here in Western Colorado and we want to make sure your dog (and outdoor cat if you have one) is set for the winter.

If your dog has short hair and enjoys the outdoors, make sure to provide him or her with a coat or vest. Small dogs especially, like chihuahuas, are prone to cold and vests, sweaters and coats can keep them more comfortable.
If you plan to take your dog hiking in the snow, invest in a pair of shoes. Many dogs end up with ice balls in the fur around their paws and this makes for an uncomfortable hike. Plus, that snow is really cold!
If you have an outdoor cat, try to provide a place for it to get in out of the cold. Many people use insulated coolers and design nifty “cat houses” using hay or straw, old blankets, etc. You might also install a cat door on an outside shed.
Aim for shorter hikes and walks with your pet when the temps get really low. Just like us, the cold can affect them and, while exercise is great, we don’t want our pets to develop health problems because of the cold.
Make sure your pet has a nice warm place to sleep in the winter. If your cat usually sleeps in the garage, provide some added warmth with a pet bed or old blankets. If your pet sleeps inside, providing some insulation from the floor, with a dog bed or blankets, is nice.

Playing with the snow

Spring Safety Tips from KONG

If you’re looking for information on which garden plants are dangerous to pets, what to do about shedding, and why you shouldn’t use sticks as chew toys, look no further. This great article from KONG will answer all your questions!

Spring Safety Tips with KONG

February 27, 2015

Spring is the time of year when winter melts away and we emerge from Netflix binges to get back to life. Whether you’re focused on a tropical getaway or scrubbing away the winter blues, don’t forget about your furry friend. Keep your pup occupied with a KONG classic stuffed with their favorite treat.

Holiday Travel Tips from The Honest Kitchen

Tips for Holiday Pet Travel

November 7, 2013

The holidays are right around the corner, and that means many of you will be packing up your pets to head over the river and through the woods. More people than ever are reportedly planning pet friendly vacations, and that means a little extra planning to make sure your trip gets off on the right paw. Here are a few tips to make sure your next adventure is a success.

Dog in Car

Preparing for a puppy

With the holidays approaching we’re sure some of you are planning to end the season with a new puppy. Puppies are so much fun to have around, but they also require much work and training. Paying attention to the needs of your puppy will ensure a happy and healthy pet and pet-human relationship for you and your family.

According to PetAge.com:

Puppy Foods

Puppies need smaller kibble pieces to help with chewing since their teeth are much smaller than adult dogs.

We stock the Nutro brand which offers three different types of food specifically designed for puppies. The Wholesome Essentials Puppy food contains chicken with amino acids for building muscles for puppies.

Nutro also offers Limited Ingredient Diet Puppy Food with Australian and New Zealand lamb. It helps puppies get the optimal nutrition they need without added ingredients that could cause digestive problems.

Nutro goes further into specifics with Small Breed Puppy Food, a formula that caters to small breeds with a higher metabolism. Small breed puppies have higher requirements for energy than puppies of larger breeds.

We also carry Bell Bowls and products by Loving Pets which can prepare pet owners for the inevitable floor food pile. Bella mats prevent splashes and retain spills with raised edges and anti-skid feet. The mats come in both tan and black and features a stylish bone shape.

Training Puppies

Training is very important for puppy care. When bringing a new puppy home, accidents are bound to happen until puppies can build up a routine.

Nature’s Miracle offers training pads to help combat problems. The Flowering Meadow Scent Release Dog and Puppy Training Pads are disposable pads that feature a scented attractant to let puppies know they have found the right place to relieve themselves. Moisture-activated fragrance can also help keep a new puppy home smelling fresh. The pads also come in Tropical scent as well. You can find Nature’s Miracle products right here at J&M Aquatics and Pet Center.

Toys, Chews and Treats

Chew toys are important for all stages of a dog’s life. A puppy has brand new teeth that require softer material to help aid in the development of strong and healthy teeth.

Chomper has a great line of puppy toys that are interactive and will allow for bonding time with you as well as keeping your pets from being bored.

Merrick treats, like their Jerky Chip treats, are great for dogs of all ages and provide them with proteins and healthy fats in a great, all-natural and holistic treat.

And finally…

Skin and Coat Care

Puppies have developing coats. Therefore, their skin can be a little sensitive so it is best to use milder shampoos for baths.

Earthbath Puppy Shampoo is naturally tearless and pH-balanced for puppies’ sensitive skin. Its ingredients include natural cleansers, aloe vera and a dash of cherry essence.

Find all of these great products and MUCH MORE for your puppy at J&M Aquatics and Pet Center.

Information for this post taken from: http://www.petage.com/the-wide-world-of-puppy-products/

4 common behaviors you want to STOP

Even the best dog trainers don’t start out with perfect pets. Training a dog takes time and effort and with the four items mentioned below, sometimes it even takes extra equipment!

First, if your dog is snooping in the garbage or getting into rooms he shouldn’t be in, there are a few possible easy fixes. Try using a gate to keep the dog out of “off limits” rooms. Try moving the trash can to a harder-to-reach place like under the sink or in a pantry closet with a secure door.

If neither of those options works, you can try an indoor pet barrier system. These emit loud tones and static charge when a dog enters an area he or she shouldn’t be in. The collars are gentle enough not to punish, but to correct wrong behaviors.

Next, if your dog has a problem with barking, there are some no-equipment remedies that might work:

Try using a loud sound or physical distraction to take your dog’s focus away from what’s causing him or her to bark. Use a calm tone (yelling will make him bark more!) and, if necessary, create a wall with your body between your dog and the object of his or her barking.

You may also consider the possibility that the dog is barking because he or she has pent-up energy. Is the dog getting enough exercise and attention? Increasing these could decrease annoying barking.

Third, maybe your dog’s problems are in the yard. Does your dog escape a lot? Is he or she a digger? If your dog is able to easily escape from your current wooden or chain-link fencing system, consider a buried or wireless fence. These fences come with correction collars. If the dog gets close to the edge of the yard, there are several levels of correction plus a “tone only” mode which will help your dog learn his or her boundaries.

If digging is the problem consider one of these two ideas:

1. Create a “digging allowed here” zone for your dog. Maybe digging is just a way your dog entertains himself. If you don’t want him digging up your flowers, introduce him to a corner of the yard that he can dig in.

2. Consider that your dog needs more attention and exercise. Perhaps he’s only digging because he’s bored.

Finally, let’s discuss bad behavior when you’re out for a walk. When training your dog to walk on a leash, make sure to walk in front of him. This shows your dog that you are the leader, not him. Use a short leash so that you have more control and make sure to reward your dog for good behavior with some of his or her favorite treats or a romp in the dog pond.

Make sure, too, that you’ve planned enough time for the walk. Dogs are interested in lots of things and love to sniff, wander and enjoy their walk time. If you rush them, they may rebel or begin to act out on these walks.

If you’re out hiking and would prefer to have your dog off-leash, make sure to have treats handy. I find that with my friend’s beagle, if he knows you have food he’ll always come back. Still, if your dog is easily distracted by rabbits or other critters, consider a remote training collar. You can choose from several corrective levels or a tone-only level and it will work for up to 100 yards.

Stop in to J&M Aquatics and Pet Center today and let us help you find the right training products for your pet!

Ear Infections

Is there an odd odor around your dog’s ears? Is he or she pawing at them more than usual? You may be looking at a dog with an ear infection.

Ear infections occur because of an overgrowth of bacteria or yeast in the ears. This is more common with dogs with floppy ears, dogs who swim, and dogs with allergies.

How can you make sure your dog’s ears stay clean and free of mites and bacterial overgrowth? You could try using a cleansing wipe. These are available and could be a good solution if your dog is ok with you messing with his ears.

For other dogs, sometimes the best way to stop an infection is with a solution or liquid product like Ark Natural’s Ears All Right. It’s an all-natural cleaning lotion made with premium botanicals. It helps to breakdown and remove wax, dirt and debris. It also reduces inflammation and irritation and treats ear mites.

Some say that nutrition can play a role in improving your dog’s overall health, including that of his or her ears. Whether or not premium dog food leads to better ear health is debatable, but we all know that feeding a dog a premium all-natural diet will make them healthier overall.

Stop in to J&M Aquatics and Pet Center today to find Ark Natural’s products and premium pet foods! 2851 North Avenue, Grand Junction, CO.

Dog Treats vs Scraps

Ever save that piece of fat from a steak for your favorite pet? I bet you’re thinking that no harm can come from the occasional table scrap, right? Well…don’t be so sure.

According to a recent article by Drs. Foster & Smith, there are several reasons why actual dog treats are much better for your pet than table scraps.

First, you can end up creating a beggar with table scraps. As soon as your pet knows you might be willing to give them a little treat from the table there they’ll be: sitting and staring at you with those cute little eyes, just waiting for a treat. While you may be ok with that, your friends may not!

Next, table scraps don’t have nearly the nutritional value that true dog treats do. They’re lacking vitamins and minerals necessary for your dog’s diet. The empty calories provided by table scraps lead to weight gain; weight gain can lead to lots of other health problems for your pet.

If those reasons aren’t enough, feeding your pet table scraps can cause all sorts of digestive disorders. From bad gas to bad breath and more, table scraps just don’t work well with your pet’s digestive system. They need a simple, stable diet that includes treats specific to them.

Finally, using table scraps to reward or treat your dog can lead to a picky eater and even a thief! Pets will start to choose those scraps over their own food and will eventually steal food from the table or knock over trash cans to get at tasty leftovers.

Click here to see what treats we have on sale!

Instead, stick with great treats like those available at J&M Aquatics and Pet Center! These treats are more nutritious, have fewer calories and are great for your dog’s teeth. They also help to fight off boredom and your dog’s urge to chew.

Understanding Heartworms

07/18/14

Understanding the difference between heartworm disease in dogs and cats and why it is fatal in cats. By: Michael Fleck, DVM

Heartworm Disease in the canine has been well documented and, until
recently, has been seen exclusively in the domesticated dog and
canine-related species. Only in recent years has there been mutation of
Heartworm, allowing the disease to be transmitted to other species,
primarily cats. In all Heartworm infected pets, the mosquito is the
vector that transmits the disease from one infected animal to another.
Pathology from Heartworm infection in the dog results primarily from
disruption of heart and liver function or from anaphylactic reactions.
The pathology of Heartworm infection in the cat is very different from
the dog. In the feline, the larvae of Heartworm migrate to the blood
vessels in the lungs where it transforms to an adult worm resulting in
lung disease rather than heart disease. The damage to the lung with cats
infected with feline Heartworm is so specific that pathologists
describe it as Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease or “HARD.”
Canine pet owners recognize the threat of Heartworm disease and have
their dogs tested annually followed by the administration of monthly
preventative medication. Without prevention, their pet may become
infected and eventually die from the disease if untreated. Fortunately,
the current treatment for Heartworm infected dogs is very safe and
effective, resulting in most treated dogs surviving and living normal
lives.

As a result of Heartworm disease being a relatively new feline issue,
the general cat owner may not even know that Heartworm can be
transmitted to cats. What adds seriousness to feline Heartworm Disease
is that once infected, unlike the canine, there is no effective or safe
treatment currently available and the mortality or death rate for feline
Heartworm Disease is very high. The American Heartworm Society and The
Heartworm Symposium predict that 10% of all new Heartworm cases will be
in the feline. They also have shown that 25% of Heartworm infected cats
reside exclusively inside.
To prevent transmission of Heartworm in cats, the practice of
administering monthly preventative medication similar to Heartworm
preventative medication administered to the dog is an absolute must.
Currently, debate exists within the veterinary community on the need for
testing before scripting preventative meds. Consulting with your
veterinarian will determine the best Heartworm prevention protocol. Your
veterinarian will recommend the monthly Feline Heartworm preventative
medication that they favor. At the Animal Medical Center of Bradenton,
we are beginning to diagnose Feline Heartworm Disease with zero rate of
recovery.
We don’t encourage debate this year on the necessity of testing before
administering feline heartworm prevention. It is too important to
immediately establish all cats on heartworm prevention. At AMC, without
delay, my recommendation is for all feline pet owners to stop by the
office and pick up doses of Advantage Multi which protects the cat from
both heartworm disease and flea/tick infestation.
Feline Heartworm Disease is only one of many new and existing diseases
forcing pet owners to keep abreast of pet health news. It’s a whole new
world with climate changes, a rapidly growing population, environmental
challenges, drug resistant microbes and the mutation of once known
harmless microbes to infective pathogens that threaten our pets and
mankind. Take that first step as a responsible cat owner and fill that
prescription for Feline Heartworm protection.

Biospot will
protect your pet from fleas, ticks and the mosquitos that cause
heartworm disease. Stop by today and pick some up. It’s more
affordable than the vet brands; check out the chart below to see how it
compares.

Protect your dog from summer’s heat

Did you know that panting is the only way dogs can cool themselves off?
They don’t sweat like we do; in the heat of summer sometimes panting
just isn’t enough. Here are a few suggestions on how to keep your pet
cool:
•Make sure to provide plenty of water. An automatic waterer can
be useful for outside dogs, but even so, make sure in the summer to
change it often so that it stays clean, fresh and cold.
• NEVER leave your dog in a hot car, even for a few minutes.
Honestly if you’re running errands, it’s probably best to just leave
Fido at home.
•Protect dogs with white or light colored fur as they can
actually get sunburnt. Put SPF 15 sunscreen on their ears and nose to
help combat that.
• Watch for signs of heatstroke. If you’re exercising with your
pet, try to do so in the cooler morning or evening hours.

• Take your dog swimming! Play water fetch with floating frisbees or other toys and truly help your dog stay cool.
• If you can, for outside dogs, invest in products like a
cooling pad or gel pet mats, or even just provide a children’s sized
swimming pool for pets to lie in. Even a nice shaded spot will help.
• There are cold chew toys available for pets as well. Stop in J&M Aquatics and Pet Center and let us help!

Digging and Barking

Summer is in full swing and, for many people and their pets, that means
more time spent outdoors. While dogs love to bask in the glory of fresh
air, outdoor time can also lead to some unwanted behaviors, like digging
and barking.

Dogs bark to communicate and dig when they’re bored or afraid. Although
these are completely natural, instinctual behaviors for dogs, we humans
aren’t too fond of all that noise and/or dirt flying everywhere. Read
on for our tips on using KONG toys to combat these common pet peeves.

Photo taken from Kong.com

Creating good behaviors starts with productive play, which allows
dogs to expend excess energy. The more you tire out your dog, the less
time or inclination they’ll have to dig up your prize begonias.

The KONG Classic toy
is an excellent multitasker for playtime with your dog. Every time you
throw a KONG, the unpredictable bounce sends the toy in a new direction.
This ensures no two games are ever the same, keeping your pup engaged
and excited for more. After a hearty game of KONG fetch, your dog will
look forward to some rest in the shade.

If you’re not able to be outside with your dog, a stuffed KONG makes a
great companion. Planning ahead is key here—stuff a KONG (or a few)
with a mixture of wet and dry ingredients, such as your dog’s favorite
treat, kibble, apple sauce, etc.

Once stuffed, you can put the KONG in
the freezer for several hours, ensuring a cool and delicious treat for
your pup’s outdoor time. In addition, directing their energy toward
something positive like working for the food inside the KONG diminishes
bad behaviors. To increase the challenge, you can even hide a few frozen KONGs in the yard for your best friend to hunt down.

Whether you’re able to enjoy the great outdoors with your dog or not,
you can rely on KONG to get them through the summer on their best
behavior.

How do you enjoy fun in the sun with your best friend? Share your pictures with us using #KONGdog and we’ll pick our favorites to receive a KONG summer fun gift box.

Article taken from: http://www.kongcompany.com/2014/07/08/digging-and-barking