How to Be an Environmentally Friendly Pet Owner

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When examining what you can do for the environment the simplest answers are often right at your feet.  Those furry little creatures we love so much, our cats and dogs, offer a truly great way to not only do our share to improve the environment but to give them better care.  Here are five things you can do right now to be a greener pet owner.Dogs unlike cats leave little packages outside.  Cleaning up their waste for disposal keeps our water supply much cleaner however rather than using a standard bag, consider using a biodegradable animal waste bag found at your local pet store.  Biodegradable bags ensure your dog’s waste ends up at the junkyard where measures are taken to keep chemicals from leaching into the water supply and the material is allowed to degrade naturally so it doesn’t consume space and stay in our landfills for decades. 

Natural product cat litter is sure to keep toxins out of your home and your environment.  Did you know that many kitty litter products contain silica dust which is a known carcinogen.  There are however several viable alternatives which are made out of natural products like wood chips or recycled newspapers.  Some can even be flushed right down your toilet and are harmless to your septic system and our ground water.  The good news is they can be found at your local pet store. Organic shampoos and cleaners are a pet owners best bet. Many pet care products contain Phthalates and/or Triclosan both known toxins which make their way into our ground water and eventually into our drinking glasses.  Organic shampoos and cleaners do not contain these chemicals and are therefore safer for our environment. 

Purchase non plastic pet products.  Many pet products contain Phthalates and Bisphenol A which are both harmful to your pet and can contaminate our ground water.  Some animals can actually have allergic reactions to these chemicals and can suffer symptoms ranging from warts on their cute faces to lung and breathing difficulties. Who can forget the contaminated pet food scare last summer?  So many of our favorite furry loved ones suffered illness and even death.  Most pet foods contain preservatives, additives, chemicals for coloring and even fragrance and toxins.  These toxins come both from the production process as well as natural process like molding and fermenting which produce dangerous effects.  Organic food means no chemicals in your pet and no chemicals on the ground or in our water supply.  They’re also significantly healthier for your cat or dog.   

Ready to do your part to help your environment?  Partner with your pet for a better, cleaner, and healthier world for you and for them.

Obesity in pets - Do you have a fat dog or cat?

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Pug LizaThe latest studies suggest that 25% of pets in the US are obese - that totals 33 million fat cats and fat dogs. A staggering 45% of US pets are overweight.

We’ve never had any trouble with our overactive Labrador but recently this hit home to our family when we fostered our first pug - Liza (there she is in the picture). She came to us overweight and we have been attempting to reduce her daily food intake but have had little luck shedding the pounds so far. I’ve been a little scared to walk her too far as she limps and seems to struggle (she is advanced in years - 9-10yrs) but I took her on her first walk up the street and back tonight in an attempt to increase her movement. Sitting on the dog bed or at your feet is her most favorite activity. We are going to have to work up to all the way around the block - but at least we’ve made a start.

I was searching on the web for diet tips and discovered that February is the first National Canine Weight Check. A group of vets have come together to offer free weight assessments for dogs this month. You can find the vets near you that are offering this program at www.stopcanineobesity.com/ncwc

Pet obesity is a serious problem as it puts pets at risk of diseases such as osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and cancer. Extra weight can also worsen existing conditions such as asthma, high blood pressure, hormone imbalances, and joint diseases. Put simply, carrying around the extra pounds will shorten the life of your pet. Veterinary Pet Insurance reported that last year they reimbursed policy holders over 14 million dollars for claims related to obesity - around 7 % of their total claims.

The most common reason for weight gain in pet is overeating. If the number of calories consumed by the pet each day is more than is used for normal body functions and during exercise then extra calories are stored as fat. There are other factors that can contribute to weight gain including heredity, breed, body type, and some medical conditions. Usually all that is needed for weight loss is reduced calorie intake and increased exercise. It is a common myth that spaying/neutering a pet will cause slowing of the metabolism. However, just like humans an animals metabolism will slow with age, so as they get older they will need to eat less calories each day.

Signs that your pet is overweight include:

1. Difficulty finding the ribs under layers of fat. Ribs should be easily felt.

2. Sagging stomach

3. No waist

4. Broad / flat back

Ideal weights for dogs vary by breed but a healthy pet usually weighs between 8-10 lbs. You can find a chart of ideal dog weights for common breeds at www.petobesityprevention.com/weight_ranges.htm

If your pet is overweight then you should visit your vet to get a weight assessment and suggestions for a diet plan.

An easy diet plan for dogs is:

1. Record the weight of your dog

2. Reduce their daily calorie intake by 1/3 (this means 1/3 of the total calories consumed in food and treats)

3. Weigh your dog again after 2 weeks

4. If no weight is lost - reduce calories again by 1/3. If weight is lost then stick to this amount of calories.

5. Repeat this cycle until your dog successfully starts losing weight

Information about the calorific values of common pet foods and treats is available here.

A healthy rate of weight loss is 1-2% of total body weight per week. If your pet is losing weight more rapidly then they may be losing lean muscle tissue. You should feed your pets a quality food and avoid table scraps and too many treats. Some vets recommend avoiding “Low Calorie” or “Diet Foods” for pets as these food have less fats and often more carbohydrates. Extra carbs stimulate insulin production which tells the body to store unused calories as fat. Often it is preferable to simply cut the amount of your regular pet foods.

For more weight loss tips visit www.petobesityprevention.com or take advantage of Canine Weight Check and take your dog to your nearest participating vet for a free weight assessment. Don’t wait any longer to start improving the health of your pets - because who want to have less time with their companions?

Unusual Pet Career - Making Natural Dog Shampoo and Soap

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Natural Dog ShampooNatural pet shampoo and soaps are growing in popularity as pet parents are becoming more aware of the effects of chemicals on the environment and on the health of their pets.

Pet shampoos and soaps can be made in your home and marketed to pet owners as a great home based pet business. This is another example of a pet business that can be launched with very low overhead and start up costs.

You can find many recipes for natural pet shampoos online - here is a simple one that I found at Care2.com:

2 cups water

2 teaspoons liquid castile soap

2 tablespoons aloe vera gel

Up to 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin or vegetable oil

Combine the ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid. Shake to blend. This recipe is especially good for soothing skin irritations.

You can find several recipes for dog soap at About.com - for these you will need to purchase melt and pour soap mixes to be used as a base and molds in which the soap mixture can be poured to set. These can be purchased from “Nature With Love” or other online sites.

The dog shampoo and soaps could be marketed for the holidays as part of a gift basket or as individual jars, bottles or soap bars. During the year another great place to market soaps and shampoos is at your local grooming salon or doggie day care center. You could have a display on the counter where customers check in and out. When you were ready to grow your dog shampoo business you could also market them on Ebay or set up your own website to sell them online and ship to customers.

101 Pet Care Careers To find other unique pet business ideas I recommend 101 Best Businesses for Pet Lovers As the title suggests this book has 101 ideas for pet businesses and many of them are out of the box ideas such as careers as a pet food sampler, toy inventor, pet radio host, pet party choreographer or catnip farmer. The details of each career are described with qualifications needed for each, ways to get customers, and other helpful resources. Take a look now at 101 Best Businesses for Pet Lovers

The Six Most Common Pet Medical Problems

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As pet business professionals we are the temporary custodians of our clients pets and we do our best to give them the best care we can. One of the ways we can show we care is to keep an eye on their health and wellness and be on the watch for the most common pet medical problems.  Being aware of the symptoms of these pet diseases can help to diagnose problems early and ensure that the pets have the best chance for treatment and a fast recovery!

Veterinary Pet Insurance reports that the following six diseases are the most common claims filed:

1) Skin allergies

Unlike humans who react to allergies with nasal symptoms dogs typically react with skin problems. Some of the symptoms are itchy red skin, poor coat texture and length, itching and chewing (especially the feet), constant licking, and hot spots.

2) Ear infections

Symptoms of ear infections include scratching at the ears, holding head to one side, or down, and shaking of the head.  Ears may also look bloody, waxy, or swollen.

3) Stomach upsets

Symptoms of intestinal problems include a grumbling stomach, vomitting, and diarrhea. Upset stomach is more prevalent in puppies because they eat and chew everything in sight!

4) Urinary Tract Infection

Symptons of lower urinary tract disease include bloody urine, straining to urinate, urination in unusual places, and excessive licking of the urinary opening.

5) Benign Tumors

Tumors are easily detected by performing an all over body check each time you care for a pet. Lumps and bumps under the skin are often benign tumors caused by deposits of fatty tissue, cysts, or infected hair follicles.

6) Pyoderma

Pyoderma is a bacterial infection of the skin that is common to dogs and uncommon in cats.  Symptom is a skin rash that may appear as small bumps, pus filled pimples, or blood filled blisters. The disease may be caused by parasites, allergies, or homonal disorders.

Keep an out out for these symptoms in your own and your clients pets. Consult a veteranarian if you feel a pet may be suffering from any of these ailments. If you have any other tips that can help protect the health of our pets please leave you comments and share your knowledge with others…

How to Market Your Pet Business with Homemade Dog Treat Recipes

Filed Under Pet Business Tips, Pet Health, Pet Products | 5 Comments



Dog TreatsThis past weekend I sent out customer appreciation gifts to all customers who have used my pet sitting service at least twice in the past 2 years. (If you have been reading my blog for a few weeks you should be catching on that I do most of these types of tasks on the weekend!).

I sent out a postcard with a short note expressing how much we appreciate their support of our business with a Ziploc bag filled with gourmet cat and/or dog treats for their pets. I used store bought Mother Hubbard’s oven baked dog biscuits and Whiskas crunchy cat treats as I was pressed for time. These types of small gifts remind customers of your service and let them know that you are thinking of them. I also wrote on the card that we look forward to visiting their pets the next time that they travel.

This week I was contemplating how much more effective this would have been if I had sent out unique treats that I had made myself at home – it would have just given it a more personal touch.

I searched the internet and found a great e-book package that contains 340 dog and puppy recipes for meals, frozen treats, cakes, biscuits and cookies. To get a copy of the book for your business click here.

The customer appreciation gift is just one way in which you can use recipes for tasty pet treats to market your business. I had some other ideas for using them to add pizzazz to other marketing efforts:

1) Bake goodies to give away at expos or booths at pet events. Label with you business information and contact details.

2) Put together a book of recipes for customers and leave out at your office location for them to pick up. Make sure you put your logo and business info in the book to keep your name in front of them and to advertise if they give the book away or lend it out to friends.

3) Add recipes to your customer newsletters

4) Bake a birthday cake for your doggie customer’s special day

5) Hold a puppy party to bring customers together to celebrate a major event or business anniversary celebration. Have cakes and cookies for the dogs to enjoy.

6) Add baked cookies and treats to the products that you sell to customers and let them place orders with you for their pets.

You can pick up an electronic copy of the recipe book with 340 tasty treats ideas right here.

I’m sure that you can come up with even more ideas – please share them with everyone by leaving a comment with this post.

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