I recently came across a pretty interesting product for cats and small to medium sized dogs – the Drinkwell Pet Fountain.  I started looking around and found that there are actually a number of different pet drinking fountain products available, but the one I want to tell you about today is the Drinkwell Platinum pet fountain.

First of all, you might be wondering why pet water fountains even exist.  I know I was at first, but after looking into it a bit I think they are a great idea!

If you think about how we traditionally give water to our pets, their water sits stagnant in a bowl all day, collecting dust and pet hair and who knows what else.  Sure, pets will probably still drink it, but so would you if you were thirsty enough!  For those of us who feel that our pets deserve the best, a fountain is a great alternative.

Drinkwell Pet Fountain – Features

Drinkwell has a number of different pet fountain models, but they all have certain features in common.

• They all feature a free falling stream of water which makes drinking more attractive and fun for your pet.
• The flow of water is fully adjustable.
• There is a pre-filter to trap hair and other large particles, as well as a replaceable charcoal filter to remove bad tastes and odors from the water.
• They are made of BPA free plastic, and come apart easily for cleaning (they are dishwasher safe).
• The pump/motor is submersed in water which keeps the fountain running nearly silently.

Drinkwell has been making pet fountains for over 10 years (who knew?). The Drinkwell Platinum pet fountain was designed by veterinarians, and is approved and recommended by them.

You can compare the different models and features of Drinkwell Pet Fountains here.

Keeping your pets properly hydrated is very important. If you have a puppy or cat that doesn’t drink enough water, or if you want your pet to always have a supply of fresh, clean water, the Drinkwell pet fountain just may be the answer.

Of all of the fountains I looked at, this fountain gets the best reviews at Amazon. To check out the reviews or watch a video of the pet drinking fountain in action Click Here

Drinkwell Pet Fountain

Image by .bobby via Flickr

We have an 8 month old Chihuahua, and a 2 year old Pomeranian.  We got the Chihuahua when she was 10 weeks old, and she has been a yapper ever since we brought her home.  About a month ago, we got a Pomeranian.  When we brought her home she was so quiet, it was great!  We thought that the Chihuahua might learn to stop yapping, but unfortunately, the opposite is happening.  The Pomeranian now barks almost as much as the Chihuahua, especially when people knock on the door or ring the doorbell.

I have been researching the best way to stop your dog from barking when people knock on the door or ring the doorbell, and I found a couple of videos that look promising.  In particular, this one:

I am going to try this technique for a while and see how it works.  I will post back with my progress.

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

So you have an adorable new puppy, congratulations! Many new puppy owners often find that cute and adorable only goes so far once their new puppy begins to chew and tear into their new furniture or their shoes when left alone. You can prevent these and many other puppy issues by crate training.

Before you begin, it is important to realize that crate training is not barbaric. Without training of any kind, your puppy will grow into a wildly undisciplined dog. It may be cute as a two-month old pup but it will get old really quick when you have to apologize for his behavior. Dogs are naturally den animals, and if left alone, they will feel more safe and secure in a crate than if they have run of the house. Not to mention, they won’t have all that tempting furniture to chew!

Dogs require repetition in order to learn. They will get what you are trying to teach them eventually, but you have to be quite methodical in the beginning. Familiarity also makes them feel comfortable and safe in their new home.

What type and size of crate should I choose for my new puppy?

Choosing the right crate to use is important. There are wire ones and plastic ones. Wire crates work well for dogs with long hair and in warm climates. It allows for adequate ventilation so puppy stays comfortable. Plastic crates are good for travel and in cooler climates. It stays warm and keeps puppy secure in the car, train or plane.

One thing that all crate trainers need to remember is that size does matter. A crate need only be big enough for your puppy to turn around and stretch. Partitions made of wood or plastic can reduce the size of big crates if you want to take into account puppy’s eventual adult size. If you give puppy more room than that, he will use the bathroom in there instead of outdoors.

How do I begin crate training?

Dogs love to be around people. Begin by placing your crate in the family room or other area where your family spends most of their time together. Using a wire crate at this time allows puppy to see his surroundings.

Introduce your puppy to the crate. He may not go in there by himself so he’ll need an incentive. Use chewy dog treats to lure him in for a closer look. Let the aroma waft just a few inches in front of him. When he is within spitting distance, place the treat in the crate. Praise him every time he goes in.

You can also feed puppy in the crate. This encourages him to stay inside and is easier cleanup for you. Close the door behind him. Open the door when he is almost done eating. If he comes out close the door again. Open it only if he wants to be let back in to finish eating.

When he is used to being inside give him more incentive for staying in the crate with the door closed. Use a chew toy to entice him in the crate. Close the door for no more than a couple of minutes each time. Call him to come to you when the door is open. Let him return and repeat the process again until he is comfortable with the door closed.

Crate training keeps puppy safe when you are not at home and still lets him interact with the family.

Related articles

• The Benefits Of Beagle Crate Training (animaltopics.com)

If you want gluten free or grain free food – no problem! Want to ensure your pet receives a certain amount of protein? They can do that. They also have trial sizes that you can order to see how your pet likes the food.

On their website they state that their food contains:

• Regional meats and produce
• Raw fruits and vegetables
• Real meat and lots of it
• Highly nutritious liver
• Low glycemic carbohydrate sources like yellow peas

It never occurred to me that this might be available but I think it is an interesting idea. The company is called Red Moon Custom Pet Food and you can check them out at http://www.redmoonpetfood.com/

Anyone tried this? Post a comment!

The dental health of our pets is something that is all too often overlooked. The truth is, proper dental care is just as important for dogs and cats as it is for humans.

One sign that your pet needs to have their teeth cleaned is bad breath. Bad breath is caused by bacteria in the gums and on the teeth. These bacteria build colonies which mix with saliva and blood cells to form plaque. When ignored, plaque can lead to disease of both the gums and teeth. It can also become mineralized and harden into tartar which can cause erosion of tissues. Not only can poor dental health cause your dog or cat to have terrible breath, but it can cause a host of health problems.

If your pet’s teeth are not cleaned and cared for regularly, it can lead to gum disease. More serious gum disease can result in tooth and bone loss. It can also cause bacteria to enter the bloodstream and can even affect some of the major organs of the body, including the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys! You can see now how important pet dental health is to your pet’s longevity and well being!

It is important to clean your pet’s teeth regularly. You can purchase a special toothbrush from the local pet store, as well as pet teeth cleaning products. There are many different kinds of products such as chew toys, toothpaste, and pet dental rinses. I recently came across a dental spray that is supposed to aid in removing plaque and tartar called Plaque Attack although I don’t know if it is effective or not. Check with your veterinarian to find out which products they feel are most appropriate. It is also extremely important to have the teeth of your dog or cat checked yearly by a veterinarian, as well as having their teeth professionally cleaned.

I just found this today. I’m not sure how long it’s going to be available for, but it’s worth checking out. If you have never tried your dog or cat on raw food, now is your chance to see how they like it with a free sample from Wysong.

Free Sample Wysong Raw Dog or Cat Food – Facebook Fan

Wysong Custom Sample Pack – Their facebook page is offering a free sample to all their fans at the link posted above

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Do I need to supplement a raw diet?
Nutritionists still recommend supplementing any diet because the quality of food is no longer what it used to be years ago. Our land is not as fertile as it used to be. Over-farming the land has taken vital nutrients from the soil. Also, the weather elements (wind, severe rains, flooding, etc.) have taken their toll as well. As a result, today’s food supply is less nutritious. Therefore, supplementation with a good vitamin/mineral mix is recommended. Digestive enzymes and probiotics are also recommended for the first couple of weeks while your pet is becoming accustomed to his/her new raw diet.

Is it safe to feed raw to my pet?
It is very safe to feed a properly prepared diet to your pet. During their pre-domesticated years, carnivores in the wild ate the flesh of prey animals infected with parasites and viruses. They lived and prospered on a RAW diet. A raw diet provides enzymes necessary for complete, proper digestion and absorption to occur.

What about bones? My veterinarian has always told me not to feed bones to my pet.
It is fine to feed raw bones to carnivores. Raw bones provide a perfect ratio of Calcium to Phosphorus, as well as trace minerals. Supervision is always in order when your pet is enjoying a good chew on his/her bone. COOKED bones should NEVER be fed. Cooked bones can splinter and can be very dangerous to any animal.

Image via Wikipedia

More and more people (including breeders, veterinarians, and other professionals) are taking a look at what we are feeding our pets. Can a commercial kibble supply the nutrients that are essential for a long and healthy life? Is there a better way to ensure that our pets are getting what they need?

There are many reasons to consider a BARF diet for our pets. One of the most important being the ingredients in most of the commercial kibbles on the market. This is not to say that some are not better than others, but were our pets really made to eat these processed, preserved concoctions that some manufacturers try to pass off as food? These foods are not put on the market to promote and nurture healthy animals, but rather they are designed to make the pet food company money, and make you (the consumer) happy. Aside from some of the shocking things you can find in some commercial pet foods (this is another article altogether), the fact that they are cooked is yet another problem. Vitamins, amino acids and natural digestive enzymes are all destroyed by heat and we are left with a lump of food that is hard to digest and contains little nutritional value.

“BARF is about feeding dogs properly. The aim of BARF is to maximize the health, longevity and reproductive capacity of dogs and by so doing, minimize the need for veterinary intervention. How do you feed a dog properly? You feed it the diet that it evolved to eat. … Artificial grain based dog foods cause innumerable health problems. They are not what your dog was programmed to eat during its long process of evolution. A biologically appropriate diet for a dog is one that consists of raw whole foods similar to those eaten by the dogs’ wild ancestors. The food fed must contain the same balance and type of ingredients as consumed by those wild ancestors. This food will include such things as muscle meat, bone, fat, organ meat and vegetable materials and any other foods that will mimic what was those wild ancestors ate.” Dr. Ian Billinghurst

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