Prepping your house, wardrobe and routines ahead of time can help ease the transition for both you and your new family member. Here are some tips to welcome a new pet into your household and ensure a smooth transition for everyone:

Pet-proof Your Home
Just as you would baby-proof a house for an infant, make sure to pet-proof your house for your furry friend. Rearrange your living space by placing anything breakable at a higher level. Baby gates work well to prevent dogs from entering areas of the house that aren’t safe for them, or places you don’t want them to be. Remember, cats can jump extreme distances, so clean off the top of your cabinets and refrigerator in case your kitty decides those are his or her favorite places to play “hide and pounce.”

Manage Pet Hair on Your Clothing
There are many joys of owning a pet but many would agree, if they have a “pet peeve” about their four-legged friends, it’s the shedding. A surprising 57 percent of women are hesitant to wear black clothing around cats and dogs because of the lint and pet hair it attracts, according to a Procter & Gamble study conducted in August. However, you don’t need to change your wardrobe just to snuggle with your new pet. Use the Bounce Dryer Bar or Bounce dryer sheets when doing the laundry to help repel pet hair from your black clothing. Visit the Bounce Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bounce for more information.

Prepare for Pet Odor
A dog or cat will introduce new smells to your house. You can help contain these pet smells with frequent vacuuming, disinfecting toys on a regular basis, and clumping and deodorizing litter. Regularly bathing your dog is an important part of keeping their skin and coats clean and odor-free. Also, brushing your dog or cat’s teeth can help keep his or her mouth healthy and help prevent bad breath.

Help Your New Pal Adjust
Place a cozy bed in several rooms where your pet will be allowed, giving him or her a comfortable place to snuggle and sleep. This will help encourage your pet to stay off the furniture. Keep in mind that your pet has a highly developed sense of smell, and a brand new bed from the store could contain strange odors to him. Rubbing a blanket or old towel on your pet’s bed can help make the smells of the bed more familiar and friendly.

You’ll enjoy spending time with your new four-legged friend as they become a part of your family. With your home and wardrobe prepped for his or her enthusiasm and fur, you won’t have to worry about much except making your pet feel welcome.

The post Welcome a New Pet Into your Home with These Tips first appeared on The How Do Gardener.

Over the past decade, as the population of dog and cat owners has increased, the number of pets that are receiving proper veterinary care has seen an alarming decline. A two-phase study of pet owners and veterinarians, which was commissioned by Bayer HealthCare LLC, Animal Health Division and conducted by Brakke Consulting in collaboration with the National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues, assessed this disturbing trend.

Data from the Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study suggests that the decline in veterinary visits could be due to misconceptions pet owners have about their pet’s health. Below is a list of pet health myths along with facts that can help pet owners understand the importance of veterinary care:

* Myth: Annual wellness exams are unnecessary and do not help my pet.

Fact: The recent Bayer study found that 95 percent of veterinarians surveyed believe that companion animals – both dogs and cats – require at least one veterinary well-visit annually. Yet many owners think that their pets only need to go to the veterinarian for vaccinations or shots. During routine check-ups, veterinarians evaluate health status using a number of tools such as ear and eye checks, listening to the pet’s heart, X-rays and blood work. By using a range of medical techniques, veterinarians can catch conditions that, if undetected, can become costly-to-treat or chronic illnesses.

* Myth: All it takes is a click of the computer mouse and I can figure out what’s wrong with my pet.  

Fact: All too often, pet owners look to the Internet for answers regarding their sick pet. According to the Bayer study, 39 percent of pet owners look online before consulting their veterinarian if the pet gets sick or injured. With the availability of online resources – some helpful and some not – pet owners are waiting too long to bring their pets in for care, and the pets are sicker than they would have been if the pet owner brought their pet in at the first sign of concern. The Internet can’t cure whatever issue your pet is having, and this delay could lead to costlier and more time intensive treatment.

* Myth: It is simply not as important to bring your cat to the vet as it is your dog, and the stress of taking the cat isn’t worth it.

Fact: Cat owners know all too well the challenge of putting a cat in a carrier and transporting it to the veterinarian, and the stress cats sometimes exhibit once you actually get them there. In the battle between cats and humans to get to the vet, cats are clearly winning. The Bayer study found that more than one-third of cats had not been to the veterinarian in the last year, missing out on necessary care.

With this in mind, many veterinarians are taking steps to create more “cat-friendly” areas in their clinics. For example, some veterinarians have separate entrances for cats, or quiet rooms away from dogs for cats and their owners.

* Myth: Older pets need less care than younger pets.

Fact: There is a perception that, since older pets require fewer vaccinations, they need less veterinary care. But, older animals are more susceptible to a range of chronic and costly illnesses like diabetes, cancer and arthritis. Much like humans, as pets age, they need frequent medical care and observation to ensure continued optimum health.

* Myth: I just need to bring my pet in when it is sick; the value of an annual wellness exam is not comparable to the cost of a visit.

Fact: Think about all the doctors you see during the year. From an ophthalmologist to a dentist to your internist or family doctor. For your pet, the veterinarian provides all these services. When your pet goes for an annual wellness exam, that veterinarian needs to play the role of every doctor a human would see. So, for every veterinarian visit, Fluffy or Fido is getting a full check up with the skills of a number of doctors combined into one.

In addition to these important facts, veterinarians are working to keep up with their clients increasing use of social media. Some veterinarians are integrating new marketing strategies and tools, including using Facebook and Twitter or texting to connect with pet owners.

“When looking at these myths and facts, it is important to remember that the life span of pets is much shorter than that of humans, so skipping out on the veterinary visit for even one year, is similar to a human skipping doctor visits for seven years,” said Sheldon Rubin, DVM and Oprah’s former veterinarian of 15 years. “With this in mind, it is imperative that pets get the healthcare they need to live long and healthy lives, and don’t go more than a year without seeing a veterinarian.”

The post Your Pet's Health: Debunking Common Myths first appeared on The How Do Gardener.

According to new research from CSA International, a global testing and certification organization, 60 percent of pet owners are concerned about their pet’s safety when leaving them alone in a house. Three in 10 Americans have either experienced or know someone who has experienced a holiday decorations-related accident with a pet that required a trip to the vet’s office.

While the types of accidents varied, it’s important to remember these CSA International holiday safety tips to help keep your pets and family safe.

* Cords are not chew toys: But, sometimes you can’t prevent your pet from sneaking a sniff. Carefully inspect holiday light strings yearly and discard any with frayed cords, cracked lamp holders or loose connections. Ensuring that all holiday decorations are in proper working order and all cords are fully insulated are important steps to avoiding electrical and fire hazards and keeping pets safe when you’re away.

* Up, up and away: When decorating a tree or other indoor areas, place breakable ornaments and electrical decorations up high to protect both small children and pets. It’s also important to keep potentially deadly ingestible items out of pets’ reach, such as chocolate, poinsettias, tinsel and colorful ornaments that may look like a ball or toy.

* Spot the mark to keep Spot safe: When purchasing light strings, extension cords or electrical decorations, look for a certification mark such as one from CSA International. This provides assurance that products are tested and certified to applicable standards for safety and performance.

* Fresh or fake, be safe: If you buy a real Christmas tree, make sure it’s fresh. Fresh trees are less likely to dry out and become a fire hazard. Artificial trees with electrical lights should have a certification mark on them and should be made of fire-resistant materials. Pet owners should tether their Christmas tree to a wall to avoid tipping.

* No sparks for Sparky: Whenever possible, protect family and pets from electric shock by connecting all outdoor lighting into receptacles protected by weatherproof ground fault circuit interrupters.

* Holiday time is battery time: Make the holidays your time to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and other safety devices and replace batteries if needed.

* Cat and canine candle concerns: Don’t leave lighted candles unattended. Pets may burn themselves or cause a fire if they knock candles over. Be sure to use appropriate candle holders, placed on a stable surface, and keep away from combustibles. And if you leave the room, blow the candle out.

* Safe storage: After the holidays, wrap and store lights and decorations in their original packaging, as they likely contain manufacturer’s instructions on replacement bulbs and details for proper product use. Keep pets away from packages as well as your gift wrapping area. Swallowed string, ribbon, plastic, and even wrapping paper can lead to intestinal blockage and require a trip to the vet.

More tips for a safe holiday season that’s fun for you and your pets can be found at www.csaholiday.com.

The post Holiday Hazards to Avoid to Help Keep Pets Safe first appeared on The How Do Gardener.

“Many public shelters that are set up for disaster victims don’t accept pets so you need to find out in advance which shelters or hotels along your evacuation route will accept animals,” says Lyman Munson, vice president of risk services for Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. “It is tragic, but people have actually died because they were ordered to evacuate a disaster area but stayed because they did not want to leave their pets.”

With so many different potential disasters, advance planning is the best way for everyone to survive a catastrophe and get their lives back to normal as soon as possible.

Fireman’s Fund offers the following tips to protect your pets in the event of a disaster:

1. Have a disaster plan

Put together a list of boarding facilities and veterinarians along your evacuation route and outside your area that might be able to shelter your pets in an emergency.

Talk to your vet, the local humane society or the local emergency management agency for information regarding community evacuation plans that include pets.

Make advance arrangements to have a friend or neighbor pick up your pets in the event you are not at home when a disaster strikes. And, plan where you will meet or how you will reach each other.

2. Make a grab-and-go disaster kit for your pets

Just as you should have a G.O.O.D.(Get out of Dodge) disaster kit for your family, containing important papers and other key items, you should prepare a similar kit for your pets. It should contain the following:

* Medication and medical records (including proof of rabies vaccination) in a waterproof container.
* Leashes, harnesses, crates and carriers for transporting your pet.
* A muzzle, if your pet requires one.
* Food and water for at least three days.
* Cat litter and litter box.
* Comfort toys.
* Recent photo of your pet in case you become separated.
* Name and phone number of your veterinarian.

3. If you must evacuate, take your pets

Be prepared to leave early; do not wait for an official evacuation as you might be ordered to leave your pets behind.

Make sure your pet is wearing up-to-date identification. Include the phone number of a friend or relative outside your area in case your pet gets lost and you cannot be reached. And mark the crate or carrier with similar information.

Birds should be transported in a secure travel cage or carrier.

4. After the disaster

Once you return to your home, do not allow your pets to roam loose right away. While you assess the damage, keep dogs on a leash and other animals in their carriers.

Familiar landmarks and smells might be gone, and your pet may become disoriented. Pets can easily get lost in such situations, so give them some time to get used to their “new” surroundings. Be patient. Try to get your pets back into their normal routines as soon as possible, and be on the lookout for stress-related behavioral problems; if these persist, talk to your veterinarian.

“Planning for your pets ahead of time will relieve stress and help you and your family to focus on safety during and after a disaster,” says Munson. “Safety should be your primary consideration.”

The post Include your Pets in your Evacuation and Disaster Planning first appeared on The How Do Gardener.

To help you make sure you’re giving your dog the very best in life, think of it as sharing a lifestyle – what’s good for you is also good for your dog. If you’re a couch potato, it’s likely that your dog will be as well. If you stay healthy and active, then your dog will have reason be healthy and active along with you. After all, they were born to play.  

To give yourself and Fido a healthy-living makeover, start with these tips.

Boost Nutrition
We’ve long known the benefits of healthy eating, but convenience foods and mass-produced meals have made it easier to be lax about eating fresh foods that are beneficial to the body. Consider remodeling your refrigerator with foods that are good for you like local produce or fresh chicken from farms in your area. While the farmers market isn’t the most plausible place to get dog food, you can choose foods made from high-quality ingredients that meet all of your dog’s nutritive needs. Nutro Ultra food for dogs combines the perfect blend of nature’s finest ingredients to help keep your dog healthy, including lean proteins like farm-raised chicken and pasture-fed lamb for strong muscles, sun-ripened fruits and farm-grown vegetables packed with antioxidants for a strong immune system, and a mix of whole grains and natural sunflower oil for a radiant skin and coat. Visit UltraHolistic.com to learn more and take the Ultra Challenge to help you make the best choice for your dog.

Get Moving
According to a recent survey, thirty percent of dog owners are looking to increase the exercise their dog gets this year. Putting down the remote control to take a walk or a run has countless benefits, from building muscle to giving your mood a lift. And the benefits are the same for your dog, including the opportunity to manage weight in a healthy way. You’ll both see the positive effects if you make the effort.

If you’re not a fan of doing the same thing over and over, draw up a list of activities that you and your pet can do together. Put it on your refrigerator to give yourself inspiration at a moment’s notice. Add activities like hiking, playing catch at a local dog park and going to a nearby lake for a swim, or make a list of new neighborhoods you’d like to explore.

Challenge Yourself
It can be easier to get motivated when you have something to work toward, so set fitness and health goals for you and your dog. Remember that it can be more than an exercise checklist; include activities such as a family challenge to eat more fruits and vegetables, including “superfoods” that are nutrient-dense like blueberries, pomegranate and pumpkin. And – good news for your pet – your pooch can benefit from these superfoods as well. Ultra food for dogs includes nutrient-dense superfoods and high-quality proteins which keep your dog healthy and active at every age.  

Cut your Stress
Pets and people get stressed out, and stress is increasingly recognized as having a negative effect on health. While some bad stress is unavoidable, do what you can to give yourself and your dog a bit of relaxation by spending time doing things you both enjoy.

Luckily for people, simply spending time with a pet is one way to de-stress – that’s something you can take advantage of every day. Also consider the stress-busting effects of giving yourself a little indulgence every now and again. You might want to allow yourself a favorite healthy dessert and give your pup a healthy treat of his own – you’ll both get to enjoy a tasty little “extra” that can put a smile on your face and a wag in his tail.

The post The Perfect Balance: Your Healthy Lifestyle Benefits your Pet Too first appeared on The How Do Gardener.