I cannot believe that he is already 7! Yesterday, on his 7th Birthday, Rooney graduated from intermediate dog training! We were able to enjoy a mini celebration with the other puppies in his class before class started! (I couldn’t take more photos because I didn’t want to distract from the training class).
Birthday Celebration Essentials:
Treats from Chewy.com for Rooney’s classmates including:
Baked dog cookies from Murphy’s Paw (our local dog store).
Birthday hat!
Disclaimer: I am a Chewy.com influencer, but I chose to order treats from Chewy for this event for 2 reasons. 1) I saved money, because you can often buy treats at a discounted price 2) I ordered them on Monday and they arrived on Tuesday, so I didn’t have to order too far in advance, but also didn’t have to go to the store.
The summer can be a fun and exciting time, but summer activities can bring new surprises for your pet. Therefore, today launches our Summer Safety Series with Trupanion! In this series we will cover Beach Safety, Pool Safety, Car & Travel Safety and Summer Activity Safety.
A few years ago, my husband and I took Rooney to the beach in Pacifica. It was a beautiful day and the weather was a welcomed retreat from the typical August summer heat. As we were walking with Rooney, enjoying the sand and taking in the waves, I kept my eyes on the birds in the distance waiting for Rooney to notice (and chase) them. Additionally, I was trying to be vigilant not to let Rooney anywhere near the numerous jellyfish that paint the Northern California beaches. Despite the dangers that lurk at the beach, the beautiful views and the built-in doggy exercise make it an excellent location to frequent during the summer months. Which is why I want to kick off our Trupanion Summer Safety Series discussing Beach Safety!
1) What are your top safety tips for pet parents who frequent the beach in the summer?
Make sure you rinse off your pet with fresh water after going to the beach, to minimize irritation of their skin. Try to avoid areas of the beach that attract sand fleas. Beaches that are open to pets often also can put you and your pet at risk for acquiring intestinal parasites, such as hookworms. For this reason, pet owners should wear foot protection (shoes or sandals) and their pet should be regularly dewormed. Make sure your pet is always supervised, as many things that wash up on the beach should not be ingested.
Due to our beach experience described above, I usually keep Rooney on a leash at the beach, especially if there are no dogs to play with (that leaves more time for Rooney to look for mischief). Rinsing off your pet after they play at the beach is a great idea that I haven’t considered in the past. Since Rooney has sensitive skin and allergies, I will be sure to rinse Rooney off on future beach trips.
2) At Trupanion what kinds of claims are commonly associated with trips to the beach?
Dehydration and heat stroke can be associated with trips to the beach, especially if your pet tries to drink the salty water. Trupanion has also seen some beach-specific claims, such as sunburns and burnt paws from the hot sand.
The data definitely speaks for itself here. Be sure to keep your pet hydrated and give them an opportunity and area to cool off. The best item that helps me keep Rooney hydrated during outings is the Gulpy.
In addition to the amazing tips from Dr. Nold, here are a few additional reasons to keep your dog on leash at the beach:
Watch Out for the Seashells
Trupanion has seen several claims associated with injuries sustained while running along the beach. Beach related injuries include, cuts on the paw pads from seashells, and sprains and ligament tears from running on uneven sand.
Wildlife
In addition to the obvious threats from jellyfish, Trupanion has seen claims where pets have had run-ins with otters and birds. So, keep your eyes out for the wildlife!
Lastly, make sure your pet is ready for the beach…
If you aren’t visiting the beach often, your pet might be completely overwhelmed when you arrive at the beach. Ideally, you would visit the beach for the first time on a less-crowded day of the week possibly early in the morning so that your dog can get used to their surroundings. Additionally, make sure your dog knows some basic commands and is socialized before visiting a more popular beach. They should be able to greet strangers, new dogs, and most importantly know the command “leave it”.
Will your pet be visiting the beach this summer? Stay tuned for some Pool Safety Tips next Thursday!
The summer can be a fun and exciting time, but summer activities can bring new surprises for your pet. Therefore, today launches our Summer Safety Series with Trupanion! In this series we will cover Beach Safety, Pool Safety, Car & Travel Safety and Summer Activity Safety.
P.S. I know Rooney is off-leash in the first photo but that was specifically for the photoshoot. We were the only people on the beach and I had a lot of treats in my pocket. 🙂 I almost always keep Rooney on a leash at the beach. Photo Credit: Pawpawrazzi Pet Photography
Now that it’s officially summer, we will spend the next few weeks discussing summer travel tips, safety tips, activities and recipes that are perfect for spending time with the pets in your life!
Therefore, today we partnered with Petcurean to share with you some dog-friendly summer trips and activities!
Camping was the first activity to make the summer vacations list for Petcurean! This is what they had to say:
“There are thousands of campgrounds across the US and Canada and most of them welcome your well behaved leashed pet. Dogs love the adventure of investigating all the smells that abound in the natural world, but please be careful to respect the rules and don’t let your dog disturb sensitive areas like salmon spawning streams or delicate native vegetation.”
I would add that pet parents should take extra precautions when it comes to protecting their pets from wildlife. In California, we have to be vigilant about protecting our campgrounds from bears (I’ve seen one in person!) and mountain lions. Additionally, with small dogs, pet parents need to be aware of the large birds in the area that can pick up their dog. The best thing you can do on a camping trip is keep your dog on leash.
Road Trip Activities
Last year we took a dog-friendly Southwest road trip with Rooney and it was so much fun! Petcurean suggests looking up off-leash dog parks along your route, so that your dog has pre-planned locations to stretch their legs on a road trip. I totally agree. Sometimes its difficult even for me to sit in the car for long periods of time without feeling antsy, so planned breaks for dogs are super important. While we didn’t have any dog parks scheduled along our route for the Southwest road trip, we did designate stops for dog beaches along the way.
Hotels and Resorts
Just because your trip isn’t pet-focused, it doesn’t mean that your dog can’t be a part of the family vacation. This is what Petcurean had to say:
“More and more hotels and resorts are catering to pet owners. Some even offer extras like beds, blankets and treats. Be prepared to pay a nightly pet fee which will differ from place to place, and be careful to leave your room tidy and as hair-free as possible. If your pet is a bed dweller, bring along a clean old extra sheet or blanket and put it on top of the bed to protect it from excess hair and possible muddy or wet pawprints, (or drool!).”
These days with Airbnb, pet parents are able to look for pet-friendly alternatives for their upcoming vacations and don’t have to settle for non-pet-friendly rentals. You can now rent chic pet-friendly homes for your next vacation!
I don’t know about you, but Yappy Hours with dogs are becoming increasing popular in this area, which is awesome! These activities are a great way to enjoy the cooler evening hours with your dog and a few friends. If your dog is high energy like Rooney, I highly recommend walking them to the location, or taking them to a dog park first so that they don’t feel too energized in the restaurant.
Winery and Brewery Visits
In addition to Yappy Hours, dog-friendly wineries and breweries are also becoming more popular. If you are on the west coast and looking for dog-friendly wineries or breweries, I highly recommend DogTrekker as a resource. Also, I know this might seem random because I live in California, but if you live in Minnesota, check out Sidewalk Dog! Sidewalk dog is a great local resource for dog-friendly locations and activities.
Pool Parties
Lots of doggie Meetup groups and communities organize pool parties in the summer to provide pets with an opportunity to swim and cool off. Rooney is a big fan of any activity involving swimming!
So, that’s our list! What pet-friendly summer trips or activities do you look forward to? Have you stayed in a pet-friendly Airbnb? Or have you taken your dog on a road trip? Tell us about it and enter our giveaway!
Disclaimer: This blog post was made possible by Only Natural Pet. I received financial compensation for sharing my opinions about Only Natural Pet and their products. However, My Kid Has Paws only recommends products we believe our readers will value.
Preventing against fleas and ticks is a problem that every pet parent faces. Sometimes the problem is seasonal, but no matter the conditions, prevention should be top of mind for every pet parent. Today, I want to share with you some available options for fighting the ever-present flea and tick problem both for your pet and in your home.
What’s the Big Deal with Fleas and Ticks?
Occasionally when working at the veterinary hospital, I noticed that a few pet parents skipped out on the flea and tick prevention at their pet’s initial veterinary exam. On occasion, they declined due to the expense. Sometimes, they concluded that the prevention was unnecessary because their pet will be mostly inside. Often, pet parents didn’t quite understand the severity of flea and tick problems. It is important, however, to understand that fleas and ticks cause a real threat to your pet’s health.
For example, a tick bite or infestation can lead to Lyme disease, which can be detrimental to the health of your pet. Additionally, fleas can lead to flea bite allergy and dermatitis, which can begin a potentially long list of skin problems.
The reality is that pet parents don’t actually need to know the list of problems associated with fleas and ticks. All anyone needs to know is that they can cause problems for your pet that can be prevented, so let’s talk about prevention!
Is There a Pill for That?
The answer is yes. For a long time, there were only a few options that dominated the flea and tick prevention market. However, these days there are a variety of options that pet parents can choose from:
1) Topical
Topical flea, heartworm, and tick medications are available and are the type of medication most pet parents recognize. Many of these medications will protect your pet from more than one insect intruder. For example, Revolution, a product that I have used on Rooney in the past, prevents against fleas, heartworm, and intestinal parasites.
2) Pill form
Flea and tick medications do come in pill form. We tried one of these products in the past, and they upset Rooney’s stomach, so we discontinued the use of that. The benefit to a pill form or chewable is that your pet doesn’t have to stay dry for 24-48 hours before, and after, application as they do with topical medications. Therefore, these are great alternatives for pets who like to swim.
Additionally, there is no concern regarding kids petting a dog or cat after their the medication has been administered (as is the concern with topical medication).
3) Chewable
Chewables have been common on the market for treating heartworm for quite some time, but are also an option for flea and tick prevention.
What About Collars?
Flea collars are available on the market, and a few have the ability to repel ticks as well. This type of flea and tick repellent is preferred by some pet parents due to their long-lasting effects (up to 8 months).
Only Natural Pet EasyDefense Spray is a powerful, natural flea & tick repellent for both dogs and cats. Made with NO DEET, pyrethrins, or synthetic pesticides, this flea & tick spray for dogs and cats keeps biting pests off your pet.
In recent years many of the more traditional flea and tick prevention alternatives have been under attack in the market due to some pets having a negative reaction to the chemicals. The active ingredients in the EasyDefense Spray include; geraniol (a natural extract from the geranium plant) and peppermint oil.
The purpose of this specific spray is to provide you with a natural way to fight the good fight against fleas and ticks. That being said, you will need to spray your pet each time they go outside, but the good news is that you can use it to protect your home as well.
If you have been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that I want to hear what veterinarians think about a product, especially one that is so essential to the overall health of a pet, before I make any recommendations. So here is Holistic Veterinarian, Dr. Jean Hofve, to provide you with more information on preventing fleas and ticks naturally.
Notice that Dr. Jean Hofve mentions a few things to keep in mind when opting for a natural solution. Pet parents need to be very diligent about protecting all of the pets you have in your home, and your home itself. Basically, if you are going to opt for a more natural solution, it will take more work on your part.
In addition to the diligent use of natural products, and the essential oils they contain, pet parents will need to make sure all the pets in the home are bathed regularly, and the home is cleaned as frequently as possible (PetMD).
Additional Steps
If you are interested in the natural remedies of Only Natural Pet, they offer the EasyDefense Spray as part of a larger natural kit to help protect your pet and home against fleas and ticks. As discussed by Dr. Hofve, the best way to implement a natural solution is to take a comprehensive approach.
What remedies or natural treatments have you tried to prevent fleas and ticks? Are you interested in trying Only Natural Pet EasyDefense Spray?
You can order online at Only Natural Pet and receive free shipping and save 20% by using the code AFLEA20SF and clicking here.
OR, you can enter our giveaway and receive a $50 Gift card to Only Natural Pet!
I don’t know about you, but as someone who cares about animal welfare and sustainability, I do care where my food comes from and how it is sourced. Thankfully, in recent years a lot of food production companies are under pressure to provide more information about where their ingedients come from and how they are handled. I think this movement is critical to the future of our planet and our health.
In addition to knowing where my food comes from, I like to know where Rooney’s food is sourced. Today, I would like to share with you some information about Petcurean’s GATHER food and how they gather their top quality ingredients and resources.
The following information provided by Petcurean will answer many sustainability, ingredient and quality questions you might have about their food.
To help you find the important information you are looking for, I have added a Rooney icon where the info provided is about how your pet will benefit from the selected ingredients, and a leaf where we discuss sustainability!
What is GATHER and how was it created?
ABOUT GATHER: with the knowledge that consumers are increasingly demanding sustainability, transparency and organic ingredients in their pet food, and scrutinizing more than ever for quality and safety, Petcurean created GATHER. GATHER is a new category of pet food crafted from certified, organic, non-GMO and sustainably produced ingredients. The recipes are perfectly blended and balanced to provide dogs and cats with premium quality, natural nutrition and are free from rendered ingredients.
The creation of GATHER is proof that you don’t have to sacrifice quality for sustainability, or sustainability for safety and ingredients.
What does the industry say about GATHER?
CERTIFICATIONS: Pet food certifications are used in the food industry to provide information to consumers about the way in which a food is produced. Certifications are developed by governments or independent organizations which establish the certification’s ‘standards’. These are the documents that describe the criteria a food producer must meet in order to become certified. To become certified, food producers must undergo a highly detailed audit by an accredited company that determines whether the certification standard is being met. The certification cannot be used by the food producer until the auditor determines that all of the relevant criteria on the standard are fulfilled. To maintain certification, most certification bodies require an annual re-certification audit.
Many certifications have been developed for the food industry, each having its own unique set of standards. GATHER™ dog and cat recipes have received three different food certifications to provide transparency about the ingredients that have been carefully selected for these diets: Organic, Vegan, Marine Stewardship Council. Find out more here.
Who is providing these high-quality ingredients?
Because Petcurean is a family-owned and operated business, it is very important to them that each supplier of their ingredients provides customers with the same level of care and transparency that they provide as a family-owned business.
FARMER/PRODUCER PROFILES:
GATHER Wild Ocean & Free Acres: At Petcurean, we’re always thinking and talking about pet nutrition, formulations and ingredients for our premium-quality pet foods. We’ve been excited by all the benefits of krill, and are excited to include it in two of our new GATHER recipes; Free Acres ™ and Wild Ocean™ for dogs. Our producer partner is Aker Biomarine, certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (Aker Biomarine’s extraordinary sustainability practices were critical in our decision to partner with them). The krill we use in GATHER is fished from the oceans surrounding Antarctica, using proprietary Eco-Harvesting™ technology. This prevents by-catch (fish and animals other than krill) and brings the live krill onto the ship where it is processed immediately to ensure maximum freshness.
GATHER Wild Ocean: Catching cod by longline is one of the most environmentally-friendly and sustainable methods of fishing used today. A particular school of cod can be located, identified, and brought on board, without the damage to the ocean floor associated with some net fishing. Individually-hooked fish are handled carefully, and the minimal by-catch of fish other than cod are released, live. These are just a few of the reasons we chose Alaskan Leader Fisheries LLC to supply us with their Alaskan Leader® brand cod for our GATHER Wild Ocean Recipe. Alaskan Leader, family founded and family run (just like Petcurean), operates out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The fish they provide us for GATHER Wild Ocean is the same Alaskan cod that’s sold in supermarkets and served in fine restaurants.
What is the Marine Stewardship Council and why is it important?
Alaskan Leader Fisheries LLC is certified by the Marine Stewardship Council. The MSC Fisheries Standard is designed to assess if a fishery is managed for protection against overfishing, habitat damage, and pollution. It was developed in consultation with scientists, the fishing industry, and conservation groups and reflects the most up-to-date understanding of internationally-accepted fisheries science and best practice management.
Why did Petcurean select Alaskan Cod for their pet food recipes?
Alaskan Cod is the single source fish protein we use in Wild Ocean; it provides dogs with an excellent source of high-quality protein, is rich in the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, and is a source of essential vitamins and minerals, specifically niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, phosphorus, and selenium. The catch is so accurately targeted and recorded, that we can track the cod in a package of Wild Ocean right back to the day the cod was caught, which Alaskan Leader vessel caught it, and where it was caught.
What about the non-meat ingredients? Where do they come from?
GATHER Endless Valley & Free Acres: Farmer Direct is a farming co-operative based in Saskatchewan, Canada. Their 60+ strong family farms grow certified organic oil seeds, oats, lentils, beans, wheats, ancient grains and peas to the Canadian Organic Regulation, USDA National Organic Program and the European Union Organic Standards. The farmer-owners in the cooperative have been stewards of the land for generations. In fact, a number of the families have been farming the same land for over a century and were practicing organic agricultural techniques before organic certification was even available.
Why is it so important that farmers are stewards for their own lands?
Well, as Petcurean explains, we don’t want farmers or other food producers to use the land and not consider the need to use it again in the future. We want farmers to not only consider, but prioritize sustainable practices that protect the land and the environment.
Naturally, we were drawn to Farmer Direct Co-Op as our supplier of the organic peas for our Endless Valley and Free Acres recipes. Their sustainability practices include rebuilding the soil through proper crop rotations, preventing topsoil erosion with cover crops, protecting shared waterways and air by never using toxic herbicides and pesticides, and honoring a farmer’s right to independence by never using genetically engineered seeds.
Why did Petcurean select organic peas for their Endless Valley and Free Acres recipes?
Peas are a nutrient-rich, environmentally-friendly ingredient that contain a variety of compounds to support health and are an excellent source of carbohydrates, protein, and many essential vitamins and minerals. They provide most of the essential amino acids required by dogs and cats. Peas contain insoluble fiber, soluble fiber, and resistant starch, which all provide benefits for the digestive system. Peas also contain compounds known for their antioxidant properties that may protect dogs and cats against various diseases such as cancer. Also, a diet with peas as the primary source of carbohydrates has been shown to lower insulin levels in obese dogs.
What about the GATHER chicken based recipes?
GATHER FREE ACRES: When we were creating our new GATHER Free Acres recipes for dogs and cats, we wanted to have certified organic chicken as a primary protein source. Our search for the ideal partner took us across North America. We spoke to many producers, inspected their farms and finally decided on a family-owned and operated company in Northern Indiana known as Miller Poultry, who’ve been around since 1942. The folks at Miller provide us with a reliable, consistent source of USDA certified organic, free-run chickens that are raised in smaller flocks on Amish family farms.
One of the main questions regarding chicken these days is – are they free range? But Miller Poultry goes above and beyond:
These “broiler quality” chickens are fed an all-vegetable, antibiotic-free diet with no animal by-products, animal fats or artificial coloring. They also have access to the outdoors and three living enhancements that include things to perch on, hide behind and run through. Miller Poultry strictly adheres to the humane treatment policies defined by the Whole Foods animal welfare spokesperson, Temple Grandin. They don’t de-beak their chicks and use both male and female chickens. We were very pleased to hear that Miller has invested heavily in “Where Food Comes From”, a program that allows them to trace every bird to the specific farm where it was raised. And although chicken production is a water-intense process, they capture and treat all the water they use in the harvesting process, and then spray it on croplands surrounding their plant.
Why is chicken such an important ingredient for our pet’s food?
This remarkable-quality organic chicken with USDA/MOSA/BRC/GAP certifications is the single source poultry protein we use in our GATHER Free Acres recipes for dogs and cats. It’s a perfect meat source, in that it’s a high-quality protein which supplies all essential amino acids; it’s a source of omega 6 fatty acids and a source of essential vitamins and minerals, in particular niacin, vitamin B6, phosphorus, potassium, and selenium.
So, what do you think? Are you ready to try Petcurean’s GATHER for your pet? Enter our Giveaway below to try a free bag of GATHER!
Disclaimer: We are part of the Petcurean Blogger Advocate program. However, we feed Rooney Petcurean every day. My Kid Has Paws only shares information about products we like and we believe our readers will enjoy.
