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Dog Inspired Art for Your Home

July 21, 2018

Main Photo Credit: Tom Mosser Art

If you are a Pet Parent like myself, it’s likely that you want to include your dog, and possibly animals in general, in the theme and decor of your home.

Currently, we are renovating our first house, and I am trying to find ways to add subtle hints of dog and animal-themed art and decor to our home. It would be dogs only, but let’s be real, we love animals and I’m excited to showcase that in our home.

As we approach this renovation, I have my eyes on a lot of really beautiful dog inspired art pieces that I think will complement the overall theme of our home. My goal is to ultimately have a nice mix and collection of art pieces that my husband and I love, that also fit into the theme of our home; traditional, urban, and cozy. I know that seems like a lot of words that don’t fit together, but our house is a small craftsman so we try to keep clean lines, and we live in the Bay Area which naturally lends to more urban styles with wood accents, but I also love blankets.

While searching for the perfect art pieces for our bedroom, which was the first on the list to get an update, I came across so many dog inspired art pieces that I want share with our readers. I split them into categories that I made up based on the actual art descriptions. I wasn’t specific about color or dog breed, I was simply looking for art that would subtly add whimsy to our home. Enjoy!

Vintage

Dog Inspired Art for Your Home

1 | 2 | 3

Sketches

Dog Inspired Art for Your Home

1 | 2 | 3

Watercolors & Oil Paintings

Dog Inspired Art for Your Home

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Photography

Dog Inspired Art for Your Home

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Prints

Dog Inspired Art for Your Home

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Our Room

Dog Inspired Art for Your Home

We’ve made the most decor progress in our bedroom. So far, we have painted 1.5 walls (there is a half wall in our bedroom leading up to the window) a dark green that really makes our house feel a little more cozy. I’m afraid to think about how many Rooney hairs have been painted into those walls.

On one of the opposing walls, we are looking to add some art that complements the colors already dominating the room, which includes a deep blue green wall, gray bedding, and black lamps with brass accents.

 

My favorite of the 3 above is #1. I like that the dog’s fur also encompasses a forest, which complements the paint color.

I like #2 because it is so subtle and neutral, making it a great larger piece in the gallery wall. Lastly, #3 I was drawn to because it’s so hard to capture a black dog against a black background, and this artist captured this dog so beautifully. I would love to add this piece as a small additional to a gallery wall, and an ode to beautiful black senior dogs.

1 | 2 | 3

Which piece of art stood out to you?

I would love to hear more in the comments below; Do you have dog inspired art in your home? Did you enjoy this post?

Thank you so much for stopping by!

In Memory of Sugar the Golden Retriever

March 21, 2017

Today, I am participating in a blog hop in memory of a wonderful and bright soul, Sugar the Golden Retriever!

When I first started blogging in 2013, I began reaching out and following some very inspirational pet blogs. One of the first that caught my attention was Sugar the Golden Retriever. The content was excellent and the photos of Sugar, a beautiful feathery Golden Retriever, were nothing short of digital sunshine.

On a whim, I reached out to the author, Rosalyn to see if she had any advice for a new pet blogger. Despite being incredibly busy, Rosalyn got back to me with encouraging advice and suggested that I join BlogPaws — a community I am so grateful to be a part of!

I had the honor of communicating with Rosalyn and then meeting her and Sugar at BlogPaws in 2014. Rosalyn is a generous and kind person, who was accompanied in life by a beautiful Golden Retriever with a golden smile.

Last Friday, I was deeply saddened to find out that Sugar had crossed the rainbow bridge.

You may remember that we shared some of Sugar’s recipes last month, and in her honor, I wanted to share with you a recipe from her cookbook: Cooking for Sugar. While Rosalyn and Sugar reviewed many items, I think that taste-testing recipes (and sharing them with other doggies) was probably Sugar’s favorite!

We will greatly miss you Sugar! Thank you for making the world a happier and brighter place!


Rescuing & Caring For Senior Pets

May 31, 2016

May is National Pet Month. National Pet Month is described in so many different ways, but mostly it is a time when we celebrate the joy and love that pets bring to our lives.

For today’s post, I would like to focus specifically on the joy that senior pets can bring to our lives and what you can do as a first time senior pet parent.

In the years I spent at the veterinary hospital, there were never more precious hours than the ones I spent caring for senior pets. Their sweet demeanor and eyes full of wisdom filled my heart with love and joy. Yet, so many senior pets remain in the shelters and rescues. If you are looking for a dog or cat to just love you. One that will save their energy for the special occasions like walks and playtime, one that will always be ready for a nap or snuggles, then you are looking for a senior pet.

If you are bringing home a senior pet for the first time, Petcurean and I want to share with you some tips on caring for these amazing creatures.

Exercise is Essential

Exercise is essential to the health of both pets and people. Particularly senior pets. When you are bringing a senior pet home for the first time, take a few weeks to see what their comfort level is for exercise. For example, a senior Border Collie might enjoy a 45-minute walk every day whereas a senior Bernese Mountain Dog might prefer two 20-minute walks each day. Once you discover their preference, provide them with regular and consistent exercise to maintain their weight and their muscle structure.

Exercise helps senior pets maintain a healthy body weight, and it helps slow the degeneration of joints from arthritis. Walking is excellent exercise. Swimming in a heated pool is also an excellent way to maintain joint mobility. – Petcurean

Proper Food is Essential

Making sure that your senior pet is receiving the appropriate amount of calories and supplements is crucial to keeping them healthy and mobile. A properly formed diet with the right mixture of protein and other nutrients is critical for longevity.

As older pets are less active, they need fewer calories. A high quality, limited ingredient diet is a great way to maintain weight in older pets, while addressing and sensitivities and ensuring they get the nutrition they need, like Petcurean’s Go! Limited Ingredient Duck Recipe for dogs. Dogs with joint problems may benefit from supplementation with glucosamine or fish oils. – Petcurean

Keep Those Teeth Clean

There is an entire month dedicated to Pet Dental Health and stressing the importance of that research and knowledge for pet parents. Make sure that your senior pet is visiting their veterinarian bi-annually for their oral health exam.

Dental care is just as important for pets as it is for humans. Dental disease is painful and may make eating difficult for your senior pet. If your dog won’t tolerate you brushing its teeth, consider dental treats, or dental toys designed to help keep the teeth clean and healthy. Teeth cleaning by your veterinarian will also help to maintain oral health.- Petcurean

Sorry, couch is full…

A photo posted by @petcurean on

Keep Your Home Senior Friendly

Making sure that your home is designed with your senior pet in mind is imperative. Your home should be easily accessible and complete with beds that support their joints. Recently, I discussed how we rearranged our furniture to protect Rooney’s back. While Rooney is not yet a senior, I always want to make sure he has access to comfortable spots in the house.

Older dogs may develop arthritis or other joint problems, which can make it harder for them to get around. You can help by providing ramps to help them navigate around the house, get up on the bed, or get outside. Orthopedic pet beds may help keep your pet comfortable and relieve pressure on the joints. – Petcurean

Show Them Love

Quality time comes in all shapes and sizes. Each pet likes to spend their days doing different things. Make sure that your senior pet gets that quality time from you. Don’t waste a minute!

Nothing tells your pet that you love them like a good belly rub or ear scratch. As your pet ages, physical contact is more important than ever. Every moment you have together is precious, and increasing the physical connection between you will strengthen your bond immeasurably. Maximize every opportunity for bonding with your pet – you will both be glad you did. – Petcurean

I want to thank Petcurean for putting together these points for senior pet care! Additionally, they put together this very cute video which is all about pet rescue. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I am a Petcurean Blogger Advocate. I have been compensated in exchange for providing my opinion. However, My Kid Has Paws only discusses products I truly believe in. In fact, I feed Petcurean to Rooney every day.

Cleanliness is Next to Dogliness: Keeping Your Pet’s Bowl Clean

April 27, 2016

Day 11 of our 30 Days to the Best Pet Home is focused on cleaning your pet’s bowls & the easiest pet bowls to keep clean.

If you are anything like me, you are a really busy pet parent. You try to keep the house as clean as you can, but sometimes it’s really hard to keep up with all of your chores. Additionally, I will always choose to take Rooney for a walk over doing my laundry, which means that I am often behind on my daily chores. Therefore, when the weekend rolls around, and we are busy cleaning up our kitchens and backyards, we might forget that it’s also time to clean the pet bowls. But that has to change.

Last week, we shared some important information about proper pet food storage. In many of the articles that discussed pet food storage, authors also mentioned that regular cleaning of your pet’s bowls is just as important as proper pet food storage for preventing your pet from consuming unwanted bacteria. As a matter of fact, according to the Huffington Post, the NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) International rated pet bowls as the 4th dirtiest spot in our homes.

Are there real dangers lurking in my pet’s bowl?

Unfortunately, the answer is yes. If you haven’t cleaned your pet’s food or water bowl in a while, you might be surprised to learn that there are a variety of potential health hazards lurking in their bowl. Here are 5 threats just to give you an idea:

  1. Serrate Marcescens “Pink Stuff”
  2. Yeast
  3. Mold
  4. Coliform (same family as E.Coli and Salmonella)
  5. Insects

So the question is, what is the recommended frequency for washing your dog or cat’s bowls?

Every day.

That’s right. Dr. Marty Becker’s co-author and pet professional, Gina Spadafori, recommends washing both the food and water bowls every day. Additionally, she recommends washing them in the hottest cycle of the dishwasher to make sure they are thoroughly sterilized (Vetstreet).

What should we use to wash the dishes?

Hot water and soap if you are washing the dishes every day. There are a few articles out there that suggest using bleach, but I wouldn’t use bleach. Bleach can be so harmful if not properly rinsed.

Cleanliness is Next to Dogliness: Keeping Your Pet's Bowl Clean

If you are at all concerned about harsh chemicals in your dish or dishwasher soap, you can always switch over to a more natural alternative. I really like Meyer’s Dish Soaps. Not only do they smell great (their lavender household cleaner smells awesome!), but they are free of the following chemicals:

  • Phthalates
  • Glycol Solvents
  • Chlorine
  • Formaldehyde
  • Artificial Colors
  • Parabens
  • Animal Derived Ingredients
  • MEA
  • DEA

What are the best types of bowls?

Several different sources stated that stainless steel or ceramic bowls are best for cleaning. Here are a few of my favorites!


 

As a result of my research, I will be washing Rooney’s bowls daily, and placing them in the dishwasher with each available cycle. What changes will you make?

What Do You Know About Pet Poisons? #MKHPMarchChallenge

March 6, 2016

Thus far through our 2016 Challenges, we have improved the amount of exercise we provide our pets, AND we have learned more about pet dental health. I don’t know about you, but my life and schedule has already undergone several major changes since 2016 started, and these challenges have really helped me stay focused as a pet parent. There are so many goals I set for myself this year, but being a better mom to Rooney and spending more time as a family is by far the most important! With this mentality still at the forefront of this year, I introduce to you the March Challenge.

This month we will be educating ourselves and others around us about pet poisons.

Unfortunately, the poisons that threaten our pets are everywhere; in the food we eat, in our gardens and backyards, on our walks, and the list goes on and on.

What Do You Know About Pet Poisons? #MKHPMarchChallenge

Because pet poisons are literally EVERYWHERE, the first step we can take to protect our pets is to educate ourselves! This month’s post will break down pet poisons as follows:

  1. Pet Poisons in the Garden
  2. Pet Poisons in the Fridge
  3. Pet Poisons in Everyday Life (i.e. the car, your purse, the neighbors yard, etc.)
  4. Clever ways to Educate Others

Lastly, I will include in each of these posts resources for you as a pet parent for prevention and action if you believe your pet has ingested a poisonous item.

By the way, the number 1 resource every pet parent needs is the phone number to the Pet Poison Hotline 855-764-7661.

Are there any poisons you would like to learn more about? What do you hope to accomplish with this month’s challenge?

 

Have you participated in our January and February challenges? Feel free to send photos to mykidhaspawsblog@gmail.com and I will share them in my monthly newsletter and upcoming blog posts!

If you want to participate in this month’s challenge, simply post a photo on social media and tag #MKHPMarchChallenge

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