Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Healthy Treats

While many people are aware that some human foods are toxic to dogs, it’s not always clear what you can and cannot feed your dog outside of the prepackaged food and treats you find at the pet store. Here are a few of the healthy snacks you can give to your pet, many of which you likely already have in your fridge or pantry:

  • Peanut Butter: Peanut butter is a favorite of many dogs. It’s a great training motivator and can be stuffed into a kong to keep your dog occupied for hours. For even longer enjoyment, stick a peanut butter kong in the freezer for a few hours before giving it to your pup!
  • Cooked Chicken: Chicken is great to add to your dog’s normal dog food, and makes for an easy-to-digest food if your pet is experiencing GI problems. A bland diet of boiled chicken and white rice can help to soothe your dog’s GI tract during bouts of diarrhea or vomiting, and they’re sure to love it!
  • Blueberries: Blueberries are high in antioxidants and make great little treats for your dog to enjoy. Blueberries can also be frozen to make refreshing bite size snacks for your dog to enjoy during the hot months of summer!

We hope this post has given you some fun snack ideas for your dog. For more information on caring for your pooch, click here to visit our website!

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Firework and Thunder Phobia

Summer is a time for fireworks and severe thunderstorms, which, for many dogs and other pets, can be a very stressful. If your dog is fearful of loud noises, here are a few tips to try:

  • Reduce Noise and Sight: To the best of your ability, reduce the amount of noise. Close the windows and curtains, shut doors, and keep your dog confined to a safe space towards the middle of your home. Leaving the TV and radio on for your pet helps desensitize pets to loud noises and flashes of light too.
  • Get Exercise: Exercising your dog more than normal on the day of a planned fireworks show can help them to be calmer later in the day. If your dog is worn out from a day of playing outside, he is less likely to be reactive to loud noises or bright lights later in the evening.
  • Thunder Shirts: Thunder shirts provide compression to your dog, which may help him to feel safe and secure. While designed specifically for thunder, they can be effective for all loud noises and other stressful situations for your dog.

For more tips on keeping your dog safe during a fireworks display, give us a call at (239) 939-3647, and to book your dog’s next boarding stay, click here to visit our website.