Pets in the City, Saint Louis

We’re at it again — trying to help those less fortunate than us. It’s easy to take for granted things we use every day, like a refrigerator to hold our food, or to be able to cook on a stove.

For survivors of the Joplin tornadoes, these are conveniences many no longer have.

The “Joining Hands in the Heartland” program through Americorps Saint Louis engages community groups throughout the state to raise funds for appliances that were lost to natural disaster. The appliances are then given to families who are trying to start anew. Pets in the City is helping to assist these families by raising money for our “adopted family” who needs an electric oven, after their home was destroyed in the Joplin tornadoes last year.

Our particular sponsor family consists of a mother in her 80′s, and her two daughters who are in their 60′s. The mother and one of her daughters, who is also disabled, were living together when the tornado struck, destroying their home.   As a result, the pair moved in with the other daughter and her husband.  Shortly thereafter, the daughter’s husband passed away, taking with him the sole source of income for the family.  The trio has since decided to rebuild the home that was destroyed and is receiving support from the Convoy of Hope. Their expected move in date is July 2012.  In addition, this family absolutely adores cats and have a few of their own.

So we ask that you help us help them. Our goal is to raise $280 as soon as possible, so that we may help not only this family, but more in need. You can help by: donating the rest of your change when you purchase items from our store with cash, donate cash or checks (made out to Americorps Saint Louis, please), and by rallying anyone you know who might be interested in helping. We know many of our customers have friends and family in Joplin who were affected in some way by this disaster.

Americorps says that in America, our greatest asset is each other; we agree.

P.S. Thanks to our customers, we were able to raise $250 to purchase 5 pet cots to donate to Gateway Pet Guardians’ new emergency shelter. We try to foster a sense of goodwill and community in our store, and we’re glad our customers are more than willing to take us up on it!

Hope that clears up some of the confusion and panic!

Imagine giving your child a dry bowl of cereal for breakfast and dinner, and considering that a complete meal.

Sound absurd? Most pet owners do this every day, but with dry kibble. While kibble is obviously the most convenient thing to feed your cat or dog, it’s not necessarily the best for their health — no matter how great the quality of the kibble.

Think of how your pet would eat if she was out fending for herself in the wild. Most likely she’d go for some mice, birds, or other small animals. These creatures are about 70% moisture; kibble is no more than 10%. This means that your pet is in a chronic state of dehydration, which leads to many health problems. Chronic dehydration, kidney disease, and urinary tract infections are some of the most commonly linked detrimental health issues associated with feeding dry food exclusively, for long periods of time. The moisture content in canned food more closely mimics the moisture in a natural diet compared to kibble.

“But what about my pet’s teeth?” You also wouldn’t expect that dry bowl of cereal mentioned earlier to clean your child’s teeth — you would still expect them to use their toothbrush. While kibble can scrape some plaque off the tops of your pet’s teeth, it’s completely useless at removing it near the gumline — the most critical part. Gum disease and cavities do most of their damage at the gumline.

We’re not saying to completely ditch the kibble, and there’s no one perfect food. Variety is key! Feeding your pet different brands, proteins, and forms of food (canned, raw, dehydrated raw, fresh vegetables, etc.) will help optimize their health.

Expecting kisses from your furry companion today? Make sure they have fresh breath before you get a smelly smooch!

February is National Pet Dental Health month. Bacteria and plaque on your pets’ teeth can cause periodontal disease, and if this painful infection spreads to the rest of the body, it can cause serious health issues. Feeding your pet a healthy diet and taking care of their teeth is a necessity for their well-being!

Here’s a video from the American Veterinary Medical Association on how to brush your pet’s teeth.

And here are some special items we have in-store for cleaning your cat’s or dog’s teeth:

Tropiclean Oral Care Kit includes mint gel, QuickFinger brush and TripleFlex toothbrush. Helps remove plaque and tartar and freshen pets breath cleaning all surfaces in less time.

Tropiclean Fresh Breath Liquid Floss Rope Ball Combine cleaning with fun! Use Liquid Floss on the Rope Ball for hours of fun and entertainment for your pet. The chew toy absorbs Liquid Floss, massages gums and flosses teeth all in one. It does all the work!

Plaque Off is a food supplement made from a specifically harvested seaweed that comes from Scandinavia. The seaweed creates a natural compound through the saliva that breaks down the film that forms on teeth, reducing tartar and plaque levels. It does take 5-8 weeks to fully work, but many customers start seeing results after 2 weeks. It's an easy way to clean the teeth of pets who refuse to let you get in their mouths to brush their teeth!

We have many other dental supplements and treats: enjoy 10% off the rest of the month of February on all of them!

A popular way our customers use pumpkin is to combat digestive issues. Pumpkin is full of fiber and can help with both constipation and diarrhea. If you are transitioning your pet from one food to another and anticipate digestive issues, you can add some pumpkin to the food to lessen loose stools.

Own a portly pup or a full-figured feline? Here’s an easy way to help them shed a few pounds! Just substitute 10% of your pet’s food with canned pumpkin. Fruitables Pumpkin Food Formulas are specially formulated to contain over 90% fresh pumpkin and are blended with soothing herbs, dietary fiber & vitamins to create an ultra low calorie balance of soluble and insoluble fiber and selected nutrition to support healthy digestion and weight loss. The fiber helps make them feel fuller, longer.

Does your cat hack hairballs? Try adding a spoonful of canned pumpkin to their food, especially if they’re eating dry kibble. Cats that eat dry kibble aren’t getting enough moisture in their diet for their organs to function properly. Your cat’s digestive system is having to work harder to process the dry food, and drinking water doesn’t help the problem — cats derive most of the water their bodies need from their food. Your cat is in a constant state of dehydration, and its gastrointestinal tract doesn’t have the moisture it needs to needs to transport a wad of fur. The moisture and fiber in pumpkin can help with this problem, although it is also advisable to incorporate more wet foods (raw, canned, or reconstituted raw dehydrated) into their diet.

These are some great reasons to use pumpkin in your pet’s diet, in addition to the fact that pumpkin is chock full of antioxidants, and vitamins A, C, and E. At Pets in the City we carry several varieties of canned pumpkin and canned sweet potato, which is used in the same manner as the pumpkin. We carry Fruitables Digestive Supplement, Fruitables Pumpkin Weight Loss Supplement, Nummy Tum-Tums 100% Organic Pumpkin, Nummy Tum-Tums 100% Organic Sweet Potato, and Evanger’s 100% Sweet Potato. Check out the coupon at the end of our February Newsletter to try some at a discounted price!

Fromm has two new grain free formulas for dogs. Salmon Tunalini has — you guessed it, salmon and tuna. Game Bird has duck, turkey, quail, and pheasant. Yum!

Taste of the Wild has expanded its line by making two puppy-specific formulas. High Prairie (bison and venison) and Pacific Stream (smoked salmon) now have puppy versions with more fiber, prebiotics, added salmon oil, and smaller sized kibble.

Safety Pups provide a convenient way to stay safe when walking your dog at night: their leashes and collars are embedded with LED lights that flash and glow in the dark. Make sure your dog is visible when it’s dark out with a Safety Pups leash and collar!

We have in new styles of the Dog Games Puzzle Toys! They have different levels of difficulty, and are an inexpensive way to keep your pup a busy bee.

Raw food has possible health benefits such as shinier coats, healthier skin, higher energy levels, and smaller stools. For most pets, it’s more beneficial than processed foods. Colorful whole food is loaded with natural nutrition including vitamins, minerals and valuable phytonutrients that enhance health (but which aren’t found in pelleted food that’s been processed under high heat and pressure.)

We carry several varieties of raw dehydrated food. The Honest Kitchen and Addiction brands are fully balanced meals that you just reconstitute with water and serve. Some people have qualms about the extra step it takes to feed your pet, but it only takes a few minutes to add water and stir, and provides a way to serve real, whole foods to your dog or cat. Dr. Harvey’s and Boxador Bites (and one variety of The Honest Kitchen) have supplemental dehydrated food that you can either add your choice of protein to, and serve, or you can add as a topper for the food they already eat to add extra vitamins.

Addiction is a particularly interesting brand because it offers up exotic meats from New Zealand — including kangaroo and brushtail, a raccoon-like creature. Their food is ideal for fussy eaters or for those who are allergic to chicken, beef or lamb, and make delicious alternatives to regular pet food.

The Honest Kitchen is a great choice, because their foods are actually produced in a human food facility, not in a pet food plant. That means a much higher standard of quality and safety. People actually taste everything they make, as part of their quality control process, and there’s nothing in their foods that isn’t human-grade.

If you are looking for a different, beneficial option to feed your pet, give dehydrated raw food a try. There’s a very good chance you’ll see a difference in their health!

(Thanks to The Honest Kitchen for giving helpful answers to questions asked for this article.)

Going on one last summer road trip? The American Automobile Association (otherwise commonly known as “Triple A” or “AAA”)  recently conducted a survey of pet owners regarding the habits of people driving with pets, and discovered that only 16% of their respondents use some sort of restraint on their furkids.

PetAutoSafety.com lists seven reasons why you should keep pets restrained in the car:

1. The dog won’t be able to distract the person driving the car. Distractions an be very dangerous to the driver. Some dogs are naturally well-behaved in the vehicle but many dogs have to be trained car-riding decorum. Why not train them in the pet auto seat belt instead?

2. Sudden unexpected stops won’t cause the dog to fly forward into the dash, the back seat, or onto the floor. Dog’s noses are very sensitive. Hitting their nose on the dash or back of the seat can be a very painful experience.

3. The dog won’t be able to put their head out the window. Did you know that even a tiny spec of flying debris can do serious damage to the dog’s eye or nose? Many dogs love to put their heads out the window, but it can be an equally pleasant experience if they are sitting in a pet auto seat belt by an open window. They won’t be able to put their heads out, but they can still get a whiff of the multiple odors zipping by.

4. Not only will the dog not be able to put their head out the window, they won’t be able to get their body out either. Dogs are instinctive creatures and if something catches their attention, such as another dog, a squirrel, or other animal, they may go after it without a thought. Perhaps your dog is too smart to do this, but why take the chance?

5. Many dogs will run or even bite if frightened. What if you and your pet happen to be in a serious auto accident? Your dog is going to be terrified. If there is a means of escape, the dog may get out of the car and run. And where are they most likely to run? It would be a terrible thing to survive an auto accident only to get hit by a car. Even if there is no way for the dog to escape, they may need medical attention. An injured dog may react defensively by tying to bite someone who is actually trying to help them. A dog that is already restrained however, is easier to muzzle and therefore, easier to attend to.

6. A pet auto seat belt can actually be quite comfortable once the dog gets used to it. Dogs can have a difficult time laying down in a seat because of the turning, speeding up, slowing down, and stopping movements of the car. Many dogs can brace themselves better by standing or sitting. With a pet auto seat belt, a dog can stand, sit, or lay down comfortably and not have to worry about bracing themselves against car maneuvers.

7. Last but not least, a pet auto safety belt shows you to be a responsible and caring pet owner as well as a responsible driver. Friends and strangers will be impressed with your thoughtfulness and foresight. They in turn, may consider getting a pet auto seat belt for their own dog. You can be indirectly responsible for saving another dog’s life.

 

Make sure you strap in your dog before each car ride — it’s a simple measure than can save a lot of heartache later on. A loose dog can turn into a projectile object in a car crash, hurting anything in its path.

We carry two brands of harnesses at Pets in the City, Guardian Gear and Easy Rider. Both are simple to use and a great way to contain your dog during car rides. We’ve gotten especially good feedback from our customers on the Guardian Gear brand!

Nearly six in 10 drivers — 56 percent of respondents — said they travel by car with their dog at least once a month. Respondents admitted to petting their dogs (52 percent), taking their hands off the wheel to hold the dog while braking (23 percent), and using their hands to prevent the dog from getting into the front seat (19 percent), according to the survey.

The AAA foundation for traffic safety said that looking away from the road for 2 seconds doubled the chance of being in a crash.

We’ve been working to make the store less cluttered in appearance, and generally a nicer place to shop. Our wonderful employee Ashli has been doing a great job spearheading the changes, and her organizing skills plus the manpower of the rest of our staff have equaled some eye-pleasing sights!

We invite you to come on in, and take a gander. Feel free to spin with your arms wide out, we’ll understand.

Here’s a pictorial sneak preview, but don’t miss out on the real thing!

…Clutter, be gone!

Ticks, mosquitoes, fleas — the bothersome battalion comes out this time of year! Keep your cats and dogs armored up with safe, natural varmint repellents. Here’s a quick visual overview of some of the products we have:

Shampoos, usually the first line of defense most people use. We carry shampoos without harsh chemicals; the key ingredient in most of them is neem oil. We also carry a wonderful shampoo that helps with flea dermatitis. EQyss Flea Bite shampoo soothes skin that has been irritated by flea bites. Very useful!

Sprays can also come in handy in the war against bugs. You can use these directly on your pets. Some you can also use on their bedding and your carpets.

You can purchase essential oils (the key ingredients in many of our flea & tick repelling products) all by themselves. If you want to get crafty, you can come up with your own blend of oils to offend the senses of pests.

We did a blog post earlier on Diatomaceous Earth (as seen here), which are tiny, fossilized sea creatures that slice and dry out the shells of fleas and other pesky creatures. As natural as you can get!

The tiny and close-together teeth on flea combs help snag fleas from their hiding spots in your pet’s fur. The Tick Key safely removes ticks, head and all, by using leverage. It’s a great thing to have on hand!

A sort of “natural Frontline” for dogs, Sentry Natural Defense is a blend of oils that fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes dislike. Similar to Frontline, you apply it to the back of the dog’s neck, and it kills ticks and fleas on contact.

PetNaturals of Vermont, a popular line of cat and dog supplements, recently came out with a natural flea/tick repellent line called “Protect,” geared towards those who want a non-chemical method of deterring unwanted invaders.

And there you have it! Hopefully you don’t have to deal with fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes this summer, but chances are that you will. Make like a boy scout and be prepared!