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Memorial Day: What Can Dogs Eat?

May 26, 2017 by Ashley Leave a Comment

We all love a good holiday and a fun family celebration, but I know that sometimes we forget about our pups.  Many families throw big BBQ’s and don’t consider some of the risks that come with having our pets around during the celebration.  That is why I put together this little list of Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to food that your pups can eat.

Foods that are safe for dogs:

  • Burgers: Hamburger meat makes a great high-value treat if it’s plain. Burgers that are too greasy or cooked with garlic, onions, spices and seasonings are a no-go: your dog can get sick with vomiting or diarrhea.
  • Hot Dogs: If the hot dog’s ingredients are strictly high-quality meats, you’re safe. Toss the buns – they are empty calories.
  • Seafood: Seafood like salmon is usually safe for dogs if it’s cleared of minuscule bones and isn’t cooked in garlic or onions. If it comes in a shell, remove it (clams, oysters, lobsters, etc.).

Foods that will make your dog ill:

  • Pasta salad, potato salad, potato chips: Avoid these foods. While potatoes are common ingredients in dog food, potato and pasta salads are often made with no-no’s like garlic and onions, and potato chips are coated in salt, which isn’t good for dogs.
  • Beer: Dogs just can’t process it.
  • Desserts and ice cream: Canines can be lactose-intolerant, and ice cream is full of sugar. While naturally occurring sugars aren’t bad, the added sugars in pies and cakes can lead to health problems. Same with sugar-free desserts – most artificial sweeteners may cause diarrhea, and sugar substitute xylitol is poisonous to pups!

Please be safe this year! I would hate to hear horror stories about what happens when dogs get food that they shouldn’t have during such an important holiday in this country.  Instead I would love it if you would share a story about your Memorial Day Celebration or a fun picture of your pup.

Filed Under: Pets Tagged With: dog, dogs, Memorial Day, Pets

Top 5 Tips For New Pet Parents

December 13, 2016 by Ashley 2 Comments

It is that time of year when people are thinking about what to gift their children and in many homes a new pet becomes the big present for the season!  I will admit that in a few years a new pup will be the special Christmas gift that my son will be getting.  I can only hope that he will be as excited about getting a pup as I will be gifting him one that he will be able to help care for.  In the meantime I wanted to share some awesome tips for new pet parents.  These were thoughtfully written by the team who created this awesome little tracking device for pets: Whistle.

Whistle’s Tips for New Pet Parents

  1. Dog-proof your house before you bring your new four-legged family member home. Sixty-six percent of dog owners interviewed by Whistle said they were surprised by something their dog ate. Top casualties included: Walls, underwear, dead things and poop (the top answer). Seal food in plastic containers and put them up high – above the fridge, on the shelf, in the laundry room – anywhere the pooch will definitely not be able to reach. Make sure you have a designated place that’s too high for your pup to reach for your guests to put jackets and purses – remember even the little dogs can jump a few feet high.
new-pet-parents
Images for Whistle

“My dog ate three $100 bills that we had to fish out later, tape to a piece of paper, send to Dept. of Treasury to get refunded $300.” – Anonymous Dog Owner

 

  1. Pay attention to anything new you use on your dog.  New shampoo, flea medicine, or even a new collar can cause unexpected reactions. If you notice any skin rashes, swelling or anything out of the ordinary, you’ll know what the likely culprit could be. The more you know about your pet’s usual habits and products, the easier it will be for your vet to understand the problem. Talking to other dog owners can give you peace of mind and give you context for what’s “normal.” It’s also important to find a veterinarian that you like and feel comfortable calling on a regular basis to ask any questions that arise.

 

“I thought dogs were just a product of evolution, that they didn’t need that much. But he (the dog) caught a parasite from something, and then proceeded to swell up because it turns out he was allergic to the antibiotics that they gave him for the parasite! Now I carry Benadryl for my dog, my dog who has allergies…” – Golden Retriever Owner

 

  1. Be proactive about housetraining. You have to make sure that you’re taking your pup out frequently enough to minimize the chance of an accident in the house. Once a dog starts peeing in the house, it’s harder to break them of the habit. If your dog is sniffing or walking around the house instead of relaxing, it probably means it’s time to take him out for a walk. Make it clear where you want your dog to relieve himself, and always reinforce the same spot to avoid confusion. A regular walk schedule with times that work for both you and your pup is helpful for some dog owners.
new-pet-parents
Images for Whistle

“Buster had all of his accidents when I didn’t take him out after playing. I learned that if he had an accident in the house, it was usually my fault.” – Golden Retriever Owner

 

  1. Note your dog’s triggers early on. Pay attention to the things that draw his attention away from you more than usual. The more you know about your dog’s triggers, the more prepared you’ll be to prevent or react to them. Make sure your dog has his Whistle on, so if he runs after a trigger and can’t find his way back, you’ll know where to look for him.

 

“Molli had an unhealthy obsession with lizards. If she saw one, she took off and there was no stopping her. She really couldn’t see or hear anything else while she was on a lizard pursuit.” – Pomchi Owner

 

  1.  Make sure you lock doors and gates.  Always secure the perimeter in a way that your dog won’t be able to push or pull down on, preferably with a key. Check-in with neighbors to ask if your pup has been up to anything while you’re away. Dogs are capable of finding creative hiding places, turning into professional escape artists and figuring out how to open and close a whole array of doors, cupboards and fences (see Tip 1). A ‘nanny cam’ is a good way to see what your pup does when he’s home alone. Your Whistle GPS Tracker is going to come in handy anytime your dog transforms into his escape artist alter ego.

 

“My dog was always a Houdini… escape artist. One day I got a call from the neighbor asking me, ‘Why is your dog on the roof?’ My dog bit through a screen, crawled out a window and onto the roof.” – Anonymous Dog Owner

Filed Under: Featured, Pets Tagged With: dog, Golden Retriever, Service dog

Canine DNA Test and Why I want my Dog Tested

November 30, 2015 by Ashley Leave a Comment

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by Mars Veterinary Wisdom Panel 3.0 Canine DNA Test however all opinions are my own and are in no way influenced by the sponsor.

Do you have a dog in your home that is a mutt?  Maybe not, but you aren’t sure that your dog is really the breed that you were told when you brought them into your home.  If either of these are the case for you then you might want to consider getting genetic testing done to find out what breed or breeds your dog has in their ancestry line.  This might sound a little weird to you.  You might be asking yourself, ‘why would I want to know the pedigree of my dog?’, well I will answer those questions for you today.  You will want to check out the Wisdom Panel 3.0 Canine DNA Test.

WP_3.0_Logo_DNATest_1_14_15

 

Making the decision to get a canine DNA test for your pup is one that you don’t take lightly.  I know that not everyone has a lot of money lying around, I for one am one of those people who does not have a lot of money to spare, but that does not stop me from being concerned about my pet’s health.  I could sit here and ramble on and on about what the Wisdom Panel 3.0 Canine DNA Test does and explain all of the scientific reasons as to why you should choose to get this test done on your dog, but today instead I want to tell you why I will be having my puppy, Luna, tested when a Wisdom Panel Event is near me.

I will admit that when I got Luna I was excited because I thought I was getting a puppy that was supposed to be a Labrador/Husky mix, but as she grew I soon realized that there was no way that she was the mix that I was told.  Ever since then it has been a guessing game as to what breed’s she really is.  People have a lot of fun guessing, but I really would like to know what breed’s are in her bloodline.  The Wisdom Panel 3.0 Canine DNA Test covers 250+ breeds, types and varieties including all those recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and can be run for mixed-breed, designer, or purebred dogs.  I love how the text covers over 250 different breeds so it gives a very large chance of finding out all of the breeds that run in her ancestry.

winnie_shadow_v3_front

In addition to being able to find out what breeds run in my dog’s ancestry I would be able to find out about a gene mutation (the MDR1 mutation) that tests for drug sensitivity.  This gene mutation is common with mixed-breeds, some herding and sight-hound breeds which means that many people’s dogs have a chance to have this gene mutation since there are so many mixed-breed dogs out there now.  This gene mutation causes many of common drugs to be a major sensitivity to these dogs which can be problematic.  Seeing as how I am someone who is allergic to a few common medications I would never want to put my dog at risk by giving her a medication that could give her an adverse reaction.  

Getting this test will help me to know if her genetic make up is causing her to have a drug sensitivity before I ever give her the medication. This means that after getting the genetic testing done I would be able to share the results with my vet so that she can give my dog the best care.  The testing would also benefit my dog in helping to know if I may need to change up her diet.  Certain breeds do better on different diets and right now she is just on a standard diet because I do not know what breeds she is.

Now, I have two different options for getting her tested.  I can get a kit sent to me through the mail which contains the following:

Wisdom Panel® 3.0 Canine DNA Test Kit includes:

  • Instructions
  • DNA cheek swabs – all for use on one dog
  • Drying insert for swabs
  • Pre-paid return shipping box

Visit www.WisdomPanel.com for more information and to purchase a kit.

The second method would be to go to an event and get her tested there.  There is currently one more event left this year. This event is scheduled for December 5: Holiday Pet Festival in Scottsdale, AZ – swabbing http://holidaypetfestival.com/.  This means that you can bring your dog to this event and get him or her swabbed for the DNA testing while you are there.  In addition to that you will get the DNA testing completed at a discounted rate for going to the event. For all events that allow dogs, consumers can swab onsite at event for a discounted price of $39.99. For those wanting to take home a kit, they can be purchased for the discounted price of $49.99 (MSRP $84.99).

You cannot beat saving some money.  If there was an event close enough for me to drive to I would be doing it in a heartbeat.  For more information always check out the brand on social media.  Often you can generate some conversation for any questions you may have.

Wisdom Panel:

Facebook: facebook.com/DoggieDNA , Twitter: @WisdomPanel, Instagram: @WisdomPanel Pinterest: @WisdomPanel

Filed Under: Featured, Pets Tagged With: dog, Pets

5 Ways to Help Your Dog Live Natural Life #AvoDermNatural

November 16, 2015 by Ashley 3 Comments

This post is sponsored by Avoderm and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Avoderm Revolving Menu, but Parsimonious Pas only shares information that I feel is relevant to my readers. Avoderm is not responsible for the content of this article.

5 Ways to Help Your Dog Live Natural Life

We all know that your dog is not just a pet; your dog is a member of your family because of this you should be treating your sweet dog like you would anyone else in your family.  If you and your family have been living a natural life then you should want your dog to live a natural life as well.  If you implement these five basic ways to help your dog live a natural life you will see a noticeable difference in your dog’s behavior and over all happiness with their life.

1. Regular Exercise

Helping your dog live a natural life starts really simple.  Getting regular exercise is important for people and is just as important for dogs.  They need to stay fit, get exercise, and burn some energy and calories.  Regular exercise can come in many forms and all dogs have different activities that they prefer doing as a form of exercise.  My pup Luna loves to run and play Frisbee.  She might look hilarious running with a big Frisbee in her mouth as it hits the ground more than once on her run back to you, but none the less it is one of her favorite activities.  Finding the perfect activity for your dog is trial and error.  Keep trying new activities until you find that one activity that your dog begs you to do with them.

best friends natural life

2. Doggy Play Dates

The second great thing to do to help your dog live a natural life is to make doggy play dates.  If you only have one dog you will really want to set up doggy play dates because again dog’s are like people – they need friends, too.  You know that anxious, antsy feeling that you start to get when you get cooped up at home and don’t have the time to spend with your friends?  Your dog gets that feeling, too.  You might notice your dog getting anxious when he doesn’t get to interact with other dogs and regular activities just aren’t cutting it.  This is when you will want to set up a doggy play date.  If you don’t have any family or friends with dogs then you can always hunt down a local dog park.  At the dog park you should be able to find some pups that will get along with your furry friend.

3. AvoDerm® Natural Revolving Menu

advoderm logoYou may recall that I wrote about AvoDerm’s Natural Revolving Menu a couple of months ago.  If you switch your pup to their revolving menu you will be able to help your dog live a natural life by providing them with a diet that is full of natural ingredients.  The difference with the AvoDerm® Natural Revolving Menu and other natural dog foods on the market is the fact that their food is a rotational diet.  This means that instead of always feeding your dog the same food (you wouldn’t feed your child the same food every day) you vary proteins in your dog’s diet without the risk of food sensitivities or an upset stomach due to the fact that all of the dog foods in the Revolving Menu line have consistent protein and starch levels.  Even though I don’t have a small dog I find it awesome that they have small dog formulas as well as large dog formulas.  If you want to join in on the conversation about AvoDerm® Natural Revolving Menu just follow them on Twitter and join in on all the fun.

4. Clean Your Dog’s Teeth

Cleaning your dog’s teeth is just as important as brushing yours or getting your children to brush their teeth.  Dog’s in the wild naturally clean their teeth and gums by tearing meat off of the bone when they are eating.  When we domesticated them they lost this piece of their lives.  It is up to you to help them clean their teeth.  There are tons of products on the market that boast how they help clean your dog’s teeth, but there are still natural ways to do it.  You can purchase items like deer antlers and raw meat bones and the like.  In addition to that you can brush your dog’s teeth or get them professionally cleaned at a veterinary office.

Luna Bear

5. Fresh Air and Clean Environment

Finally make sure your pup gets plenty of fresh air and lives in a clean environment.  These are two basic principles of living a natural life for anyone.  Having a clean environment both indoors and outdoors is beneficial to your dog.  Indoors having a clean environment can help to prevent your pup from getting fleas, mites, or parasites while having a clean environment outdoors is even more important.  You cannot control everything outdoors, but cleaning up after your dog as well as having a chemical free lawn and plants is pertinent to your dogs health.  By doing both of these things you eliminate a risk for bad chemicals being ingested by your dog.  Dog’s eat plants and grass often as a way of self medicating and help them to keep their gut healthy.

Do you already implement any of these 5 ways to help your dog live a natural life?

Filed Under: Featured, Pets Tagged With: dog, Dog food

Petco’s New Repeat Delivery Service Helps Save Money!

October 18, 2014 by Ashley Leave a Comment

“This was brought to you by Petco and AdvertiseWithBloggers.com”

Luna Bear

I am a huge advocate for saving a few dollars in every way that I can.  This goes across the board and I am always ecstatic when I am able to save a little money on my puppy, Luna.  I think most parents feel that way when they find a way to save money on things for their children and my Luna is my fur-child.  I love her just as much as I would a daughter.  She is my world and if I am able to save some money that means that I can better afford the premium dog foods and dog treats for her on a regular basis!

petco repeat delivery

Petco has started to offer a repeat delivery program where you can save up to 15% on products for your pet on a monthly basis.  This program spans across pet foods, treats, and any other items that would be needed every month.  If you are curious like I was; you might want to know a little bit more about the program.  It does include dog food, cat food, dog treats, and dog vitamins & supplements.

They give you the option to set your own delivery schedule and have it set up so that you can cancel at anytime with no consequences!  On top of that you are also given the lowest online prices on the items in your delivery package.  They make it super easy for you because you will never need coupons or promo codes to get you the best deals that are available that month.

If you schedule your first repeat delivery by today 10/18/2014 you will be able to benefit from an additional 20 reward dollars to your Petco Pals Rewards account!  This is a great opportunity for you to try out their new service while also getting a special bonus that you can buy something super special for your pets in the future.

Will you be checking out this program!?

Filed Under: Featured, Pets Tagged With: cat food, dog, Dog food, Luna, Pet food, United States

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