A car accident, a necessary surgery, there are many times when a trip to the hospital could mean a blood transfusion. This blood is the same blood donated at the local blood bank or a company blood drive. But what happens when your favorite dog needs surgery or some extra blood?
In the past, dog and cat blood for veterinary emergencies often came from animals who spent their time in cages at veterinary blood banks, hospitals, or ERs. These animals were raised specifically to be blood donors, or else were formerly homeless dogs. But these days, many pet owners are uncomfortable with the idea of caged animals used for their blood.
Another option is available and many dog and cat owners see it as a much more humane way to meet the needs of their local veterinary clinics. Small animal blood banks have begun to spring up, and many veterinary clinics and hospitals will ask for doggy blood donors.
In general it is a quick and fairly easy process. You bring your dog in to the clinic or blood bank, the dog is put on an exam table, and in ten minutes, the blood has been donated and the pup is home free. There are some limits however, and your dog may not be large or young enough to donate.
For most blood donation programs, a dog must be over one year old but less than eight years old. Older dogs may have health conditions, and drawing blood may put unnecessary stress on their bodies.
Each blood bank has their own schedule for donation. This means you could be asked to bring your dog in to donate anywhere from every six weeks to every four months.
Dogs must be healthy, vaccinated, and have no history of serious disease.
Generally, dogs must also weigh more than 50 pounds so that they will have a reasonable amount of blood to donate.
While not always a must, it’s better that your dog not be very jumpy or have a lot of energy. It’s important that your dog be able to remain calm throughout the ten minutes so the needle isn’t pulled out.
Another consideration is your dog’s blood type. There are over fourteen different blood types in dogs, but blood banks generally only accept blood from dogs who have a universal blood type – blood that can be given to any dog. Fortunately, this can constitute nearly half of all large-breed dogs. Greyhounds especially often have this universal blood type.
Your veterinarian or the technician performing the blood draw will tell you about caring for your dog post-donation, but it’s a fairly simple process. Your dog will regenerate the lost blood quickly, but still shouldn’t engage in too much physical activity for the full day after the donation.
Donating blood is one of the greatest things your dog can do to help save the lives of other dogs. Just as human blood donation is an important part of every hospital, the great advances in veterinary medicine increasingly allow for dogs to be treated for serious conditions, and this requires blood. Someday your own dog may even be the recipient of some canine hero’s red cells.
Dogs can have the time of their lives at the park.
In most cities and many small towns, parks are springing up that are labeled “dog-friendly,” places where you can take your pup off leash to romp around with all his favorite doggy friends. These parks can easily become your dog’s favorite place for a play date, but there are also a number of things to think about to keep Spot safe.
Before you bring your dog to a new park for the first time, it is a good idea to take a trip there by yourself to scout it out. Dog parks come in many shapes and sizes, and it may not be the park you expect.
Here are some questions you may want to ask yourself:
Is the park fenced in?
Some parks don’t have fences and it is expected that your dog has been trained not to run far and come when called. For some dogs like herding dogs, who have been bred to understand their territory as a vast tract of land instead of just your home and yard, it may not seem like anything bad to go wandering off down the street.
How many dogs are there?
Consider asking another dog owner at the park how many dogs are there on average or what the best time to come may be. Too many dogs could make controlling your pet difficult, while too few dogs could be boring for your dog.
Are small children around?
Some dog parks are located within larger parks where children may play. If your dog has trouble around children, it may be wise to look for another park.
Is water provided?
Some parks provide dog dishes and spigots while others may not. You may need to bring a jug of water and a bowl along for your pup, as any dog will be thirsty after running around after his doggy friends all day.
Don't forget the water! Photo: hcmlopes
It is also important to understand how dogs play. While some dogs enjoy running after tennis balls or Frisbees or playing chase with their owner, many dogs like wrestling with other dogs. This is a normal part of play for dogs and should not necessarily be discouraged. It is important to observe how other owners feel about this though. If your dog wants to wrestle with all the other dogs but their owners look nervous, it’s courteous to call your dog off.
Occasionally an aggressive dog comes to the park, and these wrestling matches may escalate into something a little more violent. Usually it’s fairly clear when a dog switches from play mode to fight mode – the wrestling speeds up, the dogs growl, and the teeth become much more of a weapon – but keep your eyes open. If you feel uncomfortable about how another dog is playing with your own, don’t feel shy about asking the other dog’s owner to keep his or her pet under control.
Keep an eye on your dog at all times. Photo: gr5
The dog park can be a great place for your pup to make great friends and also for owners to make friends as well. Any trip to the park can turn into a great time for everyone with just a little planning and forethought.
There are several schools of thought on how best to start training your puppy. Some people like to use treats as a reward for good behavior. Others say that this method can backfire; if there is no treat, your pet may not perform when it counts! I would suggest initially training with treats, being sure to also use praise as a reward. Once your pet has learned the desired behavior, you can slowly wean them off the treats. If you choose to use treats, use a low calorie dog treat specifically made for training. DO NOT use human food. This may train your pet to beg, or worse, cause your pet to gain too much weight. I recommend Zuke’s Mini-Naturals, which are only 2 calories a treat. You can purchase them here.
Zuke's Mini Naturals are only 2 calories a peice, so they make great training rewards!
One of the reasons using a yummy snack during training is so effective, is that a puppy will naturally try to position themselves in such a way as to get a taste. This instinct is exploited in a popular method of teaching a puppy to sit. When the puppy is in front of you, hold the treat over his nose. As you say the word “sit” bring the food up and over the dogs head. As puppy naturally follows the treat by moving his head up, he will sit down. As soon as the puppy sits, say “good sit” and give him the treat. If the puppy tries to jump up or lifts his front legs, you are holding the treat too high. Make sure you practice sit in many places, both inside and outside the home. Think about all the places it will be most important for your pet to sit, and practice there. For example, practice sit in front of any doors leading outside, in the kitchen and in the yard. Another great idea is to practice sit before you feed your pet a meal, only after the pet is sitting should you put the food bowl down. This will prevent a grown dog from jumping on you in its excitement about dinner! You should also practice this command before your pet gets in and out of the car. This will help prevent your dog from bolting out of the backseat when you drive to the puppy park, the vet, the groomers, or anywhere else! This is an easy command to practice on walks as well, and can be very useful while you are poopy-scooping!
Big dog or small, all pets need obedience training.
From the sit position, you can begin to teach your puppy the “down” command. Take the treat and, while saying “down”, lower it between your pet’s paws. Most of the time, the puppy will lie down automatically. If this does not work, try pushing or pulling the treat between the paws to get the puppy into the right position. You can also try sitting on the floor and slightly bending one knee. Pull the treat behind your knee as you teach the command, this should cause the puppy to lie down in order to get to the treat from underneath your leg! If you are still not making progress, gently push the puppy until they are lying down, say “good down” and then give the treat. This command can be particularly challenging for an excited puppy, so patience and consistency is the key. When your puppy gets a command right, be sure to give lots of praise.
Keep using hand motions, even after you have tapered off treats. Freinds and family will be impressed when you dont even have to say "sit" or "down."
You should train several times a day, for about 10-15 minutes each time. Every time you go someplace new with your puppy, make sure you practice these commands. It is important for your puppy to know that no matter where he is, and how many distractions there are, he needs to listen to you! As your puppy begins to master the commands, only give treats occasionally. Continue to use the hand motions, as eventually your pet can use the motion of our hand as a non-verbal cue to sit or lie down. Every time your puppy listens to a command, praise them.
After you master the basics, you can move on to more advanced commands, like "stay."
There are lots of places you can go to get your dogs nails trimmed. The groomer, the vet, even some pet stores will provide these services. But at between 5 and 10 buck a pop, that can really add up. Say you get the nails trimmed once a month. That could be around $120 a year! Instead, you could pay between $5 and $10 for a good nail trimmer just one time, and trim Fido’s nails yourself!
Lots of owners are afraid to cut their pets nails because they don’t knowhow far is too far. This is especially true of dogs with dark nails. When a dogs nails are clear, the owners can see the quick, and this helps them feel confident when trimming the nails. However, with black nails, the quick cannot be visualized. Luckily, there are some landmarks on the cut edge of the nail to help you find your way. If you use this method, you should trim the nail back gradually, observing the cut end as you go. When you first start trimming a long nail, you will see a flaky nail outside a hollow center. As you trim farther, the hollow center will disappear and, eventually the nail will become glossy in texture. After this point, the quick will show up as a white spot in the center of the nail. When you see this, STOP! After this point you will encounter the vascular quick, and your pet’s nail will start bleeding. This is painful to your pet, and will make them apprehensive of getting their nails trimmed in the future. If you accidently trim to far use styptic powder or silver nitrate sticks to stop the bleeding.
If you still feel apprehensive about trimming your pet’s nails, there are non-traditional methods of pet nail care. One of the most popular of these is the “Peticure” nail file. This method slowly files down the pets nail, instead of cutting it, allowing you to observe the same changes described above. The Peticure is available in three sizes, Peticure Petite, Peticure Elite, and Peticure Power, ranging in price from $9.99 to $59.99.
The Peticure files down nails instead of trimming them.
When deciding which method to use to trim your pet’s nails, the most important factor is finding a method that you are comfortable with. Feelings of apprehension about pet nail maintenance often cause nail care to be delayed or worse, ignored. When you are confident in your abilities, you will fall into a pet care routine that will greatly benefit your four legged friend!
Keeping your dog properly groomed has lots of benefits. Not only will Fido look (and smell!) great, you may even prevent a trip to the emergency room. When you work in a veterinary emergency hospital, nothing signals summertime like maggots. Maggots are basically baby flies. Flies are attracted to decaying, infected, or inflamed tissue and lay their eggs, which hatch within 24 hours. The maggots then feed off of the skin around them, usually forming holes and creating an appearance that many clients compare to “Swiss cheese.” Larva infestation, known as myiasis (from the Greek myia, meaning fly) can lead to both bacterial infection and septicemia. So, what can you do to prevent this? Because flies are especially attracted to damp tissue, such as that soiled by urine and feces, it is critical to keep dogs bathed and groomed properly. Bathing will wash away any urine and feces on the skin and coat of an animal, giving less incentive for flies to land. Brushing or shaving your pet regularly prevents matts from forming in their coat. Almost every case of maggots I’ve seen has been in a pet with matts in its coat. Matts create the perfect storm for maggot infestation. Because the mat pulls on the skin it causes local inflammation, it also traps moisture near the skin, creating a perfect place for maggots to grow and feed. Most times, the main reason people give for not getting their pet to the groomer is a tight budget. Getting your pet groomed can cost over $50.00 a trip, for about the same amount as this one visit, you can buy clippers from Walmart to use over and over again throughout this season and the next.
This Wahl Pro-Series Pet Clipper Kit from WalMart costs just $45.00 and will help keep you pet free of matts and maggots.
Overgrown nails can also land your pet in the vet office. Frequently, long nails will get caught in carpet or between planks on a dock, for example, and become torn. This is extremely painful for your pet, and you will most likely notice them limping, crying, or even bleeding. Your veterinarian will remove what is remaining of the nail, bandage the foot, and often prescribe both antibiotics and pain medication.
If you are nervous about clipping your dogs nails, try keeping Styptic powder at home.
Cleaning your pet’s ears occasionally is a great idea as well. Dirty ears can lead to conditions like Otitis…serious problems for your pet. Also ear mites can be very irritating to your dog. If you see that your pet is shaking their head a lot or constantly scratching their ears, you probably need to take a look inside. If your pet’s ears are dirty get an ear cleaning solution from your vet or from a pet store. Squeeze the liquid inside the ears and then squish the ears in your hands to loosen debris. Let your dog shake his or her head to fling out some of the debris, and clean up what’s left with a cotton swab. Repeat this process a couple times. For really dirty ears, start by cleaning every other day, then once a week, then every other week. When you see no more dirt, you can stop. Note, however, that if your dog’s ears appear thick and scaly, you may be beyond the point where simple cleaning is enough. See your vet to help clear up the infection with prescription drugs. Ear mites can be controlled in some common flea, tick and heartworm medications. Revolution, in particular, will resolve ear mites in dogs and cats while controlling fleas and heartworm. It’s a great product that is easy to apply.
Revolution will help get rid of those pesky ear mites.
Hopefully, this information will help you find affordable ways to keep your pet groomed. Following this advice may help keep your pooch away from the emergency room, and in doing so, keep more dollars in your pocket!
Obesity in dogs is a growing epidemic. Just as in people, obesity in pets can contribute to several disease states, not to mention making pets work harder to cool off in hot temperatures, and giving arthritic joints on older dogs a harder time carrying around weight. Here are some great toys to get your dog excited about trimming down.
The Kibble Nibble Toy will make Fido work for his meals.
First, let’s look at the Kibble Nibble dog toy. This great item holds up to two cups of dog food, and makes your dog really work for a meal. This is great because your dog will exercise as he plays, will not gulp down his food too quickly, and will get to live out his instinct to hunt for food. This toy also has rubber guards on it to prevent any damage to walls, floors, or furniture. You can buy it here.
Perhaps you have a dog that isn’t keen on exercise, but is very food motivated. To give your dog a tasty treat without all those extra calories try the automatic bubble machine. It sends a multitude of chicken scented bubbles flying through the air for your pup to chase down and pop! Check out the Gazillion Bubbles machine here.
A tasty treat that isn't high in calories!
If you really want to be involved in getting your dog into shape, try agility. Agility is a great way for your dog to loose weight. Dogs love agility courses because they present a fun challenge, not to mention agility training creates a strong bond between dog and owner. Conditioning is necessary so in addition to agility training you will have to take your dog on several long walks a week. If you have a puppy, do not have them do jumps until their bone structure is mature. Several puppy parks may offer agility courses on site, and you can make your own agility obstacles at home. For an easy, professional looking course at home, check out the agility equipment at Dr. Fosters and Smith. Check out their agility sets here!
Training your dog in agility is a great way to keep them trim.
The Physipet is a great invention that interacts with your pet, even if you aren’t around! It is not some one directional toy. Instead, it interacts and moves based on how your dog chooses to play with it. If your dog tugs, it resists. When your pet release, it recoils. The Physipet ahs been tested in doggie daycares around the US and Canada. The Physipet is great for dogs with separation anxiety and boredom aggression. Check out Physipets page here.
For another great product that allows you to sit and watch while Fido runs around, try the GoDogGo Automatic Fetch Machine. This toy can operate automatically or via remote control. It throws balls 15 to 30+ feet every 7-15 seconds. The machine has a 15 ball capacity, and also has a drop bucket, so that your dog can keep the play going as long as he wants. And it can be powered by AC adaptor or batteries. Check out the product here.
Your pet is sure to love these products! And you will love how much healthier and happier your pet is after shedding those unwanted pounds. Keeping your pet fit and trim can add years onto their life, and don’t we all want more time with our best friends?
The GoDogGo is the perfect toy for your ball-obsessed dog!
Today, I am excited to bring to the spotlight on one of my personal favorites: the Boston terrier. These dogs are fantastic family dogs, very affectionate, and love to play! The Boston is an American bred dog, in fact it is the first US bred dog recognized by the AKC. Almost immediately, the Boston Terrier acquired a huge following. Originally bred from fighting dogs, the breed was later selected for companionship and good temperament. Ask any owner, and they will tell you there has never been such a good family dog as their Boston Terrier.
The Boston Terrier is a gentle, affectionate dog.
Appearance
Think of the Boston Terrier as a Mini Cooper…it’s a compact dog! With a small head and small (but not docked) tail, the Boston is balanced and proportionate. AKC recognized colors include black, brindle and seal. If you aren’t looking to show your dog, and desire a more “custom” color, you can also find Bostons that are liver, brown, cream or red. The Boston is highly intelligent, from learning tricks and routines to picking up on subtle cues when its human is having a bad hair day. The Boston is sure to delight any dog lover out there.
Black, Brindle, and Seal on White are the AKC accepted Colors.
Size
Bostons are generally between 10 and 25 pounds and stand15-17 inches high. They are a sturdy dog, without being blocky or chunky. As mentioned earlier, they are in perfect proportion in order to appear square.
Perfect proportions for the perfect puppy!
Markings
Boston Terriers have been called the “American Gentlemen” of dogs because of their ever-present tuxedo. White should cover their chest and muzzle, rise between the eyes, band around the neck and halfway up the legs.
Chest and muzzle should be white, as well as a white strip around hte neck and white blaze between the eyes.
Temperament
How do I love thee, Boston Terrier? Let me count the ways. The Boston Terrier is affectionate, easy to train, loves to be around people, and seldom barks. In fact the Boston Terrier isn’t considered a terrier by the AKC. While terriers were originally used in the mix that created this breed, it is generally believed that most terrier traits have been bred out of Bostons, leaving you with a compact, well-mannered dog. Indeed, Bostons act more like large dogs than small ones. They are tough, love to play, and while they love companionship, don’t need to be dressed up in tutus or fed from a crystal bowl to be happy.
Boston Terriers make great family dogs!
Health
Look for a well-bred Boston. There are several health concerns in this bred, including cataracts, cherry eye, luxating patellas, deafness, heart murmur and allergies. Because they are a short- muzzled breed, they do not do well in very hot nor very cold weather, especially if exercising heavily while in these climates. That being said, I have had two Boston terriers, and both were extremely healthy dogs. If you have a Boston and live in a hot climate or are having issues with luxating patellas, make sure your pet is not overweight. A healthy weight makes breathing easier in bracycephalic (short muzzled) dogs, and can ease strain on the knees. You can expect to have your Boston keeping you company for 15 or more years.
Short-muzzled dogs may have a hard time in very hot and very cold climates.
Grooming
The short, smooth coat of the Boston Terrier is easy to keep clean! Check the eyes and ears frequently, especially the eyes as they bulge and are susceptible to injury. Keep nails clipped. The Boston is an average shedder and, if groomed properly does not have a strong odor.
Be sure to check your Boston's eyes frequently...dirt and debris can injure their bulging peepers!
Other notes
Because of its short muzzle, your Boston Terrier may be quite the snorer! Also, Boston’s have a bit of a reputation for being flatulent, especially when fed a poor quality diet. Using a high quality diet can cut down on your American gentleman’s “embarrassing” flatulence! Also, I’ve never met a Boston terrier who wasn’t excited about a game of fetch. This dog’s favorite toy will most likely be a tennis ball.
How embarrassing! A high quality diet can help cut down on this breeds flatulence.
Summary
The Boston Terrier is a companion beyond compare. This dog will be happy to play and exercise. It is also intensely aware of his or her owner’s emotions, and most Boston Terriers make excellent therapists – they are great listeners and will cuddle you too! If socialized properly they will be great with children, the elderly, and other dogs. All in all the Boston is a fantastic choice for just about anyone!
Animals that live in natural environments are constantly interacting with the world around them. This is healthy behavior, and manifests itself usually as hunting for food, exploring new territories, and/or interacting socially with other animals. When the ability to interact is taken away from a pet, the animal will react with boredom, depression and anxiety. When a kitten is exploring the household, for example, it may display “inquisitive exploration” in which it searches for changes in the environment, or “inspective” exploration after introduction to a new stimulus. It is inquisitive exploration which can often lead to play in animals. Play may help an animal overcome the negative effects of isolation, and may also affect something called brain plasticity, which is the way in which the brain organizes behavioral learning. Basically, play is important in your pet’s ability to learn new tasks and incorporate them into their everyday life (shake, sit, off!)
Play is easy to spot, but not easy to define. In general, play is defined by a set of characteristics which include but are not limited to, the following:
1) Movements used in play are often borrowed from other behaviors, including predation, fighting, fleeing, reproduction, and eating. You have probably recognized this in housecats which pounce on each other, or in dogs that wrestle each other to the ground and chase each other.
2) It most likely occurs in relaxed and familiar conditions. Most people know that a cat is more playful at home than anywhere else. When a dog is introduced to a new environment it will explore before it plays.
3) Play appears to involve feelings of pleasure.
4) Play may be dangerous! People often bring a cat into the clinic because it has jumped off something in play and hurt its leg. There is even the occasional owner who was jumping up and down to excite its pet, and accidently landed on them. This highlights the importance of setting up a safe environment for play.
5) Play often contains elements of surprise (think of a stalking kitten or a game of tag with your dog.)
The reasons animals seek play are also diverse and include the need to use excess energy and exercise, the desire for pleasure, the innate desire to seek out a new stimulus which may be advantageous in life, and of course, practice! Have you ever slept in late and then sat on the couch feeling groggy all day because you were not active. Animals, too, need exercise to feel their best. Also, just as people window shop for things that catch their eye, animals are on the prowl for new things as well, even if they have no idea what they are looking for. This behavior is healthy. And, just as a karate student needs to practice their moves over and over again before they can be successful in a fight, our pets feel the instinctive need to practice their survival skills.
Purchasing pet insurance is a great way to make sure your pet has a full recovery after any accident or illness.
We all want to be able to take good care of our pets when they need it most. There is nothing more heart wrenching than euthanizing a pet with a condition that is treatable, but too expensive for the owners to afford. If you don’t have a spare two to four thousand dollars sitting in your bank account in any given month, pet insurance may be the right choice for you! Here are some of the top pet insurance companies (in no particular order) and comparisons of what they have to offer:
1) VPI pet insurance is run by Nationwide. They offer plans for both dogs and cats. They have two plans to choose from, the high end of which has the highest reimbursement payout and a maximum annual benefit of up to 14,000 dollars, as opposed to 9,000 for standard care. They also have a routine care option you can add onto your plan. Importantly, there are some conditions which are not covered by VPI insurance, including hereditary conditions. VPI also offers insurance for birds and exotic pets.
2) The really great thing about PetCare pet insurance is its flexibility. It offers multiple options based on how much coverage you need. For example, they have six different plans for dogs. PetCares MasterCare plan offers 80-90% coverage (you choose!) for all accidents and all illnesses (including hereditary ones.) Depending on which MasterCare Plan you select, you can get up to $6,500 per accident (unlimited for lifetime of pet) and up to $7,000 for illnesses (between 36,000 and 84,000 lifetime), as well as additional benefits for accidental deaths, boarding kennel fees, recovery costs, trip cancelation, euthanasia, and more. They also have plans geared towards seniors. MasterCare plans range from $40.95 to $104.95 per month. Less extensive plans can cost you as little as $15.95 per month! They also have similar plans for cats.
3) The ASPCA also has pet insurance, with 4 levels of coverage and an 80% reimbursement. Also, every plan that is purchased benefits the ASPCA, so you’ll be helping animals in shelters in addition to your own pet. Up to 10% of the purchase price of the plan you select is donated to the ASPCS. Because the ASPCA believe in the importance of spaying and neutering, these procedures are covered under their plans. However, procedures deemed cruel by the ASPCA, like tail docking, ear cropping, and declawing, are not covered. Also, whereas other plans have a per-incident deductible, the ASPCA has a $100 deductible per year.
4) 24 hour pet watch has emergency care for microchipped pets. A lot of animals that have run away from home wind up in veterinary hospitals, with no one to pay for emergency treatment. When your lost pet is brough into a shelter or clinic, they will be scanned for a microchip. When the staff calls 24PetWAtch to locate you, the owner, the representative will immediately tell them your pet is insured for up to $3,000 of lifesaving medical treatment. That way, while representative are trying to locate you, your pet is already receiving the medical car it needs. Imagine how much more relieved you will be to receive a phone call saying your pet has already had emergency surgery and is stable and recovering, than receiving one saying that because no one could reach you, your pet has been suffering, or worse, was euthanized.
This is not a comprehensive list, and you should explore all of your options. When comparing insurance companies be sure to look for the following:
1) Conditions that are not covered. If you have a purebred pet, you will want to have a plan that covers hereditary conditions. Look closely at the fine print, if your plan wont cover cancer, hip dysplasia or seems to rule out all of the most expensive medical problems, you should look at other companies.
2) Deductible. Some plans have a deductible per incident; others have a deductible per year. When you are comparing the cost of a plan, be sure to take this into account.
3) Maximums. How much will your insurance pay per accident or illness. Can your pet have multiple accidents per year and still be covered? Trips to the emergency room can easily rack up bills of $2,500 to $3,000, or more! Be sure your plan has you covered.
4) Discounts. Ask about discounts, often times companies will have discounts for pets that are neutered or spayed, or for families with multiple pets.
5) Payment and Reimbursement. Most companies will have you pay in full and then will reimburse you by mailing you a check. Some companies are beginning to have online claims that your vet can fill out on-site, so all you have to pay is your deductible. For example, 24 Pet Watch has EVE, its “electronic veterinary experience” which facilitates payment. You will still need to make sure your vet uses this program to have access to its benefits.
Do you get just as excited bringing your dog along for a car ride as he gets? There’s nothing like a wagging tail and a nose sniffing fresh mountain air through a cracked window. However, in order to keep Fido as excited about car rides as you are, it is important to keep him safe while cruising around town. Here are some great products you can use to get the job done:
1) I know, I know…you love having Spot ride shot gun. But remember, if someone rear ends you, Spot will go flying into the dash. Also, if Spot decides to be affectionate and climb in your lap while driving, he could put everyone (humans and four-footed family members) in danger. I recommend the Barrie-Aire , which is available in 4 bar and 6 bar Euro versions. Find it here!
2) You are 3 hours into a 4 hour drive and would be making good time…except Fluffy the Poodle is now thirsty and you have to pull over! Unfortunately, pouring her Desani into a cup or Tupperware container gets more water on the floor than in your dogs mouth. Try the road refresher no spill travel bowl. “Road Refresher has a floating plate inside which feeds enough water through for your dog to drink at all times, yet immediately restricts the flow whenever there is a surge of water from cornering, braking, kicking and so on.” It also has a Velcro base to fix it to car carpet and a fixing pad to attach it to most other surfaces! Check out the road refresher here.
3) I always make sure to buckle up when I’m driving. The last thing I want while traveling to see family on the holidays is some guy in an SUV slamming into me at 90 mph. Case in point: I know a little schnauzer that used to love car rides. One really bad accident and a week in the hospital later, Barry is terrified of even a short drive across town. To prevent something like this from happening to your pooch, try a travel safety harness, such as one of the many available from Drs. Foster and Smith. They use your seatbelt system to secure a harness to your pet. Always remember, the back is safer for Fido than the front. Just as airbags can hurt children when they ride in the front seat, they can hurt your pet too! Drs. Foster and Smith.
4) Are you a green commuter? Perhaps your looking for a way to bring Max along on your bike ride, and a handlebar basket wont cut it for your 60 pound puppy! If your best friend is 6 months or older and at least 20 pounds, the walky dog bike leash is a great option. It is height adjustable and has up to a 12 inch lead that can easily be detached and used as a leash. Walky-Dog Bike Leash.
5) You are traveling with multiple dogs in your Honda Accord…but the backseat is barely enough space! Try the backseat extender from Orvis. It is made of microfiber foam, so your dogs will love the feel of it and won’t pop it with their nails like and inflatable. It will give your pets the extra room they need to stretch out, and stay out of the front seat! Check out the Backseat Extender here.
6) You’ve done everything possible to fight dog hair build up in your car…regular seat covers leave hair in the carpets, then you tried a pet hammock, and your smart pup figured out how to get underneath it. And, neither one keeps him out of the front seat. Try the pet tube! It keeps your pet nicely confined while in the car, and it expands easily so you can fold it down when you need to store it in the trunk. It comes in two sizes, the larger of which can be used at 1/3, 2/3 or full length. The Pet Tube.
