Guest Post: Gift Baskets for Pet Lovers

Gift Baskets For Pet Lovers

Whether you are shopping for a pet owner or professional, you can never go wrong with a pet gift basket. The gift baskets allow you to show your recipient how much you care about them or appreciate their hard work. If you are shopping for pet gift baskets, here are several ideas that fit any occasion.

Pet Lover Care Package

The Pet Lover Care Package is a great idea for every pet owner and their beloved pet. It comes with a pack of chocolate chip cookies for your recipient. The gift also includes two gourmet biscuits for their dog, and their cat is sure to enjoy a fun mouse toy. Everything comes arranged inside an adorable pet themed box.

Great Pawsome Friends Gift

The Great Pawsome Friends Gift comes in three sizes to ensure it is big enough for everyone on the veterinarian, pet shelter or pet rescue staff. It includes cookies, butter toffee pretzels, tea and coffee. The gift basket also includes items for dogs and cats, from the cheddar cheese dog biscuits to the crinkle ball cat toy. Your recipients can find the items inside three paw print containers.

Dog Daze Dog Gift Basket

If you are looking for a gift basket designed just for pets, start with the Dog Daze Dog Gift Basket. The basket includes a gourmet dog biscuit and puppy cake mix. It also comes with peanut butter, beef liver, salmon and pineapple and pork dog treats. All the items are neatly arranged inside a yellow and white polka dot container.

Cat Fish Cat Gift Basket

Surprise your recipient with the Cat Fish Cat Gift Basket for their kitty. It comes with cheese cat treats, tuna cat treats and Fancy Feast Appetizers to keep them happy. The Zoom Stuffers Fat Cat Catnip Toy is sure to keep their kitty busy for hours. Everything comes arranged inside a green and white container with a matching green bow.

You can find amazing pet gift baskets for pet owners, professionals and their four-legged friends on Bisket Baskets.

 

 

Image Source: Pixabay

Notice: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

PS Annie! is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Press Release: SURE PETCARE’S ANIMO PROVIDES A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR DOG’S BEHAVIOR AND WELL-BEING

SURE PETCARE’S ANIMO PROVIDES A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR DOG’S BEHAVIOR AND WELL-BEING

Sure Petcare’s new state-of-the-art activity and behavior monitor for dogs, Animo, learns and reports the unique activity and behavior patterns of your pet.

Cambridge, UK (Nov. 28, 2018) – Pet product specialist Sure Petcare today announced the launch of Animo https://youtu.be/PREvQwNoGEE, the lifelong activity and behavior monitor which learns and accurately interprets the unique behavior and activity patterns of a dog. Animo delivers insights into a dog’s activity and sleep, as well problem behaviors such as shaking, scratching and barking. These insights help owners to understand the changing needs of their pet over its lifetime, enabling them to provide proactive and personalized pet care.

Worn on a dog’s collar, Animo comes with three different sized attachment bands, making it suitable for dogs of all sizes. Weighing just 22g, Animo is lightweight, comfortable and waterproof. It sits flat against the collar and its “twist and lock” fitting not only makes it easy to attach and detach, but also holds the unit firmly in place. It operates using a standard coin cell battery which lasts for six months, preventing the need for regular charging.

Animo connects to the Sure Petcare – Animo app via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), where owners can set and monitor daily activity goals for their pet, as well as view their pet’s activity and behavior reports by day, week, month or year. The app also provides an hour-by-hour sleep quality report every night, which can be compared against previous nights to easily spot changes in sleep patterns.

Key features of Animo and the Sure Petcare app include:

Activity: Set and monitor daily activity goals, check last walked time and view activity reports by day, week, month and year.

Sleep Quality: Hour-by-hour sleep quality report throughout the night; a poor night’s sleep can be an indication of stress, discomfort or illness

Calories: track the calories burnt by your dog and compare this to a recommended daily target based on their breed, age and weight

Behavior tracking: receive alerts for increased barking, scratching or shaking

Connect with family and friends: Animo can be synced by any member of your app household and owners can share access to the app with their friends and family.

“We can’t be with our pets 24/7, so we have created Animo to give dog owners a window into their dog’s day: not only to tell them what he gets up to when they’re not around, but more importantly to spot changes in behavior and activity over time, which may signal changes in their pet’s health and wellbeing.” said Nick Hill, founder and CEO of Sure Petcare. “Animo is the result of a collaboration between Sure Petcare and our sister company within the Antelliq group. Over the past 18 months we have combined Antelliq’s world-leading animal monitoring expertise, our pet industry experience and the advice of world-renowned dog behaviorists to create a product which will change the lives of dogs of all breeds, ages and sizes.

From the moment Animo is attached to a dog’s collar, its suite of algorithms begins to learn the animal’s unique patterns of movement; accurately interpreting them and reporting their corresponding activity and behavior types to the owner via our smartphone app. This means that Animo can tell owners more about their dog than they’ve ever known before – it will be a game changer for the dog tracking market and is far more than an activity monitor, it is the essential lifelong companion for your dog.”

Jon Bowen, Royal Veterinary College vet and animal behaviorist said: “Because we spend so much time with our dogs we think we know how they feel, but the reality is that we often miss things. Our dogs can’t tell us that they are starting to have problems sleeping because they are in pain. They can’t tell us they are getting stressed or upset by something while we are at work, or whether they really go on good long walks with the dog walker. Even when we go on a walk with our dog, we may not notice that they are gradually becoming less playful and energetic, so we don’t detect early signs of health problems like arthritis or heart disease. Using monitoring we can get a much greater insight into what is really going on with our dogs, so we can spot the first signs of a problem. But monitoring isn’t all about picking up signs of poor health; if we monitor our dogs we can aim to make their lives better and more enjoyable. For example, identifying the activities they really like, doing more of those things and making an effort to pack more fun into every walk instead of just plodding. Having said this, the most critical aspect of monitoring is accuracy. This is where products like Animo have a real advantage, because If we are going to take action based on what a monitor tells us, we need to have real confidence in the quality of information.”

Pet tech continues to be a growing industry, with the global market expected to increase to $2.36bn by 2022, according to Grand View Research. In 2017, UK dog owners spent a whopping $10 billion on general products and services for their animals.

Animo is available to purchase online today (October 2018) at surepetcare.com, and in the coming weeks from leading pet retailers* for an MSRP of $79.99.

Sure Petcare app

The Sure Petcare app-Animo is available for free download on the App Store (iOS 9 or later) and Google Play (Android 4.4 or later). Desktop requirements: latest version of Safari, Chrome, Firefox or Internet Explorer on Mac OS X v10.9 or later and Windows 7 or later.

Company Information

Sure Petcare is a trading name of SureFlap Ltd.

About Sure Petcare

Sure Petcare, the pet technology specialist, provides pet products that empower owners to care for their pets in entirely new ways.

Founded in 2007, Sure Petcare has developed an award-winning range of microchip-operated pet doors and feeders including the Microchip Cat Flap, the Microchip Pet Door, Microchip Pet Feeder and Sealed Pet Bowl, which solve many problems commonly experienced by pet owners.

Sure Petcare launched its first connected product, the Microchip Pet Door Connect in 2017, which enables pet owners to control the pet door using an app. The SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap Connect joined the range of connected products in June 2018, with the near-term product roadmap featuring a portfolio of connected products designed to provide proactive pet care by giving owners data and insight into their pets’ day-to-day behaviors, activities and routines. Over time, this information will provide a greater understanding of their pets’ health and wellbeing.

Sure Petcare products have been used by pet owners across the globe for ten years. The company sells direct, through retail stores and veterinary practices in 35 countries.

For further information visit www.surepetcare.com.

 

Good-bye, Martha

Please keep our daughter Maggie in your prayers as she mourns the loss of her precious fur baby Martha.  Thank you.

Martha McClendon – Photo Take 29 October 2018

Rest in peace, sweet Martha.

He crossed over The Bridge very early Thanksgiving morning, 22 November 2018. 

We’re going to miss you, little buddy. 😔

Book Review: His Royal Dogness, Guy the Beagle: The Rebarkable True Story of Meghan Markle’s Rescue Dog by Camille March and Michael Brumm Illustrated by EG Keller

His Royal Dogness, Guy the Beagle: The Rebarkable True Story of Meghan Markle’s Rescue Dog by Camille March and Michael Brumm Illustrated by EG Keller

Do you want to know all the secrets of the Royal Pets? His Royal Dogness, Guy the Beagle: The Rebarkable True Story of Meghan Markle’s Rescue Dog by Camille March and Michael Brumm and Illustrated by EG Keller will give you all the background of the newest royal dog.

This book is cute and funny.  It tells about how the duchess came to possess Guy.

This book would make a great addition to your family home evening stories and those bedtime stories you read to all your little knee huggers.

The book is well-illustrated. Unlike most children’s books today, the colors are not intense.  This is a great thing for an easily overstimulated child. As your child deprograms from the day’s technology intense activities, this might be a good step down as you try to get them to bed.

We think every child should have His Royal Dogness, Guy the Beagle, under the Christmas tree. Grandparents, are you listening?

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book.  We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

PS Annie! is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Guest Post: Keep pets’ safety in mind this Thanksgiving, Pet Sitters International advises

 

This article was provided by Pet Sitters International (PSI).

Keep pets’ safety in mind this Thanksgiving, Pet Sitters International advises

The association offers tips to ensure pets and humans both have a safe and happy holiday.

KING, N.C. (November 5, 2018) — Thanksgiving—it’s a time for falling leaves, family gatherings and plenty of turkey and stuffing—but the holiday is not always a festive time for pets. Pet Sitters International (PSI), the world’s leading educational organization for professional pet sitters, advises pet owners to keep in mind their four-legged family members’ safety when planning Thanksgiving activities this year.

“Simple holiday traditions, such as hosting a Thanksgiving feast for friends and family, can pose potential problems to pets if not monitored carefully,” advised PSI President Patti J. Moran.

“Fortunately, there are simple precautions pet owners can take to help promote a safe and happy holiday for pets and humans alike.”

PSI offers the following tips for pet owners to keep in mind this Thanksgiving:

1. Know which treats are “off-limits.” Food is a culprit for some of the most common holiday pet emergencies, so know which foods are off-limits for your pets, and make it clear to any guests. Holiday treats—such as rich, fatty scraps; bones from pork and poultry; alcoholic beverages; chocolate; and other sweets and candies—can be harmful or toxic to pets. Some of these foods have been linked to pancreatitis in pets. Signs and symptoms of an inflamed pancreas include vomiting and abdominal pain, and severe pancreatitis requires emergency medical care and treatment. Other dangerous substances for pets include the sugar substitute xylitol, bread dough and onions. If a pet ingests any potentially harmful product, call a veterinarian or a local emergency animal hospital immediately.

2. Put holiday decorations out of pets’ reach. Will you be decorating your home with cornucopias, pine cones, plants, lights or other festive décor this Thanksgiving? Or will you put up a Christmas tree or other holiday decorations following the Thanksgiving feast? Be sure to keep out of pets’ reach any decorations that could be harmful if chewed on or ingested.

3. Provide a safe space for pets. For pets that are easily frightened or not used to being around a lot of people, Thanksgiving can be an especially stressful time. If guests will be at your home, make sure you have a room set aside where your pet can relax with favorite toys and will not be disturbed. It is also important to make sure your pet is wearing an identification tag with your name and current contact information, in case he or she slips out the door as guests come and go. You may also want to consider microchipping your pet.

4. Don’t delay hiring a professional pet sitter. If you will be celebrating Thanksgiving or another holiday away from home, your pet could benefit from the services of a professional pet sitter. PSI advises pet owners to only use the services of professional pet sitters and to begin the search for pet care as soon as possible. PSI recently surveyed nearly 1,000 professional pet sitters and found that 65 percent say they are usually fully booked for holiday pet-sitting visits at least two to three weeks prior to the holiday.

Anyone can post a profile on a pet-sitting or dog-walking website or app, so it is important to make sure you are choosing a qualified pet-care provider. PSI recommends pet owners schedule an initial consultation with a potential pet sitter prior to booking services and offers a free pet-sitter interview checklist on the PSI website. Pet owners can search PSI’s Pet Sitter Locator free of charge at www.petsit.com/locate.

“Finding a pet sitter you trust allows you to truly enjoy your holiday, so pet owners shouldn’t delay in seeking professional pet sitters to watch their pets while they’re away visiting family, attending holiday parties or simply shopping late,” Moran said.

To learn more about PSI, visit www.petsit.com.

 

About Pet Sitters International

Founded in 1994 by Patti J. Moran, author of Pet Sitting for Profit, Pet Sitters International (PSI) is the world’s largest educational association for professional pet sitters, with member pet-sitting businesses in the United States, Canada and more than 20 other countries. PSI members have access to the widest array of business services and educational resources available in the professional pet-sitting industry. PSI’s Pet Sitter Locator is the largest online directory of professional pet sitters, and pet owners can visit petsit.com/locate to find local professional pet sitters.

This article was provided by Pet Sitters International (PSI).

 

Guest Post: Tips for Traveling with Pets

Tips for Traveling with Pets

Flying with your pet: If you are going to take your pet on an airplane, it is important to determine whether your pet will need a crate or a carrier. Larger dogs will fly in a crate in the cargo, and smaller dogs that fit into a carrier can fly in the plane. Make sure you find out the requirements for your dog prior to booking your flight.

Familiarize your pet with its crate or carrier: Pets like familiarity. If you plan on keeping your pet inside a carrier or crate while traveling, make purchases at least a month before travel to allow your pet ample time to get comfortable with the new environment. Place him or her in the carrier and provide some treats. Gradually lengthen the time your pet is in the crate or carrier until your pet seems at ease in its new space.

Car safety: It is important that we always think about the dog’s safety while in your car. If you want your pet to sit on the seat, get your pup a dog seatbelt. It allows your dog room to move around, but provides restraint in the case of an accident. If you have an SUV, you can buy a gate that keeps your dog from jumping from the back to the front.

Feed your pet no less than five or six hours before traveling: It is very easy for your dog or cat to become sick during travel. Providing time for food to digest lessens the chances of your pet becoming ill.

Find a pet-friendly hotel:  And if you’ve got plans during the day, since most pet-friendly hotels will not allow pets to be left in the room alone, consider taking your dog to a nearby Camp Bow Wow® doggie day care facility or hire a Home Buddies by Camp Bow Wow® pet sitter to keep Fido company. Camp is open early in the morning until late in the evening, so your pup can play all day.

Make your pet feel at home: Use familiar dishes, blankets, toys and other items from your home to create a sense of comfort for your pet.

…And If Fido can’t travel with you, book him an overnight stay at one of Camp Bow Wows 100+ franchises across the country; you can even watch him while on-the-go via Camp Bow Wow’s iPhone App, which has a web-cam feature that is hooked up at every location.

Erin Askeland, CBCC-KA, Pet Behaviorist, Training Manager and #GiveAFetch Pet Expert at Camp Bow Wow

 

Image Source: Pixabay

Press Release: Pet Diabetes Month Stresses Importance of Identifying the Signs

Pet Diabetes Month Stresses Importance of Identifying the Signs

AUSTIN—An estimated one in 300 adult dogs and one in 230 cats in the U.S. suffer from diabetes, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. These statistics stress the importance of observing National Pet Diabetes Month in November, marking a time for pet owners to educate themselves on the signs of diabetes and its risk factors. Reliable and accurate information on diabetes can be found on TexVetPets.org, the veterinary professional-written and peer-reviewed pet health website of the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA). The website’s article on diabetes covers common signs, such as lethargy, excessive thirst and frequent urination; diagnostic testing; treatment options and prognoses: www.texvetpets.org/article/diabetes-mellitus-in-your-dog-and-cat.

Pet owners will learn that if their pets are showing signs of diabetes, it is vital to take them to be examined by their veterinarian because these signs may mean their pet is diabetic. With early diagnosis and proper care, a pet with diabetes can live a happy, healthy and active life.

Diabetes Management Varies for Dogs and Cats

Diabetes is caused by the body’s inability to process or release proper amounts of insulin, resulting in high blood glucose levels. Treating diabetes in dogs most often requires insulin injections, but in cats, it can sometimes be managed by weight loss and diet changes. Once your veterinarian has diagnosed a pet with diabetes, he or she will determine the most effective management plan for the owner to follow.

“Diabetic animals require frequent monitoring, including blood tests, and insulin-dependent diabetics typically require injections every 12 hours,” said TVMA Past President Lori Teller, DVM, DABVP, CVJ, who serves as a clinical associate professor of telehealth at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) in College Station, Texas. “It is much easier to prevent diabetes than it is to treat it, especially in cats, so maintain your pet at an appropriate weight and get regular veterinary exams. If your pet is displaying the signs of diabetes, have it examined very soon before it progresses to a life-threatening state.”

Obesity, Age and Genetics Increase Risks of Pets Developing Diabetes

While diabetes can’t always be prevented, obesity has shown to be a contributing factor, especially in cats. Other risk factors in dogs include age, genetics and intact females. Dog breeds that have a higher risk of developing diabetes include cocker spaniels, pomeranians, golden retrievers and dachshunds. Age, genetics, disorders such as chronic pancreatitis or hyperthyroidism and neutering in males are among the risk factors in cats.

There is no cure for diabetes, so effective management of the disease is crucial to your pet’s quality of life. Partner with your veterinarian to establish a treatment to ensure a happy and active life for your pet.

About the Texas Veterinary Medical Association

Founded in 1903, the Texas Veterinary Medical Association is a professional association composed of more than 3,900 veterinarians committed to protecting public health, promoting high educational, ethical and moral standards within the veterinary profession and educating the public about animal health and its relationship to human health. For more information, call 512/452-4224 or visit www.tvma.org.

 

Guest Post: Quick & Easy Ways to Pet-Proof Your Home for the Holidays

Quick & Easy Ways to Pet-Proof Your Home for the Holidays

To truly pet-proof your home, start by getting down on the floor to see the world the way your pet sees it. This allows you to spot potential hazards that you might not notice from your vantage point.

Treat your pet like you would a child: Active puppies and kittens can easily get into dangerous situations. Use safety gates in areas where dangerous holiday items are to prevent your pet from getting into trouble.

Take caution with wires: Pets can easily injure themselves with electrical wires and outlets. Use caution when hanging up holiday lights on trees and around the house. Secure all electrical cords and outlets and keep your dog in areas of your home where cords cannot be accessed.

Avoid holiday plants: Plants can be poisonous for pets, so be cautious when placing holiday wreaths, flowers and plants around the house where your dog can easily access them.

Candles: Lit candles pose a serious threat to both your dog and your home. Keep your dog away from candles because they can easily be knocked down creating a fire hazard.

Hide the trash can: A hyper puppy can easily knock over a trash can and spread garbage and bacteria throughout your home. In addition, dogs can choke on hazardous items so be sure to properly dispose of all holiday wrapping and keep it out of your dog’s reach.

Utilize a sofa cover: To avoid fur on your loveseat, use a seat or slipcover to avoid a mess before guests arrive.

Be careful with fruit and candy baskets: Holiday treats will inevitably be present during this season, but grapes, raisins, chocolate and other holiday treats are actually deadly for dogs. Candy wrappers can also be threatening to your dog, so be sure to throw away all wrappers in a place where your dog can’t get to them.

Erin Askeland, CBCC-KA, Pet Behaviorist, Training Manager and #GiveAFetch Pet Expert at Camp Bow Wow

 

Image Source: Pixabay

Ways to Keep Your Dog Healthy

 

Ways to Keep Your Dog Healthy

Do you have a canine friend that you care about a great deal? If this is the case, you need to take the precautions to make sure that your dog is always in the best of health. There are a variety of ways that you can do this. Always remember that neglecting even a single element of your dog’s health regimen could have negative consequences on your pet. You would be wise to educate yourself as much as possible regarding what a dog needs to stay healthy. This is especially important if you just became a dog owner for the first time. Here are several methods to ensure that your dog has a long and happy life.

1. Make sure that your dog gets an adequate amount of exercise.

A dog needs exercise just as much as a person does. Therefore, you need to take the time out of your schedule to take your dog for a walk on a daily basis. This might be hard for you to do if you have a full-time job and other commitments that take up your time. However, you made a commitment when you became a pet owner. It is your responsibility to ensure that your dog is happy and healthy. A dog that is not getting enough exercise on a daily basis will eventually start to develop more serious health problems. You might want to think about hiring a professional dog walker to take your dog for a walk if you do not have the time to do so. Giving your dog enough exercise is especially important if you live in an apartment with no yard for your dog to run around in.

2. Take your dog to a veterinarian on a regular basis.

You probably go to a doctor for a physical examination at least once every year. This is a smart decision on your part. Being proactive where your health is concerned allows you to discover any health problems before they become very serious. You should apply the same logic to the health of your dog. Find a very reputable veterinarian in your area who has many years of experience. Schedule regular appointments to have your dog evaluated by the veterinarian. This person can give you advice about certain things you need to be doing to help your dog stay healthy. The veterinarian might also prescribe medication for your dog to take. You can also shop with Vet Products Direct for dog worming products.

3. Only feed your dog the healthiest foods.

Giving your dog a lot of exercise is great. However, that will not mean very much if you are allowing your pet to eat foods that do not have any health benefits. This is why you need to take as much interest in the health of your dog as you do with your own. Ask your veterinarian to recommend some foods to you that will help to keep your dog healthy. There are certain foods that will make your dog’s immune system stronger. Carefully read the labels of all the foods you are feeding to you dog. This will give you a clear understanding of what is going into your dog’s body. You can then buy foods that will give your canine friend a balanced diet.

4. Brush your dog’s teeth twice every day.

The same problems that can develop in your own mouth when you do not brush your teeth regularly can happen in your dog’s mouth. This is why you need to pay very close attention to the oral hygiene of your dog. Take the time to brush your dog’s teeth twice every day. Doctors have linked many organ problems to poor oral hygiene. This means that your dog could face serious health problems if you neglect its oral hygiene. Get instructions from your veterinarian about the products you should buy and the proper brushing technique you should use.

 

 

Special Notice: This is a sponsored post.

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Book Review: Prancie’s Prayer by Ellen J. Pilch Illustrated by Nicolas Peruzzo

Prancie’s Prayer by Ellen J. Pilch Illustrated by Nicolas Peruzzo

By now all of our readers know that we here at McClendon Villa are animal lovers. That is why we love Prancie’s Prayer by Ellen J. Pilch, which was illustrated by Nicolas Peruzzo. It is such a wonderful story. It shows that animals are part of the Kingdom, too.

This story is Christian-based. It takes place around Christmas, so it would make a wonderful Christmas present, or early Christmas present, for your kids.

This very heartwarming story is extremely well-written and the illustrations are magnificent. We give it all five stars and a can of tuna. You are looking for a great gift for your young child. You could not do better than Prancie’s Prayer.

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book. We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.