pet Archives - Serendipity Mommy

CAT OWNERS: AVOID THESE MISTAKES TO RAISE THEM WELL

December 18, 2020 by Mandy

Cats are sweet, and the cuteness of a kitten is highly irresistible. Their curious, big colorful eyes and tiny paws can melt your heart away. Their playful personalities and their trust in their owners are indeed priceless. They might not return you the same warmth and love initially, but once they start owning you, they will roam with you all around the house and wait for you to come home and greet you. Around 30% of the households in the US have a pet cat. Surprisingly, many people are not even aware of how to take care of a cat.

The idea of having a pet and receiving unconditional love is so exciting but do you know everything you should about having a pet? As a first tie pet owner with no prior experience of having any pet, it might be not easy, but you can still learn how to train a cat. Even if you already have a cat and bring a new one home, you still need to understand the measures you need to follow. Having a cat or kitten as a pet, one has to be careful and cautious to look after them and train them the way you want.

Cat owners who are new at the experience are more likely to make mistakes while looking after their pets. One of the cat’s common myths is that they are easy to keep and do not need much care. The reality, however, is the opposite of it. Are you worried about the litter smell and about arranging litter every time you need to replace it? Avail of the cat litter delivery services in your area and receive it at your doorstep. Be it a cat or a kitten; they need some training to understand what you want from them and how they have to adjust to your house. Avoid these common mistakes as a pet owner and enjoy the unconditional love of your cat.

1. Having a cat on impulse

If we buy a new dress or a pair of shoes out of impulse, it may work, and we have a solution for it. If we do not like it, we can return it. When you think about buying a cat just because you wanted the one your neighbor has, it shall not have to be an impulsive decision. Buying or adopting a cat at the spur of the moment might not work for everyone. It goes both ways; the owner may not find the decision function the way they thought it would. Also, the cat might not adjust to your surroundings. Having a cat shall be a thoughtful decision instead of picking one at random. Consider all your options, learn about their health, their temperaments, ad behaviors, and decide if you can deal with it or not.

2. Ignoring the long-term commitment

Just like our kids need time and attention, no matter their age, cats demand the same. Many cats owner adopt or buy a cat and ignore long-term commitments. As the kitten grows, the cost of keeping a cat also mounts up. If you are looking for a short-term pet, then do not opt for having a cat. Pets have an emotional attachment to their owners, and abandoning them because you are not ready for a long commitment can leave them traumatized. It will not be fair if after a month you realize that you do not have enough money to afford the food for the two of you and one has to go.

3. Choosing to declaw

Fed up of all the cat scratches at your furniture and seeing your favorite couch torn up? You might want to get rid of their claws but imagine how you feel if someone rips off your nails? Unless there is a valid medical condition or a severe injury, you can declaw your cat, but saving your furniture is not at all fair. Declawing is not just the removal of their claws but also entails removing the bone itself. As a pet owner, this would be so cruel on your part, and you might save your furniture, but your cat will be in pain forever. You can upgrade your sofa’s fabric or buy a scratch post for your cat but do not opt for declawing, please.

4. Not getting them spayed

When we hear the word kitten season, it is not a myth, but it exists. Cats give birth to many kittens, and it happens every year at every shelter that kittens and cats are looking for a new home. If you plan to have more than one cat and have enough space at your house, you can let them breed. But it wise to get them spayed or neutered if you don’t want any more cats and kittens in your home. Cats tend to get pregnant early as 4 to 6 months, so do not delay the spaying if you do not want them to have kittens.

5. No parasite control

Cat’s fur is the favorite spot for fleas and ticks, and once they get to hold of your cat’s fur, they will make them run for their life. Ticks and fleas are common in pets, but ignoring their presence can not only make your cat fall sick, but it also becomes hard to control them. To avoid parasite attacks, buy your cat an anti-flea collar or give them sulfur baths to prevent the microorganisms and parasites at bay.

Conclusion

Our pets hold a sentimental value and soon become an integral part of our lives. They are the best companions a person can ever have. Your cat owns you too, and they communicate by meowing. Their small playful acts are so heartwarming and can make you smile in an instant. A slight mistake can make their lives miserable, and seeing them in pain will not make us happy either. When you own a cat, it is your responsibility to give them the best care and love and fulfill their needs.

4 Tips for Dog Owners Who Want to Style Their Pet

November 16, 2020 by Mandy

Puppy fashion is on the rise and has been for a few years now. People want their pups to look good and will do everything they can, from buying them high-end clothes to getting them a full haircut complete with a dye job. You may have seen celebrities in magazines stepping out with their pets dressed to the nines and now you want to do the same with yours. Here are some fashion tips for pet owners and the pets they love.

Get a Nice-Looking Leash

If you want to start with something small, one thing you could do is get a nice stylish leash that will work with whatever they and you are wearing. If you’re looking for options, we suggest you check out these unique dog collars and leashes at Monro Pets. They have a great selection of unique dog collars and they all have extra padding for added comfort. They have leashes in virtually all colors and with trendy patterns like stars, graffiti, or flowers just to name a few.

Keep it Simple

If this is your first time getting some clothes for your pet, then you have to make sure that you take baby steps at first. You have to understand that clothing is very unnatural to them and some will react to it differently. You also have to understand that some dogs might already be dealing with heat issues, and clothing might actually be detrimental to them. On the other hand, if you have a warm-weather dog, they could actually benefit from having an extra layer during the cold months. Chihuahuas and Yorkshire Terriers are perfect examples.

Let Them Get Used to it

You also have to take the time for them to get used to the clothing before they wear it. Let them see their outfit for a few days and weeks. Place it somewhere they can see it when they get up. Then lay it on them from time to time so they can get used to the fabric. They’ll be much more compliant and comfortable once it’s time to put it on them.

Another thing you have to do is give them positive reinforcement. Give them a treat right after they’ve gotten into their clothes or costume. And when they’re done wearing it, make sure to reward them again. They will make a positive association between wearing clothes and treats and will be even eager to wear their clothes when going out.

Don’t Forget the Face

You don’t have to stop at clothing either. There are other things that you can do to elevate your dog’s style even further. If they have a beautiful mane, you could give them a nice haircut that would complement their face. You might even want to go so far as to buy a pair of sunglasses. Accessories are what are really going to take their style over the top and make them stand out.

If you want to turn heads the next time you’re at the dog park, make sure that you follow these tips. Both you and your pup will look like you’re fresh off of the runway and will get the attention of other owners and their pets as well.

7 Vitamins Your Dog Needs for a Healthy Lifestyle

July 26, 2020 by Mandy

Dog parenting is a blessing that offers you the opportunity to enjoy blissful moments with your cherished pet. You obviously leave no stone unturned to keep him healthy and fit as much as possible. Being a responsible and caring dog owner, you want to ensure a healthy lifestyle to your beloved pet and must be wondering whether the food you are giving him can meet his demands for the essential nutrients or not. With the shops infesting with human multivitamins, you may think if they are also beneficial to the loving up. With the growing age, canines may also face physical issues, like humans, and need a supplement regimen to be included in their diet depending on their specific health condition. Do dogs need joint supplements? Do we need to give them dietary multivitamins? Well, dogs need supplements, and while supplementing their nutrient intake, you need to get one that contains some essential nutrients.

Essential Vitamins to Ensure a Healthy Lifestyle

Vitamins are equally significant for dogs and humans, and you need to ensure a balanced diet to fulfill this need. To help you out, we are mentioning 7-necessary vitamins for canines so that you can have precise knowledge about how they help maintain balanced nutrition.

These essentials include:

Vitamin A

Have you ever noticed a pup with dull hair and rough skin? It is a sign of a lack of nutrients in his diet. More specifically, it indicates vitamin A deficiency. After digestion, this nutrient is stored in the liver’s fat cells, and the dog’s body uses it when needed. It is a vital element that ensures a healthy coat and supports the dog to grow well. If your pup’s body lacks this nutrient, he may face night blindness. Giving Vitamin A contained diet is a must if your dog is pregnant to ensure normal reproductivity. It also helps muscle growth and neurosurgical improvement in puppies.

Vitamin B

This nutrient’s family plays a very significant role in canines’ health and ensures a strong immune system.

A deficiency of thiamine in your pooch may slow his carbohydrate metabolism and affects his central nervous activities.
Vitamin B12, Niacin and Riboflavin act as the coenzymes in some significant biochemical reactions. They play a vital role in protein synthesis and help produce red blood cells.
Feeding vitamin B, particularly thiamine, keeps the ticks and parasites away from the dog.
Folic acid takes part in the metabolism in amino acid spurs protein synthesis.
Vitamin B6 helps keep the nervous system functioning, produce erythrocytes, maintain hormonal balance, and boost his immunity.

Vitamin C

It is a significant antioxidant that boosts cognitive development in your dog and improves his immune system to minimize the chances of diseases like cancer. It limits the harmful free radicals and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. The pooch’s body needs it to produce neurotransmitters. Moreover, puppies need a significant amount of vitamin C for bone and muscle growth.

Vitamin D

Also called ‘sunshine vitamin,’ it gets generated by the canine body when he comes to exposure to the sun. Vitamin D regulates the body’s calcium level and ensures muscle and bone development. Canine’s nervous system also needs vitamin D to work properly. It manages calcium and phosphorus ingestion from the bowel and regulates its amount in the bones. It also controls how much calcium the kidneys will eliminate. A deficiency of this nutrient may lead your canine to suffer from cancer, congestive heart collapse, and create bone diseases like rickets, osteomalacia, etc. An optimal amount of this nutrient ensures healthy joints, skin, and coat in your dog. But excess of this fat-soluble nutrient can also be fatal and produce intoxication.

Vitamin E

Again, it is a fat-soluble nutrient that acts as an essential antioxidant to preserve the fatty acids and blood cells of your pup. It improves the dog’s immune system by decreasing the damaging free cells and boosts his cardiovascular health by improving blood circulation through the blood vessels and heart. It helps his skin maintain its elasticity and improves his coat condition. Vitamin E is a vital element to boost productivity, delay cognitive age, and combat many diseases.

Vitamin K

It is a fat-soluble element that acts as an activator to spur the process of blood clotting in your canine. The deficiency of this nutrient may cause excess bleeding because of the failure of the fibrin coagulation configuration. Your pet may face hemorrhaging or even death if distinct mouse poisons get ingested into his body. These poisons hinder the nutrient’s activities, and the dog cannot use it for blood coagulation. He may also suffer from infiltrative intestine illness, intrahepatic cholestasis, biliary obstruction, etc.

Choline

It is another essential nutrient to maintain your pup’s healthy lifestyle and a vital part of the cell membrane. It embodies carnitine from the digestive system, supplies enough energy to the liver and brain, and helps them function properly. Choline is also used as a therapeutic element to treat epilepsy in canines and cats. The deficiency of choline may lead your pup to Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD).

You may have to give your dog vitamin supplements if his food fails to fulfill the requirements in distinct conditions. They are the vital building blocks to keep your pup healthy. But before feeding any supplement, you must consult your vet to avoid any potential risk.

Why Pet Product Reviews Save You Money

June 10, 2020 by Mandy

How do you buy products for your pets? Are you an impulsive buyer? Do you happen to walk by a shop, see something you like and then you just have to have it? If this is you, then you must have all kinds of excuses to get all kinds of unnecessary things. It doesn’t matter if that collar is expensive, it will look absolutely wonderful on your dog, right?

Speaking of collars, you might use a few tips on how to choose the right one: https://blog.dogids.com/what-collar-does-my-dog-need/

On the other hand, you might be one of those people who think too much about whether they should buy a particular tool, toy or food product for their pet. After thinking about it for far too long, you will eventually give it all up, because something new, better and improved has entered the market. Then, you’ll start thinking about buying something new, better and improved, but you’ll have no luck this time either, because you’ll never go further from thinking about it.

Even if you are in the second group, you still have to spend some money on your puppy, at least to get the minimum and bare essentials. I suppose your problem is not money as much as being unable to make the right decision about what you should buy. You’d think that a person like this would probably save some money, but that’s not the case. This indecisiveness can actually lead towards overpaying for certain things after realizing that it’s high time to buy your doggie that collar or something similar.

At that moment, you stop thinking altogether about which product to choose and you are ready to pay any price just to get the burden off your shoulders and finally own the thing that your puppy needs. Oh, the marvelous psychology behind shopping. How astonishingly complex and yet amazingly simple it is. No matter how much or how little you think about your purchasing decisions, you will eventually end up paying a huge price.

There is a simple way, though, to win that battle of wits between you and all the effective ads that are so cunningly and subtly inviting you to spend your hard-earned money. There is a way to come out as the winner and walk away with the perfect products for your four-legged friend without spending a small fortune. All you need to do is find a few websites offering dog reviews and dog product reviews. Those will turn you into a smart shopper in no time and save you a significant amount of money. Let’s see how.

Reviews Tell You Which Products To Avoid

Just as it is important to know what to buy, you also need to know what to avoid buying. There are all kinds of dog products on the market nowadays. Frankly, some of those are a complete waste of money, since they are absolutely unnecessary and pointless. What’s even worse, some of those things might be harmful for your puppies. No manufacturer will tell you openly and straightforwardly that their product might impact your dog negatively.

Do you know how you can find out that without the manufacturer telling you directly? I assume the answer is rather obvious. By reading dog product reviews, you will know exactly which manufacturers and which products to avoid. I am fairly sure that you don’t want to waste your money on unnecessary or even harmful equipment. By telling you what to avoid, reviews will definitely save you more than a few bucks.

Reviews Tell You What Is Reasonable And What Is Expensive

Let me ask you a question and I want you to answer sincerely. Of course, you’ll be answering to yourself, but that’s exactly why you need to be completely honest. Can you really tell if something is expensive, or do you just go buy your guts? I am inclined to think that you do have a perception of some kind about what is expensive and what is reasonable. Who can tell you, though, that your perception is correct?

It can really get difficult to determine which dog products are expensive and which are reasonably priced, especially if you don’t have much experience with buying these. Reviews can significantly help you. The people who write them are extremely knowledgeable when it comes to this market. That means that reviews will help you avoid getting ripped off by certain sellers. You will be able to get everything at reasonable prices.

Reviews Tell You What You Need And What You Don’t Need

One of the main ways in which you lose money is by buying things you don’t need. In this case, it’s by buying things your pets don’t need. Let us be honest here. We all have those moments of thinking that something is absolutely necessary, buying it and then storing it away without using it even a single time. In an effort not to miss out on the perfect product, we end up buying a lot of useless things.

When you start reading reviews, you will find out when and why certain products are used, which will help you determine whether you actually need it. That way, you will save a lot of money by not buying unnecessary pieces of equipment. When you think about it this way, the best way to shop is by getting yourself familiar with specific products first and you can do that by reading reviews.

Pets After Retirement Can Make You Really Happy

February 21, 2020 by Mandy

Do you want to know a sure-fire way to put a smile on your face? Go to an animal shelter and adopt a cat or dog. Getting a furry friend will bring you lots of joy and make you healthier during retirement. Read ahead to find out how.

Finding Your New Pet a Home

Sometimes, retirees have a hard time finding a new home that allows them to bring a dog or cat with them. Many condominiums are not pet-friendly, asking that tenants leave their pets once they sign the lease. Apartments and other types of rental units also try to prohibit applicants from bringing pets — this is illegal, but it doesn’t stop many landlords from trying.

Luckily, there are quality residence homes for seniors that understand how important pet ownership can be, allowing people to move their furry friends into their suites. A pet-friendly living-space can be hard to find, but it’s out there.

How Will Pets Change Your Life for the Better?

They Improve Your Mental Health

Having a pet is good for your mental health. It can actually prevent feelings of isolation and loneliness. Owners don’t have to worry about having an empty home or yearn for physical affection.

There’s a reason why pet therapy (animal-assisted therapy) is considered an effective method of reducing stress, alleviating pain and producing endorphins.

They Improve Your Physical Health

Pets can increase your physical fitness, too. Research shows that owning a dog decreases your risk of having a heart attack by 11% and decreases the risk of dying due to cardiovascular-related conditions by 36%. Dogs have lots of energy, so owning one encourages you to keep up. You have to get off of the couch to take them out for long walks and trips to the park. If the trip is too far, you can always tire them out with a quick round of fetch in your backyard, using a tennis ball or squeaky chew-toy.

Are you a cat person? That’s not a problem. You can leash-train your cat so that you can take them on nice walks to the park. If that doesn’t work, there are plenty of specialized strollers and bags that can help you bring your feline friend out for a stroll. And on days when the weather is rough, you can play with them indoors. A simple piece of string or a laser pointer can entertain them for hours.

They Incite Social Interaction

A pet can also be a great way to meet new people. People are far more comfortable approaching strangers walking dogs, seeing if they can pet them or learn their names. If you’re shy, your dog can help you become a social butterfly.

If you’re not sure whether you want to commit to buying a pet just yet, you can always foster one for a trusted organization. You can take care of them for a month or two, and then decide if you want to make them your official pet. The best-case scenario is that you’ll bond with your new furry friend and get to keep them for the rest of their life.