Tips for Enjoying the Holidays with Furry Friends

The holiday season brings all sorts of joys, like catching up with family and friends, eating favorite foods and exchanging gifts. The whirlwind of holiday activities, however, is no excuse to forget about Fluffy and Fido.

The makers of Teddy’s Pride, a probiotic oral care product specially designed for cats and dogs, offers the following pet-friendly tips for the holiday season:

•    Keep up regular care. No matter how busy you are, make sure that you stick to your pet’s regular schedule as much as possible. Remember to keep dogs exercised – taking time for walks will not only keep them healthy but also help you work off that extra eggnog.

Is Your Cat’s Bad Breath Saying Something?

How many times has your cat come to wake you up by rubbing his face against your face in the morning? Your cat looks adorable, but the odor coming from his mouth may make his affection less than welcome. Of course, you want to freshen your cat’s breath, but before you look into kitty breath mints, you might want to make an appointment with your veterinarian.

While post-tuna halitosis is no cause for concern, your cat’s breath should not stink consistently. If you notice unrelenting bad breath, your cat might be suffering from an undetected health issue, such as oral disease or diabetes. If you notice the following smells, have your cat examined by a vet:

Are You Taking Care of Your Small Dog’s Teeth?

Five words or less(NewsUSA) – While Labradors have topped the American Kennel Club’s list of popular dogs for more than two decades, small dogs are gaining ground. Out of the top ten breeds, four — Yorkshire terriers, Dachshunds, Poodles (the category includes standards and miniatures) and Shih Tzus — are small breeds. The dog that made the largest jump in popularity 2009? The Havanese, which weighs between seven and 13 pounds.
Small dogs make great companions for a reason. Many are smart, personable and ideally sized for apartment living. But small dogs do come with special needs, and owners should be aware of them. For example, due to the small size of their mouths, dogs under 20 pounds have a greater risk of dental problems.
Owners of small dogs should be extra diligent about their pets’ oral hygiene. Scheduling regular check-ups can help vets catch problems in tooth and jaw development. Those with puppies should pay attention when their dogs start losing their milk teeth. If adult teeth don’t emerge from the gums, there could be a problem requiring a vet visit.
Adult dog owners should examine their dogs’ gums for signs of infection, like discoloration or bleeding. Abnormalities may be signs of periodontal disease, which requires treatment by a veterinarian.
Prevention is just as important as detection. Brushing pets’ teeth daily is one of the best ways to maintain oral health, but many dogs won’t tolerate brushing. For dogs that are temperamental about pet owners or vets touching their teeth, a simple and effective solution can be found using a new type of probiotics, called Teddy’s Pride Oral Care (www.MyTeddysPride.com), that has been designed specifically for the oral care needs of dogs and cats. These probiotics can be used in addition to brushing or as a stand-alone oral care routine, if brushing is not an option. Owners simply sprinkle the odorless, tasteless product on their pets’ food, making it the easiest step toward protecting pets’ mouths.

What Is Your Cat’s Bad Breath Telling You?

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Five Ways Frugal Pet Owners Can Save

Five words or less(NewsUSA) – For many pet owners and their pets, money is no object. But expenses like food, grooming, routine vet care, toys and kenneling can add up quickly, making it difficult for budget conscious pet owners to afford their shaggy partners.
According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, the average annual cost of keeping a dog exceeds $1,200. For frugal pet owners who want to provide the best possible care to their furry friends while keeping costs low, here are five tips:
* Stay on top of your dog’s medical needs. Some owners may attempt to cut costs by visiting the veterinarian less often, but this may cost more in the long run. Routine check-ups can catch minor problems before they become major health issues. If check-ups or vaccinations are out of your budget, look out for clinics, where vets will vaccinate or spay and neuter pets at reduced costs.
* Take care of your dog’s mouth. Teeth cleanings at the vet are very costly and can be avoided completely if pet owners choose to take oral care into their own hands by brushing their dogs’ teeth. If a dog’s teeth are healthy, oral care probiotics such as Teddy’s Pride (www.myteddyspride.com) are a good substitution to brushing to offer fresh breath and whiter, cleaner teeth. Pet owners simply sprinkle the odorless, tasteless probiotics on their dog’s food once a day.
* Buy in bulk. Buying large amounts of pet food at once can help you save, not only on the food itself, but also on the gas needed to get to the store. Just be sure to purchase a high-quality dog food, as poor nutrition can negatively affect your dog’s health.
* Groom your pet at home. Grooming expenses can add up quickly. Trimming nails and washing pets yourself can lead to big savings each month. Just be sure to do your research first to avoid mistakes that could be detrimental to your pet’s health.
* Treat common ailments, yourself. You may want to talk to your vet to develop the best treatment plan for your specific pet for fleas, ticks and heartworms. This will also require a bit of research, but it will be much less expensive to order the treatment yourself than to consult a vet for each individual ailment.
For more information, visit www.teddyspride.com.

Four Tips for a Healthier Dog

Just like people, dogs feel much better when they are healthy. But unlike people, dogs can’t take care of themselves. To keep your favorite furry friend on the track to wellness and better living, follow these tdog health tips (www.MyTeddysPride.com)t:

•    Exercise builds efficient bodies. Nothing makes a pooch happier than a stroll through the neighborhood. And while your dog’s satisfying his curiosity by sniffing trees and bushes, he’s also burning calories. For more intense physical activity, try throwing some balls or Frisbees. This should make your dog run a little harder, helping expand lung capacity and tone muscle. No matter what activity you choose, your canine companion will enjoy the benefits of regular exercise while forging a stronger bond with you in the process.

Four Tips to Lead Your Dog to Better Health

div img class=”category-img” src=”http://ftper.newsusa.com/Thumbnail/DogHealth.jpg” alt=”Five words or less” width=”180″ //divdiv class=”category-listcontent”div class=”category-body” id=”ArticleBody” style=”display: block” (a href=”http://www.newsusa.com”NewsUSA/a) – Just like people, dogs feel much better when they are healthy. But unlike people, dogs can’t take care of themselves. To keep your favorite furry …/div/div

Four Tips to Lead Your Dog to Better Health

Five words or less(NewsUSA) – Just like people, dogs feel much better when they are healthy. But unlike people, dogs can’t take care of themselves. To keep your favorite furry friend on the track to wellness and better living, follow these tips:
* Exercise builds efficient bodies. Nothing makes a pooch happier than a stroll through the neighborhood. And while your dog’s satisfying his curiosity by sniffing trees and bushes, he’s also burning calories. For more intense physical activity, try throwing some balls or frisbees. This should make your dog run a little harder, helping expand lung capacity and tone muscle. No matter what activity you choose, your canine companion will enjoy the benefits of regular exercise while forging a stronger bond with you in the process.
* Protect your smiles. You probably remember to brush your own teeth, but doggie dental care often goes by the wayside. For dogs that are temperamental about pet owners or vets touching their teeth, a simple and effective solution can be found using a new type of probiotics, called Teddy’s Pride Oral Care (www.MyTeddysPride.com), that has been designed specifically for the oral care needs of dogs and cats. These probiotics can be used in addition to brushing or as a stand-alone oral care routine.
* Read food labels. Unlike people, dog’s can’t read food labels. They are dependent upon their owners to give them the best possible nutrition. For dogs, make sure that the first ingredient listed is, for example, “Chicken,” not “Chicken Flavor” or “Dog Food with Chicken” — items that list the name of the meat contain 95 percent of that ingredient, while the “with” designation means that the food only contains 3 percent of chicken or beef.
* Visit the vet regularly. Similar to people visiting the doctor, dogs need regular veterinary care. Every dog has potential health risks it must guard against — and many risks vary according to dog breed. Your dog’s veterinarian will let you know when recommended vaccinations are due, give proper care to keep your dog healthy and notify you about potential health risks and treatments.

Three Tips to Care for Your Aging Cat

Cats’ health needs change as they get older, but unlike aging humans, they can’t vocalize complaints about aching bones and stiff joints. It is important for cat owners to exercise extra vigilance when it comes to caring for an aging cat.

Follow these tips to help your feline friend age gracefully:

•    Stay current on vital vaccinations. As a cat grows older, it is essential to keep Cat Flu and Feline Infectious Enteritis in check. Though sometimes tempting to overlook, an older cat has a less efficient immune system and is thus more susceptible to disease. Most older cats will only require booster shots. However, if no vaccinations are on record for a cat, or if you are unsure, you can begin vaccinations at any age.

Tired of Doggy Breath? Prevention Is Key to Protect Pets From Oral Disease

Your pet is a beloved family member. You buy him comfy pillows and squeaky toys, premium kibble and trips to the groomer. But if you’re like most pet owners, you’re neglecting a major part of your cat or dog’s medical care – his mouth.

Oral disease, including periodontal or gum disease, is the most common disorder in cats and dogs. The internal research team of Banfield, The Pet Hospital, supports findings that 68 percent of cats and 78 percent of dogs over the age of three display signs of oral disease, including bad breath, pain while chewing, weight loss, yellow teeth, red or swollen gums, missing teeth, nasal discharge or tearing or swelling below one eye. In advanced cases, gum disease can lead to bone infections.