December 2013 - Allergic Pet Blog

December 2013 archive

31
Dec
2013

Testimonial Tuesday: Itchy Skin Edition

English bulldog chillin.jpg (Photo credit: Eyenvent)

We’re loving this great testimonial from Karla about Skin-Eze:

We were pet sitting daughters Old English Bulldog last year for 6 months. Bella came to us with red toenails, itchy and always stinky. I was told by the vet to bath her daily, then 3 times week, then 2X week, etc. Because I’d had back surgery and Bella’s size this was an impossible task. I found Skin Eze online, within 1-2 days Bella stopped itching, eventually her toenails, eyes and feet were no longer red. Skin Eze has been the best product ever! I wish I had found skin eze when my cocker spaniel was alive, back then I did what the vet told me to do and it never worked once we got to the bathing once a week.

Shop Skin-Eze from Allergic Pet.

27
Dec
2013

How to Improve Your Dog’s Coat

categories: Dog Coat

American Eskimo Dog (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

You probably love your dog no matter how he or she looks on the outside. However, it will not take you much to improve the appearance of your furry friend’s coat.

Here’s some practical ways to make your dog’s coat healthier:

Give your dog the right kind of food. Your pet needs a rich source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Your beloved animal also needs plenty of protein. If you’re switching to a new food, just observe your dog’s hair condition carefully. In the process, give your dog smaller amounts of the new brand along with some of the previous food. Then, slowly increase the new product over a period of six to eight weeks if it has a positive effect.

Brush your dog every day. You especially need to do this if your animal has longer fur. It will help remove dead hair and improve the color of the remaining strands. A good grooming for about 15 minutes daily should do the trick. However, you may need to brush your dog twice a day during shedding season.

Apply olive oil to your dog’s food. This could help in between times you have limited means for purchasing new dog food. Olive oil has omega oils in it that keep the dog’s skin and coat strong and healthy. However, only add about a tablespoon for a large dog and a teaspoon for a small dog. You don’t want to give your pet too much. Otherwise, they could end up suffering diarrhea.

Give your animal a qualified fiber supplement. It helps regulate the digestive system so your dog can absorb more consumed nutrients. It also promotes healthier fur growth and causes your dog’s hair to appear shinier. We recommend Vet Select Healthy Fresh.

Give your dog plenty of exercise. This also helps make the digestive system work better. Furthermore, it leads to healthier skin, bones and hair. As a result, your dog’s fur will look healthier than it ever did.

25
Dec
2013

Merry Christmas from Allergic Pet!

categories: Cat Chronicles

Wishing you the most holiday cheer!

23
Dec
2013

Our Favorite Pet Blogs

categories: Puppy Tales

We admit it. We have a problem. We love pet blogs. We love the cute pictures, we love the great stories, we love the pet blogs that give great advice, the blogs that tell us the best new pet toy, really – we love it all. Whether it’s a pet blog all about your family dog or blog about the latest in cat nature, they all have a place in our heart. We wanted to spread the love, so below we’ve complied a list of some of our favorite reads:

We love the quick photo posts and captions that Angie shares at CatLandLady. Her cats Saffy, Cosmo, and Phoebe are full of daily entertainment.

Want to know if your dog’s food is safe or if their toy is free of harmful chemicals? Consult Raise a Green Dog first. Originally a Squidoo lense, RAGD has expanded as pet owners have become more and more concerned with environmental pet safety and health.

Champion of my Heart is the real-time memoir of Lilly, Roxanne Hawn’s border collie. Lilly suffers from vaccine-induced brain inflammation and and Roxanne regularly posts updates on Lilly’s condition and struggles. Roxanne is a heartbreaking beautiful writer. A must read.

Dog Milk, a branch of Design Milk is the leading source for trendy, cool pet product reviews. We love finding the latest trends and hot products from Dog Milk.

All Things Dog Blog is a great resource for all dog-related articles, reviews, and fun adventures. Carrie is great at helping readers solve pet problems and her writing always inserts her fun, happy attitude.

Pretty Fluffy is our go-to source for the latest in trendy, luxurious dog lifestyle products and ideas. The founder, Serena and her pup Soda have great features: from pet treat ideas to stylish pet photography.

Under the Blanket is the blog of BlanketID. Blanket ID is a great tag that holds a record of pet details and photos online so that if your pet is ever missing or stolen you can immediately send alerts with the information to your local animal shelters and hospitals.

Love Meow is one of our favorite places to see adorable cat photos and videos. Ever having a rough day? Just check out Love Meow and we promise you’ll feel better almost instantly.

Did we miss any blogs? We sure to share your favorites in the comments below.

20
Dec
2013

Gluten Free Dog Treat Recipes

categories: Puppy Tales

If your dog suffers from a gluten-intolerance, you know first-hand how difficult it can be to find food and treats that won’t cause an allergic reaction. Reading ingredients and researching new dog foods can be exhausting. Sometimes it’s just simpler to make the food and treats yourself. Worried you aren’t a master chef? Think again. This gluten free dog treat recipes are simple enough for anyone to make.

Here are some of our favorites we’ve found around the web:

These Grain-Free dog treats from A Cozy Kitchen feature banana and peanut butter as main ingredients. We’re especially partial to the cute heart cookie-cutter shape.

Rice flour is the star in these Gluten-Free Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Puppy Treats from Betty Crocker. Get in the festive spirit and cut these puppy treats into adorable candy cane shapes.

The homemade Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Treats from Whole Foods have a secret ingredient – parsley. Sneak parsley into the treat to improve your dog’s breath.

Pumpkin seems to be the name of the game for gluten-free dog treats, and this recipe from Cleo is no exception. Your pup will jump for these delicious snacks!

Do you make your dog’s treats yourself? Will you now that you see how easy it is?

18
Dec
2013

Christmas Presents for Pets?

categories: Cat Chronicles

With all of the madness of holiday shopping ramping up, we have but one question – will you be buying your pet a gift? Does your sweet cat or spunky pup have a special present under the tree that’s all of their own? In our household, our pets are our family, so we love spoiling them too with cute little presents. Of course, they don’t really understand what’s going on, but it makes us feel like we’re sharing the love. Plus, we love taking cute pictures of our dogs and cats under the tree.

16
Dec
2013

Pet Christmas Cards

categories: Puppy Tales

Do you include your pets in your Christmas cards? Our precious furry friends are definitely an integral part of our family, so we couldn’t imagine not including them in our family photo. Plus, who doesn’t love pictures of cute cats and dogs?

Here are some of our favorite funny Christmas photos we found around the web. Which one is your favorite?

12
Dec
2013

Pet News: Air Swimming Edition

categories: Pet News

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06GhXB2_XNE&w=560&h=315]

How can you not love Grumpy Cat? If you’re wild for Grumpy Cat, like the rest of the world, check out the great Christmas video above from Purina. Adorable!

Cats gone wild! A Nativity Scene in Brooklyn has been overrun by feral cats, even going so far as pushing baby Jesus off his manger of hay. Meowy Christmas, indeed.
- Read More: Cats take over local Nativity Scene, have no problem kicking out Baby Jesus

Did you think dog parks are the best place for dogs to socialize? Well, you might want to think again. Learn more details from Mother Nature Network where they debunk 4 common misconceptions about dogs.
- Read More: 4 Popular Misconceptions about Dogs

We’re loving this dog swimming round up from The Huffington Post. What’s more adorable than a puppy? A puppy air swimming, duh.
- Read More: It’s a Bird, It’s a Plan, It’s Air Swimming Dogs!

10
Dec
2013

Testimonial Tuesday: Daily Go Edition

categories: Uncategorized

Panther, a toilet-using cat, photographed in San Francisco on 22 August 2005. He is ten years old and has been using the toilet since the age of six months. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I was having a difficult time with my cat Derby’s digestive/intestine issues. I literally spent thousands of dollars on tests, enemas, x-rays, etc which never helped her. She continued to be constipated and lost weight. After using your product for a few short days, she has a daily “go” in her litter box! She is gaining weight and no more expensive vet visits where nothing happens (the last time they recommended surgery). I think it would be great if all professional vet offices sold your products! These products are worth every penny! Your products do exactly what you state they will do for your pet! THANKS SO MUCH!

Shop the Full Pet Digestion Treatment Pack from Allergic Pet.

07
Dec
2013

Dog Food Allergies

categories: Dog Allergies

Allergies are a common problem affecting over half of the human population at a variety of levels from mild (runny noses and itchy eyes) to severe (requiring emergency room visits). In spite of this fact we often fail to realize that our dogs are subject to the same types of allergic reactions as humans.
The most difficult dog allergies to diagnose are food related. Food related allergies can sometimes be dangerous if left untreated. Symptoms of food allergies may appear as something different such as flea bites or other environmental sensitivities. However, certain foods may also cause itchy irritated skin, congestion and breathing problems, as well as digestive problems. For example, if your dog continues to have skin problems after using topical treatments and skin soothing shampoos, diet may be the culprit. Other symptoms of food allergies are dog diarrhea, gas and bloating and vomiting. And just like humans, dogs may also have severe life threatening reactions such as respiratory distress or more rarely anaphylactic shock.

The only way to diagnose a food allergy in a dog is to eliminate all possible allergens from the dog’s diet. The most common food allergies are wheat, soy, eggs, chicken, beef, and dairy products. Anyone with food allergies will express the difficulties of grocery shopping. Many products are contaminated with allergens, and even the smallest amount may trigger a reaction. The same goes for dogs. According to WebMD, placing the dog on a hydrolyzed protein diet is the safest way to start the process of elimination. Once the dog has been on the special diet for 12 weeks, slowly introduce new foods and monitor your pet for any signs of distress. Once you determine the allergen, your veterinarian will discuss diet options with you. Often, pet owners must prepare home-cooked meals for dogs with allergies. In addition, new lines of allergen free dog food products are appearing on the market. Most importantly, consult your veterinarian prior to making any decisions that may affect the health of your dog. Your dog will thank you with many wet doggy kisses.

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