4th July Frivolities, Food and Safety Advice

Fireworks, family, fun and food is what the 4th of July is all about.  It's about celebrating.   And to ensure your pet doesn't miss out on any of the frivolities this Independence Day, at VetShopOnline.com we wish to share with you a special 'PUPcake' recipe that we believe will be a hit with your furry friend.  Also on this fun, yet busy and rowdy day, we must keep our pets feeling safe and comfortable.  If you follow the safety tips provided below, your beloved pets will also be able to enjoy the festivities with you. 

PUPcakes

Ingredients:

• 3 very ripe bananas, peeled
• 1 cup natural (no sugar added) peanut butter, chunky or smooth
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 Tbsp baking powder
• 3 cups white whole-wheat flour
• 1 cup plain rice or soy milk, or water
• Frosting and Sprinkles (Pet-friendly only)
• 1 tub (12 oz) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese spread (Neufchâtel), softened
• Dry dog food, crushed to fine crumbs

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350˚F. Spray muffin tins (mini for small dogs, regular for midsize dogs, jumbo for large dogs) with baking spray.

2. Beat bananas in large bowl of electric mixer on low speed until puréed and smooth. Beat in peanut butter, oil, eggs and baking powder until combined. With mixer still on low speed, alternately beat in flour and rice milk until batter is smooth (if batter is too thick, thin with more rice milk).

3. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full with batter. Bake mini-PUPcakes about 15 minutes, regular-size about 24 minutes and jumbo about 30 minutes, or until a pick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool PUPcakes in pan 10 minutes; remove to wire rack and cool completely.

4. For a special treat, frost PUPcakes with a thin layer of cream cheese spread and sprinkle with crumbled dog food "sprinkles."

Pet Safety Tips 

Considering the dangers that surround your pet as 4th July celebrations begin is extremely important.  To increase your pets comfort and to minimize these risks, follow these simple safety tips.

• Be wary of fireworks
•  Many dogs and cats can be easily frightened by the deafening roar of fireworks.  To decrease their stress and anxiety levels create for them a safe place, like a bedroom, where they can retreat to de-stress.  Make the space comfortable for them with their favorite toy or blanket.  

•  Ensure your pet is properly identified
• Make sure your pet is wearing a collar that includes their name and your phone number just in case they may stray or run away from your celebrations.

•   Place your decorations carefully
• Ensure that you pet-proof your home and keep streamers and glow sticks out of paws reach.  Pets can easily mistake your decorations as chew toys.

•  Leave them at home
• Leaving them at home, away from the action, is often the safest and best bet for celebrating 4th of July festivities.

 HAPPY 4TH of JULY EVERYONE!

Spring Snaps Pet Photo Contest Winners 2013

From the team at VetShopOnline.com we would like to thank you all for your overwhelming response and involvement in our Spring Snaps Pet Photo Contest for 2013.  We really enjoyed looking through the entries and finally, after much laughter, debate and awww moments, have chosen six deserving winners, including one winner voted by you.

Our Supreme Spring Pet Photo, and this years Grand Prize, goes to Anthony and his perfumed pooch whose favorite springtime activity revolves around stopping to smell the flowers! For this adorable shot Anthony wins a VetShopOnline.com voucher worth $250 and a surprise gift basket full of sensational pet accessories and pet toys valued at $250.  Well done Anthony.

Basking in the springtime sun is a much-loved pastime of Roxy's, an adorably adorned roman nosed English Bull Terrier, who has been chosen as the Perfect Pup Photo Winner this Spring.  We think your smile is divine and epitomizes everything that is so wonderful about spring.  Roxy, and her talented owner Rayna, are going to love their gift basket full of sensational pet accessories and pet toys valued at $125 as well as their special VetShopOnline.com voucher also worth $125. 

Hidden behind the gorgeous and colorful spring blossoms you will find Hennessy, the American Pit Bull who loves to play hide and seek with his owner Heather.  Scoping out his next hiding spot, and ready to pounce on the next tennis ball thrown, Hennessy is the runner-up in the Perfect Pup Photo this Spring contest.  Heather and Hennessy win a VetShopOnline.com special voucher worth $50 and a surprise gift basket full of pet accessories and pet toys valued at $50. Congratulations!

The Cutest Cat photo this spring has been awarded to Tigger, a purr-fectly poised singing prodigy.  Tigger loves hitting his high notes and performing the classics.  For his amazing rendition of Whitney Houston's classic "I Will Always Love You," Tigger has won himself and Jaydee, his owner, a gift basket full of pet toys and pet accessories valued at $125 as well as a VetShopOnline.com special voucher of $125.  Great work Tigger and Jaydee.

This gorgeous cat, who is sitting purr-ty and enjoying the springtime sun-puddle is the runner-up in the Cutest Cat Photo this Spring category.  Congratulations Debbie on a wonderful photo.  You are now the proud owner of a $50 gift basket containing pet accessories and pet toys as well as a $50 VetShopOnline.com special voucher. 

Always stopping to smell the springtime flowers in bloom is Bambi, a gorgeous doe-eyed Doberman who is the winner of the People's Favorite Springtime Pet Photo, as voted by you, our Facebook fans. Thanks for this fantastic shot Dusan and as the people's choice winner you will be taking home a $50 VetShopOnline.com special voucher as well as a gift basket full of pet toys and accessories valued at $50. 

Thank you to all the pet owners, as well as their perfectly poised pets, who sent in their images and voted in our inaugural Spring Snaps Pet Photo Contest for 2013.  We had a great time looking through all your happy snaps and look forward to your continuing support throughout 2013. 

Spring Clean to Prevent Fleas

Many of us take the opportunity to give our homes a thorough clean in spring; which happens to be the best time for pet owners to start their flea control program. By implementing these pet-ticular steps into your spring cleaning regime; you can stop the spread of fleas this season; to keep your pet feeling sensational!

Vacuum Nasty Visitors

Vacuuming your house daily will help to eliminate pre-adult fleas in your pet's immediate surroundings; before they have a chance to hatch and latch on to your pet as a parasite.  The WeatherBeeta Travel Bed is a great bedding option because it can be easily removed and stored in its reusable bag; so you can give your pet's sleeping area a thorough clean. Watch out for cracks and crevices throughout the home.
 

No Bed Bugs
 

Washing your pet's bedding weekly will physically remove any flea eggs, larvae or pupae from your pet's immediate environment. Approximately 95% of fleas in the three pre-adult stages live your pet's environment - particularly the areas where they spend a large portion of their time including their bed.  The WeatherBeeta Throw Blanket is an excellent choice for pet bedding, as frequent washing won't harm its anti-pill fleece fabric.

Flea-Free Splash

After mopping the floor you may be tempted to give your pet a good wash, to prevent a trail of muddy paw-prints. Ensure you take note of your pet's flea preventative treatment schedule before giving them a bath. Many spot-on treatments specify your pet should be kept dry for 48 hours before and after treatment, as application to wet skin will make many treatments in-effective. A water-fast flea treatment such as Advocate is a great option.

Comb Creatures Out

It is important to brush your pet's coat regularly in the spring to help your pet shed their winter coat. Frequent brushing also keeps your pet's coat shining. A Gripsoft Flea Comb is a grooming tool which is suitable for both cats and dogs. The fine teeth of the comb help to remove flea eggs from your pet's fur; before they fall into your pet's surrounding environment - your home where they could remain dormant for up to 12 months.  

Flea Checks

It's a good idea to conduct daily flea checks during the spring. This can be achieved by parting your pet's fur around the ears, neck and hindquarters during grooming sessions. Watch out for the presence of flea excrement - which may appear to be brown flecks of dirt in your pet's coat. Moisten the flecks with water on a paper towel. If the dirt is flea faeces it will smear a reddish-brown colour when wet.
 

Fabulous Furry Friend

Cleaning inside, it just as important as cleaning outside; so groom your pet to purr-fection by keeping their ears dry, free from wax and prevent odours with an ear cleaner, such as Vetalogica Gentle Ear Cleaner. Remove unsightly tear stains around your dog's eyes by using a Professional Groomer Tear Stain Remover. Regular application of a tear stain remover will help prevent tear stain in future; to keep your pet looking fabulous.

Nice Nails

 

Remember to keep your pet's nails clipped to protect your recently polished furniture and visitors from accidental scratches from long nails. Keep your cat’s nails a safe length with the Gripsoft Cat Nail Clipper or use the Gripsoft Nail Trimmer with its durable spring action handles for any dog breed. For medium or large dogs try the Gripsoft De Luxe Nail Clippers. They have soft grip handles and cutting guards.

Tick Danger

Ticks are definitely dangerous -these parasites threaten the health of our pets and family and can transmit serious diseases including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis. Although many of us look forward to spring; unfortunately this is a time when tick activity increases. So it is important to take tick preventative measures to protect our pets from ticks this season. 

Types of Ticks

There are over 800 species of ticks, but there are four dangerous types commonly found in America that pet owners should be especially wary of: 

American Dog Tick

Spread throughout the U.S.A. and found in some regions of Canada and Mexico, this tick infests mammals large and small, including people. It is the major carrier of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and transmits the bacteria that causes Hunter’s disease.

Brown Dog Tick

Small, and red-brown in colour, this tick is typically found in warmer climates, throughout Florida. Infestations are possible because it has the capacity to spend its entire life cycle indoors. They cause skin irritation, lameness and fever, particularly in dogs.

Lone Star Tick

This aggressive tick is found throughout the south-eastern and south-central states in the U.S.A. It is connected with the transmission of Southern Tick Associated Rash Illness (STARI). Females have a single white spot; males have spots and white streaks on the edge of their body. 

Spotted Deer Tick

This tick is the prime transmitter of Lyme disease throughout the U.S.A. If spotted early, there is a chance the disease will not have been transmitted. If symptoms such as a rash, fever, fatigue, chills or joint pains occur, then you should immediately seek professional advice. 

Check for Ticks

VetShopOnline recommends checking pets daily for ticks during spring. Check for bumps in the skin by running your hands all over your pet’s body. If you feel a bump, part the fur to closely examine. Ticks are dark brown or black in colour, they vary in size and sometimes their legs may be visible.

Removing Ticks

Ticks feed on the blood of other animals by latching on with their mouth. It is therefore very important that the entirety of the tick is removed, or infection may occur. Using tweezers promptly pull the tick out of your pet’s skin. Ensure you don’t crush the tick during the removal process because of the potential risk of spreading bacteria or disease. Treat the surrounding bite area with a disinfectant.

VetShopOnline recommends pet owners seek the advice of their local veterinarian if symptoms become apparent.

Tick Control Options

Thankfully, there are a variety of tick control treatment options available for responsible pet owners:

• Tick collars, such as the Preventic Tick Collar and Kiltix Tick Collar; protect dogs from ticks without affecting their lifestyle.
• Spot-on applications such as Frontline Plus and Advantix can be used once per month to control ticks.
• Permoxin is an insecticidal spray and rinse for dogs only.
• Ticks reside in tall, thick grasses and bushes ready to crawl onto a passing host animal to feed on their blood. So it’s a good idea to mow your lawn regularly and keep plants well trimmed.

Other Methods of Prevention

A few techniques can be put into practice around the home to minimise the risk of your pet coming in contact with ticks:

• Fencing your yard can ensure your pet doesn’t roam freely outdoors in the wild, where ticks will be more prevalent.
• Fencing is also a safeguard to monitor any other animals your pet comes in contact with.
  
• In tick infested areas, pet-friendly insecticides may be used outside.

Easter Bonanza Lucky Draw

For many of us, Easter is a time for eating yummy chocolates. However, as pet owners we all know that chocolate can prove toxic to our furry friends. So at VetShopOnline.com we are giving away over 55 Bonanza prizes to ensure our pets enjoy this special time too!*

• Every American pet owner that enters our Easter Bonanza Lucky Draw will get their paws on a prize because every participant will receive a $3 discount coupon to use on their next pet product purchase!
  
  
• Plus, 5 extra lucky pet owners will be awarded a $100 gift voucher. 
  
  
• Another 50 Easter Bonanza Lucky Draw entrants will be drawn, like a rabbit out of a hat, from our Lucky Draw and sent a mystery prize for their pet!

It is FREE-to-Enter our Easter Bonanza Lucky Draw so hop to it - fill in the form below:

*Terms and Conditions apply 

5 Pet Care Wives Tales Exposed - Dr Mark Tells All!

As pet owners we are constantly trying to follow new ideas, the top advice and do what is best for our pets. It is our job to keep them safe and to care for them in the best possible way we can. In this article Dr Mark exposes 5 common wives tales that you may not realise are doing more harm than good to your beloved furry friend.

 
Pssst chocolate kills dogs, pass it on!

1. Home cooked food is better for your dog  
   
   A healthy dog on the inside is going to make a happy and healthy dog on the outside. Putting high quality pet food in your pets bowl is going to give them the energy and nutritional needs to help them get the most out of each day. There are people who thrive on giving their pet a home cooked meal, which is great, however this should only be practised if you are completely aware of the full nutritional requirements that is going into each meal. Your pet needs certain levels of protein, fat, fibre and minerals to perform at their best and be at top health. The premium food manufactures  have done the scientific studies to produce a tailored product to suit an animal’s daily requirements, so if in doubt, it’s best to feed your pet a diet that has been made by the professionals.
    
2. A wet nose means a healthy dog 
   
   It is true that a dog’s nose is most often moist so therefore we relate it their health, however don’t be fooled as it is still possible for an ill dog to have a wet nose and a healthy dog to have a dry nose! Your pet’s nose is actually not a reliable way to measure their health and can in fact be influenced by environmental conditions. The wives tale is said to have began when Canine Distemper was rife and one of the symptoms was a dry crusty nose. A better way to measure your pet’s health can be by tracking their appetite and energy levels.
    
3. Use garlic to prevent fleas and ticks  
   
   While giving garlic to pets as a pesticide preventive is favourable for some pet owners, it is important to remember that garlic can be associated with toxicities as well. If given in large quantities to pets it can destroy red blood cells and lead to haemolytic anemia. A sprinkle of garlic on your pet’s food might not cause them harm, but it is also unlikely that a small safe dose will be enough to have an effect when it comes to flea and tick prevention. A much safer option of flea control is to use a well known brand such as Frontline Plus, Revolution or Advocate.
    
4. Bad teeth and gum disease won’t cause pets pain  
   
   When we have a toothache or gum disease we take ourselves to the dentist, the process is not as easy for dogs so therefore it is up to pet owners to be responsible and take care of their pet’s dental hygiene. Many pets suffer in silence from cracked teeth and infections simply because nobody notices or most commonly it is presumed they are fine because they still eat. Pets will continue to eat even when suffering and just learn to put up with it because it’s what they do to survive. Make sure you regularly check your dog’s teeth, use dental products and dental treats that are designed to help clean and freshen your pet’s teeth.
    
5. Chocolate can kill dogs 
   
   Finally a wives tale that speaks some solid truth- chocolate does pose a huge risk to pets and has known to sadly cause death for some animals.  Chocolate contains theobromine, which is a potent, potentially lethal toxin for pets. Unlike humans, our pets can’t metabolise these chemicals properly and are susceptible to the toxic effects. Theobromine levels differ between types of chocolate. Baking/cooking chocolate are the most toxic, followed by semi-sweet and dark chocolate, and finally milk chocolate. Majority of cases take place around seasonal times of the year, so with Easter fast approaching, keep chocolate eggs well out of reach of any household pets!

No Heart for Worms this Valentine's Day

Hearts are on our minds this February as we enjoy the Valentine period, so at VetShopOnline.com we mark the occasion by spreading the word about heartworm. We love animals, but there are some worms who we don’t want to share the love with this season. Adult heartworms look like spaghetti, growing up to 30cm in length; although their effects are far from enjoyable.

How does heartworm affect your pet’s health?

 If your pet contracts heartworm disease their blood vessels become clogged, particularly around the heart, causing decreased blood flow to other major organs, damaging tissues, leading to heart failure and death. Treatment is expensive and fraught with danger. In severe cases, actual treatment of the disease can cause severe symptoms. As you can see, heartworm is a serious condition and prevention, rather than treatment is preferable. 

How do pets contract heartworm?

Dogs cannot contract heartworm directly
from one another. Instead, an infected
mosquito bites your pet, transmitting the
deadly worms. 

The signs of infection

Unfortunately, in the initial stages of
infection, no symptoms are apparent. As
the disease advances, symptoms include:
 

• Coughing
• Lethargy
• Swollen abdomen
• Tiring quickly during exercise
• Laboured breathing

How can you prevent the disease?

The great news is that this detrimental disease can be easily prevented and there is a variety of treatment options available. Most preventative treatments are used monthly; such as:
 

• Chews can be fed to your dog, once a month, year round. A highly effective option is Heartgard Plus.
• Tablets can also be taken monthly; available from Proheart and Valuheart.
• Alternatively, external pipettes produced by Revolution or Advocate, can be applied to the skin once a month. 
• More frequent preventative treatments like Dimmitrol tablets can be administered daily.

These products are a great option, because most also prevent other harmful infections such as fleas, mites and intestinal worms. 

At VetShopOnline.com we believe the key to a healthy heart is a heartworm free pet. To keep the disease at bay, we recommend preventative measures be taken and that your pet has regular checkups at the vet. We offer a broad range of preventative heartworm treatments at affordable prices because pets are always in our hearts.