Anxiety in pets is becoming more and more common. As most owners must work outside the home, we are also seeing more pets being left alone for a large part of the day. How can you tell if that naughty behavior just requires additional training or if it’s a sign of pet anxiety?
If you’re already pretty sure that it’s anxiety, how do you know that it is because of an environmental variable? What if the emotional and behavior symptoms are also stemming from an underlying healthy condition? Jessa Paschke is a professional pet trainer with Mars Petcare, and she told me all about the signs and symptoms of pet anxiety that you should be looking for and what to do if you notice them.
Jessa shares some great information for beginner and advanced pet owners in this week’s episode. She also gives us some great resources to use to educate ourselves about pet anxiety and discusses a few products that may help you when trying to cope with your pet’s condition.
Dr. Jennifer Adolphe, PhD is back with some great information to share with pet owners about the differences between wet and dry kibble. She discusses how to choose the right diet for your dog and the advantages and disadvantages or wet and dry diets. She will also be sharing some helpful tips for dog owner who may be interested in transitioning their pet to a new diet.
One of the things that many pet owners don’t realize when shopping for a food for their furry companion is the quality of the packaging and how that can affect the food itself. If you’re buying a high quality, all-natural food for your pet with no artificial ingredients, toxins and chemicals could still be leeching into the food through the packaging.
A new type of packaging from Tetra Pak is being used by Petcurean and other pet food companies to reduce these risks. They are making food packages (which are also becoming more popular in the human food industry) that are made from renewable resources. The packages are specifically engineered to keep out bacteria, and the food is actually cooked right inside the package! Dr. Adolphe talks more about this unbelievable new packaging option in this week’s podcast.
Did you know that the changing of seasons may require a change in your pet’s diet? As we transition from summer to fall and winter, this is an important topic to discuss. Many of us believe that our pet’s diet only needs to change as they age (for example, from puppyhood to adulthood and again when they become a senior). In fact, there are many reasons why your pet’s diet may need to be altered.
This week I was able to have an email exchange with Dr. Jeff Werber, a veterinarian and spokesperson for Mars Petcare. Mars is one of the leading companies in the world when it comes to pet care and pet products. Their brands include world leaders like Banfield Pet Hospital, IAMS, EUKANUBA, Pedigree and Nutro.
Dr. Werber spoke to me about how the change in seasons can affect your pet’s dietary needs as well as the current pet obesity epidemic. In this week’s solo podcast that I'm doing by myself you’ll learn about the dietary needs of pets in every season and the importance of consulting with your veterinarian before making any changes to your Fido’s diet. I’ll also be discussing some of the most important things to look for (and stay away from) when shopping for a commercial pet food diet.
Do you have a great idea for a pet product that has not been created yet? Maybe your pet had a special need and you created a product to help them? Would you be interested in marketing your product to consumers? How do you get your product off the ground?
That’s exactly what I’m discussing this week with my guest, Jonathan from Dog’s Choice Dog Wash. Dog’s Choice hasn’t hit the market yet. Jonathan is in the process of trying to get his product funded for development. He’s hoping to begin manufacturing and distributing his grooming products by the end of the year.
But, what does this entail? Would you know how to raise money to get your product manufactured? What do you do once you have enough money for production? All of these questions are answered in this week’s podcast, and you’ll get some information on Dog’s Choice – the first customizable dog wash – as well.
Kids and dogs – it’s a controversial topic that will probably never be agreed upon in my lifetime. I’m often asked about raising children with pets, and in my opinion the advantages greatly outweigh any disadvantages that you may be thinking of. In our family, our children have never known life without pets. I know it’s had a positive impact on them, and this week I wanted to talk to an expert on the subject to get some more information.
Dr. Jody Dean has written a book, Roxie the Doxie Finds Her Forever Home, that is based on the real experience that she’s had adopting her Dachshund Roxie. It details the adoption process and discusses some of the feelings that someone being adopted may feel throughout the process. It also talks about Roxie’s life in her new home, including the responsibilities that are required to care for a dog and Roxie’s success in competitions.
In this week’s podcast, I explain what happened when I read this book to my children, and Dr. Dean explains the benefits of raising children with dogs. She also discusses the importance of choosing a dog that is right for your family and not just adopting the first cute face that you see in a shelter. Because she is a therapist for children, she also discusses the benefits that dogs can have for children on an emotional level.
Many pet owners hope to save some money by grooming their companion animals at home. What do a few baths and brushing sessions matter when it could save you hundreds of dollars per year, right? Well, there’s more to it than just that. In this week’s episode, I talk with a professional pet groomer of dogs and cats from the Andis company to get some pointers on at-home pet grooming and the grooming supplies you’ll need to do the job.
Megan Mouser is a professional pet groomer and the Education Manager for Andis, one of the leading pet grooming product manufacturers in the world. Megan shares tips and tricks for at-home grooming as well as some information you’ll need to choose the right grooming supplies for your pet.
Remember, not all pets are able to be groomed at home. Some pets become aggressive during grooming, and you don’t want to take any chances. Megan will also educate us about the signs you should look for in an uneasy pet and when it would be best to seek help from a professional groomer rather than tackling the task yourself.