The End of the Road

Thanks to everyone who has paid attention to my blog this semester.  I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.  Animals are a serious passion of mine, and although I don't intend to turn it into a career, the advice I give is always from my heart.  For this last blog, I just want to recapitulate some of the ideas I've presented in early weeks.

Thanks for getting to know us!

Food
I've touched on this topic a few times because it is, by far, the best way to lengthen the life of your dog or cat (or rat or ferret..  anything, really).  Stay away from the bad stuff. Period.  This includes, but is not limited to:

• Pet food with byproducts of any kind of meat - This stuff is usually made up of eyeballs, ears, beaks, feathers, or anything else those people can find on the floor and grind up.
  
• Corn - animals cannot digest this!
• Table scraps - the fat content alone of some of the stuff we eat is enough to make their bathroom habits repugnant.  They will also gain some serious weight.
• Chocolate - Dogs are straight-up allergic to it, and it could kill them. 

Grooming
There are several local grooming parlors that are great places to take your pet such as All Pet Supplies, but if you don't have the funds, you are stuck doing it at home.  Here are some helpful ideas if it comes down to this:

• Shampoos - Use something that contains proteins or oatmeal.  This will soothe their skin and make it less itchy.  You only need to wash your dog a couple of times a month (unless they are very messy), because the PH-Balance of their skin is different their humans.  If you use a soothing, soap-less shampoo, you will drastically cut down on the dryness of their skin after a bath.
• Grooming Tools - Depending on the dog or cat, you should use different tools.  Long-hair animals require a rake or wide-toothed comb and short-haired animals need a slicker or rubber brush to pull out the dead hair.  Whatever you use, it's always a good idea to use a spray conditioner to help loosen the tangles before you brush.
• Nails - In some cases, you may need to take your pet to the vet to get his nails clipped.  Some dogs and cats are just too aggressive or skittish to do it at home.  If you want to conquer this task, here is a helpful website to lead you through the process.

Toys
I will reiterate that items you find at home or at second-hand stores make nifty toys for your pets, but you also need to make sure that they are save.  For stuffed animals, make sure there are no button eyes or easy-to-tear seams.  For other toys, just make sure there are no small parts that your pet may pull off and choke on.  Here are some general ideas for good toys.

• Rubber Toys - Especially those that are hollow, rubber toys make a great chewing device for your dog.  It massages and cleans their gums in the process, too!  If they are hollow, you can put treats or peanut butter in them to entice more chewing.

• Mylar Toys - These are excellent toys for cats.  Not only are they inexpensive, but they bring out a lot of inherent hunting abilities in cats.  Because they are made out of mylar, they make an enticing crinkling sound when thrown or batted at, and they reflect the lights around them to keep the cat's interest.

For me, these are the three biggies.  If you can make your pet happy in these areas, you are sure to succeed as a pet owner.  I'm going to go play with Frankie and Ollie now, so I'll see you guys later!