Tag Me! Why Pet ID Tags Could Save You From the Heartache of a Lost Pet During the Holidays
By Evan Price
Finally the holiday season is upon us and while family is important all year round, there is something about the holiday season that brings us all closer together. While my family is not exactly the type to roast chestnuts on an open flame, we do always welcome the excuse to spend a little more quality time with each other. This of course includes our pets…after all they are family too!
As hectic as the holidays can be, accidents do happen and pets can very easily get lost or run away, especially when there are large crowds of people getting together. Uncle Jim could forget to latch the door and let the dog out or perhaps all the extra noise could make the cat skittish and cause her want to run away.
The last thing any of us wants to deal with is a lost pet, especially during the holidays. But there are ways to avoid this; one of easiest being to make sure your dog is properly tagged.
A pet ID tag is a basic, yet very effective way of reuniting an owner with a lost pet. Should your dog happen to dig under the fence, disobey an order to heel, or otherwise escape, a pet ID tag can help your beloved pet get back home quickly and safely.
Pet ID tags are typically made from metal or plastic and are hung from the collar or harness. There are simple tags, reflective tags, and even fancy jewel-studded ones. Whichever design you choose, make sure to include as much information about your pet as possible.
Here are some examples of what to include on your pet' ID tags:
- Your dog's name
- Dog's license number
- Owner's name
- Home address
- Current phone number
- Any emergency medical information someone may need to know in order to properly take care of your dog until you can get him back.
While many stray dogs are eventually located, they are sometimes unable to be reunited with their owners because the contact information on their ID tags are either missing or outdated. This is why it is important to always make sure to have your pet properly tagged and that the information is up to date.
Besides a basic collar ID tag, there are a couple of other ways to help ensure your pet's safe return. As a back up to standard ID tags, microchipping your dog is another option. (For a more detailed explanation of what microchipping is, how it works, as well as the risks and rewards of microchipping, check out the August issue of "The Intelligent Pet" e-zine or click here.)
Alternatively, you can equip your pet with a GPS collar, which can be used to track the location of your pet, should they happen to become lost. This device may give you peace of mind and save you a ton of time and stress in location your pet.
And while some collars come equipped with this GPS tracking chip, there are some manufacturers that sell chips that can be attached to your pet's existing collar. When looking for a GPS tracking collars be sure to confirm the signal range. I saw one that could reach 500 acres while another one I found only reached 400 feet.
The only downside to the GPS collar is that if your pet happens to lose the collar or it is somehow removed from the pet, it will not be very effective in helping you track your pet.
Thanks for reading – hopefully these tips will help you keep your pets safe and sound.
Happy holidays from all of us here at BARF World, and until next time, happy BARFing!
Evan Price is a Raw Diet Educator for BARF World Inc. He is a true dog lover at heart with a particular interest in Daschunds. Evan is also an avid sports enthusiast and bridge player. For more articles like these and to learn more about the benefits of raw food for your pets, sign up for The Intelligent Pet monthly e-zine at www.barfworld.com.
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Santa Paws Is Coming to Town: 5 Dog-Worthy Holiday Gifts Any Pup Would Love
By Al Skender
The holidays have a different meaning to many people. To some it is the time of giving – to others it is the joy of receiving. Yet one of the many reasons why we all love Christmas and the holidays is the mutual sharing of gifts and good spirit with those that we love the most…including our pets!
We cannot say that our dogs don't also share in our enjoyment. What do our dog's love about this wonderful time of the year? Of course all the extra attention from family and friends is nice…but of course the toys and treats are good too!
It can be tough to shop for the pup that has everything. Luckily, this year we are happy to help you out by highlighting the top ten holiday gifts on every pup's wish list:
1. K-911 Pet First Aid Kit – Don't be caught unprepared! Make sure to be well equipped for any pet first aid emergency with your K-911 Pet First Aid Kit. This is a one-of-a-kind first aid kit: the remedies it contains are perfect for pets AND people. Make sure to preorder yours online at barfworld.com/k-911 by December 5th, 2011 to make sure you receive yours in time for Christmas.
2. Etta Says! Freeze-Dried Liver Treats – Another great gift idea from Etta Says! Made from 100% pure liver, these treats are so tasty your dog will be wagging his tail from December to June. Plus they're perfect for pets with allergies as the only ingredient is liver. Click here to order.
3. The PetZen Dog Treadmill is also a great gift idea. This treadmill is the perfect solution for keeping your dog healthy & in shape during the cold rainy season. With the PetZen Dog Treadmill you can incorporate daily exercise for your dog anytime, anywhere, in any weather. Plus it's portable and easy to store. (www.petzenproducts.com)
4. The Bungee Ball Tug is a must have dog toy (well at least that's what my mother-in-law's cocker spaniel says). Her dog loves this stretchy, bouncy tennis ball toy because when it's thrown it makes wild, unpredictable bouncing motions. That alone drives dogs "tail-wagging" crazy trying to catch it. (www.genuinedoggear.com)
5. Puppy Tweets™ - Does your dog have a Twitter account? If so, then this is the must-have accessory for him! Simply attach the Puppy Tweets dog tag to your pet's collar and the receiver included into your home computer – Puppy Tweets does the rest. It detects your pooch's barks and movement and will Tweet one of 500 funny phrases directly to his Twitter activity feed. Pretty neat, huh? (www.puppytweet.com)
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Of course these are just a few of the very best dog gifts out there. If you get a little creative, I'm sure you can think of other great gifts to give your pooch. How about a spa day out with mom including matching manicures or a visit to the groomer for a fancy new hairdo? Whatever you decide to gift your pet this year, remember that the very best gift of all is your love, attention, and lots of belly rubs. Happy holidays to you and your pets!
Al Skender is a Raw Diet Educator for BARF World Inc. He’s a self-proclaimed expert on the German Shepherd breed, owning several of them throughout his life. He enjoys being outdoors and prefers it to being stuck in front of the television, unless The Office or CSI is on.. For more articles like these and to learn more about the benefits of raw food for your pets, sign up for The Intelligent Pet monthly e-zine at www.barfworld.com.
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Foods That Trigger Allergies in Dogs
by Robert Mueller
It is believed that about half of American dogs have some sort of allergy issues. Of this overwhelming number of dogs suffering from allergies, is estimated that 10 to 20% of all dog allergies are in fact food-related. 1
Symptoms of Dog Food Allergies
Adverse reactions to food ingredients can manifest by skin conditions, respiratory, gastrointestinal (GI), neurological or hematologic (blood) reactions. Yet for dogs, the skin and GI tract seems to be the two systems most commonly affected. It's no wonder that many dogs that suffer from skin aliments will also have some sort of GI disease as well.
A food allergy has some common symptoms so it is important to recognize and look for certain conditions in your dog if you suspect a food allergy: itchy skin (this is the most common), excessive scratching, increased bowel movements, chewing and licking of the same area of the body (such as the paws or base of tail), and hair loss. In the most extreme cases ear infections, chronic vomiting, and hot spots can also develop.
While sensitization to a specific food ingredient usually takes 2 to 3 months or longer to develop, in some cases it can take over two years before the food allergy is severe enough to be noticed. Most allergies that are directly related to dog food usually start when the dog is between the ages of 2 and 6 years old. This may also explain why many pet parents will make the switch to a raw food diet when their pet reaches 5 or 6 years of age.
Common Food That Trigger Allergies
While switching your pet to a raw food diet certainly will improve your pet's overall health, decrease the added stress on the digestive system, and strengthen the immune system, there are certain foods that are more likely to cause allergies than others. The following list of ingredients is the most probable cause for food allergies in dogs:
- Beef
- Chicken
- Lamb
- Dairy Products
- Fish
- Wheat
- Chicken Eggs
- Corn
- Soy
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You'll notice that the foods listed above are in almost all dog foods. And while 90% of our nation's dogs are be able to tolerate these ingredients, it's the remaining 10% that can't handle these foods and will suffer from severe allergic conditions. These pet owners will be the ones desperately searching for relief for their companion animal. Yet unless you take the time to source and make your own homemade food for your dog, you will undoubtedly have a very hard time finding many dog food products that do not contain these 9 ingredients.
It's also important to note that since most commercial dry dog foods contain similar ingredients, merely switching between brands usually has little affect on the actual disease.
However, we have found great success in recommending a switch to a raw food diet, like BARF World's complete and balanced BARF Diet® patties and nuggets. The difference is that the food is fed raw, not cooked. This is the way your dog was designed to eat. Raw foods put far less stress on your pet's digestive system, which allows the body to use its energy to natural fight the allergens that are attacking it.
It is for this reason that a large percentage of the new "BARFers" (raw food feeders) that we speak with are simply struggling to find a way to reduce the negative effects of feeding their pet a heat-processed food. These pet parents have found that the continuous, long-term ingestion of heat-treated kibble dog food has been shown to trigger the majority of allergy symptoms in their pets.
How to Pinpoint A Food Allergy
One of the most effective ways to pinpoint the source of the allergic reaction is with an elimination diet. The goal here is to avoid the specific allergen that is aggravating the animal. You must find the specific protein source that is causing the problem. It is important to find a hypoallergenic test diet that contains a very limited number of ingredients and that has not been previously fed to the dog. Ask your veterinarian for advice on the best bland diet to start with. Other things to eliminate are treats, chew toys, raw hides, etc. – basically anything else that your dog can gets his paws and mouth on.
Once your dog is stabilized and has not had a negative reaction to the bland food diet, you can start to reintroduce other protein choices gradually. Be sure to watch your pet's allergy condition carefully. When your dog reacts negatively to a newly introduced protein, you can specifically isolated the culprit and remove it from your pet's diet to avoid further allergic reactions.
Don't despair! Though the whole process does take some time you must have patience. It may take days or even weeks to observe the results but the benefits of a happy, healthy pet are well worth the effort.
1 Website http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/foodallergy.html
Robert Mueller, BSc, Pharm. is a registered pharmacist, author of “Living Enzymes: The World’s Best Kept Pet Food Secret”, and co-developer of BARF World’s BARF diets patties, nuggets and supplements - the first company to make the Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods (BARF) diet conveniently available to animals everywhere. He and his wife love to travel around the world with their dog, Moxie – a Yorkshire Terrier/Maltese mix. For more articles like these and to learn more about the benefits of raw food for your pets, sign up for “The Intelligent Pet” monthly e-zine at www.barfworld.com.
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K-911 Pet First Aid Kit
By Amber Keiper
 Many people are planning to travel with their pets this holiday season. When traveling with your furry friends, there are extra things that you need to add to your travel checklist, one of which is an emergency first aid kit. You never know when you or your pet may encounter a medical emergency so it's always smart to be prepared, especially while on the road.
That's why we've developed a top-notch pet first aid kit just in time for the holidays. The K-911 Pet First Aid Kit is the very best first aid kit on the planet! Each remedy has been carefully tested on both humans and their dogs making it a perfect first aid kit for both you and Fido. These remedies are the best-of-the-best when it comes to being fast, effective and as least invasive to you and your pet as possible.
Here's what's included:
- A complete 71 piece pet first aid kit (a $30 value)
- Rescue Remedy Spray for stress, anxiety and trauma
- Lavender Noni Lotion for hot spots, cuts, and scrapes
- Traumeel Oral Drops for natural pain relief
- Nux Vom Oral Drops for tummy upset and vomiting
- Luxolite Bentonite Clay for digestive issues and diarrhea
- Cut Rescue Powder - a natural, non-damaging styptic powder for cuts, scrapes and bleeding
- A comprehensive first aid handbook with detailed step-by-step instructions on how to handle the most common pet emergencies
- And much, much, more!
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All this for the low, low price of only $149.97! (a $200 value)
The K-911 Pet First Aid Kit also makes a perfect holiday gift so don't forget to get one for all of your pet-loving friends and family too.
Preorder your kit today to guarantee you get yours in time for the holidays!
Go to barfworld.com/k-911 now!!!
Amber Keiper is the Marketing Assistant and Raw Diet Educator for BARF World Inc. She and her husband have two rescue animals that are now healthy and proud BARF brats – a terrier mix named Chewbacca ("Chewy") and a tabby mix named Chiquita ("Chiqui").For more articles like these and to learn more about the benefits of raw food for your pets, sign up for The Intelligent Pet monthly e-zine at www.barfworld.com.
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