Tuesday, February 16, 2010

CocoTherapy

CocoTherapy Coconut Oil and Coconut Chips are exclusively featured in thecover story article "Coconut Oil - The Newest Miracle in a Jar" in thepremier issue of BellaDOG Magazine. BellaDOG Magazine is distributednationwide and is available at Barnes & Noble, Borders, independentbookstores, pet boutiques and independent retailers across the country.

Read the article by visiting the link below:

http://www.cocotherapy.com/press/BellaDOG_CocoTherapy_coconut_oil_2010.pdf

Get your Cocotherapy items at the Pawhaus Pet Boutique.

Monday, February 1, 2010

February is National Pet Dental Health Month

Brush Your Dog's Teeth - They don't have thumbs!February is National Pet Dental Health Month. There are so many aspects of keeping your dog healthy, but in my opinion, none is more important than brushing their teeth. The American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS) estimates that eighty percent of dogs have periodontal disease by the age of three. A few years ago, the idea of brushing your dog's teeth was nearly unheard of. While it is gaining popularity, the majority of pet owners still do not brush their dogs' teeth on a regular basis.

Objections to tooth-brushing:
  1. I only give her dry dog food so I don't need to brush her teeth: Unfortunately most dry dog foods have high starch content. Sugar and starches combine with the bacteria in the mouth and produce acids. These acids can eat away at the enamel on the tooth in addition to causing plaque build-up.
  2. My dog doesn't like it: When I was a kid, I didn't like brushing my teeth, but it wasn't a choice. It is part of a healthy lifestyle. If you let your dog make all the decisions in your house, it would be a disaster!
  3. I don't need to; I give them bones and chew toys: This is an equivalent approach to only chewing gum for your personal dental hygiene. You won't find a dentist that recommends that approach! It is a nice addition but can't do the job alone.
  4. I just put an additive in the water: This is an equivalent approach to only using a mouth rinse for your own personal hygiene, except not even as good because your dog isn't gargling and rinsing. Again, a nice addition but not sufficient by itself.Grinner

If you don't brush your dog's teeth, plaque will build up on the teeth, break off, and be absorbed into the bloodstream. This can lead to blockage in the arteries causing heart disease and kidney problems.

Hopefully, now I've convinced you that brushing is imperative. Here are some things you should know:

  1. Brush at least three times per week to get maximum benefits.
  2. Don't use human toothpaste unless you have taught your dog to spit! Look on the back of your toothpaste. You will most likely find a statement that it should not be ingested. This is because it contains soap. Soap creates foam, which gives people the perception that the product is cleaning but is not indicative of the cleaning power of a product (it is for marketing purposes: perception is reality). Toothpaste designed specifically for pets does not contain soap; it won't foam up; and it can be swallowed safely.
  3. Replace the toothbrush when the bristles become frayed or every 3 months, as the brush will start to harbor microorganisms.
  4. Follow teeth brushing with praise and an award so he/she looks forward to it next time.

The American Animal Hospital Association says, "proper dental care may add as much as five years to your pet's life!" It only takes about one minute. Isn't increasing your dog's life expectancy worth a few minutes per week?

Candace LeakWritten By:
Candace Leak
candace@cainandablecollection.com
President, Cain & Able Collection
Manufacturer of All Natural Bath Products that never contain synthetic fragrances.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Did you see it on Merry's Review?

Cappucino Pawd Dog bed from Le Pet Petite

Dog Beds Review - A Merryvaluation
by Angie McKaig

How long have you been a Merryvaluations reader? (Did you know we publish 4-6 new dog product reviews every month?) If you've been around for any length of time whatsoever, you'll have realized one important thing about our bed reviews: we have a tendency to like the plush.

You see, Merry (our key product tester) is a pug. And pugs like cush. If they have a choice between laying on the ground and on a couch, they'll choose the couch. If they have a choice between laying on the couch or laying on a blanket on a couch, they'll choose the blanket on a couch. And if they have a choice of laying on a plain blanket on a couch vs laying on a blanket laid over a down pillow on a couch, they'll choose the down pillow-blanket-couch combo.

So when the folks from Le Pet Petite Boutique decided to send us a Pawd dog bed for review, we were very happy. Because the princess was bound to be happy.

Bound - get it? Ha? Oh, you wait.

The Cappucino dog bed is simply gorgeous to look at. Soft creamy fur-like exterior, chocolate minky soft interior, all tied up with a chocolate satin bow. Both fabrics on this particular bed are absolutely stunning - not just in color but in feel. They're gorgeously soft. I mean, it makes me want to be a pug, just so I can curl up in one of these beds.

The genius, however, is in the construction of these very smart, very flexible, dog beds. Laid flat (the pretty bow untied), the beds look a little like a flower. A cushy, dense flower to be sure, but a flat flower all the same. But when you pull on the ties, the bed cinches up to whatever amount of "nest"-ness you want.

Is your pet a burrower? Then tie the bed all the way for a high sided, deep burrow nest bed. Does your pet like to spread out but still have something to rest their chin on? Tie it about halfway. Is your pet a sprawler? Don't tie it at all; rather, leave it flat and just tie the ribbon ends beneath the bed.

Can you say brilliant? I knew that you could!

Important to us is cush factor, and these beds are perfectly stuffed with 100% polyfil. I don't say that lightly, so I'll ask you to read that again. Perfectly stuffed. Not too hard. Not too soft. The perfect balance between cushioning and bounce factor. And how often have I said that about a bed? Not too often, I'll tell you that.

Three different sizes (Merry's in the littlest) ensures most pups will have cushy digs. Note, too, the matching Cappucino reversible blanket the company also threw in - a little something to "cover them up with", though I'll admit Merry's always been too restless at night to stay under any blanket.

Best of all, the bed is completely and 100% reversible. Change it up monthly, weekly, with the season... whatever strikes your fancy.

If I had one little niggling concern about the bed, it would be the safety/chewability of the ribbon ties. I wish the company made a little widget - rubber, maybe? or the same fabric as the bed? I can't decide) to slide over the ties once you've gotten it tied as you want. It would be a great add-on item when purchasing the bed, just for that little extra peace of mind. However, I will report that Merry has not yet munched nor pulled on the ties at all. Maybe I could braid them? Hey, now that's an idea. :)

The gorgeously lush, beautifully stuffed, and crazily insanely brilliantly designed Pawd bed is one of the most exciting new products we've reviewed lately. Four paws up!

You can find Le Petit Pet Boutique beds, pawds, blankets and more at the Pawhaus Pet Boutique!

NATIONAL DRESS UP YOUR PET CONTEST

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Amanda Ciring
8:04am Jan 27th
NATIONAL DRESS UP YOUR PET CONTEST
To thepawhaus.blogspot@blogger.com
 


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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Seat Belts Save Lives: Human & Pets Alike!

 
We know seat belts save lives. Our lives. But what about our pets? Is there a good reason to let them ride in the front seat?  It sure can fun. Most pets won't object to it. Some may even want to and it sure can be nice to have our best friend on our side on long trip…but is that the right choice? Is that the safe choice?  Unequivocally not!

So Your dog doesn't like to ride in the back? Gets grumpy if you don't let him/her ride shotgun? TOUGH!  Is your pet like your child? Would you think twice about buckling up your kids? Would you let a child ride in the front seat because it wants to? Let's just hope not!

You are the responsible one, right? You know best what's right and what needs to be done to keep your kids safe, right? Then please extend the same courtesy to your pets.
 
A tantrum is just that. You will have way more fun with a healthy pet than with a pet that had so much fun before it got severely injured or killed. Think About It!

DOG RIDING WITH HEAD OUT THE WINDOW HAZARDS

* Just because most ads for pet products and services use photography depicting a dog with its head hanging out the window DOES NOT MAKE IT COOL OR SAFE! It's bad and unsafe advertising at best!

* As beautiful as the great outdoors are – when viewed from the behind the windshield – dust, pollen, bugs, dirt, debris, gravel is kept in motion by winds and traffic. Depending on how fast you are driving, remember that what may seem harmless at 1-5 mph on a breezy walk can become a projectile when driving at speeds over 10-15 mph!

* The driver of your vehicle may side-swipe another car or object on the side of the road, or the dog may get dirt, gravel, etc. in his eyes or throat.

* Windshields are strong. It takes quite some force and speed to dent your windshield. Your pet's soft tissues (eyes, skin, ears, mouth, tongue, chest, etc) are slightly thicker than our skin yet nowhere near as strong as your car's windshield! Now imagine the damage that a tiny piece of gravel can do if instead of meeting the side window (or windshield) now impacts your pet's soft tissue!

* Large and medium sized dogs have been known to fit in incredibly small spaces. That is - small window openings while driving. Many pet parents underestimated their pet's prey drive and suddenly had to deal with an emergency stop to try and recover Fido who had leaped out to chase a cat, other dog, squirrel and other animals. Do not underestimate prey drive.

* Make sure to lock your car windows – driver side command button. You do not want to find half your dog sticking the window because it pressed the window button while driving on the beltway!

PET IN FRONT SEAT HAZARDS

* Airbags were not designed for dogs or children. Airbags are designed for adult humans.
* A dog's head is too low and may be as much as 15 inches closer to the dashboard than a human's when seated in the front passenger position.

* Airbags deploy from the dashboard at approximately 200-220 mph. If a passenger is hit by an airbag before it is fully inflated, the passenger may sustain serious injury or even death.

* The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends that passengers' sit at least 12 inches away from the dashboard. National Statistics show that airbags may help prevent fatality by as much as 35% when used correctly. However, there were a significant amount of incidents in which some passengers were seriously or fatally injured after being seated in close proximity to a deploying airbag.

* Should the airbag fail to deploy, the pets head can get forcefully jammed through the windshield or in the space located between the windshield and the dashboard. Provided the force of impact either one scenario may lead to severe injury or death.

* The pet riding shotgun (front passenger seat) may become a distraction to the driver. Driver's attention should be to the road and incoming traffic only.

* Shotgun riding pet may cause additional injury to driver as it will become a rapidly travelling flying object upon side impact.

* Pet can leap across driver's lap to bark at something outside of the driver side window, leading driver to lose control of the car and get into an accident.

* After impact, a non restrained pet can run away – into traffic or away for good. In the event pet gets out of control, and jumps into traffic, accidents can happen. This places your pet and others at risk of severe bodily injury.

* First responders may be delaying your rescue to circumvent aggressive unrestrained pets (pet may want to protect you or itself if injured). Any injured pet may bite!

UNRESTRAINED PETS HAZARDS

* In the event of a sudden stop or accident, a dog can become a flying projectile that can injure you, your passengers or be thrown through the windshield.

* The pets head can get forcefully jammed under the driver or passenger seat causing additional physical damage to pet and making rescue efforts more difficult.

* The full body of the pet can be launched forward directly striking the driver and/or front passenger causing additional physical injury to vehicle passengers. The force of the motion forward can severely injury, disable and/or kill the pet.

* The full body of the pet can be launched forward and directly strike the windshield causing severe injury and/or death to pet.

* Unrestrained pets can distract the driver and cause an accident. Even pets that are normally well behaved could be frightened by something unusual and dive for the driver's feet or lap.

* Following a car accident, an unrestrained pet could escape and be hit by another vehicle or cause another collision. A frightened dog may attack strangers who are trying to help.

* In an accident, an unrestrained animal is dangerous to the human passengers as well. Even in an accident of only 30 mph, a 15-pound child can cause an impact of more than 675 pounds. A 60-pound dog can cause an impact of 2,700 pounds, slamming into a car seat, a windshield, or another passenger. Even if the animal survives, it can impede the progress of rescue workers for whom every moment is precious.

* Pet can leap across driver's lap to bark at something outside of the driver side window, leading driver to lose control of the car and get into an accident.

* After impact, a non restrained pet can run away – into traffic or away for good. In the event pet gets out of control, and jumps into traffic, accidents can happen. This places your pet and others at risk of severe bodily injury.

* First responders may be delaying your rescue to circumvent aggressive unrestrained pets (pet may want to protect you or itself if injured). Any injured pet may bite!

PET RIDING IN PICKUP TRUCK BED AREA HAZARDS

* Riding free in the bed area of a pickup truck can create a dangerous situation for the dog and other drivers if your dog falls out or decides to jump out.

Some dog owners believe that their dog would never jump out of the truck!
JUST BECAUSE IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET DOES NOT MEAN IT WON'T!
Dogs are creatures of instinct, and may not be able to contain their excitement if they see a rabbit, squirrel, or another dog, etc., on the side of the road.

* Dogs that ride without restraints in the pickup bed may also go flying if you stop short and suddenly and or accelerate abruptly or take quick short corners. Tying the dog in the bed is not a good idea either as the dog may still jump or fall out and wind up being choked or dragged along the road! The best and safest solution is to have your dog ride in the cab of the truck with you while restrained by a harness, in a secured crate and/or by using a secure barrier inside the cab area.

* Once off the truck bed, the jump, fall and/or landing of pet on road may distract other drivers and cause accidents as drivers lose control, swerve to avoid pet or sudden breaking car.

PETS RIDING ON DRIVERS LAP HAZARDS

* Airbags deploy from the dashboard at approximately 200-220 mph. If a passenger is hit by an airbag before it is fully inflated, the passenger may sustain serious injury or even death.

* The pet can slide off the driver's lap and get jammed between pedals and the engine block in frontal collisions, adding harm to pet and impeding rescue efforts.

* The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends that passengers' sit at least 12 inches away from the dashboard. National Statistics show that airbags may help prevent fatality by as much as 35% when used correctly. However, there were a significant amount of incidents in which some passengers were seriously or fatally injured after being seated in close proximity to a deploying airbag.

* Pets on laps can distract the driver and cause an accident. Even pets that are normally well behaved could be frightened by something unusual and dive for the driver's feet or lap.

* Drivers tend to keep their pets on their laps for the purpose of petting or reassuring the animal. Therefore at least one hand is off the steering wheel. That alone is a driving hazard (yes just as much if not more than being on the phone, texting, eating, reading, etc). The driver reaction time is therefore reduced and increases the chances of causing an accident. Pets move about and require more attention than regular talking front passengers.
 

Friday, January 22, 2010

Play Fetch does a review!

One of customers recently purchased some items from the Pawhaus Pet Boutique and wrote a video review of it on their website/blog!!  Thanks so much to Amanda and Buffy for posting such a great review!!
 
Check out what they had to say on their site HERE.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Monday Madness Sale

This week on Monday Madness:  This week we are offering $2.00 TOYS!!!  Stock up on great toys for your cats and dogs this week!!
 
Also check out our NEW CLEARANCE section!!  Great products at low, low prices!!