Diet Recommendations

Protein: Older dogs will need more of it to maintain body mass. So look for brands with high protein content. Some may even state on the packaging that they are made specially for older dogs. Portion size is another important consideration when dealing with older dogs. Too much protein or feed in generally can lead to weight gain. Make sure to feed dogs the appropriate amount based on their size, weight and breed.

Water intake: Encourage the dog to drink more water even though this may be difficult. Maybe due to lower activity levels they do not get as thirsty as younger dogs do. But they also have a lower percentage of water in the body so they could become dehydrated more easily.

Vitamins and minerals: well known pet food brands promise a complete diet even for older dogs. However, each animal’s individual needs must be considered individually. Your vet will be able to offer advice in this regard. If, for example, your dog seems to lack energy the vet may suggest a vitamin supplement regardless of the pet food brand being used.

Fats: Now here’s the tricky part. Dogs need enough fat to aid in the absorption of vitamins and minerals. However, they to tend to gain weight faster and if you are not careful you could end up with an overweight pet. So monitor the animal’s weight and activity levels as much as possible.

If your dog suddenly seems to have developed picky eating habits try mixing foods. Canned dog food could be combined with dry food for example. Avoid giving them raw meat as their digestive tracts are more sensitive at this stage. At this point in the animal’s life you should also try to increase its fiber intake.

A little control is good when it comes to cats. For strong willed felines, more control is even better. This is especially important for cat owners who want to take their friends out for walks. There are plenty of distractions in the outdoors. Your cat may show a willingness to stay close to you, but you never know what might cause it to suddenly dart off. Of course this presents so many scary possibilities that we don’t need to get into.

The Basics of Leash Training

It would be unwise to think that even with patience all cats will respond in the same way to leash training. Some may take a bit longer to adapt and occasional refresher training might be necessary. One of the first items you will need is a harness. Leash training for cats does not require collars. Most of cats don’t respond well to collars anyway. Plus they are not recommended as they pose a safety risk. It is easy for collars to get them caught on objects.

You should also have cat treats on hand to reward the animal. A clicker is a good thing to have, but if you don’t, just be sure to use the right tone to praise or reprimand the cat. Allow the cat to wear the harness for a week or more to get used to it. Then attach the leash without trying to lead the cat. You want tabby to be aware of this new attachment. Then let the training begin.

Let the cat know that you have its favorite treat. Hold the leash while giving the ‘go’ command. When the cat responds give a treat right away. Repeat the process often until you feel the animal understands what you want it to do. Do the same thing for the ‘stop’ command to establish control for when you go outdoors.

Once you are comfortable enough, take the cat for a short walk to see how much it has learned. Of course, the world outside will be a different experience, so don’t be put off if your cat doesn’t respond well right away. Remember that cats will not maintain a straight line the way a trained dog does. Cats will want to move around in its own, leash or no leash.

Getting Quality For Less

First of all, remember that high cost does not always indicate quality. Conversely, a cheaper product could last a long time and withstand everyday wear and tear. So the pet owner who seeks pet fashion they can afford should first look for product reviews. You may be surprised to learn about cheap items that could serve your pet wear needs.

Company reviews are also important. There are forums online dedicated to customer opinions on various issues. You can find reviews on vet clinics, pet fashion boutiques and pet wear. You might be able to get some items cheaper if you buy from online shop. If you sign up for some pet stores’ newsletters you are generally notified of sales or special offers.

Shopping around for pet fashion is important. Using the Internet is the easiest way to quickly compare prices. You might see something in a pet fashion boutique and get it for less in an online store. People tend to like high end pet fashion boutiques because they have pet products from different countries. Therefore they have a greater variety to choose from.

Remember that although the idea is to pamper your pet, you don’t have to break the bank doing so. Always keep in mind that for each pet product seen in one of these stores you can get something of comparable quality elsewhere. Sure you may not always be able to get the brand names you want, but I’m sure your beloved pet won’t care.