Today we found Laxatone on sale on Amazon. Despite the new packaging and company name this is supposed to be the same product made by Tomlyn that we all know and loved.

Most enjoy the flavor and consider it a welcome treat but a few may disagree with the majority. My cat's always had no problems but I've heard of a few that didn't like it as much and more creative means of providing the hairball remedy were needed.

Laxatone not only helps get rid of hairballs but with regular use it thought to help prevent them. This product is also used to help with constipation in cats and even dogs when warranted.

If you are considering using this product as an aid to help your cat or dog go to the bathroom more easily please pick up the phone and consult with your veterinarian first. It is far better to be sure to make a phone call in case you are seeing potential signs of a more serious problem (such as a blockage) just in case. They can also help advise on proper usage, dosage and when you might want to head in for a visit instead.

Peoduct description: Treats and prevents hairballs. The industry leader, veterinarian recommended. 
Contains petroleum plus linolenic & linolenic fatty acids. Safe & effective for cats & kittens. Eliminates swallowed hair. Safe and effective.  Hairball removal in cats: 1/2-1tsp for 2 or 3 days, then 1/4-1/2tsp
2 or 3 times  a week. Laxative: 1/4-1/2tsp 2 times a week.

Check Out Laxatone

We found another FURminator sale on Amazon for you today. This time it's a grooming tool designed for larger cats of 11 pounds and up with longer hair of 2 inches or longer. This one also comes with the 'ejector' for easier cleaning.

As with any of these deshedding tools they can not and should not be used on matted cats or cats with open wounds or sores already.  If your cat is matted (has knots) in the fur you should see your local groomer whom is great with cats.

These tools come highly recommended for helping to remove loose hair and undercoat and help reduce shedding in and around the home in between your regular grooming.

These claw covers are currently on sale on Amazon. Hunting for a great Halloween Costume is hard enough but getting our kitty cat's into the game can be nearly impossible.

Not only do these claw covers help keep the claws from being exposed and causing damage in between nail trimmings while providing an alternative to declawing, they also come in several different colors as well. Now your kitty can join in the Halloween fun with black and orange colored nail caps during the Halloween season or it may just be your favorite color combo.

Kit includes 40 nail caps (20 black and 20 orange), adhesive, 6 applicator tips, and instructions. Comes in medium size. Measures 1-inch length by 6-5/7-inch width by 4-5/7-inch height.

Claw covers typically last 4 to 6 weeks in between regular nail trimmings.

For todays Amazon Sale we have found something for the cat's. Decent cat trees and condo's that help keep cat's happy, stimulated and fulfill some of their natural needs and instincts can be difficult to find at more affordable prices.

This Cat tree / condo / bed / toy / elevated perch and scratching post combo is at a great sale price. All of us that have purchased items like this know they don't usually come cheap.

I once bought a very cheap (cheap being the operative word here) floor to ceiling cat tree and scratching post from Wal Mart for around $50 thinking I was getting a great deal. My cat's had completely shredded the outer covering and the inside cardboard tube pieces (that weren't apparent until they destroyed it)  within weeks. And I mean every post was gone one by one into nothing but tiny bits covering the room for me to clean up.

The clean up on the cheap Wal Mart climbing tree / scratching post was definitely a chore. Similar to allowing them to play with large toilet paper rolls and small pieces of fuzz, the cheap and NOT durable carpet covering. It wasn't a choice I would have made for me or my cat's if I had known the outcome.  

I never made that mistake again. The only thing that lasted on that cheap cat post was the part that is still embedded in my ceiling in the cat room which the ex never got around to removing.

Cat condo's, trees and scratching posts help fulfill some of the needs of our cats in a way that is acceptable to us and our preferences while doing so in a way that keeps them happy. With all training it is usually better and more successful to allow the animal to follow natural instincts that can't be changed in a way that is acceptable to you rather than to fight a frustrating and losing battle against them.

Scratching is a natural and instinctive behavior for cats with or without full use of their nails or claws. They will still often find enjoyment or go through the motions with furniture, scratching posts and toys. It is a behavior mostly developed to sharpen up those claws but it's a part of being a cat. An alternative and a way to excercise the instinctual need helps keep cats happy.  

In addition, while there are several cheap sissal toys and even scratching posts out there they can be overlooked by humans while being favored by our cats. They don't usually look like much to us or very exciting or even visually appealing at times but most cat's adore sissal products.

So much so that when it came time to register and name our Siamese Cat's (as you might do with dogs and AKC) we started with 'Sissal' (Registered as Our Sweet Sissal Toy) and 'Nip' (Registered as Our Cat Nip). Guess it's easy to guess the theme here?

While there are many theories, there is no doubt that cat's prefer to be up high. Allowing an area all of their own where it is acceptable to you not only helps keep your cat happier, it can help keep them from getting up in the places you would rather they not go such as your counters or on top of doors and other household furniture, items and areas.

Most of us know how territorial many cat's can be. They can rule over and rampage on their own little coner of the world all they like with a large cat condo. The can observe and feel dominant from up high, get some needed excercise and physical and mental stimulation from playing and scratching and snooze up high where they usually prefer to be.

Quite frankly, with many cats and even dogs, behavioral and training issues can often stem from not understanding or allowing for their basic instinctual needs and us humans working to prevent or simply not providing for them in a way that is acceptable to us or overlooking them completely by thinking 'human' and not 'dog', 'cat', or even not

While most are extremely happy with this cat post and how much their cat's adore it, there are a few things to weigh in as with any addition.

If you are not handy, you may want to ask a friend that is to help put this cat house together for you. The instructions can be hard for some to follow if you don't have the natural inclinations and may not provide enough information for those of us that this sort of thing doesn't come to naturally. In addition, some people have problems getting the steps on right and the handy friend could be really helpful here.

The missing parts. In my experience, I am rarely surprised if something seems to be missing some part that was supposed to be included such as screws. I have realistic expectations and it's bound to happen occasionally here and there with things we must assemble ourselves.

This can often be an easy fix and handled much faster by having some basics on hand such as screws and also that handy friend. Having to improvise can be common when putting together things on your own. Remember those book cases, desks and other odds and ends and the occasional 'huh' they can cause when things just don't seem to be going as planned?

Occasionally you may have to contact the company depending on what a problem may be. While most still love the cat house and how much their cat's love the cat tree when all is said and done, those that have contacted the company seem less than thrilled with the customer service here so far.

If it's an easy fix that you can handle on your own (especially when purchased at a deep discount) it may be a good idea.  I would probably go that route and get my own screws or small missing toy (and have many times) I can probably replace for a dollar rather than the stress and frustration of attempting to deal with the company itself. Thanks to those handy friends or relatives again.

This cat scratcher lounging area may seem familiar as it has been seen on the Animal Planet's show about the guy whom helps people whose cat's are incorrigible.  As we said above, he mostly teaches them about cats and understanding, their needs and ways to provide for the needs of the cats to help stop bad behavior based on the fact that they are a cat, specific breed, the individuals involved and the environment / lifestyle.

This cat scratcher is on sale on Amazon. The design is meant to naturally attract cats for scratching, playing and sleeping and it is reversible for a longer life before replacement.

The ex and I used to have a room just for cats. In it we had our food, water, nifty litter boxes, water fountains (cats are very prone to urinary tract infections, issues and stones and running water encourages them to drink more and is a major part of treatment and prevention) and several toys and play areas to keep the cats happy and healthy.

In addition to all the professionally constructed Cat Trees, Cat Condo's and scratching posts and play areas to fulfill our cat's needs we made our own play area. I will say, the cats did mostly prefer the ones that we spent more money on like the two sales featured above, especially the highest lounging areas. This is more of a cool addiiton and yes, he was very handy.

We took a cheap entertainment stand (of the variety that comes in a box) with larger open areas so they could jump and land safely and set it up for the cat's. The outsides and inside the compartments were covered in cat safe materials such as sissal and a thicker durable carpet swatch on the top where they preferred to snooze if all the other high areas on the cat condo's were taken.

Sissal was of course a large part of this on the inside coverings of the empty compartments and on the outside of the entertainment stand itself. The doors were taken off the lower compartment. We screwed in most of the materials knowing we may have to replace them one day and a few small beds helped add some cushion for snoozing.

We took some more higher quality durable and safe cat toys and screwed them in from the tops of the compartments to lure them in for play. The areas were large enough and there were so many places in the room and even elsewhere around the house to hang out that fighting hardly ever happened.

An unhappy cat can wreak havoc on our homes and lives. Fulfilling as many of their natural needs and wants as possible can go a very long way to making everyone happy. Cat's need mental and physical stimulation to be happy and healthy and cat condos, cat trees, cat toys, cat scratching posts and beds and furniture can be a great step in the right direction towards a happier and healthier cat.

How much stuff does your cat have and what do they like the best?

Most pets get worms or pick up some type of parasite at least once in their life. Tapeworms are one of the most common worms found in our pets.

The majority of worms aren’t visible to the naked eye and a veterinarian determines the presence of parasites by simple testing, usually of a stool sample. However, when our dogs or cats get tapeworm, it can usually be seen with our bare eyes.

Tapeworms are usually the culprit of another (or intermediate) host in our dogs and cats. Commonly the culprit is fleas but also rodents such as mice as well as larger animals such as deer or sheep.

There are several types of tapeworms though some are more common than others in our dogs and cats. Dipylidium caninum is the most common and usually carried by fleas. The Taenia and Echinococcus species use rodents or the larger animals as their hosts and do not appear exactly the same as the Dipylidium species. There is also the Mesocestoides species to cause some concern.

Tapeworms are extremely common in dogs and cats.

The signs of tapeworm seen by an owner usually appear to be like grains of white rice or seeds stuck to the dog or cat's fur or rear end, in the stool or in areas they frequent. When dried the segments may resemble something like a sesame seed while previously it may have looked like a grain of white rice that you may see moving.

The tapeworm is called a tapeworm as it resembles something like a piece of tape with a head being long and flat.

Most commonly this is a result of ingesting fleas carrying the tapeworms or sometimes through catching and eating a small rat or mouse which is carrying tapeworms. Ingesting fleas isn't difficult if they are in an infested area and being attacked by fleas. Fleas are environmental, they are not carried by dogs and cats but dogs and cats are very convenient hosts for these little parasites.

A veterinarian can usually diagnose an unknown infestation of tapeworms through a simple stool sample as well. Because the signs and symptoms are often so hard to miss, most pets don't wind up having a severe enough infection for tapeworm to become a serious health risk.

If not treated or if the infestation becomes severe there can be some serious consequences and more for cats than for dogs. 

Enough tapeworms can lead to poor nutrition and have been known to cause intestinal blockage which is a medical emergency.  Other concerns can be diarrhea, blood in the stool,  weight loss and malnutrition (the worms taking the pets food, vitamins and nutrients), coughing, fever and pneumonia. For cat's leaving tapeworm untreated can lead to blindness and death. 

 

Tapeworms are most often diagnosed by a bare eye visual of the segments on the pet, in the stool or in their immediate environment.  There must be eggs present for a diagnosis from a veterinarian during a fecal exam.

Effective treatment not only involves seeing / speaking to your veterinarian for the most effective and safest treatment but taking care of the environmental causes (fleas) and then additional treatment to prevent reinfection.

Tapeworms are not treated with many typical over the counter dewormers. The most effective type of medication on most tapeworms is called praziquantel which can be found in medications and dewormers such as  Drontal Plus, Droncit, Iverhart Plus, Profender and Sentinal Spectrum.

Medications containing Fenbendazole may work on some tapeworms but not others and not the most common Dipylidium caninum tapeworm.
 
Recently, there have been medications containing praziquantel for over the counter use. We can not stress enough that you should still consult with your veterinarian before administering any medication yourself to get accurate dosage and any negative indications or reactions for your pet specifically.

Always read the label, warning and instructions carefully and do not think that something over the counter is 'safe'. Do not use over the counter medications off label (differently from the instructions and warnings and labled information) as it frequently results in medical emergencies and deaths in pets.

There is always a risk, however, they become greater when treating a pet without knowledge of the consequences or following the instructions. Never use something labeled for dogs only on cats and vise versa or something labled for an animal of a different weight. Weight is an extremely important factor in dosages.

Please consult your vet before administering any treatment to your pets.

Yes. Humans have been known to get tapeworms but keep in mind there are several types of tapeworms. In the case of the more common Dipylidium in particular though it isn't usually from the pets, but the same way the pets get them, accidently swallowing a flea. This is most common in children.

Taeniasis tapeworm infection in humans is most commonly caused by eating undercooked beef or pork and not from exposure to dogs and cats.

CDC on Taeniasis

Mesocestoides

Echinococcus

In the prevention and treatment of tapeworm fleas are often the culprit so are also a key to prevention and effective treatment. If the fleas remain they will continue to pass tapeworms to the dogs and cats in the household.

Treating a dog or cat for fleas only does not get rid of fleas. Fleas do not exist because the dogs and cats are there. Fleas are there because the environment is a good one for them. Dogs, cats and other animals make extremely convenient food sources and hosts but fleas can and do exist in homes without them. Humans can be a target as well.

To effectively rid your pet of tapeworms you must also rid your home and yard of the fleas that are the underlying cause and be sure to follow up treat your pets at the appropriate times.

A couple of extremely effective ways to rid the home and yard of flea infestations are by using something like beneficial nematodes in the yard area as well diatomaceous earth along with your pets monthly flea, tick and heartworm preventative. Both items can go a long way towards helping with pests, parasites and creepy crawly's in a more safe and non toxic sort of way.

Marvista Vet    
Pets and Parasites.Org 
Get Tapeworm Tabs for Dogs on Amazon  
Get Tapeworm Tabs for Cats on Amazon

If you'd like to read about Roundworms you can click here.

Parasites or worms are a common problem in our dogs and cats.  There are several types of worms and they can be picked up quite easily.

The majority of worms aren’t visible to the naked eye and you may need to take in a fresh stool sample for your veterinarian clinic to get a closer look. Treatments vary and depend on the type of parasites so it’s important to know which parasites your pet has before attempting any treatment.

Roundworms are extremely common and especially in young puppies and kittens.  Most dogs and cats will become infected with these worms at least once in their life. Initially, there are often no symptoms so some sort of testing or preventative schedule is usually recommended.

Fresh feces is not usually considered to be infectious and eggs typically take around thirty days before they become a danger. Adult Roundworms may be visible in the stool or a dog or cat may vomit them up. 

Dogs and Puppies are typically affected by the roundworms Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonine
while Cats and Kittens are typically affected by Toxocara cati and Toxascaris leonine. Toxicara Canis worms only affect dogs and puppies and Toxocara cati worms only affect cats and kitten while Toxascaris leonine is equal opportunity and infects both dogs and cats. 

A large adult roundworm may be as big as 7 inches and may lay up to 200,000 eggs that can live for months to years in infected soil . The Toxocara variety will migrate throughout the body but the Toxascaris leonine tends to stick to being mainly an intestinal parasite only.

Roundworms can be several inches long.  Eggs may need to be identified at the veterinarian using a simple, quick and often inexpensive test using a fresh stool sample or a fecal test.

It is usually recommended that a mother dog or cat be dewormed as well during any routine preventative dewormings of puppies and kittens.

Dogs, Puppies, Cats and Kittens also frequently pick up this worm from infected soil or simply walking around in the yard, park or around the neighborhood and then ingest the invisible eggs they have picked up through their normal grooming routines.

If a dog or cat tends to kill or even scavenge animals such as mice, rats and other rodents this can also be a way to become infected with this worm if they prey animal was infected.  

In early stages there are often no symptoms of being infected with roundworms. If the infection becomes a major one diarrhea and loose stools are a particularly common sign in puppies and kittens but may happen with adult dogs and cats as well.

A dog or cat may vomit up roundworms or pass them in their stool which is a sure fire sign your pet has been infected with this worm. 
 
They may gain a more pot bellied ‘fat’ look while also losing weight elsewhere as the roundworms multiply . They may also show a duller or thinning coat as the roundworms will ingest the pets food and nutrition. 

In severe cases the worms may also block the intestines or a migration to the lungs can cause pneumonia.

Your vet will simply check a fresh stool sample for signs of parasites that aren’t visible to the naked eye and can usually identify them. Roundworms are easily identified.

Many of the monthly flea, tick and heartworm preventatives also contain a primary ingredient effective on roundworms and other parasites. 

It is also extremely important to do additional follow up treatments as one dose or round will rarel stop or get rid of the entire infestation and typically only kills adults if they aren’t in migration from the intestines.  

It is also extremely important to follow any instructions and read the label. Do not think a larger dose will work better and be 100% certain you are NOT using a product labeled for cats on dogs or a product for dogs on cats. While some products may be over the counter it does not mean 100%guaranteed safe and can still cause death if used improperly or off label and frequently does.

It is best to consult with your vet before providing any treatment or preventative on your own. There may be reason your pet should not take certain medications and they can advise on proper use, dosage and signs of a problem.

Emodepside is in Profender and currently the only deworming method that may possibly kill immature or migrating worms.      

Febantel is the primary ingredient in Drontal Plus. 

Pyrantel is in several products such as HeartgardPlus, Strongid and Nemex. 
  
Fenbendazole can be found in Panacur.

Milbemycin Oxime can be found in Interceptor, Sentinel and Trifexis.

Moxidectin is found in AdvantageMulti.  

Unfortunately, yes.  We humans have other types of roundworms that can infect us but when infected with a roundworm that is meant to prey on other species things can go horribly wrong and result in a condition called Visceral Larva Migrans.

The parasite can cause an extreme inflammatory reaction. If a ‘lost’ parasite in the wrong host dies in the eye it can cause blindness. This condition is most commonly seen in children as they are the most likely to stick dirty and infected fingers and objects in their mouths.  

Children and those with suppressed immune systems are the most at risk. Children often play in areas where roundworms eggs may be found such as the back yard or a sand box and don’t practice the best hygiene. Younger children also tend to put whatever they can get their hands on in their mouth
including their dirty fingers.

Prompt treatment and regular screening and preventative measures, especially with brand new pets can significantly lower the risk of humans being infected with roundworms from household pets.  

New pets should see the vet within a few days to be checked out as well as any screening or preventative treatments for parasites and otherillnesses.

Making sure children was their hands and are not putting their fingers or hands in their mouth during or after playing outside also significantly lowers any risk.

It is worth pointing out that there are many types of roundworms and some are not only harmless to us but help us out quite a bit with our gardens and even pest control. Some Nematodes are even often used as an all natural way to help prevent and stop flea, fly and tons of other infestations.

Roundworms are not responsive to most chemicals so using something like bleach in the yard to disinfect or kill roundworm eggs isn’t going to help.

You can look into getting some Diatomaceous Earth from a garden supply store or online or even
Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth from a heath store or online supplier.

Diatomaceous Earth is a non toxic substance which kills many bugs, parasites and creepy crawly things by puncturing and then dehydrating them. Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth is often used as an aid in preventing worms in livestock and pets and humans have added it to their diet as well.

Marvista Vet on Roundworms in Dogs and Puppies
Marvista Vet on Roundworms in Cats and Kittens
The CDC on Toxocariasis 
CDC / toxocaral larva migrans

Trimming, cutting and even filing our dogs nails and cats claws is a basic and necessary part of taking care of and maintenance for our pets. 

Some dogs are larger, heavier and active enough to keep their nails worn down and from getting too long just from their normal activity while walking on rougher surfaces. Smaller and lighter dogs and less active larger dogs often need a regular trimming, cutting or filing to keep their nails at a healthy length and from being too sharp or even damaging or scraping up the floors in our home and to prevent injury.

When a dogs nails become too long they can become painful and even cause back problems and pain as they do not stand or distribute their weight properly or the same. Nails that are too long actually hurt our dogs in several ways. When a dogs nails are in need of a trimming they are also more likely to snag on things, split, become torn or scratch or scuff up the floors or even us.

When a cats claws need to be trimmed they can split, tear or snag injuring not only the cat but us or our property. Many people are also not aware that ‘cat scratch fever’ was not just a popular song but is a real thing caused by bacteria from a cat scratch.

Nail trimming, clipping or filing does not hurt our dogs and cats. Even in the instances where the nail is ‘quicked’ and a styptic powder must be used (common) or your dog or cat does not like to have their nails clipped it is far better for them, less painful and much less traumatic than the effects and consequences of NOT maintaining their nails properly. 

So what are the ways to keep your pets nails trimmed down to a healthy and safe length?

You can call around to your local vet’s, groomers, mobile groomers and even pet shops as most likely offer nail trimmings. 

Of these, your local groomers are often the best place to get the better deal as a nail trim may be included with a low priced bath which also includes other additional maintenance needs.  A groomer will often include your bath, anal gland expression / cleaning and ear cleaning and removing the hair from inside the ears and a nail trim with a bath so that you can get a little more bang for your buck.

You may be able to get ALL the necessary services and a bath for not much more than just a simple nail trim or any of the necessary services cost separately with a cheap bath and brush or a haircut at your local preferred groomer.  

A bath and brush on a dog like a Chihuahua, Dachshund, Boston Terrier, Pug or Min Pin may only be around $20-$30 and include all of the above. Make sure you clarify with your groomer what services are extra and what services are included in the pricing or even free of charge with a bath and brush or haircut.

First it is better to have someone to help you as our pets are not statues and like children do not always appreciate standing still for long or a process that isn’t a part of their daily routine.  Some dogs are more difficult than other and your pet may need a professional if you are unable to get the job done.

You must have appropriate nail clippers in working order otherwise they will just shred or not clip, a styptic powder such as  'Kwik Stop’ in case the quick is nipped as is frequently the case and you may want a nail file or mechanical filing device handy such as discussed below. 

Make sure whomever is helping hold on to the dog has a firm grip and that their face, hands and other body parts are out of reach of being bitten or scratched. Even the sweetest and most non aggressive pet can bite or snap under the right circumstances and is a form of communication for them even if
they are simply saying ‘cut it out, I don’t like this and am not used to it’.
 
Some dogs just don’t have the patience and are also often aware of just how easily manipulated their own family may be so react in a manner to make them stop or to play on their sympathies and so they raise a lovely fuss over their baby if they react badly to something.

Inspect your pets nails. Make sure you know whether or not you will be clipping dew claws as well if your dog or cat has any. Dew Claws are not on the end of their toes but a little higher on the inside of the foot. Some dogs and cats may have double dew claws such as the Great Pyrenees. Double dew claws are often also commonly seen in Rottweilers.

Most cats and some dogs have clear or white nails. When you can see through the nails use the dogs or cats quick as a guide. The quick is the pink part visible inside the nail.

If your dog has black nails you can shine a flashlight from under the nail to try and determine where the quick may be. You can also cut back in shorter increments from the tip of the nail using the view you had from underneath the nail as a guide.

Just clip back to just before the quick. It’s that simple. If you can achieve about a 45 degree angle this is good but not completely necessary. It is more important you get those nails clipped as quickly as possible. 

A quick will be longer or shorter depending on how long it has been since the last nail trim. Quicks grow with the nails. If it has been awhile and the nails are still long and near or touching the ground after you’ve clipped to just in front of the quick, try again in a week or two. The quicks will have moved back enough to begin getting your dogs or cats nails back to a better length.

Cats will often be compelled to start sharpening their nails back up so make sure your scratching post is ready and at hand since that is what cats are really doing when they claw scratching posts, walls and furniture. It is a part of being  a cat. 

Don’t panick, happens all the time. As long as you have your styptic powder or styptic gel handy simply pinch some on and apply pressure for about a minute or follow the instructions otherwise. If it doesn’t stop right away apply another generous pinch and pressure again. This should stop any bleeding and usually contains antibacterial properties to help prevent any infection. 

You MUST have styptic powder or gel on hand before attempting to clip nails. This is also something that should be kept around for general first aid. While bleeding and hitting a quick is far from uncommon and not usually overly traumatic, if proper aftercare (styptic powder and bleeding stopped) isn't provided there is potential risk of an infection entering the blood stream. 

I have only seen or heard of infection a few times in probably millions of nail trims and the one thing they all seemed to have in common was that the owner attempted to allow the bleeding to stop on its own and did not apply styptic powder which also seals and prevents infection in addition to environmental causes.

Nails can be pretty rough and scratchy just after a nail trim until they may be naturally filed down and smoothed out over a few days or a week through normal activity or exposure to rough surfaces such as the back patio.

If you prefer to prevent scratches to yourself or your floors you can file your dog nails. Some people also use this method instead of regular clipping by using a mechanical filer.

If you are just wanting to smooth out some rough edges on your dogs nails a sturdy human nail file will also do in addition to a nail file made for dogs and cats. Simply smooth the nail in an upward motion from bottom to top a few times until they are rounded and more smooth. 

Some of you may have heard of the Pedipaw nail trimmer? It is essentially a mechanical nail file with a rotating emery board attached to file down and smooth out your dogs nails and cat claws. The Pedipaw has a guard attached that catches any fly away bits of nails.

However, I do not suggest using the PediPaw. I do not nor have I ever used the PediPaw and have heard less than favorable opinions of it and its use, power and durability. I still use the tool the PediPaw was modeled after as a repackaged and ‘lesser’ version for pets called ‘PediPaw’ if you feel this is the best option for your pets nail care.

For decades before the Pedipaw became available and popular, pet professionals used a simple tool for grinding down nails and nail filing that you may already have around your house for other uses or see often at your local hardware store or while shopping online. A Dremel.

You will still need a styptic powder on hand to file your pets nails by mechanical means. It is probably best you don’t learn on your pet if there is any hair that may be caught in the quickly spinning emery tool. You still want to avoid the quicks and any of your exposed skin, hair(long hair should definitely be pulled back) and body parts if you are using a Dremel for your pets nail care. This is more of a ‘power filer’.

A Dremel is definitely the better value and a regular use dremel can be used around your home for many things as well as for nail care for your pets in addition to being more durable, more reliable, more power and a much better warranty.  You do need to exercise some caution and common sense though when using this tool to file your pets nails.

Same as the regular non-mechanical emery board, the tool is used with gentle pressure going from the bottom up in a slightly rounded motion. 

There is another popular and inexpensive option that people use in between their regular nail trims for their dogs and cats.  Nail caps / nail covers which come in many stylish colors including glitter and holiday themed colors. It can always look like you’ve painted your pets nails recently or there is clear or white for a more natural look. For cats, this has become a common alternative to declawing and removing the claws completely.

These little nail caps can be put on by you at home and are offered at many vets and groomers as well. After a nail trim a safe adhesive is applied inside the nail cap and then applied over the dog or cats nails until it has adhered where it remains for an average of 4 to 6 weeks and it’s time for the next nail trim.

This can help prevent scratching and clawing of people, other pets and helps save your furniture in between the times a dog or cat’s nails need to be trimmed. With all the color choices you are sure to find one, two or even a few that tickles your fancy and suits your personal style and favorite color choices.

If you are considering nail covers it is usually best to read the size or breed examples specifically as other descriptions may be too general. 'Large' may mean a 10 to 15 pound Shih Tzu so be sure to check the size information.
 

How often do you clip your dog or cats nails and what method (s) do you use?

When you have pets there are many considerations to keep in mind, especially when you go away on business or for a vacation. Pet boarding offers your pet a safe and enjoyable place to stay when you must be away.

Pet boarding offers an easy solution to those who need someone outside of family and/or friends to take care of their pets or prefer a place where their pet will get more attention and supervision than a pet sitter dropping by for an hour or two. Pet boarding facilities are good choices because they are establishments with a good amount of staff members who will take good care of your pet while
you are gone.

In addition to feeding, watering and generally caring for your pet in your absence, pet boarding facilities also play with your dog or cat, exercise them, keep a close eye on them and keep them safe the entire time you are gone. Some pet boarders will even offer grooming and training options to
their pet guests.

This allows you to enjoy your vacation or get work done on your business trip and not have to worry about your playful pup or frisky feline being alone and lonely too much of the time. The constant supervision means that anything your pet might need can be acquired quickly while being boarded.

Some facilities allow groups of boarding dogs to play together. While this may sound wonderful it is important to consider the general tendency of dogs and their behaviors and especially while in groups. This frequently leads to fights and injuries even with supervision and dogs of similar sizes. If you do choose a place that allows play time with other people’s dogs you may want to be sure they are in more manageable groups with dogs and breeds of compatible temperament and personalities and supervised by experienced animal handlers knowledgeable in breeds and canine behavior and training. 

Local grooming shops and veterinarians often offer pet boarding services as well as your pet sitting hotels and kennels. Your groomer or veterinarian may also be able to recommend a responsible and reliable experienced pet sitter or two if you would like to look into that as an option of caring for your dog or cat while you must be away.

The heat is already rising here in Las Vegas and it can be a problem for our furry friends. All Breed Mobile Pet Grooming has a few reminders about keeping your pets safe and happy in the summer heat. 

Pets in Cars
Even a minute in a car unattended can kill your dog or cat here in Las Vegas in the summer. Temperatures can reach well over 100-130 degrees in a sitting vehicle very quickly even with a window cracked. Better not to take your pets with you if you may need to leave them in the car alone at all. 

Activities in the Summer Heat and Ground Temperatures
Summer activities can be tricky. If you go for daily walks with your dog or cat try switching to earlier morning or later evening. Beware of the temperature of the pavement and sidewalks and especially in the afternoons. It is scorching having soaked up all the sun and heat of the day and can reach around and over 150 degrees by even early afternoon before it's at its hottest. Some stylish booties may be in order to help prevent pets outdoors from burning and blistering their 'bare' feet. 

Heat Stroke
Both our dogs and cats have a high incidence of heat stroke or heat exhaustion here in Las Vegas in the spring and summer so be sure to keep an eye out and take precautions. Heat stroke can kill our pets quickly and suddenly. Some pets may have factors that make them more susceptible such as Persian Cats, Bulldogs, Pugs, French Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Pekingese, Shih Tzu, Boxer's and other dog and cat breeds with more smashed or flat faces. Older Pets also have a harder time dealing with the heat. 

Some signs of heat stroke may be;
·  heavy panting
· hyperventilation (deep breathing)
· increased salivation early then dry gums as the heat prostration progresses
·  weakness
· confusion or inattention
·  vomiting or diarrhea
·  sometimes bleeding
·  obvious paleness or graying to the gums 
·  shallowing breathing 
 ·  slowed, barely or not breathing
·  vomiting and diarrhea that may be bloody
·  seizures or coma

 If you see signs of heat stroke please call your veterinarian immediately. Be aware that dousing your pet with very cold water or attempting to force them to drink large amounts of very cold water may cause your pet additional harm. Only cool or lukewarm water should be used for wetting down your pet if you suspect over heating. 

Here's hoping a safe and wonderful summer to you and your pets!