Tag: pet lover

Things to remember while involving your kids and pets

Children always fancy owning pets at home. Many children pester their parents to gift kittens and puppies for their birthdays. If you are a pet lover and have approved the idea of owning one at home, here are a few tips and ideas to help you initiate an amicable relationship between your children and the four-footed newcomer.

Deciding on the pet

Now that you have decided to own a pet, it is important for you to know which kind you want to adopt. First, you must know that a bigger pet requires a bigger house. If your house is small and if you think dogs may eventually find it difficult to walk around, buy goldfish or guinea pigs. Fishes stay in tanks, thus requiring a small space. Also, take into consideration your children’s age. Children need to get along with pets at home; therefore it is important for you to think about your children’s age before you allow the two to bond with each other.

Train your pet to maintain routines

Prepare pet schedule that will help you train your pet on a daily basis. Allow your children to help you in the process. Make them do small work like changing water or feeding your pet. In this way, your children can lay a foundation to new friendship with their pet. Take your children along with you while visiting the vet for routine check-ups.

Don’t be rude

If your children forget to feed the pet or walk him in the evening, don’t shout or punish them. Allow your children to make mistakes. Explain the consequences to them. They understand facts faster when explained patiently rather than with a rough tone. This way, help them understand and learn things. By handling the situation calmly, you are reassuring the bond between your children and your pet. Encourage them to apologise to your pet for forgetting to feed it. Making conversations with your pets helps in bonding better.

Teach team work to your kids

Divide the work among your children and give them individual work to bond with the pet. Ask one kid to feed the pet time-to-time while the other does potty training. Exchange the schedules on a weekly basis and make sure they actively participate in the bonding process.

Timely check on your kid’s behaviour towards the pet

While some children jump in joy to welcome the newcomer, others may not like the sudden attention that your new pet receives. Some children show their anger by throwing things at the pet. During situations like this, sit and explain the benefits of having a pet at home. Ensure that the pet can be a best friend to your child provided he is treated well. Also, monitor your child time-to-time to ensure that he treats your pet well.

Don’t forget to click pictures of your children bonding with the pet. Children and pets are the cutest combination ever and capturing those moments will be the best way of freezing it.

The CAN EAT For Dogs: HUMAN FOOD

Dedicated dog lovers tend to be very kind people. We share our hearts and homes (and for some lucky pups, even the foot of our beds) with our canine pals. Surely there is nothing wrong with sharing our favorite foods with them too, right? Not necessarily. Many of the foods, such as fruits and vegetables, that humans digest just fine, can wreak havoc on a dog’s body, causing severe health problems. On the other hand, some of the foods people eat can be introduced to a dog’s diet just fine, and even provide health benefits such as joint strength, better breath, and allergy immunity.

You may or may not be a rookie in being a DOGGO EXPERT, but there’s no harm in being absolutely sure in knowing what is and what’s not good for your pet. So, here’s a list of food that you eat that can be shared with your dog and what’s not to be shared:

Fruits Your Dog Can Eat:

Many dog owners know that grapes and raisins can make their dog sick, but they don’t know which fruits are actually beneficial. If one fruit is toxic to your dog, you may fear that all fruits are poisonous. Luckily, that’s not the case. Fruit can be a nutritious and tasty treat for your dog.

1)    Watermelon

It is a health-food powerhouse, low in calories and packed with nutrients—vitamins A, B6, and C, and potassium. Watermelon is also a great snack to give your dog on a hot day, as it is mostly water. Pro tip: Freeze some watermelon cubes for your dog to make for an even better cool-down.

2)    Blueberries

Blueberries are absolutely packed with antioxidants, making them extremely healthy for man’s best friend. Depending on your dog’s size, however, choking might be a potential risk; try cutting up the berries for smaller dogs.

3)    Apples

Apples are light and delicious for both you and your dog. But make sure your dog doesn’t eat the apple seeds, they are toxic. Apple seeds actually contain small traces of cyanide. The human digestive system can easily filter this out, but the same is not true for canines.

Veggies Your Dog Can Eat:

Even if you’re not keen on eating your vegetables, your dogs will be. Plus, they provide nutrients with minimal calories. However, as with humans, dogs can have adverse reactions to certain foods, even if they are supposedly good for them.

1)    Green Beans

Green beans are the full package. In fact, green beans are so healthy for dogs that some people make a sizeable portion of their fur baby’s daily food regimen. Just remember not to add salt or seasoning.

2)    Carrots

Carrots are wonderful snacks for your pup. Dogs can eat carrots several ways: raw, cooked, or even with the green tops still on them.

3)    Asparagus 

This vegetable has plenty of fiber, which can be good for a dog’s digestive health. As a snack, cooked asparagus is perfectly safe for dogs.

4)    Pumpkin

Vets often recommend pumpkin when a dog is constipated or has other digestive issues. Give your dog some canned pumpkin with their kibble to keep their digestive system running smoothly.

5)    Spinach

Spinach is rich in antioxidants, iron, and vitamin K. That’s what makes it so healthy for humans and a potentially beneficial part of your dog’s diet. Spinach can boost your dog’s immune system and energy levels, making for an all-around healthier pet.

Meat Your Dog Can Eat:

Your dog may love most kinds of meat—just make sure whatever cut you give your pet doesn’t have much fat on it. Food with high-fat content can easily make your dog gain weight. As far as land animals go, chicken is always a safe bet, especially when your dog has an upset stomach. 

1)    Chicken Broth

It’s not just the meat of the chicken that is good for your dog to eat. Bone broth, either homemade or store-bought, can help a dog with an upset stomach. However, be extremely cautious about the actual bones. If you are feeding your dog any type of meat, remove all bones before giving it to them. Ingesting the bones could cause a variety of problems for dogs like broken teeth, an injured mouth or an intestinal blockage that requires surgery. 

2)    Fish

Dogs can eat fish, so long as it isn’t raw. And certain types of fish are healthier for your dog than others. Salmon, ocean whitefish, and herring, for example, are fish that live short lives, so they have lower levels of mercury compared to fish near the top of the food chain like, say, swordfish. Fish is also a great source of protein for your dog if he or she has allergic reactions to other types of meat.