pet Archives - MomStart

Share Why Your Dog is a Star & Purina Will Donate to Mutt-i-Grees! #BHDogShow

March 27, 2018 by Beeb Leave a Comment

We’re a proud Purina Partner and have received compensation for this post.

Every dog owner knows that their furry friend is the real star of the family – which is why Purina is rolling out the red carpet to celebrate a star-studded event and raise money for a worthy cause! In honor of the Beverly Hills Dog Show Presented by Purina airing this Easter Sunday, Purina are inviting dog owners worldwide to do what they do best: Share a photo of your cute pooch! Through the “Every Dog is a Star” initiative, Purina is committing to donate $5 (up to $25,000) to Mutt-i-Grees when you share a photo or video of your dog star with the hashtag #BHDogShow. If you’re not already familiar, Mutt-i-Grees is a program by North Shore Animal League America that helps children build valuable life skills by interacting with shelter dogs. It’s easy to participate:

Share a photo or video between March 26th and April 8th showing why your dog is a star on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram tagging @Purina and using the hashtag #BHDogShow. For each original post, Purina will donate $5 (up to $25,000) to Mutt-i-Grees.

That’s it! These donations will help Mutt-i-Grees expand their program to more schools around the country to help teach empathy, kindness, and show the positive impact that pets have on our lives. An excuse to look at cute doggie photos AND raise money for a great cause, what more could you ask for?!

My dog is a star because he’s a survivor!

Our family Labrador, Bob, has been a true star this week. On Friday, he suddenly lost use of his paws and could barely walk. He was rushed to the vet and discovered that he had a compressed/bulging disc. Bob underwent surgery on his spine to repair it and, thankfully, will regain full use of his legs and make a total recovery. It’s been such a stressful ordeal – he had to travel 200 miles for treatment and spend all weekend at the vet after the surgery. He came home yesterday, and has four weeks of recovery ahead of him; he has strict orders to stay put in his bed, and is only supposed to go outside to potty 3 times a day. He can’t walk by himself yet, so he has to be carried out in a harness vest and take a plethora of medications three times a day. Through it all, Bob is still his sweet self despite everything he’s going through. He’s so happy to be at home again with his family and is taking everything in stride. We received a fun Hollywood-style gift bag in the mail today to get us ready for the Beverly Hills Dog Show Presented by Purina, and it’s perfect timing – this good boy deserves to be spoiled right now! He’ll be watching a lot of TV with Grammy while he’s laid up, so they can enjoy the first-ever Beverly Hills Dog Show Presented by Purina when it airs this Sunday, April 1st on USA at 6/5 p.m. ET/CT. There will be appearances by human and canine celebrities alike as they crown one special dog as its 2018 champion, so it’s sure to be a fun distraction after this long week! Perhaps the band Dogstar can come out of retirement and provide the music??

Don’t forget to share your pics with #BHDogShow – and feel free to link them in the comments so I can see all of your adorable dogs!

Rabbit Roundup: Everything You Need For Your First Bunny

January 29, 2018 by Beeb 1 Comment

Samples provided. This post contains Amazon Associates links.Since November, I have adopted four abandoned domestic rabbits that showed up in my yard. The first arrival was Honey Buns: I opened the back door one morning to discover, much to my surprise, a large rabbit huddled up next to the door. As soon as I opened the door, she turned around and hopped right inside the house, literally inviting herself in! Five days later, we came home to find rabbit #2, Bunsen Burner, shivering under the trash cans by the front door. And just when we thought we were getting the hang of things, a bonded pair of rabbits that I named Buster and Babs Bunny moved into our workshop!

I’ve always loved bunnies but never owned one in my life, so it’s been a learning curve, that’s for sure! A rabbit has very different needs than a dog or a cat, so I’ve been doing tons of research over the past few months as I get a crash course in Rabbit 101. So I thought it would be fun to share my setup with you, go over what I’ve learned about the basics that rabbits need, and give you an idea of what’s involved if you’ve been considering adding a rabbit to your life!

Hutches

Since Honey Buns showed up out of the blue, we had to improvise and temporarily put her in one of Bob’s old dog crates. Jai built four custom hutches for the rabbits using recovered and scrap lumber, parts from two dog crates, and 6-Gauge Galvanized Wire Fence – you can read more about our hutches here. Our situation is unique, because since we are rescuing four rabbits at the same time, they all need to be fixed and (hopefully) bonded before they can safely live together, so separate cages are a necessity at this point. I would advise reading through some sites such as TheRabbitHouse.com to learn more about the different housing options for rabbits, as there is a lot to consider.

Litter & Cleaning

One of the most perplexing things I had to figure out was how to keep the rabbits’ hutches clean. Rabbits can be litter box trained, and while our buns are fairly good about this, they have not been fixed yet and thus will “Mark” their territory and leave more of a mess than they will after we get them spay/neutered. And even with a litter box trained rabbit, droppings are just a fact of life and their cages will get messy pretty quickly!

Since Jai custom built our hutches, he designed them with two levels: The top level is open and provides a nice area for the bunnies to sit, hang out and eat. The bottom level is an enclosed, private “Hidey hole” that also contains their litter boxes and has a bunny-safe mesh floor that allows droppings to fall down onto a removable tray below. Emptying a giant tray of waste without spilling it all over the floor was proving to be pretty tricky, but I’ve figured out a system that makes it a lot more managable!

Ware Rabbit Pan Liner makes cleaning so much easier!!

The Ware Rabbit Pan Liner makes cleaning the trays under the hutches SO MUCH EASIER!! It’s essentially a large trash bag that lays flat in the tray. When you’re ready to empty it, you lift up the four corners that hang over the tray, and it pulls the liner up into what is effectively a trash bag that you can easily pull out and throw away. A 4-pack retails for $3.99 on Chewy.com and is worth every penny to not have rabbit poop rolling all over your floor!

Kaytee Clean and Cozy Small Animal Bedding

When filling your rabbit’s litter box, be aware that you must be careful to use a rabbit-safe litter. We really like Kaytee Clean and Cozy Small Animal Bedding, which retails for $13.86 on Chewy.com. You can also put this litter in the tray to absorb urine and reduce odor.

Cage Basics

Kaytee Chew-Proof Small Animal Water Bottle

You’ll need to outfit your rabbit’s cage with a water bottle or bowl – we have a Kaytee Chew-Proof Small Animal Water Bottle in Bunsen’s cage, which retails for $6.65 on Chewy.com.

Ware Slide-N-Lock Small Animal Bowl

Rabbits love to toss over food bowls, so you’ll need to get one that attaches to the cage to stop them from throwing their food everywhere! The Ware Slide-N-Lock Small Animal Bowl shown here in Bab’s cage retails for $8.42 on Chewy.com. These are also excellent for water – ironically, we are using both our locking food bowls for water at the moment, because every time I get one with the intention of using it for food, another bunny shows up. I’m not even kidding! A few days after Honey Buns arrived, I went to the store to buy a locking food bowl that was in my purse when I arrived home and found Bunsen shivering in front of my door. So it became his water bowl! Then, on the day that my Kaytee water bottle and Ware bowl arrived from Chewy.com, Buster and Babs moved into our workshop – so once again, my planned food bowls became water bowls! So I’m putting their food straight on to the hutch floor for now and will pick up four more locking bowls when we get home from England. 😉

Another tip: Rabbits find drinking out of bottles to be too difficult when they are ill, so be prepared to provide a bowl of fresh water when this happens.

Kaytee Hay Buffet

One fact of life for a rabbit owner is hay…everywhere. To reduce this mess, what I tend to do is load the lower, enclosed part of their hutches with hay – which is necessary, because their potty is in the lower level and they need to have hay when they go to the bathroom – and then use a feeder to keep a contained amount of hay in the top level, so that less of it gets kicked outside the hutch. The Kaytee Hay Buffet is $6.66 on Chewy.com and can hold hay as well as veggies; I also use the Kaytee Rollin’ The Hay Feeder in Honey Buns and Bunsen’s hutches.

Food

Rabbits have much more complex dietary needs than a dog or cat, and their sensitive stomachs are prone to sickness. Therefore, it’s super important to be aware of what a healthy diet looks like – I recommend visiting Rabbit.org as a starting point to learn about rabbit feeding, and consult with your vet. Generally speaking, a rabbit’s diet consists of unlimited hay, veggies, pellets, and a sparing amount of fruit/treats.

Oxbow Essentials Bunny Basics

For pellets, we’ve been using Oxbow Essentials Bunny Basics from Chewy.com, which retails for $10.62 for a 5-lb bag.

Bunsen devours his Timothy Carrot

The Oxbow Timothy Club Carrot Small Animal Treat is a great healthy treat made from 100% Timothy Hay. It also provides a little activity for your rabbit as they figure out how to pull it down and tear off the hay – kind of like an edible toy! You can get one for $3.59 at Chewy.com.

Honey Buns enjoys a treat from Happy Manes Rabbitry

Our bunnies also love the wonderful handmade treats from Happy Manes Rabbitry, a small rabbitry in upstate New York. These treats are made with ingredients like real fruit, rabbit pellets, whole oats and fresh local honey, and come in tasty varieties such as Apple Madness Cookies and Banana-Carrot Crunchies – each bag retails for $4.99.

Bunsen, caught in the act trying to steal an extra Apple Madness Cookie!

Treats don’t last long around here!

For timothy hay, I highly recommend checking with a local farm supply store – we live in a rural area, and are able to get entire bales of hay for $17 or less. If this isn’t possible in your area, you can order hay in bulk on Amazon.

Fun & Games

Kaytee Tropical Fiddle Sticks Small Animal Flexible Hideout

Rabbits are intelligent animals and need mental stimulation. They love little “Hidey holes” and tunnels, so the Kaytee Tropical Fiddle Sticks Small Animal Flexible Hideout, $7.99 on Chewy.com, is a fun little hideout that can flex into different shapes. It’s also safe for bunnies to chew on, which is one of their very favorite pastimes. 😉

Buster the magical unicorn

Not everybunny likes to dress up, but if yours does, Zoo Snoods make an adorable line of knitted hats for pets! Honey Buns wore the Deer Zoo Snood, $16.99, for Christmas, and Buster became a rare bunny indeed with his Unicorn Zoo Snood, $17.99.

Santa’s lil helper

Unicorn bun

So there you have it: These are the products that have been my staples over the last two months of sudden bunny ownership! Fellow rabbit owners, I’d love to hear some of your favorite things!

Pet Food Nutrition: 3 Things You Should Know

November 8, 2017 by Beeb 5 Comments

This is a partnered post.

It’s the holiday season, which means that many people will spend the next three months thinking a lot about food. From cooking up the perfect Thanksgiving feast and Christmas treats to bemoaning extra pounds and working off the holiday weight as a New Year’s Resolution, sometimes it feels like this time of year totally revolves around what we do or don’t eat. And it’s not just the human members of the family – what our pets are eating weighs on us, too. Did you know that surveys have shown that more than half of American dog owners believe their dog’s nutrition is more confusing than their own?

To help shed some light on this topic, I had the opportunity to attend a YouTube Live session with Dr. Evan Antin, a veterinarian at Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Antin has traveled the world working with exotic animals and is currently People Magazine’s resident Pet Vet, as well as being named their “Sexiest Veterinarian Alive”! He is extremely knowledgeable about pet nutrition, and was able to demystify the topic a great deal during our chat.

Thanksgiving Scraps? No, Thanks!

Grandma likes to say that our family dog, Bob, “Thinks he’s a human!”. We do, too, so it’s natural to be tempted to share our holiday treats with him. However, Dr. Antin recommends that you keep your scraps on the table. Human food often contains oils and fats that can cause issues like diarrhea, vomiting or even pancreatitis. And food items that we love, such as onions and garlic, are highly toxic in dogs. For this reason, he advises that pet lovers stick to food and treats that are made specifically for pets, not people.

The other hazard in wanting to constantly give your dog scraps and extra food is the same one we humans face: Weight gain. Bob has to watch his weight, but Grandma always feels bad reducing his food: “The vet told me to put him on a diet, but he’s hungry all the time! I can’t starve him!” I asked Dr. Antin this, and what he told me is fascinating: Recent research indicates that labradors are prone to a genetic variation that essentially makes some labs incapable of realizing when they’re full. That sure explains a lot about why Bob is so obsessed with food!

One good way to treat your pet and fill them up in a healthy way is by including vegetables with their food, Dr. Antin told us. Baby carrots in particular are great, he said, because chewing on them helps to clean a dog’s teeth as well as provide a snack.

Fad Diets Aren’t Just For Humans Anymore

It seems like every time I turn around, there’s a new diet craze that is billed as the cure for any problem. And nowadays, this trend has expanded into pet food, with many of the same gimmicks being used to sell special diets to our pets as well as ourselves. For example, Dr. Antin mentioned the recent trend towards grain-free pet food, and told us that research has shown that grains deliver more complete nutrition for dogs than the ingredients typically substituted for grains. I found this really interesting, because as I’ve talked about on here several times, Bob’s vet recommended a grain-free diet for him several years back. I asked Dr. Antin why a vet might suggest that, and he explained that dogs can have allergies to grains just as humans do. So in other words, this mirrors the popularity of gluten-free food for humans: Some people have celiac disease and cannot eat gluten, but that does not mean that things like bread are “Bad” – just that some people are allergic to it. In the same vein, most dogs have no issue with grains, so you don’t have to worry about it unless your vet has specifically diagnosed your dog as having this allergy. I found this to be so clarifying and helpful!

Your Pet’s Needs Are Different Than Yours

Bob may think he’s a human, but the biggest takeaway from my chat with Dr. Antin is that he definitely should not eat like a human! Dogs have very different dietary needs from us, so we have to think about their nutrition differently than we do with our own. He explained that many people get disturbed by terms in pet food like “By-products”, since they’re looking at it from a human perspective. This makes the context very important! High-quality by-products are things like heart, liver, kidney, spleen, and lungs. Dr. Antin told us that in the wild, dogs and cats go for the stomach of a dead animal first to get the organs as they are nutrient-dense. So these “By-products” are actually desirable for pets to eat, and also reduces waste since all parts of the meat can be used.

“By-products” are just one of the confusing terms for pet owners when they check a label. Surveys indicate that 81% of pet owners either have reached out or want to reach out to a source of information about their pet’s food, but 41% of them don’t know where to look for this information. So if you don’t have Dr. Antin on speed-dial, how do you know if the food you are buying is safe? What do all these terms mean? A great place to start is by visiting Purina.com/Nutrition, where you can learn more about pet food nutrition, ingredients, safety and quality.

What’s your biggest question about pet food?

How to Become a Pet Sitter on Rover

October 30, 2017 by Beeb 1 Comment

This is a sponsored guest post written by Nat Smith, Rover.com community member. Rover is the nation’s largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers.

Being paid to play with pets seems too good to be true. Pet-sitters across the country have found it to be the perfect side gig that can fit into any lifestyle, even a busy mom’s.

Rover.com is a wonderful community of dog-loving owners and caregivers. The site does all the work of connecting you with clients, getting you paid, and making sure that everyone involved has a wonderful experience. The process couldn’t be easier or more straightforward.

Once you sign up, you’ll be taken through each step of launching your services:

Create a Profile

This is how dog owners in your neighborhood will get to know you. You’ll describe your experience with dogs, including any certifications you have or are working towards. You can also detail the type of care you want to offer. Will you invite pets into your home? If so, talk about your yard and neighborhood, as well as your kids. You can also note that you prefer to work with dogs who are good around children.

You can browse other profiles to see what others include. Think, too, about what qualities you’d be looking in a pet-sitter for your own animals. You want someone who’s conscientious, caring, fun-loving, and prepared. Play up these strengths and anything else you bring to the table.

Ace the Meet & Greet

Once you start hearing from owners, you’ll set up a meeting to assess the fit. Be aware of a dog’s body language, and communicate in ways that they understand. Approach the pup gently, and let them make the first move. If the dog is skittish, you can walk alongside them and avoid direct eye contact until they’ve warmed up to you.

The Meet & Greet should be on neutral ground, such as a park or yard. Take notes and ask as many questions as you need, getting a sense of the dog’s personality, likes, and dislikes. Try going for a walk together, offering treats, or playing with a favorite toy to strengthen your bond.

While you’re not required to bring your children to the Meet & Greet, check in with the owner and consider the possibility. Everyone should feel comfortable with the arrangement, and this is a great way to make sure you’ve found a good fit for your family.

Enjoy Your First Sit

Communication with the owner and dog will help you have a stellar first stay. You can use the app to send regular updates, so the owners get total peace of mind. Many will appreciate photos and videos, as they’ll be missing their pets quite a bit!

Most of the time, it’s best to stick to a dog’s usual routine as much as possible. This will help eliminate separation anxiety. Spend lots of time playing, cuddling, and going on walks. Don’t leave the pets alone with your children; they should always be supervised. However, dogs rarely need intensive one-on-one care all day, every day. Once the dog feels at ease with you, they’ll happily enjoy a chew toy while you’re working on other projects.

Be sure you have any emergency numbers you might need before the stay begins, and keep an eye out for anything concerning or unusual. If you’re not sure whether you should be alarmed, ask the owner for clarification.

After your first stay, don’t forget to leave a review, and stay in touch with the owners for future care opportunities. A whole new world has opened up to you: You’ve become a paid pet-sitter. Over time, you can raise your rates and expand your services. You’re the boss!

How To Address Separation Anxiety in Pets #PurinaPartner

August 14, 2017 by Momstart 14 Comments

This is a sponsored post with Purina

It’s back to school season and we’re running around getting everyone ready. We’re getting school supplies, making lunches and signing up for sports. We’re getting everyone ready but have you remembered your pet? Pets get used to all the activity, the littles being home and playing with them every day. They get used to all the attention and excitement every summer day of activities brings. Then what happens when they are in an empty house? Pets can get separation anxiety, and that can cause trouble for everyone in the family. We know from experience. Thanks to Purina, we have some tips for separation anxiety in pets to share with you.

Tips for Separation Anxiety in Pets

1. Set A Routine – I know for our dog a routine is so important. Emma, our German Sheppard is used to getting up in the morning, going out, then eating breakfast and then going to doggy day care. When the kids are home she knows she’s not going to doggy day care. This year we have to set up a new routine. To do this Purina suggests that leaving the house at the same time and getting back at the same time will help. Also dedicate a certain time of day to play with your dog, this structure and consistency will help them deal with loneliness and anxiety.

2. Spend Quality Time – In the advice above we recommend that you set aside some play time with your dog. Your dog needs exercise and attention. Give them a walk, a cuddle session or a mental exercise. It’s this time that will keep the pet mentally sharp and from feeling neglected.

3. Turn on Some Music – The first time the kids went to school and I was left home a long the house was way to quiet. I couldn’t work, I couldn’t concentrate. I had to turn on some background noise. The same goes for pets. You can play some soothing music or sounds while you are away. Music has benefits for pets including distracting them from worrisome noises and it promotes relaxation.

4. Give them a Toy – For our dog who loves to chew we like to give her a rawhide or a chew toy. My sister’s dogs love toys too. A toy keeps your dog occupied during alone time. You might also consider a scratch post or furniture for your cats. Give them things to keep them busy. Puzzle toys are also a great idea for pets.

5. Play It Up – So if you notice that what you have done so far hasn’t worked and your pet is experiencing destructive behavior, you just need to play it up. That means they need even more physical activity. They need rigorous play that gives them an outlet and relieves all the stress and pent up energy. Our dog needs lots of extra exercise we she has to walk in the morning, at night and if I have time in the middle of the day. Running is even better, and I let my son do that with her.

For more information on pet separation anxiety and how you can address it with your cat or dog, check out this piece at https://www.purina.com/better –with –pets/7 –tips –separation –anxiety and be sure to tune in to Purina’s Facebook Live on this topic taking place on Tuesday, August 29 at 12pm CT.

Christmas Has Gone to The Dogs! #DogsofJustRight

December 21, 2016 by Beeb 24 Comments

Christmas gifts from Just Right by Purina

This post is sponsored by the Just Right by Purina team.

Can you believe that Christmas will be here in just a few short days?! To help us prepare, our sweet friends at Just Right by Purina sent over a special set of gifts: One for Bob and I, and one for us to pass on to another dog lover. We knew immediately that this would be perfect for my cousin’s dog, Roxy!

Bob and Roxy are best friends and playmates. Roxy has a special talent for opening presents – during Christmas, it’s tradition to give her a few special wrapped gifts of her own to open and watch her delight in tearing into the paper and boxes; she’s really skilled at it! If Roxy even hears the word “Present”, her ears perk up. She and Bob were so excited to get their special goodies from Purina!

A special gift to share

Oh, boy! Gifts!!

What did we get?!

Each bag contained treats, doggie toys, and some fun holiday items for us humans.

Bob was so excited because his gift came with a tennis ball, and you know how much Labradors love those!

Roxy loved her special treats, and has been playing with this frog toy non-stop ever since she got it! Also in the gift bag was a special coupon for a free bag of Just Right by Purina. This is so perfect, because Roxy’s mom had just been talking about how she was having a really hard time finding the right dog food for Roxy because she can’t have corn, and the corn-free food they had been buying before was discontinued. With Just Right by Purina, she can create a personalized blend of dog food tailored for Roxy’s nutritional needs and taste preferences, with the ability to control the ingredients and specially exclude corn. Plus, Roxy’s Blend will come with its own custom bag, and I know it will be adorable because Roxy is just so photogenic!

The holidays are about honoring every member of our family – including the furry ones! Thank you, Just Right by Purina, for sending such a thoughtful gift for our family pooches and creating a special holiday memory!

Bob’s Thanksgiving #DogsofJustRight

November 30, 2016 by Beeb 17 Comments

This post is sponsored by the Just Right by Purina team.

Every Thanksgiving, we gather at Grandma’s house for the annual family dinner. This year, we had a record number of family members gathered around Grandma’s antique dining table, and it was easily one of the best Thanksgiving celebrations we’ve ever had, full of fun and laughs. Of course, Bob is an important part of the family, and he loves to celebrate Thanksgiving with us because it involves his two favorite things: Spending time with people, and eating food! Not only did he get to play with other doggies over Thanksgiving, but he also spent some special bonding time with baby Juniper as well, which was so sweet. Making memories with each other is one of the things we are always most thankful for on Thanksgiving!

When we go around the table and talk about what we’re thankful for this year, the most commonly discussed area of gratitude after “Family” is “Health”. Good health for ourselves and our loved ones is always something to be very grateful for, and when it comes to taking care of Bob, this year I am thankful for natural pet nutrition. Being able to feed Bob personalized Just Right by Purina food that is tailored for his nutritional needs and preferences makes both of us happy! His tasty Thanksgiving dinner of Bob’s Blend actually had three ingredients in common with our human feast:

Lamb: The first ingredient in Bob’s Blend is real, yummy lamb. We had multiple kinds of meat at our human Thanksgiving table, because the whole family loves meats – Bob included!
Cassava Root Flour: This flour provides the carbohydrates Bob needs while keeping his food grain-free, as his vet recommended. Meanwhile, us humans enjoyed several loaves of homemade bread that I brought along to Thanksgiving dinner!
Potato Protein: Potatoes are a prerequisite for Thanksgiving, and this year we had three different kinds of potatoes: Mashed and baked for the humans, and potato protein for Bob!

In 2016, our whole family is thankful for another year with Bob, and looking forward to many more to come. Happy holidays!

How was your Thanksgiving? Did your dog get a special feast?

The Fido Max 1 Dog Dryer Endorsed By Cesar Millan

November 23, 2016 by Momstart 1 Comment

We received a sample to review.

Oh man, we have a German Sheppard and she is a dog in need of constant grooming. We usually take her to get her done professionally but when I received the opportunity to review the B-Air Pet Fido Max 1 dog dryer I thought what a perfect opportunity to try bathing her myself. B Air Pet has been making Dog Dryers for over 15 years and this particular one is backed by The Dog Whisperer. I LOVE Cesar Millan, I’ve watched so many of his different dog shows it’s not even funny.

First I wanted to mention that the Fido Max 1 dog dryer is super easy to put together. I had it together within five minutes of taking out of the box. I plugged it in and turned it on. Emma (that’s my dog) wasn’t even afraid of it. She was really interested in it though. I think one of the reasons dogs like this method is because it doesn’t produce heat like hair dryers do…(makes me tempted to use it on my kids because they wine so often about how hot the hair dryer is…they would probably giggle and love the Fido Max 1 dog dryer being used on themselves)

Second I wanted to mention what all is included in the Fido Max 1 dog dryer. This comes with four different nozzles. It comes with the Cone which is good for thick coated dogs. It comes with the slot nozzle which is good for long coated pets. It comes with the Air Flow nozzle which is good for drying small dogs and cats. And then it’s good to have the Brush Nozzle for dogs like mine that shed as it’s designed to de-shed the dog.

Ok soooo, I’m going to be honest bathing my dog didn’t turn out as easy as I thought it would. She did not want to get into the tub or the shower. I tried lifting her into it and boy she wasn’t having any of it. Makes me really appreciate those people that do it for me usually. Finally we get her wet and then out and we dry her off with the Fido Max 1 dog dryer. It works great.

The B-Air Fido Max 1 Dog Dryer is the lowest price option for an ETL-certified pet dryer that does not include heat – which is actually a good thing. Too much heat can make your dog very uncomfortable. Dogs have a naturally higher body temperature than we do, so blow-drying your pup with warm air can make her overheat or dry out your dog’s skin and cause painful rashes.

I find that it’s good to have the Fido Max 1 Dog Dryer because we live in a wet climate where we have to towel her off almost every time she comes in from outdoors. It’s great for when we go to the mountains and come home so we can make sure she’s completely dry from the snow. It’s also great to get a laugh out of the kids as they love to use it on her by themselves.

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No Tricks, Only Treats This Halloween! #DogsofJustRight

October 29, 2016 by Beeb 5 Comments

This post is sponsored by the Just Right by Purina team.

It’s almost Halloween, my little ghosts and goblins! This is my favorite holiday, so of course the whole family gets involved, including the pets. For Bob’s “Howl-O-Ween” costume, he got dolled up in his fetching pumpkin scarf – cute, right?!

I’m not big on “Tricks”, so this Halloween we’ll be keeping it strictly to treats as we fill Bob’s bowl with his favorite treat of all, Just Right by Purina! There’s never any spooky surprises, because Bob’s Blend has been personalized for him with all natural ingredients. It’s important to us that Bob gets natural, grain free food in order to provide him with optimal nutrition. And since Bob’s Blend is tailored to his taste preferences, every bag starts with real lamb as the first ingredient, making it a delicious treat indeed!

Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat!

Once Bob got his treat, we continued the Halloween celebrations by surprising him with a pair of spooky Halloween chewy toys!

Boo!

For me?!

Om nom nom

Caring for your pets means including them as part of the family – in all celebrations! For us, taking care of Bob means providing him with good food, stimulating toys and activities, and quality time as we enjoy autumn together. Now that’s a frightfully fun way to spend All Hallow’s Eve!

Do you have any fun Halloween plans this weekend? Are your pets wearing a costume?

3 Takeaways From The Purina Better With Pets Summit #LetsLiveBig

October 28, 2016 by Beeb 5 Comments

MomStart is a proud Purina Partner. Travel consideration and sponsorship provided.

Last week, I flew to New York City to attend the Purina Better With Pets Summit at the Brooklyn Expo Center. This annual summit is hosted by Nestlé Purina as a way to explore how we can improve the well-being of pets and, in turn, make the world a better place for everyone.

I arrived in NYC on Monday afternoon, where I attended a welcome reception at The William Vale and got registered for the summit. The event began the following morning, starting off with a breakfast where I had the chance to catch up with my blogger friends and their adorable pets!

Breakfast with Preston!

During the event, there were a number of hands-on booths to explore, with a variety of Purina products on hand along with Innovation Stations to explain some exciting pet food research findings.

Purina Innovation Stations

As a souvenir, I was able to have a custom Purina dog tag engraved with Bob’s name and phone number, which he looks very handsome in!

The day’s sessions consisted of a series of keynotes and panels that brought together experts in fields such as veterinary medicine, science, and philanthropy. Through these sessions, I got a first-hand look at the future of petcare and how dedicated individuals are thinking outside of the box to improve our world.

Welcome keynote from Nina Leigh Krueger, President of Purina PetCare Company, U.S.

1. Safety First: Quality in Pet Food is Paramount

When it comes to feeding our animals, safety is the #1 concern, so the first panel explored quality and safety guidelines in the pet food industry. Included in this discussion were John Bear, the Senior Vice President of Manufacturing at Purina whom I met during my trip to Purina Headquarters this summer, and Professor Shaun Kennedy of the University of Minnesota, who previously worked with the Department of Homeland Security as the Director of the National Center for Food Protection and Defense. Professor Kennedy has researched food safety, defense, and biosecurity, and gave insight into how federal and state pet food quality and safety standards are upheld. For Mr. Bear, pet food safety is a true passion, as I saw first-hand when he demonstrated Purina’s stringent quality checks when I first met him in St. Louis. Purina has 500 scientists and veterinarians on staff to assist with the process of developing and manufacturing their pet food, and every ingredient that goes into each bag has a purpose. It was fascinating to hear more about this process, and the panel also weighed in on the future of pet food manufacturing, noting that globalization will continue to change the pet food supply, as it is for humans as well – in the coming years, we can expect to see new ingredients and possibly new food sources. They also discussed the very futuristic concept of “Bio-meat” that could very well be a part of our future as we deal with environmental issues that could lead to a lack of meat and fish.

2. Passion For Pets Builds a Better World For Family & Community

Being passionate about the well-being of animals doesn’t just improve their lives; it also improves ours. I got to experience this myself during the event, where they had a “Puppy and Kitty Therapy Booth” on hand! Petting a sweet kitty helped distract me from feeling sick, thanks to an impacted wisdom tooth that showed up just a few days before my trip. It was no fun traveling on a cocktail of medication to treat the swelling in my face, but kitties make it all better!

Puppy therapy!

The second panel of the day discussed the impact of several initiatives that are harnessing this power to change human lives through pets, from North Shore Animal League weighing in on the power of rescue animals, to the community outreach of Purina Farms. The panel was introduced by Roben Harris, who shared the story of her 11-year-old daughter Selah, who was born with Spina Bifida and has endured 28 surgeries throughout her childhood. Thanks to the groundbreaking Purina Family Pet Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Selah was able to safely visit with her beloved Labradoodle while she recovered from one of these procedures. The St. Louis Children’s Hospital’s Senior Director for Corporate and Foundations, Flip Becker, has raised millions of dollars for the hospital and was instrumental in securing the gift from Purina which built the Purina Family Pet Center this year. He recounted numerous stories just like Selah’s, where hospitalized children have benefited immensely from interacting with their pets in a medically safe environment. They firmly believe that the future of integrative medicine will have more physicians embracing the healing power of animals.

Panel: How a Passion For Pets Builds a Better World

We also heard about the incredibly innovative work being done by URINYC, who created the URIPALS – URI People and Animals Living Safely domestic violence shelters in New York City. These are some of the few shelters in the nation that are equipped to accept pets, and was created in response to the sobering statistic that up to 48% of domestic violence victims stay in abusive situations because they don’t want to leave their pets behind. This is clearly a huge, yet hidden barrier for domestic violence victims in receiving help, so URINYC hope that the success of their programs will inspire other organizations across the country. They are also advocating for the Pet and Women Safety Act of 2015, which proposes greater legal protections for victims and their pets including grants for the creation of similar pet-accessible shelters.

In addition to donating three dog parks to URIPALS, Purina also provides welcome kits to survivors entering the shelters. During the summit, we had the privilege of helping to assemble some of these welcome kits with supplies for the survivors and their pets. I am so impressed by the important work that URINYC is doing and am so glad that I had the opportunity to be introduced to their mission.

3. Scientific Innovation is Making Life Better For Pets

Purina has a long history of innovation in pet food, so the third panel focused on how scientific research is leading to new breakthroughs in pet nutrition. One of these recent innovations led to Bob’s favorite food, Just Right by Purina, the personalized dog food that is tailored for each dog’s nutritional needs and preferences.

Also discussed was Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind, the food which was created with enhanced botanical oils to support cognitive health in adult dogs; and this lead in to an exciting announcement:

Purina’s newest advancement coming in 2017, Purina Pro Plan Prime Plus, was unveiled to us during the summit. This blend has been shown to improve and extend the life of cats ages 7 and up, making it the feline counterpart to Purina’s breakthrough blend for dogs. Of all the innovations discussed during the Purina Better With Pets Summit, I think this one will have the most positive impact on the lives of pets next year and I’m excited to share this first look with you!

How do your pets help you live a bigger life? Share your story on social media using the hashtag #LetsLiveBig, and don’t forget to follow Purina on Facebook, Twitter, and their newly-debuted Snapchat @PurinaPetCare!