A lot of little kids love having a pet dog. But, for some, it doesn’t feel natural, and they may feel afraid of a large furry animal in their living space. If your child is afraid of a new puppy you’ve brought home or a dog you’ve adopted, you don’t have to worry about sending the dog back. Instead, you can take some helpful steps to get your child acquainted with your pet, and hopefully forge a bond that will last for years to come. Here are some of the easiest steps to take ensure your kids aren’t scared of your pup.

Pet portraits make great gifts for dog lovers!

Only Communicate Positive Things About Dogs

Watch what you say about dogs, too. Kids pick up cues from adults, and if you mention being afraid of, intimidated by or feeling negatively about dogs, that will stick with them. Try to speak only positively about your dog to encourage your child to want to bond with him.

Read Happy Books and Watch Happy Movies About Dogs

Kids learn a lot from books and movies. Gather a collection of books and movies about pets that are happy and positive, then spend time looking and watching those. Kids can see other kids interacting happily with their animals, and they’ll be more encouraged to do the same.

Don’t Force Interactions

If your child isn’t ready to interact with a dog, don’t force him or her. This can feel traumatic and only make the fear worse. Instead of forcing interactions, ask your child if he or she is ready, and wait until they say they are before introducing them to the dog.

Consult Your Vet

Your vet is the expert when it comes to dog health and behavior. When you go for your next appointment (for preventative treatments for ticks and fleas or regular medicine like Vetmedin, which treats heart failure) talk to your vet about the best ways to introduce kids to dogs, and how you can ensure your dog is sweet, calm and friendly around your kids. Your vet can give you insight into the best way to get them acquainted with one another.

Buy a Stuffed Dog

Find a stuffed dog that looks like your pet dog. Have your child cuddle with and spend time with the stuffed animal. This can help foster more ease when spending time with the animal in real life.

Create Safe Spaces in the House

Create spaces within your house where the dog can go and where the dog can’t go. Then, make sure your child knows the safe spots and the spots where the dog is. This will give them some time and freedom to interact with the dog at their own pace, and they won’t be surprised by any interactions or discovering their dog in a spot that they weren’t expecting him to be.

Having kids and a dog at the same time is a great way to create amazing bonds and to teach kids responsibility. However, it’s important to make sure your kid is comfortable around the dog in order to make sure everyone is safe, healthy and happy. By taking some key steps to introduce the two and get them used to each other, you can foster a great relationship and make sure everyone at home is getting the most from the experience of having a pet.

Listed below are some helpful resources referenced in the article that can provide some guidance for those looking for helpful information on pet supplies & medication: http://www.allivet.com/p-2500-vetmedin.aspx

This post is sponsored by BLUE Santa Snacks® and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share information about Blue Buffalo Santa Snack, but The Megalomaniac Mommy only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Blue Buffalo is not responsible for the content of this article.

Just over a year ago, we welcomed our sweet little morkie, Pancake, into our home. Since the day he arrived, he has been spoiling us with kisses and snuggles, and oodles of love. In return, we’ve been pretty good at spoiling him with lavish spa treatments, toys galore, all the treats and snacks a pup could ask for, and of course, snuggles a plenty.

With the holidays right around the corner, and my want to start decorating for Christmas, NOW, along with our sponsor Blue Buffalo and BLUE Santa Snacks®, I thought it was a great time to get my crafting on and create a little special snack storage for my sweetie. 

BLUE Santa Snacks are baked, crunchy dog treats that feature your favorite holiday spices like cinnamon and wholesome ingredients like oatmeal, barley, pumpkin and flax seed and they come in fun shapes like Christmas trees, stars gingerbread men and bells. As an added bonus, there is no chicken or poultry by-product meal, no corn wheat or soy as well as no artificial preservatives, colors or flavors.

Pancake has been a fan of Blue Buffalo products as long as we have had him. We love Blue Buffalo products because they contain the finest natural ingredients combined in perfect balance for holistic nutrition for our little guy and it is packed with all the essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Create Your Own Santa Snacks Jar

I’m not a big crafter so I try to keep my projects quick and easy. For this project, all you need is:

• jar with lid
• construction paper
• scissors
• mod podge
• foam brushes
• string or ribbon (optional)
• fine point permanent marker
• BLUE Santa Snacks

Step 1:

Take a piece of red construction paper and cut it the height of your jar. 

Step 2:

Apply mod podge to one side of the paper and then wrap it around your jar and slide it into place. Next, apply mod podge over the front, making sure to cover all edges.

Step 3:

Cut a strip of black construction paper to form the belt around the middle of your red piece. The width of this piece depends on how thick you want the belt to be. Once you have it cut, apply mod podge to the back, put it in place on the red, and mod podge the front.

Step 4:

Cut out a bone shape using yellow construction paper to use as your belt buckle. Apply mod podge to one side of the bone and center it on the belt. Once you have it in place, apply mod podge over the front. After everything is in place, check for any spots you may have missed and cover with mod podge and allow it all to dry, about 15-20 minutes.

Step 5:

If you would like, wrap string or ribbon around the top of the jar and secure it in the back.

Step 6:

Using the fine point permanent marker, add your pet’s name to the belt buckle.

Step 7:

Fill you new Santa Snack jar with BLUE Santa Snacks!

Now you have a cute Christmas themed snack jar for your pup favorite snacks!

You can find BLUE Santa Snacks for dogs at Kroger, Meijer, Target, Chewy, Pet Smart and select regional retailers.

Enter the BLUE “Naughty or Nice” Holiday Contest

Pet parents can submit a photo of their pet as naughty or nice and they will receive an overlay image card that can be shared on social media. Each week there will be winners for a BLUE stocking with Santa Snacks and potential to win the grand prize of a $500 gift card. 

Enter you pet for a chance to win HERE.

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This post is sponsored by BLUE Santa Snacks® and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™.

This post is sponsored by BLUE Santa Snacks® and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share information about Blue Buffalo Santa Snack, but we only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers Blue Buffalo is not responsible for the content of this article.

There are a lot of things that can come up with our pet’s health and, due to that, you may be exploring just what you can do in order to make things easier on them. Did you know that there are a number of oil baths that you can try in order to help your furry friend get what they need in terms of health and wellness? Here are a few ways that you can get benefits from oil baths for your pets in the first place.

Try Coconut Oil to Help Skin and Coat Problems

Some of us have pets that have sensitive skin or coarse coats. Because of that, you may be trying to figure out what you can use in order to make it easier on them and on yourself. One of the best oils that you can add to their bath is coconut oil. This will help their skin to be much smoother, can add moisture to their skin and coat, and make it so that they feel more comfortable in their own skin as well.

Use CBD Oil to Relax and Refresh

CBD oil has been getting a ton of attention, mainly because there are just so many things that you can do with it. One of the best things that you can do is to go ahead and utilize it as a part of your pet’s bath routine. It can help your pet to relax and feel refreshed. Many times, a bath including CBD oil is also going to help with any dry skin issues that your furry friend may be facing. But, the best benefit is definitely that it can be relaxing for animals that struggle with any sort of anxiety. Check out websites like www.americanhempoil.net/what-is-cbd-oil/ if you want to learn more about hemp oil and what it could do in order to help you and your pets to live healthier lives.

Utilize Castor Oil or Olive Oil for Mange

Mange can be a really annoying and frightening thing to deal with, and the mites can be a pain to try and take care of. Thankfully, there are two different types of oil that can help to get mange under control. You can either try using castor oil, or you can consider using olive oil. In both cases, the oil is going to end up suffocating the mites that are causing your pet problems. With the mites taken care of, it will be a lot easier for you to go ahead and deal with the other issues related to mange.

Look into the oils that you can use to help your dog and you will start to notice that there are a lot of things that you can add to their baths to make them even better. Find the benefits that work out the best for them and then, in the long run, you will find that it works a lot better than any other method that you may try.

Do you ever experience that guilty feeling in the pit of your stomach when you say goodbye to your dog as you leave for work? What will they do while you are gone? Will they feel lonely? Will they be bored? Hopefully they won’t get into any mischief.

If you are an anxious pet owner (or the owner of an anxious pet), you might want to invest in brain teaser toys for your dog. What is a dog brain teaser? It’s a game or toy that dispenses treats as your dog plays with it. By combining your dog’s two favorite things (treats and playtime), you can remedy the guilt you feel leaving the house.

Below are a few examples of the hottest toys on the market.

Peanut Butter Bone

It’s no secret that dogs LOVE peanut butter. In fact, there are dozens of YouTube videos documenting the silly ways dogs eat peanut butter – always trying to lap up the last savory slurp.

One affordable way to keep Fido appeased is to buy a peanut butter-filled bone. Pups will gnaw at these for hours, trying to lick up all the peanut butter they can. Not to mention these bones are long lasting and incredibly tough, meaning they are good for building strong teeth. Even after the creamy filling has been eaten, dogs will still enjoy carrying this sturdy bone around the house.

Treat Ball

What’s a treat ball you ask? Well, it’s toy fitted with a small hole that a pet owner can fill with treats or kibble. Since the hole is so small, food only falls out sometimes, which encourages the dog to continue rolling it around until the next piece of food falls out. Since the toy is specially crafted, it will prevent your dog from overeating too quickly.

An apt comparison might be a piggy bank. Even after the bottom has been opened, it takes humans a few extra shakes to get all the money out.

These toys can be found from a number of suppliers. For example, Hot Dog Collars sells dog accessories, collars and food-dispensing toys such as the Nose-It Treat Dispensing Dog Toy.

Treat Dispenser & Toy Laser

Looking for something a little more high tech? Then you might like the FunPaw Q Cat & Dog Treat Dispenser with Toy Laser.

This toy is truly unique. Not only does it dispense treats, it actually connects to your mobile device so you can deliver treats to your fluffy friend while you are out and about. Even more entertaining is the live pet monitoring system which records your pet in 720p. Pretty crazy, right?

This pricey toy is ideal for folks who can’t stand to be away from their dog. You can even talk to your dog over the two-way audio system, or engage in playtime with the interactive laser pointer.

Memory Games

Another way to keep your pet occupied is with memory games. Take for instance the Nina Ottosson dog puzzles. These are plastic toys that hide food and treats inside, and generally require the pup to push, spin or lift some portion of the toy to find the reward. Each puzzle has its own degree of difficulty.

The inventor claims that these memory puzzles improve your dog’s memory and physical health as well as foster a healthy bond between you and your pet. While we cannot confirm or deny these claims, we can tell you that these toys are durable and easy to clean.

So, there you have it: a few suggestions on how to keep your favorite critter occupied and happy. All you have to do now is buy that perfect toy for Fido!

 

There is nothing harder for a dog lover than to see a cherished pet in pain. They look at you with those sad eyes, never complaining, but wondering why you, the beloved owner who looks after their every need, are not doing anything to help. It can make you feel very helpless but, like anything involved in pet care, you just have to get on and do what you can. As animals can suffer the pain and restrictions of arthritis as much as their owners, and arthritis is a condition you are both going to have to live with for a long time, it will pay to find out what can be done to help.

What Are the Danger Signs?

Osteoarthritis is a condition where the cartilage (the tissue that coats the ends of the bones to enable them to slide over each other in a joint) gradually wears away, causing the bones to rub against each other. This is painful and restrictive for movement.

Arthritis can strike any animal at any age, but some factors can increase the risk:

• The older the animal, the more likely it is to develop arthritis.
• Some animals may be congenitally more disposed towards arthritis than others.
• Injuries to joints and bones at a young age can develop into arthritis later in life.
• While all the above are things you can do little about, there is one other factor that often predisposes an animal to arthritis, which is being overweight.

First Steps

The earliest sign of arthritis is likely to be an animal slowing down or limping. Your first response, if the symptoms do not go away very quickly, is to take your pet for examination by a vet. This will eliminate more serious conditions, confirm the diagnosis if it is arthritis, and set you up with advice straight away.

If your dog is overweight, then you should immediately enforce a diet. While reducing the overall calories, you want to make sure that your dog is getting an adequate supply of the nutrients which are particularly good for joints. This might involve either a specialist diet or supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin.

Exercise is very important for the management of arthritis. Make sure that your pet gets regular, short spells of exercise to keep her joints moving and her muscles toned.

Pain Relief

Even if you start treating the symptoms straight away and slow down the progress of the disease, it is almost impossible to reverse the effects of arthritis, so pain management is likely to be an ongoing issue.

Long-term use of conventional painkillers for animals can come with unwelcome side effects, although they are useful for preserving quality of life during periodic flare-ups.

What About Cannabis?

Much interest is being shown currently in the possibility of treating animals with cannabinoids. These are a group of chemical compounds which are produced by plants of the genus cannabis.

All animals have what is known as an endocannabinoid system, a group of receptors present throughout the central nervous system. This system appears to have numerous functions, one of which is the control of pain. When these receptors bind with cannabinoids derived from the plants their function (including pain control) is stimulated. The most significant cannabinoid for pain treatment is cannabidiol, or CBD.

It is important to note that CBD is different from THC, the familiar chemical compound which causes the “high” of marijuana. CBD is, in practice, derived from industrial hemp, which contains little or no THC.

Because the legal status of cannabis is ambivalent, there has not been as much controlled testing of the effects of CBD as it deserves. However, the research that has been done seems to concur with theoretical expectations and anecdotal experience to show that it appears to be effective for treating chronic pain in animals with few apparent side effects.

Incidentally, if you want further information about how CBD can help people as well as animals, these specialists market CBD to both two-legged and four-legged sufferers.

We Do What We Can

Frankly, as a pet owner, there is little that you would not do to help a dog who is experiencing the misery of pain and immobility that arthritis can bring. Some of what you can do involves insisting that they do what is good for them, like eating and exercising sensibly, but some of it means keeping up with the progress that is being made towards effective treatments.

Amelie Bell practices holistic medicine and is always on the lookout for ways to heal others. Her articles are available on a number of health and wellness websites.