Finally the holiday season is upon us and while family is important all year around, there is something about the holiday season that brings us all closer together. While my family is not exactly the type to roast chestnuts on an open flame, we do always welcome the excuse to spend a little more quality time with each other. This of course includes our pets…after all they are family too!

As hectic as the holidays can be, accidents do happen and pets can very easily get lost or run away, especially when there are large crowds of people getting together. Uncle Jim could forget to latch the door and let the dog out or perhaps all the extra noise could make the cat skittish and cause her want to run away.

The last thing any of us wants to deal with is a lost pet, especially during the holidays. But there are ways to avoid this; one of easiest being to make sure your dog is properly tagged.

A pet ID tag is a basic, yet very effective way of reuniting an owner with a lost pet. Should your dog happen to dig under the fence, disobey an order to heel, or otherwise escape, a pet ID tag can help your beloved pet get back home quickly and safely.

Pet ID tags are typically made from metal or plastic and are hung from the collar or harness. There are simple tags, reflective tags, and even fancy jewel-studded ones. Whichever design you choose, make sure to include as much information about your pet as possible.

Here are some examples of what to include on your pet’ ID tags:

Your dog’s name
Dog’s license number
Owner’s name
Home address
Current phone number

Any emergency medical information someone may need to know in order to properly take care of your dog until you can get him back.

While many stray dogs are eventually located, they are sometimes unable to be reunited with their owners because the contact information on their ID tags are either missing or outdated. This is why it is important to always make sure to have your pet properly tagged and that the information is up to date.

Besides a basic collar ID tag, there are a couple of other ways to help ensure your pet’s safe return. As a back up to standard ID tags, micro chipping your dog is another option.

Alternatively, you can equip your pet with a GPS collar, which can be used to track the location of your pet, should they happen to become lost. This device may give you peace of mind and save you a ton of time and stress in location your pet.

And while some collars come equipped with this GPS tracking chip, there are some manufacturers that sell chips that can be attached to your pet’s existing collar. When looking for a GPS tracking collars be sure to confirm the signal range. I saw one that could reach 500 acres while another one I found only reached 400 feet.

The only downside to the GPS collar is that if your pet happens to lose the collar or it is somehow removed from the pet, it will not be very effective in helping you track your pet.

Thanks for reading – hopefully these tips will help you keep your pets safe and sound.

The immune system’s strength, in people as well as animals, is affected by the quality of nutrition. A dog’s behavior, happiness, health, longevity and overall well-being are a direct result of the nutrition offered in the daily diet. Each dog has special nutritional needs that vary from animal to animal.

There are several easily noticeable symptoms of nutritionally caused deficiencies: allergies, hot spots, lack of energy, joint problems, arthritis and poor behavior. Nutritional balance is the key to a healthy pet and not giving the dog bad pet food will help with the inflammation of arthritis and other major health problems.

Quality Of Good and Bad Pet Foods

Poor quality pet foods are common in grocery stores and pet supply stores. The low price tag may be tempting and seem like a bargain for what is often advertised as a “premium” product, but the items really contained in your pet’s food may be surprising.

Dogs need meat and protein, being carnivores, and they also need carbohydrates, vitamins, fat, minerals, and water. Essentially, they need all six of the basic types of nutrients. Manufacturers of pet food have the choice of the types and amounts of proteins, minerals, and vitamins that they put into their products. Chicken, lamb, and beef, which contain higher amounts of protein, are needed by active dogs. Plants or grains such as corn, soy, wheat, and rice have enough protein for less active dogs. Most dog food is made with ingredients that are edible by humans, such as rice, chicken, liver, vegetables, etc, which is not bad pet food.

Dogs have specific nutritional needs, but most pet owners do not realize that all dogs and most good or bad pet foods are not alike. Many commercial dog food brands are lacking in key nutrients, which are edible for humans, and even other species of animals, can pose hazards for dogs because of their different metabolism. Some may cause only mild digestive upsets, whereas, others can cause severe illness, and even death.

However, there are a few common food items that are bad pet foods to give to dogs. Chocolate, for instance, is very toxic to both dogs and cats. Baking chocolate contains more toxins than milk chocolate does, but both forms are potentially lethal. Two or three squares of baking chocolate could prove fatal to a smaller dog. Tea and coffee are likewise toxic, as they contain the same chemicals. Warning signs of food poisoning in dogs are excitement, nervousness, muscle spasms, seizures, and increased body temperature. Veterinary treatment is recommended as soon as possible.