Guest Post: How to Live With Pet Allergies

Ken Stanfield is a passionate blogger who spends his time researching and writing about respiratory health, healthcare and humanitarianism. He has also been a dog lover for most of his life. He writes currently for the nebulizer systems supplier, JustNebulizers.com.

Adapting to Animals: How to Live With Pet Allergies

For most pet owners with allergies, the benefits of living with animal companions outweigh the negative impacts of their allergies. After all, pets are often just as close and valuable to people as their human family members are. Whether you’re recently diagnosed with pet allergies or have been fighting through them for many years, this article should give you some helpful advice on how to reduce the allergens in your home and create an even better relationship with your furry friend. 

The Truth

Don’t believe the marketing hype—allergen-free dogs and cats simply don’t exist. Neutered cats and short haired or hairless dogs might emit less allergens than other animals, but the allergens will still be present to some degree. In fact, one poodle might cause a greater allergic reaction in a prospective owner than another poodle from the exact same litter. It’s important to spend a little bit of time with a few prospective pets before choosing if it’s at all possible.

Eliminating Allergens

Now that we’ve established that all pets produce allergens and that there’s no avoiding them entirely, the only possible option becomes clear: you’ll have to work around allergens and reduce them when you can. If you’re dedicated to your pet, think about swapping carpets out with hardwood floors or linoleum. Also, reduce the amount of upholstered furniture in your home. Doing this will help keep your pet’s hair from getting collected. In addition to these steps, make sure that your pets are bathed and groomed regularly. If possible, have someone do this for you so that any of the fur pulled loose doesn’t irritate your allergies. Healthy pets emit less dander, so make sure that your animals are on a healthy diet and have their own designated sleeping areas as well. Whenever possible, wash your hands thoroughly after petting your animals. If you’re still having problems, you might invest in a HEPA air filter for your home.

Additional Tactics

You might have already looked into it, but it’s still worth mentioning: make sure your pet is the actual reason for your allergies. Eliminating other allergens in your home such as dust, mold and certain foods will go a long way toward your respiratory health as well. As allergens build up, your body has a harder time of fighting them individually. If it’s only dealing with a little pet dander, your life should be considerably easier.  You might also consider not allowing your pets into your bedroom to create an allergy-proof sleeping environment for yourself. Clean your home as often as possible and avoid strong scented products or any cleaning solution that contains perfume. Make sure your central heating and air units are well maintained by a professional.

There are, of course, other factors to consider when simultaneously living with a pet and living with allergies. Making small changes in the way you care for your pet and maintain your home should go a long way toward making your life easier. There’s absolutely no need to give up your furry friend or give up hope. Just explore these suggested avenues to greatly reduce the amount of pet allergens in your home.

Guest Post: Tips for pet care

This guest post was provided to you by Vet Medic. Vet Medic offers identical products that you obtain from your vet and have a wide range of Frontline and Drontal products and also offers you to talk to certified veterinary pharmacists if you need any advise or help for free.

Pets are important members of the family. They require care in order to be happy and healthy.  If you are a new and proud owner of a cat or a dog, you ought to read the article. Following these tips will ensure that your pet will live a very happy life.

Drink and Food
You need to ensure that your pet is given fresh water every day. Do not feed cat food to dogs or dog food to cats. Feeding the pet twice a day is optimal for its health.  Younger kittens and puppies should be fed three or four times a day.

 Medical help
Providing your pet with a natural supplement daily will do wonders to boost its immune system. Supplements can help your pet to resist minor diseases.  Keep ticks and fleas away by using a natural health solution.

Exercise
Ideally, dogs need exercise twice a day.  If you can’t provide exercise twice a day, make sure you allow it to exercise at least once in the evening.  If you have a secured backyard, allow your pet to play in it. You can get your daily dose of exercise by playing with your dog.  Cats, too, need frequent play to keep them healthy and active.

 If you think your cat or dog is getting fat, cut down its food. If you notice a lack of appetite, call your veterinarian. You can also get online vet help.

These are some of the basic things essential for ensuring that your pet remains fit and healthy. 

Guest Post: Separation Anxiety in Dogs

This article was provided to you by Jennifer, a 24-year-old dog enthusiast, who loves to share tips and advice with fellow dog owners. She’s currently working for Havahart Wireless, a company that’s just as enthused as she is about dog care, as they are a leading provider of ultrasonic dog bark control trainers. When she’s not spending time with her dog Charlie, Jennifer enjoys researching and writing about everything from dog health to fun dog activities. Jen’s motto, “Dogs are not just pets, they’re family members.”

Separation Anxiety in Dogs
In nature dogs are sociable pack animals that live in large social groups. Domesticated dogs consider their human family to be their pack, and generally don't like to be left alone for long periods of time. Some dogs take this to the extreme, and can suffer from separation anxiety when the owner is out of sight. Separation anxiety causes a dog to become severely stressed when their owner goes out and leaves them behind. This anxiety can manifest itself in nuisance behavior, including soiling the house, incessant barking or whining, or destructive behavior. While dogs from multi-pet households are not immune from separation anxiety, having another pet in the home to provide company will often prevent or alleviate some of the stress.
Separation anxiety in dogs is not uncommon, as the following statistics will illustrate:

• 14-35% of dogs suffer from separation anxiety
• 29-50% of senior dogs suffer from separation anxiety
• 41% of dogs that suffer from separation anxiety are left untreated
• 22% of dogs that suffer from separation anxiety are treated with behavior modification and medication
• 17% of dogs that suffer from separation anxiety are treated with medication alone
• 10% are treated with behavior modification alone
• 10% are referred to dog behaviorists for help

Common Causes of Separation Anxiety in Dogs
Separation anxiety can occur when a dog's safety net is suddenly removed, and can stem from a number of different causes. A young puppy that may have been removed from its mother to early may be very insecure in its new surroundings, and attach itself to the new owner. When the owner leaves the pup alone it may become insecure and show symptoms of separation anxiety. Other changes in a dog's daily routine or surroundings may trigger separation anxiety, including the following:

• Having spent a large amount of time in unfamiliar surroundings recently, such as a vet, boarding kennel, or animal welfare facility.
• Recently being introduced to a new home (new family)
• Change of environment, such as moving house
• The recent loss of a family member or pet
• A new baby enters the home
• A change in your working hours – or you spend more time away from home

There are a number of tactics that can be employed to help alleviate separation anxiety in dogs, and to prevent unsociable behavior associated with the anxiety the dog is feeling, including:

1. Provide calming medication – talk to your vet who can prescribe a drug to reduce stress for the times when you have to leave your dog alone.
2. Try to teach your dog to become more independent. This can be achieved by leaving your dog alone for short periods of time, initially while you are still at home – feed it in a separate room, leave it alone in the yard for short intervals, and gradually increasing the time frame of the periods that your pooch spends alone before you disappear for the entire day.
3. When you have to leave your dog alone for lengthy periods, provide lots of stimulating toys or dog chews. Kongs stuffed with peanut butter and treats will provide a distraction and alleviate boredom.
4. Some behavioral modifications may be necessary, particularly if your dog is extremely destructive, or barks incessantly, which could cause problems with your neighbors. Destructive dogs may need to be temporarily crated to prevent them from damaging the house or injuring themselves. To control barking, an ultrasonic dog bark control collar is an effective deterrent that uses positive reinforcement to train a dog not to bark uncontrollably. By emitting a high-pitched sound or vibration every time the dog barks – which both irritates and distracts the dog – a dog will quickly learn that it is more peaceful not to bark.
5. If separation anxiety is severe, you may need to seek professional help from a dog behavior specialist, who can help you and your dog work through these issues.

Separation anxiety can affect the bond between owner and dog. An owner that comes home and finds his house wrecked on a regular basis, may eventually become despondent and relinquish the dog to an animal shelter, or decide to have it euthanized. Pressure from neighbors who are fed up with the constant whining and barking of a distressed dog may cause an owner to do the same. It is therefore imperative that dog owners address separation anxiety as soon as a dog shows symptoms, seeking the help of a vet or dog psychologist if necessary.

Guest Post: How to Stop Barking Dogs with Dog Socialization

This guest post was provided to you by Jennifer. Jennifer is a dog enthusiast who enjoys caring for dogs, especially her own. She loves to talk with fellow dog owners and share tips or advice, while discovering new trends by working with Havahart Wireless, a pet product company.

Is Your Dog Sociable? How to Stop Barking Dogs with Dog Socialization

There is nothing more annoying than a dog that barks incessantly. This cannot only be very irritating and frustrating for dog owners, it can also destroy neighbor relations. While it is unrealistic to want to stop dogs barking completely – for that is how they express themselves – it is possible to both prevent, and stop, nuisance barking in dogs. Follow the advice below to learn how to prevent nuisance barking in dogs, and how to stop barking dogs from barking uncontrollably.

Proper Socialization
The key to preventing bad social behavior in dogs is to properly socialize your dog when it is still a puppy. Puppy socialization and training is essential to set boundaries, rules, and to develop social interactions and social rank within the family hierarchy. During puppy training your dog will learn to respect you as leader, and obey your commands. He will also gain confidence that will stand him in good stead throughout the rest of his life – this will prevent other social problems, such as separation anxiety, chewing and digging, fear and mistrust, and barking for attention or reward. Puppy socialization teaches your puppy social skills, both in the family setting, and when mixing with strangers and other dogs.

Leader of the Pack
First and foremost, your puppy must learn to recognize you as the pack leader, and respect your authority and commands. Proper training is generally achieved through conditioning – usually by providing a reward when commands are obeyed. The essential element is consistency. Your expressions must be consistent with your demands so as not to send out mixed messages, which will only confuse your dog. There are training devices that can be used to stop barking dogs, including bark collars, and electronic anti-bark devices, but ultimately, prevention is better than cure. By giving your puppy a good grounding with proper training and socializing, you will prevent undesirable behavior from developing from the onset, and will own a dog that is a pleasure to have around.

Social Skills
Take your dog out of the yard under the control of a leash so that he gets used to strange smells, and to other dogs. Visit the local park, dog park, or the beach with your dog so that he gets used to mingling with other canines. This will prevent aggressive barking and aggressive behavior towards other dogs developing from a young age.

Provide Companionship
Dogs are sociable pack animals and are generally don't enjoy being left in isolation for lengthy periods. It is important that you provide your dog with human or canine company rather than isolating him to the back yard on his own. If your dog is confined to the back yard on his own it will ultimately result in a bored, lonely, and unhappy dog that will inevitably resort to barking and whining to vent his frustration, or to seek attention. This is unfair and unkind, as you also have responsibilities to ensure that your dog is stimulated, and that his social needs are met.

If you have to leave your dog alone for long periods of time, make sure that he receives adequate attention and companionship when you are home. Try to walk your pooch daily to provide him with both physical and mental stimulation, as he struts down the road sniffing the curb for telltale signs left by the other dogs in the neighborhood as they passed by. Allow your dog to enter the home as a welcome member of the family when you return home from work.

If you want to know how to stop barking dogs, the answer is proper socialization and training, together with love, companionship and stimulation – this will result in a happy, well-balanced dog that will be your loyal companion.

Guest Post: 5 Pet-Friendly College Campuses

Angelita Williams is an education blogger who dispenses online learning advice for readers who want practical solutions to their complex problems in the classroom. She can be reached at angelita.williams7@gmail.com.

5 Pet-Friendly College Campuses

So the time has come. You've powered through prom, walked across the stage to Pomp and Circumstance and are all packed and ready to start the next phase of your life—college. You are ready and raring to go except for one minor detail. You're dreading saying goodbye, and we're not talking about your family. Sure, you'll miss them, but what about your beloved pet?! Whether they've been with you your whole life or have just joined the ride in the recent months and years, there's no doubt you have formed a special bond.

While several new college students accept the fact that they may have to leave their furry, feathered or fishy friends to the love and care of their parents while they are gone, some just aren't willing to settle for sparing visits throughout the semester. So, in lieu of leaving them home, many students are trying to bring them along for the ride—but will your school be OK with that? The truth is, some are and some aren't. Read on to see if your school is willing to welcome Fido with open arms.

California Institute of Technology
Grab your fish, hamster, cat—whatever you're pet load them up and head out West, that is unless of course you have a dog or a rabbit. All dorms allow felines, fish and other small caged animals, but sadly do not permit canines or bunnies to join the fun. Their website outlines more specifics for those who want to learn more, but it's safe to say CalTech is home to lots of animal lovers.

Stetson University
Unlike the academics out West, Stetson encourages students to bring their dog with them as they pursue higher learning—they even have their own dog park! Also, they have designated pet-friendly dorms where students can live harmoniously with their hamsters, mice and gerbils, among other things. The only catch? Your animal friend can't be over 30 pounds.

Stephens College
At Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, not only are pets welcome on campus—they are also cared for while you're in class! Making sure your beloved pooch doesn't feel neglected while you hit the books, the campus boasts a Doggie Daycare that has everything your dog could dream of—from dog runs to loveable staff members. Other species are also welcome to make the big move with you—dogs just happen to get preferential treatment.

Sweet Briar College
For the non-traditional pet owner, you should check into Sweet Briar College in Virginia. Turtles and fish pass the test, as well as horses. That's right, I said horses—provided you are on the equestrian team, otherwise that might be a bit excessive. Regardless of the unspoken bond you might have, allowing just anyone to bring a horse to campus could get a little cramped.

The University of Idaho
Located in Moscow, Idaho—this college permits students to have cats and birds in all of their dorm buildings. Fish are also a-ok. For the student with more than one pet, they are allowed to house up to two per residence, but all animals are susceptible to screening first.

Guest Post: Keeping Your Cat Safe

Gracie Slater loves her own snooty little companion — a wonderful tabby. She is a contributing author at http://homeownersinsurance.org.


Keeping Your Cat Safe

If you own a cat, then you know that they can be the most curious pets you’ll ever have. If they aren’t laying on it or sleeping in it, then they’re more than likely sniffing or licking it. Cats have the innate ability to get into the strangest places and things. It’s very important to take precautions to ensure your cat’s safety. There are many threats in and around the home that could pose a real danger to your pet. Since cats are injured and killed every year by getting into things they should stay out of, it’s imperative to watch out for the following dangers that your curious feline just might get into.

Chemicals and Medications
Human medications, pet medications, pesticides, cleaning products, and other chemicals all pose a threat to your furry friend. If they are accessible, your cats can easily ingest any of these items. Treated toilet water is also a threat. Make sure you close your toilet seat if you have cleaner in the bowl. Be careful of spilled antifreeze in the driveway or garage and any other chemical spill that could be mistaken for a kitty snack. De-icing salts are something that needs to be watched. If your cat walks through them and then licks it off their paws, it could cause poisoning.

String, Yarn, Rubber bands
This includes dental floss, tinsel from a Christmas tree, and string from a frayed carpet or blanket. When ingested, these items can cause blockages in your cat’s intestines or pose a choking hazard. Remember that your cat is liable to eat anything, whether it’s because they’re bored, playing with it, or hungry.

Blinds
If you have blinds or any kind of window hangings that have a cord, make sure you tie it up, out of reach of your cat. Cats just love anything that dangles. They will bat at it and play with it until they either ruin your blinds or strangle themselves in them.

Human Foods
While your cat may like sampling some of your ice cream or tuna fish, not all human foods are safe for their consumption. Some human foods to keep away from your pets include: coffee grounds, yeast, onions, grapes or raisins, tea, macadamia nuts, chocolate, salt, garlic, and fatty foods. Some of these items can have immediate adverse health effects, while others are simply not good for them overall. Chicken bones, for example, can shatter and cause splinters to lodge in their stomach or intestines. It’s best to simply avoid feeding your cats or giving them access to human foods and leftovers altogether.

Plastic Bags
Cats just love to get into things, literally. They will roll around on and inside plastic bags and can easily suffocate. Make sure these are kept in a drawer or bag holder and out of reach of cats.

Keeping these dangerous items away from your pets will help to ensure their safety. You can never tell what they will get into next. Even if they have never bothered the cleaning supplies before, you never know when they will discover them. Protecting our pets is an important issue; follow these suggestions and use basic common sense and your curious feline should be around for years to come.

Guest Post: Animal Myths Busted! (part 2)

 Estelle Page is a blogger at www.gkbcinc.com, , and she’s on a mission to prove that everything we know about animals is a lie! Well, okay, just some of it...

This is Part Two of a post published June 6, 2012.

 5 More Infamous Animal Myths

Image: AJ Cann

 Making up facts about animals seems to be one of our favourite pastimes.

The internet is swarming with so called ‘animal facts’ and it seems that there’s no shortage of misinformed animal lovers. This list sets out to reverse some of this bad work and set the record straight.

Read on for a few more daft suggestions that have been made about our animal friends.

1. Rats are ‘orrible and dirty

No, actually it all depends on the rat.
If the rat lives in a sewer, then yes, the rat is probably quite dirty. Generally speaking though, rats spend around 60% of their lives cleaning themselves. This means they only have 40% of their time to do other things, such as become dirty again.

2. Goldfish have a three second memory

One of my all time favourite incorrect animal myths is the memory capacity of a Goldfish.

In actual fact, Goldfish have quite good memories – they’ve proved they can be taught how to navigate a maze.

Sadly, many still have to live in a fish bowl with a miniature castle.

I’m not sure whose idea it was to associate Goldfish with underwater replicas of English middle aged fortifications, but it definitely seems to have caught on...

Image: Rennett Stowe

3. Koalas are bears

Koalas are a type of marsupial, not a kind of bear.

They are furry like bears, but that’s where the similarities end. English settlers have been awarded the responsibility of awarding the koala bear its incorrect label.

But English settlers gave quite a few pretty peculiar names around this time so maybe it was a trend back then.

4. Worms will regenerate

This is the type of thing your primary school teacher tells you and you believe for life, and you’ll end up passing this (incorrect) vital information down to your children:

“If you cut a worm in half, then the two halves will regenerate and continue to live as two separate worms.”

This is just not true.

Earthworms are biologically complex like other species. They have all the internal body systems that make up most other living organisms i.e. brains, digestive systems....the lot.

You wouldn’t cut a dolphin in half to see if it survived, would you?

My suggestions is to use the appropriate pest control supplies UK instead of waging war on the garden critters by punishing them through death.

You might also be interested to learn that a mole survives on a diet of only earthworms, so you could already have some help there if moles are a garden feature of yours.

Unless it’s the pesky moles that are the problem, in which case you might want to save the worms and invest in some sonic mole repeller instead.

Image: Suwaif

5. Camels store water in their humps

Let’s get this straight - a camel is not a live, walking hip flask.

A camel’s hump contains fat reserves providing the animal with the same amount of energy as three weeks of food do, so they’re more like packet lunch boxes than water bottles.

For animals, desert survival is about the preservation of water and nutrients within their bodies rather than actual storage for when they get a bit bored.

So, there you have your 5 more animal myths blown out of the water.

Your task is now to find some more to add to my list...

Guest Post: Cat Care 101: Dogs Aren't the Only Pet in Need of Training

Liz Becker is a blogger, freelance writer and recent college graduate. She currently performs market research for an online marketing firm when she is not contributing her own thoughts and observations to the online community.

Cat Care 101: Dogs Aren't the Only Pet in Need of Training

When most people think about pet training, they think about dogs. However, the more you learn about cat behavior and cat care, the more you will realize that your cat or kitten needs to be trained as well! Cats have a number of natural behaviors that can make them undesirable as companion animals. If you want to know why you should train your cat, check out the list of reasons below! 

 

Saving Your Food and Your Paperwork 

Some cats love jumping up on tables, and there are plenty of reasons for a cat to wish to do so. They may be interested in what you are doing or they might want to know what you are eating. When your cat jumps up on the table, say “no” very sternly and remove it. If it persists, spray it with water from a garden spray bottle. 

Never feed your cat from the table, as this will only promote this undesirable behavior. Reprimand your cat every time you see it on the table; otherwise it will think that being on the table is allowed. 

 

Protecting Your Furniture 

Scratching is a natural behavior, but it can ruin your walls and your furniture. You can mitigate the issue by keeping your cat’s claws clipped, but this is only a short term solution. Give your cat a few different options when it comes to scratching. Some cats prefer mats, while others prefer posts. Place the mat or post in front of the location that the cat typically scratches. Scold the cat when you see it scratching on your furniture and praise it when you see it scratching where it should. 

 

Preserve Peace at Dinner 

Some cats haunt the dinner table when you are trying to eat. If your cat picks up the habit of begging, it can turn into quite a pest. Never feed your cat from the table. If it lingers around the dinner table, ignore it. If you want to give your cat something from your plate, something which should be a rare occurrence, simply wait until after dinner and put it in the cat’s bowl. 

If you are invested in turning your cat into a well-behaved member of your family, take the time to train it appropriately. While cats do not need the same kind of training as dogs do, you’ll find that training your cat can be rewarding and that it can even lead to a tighter bond between the two of you.

Guest Post: Top 7 Tips for Traveling by Car with Your Cat

Kim Salerno is the President & Founder of TripsWithPets.com. She founded the pet travel site in 2003 and is an expert in the field of pet travel. Her popular web site features pet friendly hotels & accommodations across the US and Canada, along with other helpful pet travel resources. Her mission is to ensure that pets are welcome, happy, and safe in their travels.

 Top 7 Tips for Traveling by Car with Your Cat

 Amongst pets, dogs are the most frequent travelers.  They account for over 85% of pet travelers.  Trips to the beach,  family vacations,  traveling to pet friendly accommodations...no matter what the adventure, most dogs love car rides and can't wait to hop in and hit the open road.  Cats on the other hand - not so much.  Most cat's car travel takes place when they are going back and forth to the vet (no wonder they don't like the car).  However, many cat parents are faced with a big dilemma when they have to move - particularly if the move is a long distance.  They are stressed at the thought of putting terrified Fluffy in the car - traveling for hours on end.  In addition, a growing number of cat parents would like to include their cat in their daily travels.

We've come up with some tips to help make your cat's car travel experience a better one...for both of you! 

1.  Pet Carrier Training:  Always use a pet travel carrier for your cat when traveling in a car.  The carrier should be large enough for your cat to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. Be sure the carrier has proper ventilation.  Get him used to their carrier in your house.  Place his bedding, some toys, or maybe some catnip or kibble in the carrier and keep the carrier door open.  Let your cat go in and out of the carrier at their leisure. Do this until your cat feels comfortable.

2.  Familiarity is Comfort:  Cats are highly sensitive to the environment and their territory so you want to help to make the car part of their territory.  Place a towel or blanket with your cat's scent on the car seat.  Put your cat in the car with you and close the doors.  Let your cat explore your car, rub around and spread their scent.   Do this a few times a day for a couple minutes and gradually increase the time.

3.  Positive Reinforcement:  Once your cat is calm in the car, start feeding him in the car for at least a week. If play or catnip motivate him more than food, then let your cat indulge in that while in the car.   Again, associating the car with all things good will help make your cat a better traveler.

4.  Introduce Carrier in Car:  Gradually your cat will begin to accept the car as his territory.  When he's at this point, it's time to introduce the travel carrier into the car (so be sure you are simultaneously crate training him).  Put your cat in the carrier and place the carrier in the back seat or cargo area of your vehicle.  Be sure the carrier is secure and away from airbags.  Turn on the engine and that's it. Don't drive anywhere. Let your cat get used to the noise of the engine and the vibration.  Do this at least 3 times a day until your cat gets used to it.  Reward your cat as soon as he is let out of his carrier.

5.  Short Rides:  Once your cat is used to the car and engine, it's time to move.  Back up to the end of the driveway and drive up it again.  Do this a few times then take your cat out of the car and into the house.  Reward him with play time and treats once you let him out of his crate. When you feel your cat is ready, extend your trip and drive around the block.  Slowly, increase the length and duration of your car rides.  Again, the key is to do this very gradually and reward your cat after each step.  Your cat will let you know if he's not comfortable with the speed of his "car training."

6.  Calm Energy:  Throughout the entire process, it's important for you to be calm.  Pets sense your energy.  So, when you're hyped up and stressed, they will be too.

7.  Potty Breaks:  If you're traveling a long distance, you'll need to consider the issue of potty breaks for your cat.  Some cat parents have harness trained their cat.  This allows them to walk their cats at rest areas along the way.  Otherwise, it is recommended that you keep your drive time down to 8 hours at most.  At that point allow your cat to have a potty break at your night's destination.  You know your cat best, so this time could vary.

Whether it's including your cat while running errands around town or a move across country with your cat, making them happy in the car is essential.  Helping your cat become more comfortable traveling in a car definitely takes some time and a lot of patience.  Stick with it and take your time...remember,  it's a gradual process that should not be rushed.  Safe and happy travels with your cat!

For more information, visit www.tripswithpetscom. TripsWithPets.com is the premier online guide for pet travel-offering resources to ensure pets are welcome, happy and safe when traveling. Visit www.tripswithpets.com to find a directory of pet friendly hotels and accommodations across the U.S. and Canada, airline policies, pet travel tips, pet travel supplies, along with other pet travel resources.

Guest Post: What to Consider When Thinking about Adopting a Pet

Alvina Lopez is a freelance writer and blog junkie, who blogs about accredited online colleges. She has done her BA in Journalism and Mass Communications from Ashford University. She loves to write on pets, health, green living, blogging, technology, finance, education etc. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: alvina.lopez at gmail.com.

What to Consider When Thinking about Adopting a Pet

Animals can enrich our lives in a way that few other things can. Their loyalty and affection warm our hearts, and their unique personalities continually surprise us; they can cheer us up when we're down and keep us company when we are lonely.

But picking the right pet can sometimes be an unforeseen challenge, and there are situations in which one kind of pet would be inadvisable. How do you choose? With so many options out there, how do you know which is right?

You can start by reviewing the following guide:

Consider Your Space
Your home will be one of the biggest determining factors when choosing a pet. If you live in a small studio apartment, for example, a large dog would not be the best choice, even if your landlord would allow it, simply because the space would be confining for the dog. While cats need room to play, too, you can fill a smaller space with toys to keep them entertained to compensate for the space. The thing to remember is that animals are very active by nature, and the larger the animal, the more space you should have.

Consider Your Health
Most people are aware of any personal allergies before picking a pet, but allergies change over time — sometimes for the worse, sometimes for the better. Regardless of your previous history, you and your family should all be tested for allergies before you decide on a pet. You don't want to bring Fido home only to discover that he makes your daughter or husband break out in hives. Allergy tests are fairly inexpensive, and are nothing next to the cost of a potential allergic reaction disaster down the road. Plus, you never know when you might suddenly be allergic to dogs, or not allergic to dogs for that matter, so get tested.

Consider Your Responsibilities
This is one thing many prospective pet-owners neglect to think about before adopting a pet into their lives. If you are an architect with a lucrative firm, for example, you will probably be working up to 70 hours weeks in some cases, and might not even come home some nights — if this is the case, you should seriously consider your decision about a pet before adopting.

Just because you are busy doesn't mean you can't have a pet, but you should not get a pet that requires a lot of attention like a cat or a dog if you are unable to give them that attention on a regular basis. Long hours and frequent travel are often incompatible work conditions for pets.

Similarly, if commitments outside of work keep you from home, such as visiting family or volunteering, think twice about getting a pet, or least about which kind of pet to get.

Consider Your Family's Capabilities
Almost everyone is capable of taking care of an animal. The great thing about getting a family pet is that if one member of the family works late or has to travel, the other members can help in taking care of the pet. However, the responsibility of caring for an animal should not be left to children or anyone fundamentally incapable of the tasks required to care for the animal.

If you frequently leave town, but have a fifteen year old son who will be staying home during that time, your pet will be in good hands. If, on the other hand, you and your spouse work long hours and you don't have any children, a pet might not be right for you.

Don't Consider Your Prejudices
All too often a family will reject the idea of getting one kind of pet because one person isn't "a cat/dog/fish/hamster/etc person." Animals have the singular ability to change our minds — don't let your notions or previous experiences bar you from adopting a pet. Be open to the reality that every animal is different and can bring new joy to you and your family.

Guest Post: Top 10 Pre-Moving Day Tips for Pets

Kim Salerno is the President & Founder of TripsWithPets.com. She founded the pet travel site in 2003 and is an expert in the field of pet travel. Her popular web site features pet friendly hotels & accommodations across the US and Canada, along with other helpful pet travel resources. Her mission is to ensure that pets are welcome, happy, and safe in their travels.

Top 10 Pre-Moving Day Tips for Pets 

 If you're planning a move with your pet, it's important to do some homework and be prepared. Moving has the potential to create a lot of anxiety for pets...particularly for older pets, most cats, and skittish pets. Pre-move preparation is the key to helping ensure your move goes as smoothly as possible for your pet and you.

Here are the top 10 pre-moving day tips for pets:

1. Pet Laws and Regulations: Become familiar with the state/province leash laws, pet ordinances, and pet licensing requirements. For state/province laws, contact the State Department of Agriculture or State Veterinarian's office. For local ordinances, contact the City Clerks' office, local humane organization, or animal control facility in the area in which you'll be relocating. If you are planning to rent a house or apartment, be sure to carefully review the lease to ensure that pets are allowed before you move in.

2. A Trip to Your Pet's Vet: It's important to be sure that your pet is up to date on all vaccinations and has a thorough check-up before you move. Get a copy of all your pet's medical records (as their new vet will need them), as well as a health certificate. If your pet is on any medication, make sure you get it refilled. If your pet is not a good traveler, discuss this with your vet. If after trying behavior modification training to no avail, your vet may recommend some medications or natural calming supplements to helps ease your pet's travel anxiety.

3. Secure a New Vet: Be sure to have a new veterinarian lined up before you move. Ask your current vet for a referral or research online for new veterinarian.

4. New Identification Tag: Get a new pet ID tag that includes your pet's name, your name, new address and telephone number.

5. Routine, Routine Routine: Pets are creatures of habit and love routine. Do your best to not throw off their routine by gradually packing over a period of time. The less commotion and more normalcy, the better!

6. Secure Your Pet in Car: Have a plan for how you're going to properly secure your pet in your vehicle. This is a crucial element of pet travel that is not taken seriously enough. The reality is that hundreds of pets are injured or even killed each year because they are allowed free reign in cars, trucks, RVs, and SUVs. Even more real is the toll in human life and property damage caused when an "enthusiastic" animal distracts a driver, leading to an accident. Vehicle pet barriers, pet seat belts, pet car seats, and pet travel crates are all excellent ways to keep your pet (and you) safe when traveling in your vehicle. It's important to familiarize your pet with the vehicle restraint of choice weeks or months before traveling so that they are comfortable.

7. Secure Pet Friendly Accommodations in Advance: If your move is such that you'll need to make overnight stops along the way, be sure to secure these accommodations before you hit the road. Pet policies do change some times without notice and accommodations may be limited so it's recommended that you book pet friendly hotels in advance.

8. Plan Ahead for Air Travel: Check with your veterinarian and the airline if your pet will be flying. The airline will require a health certificate issued by your vet. You'll also want to purchase an appropriate airline approved pet carrier. Be sure you take the time to familiarize your pet with it at least one month prior to travel.

9. Calm Energy: Even though moving is typically a crazy and hectic time for you, it's important to keep yourself as calm and relaxed as possible. We all know that our pets sense our energy and when we're amped up, they get stress. So, whatever works for you to keep your sense of calm, do it!

10. Tell Your Pet: This may seem out there to some, BUT, have a talk with your pet letting them know about the move. Let them know what to expect on moving day, about the new house, the yard, etc... If nothing else, it will make you feel better, which in turn will help your pet.

Moving to a new home with your pet doesn't have to be stressful if you are prepared and plan ahead!

Guest Post: Becoming A Professional Dog Walker

Lewis Waller is the founder of Dog Walkers City – the US and UKs premium directory of Dog walkers and sitters. Interested in becoming a Dog sitter? Take a look at Starting A Dog Walking Business - The Complete Guide

Becoming A Professional Dog Walker

If you need some extra cash, a new career or just have some spare time on your hands, becoming a professional dog walker could be the answer! In fact, it's one of the easiest business start-ups you could think of and requires considerably less time, money and responsibility than the majority of business/services out there.

There are a huge number of upsides to becoming a professional dog walker. The flexible hours, long walks and time with our furry friends to name a few. But as with any job, it does come with its responsibilities.

But how would you go about becoming a dog walker? Well as I said, it's a reasonably simple process, and with a bit of hard word and commitment you could be walking your first clients pooch in no time.

The first thing you'll need to think about is your inventory. Dog leads, bowls, food, treats, toys and waste bags should be the first things on your list. You'll also need to think about potential walks to take your customers dogs on and how many dogs you can manage to look after at the same time. One of the most important things to set up is your insurance. This would be probably be your biggest expenditure, but shop around and you'll find it fairly cheap (and you can pay monthly).

Once you're ready to get started you'll need to begin the process of finding customers. I always recommend starting off by asking friends and family to spread the word about your new service. Nine out of ten times you'll get your first client this way. It's surprising how sometimes, word of mouth is all you need to build up a regular customer base – especially in a small town.

Your main tool when advertising and gaining exposure should be the internet. I'd start off by getting business cards printed. This can be very cheap either online or in your local printers. Handing these out in pet shops etc (you could also get flyers printed) is a sure way to spread the word.

Facebook, Twitter and Google Places are all websites you can use to advertise for free and a lot of time this is all you'll need to do to get enough customers to start off. There are also a ton of free local classified websites you can use and country and city specific Dog walker directories.

I have of course, simplified this entire process for the purposes of a blog post but hopefully you get the idea. I really believe that with a small amount of commitment and hard work, becoming a professional dog walker is one of the easiest and simplest business start ups you'll find.

Guest Post: Elegy for a Hamster

Author bio: Brian Wapole started telling stories to himself when he was five years old and is pleased to be sharing the experience with a wider audience. His first novel, The Feast of the Moon, is now available in paperback and as an e-book. Visit: http://brianwapole.com/ to read a sample, order a copy and to read original short stories for kids.

Elegy for a Hamster

Emmie’s hamster was not repelling the intractable force of time with the same elan he once possessed in the May morning of his youth. In fact, he was dying. He was having a hard time passing pellets and urinating. His fur grew patchy. The world he watched wax and wane from behind the glass of his aquarium was dimming – his eyesight deteriorating. He was eating less each day.

And Emmie’s mom was not pleased.

"I want you to take Hamlet," Emmie’s mom said to me.

"Take him where?"

Emmie's mom’s eyes began to water and she waved away the question.

"I got it."

As I walked out of the kitchen with his traveling cage (a shoebox), his blanket (a strip from Emmie's old sweatshirt), and his water bottle, Emmie's mom said, "don't tell me, when."

I took Hamlet home. Emmie had approached me the day before and got me to swear that I would not have him put down. I told her that he would die peacefully in his sleep.

What I didn’t tell her was that the sleep would occur while he drifted on a cloud to the continent of Euthanasia the following day. Hamlet’s organs were shutting down – it was the humane thing to do. I would take him to my house that evening since the Vet was closed.  

I set the shoebox, thick with woodchips and plush remnants from Emmie’s shirt, next to me while I wrote. About two paragraphs into the evening I pointed a space heater at the box, buffering it with a pillow. I was concerned that he would be too warm – then not warm enough. I changed out the pillows, searching for the right insulation.  It was January and I knew he liked to be warm. Emmie always kept him snuggled in a little blanket. Then I turned to write.

For about five minutes.

I heard scratching form the box. Maybe he needs water. But he wouldn’t drink – not even when I held the water tube to his mouth.

I stopped trying to write. When I agreed to take Hamlet I thought, “He’ll be with me for a day, then I’ll take him to the Vet’s. I’ll keep him warm in the meantime.” Easy.

But within an hour he dominated my concerns. How to get him to drink? It was one thing if he wasn’t eating – but dying by dehydration…I didn’t want to witness that. I tried to get him to accept the water bottle. No way.

“Fine,” I thought. “What else can do I?”

I picked up my pen and focused on the novel I was writing  Nothing. I was a tundra of creativity. I let my eyes lose focus, staring at the page. I looked at the pen.

Inspiration.

I took the pen cap to the sink and rinsed it off. I brought it back to Hamlet’s box and jiggled a drop of water onto the pen cap’s slightly concave arm. It was just wide enough to hold a drop of water on its tip. I balanced the drop on the end of the arm and tipped it into Hamlet’s mouth. He swallowed.

I spent the next few minutes coaxing drops of water into Hamlet, succeeding about one out of every six attempts – maybe eight drops before he tired of the activity. Every two hours we played the pen cap game. Before I went to bed I adjusted his blankets and set the space heater on low.

The following morning I heard scratching. Today, I was to take him to the Vet’s. I looked at the golden lump rise and fall with each breath. I decided to keep him with me. As long as he was drinking and eating a little (he had eaten one nugget of something) I was not going to put him to sleep.

In between seeing students (I am a tutor) and other responsibilities, I monitored Hamlet’s condition. When I tried writing, I could not focus on my novel.  I was thinking of Hamlet. So I started writing about him. Within a few minutes the ramblings morphed into a story. By that night I had a novel framed-out and ready for construction. The Feast of the Moon is that novel. Hamlet died peacefully in his sleep that night.