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How to Make It a Doggone Great New Year

admin — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:30:26 +0000

The following is a guest post from Bella the Boxer. Bella is a dog author, and today she provides us with some tips on making the upcoming new year the best, ever. Thanks, Bella!

Greetings! My name is Bella, and I’m a connoisseur of cheese, a chaser of squirrels, and an expert on helping humans work smarter and be happier. I’m also a dog, and one of the greatest things about being a dog is having a free pass to give people the kind of straightforward advice that they don’t often hear from each other. (I guess there’s just something about a dog’s soulful eyes and happy, wagging tail that gets humans to sit up and pay attention.)

Since it’s the time of the year when humans start to think about New Year’s resolutions, I thought I’d share some of the wisdom that comes naturally to dogs of all shapes, sizes and pedigrees—and which everyone (even cat people!) can use to unleash their potential and create success:

Keep your eyes on the ball.

Stop multitasking and practice the art of concentration. When I play with my little red rubber ball, I give it my full attention, energy and talent. Nothing else gives me the same sense of satisfaction!

Make happiness happen.

Focus on the positive and look for the humor in every situation. Aside from dogs, who are the happiest creatures on Earth? Those who make it their business to be happy!

Sit, stay and listen.

Talk less and listen more. When I wag my tail more than my tongue, people know that I’m listening. And after a while, I get to know something.

Shake off setbacks.

Don’t let the word “no” dissuade you. If you don’t fail, you don’t learn. Dogs aren’t perfect. We take risks and we make mistakes, but we shake off setbacks and take off running again.

Build your pack.

Surround yourself with colleagues, coaches, mentors and friends. Humans like to say that it’s ‘every man for himself.’ That’s silly. We all need a pack of supporters to succeed.

Show genuine appreciation.

Don’t just be grateful—show it! Kick up your paws and celebrate. Appreciation is gratitude in action. It’s something you feel from the tip of your tongue to the end of your tail—and it makes everyone feel good.

Get out and play!

Put down the gadgets and gizmos, step away from the computer, and learn how to play. Play is a dog’s way of connecting with real people, real dogs and real tennis balls. You know—the things in life that are most important.

How Will YOU Tap Into Your Inner Dog in the New Year?!

Leave your comment below and we will give away a free autographed copy of Bella’s book to one lucky commenter!

***

Adapted from Secrets of a Working Dog: Unleash Your Potential and Create Success by Bella The Boxer with co-authors Ellen Galvin and Patrick Galvin. Available at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and www.BellaTheBoxer.com.

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Hospice for Pets

admin — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:30:58 +0000

The following post is from guest blogger Dr. Mary Gardner, one of the founders of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice.

Did you know that there is such a thing as Hospice for pets? Veterinary hospice care is a philosophy that aims to allow the pet to spend as much quality time at home as possible before euthanasia or natural death occurs.

There are 4 life stages in pets (puppy, adult, senior & geriatric); hospice care is targeted to the pets in the geriatric stage, as well as younger pets with terminal illnesses when curative measures are no longer available or have been declined. Many pet owners caring for geriatric pets do not want to resort to extreme measures to diagnose and treat their pets, but would certainly like more quality time before euthanasia or natural death.

Some treatment options for pets in Hospice care are:

Pain or anxiety management – a veterinarian can teach owners how to look for signs of pain and anxiety and prescribe medications like Rimadyl, Previcox, or joint enhancing supplements to help relieve pain in certain diseases.
Appetite – maintaining good feeding habits is imperative to keeping a pet healthy, happy and energized. Appetite stimulants can be prescribed to help encourage eating.
Hydration – many pets will start to reduce water intake as they decline from certain diseases, such as kidney failure. Adding chicken broth or tuna juice to the water may help stimulate the thirst buds! Fluids under the skin (sub-q) can be easily administered at home, and your veterinarian can teach you how to do this.
Mobility – medications, massage therapy, heating beds/pads, orthopedic beds and some simple changes in the home can help a pet with mobility issues get around better.
Hygiene – maintaining proper hygiene is important to prevent scalding, sores, mats and infections. Having wee-wee pads available for all size pets can help them relieve themselves in a sanitary way if they cannot make it outside in time.
Quality of Life Scale – a Quality of Life scale can help you determine when the right time is to discuss euthanasia with your veterinarian. http://www.lapoflove.com/Pet_Quality_of_Life_Scale.pdf

There are many veterinarians that specialize in hospice care. Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice is an organization that has 18 veterinarians in multiple states that go to homes to help pets maintain a comfortable life and assist owners with determining quality of life. For more information on Veterinary Hospice visit their website at www.lapoflove.com

Although there may not be a cure for aging or certain diseases, this does not mean we cannot CARE for our pets and maintain a good quality of life before having to say goodbye.

Posted by:

Dr. Mary Gardner

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PetMeds® Now Offering Compounded Medications

admin — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:45:03 +0000

Great news! PetMeds now offers compounding on select pet medications! Not sure what compounding is? Compounding helps administer your pet’s medication because it changes the form of the medication (depending on the type of medicine). For some medications it may involve changing a pill into a liquid or a gel. Although there are various reasons medications are compounded, many pets may be finicky or have difficulty swallowing pills, making it a popular alternative for pet owners.

Currently compounded pet medications are only offered by calling our Customer Care department at 1-800-738-6337.

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PetMeds Donation to Troops Overseas

admin — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:10:30 +0000

Did you know PetMeds makes donations to shelters and animal rescues? Although those establishments are where many of our donations are sent, we recently received a very special request from a Sergeant in our Armed Services who is currently serving in a combat zone in Afghanistan. He reached out to us to inquire if we would make a donation to him because he and his platoon adopted a dog at their base (pictures below). We jumped at the opportunity to be able to help.

From everyone at PetMeds, we’d like to offer our utmost thanks to these men for their service.

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Behind the Scenes of PetMeds’ New Commercial

Abby PetMeds Pro — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:02:41 +0000

Ever wonder what goes on in a TV commercial shoot? Late last week we were in Indiana filming for our upcoming commercial so we wanted to share the behind the scenes glamour that goes into making those spiffy 30 second clips. And as promised, you can see our PetMeds TV Star contest winner Bella on set!

Wondering what kind of dog breed the star of the newest PetMeds commercial is? Bella is a Pomeranian, and a quite adorable one indeed!

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PetMeds TV Star Contest – Grand Prize Winner and Runner Ups

admin — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:20:31 +0000

Grand Prize Winner: Bella
2nd place winner: Jeter
3rd place winner: Badger

Bella (pictured above) and her owner, Deedee, make fleece blankets as a fundraiser for Southern California Pomeranian Rescue. We’re happy to invite them to meet us next week and be in our new 1800PetMeds commercial. They have also graciously donated the $1,000 cash prize to their local animal rescue, Southern California Pomeranian Rescue.

Congratulations, Bella, and keep up the awesome work you’re doing for those little pups that have yet to find a home!

We’d also like to thank all the participants for their hard work and dedication for voting and sharing their pet’s voting links. Your time and feedback during the contest are greatly appreciated. Although there could only be one grand prize winner, we feel all the pets that entered are winners in their own right.

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PetMeds TV Star Photo Contest – Top 10 Finalists

admin — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:31:01 +0000

After 2 weeks of voting and sharing, the long-awaited finalists from the PetMeds TV Star Contest have been tallied. We’re proud to present to everyone the Top 10 finalists below:

Jeter

Bella

Badger

Norm

Chiko

Scout

Lily

Thelma Lou

Pacer

Frosty

We’d also like to thank everyone for participating in the PetMeds TV Star Contest, and wish each of the finalists the best of luck as our judges will make their final decision tomorrow, August 16th for the winners of the grand prize, as well as 2nd and 3rd place.

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Traveling With A Pet

admin — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 12:24:34 +0000

Traveling with your pet can sometimes be cumbersome for not only you, but your pet as well. Some pets feel anxious and restless in unfamiliar surroundings, and may whimper or bark to let you know they are feeling uneasy. Keeping your pet with you during the flight is the best way to quell your pet’s anxieties. Luckily, most airlines allow a small carry-on for pets as long as the carrier fits underneath the seat in front of you, such as the Airline Pet Carrier or the Under Seat Pet Carrier, both of which were specifically designed to fit underneath airline seats.

Carriers need to make your pet feel at ease and allow him or her to turn around, stand up and lie down comfortably. Unfortunately, it can be a tall order to find a carrier large enough for your pet, small enough to fit under the seat in front of you and easy for you to carry. If you are traveling with multiple bags, having a carrier with a shoulder strap like the 3-in-1 Soft-Sided Pet Carrier, can be helpful for keeping your pet cozy while also keeping you comfortable.

While the airlines pet policy is fine for small pets, unfortunately it is not helpful for larger animals, or certain breeds – because recently airlines have not been accepting certain breeds onboard. Therefore, it’s customary to board certain breeds and larger animals along with cargo; however, it’s not the most comfortable way for your pet to fly. When your pet is flying in cargo, air quality may be compromised and subjected to a frightening area. Read our Click and Learn on additional important facts you should know before flying with your pet.

If you don’t want your pet to fly in cargo, there is another option for you — Pet Airways. Your pet can benefit from Pet Airways, because instead of being in the cargo hold, he or she will actually fly in the main cabin – which means proper air circulation, monitoring by a trained pet attendant, no breed restrictions and a potty break.

Keeping your pet safe and comfortable during airline travel is necessary for a successful trip. Carrying your pet onboard with you is the safest and most comfortable way for your pet to travel; however, if you have a larger pet or a breed that your airline won’t allow to fly with you, you can consider using Pet Airways to get your pet where he or she needs to go.

*When bringing your pet onboard, we recommend you check with your commercial airline at least two weeks in advance for their specific rules and requirements on pet travel.

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PetMeds® Submit Your Pet Medication Questions

admin — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:07:02 +0000

How exactly do flea medications kill fleas?
What are the best ways to try and give my pet insulin injections?
How do I get my finicky pet to take his or her pet medication?

Have you ever wondered questions like those above? Comment below with your question and it could be used in an upcoming Q&A series with our Pharmacy Director!

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Pet Photo Contest – Next PetMeds® TV Star

admin — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 21:18:44 +0000

Think your pet has enough star power to be in our next commercial? We’re hosting the Next PetMeds TV Star Contest – and your pet could win a role in our next commercial! What exactly will the Next PetMeds Star receive?

Grand prize: A 4 day/3 night all-expenses paid trip to Fort Lauderdale, FL for commercial filming including airfare, hotel, $1,000 spending money, and your pet in our commercial.

2nd prize: Lifetime supply of flea and tick medication (one pet)

3rd prize: Win your choice of one Pet Gear Pet product from here

(More details on the contest rules)

In addition to the grand prize, we’re giving away free pet care packages to participants just for submitting their pet’s photo into the contest! Take a look at some of our most recent giveaway winners:

Pet owners have until July 31st to submit their pet’s photo to our contest and then the voting will begin from August 1st-August 14th. The top 10 photos with the most votes will then be voted on by the judges to determine a winner.

Any questions? Feel free to ask below in the comments or via the PetMeds Facebook page! Good luck to everyone that enters!

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