Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

There are so many supplement out there – you can buy them virtually anywhere including your vet’s office (where they tend to be a BIT on the expensive side).  How do you choose and do you really understand what the ingredients are, what your dog actually needs, what is actually going to help?

At A Place For Paws, after investigative research, decided on supporting and selling products from Liquid Health’s line of animal supplements – most notably,  their three joint formulas.  Overkill?  We think not.  Each formulation has a specific audience  – something for YOUR dog’s individual needs.  Liquid Health follows the guidelines set forth by the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP), a  nonprofit organization that sets standards for the quality, purity, identity, and strength of medicines, food ingredients, and dietary supplements manufactured, distributed and consumed worldwide.

K9 Glucosamine, the original formula, is perfect for most dogs with basic issues or the hint of basic issues.  It has recently been reformulated to include hyaluronic acid, and unlike MOST joint supplements it contains the clinically studied and recommended amounts 1500 mg glucosamine and 1200 mg chondroitin.

K9 Vegetarian Glucosamine is recommended for any dog with common allergies including those to animal based products and shellfish.  It replaces chondroitin sulfate with glucosamine along with minerals, omega fatty acids and antioxidants to provide a full spectrum of beneficial joint ingredients.

K9 Level 5000 is Liquid Healths most potent formula yet.  5200 mg of glucosamine Hcl per fluid ounce, 100 mg of hayaluronic acid, 1000 mg of Opti-MSM and 1000 mg of chondroitin make for exceptionally high doses of the most widely used joint products in one convenient bottle.  Level 5000 further contains a laundry list of support ingredients to enhance effectiveness like bromelain, grape seed extract and boswellia.

But what do all of these ingredients mean?  Its great to know that your dog NEEDS them but its even better to know what the main ones are and what they actually do.

Glucosamine Hcl and glucosamine sulfate provide the actual building blocks for healthy connective tissues in the bod – especially in the joints and both are derived from shellfish.

Green Grown vegetarian glucosamine is produced from a unique fermentation process and contains NO animal products whatsoever.  It performs the same function as regular animal based glucosamine but is purely vegetarian for those allergy dogs.

Chondroitin sulfate is used for it properties in maintaining joint flexibility when used in conjunction with glucosamine.

Keep your dog happy, healthy and flying with Liquid Health joint supplements - don't let anything slow him down again!

Hyaluronic acid is a substance naturally found in both the extra and intracellular matrix of soft connective tissue.  It is the primary constituent of synovial fluid (joint lubricant) found naturally in all joints.

OptiMSM is actually the ONLY MSM that is manufactured in the USA.  Non-toxic, hypoallergenic and always 99.9% pure.  MSM has been show, when used with glucosamine, to reduce inflammation in the joints helping the glucosamine work more efficiently and to bring about faster relief.

Manganese chelate is a mineral necessary for the synthesis of bone and the formation of synovial fluid and cartilage in joints.  Liquid Health specifically uses a form of organic chelated manganese.  Chelated organic forms of inorganic mineral elements increase the probability that the digesting organism (your dog) will absorb the mineral for its use and benefit.

Aquamin is harvested from a sustainable source off the coast of Iceland.  It is a seaweek derived mineral source rich in calcium, magnesium and 74 other trace minerals including zinc, iron and selenium.  Studies have shown its positive effects on both bone and joint health.

Liquid Health is a company that prefers to take the extra step and to adhere to testing  that they aren’t even required to.  Most companies simply take the easy way out and pass.  With their in-house lab and strict standards you can rely on the fact that these products are better than most you find out there.  Liquid Health products, because they are liquid, are made for maximum absorption as well as easy administration – just drizzle over your dog’s food and voila – done!  Much better than powders and pills – no muss, no fuss and you never have to wonder if your dog actually ate that pill or just pulled a fast one.  All natural sources are used wherever possible ensuring that your pet is getting a top quality product.

When a joint supplement is needed you can BET that Liquid Health is what we, at A Place For Paws, give our own precious dogs.  Finally, a joint product that you can have utter confidence in!

Crate training.  Plenty of people see it for what it is – a necessary and easy way to train your dog.  There are others, though, who see it as a cruel and unnecessary exercise that isn’t any good for any canine.  Some of these feel this way simply because they don’t understand the logic behind crate training – they simply imagine the crate as nothing more than a cage and who would want to be stuck in a cage?  How mean!  What people forget (quite often actually) is that a dog is a dog and a

Start using a crate at a young age to make sure your puppy is safe and secure when you can't be with him

human is a human and quite frankly, they are really different!

Most dogs take naturally to a crate when introduced to it in the right way and when it is used properly – some are even quite attached to their crate believe it or not, continuing to use it even when the door is open and it is their free choice!  Why this strange phenomena?  Remember that dogs are really just “housewolves”.  Wolves and other wild canids “den” in the wild.  Our dogs, as domesticated as they seem to us, have retained that same behavior – a dark enclosed space is, to them, something of a heaven on earth.  A place that is theirs alone, a place they can get away from it all, a secure home in which to snooze and not worry about what might be going on outside of their space.  In short, there is nothing “cruel” about a crate so long as it is used properly.

Improper use of a crate?  Easy.  One way would be “overuse”  an adult dog should not be expected to stay in their crate longer than an 8-9 hour stretch.   For puppies the time is far less – about an hour per month old they are until they reach adult hood.  Using a crate for longer stretches

Crates are perfect for travel and emergency situations

of time is somewhat cruel and definitely not the use it was intended for.  Using a crate as punishment is another no-no.  Its not what its for and if you expect your dog to stay happily in his crate while you are gone or when you need him confined, using it as punishment will undo all of the crate training you have done thus far.  If its the place he goes when he’s bad, he isn’t going to want to spend any time there otherwise.

Why is crate training so important?  Let me count the ways….

• Housetraining.  Dogs and puppies do not like to use the bathroom where they sleep and if they are given the opportunity to go elsewhere they always will.  This is why its important that your dog or puppy’s crate is large enough for him to comfortably stand up, turn around and lie down in and not much bigger than that.  If a puppy can pee in one end of the crate and sleep in the other, oftentimes that is just what they will do.  Having your dog crated also inhibits the opportunities that the dog has to potty inappropriately.  Take your pup outside directly from the crate – chances are they will immediately go and voila, you are on your way!
• Safety.  Dogs  get into things no matter what their age.  Its just a fact.  Of course, some are less of a problem than others and the behavior usually fades with age but as babies and teenagers it is almost always a concern.  You won’t lose your belongings to a bored puppy if that puppy isn’t allowed free roam of your house!  More important than your favorite pair of shoes is the dog himself – pups don’t know what is safe to chew and what isn’t.  That electrical cord looks to be a fun toy…ZAP.  For your dog’s safety and for your sanity (and personal effects), crating a dog is ideal for when you can’t be around to say no!
• Travel and Vet Visits.  You never know when your dog is going to be faced with a stay in a crate – even for a short time.  Emergencies that require moving ourselves and our dogs quickly can often mean keeping our dog some place where they would need to be confined – already crate trained, no muss no fuss.  Occasionally at the vet your pup may have to spend time in a recovery cage or crate – make it less stressful on him and the hospital staff by making sure he can handle it.  If your pet ever needs to fly to a destination he will HAVE to ride in a crate.  Simply put, we can’t plan for every event and its good to know that you and your pup can handle.
• Privacy.   Its always a good idea for any pet to have a place to call their own.  A crate is a quiet safe place where your dog can relax and have some down time.  This is especially helpful in a home where there is a lot of activity, children, other animals.  Sometimes puppies can get a little too rambunctious – a crate is a perfect place for them to take a minute and calm down – nestled in with a big old bone.

Crate training is pretty simple.  Using positive reinforcement, you can quickly make the crate a pleasant place that your puppy or adult dog seeks out.  Toss treats inside to encourage your dog to willingly enter.  Feed your dog his meals while he is in his crate making a most favorable impression (crate = food…YUM!).  Attach a command to your efforts – toss in a treat and say “Crate” or “Crate up” or even “Go to bed”.  Whatever works for you.  Start leaving your dog in the crate with the door closed for increasing periods of time giving him treats to occupy his mind.  When using the crate at night, don’t separate your dog from you and the family by leaving him downstairs while you all  sleep upstairs.  Bring his crate into your room and place it by the bed.  This is especially true for new puppies who have been separated from their litters for the first time.  A more restful night is guaranteed if your new dog knows that you are right there with him.  No dog wants to be separated from their “pack”.

Remember that some dogs – most certainly baby puppies, will whine and cry their first few times in the crate.  Don’t give in and let them out at the first noise you hear – they’ll get over it given an adequate amount of time.  If you open the crate or acknowledge your dog every time that he whines, all he learns is whining gets him attention – positive (being let out or told he is “ok”) or negative (yelling, hitting crate).  He doesn’t care which – to a dog, attention is attention and its all good to him!  Also make sure your dog is calm and quiet before letting him out.  If you just came home from work and your dog is bouncing off the sides of the crate, wait for that moment when he waits quietly before opening that door.

Give your dog something to occupy his time while he's in his crate - he'll hardly know that you have left!

Finally, giving your dog something to entertain himself with while he’s crated is absolutely okay and generally will help convince your dog that the crate is a positive place as well as getting him over those first few minutes when you first leave him – he’ll be too busy to notice.  Using a high value item that will occupy him for more than half a minute is the key.   Food dispensing toys, like the Linkable Orb, Twist and Elbow, are easy to fill with goodies and when joined together can result in hours of puzzle solving and treat eating.  Use smaller treats like Cloud Star Tricky Trainers to put in the toy.  Alternating treats with peanut butter, cream cheese or plain unflavored yogurt will give your dog plenty to work on especially if you freeze it all together the night before.

Using a crate is a viable way of training your dog as well as keeping him safe from harm.  Used correctly it can be an invaluable tool in many situations.  Go for it – give your dog a den!  Think of it as a room of his very own!

What could be better than an “invincible” toy?  Is there really such a thing?  The answer is, probably not, BUT we have something that comes pretty close!

Invincibles are a unique toy that gives your dog the pleasure of a plush toy but saves you from retrieving stuffing and squeakers as they are removed by our furry friends!  Invincibles are stuffing-less toys that contain a radically new and improved squeaker mechanism that promises to keep on squeaking even when punctured.  Not your typical plastic squeaker, this tougher than normal noisemaker is perfect for dogs who lose interest once the squeaker in their favorite toy is defunct.  No longer a worry!

Invincibles are available in a long snake, both large and small, as well as a rectangular gecko, both large and small.  See which one YOUR pooch prefers!