Getting Your Home Ready For Pets

 If you are thinking about having pets in the home for the first time, you’ll need to make sure that you are as ready as possible for that. As it happens, there are quite a few things that you might need to think about here and which you can do to ensure that your home is fully ready to have a pet or two in it. In this post, we’ll discuss some of the main ways to get your home ready for pets, so that you can make sure you are caring for them as well as possible. Let’s take a look.

Pic - CCO License

Cleaning

Although it’s possible that your pets will cause some dirt in the home, it’s also a good idea to think about some of the ways you can ensure it’s clean enough for them to be in to begin with. You at least want to carry out a deep clean before you bring them home for the first time, as this will help ensure that they are going to be much more likely to enjoy the home and to remain healthy as well. So make sure you are cleaning your home, and keeping it clean as well.

Warmth

It’s also vital that you are providing a warm space for your pets, so anything you can do to make the home warmer generally is going to be a wise move. Having a lot of warmth in the home makes it so much easier to be comfortable, but it also means that they are going to be happier in general to be there. So make sure that you are getting the fireplace repair you have been thinking about, or doing whatever else might be necessary to get the home warm enough to keep pets in easily.

Comfort

Related to that, but also separate in its own right, is the matter of comfort. Clearly, you need to make sure you are able to keep your pets as comfortable as possible in the home, and this is something that you will want to work on early to help ensure that they are happy. So provide them with the necessary bedding and furniture and so on, and make sure that you are generally keeping your home as comfortable as possible. This is going to really make a huge difference to how well you can look after your pet.

Pic - CCO License

Safety

Just as you would childproof a home before bringing a newborn into it, you’ll also want to make sure that you are pet-proofing your home. Essentially this means that you are going around the home making sure it is genuinely safe for the pet to be in. If you can do this, you’re going to find that it’s much more likely that the pets in question are safe and that they are happy too. So all in all, this is a really important thing for you to think about.

4 Things To Do To Get Rid Of Stinky Dog Breath

 Is the stinky bad breath of your dog putting a damper on your cuddling sessions? Are you looking for ways to say goodbye to the bad breath and restore your dog’s minty freshness? Well, you’re in luck!

Dealing with stinky dog breath is one of the biggest challenges which most pet owners face. Bad breath in your pet can be caused due to several reasons. Some of them may include:

• Dental diseases

• Stomach issues

• Diabetes

• Unhealthy diet, etc.

In addition to these causes, a foul smell in your pet dog can be a sign of liver or kidney failure. While some home remedies may alleviate the foul smell in the short term, they won’t solve the underlying problems.

With that in mind, this article will discuss some of the best ways to combat foul smells and restore pleasant breath. So, let’s get into it:

1. Brush Your Pet’s Teeth Regularly

As a pet owner, it’s your responsibility to keep your dog’s teeth in top condition by brushing them regularly. We understand it can be challenging to brush their teeth, but doing so is important for their overall health.

It is recommended to brush your dog’s teeth at least once a week using the right pet toothpaste and toothbrush. If brushing your dog’s teeth seems like a task, consider going to a nearby vet. The vet will also recommend the right toothbrush and toothpaste that will be best suitable for your dog.

2. Feed Your Dog a Healthy Diet

If your dog smells bad, then it’s time to say goodbye to unhealthy food. Fill your dog’s plate with healthy foods which are rich in all the essential nutrients that promote good dental hygiene and help combat bad breath.

For example, you can buy the best bully sticks for dogs which are high in protein, low in fat and contain essential nutrients like amino acids, making it a healthy choice for dogs. Also, they are easily digestible and safe for dogs to consume.

Make sure to avoid giving your pet table scraps or human foods that are known to cause bad breath like garlic, onions, or certain spices. However, if you’re unsure about what to give to your dog, then consulting a professional veterinarian can be a better option.

3. Give Your Dog Plenty of Water

Sometimes, your dog smells bad due to a lack of hydration. Keeping your dog hydrated at all times will help promote saliva production, which helps rinse away food particles and bacteria that contributes to bad breath.

Moreover, giving your dog clean water at all times will prevent dryness in the mouth, which can alleviate bad breath.

4. Visit The Vet Regularly

Regularly visiting the vet is crucial for overall health, including oral hygiene. Scheduling regular visits with the vet will allow him to monitor your dog’s health and identify any potential problems before it gets worse.

Remember, prevention is the key, and early prevention can help prevent the progression of dental problems and maintain your dog’s fresh breath.

Summing Up

Bad breath in dogs is a common issue, but with proper care and attention, it can be effectively managed.

By following the tips mentioned above, you can keep your dog’s breath fresh and maintain its overall health.

Vitamins and Minerals That Your Dog Needs

 Keeping your dog healthy long-term means that you need to pay keen attention to what your dog is eating. Not all dog food is the same; some cheaper brands have more filler in the food than healthy ingredients. That is not to say that more expensive dog foods are filled only with great ingredients. 

One of the best ways that you can make sure that your dog is getting all of the right ingredients packed with vitamins and minerals is to make some of the dog food yourself.

Photo by hannah grace on Unsplash

 

But what do dogs really need when it comes to vitamins and minerals?

Dog Nutrient Profile As They Grow

When your dog is a pup, it will need nutrients that are designed to support the rapid rate at which its body and brain are developing. 

Puppy food will usually be softer and easier to digest and still packed with everything they need. You'll need to keep an eye on the gums, too - because as their teeth come through, only eating dry food could be painful. 

After some discussion with your vet, you might decide to add some extra supplements into their diet - and this can help with a glossy coat, bright eyes, and happy digestive tracts. 

There are two different nutrient profiles that you should be aware of when it comes to your dog - one is the growth and reproduction phase of life, and the other is maintenance. 

Puppies, lactating dogs, and pregnant females need a different nutrient count and a much higher vitamin and mineral requirement. Their bodies are working much harder in these stages than at any other time in their life. 

The maintenance stage is when they are out of the puppy stage and not pregnant or lactating (or just a male dog). The aim here is to make sure that the food they eat supports their general needs across the board. 

What Vitamins And Minerals Does My Dog Need?

Just like humans, dogs need to have a set amount of vitamins and minerals every day to keep healthy. Not only that but dogs need, and don’t make omega-3 fatty acids (and some other fatty acids), read up on the benefits on this link. 

Each one plays an essential part, and that is why it is important to check the dog food that you are feeding them - and make additions like supplements where needed. 

Minerals

Did you know that a dog needs chloride? Or what about copper? Minerals aren't something that we often think about - but they are essential. Here is what they need and why. 

Copper

Copper is essential for bones, connective tissues, and forming college, which gives your dog a beautiful coat. Copper aims with the development of red blood cells and pigmentation of the skin and coat. 

Zinc

Zinc aids growth reproduction improves the immune system protein digestion, supports healthy skin, regulates thyroid function, and helps heal wounds too. Poke, lam, liver, brewer's yeast, and eggs have plenty of zinc in them. 

Iron

Iron is essential for transporting oxygen through the body, as well as helping to support the immune system. Iron can be found in legumes, fish, red meat, and eggs. 

Magnesium 

Magnesium is one of the main components of enzymes and bones and has a significant impact on neurotransmission. 

Calcium & Phosphorus

Phosphorus and calcium work together and are essential for teeth and bones. These both help with the following: 

• Contraction muscles

• Blood coagulation

• Hormone secretion 

• Nerve impulse transmission

• Dilation and constriction of blood vessels 

Calcium helps to keep blood flow constant and your dog's heart rate stable too. If your dog doesn't get enough calcium, it will be leached from the bones, so calcium is a must. 

Chloride, Potassium & Sodium 

There are three electrolytes that are considered primary to dogs. Socium, chloride, and potassium. These electrolytes keep the fluid balances correct within your dog. 

Photo by Leohoho on Unsplash

Vitamins 

Alongside all of those minerals, there are plenty of vitamins that your dog needs to stay healthy. Making sure that your dog's diet has enough of all of these things is essential because, without them, deficiencies can cause health problems. 

Here are the more essential vitamins: 

• Vitamin A

• B Vitamins (the B family)

• Vitamin C & D

• Vitamin E

• Vitamin K

• Choline

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a must for immune system function, body cell growth, and healthy eyesight. You can find this vitamin in carrots. 

B Vitamins 

The whole B family plays a crucial role in the development and maintenance of your dog's health. B9 is folic acid, B6 is pyridoxine, B12 is riboflavin, and B1 is Thiamine. 

All of these serve different purposes in the body. Some help with metabolism and others help with hormonal regulation. Since the whole B family of vitamins plays a role, it is a good idea to get familiar with them - and see where your dog's source is coming from. 

Vitamin C

Dogs can produce Vitamin C themselves, but the amount they produce isn't enough to support the body's needs. Vitamin C helps with cognitive aging and reduces inflammation in the body. 

Vitamin D

When you get out often with your dog, they will be making plenty of vitamin D already. We associate vitamin D with sunshine - but getting outside regularly is usually a great start. Most often, a vitamin D supplement is the best thing to do for your dog. 

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is the building block of a beautiful coat and bright eyes. It offers support to cell functions and metabolism. Deficiency in vit E can be a contributing factor to reproductive problems and muscle degeneration. 

Vitamin K 

Vitamin K helps with blood clotting and is something that many people associate with a newborn human baby shot. Dogs need it too! One of the reasons that it is essential to make sure your dog is kept away from poisonous substances is because it reduces the body's ability to use vitamin K, and that can cause a dog to bleed out. 

Choline 

A must for dogs because it supports liver and brain function and is used to help to treat epilepsy in dogs. 

So as you can see, there are plenty of things that your dogs need to live a healthy and long life! Make sure that you are offering them a balanced and nutritious diet - and some fun toys: Crafting Reality with Sara: Gifts for Pets!