Year: 2010

Winter Safety Tips for Pets from GregRobert Pet Supplies

 Winter is arriving slowly across the United States – but nonetheless it’s time to start thinking about how to keep your pet safe during the cold months.

  1. Don’t leave your dog or pet outside for long periods of time when it is very cold. There are a few heated pet beds that are made specifically for outdoor dog houses or patios. Consider one of these.
  2. Keep your dog or pet warm, dry, and away from drafts. Dog sweaters are not just for style and may be just the right thing for your pet.
  3. Be extra careful when your dog or pet is near frozen water.   A dog can slip under the ice just like a human.
  4. Groom your dog or pet regularly to keep him/her properly insulated.
  5. Feed your dog extra calories if he is a working dog or a young, growing dog.
  6. Towel dry a wet pet or blow-dry a wet dog or pet before letting him/her go outside.
  7. Don’t leave your dog or pet alone in a vehicle.
  8. Antifreeze is poisonous to dogs or pets although they like the smell.
  9. Chocolate and alcohol (abundant during winter holidays) should be kept away from pets.
  10. Rock salt to melt ice may irritate dog or pets footpads. Either a pair of dog boots or Pet-safe salt should be used.
  11. Provide plenty of fresh water for your dog or pet.  An outdoor automatic waterer is convenient.
  12. Be careful of fireplaces which can burn your dog or pet.

Remember that most pets like cats and dogs and bunnies are warm-blooded mammals.  A good rule of thumb is “If you wouldn’t want to be out there for that long, your pet probably shouldn’t be”.

So You Want a Pet

If you are a looking for a pet that is low maintenance; think about the following.    You want a pet that you can interact with and one that is easy maintenance.  We all have heard our kids say that they will take care of the pet, but we all know that ultimately, it is the parent’s job.    If you get a pet that is easy to care for, you have a good chance that your child will  care for it and learn a good lesson in responsibility.

Guinea pigs are a great choice for a first pet. Guines pigs weigh a couple of pounds and  live an average of five to seven years (twice as long as rats and gerbils).   Guinea pigs are generally a calm animal who will let out little squeaks as a way of communicating their happiness.  They are social animals who need interaction and attention on a daily basis for their well being.  They need time out their cage that can consistof  spending time in your lap or exploring  a new area of the house (while you carefully monitor her movement). 

Guinea Pig Supplies  

– Solid-bottom cage with wire cover or plastic-bottom “tub” cage (minimum four square feet of cage space per pig)
– Guinea pig pellets
– Aspen or hardwood shavings
– Timothy  hay
– Bed
– Attachable water bottle with drinking tube
– Food dish
– Safe chew toy Toys

Check out GregRobert Pet Supplies for a great selection of guinea pig supplies.

Prepare your Pond Plants for Winter

We haven’t had a very harsh autumn in many parts of the United States, so it’s tempting to put off the yearly pond maintenance of preparing your pond plants for winter – but if you haven’t done so yet – it’s high time to take care of this chore.

It’s a guarantee that cold weather is approaching.

It is important to take the necessary steps to prepare your pond plants for the winter months – sooner rather than later.

  • Trim hardy lotus and lilies and then put them in the deepest part of your pond. Use a burlap cover and string for easy removal.
  • Other hardy plants (grasses, cattails, and iris) do not need to be trimmed back. You can leave them on the shelf in more temperate areas (ex.: garden zone 7 or above) or put them at the bottom of the pond in colder climates.
  • Remove and/or compost tropical oxygenators and floating plants (ex.: lettuce and hyacinths).
  • If you have space, you can bring your plants inside. Put them in boxes (or plastic tubs like Tubtrugs) lined with trash bags and place them in your basement. You need to provide them with light and keep them damp. Check on your plants at least once a week.

Winter Quick Check List Reminder:

  1. Skim your pond weekly to remove leaves and plant matter
  2. Switch to a spring/fall formulated fish food
  3. Dose pond water regularly with Laguna Bio Booster until water temperature reaches 50 °F (10 °C)
  4. Remove, clean and store pond equipment
  5. Disconnect waterfall
  6. Install a Pond Heater, De-icer or Aeration Kit
  7. Prepare your pond plants for the winter – as indicated above.

Sweet Potato Dog Treats and Chews – the New Beef!

More and more people in America are buying for their own pets in a trend toward more natural and healthier eating among dog members of the family.

Many pets seem to be going vegetarian as well as their owners.

Because sweet potatoes contain beneficial nutrients such as complex carbohydrates, dietary fiber, beta carotene, vitamin C, and Vitamin B6, to name just a few – sweet potato dog chews and dog treats are the rage among health conscious dog owners.  Pictured to the right are Beefeaters Sweet Potato Dog Snacks – a favorite among dog owners and dogs.

Sweet Potatos help stabilize blood sugar, which makes them a nice choice for diabetic dog treats. Sweet potato dog treats are not only beneficial for your dog, they are just plain yummy!

More and more people in America are cooking for their own pets in a trend toward more natural and healthier eating among the cat and dog members of the family. Many pets seem to be going vegetarian as well as their owners.

The Motion Activated Scarecrow Sprinkler gets National Recognition :)

THIS JUST IN!

The Mexican border control, implemented by the US Government, has redoubled its efforts to keep illegal aliens from crossing the Mexican border using the motion activated scarecrow sprinkler.

Buy the Motion Activated Scarecrow sprinkler here.  Use coupon:  scarecrow – to save a few bucks to boot.

JUST KIDDING!

But this dude will really keep the raccoons, skunks and critters out of your garbage can’s this fall and winter!

Holiday Dog Chews and Christmas Treats are in!

Holiday rawhide and dog treats are a tradition in many dog lover homes.  This year we have a collection of tasty chews, rawhide and munchies that will keep your pup happy during the entire 12 days of Christmas.  Stock up early, because alot of our holiday items fly off the shelves!  Pictured to the right is a 10 pack of 5 inch Christmas Dog Rawhide candy canes.

  1. Dog chews have an unlimited shelf life as long as they are not subjected to moisture.
  2. Keep your chews in a dry place or away from immediate moisture contact and your chews will be nice and tasty when you are ready to reward your pet.
  3. After your pet has enjoyed the chew for a while, you could remove the chew and let it stand to become dry again, so that it is firm for the next time your pet is ready to enjoy the chew.
  4. When the dog chew has been enjoyed down to a small portion, you may want to remove the remains if your pet tends to try to swallow or eat pieces that are just a little too big for the pet.
  5. Rawhide munchy items are pulverized rawhide mixed with a binder and extruded to form various shapes. Your pet will chew and eat most of the dog munchy, which is normal. If any mold is evident on a chew, then the product has taken on moisture and should not be used.
  6. Rawhide bones have a low moisture content and therefore should not attract bugs while in storage. Basted products however, can and many times do, attract bugs as the flavoring is a food product. We recommend that your extra basted chews be stored in an air tight bag or jar in order to prevent attracting bugs.

Water Quality in Your Aquarium

 Just as we need clean air, free of harmful products to breath; fish need clean water to survive.  Clean water is not just the clear color, but also includes water quality. 

Testing water quality should be a priority for your aquarium. 

The important levels that need to be tested are:
1.  pH – A pH level of  close to 6.5 is the ideal pH for MOST fish.

2. hardness –  Most fish require soft water.  Hardness test will  measure the amount of calcium and magnesium.

3. alkalinity – This measures the compounds that stabilize pH.

4. nitrite (NO2)–  This compound is highly poisonous. Nitrite is more toxic than nitrate.  High levels of nitrite require water change.  The addition of fluids with zeolite will also help.

5. nitrate (NO3)–  High levels of nitrate can be harmful over time. Again, water change will help; along with adding fluids with zeolite.

6. ammonia (NH3)– This is another highly poisonous compound. Again, water change will help; along with adding fluids with zeolite.

Individual strips can be purchased to measure each value, but it is easier and more economical to purchase a kit that measures everything at one time.  A kit, like the Mardel Master Aquarium Test Kit  (pictured above) measures all the levels.

In the breaking in phase of you aquarium, you should check the levels everyday.  Later, check levels every 1-2 weeks.  This will ensure proper water quality and healthy fish.

Bats are not only for Halloween!

Is there a more intriguing blog article than one about “bats” the day before Halloween?

Outside the mythical, vampirish aspect of bats that surrounds us on Halloween, bats are one of the most effective and environmentally friendly ways to reduce the mosquito population near your home.  A great way to attracts bats is to install a bat house.

Bat house sizes range from holding a dozen or so bats like the bat house pictured to the right or to have enough space for a colony of 500 bats.

Bats that use the type of house to the right:  

big brown, cave, eastern pipistrelle, evening, little brown, Mexican free-tailed, northern long-eared, pallid, Pallas’ mastiff bats, Rafinesque’s big-eared bats, southeastern bats, and Yuma bats

A bat house may be mounted on a tree, pole, or building; however, bat houses mounted on poles tend to have a slightly higher occupancy than those mounted on trees.

You should mount your bat house 15-20 feet above the ground where it will not be exposed to bright lights. Temperature is also a consideration.

You should place your bat house where it will receive at least six hours of sun if you live in a region where average July temperatures range from 80-100 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you live in a region where average July temperature are less than 80 degrees Fahrenheit, you should mount your bat house where it will receive at least 10 hours of sun.

And yes, vampire bats are real.  They are bats whose food source is blood, a dietary trait called hematophagy. There are three bat species that feed solely on blood: the Common Vampire Bat, the Hairy-legged Vampire Bat, and the White-winged Vampire Bat.

Happy Halloween!

The Poop on Litter Box Choices

There are more choices in letter than ever before.  Gone are the days where people used old dishpans for a litter box.  Today there are disposable pans, simple plastic pans, covered pans and even self-cleaning pans.

Disposable pans which are small cardboard litter boxes are good for shelters, rescuers and breeder, but are not very practical for long-term use of you pet cat.

Simple plastic litter pans are relatively inexpensive and many cat owners still feel that simple is better.

By far, the covered litter pans are growing in popularity, such as the
Sifting Enclosed Cat Panshown above.  A hood and door are the items that keep odors down and prevent dogs and children from getting into the litter. Many covered litter pans, including this one, have an odor filter in the hood. In addition, this litter pan has a sifting system that consists of of two litter pans below a sifting pan with a hood on top.  This eliminate digging through the litter for waste.   Even thought a cover pan helps get down odors, you still need to diligently keep the litter clean.    Cats with asthma should not use a covered litter pan.  They need the increased ventilation of an opened pan.

What ever type litter box you choose, be sure to place it in an area that you cat feels safe and secure.

Preferred Foods of Common Birds

TOP WILD BIRD PRODUCTS

Different birds like different types of wild bird food. Sunflower seeds attract most seed-eating birds.

The most attractive sunflower seed is the black, oil-type. Another outstanding food is a type of millet, known as white prove or white millet. White millet attracts house sparrows and brown-headed cowbirds.

A common ingredient in mixes, peanut hearts, strongly attracts starlings. You can discourage house sparrows, brown-headed cowbirds, blue jays, and grackles while at the same time offering a moderately attractive food to cardinals and mourning doves by feeding safflower seeds.

Safflower is of little interest to other bird species, however.

American goldfinch hulled sunflower seeds, niger seeds, and oil-type sunflower seeds.
Blue Jay peanut kernels, black-stripe, gray-stripe, and oil-type sunflower seeds.
Brown-headed cowbird white proso, red proso, German millet, and canary seed.
Cardinal sunflower seeds of all types.
Chickadees oil-type and black-striped sunflower seeds, peanut kernels.
Dark-eyed junco red proso, white proso millet, canary seed, and fine-cracked corn.
Common grackle hulled sunflower seeds and cracked corn.
Evening grosbeak sunflower seeds and cracked corn.
House finch In Maryland, oil-type and black-striped sunflower seeds, sunflower
kernels and pieces, and niger. In California, white prove millet and flax
also readily taken.
House sparrow white proso millet, canary seed, and German (“golden”) millet.
Mourning dove oil-type sunflower seeds, white prove millet, niger, and German
(“golden”) millet.
Purple finch sunflower seeds and kernels.
Starling peanut hearts and hulled oats.
Song sparrow white and red prove millet.
Tufted titmouse peanut kernels, black-striped and oil-type sunflower seeds.
White-crowned sparrow oil-type sunflower seed, sunflower kernels and pieces, white and red
prove millet, peanut kernels and hearts, niger seed.
White-throated sparrow oil and black-striped sunflower seeds, sunflower kernels and pieces,
white and red prove millet, and peanut kernels.