Getting a new pet can be a lot of fun. You can choose from a dog, cat, hamster, gerbil, rabbit, and the list goes on and on. No matter what pet you choose, you will need to outfit them with the latest and greatest in pet gear. If you shop smart, you should be able to find many of your items for cheap.

The key to getting a good deal on pet gear is to shop early. Buy your items before your pet comes home with you. That way you won’t be rushed to pay more for the necessary items. The following is a list of supplies needed for a new pet.

Health supplies- vitamins and medications. These are available through your vets office or pet health websites like petmeds.com.

Food- daily food, plus treats. Do a bit of research to find the best type of food for your pet. Don’t forget to have treats for good behavior or to add variety to your pet’s diet.

Toys- catnip for cats, exercise wheels for hamsters, and chew toys for dogs. Try to get a variety of pets to keep your pet entertained and happy.

Cages/Crates- a place for your pet to call home. Every pet needs their own personal space. Make sure to set up their area prior to bringing the pet home.

Grooming supplies- specific to your type of pet.

The specifics of course, depend on the type of pet that you choose. All animals need food and water daily, as well as a chance to exercise and play.

Finding the cheapest pet gear is easier than you think. Try shopping online for the biggest discounts. You can try the larger chains like petsmart.com or you can try smaller specialty shops. Don’t forget to try auction sites like EBay.com. I like to go to Couponchief.com for coupon codes for almost everything I buy. They have a section dedicated to pet gear, and you may be able to save quite a bit on your pet gear. Look for free shipping deals to help sweeten the deal.

A new pet can bring a lot of joy into a family. Don’t break your budget buying pet gear. Bargain shop for the best deals, and buy only what you need. You can always buy more toys and treats as you find a good deal, so don’t worry about buying out the store on the very first day.

Melanie Breeze, avid online shopper and user of http://CouponChief, is always shopping around for the best deals. You can find gardening http://www.couponchief.com discount coupon codes at CouponChief, all in one location. Always find a free coupon 1st before making ANY purchase!

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Posted on June 26th, 2008 by itbsuperrich
Filed under: pethealthinsurance.pet-insurance-zone.info | No Comments »

Reading a pet food label, how difficult can it be? You just pick up your regular brand and look at the variety on the front, right? Not so fast! Reading a pet food label isn’t as easy as you may think. It’s not just ingredients and feeding suggestions. There’s also a “secret code” you should know about. The code helps you separate the Chicken Formula from the Chicken Dinner and the Beef and Bacon from the Beef with Bacon. You may be thinking “Aren’t they all the same?” and the answer is no.

While pet food labeling is regulated at the federal level, some states have their own labeling laws. Many follow the Pet Food Regulations established by the AAFOC (Association of American Food Control Officials).

The secret of pet food descriptions are dictated by four AAFCO rules…

1) The 95% Rule - The products that fall under this regulation have simple descriptions such as “Chicken Cat Food” or “Beef for Dogs“. These foods must contain at least 95% (not including water) of the named ingredient. In this case, chicken or beef. If a food description contains more than one meat, poultry or fish ingredient such as “Chicken and Liver Cat Food” , then both ingredients combined must equal 95%, with the first named ingredient being the highest percentage of the two. The 95% rule does not apply to grains and vegetables, so “Chicken and Rice Dog Food” must still contain 95% chicken.

2) The 25% or “Dinner” Rule - If the named descriptive ingredient falls between 25%-94% of the total product (still not counting water), then the description must include a qualifying word such as “Dinner”, “Platter”, “Formula”, etc. As in the first rule two listed ingredients must have be at least 25% of the total weight combined. So, “Chicken Dinner” only has to contain 25% chicken, while “Chicken and Liver Dinner” only has to contain 25% of the two combined. (Minimum of 3% of any named ingredient.) Unlike the first rule, the 25% rule applies to all food, not just meat sources.

3) The 3% or “With” Rule - This is where things get a little sneaky. Any ingredient on a label proceeded by “with” must equal at least 3% of the total weight (minus water). That might sound all right if the food is “Beef with Chicken” (95% beef, 3% chicken), but how does it sound in this form…”Dog Food with Beef”? Yep, that tells you that it only has to contain 3% beef! (Makes you wonder what the other 97% contains doesn’t it?)

4) The “Flavor” rule - There is no percentage attached to an ingredient described as a “flavor”. There only needs to be an amount sufficient enough to be detected by test methods. As you can probably guess “Chicken Flavored Cat Food” may contain very little chicken. In this case it doesn’t even need to be chicken as we normally think about it, but instead can be chicken meal or chicken by-products.

Premium Food - Looking down the pet food aisle you may be attracted to foods listed as “Premium” or “Gourmet”. These descriptive words have no requirements attached to them, so while a “Premium” food may sound like it’s higher quality food, in reality it doesn’t have to be any better than anything else on the shelf.

Now you know the secret of pet food descriptions and can be confident that the next time you’re scanning the different varieties of food for your best friend you’ll be able to tell the difference between “Beef for Dogs”, “Beef Dinner”, or “Dog Food with Beef”.

Jill Richards is the Owner/Operator of
“Have Leash, Will Travel - Pet Sitting” in Aurora, CO and offers t-shirts, sweatshirts, and stickers to Pet Professionals, Animal Rescue Workers, Anti-Breed Ban/BSL Fighters, and Pet Lovers through
USPetPros.com

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Posted on May 29th, 2008 by itbsuperrich
Filed under: pethealthinsurance.pet-insurance-zone.info | No Comments »

Americans are more concerned about health than ever before, so we should also have an equal amount of concern for our pets … particularly with regard to the ingredients in their food. We would want the ingredients in our pets’ food to be acceptable for human consumption.

After all, If byproducts are not tolerated in our food, why should they be tolerated in our pets’ food? We’re also starting to realize that our dogs and cats need daily supplements the same way that we do, in order to take care of their bodies for the inevitable ravages of aging. In the span of an animal’s life, an early start at good health ensures less vulnerability to degenerative diseases, joints that are less likely to creak with pain and a healthier heart. Naturally we want our dogs and cats to live with us for as long as possible.

Renowned holistic veternarian Dr. Jane Bicks says that when looking at dog food, one should be be weary of dyes, chemicals and artificial preservatives as much as possible. For example, BHA … one of the most common synthetic antioxidant preservatives mainly used to prevent food discoloration and rancidity … has been found in scientific studies to cause stomach cancer in lab rats at certain doses. In lesser doses, the preservative doesn’t have a cancerous effect but there is no telling what BHA can do to the body in small doses over a long period of time.

Dr. Jane states that the maximum life span of dogs is estimated to be between 25 to 30 years, but the average dog often lives no longer than 13 to 14 years.

And she says that this difference is caused primarily by inadequate nourishment.

She also states that protein is a critical part of a dog’s natural development so pet owners should look for foods which have whole ingredients like meat, eggs, fish and dairy as opposed to byproducts.

Harder working or more energetic dogs require more protein and fat in their diet to maintain stamina and good body form. A dog food that is complete and balanced and includes at least 26 percent protein and 1650 kilocalories of metabolizable energy per pound is ideal. During the seasons when dogs are not working, their energy requirements decrease. Feed less of the high calorie food or change to a less nutrient-dense dog food.

Unbleached rice is one of the more digestible carbohydrates and supplies a wide array of energy for your dog. Corn and wheat, meanwhile, are considerably more difficult to digest. It is also a great idea to look for antioxidants. In recent years, we have become much more conscious of our antioxidant intake, so why shouldn’t we have that same attitude towards our pets?

Dr. Jane Bicks has been honored on many occasions by the veternary profession and is the author of several books inlcluding ‘Thirty days to a healthier, happier dog’ and ‘Dr. Jane’s Natural guide to a healthier, happier dog’. She has been involved in many advisory boards including Canine Companions for independence and has served as the President of the Veterinary Medical association of New York City. She formulates Life’s Abundance premium dog food as well several types of dog supplements. For more information about Life’s Abundance dog food and dog supplements go to http://www.dog-food-nutrition.info/

About The Author

A.M. Wilmot is an author and researcher in the fields of human and pet health. For more info. go to http://www.dog-food-nutrition.com/ or http://www.dog-food-nutrition.info/

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Posted on March 31st, 2008 by itbsuperrich
Filed under: pethealthinsurance.pet-insurance-zone.info | No Comments »