Thursday, January 30, 2014

How to Save Money on Pet Care

Your furry friend deserves the best in care. Buying and raising a pet is a major commitment but it doesn’t have to break the bank. There are many ways to cut costs without skimping on pet care. Here are seven ways to save money on pet care that you could do easily:

save money on pet care


1. Buy in Bulk

Whether its pet food or flea and tick medicine, buying pet supplies in bulk saves you money in the long run. Ask your veterinarian if you can buy the largest dosage of routine heartworm pills and topical flea/tick ointments. Buying pet food in bulk is also a smart move when trying to cut costs. Just make sure that your food is staying fresh.

Tip: If you find that buying in bulk simply yields too much food, try splitting with a friend or fellow pet owner in the neighborhood.

2. Take Preventative Care Measures

One of the primary things to do to save money is to keep up with vet visits. By scheduling 6 month or yearly check-ups for your pet, it is easier to stay ahead of an illness or injury. Animals are not really good at telling when they are sick, so it is important for you as a pet owner to watch for the signs.

Tip: If you have more than one pet that attends the same vet, schedule your appointments for both in the same time slot to save time and money.

3. Make Your Own Treats and Toys

Instead of buying store brand treats, use kibble or certain human foods as rewards for good behavior. Some pet treats can get costly and in most cases are devoured pretty quickly. The same goes for toys! A lot of toys are made of everyday objects you might have in your home. Old sheets and fabrics can be made into tug-of-war rags and sticks from the backyard are perfect for fetch.

Tip: Try baking pet treats at home to save money. If you prefer buying toys, only buy a few and wash and rotate them every few weeks.

4. Utilize The Internet When Deciding On Pet Care Services

Pet care services range from grooming, dog walking and pet sitting to dog training and daycare. DIY grooming is the easiest way to cut back on spending. Cutting toe nails, bathing and trimming up your pets fur isn’t too hard as long as they cooperate. Dog walking and sitting services can be crucial if you work long hours or far from home. Do research online and look for deals and reviews for a cheaper place.

Tip: Partner with your neighbor or friend who also has a pet to take care of yours while you are away. It will be mutually beneficial and saves a lot of money.

5. Shop Around For Pet Medicines

Before buying your medicines from your vet, shop around and compare prices online. A lot of time, you can find discount pet pharmacies that are able to fill your prescription at a cheaper price.

Tip: During your next visit to the vet, have them send the prescription to your favorite online discount pet supply store to get the meds delivered to your door.

6. Consider Buying Pet Insurance

Pet insurance is not as expensive as we think it would be. As your pet gets older, having pet insurance is helpful in case of sickness or injury or just to pay for frequent hospital visits. It works just as human health insurance does in that the insurance company pays part of your pet’s health care while you pay the rest.

Tip: Look at your pet medical bills over the past few years and see if getting insurance makes sense. Also consider the age of your pet and find out the common health issues for the breed as they grow older.

7. Buy Durable Pet Supplies

When shopping for leashes, collars, cages, beds or other pet essentials, buy based on durability. The more durable the product is, the longer it will be around and the less times you will need to replace it. Therefore, spending less.

Tip: Plan and anticipate your pets needs so you can shop when the store has sales. Sign up for newsletters to get coupon by emails to help you save money.


Be proactive about your pet care as saving on the little things is what saves you in the long run. And sometimes the best options are just a click away!

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

4 Best Products for Dog Weight Loss

Finding a healthy weight-loss solution for an overweight dog can be challenging, especially with so many products on the market. You want your dog to get the best possible nutrition so that he or she can be active and enjoy life while maintaining a healthy weight. Combining a few different weight-loss products with an increase in exercise is probably the best approach to giving your dog strength, energy, and a happy life.

Best Products for Dog Weight Loss

Purina Veterinary Diet Food

Providing your dog with an appetizing, nutritious food that will support weight-loss is crucial. Purina Veterinary Diets OM Overweight Management Canine Formula makes an excellent dog food for weight loss and weight management. This formula is designed with a balance of nutrients, low fat, high protein:calorie ratio and isoflavones to allow your dog to lose weight while maintaining excellent overall health. It is available both as dry or wet food.

Vetri-Lean Weight Loss Chewable Tablets

A helpful product for dog weight-loss is a supplement called Vetri-Lean Chewable tablets for Dogs. This supplement, made by Vetri-Science Laboratories, is designed to prevent starch absorption. It is a safe, healthy, chewable tablet that reduces your dog's absorption of calories from carbohydrates so he or she can lose the extra weight. The supplement even has a tasty, dog-friendly chicken flavor.

Butler NutriSentials Lean Treats

Another great product is Butler NutriSentials Lean Treats for Dog that allows your to reward your dog for their good behavior without having to worry about straying away from your dog’ diet plan. Check out our detailed review on this product here.

BUSTER DogMaze Food Bowl

The BUSTER DogMaze is a innovative food dish that challenges your dog to eat more slowly. Dogs that eat slowly have a healthier digestive process, allowing them to absorb nutrients properly and get the most out of their food without overeating. Combining functionality and design, this food dish is a unique maze that makes mealtimes fun and healthy for your dog.


Exercise & Play Fun Games

Finally, helping your dog to get more exercise is the best beneficial weight-loss tool. All dogs need exercise, some breeds need more than others. This is more important if your dog is overweight. You dogs can have happier and healthier with regular walks. Other great physical activities to try with your dog include hiking, swimming, playing fetch with a ball or other fun dog toy, or even just running around in the yard or park. If you get excited about doing something physical, your dog will too. Helping your dog lose weight can be a fun way to bond, and you'll feel good knowing that you're giving your dog a happy, healthy life. Visit our website Medi-Vet to check more excellent products for getting your dog healthy and fit.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

6 Easy Tricks to Teach Your Dog

You have a dog that knows all of its obedience commands. Your dog can sit, lay down or come to your when you say so. You are happy with these basic commands but would like to teach them more advanced tricks. But you fear that it is going to take a lot of time and might be complicated that you would like. Lucky for you, you can easily teach your four-legged friend these 6 tricks.

Easy Tricks to Teach Your Dog

1. Go to bed

This is a super easy trick to teach your dog and is very helpful when your dog gets hyper. We recommend having a standard location for the bed before you get started.
  1. First, have your dog sit away from his/her bed
  2. Then, place a treat on the bed and say “bed” to the dog
  3. The dog will run to the treat on the bed
  4. Immediately, make them lay down on the bed
  5. Reward them, and give them another treat

2. Open the fridge

You know that there are days when you’re feeling too lazy to open the refrigerator? When you teach your dog how to do it, you’ll never have to set hands on the fridge door again! To learn this trick, your dog will already need to know how to tug on a rope; a trick that comes naturally for most dogs.
  1. Tie a bandana or a rope to the refrigerator handle.
  2. Walk your dog to the fridge and tell it to tug the bandana.
  3. Praise and treat your dog as soon as it puts the bandana in its mouth.
  4. Encourage your dog to tug the cloth until the door opens.
  5. As soon as the door begins to open, tell your dog “fridge” and offer a treat.

3. Smile

Some dogs naturally grin with their teeth and others don’t. Whether your dog happily displays its teeth or not, you can easily teach it to smile on command. If your dog smiles naturally, put a word to the action and offer a treat. If your dog needs a bit of help, tickle its nose or do something else that makes it lift its lip. As soon as you see teeth, praise your dog, use your command word, and give your dog a treat.

4. Potty Bell

Not every dog owner is adept at reading their dog’s signals. If you are tired of trying to figure out if your dog has to go outside to the bathroom, it’s time to teach it how to ring a bell to alert you.
  1. Hang a row of jingle bells on the doorknob on the door you use to take your dog outside. Make sure that the bell is at eye level.
  2. Each time you take your dog outside, hit the bell gently.
  3. Begin teaching your dog to hit the bell with its nose or paw.
  4. Give your dog a treat when it touches the bell.
Pretty soon you will have a dog that alerts you to its need to go outside.

5. Crawl

Teaching your dog to crawl is fairly simple.
  1. Place your dog in a down stay.
  2. Put a treat in front of your dog’s paws
  3. Slowly move it back towards you
  4. As your dog reaches for the treat, praise it and give it the treat.
  5. Slowly increase the distance that your dog has to move to get the treat. If your dog’s behind comes off of the ground, start again at step one.

6. Bring It

Your dog can help you with the laundry, can get you its leash, and can help you carry lightweight items through the house. Encourage your dog to pick up an item while you give a “take it” command. Let your dog follow you to another room with the item in its mouth while you give a “bring it” command. Put your hand out for the item while you give a “drop it” command. The more you practice this, the better your dog will become at helping you do the daily household chores.

Some of other popular tricks that you can teach your dog are high-five, shake, wave and kiss. It doesn’t matter if your dog is young or old. All you need is patience, yummy dog treats and of course, a dog. Teaching them tricks not only keeps their mind active but also allows you to show off with your smart pet to your family and friends.