Pet Therapy search this Saturday in Rye!

Saturday June 5th, at Pet Pantry in Rye, NY
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The Good Dog Foundation and Pet Pantry Warehouse announce the June 2010 therapy
Dog Search!

The
Good Dog Foundation will host a Therapy Dog Search at Pet Pantry
in Rye, NY on Saturday, June 5th. After evaluation,
the dog and handler may attend a training program and go on to join more than
800 other Good Dog volunteer teams who offer animal-assisted therapy to health
care, social service, educational and community facilities in New York, Connecticut,
New Jersey and Massachusetts.

WHEN:Saturday, June 5th, 2:00-4:00 p.m. *

WHO:Any dog and handler pair who is
interested in becoming a Good Dog volunteer team may attend. Dogs must be at
least six months old. The handler needs only to have the desire and
availability for volunteering with one or more facilities or programs.
WHERE:
Pet Pantry

259
Purchase St.
Rye, NY 10580
INFO:For more information call 718-788-2988.
*First come, first
served. There may be a short wait depending on the numer of dogs in attendance.

Spring Time and Canine Conditioning

Spring is here and we all want to get outside and have fun. It’s a great time to have our canine companions join us for a run, a walk in the woods or a swim at the lake. You may have been working out at the gym throughout the cold winter months, but has your dog been keeping fit? Or has he been home on the couch, with only the occasional trot around the backyard for exercise? Before you take a 3 mile jog with your dog, on a beautiful spring day, it is your responsibility to view and respect your dog as an athlete. Is your dog in good condition? What is your dog’s structure? Are you feeding a nutritionally balanced diet?

Before starting any exercise program with your dog, your dog should be given a thorough physical examination by a competent veterinarian. It is important to determine if there are any pre-existing conditions that may compromise your dog’s ability to exercise. Dogs with physical conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia that can result in arthritis should be given only moderate exercise throughout their lives. The best exercise for these dogs is swimming, because it is a non-weight-bearing exercise. (See caninewatersports.com for great information on teaching any breed of dog to swim).

Any exercise program you start with your dog should begin gradually and should be worked on consistently. Exercise and conditioning is not just a weekend activity. Your dog’s exercise program should include general conditioning exercises, such as swimming, retrieving, walking or running. Retrieving is a wonderful method to exercise a dog, but it has a high potential for injury. The use of frisbees as a retrieving toy should be used cautiously and only thrown low to the ground to prevent the dog from twisting on landing. Pet Pantry recommends the Chuck-It for those handlers that have trouble throwing a ball. It can help the handler throw the ball further and avoid handler injury from the repetitive motion of pitching a ball.

Mental conditioning is also essential for your dog’s well-being. Play with your dog! Frequent play periods are the best way to mentally condition a dog. Play is an important part of a dog’s emotional make-up. Tug-of-war and hide-and-seek are great games to relieve your dog’s stress while increasing the focus on the owner and strengthening the human-canine bond. Pet Pantry carries many safe tug toys that will stimulate a dog’s play drive.

A healthy diet is crucial for your dog’s long term health and longevity. Come into one of our locations and speak with our nutritional experts. They will help you choose a great food for your canine athlete.

Take the time to appreciate your dog’s marvelous athletic ability and use common sense before beginning any exercise program. Remember – just like you, your dog needs one day off a week.

Grand Opening THIS SATURDAY!

The Pet Pantry Warehouse cordially invites you to join us this Saturday April 10th for the Grand Opening celebration of our newest location at 2444 Boston Post Rd. in Larchmont, N.Y.! We are extremely excited to have an opportunity to serve Larchmont and the local surrounding community Healthy, Holistic and Natural selections of products for your pets.

Stop by Saturday where we will be offering a raffle for a free one year supply of Pet food, a gift certificate raffle, free T-shirts to the first 500 customers, FREE face painting for the kids from 12-3, a meet and greet with local dog trainer Ken Berenson from 11-1, as well as tons of other free giveaways....

In addition to the free products and fun stuff, we have 2 wonderful groups that will be joining us Saturday: Adopt-A-dog (http://www.adopt-a-dog.org/) is a local non-profit pet adoption organization that will be by with some wonderful pets that will be available to good homes. Additionally, the Good Dog foundation (http://www.thegooddogfoundation.org/) will be on hand to recruit and educate about their program that is dedicated to all aspects of animal assisted therapy.

Coffee and donuts will be served.

We hope to see you there!

Spring Check Ups for Pets

Spring is coming and those reminder postcards from the vet’s office start piling up in the mail. It’s spring check up time. What should and shouldn’t you do for your animal companions?

Just because you have a postcard stating your pet needs a long, laundry list of vaccinations, doesn’t mean it’s true or necessary. As your pet’s guardian, it is important that you do your homework and understand what they do and don’t need. Vaccine protocols have been changing dramatically over the last few years; fueled by research being done at the University of Wisconsin, by Dr. Ronald Schultz. There is increasing evidence that immunity provided from most vaccinations lasts longer than one year. And repeatedly vaccinating every year has been associated with immune-mediated disorders in dogs and certain types of cancer in cats. “Why, when you know from personal experience that life-long immunity exists for many human vaccines, do you have great difficulty believing a canine vaccine can provide life-long immunity?” Dr. Ronald Schultz

There are many good reasons for a spring check up beyond vaccinations. You and your vet can discuss your pet’s overall health. Your veterinarian can examine your pet’s teeth, ears, eyes, skin and coat condition, heart, and weight. Parasite issues can be discussed. Remember, many products used for controlling parasites are pesticides and should be used judiciously. Come in to Pet Pantry and discuss healthy alternatives for controlling pests.

“Yuck, dog breath!” is not really a laughing matter. If your cat or dog has really foul breath, it indicates there are problems with either teeth or tummy - definitely not something to be ignored. Part of a good spring check up should be a really thorough examination of the mouth. Infected teeth and gums aren’t just a mouth problem – the heart, kidneys, intestinal tract, and joints may also be infected. The tartar and any infected areas of the mouth contain a multitude of bacteria that can ‘seed’ to other parts of the body.

It is important to keep a careful eye on your animal companions and visit the veterinarian if you notice any of the following symptoms:
• Excessive thirst
• Increase or decrease in eating habits
• Weight loss or weight gain
• Changes in behavior
• Vomiting
• Any lumps or bumps
• Bad breath
• Lethargy
• Cough, labored breathing or shortness of breath
• Increase in temperature, pulse or breathing rate
• Changes in litter box habits, constipations, diarrhea, frequent
urination, straining to eliminate, blood in feces
• Abnormal discharges containing pus or blood. These often have an offensive odor. Watch for discharges from the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, penis or vagina.
Prompt veterinary attention should be sought if you notice any of the above symptoms. It is very important for your pets to have regular check ups with the vet, even if they appear to be healthy. Early detection can ward off many potentially serious problems.


Please note:
The articles on this site have not been written by a veterinarian. While great care has been taken in the creation of these posts, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages. They are being provided for informative purposes only. Please see your veterinarian for any health problems with your pets.

Why Feed the Good Stuff?

There are many good reasons for feeding your pet good food. Long term good health, longer lives, lower vet bills, to name just a few. What constitutes a good food?

When we choose a food to carry in our store, we look for quality ingredients and a caring manufacturer. Because we are feeding carnivores, good quality protein should be the first thing on the label. Look for a specifically named protein – chicken and chicken meal – not poultry meal or poultry by-products. If grains are present in the food, look for whole grains – oats, barley, brown rice. The fat should be specifically named like the protein source, and preserved naturally. When you see by-products, chemical preservatives like BHA and BHT, artificial flavorings, dyes and sweetners, keep looking for a better food.

Our shelves are stocked with natural, quality foods. Each animal is an individual. There is no one perfect food. Speak with our staff to determine a food to try with your pet. Then observe your animal companions for the next 2 months. Do they have a glossy coat? Is their skin healthy and itch free? Are their eyes bright? Are their ears clear? Do they have a happy, alert attitude?

When you want to make a healthier food selection for your pet, come in and speak with our trained staff. We will help you sort through ingredients, formulas, manufacturers and price. Our goal is to find the best food for you and your animal companion.

We want your pets to thrive!

Does Your Dog Need a Coat?

Does Your Dog Need a Coat?

There’s lots of high fashion out there for dogs, but does a dog really need a coat? Not all dogs need a coat, but many benefit from wearing a coat when the weather turns bitter cold. Most of our dogs live in the comfort of a heated home. Most dogs will adjust to gradual, seasonal changes of temperature. But many dogs will welcome help when the weather becomes extremely cold and wet.

It would be the rare occasion that a husky or a malamute would require a coat. Most of the northern breeds are naturally well equipped for a cold winter day. However, many other breeds and individuals will welcome the help of an extra layer of warmth.

So who does need a coat?

•Older and in firmed dogs that struggle with maintaining their body heat. By adding an extra layer you can help your dog preserve his physiological resources for the maintenance of general health and vitality.

•Dogs with hair and not fur are vulnerable to cold – especially windy, wet days. Without thick undercoat or water resistant fur, dogs can get frostbitten from the wind and soaked to the skin from rain and snow.

•Without any fat layers for protection, very thin dogs can certainly benefit from a coat.

•Even a short-haired hunting dog will appreciate a coat on a cold day.

•Small dogs, especially those with short legs, need extra help maintaining their body heat.

•Puppies being house trained in winter are also great candidates. It becomes very de-motivating for a puppy to eliminate outside when they freeze every time they go out. Choose a coat that is very easy to get on and off for those frequent, quick trips outside.

When choosing a coat, look for quality materials, good workmanship, and ease of laundering. Come into the store and try the coats on – fit is everything! A good quality coat can last the lifetime of a dog.

We look forward to seeing you!

Halloween Safety Tips for Pet Owners

Halloween can be lots of fun for human family members, but it can be a very scary and stressful holiday for the family pets. Here are a few suggestions to make the spooky holiday less stressful:

• If children in costumes are weird looking to us, just imagine how strange they appear to our pets. Consider excluding your pets from the festivities. The chaos that can accompany trick-or-treaters can be daunting for a good natured animal, think how upsetting it could be to the shy or sensitive cat or dog.
• If you must take your dog trick-or-treating, go only during daylight hours and only if your dog enjoys squealing, costumed children. Supervise your dog at all times and watch for signs of stress (panting, showing the whites of the eyes, yawning, and avoiding eye contact ).
• A normally good-natured dog or cat may be very frightened of children in costumes. Do not allow any child to tease, harass, trick or startle your animal companions.
• Don’t leave any of your pets outside and unattended during Halloween.
• Chocolate in all forms and candy containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can be dangerous and poisonous to pets. Even the candy wrappers pose a threat. Keep all Halloween goodies well away from your pets.
• Some dogs are very good sports about being dressed up, but others are not so easy-going. Be sensitive to the comfort level of your dog. Be aware of the potential for your dog to overheat in a costume. Never have your dog wear a costume that blocks vision or makes it difficult to walk.