WELCOME TO WILLY'S PET TIPS 

Pet ownership is more than just getting a pet and giving it food and water. Being responsible for another living creature that depends on you is a commitment, for the rest of their life. Unfortunately pets don't live long compared to humans. 20 years is a long but rare lifetime for them, generally dogs are much less, depending on breed, indoor cats can live maybe 15 years. So many factors attribute to longevity as in humans.

Exercise is so important, walking your dog daily, letting it sniff & explore stimulates it's brain, keeps their weight in check and builds muscle. Safe toys to chew on and play with keeps them active. Rawhides are not good for dogs, they don't digest and can cause all kinds of stomach and intestinal issues, some very serious. Research carefully!

Pet containment is truly a great thing to have. There are such new advances with GPS systems allowing your dog (some for cats too!) to have freedom in your yard. Seriously look into them!  Fences are good, too, but just make sure your dog can't get underneath or jump over to escape, or someone leaves the gate open.

Taking your pet to the vet regularly for a check up, nail clip, vaccines keeps them healthy. Talk to your vet about any issues you are concerned with your pet, write it down first to be sure and get all your questions answered.

Bathing & grooming dogs (more so than cats who do a great job of that themselves), keeps their coat clean from outdoor debris, odors, pests, etc. Just know that, depending on what soap or shampoo you use, it could make the flea & tick medicine ineffective, so again discuss with your vet.

Never ever leave a dog alone in a parked car, even if you have the vehicle 'running', it most likely will shut off automatically. Temperatures can soar within a very few minutes, causing heatstroke or worse, death. Cracked windows don't help. Always bring your pet with you or leave them at home where it's safe and cool. If you don't think it's hot 'enough' out, turn off the car, keep the windows closed and sit in the car for 10 minutes. Are you suffocating? So will your pet, they could panic, increasing stress & breathing - they can't turn on the car or open the door to escape. Think you're going to run in the store for just a quick minute? Things happen, don't, just don't, put your poor animal through that. And also, not in the open truck bed - that should be obvious, never ever! We've all seen it and cringe at how incredibly unsafe it is. 

Keep your dog safe so he can relax in comfort!

FOODS;

The best types of dog food depend on your dog's age, breed, size, activity level and health needs. Always check with your vet. Some options to research;

1 High-quality kibble (dry food) - Convenient, shelf-stable, usually formulated with balanced nutrition. Meat should be the first ingredient, corn & soy are fillers - stay away from!

2. Canned food - platable & hydrating, good for picky eaters or ones with dental issues - softer easier than dry.

3. Fresh or frozen food - usually gently cooked and delivered, offer whole ingredients and less preservatives.

4. Raw diet - includes uncooked meats, bones and veggies. Beneficial but needs to be controlled and a balance. Bones aren't the best you really need to make sure they don't splinter like pork bones, always be there when your dog is chewing on bones.

5. Freeze-dried/dehydrated - lightweight, long shelf life, retains nutrition, needs rehydration.

Don't buy just because you've seen lots of ads or it's cheap. Some of the dog foods out there are just filler and animal scrap, no nutritious value what so ever. Read the labels carefully! Know the ingredients. Keeping your pet fed with healthy food also keeps them healthier, stronger, happier, better 'poops', weight-control. Just think that even if you're spending more on a much better food for them, the benefit is less problems, less visits to the vet for being sick or in pain.

Be sure to have your dog tested for heartworm and then get on a regime for preventive meds. Also, flea and tick. If you take your dog for a walk, in the woods, trails, dog parks it's always important to check for ticks even if has treatment, just so ticks aren't brought in the house or get on you! Always work with your vet, don't buy the stuff at the stores, not effective and may not be good for your pet!