Learn About a Human Food You Should NEVER Give Your Dog

One of the reasons that Pet Wants food is so good for dogs is we make it with real ingredients that contain all the nutrients these animals need to thrive. While there are plenty of foods that dogs should consume on a daily basis, there are also some foods that they should never, ever eat. Grapes are a prime example of this. Even though grapes and raisins are healthy and tasty treats for humans, they can be deadly to dogs.

When Is It Too Hot to Walk Your Dog?

There are a lot of things to like about summer. It's the time of the year when you can enjoy going to the pool or one of the lakes near Edmond. Businesses are often at least a little slower during this season, so you may find yourself with some time off. On the other hand, when the temperature swells well into the triple digits, it's normal to wish for a little cooler weather.

How to Successfully Travel With Your Cat

As most cat owners know from firsthand experience, these animals really enjoy being homebodies. One of the ways this manifests itself is cats want to guard their turf against any intruders. Even for cats that spend some of their time outdoors, the radius they stay within is generally less than three miles in size. So when a cat goes out into the world with its owner and ends up in a place it doesn’t know that’s outside of this zone, chances are it’s going to be on the lookout. Expecting retribution for “trespassing” is why cats who are exposed to new environments generally respond by hiding, making noises that indicate being unhappy or attempting to get out of this situation.

While it’s almost guaranteed that cats are going to have a less than enthusiastic reaction to any kind of traveling, this doesn’t have to prevent you from ever taking your cat anywhere with you. If you need or want to travel and plan to bring your cat along, there are definitely some steps you can take to make this process go as smoothly as possible for both of you:

Using the Right Carrier

The first step in successfully traveling with your cat is choosing the right carrier. Even though cats may enjoy cardboard boxes when they’re playing inside their home, using this type of item with holes punched in isn’t the ideal choice for traveling. Since there are many different types of quality carriers available for cats, you will want to think about your cat’s specific personality and then select a carrier that seems like the best fit for it. Some cats prefer being able to keep an eye on things by looking out of a wire carrier, while others prefer the secure feeling that a covered carrier provides.

Basic Travel Tips for Cats

Once you have a carrier for your cat, you’ll want to let it spend some time checking it out prior to actually leaving your home. Giving this type of introduction will make the experience of getting in the carrier and then leaving your home less jarring. For most trips, having a container that will allow you to easily offer your cat water at least once is a good idea. And while you’ll definitely want to pack cat food for your trip, it’s unlikely that your cat will actually want to eat prior to reaching your destination.

When you travel with your cat for the first time, you may be surprised by how much noise it makes. Just know that as long as you’re keeping your cat close and as comfortable as possible, this noise is simply the result of your cat letting you know it’s a little unhappy and not the result of any actual physical distress. Also, plenty of cat owners have turned their pets into great travelers, so don’t be afraid to continue venturing out with your kitty.

A Day in the Life of an Edmond Animal Shelter Volunteer

Pet Wants was founded around the idea of providing better nutrition to pets. Instead of taking the approach that many big brands follow of trying to maximize margins by using cheap ingredients and other cost-cutting measures that also negatively impact quality, we believed we could build a loyal base of customers by making great food that provides pets with the nutrition they need to thrive. This concept has grown from one location in 2010 to numerous Pet Wants locations across the United States, including ours right here in Edmond.

In addition to providing pets with the best possible nutrition, we believe in giving back. That’s why we make it so easy to donate dog food or donate cat food. We’re passionate about the work that Edmond animal shelters are doing, which is why we encourage anyone who can to also donate their time by volunteering. Even if you only have a few hours each week, you can make a very real difference in the lives of animals who need it most.

Since we know many people may not know exactly what to expect as an animal shelter volunteer, we want to share a peek into what this activity is all about:

Giving Back As An Animal Shelter Volunteer

We’re going to take a look at what someone who volunteers once a week at an animal shelter is likely to do. During their three to six hours at the shelter, this individual will help people who come in spend time with animals they may be interested in adopting. The specific title given to this type of work is shelter guide. And the goal of this type of work is to make it easy for people to adopt, as well as ensure the adoption is a good fit. While it’s frustrating when multiple people pass on a specific animal, it’s even worse when someone ends up returning an animal. This is why taking time to ensure the right match is such an important part of the job. 

Keep in mind that most animal shelters need plenty of help, so it’s fairly easy to customize your experience based on your personal preferences. For example, someone who isn’t as comfortable interacting with other people can spend more of their time caring for the animals and facilities. And if you have a professional skill like design, marketing or legal experience, chances are very good that a shelter will be eager to enlist your expertise.

One other issue worth mentioning is many shelters have a rule that prevents volunteers from adopting during their first six months of work. So if you’re interested in adopting a pet now, it may be best to establish the relationship with a shelter by first adopting and then going back in the future to volunteer.

For more information on pets or to try one of our formulas, please contact Pet Wants Edmond at: 405-397-9690.

What is Kitten Season?

Almost everyone loves playing with cute and cuddly kittens. Between the months of April and October in the United States, however, kittens create a tremendous problem. Kitten season is generally divided into three different seasons, beginning in the spring, peaking during the summer months, and then winding down in the fall. Because of the high volume of litters born during these months, pet shelters are flooded with homeless cats and kittens.

What's With Your Dog's Destructive Chewing?

Do you have a dog that just won't stop chewing? Are your belongings slowly disappearing in the face of your dog's destructive behavior? Destructive chewing can be caused by a variety of issues. You can typically determine the root cause by observing your dog. Even if your dog's behavior is normal, there are steps that can be taken to reduce destructive chewing. 

How to Cat-Proof Your Home

As many new cat parents have learned the hard way, cats have a real knack for finding all kinds of things that are off-limits and then eating those things. The same goes for playing with things throughout a house that weren't intended to be toys. Since it can feel a little overwhelming at times when you start thinking about all the different things a cat can get into, we want to highlight five of the biggest hazards and how you can overcome them by cat-proofing your home:

Why Do Dogs Sleep So Much?

As a dog owner, there have probably been times when you've seen your dog sleeping somewhere in your home and almost felt jealous by how comfortable it is able to get. There's no question that dogs are very good at finding spots where they're able to relax and fall asleep. Since it's not uncommon for dogs to spend in the ballpark of fourteen hours a day sleeping, having the ability to get extremely comfortable is actually a very important skill. 

The Full Scoop on Dogs and Sleeping

If you ever have a visitor stay at your house who isn't a dog owner, they may notice how much your pet sleeps and ask you why. And if your answer has been that you don't exactly know why, you're not alone. However, keep reading to get filled in on the main explanations for this behavior.

How to Reduce Excessive Barking

Although dogs are going to bark, there's definitely a difference between a normal amount of barking and a dog that engages in this behavior excessively. If your pet falls into the latter category, it's normal to feel stressed or even overwhelmed by how your dog is behaving. The good news is even though it may not seem like it right now, there are ways to reduce how much or often your pet barks. 

5 Dog Diseases Impacted by Nutrition

As any vet will tell you, there are a number of health problems found in dogs that are related directly to diet. Since helping dogs enjoy healthy and happy lives is a key part of our mission, we want to highlight several of the conditions that fall into this category:

1. Pancreatitis

This condition occurs when the pancreas gets inflamed and digestive enzymes start flowing into the abdominal area. Those enzymes then start breaking down proteins and fats in other organs and the pancreas. Dietary fat has been linked to a higher risk of developing this condition. Ensuring your dog keeps its fat intake to a minimum will reduce that risk.

2. Heart Disease

As with humans, heart disease is unfortunately a fairly prevalent issue with dogs. One of the leading causes of this disease is increased sodium. The reason getting too much salt can lead to heart disease is blood vessels will retain more water, which in turn increases blood pressure. Since table scraps often have a lot of sodium, this is one of several reasons why feeding them to your dog isn’t the best idea.

3. Bladder Stones

There are multiple types of bladder stones that dogs can develop. But they tend to cause the same issues, including straining to urinate, urinary accidents and discolored urine. Getting an adequate amount of both phosphorus and calcium without going overboard is the best prevention against these stones.

4. Diarrhea

Although this condition may not be as pressing as the others, it’s still a problem. Before we address why, it’s worth noting that diarrhea (especially if it includes bloody stool) can signal a very serious health condition. If you have any concerns about your dog’s diarrhea, it’s always best to err on the side of caution by contacting your vet. For cases of diarrhea not caused by a serious health problem, effective solutions include ensuring your dog eats at consistent times during the day and gets enough fiber.

5. Obesity

Not only is a significant percentage of the US human population affected by obesity, but more than fifty percent of all dogs suffer from it as well. This condition increases their risk for everything from higher blood pressure to arthritis. In addition to getting plenty of exercise, giving your dog food that has the right nutrients without an excess of calories is key.

An Important Note About Freshness

If you look at the ingredients in our food, you’ll see that we go to great lengths to provide the optimal balance for dogs’ health. Additionally, freshness is one of our top priorities. By making our food fresh every month, we’re able to ensure that all the nutrients in our food remains active and actually does what it’s supposed to in regards to helping dogs.

How Do I Volunteer At An Animal Shelter?

October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. If you’ve been thinking about adopting a dog, now is the perfect time to move forward with that decision. And even if your home is already at capacity for dogs or you’re not in the right position to bring this type of animal home, you can still help animals in need by volunteering at a shelter.

Like just about everywhere else in the country, shelters around Edmond are always in need of great volunteers. So if you’d like to contribute in this way, we want to shed a little light on what to expect and the best ways you can help:

Can Dogs Help Children Read?

Anyone who spends time with one or more dogs on a regular basis knows from first-hand experience that these animals are capable of doing incredible things. Whether it’s something small or the type of feat that makes the local news, dogs can provide so much to humans of all ages. Since we are huge dog lovers and care a lot about sharing information about them, we want to focus on a topic today that’s nothing short of amazing.

Questions You Should Ask At the Shelter Before Adopting

Adopting a shelter pet is a big decision. While it’s a decision that can bring you lots of joy for a very long time, it’s important to understand the commitment you’re making. As long as you’ve given yourself time to think through the impact of this decision and know with certainty that bringing a pet home will be a good fit for your lifestyle, you can feel confident in moving forward.

How to Keep Your Dog Safe During a Tornado

Dealing with tornadoes is just part of the package that goes along with living in Oklahoma. For anyone who has grown up in Oklahoma or lived there for many years, it actually gets quite easy to not really put much weight into warnings during tornado season. Although there’s no need to constantly be on edge about bad weather, it is important to remind yourself that a truly dangerous storm may one day strike close to home.