Get your next pet from your local animal shelter. By doing so, you are reducing the overpopulation most shelters face and decreasing the demand on pet stores for new dogs. Also spay or neuter your dog to help reduce overpopulation later down the line.

When selecting your dog’s food, choose something organic. Organic food is more eco-friendly because of its lack of chemicals, which is better for the environment and the health of your dog. Try to choose a brand that has recyclable packaging as well.

Choosing biodegradable bags to help with dog clean up outside is another easy way to reduce your dog’s footprint. Leaving waste behind is not a safe option, it can pass germs and parasites onto other dogs and people; switching your clean up bag to one that is biodegradable is best.

Giving your dog toys made from recycled goods and keeping up with chemical free flea treatments are also important steps to reduce your dog’s carbon footprint. Using an all natural shampoo can help considerably improve your dog’s health and reduce their carbon footprint.

If you’re looking for a change of scenery, grab a big bottle of water, some comfortable shoes and take your dog for hike in the nearby hills or mountains. It will give your dog a chance to explore and will give you a boost of confidence when you reach the top.

To get out of the heat, take your dog to a river, lake or beach that is pet friendly. Most dogs love to swim and you’ll get a needed change in your work-out routine. Want something lower impact? Take your dog to the local dog park in the evening and toss a Frisbee around. Your dog will be entertained and you’ll still get a decent workout.

Comfort your dog, but don’t coddle him: It is ok to give your dog a pat and reassure him, just don’t over-do it. Handing out treats to stop howling and whining during a storm can reinforce that negative behavior you’ve been working so hard to stop. On the other hand, make sure you do not ignore your dog either. The tough love approach can back-fire and fuel his fear even more.

Allow your dog to hide: Give your dog one space to hide (preferably a crate), where he already feels safe. This will allow his fears to slowly subside over time.

Desensitize: On non-rainy days play the sound of thunderstorms lightly as background noise while playing with your pup. This will give your dog a chance to grow used to the sound gradually instead of being shocked by it when a storm does pass you by.

Speak to your veterinarian: Your veterinarian will be able to help you more thoroughly assess this problem. They may be able to provide you with more in-depth suggestions specific to your dog’s needs and could also provide your pup with medication as well.

• Keep your dog hydrated by providing adequate amounts of water both inside and outside. If you plan on leaving your pup outside for a long period of time, make sure that in addition to water, there is also plenty of shade and ventilation, especially if you crate them outside.
• When planning your exercise or play time, opt for early morning or evening. You’ll get more out of your time spent outdoors if you avoid peak hours in the sun.
• Make sure your dog is well groomed. Brush them often to remove shed hair and keep them trimmed appropriately.
• Do not leave your dog in the car! We see reports of this every summer. Your dog is more likely to suffer from heat exhaustion in your car than anywhere else. If you know you’ll be running errands or making stops, it’s better to leave your pup at home. Depending on the temperature outside, the temperature inside a vehicle, even with the windows cracked can exceed 120 degrees in a matter of a few minutes and this can be deadly to your dog.
• Just like people, dogs need to be protected from the sun. Protect their noses and use sunscreen on other exposed skin or places with thin or light colored hair. *****Be sure to ask your vet which brand they recommend

When in doubt, the best thing you can do for your dog during summer heat is to keep him indoors until the sun starts to go down.

The truth is most dogs develop these allergic reactions as a result of a low or weakened immune system. By giving your dog a quality dog food that’s high in proteins along with a daily dog food supplement like Dinovite, your dog will be getting all the vitamins and nutrients they need to build a strong, healthy immune system, which means they are less likely to be affected by environmental or food allergens.

Do your pup a favor before summer is in full swing and check out the ingredients in his food and begin supplementing his diet with Dinovite all natural dog food supplements today!!

Evaluate the protein source, protein is the most important ingredient and should be the first ingredient on the list. Be careful with protein sources such as soy, corn or wheat, these are difficult proteins for your dog to digest and absorb. Look for animal sources of protein such as beef, chicken, lamb and fish. A protein source that includes the words “meal” or “digest,” such as chicken meal or animal digest, is not meat, but ground up bones, hair, teeth, feathers and other generally useless body parts.

Purchasing a higher quality bag of dog food may actually save you money in the long run. A happy, healthy dog means fewer trips to the vet, and you will also notice that, as your dog adjusts to a higher quality dog food, he will consume less food, meaning you purchase fewer bags in the long run. Also consider adding the additional vitamins, nutrients and proteins with Dinovite, it helps your pet get the digestive enzymes, direct fed microbials, vitamins, minerals, and delicate nutrients that he so desperately needs for a long and healthy life.

Exercise: Pets have different nutritional requirements when it is colder out, just like us. They tend to eat more if they are outside a lot so be aware of this, but don’t overfeed your dog. Obesity is as much a significant health hazard for our pets as it is for us. Exercise is still critical for our pets in the winter. If you are decreasing the length and frequency of your walks when it is real cold, make sure your pet still gets adequate exercise.

Protection from Winter Chemicals: One major problem with antifreeze is that it has a very sweet taste and as a result, dogs and cats love it and can end up ingesting it. You may want to look for a pet-friendly antifreeze that’s safe to store and use in your vehicle when you have pets living in your home.

Winterize Pet Shelters: If you have outside dogs make sure they have enough warmth and fresh water available. Consider protecting their paws by having them wear booties and possibly wearing some additional layers of clothing depending on the temperatures. Frostbite can result when spending too much time outside on a cold night or a long walk in sub-zero temperatures.

Keep older, arthritic dogs inside. These dogs should not be left outside under any circumstances. Escort the older dogs outside for bathroom breaks and use a leash or harness if the yard has ice or snow. Older dogs can easily fall and seriously injure themselves.

While it’s easy to think that your pets are immune to cold because of their fur, quite the opposite is true in fact. Frostbite, hypothermia and antifreeze poisoning present the biggest winter threats to dogs. But by taking a few precautions and using common sense, dog owners can keep their dogs safe this winter.

1. Resolve to take quality walks.

Chances are, your pet never says “no” to a walk, even if it’s the same path you’ve walked a thousand times. Your dog craves new scents and sounds as much as you enjoy new scenery. Take your dog for a daily walk, a simple new year’s resolution. Dogs need exercise too and the result will be a healthier, more relaxed dog, not to mention a healthier you!

2. Resolve to make your dog’s health a priority.

Another important area often overlooked is your dog’s diet. Most store bought foods are lacking in the important nutrients your dog needs to maintain a strong, healthy immune system. Be sure to check the labels and buy a food that has plenty of protein and as few fillers and by-products as possible. Another way to ensure your dog is getting all the vitamins, minerals and important nutrients he needs to be healthy is by supplementing his diet with an all natural dog food supplement like Dinovite Dog Supplement. K-9 Health Solutions has a variety of supplements that are great for your dogs overall health. So this New Year, resolve to give your dog the healthy diet he deserves.

3. Resolve to mix it up

Do something fun with your dog that you’ve never done before. Has your dog ever been to the beach? Despite the cold, this is a great time of year to walk the beach, since many public beaches allow dogs during the winter months. How about a hike through the woods? Or maybe add a new dog toy to his collection every few weeks. It doesn’t have to be something store-bought, just new to your pup – that is, something he hasn’t seen before. They say variety is the spice of life, so this New Year add a little “spice” into your dog’s normal routine!

Happy New Year from K9healthsolutions!

1) Dog owners should keep a close eye on Fido near the Christmas tree – Pine needles are not safe for Fido to eat, the needles can puncture his stomach and intestines. Pine needles are not considered toxic but are irritating. They can be irritating to the mouth and stomachs of dogs as well as the feet and pads if they walk on the needles. Many dogs will vomit after eating the needles.

2) Chocolate should be kept out of your dog’s reach – Most dogs enjoy the taste of chocolate, but ingestion can be dangerous. Chocolate contains methylxanthines (caffeine and theobromine), which is toxic to dogs, and the effects can be lethal. Theobromine is a naturally occurring stimulant found in the cocoa bean, theobromine increases urination and affects the central nervous system as well as heart muscle. While amounts vary by type of chocolate, it’s the theobromine that is poisonous to dogs.

3) POINSETTIAS, HOLLY and MISTLETOE – All three of these plants are poisonous to pets and if you do have a pet who can be naughty you may want to refrain from having any of these within your pet’s reach during the holidays. At a minimum they should be kept out of reach.

4) Glass Christmas Ornaments – These can be particularly lethal if ingested and not treated right away. Glass ornaments can be dangerous if they fall from the tree and break. Shards of sharp, fine glass can become embedded into the pads, or in the skin between the toes, or perhaps even be chewed on! Keep them off the ends of branches where traffic passes, or avoid them altogether.

Have a happy and safe holiday season from K9 Health Solutions! And don’t forget to buy your pet something special for the holidays!

Although there are millions of pets in shelters needing homes each year, many pet-owners-to-be don’t think about pet adoption when they’re looking for their new four-legged friend. Often the case is that many people simply are not aware of how many great pets are available at shelters. They might also have the misconception that pets in shelters have something wrong with them. In fact, most pets end up in shelters not because of any problem with pet behavior, but because an owner died, moved, or simply didn’t have the time or money to care for the animal. In some cases animals are lost and never found by their owners. These animals are healthy and very eager to please. Rescued pets are wonderful- just ask anyone who has one.

Another stereotype facing shelter pets is that some people are seeking purebred animals and believe these breeds are not available in shelters. Nearly a quarter of all animals in shelters are purebred. Often someone buys an expensive purebred animal and then attempts to breed that animal to recoup their money, the outcome is that these animals are not placed in homes, and end up in the shelter.

Here are five more reasons shelter pets are win-win for owner and pet.

1. When you adopt an adult animal, you can see his/her size and temperament. This helps ensure that the pet is right for you and your family.

2. It feels great to know you have saved an animal’s life and everyone you meet will give you kudos for that for years to come.

3. Adopted pets are very loyal and know they have been given a new home. They understand the stress of moving from place to place and when they are introduced to routines they will really open up and appreciate your choice to adopt.

4. Adopting a pet can be an important lesson to teach your children– both about the value of life, and also about civic responsibility and even recycling- in this case recycling a living and loving animal into a new home.

5. Choosing a mixed breed animal can help avoid many of the genetic health problems that have developed in purebred animals due over breeding and inbreeding.

For more tips about pet adoption, visit Adopt-a-Pet.com.