• It’s an indoor pet. (But what happens when your pet escapes out the open door that is left open accidently and runs away)

• Haven’t gotten around to it.

Question: Would owners use ID tags if the ASPCA made it incredibly easy, providing free collar and ID on the spot. The answer: Yes. Most took the offering and, in follow-up calls weeks later, the vast majority said their pets were wearing them.

Saving lives is what SmartTag (www.idtag.com) is all about because pet owners can save a whole lot of lives if they could be persuaded to do what they already acknowledge is important — put ID tags on their pets. And even the ASPCA is seeking funding sources to try to make that happen. Will the people who get freebies bother to go get another tag when phone number or address changes? Yes, if it’s carried out correctly. For example, SmartTag has already tested this out already. Pet parents wouldn’t have to worry about purchasing a new ID tag, because as part of SmartTag’s mission they already offer FREE lifetime replacement tags. Anytime the tag is lost or damaged you can contact us directly so we can send you the free replacement tag. Your unique ID tag number will be stored in your idtag.com account, just log in using your email and password.

Every SmartTag package has an additional plastic tag, for your key ring with the same unique serial number. Since your SmartTag number is not legible please place the plastic tag, for now, on your pet’s collar in case of an emergency. Contact us at support@idtag.com and we will ship a free replacement SmartTag out today.

Moreover, ID tags that anyone can see and respond to carry more than the predictable benefit. Research shows that when people see a roaming animal wearing a collar and an ID tag, they’re likely to step in and try to help. They instantly know it’s someone’s pet, not a feral. And they know they’re not committing to keeping the animal forever, they’re merely making a simple phone call. And when people intervene, that’s less time the animal is wandering, at risk of being injured or killed by a vehicle, or attacked, or landing in a shelter where, often, it will be euthanized in 72 hours.

It’s simple insurance. And cheap, but most importantly, it comes from a reliable source called SmartTag, with a proven track record of saving pets one day at a time.

Times are rough with the steady rate of unemployment and rising food prices, but your pet doesn’t need to take a back seat to your financial needs. Instead, a great option for many pet parents, today, is using pet product coupons.

Recycling centers are a wonderful place to find thousands of unwanted pet product coupons that have been thrown away into the recycling bin. Coupons are also available at animal centers in your area, veterinarians, food pantries, senior centers and churches. 

Don’t let the economy get you down now, instead take advantage of the many coupons out there for your pet! Coupons are an added treat for pet owners who need extra help feeding their pets.

There is a lot of misinformation on the web about vitamins for your pet. Nowadays, people love their pets that they are willing to take every step to help their pets stay healthy, but are vitamins for pets really necessary and more importantly, do they work? According to studies, vitamins help improve the health of your pet’s coat, promote bone and teeth health, improve digestive health, relieve and prevent arthritis and skin problems. Likewise, vitamins provide effective relief to specific pet health concerns like allergies, lethargy, cataracts, tumors, epileptic seizures, and leukemia. Pets should be given a good vitamin/mineral supplement because they are not receiving their daily requirements through the food they eat similar to humans. Vitamins can be given to your pet very easily by embedding the vitamin in your pet’s food. These vitamins will keep your pet at its highest health, vitality and endurance levels. A daily multi-vitamin, such as Lifestage Select® Puppy Formula, may help ensure that growing puppies get the vitamins they need for healthy tissues, strong bones, and overall good health. If you have any questions regarding your pet taking vitamins, take the next step and talk with your veterinarian.

The most obvious change probably will be a decline in activity. The first thing to watch for is tiring after exercise. The aging dog cannot walk as fast or as far. Do not take long walks; instead, walk him little and often, especially to new places. Use a more leisurely pace, stopping several times for rest along the way. Don’t make the dog run up and down the stairs, for his heart is not as strong as it used to be. Do not force him to play if he does not want to. Those games of catch and run and fetch, which he used to enjoy, may still interest him, so don’t let him think he is being put on the shelf by stopping them entirely. Do cut down on the time and see that he doesn’t get overtired.

An aging dog will want to sleep more. Let him, and be sure his bed is a little softer as well as warmer in the winter.  Be sure that he is not sleeping in a drafty place. Be aware of his intolerance for high and low temperature and protect him from extremes. He feels the cold and heat as he never did before. Remember this when you bathe him and have both the room and bathwater warm. Don’t bathe him unless it is absolutely necessary; sponge him instead with a damp cloth, or use a dry shampoo to keep him sweet and clean. His hair will turn gray and lose its sheen. Brush him often; he’ll like it, and brushing will help to stimulate his skin glands, which have become sluggish.

Few dogs get enough exercise. In urban areas, and in busy suburbs, dogs must be exercised on leash, and this takes time. It is time well spent, however, for exercise is a great conditioner. The steady pace of controlled leash-walking is more beneficial than the occassional dashing hither and yon of the yard-confined dog. Furthermore, even in a sizable yard, a dog can be as lazy as he likes.

If possible, walk your dog on leash twice daily as far as he will go without seeming tired. Two or three trips around the block every day are more beneficial than three miles on Sundays only, for dogs become used to exercise just as we do. The walk should be as long as the dog’s legs–in other words, one city block for the short-legged dog equals several for the long-legged one. If you are uncertain about the distance your dog can walk, start with a few blocks, then gradually increase the distance each day. In addition to leash-walking, your dog should be exercised and played with regularly in his yard, or he can be taken for a free run in the woods and fields. Do not expect your pet to hold his own on icy pavements, for he slips easily.

The answer is yes. The general rule is: when you put on a topcoat yourself, put a sweater or coat on your dog if he is accustomed to living in a heated house. Of course, on a mild day or a few minutes in the yard, he/she need not be bundled up, but if it is for any length of time, he should be wearing a covering.

Now, you may be wondering this. Should every dog be wearing a sweater or coat?

The larger, long-haired breeds do not need clothing of any sort, especially when fully grown because by that time their dense undercoat, over-laid with a coarse outer coat, protects the body from the cold. However, the thin puppy coat is not weather-resistant. If your pet is still carrying his/her puppy coat during his/her first winter, keep your pet moving outdoors and dry him thoroughly if his hair gets wet. And, for the thin-skinned, fine-haired small breeds kept as house pets will need sweaters or coats on cold days.

Where and which kind is best for my pet?

Generally, all pet shops carry many different kinds of sweaters and coats for dogs. But, when choosing one, make sure it covers the dog’s chest, since this is the area that needs the most protection. Fancy styles may look pretty, but serve as little defense against the cold. Be careful when putting a sweater or coat on your pet for the first few times. Hold the sweater in one hand, then place your other hand through the neck opening and spread it enough to slip over the head gently. Getting your puppy used to clothing of some sort while he is young is crucial, for you never know when it may be useful.