The American Veterinary Medical Association has estimated that nearly 40% of the dogs in the United States are overweight. This common medical condition can lead to a variety of pet health related issues that contribute to a shorter life span including cardiac disease, arthritis, labored breathing, heat and exercise intolerance, respiratory conditions and compromised immune functions.

Most pets benefit from at least 45 minutes of moderate to strenuous daily activity. A regular walk is not always brisk enough or possible. Treadmill training can give a dog a great workout regardless of weather or environment, allowing owners to maintain consistent exercise regimens.

Why a Dog Treadmill?

Dog Treadmills Keep Pets Healthy – Mentally and Physically

Most pets don’t get the regular exercise they need. The dog treadmill training is a great alternative when you can’t get outdoors. Show dog owners have used treadmill training for years to increase muscle definition, tone and help focus their dog’s energy. It improves pet health, vitality and best of all – it can aid in increasing your dogs lifespan. A pet with excess energy can be destructive and a treadmill is a great way to keep your dog balanced.

Dog-specific Treadmill Design Is Easy To Use

There are many features that the DogTread™  by Pet Zen provides that make it more dog friendly than a human treadmill. For instance, the manual console lets you control the intensity and duration of the workouts through speed, distance and time functions at levels that are comfortable for your dog. Side-rails keep your dogs attention focused and forward. Recessed treat-holders make it easy to provide positive reinforcement during the training process. The whisper-quiet motor is not intimidating and the sturdy design does not wobble. Finally, there is no need to worry about hair build up as it is simple to keep clean.

Dog Treadmill Training Is Fun

The DogTread™ provides great bonding time for pets and their people. Staying watchful and supportive during your pet’s treadmill exercise time ensures that you both are getting the much needed bonding time you both need

Affordable

Compared to the average cost of medical treatments associated with pet obesity related health problems at $832 per year (Veterinary Pet Insurance, 2006) or a torn leather sofa because of boredom, the cost of the Pet Zen DogTread is an affordable alternative for any dog owner that cares about the health and well-being of their pet.

DogTread Awarded Top Fitness and Weight Loss Product of 2009 By Association for Pet Obesity Prevention

After long hours evaluating many exciting and innovative pet products the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) has awarded the DogTread by PetZen with Top Pet Fitness and Weight Loss Products for 2009.

“With straightforward controls and quiet operation, the DogTread from PetZen is one of our favorite dog treadmills,” reports Ward. For busy people or individuals with physical limitations, a dog treadmill is an excellent alternative to outdoor walking.

The DogTread™ is available in small, medium and large.

Portable Indoor Dog Potty

fresh, clean, great tasting water

The ASPCA offers these tips for keeping Fido and Mr. Whiskers safe on Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day can be as much fun for pets as it is for humans if dangerous foods, flora and other items are kept out of paws’ reach. Each year  poison control experts see a rise in cases around February 14, many involving chocolate and lilies, a flower that’s potentially fatal to cats. So please heed our experts’ advice—don’t leave the goodies lying around on Lover’s Day.

Pet-Safe Bouquets

Many pet owners are still unaware that all species of lily are potentially fatal to cats. When sending a floral arrangement, specify that it contain no lilies if the recipient has a cat—and when receiving an arrangement, sift through and remove all dangerous flora. If your pet is suffering from symptoms such as stomach upset, vomiting or diarrhea, he may have ingested an offending flower or plant. Use our online toxic and nontoxic plant libraries as visual guides of what and what not should be in your bouquets.

Forbidden Chocolate

Seasoned pet lovers know the potentially life-threatening dangers of chocolate, including baker’s, semi sweet, milk and dark. In darker chocolates, methylxanthines—caffeine-like stimulants that affect gastrointestinal, neurologic and cardiac function—can cause vomiting/diarrhea, hyperactivity, seizures and an abnormally elevated heart rate. The high-fat content in lighter chocolates can potentially lead to a life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas. Go ahead and indulge, but don’t leave chocolate out for chowhounds to find.

Careful with Cocktails

Spilled wine, half a glass of champagne, some leftover liquor are nothing to cry over until a curious pet laps them up. Because animals are smaller than humans, a little bit of alcohol can do a lot of harm, causing vomiting, diarrhea, lack of coordination, central nervous system depression, tremors, difficulty breathing, metabolic disturbances and even coma. Potentially fatal respiratory failure can also occur if a large enough amount is ingested.

Life Is Sweet
So don’t let pets near treats sweetened with xylitol. If ingested, gum, candy and other treats that include this sweetener can result in a sudden drop in blood sugar known as hypoglycemia. This can cause your pet to suffer depression, loss of coordination and seizures.

Every Rose Has Its Thorn

Don’t let pets near roses or other thorny stemmed flowers. Biting, stepping on or swallowing their sharp, woody spines can cause serious infection if a puncture occurs. “It’s all too easy for pets to step on thorns that fall to the ground as a flower arrangement is being created,” says Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine for the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital. De-thorn your roses far away from pets.

Playing with Fire

It’s nice to set your evening a-glow with candlelight, but put out the fire when you leave the room. Pawing kittens and nosy pooches can burn themselves or cause a fire by knocking over unattended candles.

Wrap it Up

Gather up tape, ribbons, bows, wrapping paper, cellophane and balloons after presents have been opened—if swallowed, these long, stringy and “fun-to-chew” items can get lodged in your pet’s throat or digestive tract, causing her to choke or vomit.

The Furry Gift of Life

Giving a cuddly puppy or kitten may seem a fitting Valentine’s Day gift—however, returning a pet you hadn’t planned on is anything but romantic. Companion animals bring with them a lifelong commitment, and choosing a pet for someone else doesn’t always turn out right. Those living in the Manhattan area can let their loved one choose their own cat with a gift certificate to adopt from the ASPCA. If you’re not from New York, check your local animal care facility or take a romantic trip to the shelter together.

With Valentine’s Day approaching, I thought you might like a few tips on how to take better pictures of your pet. Once you’ve got the pic, please go to our Facebook Page and post it there. Share the love!

Charlie

You can read the full article here.

(CBS) Feb. 10, 2010 Are you still trying to get the perfect picture of your pet? Don’t fret, pet photographer Amanda Jones just might have some answers for you.

She says it’s all about capturing the critter’s personality. Jones is a high-end photographer. Most of her clients are well-heeled and have money to lavish on their furry friends. And at $1,500 per session, you might imagine that these pets have been pampered.

Jones says her job is to capture a pet’s personality so an owner can put it up on the wall.

However, some pets don’t come from money, such as Esmay, a homeless mutt, or Betty Sue, a dog that was abandoned by her owner when her owner found out she was going blind, or Garcone, a homeless pit bull mix.

Jones volunteers her time to turn shelter dogs at Animal Haven into rock stars. She teaches pups how to put their best paws forward, so potential new families will open their doors and adopt them.

“What we do here is work with each dog and get the shots to be beautiful so that when they go up on the Web site, they go ‘Oh, I want that dog. That’s the dog I want!’ It’s like Match.com for dogs.”

Jones shared these tips for taking great pictures of your pet at home:

Click to read the rest of the article….

© MMX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive. -Gilda Radner

Pets love unconditionally, so it’s only fitting to give them extra special love on Valentine’s Day. To your pet, every day is Valentine’s Day because their devotion never wavers. How do you plan to show them how much you care? Here are a few ideas.

If your dog is like me, they love to go for a drive in the country. My brother likes to bark at the cows, but I love to put my nose to the ground and discover new smells. My human makes sure we are safe whenever we “load up” and go for a drive. We always wear a harness and buckle up for safety. Sometimes I even ride in the front in a secure booster seat! From there, I can see out and still be safe.

Nothing says love like a new snuggly dog blanket or dog bed.  If you want to help the planet at the same time, bring home a new West Paw Bumper Bed. The filling is made from ground up plastic water bottles so it doesn’t retain odors.

Of course a trip to the dog park with some new dog toys would be a big hit with most dogs, or a new agility course in the back yard to conquer.  And, what dog wouldn’t be proud to have their very own dog house to hang out in?

If your beloved pet is of the feline persuasion consider giving them a special window perch just right for bird watching, or a heated cat bed for napping the afternoon away. Kittywalks makes great outdoor cat enclosures to let your pampered kitty enjoy the outdoors safely.

Don’t forget your pet when Valentine’s Day arrives. They give you love every day.

Kisses,
Charlie

Here’s a terrific recipe for wholesome bite-size treats that are perfect for Valentine’s Day. They are also perfect for training treats or to give away in a doggy gift basket. They smell great while they are cooking and taste even better!

Peanut Butter Pennies

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• ¼ cup whole milk
• 1 tablespoon molasses
• ½ cup natural smooth peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons peanut oil
• ¼ cup carob chips
• 1 cup whole-wheat flour
• ¼ cup rolled oats

Cooking Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, molasses, peanut butter and peanut oil. Stir in carob chips. (Do not substitute chocolate chips – remember, no chocolate for doggies!)

In a separate bowl, combine flour and oats. Add wet mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until roughly combined. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead into a ball. Divide dough in two and roll each half into a log, ½-inch diameter. Wrap logs in plastic and freeze for 30 minutes.

Slice each log into ½-inch disks. Spread disks evenly on a sheet pan. Bake for 15 minutes, flip and bake 10 minutes more. Transfer cookies to a rack to cool and store in an airtight container.

Make-Ahead

Bake one of the logs and keep the other in the freezer for easy slice and bake treats.

Tips & Tricks

When pennies are finished cooking, turn off oven and leave the pan in overnight for crisper treats.

Preparation Time

10 minutes

Chilling Time: 30 minutes
Baking Time: 25 minutes

Original recipe developed by Katherine Barreira and posted on kaboose.com

I’m a tail wagger today! Oh, happy day! Life is good. Check out the pic of my girlfriend, Honey. Isn’t she a honey? She’s all “pretty in pink” to help me tell you about my Be My Valentine Sweepstakes.

There are 3 ways to win and the prize value is up to you!

Just click on the WIN button to the right, or fill out the  Twitter or Facebook entry form and either Become a Fan on Facebook – OR – Follow us on Twitter – OR – Join our email list and you qualify to win a $50 Gift Certificate from Surfpet.com. If you subscribe to our e-newsletter, be sure to complete the process by responding to the confirmation email.

Complete two of the above (like follow us on Twitter and join the email list) and we’ll give you another $50. Complete all three and if you’re the winner, you’ll receive a $150 Gift Certificate!

PLUS, you can get even more chances to win by tweeting. Anyone who enters through your bit.ly link gives you another entry in the sweeps!

And don’t forget, to celebrate the launch of our beautiful new site, Surfpet is offering Free Shipping in the continental United States on every item in our store through January.

Happy New Year!
Charlie

hit the trail with your best friend