All American Pet photo competition results

We had a photo contest for customers at our store this past week, and ended up getting some great submissions! Here are some of the entries:

 

And here is our third place winner Lola:

 

Our second place winner JP:

 

And finally our first place winner Draco:

 

'All American Pet" was the theme, and these all fit the bill. Hopefully you enjoyed seeing them as much as we did.

 

 

 

 

Summer Series Part 2: Travelling with a pet who gets car sick

Taking your pets on a road trip can be fun. Unless your pet gets sick or anxious in the car.
Motion sickness or car related anxiety in pets is common, and frustrating for everyone. But there are ways that you can help your pet to enjoy car rides too!
1. Start with showing fido that car rides can be fun!
Your pet may have associated the car with feeling sick, and as a result may have some stress and anxiety. To help overcome this, you can take your pet for a ride that is 10 minutes away or less. Make it somewhere fun, like the park. Play with your pet once you get there. This will reinforce the idea that the car is a good thing.
2. Try a Thundershirt!
Sometimes your pets anxiety is bad enough that small car rides don't do the trick, or may make it worse. If that is the case, using a Thundershirt may help. A Thundershirt is a tight knit wrap that is worn snug, and applies a gentle and constant pressure that helps to initiate a feeling of calm; similar to swaddling a baby. Thundershirts have been shown to be effective in stress related behaviours in 80% of pets!

3.For Motion sickness: 
There are a number of options to help with motion sickness.
a) Limiting visibility by covering the sides of your pets kennel or crate can help.
b) Keep the interior of your car cool by keeping the windows open, and letting the fresh air in!
c) Travel when your pet has an empty stomach. It has been shown that many dogs don't get car sick when they haven't eaten for a little while.
d) Make frequent stops. Sure, this can make it take longer to get to your destination, but letting your pup get out and stretch his legs will help to keep the car ride positive, making for a happier pup.
4. Using natural remedies: 
There are many natural alternatives to drugging your dog that are available.
a) Rescue Remedy makes a pet formula. They use a mixture of flower materials that help to calm and soothe.
b) Travel Anxiety by HomeoPet is another liquid treatment that uses herbs to help relieve motion sickness and anxiety.
c) Burt's Bees uses a mixture of Lavender, green tea, and other natural ingredients to make up their calming spray. This spray can be used directly on your pet, or on their bedding and in a crate.
d) Pheromone Spray by Comfort Zone  is a spray that mimics the same pheromones that a mother dog releases when she has puppies. This can be used inside a vehicle or crate 15 minutes prior to travelling.
e) Quiet Moments Chews by NatureVet these are a soft chew that uses a mixture of chamomile, passion flower, Vitamin B1, and Ginger.  These can be given to your pup 30 minutes prior to travelling.

Summer Series Part 1: Traveling with your pets

During the summer months, it is especially tempting to take your furry friends on vacation with you. Traveling with your pet can be one of the best experiences, or one of the worst. There are a few tips and tidbits that you can use to help make your traveling plans more enjoyable for the whole family.
1.Riding in the car:
When you take your pet with you on the road, there are just a few things that you may want to plan on doing before you leave. Securing your pet in the vehicle is the first step to a safe road trip. There are several ways that you can do this, whether it's a crate, a seat belt tether, or a booster seat:

  There are a few options for securing your dog in the car, but cats almost always travel best in kennels or carriers. Having your pets ride along in the front passenger seat can be a fun experience, but do so at your own discretion; it may be safer for them to ride in the back in case your airbags deploy in the event of a accident or crash.

  Remember that your pet most likely will not be able to handle riding in the car for as long as you can. Frequent rest stops are a good idea, for a bathroom break, a drink of water, or a snack. When you do stop, making sure that your pet has a collar, leash, and an updated I.D tag are a good idea. Accidents happen, and having an injured pet or even a lost pet will ruin the vacation for everyone.

  DO NOT leave your pet alone in the car during the summer. When it is only 72 degrees outside, the temperature within your car can rise to over 100 degrees within an hour. Even if you leave your windows cracked open when the temperature outside is above 80 degrees, your car can heat to over 100 degrees within just 10 minutes. Within 30 minutes, your car can reach temperatures that can lead to the death of your pet. For fido's safety, having a gauge for the inside of your car may be a good idea.

We hope that these tips help you to have a safe and happy summer time vacation with your pets!
Coming next: Tips for traveling with a pet who gets car sick.

 

Spot Farm Treats

Introducing the newest item in our treat line up: Spot Farm treats.
Spot Farms is a family owned company. They use antibiotic free, USDA certified, all natural whole muscle meats for their treats. All treats are free of artificial colors or preservatives, BHA, BHT, or any other chemicals. They believe that the benefits of  human grade ingredients from farms right here in the USA shouldn't just be reserved for people. Many of their products contain glucosamine and chondroitin (which occur naturally in some cuts of meat) which help to support joint health, Turmeric which can help to reduce joint inflammation, antioxidant-rich cranberries, taurine which helps to support heart health, chamomile and tryptophan which can help to soothe anxiety, and Flaxseed which are high in Omega 3.  A cool feature is that on the back of each bag of treats they feature one of their 'farm families' so that you can know exactly where the meat that you're feeding your pup is coming from. By using meat as the main ingredient, and never using any fillers they strive to give you the best nutrition for your dog. 

Our store carries a variety of these treats including (from left to right):

Hip + Joint Chicken Jerky, Chicken Strips, Hickory smoked Turkey Bacon, Heart Health Chicken Jerky, Serenity Chicken Jerky, Skin + Coat Chicken Jerky, Chicken Jerky, Chicken Apple Sausage, and Turkey Meatballs.

 

One of our employees pups, Tally, LOVES her hickory turkey bacon.

I don't think that she can get much happier.

True Chews Dog Treats

True Chews treats are 100% all natural, American sourced, and American made dog treats. All of their treats are made with farm raised protein and contain no animal by-products. True Chews come in a variety of flavors, and are fairly limited ingredients. Pippin received her first True Chews Treat, and she LOVES them!

In our store we carry several variety's of True Chews:
Premium Sizzlers, made with chicken and apple.
Premium Grillers, made with either chicken or sirloin steak.
And Premium Jerky Cuts made with either duck or chicken.

Earthborn Holistic Earth Bites

 

Earthborn holistic Earth Bites are grain free, made with wholesome meats, cheese, or peanuts, fruits and veggies, and rich in Antioxidants. The treats vary from 5 to 6 kcals per treat depending on the flavor.

Pippin got to sample the Skin & Coat flavor, that is made with whole Whitefish, peas, molasses, tapioca, honey, salmon meal, apples, blueberries, carrots, spinach and cranberries. The skin and coat flavor has a balanced blend of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to help keep your pooch healthy.

Lets just say that Pip doesn't mind being the treat taster when she is getting treats like this.

*Mention this blog post at the register and get $1.00 off these treats!



Natural Balance Burger Bites

Pippin LOVES these treats. These treats don't just look cute, they are actually a good quality treat as well. Made with whole meats, barley flour, rice flour, dried sweet potatoes and natural smoke flavour, these treats are actually pretty limited in ingredients. They come in at about 21 kcals per treat.

These bites sure got Pippin's tail wagging. We carry 3 flavors: Turkey, Lamb, and Venison.
*Mention this blog post at the register and get $1.00 off these treats!
 

Discover the benefits of adding raw food to your pet's diet.

We're sure that many of you have heard those key pet food buzz words lately: Raw diets.
But, many of you may be wondering, what is a raw diet, and why would you feed that to your pet?

Well, a raw diet is exactly that. The ingredients that go into your pets diet have never been cooked, and are minimally processed. When you have foods that aren't cooked, the naturally occurring enzymes that you find in raw meats, poultry, fruits and vegetables are not broken down and aid in digestibility of protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. When you have good quality raw muscle meats, it can also help your pet to maintain a healthy weight. Raw foods are nearly 100% digestible, and are easily absorbed by the body.
Some of the benefits that many people see from giving their pet a raw diet (or even supplementing your pets diet with some freeze dried raw) are:

• Better digestive health: Raw food enzymes support naturally occurring digestive enzymes in your pets' digestive process. Enzymes in the digestion are essential for breaking down what your animal eats. The body naturally produces some of its own enzymes; mostly in the stomach and the pancreas. Over time however, the digestive system can become less efficient and begin to produce fewer of those enzymes. As a result, the digestive system can become more alkaline making it harder for the body to break down proteins, fats, and carbs. This process can lead to excessive gas, food allergies, or food intolerances. Through better digestion and superior assimilation of food derived nutrients, your pets can live happier and healthier lives.

• Better skin and coat health: Raw foods contain essential fatty acids and long chain amino acids that support healthy skin and coat and healthy bright eyes, and healthy teeth.

• Better oral health: Enzymes from raw food help to soften calculus, which aids in the teeth cleaning process as pets chew. Amino acids help to support healthy gums.

• Better immune system: When you feed a raw or partially raw diet to your pets, you are often introducing balanced levels of amino acids, fatty acids, and enzymes that are necessary to support your pets immune system. When your pets' food offers naturally occurring essential nutrients, you're setting up a good foundation for his overall health and wellbeing.

There are really two options available commercially for feeding raw food to your pets: Frozen Raw, or Freeze Dried. Deciding which option to go with may be a challenge.  The questions to ask yourself at this point are these:

• Will you be feeding raw as a whole diet, or just adding raw to a kibble diet or using as treats? If you are considering feeding your dog strictly raw, then both freeze dried and raw options are available to you. Just a few things to consider though: Either way you go, unless you have a very small dog purchasing enough raw food is generally still very expensive. Some companies (like Primal and Nature's Variety) have frequent buyer cards that can enable you to get free food over time, but not every company makes those programs available. Raw feeding is generally great for pets, and will generally result in all of the benefits listed above. That being said, every dog is different. We do not promise that every dog will flourish on a raw diet.

• What does your schedule look like? If you lead a hectic life, and are constantly leaving early, or coming in late then know that frozen foods need time to thaw out. Do not microwave raw food, as many of the diets contain bone. Frozen food, though an excellent source of moisture for your pet, can be a tad time consuming, and quite frankly messy. This is where freeze dried comes into play. Most companies that offer freeze dried products, offer them in patties, bars, or nuggets. Determining which size you would need would depend on the size of your pet, and weather you would be supplementing or feeding raw alone.

• Are you simply wanting to give raw as a treat? If so, then freeze dried is probably the way you would want to go. If you buy patties or bars, they are easy to break up into smaller pieces. The nuggets are already bite sized, so they are super easy too! Freeze Dried, though raw, is safe to handle straight out of the package because of its unique process of killing off the bad bacteria. Raw bones are a great treat as well. Raw bones offer a great tasty treat to chew in the yard, and a natural way to help clean teeth. Safe handling is needed, as bones get bloody as they thaw out.

Dogs and cats are carnivores, and most dogs instinctively crave meaty foods. Most of the raw/freeze dried products that we offer in our stores are high in meat protein, but balanced with some organ meat, bone and veggies. We offer a number of brands in our stores including, but not limited to:

Stella & Chewy's, Nature's Variety, and Orijen.



The subject of raw feeding or supplementing is vast, and there is much more information that is available than what is listed here. As always, we suggest that you do some research, and have a chat with our staff at any of our stores. But hopefully this post was able to answer some of your questions, and get you started.

Himalayan Dog Chews

If you are in the market for an all natural, long lasting dog chew, then we may just have the treat for you! Himalayan Dog Chews (recently featured on the TV show 'Shark Tank') offer a variety of great treat options including: Yaky Sticks, Yaky Puffs, Yaky Nuggets, and their original Himalayan Dog Chews.

• Himalayan Dog Chews: These treats are made from an ancient recipe made by the people of the Himalayas. Made in the mountains surrounding Mt. Everest, it is made using traditional methods with yak and/or cow milk, limes, and salt. These chews are all natural with no chemicals, no preservatives, and no binding agents. Depending on the size and eating habits of your dog, these chews can be very long lasting. Most dogs must work on the ends of the chew for hours, softening it with their mouths before small parts of it can slowly be chewed off.

Another perk of feeding these as a chew, is when your dog gets it down to where it is too small to chew, you can place it in the center of your microwave for about 30 seconds, and it should puff up.
A no waste chew!
 

• Yaky Puffs: Made from the same hard cheese as the Himalayan Chews, these are just puffed up for a treat that is not too soft, and not too hard.

• Yaky Nuggets: These are little bite sized Himalayan Dog chews that must first either be puffed up in the microwave and then given to your dog to enjoy, or these bite sized bits can also be boiled for 10-15 minutes in water to make them soft and easy to chop, great for serving on top of regular kibble.

• Yaky Stick: These chews are made from a combination of Himalayan Dog Chews that have been wrapped around a bully stick. Their bully sticks come from all free-range grass fed cattle. The bully provides pups with essential protein, while the Himalayan chew provides them with minerals. These Yaky Sticks also emit very low odor! Because of the added Himalayan Chew, these sticks can last longer than a regular bully chew.
   
  

We sell all four of the above mentioned products at South Salem Pet Supply.

12" Yaky Stick: $12.99   6" Yaky Stick: $6.99

XL Himalayan Chew: $21.99  LG Himalayan Chew: $11.99  MD Himalayan Chew: $9.99 

SM Himalayan Chew: $11.99

Yaky Nuggets: $5.99  Yaky Puffs: $4.99

Thor: Firm Up Pumpkin

Thor loves Firm Up! Pumpkin Supplement. He came down with an illness a few weeks ago, and to entice him into eating his kibble again, his owners used Firm Up! on his kibble.

 

Many dogs love the taste of pumpkin, so using it as a kibble topper is a great option, but it has many other uses as well.
 Firm Up! is a great product to use when transitioning to a new or different food because the fiber helps digestion and makes the switch much easier on your pets’ digestive tract.

Firm Up! is full of beneficial vitamins and nutrients:
Pumpkin- a fruit that is low in fat, and dense in immune boosting nutrients.
Apple Fiber- is an excellent source of vitamin C and Potassium, and is a soluble fiber that works to support and maintain lower bowel function.
Fiber -helps regulate the body's use of sugars, helping to keep hunger and blood sugar in check.
Alpha and beta carotenes- fat soluble compounds which the body can break down and convert into Vitamin A.
Vitamin C- a water soluble vitamin that is necessary for healthy growth and development, as well as being a highly effective antioxidant.
Vitamin E- is an antioxidant
Potassium-   is important in maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance in the bodies of humans and animals. Potassium is necessary for the function of all living cells.
Magnesium- is very important in cellular function.

Firm Up! Pumpkin supplement is made with USA grown pesticide free Pumpkin, and USA grown pesticide free Apple Fiber.

 

 

 

Firm Up! Super Pumpkin Supplement is available at South Salem Pet Supply two sizes:

4oz bag for $9.99, and a 16oz bag for $26.99.

 

sources: www.wikipedia.com , www.dydusa.com, www.3fatchicks.com

Thor: Wild Chewz Doggie Party Mix

Meet Thor and Shady, the much loved pets of an employee at South Salem Pet Supply. Thor is an akita-shepherd mix, and shady is a giant schnauzer.

 These two pups got to try some new treats: Doggie Party mix by Wild Chewz.

 

The package contained 3 pig ears, 2 chicken feet, 2 trachea, and a mixture of bully sticks and tendons. While the products in each package may vary, they will all contain a mixture that is comparable to this package.

Note: Shady is a giant schnauzer, and a power chewer. The large pig ear shown in this assortment lasted her at least a couple of hours. BUT the length that ALL chews will last varies from dog to dog, there is no guarantee that you will have the same result.

 

Wild Chewz is an American company in Bend Oregon, and offers products that are 100% NATURAL, with no additives or preservatives.

 

Find out more about products that Wild Chewz offers @: http://www.wildchew.com

February Pet of the Month!

Pet of the Month, February 2015!

 

 

 

Apollo, Titus & Zeus (left to Right)

 

 

The Benefits of coconut oil for your pets

Coconut oil is probably something that most people have at least heard of, even if they don't know how to use it. Coconut oil has many health benefits for humans, but did you know that many of those benefits can be carried over to your pets? Coconut meat, and coconut oil are something that we are seeing pop up more and more in the pet industry. Why?
Well, coconuts are an excellent source of nutrition. It is over 90% saturated fat, and also has antifungal, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties. Coconut oil contains medium chain fatty acids (MCFA's), which range from 8-12 carbon atoms. The length of the carbon chain in fats is a key factor in how the body digests and metabolizes dietary fats. So unlike saturated fats that you would find in animal fats (which contain long chain fatty acids) MCFA's are broken down, and used by the body for energy production, and seldom end up as body fat or as deposits on the arteries. Also, MCFA's do NOT have a negative effect on blood cholesterol, and help to protect against heart disease.
Coconut oil has also been shown to have positive effects for skin and coat, because of the antibacterial and antifungal properties, as well as being helpful in maintaining moisturized skin and coat.

At our stores we sell Coco Therapy Organic virgin coconut oil. Available in either 8oz jar for $14.99 or a 16oz jar for $23.99.

 

Feeding coconut oil to your pets is easy. You can give up to 1 teaspoon per10 pounds of body weight, but we do recommend starting with a small amount and gradually increasing the amount given over about a month, as flu like symptoms can occur if too much coconut oil is given too quickly. You can either melt the oil in your hand and stir over your pets food, or let them lick it out of your hand. You can also melt the oil, and massage it onto hot spots, dry, itchy, chaffed skin, or cracked paws to speed healing.

 

Pippin LOVES coconut oil, and will beg for it when the jar is out. She eats is straight from her owners hand, and has great skin, and a super soft silky coat.

 

Sources: www.wellnessmama.com,  http://www.cocotherapy.com/products_coconutoil.htm

 

Things just got punny...

Just some funny puns, brought to us by a customer. We thought we would pass them on.
What if these breeds were all recognized by the AKC?

Collie + Lhasa Apso = Collapso, a dog that folds up for easy transporting
Spitz + Chow Chow = Spitzchow, a dog that throws up a lot
Pointer + Setter = Poinsetter, a traditional Christmas pet
Great Pyrenees + Dachshund = Pyradachs, a puzzling breed
Pekingnese + Lhasa Apso = Peekasso, an abstract dog
Newfoundland + Basset Hound = Newfound Asset Hound, a dog for financial advisors
Terrier + Bulldog = Terribull, a dog that makes awful mistakes
Bloodhound + Labrador = Blabador, a dog that talks too much, not popular with CIA agents
Malamute + Pointer = Moot Point, owned by... oh well, it doesn't matter anyway
Collie + Malamute = Commute, a dog that travels to work
Deerhound + Terrier = Derriere, a dog that is true to the end


Hope that you enjoyed these! Hope you're all having a great Monday!

Pippin and her Star Trek toy

We got some new Star Trek plush toys at South Salem Pet Supply, and Pippin got to take one home. She got a 'Red Shirt Guy', and seeing her play with it, and drag it around is pretty entertaining. He crackles and squeaks, and she LOVES him! Pippin is a moderate-rough chewer, and she hasn't torn this guy apart yet (she got him on Saturday).
So far on the 'Toy Test' scale, this guy is a 4! The only thing (so far) that could make him better would be if he had more squeakers than just the one in his head.

Introducing the "Toy Test' scale!

One of our main objectives with this blog, is to help you know what toys, treats, and other doggie products are really working, in the hope that we can save you some time, frustration, and money.
So with that in mind, we have come up with a 'Toy Test' scale.
Each toy that we review here will be given a rating on the scale, from 1-5. 1 being a poor rating from either poor construction of the toy, or lack of interest, and 5 being the best rating, with great durability and awesome play time fun! Please keep in mind though, that just because it was rated a certain way on this blog, does not mean that it is guaranteed to work for you, or that absolutely it won't work for you and your pets. All ratings are based on personal experiences, differing breeds and personal opinions from our staff, and are not certified facts.

Tally

Meet Tally. Tally is the much loved pet of one of the employees at South Salem Pet Supply.
One of her favorite treats are the Natural Balance Venison Burger Bites. Because they are a moist treat, they tend to have a stronger aroma, which Tally loves. The first two ingredients are venison and turkey meat! They have only a few other ingredients, and only 5% fat, so if your dog can handle a little bit of rice and barley, these can be a good treat for your pooch!

Tally also has a new toy: a Dura Fused leather dog toy. These toys are made with real leather which is fused with jute fabric, and the seams are all double stitched with heavy duty thread for extra strength. Does Tally love her new toy? We think that she does.

*Mention this Tally and this blog post and receive $1.00 off of Natural Balance Burger Bites at South Salem Pet Supply!

Meet some of the furry crew..

These kitties were all rescues, and they have their furr-ever home with an employee at South Salem Pet Supply. From right to left we have: Barnabas, Binx, Titus & Gizmo.

They have moved here from Los Angeles and their favorite things are their cat tree, My Little Lion treats, and Blue Buffalo Spa Salmon dry food, which cuts down on hairballs and shedding and gives them all a silky coat.

Pet of the Month, January 13th 2015

Meet our Pet of the Month: POMONA!

To enter your pet in our Pet Of the Month contest, email a photo and a brief description of why your pet deserves to be Pet Of the Month to SSPSpets@yahoo.com. Winners are chosen at random and receive a prize!

Welcome!
As our first post, it's only fitting that we introduce the pup after whom this blog is named: Pippin.
Pippin is a 2 year old Pembroke Welsh Corgi, who is loved and owned by an employee at South Salem Pet Supply. Her favorite things include people and attention, turkey tendons, charki chews, car rides, and deflated basketballs.

Knowing what products pets really love and enjoy can be a little overwhelming, so we hope that you will stop by often to read about what Pip and her friends think of new treats and toys that come through our stores. Plus, who doesn't love to look at pictures of cute puppies and kitties, right?