Some of you may have seen these before, but I have been looking for something like this Door Shield for a while now.

Since I rent an apartment, I am always concerned about my dog making a completely mess of the place and causing me to loose my security deposit. One of the things that Ozberg does, whenever I leave the apartment, is scratch and whine at the door. And although we’ve clipped his nails, he still has the potential to do some damage.

The pet industry is basically a money-making ploy. I’m not sure of the exact figures, but people spend a ton of money ever year on buying toys, food, treats and even clothes for the animals in their lives.

It is that time of year again– vacation time. So what happens when you and your family have booked a flight to somewhere and want to take the dog? Airline travel with pets has been a testy issue with some individuals because of the safety of pets and of people. So before you take to the skies, it is a good idea to do a little bit of research about the rules and regulations of flying with pets.

Most of us can say that we brush our teeth at least twice a day (those of us who value hygiene at least). We do this to prevent cavities and stop plaque build up so that we don’t lose our lovely smiles.

From now on, I am totally blaming the dog for making a mess of my apartment. I cannot tell you how many socks he dragged into the middle of the living room floor, how many toys he wedged in the cubbies of the entertainment center or how many half-chewed rawhide bones that he continuously hides in the cushions of our couch. Plus, top that with his “accidents,” his medical files and his dog food and you’ve got one messy place.

Basically the key to all of this is to stay organized. I haven’t quite mastered that yet, but I think that this article from Home Sweet Home will help. It explains how making “stations” throughout your house will help you keep track of all your pet supplies from paper vet receipts to grooming supplies.

Maybe one of these days Ozberg will understand the importance of organization and will put my sweatpants back where they belong after chewing holes in them

This weekend, my boyfriend and I had to take our dog to the vet. Within the past couple of weeks he has been scratching like crazy and there appeared to be a light rash forming on his belly and back legs.

When we took him in, the vet assured us that it was nothing to worry about and could be caused by him laying in something that irritates him, or brushing up against a plant outside. Basically, she said that my dog might have seasonal allergies.

So what do humans treat itching and allergies with? Benadryl. Apparently that little pink pill can be used for itchy pets too. Our vet advised us to give our dog 1 milligram of Benadryl per pound– so my dog needs about 16 milligrams. What we’ve been doing is cutting a 24 milligram pill in half to see if that will help with his itching. Surprisingly, my dog didn’t experience any kind of drowsiness, but the vet said that sleepiness is a common side effect.

For some more information on giving your dog Benadryl click here. Make sure to consult your veterinarian before giving your dog any kind of medication.

Living in the city, I see so many dog owners walking and running around with their four-legged friends all the time. They take their dogs to the park, to restaurants, to the bank. But what I rarely ever see is a person walking his or her cat outside.

Although I am not a cat owner, I imagine that cats would enjoy a stroll down the block now and again. It would probably do them some good to get away from the windowsill for a little while.

That’s why I thought that this article from PETSblog might be helpful. It explains how to get your cats comfortable with walking on a leash. The biggest thing to remember is to allow your cat time to get used to the idea of a harness and a leash. The process is best done at a gradual pace. Once your cat is comfortable with the leash, try short trips outdoors and work your way up to full excursions.

With busy schedules and tons of stress, it is sometimes way too easy to forget about giving the animals in your life some much-needed attention. You might find yourself swamped with work or errands and the thought of throwing around a ball with your dog is probably far from a high priority.

But according to article from MSN.com, playing with your pets is a really important part of their development.

The article states: “Active and agile minds engaged in appropriate play make their lives more interesting, more fulfilling.”

I completely agree. Simply taking some time out to take your dog to the park or letting your cat claw at a toy mouse will help your animals release energy and enjoy themselves. It is also a good way for you to unwind and let go of your worries for a few moments.

Just engaging in a little playtime will enrich your pet’s life and your own.

You probably know this already, but many people foods are harmful to dogs.
On the no-no list: Avocados, beer, nuts, chocolate, onions.
OK for your dog: Carrot sticks, green beans, cucumber slices and zucchini.

It’s always a good idea to revisit the list of foods (courtesy of msnbc.com) your dog can and cannot eat to make sure you’re not inadvertently giving your pet harmful food.

Even though I’ve been a dog owner for over a year, I am still continually learning new things. For instance, I didn’t know that there were certain things you could do to curb separation anxiety in animals.

When we first got my dog, he would bark and wail every time we put him in the cage and left the apartment. But barking and crying is only one sign of an anxious pooch. If your dog has been digging, chewing, and scratching at doors or windows or going to the bathroom in the house, it may be a sign that he or she is panicking when you are away.

According to this article at Tummy Scratch, there are a few tricks that you can do to help your pet get over being separated from you. One thing is to keep your greetings and departures low key. This way, your dog will learn that it is not a big deal when you head out for the day. Also, try developing a verbal cue to let your dogs know you will be back. Check out the blog for more tips.