When we were kids, our older brother hated taking aspirin. Okay, perhaps we're really showing our age here, but these were the days before children's Tylenol liquid suspension and when Dimetapp cough syrup (we remember it as the yummy grape medicine) was by prescription only. Our poor mother could only get our brother to take a pill by crushing it in applesauce and spoon-feeding him. Considering the torture he put us through growing up, it was a great pleasure to have a reason to call big brother a "baby" at times...na nanny boo boo!
Our poor pets don't have it as easy as our brother did when it comes to taking medication. Whenever our dog Pepper has to take a pill, we literally pry his mouth open, shove it to the back of his throat, clamp his jaw shut and rub until he swallows. Don't get us wrong, Pepper's pretty good about taking them (certainly better than our brother was), but why should we have to struggle at all? Isn't there a way to let him think his medication is more reward than punishment?
Leave it to our mother...she found these Pill Pockets for dogs and cats by the Greenies company last year. As a foster parent for Poodle Rescue, our mother fell in love with and decided to keep an otherwise unadoptable dog who had a host of social and medical issues...sometimes, things are just meant to be. Poor Kasha took pills three times a day and somehow became very adept at hiding them in her mouth to later be spit out in Mom's potted plants...ah yes, Kasha was quite the clever pooch. Greenies Pill Pockets changed all of that.
Greenies Pill Pockets for dogs and cats are a nutritious treat that contain a built-in pocket, perfect for hiding a pill or supplement. This veterinarian designed and recommended solution is truly brilliant (why can't we think of these things?)! Seriously, folks...it doesn't get any easier than this. Just hold the Greenies Pill Pocket, insert the pill, squeeze the top half closed, then give as a treat. There are two sizes available for dogs; the smaller one is great for tablets, while the larger one is more suited for capsules. The one size for cats works well for either capsules or tablets. Dogs have their flavor choice of beef or chicken, while cats get either chicken or salmon. Pets love the taste so much, they won't even notice there's medicine inside.
Though we have been recommending Greenies Pill Pockets to all of our friends without complaint, remember that pets (like people) have different tastes...it is possible that yours won't like them. But, for around $8 per package, it's certainly worth taking the chance. We've also heard that some cats may be too smart to fall for the old "hide the pill in the pocket" trick and will chew around the pill...show offs! Our pooch Pepper tends to just swallow the whole darn thing, especially if we make him work (sit, shake, speak, etc.) to earn it. We love how pliable Greenies Pill Pockets for dogs and cats are...you can mush them around even really large pills. Plus, we can fit several smaller pills inside one of the larger pill pockets if we wanted to.
There has been some controversy surrounding the authenticity of some of the Greenies Pill Pocket distributors on Amazon, so we've referred you to our friends at 1-800-PetMeds (we used to work for the CEO at his previous company ten years ago and are big fans of his). Besides, the prices are reasonable and they have a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. The company doesn't seem to carry the salmon flavor for cat, though...we're not sure why. If you'd rather shop locally, we've found that Pet Supermarket tends to have a better price than PetSmart, and that many vets carry them as well.
Here's the bottom line...if you put medication inside something that pets actually like, then giving pills becomes a lot easier. Just like the applesauce trick worked with our brother. Greenies Pill Pockets for dogs and cats are a stress-free medication delivery treat and an absolute "kool" idea that every pet owner should try.
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Yesterday, we returned from our gluttonous trip to our local Carvel ice cream shop on a euphoric sugar high. Oh yeah...The Daily Kool family has officially kicked off our celebration of National Ice Cream Month! Needless to say, we were in a fabulous mood when we walked through our front door. Of course, so was our lovable dog, Pepper...we may have mentioned him a few hundred times or so in our previous blog posts. Well, Pepper (as usual) was beside himself with joy when we came home, wagging his tail a mile a minute to show how excited he was to see us. We're telling you, there's not much that beats the feeling of unconditional love from a furry friend.
Wait a minute...did we say unconditional? Because when Pepper got closer to lick our faces (hey, he's a French poodle, after all), he literally took a giant sniff of our ice cream breath and reeled back from each of us in indignant shock. Okay, we realize we're attributing human characteristics to our dog (doesn't everybody?). But seriously, you should have seen the accusatory look on his face before he pointedly turned his doggie butt on us and walked away to pout on his bed. Yep, Pepper's big brown eyes can really bring on the guilt. No doubt about it, our dog wanted to be a part of July's National Ice Cream Month holiday.
It's a good thing we keep a box of Purina Frosty Paws frozen ice cream treats for dogs in the house for emergencies like this. Opening the freezer to take out one of these delicious and refreshing treats was just the ticket. Keep in mind that we say delicious from a dog's perspective, of course...though we were curious how doggie ice cream would taste, it just took one look at the first couple of ingredients to immediately curb our temptation. Dried whey and animal fat? Yuck!
Pepper sure does love his Purina Frosty Paws, though. Each box is available in two flavors (original and peanut butter), and comes with four individually packaged treats. They kind of look like the ice cream cups with the wooden spoons we used to get at camp when we were kids. We simply peel off the top of the frozen ice cream cup, and watch as our pampered pooch attacks it voraciously. And, because they're fortified with protein vitamins and minerals without the added sugar artificial flavors or colors, we can feel really good about giving them to him. Be forewarned, though. You might want to give your dog his Purina Frosty Paws frozen ice cream treats outside...they can get kind of messy. Then again, perhaps Pepper is a sloppier eater than most...his fancy poodle haircut is kind of deceiving.
If you're looking for a more natural and homemade frozen concoction that your dog will love, check out the recipe below, made with all natural plain yogurt. FYI, true dairy products are not really good for dogs, but yogurt contains much less lactose than regular milk. Plus, many veterinarians recommend yogurt to help maintain a healthy digestive tract in dogs, particularly if they are prone to yeast infections. You might want to get the okay from your own vet first, though. Thank goodness Pepper doesn't have these problems...we just give him the occasional treat because he loves it!If we feel that ice cream is one of the true pleasures designed to help beat the insufferable heat and humidity of the summer, it's safe to assume that it would be the same for our four legged friends. Purina Frosty Paws frozen ice cream treats for dogs are a convenient and healthy way to share the joy of ice cream with your beloved pet. The best part? Many of the local supermarkets carry them in the freezer section. Definitely a "kool" idea.
Homemade Frozen Ice Cream Treats for Dogs
Ingredients:
- 32 oz. plain yogurt...we use Stoneyfield or Dannon (not fat-free)
- 1 banana, mashed
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2-3 handfuls of blueberries, optional
Directions: Mix all of the ingredients together in a blender and pour into ice cream trays or cups. Freeze for at least 3 hours.
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The Daily Kool's beloved pooch Pepper, has just turned 9 years old...wow, time is definitely flying by quickly. Though he still acts like a puppy much of the time, we have noticed that things are slowing down just a little bit for him. The vet has told us his hips are beginning to weaken, as is often common for a standard poodle of his age. Plus, we've seen the extra hesitation when he jumps in the car, on the couch, and especially on the bed...yep, it's definitely time to get Pepper a pet ramp.
Why a ramp and not stairs, you ask (yes, we heard you)? Though both stairs and ramps are great for reducing the impact and stress associated with jumping on or off higher surfaces, we feel that the smooth and virtually impact-free design of a ramp is a better option for most pets...well, at least for ours. Since Pepper is a larger dog (and admittedly quite clumsy at times), we want to make sure that we invest in a ramp that is sturdy enough to virtually guarantee he won't fall off of it. Plus, since the ramp will become a permanent fixture in our home, we'd like to have one that blends in nicely with our wood finished bedroom furniture. So, which pet ramp is the best? And safest?
Check out the Naterfish pet ramp at Best Pet Ramp.com. These have to be some of the most beautiful pet ramps we've seen on the market yet...and we've done our research! The company boasts the safest and strongest indoor pet ramps on the market...that's quite a claim. Custom hand-finished (not factory made) and able to accommodate weight in excess of 300lbs, these pet ramps certainly seem unlikely to slip, tip over or fall apart. Yet, they are light enough to easily move when necessary to clean or make the bed...if you're a stickler for that kind of thing. The quality of the Naterfish pet ramps at Best Pet Ramp.com certainly seems top of the line, and we love all of the customizable options they offer. Best Pet Ramp.com offers three different heights (3ft, 4ft and 5ft) as well as three different width options to accommodate pets of all sizes. With a choice of seven wood finishes, six carpet colors, this is one pet ramp that would be an attractive addition to any bedroom.
Some of the Naterfish pet ramps at Best Pet Ramp.com feature models that include a safety rail which helps prevent your dog or cat from accidentally stepping off the side of the bed ramp. We love, love love this idea, especially since the rail can be placed on either side of the ramp and changed anytime. The Daily Kool is very disappointed to note that the website is not offering the safety rail option at this time...hopefully, this is just temporary. We have to say that the safety rail was one of the biggest selling points for us, and what truly sets this company apart from the rest...at least in our humble opinions. We have to admit that we would never have missed the safety rail if Best Pet Ramp.com had taken the description off of its website when they stopped offering it. But now that the idea is permanently fixed in our minds, we just cannot let it go...we're strange like that.
Even without the safety rail, the Naterfish pet ramps at Best Pet Ramp.com are undoubtedly the "koolest" pet ramps that we have come across online. Like most pet owners, we want to make sure we keep our dog as healthy as possible...protecting his hips, joints and back from injuries is a major concern for us. Let's not forget how pet ramps benefit our own backs...hey, we're getting older too, and Pepper is not quite as easy lift as you might think! A Naterfish pet ramp at Best Pet Ramp.com is a great, worry-free solution to protecting Pepper and helping him retain mobility with age, and most definitely a "kool" idea.
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When we were kids, our older brother hated taking aspirin. Okay, perhaps we're really showing our age here, but these were the days before children's Tylenol liquid suspension and when Dimetapp cough syrup (we remember it as the yummy grape medicine) was by prescription only. Our poor mother could only get our brother to take a pill by crushing it in applesauce and spoon-feeding him. Considering the torture he put us through growing up, it was a great pleasure to have a reason to call big brother a "baby" at times...na nanny boo boo!
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