The Best Cat Toys!

Having trouble figuring out how to entertain your cat? Today we have a list of the best cat toys out there! These products are guaranteed to keep your cat busy for hours and entertain you in the process!

1. Laser Pointer

Laser pointers are an awesome way to give your cat some much-needed exercise. Cats will chase the lighted dot for as long as you're willing to play with it. Run it up walls to see how high they can jump, point it on your friend's foot and watch your cat attack! You can find these at any pet store or on sites like Amazon.com.

2. Mouse Chaser

These little contraptions are great for cats of all ages. There are different styles but the main idea is a toy (usually a mouse) on a track that when batted at, goes around the circle. Some may have a scratching-friendly center panel that you can sprinkle with catnip. You can find them at any pet store or online.

3. Catnip

Catnip is a fun treat for cats. It is essentially a "drug" for cats in that they react instantly to it and maintain an altered state of mind for up to two hours. Being a naturally occurring herb, catnip is completely safe for cats. Use of catnip should be limited to once or twice a week in a direct dose, and sparingly when applied as an extract to toys or other items. Cats will roll in it, attack it, and play with it with more intensity than cats would exhibit otherwise. The effect lasts for up to two hours.

4. Interactive Dangling Toys

These types of toys are great for when you don't have the time to sit and play with your kitties. Usually they come with a mounting attachment where you can either hang or mount one end to a wall or piece of furniture, leaving a toy or feather dangling down for your cat to bat at, attack, and bite! Use catnip extract on this type of toy to entice your cat to play with it on his own.

Supplements and Your Dog

This post is dedicated to supplements. There are a lot of different supplements on the market for joint health, digestive health and other integral parts of your dog's daily life. Learn which supplements can be beneficial for your dog and at which life stage you should consider introducing them.

***Always ask your veterinarian before introducing ANY vitamins or supplements to your dog's diet!***

Joint Health

Though more common in older and large-breed dogs, any dog can suffer from joint disease, which is caused by weakening of the connective tissue, muscles, and ligaments around the joint bones. The effects of this can be made worse by overfeeding, injury, or overexercise in puppies. Genetics is often a cause as well.

Symptoms of joint disease include limping, pain during activities such as running or jumping or awkward gait, such as the bunny hop run where dogs appear to jump rather than run with their back legs. Traditional treatments include surgery and pain killers, but many supplements are also available to reduce symptoms.

One of the most common joint supplements is glucosamine, which is often paired with chondroitin to reduce inflammation and repair connective tissue in your dog's joints. Glucosamine is a major sugar that forms and maintains joint cartilage, and chondroitin inhibits enzymes that can damage the joint tissues.

Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements can be found almost anywhere, including your local grocery store. Many owners report results from these supplements, but other owners claim better results from more expensive supplements. The course you choose will largely depend on your dog's response to the supplements.

However, glucosamine and chondroitin supplements aren't always effective, especially if there is significant joint damage. It can also take several weeks to see the effects whereas prescribed painkillers often take effect immediately.

Digestive Health

One of the simplest and most effective remedies for poor digestion is to administer probiotics to your pet. Probiotics are  supplements comprised of different kinds of friendly bacteria. The ingredients in them may vary from brand to brand, as do the methods of delivery. For instance, probiotics may come in capsule, paste, liquid, or tablet form. They may even be included in some brands of commercial pet food, although this is not considered the best source since, according to some studies, certain brands do not contain the amount or even the kind of probiotics that are stated on the labels. For this reason, supplements are considered the more effective way to go.

If your dog suffers from diarrhea, constipation, or other digestive ailments, adding a simple probiotic could be the answer.

Know which common people foods are good AND bad for your pups!

It feels good to treat your pet to human food every once in a while. Those puppy-dog eyes are hard to resist as they watch you eat and try to convince you that they are starving! It makes you want to give them a taste of everything you eat. But beware: Giving in to those eyes and giving dogs human foods can actually harm them.

In 2007, the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center received more than 130,000 calls. Most cases of animal poisoning were caused by common human foods and household items.

Many foods we enjoy can be dangerous to animals. It's best to stick to pet food and a diet recommended by your vet. Here are a few of the most toxic foods that can harm your pet:

Bad news foods

Avocados 
They contain a toxic component called persin, which can damage heart, lung and other tissue in many animals. This fruit is very toxic to dogs, cats and most animals.

Beer 
Alcoholic beverages can cause the same damage to an animal's liver and brain as they cause in humans. But the effects can be deadly on animals since they are much smaller than us. The smaller the animal, the more deadly the effects can be. Even a small amount of alcohol may cause vomiting and damage the liver and brain.

Nuts 
Walnuts and macadamia nuts are especially toxic. Effects can be anything from vomiting to paralysis to death. Within 12 hours of eating the nuts, pets start to develop symptoms such as an inability to stand or walk, vomiting, hyperthermia (elevated body temperature), weakness, and an elevated heart rate. These symptoms can be even worse if your dog eats some chocolate with the nuts. The effect can cause kidney failure, often leading to death.

Chocolate 
Chocolate contains theobromine, which can kill your pet if eaten in large quantities. Dark and unsweetened baking chocolates are especially dangerous. Giving your pup a piece of chocolate cake or even letting him lick the chocolate icing on the cake could cause him to become ill. Theobromine can also cause a dog or cat's heart to beat very rapidly or irregularly, which could result in death if the pet is exercising or overly active.

Candy 
Candy or anything containing Xylitol (a common sweetener found in some diet products) can cause a sudden drop in an animal's blood sugar, loss of coordination and seizures. If left untreated, the animal could die.

Caffeine 
Coffee, tea or any product that contains caffeine stimulates an animal's central nervous and cardiac systems. This can lead to restlessness, heart palpitations and death, depending on how much the animal consumes.

Grapes and Raisins 
Grapes and raisins can lead to kidney failure in dogs. As little as a single serving of raisins can kill them. And the effects are cumulative, which means that even if a dog eats just one or two grapes or raisins regularly, the toxin that builds in his system will eventually kill him.

Onions 
Onions are another common food that can be highly toxic to pets. They can destroy an animal's red blood cells and lead to anemia, weakness and breathing difficulties. Their effects are also cumulative over time.

Medicine 
Hide medicine from your pets just like you would from your children. The most common cause of pet poisoning is from animals ingesting a medicine or drug normally prescribed for humans.

And this is not just because furry pals are getting into their pet parent's medicine cabinets. In many cases, pet owners give their feline and canine friends an over-the-counter medication to ease an animal's pain. But acetaminophen and ibuprofen, the active ingredients in many common pain relievers, are extremely toxic to dogs and cats. They can cause gastric ulcers, liver damage, kidney failure and sometimes death.

Good news foods

There are a few things that you CAN give to your furry pal. However, you should always consult a veterinarian before introducing a new food item to your pet.

Although these foods are normally harmless, some animals have sensitive gastrointestinal tracts. So even these healthy treats should be avoided if they cause gastrointestinal upset for your pet. Keep in mind that these and other "extras" should not make up more than 5 to 10 percent of the pet's daily caloric intake.

Lean meats 
Any cooked lean meat should be fine for most dogs. High-fat meats, chicken skin and fat from steaks or roasts are not recommended. Ingestion may lead to gastrointestinal upset or even pancreatitis. This can be a very painful condition for dogs. In addition, most companion animals do not need extra fat in their diets. Never give your pet meat with the bone in it. Animals can choke on the bones, and they can splinter as well.

Vegetables 
Carrot sticks, green beans, cucumber slices and zucchini slices are all OK.

Fruit 
Apple slices, orange slices, bananas and watermelon are all OK. Make sure the seeds have been taken out; seeds are not good for your pet!

Baked potatoes 
Plain baked potatoes are fine, but make sure they are cooked — no unripe potatoes or potato plants.

Bread 
Plain cooked bread is fine; just make sure there are no nuts or raisins added.

Rice and pasta 
Plain, cooked pasta and white rice are OK. Often veterinarians recommend plain rice with some boiled chicken when gastrointestinal upset is present.


In case of emergency

Despite all the precautions you take to keep your pet pals safe, accidents do happen. That's why the ASPCA, Humane Society and animal advocates advise pet owners to keep the telephone numbers of their local veterinarian and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — (888) 426-4435 — in a prominent location.

Common signs of poisoning include muscle tremors or seizures; vomiting and diarrhea; drooling; redness of skin, ears and eyes; and swelling and bleeding.

If you suspect your pet has consumed, inhaled or come in contact with a toxic substance, stay calm and call for help immediately. If you see your pet consuming anything you think might be toxic, seek emergency help immediately even if she or he is not exhibiting any symptoms.