Some pups are not too calm when it comes to a car ride.  Unfortunately for you, your pooch may leave behind signs of his anxiety on your vehicle’s interior.  If you have a pet that can’t hold it while he’s riding, then there are a few things you can do to help him cope and hopefully save your vehicle.  Making sure your dog is ready for the ride can be extremely helpful, but sometimes you have to go beyond mere preparation.  It may take some time, but you can build up to a mess-free car ride.

The first tip is definitely the most obvious:  make sure your pet has done his business before you allow him to get inside your vehicle.  There is no reason for you to take your pooch directly from your home to your car.  Many owners make the mistake of giving their pets only a few moments outdoors before throwing them in the vehicle, thinking that if the dog needed to go then he already would have.  You should give him a good ten or fifteen minutes to run around the yard, sniff things out, and hopefully relieve himself. 

Another reason a dog may eliminate inside your car is because he just has to go.  Maybe he did not relieve himself while you were at home.  How long has it been since he has been fed?  A dog may need to do his business anywhere from an hour to two hours or so after eating.  If you fed him before you left home, then you need to make sure you take a potty break, especially if you are going on a long trip.  If he starts whining or circling the vehicle, then take a second to pull over and give him a break.  If your dog eliminates inside your car, then it is important that you clean it up immediately.  Use stain and odor removers to prevent your pet from searching out the same spot again. 

If he did his business before he got into the vehicle and did it again during the short ride, then he may have an anxiety problem.  Watch how he acts when you place him into the vehicle.  If he seems frightened or nervous, then you may have to take some time to get him accustomed to his new surroundings.  Desensitizing him to the vehicle is a fairly easy process, but it can take awhile.  Start by letting him sniff around the car, giving him plenty of time to check things out.  Then, weather permitting, place him in the car with the engine off.  Sit in the driver’s seat, while he checks out the back area.  It’s a good idea to throw a couple of familiar things in the vehicle with the dog.  For instance, lay his favorite bedding over the seat and throw in a toy.  This will help him associate the vehicle with his home.  Gradually increase his time in the car while adding other elements, such as turning the engine on, driving around the block, taking a trip to the dog park, etc.  There is no reason for a dog that is not used to riding in the car to take a long trip right off the bat.  Take time to get him adjusted to the ride. 

If you have tried everything imaginable and you still can’t seem to stop your pet from using your car as a toilet, then it’s up to you to dog proof your vehicle.  Start by covering the seats with a seat protector.  You can find covers and hammocks that dogs love!  If you keep your pooch in the cargo area, then look for a durable lining that protects the area.  Now, consider confining your pet to a crate while he is riding with you.  You may like for your dog to roam free in the vehicle, but sometimes a crate is necessary.  Make the crate familiar to him by adding recognizable bedding and toys.  Make sure you let your pet out of the crate to get some water and stretch his legs at least every two hours.

There are several reasons why your dog may do his business in your car.  It’s up to you to figure out why.  Often, allowing extra potty breaks can halt the mess.  Sometimes, though, the mess is made out of fear or anxiety.  In these cases, you must get your pooch accustomed to your vehicle before you take him on a trip.  Don’t give up; you may have to try several methods before you find one that works for you.

This article was written and provided by the authors at pet-super-store.com. Visit their website to find great pet products including: dog houses, dog carriers and dog gates.

There are items all over our homes that can make our pups sick.  Knowing the most common pet hazardous items can help you keep things out of your dog’s reach.  Our pets are curious and we can be forgetful; and, sometimes our pets get into something we didn’t know was poisonous or something we forgot to put up.  So, what do you do if your pet digests an item that makes him sick?

 More than likely, there are multiple items in every room that can be a hazard to your pet.  We would never even think about putting some items away.  For instance, why would we lock our mouthwash away in the cabinet?  Well, if the mouthwash contains boric acid, then it can cause our pets to have seizures.  Every item that poses a hazard does not have to be locked away.  Simply placing them out of your pet’s reach or in an area that your pet isn’t allowed, can do the trick. 

Common household items that can have fatal effects on your pets include bleach, toilet bowl cleaners, mothballs, denture cleaner, contact lens solution, mouthwash, laundry detergent, fabric softeners, dishwashing detergent, household plants (ivy, aloe, and ferns), chocolate, food wrappers or cellophane, and batteries.  There are many other items that can hurt your pet.  If it has chemical ingredients, could cause suffocation (candy wrappers, for example), or you are unsure about the item, then you should treat it as harmful, whether it is or isn’t.  This is just a safety precaution.  If you have a question about an item, then read the label and look up safety information on the internet.  Make sure you look up the information before an emergency!

Different items will affect your pooch in different ways.  The first thing to pay attention to is how he feels in general.  If there is a sudden change in his energy level or appetite, then these could be a sign that something is wrong.  If you feel that he is acting strangely, then keep an eye on him.  There may not be any obvious symptoms (such as vomiting), but even the slightest change in personality can alert you to a problem.

Vomiting is often the first sign that your pet has ingested a harmful substance.  The symptoms that accompany vomiting can help you figure out what he ingested.  Look into his mouth.  If mouth burns and muscle weakness are present, then your pooch could have consumed laundry detergent or fabric softeners.  Along with burns to the mouth, coughing and abdominal pain are present with the ingestion of bleach.  If your dog is drooling heavily, then he may have gotten into your mouthwash, contact lens solution, or denture cleaner.  Seizures have been known to follow the ingestion of these items along with the ingestion of mothballs.

If your pet is showing signs of being poisoned, then call your veterinarian or poison control immediately.  Do not waste time trying to find information on the internet.  Make note of the other symptoms that are accompanying the vomiting.  Has he stopped eating?  Does he appear weak?  Are there burns in his mouth?  If you can quickly identify the cause (the bottle of laundry detergent is spilled on the floor), then read the back of the label.  The label will tell you what to do in case of human consumption and this will be helpful information for the veterinarian or poison control specialist on the phone.

It seems easy enough to keep things out of the reach of your pet, but sometimes items will slip passed our radar.  A piece of fudge left on the counter or a lily planted outside your front door are fair game for your pet.  Research additional hazardous items, so you can monitor your home and your pet accordingly.

Pets can be curious, and humans can be forgetful.  There are many items around the home that can harm your pet.  If ingested, many cause vomiting and are followed by more dangerous effects.  Monitoring your pet’s behavior can help you determine how he feels.  If you notice a sudden change in your pup’s health, then keep a close eye on him.  If you suspect poisoning, then contact the veterinarian or poison control immediately.  The best thing you can do at home is keep known hazardous substances locked away and stay up to date on what can harm your pet.

A special thanks to http://www.pet-super-store.com. Visit them for great deals on pet crates, dog beds and dog doors.

Realization comes in the face of a dilemna, these words sound true to pet owners. I remember when I couldn't move my neck without a slight nagging pain. It turned out that I had bad 'body mechanics', which all boils down to posture. As I was having a bout with neck pain, I noticed my pet dog eating from his bowl off the floor. Just seeing him having to balance the front of his body while his head is in control of chomping-off food made me wince. Thinking of my own pain and strain, our next visit to the Vet had me ask if pet dogs have neck muscle strain too. The Vet's answer all the more convinced me that my pet needed relief from floor-eating. As suggested by other pet owners and a Vet, I didn't have to think twice about getting an elevated dog feeder.

I chose a simple wrought iron design that came with stainless steel bowls. Beats the heck out of those plastic ones that smell if not washed properly. From then on, I made sure my pet wouldn't have to suffer or strain in silence ever again.

Would've, should've, could've…these words usually come after unbelievable situations which were preventable. Much can be said for safety devices that prove most useful and more salable after  accidents. One safety devices made for pets are pet gates, both indoors and outdoors. Outdoor pet gates are sure barriers against other dogs from getting to your yard and in keeping your pet within your area. These are better suited for lots of bigger area and no in residential developments which require open lawns mostly.

The pet gate that has my attention are the indoor dog gates, that come in sizes that have widths to cover the living room entrance or the foyer to the gap most top of the stairs have. Most pet owners tend feel safer for their dogs and pups when they're in the home. Personally, I'd sometimes catch myself thinking I can keep them safe with this false sense of invincibility. One of the accidents involving pets involve a pup or pet dog taking a nasty tumble down several steps or even a misstep on a 2-step sunken living room. We learn the hard way and realize after a time that that tumble or stumble is the culprit for pets having misshapen bones or muscle surrounding an undetected break in bone.

Pet gates are more than a whimsical attempt to decorate your home with wrought iron or crafted wood containment gates, a close call opened my eyes to its practicality. The next time, I may not be as fortunate.

Adirondack chairs have been around for decades.  They endure because they are so practical, functional, and attractive.  You can find these chairs to be well-constructed or shoddily made.  You need to look at them as items of furniture when you get ready to choose them.  Look for Adirondack chairs that are made of woods that will stand up to the weather.  Cedar is one wood that is fairly durable.  Other makers use hardwoods like teak.  Do not get a pine chair as outdoor furniture unless you plan on bringing it in when you are not using it.  It will not survive the elements.  Any chairs you buy as long-term furniture investments should have good joints to hold them together.  Some have mortise and tenon joints.  Sometimes they are also doweled.  This makes for a very durable chair that will hold people’s weight again and again over many years. 

Run your hand over the chair if you are buying in person.  Ask yourself if it feels very smooth to the touch.  If it does, that usually means that it has been sanded well.  Some of the sanding may have been done by a machine.  However, to get a perfect effect, it has probably been finished by hand.  If you are buying from a catalog or online, read the information about how the chairs are made.  Pay special attention to the methods of building and finishing.  Adirondack chairs that are cheaply made are often sold sight-unseen.  Be sure the company has a good returns policy in case you are not satisfied. 

Some chairs, such as cedar ones, are left with the wood exposed to the air.  Others are painted.  Still others get a glossy finish.  Choose which kind you want for your chair.  The unpainted ones are classic, but the ones with some sort of finish are sometimes more appealing.  They may also be more comfortable because they are slicker. 

When you buy these chairs, you should make sure you are getting the classic Adirondack style.  The fan-shaped back with vertical boards is very unique.  It is pleasing to the eye.  It also creates a comfortable back rest.  The seat should be wide, with flat level or curved arm rests.  One question you have to ask is how the chairs will be delivered to you, if at all.  If you are shopping in person, you may be expected to cart the chairs home yourself.  Otherwise, a delivery service may bring the chairs to your home.  They may even assemble the chairs for you on the spot if they are not already put together. 

For chairs ordered online, you will probably have to put them together yourself.  Make sure the chairs will be shipped with adequate instructions.  If they are shipped to you pre-assembled, see to it that they are sent in crates so that they will not be damaged on the way to your home.  You can choose good Adirondack chairs for your porch or patio.  All you have to do is to consider what it takes to make a high-quality piece of furniture.  For more information on cedar patio furniture and dog houses visit Adams All Natural Cedar.