Important Things To Consider When Choosing A Pet Bed

Weigh Then Measure Your Pet While Sleeping

First pay attention to how your pet sleeps. If your pet sleeps stretched out, measure them from nose to tail. Add about 8 to 12 inches to determine the size of pet bed you will need. This is to accommodate your full-grown pet, if your pet is still a baby then you will need to add extra space to allow for growing. Also, you can add additional blankets, sheets, or pillows to a larger bed while your pet is still a baby.

If you have a larger, heavier pet the thicker the cushion will need to be. This will help prevent cushion squash, which could be just like your pet sleeping on the bare floor.

Special Needs and Important Features

If your pet is older they may need to have an orthopedic bed to help ease their pain. Orthopedic beds are made of high density memory foam to help conform to your pet's shape and help offer comfort from sore joints or arthritis.

You many want to choose a heated bed for pets that are prone to being chilly or are short haired or you live in a cold climate.

If your pet likes to feel more secure, then choose a more cave-like bed where they will feel safe. This will be a good idea if your pet likes to hide to go to sleep, or goes under furniture to sleep. There are many shapes and sizes of these special beds.

Look At Washing or Maintenance Instructions First

It is most important to be sure to check if the bed for your pet will be easy to clean. Let's face it, our pets are not always tidy creatures, so it is much easier and less expensive to purchase a bed that you can just toss into the washer and/or dryer. Beds do need to be cleaned every week or two, to help with odors and dirt. Cleaning can also help with fleas. I found washing pet beds in baking soda and vinegar is the best for removing odors in the wash.

What Style or Color Should You Choose

Look at what best fits your decor in your home. Pet beds have come a long way, and there are as many different styles of pet beds as people furniture. Once you have conquered choosing the right size, then the options are unlimited, you can choose to match your decor for color and style, or go a completely a different route. Make it a fun choice, all of my pets have specific colors and all their bedding is in that color family.

How Much To Spend

An estimated 17.8 Billion (yes, BILLION) dollars will be spent in the year 2018 on various products for pets. We as owners want our pets to have the absolute best of everything, but it is easy to go overboard (as I often do) with purchasing a pet bed. Try to have a budget in mind before looking at pet beds and stick to it. Remember that this will likely not be a one time purchase, since beds will need to be replaced for wear and tear.

How to Choose the Best Flea and Tick Prevention for Your Pets

There are many products that can help in the fight. Some protect against fleas, or ticks only. Others offer protection against both. Some, in addition to fleas and ticks, add protection against other parasites, such as lice or mosquitoes. There are those that focus on immediately killing parasites already on your pet, but offer no long-term protection. Deciding which one works best for your pet comes down to your pet's needs and your specific environment.

Your veterinarian will make a recommendation based on a number of factors: where you live, your dog's health, and other pets and children in the household. This may sound complicated, but comes down to two actions: killing fleas and ticks on your pet right now and keeping fleas and ticks from attacking in the future.

Killing Fleas Right Now

If your pet has fleas right now, you can treat with medicated shampoos and sprays, or a quick kill pill that works within a few hours. Then proceed with preventatives.

Killing Ticks Right Now

If your pet has ticks, remove the ones that are attached. If you see one, check for other ticks that are crawling around or are attached somewhere else on your pet. Check your pet's head and neck area very closely, as this seems to be a common spot for ticks to bite.

Keep Them From Coming Back - Preventatives

The second part of the fight against fleas and ticks is keeping them from coming back. These medications are called preventatives. One popular preventative approach is a topical medication that you put directly on your pet's skin once a month. Read the label. Not all topical medicines are created the same. One product sold in stores for example works for dogs but is harmful for cats. You must know the difference to know which products you need for your pet and how to apply the product. One spreads protection by putting oils on the pet's fur. To apply, pull back the fur and apply the product directly to the skin, starting with a spot on the neck and then one or two other spots down the back. Apply the liquid in spots where your pet is not likely to lick it off. In a couple of days the medication will spread and your pet will be protected all over his/her body.

The best time to apply the topical medication is at night, right before your pet goes to sleep and the kids are in bed. There are a few hours at that time for the liquid to start working before your pet rolls around or the kids start playing with them. Also, it is a good idea not to wash your pet for a couple of days before or after applying the medicine so the oils stay in the fur.

Other topicals are applied on the skin but are absorbed directly into your pet's bloodstream. If you choose this method you need only apply the liquid in one spot, at the top of the shoulders or the back of the neck. After applying any topicals, wash your hands and don't touch the wet spot.

Protective Collars are another way to keep fleas and ticks off your pet. You should change protective collars about every three months.

Sprays may be another choice. Read the directions on the bottle or can.

Talk to Your Veterinarian

Your veterinarian will customize a flea and tick prevention program that works best for your pet and your family where you live. Enjoy the season with parasite free, healthy pets!