Kristin Skelton

National Holistic Pet Day

August 20, 2018 by Kristin Skelton Leave a Comment

Celebrate National Holistic Pet Day By Considering The Topic Of Nutrition

August 30th is National Holistic Pet Day. Holistic health care is an integrated approach that treats the “whole person”, not simply symptoms and disease. It is preventative in approach and is gaining popularity in both the human and animal spaces.

National Holistic Pet Day is a chance to think about and help improve your pet’s quality of life, addressing the lifestyle of the “whole animal” in mind, body and spirit. Today we consider the topic of nutrition.

Your floofin’s nutrition is vital to his or her overall health and wellbeing. With more pet-food options (an opinions) out there than ever before, lets take a brief look at one that’s very popular in the holistic space: raw diets. [Read more…] about National Holistic Pet Day

Safety Precautions For A Pet Safe July Fourth

June 30, 2016 by Kristin Skelton Leave a Comment

Five Tips For A Pet Safe July Fourth

July Fourth is coming soon and is one of the most fun-filled “stay at home and BBQ” kind of holidays of the year. If you have pets, they will probably be part of the party. Whether you are hosting the party or leaving your pet at home, here are a few safety precautions to ensure your pet can avoid some common safety issues associated with July Fourth celebrations.

Noise Phobia. As the holiday known for lots of fireworks, a pet with noise phobia can have issues during a holiday like the Fourth. Pets can act aggressively due to fear, which may be a danger to your party guests, or your pet may injure themselves while looking for a place to escape or hide. Signs to be aware of when it comes to noise phobia include hiding, trembling or shaking, sudden urination or defecation, pacing, chewing, digging, barking or howling, and an abnormal clinging behavior around the pet’s owner. If you are going to partake in a fireworks show, leave your pet at home. Find a quiet secure spot at your house and give them safe toys and treats to occupy and distract them while you are away. However, do not leave pets outside, even in a fenced-in yard. Consider locking your doggie door while you are away. If you know your pet is upset by fireworks, consider hanging out at home with them in lieu of attending a fireworks display. Or, enlist a professional pet sitter to stop in to check on them and provide positive activities and company. [Read more…] about Safety Precautions For A Pet Safe July Fourth

Poop Happens

June 15, 2016 by Kristin Skelton Leave a Comment

A Journey Into The World Of Poop

By Jennifer Blaese “The Poop Bag Girl”
Guest Blogger

Five years ago I began a journey, which changed my “daily doodie” of scooping poop. I never thought that someday I would be known as “The Poop Bag Girl,” a title I proudly embrace. Will you remember my name? Probably not, but you’ll remember I’m a doggie mom with a passion for poop and plastic!

You’re wondering, “why poop bags?”
I did the math (each dog uses 3 bags/day x 365 days/year). As a dog owner with 2 dogs, I was buying over 4000 poop bags a year! That’s a lot of poop! Carrying the bags was always a challenge and I had spent a lot of money on unsightly dispensers that were easily broken and hard to use. I thought there had to be a better way to tote the bags. It should be cool, functional, and compliment my dogs’ leashes and lifestyle. After more than 10 prototypes and hours of testing “in the field,” Loop for Poop was born: super cool, easy to use and refillable.

[Read more…] about Poop Happens

Creating A Bird-Friendly Backyard

May 25, 2016 by Kristin Skelton Leave a Comment

Bird-Friendly Makes For The Best Backyards

Preparing your yard for visiting birds can be a nice spring project. Wild birds, along with natural flowers, grasses, and plants, can create an extravagant bird-friendly environment.

To make your yard bird-friendly, you need three things: food, water and shelter. With this simple approach, you can attract a variety of birds throughout most of the year. [Read more…] about Creating A Bird-Friendly Backyard

Outdoor Enrichment Options For Cats

April 27, 2016 by Kristin Skelton Leave a Comment

Indoor Cats Might Need Outdoor Enrichment To Improve Quality Of Life.

According to Dr. Karen Becker “Most people owned by a cat don’t realize their favorite feline is actually a captive animal…Your kitty, especially if he lives entirely indoors…can be loosely compared to a zoo animal held in captivity.”

Since the introduction of cat litter in the 1940s most cats are spending all of their time indoors. This is generally a safer environment for pet cats because it negates contact with many diseases and parasites as well as environmental dangers such as:

Cars
Trees (i.e. getting stuck in one)
Dogs and wild animals
Animal cruelty (think black cats on Halloween), and
Toxins and poisons.