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Making Ice Cream For Your Pet On Summer Days

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What sounds better on a hot, steamy summer day than a big ole scoop of your favorite ice cream? Not much! But, your pet may not be able to digest the contents of your favorite batch of frozen goodness. So, why not make some ice cream for them?

We’ve assembled some ideas for you to whip up some homemade treats that will taste way better than what is in the store. They will also give you the benefit of knowing exactly what each treat contains.

First up, many people are familiar with Frosty Paws in the grocery store. Our friends over at Rover.com have concocted a similar treat with fewer ingredients. It contains yogurt, peanut butter and bananas. If your dog doesn’t take well to plain yogurt there is an alternate version included. Click this link to get the recipe.

Maybe you have fresh fruit and would prefer to mix up something a little less creamy, but still tasty. They’ve got you covered with a Watermelon Mint Sherbet. Not only is it healthy, but the mint will give your pet great breath. You can even watch it being made by clicking here to see a video.

Remember that too much dairy can cause an upset tummy. Also, some sugar free additives can be toxic to your pet. If you have questions about your pets health and nutrition we always recommend consulting your veterinarian. 

We hope that these ideas help you create a nutritious and delicious treat to share with your pet during the hot summer days ahead of us. 

Pet Hydration Month

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With the heat of summer bearing down upon us, we are all looking for ways to stay cool. Tall cold drinks look especially refreshing. But have you considered whether your pet is properly hydrating with you?

July is Pet Hydration month. It is the perfect time to take a look at how much water your pet is getting in their day and whether it is enough. We all know that the human body is primarily liquid, but did you realize that a pet has a higher percentage of water in its body than we do?

According to Springbook Animal Care Center in Naperville, even mild dehydration can have serious impact on the health and function of your floofin. They recommend that you watch for the following signs that might indicate dehyrdation:

  • Sunken eyes
  • Lethargy
  • Loss of appetite
  • Dry mouth/gums
  • Depression

Make sure to keep your pet’s water bowls cleaned and constantly filled with fresh water. A pet should have approximately one ounce of water per pound. So, my 40 pound dog would need roughly 40 ounces, or 5 glasses, of water per day. 

Be sure to exercise your pet at a slower pace with as much shade and rest breaks as needed. Consider incorporating wet food into their diet as it has a higher water content than kibble. 

Further, remember to keep your birds, reptiles, or other pets out of direct sunlight and to keep them supplied with fresh water at all times. No one wants to make a trip to the emergency room for a case of dehydration. 

Keep yourself and your pet fully hydrated and remember to slow down as the temperatures go up. Episodes of heat stroke can occur in pets just as easily as in humans. Stay safe and drink up!

Five Things You May Not Know About Claudia

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Floofins & Co.

Sure, you know that the Floofins staff you interact with LOVE your pet, but have you ever wondered… Is there more to this super-duper, pet-loving person?

To that, we say, YES!

Your Floofins are like family and we want to give you a more rounded picture of our great staff members. So, we dug a little deeper into their psyches to get you the kind of information only Floofins & Co. can provide.

The staff member we are highlighting this month is Claudia. She is a Pet Care Specialist.

  • As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? “I am incredibly lucky that I get to live out my dream job everyday! I grew up wanting to be a dolphin trainer and I currently work at the Shedd Aquarium with the Pacific white sided dolphins and the Beluga whales!”
  • What would be your spirit animal? “Wild horse.” 
  • If you could ask your pet one question, what would it be? “What do you do when I’m not home?”
  • What is the funniest thing you’ve seen a stranger do? “Putting a wetsuit on backwards.”
  • What is the most beautiful place you’ve been? “Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska.”

Pet Fire Safety

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July 15th is Pet Fire Safety Day. While no one wants to consider being caught in a fire emergency, we can all take steps to be prepared. Prevention and planning will go a long way in making sure that your pet doesn’t cause or get caught in a fire situation.

There are several steps that you can take to be ready in case the worst occurs. Three steps that may save your pets’ lives are practicing, preventing, and locating.

Practice

The American Red Cross  recommends that you include your pet in your family evacuation plan. They suggest that not only should you include them in the plan, but you should practice evacuating with them. Call them by name to be sure that they will come to you in an emergency.

Prevent

According to the National Fire Protection Association, approximately 1,000 fires are accidentally started each year by pets.

The American Kennel Club and ADT Security Services suggest the following tips to prevent an accidentally fire:

  • Extinguish open flames
  • Remove stove knobs
  • Use flameless candles
  • Crate young pets

Locate

Finally, be sure to have some type of identification to alert firefighters to the presence of pets in your home. Window clings with the number and type of pets in a front window is a good option. The Red Cross recommends keeping your pets near an entrance when you are gone and also have them collared up and ready to be leashed and led out.

Being prepared in an emergency means thinking through what you need to do and enacting it. Practicing your plan will not only alert you to potential mishaps, but will decrease the amount of time needed to get out. Be ready, be prepared, and be safe.

Five Things You May Not Know About Kristin

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Sure, you know that the Floofins staff you interact with LOVE your pet, but have you ever wondered… Is there more to this super-duper, pet-loving person?

To that, we say, YES!

Your Floofins are like family and we want to give you a more rounded picture of our great staff members. So, we dug a little deeper into their psyches to get you the kind of information only Floofins & Co. can provide.

The staff member we are highlighting this month is Kristin. She is the owner/founder of Floofins & Co.

If you could pick a new name, what would it be? “Hmmmm…. Probably Eve or Ivy.”

If you could ask your pet one question, what would it be? “Portia, why do you eat your own poop? Prissy, really, what are you barking at?”

What was your favorite toy growing up? “A dress-up trunk.”

What would your spirit animal be?“Lioness.”

What is the best advice you’ve received? “Sometimes you have to be a “C” student and tweak it as you go.”