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Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Make a Pets Day During the Holiday Season!

Tis’ the season to be merry and jolly, but it’s also the season to give back to the community. When thinking about what to get your pets for the Holidays, you could always opt to the volunteer route. Although it isn’t a “real” present to give your pets, it will make you feel good and thankful about yourself, your family and of course your pets!

During the Holiday season, you can volunteer with the Humane Society. There are Humane Societies across the United States, where you can volunteer. The Humane Society of the United States is located in Washington, DC. On the Humane Society of the United States website, it has a drop down menu to show resources for: Animal Care community, Parents and Educators, Teens and Kids. In the Teens and Kids section it talks about how to get involved and how to help. Volunteers are always needed with your states Humane Society and are very much welcome!

If animal cruelty is something you want to stand up for, volunteering during the holidays with the ASPCA is the way to go. On their website, they have many tips as to make an animal’s life better. The ASPCA urges people to volunteer at their local shelter to help take care of the animals who reside there.

The ultimate gift to make an animal’s life better would be to adopt one. There are many animal rescue societies all over the country. You can even volunteer at the various rescue societies or hold an adoption event. On many different rescue society websites you can see the different dogs that they have ready for adoption, and all you need to do is fill out their applications and follow their directions, and you have already started to bring a better future to your new pet.

We hope that you bring happiness and joy to your furry friends this holiday season!

Flying with Your Pets

When traveling this holiday season, you want to make sure that your family and pets are safe. And with all of the talk about the harsher TSA scans at airports, pet owners must be worried about their furry friends flying the friendly skies.
TSA has assured their pet owner-friends on their website that it is 100% allowed to bring a pet onto their flights. The person flying may also have to talk to the airlines about having their pet with them, before they get to the airport. And please make sure that your pets crate or carrier is approved by your airline.

During the security briefing at the security check points, you will have to take your pet out of their crates or carriers. Your pet can walk with you through the metal detector with you, and at this time the crate or carrier will be placed through the X-ray machine. The TSA website also guarantees that your pet will never be placed through the X-ray machine.

If you have a service animal, TSA say’s to tell a TSA officer that your animal is there to help and guide you as a service animal, not a pet. Also, always have identification that categorizes your animals as a service animal. Unlike when you bring a pet to security, a service animal will NEVER be taken from your side. A TSA officer will in no way touch your service animal without asking, and would absolutely by no means feed or play with your service animal, too.

The TSA officers are trying to make skies are safe for everyone including your pets, too! And with your cooperation, along with your pet’s cooperation, they can do their jobs accordingly.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Stocking Stuffers for Your Furry Friend!

At Center Pet we not only care for your pet, we want to make sure that they feel great and look great too! We have many great stocking stuffers for your pet in our store, which is located at 4900 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington, DC 20016.

Holiday Time Fun

We have many Holiday gifts for your pet that would fit great in their stocking, we even have “Woof” Stockings for your pet! These stockings are red with white polka dots and a big bow with a green “Woof” button. They are adorable and will make any pup happy!

Do you have a pet that would tell Santa, “Sorry Santa! I Ate Your Cookies?” We have pet tee-shirts made by Mudpie that have cute holiday sayings on them. And they look cute on any pet!

For the cat in your life, we have cat nip in the form of a red and green candy cane, which are $6.95 and your cat will go crazy for them! We also have personalization ornaments for your cat that say “CATS make a house a HOME,” and you can write your cats name on it to make it personalized.

Collars Galore

We have the best selection and the right collar for your dogs and cats! If your dog is preppy and likes flair that looks like it could be from Nantucket, try and Up Country collar. Up Country also offers leads and harnesses that are gorgeous, and will make your pup look great!

Yellow Dog Design, Ruffwear and Lupine Collars all have collars that are bright and fun, and also are easy clip adjustable. Your dog will love both of these brands collars because they showcase personality and pizzazz. These fun collars also come in leashes, as well.

For the high-end dog who likes to live in the lap of luxury, we have Claire Thomas dog collars and leashes. These may be pricey; but they are high quality and will make your dog look stunning when wearing. The most popular colors that we carry are silver, pink and blue. But the leashes and collars come in more colors to choose from.

And we have not forgotten about your kitties, out there! We have various collars for them to enjoy, too. Our favorite is the Premier “Twice as Nice” kitty collar, it is safe and made out of elastic—but is very cute with a bell on it and is the ultimate in comfort.

Brrrr it’s Cold Outside

Because the winter season is right around the corner, make sure your dogs are warm when you walk them! We have a very large selection of Zack & Zoe, Barking Baby, New York Dog, and Ruff Ruff Couture sweaters and jackets. The sweaters are perfect for cozying up while watching a movie on a cold day. And you can layer a jacket over a sweater to make sure your pup is extra warm while on an early morning walk. Just because your dog has fur does not mean that they do not get cold!

Obviously we cannot list out all of our merchandise that is housed in our store in DC because the list would be too long. We hope that you’ll come in and see all of our great gifts for your pet, because the loved pets in your life need to be treated sometimes—especially during the holidays!

Monday, December 13, 2010

Holiday Photos at Center Pet was a Huge Success!

Holiday Photos with Santa was a hit at Center Pet! On December 11th, 2010 from 10 am until 12 pm, the Washington Humane Society came to Center Pet for the Holiday Photos with Santa event. They even brought their adoption RV, which was parked in the lower parking lot. Along with the adoption RV, the Washington Humane Society brought Santa along with them, too!

Old customers and new came to take photos with Santa and their pets. The price for the pictures with Santa was a $20 donation to the Washington Humane Society. Santa put many doggies and kitties on his Nice List, and none on the Naughty List! Hopefully all of them will receive great presents for the Holidays, and no coal!

The event was a huge success. In the two hours that Santa was at Center Pet, we raised over $570 for the Washington Humane Society! Center Pet hopes to work with the Washington Humane Society again in the near future!

                  Happy holidays and warm wishes from all of the staff at Center Pet :)
In this Photo: Mrs. Wilcox, and Santa Claus are setting up her two dogs to have their Holiday photo shoot!
Photo Credit: Picture taken by Sarah Caroline Kramm

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Dress Your Pet: Holiday Edition!

Who doesn’t think it’s adorable to see your favorite pet in a cute outfit? Especially during the Holidays! Well this edition of “Dress Your Pet” will go over great options for Holiday attire for your furry friends!

Although Hanukkah 2010 is coming to an end, this costume we found is also perfect for any Jewish Holiday, going to Synagogue, and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs! The Gilded Paw has a “Pup Shalom” costume that is adorable! There are various sizes, so even the smallest and biggest dogs can partake in Jewish Holidays!

If you want to be really festive for Christmas, you can dress your pooch up as “Santa Paws.” This adorable costume from Doggie Clothesline comes in sizes extra small to large, and even comes with a little Santa hat. The black belt will make your pup look slim and jolly for Christmas!

Feeling Elf-ish? If you want your little pal to be dressed up as an elf, The Diamond Collar has you covered! This costume looks just like one of Santa’s helpers! This tunic, has a matching hat that stays on your dogs chin thanks to an elastic strap! The cutest part about this elf-tastic outfit is that there are jingle bells attached to the collar. The sizes run from extra, extra small to extra, extra large.

Everyone at Center Pet wishes you and your pets a wonderful, healthy Holiday season! We hope that your winter is not too cold, and your pets stay warm throughout this frosty weather! Don’t forget Holiday Photos with Santa at Center Pet on December 11th, 2010 benefitting the Washington Humane Society!












Santa Paws Photo credit: Doggie Clothesline
Elf Photo credit: The Diamond Collar
Pup Shalom Photo credit: The Gilded Paw

Santa Claus is Coming to Town!

Center Pet received a letter from Santa Claus yesterday, concerning him coming to town early for our Photos with Santa event! We will share with you what our jolly friend wrote us:

Dear Center Pet,


Ho Ho Ho! I am very excited to meet all of the good kitties and pooches when I come to DC on December 11th, for an early visit. I hope to see all of the pets that are on my 2010 Nice List. Those pets are the ones who don’t scratch up their momma and daddy’s furniture and bite their brothers and sisters!


I wanted to say how thankful I am that we are taking these Holiday Photos with Santa for charity. The proceeds from the photos with me will go to the Washington Humane Society- and those who give, will always be on my Nice List. Also, don’t forget to write me a list of pet goodies that you want, and even something for that special human in your life.


If all you want for the Holidays is to meet me and some real elves, see your family happy, and to help out a great cause, please stop by Center Pet at 10 am until 12 pm for Holiday Photos with Santa.


Sincerely,


Santa Claus

Everyone at Center Pet welcomes Santa, you and your pets to come out to Holiday Photos with Santa! Center Pet is located at 4900 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC 20016, and the event will be on December 11th, 2010 from 10 am until 12 pm. Proceeds go to the Washington Humane Society.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Reasons Why You Should Bring Your Pet to Holiday Photos with Santa

5. You can meet all the great folks at Center Pet who help you purchase your pet medications.
The Customer Service Representatives will be at the event, lending a hand where it is needed. Also they will be there to answer and pet medication questions you have. Kenny Kramm, the CEO of Center Pet will also be in attendance to meet all of the wonderful customers Center Pet has.

4. It is always fun to put your pet in a sweater that matches you, your husband and your children.
Or maybe, you have those reindeer antlers that you’ve been dying to put on your pet- this is the time to do it!

3. You will have beautiful pictures to remember what a wonderful year you and your pets have had.
You can do many things with these pictures, as well! You can send them around to your family and friends to show them how big your dog has gotten, or how cute your cat is.

2. The Washington Humane Society will be bringing their mobile adoption unit.
After you get your pet’s photo taken with Santa, you and your family can adopt a new pet. You can bring an underprivileged pet into a great, new home at the holidays!

1. It is the Season for giving!
When your pet has their photo taken with Santa, a $20 donation to the Washington Humane Society is asked and greatly appreciated. Why not be of assistance to animals that need loving and a new home? The Washington Humane Society provides comfort and care to almost 30,000 animals every year.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Holiday Photos with Santa at Center Pet Press Release

                                                                          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Sarah Caroline Kramm
888-260-0801 ext 106
Sckramm@centerpetpharmacy.com

                             CENTER PET TO HOST HOLIDAY PHOTOS WITH SANTA
                                 BENEFITING THE WASHINGTON HUMANE SOCIETY

Washington, DC- November 18, 2010—Center Pet, located at 4900 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC will host Holiday Photos with Santa, on Saturday, December 11th, 2010, from 10 am-12 pm. This event will include the public going to Center Pet to have their pet’s photos taken with Santa or with a festive background. The Holiday Photo session costs a $20.00 donation, and the proceeds go to the Washington Humane Society (www.Washhumane.org)

“We believe giving back to the community at this time of year is important for all businesses alike,” said Kenny Kramm, CEO of Center Pet. “My family and I are extremely ecstatic to have such a wonderful Holiday event at our store. We are also eager to collaborate with the Washington Humane Society, to host a soon to be annual event at Center Pet.”

Holiday Photos with Santa is open to the public. Each photo will be printed onsite and mounted in a frame. Also the photos will, with Center Pet’s guest’s permission, be downloaded on the Washington Humane Society Flickr page, where they can look and upload more of their photos. This special event is one of numerous events scheduled for the upcoming months.

Center Pet is a family-owned pharmacy which features not only pet medication but pet accessories, as well. Center Pet is located at 4900 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20016 and is open Monday-Friday 9 am-5 pm and Saturday 11 am-2 pm. For more information, please visit www.centerpetpharmacy.com.

Center Pet Picked a Winner!

Center Pet wants to congratulate Liz Henderson from Bethesda, Maryland for winning our Adams Morgan Day giveaway! Everyone at Center Pet is very ecstatic to send Liz her $100 check from this giveaway.

There was four easy ways to win this giveaway. To win big, clients could have placed an order online- and received 20% off, registered to be on our email list, refer-a-friend (both of you would have been entered), and friend us on Facebook/or follow us on Twitter.

We hope to have many more promotions like this one, again very soon. We will keep you updated on your way to win big, from Center Pet!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Thanksgiving foods are a No-No for Your Pets

It is very tempting to give your pet a sampling of the Thanksgiving feast under the table, but before you do, you must know that it is not good for them. If you do not want to go to the animal hospital, do not feed your pet human food during the holidays. And if your food drops off of the table, or your plate, be sure to clean it up right away so your pet doesn’t get to it first. Various foods that your pets are not accustomed to can be hazardous to their digestive track. Some of the consequences are vomiting, and diarrhea.

Humans love holiday chow like turkey and buttery vegetables, but your pet should not like all of the different holiday foods! These foods can cause pancreatitis in pets, which is life-threatening to your furry friend.

And the thing with turkey is, there are always bones! Bones can be extremely harmful to your pet because they can get caught in their throats, or lodged in their intestinal track. The carcass of the cooked turkey may also have bacteria growing in it, and if your pet attempts to eat it—they can get extremely ill.

When throwing away the bones and carcass of the turkey, be sure that you put them into a bag, tie it very tight and make sure you position and arrange it into a trash can where your pet cannot get into.

Make sure this is a holiday season to remember, and hopefully not because your pet got sick due to eating holiday foods!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Holiday Photos with Santa at Center Pet!

Season’s Greetings!

Everyone here at Center Pet is wishing you a wonderful and healthy beginning to you and your pets’ holiday season! We also want to let you know about a very special event Center Pet is hosting for the Washington Humane Society. We are having Holiday Photos with Santa at our store conveniently located at 4900 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington DC 20016, on December 11th, 2010 from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm. There is plenty of free, on-site parking. If you have questions or need additional information, contact Sarah at 202 464 1911 or 1 888 260 0801.

You can choose to have your pet photographed either with Santa or with a seasonal backdrop. A $20.00 donation to the Washington Humane Society is appreciated, and each photo will be printed onsite and mounted in a frame. Also the photos will, with your permission, be downloaded on the Washington Humane Society Flickr page, where all of our guests can look and upload more of their photos there.

Also, don’t forget about the Washington Humane Society’s, “Sugar and Champagne Affair” event on February 1st, 2011. For more information please check out www.washhumane.org/sugar.

The Center Pet staff hopes to see you and your pet at our store for our inaugural Holiday Photos with Santa on December 11th. 2010 at 10am! Happy Holidays and Warm Wishes!


Monday, October 25, 2010

Halloween Hazards for Your Pet!

Halloween is all about dressing up your pet in a cute costume and parading them around the neighborhood, but there are many things you need to be aware of as a pet owner to make sure your pet does not get hurt.

While walking around the neighborhood beware of candy that has fallen on the ground—for many reasons. Your pet could try and eat the candy and choke on the wrapper because they cannot chew them up and digest them. Also, your pet could try and eat some candy that is harmful to them. All types of chocolate are extremely harmful to pets. The chocolate can poison your pet or cause them to have pancreatic inflammation.

Along with chocolate being very harmful to pets, a natural sweetener called xylitol is dangerous too. Xylitol can be found in numerous popular candies and gums. If a dog ingests candy with xylitol in it, it can result in low-blood sugar—and potential death. In addition to the low blood sugar, xylitol can cause liver failure, which also can lead to potential death.

Everyone at Center Pet hopes that you and your pets have a safe and healthy Halloween! If your pet eats anything candy related that is questionable please call your vet right away.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

New Metacam Warning Information: For Cats

On September 17th, Center Pet received news about the use of Metacam (Meloxicam) in cats. When Metacam was introduced to veterinarians, pharmacies and people everywhere in 2003, it was used safely in animals—and not many side effects were reported. But over time more and more problems have been reported in the use for felines.

There will be a new warning that will now appear on the label for Metacam (solution for injection and oral suspension) that includes feline safety information. The warning will read, “Warning: Repeated use of Meloxicam in cats has been associated with acute renal failure and death. Do not administer additional doses of injectable or oral Meloxicam to cats. See Contraindications, Warnings and Precautions for detailed information.”

In non-vet lingo: You can give your cat one injection after surgery, but it should not be used for daily maintenance. It should be used once in a blue moon- not all the time!

*Photocredit- http://metacam-meloxicam.appspot.com/

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Do You LOVE Center Pet?

Were you at Adams Morgan Day this year? Did you notice how many people were wearing “I love Center Pet” stickers? Our Prize Patrol was out to find people who wanted to win great prizes because they were supporting Center Pet!

If you were unable to join us at AMD 2010, it’s okay because you can still be entered to win $100! There are four easy ways it is possible for you to win. All you need to know is the promotions code, 91210AMD.

1. Place an order with us online. Go to Centerpetpharmacy.com, click on “Purchase Medications,” use the coupon code: 91210AMD when checking out, you will automatically earn 20% off, when you put in the promotions code. Your name will also be entered into our drawing for $100!

2. Register to be put onto our email list. Go to Centerpetpharmacy.com, click on “Contact,” complete the “Send a Message…” form, and in the message enter the promotions code: 91210AMD, and send your message. Most people dread email lists, but this one is great in many ways. You can get refill reminders for your pet’s prescription every time your pet needs more medicine, and even get more promotional discounts.

3. Refer-a-friend to us. You and your friend will be entered to win the $100! It’s a great deal for both of you! Go to Centerpetpharmacy.com, click on “Contact,” complete the “Send a message…” form, and in the message box enter the promotions code: 91210AMD-with your friend’s full name, email address, phone number, City, State and Zip Code.


4. Friend us on Facebook and/or Twitter. First follow or friend us on either site, then send us a message with your name, email address, phone number, City, State, Zip Code and our promotions code: 91210AMD and you’ll automatically be entered into the contest. You can also tag us in a post on Twitter with the code, and be entered to win!

The drawing will take place on October 20th, 2010. Tell all of your fellow pet lovers to enter to win, because potentially it makes your odds better, too! Good Luck!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Center Pet at the 32nd Annual Adams Morgan Day Festival


Come stop by the Center Pet booth at the 32nd Annual Adams Morgan Day Street Fair on Sunday, September 12, 2010! Center Pet will be featured in the new Pet Zone, on the tennis courts.

Center Pet is a Washington, DC-based, family-owned pharmacy that has been in business for almost 50 years. Center Pet has the largest variety of specialized veterinary medications, which include compounded medications at competitive prices.

While chatting with many vendors about pet rescues and adoption, doggie day care services and going green with your pet, you can learn about our great services and you can even win up to $150! Learn about our products and meet our friendly staff, too! We hope to see you there!

For more information on the Festival go to http://www.adamsmorgandayfestival.com/

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Don't Forget About Fish for Pets!

When finding the perfect pet for you, don't just think about dogs and cats--think out of the box! If you are allergic to cats or dog dander, you should look into getting a fish as a pet. Although, you cannot physically play with your fish, they're all beautiful to look at, and they do not take up much room in your house.


Finding a great filter for your fish tank is very important. A filter is supposed to keep the tank functioning well, and everything in it living. You want to be sure that the filter you do buy, is the right size for the tank that you have. And don't forget to change the filter when you are supposed to, to make sure that everything in the tank is maintaining to be healthy! The water needs to sit with the filtration system for about a week without any fish, to ensure that everything works correctly. Most fish are accustomed to warmer water, that's around 76 degrees to 84 degrees, unless you have a cold water fish or in some cases a goldfish!

When searching for a fish that is right for you, you should always research different kinds of fish. You should find out the various traits of the fish and see which are compatible with you and also other fish. Some fish cannot be in the same tank with each other, and you definitely need to find that out asap before purchasing two of them! You can always ask a professional at a pet or fish store to help you find the right fish for you, too! Although, you do not want to over crowd your tank with too many fish. It gets confusing for the fish and keeping a good ratio can help eliminate a lot of problems in the tank.

After your new tank is set up, fish and all- you should take your tank to a pet or fish store to get a biological analysis, which will show if more than one fish can be added and many other things. They will also let you know when you first set up your fish tank, do not be too quick to add a lot of fish at once--just buy one at first. Because adding too many fish at once can increase the ammonia levels in the tank--and can be fatal to your new pets.

Center Pet wishes you and your new fish a great start, and you follow our rules to keep them safe and healthy!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Keeping Your Bird Safe When Traveling

When you like to travel a lot and want to take your pet with you, you want to make sure that your pet is comfortable and likes traveling, too. Traveling with your bird is special because they want to have a great experience with you, and wants to do it safely.

Be sure to have accommodations that allow pets, such as birds, make your reservations and be on your way! Make sure the hotel you are staying at is smoke free because smoking can irritate birds and make them very sick.

While driving or flying to your destination, make sure to have a health certificate from your veterinarian. And talk to the airlines you are flying with to see how they treat pets on their flights.

When traveling with your bird, always make sure to have clean water with you at all times. Dehydration is prevalent in animals and is something that is completely, preventable. And do not over feed your bird before you leave for the trip, you don’t want any accidents while traveling! But bring food cups when traveling to feed your bird at the appropriate times. Or if flying, lodge a food cup into your birds cage so they do not go hungry.

Always stick to your normal habits with your bird and daily routines. If vacation makes you want to just lie around, don’t-it can throw off your bird and cause them to be confused.  They’re already going to be in a new place and that’s confusing enough already, don’t make it worse for them.

Above all, have fun traveling with your bird but do it safely!

How to Keep Your Ferret Fit

Having small pets like ferrets healthy is not hard, but you need to make sure that they get enough nutrients and exercise to survive. They’re very cute animals but if you don’t treat them right, then it could be fatal. Without exercise, ferrets can get obese and turn extremely lazy.

Did you know that ferrets are supposed to be outside of their cage for at least four hours? And two of those hours are supposed to have human interaction involved. Ferrets are very curious animals and like the communication with humans and other ferrets. They like to play tag and follow objects that are on poles, as well.

Some ferrets even enjoy multi-level cage and exercise pens. The multi-level cage allows your pet to go up and down ramps an stairs, and be entertained while inside. It is also a great way for them to exercise, while having a lot of fun-alone. With the exercise pen, you can let your ferret roam around in your house but in a single area, without getting lost or into some trouble. Your ferret will not get into any trouble in this isolated spot that you make for them.

Ferrets are fun animals that enjoy wrestling around and digging holes. But if you take your ferret to a public area, you may want to provide a lead, with a harness so you can keep track of them at all times. You don’t want to lose your cute, yet very entertaining furry friend! Also be sure to use flea and tick medication on your ferret before you go outside and play.

But beware of the heat when it gets extremely hot outside, because ferrets do get heat stroke. And always hydrate your ferret in hot weather! Dehydration is a serious problem, in many animals today.
We hope our handy guide to keeping your ferret healthy and fit, has helped you and your little friends! And remember if your ferrets need any medication, to call us to get it for you!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Dog Blood Donations

Humans donate blood to help and save other people. Bet you didn’t know that dogs can donate blood to help other dogs, too! They can save another dogs life, and be a hero pup like Lassie. Every day more and more dogs need blood transfusions and life-dependant operations and with the blood donations, more dogs are being able to get help and live a full-long life.

Dog blood donors need to fit a list of requirements to make sure that their blood is good to use. Different blood banks and veterinarians have different requirements. But some common requirements are, they have to be over 50 pounds, be between 1-7 years old, be very healthy and in-shape, cannot be on any medicine, and has to be a universal blood donor. The most common dogs who are universal blood donors are grey hounds and pit bulls.

Also, all blood donors should be happy and calm dogs. Along with that, they should be obedient and have to lie down on their sides or sit for a little while. But if a dog is too hyper and cannot sit still, then they would not be able to give blood. Donors are never forced to give blood, and can donate when they feel the time is right.

The blood is normally taken from the jugular vein in the neck. Donating blood does not take a long time, just about 20-30 minutes in total. And after the process, you should let your pal rest for the day. As they should be rewarded for giving the gift of life to a dog in need.

Dehydration in Cats

Did you know that most animals are made up of about 60 percent of water? But for cats when that amount of water drops to even about five percent below normal, they become dehydrated. And if it drops anymore past 10 percent below normal, then it can be deadly. Dehydration can have many lasting effects on cats like kidney problems and circulatory problems.

There are many symptoms you can watch out for; like dry mouth and increased heart rate, to make sure your cat is fully hydrated and nowhere near the point of dehydration. Sunken eyes, thick saliva, and fatigue are also symptoms of dehydration. If your cat has diarrhea and is vomiting, call a veterinarian immediately because they can be a cause and lead to dehydration. Although there are many causes of dehydration in cats, some are: having a fever, blood loss, and increased urination (because of medical conditions.)

Treating dehydration for your cats is easy, hydrate them! See your cats veterinarian before doing anything though. Intravenous fluids is a great rehydration method, you can find out more about that and catheters by your veterinarian.  

To ensure that your furry friend does not get dehydrated, you should always make sure that there is fresh, water provided for your cat. When you and your cat are playing outside, play in a sheltered place-not just in the sun. And if you put a little bit of water in your cats food, it will keep them more hydrated.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Choosing the Dog Breed That is Right For You

When looking to buy a dog, it is important to understand the traditional characteristics of the breed of your possible new dog. For example, is your new breed prone to illness, and are you willing to keep up on dog medications? How is your breed around children? Is she prone to running away? The answers to these questions can prove vitally important while making sure you have the right pooch.

Breeds Prone to Illness

There are many dog breeds that are prone to many different types of illnesses. Take eye problems, for example. Collies, Retrievers and Spaniels all commonly have eye troubles. It’s important to see how different breeds compare in eye problems. And that, of course, is just one type of illness. According to the Morris Animal Foundation, Golden Retrievers are very prone to cancer (60% die of it). As with eye troubles, certain breeds are susceptible to different cancers. These things can cost a lot in dog medications, so it’s good to know how much you should be prepared to spend to keep your breed healthy.

Breeds Good for Children

Certain dog breeds have more temperamental and/or violent tendencies than others–see: Poodles, Pit Bulls–while some tend to be more loyal and nurturing–see: Retrievers, Collies. It’s important to know what kind of temperament the breed you are considering usually has when choosing a family dog. There are lists of the best dogs for children, and these tend to be pretty good. Normally, you want dogs known for loyalty and patience. The Golden Retriever–America’s favorite dog–is one of the best dogs there is for children. The Collie is another great one. In the end, though, all dogs (even those with certain tendencies) are different. Best thing to do is take your children around the new dog you are considering and see how they interact.

Breeds Prone to Running Away

High-energy dogs are always the ones most prone to running away, especially if they are left alone all day. Dogs, especially intelligent dogs, can be a lot like people: they get bored and want something better. Hunting dogs are very prone to running as they evolved from a life of wandering to find their prey. It’s important to know what kind of dog you are getting in these senses. Is your dog from one of the smartest breeds? Did she evolve from a breed who is used to wandering? How much time will you be able to devote to your dog? The less time you can be there, the less intelligent you want your breed to be. Smart dogs will find ways to entertain themselves, which can have disastrous results for your things or can be prone to running away. Remember, though, no matter what your dog’s tendencies, it’s good to implant a microchip in your pet to find her if she does run away.
It’s important to thoroughly research the tendencies that appear in your pet and figure out what is best for you and your family.
Categories: Dogs, Pet Pharmacy

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Summer Hazards That Can Harm Your Pet


As the sun starts to stay out later for the Summer time, your pet will want to bask in the daylight, too! But there are some hazards you need to know before letting your pet roam around outside. Here are some tips to help your pets not get sick or hurt in the spring time!

It is very important for us to know what to do to stay cool in hot weather. It is as equally important for us to keep our pets cool, as well. Always provide your pet with cold, fresh water every day in their favorite bowl. Just like humans need to stay hydrated, so do your pets.

 Constantly refill empty or nearly-empty bowls and freshen water often. But never give your pet freezing cold, ice water because it can shock your furry friend’s system.
 
    
Another important point dealing with water is swimming with your pets. We all know that cats do not like water, but on the other hand dogs do like to swim. Unfortunately, chlorinated water can irritate their eyes. Do not leave your pet unattended near a pool or a lake. Without help, most dogs cannot get out of a pool and start to panic.
Do not under any circumstance leave your pets in the car for any amount of time. The temperature almost doubles while in an automobile, and your pets cannot handle that. Even leaving windows slightly open does not guard or protect your pet from overheating and/or suffering from heat stroke during hot days. Vital signs of heat stroke often include heavy panting, hyperventilation or deep breathing, increased salivation, weakness, confusion, vomiting and diarrhea.
    
While playing outside with your pets, remember that concrete or asphalt can get very hot and does not feel good on your pets’ paws. Make sure that there is shelter around so your pet does not over heat.
    
Also, make sure if you have just fertilized your lawn, to keep your pet inside for about 24 hours after applying the chemicals to your yard. The chemicals will only irritate your pet when they lick their paws. But if your pet steps in a big puddle of pesticides it could be poisonous to them. Be sure to get up any spills and puddles of chemicals before your pets step in them.
Spring time is a great occasion for you and your pets to play and enjoy the longer days and sunshine. At the same time, you must know all of the hazards that come with the spring. Risk and danger for your furry pals is lurking around the corner, or in this instance, creeping in your backyard.
Categories: Cats, Dogs, Healthy Pet Tips, Kittens, Pet Pharmacy

Rescue Pets Need Some Lovin'

Just like humans, animals need families and warm homes, too. For that reason, many families around the world are rescuing animals and bringing them into their loving homes.  The animals that are being rescued could be from many different places, including the streets or abusive homes. But these proactive and compassionate people want to better the lives of these animals and help them find the meaning of family, by adopting them or helping them find a good home.



Photo Credit: Photo borrowed from the Animal Rescue Foundation LUXIST

 














 
 

Many different societies and associations have helped create the idea of rescuing pets, and making more people want to do it. Numerous rescue organizations are volunteer operated and help shelters with taking pets. Pounds have seemed to be replaced with  various shelters and organizations, where the animals are being taken care of by volunteers who come in and want to help find the animals homes. The volunteers want to help raise understanding and awareness towards rescue animals and the optimistic effects of adoption.
 
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ website is catered to fight animal cruelty and help rescue and adopt dogs and cats. You can adopt animals from their site, and they even have a mobile adoption van! The ASPCA is kicking their goal into high gear and trying to help as many animals as they can.
 
Another big player in helping families rescue animals is The Humane Society of the United States. Their website is easy to use, and you can find an animal to adopt, train and play with. They are advocates of stopping puppy mills, which is an ongoing problem in the United States. Also, they are believers of ending the killing of animals for fur products.
These neglected animals deserve an excellent family to love them, instead of roaming the streets or living in a bad home. Also, spaying and neutering your pets can help lessen the number of homeless animals. It takes a lot of courage to rescue a pet instead of just buying one at the pet store. It may take more effort to rescue a pet, but in the long run it will make your family and you feel much better about helping a furry friend. Animal friendly people should take any action in helping these rescue animals. If you want to help, you could start with signing petitions and speaking up about the exploitation of animals. But if you want to make a big difference, adopt an animal and make a friend for life.
Categories: Animal Rescues, Birds, Cats, Dogs, Kittens

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Heal Your Horse: Horse Medication From Center Pet

Horses are majestic creatures, but any horse owner will tell you that they can also be extremely stubborn and headstrong. Trying to give a horse its medicine is sometimes akin to chasing a six-year-old around the house with a teaspoon full of cough medicine. Except your six-year-old doesn’t weigh half a ton and have teeth that could easily take off a finger.

If you’ve ever seen a novice try to give a horse medication, you understand the importance of knowing how to properly administer medicine to a sick horse. Your veterinarian will likely give your horse an injection, but for home medicating, the method is most often pills. There are several different ways to easily administer pills to your horse, though no single method is fool proof or works for everyone. The best way to figure out which method is going to work for you is simple trial and error.

If you have a particularly cooperative horse you may want to try the whole-pill method, which may involve putting the pill as far back as you can in your horse’s mouth and holding his head in the air until you’re sure he’s swallowed it. This method works well with dogs, who have tiny heads and are easily overpowered, but it may not go over so well with your horse. You can also try to hide the whole pill in your horse’s food, but it is probable that he will discover and discard it.

The most popular method for administering pills to your equine friend is the “grind and hide” method. Using a mortar and pestle designated specifically for horse medication, grind the pill to a fine powder, making sure not to leave any large chunks. Then hide the powder in one of your horse’s favorite foods, preferably something liquid or sticky so that the medicine doesn’t fly all over the place when your horse exhales.

If your sick horse is appropriately suspicious of your generosity and refuses to eat his medicine-laced treats, there is one more method for administering his pills. Again, grind the pill with a mortar and pestle until it is a fine powder, then mix it with water and put it into a syringe that has an open catheter tip. Then you can open your horse’s mouth and easily squirt the medicine down his throat, holding his head up to make sure he’s swallowed.

Center Pet Pharmacy can help to provide you with the very best horse medications, as well as advice on the best ways to administer those medications so that your pet experiences as little stress as possible. When your pet is happy, we’re happy!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Cushing’s Disease in Canines

Many of our clients from around the country find us because we are one of very few pharmacies that carry a drug called Trilostane (chemical name) or Vetoryl (trade name) at a very competitive cost.  This is one of the most effective and popular drugs for the treatment of Canine Cushing’s disease.  Cushing’s disease, or Hyperadrenocorticism, is a fairly common disease in older dogs.

What is Cushings Disease?

Cushing’s Disease, or Hyperadrenocorticism, is an overproduction of the adrenal hormone, cortisol.  It can occur naturally, or because of overdosing of corticosteroids.  The latter is cured when the cortisteroids are tapered off.

What are the Symptoms?

Increase in thirst, causing massive consumption of water and therefore highly increased urination (and accidents inside). There is an increase in appetite, panting, high blood pressure, an evenly distributed thinning of the hair/fur, thinning of the skin, calcified lumps in the skin, heightened susceptibility to skin infections and diabetes, and weakening of the muscles, heart and nervous system. Since cortisol is an immunosupressant, it’s overproduction can have a very negative effect on your dog’s health. Many owners reach a point where the water consumption and urination become annoying and overwhelming, and they have the dog euthanized.

Trilostane or Vetoryl work amazingly well in the majority of dogs. In most cases, the drug rapidly reverses these symptoms and improves the health of the dog. You can work with your vet and visit our prescriptions page to obtain Trilostane from our pet pharmacy.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

The Art and Science of Pharmacy Compounding & Pet Medications

Pharmacy compounding is the art of creating customized medications for patients, and the concept of medical compounding goes all the way back to the roots of pharmaceutical science. The basic idea is simple - for instance, cats don’t like pills, but they do like tuna. So why not flavor their medicine to make it taste like tuna? Of course, during the evolution of compounding, pharmacists have discovered that not every medication can be compounded and customized for your pet - however, our pet pharmacy’s staff works to ensure that nearly every type of pet medication is available in our tasty flavors.

First of all, for medicine to be compounded, it has to be extremely stable; after all, medication only works when all of its ingredients work. Our process ensures that the active ingredients of the compounded medications maintain their integrity and that the inactive ingredients still have a positive effect on your pet’s health.

Turning a medication into a flavored liquid from pill or capsule form is one approach to the pharmacy compounding process, because animals are much more likely to enjoy a tasty drink than most other forms of delivery. Chewable tabs in appetizing flavors like Crisp Bacon and Cheesie Cheddar are other options - your dog or cat will think they are getting a special treat, and you can sleep easy knowing that your pet is getting the medication they need to be healthy.

Our pet pharmacy’s staff includes experts in the art of compounding who work to find the best solution to your pet’s health problems and help you medicate your cat, dog, or other pet in way that they will love.
Categories: Pet Medication, Pet Pharmacy

Friday, July 9, 2010

Tips for Buying Online Pet Medications

Your pet is your best friend, so be careful when buying online pet medications in order to keep him/her safe.

All pet medications are passed through a division of the Food and Drug Administration, where they go through intense testing and trials, according to The Tennessean. In fact, there are often open trials for experimental drugs to help sick animals, much like there are for human beings.

But all this testing is useless if you fall into an Internet scam for online pet medications, which is unfortunately fairly common. There are certain signs and tip-offs that a site is not a legitimate as it might claim.

Be careful when buying online pet medications for your best friend!

According to the FDA, keep an eye out for the following:
  • Web sites that allow you to buy prescription drugs without a prescription.
  • Web sites that make fantastic (and probably fraudulent) claims about either the product or the price.
  • Web sites that offer foreign prescription drugs that are available to U.S. citizens without a prescription.
  • “A foreign or domestic pharmacy may claim that one of its veterinarians on staff will ‘evaluate’ the pet after looking over a form filled out by the pet owner, and then prescribe the drug”.
  • Be leery of any website that fails to have an address that is easily found. These could be sites from other countries that do not want you to know this. So they have only a phone number but no physical building in which the company occupies.
  • Be especially aware when purchasing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and heartworm preventives, as these can be dangerous for your pet taken incorrectly. Read and follow the directions on over the counter medications, making sure not to exceed the maximum daily allowances and check for any interactions with any prescription medications your pet is taking.
If your pet is ill it should be noted that enrolling your pet in a pet medication trials is a good idea when there are no alternatives, but make sure that the test is approved and/or administered by the FDA. In the same vein, make sure that your pharmacy sells only FDA-approved drugs or components made in the USA to make compounded medications.

We are proud to uphold these standards with our pet medications. We want to do our part in ensuring your pet’s speedy recovery from whatever ails him/her. Falling for these online pet medication scams can not only be hard on your wallet, but it can delay your pet receiving the necessary medications. In some cases, this can be extremely dangerous. So whether you are shopping with us or choosing a different pet pharmacy, make sure there is the correct regulatory approvals.
Categories: Pet Medication

Monday, July 5, 2010

How to Save on Pet Cost

Pet food, pet medications, trips to the veterinarian, chew toys: Let’s be honest, pets can be a little expensive, but they don’t have to be. During tough economic times (and even good ones), there is no reason to be spending unnecessary money on your pets. And it’s not just about buying time-tested toys for your animals over fancy new ones. While online pet medications, such as those from Center Pet Pharmacy, can help keep costs down, some of the easiest ways to save on pet costs are directly related with keeping your animal healthy. Here are a few ideas for pet health:

Quick Cost-Saving Ideas
  • Help save on pet costs by bringing your pet outdoors and keeping her healthy.
  • Feed your pet a proper diet
  • Bring your pet to a vet before the problem gets out of hand
  • Let your pet outdoors
  • Buy time-tested toy
  • Buy online pet medications www.centerpetpharmacy.com
  • Spend time with your pet 

A Proper Diet
 
 This might seem like a no-brainer, but think of your pet like a human in the sense of her diet. An obese animal will not be as healthy as a fit one. And an unhealthy animal can be an expensive animal. So make sure you feed her a balanced diet. Because, according to Kiplinger mangazine, “Treating diabetes … can cost $50 a month for standard supplies, including insulin and syringes. More-serious diabetic cases could lead to a trip to the ICU, which costs up to $3,000.”

Bring Your Pet to a Vet Before a Problem Gets Out of Hand
 
It is important to keep a close eye on your pet’s behavior. If you sense a major shift in her behavior, be it temperament, sleep patterns, eating habits, or anything else, bring her to a veterinarian. While the cost may seem unnecessary for what may not be a problem, if there is a problem, those costs will be exponentially higher.

Let Your Pet Outdoors
Barring awful weather or strange conditions, it is important for your pet to experience her natural environment as much as possible. If you have a dog, look for a nearby dog park. Dogpark.com is a great place to find the closest one. If you have a cat, let her out for a little while (so long as she’s the type to return!). Even if it’s as simple as your yard, it will be good for your pet to breathe some fresh air (and company)

Spend Time With Your Pet
Often times, your pet needs you to spend time with her. Pets get lonely and anxious, and you can help avoid the costs of certain anxiety and depression-relieving medications by avoiding the problem. Spend time with your pet, and let her know she is safe. This can dramatically cut down on costs.

Of course, everything listed above is simply what goes along with being a good pet owner. Because being a good pet owner will help keep costs low.

So follow these simple rules, and, most importantly, have fun with your pet!