Prepare Your Pets for Hurricane Irene

Hurricanes can cause a disaster for people and pets. With a major hurricane barreling up the East Coast, prepare for your safety and that of your pets. Please see the following tips to help the entire family "weather" the storm:

• If you must evacuate, take your pets if possible.
• Have a supply of essential pet medications in a waterproof bag.
• Ensure that you have an adequate supply of pet food on hand along with bowls.
• If you can have a copy of your pets' vaccination history with you.
• Each pet should have a collar with identifying name tags.
• Fill bottles with water to ensure that you have enough water for your pets to drink in case the water supply is tainted or not accessible.
• If you have cats or small animals, have a carrier readily available for them.
• Keep an extra leash on hand for dogs
• If you have outdoor animals, be sure they have adequate water supplies, shade and secure shelter and an area that will be above any high water.

We all want everyone to be safe. See you when everything is calm once again.

- Your Friends at Center Pet Pharmacy

Center Pet is Vet-VIPPS Certified!

Congratulations go out to Center Pet, because they are one of 11 pharmacies in the United States with Vet-VIPPS certification! This is a huge accomplishment, and is very meaningful to have Vet-VIPPS certification. The acronym Vet-VIPPS stands for Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites.

The Vet-VIPPS program recognizes, and certifies online pharmacies that dispense prescription medications, and certain devices for animals. However, the animals that Vet-VIPPS certified pharmacies serve are not food producing animals.

Having the Vet-VIPPS Seal on the Center Pet website means that Center Pet has met the terms that Vet-VIPPS set forward. According to the Vet-VIPPS website, “Pharmacies displaying the Vet-VIPPS Seal comply with Vet-VIPPS criteria, which address a customer’s right to privacy, authentication and security of prescription orders, adherence to a recognized quality assurance policy, and provision of meaningful consultation between customers and pharmacists.”

The Vet-VIPPS accreditation process is a very detailed procedure, and not just any pharmacy gets Vet-VIPPS certified. The process included submitting and application, which includes mandatory documentation. Also included was a reviewing Center Pet’s policies and procedures, and an on-site survey, among many other things!

The Vet-VIPPS Seal on the Center Pet website guarantees customers and potential new customers, that they have the highest pharmacy standards. A big congrats again to Center Pet, who fully deserves this honor!



Photo Credit: nabp.net (National Association of Boards of Pharmacy)

Buying a Rabbit for Easter

When thinking about Easter, many people think about springtime candy like Peeps and Cadbury Eggs. But numerous people also consider buying a rabbit for their family for the holiday. Why not? They look cute and cuddly, and seem like sweet animals. However, you need to be sure when purchasing a rabbit you are aware that they are not low maintenance animals. Adopting a rabbit is a commitment and, your family needs to be in it 210 percent!

An uncommon fact is rabbits are very coy creatures. When children are too excited, it will scare the rabbit. They like to be left alone, and if it is quiet they might want to play with children—but only if it the atmosphere is very calm! After having a rabbit for a few weeks, children will realize that their new pet is tranquil and is not like having a dog or cat. This might result in losing interest in the animal.

Rabbits do not enjoy being held in people’s arms. Children always want to pick up their very own Peter-Cotton-Tail, but it may kick and scratch when it is picked up. Rabbits also have very brittle bones, and when they are picked up or played with by someone a little bit too rough, then it can result in injuries and broken bones.

Just like having any other kind of pet, rabbits require human attention. They need exercise and some stimulation outside of their cage, and need their litter changed daily. Having a rabbit is a very big responsibility. If your family is not in it for the right reasons, a rabbit may not be the right pet for you. Families do like adopting rabbits for the Easter Holidays, but need to know the right facts on how to take care of it.

Center Pet wishes that you have a wonderful and “Hoppy” Easter!

How do You Feel about Making Your Pets Celebrate Passover?

It is easy to say that everyone love springtime. The sun is usually shining, and the holidays just keep coming! This week in the Jewish religion is Passover, or also known as “Pesach.” To numerous people, this holiday includes not eating leavened bread for one week. But what does this mean for your pets?

During Passover, people do not eat leavened bread for one week. Matzah is the substitute for humans. Matzah is only made up of flour and water. The other thing about Matzah is, it does not rise like bread, that’s why it is called “unleavened bread.” Matzah is safe for your pets to eat, as well. However, what else can your pets eat that is Kosher for Passover?

Observant pet owners should always check the ingredients of their pet’s food. They should be looking for ingredients such as wheat, rye, oats, and barley. There are some approved dog and cat foods that are Kosher for Passover. Nutro, Evanger’s, Hill’s Science and Prescription Diet, and Friskies are all great companies who have Kosher choices for your pets.

Pet owners could try and make Kosher pet food for their pets with ingredients like vegetables, chicken, Kosher beef, tuna fish, and even rice. Just be sure that there is a lot of protein in the food that you make! Some pets very much enjoy homemade food. Pets also usually like eating some of the scraps from the Passover Sedar, but not too much!
We hope that you and your pets have a lovely Passover week!

Lending a Helping Hand to Japan

Society outreach and helping animals in need is a very important initiative to Center Pet. Due to the tsunami and earthquake in Japan, many animals of the country are suffering. Center Pet wants to make it a prime incentive to help the animals of the distressed country.

Starting this week, Center Pet will be collecting donations for the Japan-based nonprofit organization, HEART- Tokushima. HEART- Tokushima wants to create and maintain a society where animals can live without suffering or cruelty—especially now with the devastation from the earthquake and tsunami. Center Pet will be collecting many items including, used towels, sheets, blankets, cat and dog toys, leads, and carriers. There will be a large donations box at Center Pet, to collect items. People who cannot come to the Center Pet store can always mail Center Pet their goods, if they want to donate to HEART- Tokushima. For more information on the organization HEART- Tokushima, please see their website.

“Our Company wants to help the animals who were debilitated by the natural disasters,” said Kenny Kramm, CEO of Center Pet. “We send our appreciation and applause to those who have provided a great service to Japan, in helping aid the animals and people who live in the country. Center Pet is extremely glad to jump in and help out.”

Another very important nonprofit organization that Center Pet will also be assisting is the World Vets. The World Vets is dedicated to offering help and veterinary aid to various countries. They work with many other advocacy groups, governments, and veterinary professionals. Center Pet will send medications to the World Vets. Center Pet spoke with the World Vets to figure out what medications are required to send. Center Pet hopes to be sending all of the medications that were requested. To find more information on the World Vets, please see their website.

“Knowing that these animals have no place to go home to anymore, absolutely breaks my heart,” said Sarah Kramm, Director of Social Media and Director of Community Outreach at Center Pet. “The two organizations that we are working with are wonderful, and really give assistance to those needy animals in times like this—and in general.”

Everyone at Center Pet is eager to help supply medications, bring in supplies and collect donations for the two organizations! Please feel free to come to Center Pet and drop off supplies, or if you cannot physically get to Washington, DC— you can send Center Pet your donations (4900 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20016.) With these contributions, we are making a difference in the animal’s lives in Japan.

Help the Animals in Japan!

The earthquake and tsunami in Japan was extremely devastating to the natives of the country, and even people who have never been to Japan before. People from all over the world want to help the citizens of Japan, and also help the animals in Japan. If you are interested in helping the animals in Japan, there are many ways to do so!

Many American organizations are reaching out to Japan to help the animals who are in need of assistance and are in much danger. The World Vets are providing veterinary aid to animals around the world. In this case, the World Vets have deployed a first responder team to Japan. The World Vets have joined forces with many other foreign groups, and are working with the US Army veterinary associates who are stationed in Japan. They are also working with Japanese animal charities.

Right now, the World Vets are also collecting donations of medications (vaccinations, de-worming medicines, wound treatments, fluid replacements, cages, etc) and supplies. If you are interested in helping, or donating please see their website. You can send supplies and mediations to their headquarters in Fargo, North Dakota.

PETA is asking people to donate to their Animal Emergency Fund, on their website. This imperative fund allows PETA to provide assistance through rescuers, veterinarians, and experts to animals after natural disasters occur. The Animal Emergency Fund also helps PETA establish a way of offering information on how to protect animals before disasters happen.

The Search Dog Foundation has created six Canine Disaster Search Teams who have been deployed to Japan. They are accepting donations on their website, and are also updating everyone what is going on in Japan day-by-day on their website, too. You can also see videos of the search teams who were deployed to Japan.

There are also many organizations in Japan who are trying to aid the animals, like the Animal Refuge Kansai (ARK). ARK wants to house as many animals as they can— who have been displaced, and are now homeless because of the recent earthquake and tsunami. You can also donate to ARK on their webpage.

Helping Japan is crucial at this point—even animals are helping other animals. Take a peek at this video (from lifewithdogs.tv) about one dog that will not leave his injured dog friend. Please help out our furry friends in Japan, because they are most definitely in need! All donations, no matter large or small—count in saving one animals life.

Spring Holidays and Your Pet!

Plenty of folks have been dressing up their pets to get into the spring holiday spirit for years. With celebrations that are currently going on, Center Pet wants to let everyone know some tips on how to have a safe and fun Mardi Gras, St. Patrick’s Day, and Easter with their pets.

MARDI GRAS

 

•When bringing your pets to Mardi Gras parades, be sure that your pet is not suffocated by the amount of people that are around. Check that they have enough room to sit or stand, and are not smothered by other people. At the parade, you could ask and see if there is a designated area for pets and their owners to stand and watch. Or you could find your own sort of safe zone, where you and your pet feel comfortable watching the parade.

•Although beads are great for humans to wear, lots of beads around your pet’s neck could be trouble. Yes, they might look adorable; however it is not a good idea. Your pet could trip over the beads and severely hurt themselves, or the beads could weigh their necks down and hurt them that way.

•Moon Pies and other candy-goodies are delicious to eat for Mardi Gras lovers everywhere, except for your pets! Many of the sweet treats are made out of chocolate, and other types of foods that are not good for your pet and can make them severely sick. The chocolate in some cases can not only cause rigorous illness, but it can also lead to tachycardia—an abnormally fast heartbeat. (There is more important information about chocolate in the "Easter" section of this article!)

ST. PATRICK’S DAY

•Please drink responsibly, and do not feed your pet any alcoholic beverages. It is not funny, or fun for them, and can give them alcohol poisoning—which is extremely serious in pets. Giving your pet alcohol can cause diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, lack of coordination, coma, and more. Pets who consume alcohol also can result in death. If you or a friend happens to spill beer or a mixed drink onto the floor, be sure to clean it up ASAP before your pet gets to it first.

•Make sure your pet is always hydrated. Where ever you go, (party, parade, street fair) please bring some water for them. You can even put a little bit of green food dye into their water, for a festive drink for them!

•We all know that you’d never forget to wear green on St. Patty’s day, so don’t forget to dress your furry friend to impress—in green of course! No one wants their pet to be pinched, so put them in a green shirt or a green collar.

EASTER

•As much as everyone loves opening their Easter baskets and rummaging through the plastic grass and eggs, your pet loves to, too! However, it is not safe for your pet to search through the basket because they could find, and potentially eat candy wrappers and other decorative items like ribbons (which are not edible.) Also, the plastic grass is not digestible for your pets, either. Any of these items (wrappers, ribbons, plastic grass, etc) can get caught in your pet’s digestive system and result in choking or intestinal problems.

•Easter is a holiday that is commonly associated with the Easter Bunny, who brings chocolate! Chocolate is extremely bad for your pet. You can take a look at this wonderful interactive "Chocolate Chart" from National Geographic, to see how many ounces of chocolate your dog can eat and how sick they will get. Scroll to how many pounds your dog weighs to see the effects on your size and type of dog. Just remember, that chocolate is extremely toxic to pets!

•If you are having an Easter egg hunt in your house or in your backyard, please clean up all of the eggs after the hunt is over. If you are using the beautifully dyed, hardboiled eggs, make sure that your pet does not get to them. After finding a rotten, old Easter egg, (days or weeks later) pets still might eat it and become tremendously sick. Try using plastic colorful eggs, but also be cautious of your pet trying to get into those to devour the insides, also!

These springtime holidays are meant for you and your pets to enjoy, and not meant for your pets to get sick. Center Pet hopes that you and your pets have a safe and wonderful Mardi Gras, St. Patrick’s Day, and Easter!

GDV in Dogs

Gastric Distillation and Volvulus Syndrome is extremely serious in dogs. It can also be known as twisted stomach, or bloat. GDV is a huge problem, in large dogs and is life-threatening. When GDV occurs, the stomach rolls or twists and closes off the area from the esophagus to the intestines.

When your dog has GDV, torsion (another word to describe twisting) closes off the pylorus—which is the opening from your dog’s stomach to their duodenum. The GDV causes your dog’s stomach to turn and twist a lot, and in some scenarios the spleen and major blood vessels will twist too. This will cause tissue damage and loss of blood flow to the stomach and other vital organs. When organs do not get enough blood, shock can occur.

The twisting and turning of the stomach makes it hard for the dog to vomit. And unsuccessful vomiting along with a hardened stomach are symptoms of GDV. Another symptom of GDV is when your dog isn’t feeling or acting normally and if they seem like they’re really anxious about something. If your dog is hunched over, and if you do not hear any stomach noises- like digestive gurgling sounds, you should contact your veterinarian immediately. Within several hours, dogs can die from bloat and GDV. There is treatment for bloat, but with treatments and medication some dogs do still pass away from this syndrome.

Deep-chested dogs are most at risk like German Shepherds, Great Danes, Standard Poodle, and Dobermans. Great Dane come in at number one for being most at risk, followed by Saint Bernard, Weimaraner, and in fourth is the Irish Setter.

To prevent GDV, try and avoid stressful situations for your dog. Exercise with your dog, at least for an hour a day. And make sure that your dog is eating two to three smaller meals a day, instead of one big meal. And do not allow your dog to drink water, or eat fast and excessively, especially after exercising.

If any of these symptoms occur or you believe your dog has GDV, please call your veterinarian immediately.

Rainy Day Precautions for Your Pet!

With the gorgeous weather that spring brings, it also brings lots of rain showers. As much as your dog loves to jump in the mud after the shower, there are a few things you can do to make sure that your pet doesn’t get wet or frightened during the storm.

Have a Dry Shelter for Your Pet- If your pet likes to roam outside, a rain storm is not the time to do it! And if your pet is outside in a dog house or a shed, during a storm—it is also a good idea to bring them inside. Some pets are scared of the actual storm and need some extra loving through the entirety of the storm.

Spending a Little More Time with Them- Your pet is most likely to run, have fun, and use the bathroom outside. But when they are cooped up inside all day, they need a little bit of extra care, and attention. Your pet probably has no idea what the reason is for being held inside, but they might try and go insane trying to figure it out! You can cuddle, and play with toys with them to keep them from being scared from the storm/thunder or lightening.

Because Lightning and Thunder are Scary- To humans lightning and thunder are scary, but when a pet sees a huge bolt of light or a loud sound—they get even more scared. Certain pets will even develop a phobia of lightning and thunder. If your pet seems that they are extremely scared of the noise or the flashes of light, make sure that they are in an enclosed area. A bathroom or a laundry room is a great place to keep your pet—with the lights on, of course! Also, a lot of pets feel very safe in a crate. You can also hold them when a storm is occurring, and your arms will make them feel safe and at home.

Acclimate Your Pet to the Storm- There are such loud noises associated with storms, you can always try to acclimate your pet to noise. You could play a CD with thunderstorm noises for your pet, on a constant basis. Also, you could tap or hit certain items that make loud noises. Using a drum, clanging metal cans, crumpling up aluminum foil or banging a metal pan to create loud noise continuously throughout the pet’s life is a good idea. These man-made loud noises will accustom your pet to loud, boisterous sound, and will hopefully make your pet feel comfortable when a storm hits.

If none of these tips help your pet and their anxiety or phobia of storms, we recommend seeing a veterinarian to help ease your pet’s problem. Center Pet wants you and your pets to have a safe spring season, rain or shine!

February is Pet Dental Month!

Along with February being American Heart month for humans, for your furry loved ones it’s also Pet Dental Month. Center Pet agrees with the American Veterinary Medical Association about taking care of your pet’s teeth. The American Veterinary Medical Association encourages pet owners to take care of their dog and cats teeth, because of the bacterial troubles that can occur inside their mouths. And terrible periodontal health is something that can definitely be helped and fixed by pet owners.

An animal’s teeth should be taken care of just like humans. If their teeth and gums are not taken care of, they can develop more serious medical conditions. These small periodontal problems and infections can lead to other more serious health issues. The bigger issues that can come out of poor periodontal health are: kidney disease, diabetes, stroke and cardiovascular problems—like heart attacks. These potential life threatening troubles can be avoided, if pet owners take proper care of their pet’s teeth.

Make sure you have a daily dental routine for your pets, as you do with yourself. The number one effective way to help your pet not have poor oral health and periodontal problems, is brushing your pet’s teeth. Brushing their teeth can deduct tartar and plaque, just like in humans!

Center Pet encourages their clients to schedule dental exams while at the veterinarian. While doing that, Center Pet features C.E.T Home Dental Care products to keep pet’s teeth clean and diseased free. Center Pet carries the Enzymatic Toothpaste, which should be applied to a soft tooth brush and various forms of Hygiene chews for cats and dogs.

According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, “80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age three.” Center Pet is here to help combat horrific periodontal health in pets and prevent awful diseases, so your pet is happy and healthy!

Spay Day 2011

Tuesday, February 22, The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International will hold their official Spay Day. This will be the 17th annual Spay Day to encourage citizens around the globe to save numerous animals’ lives by spaying or neutering pets and feral cats.

Center Pet agrees completely with The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International on their initiative to help save animals through spaying and neutering. Because the Spay Day plan is to connect people around the US, (and also around the world) to come together to battle the major disaster of pet euthanasia through spaying and neutering their pets.

However, you can take part in helping out with Spay Day 2011, too! A very important question to ask yourself on Spay Day is: has your pet been spayed or neutered? If not, it is a great day to go see a vet with your furry friend to help out this cause. While helping the cause, you’re also helping your pet at the same time too!

Many Humane Societies across the world are willing to help your pets and make sure that they can be spayed and neutered at a low cost. If you happen to be in the Montgomery County area of Maryland, stop in to The Montgomery County Humane Society to find out about the three different spay and neuter programs that they have to help the community.

People who want to stand up for this great cause, hands-on can organize an event—which could include a spaying and neutering event, a fundraising event, or an educational event. Volunteering at a Spay Day event is also a great way to help out. You can find an event near you on The Humane Society website.

There are also numerous other ways to help Spay Day 2011. You can look at The Humane Society website to find out more ways for you to help.

How much do you love your pet?

Would you rather be loved and cherished by your pets, or by your spouse or partner? Center Pet wanted to find out how much people love their pets, during this current season of winter and love! Most people that we polled would rather spend time, and be loved by their pets—rather than by their spouse! In other words, people love their pets and would do anything for them. Some people would even make home cooked pet kibble and treats for their pets, rather than making themselves a home cooked dinner.

Your pets will never usually turn on you. Particularly when you are having a rough day—they’ll always be there for you. They know when something is wrong, and will be there to snuggle up with you to try to make things better. Pets are in this world for people to enjoy, and for them to have around as a special delight in their lives.

During this Valentine’s Day and winter season, find a reason to buy your pet a special present. Make your pet feel loved, because they truly will always love you unconditionally. Pets never pass any judgments; therefore they should be treated great because they are always there for you. And while you’re getting showered with love from your spouse or partner for Valentine’s Day, your pet should feel loved too!

Dogs, cats, amphibians, and birds of all types make people—old and young, smile and bring joy to their hearts. The warmth that a pet brings to your life is a very special feeling. Being around pet lovers, and being pet lovers ourselves, everyone at Center Pet wants to wish our lovely clients and their pets a Happy Valentine’s Day.

Photo Credit: critteristic.com

Got Silence?

Many people want it, but most don’t have it when they have a dog in their life. What we are talking about is silence! Dogs bark for numerous reasons, but mainly to get their owners attention. Because they can’t speak to tell their owners that they’re bored or something is wrong—they bark instead. When dogs seem to get bored and need some entertainment they bark, also.

Some dogs bark for fun. Although it might not be fun for us humans at 3:00 in the morning, to them it can be a game. Since dogs don’t wear watches or have cell phone with the time on it, any time is game time to them!

When dogs are isolated from society, they seem to bark a lot. They bark because they are left alone and they need to release their pent up energy. Even if you leave your dog outside, they’re still alone and will bark because there is nothing stopping them, controlling them, or telling them not to!

Try and ignore your dog when they are barking nonstop. Yes, it is hard not to feed into the temptation of petting or playing with your dog—but for them to stop barking this is very necessary. Or try and distract them when they are barking with toys and food.

When you say good bye to your dog, and also animatedly come into your house—it will obviously excite your dog. When you practice not saying goodbye and come home nonchalantly, than your dog will get acquainted to it instead of getting so excited that you’re leaving or are home. Before you walk out the door to go to work, school, etc., settle your dog in with a good chew toy or bone. With using the chew toy or bone as a distraction, you can usually sneak out of the house without your dog noticing or getting upset. Also that chew toy or bone will be there for them to play with while you’re gone and hopefully will help calm down all of the barking.

Weight Issues in Dogs

Until the end of time, humans will have issues with their weight. The dog— man’s best friend has weight issues, too! As silly as it sounds, weight problems are not rare in dogs. As a national initiative, veterinarians across America are trying to fix weight problems occurring in dogs. This plan started in February 2008, and veterinarians everywhere in America participated in the National Canine Weight Check. These vets wanted to teach dog owners what an ideal weight for their dog is, and if their dog is obese what steps they can take to decrease their dog’s total amount of fat.

Not enough exercise, eating patterns and lifestyles, are not the only reasons why your dog can be gaining weight. A slow metabolism is also a key factor. Middle aged dogs mostly have slow metabolisms, and it is harder for them to burn off calories. Also, we all know that neutering is always a great thing— but it may add some weight onto your pup. Neutering makes, dogs gain weight due to the lowering of their metabolic rate.

Health risks are commonly associated with overweight dogs, but canine obesity is a sickness in itself. Not only can your dog have serious heart troubles, breathing issues and even arthritis, but they can develop various skin conditions due to obesity, too!

By treating your dog with love and respect it shows them that you are offering them the right tools for them to lose weight, as well. If you don’t want to see your dog get obese and have other body issues, you should feed them and have them exercise accordingly. There are many diet dog foods, and medications that your vet can prescribe, if obesity is a problem. Also, please have your dog’s veterinarian check your dog’s weight, and explain to you what you can do as the owner to help any weight problems that are occurring.

Take the hog out of your dog, and let’s fight obesity in dogs together!

Dog Park Etiquette

As the weather gets warmer, your dog is going to want to leave all the snow in your backyard for the sunny dog park. The dog park is where dogs congregate, exercise and play with other dogs—essentially interacting with other playmates for them. With the wide open green space, come some rules that dog owners should know and abide by.

Please follow all of the rules that are posted at the dog park. The rules are there to help you and your dog. The rules keep you and your dog away from harm and state specific laws that are important, too. If you do not follow the rules, it can lead to you or your dog getting injured or other consequences like the dog park actually getting shut down.

Before visiting the dog park, make sure that your dog is healthy. Just like when humans are sick, contagious and go someplace with a lot of people, they can infect them, too. Fleas can jump from one dog to the next and other health risks and issues are the same way.

Also, be sure to clean up after your dog. It is not only rude, but leaving your dogs droppings can spread illnesses and diseases, also. A golden rule for dog park etiquette is to be sure to clean up after your dog. If you do not you might get fined or banned from the dog park. And no one wants to be given a fine or banned for something as easy as picking up your dogs poop!

While at a dog park, always be sure to keep a close eye on your pup. Dog parks are made for dogs to run freely, and have off leash play. Although, always remember that you are responsible for your dog. When saying you are responsible, you are responsible for all of your dog’s actions. Please make sure that your dog can play nicely with other dogs. If your dog cannot, they should not go to the dog park.

If you have a female dog, and they are in season/in heat, please do not bring them to the dog park. It is very important that only spayed and neutered dogs are recommended.

Center Pet hopes that you and your dogs follow the rules, and have a great time next trip to the dog park!  don’t forget our handy etiquette tips.

Center Pet Wants to Thank YOU!

As the Director of Social Media, and a very happy employee at Center Pet, I love to receive feedback from our loyal fans. The other day, I received an email notification that someone rated us on myFOXdc MojoPages. When I went to visit the Center Pet page, I saw a delightful rating from one of our customers, Shirley. She wrote:

“I've had excellent communication from Center Pet Pharmacy. The prices are lower than a lot of other websites, and they'll call you personally to reassure you that the medication will be sent immediately. I've even had them call me after the meds were shipped to make sure that everything arrived. I would recommend them to anyone who needs meds for their dogs or cats.”

We are all very pleased at Center Pet that we have helped Shirley and all of our other customers with all of their pet medication needs. It makes me smile when I know our customers and their pets are happy and healthy. Center Pet provides a great service to pet lovers. We try and make every step of the hassle of buying pet medications easier, and we even help walk our customers through the process of buying medication from us.

This morning I received another notification that someone else rated us on myFOXdc MojoPages. When I opened that email I was like a child at Christmas time unwrapping presents! It was a short, but sweet rating that was titled “They Care!” This rating was from Darlene and it read:

“Center Pet Pharmacy has a reputation not only for providing excellent service but for caring about the customers - both two-legged and four.”

We are glad to make our customers lives a little bit easier when it comes to purchasing their pet medications. Again, everyone at Center Pet is very thankful for everyone’s ratings on us. We look forward to helping more customers and their pets in the near future! Don’t forget, you can always purchase medication on our website—in the purchase medications section!

Does Your Pet Not Like Taking Pills?

Is your pet not fond of swallowing pills? When you try to give your pet a pill, do they screech and howl to get away from you and the medication? Don’t get upset at the fact that your pet won’t take their medication, because Center Pet has many answers for this and wants to help you and your furry friend!

In most cases, the helpful staff at Center Pet can transform your pet’s pills into a better form for them to take it. We would like to introduce you to Center Pet’s art of compounding. Compounding is the technical and scientific preparation of a custom-made, tailored medication. Center Pet believes that we make your pets medicine better tasting, with our compounding!

Center Pet’s compounders can make the pills into a compounded liquid medication. There are 16 different flavors that can be added to medication for your pet to take it easier and many different forms. A few of those flavors are: tuna, fish chowder, bacon, beef, chicken, and many more!

Center Pet has many other ways to get your pet to take their medicine, too! We can turn medication into tasty chewtabs for your pet’s palatal-pleasure. Or some can even be made into Sterile Ophthalmics and can be put in your pet’s eyes, as eye drops. Last, we make Transdermal Gels, which are medications that are absorbed through the skin into the blood stream.

Center Pet wants to help your pet achieve wellness. Please contact us if we can help your pet to take their medicine by compounding it into something that they love! (888) 260-0801 or email us at customerservice@centerpetpharmacy.com
We are here to help!

What You Shouldn’t Feed Your Cat!

Keeping cats healthy maybe hard, but you can avoid giving them things to make them sick. If your cat is another child to you, you should definitely avoid giving them these types of foods and drugs!

Let’s Start With Drugs and Alcohol- First thing first: Humans and animals, should never do illegal drugs! And it is not funny to get your pet drunk or high. Because when you are feeding your cat these bad things, it can seriously harm them.

Marijuana- Smoking marijuana around your cat, and ingestion of marijuana from your cat can induce vomiting and changes in your cats heart rate.

Tobacco- Tobacco to cats is no good, either. The nicotine can affect your cat’s nervous system and digestive track. The nicotine can speed up your cats heart rate, coma, collapsing and even death.

Alcohol- Not only can alcohol make your cat drunk, but it could lead to coma and death—so don’t try and slip your cat drinks under the table, they’re good with water!

On to Foods That Humans Love to Give Their Cats- Because some humans think that cats love a good fish bone and washing it down with lots of milk.

Fish Bones- Even though cats love fish, the bones can seriously hurt them. The bones can be sharp and they can cut your cats insides, and tear their digestive track.

Milk- Some fully-grown cats can have diarrhea when given hefty quantities of dairy products.

Sugar- If your cats eat a lot of sugar, or sugary foods, it can lead to obesity. Along with obesity, it can also lead to diabetes and dental issues for your cat.

Garlic and Onions- Garlic keeps away the vampires, and it should be kept away from your cat! Garlic and some forms of onions can cause anemia in cats.

Everyone at Center Pet hopes you treat your cat with love and respect. Please feed your cat the proper dietary items and don’t stray too much off the path, because you don’t know what that food could do to your cat!

Ever Been Bitten?

Many dog owners love their dogs like their children, and would never expect them to bite people. What is sweet and kind in one person’s eyes, could be horrifying and scary in another’s. Did you know that 4.6 million people are bitten by dogs every year? The majority of those people who are bit by dogs are children.

Some dogs are bigger and more aggressive than others. Some have also been brought up in more harsh conditions. But any dog can get agitated or frantic around a person, although studies show that most house dogs will never bite a person in their entire life span. But, when dogs do bite people they mostly aim for the face and eyes of a person. Serious injury from man’s best friend can be extremely traumatic.

“A study was done with a selection of 88 dog attacks from 2006-2008 in the United States, with results ranging from recoverable injuries to death” according to a study from edgarsnyder.com (a law firm website). “Of those incidents, it was found that: Pit Bulls, Rottweiler’s, and American Bulldogs were responsible for 77% of all deaths. Pit Bulls were responsible for 59% of all deaths. Pit Bulls killed more adults than children.”

To prevent even more scary statistics, we ask all dog owners to make a promise to follow your states Dog Laws, which also include leash laws. Not only is it not safe for dogs to roam around without a leash on (even if their owner is with them), but there are state laws that prohibit you from doing that. Leash laws basically require dogs to be on a leash when they are off their owners’ property. Although, there are exceptions to this law, like specific parks and designated places that say it is okay to let your pup roam without a leash.

Center Pet wants to see everyone happy, and healthy—including the humans in your pet’s life! Please be sure to coach/train and mingle with many different people with your dog, watch your dog around children, and always follow your state dog and leash laws.

Phot Credit: Photo borrowed from legaljuice.com

A Best Friend to All: Without Discrimination

As dog lovers, we sincerely know that dogs bring many emotions to people. When you are upset about something, your dog will be there to make you happy. Or when you’re celebrating something, they’re there to be joyous with you. Dogs are also very helpful to people for many reasons. And not just for finding a lost turkey bone from Thanksgiving! But for a far better reason, to help people who have disabilities who need assistance.

These loyal companions can help people with disabilities on a daily basis. Kids with autism can benefit hugely from having a dog. Recent studies have shown that families with a child who has autism, who also own a dog, have major positive effects on the family and especially the child with special needs. Dogs can help a child with autism because they can advance social relations with other members of their family, and other members of the neighborhood that they live in.

Dogs sometimes put ease on children with special needs. With children who have autism, it can reduce their anxiety. Dogs can also help in furthering development with motor skills—like walking the dog, talking to the dog, throwing toys and playing catch with the dog. Dogs for Autism (located in the South Carolina) breeds and raises companion and service dogs to help people with Autism. They also have obedience classes for the public’s dogs, too!

Not only can some dogs help with everyday tasks for disabled people like opening doors and turning on lights, but they can even pull a wheelchair, and even can help dress a person. It is truly amazing what dogs can do. Dogs for Disabilities, inc., (located in Illinois) offer aid and assistance with service dogs to physically disabled people. Their main goal for the service dogs is for their owner to achieve independence.

Canine companions can also help and assist veterans who are disabled or have Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. These specially trained dogs make sure that the veteran’s life is made to be how it was before they went into combat. The dogs help the veterans with everyday life. Also, a dog is very helpful for people who just get out of combat because usually when in combat you rarely go anywhere alone—and these doggie companions go everywhere with their owner. If you know a veteran who could benefit from a specially trained dog, please contact Freedom Service dogs, Inc. (located in Colorado)

It’s amazing what one dog can do for humanity. One hundred years ago, people would have never believed that dogs could be so helpful to people with disabilities. We cannot wait to see what technological advances in companionship are to come in the future, in helping and bettering people with disabilities lives forever. "Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." --Roger Caras


-->Photo Credit: A special thanks to Dogs Life Magazine for the touching picture!

Doggie Distress

Did you know that your dog can have separation anxiety? When your dog is left at home alone, sometimes they have feelings of suffering and misery. Destroying things like furniture, barking, and going to bathroom inside are all signs of doggie distress. But not to worry, because separation anxiety/related behavior is very common in dogs.

To make sure your furry friend is not too distressed or feeling anxious, you should always make your departures very discreet. Do not make a big deal about leaving your dog, and don’t make a huge deal about saying good-bye—especially if you’ll be back in a few minutes.

If you give your dog something to do when you’re gone, they’ll be distracted from thinking about you while you’re gone. Bones that are stuffed with tasty treats are always a good distraction, or you could leave various treats and toys around the house for them. With these goodies, your dog might not chew up your furniture!

Another option would be taking your pup to a doggie-daycare. Or if you want to be more personal about the situation because doggie-daycare just isn’t your thing, you could bring your dog to a friend’s house while you’re gone. Because with your friend being there acting as a replacement your dogs sense of loneliness and missing you would not be that bad.

Although, if your dog is chewing holes through your walls or doors then your dog has serious separation anxiety. If your dog is at the point where they are injuring themselves, you need to take matters into your own hands and get a specialist for them. Going to a vet for this serious anxiety issue will give you and your pup more and better options—through the medicinal route. Your vet will ensure that they will have a good answer to cure your doggy’s problem.

Everyone at Center Pet hopes that if your dog has symptoms of separation anxiety, they get better with time or seeing the vet. Remember: your pets are your family, too!

Exotic Pets are Becoming Extinct

2011 marked a new year, but it also marked a new law for the people of Oregon. If you live in Oregon, and want to own an exotic pet—it may be too late for that present! Officials from The State Department of Agriculture stated that if you have not owned your exotic pet for at least a year, it could be too late for you too. If your exotic animal does not have a permit, you will not be able to keep them (starting in January 2011).

Once your exotic pet passes away, or you sell it is when the permit is done. Oregon’s exotic animal law entails a permit for: felines that are not native to Oregon—except for domestic cats, nonhuman primates—various forms of monkeys, bears—but not black bears, crocodiles, and non-wolf canines that are natives of Oregon—except for household dogs.

A solution is if you have to give away your exotic friend is to legally sell them to someone not in the state of Oregon. We hope not many people and their pets are affected by this law. The State Department of Agriculture wants to make this change to protect Oregonians from safety and health hazards caused by exotic animals.

Center Pet’s 2011 Resolutions

Everyone makes resolutions for the New Year, but the staff here at Center Pet has all agreed to make their resolutions count this year! We thought that it would be a great idea to let all of our loyal customers and readers know what some of us are thinking for 2011.

Kenny: CEO- “I can just tell that 2011 will be a great year, not just for Center Pet—but for pets all over the United States. I hope that Center Pet can help even more pets that are in need of medicine and love. I hope that we will hold more events like the Photos with Santa event we just had to benefit the Washington Humane Society. With these bonds we’ve created with great charitable organizations, our community of helping pets will grow bigger and stronger.”

Sarah Caroline: Director of Social Media- “As a 20-something woman in the new year of 2011, I’d like to rescue a pet. I know its cliché but, I want to make an animal’s life better—and there’s no better way to do it than rescue one! I have never had a pet before, so I know now it’ll be for the best to help one grow out of a hard time in their life.”

Stavawn: Customer Service Manager- “For me, 2011 will bring change to the way my family lives and operates. I want my daughter to think of animals as friends, and not be scared of them. I will take her to volunteer at a society in the DC area to show her that animals are sweet and we can make a difference in their lives, just as much as they can make a difference in ours.”

Sam: Pharmacy Technician- "I always grew up having pets and when I moved to DC all the way from California, I had to leave my pets back home. For 2011, I am going to adopt three dogs who need a home and give one to my girlfriend to show how much I love her... But the other two will be mine!

The staff at Center Pet wishes you a wonderful 2011, and hopes that you will make a difference in at least one animal’s life this year!