Help Calm Your Stressed and Scared Dogs on New Year's Eve

It's New Year's Eve in two days and it's something our dear pets do not look forward to.

For four years, I have seen how scared and stressed my dog Lily bun was because of the fireworks every New Year's Eve. I would always feel so helpless and think that if only I could sound-proof the room for just one night, i definitely would!

So this year, I wanted to make sure I do something about it. I went to Bow and Wow in Greenbelt 5 and found this

Calming Chews by Pet Naturals

What I really like about these calming chews is that it's made of high-potency natural ingredients so that gives me all the relief that it will be good for my Lily Bun. It also helps manage dogs who have separation anxiety. A pack costs Php 368.

I gave Lily one of these bone-shaped chews earlier and she was really relaxed. I just wish I had known about this sooner though. It would have been perfect if I had started feeding Lily with this a week ago so she'd be all calm during the New Year's Eve but oh well it's not too late anyway.

Here are some reminders to keep your pets safe and comfortable during the New Year festivities: (Source: PAWS Facebook Page)

1. Don't bring your pets to the fireworks and firecracker displays
2. Keep their collars and dogtags on at all times - make sure your contact details are visible on the tag and the collar is secure.
3. Give your dog lots of exercise so it would rather sleep through the festivities than stress over it. SPECIFICALLY, exercise, water, and potty your dog an hour or so before the festivities start. 
4. On New Year's Eve, keep your pets in a safe and secure room where it cant get out and people are to go into. Give them a bed and blanket to burrow into. Close the windows so the noise is muggled and they cant get out. Just leave enough ventilation. Play relaxing music. Turn on air conditioner if that is an option. KEEP THAT DOOR CLOSED.
5. Check your fence and make sure it is secure and keep your gate and front door closed. Many dogs escape run away in fear and get lost on New Year's Eve.
6. NO WATUSI IN THE HOUSE. The pers might lick them off the floor and the explosive material in it is fatal if ingested. In fact, keep all those explosives inaccessible to your pets.
7. Anti-sress aids that work:
• Thundershirts available at BetterDog (very snug body wraps for pets)
• Pet Naturals Calming Chews, Back Flowers Remedy, Homepet Anxiety Relief available at Bow and WowDog Appeasing Pheromone
8. Don't cuddle or baby your pet when it is stressing out. Give it a safe and comfortable place to settle and burrow into.
9. Keep dangerous food away from your pets. Read the dangerous food list on the WebMD post at http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/ss/slideshow-foods-your-dog-should-never-eat

Sleep is a Good Thing

Siesta with Lily Bun

My mom took this photo of me and Lily Bun earlier during siesta. Aside from time, sleep is definitely something I am in poverty of. I am glad and grateful that  I get to have a 10-day holiday break to spend time with my loved ones and of course, to catch up on sleep.

Now if only I can sleep for twelve straight hours. I dislike how I would automatically wake up before 9 in the morning no matter how late I hit the sack the night before.

When you are sleep deprived, you would definitely want to make up for it by getting a good deal of shuteye as soon as time permits.  I'm sure I can pretty much speak for everyone by saying I want to be able to get as much sleep as I can so I can be fully energized come 2012, right?

So for all you guys who are on holiday break like I am, hope you are getting all the R&R you can get.  Sleep is good. Go get tons of it. =)

Pet Express

Lily Bun and I at Pet Express.

I had nothing better to do yesterday so I took my dog, Lily Bun, out for a check-up and some well-deserved and definitely long-overdue pampering. Been wanting to try this place called Pet Express. I chanced upon it a few weeks ago during an expo at the SMX Convention Center.

Pet Express is located at the south wing of SM Mall of Asia. It is this huge store that sells all kinds of local and imported stuff from pet food to grooming essentials to vitamins and medicines to pet coutures to beds and tents and the whole nine yards. It also has this big grooming station and a veterinary clinic which I find really cool and convenient because it's basically a one-stop shop. I never left that place without buying anything for Lily. So many cool stuff, i promise!