Vice’s Noisey music channel take to the streets of New York City to get music reviews from some of the coolest dogs in the city!

Check out more here.

What are your thoughts on this and the video?

National Pet Week is widely celebrated throughout the United States and other parts of the world. In 2012, National Pet Week is celebrated from May 6-12. The goals of National Pet Week are to promote responsible pet ownership, celebrate the human-animal bond, and promote public awareness of veterinary medicine.

In it’s 31st year, National Pet Week looks to raise more awareness for how to keep your pets healthy. If you are a pet owner, here some tips!

Top 10 Tips for Responsible Pet Ownership
1. Think carefully before getting a pet and learn about its special requirements.
2. Ensure the pet is sociable and well trained.
3. Provide a nutritious and well balanced diet.
4. Provide suitable housing and bedding.
5. Clean up after the pet and worm it regularly.
6. Protect against disease. A vet can provide advice.
7. Prevent unwanted litters and neuter pets when appropriate.
8. Groom pets regularly.
9. Control pets and ensure they are properly identified.
10. Take out pet insurance for dogs, cats, rabbits and horses to cover against unexpected veterinary fees and third party liability.

8 Things You Can Do To Protect Your Dog In The Summer

1. Never, ever leave your dog in the car;
2. Make sure your dog has unlimited access to fresh water;
3. Make sure your dog has access to shade when outside;
4. Take walks during the cooler hours of the day;
5. When walking, try to stay off of hot surfaces (like asphalt) because it can burn your dog’s paws;
6. If you think it’s hot outside, it’s even hotter for your pet – make sure your pet has a means of cooling off;
7. Keep your dog free of external parasites (fleas, ticks) and heartworms – consult your veterinarian about the best product for your pet;
8. Consider clipping or shaving dogs with long coats, and apply sunscreen to your dog’s skin if s/he has a thin coat.

To read more about National Pet Week, check out the official website.

This is the heartwarming story of a dog named Fiona. A year ago, Fiona was sick, blind, flea infested, and living in trash dumps on the streets of Los Angeles. Luckily, Eldad Hargar and his wife Audrey found the traumatized dog and took her home. The Hargars, founders of Hope For Paws, an LA-based animal rescue organization, began the transformation of Fiona. They cleaned her, shaved her, and made her their own. With the help of gracious donations, they were able to fund an eye surgery to restore vision in one of her eyes. Since then, Fiona has been adopted and the video has gone viral. The Hargars’ mission is to spread the awareness of abandoned animals and guide you to help their cause.

Hargar exclaimed, “It’s so rewarding to take an animal from the worst conditions possible and to see them go from there to what Fiona became at the end. It’s amazing”.

For more information about Hope For Paws, check out their website and Facebook page.

Sometimes we make it. Sometimes we don’t.

To save my sanity and my paper towel budget I always have canned pumpkin on hand. ALWAYS.

Pumpkin does double duty when it comes to either loose stool or constipation. The high water and fiber content acts to hydrate the intestines and their contents when dogs are suffering from constipation. Start with 1 tsp for smaller dogs and 2 tsp for larger dogs at the first sign of constipation. The water and fiber in the pumpkin will be absorbed by the dry stools in your dog’s intestines, and your pup should experience relief in a few hours.

Likewise, pumpkin can also be used to treat diarrhea. The soluble fiber in pumpkins actually helps absorb excess water in the bowels that the body didn’t absorb properly, thereby helping to calm diarrhea. Slowly, and adjust accordingly. For bad ‘blowout’ diarrhea, you can give a tablespoon every 20 minutes until your pet is able to control his bowels.

Not only does it help with occasional GI upset, it can also ease the transition from switching from one food to another and this remedy can be used in dogs or cats.

More Pumpkin-tastic facts:

•  Pumpkin seeds are high in essential fatty acids and antioxidants (good for overall healthy skin and fur)
• The oils in pumpkins’ flesh and seeds are believed to support urinary health
• Pumpkin is an excellent source of Vitamin A, beta-carotene, potassium and iron
• Pumpkin may even reduce the likelihood your pet will develop cancer
• Can be added to a pets diet who is trying to lose weight. The fiber helps them feel full without adding too many extra calories.

We carry organic pumpkin and sweet potato here at Paw Naturals as well as a weight-loss formula with oatmeal and a digestive version with ginger (great for nausea!).  So Give pumpkin a try! It might just save you from that frantic run to the elevator.

How do I clean his teeth?
What should I use?
How often should I do it?

Honestly, I’m glad people are asking. Dental health is so important as it connected to so many other systems in your pets body. A healthy mouth translates into a healthy heart and overall wellness.

A common misconception is that if you feed your cat or dog dry kibble, that will clean the teeth. Let’s just kill this myth right now – dry kibble does nothing for dental health.

The fact is its just not abrasive enough and does not have enough prolonged contact with the gums/teeth to be beneficial.  In fact, kibble tends to stick to the teeth and decay causing more rapid plaque and tartar build up than canned, dehydrated or raw food.  You don’t munch on crackers before you go to bed expecting them to clean your teeth, similarly kibble doesn’t clean your pets teeth either.

Most dogs or cats will need a professional cleaning at your vets office at least once during their lifetime. Recently, there has been a surge of companies offering “anesthesia free” dental cleaning. They basically scrape the surface tarter off with a dental scaler. The problem with that is while your pet emerges with whiter teeth they may be missing a deeper problem below the gum line.  For a thorough dental your pet will need xrays and a comprehensive cleaning below the gum line  that cannot be done while he or she is awake. Extractions might be needed to maintain the health and integrity of the mouth. This also cannot be done while the pet is awake.

You can do a lot of maintenance at home to either keep up the health of your pets mouth or maintain your pets healthy mouth in between dental cleanings.

A few years ago, pet toothpaste and a toothbrush were your only options for at home cleaning. Now, there are many products on the market that are effective and easy to administer.

Dental Chews – great for dogs who love to chew anyways. Let them do the work for you! Also good when used in conjunction with another cleaning method.

Dental Foam/Gel – applied directly to the teeth, these are good for dogs/cats who will let you in their mouths but do not like the action of a toothbrush.

Water Additives – Great for daily maintenance with minimal work. Additives last 12-18 hours in a bowl of water. Enzymes in the additive attack your pets tartar and plaque.

Food Additives – Used in the food, these enzymes work with your pets saliva to break down plaque and tartar.  Great for pets who will not allow you to apply anything directly in the mouth.

Sprays – Applied directly in the mouth 2 to 3 times daily. Works by mixing with saliva and breaking down plaque. Easy and freshens breath.

Raw bones can be a great addition to your dental arsenal too. The scraping action that occurs when a pet chews a bone cleans the teeth. Cats can eat raw bones too! I once had a cat that loved chicken necks. They were the perfect size for a cat and acted as natures toothbrush.

Whatever method you choose, we applaud you for taking steps to maintain your pets dental health! Its never too late or too early to start. Check out our selection of dental care products online and in-store.

Did you know puppies need to chew about 5 hours a day? That means if they’re not eating, sleeping, peeing or pooping, they’re CHEWING. Better to be prepared for the chew-monster that is your new puppy than come home to discover your couch half eaten.

So what constitutes a good chew? Things that are edible in whole or part.  Bully sticks, tendons, pig or lamb ears and dried buffalo intestines are good examples of things that are edible in whole. These are chews that are usually dried but made to be consumed and digested.

Raw bones, antlers and dried bones are edible in part. They are made to be chewed on and are great for particularly aggressive chewers.  Eventually they will need to be thrown away when they get too worn down or are chewed into points or pieces.  Marrow bones can be reused once the dog extracts the marrow. They can be refilled with wet dog food or yogurt mixed with kibble and frozen for a brand new treat! Kongs also offer a whole host of options for filling. A smear of peanut butter or cream cheese can occupy a busy puppy while you check your email or take that much needed shower.

Things that are not good chew toys? Nylabone® (or bones made out of non-edible materials), ropes, plush toys. These have their place in your dogs life but do not fall into the “good chewing” category.

When picking a chew or toy, size does matter. Many owners are worried about their pet swallowing a bone or toy. My motto on that is “always go bigger.” This especially applies to raw bones. Many owners want to “start small” and will pick out a very small bone for perhaps a larger dog, which is not the best choice.  While swallowing bones is rare, it does happen occasionally, but its much harder for a dog to swallow something big as opposed to something small.  As with anything you buy for your pet, supervision is key. Once you know how your dog reacts to certain items you can feel more comfortable leaving him with his chew.

Chewing is not only a wonderful dog-sitter but it’s also provides your dog with a crucial mental workout.  It teaches the dog to release energy in a different way than running around the dog park for an hour – a skill that will provide a balanced life for your and your dog far into his adult years.  Many dog owners will report that their dogs go lie down for a nap after an hour of working on a raw bone.

Happy dogs and happy owners!

First and foremost, you need to know your pet’s weight. Is he at a healthy weight for his age? A pet that’s too heavy can suffer from a myriad of health problems, so while people think ‘fat pets are cute pets’ it’s not healthy or fair to the animal that relies on you to keep him healthy. Even more convincing, one study showed dogs fed to their ideal body condition lived 1.8 years longer than their overweight litter mates.

Your vet will be able to tell you if your pet is at a healthy weight and if not, give you a target weight to shoot for. Remember, a dog will need more calories as a puppy than he will at his full adult size. Similarly, cats need more calories as kittens than they do as adult cats. Calories may need to be adjusted depending on your pet’s activity level.

Now that you know your pets ideal weight you can now calculate how many calories he needs to consume in a day.

Let’s say your pet is 18 lbs but your vet would like to see him weigh 15 lbs.

Just follow this easy formula:

15 pounds divided by 2.2 = 6.81 kilograms

6.81 kilos x 30 = 204

204 + 70 = 274

274 x 0.8 = 219 calories

Your pet needs 219 calories in a 24 hour period to maintain a 15 lb weight.

If you feed your pet twice a day divide that total number in half to accommodate two feedings (which of course you are doing because we don’t free feed, right?) Remember that includes treats!

Now that you have your calorie goal, you can go back to the label on the food you’re feeding and see how much you really need to feed.

You’ll want to check the calories per cup (kcal/cup) on dry food. Raw food is usually listed as calories per ounce. Canned food varies – some brands list the calories, some brands don’t. You may need to go online to the brands website to find out the calorie content if it’s not listed. If you feed a homemade diet you’ll need to consult a nutrition site to find out the calorie content of what you’re feeding.

Most labels are figured in increments of 10 lbs which can be a wide margin if your pet is only 10 or 15 lbs to begin with.

If you’re trying to get your pet to lose weight, do it slowly. Roughly half a pound a month for a cat or 1 lb for a dog is a good steady rate that their bodies can adjust to.

This method is much more exact and you can swap between brands/flavors/canned/dry/frozen and know exactly how much to give to meet your pet’s needs.

Knowledge is power and now you have it!