September 30, 2007
September 29, 2007
Garbage can be extremely hazardous to our pets' health, especially important to remember around the holidays, times when we accumulate lots of extra trash. A sad story in a comment posted to Talkin’ Trash:’ Why Your Garbage Could Be Harmful to Pets on the ASPCA Blog:
Garbage was harmful to our pet in a way that I couldn't have ever imagined.
We had a 5 year old Miniature Pinscher who loved to receive people food and would often get into the garbage. One day I came home to find her behind the couch with a Pringles can on her head. I quick tried to pull it off but her head had swelled up as she had gotten it stuck and suffocated. I would never imagine losing a pet this way! I can't say I buy Pringles anymore. The first reaction people have when I tell them this story is to laugh. Its such an odd, odd thing to happen.(our vet told us things like this are alot more common then we think)
We now put our garbage can in the garage when we leave the house.
Who would have ever thought a Pringles can could do so much harm?
This informative ASPCA article lists 4 major threats your pet may suffer from your trash and garbage:
1. Physical Obstruction Hazards.
2. Bacteria.
3. Toxin-Producing Molds.
4. Poisonous Household Items.
The best solution is the common sense one -- keep your pets out of your trash:
1. Use wastebaskets that are covered, and not easily tipped over.
2. Dispose of potentially poisonous materials properly.
3. Contact your vet or local emergencyanimal clinic immediately if your pet ingests hazardous material or call call the APCC (Animal Poison Control Center) hotline at (888) 426-4435 (a fee applies).
Read entire article.
September 28, 2007
Super Cool Pets is back with our Friday weekly sales and discounts. If you know of any we missed, or you are having a sale of your own, send us an email! We will feature it next week.
Amazon
Halloween Costumes--Prices Slashed!
Pet Hair Solutions - Save up to 30% on select Bissell, Eureka and Hoover Vac & Floorcare Products
Pet Supplies up to 25% off
Pet Supplies 25% - 50% off
Pet Supplies 50% - 70% off
Pet Supplies 70% off or more
Animal Den
Save 10% off any $50 purchase at Animal Den! Animal Den coupon code: ad203
Save 5% off any $30 purchase at Animal Den! Animal Den coupon code: ad202
Cheap Pet Store
20% Off All Dog Toys - Enter promo code Dog Toys at checkout
Shop now and save 10% on all pet supplies with CheapPetStore.com Coupon Code: CCP1
Chimpfeet
Pet Lover Gift Certificates - Fot Pet Lover Gifts including dog collars, cat clocks and glass fish bowls.
Dog Toys
Save 50% or more off suggested retail prices on all clearance items at DogToys.com.
Dogwise
Bargain Books
Drs. Foster & Smith
2 Week Fall Treat Sale at Drs. Foster and Smith
Specials at Drs. Foster & Smith
Drs. Foster & Smith Online Clearance Outlet
Halloween Costumes for your Dogs at Drs. Foster & Smith. Valid through 10.31.07
Holiday Preview at Drs. Foster & Smith. Valid through 12.25.07
Entirely Pets
Free Shipping on orders over $85 Coupon Code: OCT07FSHIP(EXP: 10/31/2007)
$3 off on orders over $55 with Coupon Code: OCT07OFF3(EXP: 10/31/2007)
Save up to 40% off Items in the Holiday Store!
Save up to 40% off Items in the Winter Store!
Felinerina
10-50% off over 200 feline friendly products! Plus, save an additional 15% on everything at Felinerina. Enter promo code finefeline at checkout to redeem this offer. Expires Sunday, October 7th at 11:59PM CT.
Lillian Vernon
Save on all your spookylicious favorites for Halloween with $4.99 flat rate shipping using media code 587860100
Enter keyword "pets" in the search box
Muttropolis
10% off all Halloween costumes and toys, just use code HOWL at checkout.
Free shipping on orders over $99
Only Natural Pet Store
Save 5% on your first order at Only Natural Pet Store! Coupon code CJ15.
Save 5% on orders over $75 at Only Natural Pet Store! Use coupon code CJ75.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
Sale items.
PETCO
10% off, No Minimum Purchase at PETCO.com!
Free Shipping on $50 or more at PETCO.com!
Just enter Promotion Code fall07 at checkout. Expires 9/28.
Pet Peoples Place
Special Offers
1-800-PetMeds
Save up to 25% at 1800PetMeds - America's Largest Pet Pharmacy
PetSmart
Save 15% Off Your Order of $70 or More - Use Coupon Code SAVESEP
Plow & Hearth
Ceramic Birdbath
Save up to 50% 
on Small, Medium, Large & X-Large Dog Car Harness.
Smart Home
Stop your pet barking! 33% off Bark Smart
or
25% off Stop Dog Barking - Bark Smart Deluxe
September 28, 2007
Football season is here again! Your pets can support your team with these licensed
NFL Collar & Leash Sets.
The set arrives boxed--a nice gift for the football fan you know and love. It includes a collar and lead made from polyester webbing and a matching team ID tag.
Small Pet Set: 5/8" Collar (10" -14"), 5/8" Lead 4'L
Medium Pet Set: 3/4" Collar (14"-20"), 3/4" Lead 4'L
Large Pet Set: 1" Collar (18"-26"), 1" Lead 6'L
At Chimpfeet.
September 27, 2007
Are you having a Halloween party? Whatever your plans, decorate your window with this Black Cat Creepy Curtain to set the stage for Halloween and creep out all the trick or treaters.
Directions: Attach to window or wall with special paint-friendly adhesive tabs, or use the rod pocket to fit a tension rod. Remember to turn on the light!
At Hearthsong.
Lovely and talented Laurel Burch passed away recently from bone disease. Even if you don't recall who Laurel Burch was, Super Cool Pets is sure you will recognize her fabulous world-renown artistic creations, especially if you are a cat-person. From NYTimes:
In her last artworks she sometimes included words. One quoted an American Indian proverb: "The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears."
Laurel Burch Cloisonné Cat Jewelry
Laurel Burch Handbags & Apparel
Laurel Burch Mugs and Plates
For more information visit The Official Laurel Burch Website.
September 26, 2007
If you love to walk your pet, you know conventional strollers just aren't made to go everywhere. The minute they hit a curb or rough patch, frustration sets in. This all-terrain stroller has large 11-1/2" rear wheels and shocks and may make your walks more enjoyable.
Features:
- Versatile front wheel swivels or locks into place.
- Supplies plenty of ventilation and easy zippered access from front or rear.
- Detachable windbreaker included for repelling rain and wind.
- Front step permits effortless entry and exit.
- Contains large undercarriage basket for pet gear, handy waterproof tray in riding area, comfort foam handle grips, and top tray for your water bottle, keys or other necessities.
- Instant push-button folding.
At Amazon.
If you have a mixed-breed dog, have you ever wondered what breeds exactly? Was our Gordon Setter mix part Border Collie? Take away the mystery with this DNA test, MetaMorphix Canine Heritage(TM) Breed Test This test can identify up to 38 breeds.
Features:
- Advanced SNP-based DNA Technology Process
- Identify Up to 38 Breeds
- Safe, Non-Invasive, Sampling Method
- No Veterinarian Needed
- Test at Any Age
- Quick Turn-Around Time
- Certificate of Canine Breed Analysis
Benefits:
- Identify and Record the Breed Composition of Your Pet
- Learn More About Your Pet’s Heritage
- Infer Potential Health Risks Associated with Breeds
- Better Health and Wellness Management Through Breed Knowledge
- Understand Behavior and Personality.
Product website for more detailed information.
September 25, 2007
Black Cat & Polka-Dot Mugs
have a black cat perched on each handle and come in 2 designs -- black with orange polka dots and a 3-D pumpkin inside, and orange with black polka dots and a 3-D ghost inside. Set of 2.
Dimensions: 5 x 3 1/8 x 4 1/2"H.
Earthenware Black Cat & Polka-Dot Treat Bowl
has raised orange and black polka dots and a 3-D black cat in the center.
Dimensions: 10 x 4 1/2" H.
Sold separately at Lillian Vernon. Dishwasher safe.
The exquisite WOWBOW Luxury Pet Bed is the brainchild of a British designer who became tired of the pet beds only available in "tartans and paw prints". This bed is functional as well as a beautiful asset to your home.
Both dog and cat pet beds are constructed of 10mm thick acrylic and furnished with luxury faux suede cushions. The pillow is filled with shredded memory foam. The cat bed is topped with 3-inch long sheepskin for ultimate cozy comfort.
The Mija Dog Bed, available in Small, Medium and Large.
Frame Colors: Translucent, Red Translucent, Green Translucent, Smoke, Solid, White, Clear
Cusion colors:Donkey, Caramel, Oatmeal, Lace, Sky, Cherry
Above the Loulie Cat Tower for the pampered kitty.
September 24, 2007
Are your birds in a cold room? Do they insist on going out on the screened porch, even though it's chilly? They can fluff up their feathers, but their feet still get cold. The Thermo-Perch will warm them up. Cold temps from drafty areas and air conditioning can contribute to stress and illness in your bird. Put a thermal perch in their cage to help them regulate their body temp.
Made of scratch and bite resistant plastic. Protected steel wire cord included to position away from the bird's cage. Perch is molded to reduce foot cramping.
Perch Sizes:
Small 1/2" to 1" diameter x 101/2" long
Small birds: Finches, Cockatiels, Parakeets, Canaries.
Medium 5/8" to 11/4" diameter x 13" long
Medium birds: Amazons, African Greys, Pionus Parrot.
Large 11/4" to 2" diameter x 141/2" long
Large birds: Macaws, large Cockatoos, Toucan.
At Amazon and PetSmart.
Adorable Cat Pet Set
at Montgomery Ward includes a rug, food dish and treat jar. Cat set says "Got Fish?"
Rug dimensions: 18" x 13".
Dog 3-Piece Set says "Got Treats?". The small dog set rug is 18" x 13" and the large dog set rug is 26-1/2" x 17-1/2".
Food dish and treat jar for both sets are ceramic. Rugs are washable and have a non-skid rubber backing. Great gift!
September 22, 2007
Time to order some Halloween cat T-shirts and gear over at CafePress -- Pets. Some fabulous cat designs for mugs, totes, magnets, shirts, greeting cards, etc.
September 21, 2007
According to a recent People's Pharmacy column responding to a cat owner with an allergic sister, pet allergies may be aggravated by vacuuming:
This sounds counterintuitive, but vacuuming during your sister’s visit might actually make her symptoms worse. Some vacuum cleaners actually spew small particles into the air and make the environment more allergenic.
As cited in the column, the October 2007 Consumer Reports has recommended the following vacuums for ridding your home of tiny alergy-causing particles
Uprights:
Hoover U5140-900 Tempo Widepath Bagged Upright Vacuum features a 15-inch cleaning path for super fast vacuuming for all of us who would really rather be doing something else.
Product Features:
* Headlight illuminates cleaning path
* Powerful 12-amp motor; 15-inch cleaning width
* Allergen filtration system captures dust mites, ragweed, common pollens
* Check-bag indicator, easy-open bag door
* Onboard dusting brush, furniture nozzle, crevice tool, 2 extension wands; 1-year warranty
Eureka 4870GZ Boss Smart-Vac Upright Vacuum is "equipped with a unique, sealed HEPA filtration system that captures 99.97 percent of dust, pollen, allergens, and bacteria."
Canister:
Twilight Kenmore Canister Vacuum Model: 27514
Product Features
* Pet Powermate motorized attachment is ideal for cleaning pet hair from furniture
*Upper and Lower Quick Releases for convenient attachment of onboard tools
* Exclusive Stair Grip enables vacuum to rest on staircase for easy stair cleaning
* Electronic Performance Indicator tells when bag is full or to check for clogs
* Cleaning tools store on board for convenient above floor cleaning
* HEPA filtration for cleaner exhaust air
Consumer Report 10/07 provides commentary on popular models and tips on how to choose a vacuum.
September 20, 2007
Fabulous assortment of Halloween collars and leashes at Modern Tails Luxury Pet Boutique. Handcrafted cotton fabric encasing durable nylon webbing with three adorable theme designs:
Halloween Collar Collection One for Dog- Modern Tails and for Cats
Collection Two for Dogs and Cats
Collection Three for Dogs and Cats
Collars are adjustable with sturdy D-ring to secure to matching leads equipped with heavy-duty swivel snap locks. Hand or machine wash in cold water and line or machine dry.
Sizing for Dogs:
Small: 1/2" width, fits 7" - 11" neck
Medium: 3/4" width, fits 11" - 15" neck
Large: 1" width, fits 15" - 22" neck
X-Large: 1" width, fits 19" - 29" neck
Sizing for Cats:
One size: 3/8" width, fits 7" - 11" neck
Here is a treat that our dogs would love. Peanut butter is their favorite food in the world, so what better way to reward their good behavior this Halloween season than with Peanut Butter Kisses! 
1.7 lbs at Drs. Foster & Smith.
September 19, 2007
Does your dog drag you along on your walk, coughing and choking as you try to regain control and stay on your feet? You may want to give the Gentle Leader® Easy Walk™ Harness a try. The chest strap rests low across the breastbone and therefore does not trigger the dog's "opposition reflex", the reflex that apparently makes sled dogs pull. Includes a "quick-snap buckle" on both the shoulder and belly straps to make it easier to get the harness on and off your dog.
Sizing: Measure your dog around the rib cage to determine proper fit.
12"-16" Girth = Petite (Teacup breeds)
15"-20" Girth = Small (Jack Russels, Shelties, etc.)
20"-28" Girth = Medium (Border Collies, Spaniels, etc.)
26"-36" Girth = Large (Labs, Goldens, Rotties, etc.)
34"-46" Girth = X-Large (Giant breeds)
Good fitting is a must. Your pet may require one of these "In Between" Sizes:
14"-18" = Petite/Small
19"-25" = Small/Medium
22.5"-34" = Medium/Large
Colors:Red, Black or Pink.
Available at Amazon and PETCO.
Product website. [via Pet Connection]
Stylish desktop aquarium designed to display betta Siamese fighting fish. This will get rave reviews from your colleagues and friends. Soothing to look at with an LED Lunar Light. Holds 1 liter of water (approximately 1 quart).
Dimensions: 10" x 8" x 15" high. Choose from Antique Brass
or Satin Nickel
at Drs. Foster & Smith.
September 18, 2007
Dog Spelled Backwards: Soulful Writing by Literary Dog Lovers by Mordecai Siegal is a collection of the best of American and English canine literature celebrating the joyful nature of dogs. Good bedtime reading and great gift idea for the dog lover.
Selections from both fiction and nonfiction, prose and poetry include:
--“Memoirs of a Yellow Dog” by O. Henry
--“My Buddy” by Murray Weinstock
--“Old Dog Tray” by Stephen Collins Foster
--“To Flush, My Dog” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
--“The Call of the Wild” by Jack London
--“The Power of the Dog” by Rudyard Kipling
--“Three’s Company” by Steve Dale
At Amazon. [ViaSteve Dale.]
Decorate for fall with this incredibly cute Jim Shore Pumpkin Birdhouse. It is made from resin so it is suitable for the outdoors and the birds. Would be a striking fall piece indoors or hanging on the porch too. Comes with a clean-out door at the bottom and a metal chain with hook for hanging.
Dimensions: 9" H x 6-1/2" W
Jim Shore Pumpkin Birdhouse via the ever-delightful Rare Bird Finds.
September 17, 2007
Doesn't this Thermo Snuggle Bed just make you want to curl up for a nap? Also suitable for toy dog breeds. Features:
- Thick, super soft, orthopedic foam base
- The surface of the bed will remain 12° to 15° above ambient air temperature and warm to 102° when in use
- Washable faux lambskin and faux seude
- Dual thermostat
- Walls and bottom are 1" thick
- Cup measures 16" diameter x 7" high
- Inside diameter is 14-1/2"
- Do NOT use if heater is damaged
Thermo Snuggle Bed
For all you golfers out there--practice your swing while you are exercising the pooch. The Doggie Driver Golf Club Dog Toy is a golf club that launches tennis balls for your dog. Capable of launching the ball up to 100 yards.
Extra Canine Hardware 4 Pk of Tennis Balls also available.
September 15, 2007
Adding a new member of the family is not something to be taken lightly. Anyone who has ever raised a puppy knows they require a huge investment of time, patience, money and most important love. Hopefully you will share your life and home with the dog for at least 10 (if not many more) years. In a follow-up to our Pet Scams post of last week, there is good infomation on How to buy a puppy at bankrate.com
Using the Web to find a local breeder is OK, but she recommends physically going to visit the puppy and seeing its living conditions before making a purchase. Reputable breeders will always require that personal meeting -- they're going to want you to come and see it, she says. They won't send you a puppy as soon as you send payment. Consider it a red flag if you are discouraged from coming to see the puppy first.
Other red flags:
• You aren't allowed to spend time with the parent dogs or see where they are kept.
• You are told to stay put while the breeder disappears to get the dog.
• The puppy acts fearful or shows signs of sickness.
• The seller focuses on getting paid.
We get a haircut every 4-6 weeks, how about our dogs? Andis 23585 Super Deluxe Pet Clipper Kit with DVD should keep them looking trim for the upcoming holidays.
Features:
* Ultra quiet, high-powered, pivot-motor pet clipper
* 3600 spm blade speed
* Four times the power of a comparable magnetic motor clipper
* Adjustable, high-quality, stainless-steel blades will not rust
* INCLUDES: clipper, eight attachment combs, stainless-steel shears, grooming comb, blade brush, etc.
At Amazon.
September 14, 2007
Captivate your cat this Halloween season with these fun doorknob toys. The dangling Catnip Pumpkin and Ghost
come in a 2 pack for hours of pouncing and swatting. Complete with aromatic catnip, dangly limbs, and mini bell. 5" - 6".
At Drs Foster & Smith.
September 13, 2007
Labor Day got us to thinking about working dogs at Super Cool Pets. Most of our couch potatoes dogs are descended from ancestors originally bred to perform a certain task to help their human companions--retrieving land or water fowl, search and rescue, herding, pulling sleds and transporting supplies. Dogs are actually bred to keep moving, and most will cheerfully walk along with you outside.
Next time you go hiking, to the store or just out for a stroll, why not let them help out carrying your supplies with their own Backpack for Dogs. Great features include inner compartments, reflective trim, D ring, quick-assist handle. Water- and stain-resistant in two attractive color combos, Black & Grey or Red & Blue.
Backpack for Dogs
Sweet Lounge Rounded Cat Scratcher would look great in any cat lover's home. A durable scratching surface of heavy weight inner-corrugate creates a beautiful play and napping spot for your kitty.
Dimensions: 34L x 11 W x 10.5 H. Sweet Lounge Rounded Cat Scratcher
September 12, 2007
"The Cat in Art" by art historian Stefano Zuffi looks like a captivating book for art buffs and cat lovers. This coffee table book features over 250 artists' portrayals of the cat throughout history in art and literature from antiquity to contemporary times. As in life, sometimes the cat steals the show and sometimes retreats into the background.
...a unique feline portrait gallery replete with Roman mosaics, French illuminated manuscripts, Dutch interiors, Renaissance paintings, Japanese prints, imaginative works by Picasso and Klee, and sensual paintings by Gauguin.
"The Cat in Art" features works by Van Eyck, Raphael, Leonardo, Bruegel, Rembrandt, Chardin, Gainsborough, Manet, Renoir, Bonnard, Gauguin, Matisse, Balthus, Picasso, Warhol, and many others. Great gift idea for the cat (and art) lover!
Hardcover--359 pages. Dimensions: 9.4 x 9.3 x 1.6 inches. Read a Review.
Rainy weather attire for your water-phobic pet. If your dog needs to go for a walk, but dreads getting wet, just put on their Seattle Slicker.
So cute! (If it's really pouring out there or when your pet needs to look his or her best, pair it with the Pet Umbrella.)
Raincoat Features:
- Nylon dog coat keeps out rain and wind
- Waterproof-coated nylon raincoat covers from head to base of tail and wraps around flanks to keep him dry
- Protects head, flanks and back from inclement weather
- Reflective back strip makes your dog noticeable to passing cars
- Self-fastening underside strap
- Back pocket
- Keep wet dog smell to a minimum
- Wipes clean easily
Sizes: XS to L. In red and yellow at Drs Foster & Smith.
At Super Cool Pets we like to monitor our pets' health ourselves (see Pet Checkup Kit), as well as relying upon our vet. Today our Golden Retriever, Jessie, is definitely under the weather. Instead of wondering and worrying, taking her body temp is a good way to know for sure if she should make a visit to her doctor.
The Pet-Temp Ear Thermometer takes a pet's temp in their ear, rather than their unsanitary derriere. The thermometer is designed especially for their deep, horizontal ear canal. An accurate reading is displayed digitally in one second. It has an ergonomic shaped sensor probe for taking the temperature of our companion animals and is accurate on cats, dogs, kittens and puppies, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, and chinchillas.
The thermometer is not particularly cheap, but still cheaper than an unnecessary visit to the vet's office. Definitely an item to have in our pet's medicine chest.
At Amazon and Drs. Foster & Smith.
September 11, 2007
Update in the New York Times today, Report of Cancer Hurts Maker of Chip Implants. Although the article focuses somewhat on the Wall Street fortunes of manufacturer VeriChip (as Calvin Coolidge said: "The business of America is business.") here is the latest:
VeriChip said that it had not been aware of the studies cited in the report, according to the article, but both the company and federal regulators said yesterday that animal data had been considered in the review of the application to implant the chips in humans. They said that there were no controlled scientific studies linking the chips to cancer in dogs or cats and that lab rodents were more prone than humans or other animals to developing tumors from all types of injections.
“At this time there appears to be no credible cause for concern,” said Karen Riley, a spokeswoman for the Food and Drug Administration.....
...In addition to driving down the two companies’ shares, the report created concern among veterinarians and operators of animal shelters that pet owners would resist the practice, now widespread, of putting similar chips in pets to make it easier to return lost animals to their owners. Most animals who are not reclaimed by owners are euthanized.
“If there are any cancers from the chips, they are so rare that losing pets is far more serious,” said Dr. Lawrence D. McGill, a veterinary pathologist at Animal Reference Pathology, a veterinary laboratory in Salt Lake City.
At Super Cool Pets we are not particularly reassured by a statement from the FDA, given recent events. But the embedded chips remain in our two precious Golden Retrievers for the time being. We know first hand the pain and anxiety of searching long hours for a lost pet.
We have posted other pet options than the embedded chips, such as the e-Tag and the PDA for Pets, and will be reviewing more in the future, so stay tuned!
Let your pup join in the fun on Halloween! Adorable Halloween costumes for your pets at Drs. Foster & Smith are sure to get a laugh from the tricker-treaters who come to your door.
Costume wraps around your dog's back and includes leg holes and Velcro® closures for easy on/off. Matching caps have ear holes and close under chin (Dinosaur cap is attached). Hand wash and line dry to save for next year!
Safety Tips: Pet costumes should be comfortable for your pet. Things to remember:
- Overheating--If the dog is inside a heated house, watch out for excessive panting which may indicate your pooch is too hot. Remember he/she already is wearing a fur coat.
- Costumes should not constrict your pet's ability to breathe easily or relieve themselves.
- If your pet is going trick or treating with you, he or she should have a reflector on the collar, lead or costume.
For helpful tips, read Get Your Dog to Love His Costume.
Promotion: Halloween Costumes for your Dogs at Drs. Foster & Smith.
Dolce Vita DuoTemp Pet Bed will provide year-round cozy comfort for your pet.
Features:
* First cooled and heated pet bed.
* Cool air therapy provides relief in warm weather.
* Heated air therapy relieves joint and muscle pain.
* Therapeutic foam padding.
* Machine-washable cover.
* Washable, stain and scratch resistant.
* Safe low-voltage design.
* Veterinarian recommended.
* 90-day money-back guarantee.
For Pets Up To 40 lbs.
Dimensions: Exterior: 32" L x 22" W x 8" H; Interior: 28" L x 18" W
Available at Amazon.
$50 rebate at PETCO
through September 30.
September 10, 2007
Common sense water jug for short trips with our pets. Having breakfast out the other day, we saw a couple parked nearby serve their waiting dogs water from one of these wide-mouthed jugs. Perfect solution--keeps the water cold and serves as a bowl too.
- Comes with a flip-up spout for pouring
- Sturdy, wide base which prevents tipping (very important with our rowdy doggies)
- Convenient integrated handle for easy carrying
- Stain- and odor-resistant liner.
Works great for multiple dogs. Buy two and use one for food!
Dimensions: 8.32"L x 8.94"W x 8.63"H
Capacity: 1 Gal. (3.8L)
At Amazon.
Another health scare pitting corporate greed vs human and pet safety has reared its ugly head, this time over the Veri-Chip implantable micro-chip. We read this article in the Miami Herald early Saturday morning and immediately called our vet, who was unaware and predictably skeptical. After all, he was out early working while we were reading the morning paper online. For the record, to remove the chip from our two golden retrievers, he charges $75 per dog. From the Herald:
When the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved implanting microchips in humans, the manufacturer said it would save lives, letting doctors scan the tiny transponders to access patients' medical records almost instantly. The FDA found "reasonable assurance" the device was safe, and a sub-agency even called it one of 2005's top "innovative technologies."
But neither the company nor the regulators publicly mentioned this: A series of veterinary and toxicology studies, dating to the mid-1990s, stated that chip implants had "induced" malignant tumors in some lab mice and rats.
"The transponders were the cause of the tumors," said Keith Johnson, a retired toxicologic pathologist, explaining in a phone interview the findings of a 1996 study he led at the Dow Chemical Co. in Midland, Mich.
Leading cancer specialists reviewed the research for The Associated Press and, while cautioning that animal test results do not necessarily apply to humans, said the findings troubled them. Some said they would not allow family members to receive implants, and all urged further research before the glass-encased transponders are widely implanted in people.
Read entire article.
Of course, society's immediate and upfront concern is the protection of the humans who have implanted microchips. If your pet has an embedded chip, as do ours, and you are concerned about the potential cancer risk, chip removal seems like the next logical step.
An option to chipping is putting your pet's contact information on a flash drive and securing it to the collar. One type is the Top Tag Pet ID.
Features:
* Top Tag Pet ID is the first complete-care pet ID tag!
* The Top Pet Tag ID will help friends, Vets, kennels and pet sitters quickly understand your pet's needs
* The advanced ID and care technology gives you instant access to vital and life saving care information.
* Friends, vets, kennels, pet sitters and rescuers who may be responsible for your pet's welfare and special needs will find this effective and useful.
Product
website for further information.
Another version (via Shiny Shiny) is available at PETCO, PetSafe Micro I.D. Rescue Collar for Dogs and PetSafe Micro I.D. Rescue Collar for Cats.
September 8, 2007
As if we all don't have enough to "beware of" these days, watch out for internet pet scammers. According to the article Pet Scams at bankrate.com, there are three types of pet scams:
- Overpayment pet scam
How it works: This is a variation on a popular fraud scheme. An animal owner publishes an online ad offering a pet for sale. The fraudster contacts this person, negotiates a price and sends payment for the animal in the form of a cashier's check.
The trick is that the check is for an amount much larger than the agreed upon price of the pet. The scammer then asks the potential victim to return the overpayment, usually through wire transfer, back to the fraudster or a third party.
The victim eventually learns the cashier's check is counterfeit and loses the money he or she was supposed to get for the dog, plus any funds wired to the scammer. If the victim actually sent the dog, he or she won't get it back.
- Nigerian pet scam
How it works: Scammers either run online classified ads or create breeder Web sites offering purebred puppies -- typically English bulldogs or Yorkshire terriers -- either free or at a discounted price.
The scammer will then ask interested buyers to pay for the dog's shipment, down payment, inoculations and any number of other miscellaneous fees. The victims wire money for the dogs but generally only get excuses for the delay. Instead, they're repeatedly asked for more money to cover additional "fees" invented by the scammer.
Greedy scammers will concoct even more fees that the victim needs to pay after the dog has been supposedly shipped.
Unfortunately, once you wire the money, it's gone, says Preszler.
- The bait and switch
How it works: Scammers are selling purebreds, "designer dogs," mutts and even made-up breeds through online classified ads and breeder Web sites. Often what people get are different dogs than the ones requested or puppies that are sickly. Sometimes they don't get anything.
Bottom line: If you want a pet, don't buy one online. Read entire article at bankrate.com.
September 7, 2007
As our cats get older a good household accessory is a ramp to enable access to furniture, window sills and cat trees. This Carpeted Ramp 
features no-slip lambswool "rungs". You can attach it to the furniture via a self-fastening strip at the end. Extra special kitty treat--these ramps are catnip-treated.
Carpeted Ramp in Forest Green, Oatmeal, Dusty Blue, Merlot, Soft Sage, Heather Gray, or Cocoa. Dimensions: 37" long x 7" wide.
September 6, 2007
We often make our doggies frozen treats for lunch. They are on 2 meals a day (right!), but it feels so mean to be fixing lunch right in front of those cute little faces. Our Pupsicles currently consist of natural peanut butter, organic yogurt, bananas and water mixed together in the blender and frozen. We love love love peanut butter in any form and fashion.
If you don't have the time or inclination to make your own, Super Cool Pets found some yöghund online made from the same recipe: organic yogurt with all the benefits of live cultures, organic bananas, organic peanuts, and spring water. The site has a store locator, so you may be able to pick some up nearby. So why not just serve your dog some yöghund when you are eating in front of them or leaving for awhile?
Available in Celebrity/Trial Pack, Party Pack, or Yöghund for a Year. Thoughtful gift for the dog who is always hungry. Know any like that?
via Slashfood
At Super Cool Pets, when it comes to our animals' good health, we believe knowledge is power. That's why this PetCheckup Kit caught our eye. This kit enables you to monitor your pets' well-being on a routine basis and stave off a potentially serious problem early.
Each PetCheckup Kit contains:
* 6 complete tests
* Simple instruction guide
* Easy to read results
* 2 free bonus tests giving you 8 tests total!
ThePetCheckup can indicate imbalances that lead to many of the most common illnesses that affect your animal including:
* kidney infection
* kidney disease
* urinary tract infections
* bacterial infections
* diabetes
* bladder infections
* autoimmune diseases
* Cushing’s Disease
* hepatitis
* other liver conditions
Avaialbe in 6, 12 and 24 month refills. At Only Natural Pet Store.
September 5, 2007
If your pup gets chilly and you are into dog apparel, here is an awfully cute Concord Corduroy Dog Coat
to keep them toasty. This coat is reversible--it can be worn with wide-wale corduroy or cozy fleece on the outside. Convenient and quick underside self-fastening strips with hood and leash openings.
Machine washable. Sizes Small, Medium Large and X-Large.
Concord Corduroy Dog Coat in Sage, Rose, Blue, and Brown.
Super Cool Pets loves this cozy Heated Kitty Window Sill. Often the window sills available are either heated or not, but this one allows you to remove the heater, so it is more versatile. Keeps your cat cozy when the thermostat is turned low, yet can be used in warmer temps as well. Washable faux fleece ⁄ suede cover.
Features:
* Two Beds in One
* Warms to a Toasty 102 degrees when you cat lies on it.
* In Warm Weather Simply Remove Heater
* Orthopedic Foam Bottom for Added Comfort
* Cover Removes Easily for Washing
* Dimensions: 14" x 24" x 4
At Amazon.
September 4, 2007
If your birds are ready for bed, or they are freaking out about something "different" happening in their vicinity, have this Cage Cover
nearby to toss over the cage. Also handy for those times when the cage needs a good scrubbing or your bird just needs his or her privacy.
The cover comes in Black or Navy, Medium or Large and can be personalized. Choose one name with up to nine letters in Script (upper and lower case only) or Block letters (upper and lower or all upper case). Lightweight, washable, 5-ounce 100% cotton broadcloth. At DoctorsFosterandSmith.
Cats are mysterious creatures, no doubt about it. Next time you are mystifed by your cat, just pull out your copy of The Cat Behavior Answer Book: Practical Insights & Proven Solutions for Your Feline Questions. Pet expert Arden Moore delves into common questions cat lovers have. This book also provides methods to stave off some of those bad kitty behavior problems.
Arden Moore has also published a guide to clear up dog mysteries:
The Dog Behavior Answer Book: Practical Insights & Proven Solutions for Your Canine Questions, tackling puzzlers such as why dogs are so attracted to shoes and why they eat grass.
In paperback at Amazon.
September 3, 2007
Dyson is offering a dream deal this week at Target! Free $100 e-GiftCard with online purchase of select
Dyson vacuums. Dyson offers powerful uprights for homes shared with pets.
This offer is good for the Dyson Absolute DC17 Animal Vacuum, at $549 along with free shipping.
Features:
- Absolutely perfect for pet-inhabited homes, this powerful bagless upright doesn’t clog or lose suction; titanium gray with purple accents
- Best pick up across all floor types; hygienic and quick to empty; air expelled from a Dyson has up to 150 times less bacteria and mold than the air you breathe; approved for allergy suffers by the British Allergy Foundation
- Level 3 root cyclone; quick-draw telescope reach; 5-yr. warranty; no extra costs; carpet care kit keeps new carpet looking new; low reach floor tool for easier cleaning under low furniture
- Lifetime HEPA filtration for cleaner expelled air; fingertip brush control; mini turbine head cleans pet hair from confined spaces such as upholstery, stairs and the car
- 43.5Hx16.7Wx13.2D"
Free $100 e-GiftCard with online purchase for the slightly less expensive Dyson DC07 Animal Vacuum at $499, shipping free as well.
Features:
- First vacuum cleaner that doesn’t lose suction; most powerful upright for pet hair
- Lifetime HEPA filter provides highest levels of filtration for cleaner expelled air
- Includes mini turbine head, low reach floor tool and a carpet care kit
- Quick draw hose stretches to 17ft
Extensive information at product website.
September 1, 2007
Heloise-type hints for pet owners from Denise Flaime in her Newsday (August 6th) article Animal House . Carrots, listerine, zippered bags, vinegar, canned pumpkin and more. Food for thought.
Super Cool Pets Monthly Round Up--September 2007
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