Getting enough water to drink is essential for health for both us and our pets. Since our pets are lifetime companions we want them to be in the best health possible for years to come.

One of the ways to help ensure they stay in tiptop shape is to make sure they’re constantly getting fresh clean water. Sure you can just put down a bowl of water for the pet but that has its downsides. A bowl of water just sits and stagnates over time. You also have to deal with pet hair and dirt falling into the water dish.

A good way to solve that problem is to get a pet drinking fountain.

And one of the best we have found is the Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain which provides a constant flow of water off a dedicated power supply. This ensures that your pet has fresh clean water available all day long.

How It Works

The Platinum Pet Fountain uses a small pump to circulate water from a reservoir to a bowl and back up. As the water circulates it passes through a charcoal filter to remove any nasty odors.  The fountain also has a debris screen to catch any dirt or hair that might get in it.

What We Like:

• The fountain has a removable water reservoir for easy refilling. You don’t have to lug the entire unit over to the sink to refill it. Just detach the reservoir from the unit, fill it, and then snap it back into place.

• Another really nice feature is the detachable power cord. This means that when it comes time to clean the unit it can be unplugged and taken outside for easy washing. Also, the filters are removable so you can just rinse them off and stick them back in the unit with minimum hassle.

• This is a solid unit. It can stand up to a pet. It’s nice and heavy with rubber feet so you don’t have to worry about a pet knocking it over and dumping water all over the floor

Buy the  Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain
to provide your pet with fresh water at all times.

Dog health is important to anyone who owns a dog. Ensuring that your dog’s health is maintained is vital but what exactly does this involve? Dogs aren’t that much different to humans – they require regular exercise, a good diet, and attention – but often we neglect one or more of these essential elements. These can all affect your pet resulting in diseases and ailments that can cost you money.

Dog health issues have become something of a hot topic and as with humans it is felt that natural cures and remedies should replace many of the more mainstream treatments. Combining the best of both worlds by finding a veterinarian who understands and uses natural remedies is a godsend. These vets are becoming more and more common as demand rises.

Greater advances in dog health has meant that our dogs are living longer but this brings with it diseases of aging, the most common being arthritis. This causes many a problem for the owner who will try anything to ease their dog’s pain.

Fortunately there are many treatments available that can do wonders from the more mainstream of pet medicines to natural remedies and treatments which have been known to do wonders. It is vital that if your dog is experiencing pain that you first check with your vet to confirm that arthritis is the cause and not some other disease that may require other treatments.

Some tips and hints for dogs with arthritis include:

1. If you have an overweight dog, try and reduce its weight.

2. Take your dog out for regular walks. Don’t overdo it! Some dogs just don’t know when they have had enough and over walking a dog with arthritis will only cause more pain for your pet.

3. Buy a dog bed that allows the dog to stretch out and move easily.

4. Try some of the natural therapies currently available.

5. Keep your pet warm in winter. If you have an outside dog at the very least bring it in at night to keep it out of the cold. This will make a big difference.

If you have a dog health issue then it is most likely that it is costing you money but for the love and companionship that they provide it is worth the money, the time and the effort.

Do you take your dog for regular walks?

Walking your dog is not only good exercise for your dog but also for you. A nice steady thirty minute daily walk will do wonders for the both of you.

Dogs love going out.

Can you imagine being stuck in your home day after day and never going out? This is the life for many dogs so no wonder some of them go crazy when they see the dog leash come out.

Exercise has great benefits for your dog.

It relieves boredom which is a problem for many active dogs. A dog that is bored will take out its frustration by digging, excessively barking and chewing anything in sight. Going for a walk will provide an outlet for overactive dogs and help vent excess energy.

Regular exercise also helps to keep your dog fit and well. It helps with digestion and also helps to prevent obesity in those dogs that are prone to putting on weight. Obesity can cause disease and a quick decline in a dogs health.

Not only is the exercise a great benefit but taking your dog out will also provide you with a means of socialising. How many times have you walked down to your local park and have had someone stop to talk to you? If you are with your dog do you get more comments? I bet you do. A dog is a great ice breaker.

If you don’t have the time to walk your dog then think about a pet walking company who will do it for you. Your dog will have the benefits of socialising with other dogs and will get its daily exercise at the same time. Or you might prefer to invest in an exercise pen such as the 30″ H x 24″ 8′ Panel GoGo exercise pen shown above.

Take a ball or Frisbee to the park or simply throw a stick for your dog to chase. Only let your dog off the leash if it’s properly trained and obeys your commands. There is nothing more disconcerting to non dog lovers than to be confronted with a dog who will not obey its owner.

Remember though that some larger breeds can suffer from joint damage if they do too much of this type of exercise.  So always check with you vet if you have any concerns about the type of exercise you should give your dog.

Never run with a dog that is six months under age and do not run your dog on very hot days.

The most common dog allergies generally relate to skin or ear conditions. If you have a dog with an allergy then it is probably causing you as much irritation as it is causing your dog. Watching a dog in distress can be disheartening. Dog allergies are notoriously difficult to cure as many dogs will often regress even when it looks like the irritation has disappeared.

Allergies can be caused by many factors. These can relate to food, environment, disease, fleas or medications. Finding the source of the allergy can be difficult but without knowing the source, treatment won’t be effective.

Then there are allergies relating to food intake that are quite common. The ingredients in many processed dog foods are appalling to say the least so try to introduce healthier dog foods into your dog’s diet. A homemade diet is the best option if you have the time. Many dogs are allergic to wheat, milk, cheese, eggs, nuts and even beef. Try omitting some of these food types one at a time and see how your dog reacts. 

Fleas and ticks are another major cause of dog allergies. Many dogs are allergic to a flea bite and will scratch for hours trying to relieve the itching. Talk to your veterinarian if you suspect a flea or tick allergy. In the meantime, try to keep your house and garden free from fleas. There are many good products on the market specifically for this purpose.

And sometimes your dog allergies can result from something in a dog’s environment like a particular weed or plant in your garden. If you suspect that this might be the cause, either keep your dog away from that part of the garden to test if this is the cause or better yet, rip out the weeds altogether. If the plant is one that you wish to keep, you may need to fence off the offending section of the garden.

Although not common, an allergic reaction can result from medication that your dog may be taking. If the allergy began soon after the dog started taking a certain medication then this is more than likely the cause. Talk to your veterinarian as if the allergy is severe enough your vet should consider using an alternative medication.

If you suspect any allergy in your dog then it is worth seeking advice from a veterinarian who can provide quick advice and possible medications that may relieve your dog’s distress and improve its health.

And if you are allergic to your dog the  allerpet d range of products are designed to help you treat your dog and make both your lives easier.