There is no question that bringing home a new puppy is an adjustment. Maybe your family has recently nursed a sick senior pet until it died, or you haven’t had a furry family member in a while. Your house may have small children, older children, or no children. Perhaps you are bringing a puppy into a home that already has another pet. No matter your family situation, however, bringing home a new puppy requires more preparation than just buying bowls and a comforting dog bed. Here are some tips to help you adjust to an extra family member.

Decide Who is Doing What.

If you are the only human in the house, then there is no question that you are going to do the lion’s share of the work. Perhaps you will use a pet sitter occasionally or a walking service while you work, but everything else falls to you. Make sure that you understand the level of commitment involved in caring for a puppy. You will need to feed, groom, walk, train, comfort, and clean up after your new dog. In addition, there will be the occasional vet visit. Having a new puppy all to yourself is a lot of work, even with a comforting dog bed to keep him happy.

While having more than one person to care for the dog is less work for each person, it is important to know who is responsible for each task. Before picking up the dog, you need to discuss these responsibilities with each member of the family. Keep in mind, many of the tasks can be divided between more than one person. For instance, one person might give the dog a brisk walk in the morning, while the other adult does it at night. Children can take turns feeding the dog once they know how to do it.

Plan a Happy Ride Home.

For many dogs, the ride home from a shelter or breeder can be traumatic. Especially for dogs that have never been off the property where they were born, everything about that ride will be brand new. This can include the movement of the car, new sounds and smells, and unfamiliar people. If the puppy has a bad experience with that first car or airplane ride, then there is a chance he could fear car rides for life.

Fortunately, it is easy to minimize the fear factor with a little planning. While your puppy won’t experience his new comforting dog bed until he gets home, you can create a comforting environment during the ride. Experts recommend that you have plenty of old towels or blankets to wrap him in. Besides the blankets, use a box or pet carrier, which will give a sense of security. Since the car or plane moves around a lot, it is crucial that the container you choose can rest securely during transport. Ideally, you will also have someone riding with you who can pet or comfort the dog while traveling. Hearing a soft and encouraging voice is soothing for the dog and will show that you care. Consider giving him a chew toy, which can channel puppy anxiety throughout the ride.

Puppy Proof the House

One of the challenges of getting a new puppy is that it will likely chew everything in sight. Targets for chewing can include shoes, furniture, noxious substances, electrical cords, and more. Sometimes the excessive chewing is a way for the puppy to explore its environment. Like small children, puppies are curious about everything and often look for answers by putting things in their mouths. They also chew when teething or feeling anxious. Unfortunately, such chewing can be both destructive and dangerous. Chewed objects can break off and cause stomach upset, intestinal blockages, and other problems. Worse, exposed wires can result in electrical shocks and fires.

Fortunately, there is a relatively easy solution to this problem. First, make sure that any dangerous items are out of the puppy’s reach before bringing it home. Once you have the puppy, be sure to safeguard shoes and other items, so the dog is less tempted to chew them. Second, it is important to have alternatives to chewing household objects. Providing chew toys and a comforting dog bed will help keep anxiety low and provide an outlet for teething. Finally, if your puppy starts chewing an unapproved object, be sure to gently express your displeasure and offer an alternative.

Find a Reputable Vet

Like children, pets require a good veterinarian to provide basic healthcare. Most experts recommend taking your new puppy to the vet within a week of arriving home. During this visit, the vet will ensure that the new puppy is healthy and schedule any necessary vaccinations. Typically, breeders and pet stores will have a time limit during which you can return the puppy if a vet finds it isn’t healthy.

Finding the right vet takes is important. We suggest that you talk to friends, family, and neighbors who own a dog to see who they recommend. Once you have chosen a vet, try to schedule the visit as far in advance as you can.

Purchase Basic Equipment

Puppies require more than just food and love. As a new pet parent, you will need food and water bowls, a collar and leash, crate, toys, grooming tools, and a comforting dog bed. These are items that will need to be purchased in advance, along with treats and a bag of dog food. For the latter, ask the breeder or shelter what they are feeding your pet. Consider purchasing a small supply of it, even if you plan to change food later.

At Best Friends by Sheri, we have a wide variety of supplies. For a new puppy, consider an anti-anxiety dog bed that can fit inside its crate. You can also get a soothing dog bed that has a top on it, which can be put in another room. Consider the Honeycomb Lux Hut Cuddler, which surrounds your pet on all sides. It would be an excellent escape from the chaos of your home.

What to Look for in a Dog Bed for Arthritis

Part of being the parent of a senior dog or cat is dealing with aging. While all pets "slow down" as they age, many of them develop arthritis, hip dysplasia, and achy joints. This means you'll need pet products, such as a dog bed for arthritis, that work around their disabilities and give them extra support. 

Of course, it is hard for us to watch our family members suffer. Fortunately, there are several things that we can do to help our pets. Some of them, like providing a comfy orthopedic dog bed for arthritis or getting them on joint supplements, are easy for us to do ourselves. Others require the help of a vet or other professional.

Get a diagnosis

Before starting arthritis treatment, it is important to rule out other possibilities. Dogs and cats can move more slowly than usual for many different reasons. For instance, dogs that do not feel well are likely to prefer their comfy dog bed to running and jumping around the house.

Likewise, if they are having trouble moving around, get grumpy, or show signs of discomfort when petted, it's time to investigate.

While each of these symptoms can be caused by arthritis in older dogs, there are other potential explanations. A massive stomachache, for instance, is likely to make a pet grumpy. Minor injuries, especially those sustained in vigorous exercise, can also result in discomfort. 

If your pet is struggling in these areas for more than a couple of days at a time, you should talk to your veterinarian.

Once you know why your dog is not feeling well, you can comfort it more easily and accurately. Especially with arthritis, you now know that you are dealing with a common condition that is relatively easy to manage. Some of these tips will work any time your pet needs comfort, while others are more arthritis-specific.

Stay active

One thing that works almost as well for dogs and people with arthritis is getting enough exercise. Exercise allows the dog to move its joints, which in turn helps to keep them in good condition.

To explain what this looks like, consider what happens when you have been sitting for too long in one position. Often, when you stand up, your joints will feel a little bit stiff, and they stay that way until you have walked around a bit. This is the same thing that happens when a pet has arthritis, except the problem is more severe. With moderate exercise, your dog will move around better.

One great joint-friendly exercise for both large dogs and small dogs is swimming! Floating and splashing around in water is easy on your dog's joints and tires them out pretty quickly. (Note: if you have a dog new to swimming, get them a dog life jacket for safety).

However, as with any exercise, be careful not to overdo it. Like their pet parents, animals can experience pain and injury when they are exercised too much. Let your pet choose its own pace when being walked or exercise. 

Large breeds need to watch that weight

Being overweight increases the stress on joints and ligaments for both people and animals. If you know someone who carries too much weight, he or she will tell you that joint pain is one of the unpleasant side effects. 

The same is true with dogs. Your dog's weight adds to joint stress. To combat the effects of arthritis, many pet care experts recommend that you carefully manage your pet's weight. Maintaining your dog's body weight at a healthy level, especially for big dogs, is important for joint health.

Your vet can advise you on an appropriate target weight, and if necessary, how to lose the pounds. Sometimes this involves a special diet, but exercise can also help. Whether you are using diet, exercise, or both to manage weight, a comfy dog bed with support foam can also help reduce strain on joints.

Consider physical therapies

As with people, pets often find some arthritis relief through physical therapies. That can include traditional physical therapy, massage, acupuncture, or other methods. All of them follow the same basic strategy: improve mobility and reduce inflammation so that the animal can enjoy life better. 

For physical therapy and acupuncture, you will have to make clinic visits on a regular basis. While the expense can add up fast, they are a great way to help your pooch have more energy for playtime.

Massage, on the other hand, can be taught to pet parents. Here, you apply targeted pressure to affected areas. As with human massage, the goal is to release tension and reduce pain. As an extra advantage, you will learn more about how his body works and when he is hurting. Best of all, this is a great way to spend time with your pet while making it feel better. Then, you can let your dog retreat to its soothing dog bed while you watch TV or make dinner.

Medications can help

Over the years, scientists and vets have developed a wide variety of treatments for arthritis. Some aim to slow down the disease, while others try to dull the pain in some way. 

In consultation with your vet, you can try nutritional supplements. If these strategies do not go far enough, there are prescription therapies available. Experienced pet parents generally recommend encouraging your dog to take pills using a treat. Both commercial ones and homemade varieties work, so long as you choose something that is vet-approved. This way, giving meds or supplements becomes a way to nurture that special bond.

Adapt the dog's bed to their needs

Finally, comforting an arthritic pet often involves adjustments to the set up in your home. For instance, you might decide to add stair treads or a ramp to your steps. These allow the dog to get more traction going up and downstairs, relieving the effects of mobility issues. This way, they can move to their memory foam dog bed upstairs while you sleep and back down in the morning.

Another adaptation that you might consider is changing to a fur orthopedic dog bed designed for pets with arthritis and pressure points. Made of orthopedic memory foam, our rectangular nap mats cushion a dog's bones and joints more than a traditional egg crate base. 

What to look for in an orthopedic dog bed

There are a few key bed features to look for in a sleeping place for your arthritic dog. Best Friends by Sheri pet beds have removable covers, a non-slip bottom wand water-resistant base, and raised edges for your pet to curl up or use as a headrest.

While some orthopedic memory foam dog beds come with microsuede or microfiber covers, our machine washable covers are a high-quality fur pillow top that's super soft to the touch.

Instead of a basic memory foam base, Best Friends by Sheri pet beds are stuffed with AirLoft™ fibers that consist of premium virgin white poly filling that keeps its loft for up to 3x's longer than most standard fluffy pet beds.

Vets have recommended orthopedic beds for decades to improve dogs' quality of life, and the best orthopedic dog beds work very well to provide extra support for achy joints. These can be a replacement for the old bed or a supplement to what you already have. Check out our range, which includes options for pets of all sizes from jumbo for larger dogs to small for toy breeds. Available on Amazon and our website.

Being a pet owner involves more than just snuggles and walks with our four-legged friend. While previous generations were mostly concerned with food and medical care for their bundle of joy, the needs of a companion animal have expanded over time. Nowadays, we like to provide toys, a dog bed, blankets, and other creature comforts to our furry family members. Unfortunately, doing so can result in toxic chemicals being introduced into their environments. In order to reduce the risks, it is important that we know what these are and how to minimize them. Let us take a look at some of the common toxins found particularly in toys and bedding. We will also include tips on how to avoid them when possible.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a well-known preservative. In fact, it is most commonly known as the chemical used for embalming dead bodies and preserving laboratory specimens. This is only one of the uses of formaldehyde in industrial settings. Fabric manufacturers use it for a variety of treatments, such as those designed to reduce creasing. This means that formaldehyde is relatively common in upholstery fabrics, for instance, in curtains, car seats, and dog beds. Other uses include floor finishes and wood furniture.

Small doses are unavoidable because it is naturally occurring in our bodies. As with humans, our animal friends have natural formaldehyde circulating. Living creatures can cope with lower levels of formaldehyde, but as those levels rise, there is a risk of health problems. In large amounts, formaldehyde can cause cancer and other health problems. While this had been suspected for some time, laboratory experiments helped scientists document this effect. In addition, high levels of formaldehyde exposure can result in respiratory distress and skin irritation.

What can you do to avoid exposure to your friend?

When purchasing pet products, carefully inspect labels. There should be an indication on the product label if the manufacturer has stated or even tested for toxin levels in their products. You won’t be finding this information on many items, though, as toys and accessories are not under FDA regulation.

Secondly, consider what type of product you are buying. Exposure is a very important factor. As a matter of fact, there is more of a chance of a toxin reaching problematic levels within a pet’s bloodstream if it’s a product that is meant to be eaten or chewed, or if it is just an accessory that will just come in touch with their skin. For instance, toxins in a water bowl are most likely to leach out.

Vinyl

Most people do not see vinyl as threatening. With so many plastics and other synthetic materials all around us, it is difficult to view most of them as potentially hazardous. Walk down any toy aisle at the local pet store, and there will be vinyl-based products all around you. Vinyl toys are popular for a reason. Many of them are hard-wearing, which can be great for owners of large breed dogs. For smaller dogs and cats, vinyl toys can make that fun “squeak” and enhance the fun.

Unfortunately, vinyl toys also include a myriad of potentially toxic chemicals. One example is chlorine, which is required to produce vinyl. As your cat or dog chews the toy, these chemicals are released into the air. Some residue may also be absorbed into the animals’ mouths, which allows these chemicals to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Although it does not cause cancer, chlorine is irritating to the respiratory tract and can cause asthma.

Avoiding vinyl in pet products is somewhat easier than avoiding formaldehyde. One alternative is to purchase high-quality natural rubber toys. These can include balls, chew toys, and even tug rings. Another way to minimize risk is to choose high-quality toys that are intended for small children. This works because of the high consumer protection standards involved when toys are marketed for that age group. However, owners of large-breed dogs should ensure the toy can withstand extended chewing.

Phthalates

Phthalates are a hazard that nobody thinks about, but that is all over the place. This is a family of chemicals that can be included in vinyl pet toys, but they are also common in other places. In fact, many plastics contain high levels of these toxic chemicals. Older plastic objects tend to have higher levels because the danger posed by phthalates was not recognized for a long time. Now, however, many of these chemicals are banned for use in children’s toys inside the European Union and in the US. They remain legal for use in pet products. You can still find them in many toys, but also bowls and even a dog bed if you are not careful. In short, anything that includes plastic can contain phthalates.

What led regulators in several countries to ban certain phthalates in children’s products? Simply put, some of them are dangerous. Many phthalates cause disruptions in the endocrine system and can cause fertility problems. In addition, there are studies that suggest a wide range of medical problems that can result from using too many phthalates. Some of these studies are based on human blood level measurements. With such a large difference between the typical bodyweight of an adult up against either a child or pet, it is easy to see how chemicals have a disproportionate impact.

How can we avoid giving our dogs too many phthalates? First, we can choose toys and equipment that are not made of plastic. One example is a rope pull/chew toy, which is primarily made up of cotton. We have several models in our shop. Another idea is to use metal bowls instead of plastic ones because the material is free of chemicals. Finally, consider buying from reputable toy suppliers. The more labeling, the higher your chance of having a safer toy or dog bed.

Lead

Lead is a scary contaminant even for people parents. Once common in children’s toys, lead for people is mostly a concern with peeling lead paint, vintage toys, and industrial pollution. Unfortunately, a lot of homes built before the 1978 ban still have a ton of lead in them. Your pet can be exposed to lead through household dust, eating lead paint, playing with toys, or even chewing on its dog bed. If it eats enough lead, then the symptoms are similar to those of lead-exposed children. Specifically, it can lead to behavior changes in dogs, as well as digestive issues for both dogs and cats. A wonderful, laid-back dog can become fearful, anxious, or even aggressive. Both cats and dogs can lose their appetite and experience weight loss, among other things.

Since the dangers of lead are so well-known, it is easy to wonder why pet owners should be worried about sources other than lead paint and the local soil. As we have said above, there are few consumer protections for pet supplies in general. For that reason, we often see toys and other accessories with a high level of lead. Tennis balls that are labeled for pet use and made in china are a great example. So are toys that have lead paint as decoration. Fortunately, it is relatively easy to avoid purchasing things that have lead in them. Look for products that are certified lead free or, at a minimum, are made in places where the use of lead is regulated. Another trick: look for a proposition 65 disclosure. This means that the item may contain toxic chemicals.

Recycled Plastic or Foam

These days, recycling is fashionable as demand for sustainable products increases. While recycling can be beneficial, it also has a dark side: the mixing of materials. When polyester and foam are made from recycled plastic, the mixture includes everything that went into it. This means that a lot of old-style baby bottles with now-banned chemicals might end up as part of your dog bed. When they reach your home, these chemicals can affect your pet like they would if used in other products.

Some recycled materials are also dangerous in beds for another reason: anxious dogs chew their beds. When chewing, the material can sometimes be ingested. Even if it is not eaten, they might have those chemicals released in other ways. None of this is healthy for your dog or cat.

Fortunately, there are simple ways to help avoid these problems. First, you can say “no” to recycled plastics in pet products. When you do this, it means that the raw materials used were originally manufactured to current standards. Alternatively, choose recycled cotton or plastics where the contents are certified.

In closing, the best way to avoid most toxic chemicals for a dog bed or toy is to purchase them from a reputable provider. Generally, this means that you should not buy the cheapest bed out there that is going to fall apart quickly. Furthermore, a quality choice such as our donut dog bed range will help keep your pet happy with its deep, comforting pile. This reduces destructive chewing and other behaviors that can cause them to ingest toxic chemicals.

Resources:

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Formaldehyde

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/formaldehyde.html#:~:text=Formaldehyde%20is%20a%20colorless%2C%20strong,coatings%3B%20and%20certain%20insulation%20materials.

https://www.rover.com/blog/toxic-pet-toys-beds-safety-guide/

https://www.ewg.org/research/polluted-pets

https://www.leafscore.com/eco-friendly-pet-products/how-to-avoid-buying-pet-products-with-toxic-chemicals/

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/feb/10/phthalates-plastics-chemicals-research-analysis

https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/prevention/sources/paint.htm#:~:text=Lead%2Dbased%20paints%20were%20banned,have%20some%20lead%2Dbased%20paint.&text=Approximately%2024%20million%20housing%20units,and%20lead%2Dcontaminated%20house%20dust.

https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&catId=102904&id=4952047#:~:text=Signs%20of%20lead%20poisoning%20in,loss%2C%20vomiting%2C%20and%20diarrhea.

https://www.leafscore.com/eco-friendly-pet-products/how-to-avoid-buying-pet-products-with-toxic-chemicals/

https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65