When to put your dog on a adult or senior diet

Many pet owners ask the same question. At what age do I need to put my dog on an adult diet? When is it necessary to put him on a senior diet?

Small and medium breed dogs and even cats should be placed on an adult diet when they are one year old, with large to giant breed dogs going for a bit longer. This all depends on the breed. As senior pets have the same nutritional needs as other adult dogs, only needing fewer calories, the American Association of Feed Control Officials doesn't recognize senior diets as a separate type of food. Simply feed an older dog a bit less. Cats and small to medium breed dogs may be put on a senior diet when they are approximately seven years old. Large breed dogs between 50 and 90 pounds may be placed on a senior diet when they are approximately six year old, and giant breeds over 90 pounds when they are about five.

Spoiling your pup may be more dangerous than you think

It is extremely important not to spoil a puppy or dog or the owner will end up with a very badly behaved animal. No one wants a puppy or dog that does not listen, barks at will, steals food from the counter or table, begs, whines when it doesn't get its way, or snaps at the owner when the owner tries to take an object away that it shouldn't be chewing on. Yet some owners believe that their pet will love them more if they let them do what they want, give them lots of treats for no reason, and not do any training with them at all. However, nothing is farther from the truth. In fact, it is best to start training your pet at an early age so it will learn good behavior and habits from the beginning. It is important, as an owner, for you to set guidelines and limits for your dog and at least train the pet to do simple, basic commands. By doing this, it lets the dog know that you are in charge and he will not be allowed to get away with whatever he wants. Training your dog is not only safer for your pet, but the pets will love their owners more. For example, if an untrained dog happens to get off his leash and run away, the owner would not be in control of the situation. The owner would call the dog to come back, but the dog would not listen because he is not trained. Dogs need to be trained and need to know what is expected of them. Be sure to socialize your pet so he will not become stingy and aggressive. It is important to praise your pet when he does something right, but just remember not to give a treat to the dog for no reason or he could become confused. And also, as hard as it is not to spoil a brand new adorable puppy, try to resist. Puppies do need a lot of attention, but too much attention can be bad for the owner and the pet.

Cat Proof Your Home

Most cat owners are not aware that their home may be dangerous to their furry feline. Cats are naturally curious and playful, so it is important to keep your cats safe from potentially hazardous situations.

There are other household items that may be dangerous to your cat. Certain foods, such as chocolate and coffee can cause gastrointestinal problems or even death if swallowed in large amounts. Cats are also very notorious for searching through garbage cans, where bacteria thrives. Garbage cans should be stowed away in an area that is out of reach for your cats.

Certain plants, such as aloe, baby's breath, poinsettia, and many others can be potentially fatal to your cat. For a full list of dangerous plants that are toxic to your cat, go to ASPCA's website by clicking here.

It is also very important to never give human medicine to your pet unless directed to by a veterinarian. Some human medicine can be very dangerous to your cat and even cause death. Flea treatments that are intended only for dogs can also be dangerous. Only use flea treatments that are directed for cat use only. Flea treatments are formulated for specified animals and should not be used other than its intended purpose. You can check out our line of cat flea treatments by going here.

Other commonly household items that can be dangerous to your cat include potpourri, coin money, mothballs, fabric softener sheets, batteries, and automatic dish detergents.

Give Your Dog Variety!

It is important for an owner to supply their puppy and dog with toys made from different types of materials for two main reasons. One is that each material will help keep the teeth and gums clean in different ways so that the pet's mouth stays healthier. Second, is that dogs like to chew things made of different materials, otherwise they can get bored chewing the same thing over and over. Think of it like this, when you were a small child, you did not want to play with the same toy over and over. You wanted a variety of toys to play with and dogs and puppies need the same thing. By providing your pet with various materials, owners may find thei pet prefers certain materials over others and therefore should buy toys that the puppy or dog likes best.

We have a variety of dog toys available for your pet. Check them out by clicking here

Halloween Pet Costume Contest

Get ready for a bark-tacular time! Bring your howlin' hounds and scaredy cats to Pet Depot on October 24th and enter them in the 1st Annual Pet Costume Contest!

Each store winner will receive a 4-5 lb. bag of Science Diet Dog or Cat Food and a $20 Pet Depot Gift Card!

Pets will be judged on creativity, originality, attention to detail, and cuteness.

Arrive early! Registration begins at 12 pm.

No purchase necessary. Pets must be on a leash or in a carrier. Contestants can enter to win at one store location only.

Store Locations - Muscle Shoals, AL Guntersville, AL Jasper, AL Cullman, AL Florence, AL Athens, AL

What's up, Doc?

There are many people that prefer raising rabbits instead of dogs or cats. This is mainly because some busy people may not be have the time to train a cat or dog. Rabbits offer the flexibility of busy pet owners to leave them safely at home while they are gone. They are very affectionate animals and make great companions. Although, they are naturally social animals, they do fine on their own as well. Two or more rabbits in a cage is often to optimal choice, as they tend to bond naturally with each other. But be sure you know the sex of the rabbits if you do not want them to reproduce!

Rabbits life expectancy is around 10-12 years. To keep your rabbit healthy, be sure to feed it a vegetarian diet that does not have a lot of calories. Foods such as grass, leaves, cabbage and spinach as a good choice for your bunny. These foods tend to be very low in calories, but also high in fiber.

Unfortunately, dental problems are one of the main causes that rabbits tend to develop health issues. So, it is important to make sure you are feeding your rabbit the nutrients it needs. Rabbits' teeth grow at a constant rate, and therefore must rely on calcium as a required nutrient. When a rabbit's diet lacks calcium, it will take the calcium from it's bones, much like how our bodies work. Since the bunny is not receiving the nutrients from the a food source, this will cause the rabbit's teeth to decay and can cause many spinal and bone problems. So, it is important to feed your rabbit a healthy, low-calorie and well-balanced diet.

Eliminating bad behaviors with toys

Toys that can have treats put inside, such as the Kong Extreme Dog Toy, that the dog must work at to get out can help eliminate bad behaviors by keeping the dogs' attention on the toy with the treats. If the dog is chewing and working hard to get the food, this means they will not be chewing furniture, barking, or doing other unwanted behaviors. Their primary focus is to get the treat or food out of that toy. In the wild, canines must work to get food. People make it easy for their pets to get food at home, therefore boredom sets in, which can lead to the bad behavioral habits, such as chewing on shoes or furniture. Owners that give their pets treats, or even their regular food, in items like toys that the pet must work at to get to the food, will have a happier and better behaved pet.


Check out our list of dog toys that will help keep your pet occupied. Our toys are very durable and can handle even the roughest dogs.