Top Treat Toys for Dogs

Kong

The Kong ball is probably one of the most popular treat toys out there. You can stuff pretty much anything in there, and in summer, you can freeze the fillings to help cool your pup down too. Try stuffing the Kong ball with some scrambled egg and cheese or yoghurt and fruit bits. Minced meat and even raw meat work well too. The ideas here are endless.

Snoop and Nook Balls

The Snoop and Nook ball combo is one of our all-time favourite interactive treat-dispensing toys. It’s a heck of a challenge for dogs to separate the two balls from each other, so fill the big ball with something your furry friend really loves. This will give them the enthusiasm to dig the little Nook ball out of the Snoop ball. The balls can also be used separately. The Snoop ball is excellent for larger treats and kibbles, while the Nook is suitable for soft stuffing like peanut butter or yoghurt.

Flavorit Bones

We love the range from Petqwerks! But the brand is famous for more than just their Flip Sticks. They also make Flavorit Bones, which are great for dogs with powerful jaws. Try spreading some peanut butter over the indents of the toy to keep your pup entertained for hours on end.

Bionic Ball

Outward Hound is a brand synonymous with hours of fun for dogs. The Bionic Ball is one of the best treat toys out there since it’s ideal for soft fillings. These balls come available in various sizes, so there’s one for every jaw size out there. We like the Bionic because it’s quick and easy to get ready and doubles up as a regular toy once your pup has enjoyed the filling.

K9 Connectables

We’ve been raving about K9 Connectables since 2019 and can honestly say that it’s still one of our absolute favourite. It’s also one of the most challenging toys on the market, so if you own a smarty paws, this is an ideal fit! These toys are cleverly designed, probing your dog to use its instincts to hunt and work for food. As your dog unlocks and disconnects the pieces of these toys, they gain access to hidden treats! The Connectables come available in various options, catering for treat,  dental, and mental stimulation needs.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are plenty of innovative treat toys on the market to keep your pet entertained while having their munchy needs met as well. Go ahead and spoil your pet with any one of these goodies to ensure they’re staying warm and engaged throughout the chilly season!

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With the use of pet-safe sun care products, we can help minimise the risk of our pets contracting skin cancer and sun-related tumors.

Why Not Use Regular Sunscreen?

Many sun protection products for humans contain zinc, which is toxic for animals. It should be avoided at all costs. Zinc oxide irritates the stomach and can also cause vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, abdominal pain, and depression when ingested. Long-term exposure to zing can cause severe intravascular hemolytic anemia, blood in the urine, jaundice, weakness, organ failure, and even death.

More About Petscreen SPF23

Petscreen SPF23 is available online and in stores. We love this stuff because it contains 4 different sun protection agents and is quick drying. With its broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB, this sunscreen is safe for daily use on light-skinned pets.

Because most dogs don’t dig being sprayed with sunscreen, it’s best to spray some product into your hand and then apply it to your dog’s skin.

Petscreen SPF23 helps ensure that your furry friend doesn’t burn in the sun. it also helps prevent an array of skin cancers like malignant melanomas, squamous cell carcinoma, and hemangiomas.

Does my dog really need it?

Think about it this way: Some humans are more susceptible to sunburn. The fairer your skin, the higher your risks. Dogs are exactly the same. If your pup is fair-furred, he or she carries a higher risk of getting sunburnt. But this doesn’t mean that dark fur is in the clear. It never hurts to bring out some extra precautions. If you’re about to spend the outdoors with your dogs, dog sunscreen is the best way to prepare for it.

When is the best time to apply dog sunscreen?

Again, human rules come into play where dogs and sunscreen are concerned. Apply some canine sunscreen just before your dog heads outdoors, and make sure to reapply it throughout the course of the day. The sun’s rays are at their most potent between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and this is the time during which your dog is most likely to get burnt.

Where should I apply it?

Your dog has a few sun-sensitive areas, which have less fur or no fur at all. The checklist looks a little something like this:

• Nose
• Tips of the ears
• Groin
• Around the lips
• Belly

Be sure to patch test the sunscreen before applying it to your dog’s whole body, and for the love of all things furry, please avoid the eye areas. If your pet doesn’t show any weird reaction to the lotion, feel free to apply it generously to the areas that need coverage. Allow the sunscreen to soak in for a few minutes before exposing your dog to the sun and check to ensure that your pet doesn’t lick the lotion off.

If you’re ever in doubt, the best way to protect your dog from sunburn is to limit the amount of time they spend outside in the sun. doggie hats, goggles and shirts can also be great additions to your sun-defence stockpile.

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What is NexGard Spectra?

These preventative treats are tasty broad-spectrum oral chews that treat and prevent tick, flea, and mite infestations. Soft and soy-based, these chews taste like beef, and since they’re so delicious, your dogs will never try and flee when it’s time for preventative care.

How does it work?

NexGard Spectra is a monthly treatment that helps prevent external and internal pests from plaguing your pets. Within 30 minutes of administering the “treat”, the product starts killing fleas.  It kills ticks in 48 hours and also prevents heartworm, hookworm, and roundworm infestations.

Is NexGard Spectra suitable for all dogs?

Yes! Regardless of how big or small your furry friend is, NexGard is suitable for him or her since it comes available in 5 sizes.

What’s the difference between Nexgard and Nexgard Spectra?

NexGard protects dogs against brown dog ticks, bush ticks, and the potentially deadly paralysis tick. NexGard SPECTRA contains an additional active ingredient, milbemycin oxime, which provides protection against heartworm and intestinal worms.

How effective is this treatment?

We recently had the opportunity to review the range of NexGard Spectra chewable treatments. The chewable tick & flea treatment is administered orally and contains fluralaner. This medicine starts working after 30minutes of being administered and should keep your dog protected for up to 4 weeks.

There’s no guesswork to be done since pet owners can choose between suitable dosages for toy, small, medium, large, and extra-large breeds. Since dogs love the taste of NexGard chews, they’re effortless to administer and non-messy.

If your dog happens to get sick and vomits after he or she ingested the tablet, it won’t offer any protection. You also need to keep in mind that these chews don’t repel ticks and fleas. The pests die when they bite your dog. Another thing to keep in mind is the price. NexGard Spectra chews are not the cheapest on the market. They’re much more expensive than spot-on treatments. But they’re one of your most effective solutions.

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Two of the most common flea and tick treatments include topical spot-on treatments and oral chewable tablets. Topical treatments are applied to your dog’s coat from shoulder blades to tail. Chewable medicines provide long-lasting barriers from the inside out.

In this post, we’ll be comparing the two options to help you understand which one is a better choice for your pet!

Comparing chewable versus topical tick & flea treatments

Chewable Treatment

We recently had the opportunity to review the range of Bravecto chewable and topical treatments. The chewable tick & flea option is administered orally and contains fluralaner. It can only be used for dogs to help kill ticks, fleas, sarcoptic mites and ear mites. This medicine starts working after 4 hours of being administered. It promises to kill up to 95% of fleas within 12 hours. For flea and tick protection, chewables give you up to 12 weeks before you need to give your dog another chewie.

Unlike most tick and flea products, Bravecto’s chews are safe for pregnant, breeding, and lactating dogs. It’s also safe for pets with an MDR 1 gene mutation. They are safe for puppies too, as long as they’re older than eight weeks and weigh at least 2kg.

There’s no guesswork to be done since pet owners can choose between suitable dosages for toy, small, medium, large, and extra-large breeds. Since dogs love the taste of Bravecto chews, they’re effortless to administer and non-messy.

If your dog happens to get sick and vomits after he or she ingested the tablet, it won’t offer any protection. You also need to keep in mind that these chews don’t repel ticks and fleas. The pests die when they bite your dog. Another thing to keep in mind is the price. Bravecto Chews are not the cheapest on the market. They’re much more expensive than spot-on treatments. But they’re one of your most effective solutions.

Spot-On Treatment

Bravecto’s spot-on treatment also contains fluralaner but is applied topically. This isn’t a product that’s as specific as the chews since it comes available in variants for both dogs and cats. The spot-on treatment takes a little longer to kick in. It’ll also only start working around 8 hours after it has been applied.

Protection wise, you can rest assured that your dog or cat will be protected against fleas for up to 24 weeks if they’ve been treated with Bravecto spot-on. As far as ticks are concerned, the treatment offers roughly 16 weeks of protection.

Just like Bravecto chews, the spot-on treatment can be used for pregnant, breeding, and lactating dogs. It’s never a good idea to treat puppies with tick & flea products before the age of 8 weeks or until they weigh at least 2kg.

The downside to spot-on treatments is that they can be messy because they have to be applied topically. The solution also needs to dry for at least 30 minutes. This means you need to prevent your pet from licking the treatment area and getting wet during this time.

After you’ve applied the treatment, your pooch (or purr baby) also needs to stay away from kids and water for at least three days. Although this option is cheaper than chews, it works well to repel ticks and fleas.

Which option is best?

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which option better suits your needs and budget. If you own a cat, there are no two ways about it. Spot-on is about your only option in the Bravecto range.

Keep in mind that spot-on might not be the best idea for dogs that have sensitive coats, avid swimmers, and dogs that basically live like members of the family.

Bravecto chews are convenient than topical tick & flea treatments, but the protection doesn’t last as long as the topical spot-on treatments. Chews are mess and fuss-free, but spot-on treatments offer direct, parasite-repelling and killing action that’s also long-lasting.

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Weirdest pet products

Pet highchairs

From cuddling with them in bed to binge-watching our favourite shows with them on our laps, our pets are always by our sides. But for pet owners that want to ensure they’re also bonding with their pets during mealtimes, the pet highchair might be the ideal solution. These clip-on pet highchairs ensure that you’ll be staring lovingly into your furry friend’s eyes as you enjoy dinner.

Dog Beer

While you’re propping your pet up in that highchair, why not give him a beer as well? Dog beer is non-alcoholic (obviously) and formulated with canines in mind. In fact, these “refreshments” are more of a sauce or gravy than anything else, so your new drinking buddy won’t be negatively affected by post-work drinks.

Cat Translator

Meowlingual is a handheld device that translates your cat’s sounds. Apparently, it works by analysing your kitten’s expressions, movements, sounds, and behaviour. It then categorises the data into different moods and emotions, and over 200 cat chat words. Are you really ready to hear what your cat honestly thinks of you? We don’t think we are.

Poop Freeze

Poop Freeze is an aerosol that blasts cold air onto dog poop, freezing it for easy pickup. The same company (FSI) also manufactures the Dog Fart Terminator, an aerosol spray that gets rid of god flatulence odour thanks to the fact that it contains fart-fighting particles. Definitely one of the weirdest pet products we’ve ever encountered!

Dog Pacer

If you want to take your dog for a walk without leaving the house, the dog pacer might be your ideal splurge. It’s a treadmill designed specifically for dogs and has been dubbed the cheapest, best value dog treadmill on the market. But it’s not cheap. At all. If you don’t have anything else to do with your hard-earned cash, this gadget comes with several pre-set workout programs that’ll help set the stage for your dog to pass the army’s fitness test.

Puppy Scoops

Usually, anything that even remotely refers to the idea of poop puts us off, but puppy scoops isn’t what it sounds like. This is actually an excellent pet product, although it’s not something you’d find at your local convenience store. Puppy Scoops is a bacon-flavoured ice cream designed for dogs. This brand contains whole milk, gelatin, salt, can juice, and natural bacon flavouring. It arrives as a dry mix, so you’ll have to add hot water, mix it up, and then freeze it for a safe, tasty dog treat.

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What is Eau de Pooch?

Hannelie Laubscher, founder and creator of the range has a deep passion for natural essential oils and plant-based raw materials. Her passion soon saw her experimenting with body products, natural remedies, and a host of other natural products. She’s also an animal lover of note. And when her love for natural extracts and animals came together, something magical happened.

With the help of a likeminded Biochemist and a lab, Eau de Pooch was born with the focus of enhancing natural elegance, healthy cleanliness, and pooch glamour.

All products in the range are made from plant-based raw materials and are free from chemicals and dyes. The products are hypo-allergenic, non-corrosive, pH neutral and safe for use around infants.

A luxurious option for pampering your dog

The entire product line from Eau de Pooch is themed in a royal-inspired black and gold theme. It immediately gives you the impression that you’re investing in the best for your dog. You can choose between a masculine or feminine perfume or opt for their natural room & linen atomizer, all three of which target and combat that doggy smell that can sometimes linger in the air.

The perfumes not only eliminate dodgy smells, but they also nourish and moisturize the coat, so it’s an all-in-one solution. The brand also stocks a luxurious nose and paw butter. This helps soften up areas on your dog’s body that are prone to develop calluses.

We love the great scent that the perfumes give off. We reckon they’re great to use between baths to help keep your pet smelling fresh.

Investing in luxury also means you’re helping animals in need

Eau de Pooch isn’t only made with love, they also give back to those who need it most. A percentage from each sale goes to two very special charities. One of those charities is Medic Alert Dogs SA, who is focused on placing service dogs with underprivileged, disabled, diseased individuals and veterans that need assistance.

The other charity that the brand supports is TEARS Animal Rescue that specialises in assisting, rescuing and rehoming abandoned animals throughout the country.

Final Thoughts

These luxury products are a welcome change to the sometimes bland grooming products landscape. Their products don’t only look great, they work great as well. If your dog considers your bed to be his own, their linen spray is something that will change your life for good!

To get your hands on their products, you can visit one of their stockists (like @Frits Pet Hotel) or simply stock up by visiting their online store!

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The story behind Gizzls

Gizzls is a CBD product range for pets that was born after the owner of the company treated her cat,  Gizzy, with CBD oil when everyone feared he had just months to live. Gizzy’s Chronic Kidney Disease and coinciding special diet is what inspired not only the Full  Spectrum CBD tinctures, but also Gizzls’ range of delicious CBD treats for cats and dogs.

Why CBD?

CBD oil is a cannabinoid derived from the cannabis plant. It’s not psychoactive so it won’t get your pet zonked out. Animals are naturally set up to produce their own endocannabinoids, but from time to time, they also need a little help, just like humans. By supplementing their diets with CBD, you’re boosting their endocannabinoid system which in turn boosts physiological functions and other essential bodily functions.

And what about the treat range?

Gizzls manufactures its products with the best full-spectrum oil and finest natural ingredients. Their treats contain no animal by-products, no meals, corn, wheat, or anything artificial. Meats used in their dog and cat treats are sourced locally at Gizzls-vetted farms to ensure it’s free-range and free from any other nasties. Veggies used in the recipes are sourced locally from community gardens that don’t use any pesticides either.

Keen on getting your hands on some Gizzls products?

Gizzls treats are baked with CBD oil, so the oil isn’t drizzled or sprayed onto the treats once they’re already baked. Even though they offer some standard options like fish, meat and ostrich flavoured treats, Gizzls can custom bake treats depending on your pet’s ailment. Sometimes pets need to be treated with stronger dosages of CBD, and this company will go out of their way to assist in whichever way they can

Final thoughts

The market is overly-saturated in CBD products for pets, but we reckon Gizzls stands out in its own unique way since everything they use is sourced locally. By supporting this brand, you’re also helping create jobs in South Africa and supporting the local economy.

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Who are Raw Love Pets?

Raw Love Pets have been around since 2009, and as the name might imply, they supply pet-owning families with top quality raw meals and hand-made treats. Because they only use organic and reusable products, everything you buy from Raw Love Pets screams GREEN.

They cater to just about every need including raw food, baked treats, herbs and solutions, supplements AND accessories for cats and dogs, which is an extensive list of products!

Why choose raw foods?

Switching from dry dog food to a raw diet will bring a bunch of brilliant benefits to the table for your dog or cat. Some of these benefits include:

• Improved energy
• Better dental health
• Sweeter breath
• Smoother, shinier coat
• Decrease and disappearance of chronic allergies, itches and infections
• Reduced gas
• Major changes in odour and consistency of poop

Unlike dry food, raw diets are appropriate for all breeds and all life stages. Puppies and kittens can easily and safely be weaned onto the same food as their adult counterparts.

What’s on offer?

As far as Raw Love Pets’ line of raw foods is concerned, they have an amazing variety. From starter transition packs for cats and dogs to puppy meals packs and value packs for cats and dogs, these guys have got everything you need to get your dog started and thriving on a raw diet.

27 different products in their treats range cover the basics like biltong and droёwors and they also step up the ante with other products like snack chips and wheat-free biscuits.

They offer 37 different herbs for cats and dogs that can help treat an extensive range of health conditions. These include arthritis, skin itch, metabolic issues, joint pain, and IBS, to name but just a few. On top of their herbal range, they also have 38 supplements on sale that can help treat an impressive range of health problems.

Final thoughts

We give Raw Love Pets a 10/10. We love everything about their food and treat range. And the fact that they make it easy to order alternative pet health products all in one place is really what puts the cherry on top.

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Best gadgets to track your pet

Kippy Vita Smart Tracker

Kippy Vita is a smart tracking and activity monitoring device for your pooch. It has a bunch of great features like live GPS tracking and activity recording. If your dog happens to get lost during a walk just use the app to activate the tag’s alarm which works within a 30m radius. Your app will drop a pin on the map of your dog’s last recorded location if he wandered outside of the 30m radius, guiding you in the right path.

The good old microchip

Microchips are some the easiest and cheapest ways to ensure your pet will always find its way back to you. Or the other way around. Although microchips can’t be tracked like a GPS, they act like electronic IDs for your pets. If your animal gets lost, a vet or the SPCA can scan the chip, which contains all the owner details of the pet. Unlike a collar, a microchip can’t break or fall off, so it’ll last a lifetime. You can get your pet microchipped at the SPCA or your nearest vet for roughly R300.

AlleyCat GPS Tracker

Cats love exploring, but sadly, that curiosity for exploring can also lead them to explore too far from home. With AlleyCat, you can track your pet from the comfort of your smartphone. The tracker is waterproof and has an unlimited range with an accuracy of up to 1 meter. The device’s battery life really depends on how often you check in on your cat, but it can last anywhere from 6 to 10 days on power-saving mode. Keep in mind that this gadget requires a SIM card for the GPS to stay active.

Dog Monitor App

If you’re curious about what your canine companion gets up to when you’re not home, the Dog Monitor App is ideal for helping you check in on them. To use the app, you just need two devices with cameras, and you can watch(and even speak to) them any time you wish. The app records activity logs and also details noise levels. The cool thing about this app is that you can also use pre-recorded commands to help distance-discipline your dog.

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A roundup of the best Pet Instagram Accounts to follow

Hamilton the Hipster Cat

Hamilton is best known for his stunning moustache. But he also happens to be an adorable rescue cat that got adopted from a feral cat community back in 2012. This accounts advocates adopting over shopping and also use the platform to make donations towards shelters in need.

Norbert the Dog

Norbert is a therapy dog, author and philanthropist who was adopted in 2009. Due to his super small size, he was a special needs adoption, but after passing his test, he now visits hospitals to provide comfort and love to people that need it most. The little man even has two books of his own published. They’re titled Norbert: What Can Little Me Do? And Norbert’s Little Lessons For A BIG Life.

Jiff Pom

Jiff Pom, the Pomeranian had an impressive 9.6 million followers, making this one of the most famous pet Instagram accounts out there. Jiff was inducted into the Guinness World Records as the fastest dog runner on two paws and even made it into Katy Perry’s 2014 music video for the song Dark Horse. Although Jiff sadly passed away in 2019, this is still one of the best Pet Instagram Accounts we ever followed.

Jill the Squirrel

Jill was just a baby when Hurricane Isaac ripped through Louisiana and destroyed her tree home. Thankfully a human family took her in, and everyone now happily contributed to this rodent’s Instagram page, sharing life stories that are a little unlike the ordinary pet-owning household’s.

Grumpy Cat

Grumpy Cat has been around since before the birth of Instagram, so it’s a name most of us are familiar with. Her real name, by the way, is Tardar Sauce. Grumpy Cat took the web by storm in 2012 with her iconic looks and has since appeared in numerous TV shows and even a film. Grumpy Cat sadly passed away in 2019, but her family keeps her legacy alive by updating her Instagram account regularly.

Esther the Wonder Pig

Esther the Wonder Pig was supposedly a “micro “pig, but like so many other before, her owners were fooled and soon discovered that Esther was everything BUT micro. She grew up to be a whopping 270kg, totally outgrowing her parents’ small suburban home. Esther’s size forced the family to move to a farm where she’d have enough space to lead a happy, healthy life. The family launched the Happily Ever Esther Farm Sanctuary in 2014, where they rescue and rehabilitate abandoned and abused farmed animals.

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