Friday, October 30, 2009

5 most Common Reasons for Dog Tear Stains & Solution


We came across such a wonderful blog post on tearstains by our friends at Happytails Spa and wanted to share it with you. In this post they bark about the cause of tearstains and an all natural drug free solution. We are so proud to offer Happytails all natural, effective and safe problem solution dog spa products on www.pawlux.com.


Most owners of small white dogs take great pride in keeping their dogs spotlessly clean. You can imagine then how frustrating it is to have to deal with those annoying tear stains below the eyes. If you’ve ever seen a dog with red or brown marks in the areas around and just under the eyes, you’ve seen a dog that is suffering from tear staining .


The staining can matte around the dog’s eyes and leave a gooey, thick mess that is hard to clean. Most people assume that the stains are caused by excessive moisture from the dog’s eyes and that they’re just a fact of life. In fact though, tear stains have many different causes, and figuring out the root of the problem could end up saving you some work and also improve your dog’s life.


1. Ear Infections

Tear staining can be linked back to ear infections, so it’s important to keep your dog’s ears as clean and dry as possible. If you notice that your dog is getting a lot of ear infections which also coincide with excessive tearing, the two are probably related. Use a good cleansing product to make sure the ears are clean and your dog’s tear stains might be reduced as a result.


2. Allergies

Dogs can experience reactions to thing just like humans, and tear staining can often be a reaction to allergens or irritants. In fact, some dogs will suffer reactions to their food which will change the pH level in your dog’s system which in turn can cause excessive tearing. If you notice that your dog’s tear stains get worse in certain situations than it might be an environmental factor that is adding to the problem.


3. Blocked Tear Ducts

Some dogs are born with tear ducts that are closed which need to be surgically opened by a vet, but this isn’t the only way a duct can be blocked. At times, a dog can develop clogged tear ducts which can add to excessive tearing, and unfortunately, a trip to the vet will be needed to irrigate the ducts. Luckily, this isn’t a very common problem, but if you suspect clogged tear ducts, it should be taken care of, lest your dog suffer unnecessarily.


4. Red Yeast

One of the biggest causes of tear staining is from a dog having an excessive amount of tears. This high level of moisture can keep the hair around the face wet, which then becomes an area where fungus can breed. One of the most common forms is called Red Yeast, which causes a yeast infection around the eyes and leads to the brownish-red stains that you sometimes see on dogs.


5.Water

Some waters contain a high mineral content, which can cause staining on a dog’s entire face and beard. A lot of moisture can remain on the face trapped in the hairs after a dog drinks, which can be moved to eye level by the dog trying to lick his face clean. And, if the mineral content is high, it will increase the level of red-brown staining on a dog’s face. If you notice both tear stains and a discolored beard, try switching your dog’s water to combat the problem.


Red or brown tear stains are not attractive to look at, and they can be a symptom of a larger problem. If your dog has excessive staining around they eyes and on its face, it might be worth looking into what the cause of the staining is.


Why So Sad?


If your dog has a chronic tear staining problem, it’s a good idea to have him checked by your veterinarian. You need to find out if there is an underlying medical problem. Hair rubbing on the eye is painful, and may lead to more serious conditions such as an ulcer on the cornea. Infections usually need a course of antibiotics to clear them up. Stray eyelashes and skin folds which cause hair to rub on the eyes may need corrective surgery. If your dog has any of these problems, you’ll probably notice other symptoms such as squinting, or rubbing at the eye with a paw.


If your dog has a blocked tear duct, sometimes flushing it can help. However, because the problem with the duct is usually related to the dog’s conformation, this doesn’t often improve the situation.


Your only real option is to control the staining.


Dry Those Tears, Eyepack to the Rescue!


Maltese, Bichon Frises, Shih Tzus… all adorable and all prone to brown tear stains around their eyes. The staining is by no means limited to these breeds of dogs; it can occur in many light colored dogs, but particularly the smaller breeds. The good news is that there are things you can do to leave your pampered pet stain-free.


Your first step is to keep the hair around the eyes trimmed nice and short. This helps the hair dry out quicker and slows the growth of any bacteria. Some vets recommend using antibiotics to control the bacteria that cause the staining. This isn’t a good long term solution because you may end up with the bacteria becoming resistant to the antibiotic.


There has been some suggestions that changing a dog’s diet can reduce tear staining. It’s not known if the change in diet has a direct effect on the staining, or whether the tear staining is secondary to a food allergy, and the dietary change reduces the symptoms of that allergy.

There are also many anecdotal cures, such as giving your dog demineralised water to drink, avoiding foods containing beet pulp, and adding buttermilk to the diet. None of these have been proven to consistently make any difference.


Many dog owners prefer a natural product to clear away tear stains. Now you and your pup can shed of tears of joy and say goodbye to unsightly stains and grubby muzzles! Happy Tails Eye Pack does the job beautifully. It contains Eyepads to remove the stain, and Eyemunity , a nutritional supplement to boost your dog’s immune system and help him fight the bacteria which cause staining.


The Eyepads are infused with eyebright, an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic herb, and golden seal, well known for its effectiveness against eye irritation. They also contain colloidal silver, a natural antibiotic which helps to reduce the bacteria on the hair around the eyes. Regular use of the Eye Pack will keep your dog’s eyes sparkling, and his coat white. No more red stains on his face, and no more frustration for you, his hardworking owner!




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Shop www.pawlux.com for eco-friendly, all natural & organic goodies for your new furry family member. We carry a great selection of Odor Free Bully Sticks / Dog Treats / and Dog Toys !


Monday, October 26, 2009

Happy Howl-O-Ween! : Tips for Hosting a Halloween Party for Pets

Are you getting ready to throw a howling Howl-O-Ween costume bash for your pups four legged furry guest & their humans? Not only are parties a good way to socialize pets & get to know the neighbors. You can even host a party to help raise money in support of a bark-worthy cause that benefits animal shelters, rescues and pets in need.

Well, whatever the occasion here are some tips that will make your Halloween pet party spook-tacular and memorable!

1. Invitations! Use invites that coordinate with your decorations, costume party theme and general feeling of your party. You can never go wrong with orange and black or edible invitations. Ideas include images of doggie bones, paws or pumpkins which can be stamped or stickered on the invitations. When addressing the invite to your pets furry friends make sure to include date and time, location and how to RSVP. To get pups excited reward your guest with prizes for the best pet/human duo, weirdest, spookiest, cutest or original costume.

2. Dog-friendly Decorations. Your Halloween decorations should be spooky, scary and pet friendly. Instead of an open flame in the jack-o’-lantern, opt for battery-powered, kid- and pet-friendly pumpkins. Open-flame candles and pumpkins with lit candles are especially dangerous because a pet’s fur can catch fire. Also, don't forget to set the mood with spooky music.

3. Location, Location! Pick a venue for your dog Halloween party, a fenced in backyard is a great option. Outdoor festivities keeps clean-up easy, family heirlooms safe, and allow dogs more room to roam, mingle and play. If deciding to have your party in doors, keep guest list to a minimum since clean up may not be a breeze and your party may quickly get out of hand. Whether out door or indoors designate a potty area, making sure to have ample amounts of poop bags & clean-up supplies on hand.

4. Serve refreshments. Make sure to have a variety of Halloween themed treats & full water bowls available. You can even speak with your local dog bakery who specialize in baking pup cakes and treats just for dogs made from human grade dog-friendly ingredients. Since, you will be inviting humans as well, make sure you have food for the people.

5. Playtime & Games. Include activities that both people and their dogs will enjoy. You can have a puppy parade, a costume contest, a trick or treat scavenger hunt to find the bone, or a simple game of fetch will do. One idea is a pumpkin catching contest with orange and black tennis balls. Have each pet owner toss the tennis balls to their dog and the duo that catches the most wins a prize of dog chews, homemade dog treats, dog toys or goody bag. You can even have a timed retrieving race. As long as playtime is on the list of festivities dogs and people will have a blast.

6. Take lots of mutt shots! Designate someone that isn't dog-handling to be the photographer or videographer, and take lots of photos. Fun photos sent home with each pet along with their doggie bags filled with treats & eats will be a nice & memorable party favor.

ENTER our Boo-tastic Howl-O-Ween Pet Photo Costume Contest & Win Trick or Treats!




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Thursday, October 22, 2009

ENTER our Boo-tastic Howl-O-Ween Pet Photo Costume Contest & Win Trick or Treats!

Hey all you furry trick-or-treaters dressed as Cape Crusaders, Princesses, Darth Vaders, barking iphones, Witches & Vampires. Don't forget to tell your humans to enter our Boo-tastic Howl-O-Ween Pet Photo Costume Contest. So cats, dogs & anipals sort through your album and enter your most funniest, sassiest, cutest, be-witching, best human impersonation & scary costume pics.

3 winners will be awarded based on top votes.

Submit your Howl-O-Ween Pet Costume photo via Twitter @pawluxury or email bark@pawlux.com.

Deadline: Picture Submission ends 10/29 and voting begins. Top 3 winners will be announced on 10/31

Prizes: Top 3 winners will receive a goody box of eco-friendly tricks & treats from www.pawlux.com.

Rules: Only 1 photo per household per dog, 1 vote per person.

Contest Details: Once all photos are submitted and submission ends we will post a new blog showcasing all BOO-tastic photos. At that time you and your friends can vote on the best Halloween Pet Costume photo.

But don't forget to bark the word that your pets "Boo-tastic" photo has been entered. You can promote and bark the word to your friends. Spread the word on twitter, facebook, etc that your dog has entered so they can vote for you.

HOW TO ENTER

1. Follow PawLuxury on Twitter.com

2. Submit your Howl-O-Ween Pet Costume Photo via Twitter @pawluxury or email us at bark@pawlux.com.

3. Retweet to your friends - Copy and paste this into Twitter:

ENTER www.pawlux.com Boo-tastic Howl-O-Ween Pet Photo Contest. Tweet @pawluxury or email to submit pic. http://bit.ly/21mjRz

Thanks and have fun & get submitting! May the best costumes win!!

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Shop www.pawlux.com for eco-friendly, all natural & organic goodies for your new furry family member. We carry a great selection of Odor Free Bully Sticks / Dog Treats / and Dog Toys !


Happy Howl-O-Ween! Halloween Pet Safety Tips for Pet Owners

BOO!! Howl-O-Ween can be a fun & festive time for you and miniature werewolves, ghost & goblins trick-or-treaters. But do keep in mind some pets are easily spooked and frightened by haunted houses, bumps in the night, costume parties, gruesome ear piercing screams, spiderwebs, howling, Headless Horseman & Count Dracula look-a-likes. Constant ringing of door bells, opened doors & commotion can cause your pet to be agitated.

Pets are creatures of habits and can become scared by unaccustomed sights & sounds. With the help of our friends at the ASPCA we were able to compile a list of Halloween pet safety tips so your dog or cat doesn't become a scaredy cat on the run. With these simple tips you and your entire family can enjoy the tricks and treats that are en-store.


1. Don't Indulge Your Pets Sweet tooth in other words "No tricks, No treats". Although it is customary to give your dog a treat after performing a trick. Remember that bowlful of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy.

  • Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or baking chocolate—can be very dangerous for dogs and cats. Symptoms of significant chocolate ingestion may include vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, increased thirst, urination and heart rate—and even seizures.

  • Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol sweetener can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, which leads to depression, lack of coordination and seizures. In cases of significantly low blood sugar, liver failure has been known to occur.

  • Ingesting tin foil and cellophane candy wrappers can pose a choking hazard or cause intestinal blockage.
*Instead tempt your pet with some of his or her favorite all natural treats. Feel free to trick or treat for healthy eco alternatives for your furry friend on www.pawlux.com.

2. Jack-O-Lanterns Beware of Dog! Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and decorative corn are considered to be relatively nontoxic, yet they can produce gastrointestinal upset should pets ingest them. Intestinal blockage could even occur if large pieces are swallowed.

3. Inform your pet that wires are not chew toys, who are we kidding. Be on the safe side and keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out of reach of your pets. If chewed, your pet could experience damage to his mouth from shards of glass or plastic, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.

4. Place live flame decorations out of paws reach. A carved pumpkin certainly is festive, but do exercise extreme caution if you choose to add a candle. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames.

5. Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets. Please don't put your dog or cat in a costume UNLESS you know he or she loves it (yup, a few pets are real hams!). For pets who prefer their “birthday suits,” however, wearing a costume can cause undue stress.

6. Make sure pet costume is safe. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict the animal's movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe, bark or meow. Also try on costumes before the big night. If your pet seems distressed, allergic or shows abnormal behavior, consider letting him go au naturel or donning a festive bandana.

7. Make sure pet costume has no defects. Take a closer look at your pet’s costume and make sure it does not have small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that he could choke on. Also, ill-fitting outfits can get twisted on external objects or your pet, leading to injury.

8. Create Safe Haven & Refuge. Unless your pet is ultra friendly and doesn't mind loud noises, music and lots of people playing dress up. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room away from the front door during peak trick-or-treat visiting hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets. Place your pet in a room with food and water for the night and check in on them and give potty breaks.

9. Keep eye out for escaping pets & four legged house jail breakers. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn't dart outside. Make sure windows are closed so your dog or cat doesn't get the itch to flea the scene. DON'T leave dog outside.

10. IDs, please! Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and become lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip can increase the chances that he or she will be returned to you.

11. Don't let the family dog accompany the kids on their trick-or-treat outing. Children may have a difficult time handling a pet during the festivities and your pooch could get loose, especially if your dog is spooked by the strange sights and sounds of trick-or-treaters.

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Shop www.pawlux.com for eco-friendly, all natural & organic goodies for your new furry family member. We carry a great selection of Odor Free Bully Sticks / Dog Treats / and Dog Toys !

Friday, October 16, 2009

Introducing Our FREE Affiliate Program-Earn 15% Commission on All Sales!!


You barked, begged and was on your best doggy behavior, so we answered the call! Its finally here, we are excited to launch our anticipated Affiliate Program the highest in the industry. Link to Paw Luxury and start earning $$ today while doing your part to promote healthy pets & spread green awareness!

Do you have a Website and customers/followers who love to treat and pamper their dogs? Are you a pet rescue, animal shelter or charity trying to raise awareness & money for your bark-worthy cause? Perhaps, you just want to earn extra money during these economic hardships. Join the Pawlux.com Affiliate Program to earn money for your cause while adding value to your own website. Every time you send us a customer who buys our products,
you earn 15% on the sale (excluding shipping charges)

How do I get started today?
With the PawLux.com Affiliate Program, you can make money by simply linking to PawLux.com from your Website. It's easy and FREE to join. Just apply, add a PawLux.com logo or text link to your Website, and start earning rewards. Each time a visitor clicks from your site to PawLux.com to purchase items using their credit card over the Internet, you earn 15% per item sold. You are not responsible for fulfillment, customer service, or shipping. An unbiased 3rd party tracks the sales generated from your site.

Why should you become a PawLux.com affiliate?
1. Earn 15% commission on every item sold, for orders originating from your Website.

2. Becoming an affiliate is completely f
ree and super easy!

3. You will have
access to online reports detailing your success. Check your earnings and traffic reports in real-time, anytime.

4.
Fill in some of that extra space on your website- on top, on the side and at the bottom.

How do I join? It's easy!

We want to be the first to welcome you to our family & pack.

1.
Read and Accept the Affiliate Agreement
2. Fill out the easy online application
3. We'll send you an email detailing your approval status.
4. Download and use one or more of our approved banner(s).
5. Put up the logo and link to our site, and you're in business!

Need more answers? See our list of Common Affiliate Questions.

Still have questions? Please
Email our Affiliate Relations Dept. at bark@pawlux.com.

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Shop www.pawlux.com for eco-friendly, all natural & organic goodies for your new furry family member. We carry a great selection of Odor Free Bully Sticks / Dog Treats / and Dog Toys !

Funny & Adorable Dog Video: The Pug Head Tilt

We have all had conversations with our pups and find the conversation can be quite amusing to say the least. Especially when your dogs begins to tilt his or her head as though asking the question "What do you mean?". We came across this wonderful Youtube video where three star pugs, Mabel, Minnie and Max demonstrate the endearing "Pug Head Tilt."






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Shop www.pawlux.com for eco-friendly, all natural & organic goodies for your new furry family member. We carry a great selection of Odor Free Bully Sticks / Dog Treats / and Dog Toys !

Monday, October 12, 2009

Fetch 101: How to Teach Your Old & New Dog A Game of Fetch!

Your dog doesn't have to be a golden retriever to enjoy a fun game of fetch. Dogs young & old enjoy a good ball chase. Yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks. Playing fetch is an enjoyable pastime between dogs & their humans.

This fetching game is great exercise, helps release pent up energy, and nurtures the bonding experience. While keeping your dog's waistline trimmed & face happy go lucky. Now its back to the basic for your fetch lesson! With these simple ehow techniques and tips mastered, you are ready to take to the park or beach with your dog and his or her frisbee or tennis ball.

1. Ready, Set, Play! Throw the first ball and let your dog go after it. When your dog starts to come towards you, ask your dog to "drop it."

2. If dog refuses to drop it! If your dog does not drop the ball, stop paying attention to your dog. Instead take out the second ball.

3. Get out Backup ball. Start to have fun with the second ball. Toss it up in the air. Act like you're having a great time with the second ball. Keep doing this until your dog looks at you. If you've done this step correctly, your dog will drop the ball that he/she has and look up at the one you have.

4. Refocus & throw-As soon as your dog drops his/her ball, show the ball you're holding to your dog. As soon as your dog focuses on the ball that you're holding, throw it.

5. Practice make perfect-Repeat the process when your dog comes back to you. Within a short period of time, you'll have your dog retrieving for you.

Here are some eco-friendly safe interactive fetch dog toy options for that fur ball of energy in your life. With just a few throws even the most active, hyper & energetic dog will be dead tired and slumped on the couch, bed or floor. These toys are buoyant & float, perfect for dogs who love the water. Whether by land or by sea these toys are guaranteed durable - even against the most destructive fetchers!

West Paw Bumi

Introducing Būmi - the interactive toy that your dog won’t want to put down! Būmi™ is the active dog’s dream come true, charged with energetic fun! Būmi is so much more than a tug toy - pull, flex, throw, float, and repeat! Guaranteed to last, even against those “destructive dogs” we love! Since Būmi™ is 100% recyclable, this dog toy will never need to be thrown away... except during a game of fetch. Bumi comes in 3 vibrant colors & 2 sizes.




West Paw Huck

Does your dog have the gift of turning any toy into mincemeat pie? Now a toy that can weather the storm & slobber. With a new twist on an old favorite, fetch takes on different bounce ! Made from our extremely durable, one-of-a-kind material, Zogoflex, Huck will keep your dog jumping…literally! Huck comes in 3 vibrant colors & 2 sizes.







West Paw Zisc

Its a bird, Its a plane, No its the Zisc! Not your average Cape Crusader in tights, but here to save the day by making playtime fun. A fresh new idea in the world of flying discs...the Zisc is designed with all the benefits to keep your dog happy.

Perfect toy for dogs learning to catch or those seasoned pros.
engineered from incredibly soft, yet durable Zogoflex material, the Zisc is aerodynamic and flies through the air with speed and accuracy. So fast & furious we hope Spot can keep up, making this a great exercise buddy. Zisc comes in 3 vibrant colors.





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