Holiday Shopping for Pets: Best New Gear for Animal Care in MA

Pet Gear in MassachusettsEvery year there are new advances in pet care that can be found at local pet shops or online. Before you start any type of supplement, food additive, diet change, or treatment, make sure to seek veterinary care in Massachusetts. Anchor Animal Hospital in Dartmouth provides a wide range of veterinary services to pet owners throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Whether your goal is to learn how to train a dog, provide dry skin treatment for dogs, or get advanced dentistry in Dartmouth for your cat, our team can help you find the best solutions available. When shopping for pets during the holidays, consider items that will help them to lead a happy, comfortable, healthy, and well-cared-for life.

Dental Care for Pets

To avoid needing advanced dental services, which can include extractions and other surgical procedures, it is essential to start taking care of your pet’s teeth. There are a lot of great finger toothbrushes and other brushing solutions that will make it easier to remove plaque and tartar between cleanings; however, this is no substitute for annual check-ups. Our team of highly trained veterinary dental experts can help you spot small issues before they become big and painful problems. Your pet’s teeth are key to a long and healthy life, so it’s a good idea to check out all of the options for brushing, pet-safe toothpaste, and even treats that can work to remove excess plaque between brushings and advanced dentistry in Dartmouth.

Training Solutions

Consider trying out some of the tried and true tools and solutions for pet training. If you want to learn how to train a dog or cat, check with local pet stores for clickers, tiny treat rewards, and other training aids that can make it a lot easier. Avoid feeding too many treats to your pet. Check with your local vet to find out the acceptable number of tiny treats that should be given each day. While it is true that most dogs and many cats are treat motivated, you also want them to learn skills in other ways that don’t involve food. Special collars, leashes, and even books complete with training tips and other details can be purchased online or through local pet supply stores. Still having issues? Speak with your trusted vet when you come in for veterinary care in Massachusetts for training information and other helpful tips.

Dry Skin Treatment

One of the biggest problems that pets experience during the winter and throughout the year as they age is dry skin. Unfortunately, dry skin can lead to a lot of other serious issues, including infections, excessive shedding, dandruff, and painful skin. Before you do anything, speak with your local bet about dry skin treatment for dogs and cats. It could be that a prescription treatment is required instead of something over-the-counter. If there is no medical conditioning indicated during an exam, your vet might recommend shampoo, conditioner, and even lotion treatments that can be sprayed on and applied to heal dry skin. This is one of those things that should not be diagnosed at home. Some dry skin conditions can indicate a bacteria, fungal, viral, or even pest-related situation that must be treated first.

Pet Bedding Solutions

Gone are the days of the simple dog or cat bed. Designers have created a plethora of options for today’s pet owners to choose from to keep their pets cozy and warm. Bucket beds use blanket or padding inserts to create an off-the-ground solution. Cot-style beds are great for crate-training and providing breathable solutions year-round. Cave-style beds have an extra layer of material that allows pets to burrow in under an attached blanket for comfort, security, and warmth. Extra large beds are now also available for bigger breeds, which often come with back and neck support similar to human mattresses to prevent common health issues, aches, and pains. Speak with your vet about options based on the size, weight, breed, and age of your pet or search online for new bedding solutions.

Grooming Tools for Pets

If your pet freaks out every time they have to get in the car to visit the groomer, you can do a lot of the work at home yourself with new grooming tools. Special sprayers can be connected to showers for at-home bathing that won’t scare your pet or cause you to get a sore back. Safety clippers can be used for trims and nails that provide you with professional-quality solutions to keep your pets looking and feeling their best. High-quality shampoos and conditioners can also be purchased to keep skin and fur in excellent condition. Mats, tubs, and even safety equipment can also be found online and at local pet supply stores to make home grooming even easier.

Don’t Skip Veterinary Care in Massachusetts

While all of these gadgets, tools, and products are a great way to provide extra care for your pets, fulfilling needs from dry skin treatment for dogs to home dental care for cats, make sure you don’t skip annual veterinary check-ups. If you require advanced dentistry in Dartmouth or need support for learning how to train a dog, our team at Anchor Animal Hospital can help. Give us a call at 508-996-3731 to schedule an appointment or to speak with one of our representatives about veterinary care in Massachusetts.