Dear Friends,

It's an exciting time of year. The elections are coming up and while we all may have different opinions about who would make a better president, I think all of us animal lovers can agree that ending Greyhound racing is the right thing to do. So spread the word and remember to vote Yes on Question 3! To get the facts on Greyhound racing and Question 3 check out this site.

Don't forget that Halloween is this Friday! We hope you all have your costumes ready for your pets. If not, then come by this week and pick one up. All of our Halloween costumes are now 15% off!

Thanks for sending in such great pictures of your pets in their costumes. Keep sending them in! As requested by many, we'll be displaying the pet with the best costume in next months newsletter instead of this month so that you can take pictures of your pet on Halloween.

In November we'll be having another Meet the Trainer event with a separate session specifically for puppies! Details about this event are below.

Hope to see you all soon!
Stefania, Elaine, Nutella, and Benny

Health Tip
Pet Dental Care

Dental disease is one of the most common health problems seen by veterinarians. Keeping your pet's teeth and gums healthy will help to prevent tartar build-up, bad breath, and dental disease which could lead to even more serious conditions such as diseases of the heart, kidney and/or liver.

So how can you keep your pet's teeth and gums healthy? Well there are several things that you will need to do.

Healthy Diet
It's always best to start with the diet. So many health problems can be resolved with a simple change in diet. A healthy diet makes a healthy pet with a strong immune system which can fight off common infections and illnesses.

A raw diet is the best diet to feed a dog or cat. If you cannot feed a raw diet, then a high quality meat-based diet free of wheat, corn, soy, by-products and artificial ingredients is the next best thing. This can come in the form of dry or canned. There are also some great dehydrated and freeze-dried diets made from raw food that can be fed on their own, or added as a supplement to your pet's regular meal. If you have questions about what you should be feeding your pet then feel free to stop by and ask, or send us an email. We're always happy to help.

Myth: Kibble cleans your pet's teeth.
One of the most common myths about pet dental care is that kibble cleans your pet's teeth. This is completely false. This is like telling a person to eat Cheerios everyday to keep your teeth clean.

Chewing does promote good dental health, but not the type of chewing done by eating kibble. Instead, give your dog a bully stick or a raw bone. This will not substitute brushing, but it will definitely aid in overall healthy teeth and gums.

Brush Regularly
Obviously, the best way to keep your pet's teeth and gums healthy is by brushing regularly. If you can, you should brush daily. Just like with us people, brushing removes plaque and stimulates the gums so the more often this is done, the healthier your pet's mouth will be.

If you don't think your pet will react well to a toothbrush in its mouth you can start off slow by just massaging around your pet's face and gradually moving towards the mouth so that eventually you are massaging your pet's mouth and gums. Next you can take some pet toothpaste and put a little on your finger tip and let your pet lick it off. If you have gotten this far, then it's probably safe to try brushing your pet's teeth with your finger. If you want, you can put a little gauze on your finger and then put the toothpaste on top of that and just start brushing. Eventually, when your pet is used to this process, you can try to move onto a pet toothbrush.

Vet Visits
Even if you are brushing your pet's teeth daily and following a healthy diet plan, it is still very important to get your pet's mouth checked out at your vets office every 6-12 months during his or her wellness exam. During the exam, your vet will check for tartar buildup and for any sign of dental disease. Your vet may recommend a full dental cleaning procedure if there is significant tartar buildup.

In between vet visits you can check your pet's mouth yourself by pulling back the lips and checking the gums for redness, looking for excessive tartar buildup and sniffing for very unpleasant odors. If you notice any signs of these then you should schedule a visit with your vet.

Dental Care Products
We carry some great dental products for your pet that can help you with your clean mouth mission.

Triple•Pet Plaque Off: Results within 48 hours! A capful added to your pet's water bowl helps eliminate plaque and tartar build-up and odor causing compounds in your pet's digestive system.

Triple•Pet All-Natural Toothpaste: All Natural, Sugar Free, Tartar Control Formula., with Natural vanilla flavor. Pets love it and it provides sweet breath. Sweetened with stevia, a natural herb. Non-Foaming, no rinsing necessary. A touch of tea tree oil for healthy gums.

Triple•Pet Toothbrush: This brush gets the job done faster, easier and better. It has three flexible heads that reach all surfaces of the tooth with every stroke.

Ark Naturals Breath-Less Brushless Toothpaste: These chews have ridges that are proven effective for teeth scrubbing.

Ark Naturals Breath-Less Fizzy Plaque-Zapper: Zaps harmful mouth bacteria and their clinically tested enzymes stop plaque from sticking to teeth.

Zuke's Z-Ridge: Fight "doggy breath" with natural, breath-freshening chlorophyll. Ridged surface helps to scrape and polish your dog's teeth.

Merrick Bully Sticks: This beef tendon is a delicious, long lasting chew.

Merrick Flossies: The unique design of this treat creates a natural chewing friction against the teeth which helps to clean a dog's teeth.

Nature's Variety Raw Bones: They are perfect for a special, nutritious treat that satisfies the natural chewing desire of dogs.  They also supply additional quality protein, fat, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, as well as a natural source of glucosamine, chondroitin, collagen and calcium for healthier joints and connective tissue.

The reason tear stains are so hard to eradicate is that they are a visible symptom of a deeper systemic problem. That’s why, if you want to get rid of tear stains, wiping the eyes is only the first step; unless you boost your best friend’s immunity, the bacteria that cause the problem will persist and so will the stains.

Happytails has created two new products that work together to fight tear stains from the inside and out. The two part program contains no pharmaceutical antibiotics unlike another popular product on the market, is gentle on your dog's system and best of all is extremely effective.

Eyepads
Use convenient pre-moistened EyePads to remove the tearing residue from around a dog’s eyes. Rub with and against the grain of the fur for maximum effectiveness. The pads are infused with eyebright that helps clean away the discoloration and all natural colloidal silver that inhibits the growth of the bacteria that cause it.

• Contain no pharmaceuticals or chemicals
• Gentle, tearless formula is safe for even the youngest puppy
• Effective especially when used together with Eyemunity
• Alcohol Free
• Nothing to mix, just take a pad, wipe and throw away

Eyemunity
The "inside" part of the program is Eyemunity, a nutrient-rich, high-metabolite immunogen that helps to strengthen your dog's resistance and maintain wellness.Sprinkle Eyemunity powder on your dog’s food every day. The unique formula contains Epicor an ingredient which has been clinically proven to boost immunity in both animals and humans (see links below for clinical trials). Eyemunity will support your best friend’s fight against stain-causing bacteria while also improving his overall health.

Eyemunity is also excellent for older and immune-compromised dogs.

• Contains no pharmaceuticals or chemicals
• Gentle, tearless formula is safe for even the youngest puppy
• Effective especially when used together with Eyepads
• Is all natural
• Helps to improve your dogs natural systemic immunity

Bestseller
Nature's Variety Raw Diets

Raw food is the most natural form of nutrition for your dog and cat - as evidenced by the astounding results our customers experience every day. Freedom from allergies, help with weight loss, and improved skin and coat are some of the amazing testimonials we receive. Nature's Variety Raw Frozen Diets lead the industry as the first to be scientifically substantiated through AAFCO Protocol Feeding Trials. Nature's Variety offers complete and balanced, ready to serve raw diets for dogs and cats. Click a link below learn more...

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The Honest Kitchen

People Food - Formulated for Pets!

Our healthy, dehydrated raw pet foods offer a way to create fresh, natural meals for your pet in the comfort of your home. No cooking or freezers required!

We use 100% organic grains, hormone/ antibiotic-free meats and non-GMO produce. All ingredients are guaranteed 100% Human Food Grade.

Simple Solution® NATURAL Bio-Degradable Training Pads

Bio–degrades faster than an ORANGE peel! All components including the package are 100% biodegradable, compostable and free of petroleum based materials. The top sheet is made of a natural, cellulose fiber from trees. The absorbent core is comprised of tree pulp. The bottom sheet, which is typically plastic, is a biodegradable film. Best of all, the pads are not just environmentally friendly, but perform high in quality and absorbency.

15% off all Halloween Costumes!!!