Oh My Dog!

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2018 Holiday Gift Guide: The 10 Best Gifts for Pets

Each year, we delight in bringing you the best of the best for the holiday season. We combed through dozens of treats, toys, and other (sometimes super-duper random) pet supplies and ultimately landed on these 10. Half the list is treats because, let’s be real here, treats are probably the only things our pets realllllyyyyyy want to see in their stocking! Plus, I’ve been on a mission to find healthy, wholesome treat options for Coop now that we have his allergy test done, and I lucked out with some awesome options. You’ll also find some goodies for kitties and–coming soon–gifts for you, the pet parent! Be sure to come back on Saturday and Monday for more recommendations!

2018 Holiday Gift Guide: The 10 Best Gifts for Pets

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The 10 Best Gifts for Pets in 2018

Without further ado! Here’s the list, and stay tuned until the very end where YOU have a chance to win all these amazing holiday gifts!

Henry & Penny Breakfast Buffet

Henry and Penny Breakfast Buffet

I’m such a sucker for cute packaging and a fun theme. Henry & Penny’s Breakfast Buffet did not disappoint! Three flavors–Banana Bread, Penny Pancakes, and Henry Home Fries–make up the assortment, and I’m not sure Cooper had a favorite! He truly liked them all. In fact, Henry Home Fries aren’t pictured because we went through them so quickly… As I said, I’ve been looking for wholesome treats, and these are spot-on: all-natural ingredients, grain free, no artificial colors or flavors, no chemicals or preservatives, AND the packaging is both BPA-free and recyclable. These are now one of my go-to treat recommendations and a definite winner for Cooper and his sensitive little system! Since they’re so adorably packaged with such a darling theme, these would make a wonderful stocking stuffer or hostess gift! Pick up the set here. (They’re on sale!!)

On Point Pupcakes

On Point Pupcakes

Described as “the Betty Crocker” of dog treats, On Point Pupcakes is a mix that whips up a batch of cupcakes or brownies with minimal effort. Seriously, all you have to do is stir the pre-measured ingredients into two mashed bananas (or applesauce or pumpkin puree!) and pour into your muffin tin or pan. It’s seriously that simple. This would make such an adorable gift packaged with a mini muffin tin and spatula for your favorite dog mama to whip up at home. Cooper literally drooled when these came out of the oven. Bonus: The whole house smelled like fresh-baked banana bread. This weekend only: Buy one get one free! Pick yours up here.

Grandma Lucy’s Limited Edition Holiday Treats

Grandma Lucy's

We’ve been big fans of Grandma Lucy’s for a long while and have even featured them in the gift guide in the past. These treats tick all the boxes: non-GMO, all-natural, organic, no preservatives, even Kosher certified. On the brand’s website, you can even see where all the ingredients are sourced. I love the holiday-themed bag with the little To/From tag at the top–perfect for giving or stuffing in your pup’s stocking! Also, their gingerbread holiday treats smell SO GOOD! Be warned: You might want to nibble on them yourself. Get your limited edition treats here.

Nature Gnaws Bully Sticks

Nature Gnaws

When it comes to bully sticks, I’m one who always erred on the side of caution and avoided. I was leery of the ingredients, tbh. Then, I learned about Nature Gnaws, a small biz in the States committed to making all-natural, single-ingredient chews. The processing with multiple ingredients is what always got me with chews, so I was excited to learn that there could be a healthy alternative. I would love for Coop to be able to have a chew that helps keep his teeth clean and keeps him busy without the risk. So, we gave these a whirl, and both of us were super happy! Bonus: Since they’re available on Amazon, I can easily reorder. Pick up a bag for your pup’s stocking! 

West Paw Leash

West Paw Jaunts Leash

We’ve always been big fans of West Paw. They make a great toy, and the brand sets the standard for environmentally-responsible manufacturers. I always love the chance to support them. Earlier this year we had a chance to test a new release: They launched leashes and collars! There are two different lines available, the Jaunts for adventures and the Strolls for, well, strolls. We’ve used both, and they’re what you would expect from West Paw. I know the early prototypes had an issue with the hardware, but that’s been rectified in these final versions. I love how you can wear the Jaunts around your waist for a jog or just for hands-free walking. Plus, like everything else they make, the leashes and collars are made with the utmost care to the environment! Grab your own leash here.

Fat Cat Food Toys

Fat Cat Dog Toys

When these arrived, John declared them his favorite! They’re hilarious and fun. A durable canvas with witty designs, these toys are definitely for an average chewer. I can’t think of a single dog who wouldn’t want to find one of these under the tree. Each one has fun, floppy parts to keep your pup engaged, and they’re all squeakers. There are four unique characters for every personality–or get them all for a fun gift set! As you can see from the pic, they’re good-sized toys, too. Big enough for big dogs! (My favorite is Chicken N Waffles!!) Available in Chicken N Waffles, Taco Gato, Puppy-Roni, and Donut Cat.

Messy Cats Cat Bed & House

Messy Cats Bed

Holy moly. This one is a winner. Maybe THE winner of the holiday season, at least around here. The only problem? Which cat gets to claim this one for snuggles! Every cat is different, and this bed and house combo allows you to either smoosh the top down to create a cozy bed–preferred by cats like Ripley–or pop the top up so it creates a little cave–preferred by cats like Newt. It’s soft and cozy, a chic gray, and made with probiotic technology called EVERFRESH that provides natural, non-toxic odor control. Cats are notoriously finicky about their sleeping quarters, but I don’t think there’s a cat anywhere who wouldn’t fall in love with this bed! Pick one up for your cat this holiday season!

Jackson Galaxy Constellation Convertible Scratcher

 

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Just when you think the scratcher can’t be innovated any further… Made from dense corrugate to last longer, this scratcher comes with two distinct pieces. You can use the pieces together or separately to create new configurations and keep cats engaged. We tried it in all three recommended ways, and the cats loved ’em all. Honestly, we didn’t even need to use the organic catnip that came with it (to entice cats to use the scratcher) because both girls were instantly drawn to the scratcher and both started using it and exploring all the sides and nooks the second we put it together. In fact, I couldn’t get a clear pic (hence the video) because they were moving and scratching and exploring too much! Pick up one for your cat!

Jackson Galaxy Ground Prey Wand

Ground Prey Wand

Just like with bedding preferences, some cats like to play up high (there’s an Air Prey Wand for that) and others love to chase on the ground. Some like both! Ripley is definitely a both! This ground prey wand is sturdily built, which I appreciate because it makes me nuts when parts break off of wands. I worry about my girls choking! Anyway, according to Jackson Galaxy, daily play with the Ground Prey Wand will engage raw cat instincts and build a stronger bond. If your cat is the kind who likes to swipe at toys–or your ankles–from underneath the couch, this one’s for you! Stuff your cat’s stocking with this fun wand!

Johnny Knitsville Custom Snood and Hat

Hat and snood combo

Yah, I might be playing favorites with this one. 🙂 But, what dog doesn’t look dashing in a custom-knit snood? Plus, a matching ear warmer or hat for you?! Can’t be beat in terms of the awwwwwww factor! Snoods work so well for all kinds of dogs. For Coop, he needs the added warmth. The guy refuses to go outside without a sweater when it’s below 40. Any colder? Add a snood, too! For dogs with long, droopy ears, they work to keep the ears out of food and water dishes or when working outside. And when you match your pup, there’s nothing sweeter! Snag a set for you and yours! (BTW, John can customize size and color for any order… just send him a message via Etsy!)

There you have it! My top 10 gifts for pets for this holiday season!

Thanks to the generosity of each participant, it’s now YOUR chance to win these gifts for your dog or cat! This is a Rafflecopter giveaway. The widget should load below, though it sometimes takes a minute. If you’re reading this via email or within a feed reader, you’ll probably have to click the link:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much to everyone who participated! I can’t wait to share tomorrow’s Small Business Saturday list and Monday’s gifts for pet parents!

Grateful

I prefer Thanksgiving to Christmas.

At least, I prefer the spirit of Thanksgiving, of expressing thanks and gratitude and joy, to the consumer-driven craze Christmas has become. Don’t get me wrong: I love presents, giving and receiving, and I love decorations and pretty lights. I love holiday food and cookies galore. I can’t wait to see Violet’s visit with Santa this year. And, I LOVE hosting my annual holiday gift guide and being able to give away tons of presents to the dogs, cats, and pet people who make this space a community.

I love lots of Christmas things, but Thanksgiving holds a special place in my heart.

Grateful for my babies

“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” – Anonymous

I’m so deeply grateful for what I have. I’m grateful for the life I’ve built. So, for this week of thanks, before the Black Friday madness begins (coincidentally, of course, when my gift guide launches… which makes me feel a bit hypocritical… but I’d rather frame it as my annual way of giving back to this space…) I wanted to share a handful of things for which I’m immensely grateful. Starting with:

You. 

I’m so grateful you’re here. I’m so grateful you’re willing to share your time and your pets with us in this space. It’s incredibly easy to feel lonely in this world, and this space gives those of us who are obsessed with pets a place to hang, share stories and tips, and appreciate the incredible bond we have with our animals. I realize that a blog often feels one sided, which is why I recently launched a Facebook discussion group to make this more conversational. But, I’m just so grateful that this is a positive space filled with a shared love of animals. So, thank you for being here, and thank you for being you.

Cooper.

OMG, you guys. This dog. He rocks an Elf Elmo costume (stay tuned for the gift guide because I can’t even with this one), takes a million kisses and stickers from Violet, puts up with the cats thwacking him (though he pummels them right back), deals with being the official product tester for this site with aplomb, runs miles and miles and miles or just snoozes, hangs out with me all day, snuggles like a champ… I mean, he’s just the greatest. No, he’s not perfect. And that’s OK. He’s really flipping fantastic just as he is. I’m so, so grateful for him every single day.

Violet’s Birth Mama.

Violet turned our hearts and our lives inside out in the most amazing, breathtaking, astonish way possible. She brings magic wherever she goes. She’s strong-willed and opinionated and bossy, which can be… challenging…, but she’s also a kind friend and an animal lover and an absolute clown. She brings us joy in magnitudes of an epic scale. Without her birth mama and her compassionate choice to place Violet for adoption, we wouldn’t have this fierce love for which I’m thankful every second of every day… even the seconds when Violet is hucking her burrito across the room because she’s overly tired and wanted the purple spoon, not the green spoon. All of it. Violet’s birth mom is one of the most special and important people in our lives, and we’re forever grateful to her and for her.

John and Violet.

No words. Just a deep, bottomless well of love and gratitude.

The Kittehs.

My cats are hilarious. I think all cats probably are in their own ways. Newt and Ripley are a comedy duo who deserve their own late-night talk show. Neither cat joined our family in a planned, purposeful sort of way. And yet, they’ve both brought exactly what we were missing: Newt, an unending supply of sarcasm (voiced by us, obvi) and the occasional heart-melting snuggle; Ripley, an acrobatic circus of play that’s keeping Newt young, plus a nonstop purring-and-rubbing lovefest that could win over even the most strident non-cat-person. You’re the perfect cats for Cooper and the perfect cats for Violet. I’ll be even MORE grateful if you leave the Christmas tree alone this year… worth a shot…

There’s so, so much else: access to healthy food, a reliable car, wonderful friends IRL and online who lift me up, an incredible preschool where Violet thrives, organic wine, our public library, parents willing to jump in and help whenever we need it, long walks in the woods, Tagalongs, this list could go on.

All this to say: Thank you. I’m grateful for so much in my life, and a big part of that is right here.

What are you grateful for? If you’re in the US, I wish you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving!

Hiking With Dogs: Winter Safety Tips

We love to get outside all year round, and we live in Indiana–it gets cold! and dark! and snowy!

In fact, the day I’m writing this, we experienced an ice storm overnight that closed schools, and now it’s snowing on top of the ice. This weather makes me want to bundle up, throw Coop’s coat and boots on, and hit the trails!

Why?

Because they will be quiet! We’ll have the place to ourselves! Everything is so pretty coated in a dusting of ice and snow!

Of course, when you’re hiking in the winter, you need to take some extra steps and precautions that you wouldn’t in, say, spring. I compiled our top tips, the things we do each time, but please know that this is situation- and weather-dependent. Use caution. Be safe. Always default to common sense. This list isn’t exhaustive–just the bare-bones basics–so I’d love to hear what you’d add to it in the comments!

Hiking With Dogs: 5 Winter Safety Tips

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5 Winter Safety Tips for Hiking With Dogs

Dress for the weather.

Obviously, right? You pile on your boots, wool socks, coat, hat, gloves, the works! You might even own a suite of technical fabrics designed with the cold in mind. But what about your dog?

Winter weather is vicious on your dog’s paws, especially if you traverse rugged terrain that’s wet or frozen. While not all dogs will tolerate boots, most can learn to wear them with practice (and treats and praise). Cooper wears these all winter long. Yes, they’re pricey, but they’ve last years and hundreds of miles, and his paws are protected from the elements. Same goes for a jacket or sweater: You know your dog and your dog’s comfort level. Cooper always wears a jacket. He runs cold, and we’ve learned over the years he hikes better and has more stamina if he’s bundled up. Our late shepherd, Lucas, would tolerate one if we insisted but never needed one. Know your dog, and know the conditions you’re going to be hiking in–but always err on the side of caution.

BTW, don’t forget you also need sunscreen in the winter!! When you’re dressing, screen up any exposed skin. The winter sun can be harsh, especially at higher elevations!

Drink plenty of water.

It’s easy to remember to hydrate in the summer. You’re hot and sweating buckets. In the winter, sweat often makes you feel colder, and the air seems drier, so it’s easier to forget to hydrate. However, it’s vital for you and your pup. Always pack plenty of water for both of you. If your dog carries a pack, he can stow his own on one side and yours on the other. This is the pack Cooper wears. It comfortable fits a water bottle on either side, and we have a collapsible water dish (not this but super similar) for him.

Be reflective!

Mornings are dark. Afternoons are dark. These short winter days, combined with often-overcast, gray skies and precipitation make visibility tough. Both you and your dog should wear reflective or neon gear no matter what time of day you head out. Low visibility can cause trouble, particularly if you live somewhere where people hunt in the winter. Even if you aren’t in a hunting area, though, bright colors and reflective wear are simple safety steps that don’t take any extra effort but can prevent big problems. Bonus: Stash a flashlight or headlamp in your pack as an extra safety measure.

Keep your pup on leash.

Of course, if you’re in a leash-required park, you’re a responsible dog owner so obviously your dog is leashed. (Right?!) However, even if you’re in an area where off-leash is OK, winter isn’t a safe time for your dog to dash off. Why? Well, one really big reason is frozen water might appear solid to your dog but crack as soon as he gets out on the ice. So dangerous. Another reason is that sound travels differently in the winter, especially in snow-covered terrain, and you and your pup can get separated much more easily. Finally, if your dog tends to sniff out animals, lots are in hibernation or dormancy and don’t appreciate being disturbed. It could even kill them. Keep your pup on leash all winter long!

Hike a trail you know.

This is a recommendation someone made to me at a trade show when we were talking winter hiking gear, and it made so much sense: If you’ve never hiked an area before, winter isn’t the time to try it out. Snow covers the trail. Many, even in maintained parks, aren’t broken during the winter months. Markers might be obscured or down. It’s harder to find your way in the depths of winter. Now, if you’re considering a park that’s well-managed year-round, go for it. Or, at least, ask the park rangers if it’s a good time to try a trail. But, err on the side of safety and stick with trails, parks, and climbs you’re familiar with during the winter months.

Other than that, have fun! Hiking with your dog in the winter can be fun and rewarding. Everything is quiet. The terrain looks totally fresh and clean blanketed in snow. You can usually push a little longer and farther than if you’re in the beating-down sun. If you have a reactive or fearful pup like Cooper, you almost always have the trails to yourself, which is so awesome!

Get outside! Have fun! Be safe!

Hikers: What would you add to this list? Do you get out in the winter? Or do you like to hibernate, too? Does your dog perform well in the cold? Or is your pup a nap-fireside dog?

Reflections on dog blogs, evil trolls, and #WorldKindnessDay

Have you guys seen that meme that says: “You can’t make everyone happy. You’re not tacos.”

I love it.

It makes me laugh, partly because I love tacos, and party because I’m not tacos.

Reflections on dog blogs, evil trolls, and #WorldKindnessDay

I know I can’t make everyone happy. I don’t even try. (That, from a recovering people-pleaser is a big statement, y’all.) And sometimes I make mistakes and sometimes I share stuff that’s important to me but doesn’t resonate for you and sometimes I don’t write anything about a topic that IS important to you and you maybe feel overlooked.

Again. Not tacos.

Recently, someone landed on one of my old blog posts through a Google search.

The post was about a tragedy: a little girl was killed by a dog, and later the neighbors said, “You know, we always suspected him of dog fighting.” It’s horrific. If those neighbors had reported their suspicions, perhaps that little girl would still be alive today.

The gentleman who landed on that post was, I guess, searching for info on how to report suspected dog fighting. (Which, bro, call the cops–dog fighting is illegal, after all–or animal control or your local shelter or the FBI or an anonymous tip line at HSUS, ASPCA, etc. etc. etc.) The post wasn’t about that, though, because… I mean… duh, kind of. You know?

Anyway, I am sorry that someone was perhaps truly, honestly trying to figure out what to do and landed on my post and found that it wasn’t helpful. That’s a bummer. I hope he figured out how to report suspected dog fighting. I really, really do.

However.

His comment said two things. First, which I’m paraphrasing: This is clickbait because you give no information. You just tell a stupid story.

(Which, to be fair, is what I do here… I tell stories… That’s, like, my job. In case anyone else was confused.)

Then, the comment ended with, and this isn’t a paraphrase, this is a quote:

Kill yourself.

Now, I have a fairly healthy sense of self. I have a general sense of my strengths and a glaring awareness of my weaknesses (I’m a writer who can’t spell. There. I said it.). I’m generally pretty good about taking care of my mental health, not counting stress. I read and listen and watch all sorts of personal and professional development. I get decent sleep. I exercise a bit. I eat well 82 percent of the time. All those things, plus my brain’s chemical makeup, etc. etc. etc. have put me in position where, thankfully, my mental health is fairly solid.

Not everyone’s is. And tossing around “kill yourself” over dumb stuff like being disappointed in a blog post?

Part of me wants to rage at that guy.

Part of me feels immensely sorry for someone whose life is so small that being cruel makes them feel big.

I keep reading online people decrying a lack of civility. It’s not that. It’s not that at all. Because you can be civil and still be an asshole.

What we need isn’t civility.

What we need is compassion.

We are facing a crisis of compassion. So many people seem only to care for themselves and those who are just like them, and somehow being cruel or putting down anyone who’s “other” justifies their existence, their rightness.

I don’t have to be wrong for you to be right.

You don’t have to agree with me or like my work to be kind.

Online forums enable and engender this behavior because you’re not looking at–you’re not seeing–another human. It’s a screen. A cursor. Some keys on a keyboard. Imagine this guy standing in an elevator with me and being disappointed in our conversation and ending it with, “Kill yourself.”

Luckily for all of us here, we have dogs. Dogs bring us love, joy, happiness, and live-in-the-moment inspo. We need that. We all need that–and more of it. I have to imagine if that commenter had a puppy who greeted him happily at the door each day, who licked his face when he felt down, who he could take for a walk when he felt angry, well, he might tell fewer people to kill themselves! Yes, that’s a bit tongue-in-cheek but not much. People who have dogs are happier people, and happy people just don’t tell others to kill themselves.

Today is World Kindness Day. We should all be kind every day, of course, but to honor this day, I want to end this post with a call-to-action:

Do something extra today. Do a random act of kindness. Make an anonymous donation. Brush out a shelter dog. Buy a stranger a cup of coffee. Leave a quarter in the cart at Aldi. Donate old coats to your local homeless shelter. Visit adoptable cats at your local pet store. Even giving strangers authentic, meaningful compliments feels like a random act of kindness. Wait until you see the cashier’s smile when you tell her how much you like her earrings or whatever it is. Give your dog a second walk. Play with your cat’s pouncer toy for an extra couple minutes.

Everything in life takes energy; spend yours doing something kind. 

P.S. Join us on Facebook where we’ve established a positive-vibes-only, no-negativity space for people who love pets! It’s the perfect excuse to share alllllll those pics of your pups (or cats, gerbils, birds, etc.) languishing in your camera roll!

Dogs and Allergies: What You Need to Know About The Affordable Pet Test

A couple weeks ago, I mentioned we tested Coop’s fur for intolerances, and many of you were curious, so I thought I’d do a full, in-depth review. Grab a cuppa, settle in, and let’s talk all things dogs with allergies! (BTW, this all applies to cats, too, but we’re super thankful we haven’t had any problems with Newt or Ripley!)

Dogs and Allergies_ What You Need to Know About Affordable Pet Test

Quick disclaimers: This is for information purposes only. I’m not a vet, a vet tech, a health care provider, nada. I’m a writer with a dog. This is simply our experience that I’m sharing in the hopes that it helps anyone else. Next, this site uses affiliate links, so if you purchase something from one of those links, we might make a small commission. That helps keep this site running, and we’re grateful for your support in this way. 

First, let’s clear up a couple common questions:

Do dogs have allergies?

Yep. They sure do. And I recently read an article that said many pet owners don’t realize that their dogs (and cats, too!) suffer from both seasonal and food allergies. Many dogs–dogs like Cooper–suffer from both. With dogs like that, it can be nearly impossible to pinpoint the causes of the various symptoms because they fluctuate throughout the year. So, for example, when we did Cooper’s elimination diet all those years ago to see if we could find food issues, we couldn’t control for his environmental allergies that happened simultaneously. That said, the elimination diet clearly indicated we needed to take chicken out of his diet, but many of his other symptoms stayed the same.

Dogs with allergies have all kinds of symptoms, even unexpected ones like GI distress. If your dog is experiencing an allergy or an intolerance, chances are you’ll see things like itchy skin, respiratory problems like a runny nose or sneezing, and–yep–diarrhea.

Can you cure your dog’s allergies?

This is a question I’ve gotten a number of times over the years. Sadly, you can’t “cure” your pup’s allergies, at least not with what’s available to us today, but there are thankfully a TON of options for managing them. Some ways to manage your dog’s allergies: reduce exposure to the allergen (WAY easier with food than environmental, of course), find treatments that work (OTC options like Benadryl or Zyrtec might work or prescriptions like Apoquel or Cytopoint), holistic management techniques like using supplements, and even allergy shots (like people who are allergic to dogs but love ’em anyway get!).

But here’s the thing: You have to know what your dog’s allergic to in order to adequately manage his allergies.

OK, so then what? Well, you need to figure out what those allergies are!

How to test for dog allergies

Just like with people, you have a bunch of options for testing your dog for allergies. You can do an elimination diet, like we did with Cooper, to figure out food allergies and intolerances. It’s a real challenge to keep your dog from contaminating the elimination diet, though, because there are sandwiches everywhere. And candy wrappers. And chicken bones. And on and on. It was nearly impossible to get through 30 days without contaminating the study.

Elimination diets don’t include environmental, either. There are two other very different forms of dog allergy testing: blood vs skin. From my research, it seems that blood tests aren’t preferred anymore, but it’s totally possible to run the blood tests if, say, a dog can’t be sedated (as needed for a skin test). The skin tests require sedation, and you have to stop your pet’s medication for several weeks before the test AND conduct the test during heavy allergy season. (You can learn more about those test here... I just wanted to give a quick overview.)

But, there’s another, easier way…

Why I like the Affordable Pet Test

This is the test we recently completed for Coop, and it was a game changer. Before I get into the results end, here’s how it works: You go to the website, and order the intolerance test for dogs (there are versions for cats and horses, too). You can either request a kit or download the paperwork and save some money. You get 10-15 strands of your dog’s fur–they prefer it with the root, and honestly? with Coop, I just sat on the couch and gave him a good scratching, scooped up the loose hair, and stuck it in the envelope. It’s entirely noninvasive because who doesn’t have plenty of pet hair lying around? (If you have multiple pets, make sure you’re not sending a mixture… get fresh hair like I did.)

The other thing I really, really like? It’s essentially an at-home dog allergy test. Cooper experiences intense anxiety at the vet. With this, we were legit snuggled on the couch as I collected his sample. Any chance I get to diminish his stress, I take it!

Finally, as far as dog allergy test kits, this one has a super quick turnaround time. I think we got our results in five or six days.

What does the Affordable Pet Test test for?

In those 10-15 strands, your dog is tested for 300 of the most common food and environmental intolerances. This includes all the major proteins, most grains, fruits, vegetables, the most common trees and grasses, as well as fabrics and materials. (You can see the full list here.) What were Cooper’s results?

Interestingly, but not surprisingly, his food list showed intolerances to A TON of food additives, things like food dyes (blech), and unexpected things like crab and molasses. His environmental allergies were frustrating because his number one is literally the grass in our backyard. The results are tiered, set up like a stoplight. Red items mean they recommend you stop. Yellow means slow exposure; cut them out if possible. Green items are “proceed with caution,” maybe cut them out for a while, then add one in to see what happens.

In Cooper’s, for instance, spinach was a red item. We gave him spinach often. We stopped immediately. Mussels were another red item. His joint supplement contained mussels. We swapped that out, too. His environmental are a lot harder: grass and dust and both red items, for instance. We can work on the dust. The grass? Not so much, though we’ve made it a habit to wipe him down when we come back inside.

That’s the great thing about having these results. We can make these small, tiny swaps that make his life so much better.

(That’s actually why we switched his food a couple months ago. Read all about that here.)

How much does the Affordable Pet Test cost?

As of this writing, the test for dogs and cats is $144. Not cheap, though when we calculated the cost of an office visit + sedation for a skin test or lab fees for a blood test, and of course all the associate costs of medications and treatment for un-diagnosed allergies… it’s actually a bargain. Coop is a perfect example. He’s been eating one food for a super long time. Turns out, one ingredient in that food was on his intolerance list. Insert SMH emoji here! We’ve been to the vet countless times for GI issues, and there’s no way to know for sure, but it could be because of overexposure to that ingredient.

To paraphrase the incomparable Maya Angelou, we now know better, so we’re doing better.

And that’s always our goal, right? To figure out what’s best for our pets and then do it! From our experience with Affordable Pet Test, honestly, I think we did the best we possibly could for Coop, and now we’ve been able to make changes and adjustments to our routines to help him thrive. His health and happiness are ALWAYS our first priority, and I’m super relieved we’re now in this space because of his hair test.

OK! So, I covered a lot of ground in this post, but I’m sure you still have questions! Ask ’em in the comments below, and I’ll do my best to answer, or I’ll reach out to the company for more info.

Does your pet have allergies, either food or environmental? Have you noticed any specific intolerances? Have you thought about testing your pet’s hair for intolerances? Would you consider it? 

Click here to buy an Affordable Allergy Test for your pup! 

It’s available for cats, too!