Center Pet Pharmacy seeks to better educate pet owners about the many options available for medicating their pets. We provide pet owners and veterinarians with more choices for pet medication flavors and methods, along with providing valuable insight into how to better care for your pets.

The following information guide is intended to provide a background in pet medication, while highlighting the innovative services and choices we provide.

Protein is the main element of a healthy dog, representing approximately 18% of the animal's weight. Protein is not an inert substance, as it is part of the living organism. Protein creates each individual organ, including muscles, skin, liver, blood and others. Protein is essential in a dog's life since its organs are continually rejuvonated. Young animals require protein to help them in their development. The amount of required protein by dogs varies depending on their size, age, and stage of reproduction. Adult dogs need about 15-20% of their diets to be composed of protein, to balance stress and other factors in a dog's life. On the other hand, puppies and reproductive dogs need more protein than what they get in their ordinary food alone, and may require supplements. Exercise does not increase the amount of protein, only increases the need for protein to rebuild the body's structures with protein, fats, and carbohydrates.

Like humans, pets are affected by the aging process and changes in their immune systems. Differences between old and young animals, and how function and disease resistance are altered show that some medical conditions related to aging can be managed nutritionally.

Research by Simin N. Meydani DVM, PhD of Tufts University shows that several antioxidants, especially Vitamin E, can help animals avoid viral infections and live long, healthy lives. With age, Vitamin E levels in dogs naturally decrease, which means an older canine immune system may not be able to adequately defend itself against disease. Meydani's research shows the addition of Vitamin E in an older dog's diet can enhance the immune response so that it resembles the response of a younger dog. Center Pet Pharmacy provides Vitamin E in tablet, caplet, gelcap, or flavored liquid forms. Ask one of our trained pharmacists, or your veterinarian, which form is best for your dog.

Holistic care evaluates the entire animal as opposed to the conventional practice of treating the immediate problem at hand. A holistic doctor decides which tools, including conventional medicines, would be best for an animal's total wellbeing.

While veterinarians from both holistic and conventional veterinary medicine may use the same tools in different combinations, as they see fit, a holistic doctor evaluates the whole animal and treats the animal towards its whole optimal health, not just a singular problem. Holistic veterinarians are more interested in the animal's full lifespan--not only the current illness, but any possible contributing factors and patterns. We provide further information on holistic and conventional veterinary practice in-store. Come visit us today!

It's a fact of life as we get older we suffer the pains of aging. One of those in humans, as well as animals, is joint pain and arthritis. You can take your dog to the vet for a battery of tests and come out without an exact conclusion but an expensive prescription. Glucosamine and Chondrointin are considered nutraceuticals. They are naturally occurring substances in many food products and fall in the same class as vitamins. Despite the overwhelming positive studies and testimonials, there have been no controlled studies in the U.S.. The fact that Glucosamine and Chondrointin are natural substances and not harmful to the pet and show in great numbers that they are helpful in the anti-aging process are all good reason to have a food, treat, or supplement that contains these. It's better to start your pet on some sort of Glucosamine and Chondroitin product while they are young as a preventative before it becomes necessary because of age. Glucosamine provides the building blocks to synthesize new cartilage. Chondroitin blocks destructive enzymes that break down cartilage in the joint. Ask our trained pharmacists or veterinarians what products we carry that contain Glucosamine and Chondrointin.

Many pet owners think that a capsule, gel-coated caplet, or tablet is the best way to get pet medicine to go down easily. It is commonly thought that these are more slippery and will get from the mouth to the stomach quicker. This is far from the truth. Because a cat, dog, or most companion animals are horizontal, the capsule does not move naturally in a downward motion as it does in humans that are in a standing or sitting position. Instead, it takes approximately 15 minutes to move horizontally from mouth to stomach. It moves with the contractions of the esophagus until it reaches its destination. Because this is a slow process, the gelatin can become sticky and instead of sliding down it sits for an even longer period of time and tends to stick and get stuck causing ulcerations and scar tissue which can be extremely uncomfortable to your beloved pet. In chronic, severe cases, an animal will have to have a balloon dilation to open up the throat so the animal can breathe and eat normally again. A flavored liquid form of the medication or a transdermal ointment is a much better choice when appropriate. Come into Center Pet Pharmacy today or give us a call to learn more.

Many cats die younger than they should because they do not get adequate hydration. Cats on the whole only drink about one bowl of water a week (amazingly little). When a cat gets older and starts to have the relatively common problem of renal failure, his life can be sustained by several years if one can get him to drink more water, thus flushing the system and allowing him to live a happier, healthier and longer life.

The problem is how to get a cat to drink more water. One, an owner can add a bit of concentrated flavoring to the cat's water so the cat is tempted by the smell and the taste to drink more. In studies done by HNK Consulting, cats were used in two groups, one (the control group) with regular stagnant water and the other with a flavored water to stimulate thirst and drinking. The group that had the flavored water drank over three times as much as the control group.

Another way to get your cat to drink more is to have his water bowl have some sort of waterfall or water movement in it (ask about our Drinkwell water fountains). This movement stimulates the cats to play and drink more.

These easy to follow methods can keep your cat alive for a much longer time for you to enjoy. Come to Center Pet Pharmacy today to find out about great products to promote feline hydration.

Your dog’s health is going to be dependent on many things such as what you feed them and how they exercise but one of the main item you should concentrate on is the grooming. There are many reasons for grooming your dog. First you want your pet to be clean, you want to remove the dirt, remove dead hair, and prevent matting of their fur. Second you want to bond with your dog. Every dog needs some type of grooming care. It will depend a bit on the type of dog as to how much grooming they are going to need.

You should start grooming your dog as a puppy. If you have brought an older dog into your household you may have a little trouble if they have not been groomed a lot in the past. With persistence they will become accustom to the procedures.

You will need to have the correct tools in order to groom your dog properly. Here are a few things you need to make sure that you have: combs for your dog’s type of hair, brushes with slanted metal pins, shedding blades (ask about The Furminator it is one tool with many uses that dogs and cats thouroughly enjoy), nail trimmers, tooth brush, and of course the correct type of shampoo and conditioner.

The shampoo and the conditioner should be for your dog type specifically. You want to make sure the proper nutrients are in the shampoo, such as natural oils that will help the hair remain soft. You may wish to ask a veterinarian or a person who grooms dogs for tips on the proper products to purchase. "Isle of Dogs" has shampoos and conditioners specific to each type of dog for the best results on every type of coat. If you need help picking out the correct products please ask one of our trained professionals.

Once you have all of the proper tools, you can then start the brushing process. Make sure all of the matted hair and tangles are removed from the dog’s coat before getting them wet. This means you may have to work a little hard to brush at the matted areas with a mat comb. Try to be as gentle while removing these tangles and things that can hurt so as not to give your dog a bad experience. If you are not careful this can lead to your dog never wanting to be groomed again. Thus lessening the bonding time the two of you have. Instead you want this to be pleasurable so that the dog looks forward to grooming in the future.

Some dogs such as the Chesapeake Bay Retriever cannot tolerate frequent baths due to fact that the constant wetness will cause drying out the natural oils in the hair and skin, which leads to dry skin that they will scratch constantly. This can hurt their coat and lead to weaken their immunity, therefore it is important to bathe them when it is only really necessary.

So you will want the correct shampoo and a moderately warm bath. Soak the dog to the skin making sure all areas are wet. Lather the dog with the proper shampoo, making sure to lather the shampoo into the fur as you would washing your own hair. You want to be thorough so make sure to get the tail, head, and underneath the animal. It works best if you have some sort of showerhead with a hose or if you are outside to use a spray nozzle. The spray action will help you get the soap out of their hair. Just rinsing with a washcloth or buckets of water is not going to be effective. You do want to keep the soap out of their ears and eyes, but you can wash around the eyes with a cloth and use a sponge to help clean out the ears. After all of the shampoo is washed away rub in the conditioner and let stay for a few minutes then gently wash all residue out.

Grooming your dogs is extremely important and will; if done correctly leave your dog happier and there will be a bond between the two of you that did not exist before you started regularly washing and grooming.

Dog clothing and coats has long been the looked at as humorous to many. Being a dog owner you know that a coat or a rain coat can mean health and happiness to our pets. No animal likes to be cold or wet. Dog coats and sweaters and outerwear can be looked at, by those that know, as just another important supply item. We want our pets to be fulfilled and happy and the dog coat is just one more pet supply item that can help you keep your dog warm and healthy. We carry a wide range of the finest dog coats, sweaters, raincoats and outerwear on the East Coast.

If you do wish to purchase dog outerwear you will need to know their size. You may decide to come in to try items on or buy through our on line store. If you wish to purchase on line measure their chest area, length and take particular notice of their leg size. See our wide outerwear collection online; there you will find quilted hoodies, ugg style coats, sweaters, rain coats, snow parkas, glow in the dark vests with two flashing light strips for night time safety, shoes (for mountain climbing), and bomber jackets to name a few types.

Decide what material you want; are you in a very cold arid climate or a bit warmer, humid area. If you live in a cold place your dog is going to need a thicker coat than if you live in a warmer more humid climate as you would. You should also consider how much it rains in your area. In some areas you might want a raincoat that also has a lining that will keep them warm in the cool weather. Decide whether the main focus is to keep them dry or to keep them warm and then pick a material that is fitting.

Fashion is very important to many so get what you think will look good and also what is easy to get in and out of (we find this important to keep in mind). There are the simple wrap around coats that fasten with a piece of Velcro underneath These can look good and be a little less cumbersome to get in and out of. Remember your dog can get into a lot of dirt so keep this in mind as far as clean up goes and its ease of keeping the garment clean.

"Catnip" is the common name for a perennial herb of the mint family. It is native to Europe and is an import to the United States and other countries. The catnip plant is now a widespread weed in North America.

Given to the right cat, catnip can cause an remarkable reaction! The cat will rub it, roll over it, kick at it, and generally go nuts for several minutes. Then,usually the cat will lose interest and walk away. Two hours later, the cat may come back and have exactly the same response as it did at first.

Because there really isn't any scent that causes this sort of reaction in humans, catnip is hard for us to understand. However, it is not an uncommon behavior in animals that rely heavily on their noses. For example, there are many scents that will trigger intense hunting behavior in dogs, and other scents will cause dogs to stop in their tracks and roll all over the scent.

Although no one knows exactly what happens in the cat's brain, it is known that the chemical nepetalactone in catnip is the thing that triggers the response. Apparently, it somehow kicks off a stereotypical pattern in cats that are sensitive to the chemical. The catnip reaction is inherited, and some cats are totally unaffected by it. Large cats like tigers can be sensitive to it as well.

The reaction to catnip only lasts a few minutes. Then the cat acclimates to it, and it can take an hour or two away from catnip for the cat to "reset." Then, the same reaction can occur again. Very young kittens and older cats seem less likely to have a reaction to catnip.

There is now organic grown catnip that comes in a spray form or a roll on (like the deodorant). These are particularly good because most cats get a toy and play with it for a day and then they are done with it. The toy remains in the heap of toys that the cat will never play with again. If you spray a little cat nip on it or rub a little on the bottom of the toy the cat will pick up where it left off playing with it. This will give renewed interest to old toys you never thought you would see your cat play with again. And give your cat some of it’s youthful playfulness you might be missing.

Ask the professionals at Center Pet Pharmacy help you give new found love for old toys.

What is the best way to medicate pets?

Making pet medication an easier pill to swallow

The following information guide is intended to provide a background in pet medication, while highlighting the innovative services and choices we provide.

Rethinking the traditional approach

The oldest way and the way most veterinarians teach their clients to give a tablet or capsule is by pilling. The owner has to hold the animal down, open its mouth, throw in the (dry) medication, and have the pet swallow it. At Center Pet Pharmacy, we understand how much of a struggle this can be for our customers.

Can you imagine taking an uncoated extra strength Tylenol, popping it in your mouth, and swallowing it dry? Many times, this method is extremely uncomfortable, irritating the esophagus of the animal. A cat has an esophagus the size of the inside of a pen and thus it can take up to 15 minutes for the pill to travel from the mouth to the stomach irritating the esophagus all the way. If the cat or dog is on a maintenance medication, over time this irritation will end up as scar tissue that may impede an animal from eating or breathing correctly, or taking anymore pills. If the problem gets bad enough a balloon dilation is needed to open up the esophagus. This whole process can severely damage the pet/owner bond--as the pet does not understand why the owner who he thinks loves him is trying to hurt him. Some animals get over it and it is only a short term problem; Others don't forget and never trust their owners again.

In the past, pilling pets was the preferred method of medication simply because most pet medications were only available in this form. This is at the core of the breakthrough idea behind Center Pet Pharmacy. We provide pet medications in a variety of flavors and forms that make it easier to medicate your pets, and in turn, make the medications themselves more effective.

Medications options available at Center Pet Pharmacy.

Read below about the various medication options available at Center Pet Pharmacy.

Tablet – Tablets are the traditional method for medicating many animals. At Center Pet Pharmacy, we seek to provide alternatives to this more difficult medication method. Pet owners often try to hide a tablet in a hunk of cheese, meat or other treat. A big animal will sometimes just gobble it up in one bite and never realize that there was medication in the treat. Many don’t realize that this can have adverse effects on a pet. Although it's good that the animal is getting the medication, the extra treat could be interfering with the efficacy of the medication. For example, if an owner puts the tablet or capsule in a hunk of cheese the medication (depending on what it is) can be affected because a dairy product coats the stomach and can decrease absorption of the needed medication. In addition, feeding a pet high-fat treats such as meat and cheese, with each medication dose, can adversely affect their nutritional balance.

Capsule – Capsules present many of the same difficulties as tablets, except that, in addition, one risk’s the chance of the animal biting directly into the capsule the owner has gone to such great lengths to hide thus releasing all of the really bitter powder inside the capsule, and causing the animal not to swallow the contents. In this event, the owner does not know how much medication was swallowed and how much was spit out. With capsules and tablets, one always risks the chance that the animal will eat the treat and keep the medication in his mouth, which he will spit out as soon as no one is looking.

Some owners will sprinkle the contents of a capsule on their pets’ food. At Center Pet Pharmacy, we don't recommend this method, as many animals will eat a little, and then, when they realize that their food doesn't taste right, they will stop eating. The owner is left with no idea as to how much medicine the animal actually ingested. In severe cases, the pet might form eating disorders, not wanting to eat because they think their loving owner is trying to trick them and make their food taste bad. This can also ruin the pet/owner "bond." The pet cannot understand why his owner would be doing something that to him seems distasteful and mean.

Flavored liquid and chewtabs – At Center Pet Pharmacy, flavored liquids are among our favorite and preferred method of medication. We offer flavored liquid versions of many pet medications. A flavored liquid can be squirted into the animal’s mouth or put on a paper plate so they lick it up, ensuring proper ingestion of a full dose. The animal thinks he/she is getting a treat and the medication is taken in its entirety, with the pet/ owner bond intact. Flavored chew tabs are also a popular option with many medications.

Transdermal ointments - A transdermal gel or ointment is applied to the skin of an animal; usually to the hairless part of the ear, and is absorbed through the skin to create the same medicinal effect as oral medication. Center Pet Pharmacy offers transdermal forms of many pet medications, it is a wonderful alternative in situations where pets are unable to take medicine through any oral means. Transdermal gels are a fairly new innovation for pets as well as in humans, that is showing great promise. It gives animals once unable to be medicated properly, a chance to take their medication as required without destroying the owner/pet "bond" thus allowing them to recover or maintain good health.

Come visit us today, and bring your pet, to learn more about the medication options we provide!