The following brands of food have been recalled, if you have any of these foods, please bring them into the store.

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recall/natura-pet-widens-recall/

We are pleased to announce that we are now selling Lancaster County Dog Licenses! Stop in a get your pooch licensed! Dog Wardens will be out this month and if your dog is not licensed, you could be cited!

Here is a great link for someone looking for information on feeding your dog! Look us up for a 5% off coupon on dogfoodadvisor.com!

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/frequently-asked-questions/how-to-feed-dog/

Summer is the time of year for clip downs, or is it?

What you may not know is, the skin and coat of all mammals form the largest sensory organ.Hair is an appendage of the skin; it is not a separate system. The main purpose of dog hair is to regulate body temperature; it holds in body heat in the winter and dissipates heat from the sun in the summer. The coat also provides protection from environmental elements and the sun.The canine coat features a compound hair follicle where there are several or many secondary (undercoat) hairs and a single primary (topcoat) hair. The longer the hair, the more it can dissipate the heat away from the skin. Light colored hair reflects heat, while dark colored hair absorbs and holds heat. Black, short-haired dogs are the most uncomfortable in the heat and long, light-haired animals will be the most comfortable. Profuse or thick undercoat, however, will trap heat next to the skin, regardless of color.

It is a common mistake by humans to assume that dogs experience their coats the same as we would experience our coats. Humans have eccrine sweat glands over most of the body that serve as thermoregulation.  Dogs do not.  Dogs pant, humans sweat. When dogs pant on a hot day, it does not mean that they need to have their entire hair coat removed, it may just mean that some of the undercoat needs removed.

Post Clipping Alopecia simply means lack of hair growth after clipping.   Post-grooming problems with hair growth are included in this category. Although most medical references will maintain that the hair will grow back within 12-24 months, some veteran groomers have witnessed extended or permanent failure of the coat to regrow, or situations where the coat itself is permanently altered, becomes wooly, thick, fuzzy, is lacking in guard hairs, or loses color.

Without sufficient hair coat, a dog may be more at risk of skin cancer. An alarming statistic published by VPI Insurance is that dogs are 35 times more likely than humans to have skin cancer.

An alternate approach for keeping your pet cool is to brush the coat down to the skin. De-shedding is best done on a clean, conditioned, coat.  Many different brushes and combs may be used to get rid of the undercoat; rakes and rubber brushes are good to use while bathing.  Bathing and conditioning a pet thoroughly can save on drying time and also on brushing time.

Clipping the underside and chest can help a thick coated dog cool off without damaging the coat.  Most of the trimming can be done with a snap-comb to lighten the look and feel of the coat without risking coat damage.  After getting some of the coat out, air can move through the coat and the dog can also cool off by laying on a cool surface.  May you and your dog “Chill Out” this summer!

Robert Downy is a trained animal nutritionist and a 2008 winner of the Limited North American Dog Sled Championship in Fairbanks Alaska.

Keystone Pet Place has announced their “Dog and Cat Nutrition Seminar” with Robert Downy the owner of Annamaet Pet Foods. Robert Downy is a trained animal nutritionist and dog sled musher. Downy was the 2008 winner of the Limited North American Championship in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Robert Downy has a passion for animal nutrition, dog sledding and the environment. His company Annamaet Pet Foods is committed to offering the highest quality dog and cat foods. Annamaet provides products for dogs and cats in all life stages.

Come learn about how to give your dog or cat the best nutrition for a long and healthy life.

The event will take place on March 9, from 10:30-11:30am at Keystone Pet Place at 100 West Main Street Mount Joy, PA 17552. Coffee and Donuts will be provided.

Please RSVP by March 7 if you are planning to attend. Contact 717-492-0027 or Quentin@keystonepetplace.com.

Stop in or give us a call to order your chicks!  We will be getting our first shipment the last week of February, and doing another order towards the end of March!

We have updated our online store to allow users to pay using bitcoin qr codes.  Just choose bitcoin as your payment type when checking out then scan the qr code address to quickly and easily send payment with your phone or other mobile device.  As always you can copy and paste the bitcoin address into your bitcoin client to pay for your order.

If you try out the bitcoin payment option, let us know what you think.

Many people shy away from cutting their dog’s nails because it can be a painful and frustrating process. The fact is, if done right, you can gain trust with your dog and get this crucial process accomplished with no pain at all. If nails are not clipped, they will grow to be long and painful to your dog. Long nails may even make walking agonizing; not to mention if they get caught on something their nail may get partially torn off or split. Do your dog a favor and clip their nails, it will be worth it in the long run.

Here are some tips to make cutting your dog’s nails easier and more effective.

1. Make Your Dog Comfortable. Place your dog on a table where they are easily accessible; or lay them down (Whatever is more comfortable for them).

2. Treats. Reward your dog with treats throughout the process to facilitate a good trimming experience (Optional).

3. Lift Up Legs Correctly. When lifting your dog’s leg to trim, do not pull it out. This will make your dog uncomfortable. Lift their leg forward and up.

4. Trim quickly and precisely. Most people think that trimming nails is painful to your dog. That is not true. When the nails are cut quickly and within a reasonable distance from the quick, your dog will not be in pain.

5. Leave some distance between the “Quick” and where you cut. The “Quick” is the blood vessel in the nail and is usually is pink. Trim about 2 millimeters from the “Quick.” For dogs with black nails see “Bonus tips for Trimming Black Nails.”

6. Cut at a 45 degree angle.

7. Do not cut past the “Quick.” If you cut into the “Quick” the nail will bleed. This may inflict pain to your dog.

8. Use Quickstop. If you do accidentally trim into the “Quick,” promptly apply Quickstop to the nail while applying some pressure.

9. Trim When Only Necessary. If you come across a nail that is shorter than the others and does not really need to be trimmed, do not trim it. This just means that your dog has worn it down naturally because of the way they pivot when they walk.

10. Do Not Forget the Duclaw. The duclaw can sometimes be missed because of its location. Do not forget to check it. The duclaw is a little up the leg on the inside.

11. Nail File. To finish off the trimming procedure, you can smooth out your dog’s nails with a nail file. This is a good idea for your dog so that they will not get caught on something because of their sharp, uneven nails.

Bonus Tips for Trimming Black Nails:

•  Black nails are harder to trim because there is no color change
•  Cautiously trim small slices of the nail at a time
•  Look at the underside of the nail to try and find a hollow ridge
•  You can cut most of the hollow ridge off
•  Check after every cut to see how much more you should trim
•  Stop when you see the pulp (the pulp is just before the quick)
•   If there is not a visible hollow ridge, start by cutting off the tip of the nail where it starts to curve
• If you do cut too far, your dog will quickly recover, and the bleeding will only last a short time

Happy Trimming!

Keystone Pet Place is now accepting Bitcoin in addition to all major credit cards!  Easy to use. Just choose Bitcoin for your payment when checking out.

We are also planning to begin accepting PayPal by the end of the year

To learn more about Bitcoin check out: http://www.weusecoins.com/