Category: Community Stories

Featuring stories from real pet owners and resources for all thing pets

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Community Stories

Gift Guide 2020 for Pets (Dogs / Cats)

This article is written in collaboration with Husse.

The art of giving is one that some of us are gifted with and others are not. This gift guide for those struggling to find the right gift for your precious fur kid, or someone else’s! There is no more need to Google: “Best presents for dogs”, “Best presents for cats” or, “Best presents for pets”. 

We have summed up some brilliant Christmas Gift ideas for you, so you can spend more time enjoying the holidays with your loved ones and less time fretting over the search for presents.

For a limited time only, we are offering 20% off our bundles in this Gift Guide along with free delivery, and personalised cards. 

Preorder here today: bit.ly/3m6qBuk

For the Adventurous and Outdoorsy

No-Rinse Shampoo and Insect Repellent

The Explorer Bundle combines the two for the adventurous dog who loves to run, roll and play amongst the grass, and bushes. The Explorer Bundle is perfect for your good looking furkid to stay fresh and safe while coming and going.

Explorer contains: Mousse Schampo + Insekt Minus

Mousse Schampo – a rinse-free wash to help get clean on the go. Simply pump out the mousse and massage into the skin and fur: no water required! 

Insekt Minus – the botanical insect repellent, it will help keep pups clean and remain safe from bugs, ticks, fleas, and mosquitos. Its unique application makes it such that you use less of it with time. It slowly changes how appetising your pup’s  skin smells to mozzies and the like. Super cool!

Now at $65 U.P. $84.

For Shared Enjoyment

Aromatherapy

The Homebody bundle is for both furkids and pawrents where both reap the benefits of being around great smells and being free of bothersome insects (especially the pesky mosquitoes). 

Homebody contains: Schampo + Insekt Minus

Schampo –  We think this may be a pawrent fave. A concentrated shampoo that is diluted with water to lather.  It smells fantastic and keeps dogs smelling like tea tree oil. Talk about aromatherapy! Pawrents may not need candles anymore.

Insekt Minus – Repellent that is also safe for humans – that means that pawrents can use it on themselves too! Everyone loves a multi-purpose product. I swear by this little bottle of magic oil myself. No longer am I a walking buffet for mosquitos.

Now at $60 U.P. $76

For the Refined Palettes

Mood Booster Bundle

The Mood Booster bundle brings about the supplement as a perfect energy source for your furkid. It’s so good, we added it twice!

Mood Booster contains: Laxolja + Laxolja 

Laxolja – Salmon Oil supplement that smells delicious, tastes divine and helps boost skin as it is packed with Omega 3 and 6. Who says supplements are just for humans?

Now at $56 U.P. $42 

Enhance Mood Booster with additional treats for the bestest pup!

Bravo Treats – The best gluten-free reward treats for your dogs after being a good doggo. Perfect for positive reinforcements of a job well done. Did we mention it’s tastefully lamb flavored?

Agility Treats – Chicken? Beef? Ham? Why not all! Only with the highest quality ingredients – the soft and tasty vitamin-enriched oven-baked snacks are named after how effective they are in agility training.

You know your pet’s palette the best. Enhance your gift set with treats for them. 

For Curious Cats

Treat Bundles and Christmas Accessories 

For those who are gifting to feline friends and friends of felines, we have just the thing for you. 

The Project Luni Christmas Gift Box has a wide array of treats for cats to try and have their pick! It also comes with a little red Christmas scarf which is oh-so-cute. It features our Opus Lynx – the best selling hit that is grain-free and gluten free. Even the fussiest of felines love it as it is high in protein and exceptionally tasty. 

This is the perfect way to get into the spirit of gifting and giving this holiday season.

For the Playful

Husse Rope Tug Toy

Tug toy – What’s more to say? You tug and your furkid tugs back – a simple tug toy that fills a day with endless joy and fun. Comes in small and large.

Collapsible Silicone Bowl – Playtime and exertion takes a toll. Playful pups need lots of hydration, and having a small and portable collapsible bowl on hand will help keep water accessible no matter where playtime is! Be it  in the park, at the beach, or a stroll through your neighbourhood. Hydration is important in our humid tropical weather.

For Colorful Characters

Husse Bowl & Rope Tug Toy

Water Bowls (both large and small) in a signature fire-truck red that is reminiscent of vintage water bowls. If you have a red SMEG appliance in the house, keep a look out for this one, as it will be a brilliant match! 

Kangaroo Jerky Cubes

Limited Edition Add-Ons

For this special holiday season, we will be having a limited run of Clear Dog Treats! Choose from an array of delicious treatos including Kangaroo Jerky Cubes & Cow Hooves when you check out with any Husse goodies! 

Get your paws on these delicious single ingredient dog treats that are all-natural, with no artificial colouring, preservatives, or additives in sight! Made in Australia & New Zealand with locally sourced ingredients. Only available this festive season!

20% off Gifts

Husse is now having a sale on all holiday gifts – bundles and all. Enjoy free delivery, personalised cards, and 20% off gifts for a limited time only. 

Husse Holiday Gifts

Preorder here today: bit.ly/3m6qBuk

If you still have questions, contact Husse via @hussesg on Instagram or dion@husse.sg via Email for a consultation and/or recommendations. 

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Community Stories

Ever tried munching on your doggo’s food? ?

Hands up if you are one of those crazy pet parents who tried their furkids’ food just to know how it tastes like ??‍♀️

Source: https://funvizeo.com/324bf80cfbd9a3c1/human-food-dog-food

Well, check out Furry’s Kitchen who recently partnered with celebrity chef Justin Quek to conceptualise a 3-course degustation meal at a pop-up restaurant called Terrier that put the brand’s home-cooked food to the ultimate taste and quality test with some of Singapore’s top food influencers.

Furry Kitchen shouldn’t be a stranger to most pet owners, given that they have been establishing a pretty active presence within the local pets community such as events & campaign with pet influencer marketing agency, The Woof Agency.

Stephen Chua, Founder of Furry’s Kitchen said: “This experiment challenges the perception that food for dogs tastes unpleasant and is made with undiscernible ingredients and preservatives unfit for human consumption.

Just like how we love to indulge in a delicious meal and feed ourselves and our loved ones with only the best ingredients possible, our furry friends deserve the same and can enjoy the same quality and freshness in their diet”.

The purpose was to break down the notion that food that dogs eat is unfit for humans. Guests were blown away by the flavour profiles, quality and freshness of the ingredients, giving their stamps of approval & demanding seconds. Some even likened it to grandma’s cooking.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/embed/dCOW851K4Ck

Chef Justin Quek added: “As with any social experiment, we had to keep certain variables under wraps to ensure the most unbiased results. We wanted to know if by removing the negative perception of dog food, we would discover that human-grade food made for dogs could taste both delicious and nutritious too. 

The dishes the food influencers enjoyed have all been taste-tested and quality-checked by me personally. You have my word that I only serve my guests food that I believe in, and food that meets my standards”.

While of course there was an element of surprise, the majority of the influencers taking part in the experiment appreciated that they had not eaten dog food, just human-grade food prepared for dogs. They understood that all ingredients such as beef, salmon, brown rice, potatoes and broccoli are sourced from the same SFA-certified suppliers used by local Singaporean restaurants, promising the same quality for humans.

Benefits of HCF feat. Furry’s Kitchen

Similar to hooman, there are different diets that you can put your furkids on depending on your budget, lifestyle and personal preference. Home-cooked food (HCF) has remain as one of the top choices amongst pet owners for its:

  1. High-Quality Proteins & Fresh Ingredients

Furry’s Kitchen is about providing your dog with high-quality proteins, fresh vegetables and fruits. Their approach is similar to how we feed ourselves and our families. They call it “balance over time”, which will, over time, meet your dog’s needs if you vary the diet enough over a week or two. Feeding a wide variety of meat and vegetables give your dog the nutrition it needs.

2. No Preservatives & Additives

Only using the good parts of the animal. No by-products. They also say no to preservatives, additives and fillers. Their recipes are made by hand in small batches and gently cooked to retain their nutritional value. They only source our ingredients from the same suppliers who supply to restaurants in Singapore, the same quality fit for humans.

3. Nutritional Needs

Nothing gives more flavour and health benefits than fresh and quality ingredients. A diet full of high quality, fresh, minimally processes ingredients help to support the immune system and all other body functions essential for everyday health. Without it, your dog will be more susceptible to disease. They also retain a lot more nutritious value compared to processed foods.

HERE’S OUR TAKE:

At the end of the day, there are pros and cons to different diet and pet owners should do proper research (not just on the nutritional value) but also to take into consideration your lifestyle and budget — e.g. it can get pricey if you are a multi-dog household or owns a large breed who eats a lot more than your small dogs.

You can also check out some articles to learn more about HCF from our resident doggo owners here.

Last but not least, check out Furry’s Kitchen influencers #approved goodies here!

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Community Stories

Lost and found: my dog was missing

Hi, my name is Sheryl I am the “hoosis” of WangWang, some may remember that WangWang was lost a few months back and this is my personal experience.

We see posters of missing dogs, cats, birds, etc around Singapore almost every day, I don’t know about you but truthfully I thought nothing of it and in my mind “This will never happen to Wang”. So from my experience losing WangWang was traumatic, to say the least.

  • Overestimating

Overestimated myself and WangWang, thinking that she would be fine in a crowd and I could handle her at the same time get food. Around 2pm September 15, in the coffeeshop WangWang got spooked and bolted harness and leash still on, tried calling her while running after her but her fight or flight, flight response was too strong. Almost heading to the main road, her leash got caught onto a pole, people were standing around watching her as she struggles out of her harness, and nope no one helped, either afraid or did not care. Now out of her harness, no collar no tag…

  • Asking for help

Knowing that I could not catch up, I immediately called Christine from Causes for Animals Singapore (CAS), WangWang’s shelter because I know that they are experienced in such situations, I informed my parents, posted an Instagram story all in the midst of me running around panicking looking for her. Around 4pm, CAS volunteers had printed out posters, posted an Instagram (IG) and Facebook post on a lost dog, along with many sharing the posts on IG.

6pm, people from Sunny Heights, Dawk_star (daycares Wang has been to), my neighbors, even people on IG that we never met before offered to help in the search (which I am so thankful for), contacted SPCA and Animal Communications (AC), basically doing everything we can to locate her but still nothing.

The frantic post I made.
  • WangWang came back!

1:45am, After hours and hours of searching, putting up posters, and driving around we decided to head Punggol as we received a few phone calls that people spotted a brown dog that looked like her, just then I receive a message saying that a brown dog was lying at the fitness corner with a picture.

2am, recognizing her immediately we rushed back calling my neighbor to try and secure her and it was emotional, I cried my mom cried, WangWang was not hurt but covered in mud and so happy to see us, she was lost for a total of 12 hours, the guy saw a post of a lost dog on IG because of the many people that shared. Also thankful that we got her back before the heavy rain that night!

  • My initial fear/Conclusion

My fear was that people might not care even if they have spotted her because she looks like an ordinary stray or that other strays in the area might attack her. No one wants to lose their pet so now a collar, tag, and harness is a must for me but if you do, contact any AWGs and an AC immediately for help, unfortunately, they did not reply to us till the next morning. Post on IG and FB, be thick skin and contact anyone you know because pride does not matter at this point. But if you do have the money to splurge a GPS would be the best.

But on a positive note, this proves that Singapore Specials are very intelligent too, the fact that she was able to possibly wait till dark to cross the junction from Seletar mall and find her way back to our usual spot and wait there for us.

Thanks for reading!

These are some websites you can visit for more info on if you lost your pet or if you have found one:

https://www.nparks.gov.sg/avs/pets/owning-a-pet/lost-and-found-pets/what-to-do-if-you-find-a-missing-pet

https://www.sgsmartpaw.com/blogs/news/9-expert-guides-to-find-your-missing-pet-in-singapore

https://spca.org.sg/lost-found/#1594292604794-06c8d2a1-7cdd
SPCA

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Brand Highlights Community Stories

Groomers with transportation? Yes please!

Travelling with a pet in Singapore is definitely not easy. But that should not stop you from bringing your pets for grooming! Check out these following groomers in Singapore which provide transportation for your pet!

1. Pawmises

@pawmises

You may have seen really familiar pictures on Instagram, with different furkids enjoying the gentle handling by the staff from Pawmises. Pawmises offer basic and full grooming, along with various spa options.

? Grooms dogs, cats, rabbits & guinea pigs
? 1-way transportation at $25, 2-way transportation at $45
?502 MacPherson Road Singapore, Singapore 368204
? More info here

2. Pawcious Style

@pawciousstyle

If you don’t already know Baoma from Pawcious Style, then you are definitely missing out! Apart from regular grooming and styling, Pawcious Style is also known for fur dyeing. Time to add a little zazzle to your pet’s look for Christmas!

? Grooms dogs, cats and small animals
? 2-way transportation ranges between $15-$45
?403 Sembawang Road Singapore, Singapore 758384
? More info here

3. Shaggy Wagon

@theshaggywagon

Founded by the very people who understand you, the wellness of your pets, and the importance of your time. Shaggy Wagon is created to work around your schedule. That means you don’t have to spend long hours travelling or waiting for the groomers!

? Grooms dogs and cats
? 1-way transportation at $10 for grooming, 1-way transportation at $20 for daycare
?2 Tai Thong Crescent #01-13 S(347629)
? More info here

4. Pawpykisses

@pawpykisses

Meet the dedicated team of experienced pet stylist catering professional pet styling skills to all pet parents. Pawpykisses’ pet transport services are free for more than 20+ locations islandwide in Singapore as well!

? Grooms dogs and cats
? Free for selected areas, otherwise chargeable between $15-$25
?238 Balestier Road #01-03 Singapore, Singapore 329701
? More info here

Categories
Brand Highlights Community Stories

Brands pup-proved by Milky (Part 1)

Who is guilty of buying a tad too much when it comes to their furkids? Definitely me ?

I love to shop for Milky, but sometimes it seems to me that there are only that few vendors whom I can buy stuff for him – mainly those who enjoy high visibility on Instagram. I always wondered if there’s a way for us to dig the hidden gems (amongst the many, many on Instagram).

So here are some of the hidden gems I’ve unearthed through my times on Instagram (I will try notttt to mention the well-known ones), and just in time for Christmas! ?

1. Cakki.co

  • Website: https://cakkicollective.com/
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cakki.co/
Source: https://cakkicollective.com

Cakki Collective is a boutique brand from Philippines which specialises in rope leashes, bandanas + more. ⁣ Their products are handmade & carefully curated⁣ with love.

Their bandanas range between S$6 – 15, depending on the size you are looking at.

Milky sporting this new bandana from Cakki

What I love about this brand

  • Obviously very much in love for their Instagram aesthetic and game
  • Super friendly and nice business owner
  • Handmade and their designs are really nice

I guess the only con is that since they are based overseas, I have to gather or consolidate orders before the worldwide shipping fee makes sense.

2. Truffleruffel Treats

  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truffleruffel_treats
Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CGRWhCsDi5M/

I came to know about this home-based store only because the owner is an influencer under our network. We worked with them for some campaigns and she very kindly gifted us some free samples to try!

Just look at the greedy face!

Pawjourr organised a Secret Santa gift exchange this year, and I would be sending some of her treats to my Santee! ? We also featured her bone broth recipe on The Woof Agency’s Instagram earlier this year and the effort is ?!! You can buy them bone broth at a super affordable price too

Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CC0VgT_jVKo/

▫️24 cubes – 295-310g @ $6.50
▫️28 cubes – 355g-370g @$7.50

You can check out how she boil the bone broth here!

3. Husse Singapore

  • Website: https://www.husse.sg/
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hussesg/
Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CGSAAV2nM7Z/

Husse is a new brand which entered the Singapore market late 2019. They hail from Sweden and pride themselves in high quality pet food, specialising in not just dog & cats, but also horses! ?

Milky loves his Taste of the wild, so we won’t be talking about their kibbles range. Instead, we are a huge huge fan of their Laxolja (also known as salmon oil ?).

This is Milky a month after being on their salmon oil.

We sprinkle the salmon oil over his food and he gobbles them up like a cookie monster. It makes the entire meal looks much appetising and there’s definitely an improvement on his coat condition which is visible to the eye.

We have been on this product for the past 3 – 6 months and we highly recommend pawrents out there to consider trying it! ?

They are having a Christmas promo bundle now; 2 for $42 (UP $56)

I’ve also gifted other friends some of their other products, including their Vermi Tab (dewormer for dogs).

Pro Tip: Check out their tagged photos for discount codes from their ambassadors! ??

4. Instinct Pet Food

  • Website: https://www.lazada.sg/shop/instinct-pet-food-official-store/
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instinctpetfood_asia/
Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CDOaf02DcYY/

I think Instinct Pet Food has been around for quite some time, but only became aggressive with their sales recently in Singapore. They are part of the Nature’s variety group – and the ladies who work there are so so so nice!

Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CC8eq-CjOdG/

To be honest, there is a very low chance of us converting to 100% raw for Milky as we are not very confident about the food handling (though we have been tempted a few times by the benefits and The Dog Chef on Tik Tok).

So Instinct Pet is one of the brands we try to play around with the idea but with freeze dried nuggets etc. I’m very confident about the quality of their food and I’ve never heard anything about worms / weevils in their food vs. some other brands I see on Instagram. ?

I spoke to the owners before and I know how strict they are with the end-to-end (source of ingredients -> final product). But okay, it is on the expensive side since Milky is a big dog and eats quite a bit.

For the wet food, we alternate between their wet pouches and Bronco pate. As for the raw toppers, it’s really when he is being a good boy (but now we know he is okay with them and won’t “laosai”.

Everyone in the company actually love their products so much that we decided to bring them in and sell on our shopee! We only sell in bundles since Shopee has a lot of restriction around the shipping fees.

You can buy here: https://shopee.sg/pawjourr

5. Kin+Kind Singapore

  • Website: https://www.howlisticlife.com/kin-kind
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kinandkind_singapore/

We got to know about Kin+Kind pet supplements through the sampling program offered by Pawjourr.

Pawjourr has a sampling program where pet owners pay $4.90 per month to check-out unlimited samples to try. In exchange, leave a review to help other pet owners make an informed choice.

They are also adding in more verticals like groomers, clinics, trainers etc. It is positioned to be the one-stop pet parenting app to make pet ownership easier, cheaper & much more convenient! ❤️

Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CHhI20eDjbW/

The pet supplements include:

+ Urinary Tract support: Free sample here!

+ Multi-vitamins: Free sample here!

+ Hip & Joint support: Free sample here!

Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH2W2-YD_Vi/

Check out #Whatsinmybowl flex with Milky! Special guest appearance by Clear Dog Treats (Shark cartilage powder) which you can find here, which I am obsessed with as well.

I hope this has been helpful to pet owners out there looking for some new websites or brands to stalk! ?

I think some of the brands here are pretty well-known already in the pets community, but there are a few other supplements which you can try and buy via Amazon.sg!

If you are like me and love finding new brands and products for your furkids to try, you should definitely give Pawjourr+ a go! ?

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Community Stories

My Close Escape from Euthanasia

Hi guys, in case you don’t know yet, my name is Kiki. This name was given to me by my first family and my pawrents just continued to use it.

In Feburary 2018, at 3 months old, I was brought home by my first family. They were so excited to have me and so was I to have them. However as days go by, things spiraled out of control.

Being in a family with 3 small children (4 if you consider me as a small puppy as well), my then pawrents did not have the capacity to care for me adequately and I soon fell into the arms of the devils.

I got myself some sort of a skin irritation where I constantly scratches and bite myself. I was constantly itchy and in pain. However, as I was the first puppy the family ever had, they did not know how to deal with me.

Pawdad sent me to the vet several times and was diagnosed with skin allergy. They suspected that it could be due to food, but despite changing my diet and eliminating via food type, they could not find the root cause.

It just kept going on and on and months flew by. At my very worst, I was almost bald and bloody due to the constant scratching and biting (I really can’t help it) and to protect my siblings, pawdad asked his friends to foster me temporarily.

This was the start of my journey of moving house to house. I was sent away by countless “fosterers” as they could not deal with my constant scratching (and disgusting smell). I am also always locked in my cage almost 24hours a day as they were afraid of me dirtying their places. I was at a very sad place. It was until July 2018 that pawdad reached out to my current pawrents to seek help as a last resort.

He had scheduled me to be euthanised 2 days later, but has no place to temporary put me up at. My mummy had questions about me but agreed to put me up for 2 nights.

When pawdad brought me over to mummy and daddy’s house late at night, he told mummy that I had severe skin allergy and the vet recommended to be euthanise as I will not have quality of life. He felt sad about it but this is what he had to do. He left after saying goodbye to me.

After closing the door, mummy opened my gate. It was the first time the gate has been opened for godknows how many days or weeks. I climbed out of the cage… Despite all the pains and itches, I made my way to mummy’s lap and asked for a belly rub.

Mummy gave me a good belly rub and looked at daddy saying how pitiful I was (no doubt, I was so raw then). Daddy suggested that we should not give up on me and that he would make an appointment tomorrow with his friend’s vet and get a second opinion. Mummy agreed. Little did they know, it was this decision that saved my life.

The next day, daddy got home from work and brought me to the new vet. The vet saw me and immediately got down to business. He took tests and did everything he needed to do. He even gave me a huge slab of salmon from his stash for dinner as he said I was so severely underweight for my age (7 months).

All red, at the vet

It turned out… The results showed that I was suffering from a very severe form of chronic scabies that the bugs were eating me alive inside and outside. Luckily though, I was diagnosed in time, if we were to wait any further, I would not have made it out alive.

This event turned everything upside down. Mummy contacted pawdad to inform the results and pawdad was shocked. He could not believe his ears and asked if mummy could keep and restore me back to health. He would be willing to pay for all the medical bills for my condition until I got better.

Mummy and daddy discussed and agreed to give me a second chance in life.

I got home, looking like this….

July 2018

Being also a first time dog owner, my new pawrents did not know what to do, much less prepare for my arrival.

But mummy being in the healthcare industry knows fairly well how contagious scabies is and quickly build me a playpen using Daiso metal grids to temporary keep me at a corner of the house (but this is definitely bigger than my cage which I’ve been living in it for many weeks!)

I was on medications 3x a day and showering every 3 days for 2 whole months. As both mummy and daddy are working, mummy engaged the help of her 3 good friends (AKA my 3 godmas now) for rotational help. The 4 of them took turn caring for me 24hours around the clock. Making sure I was fed well, had my medication and showers, and had lots of love and care. They almost could not leave me alone at home as I would start biting or scratching the moment I got nothing to do. In addition to all the special attention I needed, daddy assist in keeping the house scrubbed and cleaned well. He mop the floor and wipe everything I touched EVERY SINGLE DAY.

For the first time in many days and weeks, I finally slept well.

Slowly but surely, my skin started to recover. Instead of being like a skinless roast duck, I became a pink chicken and my fur started to grow out.

Look at me, being all cozy on mummy’s lap

As my condition slowly got better, I also became a vacuum cleaner during park walks (mummy ever had to pick out a chicken bone from my mouth) and learnt to climb stairs!

From taking each step gingerly….

To hopping like a kangaroo!

Everyone was very amazed at my recovery and I was so active by then! With due care and diligence from pawrents and godmas, I was on a roll. I became the puppy I should be.

Pawdad saw my miraculous recovery and after discussion with mummy, they decided to transfer my name under mummy’s name to make me officially adopted by my pawrents!

I could not be happier and pawrents were elated to have me part of their family. I mean, I am already their family since the night I got there, didn’t I? Hahaha!

Everyday, I create new problems and challenges to my pawrents which made them scratch their heads (see the pun?) and try to outwit me each time. (Soon after, mummy started me on command training to tire that clever brain of mine).

It took 1 month for the Chronic Scabies to be cleared and close to 3-4 months before my fur are fully grown out!

Take a Look!

Aug 2018
Sept 2018
Oct 2018
Nov 2018

In Nov 2018, I celebrated my first birthday!

I wouldn’t have made it to my first birthday (or even third this year!) without my pawrents’ decision to bring me for a second opinion. I would not have escape that needle of death. So I’m forever thankful for their kindness.

Lastly I got to say, even though pawdad and family did me unjust, I forgave them and I still love them. Till date, whenever I see my pawdad and family, I am always very happy to give them hugs and kisses! I knew that although they may not have given me the best care, they had made the right decision to let my current pawrents adopt me. For that, I am forever grateful.

Today, I am happy and I hope you are too!

Signing off,

Kiki, your favorite MP

Categories
Community Stories

Help! I have a picky dog!

gigi

When you have a picky furkid, it leads to constant headaches worrying about what treats & food to buy. Afraid that he/she may reject the food. There have been many frustrating moments whereby I buy Gigi’s treats in bulk (especially during a good sale) & I realise that she doesn’t even like them!

Here are my top 5 picks of treats for other furkids who are picky like Gigi – all tried & tested on the queen of treats.

  1. Tumeke Friend Air Dried Dog Snacks Gourmet Beef
Tumeke Friend Air Dried Dog Snack

Holy cow (pun intended) does Gigi go CRAZY for these treats! They’re air dried and the smell is pretty strong which is one of the reasons why Gigi cannot resist these tasty treats. They make great food toppers too, I love to spice up Gigi’s daily kibbles & toppers are one of the ways I do that.

2. Vitakraft Dog Sticks

Vitakraft Dog Stick Seafood

I was pretty hesitant at first when my friends recommended these dog sticks to me. But dangggg was I taken by surprise! The second I ripped open the packaging, she was immediately seated at my feet. I have to admit the smell of the meat is strong, I can tell why it makes such a great treat for picky dogs. Plus, the stick is easy to tear into bite-sized pieces to suit your furkid’s size.

3. K9 Natural Freeze Dried

K9 Natural Hoki & Beef Freeze Dried

My next 2 picks are both designed as meal toppers but they make great bite-sized treats too! Whether it’s for training or to be used in puzzle toys, freeze-dried meal toppers do a great job!

K9 Natural has always been one of our favourites and has never failed to tantalise Gigi’s tastebuds. Her favourite is the Hoki & beef feast! K9 Natural is one of the best in terms of quality treats/food. It may be a little pricier but it’s worth it when I can use it both as a meal topper & treat!

4. Instinct Raw Boost Mixers

Instinct Raw Boost Mixers Immune Health

We were recently introduced to the Instinct Pet brand and we have been loyal customers ever since. Double points for its amazing quality & affordability when it comes to freeze-dried food. I highly highly recommend Instinct Pet if you are checking out freeze-dried options. They have a wide range of variants to choose from as well that help to target specific health needs such as gut health and immune health. If you’re considering Instinct Pet, check out their wet pouch line as well! It’s a must-have for us!

5. Dehydrated Treats

Truffleruffel Turmeric Pork Tendon

You can never go wrong with dehydrated treats. Whether you make them yourself or get them from a small treats business, dehydrated treats are our top picks because they’re healthy – no added preservatives or chemicals, plus they’re super delicious! There are different recipes that add on herbs such as turmeric & rosemary or toppings such as cheese. The recipes available are endless!

Pawjourr is my go-to platform when it comes to sampling out food for Gigi. What’s better than free samples am I right? You can try out all of our top picks from Pawjourr’s sampling platform and find your furkid’s next favourite treat!

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Community Stories

What Is It Like To Be A Young Dog Owner

Hello again! Realized that I didn’t introduce myself in the first article, so here’s a brief introduction about us! I’m Deslyn, still studying and I have adopted Dusty from SOSD on 25th July 2019.

For students who are graduating and considering getting a pet (dog, but not excluding other pets), please give a thorough thought about it. 🙂

Let me begin by asking you a few questions.
Why do you want a dog? 
Are you capable of owning one?
What kind of behavioural traits or temperament dog are you looking for? 

170819 Officially Adopted

I’ve always liked and wanted a dog and I decided to have one because I wanted it as a companion and wanted to experience something different in life. As mentioned, I adopted Dusty last year when I was 21 years old. The process of finding THAT dog was not fast and easy, it took many months and effort in finding and emailing before meeting up with it. 

(1) What did I consider before making the decision? 

As mentioned in my previous article, knowing when is the right time to get a dog is important. 

  • At this age as young adults, we have yet to know what lies ahead of us. Personally, as a student who works pt, I have the extra time and cash to settle the dog before graduation. Also, I don’t travel much and won’t be out for long hours, so it’s not a concern about not having enough time for it now and in the future (as I have already know what I want to do).
  • With my family’s lifestyle and situation, I was looking for a low energy, independent, and grass trained dog. Which was why I adopted Dusty. 
Resisting to follow on his walk

(2) What do I have to prepare before it comes over?

Getting my first dog, I was very panicky and clueless on what to prepare before he comes over: necessities and food. 

  • Here are some of the necessities: bowl, collar/harness, leash, shampoo, and playpen. When getting a collar, harness and leash do make sure you get durable ones as you want to prevent your dog from escaping or from it breaking easily.
    For x1 of each item, it may cost between $100 (for acceptable and sturdy ones) to a few hundred depending on the brands.
  • Also, look up on what kind of diet you want to give your dog(of course, seek advice from your vet if necessary).

    Here are some of the diets: kibble(dry), canned, home-cooked, raw, and freeze-dried. Whatever diet you choose for your dog, do your research on the good brands and the different nutrients required for your dog. Make sure what they consume is a well-balanced and nutritional meal. 

    For Dusty a medium-sized dog, it will cost me about $100 – $250 (depends on your dog’s size and the type of diet). It will definitely cost more including supplements and treats.

(Do take note of what other preparation is needed for each of the diets as well.)

For Dusty, he takes home-cooked food (~$100 excluding supplements and treats). In the beginning, I didn’t know the importance and thought it was okay to give him a single protein diet until @theroyaltail guided me on what is missing to make it a more nutritional and balanced meal. The meal prepping is tiring, it takes me about 4-6 hours to prepare 1 month’s worth of meal. From cutting/grinding about 11.5kg meat to weighing the daily portion needed of different proteins and keeping it in the fridge. 

1 month’s worth

(3) What did I not expect after having a dog?

Having a dog is like having a toddler. Why? 

  • Indeed, they do not need constant attention (depending on the dog’s age and needs) but they do need our help to get through their daily needs, mainly walks and mealtimes. 
  • It seems like an easy and fast task but think about it, you are not doing this for days or weeks but years. There’s no off days or MCs, it’s a long-term and daily commitment of waking up early, meal prepping, walks, training, etc. 

No matter how tired, sian, or lazy you feel before and after school/work you got to walk and feed it. You have to always plan ahead of time.

OTW to training

(4) What I want to tell people around my age who are considering getting a dog?

Responsibility, time, and money mentioned are important especially at our age. It’s where we learn to manage our time, finance, and independence. 

  • We don’t want what lies ahead of us in the future makes us care less for them and we don’t want them to hinder us from what we want to do in the future. So know what you want and what you can cope with. 
  • Don’t get a dog just because you want it and have the luxury of time in that phase of your life. And end up not doing and pushing all your dog’s daily necessary routines to your parents. 
  • Money, if you don’t have a source of income (not from parents) or the capability to support yourself daily (not from parents), then reconsider your options. Don’t make the dog a burden to you and your family. Maybe it’s not the right time yet.

You can always consider volunteering or fostering, in which some shelters or AWG do provide the necessities for the dog. Not only can you get to experience what it’s like to have a dog but at the same time, you will know if you are up for this game for the next 10 years.

Graduated from Project Adore

To all youngsters and young adults, carefully think and consider your capabilities and your future before making this long-term commitment and promise. 

If you think you are ready to get a dog, get prepared and all the best! 
If you think it’s not the right time, focus on what you need to do first, the right time will eventually come!

Thank you for reading this article and have a great day! 

Cheers 🙂
xoxo 

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Brand Highlights Community Stories

7 Paws – Known for grooming skittish dogs

With the amassed groomers you find on Facebook or Instagram, it is not easy to find one which you can trust. Especially when you own a skittish or fearful pet, or one which absolutely HATES grooming. #beentheredonethat

Meet 7 Paws, a small team of 2 humble groomers located at Serangoon. Known for grooming skittish dogs and Singapore Specials, we can just tell that they are superb at handling various types of dogs. However, note that prices are not fixed and begin from $35, depending on the breed and temperament.

7 Paws Facebook

“We groom skittish or fearful dogs”

Have you been turned down by groomers due to your dog’s behaviour? At 7 Paws, the groomers are confident in handling different dogs without compromising their welfare as well as the safety of the staff. Rest assured that they are highly experienced and patient, with nearly half of their customers being fearful dogs.

First, the groomer will find out about the dog’s breed and temperament from the owner. Next, they will identify the trigger which makes the pet uncomfortable during the grooming session and work about it.

7 Paws Facebook

“We do take Singapore Specials as well”

Just because they were once strays does not mean that grooming is unnecessary. 7 Paws are highly experienced in handling Singapore Specials and have worked with different shelters to provide many Singapore Specials their first ever groom.

It’s time to pamper your little special furkid with a relaxing bath, a proper pawdicure and a good ear cleanse!

7 Paws Facebook

“We do non-GA tartar removal”

Poor dental health have been linked to heart diseases in canines. It is crucial to keep up with your dog’s dental health with regular tartar removal. 7 Paws is currently the only known groomer which provides tartar removal services without the use of general anesthesia. This is especially useful for dogs who are not able to go under general anesthesia due to health reasons.

Question: My dog is not comfortable with other pets, how will it go?

7 Paws respects the decision of every customer. For pet owners who wish to separate their dogs for reasons including behavioural issues or personal preferences, do inform them beforehand and they will make the necessary arrangements. Generally dogs will not be crated, unless requested or when safety is compromised. Pet owners will be informed about it as well.

Question: Is tartar removal without general anesthesia really effective?

Non-GA tartar removal should only be used as a form of maintenance for dental health. Do consult a vet if you wish to explore dental scaling under general anesthesia. 7 Paws recommends doing occasional tartar removal along with dental scaling with the vet to keep your pet’s dental health in top condition.

Question: It is inconvenient for me to bring my pet over to Serangoon just for grooming. Any other options?

7 Paws provide transport services for pets islandwide at only $10 per way! That’s even more affordable than a Grab ride from Jurong to Orchard ? 7 Paws will head over to your pickup location and bring your pet over to their grooming outlet. You may choose to pick up your pet at the store or opt for return transport.

It was a joy speaking to Josephine from 7 Paws and learning about how dedicated and knowledgeable they are in the grooming scene.

7 Paws is located at 468 Serangoon and are closed on Tuesdays. Make a booking with these amazing groomers and let the team pamper your furkid!

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Community Stories

Grooming Essentials for Dogs

Grooming is essential for all pets actually, but more so for our doggos. These fluffballs became dirtballs after their daily walks or play. It can be frustrating trying to keep them clean each time.

Every day since I started the Instagram journey of @kikithemp in end June, many people had asked me about grooming items as I’ve been grooming Kiki by myself for a while.

A disclaimer, I am not a grooming expert or a professional groomer, I am self-taught by watching Youtube videos and trial and error.

As a first time dog owner, and adopting a dog with chronic scabies, I was totally clueless of what is needed. I remembered just following the instructions of the vet and trying out various ways and means to groom Kiki in a way she felt comfortable with. We did not bring her for professional grooming during this period as most groomers we asked said that they cannot accept dogs with infestations. Kiki has to be cleared by the vet before they would let in.

For a start, Kiki’s skin was raw and bloody, she will wince and jump in pain whenever her skin touches the water and worse, shampoo. Then the ultimate nail trimming process as she refused to let anyone touch her paws. It was a long and arduous journey trying to get her used to grooming. After much patience, we finally got Kiki to be used to grooming and could stay still and let me work on her for… 2 hours straight.

I still do occasionally bring Kiki to the groomers for Full Grooming once every 3 to 4 months, and the in-between, I do my own self grooming. I believe that as pawrents, we need to do some sort of very basic grooming everyday or at least once a week so as to maintain its hygiene. A hygienic dog is a healthy dog.

Here are some of the top few grooming essentials that I used on a daily to weekly basis, which I think all pawrents should try to do as well.

Daily

  • Brush – Any type of brush that your dog is comfortable with should be fine. I typically use both a grooming comb and a slicker brush. Brush their fur at least once a day to untangle unwanted knots and matting.
  • Sanitiser – Not any kind of sanitiser is pet friendly but one which is chemical free and 100% natural would do. I typically spray it on Kiki’s paws after walks and whole body before bedtime. This helps to keep her clean and odour free too! Do you know that bacteria growth on fur is very smelly? Not only do I use it on Kiki, I also use it on the mat, bed, playpen she uses often. I recommend Pets Activated Water Sanitiser by For Furry Friends SG. (Code KIKI5 at http://www.forfurryfriends.com.sg for 5% off with free gift.)
  • Dental Chew – All kind of chews is good as long as the ingredients used is natural. Some people gives natural chews like antlers, pizzle, tendons. That works well. For me, I usually go for Absolute Holistic ones as it is not as smelly and Kiki goes crazy for it. However with all form of food, give in moderation. Kiki usually have 1 every night. It has been ingrained in her nightly routine. (Get dental chew here: https://shopee.prf.hn/l/6lPGOkY)
  • Tooth brush and toothpaste – I highly recommend brushing their teeth at least once a day to keep plague and tartar at bay. This helps to eliminate bad breathe and also with good dental hygiene they do not have to go through frequent dental scaling which may need them to go under anesthesia which can be quite scary for older dogs. I have been using Virbac toothpaste since Day 1 and Kiki loves it. She can even hold the toothbrush and brush it herself. (Get your 360 Toothbrush: https://shopee.prf.hn/l/KM0P2bp, toothpaste: https://shopee.prf.hn/l/70vGyZY)

Weekly / As when necessary

  • Ear Cleaner – This one is something I highly highly recommend to do once a week. We do not need to wait for the groomer to do it for us okay! Maintaining a good ear hygiene makes the dog a happier one. Try to go for non oily ones. I’ve gone through quite a few different brands and found that Kiki tolerate well with the Ear Cleaner from For Furry Friends SG. Also, after ear cleaning, you can also try to use a tweezer to pluck out ear fur at the outer ear canal. This helps to reduce ear irritants. This helps to reduce and prevent unwanted bacteria growth causing yeast infection and smell. (Code KIKI5 at http://www.forfurryfriends.com.sg for 5% off with free gift.)
  • Tear Stain Remover – I do this as and when I find tear stains on Kiki’s eyes using a cotton pad to soak up the stain. Kiki tend to have eye gunk every now and then and they will stick to fur near her eyes. This helps to unclump the fur and also keep their eye area clean, which makes them cuter too!
  • Pet Dryer – I cannot stress enough about this. If you do home grooming enough times, you’ll realise how ineffective our own human hairdryer is. They take ages to dry their fur and then because of the long drying process, it makes their skin so dry too?! Always go for a pet dryer if you can! I use a 2-in-1 pet dryer that has a brush attachment on it. It saved up so much of my time! A typical 20 minutes drying process is cut to 5mins! (Get it here: https://shopee.prf.hn/l/KNqJX2P)
  • Electric Pet Nail Grinder – This is another must-have item in your grooming kit. Yes, you may bring your dog to the groomer monthly, but nail maintenance is something I personally feel is a must-know. The conventional way of nail maintenance is using a pet nail clipper which many owners I know are fearful of. Like how do you know if you’re hitting the quick? What if I have shaky hands? That’s where the nail grinder comes into play. Due to Kiki’s past experience, she hates the clipper and will attempt to bite us whenever she sees it. So that’s when I researched and found out about the Grinder. It is a tool that files away the nail bit by bit. Yes, it takes longer than a traditional clipper but it is less scary and you do not need to worry about hitting the quick! No need to second guess yourself and don’t need to worry about shaky hands. Just grind away and monitor accordingly! This is one of the best grooming devices in my opinion. (Get it here: https://shopee.prf.hn/l/rpJPLxq)
  • Pet Shaver – Since we’re at the topic of nail grinder, I highly recommend pairing it with a pet shaver. Even if you are not going to shave much, get one with attachment for paw pads. Do you know that the paw pads are areas best for bacteria growth especially when the fur is covering the pads? In addition, if there’s too much fur covering, our dogs will have walking issues too! I typically will shave Kiki’s fur to a poodle feet style as I really prefer the cleanliness and effortless maintenance. (Get it here: https://shopee.prf.hn/l/7BnODJ0)
  • Pet Shampoo and Conditioner – In the humidity of Singapore, I prefer showering Kiki weekly. However it is up to personal preference, some does it bi-weekly or monthly. If your dog sleeps with you on the same bed, maybe you might want to shower it more frequently. As Kiki has sensitive skin, I normally goes for 100% natural unscented shampoo / conditioner so as to reduce any skin irritation. I uses the Gentle range from The Blep Club and it has been my favourite shampoo thus far. Best of all, it is a conditioner shampoo. So I don’t have to rinse twice!

Optional Items

  • Grooming Scissors Kit – I personally use it when I trim Kiki’s fur to give her a cute face and pretty paws but I do not recommend it if you have shaking hands. When I first started this grooming journey, I feared for both Kiki’s and my life when the scissors is very near her eyes. I was so scared of poking her eyes unintentionally you know! But with much practice and also curved scissors (inside the kit), it helps a lot! (Get it here: https://shopee.prf.hn/l/6149wWZ)

Items like the pet grinder, pet shaver, brush, dental chews, toothpaste and so on, can be easily bought from Shopee SG. You can use KIKI12 for 12% off (capped at $6) on all pet-related food and items! (If you’ve already used it, feel free to DM me on Instagram at @kikithemp for more codes. I have a long list of it!)

I know after reading this, some of you may be thinking…

“Wow, that’s a lot of things to do for grooming. I will just let the groomer do it.”

My question to you will be…

Yes, sure you can wait and let the groomer do it. But remember Circuit Breaker? Everything is closed. What if a second wave or third happens? What if it was extended for several months? No one knows what will happen. But one thing we know for sure is that our fluffballs might become dirtballs, ungroomed and prone to all sorts of problems.

So what you’re waiting for? Go get your basic grooming supply now! What’s more, all the year end sales is upcoming! Go Go Go!